Okay, so this is my first fan-fic. Extremely nervous, yada, yada, yada.
None of these characters belong to me, except Feliks Ashbone.
All characters that don't belong to me, belong to J.K. Rowling and what a lucky woman she is.
Chapter 1.
The dawn's light filled the office through tall windows. Lucius blinked at his desk for a moment as he realized he had indeed worked through the night. The thought hardly pleased him as he glanced over to the 'in' tray that towered far above the 'out' tray. He threw down the pen his son had bought him for his Birthday and sighed. Why was it that finding a good assistant was almost impossible? His work had been piling sky high ever since his last assistant had left him.
Lucius' assistant had been poached by a rival company and the thought made Lucius scowl. The only redemption was that said company were a new, naive company that, unlike Malfoy Enterprises, was not well known. Even so, the betrayal still stung. How on Earth had they coerced him? Maybe he'd been offered more money and less work? A higher position perhaps... the more Lucius thought on it the more frustrated he became. He even toyed with sending out one of his 'spies' to find out but he only mused with the idea. The assistant wasn't that good and only took a third of Lucius' responsibilities as assistant. Lucius always ended up having to take on some of the work his assistant really ought to have dealt with.
But now he didn't even have that pesky third covered, he had to cover it all including his already strenuous tasks as head CEO of his family's company. Draco had suggested he hire two assistants but Lucius insisted that this would be a case of 'too many cooks in the kitchen' and didn't like the sound of it at all, even if it had already been six months since his last reasonably capable assistant had left him and prospects were looking grim.
He'd attempted various trial hires through-out the half year he'd been assistant-less but none had proven particularly helpful in any way. The work was heavy, Lucius knew that well enough but the assistants would always be reduced to mere secretaries who answered the phone and did little else. Lucius sighed once again as he leant back in his chair, pale hair falling elegantly over it.
He had even toyed with the idea of entering a very, very early retirement but he knew that idea was ludicrous. After all, he lived to work and things had been that way ever since... well ever since Narcissa died. He sat upright in his chair as soon as he thought of her name. Batting thoughts of her away he pushed his wheeled chair back and stood at the window that over-looked the busy streets of London, trying to train his thoughts elsewhere. Sometimes it was easy to escape the thoughts and memories other times, however, it was painful cycle that would set him reeling for days on end.
As if luck would have it, there was a knock at the door. Lucius turned and called a 'You may enter'. He already knew who it was, for the front desk would have called him if it were anyone else. Just as he thought, the door opened and Draco stepped in, closing it behind himself. He was glad to see him, knowing that Draco could ease his thoughts.
"Morning Father, I was told by the front desk that you hadn't gone home", Draco informed him as he made his way and sat down in the chair in front of his Father's desk. Draco neither spoke in scolding or question. Just simply stated what was fact.
"Indeed. This assistant business is driving me to insanity", Lucius told his son with a sigh as he retook his own seat across from his son. He gestured with an elegant hand to the pile in his 'in' tray "With the new branch in China I've been 'snowed in' with work..."
Draco smiled sympathetically. He had been shocked when his Father's assistant had left the company to join with another. Malfoy Enterprises was a company that was prestigious and notorious. For anyone, anyone, to give up a job there was insane and he knew he wasn't the only one who thought so. Malfoy Enterprises offered a more than generous payroll, good vacation time, a retirement fund and insurance for the future. "You'd think finding a new assistant for someone as well-known as you Father would be an easy task"
"Not necessarily Draco, after all, your Father is notorious for being a snob with a cold personality", a voice interjected from the door. The two Malfoys looked up to find Severus Snape stood in the doorway. Severus was Lucius' right-hand man, childhood friend and Godfather to his son. He was as infamous as Lucius himself in the business world and just as ruthless.
"You're one to talk Severus, you were known as the 'Ice Prince' in our younger days", Lucius snorted derisively as he scowled at Severus' previous words. But, alas, Severus had spoken the truth; Lucius had a habit of being a snob and often spoke to people with stinging words. "Besides, it's alright for you. You have the more than capable Hermione Granger as your assistant"
Severus could not bring himself to deny that. Hermione Granger was almost too good to be true, how he managed to find such a brilliant assistant he did not know. Besides, he had more pressing matters than arguing over the little things with his old friend. "That well aside Lucius, I actually have a rather interesting proposition for you", Severus began as he closed the office door and made his way into the room.
Lucius raised an eyebrow as he watched Severus approach and then stop beside Draco at his desk. "What might that be?" Lucius asked, more than curious about what this proposition might entail. Severus was always serious when it came to business and Lucius trusted his judgment so whatever this might be could perhaps help Lucius in his plight.
"My sister's son has graduated recently from university. He had been studying business and now is eager to get his bearings in this world of ours. I propose that you take him on as your assistant, on trial of course and see if his work pleases you", Severus proposed to which both Draco and Lucius exchanged uncertain glances. Severus sighed and rolled his eyes at the reluctance of the Father and Son duo "On a trial basis Lucius… surely you can grant him that"
Lucius was unsure, it seemed a rather risqué move, hiring someone (trial basis or not) just because they're related to someone high up in the company. And although he had hired Draco he had made sure that Draco work hard for his position in the company… even with his tendency to spoil his only son. Lucius sighed, 'What harm could it do? After all he probably won't last anyway…' "Fine", he finally said "Have him ready to come in tomorrow. I expect to see him at my office at eight tomorrow morning. No later and remember Severus, you owe me one now", he added darkly.
Severus rolled his eyes once more at the ever dramatic Malfoy and left the office once more. He pulled out his phone as he did so, calling his nephew as he walked down to his own office to break the good news.
Okay, how'd I do? More chapters to come, we'll be introduced to young Mr. Ashbone in the next one.
Little note too - I decided to make this AU because I started reading Harry Potter/Lucius Malfoy fics and got really into them. I wanted to first do my own Harry/Lucius but I don't think I write a good Harry, hah. I also always pictured Lucius as a kind of corporal cannibal or a ruthless businessman. So I thought this AU world would suit...