Broadway Is Dark Tonight

Chapter Two-Collide

"Lucien? You there, lad?" Kingston's voice came from the receiver. Draco looked to the floor and hurriedly picked up the contraption and held it to his ear.

"Sorry, Kingston, the phone slipped. Not used to these bloody things yet, you know?" Draco lied smoothly.

"Oh, okay; well, you'll have to come and meet with her today before noon; she's your new partner; you know how the boss man's been looking for a suitable partner for you," Kingston said. "It seems she's the only one we've encountered with an intelligence that almost surpasses yours."

-Almost my ass,- he thought with a knowing smirk. "All right, Kingston, let me get dressed and I'll be right over." He clicked the phone off before Kingston could say another word, and he threw the phone on the bed.

"Shit," he muttered as he grabbed a pair of black slacks over his silver boxers and a black long sleeved shirt, pulling it over his newly dyed black head. He pulled on white socks and black boots over them. He swept his hair, now quite long and black, up into a low ponytail, securing it with a black rubber band. He took a glance in the mirror, rolled his eyes and walked out the door of his apartment, Apparating to the Ministry of Magic.

He walked into his department, looking around lazily. He spotted Jack Kingston; he was an old Scottish wizard, his body sagging under the weight of the years. He'd come to the Ministry in England to help with the Voldemort crisis. He was second-in-command, thanks to his rank in his own country.

Draco waved to the old wizard, and Kingston waved back. He began to move toward Draco, and suddenly (it seemed) out from behind him walked a radiant young girl.

-Hermione Granger-, Draco thought, trying to keep his composure and trying to not let his face color. -Remember, she doesn't know you...- he thought dismally. He began to walk toward the pair and they met halfway in the hall.

"Kingston," Draco said curtly. "And this must be Hermione Granger. How we've heard of you. I'm Lucien Winslow." He was putting on his bravest and most polite face as he held out his hand for the girl to shake.

"Pleasure," she said with a slight smile tugging at the corner of her lips. To Draco it seemed somewhat forced. She shook his hand lightly, then withdrew. Draco smiled back at him.

"We're so glad to have you as an addition to our department," Draco said honestly. -Stop it; you're sounding eager,- he thought to himself.

"Do I know you?" Hermione asked, her curious look from school firmly in place on her face. Draco's cheeks colored a light pink.

"I think I would remember," he lied painfully, smiling although it felt like his heart swelling and pounding in his chest was ripping him apart.

"You remind me of someone...but no, you couldn't be him," Hermione said with a sigh.

"Who, if I may inquire?" Draco pressed.

"Oh, he's probably dead by now; he's been in the papers as missing for over a year; oh, if you insist, you remind me of Draco Malfoy."

Kingston glanced at Draco. "Lucien" was stunned, but kept his cool and composure nonetheless. "Draco Malfoy, huh?" he asked. "Interesting." His mind was screaming as he said this. He was beginning to develop a headache. -How could she have seen through me so quickly?- he wondered. -It's not like she really knew me. She made a point not to.- "Well, anyway; I'm sure Kingston has shown you around?"

"Yes, he has; I've never been in this part of the Ministry before," she admitted. "Fascinating." Draco smiled.

"Well, I'll show you to our office," he said. "Come along." He motioned for her to follow him, and she did. She seemed much more meek than she had at school. Potter, he reminded himself.

They reached the end of the hall, and Draco turned into the very last room before the wall. Hermione looked a bit confused as she followed him into a somewhat cramped little room, pictures strewn on one of the desks, but the other was sadly abandoned; it seemed as if no one had inhabited it for quite some time.

"You've been working alone for quite a while, haven't you Mr. Winslow?" Hermione asked. Draco tried his damnedest not to blanch at the name. Instead he shook his head.

"They say they couldn't find someone who was my intellectual equal," he said. "I don't exactly agree with them, but hey, take compliments when you can get 'em, right?"

-Definitely not Draco Malfoy,- Draco could almost hear Hermione thinking after he'd said that. The truth was, Draco had had some real wake-up calls to his behavior, and a couple humbling fights and arguments.

"I see; and I guess I'm the first that's come close?" she asked, trying hard to start a pleasant conversation. Very unlike Hermione...but then again, he wasn't Draco Malfoy to her anymore.

"More than close," he mumbled. Hermione looked confused; she obviously hadn't heard him. He was glad for that.

"Pardon?" she asked.

"Oh, nothing; just talking to myself," he said, trying to smooth over the ripple in his cool. Hermione tilted her head at him.

"Are you feeling well?" she asked him.

"I'm fine, thank you." He pushed a few stray strands of hair off his cheek.

He dared to take a glance at Hermione. She had grown into her figure; her body curving much like an hourglass in a simple, somewhat short magenta dress and black sandals. Her hair was half pulled back, the other half of her curly mane cascading down her shoulders in wild waves. She had the slightest tinge of makeup on her face. Her honey eyes sparkled sadly as he took a daring glance into them, but then looked away, his silver eyes traveling around the room. Draco assumed she wanted to make a good impression, because Hermione never dressed like that in school. He sighed to himself. He had to tear his eyes away from her once again as they gravitated to her. He sat in his chair to distract himself.

"So, we've all heard about you, Miss Hermione, but no one really knows about you," Draco said, surprising even himself with his even tone. "Tell me a bit about yourself."

Hermione suddenly looked flustered as she put the book she'd been carrying on the other desk, leaning against the dusty wood.

"Well, first off, let me state that I'm a Muggle born witch," she stated, obviously trying to get a rise out of him. He got as tingling feeling on his spine. Her gaze was penetrating. He had the distinct feeling she wasn't satisfied wither own explanation of Draco Malfoy.

"Do you expect me to say that's a problem?" he shot back at her politely. Again, the truth of this little revelation was his immersion in the Muggle world before he was able to begin training to become an Auror. He learned many things from the people he used to call "dirty."

"No, no, of course not," she replied, somewhat embarrassed. "Um, I grew up with my parents, who were...dentists, and when I was eleven I got a letter to attend Hogwarts, which I'm sure was where you attended, though I don't remember you. I graduated last year, and have been...well, you know the story." She directed her eyes downward and Draco smirked slightly. "What about you, Lucien?"

-Oh shit,- he thought. "Well, since you stated your parentage, I'll state mine; my parents were both wizards, though my mother was the product of a wizard and a Muggle." He was making this up as he went along. "I did indeed go to Hogwarts."

"What year did you graduate?" she inquired. Draco was stuck again, seeing as he didn't exactly get his diploma, considering he was on the run.

"Before you, Hermione," he resigned to saying. She nodded, most likely still suspicious. -She always was the smartest one,- he thought.