Disclaimer: I'm not as creative as JKR. Obviously.

Doors were banging, voices were muttering, and feet were stomping. All of the noise of the publishing office was making the twinge behind his eyes worsen. If there was one thing Draco Malfoy did not appreciate, it was trying to read while a cacophony could be heard outside his office door. If he wasn't waiting to hear a knock from his favorite author, he'd put up the strongest silencing spell he was capable of.

"Is he in?" The voice he'd been waiting all day to hear spoke quietly to his secretary, Magda.

"Yes, Ms. Granger. Shall I get the door for you?" Muffled footsteps stopped outside his door, the handle turned and revealed the two women on the other side.

"Thank you so much, Magda. I appreciate the help." The woman he assumed was Ms. Granger was carrying a stack of books up to her nose. She came into his office and dropped the books onto a corner of his desk.

"Is there anything you need, Mr. Malfoy?" Magda rubbed her palms down the sides of her brown tweed skirt. A new secretary, Magda often became nervous being in the same room as the famous publishing agent. It didn't hurt that he was charming and attractive as well, if only he felt an ounce for her the way he did for the author standing in front of him. Magda sighed to herself, Ms. Granger was a lucky woman.

"No. Thank you, Magda. Please hold any calls and discourage visitors for the next hour." His eyes moved from Magda to the brown-haired woman in front of him, effectively dismissing her from the room.

"Of course, Mr. Malfoy." She quietly responded as she shut the door behind her.

Draco Malfoy turned to look at his favorite author. "Hermione Granger. Perfect timing, as usual. I was beginning to get a headache from those blasted editors outside. They make an unnecessary racket. Silencio." The loud noises from behind the door ceased immediately, leaving his office in blessed silence. "Now. What's this all about?" He waved a hand towards the stack of books. "I thought you were pitching me a plot today?"

"Good morning to you, too, Draco." She gave him a small smile and sank into the white plush chair in front of his desk.

"My apologies, that was rude of me. Good morning, Ms. Granger. Shall we proceed with our business?" His face held a mocking smile and a raised eyebrow - two tell-tale signs he was teasing her.

"By all means. I've had a new idea for my next book: Parisian Intrigue." She paused to gauge his reaction to her proposed title. His gestured for her to continue, but kept his face expressionless. Hermione took a deep breath and launched into the plot and characters she had been working on developing over the past month since she'd handed in her last manuscript. "Gemma Bullard has unwittingly become the center of the French Resistance in Paris when she begins to recognize signals and messages being passed through her nightclub. The story is loosely based on a true story, although the characters have changed gender and many facts will be changed - creative licensing, as it were."

"Where do the books come in?" Draco carefully avoided commenting on pitches until he had all the facts. The stack of books gave him a gut feeling about knowing all the facts before agreeing to support the book.

"They are for research purposes. Obviously. Didn't you look at the titles?" Hermione reached over and began to lay the books out across his desk, hiding the papers covering the surface. He read the titles aloud, "Paris for Lovers." He raised a brow. "French Resistance of Paris. That could prove helpful for historical accuracy. Nightclubs in Paris: 1880-1960. Again, useful. Paris Travel Guide. Eat, Sleep, Play: Paris Edition. 50 Secrets of Paris Travel. Not Just the Eiffel Tower: A Paris Travel Guide. What's with these last few? Are you going on a trip?" He raised his other brow, effectively hiding them both in the white-blonde fringe across his forehead.

"We. We are going on a trip." Hermione sat back expectantly and folded her hands in her lap. "I could use your attention to detail and passion for historical accuracy to help me research for the book. What do you think?"

Several emotions flitted across his usually passive face in the span of two ticks of the clock on the mantle. She wanted him to join her in Paris? Arguably the most romantic city in the world? Did she appreciate his annoying desire for detail? Hermione Granger needed Draco Malfoy's help? His lips parted with obvious happiness. "Ms. Granger, there's no need to ask me twice! What are the travel plans and when do we leave?" He took out a quill and dipped the tip in the emerald ink pot on his left, prepared to take notes.

Hermione jiggled her legs up and down in excitement, "I was thinking as soon as logistically possible. I want to begin writing when the idea is still fresh. Thank you for all this."

Draco paused in his writing. What did that mean? "What 'all this' are you on about? You don't expect the House to pay for this trip?"

She had the grace to look embarrassed but continued talking anyway. "It's business related, isn't it? Of course, the House should cover the expenses!"

Draco wiped his hand over his face in exasperation. Hermione was lucky she was his favorite author and a best-seller to boot, or she wouldn't get away with half of the requests she did. "I'll tell you what. We can go for three days with one meal a day included and a one room suite at a 3-star hotel. If you want the House to cover it, you can sleep on the couch or buy your own room. Fair?"

That was more than she expected from the usually tight-fisted man. She beamed, "Brilliant! Thank you, Draco."

He nodded with a small smile, he had a feeling he'd be regretting his easy compliance to her request.

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A/N: Hey there! So at least one person expressed interest in a "prequel" sort of story looking back at the Paris trip mentioned in my one-shot — The Write Side of the Bed. I'm still procrastinating an academic paper so obviously, I began this story instead. I have three chapters completely written, and I'm looking at A Tacky Tourist Coffee Mug ending at the fifth chapter. Let me know what you think with a quick review! Thanks so much, xoxo Court