21. Second Chances

Draco paced his kitchen anxiously. If his last gift didn't work, then he knew nothing will. Sighing, he sat down at a table and summoned himself a glass of whiskey, waiting for the moment the little kitten would appear back on his kitchen floor with a strongly worded letter for him to leave her alone.

With a loud crack that caused him to slosh his drink all down the front of his suit, a small, crisply folded envelope appeared, sealed with the wax seal of the Minister herself.

Draco's first instinct was to yell in excitement that the kitten hadn't returned. But he stayed cautious, hoping that Hermione wasn't planning to return the animal herself. His heart beat wildly in his chest as he picked up the envelope and opened it.

Draco,

Thank you for Polly. She is absolutely beautiful. I would like to keep her, if that's okay with you.

Draco smiled widely, so far so good.

Against my better judgement, I will meet with you to talk. You have Harry to thank completely for that.

Unfortunately, I'm far too busy this week to leave the Ministry, so you'll have to meet me here. Send an Owl to my secretary and she will organise a time.

I only give out second chances once Draco Malfoy, don't waste my time.

Madam Hermione Granger, Minister for Magic.

Draco put the letter down in shock. She was giving him a chance! That's all he needed; one chance to fix this. Draco jumped up excitedly and immediately set off to the drawing room, planning to write one letter to Hermione's secretary and one letter of absolute gratitude to Harry Potter.

****

Draco arrived at the Ministry the next morning in a whirl of excitement and nerves. Running his hand through his hair and adjusting the jacket of the nicest suit he owned he made his way to The Department of Magical Law Enforcement to meet with Harry like they had planned.

Harry was seated in his office, wringing his hands with nerves. He'd let Ron in on his and Draco's plan and he wasn't taking it too well. "So you're telling me," Ron said, still in disbelief, "that you're working with Malfoy to try and get them back together?" Harry nodded his head and smirked, it sounded crazier when someone said it out loud.

"Harry! Do you even know Hermione! She's going to hate it!" Ron jumped off the desk and started pacing, continuing to list all the reasons why Hermione would hate it.

Harry sat silently, looking down at his feet, his mind whirling with thoughts. Ron was right, Hermione hated being left in the dark. She hated the feeling of knowing that they had schemed behind her back.

Harry looked up at Ron, slightly exasperated. The nerves were getting to him and he could feel himself quickly losing patience. "Ron!" Harry spoke, causing Ron to stop walking circles around his office. "I know Hermione will hate it alright. I know! But don't you hate seeing her like this? Because I know I do!"

Ron stared blankly at Harry, still not understanding what he was trying to say. He continued, "We have watched her cry over this stupid git for months and months. Don't you want that to end? Don't you want her to have some kind of closure? Because you and I both know she's too stubborn to organise this herself!"

Hearing this, and finally understanding how important it was Ron sat back down. "Yeah, I guess you're right." He murmured. Then a thought washed over his face and he looked at Harry with sheer horror. "If Hermione gets back together with that slimy toe, does that mean we have to be friendly to him!?"

But before Harry could answer, they were interrupted by a polite knock. Harry knew who it was and hesitated before standing up and walking to open the door.

Standing sheepishly on the other side was Draco. Hands deep inside his pockets he looked up at Harry nervously, "Hello, Harry."

Harry was taken aback for a moment at the sight of an anxious Malfoy. He had always seen him so confident and arrogant, with not a care for anything other than himself. But here he stood, in front of Harry, hiding his shaking hands and looking paler than ever.

"Hi Draco, come on in." Draco walked in hesitantly and sat down at the seat in front of Harry's desk. Ron was scowling at him. "Hello, Ron." He said, almost kindly. Ron's eyes bulged out of their sockets in disbelief.

Harry sat down to at his desk feeling more confident now that he knew he was in control. Draco was far too anxious to try anything with either him or Ron. Besides, Harry was the reason Draco had gotten the opportunity in the first place.

"Draco," Harry started, not believing what he was about to say, "are you alright?" He then had to stifle a laugh when Ron seemed to breath in the food he was eating. Draco paused for a moment, his fingers fiddling with the ring on his finger. He then cleared his throat and spoke much softer than Harry thought he was capable of, "What if she doesn't like it Harry?"

Harry shot a quick glance at Ron; whose eyes were wide with disbelief. Never, in their time knowing one another, had Harry heard Draco be unsure of anything, much less a girl. "Draco, Hermione might hate it." Draco frowned at him, not expecting that sort of pep talk, "But she gave you a chance. That's more than you deserve."

Draco nodded his head slowly in agreement. Harry threw a quick smirk at Ron before taking the last opportunity he may ever have to make Draco Malfoy feel uncomfortable. "So, Malfoy, are you ready to face the lioness?"

Draco's eyes widened briefly before he laughed and glanced at Ron and Harry, all three of them acknowledging silently that Hermione was probably the most terrifying out of all of them combined.

"Yeah, Potter, I think I am."