Ch. 5

Hermione's POV

The three of us protested after Draco apparated us to lobby of one of the nicest restaurants in wizarding London.

"Malfoy, we can't afford this!" Harry muttered quietly so that the surrounding people couldn't hear.

"Nonsense, it's my treat, Potter," Draco said simply before going to the host. "Table for four in one of your private rooms."

The man nodded and led us towards the back of the restaurant. I felt very out of place in my jeans and oversized jumper, since every other witch and wizard was clad in suits and expensive dresses. Our group certainly got a few stares as we passed through since Ginny was dressed just as casually in a t-shirt and shorts while Harry was in a nice shirt and slacks, and we gladly escaped into the room as soon as we could.

The room was beautifully decorated with soft white walls and gold light fixtures, including a chandelier over the table. There were windows on the wall opposite of the door that flooded the room with light, and were the only way to see into the room other than the glass door. There was a round table in the center of the room made of dark wood that had four chairs evenly spaced around it. The menus were already on the table, and Draco gestured for us to all sit.

I was thankful that the table was round so I wouldn't have to sit directly next to Draco, but I sat on his left while Ginny sat on my other side, and Harry sat on Draco's right.

"Four glasses of the Argentinian Malbec," Draco said suddenly to no one in particular.

The glasses suddenly appeared in front of us and we stared at him in shock. He grinned back at us and said, "You simply speak what you want and it will appear in front of you."

"You do realize we have to go back to work and probably shouldn't be drinking?" Harry scowled, gesturing between him and I with his thumb.

"One glass won't hurt," Draco insisted. He reached for his glass and took a sip before turning to me. "So, to business."

"Are these rooms secure?" I asked, looking around.

"They should be," Draco shrugged. "Paparazzi are not allowed in here, especially unregistered Animagi paparazzi."

We shared a grin as I realized who he was referring to. Then I cast a silencing charm on all four walls and the door, then the windows. "I just want to be certain. I don't like discussing my cases in public places."

"Understandable," Draco nodded.

"Before you two start," Ginny interrupted, "Why are you okay with Harry and I being here?"

Harry answered, "Because Draco knows we won't tell anyone since it'll put Hermione's career in danger."

Ginny thought about it for a moment and then shrugged. "Works for me. I love juicy stories anyway."

"I'm afraid it's probably not the kind of juicy story that you're looking for," Draco said with a small smile.

"Whatever works," Ginny said before taking a drink of her wine.

Draco turned back to me and clasped his hands together on the table. "One of my employees very recently divulged that he is a werewolf."

"Is he registered?" I asked.

"From my understanding, no," Draco answered. "He seemed particularly hesitant to tell me, but decided he needed to before anyone else does."

I frowned. "Has he attacked anyone?"

Draco shook his head. "He did say though that one of my other employees started to suspect him since the full moon was this past Saturday. Apparently my other employee is extremely anti-werewolf."

I nodded and thought for a few moments. "Does he have access to Wolfsbane Potion?"

"He will now," Draco said as he sat up. "I'm not going to put my other employees in danger."

"So you will be providing it, I'm assuming?" I asked.

He nodded. "He is worried though what will happen if my other employee does in fact start to spread around that he is a werewolf. I worry too; because while I don't have an issue as long as he has access to the potion, I know that other witches and wizards don't exactly have the same open-mindedness, and I don't want my business to be impacted."

I looked at him thoughtfully for a few moments. Who would have thought Draco Malfoy would be referring to himself as open minded? Granted, I knew he had changed after the war when we became friends, but at the same time, he still had old habits back then. Maybe he finally was able to fully change.

Draco watched me, waiting patiently for a response. I sat up and cleared my throat before saying, "Well, personally I don't think he should be registered. If something does happen and word gets out, he won't be able to find another job since everyone will call for him to be terminated from his job. So, I think you're doing the most you can for right now."

"Is there anything I can do about the other employee?" Draco asked, his brow furrowing slightly. "Besides fire him, of course, but that might make him divulge the information anyway out of retaliation."

I laughed slightly. "Well, I suppose maybe we could alter the man's memories, make him forget his suspicions."

"Hermione," Harry warned. I jumped slightly, almost forgetting he was there.

"What?" I asked, looking at him. "The ministry alters memories all the time."

"But this would be unauthorized, I'm assuming." Harry scowled at me. "Since word can't get out of his employee being a werewolf, and we have to document every reason for removing memories."

I shrugged. "I could have Seamus do it as a personal favor."

"Seamus?" Draco gave me a confused look.

"Seamus Finnigan, you remember him, right?" I asked. "He was in our year."

"Ah, yes," Draco nodded. "He does memory alteration?"

"He's become one of the better wizards in the department," I grinned. "He works in the Department of Magical Accidents and Catastrophes."

"That's a shocker," Draco muttered sarcastically as he took a drink.

"We had the same reaction," Ginny said, shaking her head. "Though if anyone knows about magical accidents, it's Seamus."

We all shared a small laugh before I turned to Draco. "So, what are you wanting to do?"

"Well, they're both fantastic employees, I'd hate to lose either of them," Draco said thoughtfully as he swirled his wine around in the glass. "If we can do something that allows me to keep them both, I'll do it."

"Sounds like we're going to have to modify your other employee's memories then," I said. "I'd be happy to arrange something with Seamus, and you can bring him in sometime next week."

"Why can't you do it, Hermione?" Ginny asked curiously. "You're wonderful at memory charms."

"Because if the man whose memory I've just erased realizes that he's sitting in the office of the woman who oversees werewolf cases, he's going to wonder why he's there in the first place," I said with a smile. "It's just easier for someone else to do it, less loose ends to take care of."