Disclaimer: I owe nothing but the plot. Surely, if I own HP and it's universe, I wouldn't be here writing this silly old thing would I?

AN: Hi guys, to be honest, I'm still toying with the idea for this story. Let me know what you think, yes?

Don't forget to read and review :)

Enjoy.

CHAPTER 1

Ab Initio : From the beginning


Merger: A combination of two companies/firm to form a new company/firm.

Acquisition: The purchase of one company/firm by another in which no new company/firm is formed.

"Honestly, the little bugger better appreciate this. I spent two nights fixing the proposal for him, I even have to forgo my long-awaited date night with Henry" Alicia mumbled.

Hermione just smiled at her, "Well I told you I can do this by myself. It's not that I have anyone waiting for me to come home to.

"Nonsense! As if I will let you get all the credit for this," Alicia lightly bumped Hermione's arm while smiling at her workaholic friend. Of course she know Hermione is up for it, her position in the position speaks for itself. Hermione Granger is by far the most hardworking, brilliant colleague she has ever had, it's no wonder she was made into junior partner in the firm after only 8 years.

Hermione chuckled, "Ah, you know me so well Alicia." She glanced at her laughing friend. Alicia is more than that, she's like her older sister that she never have. Alicia is 10 years older than her, but her baby-faced makes her look about Hermione's age. Especially with all the makeup she plastered all over her face and her petite figure, it's no wonder people always thought Alicia is younger than her. Not that she bothered, of course.

"Well, hurry on then. We have another half an hour to go and this heels are killing me."

Hermione rolled her eyes, 'Such a drama queen, that's Alicia.'

"Ugh I don't understand why we have to walk all the way to his office. We should've taken a cab instead," Alicia starts complaining.

"Oh, come on Alicia. You've been to his office few times now. You know why." Hermione prefer to walk to her client's building because it's faster. Her client's office is just 15 minutes from the tube station and a cab would've taken longer than that.

"Fine. Let's just get this over with then." Alicia straighten her back and started to walk faster.

'And she's supposed to be the older one,' not that Hermione's complaining. It's rather refreshing to be around that sort of carefree attitude, maybe a little bit childish but still, it's better than all the tension she felt in the office.

She sighed, ever since she's got her promotion as a junior partner, things hasn't been easy for her. She knew a couple of her colleague didn't think she was qualified enough, seeing that she just started working as an associate there for only 8 years. Forgetting the fact that she has been consistently out-performed them, they only think she's got the promotion because she's the boss's favorite.

Her boss, Richard Allen, the senior partner in Amartya & Allen, was the main reason she stayed in the firm. That, and because she has grown fond of the firm. After the Battle of Hogwarts, she left the Wizarding World to continue her studies in the muggle world, as per her parents' wishes.

It was supposed to be temporary stay, a 4 year break. She was supposed to come back home after finishing her studies but she didn't. She studied law part-time in London while working with her uncle in the legal firm as a legal assistance. Granted, she didn't have a law degree back then but with her brilliance, that tiny bit can be overlooked.

'The firm even wanted to hired you right after you graduate, that's how good you are,' her uncle once said. '12 years later, here I am,' Hermione unconsciously played with her left hand, '30 years old, unmarried and workaholic, you must be so proud, Uncle,' she snorted. Her uncle retired last year, finally deciding that 35 years of practicing law is enough.

"Hermione, snapped out of it!"

"Yes, Alicia. I heard you the first time," Hermione groaned.

"Well, you would've walk faster if you have. To think I'm the one wearing heels, what really is the point of wearing that blasted shoe you call heels if you're going to walk so damn slow?" Alicia pointedly looking at my shoes.

"Hey, leave my shoes alone." Hermione rolled her eyes. Apparently, for Alicia, 2 inches heels is no heels at all. "I honestly have no idea how you walk in those 5 inches heels, it looks so excruciating."

"Beauty is pain, my darling. Besides, I got used to it." She shrugged, "Also, these -" she gestured to her heels "- can be a very useful weapon against whatever thing that might crawl out from these scary-looking building."

"Oh stop being dramatic. We've walked through these shortcuts plenty of times before."

"I know that, it's just I always felt like something is off with this place," she said.

Hermione doesn't say anything to that. She know exactly why her friend is feeling that. She looked at the old building in front of her, to any normal person – Muggles, the building appears to be just a broken-down building with a couple shops. She gazed at the pub next to a bookshop. It looks dark and shabby, any people with a right mind won't enter for fear of their safety. The sense of danger that they're feeling is just an inkling sense of magic – it is after all unknown to Muggles, it's logical for them to sense it as danger.

'The Leaky Cauldron' she mused. It's been awhile since she's been to the other side of that wall. It's been almost 3 years since she saw any familiar face from Hogwarts. Not that she's avoiding any of them, it's just between her studies and work, with her friends heavily involved in rebuilding of the Wizarding World, she just didn't have time.

'Liar,' her subconscious lurking into her mind. She shrugged off her mind as if by that simple action she could forget whatever the real reason she didn't return.

But she never forgot. How can she? After the War, she left her friends, leaving them to rebuild the Wizarding World without her. It's her fault that she drove them all away. Not them all, though, she still writes to Harry and Ginny once every few weeks. 'Ronald,' she muttered.

She pushed her thoughts away as she look at Alicia's impatient face, "Hermione, come on. We're almost there. Let's get this done with, yes?"

"Yes, let's," Taking a deep breathe, Hermione walked past the pub without second glance, like she always do every time she passed through Charing Cross Road.


"Mother!" Draco scowled again at his reflection. He looked ridiculous, he seriously don't understand why he has to go to his employee's funeral. He has tonnes of work to do especially now that one of his long-term trustworthy employee, as Father said – he rolled his eyes to this. Dixon Stratley was one of father's closest friend, if you can call him that. Never mind the fact that he is a squib, Father has trusted the guy ever since Dixon has managed to saved Malfoy's fortune from that horrendous deal Father made right after the War.

After the deal went down, Father was rather convinced that he could not trust any competent legal counsel in the Wizarding World – he was sure that they all were trying to stab him in the back and to drag him down, together with everything he have. Afterwards, Father appointed Dixon up and made him the Senior Legal Advisor in Malfroy Enterprise, replacing the foul, hot-tempered Tristan Penny, who has been in that position for the last few decade. 'Which was quite wise. Never liked that bloke anyway,' Draco chuckled.

"Mother!" Draco stared at his reflection, watching as his hand fix his stray hair. His hair is getting longer now, he realised. He make a mental note to get it done after the funeral. Or maybe tomorrow. He has to go to the office after the funeral. Speaking of which, where is his blasted mother?

"Mother! We need to go now otherwise I'll be late for meeting later,'" he was scowling again when he saw his Mother's reflection in the mirror.

"Wipe that scowl from your face, young man. Otherwise people are going to think you were forced to go to the funeral," Narcissa said as she straighten her son's suit.

"But I am being forced, Mother," he retorted.

"Hush, now. You know how your Father would've want this," his mother paused momentarily, "Besides, I will be there with you. We just need to be there for a short while and then you can go back to work," Narcissa looked at the mirror and sighed.

"Sometimes I just wish that you wouldn't work so hard. You look exhausted, son," she was right, of course. Her son looked exhausted. She knew he has been picking up Lucius's work ever since her husband passed away a few years ago. It broke her heart to see Draco worked so hard, never stopping even for her.

Slowly she locked her arms with Draco's, "I've missed you son." She let out a deep breath and open her eyes again, gazing into her son's grey ones. Indeed, she was seeing less and less of Draco these days because of his schedule.

Draco turned and hugged his mother, "I missed you too Mother." He stared at their reflection and he found himself saying, "Tell you what, after I find Dixon's replacement, let's go for a holiday. Just the two of us, anywhere you want Mother," Merlin knows how much he needed a break right now. Mother, like always, was right. He does look exhausted. Surely it won't to leave the office for a week or two.

Narcissa smile at him and she tightened her grip on her son. "Sounds good, son. Now come on, we have a funeral to go to." Draco groaned inwardly, 'Ah yes the funeral. Can't wait.'