No I don't own Harry Potter althought I wish I did! I do however own Aziza.
Thanks for the reads.
Aziza entered along with Severus but they soon parted ways with Aziza heading to the appetizer table while Severus sorted a quiet lonely corner away from the party.
"Uncle Lucius," Aziza greeted her host warmly as she slipped past him and his wife however she did note that Andromeda Tonks was chatting casually with her. It was good to know that the sisters had reconciled after the war. Aziza sighed as she thought back to the company this evening but shifted her attention to the crème puffs.
"Still see you like them," Draco said as he too took one.
"Yes, it's the only reason I remain." she said casually.
"Remain to get fat?" he asked in retort.
"Yet you don't?" she asked playfully bantering with him.
"I don't because I work on my feet all day." he retorted.
"But I do, who else would run up and down from muggles to ministry?" she supplied with a teasing smile.
"And you look stunning!" Draco admitted.
"Thank you Draco, I only wish I could say the same!" She replied smiling at the tortured look that flashed over his face "but I have to go with exquisite, you look exquisite." she finished by gesturing to his outfit. He wore a completely dark blue Tuxedo. "A muggle tuxedo at a pure blood party how did you?" she asked giving into the pressure.
"I thought you might like It." he replied happily.
"I do indeed," she responded.
"By the way, Teddy's here and so is his Godfather." Draco replied with an uncertain look on his face.
Gently I poked him to bring him back. Teddy was orphan of Remus and Tonks.
"I'll go say hello," Aziza replied with a bright smile. "Care to join me?" Draco looked unsure so she just walked off and sure enough he followed. "Hiya Harry," Aziza called cheerfully. "Arms tired signing autographs yet?" she asked smiling at him.
"Yeah, the fans are more work than the game." he admitted "how are you?"
"Fine but I think Hermione might try to overwork me!" Aziza replied once again thinking of how it would feel to share an Office with one of the golden trio.
"Good luck with that," harry chuckled. "Hermione told me you're joining offices with her."
"Yeah, because of budget cuts" Aziza admitted. Throughout the whole thing Draco had stayed silent. "Anyhow, Draco is starting a new branch in Malfoy Industry so I could always transfer there." she added to pull her childhood friend into the conversation.
"Really," harry said not too interest.
"Yes, Potter." Draco sneered "I've added a new line of products including one I'm sure you're familiar with, the S7 Winger." Harry's mouth fell open. Malfoy industry was also a huge producer of sport gear.
"You will let me test one, right?" Aziza gasped now hearing this juicy piece of news.
"Of course not," Draco sneered at the look on both faces. "There are workers who do exactly that!"
"Can I at least have a discount?" Aziza asked showing her desperation.
"I'm sure we can come to an agreement, right Potter?" Draco asked looking at his old rival. Aziza rolled her eyes deciding to let the two play on their own. Taking a glass of wine from a passing waiter she moved leisurely around the room all the while heading for the secluded corner at the back of the party.
Spotting Draco trying miserably to flirt with a blond hair girl, she rose her glass of undrunk wine in the air in the form of a silent toast before tipping the entire thing down her throat. The second it happened a nagging feeling of regret sprang in her stomach. "Too late for that," she whispered continuing to move in that same pattern.
"What are you doing?" a dark figure asked coming to stand beside her. Aziza spun around on her heel to face the tall ex potions master.
"Brewing," she replied with a frown. "Why aren't you socializing?" she asked looking around. There was sure to be many people here he could chat with.
"The better question," he replied in his bored baritone, "why aren't you?" Aziza's face scrounged as she gasped her stomach and bolted for the nearest bathroom. Severus followed like a cat behind her. Holding her hair, he waited patiently for her to finish up heaving the contents of her stomach.
"Not pretty," she hissed wiping her mouth after gaggling.
"What did you drink?" he asked his dark eyes narrowed. They narrowed even further when she shrugged. "Ready to leave?" he asked not giving her a chance to answer as he placed his cloak around her shaking shoulders and pulled her gently but quickly with him as he exited the Malfoy Manor grounds.
Severus did side along apparition to take Aziza with him and lay her on the couch. "Who tried to poison you?" he asked roughly after administering the right potions to her.
"Why do you think anyone would try to kill me?" She asked brushing off the subject.
"Because you're harboring a wanted man," he replied. Aziza's mind was filled with different reasons but she stayed quiet allowing Severus to list them. "You're Father and friends are known death eaters. You remained with your rights and allowed a few to remain free with theirs."
"Severus, you're not a wanted man. Many still hate you but you're not a wanted man. You're free!" she hissed still feeling nauseous even though the potions were working fine. "As for the helping, Harry and Hermione testified for you and for Draco. Uncle Lucius is on parole. My 'father' is dead and I couldn't care. If you need reminding, I hated him!" she sat back feeling the hatred of her father coursing her veins. "I'm going to bed!" she said suddenly. Standing up cautiously she headed up the stairs and to her room. Not even bother to change out of her dress, Aziza dived into her bed and straight to dreamland.
Morning found Hermione already in her office going through paperwork and sipping coffee. The already small office was crammed with four desks and only one filing cabinet. Hermione and Aziza had already talked out how they were organizing it.
"Good morning Miss Granger," a wheezy old man said as he entered and took his seat at the last of the desk. Immediately he started pulling papers out of his case to review.
"Good morning, Mr. Greenglass. Do you know where Ms. Stone is?" she asked.
"Aziza? She probably pulled and all nighter and cooking for us." he replied with a chuckle. Sure enough Aziza came rushing in with crisp black robes and a large bag had unmistakable had four containers in it.
"Sorry I'm late." she said as she passed out the contents of the bag. "it was my turn to cook plus I had a piece to finish." she replied heading back out the door.
"She's always like that." the old wizard chuckled and began eating. "Excellent cook though." he mused.
Hermione continued her work but Aziza didn't return. Suddenly a tawny grey owl flew onto her desk with the most possible grace. None of her papers flew around and nor did it tread on them. "Who are you from?" she asked it as she untied the note. The bird didn't wait as it took off once more. Opening the note, she read. "Miss Granger your colleague has returned home and is well. She has completed her work for the day. SS" Hermione found it weird that Professor Snape was sending messages to her but it was his handwriting and his blood red ink. Nodding to herself, she picked up her left over work and turned on the spot.
Severus was surprised to see Hermione on his doorsteps especially in the huge downpour. "I have Ms. Stone's incomplete work for her." Hermione said. Severus didn't reply only raising one thick black eyebrow. "I would like to see her to explain what she needs to do." Hermione said trying to set pass him.
"Ms Aziza is seeing no one today," Severus replied more than ready to shut the door on her.
"I insist." Hermione said not willing to back down without a fight.
"Really, Miss Granger! I thought you had more common sense than that." he replied towering over her. To Hermione it felt like being a little eleven year old girl with her teacher scolding her instead of the strong independent twenty four year old woman she really was.
"Sorry, Professor." she squeaked. Severus sneered and shut the door in her face ending another bored day.
Unfortunately dreamland didn't want her as she woke up at half twelve. The shining red digits of the clock haunted her as she stared at the ceiling, marveling at the plain white of it. Without any coherent thought she conjured two cans of blue and silver paint. Still moving in her dreamlike state, manually she painted the ceiling by levitating herself rather than the brush. Soon the entire ceiling was the sky blue shade. With the silver she started painting. If anyone had asked her what it was she was painting, she would not have been able to answer as she herself didn't know.
Morning found her sprawled on the floor covered with blotches of blue, silver, gold and lilac paint. Opening her eyes slowly in slits, she beamed remembering her strange compulsion to paint the ceiling. Aziza, still beaming happily, left the bewildered Severus at home. Aziza didn't bother to owl her colleagues as to her absence but she did head in and dropped off the lunch that she was sure was expecting. With another unfound compulsion she apparated to a place she hadn't been to since she was a child.
Severus had taken her here when she was seven and shown that she had superior magical abilities. She had just conjured a bucket of water to be dumped on Draco and his father, all wand less and wordless. Severus was greatly impressed while her father was deeply ashamed. Aziza looked around at her surroundings. It was strange to be standing here after fourteen years but it seemed so right to be among the red, orange and gold leaves that littered the trees and the grass. It seemed so right to be lost in this acorn tree forest with no idea which way was north and not knowing what was happening. Somehow it seemed a perfect place to evaluate the life she had built. She was so caught up that she had not heard the faint rustling behind her.
While Aziza was soul searching, Severus was busy brewing a new complicated concoction of his own design. If he was right then he would change the world. How it was used would decide if it was for the better or the worst. When completed, it had the power to force the person to be completely truthful to themselves for twenty four hours. This potion could work like Veritaserum but was much different. Sighing contently when he added the final ingredient and stirred six times anticlockwise, he removed the potion from the fire and left it to cool. Severus' appreciation was interrupted by a knock on the door.
"Professor, sorry to bother you again but Aziza…" Hermione whispered. Severus raised an eyebrow but back away and turned into the study. Hermione took it that she should follow him.
"Tilly, did Aziza go to work today?" Severus called out.
"Sir, Tilly believes she just dropped her daily lunch." Tilly replied appearing in the room with a tray containing tea and some nibblers.
"Thank you Tilly," Severus replied in his usually soft but commanding voice. Turning to Miss Granger he was surprised the completely worried look on her face. "I do believe we should find her." Severus said. Hermione looked up staring at him with her wide brown eyes.
Alot of surprises to occur but don't ask me! read in the next chapter!