Draco Malfoy and His Quest to Sensibility

by cleury

Chapter XIV

"How bad is it?" said Draco, adjusting the material around his neck. He hadn't worn a tie for two the whole two weeks, aside from that one time when his mother came to visit him in the ward. He tightened the knot and wiggled it loose to give himself air to breathe. Wouldn't want to faint on the first day back at work.

Taking a deep breath, he took a turn around the office to see if anything had changed in his absence. His side of the office, with a large wooden table and bookshelf behind it, hadn't changed at all. On Adrian's side however, the pile of papers on his desk had grown and multiplied. Draco grimaced, feeling slightly sorry for pushing all the work onto his partner due to his unexplained disappearance.

"Remember The Port Crisis?" asked Adrian. He was referring to the time when a small political dispute caused a sudden boom in pirates captured vessels and their goods, and it had taken almost a year for the problem to die down. "Apparently since the economy's been failing,people have jumped ship—mind the pun—to piracy."

Draco scowled. The crisis occurred when Draco and Adrian were less than ten, but it stayed vivid in Draco's mind because all the pure-blood merchant families had gathered in his Manor, where they proceeded to create a plan to clean up the ocean. He took a seat, and savored the feeling of sinking into his plush leather chair; a stark contrast from toilet tiles. "How many ships did we lose?"

Draco swore when he saw Adrian hold up four fingers. "We can't afford to lose that much. Money's not that important, but we don't have time to collect anotherset of raw goods for our manufacturers."

Adrian drummed his fingers on the table, agreeing to what Draco said. While it always hurt to lose money in business, delaying the supplies would cause problems in the manufacturing and distribution lines after. They had to sort out the problem before it snowballed into something bigger. "We need materials, even if we incur monetary loss.I suggest we negotiate with them. If we wait for the Magical Law Enforcement Patrol to do anything, they might impound our goods. Our goods might have spoilt by the time we get them back. I wasn't sure if you wanted to dabble in the grey, so I wanted to talk to you first."

Draco nodded, and sighed. "And we tried so hard to keep the business sparkling clean. Well, I'm all up for it as long as it's not illegal. Have the authorities found anything yet?"

"Nothing."

Draco snorted. "Figures. I'm surprised pirates would even steal from Malfoy vessels. Do they have a death wish?"

Adrian shook his head. "I think it's because we're not running the business like that anymore."

Draco closed his eyes and pressed his fingers on his temples. "Let's get our guy to find someone we can negotiate with."

The other man nodded and began writing on a piece of parchment. He tied the message onto the leg of a grey owl and they watched it fly off into the distance.

"We should get a reply within half an hour. All we can do now is wait," said Adrian.

Draco bit his lip, and nodded. "How are things with the company?" He might as well make conversation if the only thing they could do was wait. Plus, Adrian could speed him up on current events so it would be easier to sort out the paperwork that had amassed during his break.

Adrian rolled his shoulders, loosening them up. "Aside from this, everything is running like clockwork. There's also a betting pool for why you suddenly took two weeks off."

"Oh," said Draco, swiveling in his chair. "What's the crowd favorite?"

"You eloping with Ginevra Weasley," said Adrian, a grin spreading across his face. "I didn't believe that one though, unless she was hot."

"What?" said Draco, sitting up."Red? And why does everyone think I'd marry someone based just on how hot they are?"

Adrian laughed. "Should I be putting money there too? Since when did you have a nickname for Ginevra Weasley?"

"Since forever." Draco scowled. He hated rumors and the stories thatspun out from them. As if he would be interested in a Weasley!

"Looks like your two-week break did you some good," observed Adrian. Draco had barely grunted at him during the past month when he had tried to initiate and make conversation with him on things other than business.

Draco glanced at Adrian, wondering whether he could confide in him or not. It was one thing to talk business with him, but he had never shared anything personal with the man. Well, if I trust his business ethics… "I was admitted to a psychiatric ward."

Adrian's eyes popped open. "Oh, um…" he sighed. "Draco, I know that we don't normally hang out and stuff. But if you ever need anyone to talk to, I'm definitely there."

"Um, yeah," mumbled Draco, feeling uncomfortable with the sudden heart-to-heart with Adrian. His eyes narrowed. What if Adrian was trying to dig information for future exploitation…?He opened his mouth, preparing to insult and demand Adrian to never mention it he saw the smiley face on his palm.Be nice. Draco frowned. Now was his chance to change. What should he do?

"People like to be thanked."

"Thanks," said Draco, looking at Adrian.

Adrian whipped his head around and stared at Draco in shock. "No problem," he finally said, obviously not expecting Draco to thank him. He stared as Draco fiddled with the paperweight on his desk and he continued staring even when Draco glanced at him. He grabbed his wand and walked over to Draco.

"Why are you pretending to be Draco Malfoy?" he said, grabbing the blond by the collar and yanking Draco out of his chair.

Draco gritted his teeth. This is what happens when you're courteous! "Let go!"

"Fooled me there for a second. But Draco would never say that," snarled Adrian, pulling his nose close to Draco's face and sniffed. "Polyjuice?"

"No, you—" growled Draco, he closed his eyes and concentrated. "—and how many people do you know can do that?" he said, bringing them to the other side of the room.

"Wandless Apparition," said Adrian, calming down slightly. "Good, but still not enough to prove you're Draco."

Draco sighed. "Match against Ravenclaw in my second year, I sprained my hand and we all kept it a secret because it was too late to find a replacement Seeker."

Adrian visibly relaxed. "Blimey, I thought I shared company secrets with an intruder." He watched as Draco apparated back on his leather chair—wandless of course. "Show-off."

Draco smirked and leaned his head back. Adrian continued to watch him until Draco felt uncomfortable. "Miss me that much?"

Adrian laughed. "I'm sorry," he said, still staring. "You're not acting like the Draco I know. I'm starting to think I've gone completely bonkers. What have you done to yourself?"

Draco shrugged, determined not make a big deal out of it. "I did a bit of soul searching."

"The place you went to changed you, huh."

"Yeah," he said, looking down at his palm. "I realized how much of an arsehole I was, so I'm trying to make amends."

Adrian laughed again and suddenly stopped when Draco shot him a glance—not a glare. "Well, good on you, mate. If you need anyone to practice being nice to, I volunteer."

Draco did his best to keep his face neutral and not form his signature scowl or roll his eyes. "Don't mind me if I slip up occasionally."

"You can follow my family motto: perfect practice makes perfect."

Draco raised both his brows and shook his head. "Easier said than done."

"Little Draco has grown up."

"Don't push it." Draco decided that making a conscious effort on being nice was quite hard, but ultimately, not altogether unpleasant. Who knew making people laugh could feel so good?I had always wondered why people degraded themselves into dressing up as clowns. Now he seemed to have his answer. Draco shook his head and smirked to himself. He would never reduce himself to such a level; he'd rather be a prick.

"After this is over, let's have a drink," said Adrian, quite liking the subtle changes and effort Draco was putting in being pleasant around him. When they first met, Adrian was quite satisfied just being business partners with Draco, but Draco looked like he needed people around him right now. He shuddered to think what happened to put Draco in a psychiatric ward, but he should have noticed, and helped Draco in his time of need. Well, better late than never, he thought. "I've often wanted to see what you were like drunk."

Draco raised an eyebrow and gave Adrian a cocky smirk. "I hold my liquor very well."

Adrian mirrored Draco's expression. "I drink like a fish. Tell me, Draco. How good do you look in tight leather pants?"

Draco raised his eyebrow, not entirely sure what Adrian was plotting. I'll have to be careful around this one; he's a Slytherin after all. "I look absolutely fabulous in leather pants. Not that I own a pair or ever tried some on before. Why?"

Adrian stood up, pacing around the room as he often did when he thought. "My grandmother—Merlin bless her long-living soul—had thought it would been an appropriate gift to her only grandson, she thinks they're the hippest thing she's laid her eye upon. Of course, come next family gathering she'll ask for sure, whether the pants had been worn." He turned to Draco, his face the epitome of filial piety. "I can't bear to lie to my little old Meemaw."

"You won't be lying when she asks next time. You would have well and truly worn them."

Adrian rubbed his chin thoughtfully. "Good thing we're the same size, too."

"Winner has to wear them for a whole week."

"Deal," said Draco, shaking hands with Adrian

Adrian snorted when he saw the smiley face on Draco's hand. "You weren't at Fairyland snorting pixie dust or something, right?" He looked at Draco up and down wondering exactly what had caused his business partner to change.Could it be that he fell in love with Ginevra Weasley and that made him a new man? Adrian noted that there was a lack of photographs of Harry and Ginny in the papers recently. Maybe I should place my bets in that pool.

"Fairyland would've been normal compared to where I was."

"Mind if I call you Smiley from now on?" said Adrian, still smirking at the scrawl.

"Ha, ha," said Draco, raising the corner of his lips. "No." The ends of his lips tugged into a frowned.

"Spoilsport," said Adrian. He sighed, still not quite accustomed to the small changes in his sort-of friend. "Don't worry; I'll only call you that in private, Smiley."

Draco scowled. "Go to hell."

Adrian rolled his eyes at Draco's sour face. "Aaaand he's back."

Fwoosh!

Draco and Adrian turned swiveled their chairs to face the fireplace. A man cowered at the sight of two suited men.

"Y-You sent for me?" asked a man. He was short, and his hair was thinning out on the edges. He kept close to the fireplace, not feeling comfortable with the sons of two notorious Death Eaters.

Draco smelt the fear from the man, and knew the pirates were wasting his time. They're testing the waters, and wondering what kind of message we'll send. His nostrils flared at the thought of someone wanting to test them. There was a tense silence as Draco thought of the best possible way to deal with the man. He hadn't wanted to bring the element of fear into his business-at least not in the process of making deals—ut it looked as though the pirates were checking whether Draco and Adrian were wet behind the ears—inexperienced enough to be taken advantage of.

Asshole Draco might be, doormat he was not.

"Yes," said Draco in a voice that could freeze fire. He glared at the man and he immediately looked down. Definitely small fry. The pirates wanted to play games. Draco uncrossed his legs and leaned forward so both his elbows were on the man was too intimidated to look at Draco in the stood up from his chair and leaned forward, his hands pressing on the table supporting his body. "I didn't send for you!" He slapped the table hard, the man squealed and Adrian raised an eyebrow. The pirates made a mistake, sending someone like him as their negotiator. They had obviously chosen the poor messenger as a sign of disrespect, as well as to gauge what the new Malfoy business would do. "You're what, over forty? And still an errand boy?"

"Draco," said Adrian. He looked at the blond man beside him and noted his body posture. Despite his loud violence, Draco was calm and cool as a cucumber. Adrian smirked, catching on quickly. "Let him speak," he said, playing the good cop.

Draco shot a glare at the whimpering man. "Give us our cargo back and we'll let you walk away free." He took his wand out of his pocket and placed it carefully in front of him. "Or else."

Adrian stood up, walking towards the man. "What he means to say, is that our main interest is getting our goods back. We don't want any trouble."

"I-I can't," stuttered the man. He had been someone the pirates had coerced into meeting the heads of the Malfoy business because he had lost all his money in a gambling den the night before. The pirates had threatened to cut his fingers off if they didn't do as he was told. He wondered if he should have had taken up that offer instead. At this rate, I might be losing my life!he thought.

"Adrian, I think it's trying to communicate with us."Draco slammed the table repeatedly, and the man jumped two feet into the air. "What did your boss tell you to say? I know you're not the negotiator."

The messenger cringed under Draco's glower and wished he hadn't lost all his money in a gambling incident. "H-He said to—"

Whack.

"Yes?" asked Adrian, growing quite tired of this man as well.

Whack.

"You're wasting our time," growled Draco.

Wham.

"Have mercy on me!"

Wham.

"That's it," said Draco. He walked over to the man and shoved Floo Powder into his hands. "Tell your boss we sent you back because you were about to shit your pants, and get him to send somebody who can actually talk." He shoved the man back in the fireplace.

"Diagon Alley!" the man yelled, bursting into green flames.

"Good riddance!" said Adrian shaking his head. "At least he had the intelligence to go to Diagon Alley instead of shouting out the place of their hideout."

Draco cricked his neck. "It would've saved us so much more time." Depending on the length and success of their negotiations, they had to rearrange dates and deadlines. What a bloody mess. He had half a mind to sail off on his boat and go hunting for the pirates himself. "Any clue on who the band of pirates might be? Us being the new Malfoy or not, I can't see common folk looting Malfoy vessels."

Adrian frowned, nodding. "I'm starting to think we're targeted. We lost four of our ships within two days on the Magic Routes—so muggle pirates wouldn't even be able to touch us. I can't see it as a coincidence that so many of our ships were attacked by separate and small pirate groups." He turned to face Draco as he voiced his thoughts. "That man who just came, he obviously wasn't part of his crew."

Draco snapped his fingers. "Gambler who can't pay his debt."

"That would be the most likely explanation," said Adrian, realizing the full implications on his conjecture. "That's why our guy could find this guy so quickly."

Draco nodded, if the lootings were completely independent of each other, their guy wouldn't have been able to gather the information so quickly. "Jean Kidd's is the only crew big enough to capture our ships in that kind of speed." Jean Kidd's crew was one of the prominent gangs that sailed in the magical seas. "They run an underground casino, don't they?"

"It doesn't make sense for them to attack us now, not when we've been sailing for so long," reasoned Adrian. "Though they probably had it in for us when we dismissed their offer for protection."

Draco scrunched up his eyes. "When was that again?"

"June last year?Can't bloody remember, they were one of the many who came offering their services."

Draco shook his head, one question bothering him. Why would pirates bother stealing their cargo? Though their spices and sugar were of high quality, the items themselves weren't very valuable in without proper processing. The only thing worth looting was the silk, but even idiots knew it wasn't silk-trading season. He wasn't entirely sure what was going on. He had a gut feeling there was a larger reason for the looting, but he couldn't quite put a finger on it.

A snowy-white owl flew into the room and dropped a letter on Draco's desk. Wordlessly, Draco reached forward to grab a letter-opener, slitting the envelope in one deft stroke. "Hmm," said Draco as he scanned the contents.

"What did they say?" asked Adrian as he leaned over to take the piece of parchment from Draco. They had to tie everything up by the end of the week or risk affecting their production line. Adrian read the parchment and whistled; at the very least, they were making progress. "They know that we know it's them."

Draco sighed and rubbed his face with both hands. "Well, they want us to meet them in the Moore."

Adrian rubbed his chin, thinking about their situation at hand. "I'm wondering if it's worth the risk. Even though the Moore's neutral territory, their looting and the way they dealt with negotiations is strange at best. Something fishy is going on—especially if they're inviting both of us out."

Draco flexed his fingers. "How good are you at duelling?"

Adrian raised his eyebrows, registering the slight tilt in Draco's voice. "I'm president of the Wiltshire Duelling Club. I think I can hold my own against a band of pirates. You however, I'd worry about."

"Hm. You obviously don't know me very well then," said Draco as he stretched. He stood up from his chair, and grabbed his jacket and his walking stick. He didn't often take it out on business deals as it tended to intimidate his partners. But that was what he needed right now. "Shall we get going?"

Miss me? Miss me? Did you miss me? (If you're Sherlock-ed like me, then you will probably rage after reading that sentence... but ARGH. THAT ENDING. Anyone who likes ranting about Sherlock, please PM me. I can be your rant-buddy.)

This the second part of my story. Don't worry if it seems pretty random and unrelated to the original storyline, they connect eventually... I think. The next instalment should be coming soon. I sent the chapter to my beta-reader already, so fingers-crossed!