Lucius Malfoy entered Gringotts looking for one special person and not for the usual goblin that loved to bring him down into the biggest vault in the dungeons. The ugly creature looked like it was about to kill itself when Lucius said that he wanted to talk to a human about investing. But because Gringotts would be very empty without Lucius it obeyed and called a blonde witch.

"Miss Delacour is going to escort you, Mr. Malfoy," the goblin said, then hastily walked back to the long counter.

Lucius turned to Miss Delacour, a truly extraordinarily beautiful woman, and motioned her to lead the way. Her silvery-blonde hair danced behind her as she walked quickly ahead, moving with an unearthly grace that would be more than welcomed in the corridors of Malfoy Manor. Oh, why couldn't Draco fall in love with such a girl?

"Mr. Riley just came back from lunch break," Miss Delacour began, but dutifully stopped when Lucius raised a hand.

"I'd like to talk to someone else… William Weasley?"

"Of course!" Miss Delacour's smile brightened and she led Lucius to another door. "'e's amazing, just a little undervalued. Eef you 'ave any problems, I'll be in ze 'all, Mr. Malfoy."

Lucius nodded sharply, let Miss Delacour knock and open the door to introduce him, and then he finally met the disgusting person that had corrupted his son.

Bill Weasley stood behind his desk, obviously surprised by Lucius Malfoy's unexpected entrance but trying his best to hide it.

"Mr. Malfoy… please take a seat." He pointed at the chair in front of his desk, then walked to a counter to his right. "May I offer you a cup of tea?"

"Please refrain." Lucius watched Bill filling just one cup then. "You know why I'm here, Mr. Weasley."

"Surely not to talk about investing." Bill took his seat behind the desk and put his cup in front of him. Lucius tried not to look at it. He stared at Bill, trying to pin him with his eyes like he could do so easily with all those slimy, spineless wizards that polluted his environment. It didn't work this time.

"I want an explanation why you still meet my son."

"That new professor told you something?" Bill shook his head. "I knew it…"

"Draco assured me to break off contact with you."

"Really?" Bill was far too amused until now.

"My son is fifteen," Lucius stated.

"We're not doing anything illegal."

"Of course not." Lucius could remember the marks on his son's flawless skin disgustingly well. "A handsome, young, rich boy doesn't arouse any feelings in you."

"I didn't say that," Bill said with a brazen smirk. "And I have a well-paid job, Mr. Malfoy. I certainly don't want your gold, or want to be spoken to like that."

"Then what do you want?" Lucius leant forward and rested his hands on Bill's desk, the cup a few inches away from him. "What is it a child can give you? What can you offer my son?"

Bill followed Lucius's example and leant over the table. "I let him decide this himself."

Lucius was only one step away from aiming his wand at Bill. "Apparently, you are not interested in talking to me."

"Apparently." Bill shrugged. "Except you want to change the topic to investing."

"I understand." Slowly, Lucius rose from his chair. "But be sure that I will do everything in my power to keep you away from my son."

"Try it, if you must." Bill stayed impressively unimpressed as he walked to the door, opening it for Lucius. "Now, please excuse me. I've got work to do."

Before Lucius turned around to leave, he pulled a small vial out of his pocket and uncorked it. He let a few drops of the liquid fall into the cup on the desk without attracting attention. If Bill had seen what Lucius had dripped into his tea, he wouldn't smile this confidently and let Lucius walk away without the slightest suspicion.

Lucius couldn't suppress the smile any longer as he entered the hall.

"Sir?" Miss Delacour called him from behind. Lucius turned around to watch her picking something up from the ground. "You dropped somezing, Mr. Malfoy." She held the vial out to Lucius, but pulled it back when he reached for it. Curiously, she examined the remaining liquid and then smelled at it.

"Zis is a truly intriguing mixture, Mr. Malfoy. May I ask what zis potion is?"

Lucius had trouble forming a harsh reply and suddenly found himself in the middle of his reply: "Of course. But I thought that an intelligent young lady like you could tell me the answer immediately. It's parsley, sage, rosemary…"

"And thyme?" Miss Delacour smiled a bewitching smile. "You don't carry a love potion around, do you, Mr. Malfoy?"

"Certainly not," Lucius said and retrieved his vial. "Otherwise it would already be inside your tea cup, wouldn't it?"

Her smile brightened even more and she turned away with a hint of faked embarrassment.

Lucius held her back. "Oh, Miss Delacour? Mr. Weasley asked for you."

"Really? Zank you, Sir. I will better 'urry up zen." And with that Miss Delacour floated into the cage not fate but Lucius had built for her.

He let the vial slip into his pocket. A love charm; the easiest way to make Bill Weasley realise whom he belonged to.

Playing cupid… Lucius shook his head. The only reason he didn't throw up right here was the certainty that Draco was safe now.