Chapter 3
Adrian stood just outside of a small townhouse in muggle London with a briefcase in one hand and his son's hand in the other. Max shifted from foot to foot, already bored with being in the muggle world. "Sorry, buddy," he said. "We won't be long, I promise. Want to ring the doorbell?"

With an indifferent shrug, Max pressed the button and listened disinterestedly as it chimed inside the house. Two sets of feet, one running, the other walking, could be heard before the door opened. Standing there was a small girl with bright blue eyes and dark blonde hair, and she wore a smile that reached every corner of her face.

After pulling Kit back, Hermione looked up to see who was at the door and gasped. "Adrian? What are you doing here?" she asked.

"Thought I'd come by and drop off some information on the house," he replied, looking kindly at the little girl by her side. "Draco said you were interested in making an offer. I take it the tour went well?"

"Is we movin, Mama?" Kit asked, looking apprehensively at the stranger standing in her doorway.

"No, sweetie," Hermione chuckled. "Really, you didn't have to bring this here...to my house. You could have sent it by post."

Adrian shrugged. "I prefer doing things in person," he replied. "Makes me seem more accessible to my clients."

"Would you like to come in?" Hermione asked uneasily. When Adrian nodded, she and Kit stepped back and opened the door wider to allow their guests to enter. "Um, Kit, why don't you show..."

"Max," Adrian interjected.

"Max your toys," she suggested. Kit looked at her dubiously before agreeing. The children begrudgingly left the sitting room, leaving Hermione and Adrian alone.

A devilish grin crossed Adrian's face. "Secret love child?" he guessed. Hermione was shocked and a bit mortified that a man she barely knew would ask such a question. When he registered the blush on her cheeks from his far too personal question, he added, "Max is."

"I'm not really interested in that," she mumbled, looking away. "Um, you said you had some information for me."

Nodding his head, Adrian set his attache case down on the coffee table and removed several sheets of parchment. "We haven't gotten many offers for the house," he said, handing her spec sheets and information on mortgages, as well as the Ministry application to convert the house into a school. "There's one little hiccup though."

"Which is?" Hermione wondered, reading over the material.

"That property belongs to the Malfoy family," he replied, taking a seat when she offered.

"Malfoy didn't mention that," Hermione pointed out. "He seemed like he was behind my idea though, so why would that be a problem?"

"After the war, a lot of properties belonging to Death Eaters were seized as reparations by the Ministry," he informed her. "This house was among them. It was only in the last year that Draco was able to secure it from the Ministry. And while he put it up for sale, it does still belong to Lucius and Narcissa. Means they'll have the final say in who it goes to."

Hermione sunk back against the back cushions of the couch and let the papers fall to her side. "So, what you're saying is I have no chance of getting it," she said quietly.

He shrugged. "Like I said, Draco seems on board with your plan. He might be able to persuade his parents," he replied reassuringly. "He is the apple of Narcissa's eye, after all. If anyone can convince her to do something, it'll be Draco."

Nodding, she picked up the papers again and continued to read until she heard Kit call for her. The little girl ran into the room and climbed onto the couch beside her mother. "I no like him," she whispered loudly.

Smirking, Adrian dismissed himself to check on his son, having heard what the little girl said. When he was out of the room, Hermione asked, "Why don't you like Max?"

"Him no talk," Kit said, settling down on Hermione's lap. "Why won't he talk?"

"Maybe he's shy," Hermione offered.

"Mummy, does he only have a daddy because he's a boy?" she asked. "Like I only have a mummy because I'm a girl."

Hermione chuckled softly. "No, baby, it doesn't work like that," she replied, wrapping her arms around her daughter. "I'm sure Max has a mum of his own."

Kit shook her head. "He said he doesn't," she stated, blue eyes wide as if to say I just proved my point.

Looking up, Hermione spotted Adrian near the entrance to the sitting room with Max hiding behind his legs. She wasn't sure how much they heard, but judging by the solemn look Adrian wore, he must have heard something vital. "We're going to go," he announced, prying the little boy from his leg. "I reckon it's almost bed time. Max, can you say goodbye to Kit and Miss Granger?" Peering around Adrian's leg briefly, Max gave a half-hearted wave before reattaching himself to his father's pant leg.

Moving Kit from her lap, Hermione rose to show her guests out. "Thanks for dropping off that information," she said when they reached the door. "I'll write to Malfoy tomorrow to see if there's anything he can do to help in securing the house."

"You'll get it," he said confidently. "Tell Kit I said thanks for keeping Max entertained. I know he's not much company around new people, but maybe we can get them together again soon. Poor kid tends to only have adults around."

Glancing briefly back at Kit, Hermione nodded. "I think she would like that too," she agreed. "I'll see you soon, Adrian."

With a nod of his head, he said goodbye. He heard the front door close as he and Max made their way back to the Leaky Cauldron where they could floo home. "So, what did you think of Kit?" Adrian asked as they walked hand-in-hand.

Max shrugged. "She's nice," he replied before adding, "For a girl."

Adrian couldn't help the laugh that escaped. "Your Uncle Draco used to turn up his nose at girls like that too," he commented, swinging their arms back and forth as they walked.

"Do you like girls?" Max asked. Adrian nodded. "Do you like Kit's mummy?"

"I do," he confirmed. "And I hope you will too. I think she'll make a wonderful teacher for you once she opens her school."