"I have a lunch today with Amos Diggory, it's amazing progress, I think he's coming around to the idea of running for Minister. He isn't exactly keen on my funding his campaign, but I told him he has to start somewhere and my money spends as well as anyone else's and I'm not going to go about putting stipulations on his platform. He's a good man; I won't need to control him, he sees reason and he knows what we're doing simply doesn't work. The Wizengamot on the other hand, there's our problem." Hermione put her coffee cup and the Daily Prophet aside and quirked an eyebrow at Draco.
"Quite. I honestly don't see how we're going to get the Draconian sets of laws in the Wizarding world reformed with a stagnant bunch of hundred fifty year old purebloods as the only real lawmaking power. Imagine, inherited positions in this day and age, especially for something as important as the laws to govern an entire society. But honestly, love, I don't see an easy way out of it."
"Is anything ever easy?" She got up and strolled over, straddling his lap and wrapping her arms around his neck.
"Some things are, but they usually aren' t the important things. It's amazing what we have already accomplished; don't you think? We knew this would be a long game we were playing, and we're barely a year into it. I have several appoinments today with influential ladies in society. Ostensibly it's for more charitable work for the war orphans and the rebuilding of Hogsmeade, and the surrounding villages. I think that might be the best time to start laying the groundwork for the Wizengamot to stick it's hand in. After all, the government has been conspicuous by its absence in any charitable work, mentioning that in the right ears should start to plant the seed of involvement. Once they do decide to participate you can make sure they do it in a way that completely alienates the general public. Lots of permits, oversight committees that prevent things from getting done, officials to be bribed, people pushing agendas to improve wealthy areas that don't need the help, Wizengamot regulating the spending and where the galleons go, that sort of thing. It will enrage people when all the progress comes screeching to a halt. It will also give Amos a natural platform to run on." Draco nodded slowly, a satisfied smirk starting to form as he ran his hands up her sides under her blouse.
"Merlin woman you are so sexy when you're plotting." He wandlessly vanished their clothes, making her gasp in surprise, and bit down not so gently on her neck. "So, continue on, tell me how you're going to segue this into overthrowing the Wizengamot."
"Mmm, well, people get belligerent when you mess with their galleons, and when they see children suffering all that old patriotic zeal should come to the fore. The right press coverage of the Wizengamots incompetenece and malevolence, coupled with some truly bad advice in the wrong ears by proxies we choose, well, soon there would be all out riots in the street. And the only way to really quell all that? Martial law." He chuckled, hands starting to wander, making her wriggle against him.
"Riots love? And I'm the ruthless one? It makes sense, though. Really it's either that or we kill them all and put the entire system in jeopardy while the new generation jockeys for power. And honestly, since it's just a new generation of everything the same, I don't see anything changing. We have to put the power back in the hands of the people and make them see that they damned well need to take responsibility for their own futures. No more prophecies and heroes and the like, just the logical functioning of a society involved in the governmental process." He missed the twitching of her lips for a moment, then glared, nipping sharply at her lip.
"What? It's your damned fault anyway. I would still be happily puttering in my shop if you hadn't showed back up and made me see what a bloody mess there was to clean up." He snogged her hard, loving how she writhed in his lap when he did that, trying to get closer to him. Then pulled away completely, denying her. She kicked at his ankle, her frustration obvious, then smirked.
"Ah, well that explains it all, of course. You were still a spoiled, selfish, obnoxious prat until I showed up and made you a decent man?" He looked almost ready to agree then realized the verbal trap she had set for him.
"Bloody hell, woman. Besides, look how much power I will be able to wield if this all comes about. I'll be unstoppable."
"I think it's possible that you nearly already are." He quirked an eyebrow in wry acknowledgement and tipped his head back to look into her honey brown eyes.
"Perhaps. And I think perhaps that power is quite the aphrodisiac to you, isn't it? No, don't bother denying it, I know you quite well by now, and I know power arouses you, at least it does if it's used properly. And that is one thing I learned from leading strings, the proper and effective use of power to get what I want. And right now…" there was a sharp tug behind her navel and suddenly they were back in the master suite. "Right now I want you."
"I'll be late for my appointments." He shook his head slowly.
"You still have yet to learn love, with who we are together you are never late, you arrive exactly when you wish and anyone who was there before you was simply early."
"That's rude."
"That's just too damn bad." He smiled and made her very, very late.