Generally, Audrey Greengrass was not a team player. She preferred to work alone, eat alone, sleep alone. That had all changed, of course, when she met Draco. Before Draco, Audrey didn't need anyone. Before Draco, Audrey was self-sufficient and strong. Draco Malfoy turned her into a mess of a woman. But in the best way possible, of course.

It seemed it was inevitable, their meeting. They both worked at the Ministry, she a secretary and he an Unspeakable. But perhaps if their meeting hadn't been so...whatever it was, Audrey Greengrass would not be currently sitting in Draco's favorite chair in his office, bawling her eyes out.

it was a cold December day as Draco made his way through the Ministry to his office. He waved at the secretary, a pretty little thing, he thought, and made his way back through the corridors. His office was in the back corner, the last one on the left, and generally he found himself hiding in it more that necessary, but usually was gone by the time the secretary came around.

Audrey carried the usual stack of papers around to everyone's offices. Usually, by the time she got to Mr. Malfoy's office, it was empty so she never had to interact with him. She wasn't quite sure what she'd do if she ever had to. She'd heard the story, everyone in the Wizarding World knew it. How he killed Dumbledore, how the Dark Lord made him do his tasks, how the Great Harry Potter had saved his life multiple times. She'd always felt bad for him, instead of the pure hatred most people had. Still, she wasn't quite sure she wanted to have an actual conversation with him. His temper was famous and Audrey had a tendency to say the wrong thing.

Still, she did her job faithfully every single day, giving him his blank envelopes filled with whatever business it was that Unspeakables did. Today seemed a little different though, and she was incredibly shocked to find Mr. Malfoy sitting at his desk whens he opened the door. She'd gotten used to not knocking, as he would be gone so much of the time.

"Oh." Audrey blinked at him. "Sorry," she said immediately, turning pink under his dry stare. "I didn't- You're usually gone. Yes. Anyway, Here." She stepped forward, holding out the envelope to him.

Draco took it from her, still gazing at her. He'd always thought she was attractive, that was for certain, but he'd never actually noticed how perfectly hazel her eyes were, or how cute the freckles on her face were. Draco made a face at himself. He'd just thought something was cute. Oh dear. He looked down at the envelope and decided very resolutely that he did not want to work today. "Would you like to get lunch?" he asked her just before she went out the door.

Audrey turned to him a little disbelievingly. They'd just had their first real contact ever, and he was asking her to lunch? "It's only 9am," she pointed out.

"So it'll be a brunch. Who cares?" He shrugged, standing up to get his jacket. "Come with me," he said to her, walking closer. "My treat."

Well, how could she say no to that? It'd be stupid not to. It's Draco Malfoy and he was taking her to lunch. Worse things could happen. "Okay," she answered finally. "Let me grab my jacket."

"Certainly," Draco said with a trademark smirk, following her to her desk. People were giving them odd looks, but he didn't care. Draco did not want to be here, so he wouldn't. It was as simple as that. He took her arm as she pulled on her coat, leading her to the lobby. "I hope you don't mind a Muggle restaurant," he said. "They have better food, I think."

"Not at all," she answered with a smile. "I'm half-muggle. I'm used to it." Audrey blushed and cleared her throat a little awkwardly. Perhaps that was too much to tell someone during the first meeting.

"Great then," Draco said. "Get ready." He apparated them to a little cafe called Magnolia, just outside of London. "You'll like it," he assured her, taking her hand.

"I'm sure," Audrey replied with another smile. She quite liked the feeling of his hand on hers. Then the thought came to her that maybe it's a little inappropriate, and then she thought if he initiated it, he must have had a reason. So her hand stayed in his as they entered the cafe.

The cafe was small, certainly smaller than Audrey expected of someone like Draco to eat at, but then again it made a lot of sense to her. He did spend a lot of time in his office, a lot of time in the Manor. He probably just liked being alone. But that thought only made Audrey wonder why in the world he'd ask her to lunch instead of going by himself.

They took their seats at a small table in the corner, by the window. Audrey looked out the window and then smiled nervously at Draco. There was nowhere else for her to look, and it terrified her the tiniest bit.

Draco, being generally against all forms of showing happiness, only raised an eyebrow back at her. "What will you have?" he asked, picking up a menu. "The pancakes are good, the waffles, the french toast. Everything's good, really."

"Oh. I don't know, I suppose just some fruit. I'm not really all that hungry," she said nervously.

"Bollocks," Draco replied automatically. "You're lying to me. Don't lie to me Audrey, I don't like it."

Audrey blinked at him. Up until that point, she hadn't been entirely sure he knew her name. "I'm sorry Draco," she countered, "But I must say that I was not lying to you."

Draco smirked. Oh, he liked this one. "Good. Because then I'd be forced to make you pay for your own lunch."

Audrey laughed and picked up a menu. "I'm glad I wasn't lying, then."

The waiter came, and took their order, and later brother the food. They didn't talk, really. It was mainly sitting and eating in silence, not that either of them particularly minded.

"So what do Unspeakables actually do?" Audrey asked him as they walked from the Cafe.

"Unspeakable things, of course," Draco said dryly. He wasn't about to give that information up so easily. He'd been sworn to secrecy, he didn't plan on breaking that for a pretty woman with perfectly hazel eyes.

Audrey dropped the issue as the apparated back to the Ministry. "Don't you worry that you'll be killed, or something?" she asked quietly, after a long silence.

Draco gives her an appraising look. "I always end up coming back," he told her with a shrug. "If I thought about the other possibilities, I wouldn't be an Unspeakable." He lead her into the office again, taking her to her desk. "That was a nice lunch, Audrey. Thank you."

"You're very welcome," Audrey told him as she watched him go back to his office.

It's that scene that kept playing in her mind as she sat in his chair, crying. I always end up coming back. She grips a pillow tightly to her chest, taking deep, calming breaths. The door opens, and for a moment she's hopeful, but it's Scorpius who enters the room.

"Mum," he says, choking back tears. "I'm- I can't. Mum." He walks towards her, crouching in front of her and putting his head on her lap. "Please tell me it's not true."

Audrey's hand goes to her son's hair, and she runs her hand through it absently, tears still streaming down her face. "I can't," she tells him quietly. "I can't."