Friday morning: Board meeting

Hermione was confident. She was wearing her confident skinny black trousers, her confident pewter multi-strap double-layer camisole, her confident black jacket and her confident texture heels with ankle straps. She was also wearing her confident Heidi Klum Dress Blues French lace strapless bra and matching thong brief - not that anyone would be seeing those, of course.

When Miss Jennings told her to go into the Boardroom, she strode in confidently (of course), her hips swinging subtly. She laid her papers on the Boardroom table in front of her. She looked up, nodded at the Board members and smiled professionally.

Typically, there were no other women in the room (apart from Miss Jennings). All but two of the wizards were on the declining side of middle age. Of those, Lucius Malfoy was by far the youngest and most handsome, standing by an open window, where his son had banished him to smoke his cigars.

All of the older wizards wore traditional robes. For a second, Hermione wondered if she should have worn them, too. But Blaise and Malfoy were in Muggle clothing; both with their jackets removed and their sleeves rolled up, ties slightly askew.

Hermione was suddenly struck by how attractive Blaise and Malfoy both were. One was dark-featured, the other light; one was serious, the other carefree. Both were two of the most powerful and influential men in Wizarding Britain.

Draco cleared his throat. 'Presenting now is Miss Hermione Granger, Head of Research and Development. She has recently returned from a year in Paris, where she worked closely with the eminent Potions Master Severus Snape. Miss Granger, when you're ready.'

Thank you Mr Malfoy.' She glanced at Lucius, then winked at Draco. 'Junior.'

Draco was going to have to implement a new company policy. No more Mr Malfoy Juniors or Seniors. If he were a lesser man, he'd be starting to feel inadequate. In places.

With a flick of her wand, Hermione sent presentation parchments around the Boardroom table, and to Lucius by his window.

'I have developed an edible product that imbues the consumer with particular positive emotions.' She flicked her wand again, and a three-dimensional image of a selection of luscious chocolates, each one labelled with its ingredients, flavour and emotion, appeared over the table.

Opening paragraph completed, she launched into the presentation itself.

She wasn't expecting rapturous applause. Truly. But she was expecting something a little more than the reception she was given, which was total silence.

'Are there any questions?' she asked.

A short, curmudgeonly wizard with a massive ginger handlebar moustache snorted into apparent life. 'It sounds dangerous, missy.'

Technically not a question, and she could have done with the 'missy', but it was a response, at least. 'The products have been tested on witches and wizards, and no side-effects have been experienced.'

Lucius, now sitting at the table since he had run out of cigars, asked 'Who were they tested on?'

'Me,' Hermione said perkily. 'And some friends.'

Blaise leaned forward a little. 'You're saying that you self-tested all of the products… including the Lust one?'

Hermione let a slow smile play across her lips. 'That's correct,' she said in a sultry voice.

She didn't see almost every wizard (that was awake) adjust themselves beneath the Board table.

'Can you overdose?' Draco asked. 'For example, what would happen if someone ate half a dozen Joy chocolates all at once?'

'Excellent question, sir,' Hermione said. 'Aside from the fact that they'll probably feel sick because the chocolates themselves are very rich, we've designed the products so that the effects nullify after one serving.'

She grinned at Blaise. 'That means, Mr Zabini, you can eat half a dozen Lust chocolates without causing permanent… effects.' She winked. 'If you're capable, that is.'

Blaise returned her grin with interest. 'Do not doubt my prowess, Miss Granger.'

Draco rolled his eyes. Time to stop this before Blaise started shagging Miss Granger on the Boardroom table.

'What would happen if a child ate a Lust chocolate?' he asked sharply.

There were lots of 'harrumphs' around the table.

Serenely, Hermione replied 'We designed the products to be potent only for consumers that are over the age of consent. We tested them on some local children, and I'm happy to say that there were no displays of immoral sexual behaviour from the children. Of course, the amount of caffeine in the Lust product did result in heightened levels of hooliganism.'

'Was your sample representative?' grouched another old codger.

'It was,' she replied. 'The data is outlined in your presentation parchment.'

Hermione waved her wand, and a small, exquisitely-wrapped box materialised in front of each Board member. 'Samples of each product are provided for you,' she said. 'As the Muggles say, 'the proof is in the pudding.' Please try them and let me know what you think.' Then she grinned. 'Probably at home is best.'

She met Draco's eyes confidently.

'Are there any further questions for Miss Granger?'

Every Board member was staring, transfixed, at his box.

'In that case, thank you for your presentation, Miss Granger.' He grinned. 'And for the samples. The Board's decision on whether to proceed with production will be announced a week from now.'

'Not at all, sir. Thank you for this opportunity.' She collected her things and sailed out the door.

Lucius, Blaise and Draco watched her retreating figure.

'A fine figure of a woman,' Lucius mused.

Draco glared at Blaise before he could agree.

On the other side of the Boardroom door, Hermione smiled to herself. She was confident the proposal would go through. And how sexy did Malfoy look when he grinned?

Wait.

Blaise.

Blaise was sexy. Good grief, girl! She laughed to herself. Malfoy, sexy?

Friday evening

Once Ginny found out that Hermione was going to the Malfoy Manor party, she insisted upon offering her services as dresser. Harry tagged along, and Floo-called Ron, Fred and George to meet him at Hermione's before they headed out to the pub.

Which is why Harry found himself wincing on Hermione's sofa with a fluffy cream cat purring loudly and kneading Harry's lap in ecstasy, as a nonplussed Crookshanks and equally nonplussed trio of Weasleys looked on.

Hermione's hallway door banged open. Ginny popped through. 'Announcing the most beautiful witch in the world, Miss Hermione Jean Granger!'

'Give over, you silly woman!' Hermione laughed as she slipped into the living room.

Every man was struck dumb.

The apparition standing before them was dressed in a one-shouldered Grecian gown in a beautiful, soft, sage green that complemented her golden skin. Her hair was twisted into a soft chignon, and around her neck she wore a gold choker adorned with tiny diamonds – a farewell gift from Géraud and Bastien. She would probably have kittens if she knew its real value. They told her it was only worth a quarter of its true worth, and she still practically fainted at the amount.

Thankfully Neville wasn't present to witness Hermione the sophisticated party-goer. Judging by his reaction to Hermione the office worker, he'd probably have a heart attack.

Ron relocated his tongue and his senses first. 'Bloody, bloody hell,' he breathed.

Hermione dimpled. 'Thank you for your eloquent feedback.'

'If you want compliments, woman, come straight to the experts,' announced Fred grandly. 'Miss Granger, you are a vision. An oasis of beauty in a desert of frumpy women. Present company excluded, of course,' he tacked on, acknowledging Ginny's offended sniff.

'You will have all of those society biddies sobbing into their champagne,' added George.

'Seriously, 'Mione, you are beautiful,' Harry said.

Hermione beamed. 'Thank you all so much.' She then noticed Adèle, who was now curled up on Harry's lap. Crookshanks was sitting on the arm rest, looking at Harry oddly. 'Oh, that's wonderful! Adèle likes you!' she cooed. 'Maybe Crooks will learn by her example!'

Ginny gave Hermione a careful hug. 'Have a fabulous time tonight,' she said. 'Make sure you do everything I would do!'

'Ginny!' said Harry, scandalised.

Hermione blew her friends a kiss. 'Don't wait up!' she laughed as she stepped into the fireplace. 'Malfoy Manor!' she announced, and a swirl of smoke she was gone.

The boys looked at the empty fireplace.

'If Zabini lays so much as a finger on her tonight, I'll hex them all off,' Harry growled.

'Get in line,' muttered Ron.

'For Godric's sake, you lot! Ginny said, exasperated. 'She's not a child. She's the brightest witch of our age. Let her live her life.'

'You know who would be better than Zabini?' Fred mused.

'Anybody?' suggested Ron.

'Yeah. Even Malfoy would be better than Zabini.'

'Does he like women?' George asked. 'I can't recall him having a girlfriend.'

'If he's gay, Hermione could probably change his mind.'

At Malfoy Manor

Hermione stepped out of the Floo, and was greeted by a deferential house-elf clad in the Malfoy livery.

Feeling heady, she wandered slowly through the hall and into the ballroom, not registering the glances and muted comments that ebbed and flowed around her. She had eyes for only one man.

And that man was dancing with this fiancée, Pansy Parkinson.

Blaise was dutifully touring Pansy around the ballroom, keeping an eye peeled for Hermione. At last, he spotted her, surrounded by a gaggle of awestruck men.

Theo Nott, innocent bystander, yelped as Blaise grabbed the back of his collar.

'Nott, would you mind terribly stepping in for me?'

'Uh' –

'Pansy, darling, you'll have to excuse me. 'An important client has just arrived, and I have to' – Blaise disappeared before Pansy registered he was gone and she had a new dance partner.

One of the gormless hangers-on was proffering Hermione a glass of champagne as Blaise arrived. 'Thanks, mate,' he said, accepting the glass with one hand and taking Hermione's hand in the other. Kissing it, he gave her his own patented knicker-dropping smile and said 'Miss Granger, you look positively ethereal.'

Hermione blushed and smiled.

Disappointed, the gaggle of awestrucks melted into the woodwork.

'Champagne?' he asked. 'Or would you prefer to dance?'

'I would love to dance,' she said shyly.

Blaise immediately vanished the glass he was holding. 'Of course, my lady,' he smiled.

Narcissa joined her son and husband near the ballroom entrance, the latter smelling suspiciously of cigar smoke.

'Who is that girl with Blaise?' she demanded.

'Hermione Granger, Mother,' said Draco.

'Really?' It wouldn't do to squint like a commoner, so she accepted her son's word for it. 'She's certainly… changed.'

'Indeed she has,' said Lucius.

Narcissa glared. 'Is that cigar smoke I smell?'

Lucius did an excellent impersonation of someone looking offended. 'A fine thing, indeed, not to be trusted by one's own wife!' he sputtered.

The song finished and the classical string quartet began another. Blaise and Hermione danced on, heedless, looking into each other's eyes and smiling like idiots.

'Do you think it's serious?' asked Lucius.

Draco nodded. 'Unfortunately.'

'Well, it has to be stopped!' Lucius declared. 'Can't have an employee ruin one of the most important mergers in one hundred years.'

'I agree.'

Silence.

Suspicion rippling through his body, he turned his head to view his parents looking at him expectantly.

'Why me?'

'You're CEO.'

'Co-CEO.'

'The only CEO not presently thinking with his penis.'

'Lucius!' Narcissa reprimanded.

'I'm sorry, dear, but Blaise marrying the Parkinson chit was an ironclad condition of our merger with Parkinson Holdings. If Blaise throws Miss Parkinson over for Miss Research and Development, we kiss this one-in-a-lifetime opportunity goodbye.'

'Don't panic, Father, it agitates your asthma,' said Draco.

'Asthma, schmasthma,' grumbled Lucius.

'Anyway,' Draco continued, 'I have a plan.'

'Good!' said Narcissa. 'What is it?'

Draco smiled thinly. 'I will seduce Miss Granger away from Blaise.'

He was met by astounding silence.

'What?' he asked, exasperated.

'Er, don't take this the wrong way, son,' Lucius said delicately. 'But are you sure you know how?'

After five consecutive dances in a row, even Blaise could see they were attracting attention. Pansy was currently occupied by Draco, steering the confused lady around the dance floor.

'Is that woman your new important client?' asked Pansy, straining to look at the couple dancing far away. 'She looks familiar.'

'Um.' Draco couldn't come up with anything better. 'Yes.'

'She must be very important,' Pansy said doubtfully. And suspiciously.

With alarm, Draco saw Blaise and Hermione part. Hermione went outside, no doubt to the gazebo, and Blaise went to the bar to fetch two glasses and a bottle of champagne.

Shit.

Draco cast around, and saw Theo Nott head past. 'Nott, would you mind? Thanks awfully.'

And Nott and Pansy found themselves dancing together again.

Draco made tracks to the bar.

'Blaise! Glad I found you. Bit of an urgent meeting, I'm afraid.'

'Right now?' Blaise looked nonplussed. 'But I'm meeting Hermione in the gazebo.'

'It's very urgent. But it won't take long.'

'If you insist.' Blaise pocketed the wine glasses and followed Draco into the study.

He shut the door to the sounds of the party, and headed over to Lucius and Draco. 'So? What's up?'

A certain part of your anatomy, thought Draco grimly.

'We are here to remind you that you are an engaged man,' announced Lucius.

'Pansy?' Blaise waved a hand airily. 'She'll understand.'

'Understand what?' Lucius demanded. 'You know damn well that this merger is dependent on Pansy marrying into MZ Enterprises.'

'So?' Blaise smiled. 'Let Draco marry her.'

'Me?' Draco barked out a laugh. 'Who would have this shell of a man with ink in his veins and a heart that's long been sold to the mistress of cold, hard trade. I'd probably insist that the kids be named after economic theorems.

'Besides,' Draco continued, 'I think you should be with Miss Granger. If you love her, that is.'

'What?' shrieked Lucius.

'Really?' Blaise's eyes lit up. 'You mean that, Draco?'

'Of course,' Draco said stoutly. 'If you love her? Then have her.'

'Now hang on just a minute,' Lucius snarled. 'Blaise, you will get rid of Miss Granger immediately and apologise to your fiancé.'

'Now, come on, Father,' Draco began.

Lucius's normally pale cheeks were starting to turn an interesting shade of purple. 'What about the merger?' he demanded.

'Hang the merger, Father! This is love! It doesn't happen every day.'

Lucius's eyes were starting to bulge.

'Now look,' Draco said in a conciliatory tone. 'There's no reason why we can't sit down and discuss this like rational wizards. Father, Blaise, have a seat.'

'Wow, Draco, I really can't believe you're rooting for me on this one. What did I do to derserve a friend like you?' said Blaise happily, as he sat on one of the study's hard leather chairs.

Then he screamed like a little girl.

Hermione slowly paced the gazebo, breathing in the jasmine and hugging herself with delight. It seemed so easy, so perfect. Blaise Zabini saw her. Danced with her. And invited her to this special place, to be with her. Alone.

Seemed to be taking his sweet time getting here, though.

She heard footsteps approach, sure and confident. Her heart lifted.

Out of the fairy light-lit darkness, a tall man appeared. And smiled.

'Hermione.'

'M-Malfoy?' she gasped.

'You were expecting Blaise?' Draco asked.

'Well, um, that is to say, yes,' Hermione stuttered.

Draco eased into the gazebo, leaning nonchalantly against a post. 'I'm afraid he got tied up with urgent company business,' he said gently. 'He sent me as his proxy.'

'Oh.' Hermione wasn't sure what to think.

The slow, beautiful strains of a waltz filtered through the gardens.

'I expect you were going to dance here with him,' Draco said sympathetically.

'I expect so,' Hermione said wistfully.

'Well, I'm a poor substitute for Blaise, but as his proxy, would you mind terribly if I danced with you?' He held out his hand.

Hermione smiled. 'Of course not.' She stepped into his arms.

They waltzed slowly around the gazebo. Draco was an excellent dancer, she thought. She had a distinct feeling of déjà vu. Being held in the comforting embrace of a confident man. Inhaling his scent, reminding her of –

'Oh!' she whispered.

'Is everything okay?' Draco asked solicitously.

'Yes,' she replied. 'Your cologne. It reminds me of Paris.'

'Paris seems to agree with you,' he commented.

She was reminded of Snape's words. 'I do not disagree with it,' she grinned.

They danced some more.

'Your Board needs some women,' she commented. 'Or at least some men who can stay awake through a presentation.'

He laughed, a low, intimate sound. 'You're right,' he said.

The music drew to a close.

They stood in the middle of the gazebo, neither really wanting to let go.

Draco's next words brushed gently over her hair. 'I imagine Blaise would have kissed you now.'

Hermione nodded sadly. 'Maybe.'

'I may be just the poor substitute, but as his proxy I am happy to stand in for him.'

Hermione looked up at him, surprised.

Draco lowered his head and kissed her, a slow, lingering, tingling kiss.

Hermione looked away, stunned.

'Just his proxy,' Draco said gently.

The music started again. Draco led her into another slow dance.

She barely noticed.

Blaise groaned theatrically as the Healer pulled another glass shard from his once-pristine but still shapely buttocks.

He groaned again.

And again.

'Oh, come now, it can't be that painful!' Lucius was observing the proceedings with a fascinated eye. 'The Healer numbed your bum.'

'It's not that,' Blaise moaned. 'It's the music! I should be holding that delectable body in my arms right now. Yet here I am, lying on my stomach, having slivers of glass picked out of my arse!'

'Hmph.' Lucius turned to the Healer. 'How do you know you've got all the pieces?'

'Simple. We'll rebuild the wine glasses from the pieces we have. If any are missing, I'll have another dig around.'

Blaise's resulting groan was the loudest so far.

A/N: So! Blaise is out of action, and Draco has given Hermione something to think about! What will happen next? Stay tuned, dear readers!