Disclaimer: Uhhh... are we still debating this? fin.. ok..
I own nothing..except a cat. That's my sister's though.
So here is chap two! :)
Chapter Two: Muggles, Meetings and Mumbles
Draco's head is still aching when he came down for breakfast that morning. He called a house elf to get a stronger potion.
"I shouldn't have gone to that party of Blaise" he moaned, his hand covering his face.
"Draco dear, we could cancel the meeting if you aren't feeling very well" his mother said across the table
"Let him be. He knew we have a meeting today and he decided to get drunk dead at a party. I will not cancel a business meeting just because our son is irresponsible" a drawl came from a man with long blonde hair, reading the newspaper.
Narcissa shot deadly looks at her husband but decided to ignore him.
Draco was irked with what his father just said but he couldn't argue because it was true. He smiled because he knew his mother thought so too that is why she didn't answer Lucius. Ten points to Lucuis!
Narcissa saw her son smiled and thought that he might be feeling a little better now, so she asked 'the question' Draco has dreaded this past year.
"So Draco" she said in her softest voice, which made Draco jump because he knew what was coming.
"Did you meet any woman last night?" she continued
Draco groaned, for Merlin's sake! He has a hangover, he felt so tired, he thinks his head is about to blow up, they have a bloody meeting in the muggle world and now this?
Draco did not answer; he does not want to have kids anytime soon, or ever maybe. Grandchildren. That is why his mother is asking him that blasted question again.
Narcissa opened her mouth but Lucius spoke first, "Stop asking that bloody question woman"
His wife gaped at him in astonishment, "how could you say that Lucius?" she asked, like her husband just said something severely blasphemous.
Draco rolled his eyes. Great. Just when every sound is amplified, his parents decided to fight.
He stood up and left his parents shouting. Correction. His mother shouting at Lucius. Draco checked the time left before the meeting. Three hours.
He stepped into his room and sat at the couch in front the fireplace. His room is large, composing his own study, sitting area, the bedroom, the bath and the balcony overseeing the rose garden his mother meticulously take care of.
Everything in his room is expensive enough to feed a whole community for a year. His glass collection, the latest and fastest broom with his Quidditch gear, the furniture adorned with silver and gold, the floating crystal chandelier, is enough for anyone to envy him.
He considered his family lucky for not being thrown to Azkaban after the war. His mother deserves a statue in all the Malfoy property for what she did. Potter actually revealed that if Narcissa Malfoy have not lie to the Dark Lord, he couldn't have beaten Voldemort. Also, quite a few witnesses told the ministry that they became neutral before the end of the war.
Granger also testified that when they were captured and brought to the Malfoy Manor, Draco refused to identify Potter even though they stared at each other for a long time before answering. Harry presented the memory of Snape about the death of Dumbledore. It was examine and declare authentic enough. They did pay an awful amount of tax, had to pay for numerous reconstruction of buildings, even of Hogwarts. They didn't admit it but all of the taxes and reconstruction, with donations added, eighty percent of their money was taken. His parents were fine with it, his mother said that it was quite easy as they can eventually get the money back from their business.
He looks around. Everything he knew could have vanished but he cared little about it. He was just glad that both of his parents is alive and is not in Azkaban rotting.
Draco closed his eyes. He'll rest for a while. Only for a while.
xxxxxx
A paper plane landed on Harry's desk.
"I hope this is good news" Harry sighed and opened the letter. He squinted at the letter then ran out of his office.
"Sage, don't tell anyone I left. If anyone asks, tell them that I'm busy on field." Harry instructed his secretary. The young woman nodded.
He ran to the lift and shouted his destination floor. He burst out of the lift and ran around shouting the name of his best friend.
"Ron!" nothing, "Ron!" still nothing. "Ronald Weasley!"
"why is everyone shouting my full name today?" a grumble is heard from the back.
Lavender's head popped out of one of the isle of records, looking at Harry with eyebrow raised.
"Oh, Lavender. Thank Merlin. Have you seen Ron?"
Lavender stepped down from the ladder, straightening her dress.
"Well, good morning to you too Harry. Ah well Lavender how is your Monday morning? Me? Oh just wonderful. And how about you Harry? Fine, and your dress is very beautiful Lavender. Why thank you Harry" Lavender monologue to herself, as if talking to Harry, while walking towards him.
Harry looked sheepish, embarrass of his actions. "I'm sorry Lav, I guess I was just rushing"
"When don't you rush Mr. Wonder Boy?" she laughed
"Don't call me that" Lavender laughed even more before saying, "Ron's at the back fixing some papers"
"Thank you" Harry was turning a corner when he shouted back at Lavender who was climbing the ladder, "Gin is hosting a dinner tonight Lav. Be sure to be there!"
"Of course Wonder Boy!" she shouted back.
"Don't call me that!"
Harry rolled his eyes. He spotted something red. It is easy location a red head in all of these black and brown boxes.
"Hey Harry. Would you care to explained why you decided to shout my whole name?" his best friend asked without looking up from the files.
"something came up" Harry handed the paper to Ron.
Ron's eyes became as big as saucers, "Have you checked the source?"
"I haven't….but look at the attachment. It does not look like a prank to me"
"But the case is closed. Remember, we're having dinner tonight for her" Ron's voice became quieter as he finish his sentence. "It's been ten years mate"
"I know. Maybe some douche just wanted attention. I don't know" Harry sat on an empty chair beside Ron, "I just can't seem to give up. I just felt like the photograph on the paper is real"
Ron just nodded.
"But get it examined"
"Sure"
Ron threw the paper aside not looking at it again. He checked his watch and decided to get Lavender for some tea.
The piece of paper lies forgotten at the side with one sentence written on it.
The Lioness shall sleep, let be in her dreams, the memories she keeps.
Attached to is a picture of a woman.
Xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
"the Malfoys are here" the blonde young woman whispered to a bald short man.
The man immediately stood and ordered everyone to on their toes.
Two black cars heavily tinted stopped at the entrance of an expensive looking building, with exquisite design.
Draco came out from the second car, he watched as his parents exchange greeting to the bald man.
"young master" the man bowed
"Don't bow Alfred" Draco instructed, "People will find it odd"
Alfred smiled. He knew that people thinking about odd things about them is the least of care of Draco.
"apologies young master" Alfred led his parents to the conference room. He pushed the button for the 52nd floor.
Lucius tapped his cane on the floor. Draco smirked at his father. To think that his parents has now ventured into muggle business and is now attending meetings with muggles. His father has come a long way, indeed.
Actually, they were force into this circumstance. Their business and status in the wizarding world is dropping fast and will not recover as fast as his parents planned. They were on verge of bankruptcy as the ministry froze all of their accounts. However, after five years of investigation they released their funds back to them and in return, the Malfoys donated half of it to numerous organizations. Mostly to the families who lost family members during the war and to St. Mungos.
Draco during those times has his inheritance from the Black family as he and his mother is the only one left from the lineage.
The money was not frozen, however they also cannot spend it on anything because the ministry is breathing down their neck. Plus, they weren't sure how long the ministry will freeze the account.
Thinking back, thank Merlin they did not spend the money as the freezing lasted for five years.
During those years, they have invested into muggle business due to they aren't a persona non grata, easy to make investments and they are considered "billionaires", whatever that means.
Now, they are one of the biggest oil and mineral mining company in the muggle world.
In their life here, only Alfred knows about who they really are.
Ting!
The elevator reaching its destination made Draco realize where they are. Draco followed his parents but before reaching the conference room door, Lucius stopped in front of his son.
"You'll stay here, your presence in not needed"
"Bu- but!" he stammered, "and you made me come?!"
Lucius only smirk at him then turned around.
"Mother!"
"Sorry sweetheart"
And they left.
A very handsome furious man slumped into a chair.
A voice came from behind, a very shrilly voice. As if a very happy girl is running towards you. "Draacoo! Have you been waiting?"
Draco did not even face the person because he might just puke on the spot. But he did imagine that that person is running and waving their hands.
The person in question sat beside him. "Heeyyy… did you miss me?"
"You have issues Blaise"
"No, I haven't"
"Are you not even ashamed of what you are doing?"
"Nope"
"uhgg"
"and pretty confident of my sexuality" the Italian proceeded to wink to a passing blonde, who in return, blushed and giggled.
"muggle girls are so easy" the blonde smirked.
"not quite, there are some who are really feisty and everywhere a man goes, there will always be easy and hard girls"
"whatever you say Professor"
"Ha-ha"
"Besides from bugging me and flirting with my employees. Do you have a valid reason on why you are here?" Draco straightened up from his slump and faced his best friend.
"You know Draco, it will not kill you to actually pay attention to your work" Blaise raised an eyebrow to the blonde man beside him, "you know… eeeeven a little"
"spit it out Zabini"
"remember that new office your company has been planning to build since last year?"
Draco became exited immediately, "yeah! Is it finally being built?"
"yes…."
"yes!"
"…and.. No"
"What?" confused
"Yes and No"
"what?" still confused
"well, 'yes' because the plan has already been approved and 'no' because the location is still occupied"
"what?" now very confused
"the owners of the lot right in the middle of the land refuses to take the offer and leave the place"
"What?" now angry and still confused
"will you stop asking that!" Blaise shouted at his friend
"What?" Draco defended
After an hour of debating and Draco's excess usage of the word 'what'. They now decided to go the place to check, or to spy as Blaise has indicated, as to why those 'mudbloods', according to Draco, refuses to leave the damn place.
They took Blaise's car to get there, after another long convincing to Draco that he will not kill them, and that he can actually drive compared to the Prince of Slytherin.
It was a ten-minute drive, without traffic, thanks Circe.
Inside the car.
"you go in" Draco prodded
"No, you go in" Blaise unlocked the door
"you go in
"nuh-uh"
"stop being such a child and go in!"
"how about you?!"
"fine! I'll go if you go!"
"Fine"
"Fine"
"uhgg… just go already! Or.. or I'll tell aunt Cissa that…what you did last Sunday!"
"you wouldn't dare!"
"why wouldn't I?"
"Fine! Go ahead and tell my mom. In return…" Draco wiggled his eyebrows
"No! Draco that is low!"
"So is blackmailing me!"
"No! that is fair but for you to tell my mom that instead of me dating Clarissa, that I'm…. graahh!"
"that your shagging her mom?"
"shut it!"
Snort.
"Fine. I'll go" Blaise slammed the car door, so strong that the door creaked.
Draco watch his best friend go up the stairs, hesitate to enter the shop, which looked like a bookshop, went back down the stairs, looked at the car then went back to the entrance, finally throwing his hands up then entering.
A few seconds only passed when Blaise came running out. Entered the car, started the engine and drove away from the shop. Fast.
"Hey! Hey!" Draco shouted as he held on to his seat. "What the heck is the problem? It's as if you saw the ghosts of your girlfriends!"
The car skidded as it stopped. Blaise panting.
"ghost… ghost… you are right. Might be a ghost" he mumbled
"Hey, dude…" Draco looked at his friend, concerned.
"uhmmm-grmmm-mmhhmm"
"I can't understand you if you talk like that"
"ugmmm-hhhhuuuhhmmm"
"Just spit it out already!"
"Granger.."
"…"
"Granger"
"yess.. she's dead. She's gone missing for seven years. Declared dead, three years ago"
Blaise faced Draco. "No. I saw her"
Thank you so much for reading. I appreciate reviews :) i want to improve.
till next chap! :)
iffa.