Kindness Is The Beginning Of Cruelty

Disclaimer: The entire Harry Potter world belongs to the lovely JKR.

A/N: Many thanks to Southern_Witch_69, my wonderful beta! Hugs and kisses to her.

This is my response to Ladyofthemasque's YLC Challenge. For rules see the end of chapter one.

Chapter Two

Kindness Is The Beginning Of Cruelty

Hermione was in a good mood Monday morning as she headed into work. She always felt great after a girls' night out with Ginny and Luna. Fred and George were just the icing on the cake. Not even the horrid run-in with Severus Snape and his two cronies could dampen her mood.

She felt slightly guilty about filling out the YLC form with no intentions of getting married just yet, but she decided what's done is done. There was nothing she could do about it now. She really didn't want to think about what the twins would have put in her stead. Besides, she may just meet the wizard of her dreams! She rolled her eyes. Not bloody likely.

She really enjoyed her job. She worked in the Department of Potentially Volatile Potions and Ingredients, specifically created by the Ministry to monitor the purchase of certain ingredients. After the fall of Voldemort, Scrimgeour was worried that any Death Eaters not caught might try to create illegal potions, so he made it a law that certain ingredients had to be monitored.

If anyone wanted to purchase or grow any of the ingredients on the list, they had to fill out the proper paperwork. Then, Hermione's job was to find out everything there was about that ingredient, all the uses, and specifically what it was wanted for. After that, a thorough background check was done on the witch or wizard who wanted the ingredient.

The department was run by Hermione, answering only to Gilbert Whimple, who was also on the Committee on Experimental Charms. She had just sat down at her desk when Gilbert knocked on her door. "Come in," Hermione cheerfully called out.

"Good morning, Hermione. How was your weekend?" Gilbert felt a little nervous being here. Arthur and Molly Weasley had gone out to dinner with Gilbert and his wife this past weekend, and Arthur had asked Gilbert for a personal favor.

The family was getting worried about Hermione and Ginny, so the troubled couple had asked Gilbert to highly persuade Hermione to bring an escort to the next three Ministry functions, as they would be high profile. The first one coming up was the five year anniversary of the defeat of Voldemort, next was the annual Christmas ball, and that was followed by the New Year's Eve ball. All three were to be the biggest the Ministry has ever seen, what with people wanting to celebrate Voldemort's defeat.

Molly had confided that she'd heard from Ron that he and Harry were both attending the anniversary ball and possibly the other two. She wanted to make sure Hermione and Ginny would be okay, thus the insistence of bringing dates. This was how they were going to ensure Hermione did; Ginny was a different matter. They hadn't quite figured out how to see to her just yet.

Smiling up at her boss and thinking of her night out, Hermione answered, "Just fine, thanks. What can I do for you?" she asked, eyeing the mound of request forms piled on her desk. It was going to be a long day. One request could take weeks, sometimes months, to complete.

Clearing his throat, her boss nervously started, "You know that the anniversary ball is coming up in the next couple of weeks. We feel you should bring a date to this function and the other two as well."

Raising an eyebrow, but not quite mad just yet, Hermione inquired, "We? The Ministry is insisting on dates now? That's just ridiculous, Mr. Whimple." Laughing, she said, "The Ministry can't force me to come with someone."

Gilbert sighed. He was just no good at fibbing. "No, they can't force you, but they can highly recommend that you do. With all the losses in the war, they are going for family and friendship, love and happiness, and all that rot. They feel it would look better if the entire staff of Ministry Department Heads and higher ups come with a significant other." When she started to object again, he held up his hand and strictly told her, "Just do it, Hermione. I hear Percy Weasley is available. Haven't you always been close to that family?" He left her office before she could say a word.

Hermione was fuming. Just who did these people think they were anyway? Ruddy bastards! Percy Weasley? Just how desperate did he think she was? So, they want to insist she bring a date? Fine! She would find the biggest git she could think of. She would look for the most inappropriate bastard out there. They would never insist Hermione Granger bring a date to any function again.

*** *** *** *** *** ***

Severus Snape was highly agitated. Instead of teaching his Monday morning class as he was supposed to do, he had to go to the ruddy Ministry of Magic to fill out proper forms for a very important ingredient he needed for the potion he was working on.

He was desperately looking for a cure for Lycanthropy. The Dark Lord had punished Narcissa Malfoy for what he'd considered betrayal. By having Severus take that Unbreakable Vow, Voldemort had said that she cost him his spy at Hogwarts. His punishment was to let Fenrir Greyback bite her whilst he was transformed in his werewolf state.

It had been around six years, and it was taking a toll on Narcissa. Severus knew that Minerva thought he wanted to help that git Lupin, which was all the better for him. That was probably the reason she let him go to the Ministry on a Monday morning.

Not very many people knew about Narcissa, and she wanted to keep it that way. But Severus knew how it affected her and Draco for him to have stay with his mother at the Malfoy Manor each month. She insisted he didn't need to bother because she always took her Wolfsbane, but Draco insisted on staying in case she needed him. And, if Draco got this Quidditch position, there would be nobody there to help her when he had to travel. The deputy headmaster often wondered if Narcissa was what was holding Draco back. If her son left, the Malfoy heir would want to hire someone, and Severus knew Narcissa would never allow that.

He sighed, rubbing his temples against his raging headache. Severus had hardly slept since Saturday night. He kept having images of that bushy-haired know-it-all down on her knees before him. The Potions professor was in a semi state of arousal the rest of the weekend, and it disgusted him that she was the cause of it. He decided to put Miss Granger completely out of his mind. He had more important things to think about.

The ex-Death Eater really hoped he would not have much trouble getting the papaver somniferum he needed. The ingredient, derived from the poppy plant, could be used to make different things such as opium. The opium, he'd learnt, counteracts with the sinsworth in Wolfsbane to form a mind-altering state that could influence the body to remain in an unaltered state, tricking it into not transforming. Added to the Wolfsbane, the Potions master thought if taken once a day the week prior to transformation, it may put just enough in her system, causing it to force her mind to stop the physical transformation all together, but because of the mind-altering characteristics and the addictiveness of the papaver somniferum, it required approval by the Ministry to obtain...especially if one was a reformed Death Eater.

He arrived at the Ministry of Magic at nine o'clock and, after checking in his wand, he went directly to the Department of Potentially Volatile Potions and Ingredients. He met with a stern looking receptionist that had to be ninety-years-old if she was a day. "May I help you, sir?"

"Yes, I need to speak with someone about inquiring a potions ingredient."

"Do you have an appointment?" Her glasses were pushed down to the end of her nose, and she looked over the rims at him.

Severus sighed. "I was not aware that I needed an appointment. I can't imagine people are lined up to request ingredients."

"One moment please, and I will check to see if she is available."

So it's a she. I wonder who it is, Severus thought. He knew a requirement for this job was to have Master or Mistress of Potions status. This was a step higher than simply being a Potions master or mistress that taught at a school. To become a Master or Mistress of Potions, one had to apprentice for one year and acquire a certificate. He supposed he would have been offered the job himself if it had not been for his past. He was anxious to see who had the job.

"Right this way, sir." She led Severus to the door and told him to go on in. As he entered, his eyes popped out of his head. No, this can't be happening to me! Please, God, anyone but her!

Hermione, who was still fuming over her conversation with her boss, looked up just as Severus entered the room. Well, well, well. And it's not even my birthday! The mighty Severus Snape needs an ingredient that has to be approved by me! Looks like my day is taking a turn for the better.

Severus just stood there looking at her. "Have a seat Professor Snape, and tell me what I can do for you," Hermione said in an overly friendly tone that made the hairs on the back of his neck stand on end.

"How did you get this job? I happen to know you have to have be a credited Mistress of Potions, and I refused to apprentice you."

"Think that highly of yourself, do you? Though you were my first choice, you are certainly not the only Master of Potions in the world, Professor. I apprenticed at Beauxbatons. I am surprised Minerva didn't tell you. Surely you didn't come here to ask of my credentials?" The smug witch raised a challenging eyebrow.

"I always leave the room when the golden trio is mentioned," Severus said with a smirk. He truly knew nothing of the three's personal lives, other than apparently Potter and Weasley now live in America and have married. "At any rate, I need to purchase some papaver somniferum."

"I see. Well, sir, just fill out these forms, and I will get to it in the order I received it," Hermione explained as she pointed to the stack of forms that had formed a tower on her desk.

Severus eyed the stack and raised an eyebrow at his former pupil. "How long do you think that will take? I need it by the Christmas holidays."

Hermione burst out laughing. The holidays started in about three weeks. "The Christmas holidays? You will be lucky to be approved by spring break."

"No, that won't do, Miss Granger. I need the papaver somniferum way before then. You will just have to move my forms to the top of the pile." The Potions professor sat back, assured that his former student would do exactly as he asked.

Why, that arrogant, ruddy, git! He thinks he can just waltz into my office and dictate how things are done? He needs to realize I am no longer his student, and he cannot tell me what to do, that bastard! Hold on! Bastard? She appraised him from nose to toes. Raising an eyebrow she thought, Yes, this might just work... if I can convince him. Let's just see how badly he wants that ingredient. "Well, I might be able help you a little sooner."

"I see. You want something from me, which is not surprising. Okay, Miss Granger, tell me what it will take to get my paperwork moved from the bottom of that pile to the top."

Hermione considered the man sitting in front of her. He was rude, obnoxious, and perfect for her plans. She just hoped he wanted the ingredient enough to do it. "My boss told me this morning I am expected to start bringing a significant other to the next few ruddy Ministry functions. I want you to escort me to the next five."

Severus jumped to his feet. "Absolutely not! I like to bring my own dates, thank you!" Then, he smirked cruelly. "Just because you can't get a date now that Weasley has married another does not mean I will take pity on you." Severus Snape had never dated so much in his life as he had been doing lately. He found that being a war hero, who was still questionable, was like being a witch magnet. The witches flocked to him like goblins to Galleons, thanks to the silly witches having a bad boy complex. Oh, well, it was all the better for him.

He also had a rule where he'd only allow three dates with the same witch. By the third date, almost every witch he took out was ready to be bedded...if he'd not done so on the previous two. After enjoying what was so freely offered, he'd make his excuses and move on to the next one. He enjoyed this lifestyle and was not about to let little miss know-it-all mess up even one month of it.

Hermione inwardly cringed at the slap, but she outwardly remained cool. She would never admit how much his words had stung her. Folding her arms over her chest, she told him, "Okay then, Professor. I will be in touch when I get to your request."

"This is blackmail! You can't force me to date you." He had a hard time believing that Hermione Granger could not find a date. She was not exactly beautiful by any means, but she was tolerable, he supposed. Surely some wizard would take her to these functions! Some wizard other than him!

Hermione rolled her eyes. Such drama! "I don't want to date you. I want an escort. There is a difference."

"Hire one then. I believe I already advised you to do so Saturday night." The last thing Severus wanted to do was attend any functions with her, especially after all the things he had thought about them doing to each other this past weekend. If he closed his eyes, he could still imagine her on her knees in front of him. If only she would keep her mouth shut.

"I said fine," Hermione told him, snapping him out of his little fantasy. She was beginning to get offended. "But, instead of blackmail, why don't you think of this as quid pro quo. This for that. You stir my cauldron, and I stir yours." She really wanted Snape to be the one to escort her.

"That is an unfair analogy. I am a Master of Potions and cannot deny such logic."

"You forget yourself, Professor. So am I."

"So you say," Severus smirked, as he placed his hands on her desk and leaned forward. "However, you are just cutting your teeth on the stirring rod. I am a well-seasoned Master, if I do say so myself. Besides, not all Masters of Potions are created equally." He looked her up and down with distaste. "Some are definitely lacking."

"Yes, I know, which is why I am asking you to be my date." Hermione smiled wickedly, enjoying the light banter. She couldn't remember the last time she'd found someone who could keep up with her. Leaning forward herself to meet his stance, she told him, "I heard that you can't teach an old Master new tricks either." She raised a challenging eyebrow at him. He will not intimidate me!

He had to put a stop to this bantering now. It was arousing him too much. Severus could not remember the last time he'd had an intelligent conversation with a witch, much less an adequate sparring partner. He felt like bending her over that desk and teaching her some new tricks! Through gritted teeth, Severus said, "Three functions, not five."

"Done!" Hermione exclaimed triumphantly. Three was what she was going for to begin with. She had only said five to give herself some bargaining room. "I will get started on these forms right away. Let me give you my address so that you can come to my flat to pick me up for the anniversary ball."

"No, I will not be coming to pick you up. I will meet you outside the entrance to attend the ball, and I will not escort you home. After all, this is only for show, correct? I will be your date inside the ballroom only." If I go to her flat and allow this sparring to keep up, we may miss the ball all together!

"Good enough. Say seven?" Hermione had no idea why she was suddenly upset by the fact he would not come to her flat to pick her up. He was right after all; it was only for show.

"Fine. Oh, and, ah, Miss Granger? Don't be late." With that, Severus billowed out of her office, slamming her door, and heading back to Hogwarts with only one thought. This is a very bad idea.

*** *** *** *** *** ***

Ginny arrived at the Quidditch stadium a little wary. Anything involving Fred and George caused her concern. After she walked in, her concern was only magnified. She stood back in the shadows to see who all she recognized and found she recognized everyone there.

Draco Malfoy stood out immediately with his platinum hair. Beside him stood Marcus Flint and Miles Bletchley. A little bit further down were Andrew Kirke, Angelina Johnson, Katie Bell, and Roger Davies. What in the name of Circe are those blokes up to now?

Suddenly, she was grabbed from behind. "Ginny! So happy you could make it! Tell me, what do you think of the people out there?" Fred enthusiastically whirled her around.

"I think I am wondering what is going on. Where is George?"

"Someone had to mind the shop. Weasleys' Wizard Wheezes can't run itself, can it? As for what is going on, come with me and find out, little sis."

Ginny warily followed Fred to the pitch. Everyone stopped talking as soon as they saw the arrivals. "Weasley?" Draco asked incredulously. "What is this about? My time is valuable!"

"I am sure you are all wondering what you are doing here," Fred started as if Draco had not even spoken. "My brother George and I had a visit from... a silent partner about six months ago about the rise in the sales of Quidditch tickets since the war has ended. We noticed they have slowly been on the rise, and this year hit an all time seventy percent increase. So, with the help of our silent partner, we decided to start our own team. You ladies and gents are the lucky team members we have chosen, provided you can still play, that is."

As the murmurs started, Ginny asked, "Why am I here then? I haven't played in a long time, brother dear."

"You, my dear, lovely sister, are here to be our traveling Healer. Rules dictate that in order to have a traveling team and hold practices, we must provide a Healer to accompany them. What say you? You will be making a right sight more than you do at St. Mungo's."

It was a perfect job for her. Ginny had been in a rut for some time now. She was tired of the life she had been living as of late and had been thinking of a change. Traveling with the team, she could save most of her earnings, as the owners would provide the lodging while they were gone. Maybe this is just what I need...to go new places and meet new people.

While she was thinking, Fred added, "It would get you out of the Burrow, Gin."

That was the deal breaker. "Now, that's an offer I can't refuse!" Ginny exclaimed and held her hand out for Fred to shake. Instead, he put a quill in her outstretched hand. "Just sign on the dotted line please." Laughing, Ginny happily signed the contract after reading it through, wanting to make sure they did indeed provide lodging, among other things.

Ginny was informed she had to stay to watch the team practice. These guys were all very good, but they needed to work on working together. Angelina and Katie still worked well together; it was like they never stopped playing with each other. Marcus and Andrew seemed to start working well together, too, after a time of playing. Roger was soon in sync with Angelina and Katie while Miles seemed pretty decent at playing the Keeper position. However, Draco Malfoy was something else. He caught the Snitch every time within thirty minutes of its release. It was obvious he had kept up his skills.

Ginny found herself watching only Draco and abruptly stopped. She noticed when he was flying, he had no sneer or smirk on his face, just a look of pure joy that made him look quite handsome. Too bad he's such an evil arse!

While she was musing, she looked at Draco and found him looking directly at her. She forgot to breathe for a moment; he looked magnificent sitting on his broom. He ruined the moment and smirked at her as if he knew what she was thinking. Arrogant little prat!

Draco had been on top of his game today, and he was grateful. He had been keeping up his Quidditch skills, and now, it looked as if that would pay off. He would be playing again even if those two Weasley wankers owned the team. It didn't matter as long as he got to play Quidditch and got his promised Galleons of course. He would have to hire someone to stay with his mother once a month, and he hoped he could find someone that he could trust. Draco knew she would fight him on that, but he'd feel better knowing she was not alone. He wished he could go back in time and kill the Dark Lord himself for all the pain and suffering he had caused the Malfoy family.

Weasley had told the team that he and his evil twin would not be able to always travel with the team, so they made Johnson captain. Figures. Draco refused to sign his contract without having his solicitor read through it first, but that was mostly just to aggravate Weasley. He knew he was taking this position.

They only had a few weeks of practice before the first game they were to play. Their silent partner was able to pull some strings to allow the team to start midseason. Whoever the silent one is must be very powerful and wealthy. Twin number one had informed them that they were to begin right after the New Year. He wondered what the Weaselette was doing there. It didn't appear she would be joining the team.

Suddenly, he felt her eyes on him. He looked up to see what she was looking at and forgot himself for a moment. She was sitting in the stands with the sun behind her, and Draco thought he had never seen anything more beautiful. He would never admit it to anyone, but he loved her fiery red hair. It was seemed to be a better shade than the rest of the Weasleys had. He got the sudden urge to kiss her just then. To hide his disturbing attraction to a Weasley, not to mention his body's reaction to her stare, he smirked at her nastily. As he knew it would, that single act broke the moment.

Finally, Weasley called an end to practice and rounded everyone up. "You guys looked good out there today, but you can all do so much better. We are going to have to practice everyday for three weeks, starting at six o'clock. Gin, you will need to be here for those in case there are any accidents during practice. Any questions?"

"What is the name of our team, Fred?" Angelina wanted to know. Fred always thought he would marry Angelina some day. Then one day after a game, he walked into the girl's locker room to surprise her, thinking she was in there alone, and found her and Cho Chang in a compromising position. The three laughed it off, but Fred lost a little of his heart that day.

"The Wicked Wazzock Warriors. If that is all, I will see everyone at six sharp. George will be able to join us."

As they were leaving the stadium, Draco caught up with Ginny. "Well, Virginia, what were you doing here? Learning how Quidditch is really played?"

"My name is not Virginia, arsehole." She wanted to get as far away from Draco Malfoy as possible. Ginny did not like the flutter in her stomach she got while watching him on his broom earlier. "As for Quidditch, all I saw was how much practice you need."

"Right, Virginia, I was the best one out there, and you know it. I say I even put your scarhead to shame."

Rolling her eyes, she said, "Still trying to best Harry, I see. You never could face that he is a better wizard and man than you will ever be. You will never best him; you will always be second." This time, it was Ginny's turn to smirk.

"No, that would be you, wouldn't it?" Draco hated how she had hit so close to home and decided to strike back at her. "I heard he married an American. Someone that sort of looked like you, only much hotter. I heard she could even afford women's clothes and didn't have to run around in a bunch of boy's hand-me-downs. Maybe that is what attracted Potter, eh? She actually looked like a woman!"

Ginny refused to let the tears pooling in her eyes flow in front of Malfoy. He had hurt her much more than he could realize, but she would never let him know it. Instead, she decided give back as good as she'd received, maybe even better.

"Listen here, you son of a Death Eater! I am all woman. I'm woman enough that I don't have to prove anything to you. Which, by the way, is your loss. So why don't you go home and play dress up in daddy's Death Eater robes. Maybe you can get mummy to bow to you. Then, when she realizes you are too much like Lucius, she can rid us of your existence, too!" Gin didn't know what caused her to be so mean. It was not in her nature to be so cruel. She knew she was hitting way below the belt, but she couldn't seem to stop herself. She just wanted him to hurt as badly as he had hurt her.

At first, Draco had felt bad when he'd seen how much he had hurt her. That was a foreign feeling to him. Usually, he was happy to crush people. But the look in her eyes stopped him cold...until she opened her mouth. Now, he wanted to choke the life out of her.

His grey eyes turned to icy steel when he looked her directly in the eyes and said, "I would suggest you stay away from me Virginia. Right now, I don't think I can be held responsible for my actions against ignorant witches who have no idea what they are talking about. Never speak ill of my mother again." And with that, he Apparated out of there as quickly as he could before he actually hurt her.

For the first time, Ginny actually felt afraid around Malfoy. She decided it was the look in his eyes. She had no doubt it was taking him some effort not to punch her. She was scared enough not to bother to tell him her name was Ginevra, as she'd started to do. For the next few days, Gin decided that she'd be staying far away from Draco Malfoy.

Christy's Notes: Well, the games have begun. What do you think of them?

Southern's Notes: Snape's such a prick. I'm still giggling over the Virginia Weasley bit. Hahaha!