Laughing and discussing plays, the Salem team made their way from the locker rooms to the busses waiting outside the stadium. They would transport them the short way to the hotel they were staying at, where they would stay over night to then floo back to Salem tomorrow. All of them were in high spirits. Some of the other teams threw them dark glares, especially members of Swarthmore. The defeat of their highly praised freestyle team stung them hard. Professor Zabini and Malfoy had made it clear in the locker rooms though that there was to be no teasing them over this. Professor Granger had given the same message to the girls and continued to accompany them. Tempers were still high and none wanted an outbreak of hostilities. Some of the coaches might turn a blind eye, since their egos had taken a hit too, but none of the Salem professors would allow for this experience to be belittled by petty jealousies.
"All aboard now! There is a little party waiting for you." Professor Zabini called and waved for them to board the bus with the Salem University emblem on the side. Eagerly they started boarding, laughing and congratulating each other on good plays. As they found their seats, they looked to the front of the bus, as Professor Malfoy raised his arms and called for their attention.
"I want to congratulate you all. We did very well. Better than I ever expected and I want to thank you for all your hard work. There will be more hard work to come, but each and everyone of you can be proud of what you achieved tonight. You!" He paused and met their eyes. Breathing deep, they sat straighter with pride. Praise was sparse in their lessons, but when they received it, it was well-earned.
"We have prepared a little after-party at the hotel for you. Relax, celebrate, but be back in your rooms at eleven p.m. at the latest. We have an early start tomorrow at seven and Professor Zabini has assured me he would get you out for training very soon." At his revelation, good natured groaning went through the team's ranks.
"Don't pretend! I know you love my wake-up calls." Professor Zabini threw in with a wink. Professor Malfoy smiled and shook his head. Looking to the side, his smile softened, which prompted the girls to excitedly whisper to each other. They had all seen how their professor had stared at Professor Granger. As they expected, Professor Granger was now boarding the bus. A great whoop went through the team. None of them had seen her fight before and after they had, they had a whole world of newfound respect for her. Smiling she gave a small bow to her pupils.
"All right. Enough of that. Let us celebrate!" Professor Malfoy enthused and they cheered.
The conference room the hotel had set aside for them was stocked with a bar and a DJ was waiting to provide music. All of them had run to their rooms, dumped their bags with their uniforms and rushed back down. Francis was a little nervous. Music meant dancing and he had two left feet when it came to that. With enough alcohol he attempted it, but it looked more like an epileptic doll with its strings cut. He would have to watch how much he drank. Tugging on his shirt, he waited for the elevator to get back down to ground level. The doors opened, but opon checking, he saw that it had stopped on the second floor. A man with dark , tousled hair and glasses entered, nodding at him. Francis mumbled a greeting. A red-headed woman was quickly walking towards them, smiling at the man and giving him a kiss on the cheek.
"Thanks for holding the elevator, love." She said a bit out of breath. Smiling he took her hand, while she offered a polite smile at Francis. Giving a small nod in return, he shuffled and waited for the doors to close. Why were elevator rides always so awkward? Was it a rule of the universe?
"You're on the Salem duelling team." The woman said. Francis turned to her.
"Yes, ma'am." He answered, blushing a bit. He hadn't expected anyone to recognise him as a part of the team. After all, he wasn't a duellist. She gave him a kind smile.
"I saw how your duellist performed. Well done." She winked and his blush deepened.
"Sabrina is a great duellist." He simply said. And it was true. Both Sabrina and Jamal knew that Francis wanted to be a duellist himself, so on weekends between study sessions, they trained with him. They were lessons in humility for him every time, but he came back every time. Over the weeks he had discovered that it paid off. While Professor Malfoy would most likely not move him to the duellists this season, he might make it in the future. He had discovered however, that he liked being support. The preparation, the tactics and the cerebral challenge spoke to him more than the physical aspect. The man chuckled and shook his head.
"Great form or reflexes may make for a good fighter, but it takes knowledge and brains for a truly great duellist. I myself am a good fighter, but Hermione Granger is a truly gifted duellist. As I am sure you know by now." He winked. Francis couldn't help the wide smile now on his face.
"Yeah! I knew she had to be good, since Professor Malfoy hired her, but I never expected that. In class she's always so nice I would have never expected that." He enthused with stars in his eyes. The couple chuckled, sharing a look.
"No one expects it from her." The woman said with a conspiratorial wink, which confused Francis. Did they know his professor? A ding let them know they had arrived at the ground floor. Drawing on the etiquette lessons Professor Malfoy sprinkled into their training, he offered the couple to exit first. Smiling they thanked him and moved off together, arm in arm. Francis noted they were walking in the same direction as him. Weird. Maybe they were headed to another conference room? Pondering this, he didn't notice Gunter and Jeremy closing in on him. Laughing, Jeremy looped his arm around Francis' neck, pulling him in and ruffling his hair.
"There he is! Strategist extraordinaire!" Jeremy crowed. Huffing, Francis tried to get free.
"Jeremy! Let me go!" He grabbed at the arms holding him. Despite his best efforts, Francis was still weaker than almost all the others on the team. Gunter however was starting to rival Emilio and James. With no effort, he pulled Jeremy off.
"Leave him. That's not nice." He said in his soft voice. Jeremy shrugged, his grin undimmed.
"What? It's a sign of respect, man." He explained. Frustrated Francis tried to flatten his hair again. Damn! He'd spent a good few minutes in front of the mirror getting it just right.
"Good joke, Jeremy. How is it a sign of respect?" He grumbled, trying to catch his reflection in one the mirrored signs hanging in the hallway. Jeremy shrugged again.
"It just is." He said. Gunter smirked, throwing Francis a wink to then grabbing Jeremy in the same way. And he went to town on Jeremy's head. Francis laughed loud, while Jeremy attempted to get free. With a red head, Jeremy stumbled back, having managed to get out of Gunter's grip.
"What the hell man!" He shouted. Gunter and Francis were both laughing now.
"Sign of respect, remember?" Gunter asked, raising an eyebrow. Muttering curses, Jeremy walked off in search of the nearest restroom to save what was left of his hairdo.
"Thanks." Francis said softly. Gunter smiled, clapping him on the shoulder.
"Anytime." The tall German said and opened the door to the conference room marked as theirs by a small sign with the university emblem on it and stating it was a private party. They were greeted by cheers and music thumping through the room. Smiling Francis took it in. Keisha rushed over to him, drink in hand and dragged him inside. Smiling he went with her. Getting over his slight crush on Francesca, who was regularly dating Clarence by now, he allowed himself the idea that maybe Keisha was interested. Francesca hugged him as he came closer. Smiling, he returned the hug. It had taken time, but they had a talk and patched their burgeoning friendship. And he had to admit that he was happy for Clarence. Just like him, they had had trouble picking up girls all their life. Always being too small, too skinny or too nerdy. Francesca didn't care though. She liked Clarence for his nerdy enthusiasm. The only fight they'd had to date was when she'd tried to surprise him and finish painting one of his figurines. A week of moping on Clarence's part had ended quickly, when Francis pointed out that the thought counted and how many girls in his experience had ever done something like this for him. Francesca wasn't interested in comic books or table-top adventures, but she had made an effort for Clarence. Several gifts and a horrible attempt at serenading Francesca outside her window later, the two were a couple again.
"Look at this!" Francesca raised her phone. Clarence had taken a selfie at a pub with a throng of other students behind him. In the background was a big screen showing Francesca and Keisha after their duel, being declared winners. The caption read: 'My girlfriend is a badass!'. Laughing Francis took the phone, taking a closer look at the foto.
"I didn't know the competition would be broadcast. A shame we couldn't see it." He smiled. He hadn't checked his own phone. Afraid what his father had to say. He hadn't told his family that he was support, since he'd known the ridicule he would have to face. Only his sister knew. Now all of them did and he wasn't sure what kind of response he would get.
He was pulled from his thoughts, as Francesca swiped her finger over the screen and more selfies of Clarence with other patrons of the pub appeared.
"This is so cool! We already have a fan club." She enthused. Francis smiled at the group foto of Salem students arm in arm with older men and women wearing Guard t-shirts.
"Attention, please!" Professor Malfoy's voice had them look up. Francis hoped that when he left university he had an ounce of his Professor's poise and presence.
"I am honoured to welcome Harry and Ginevra Potter to our celebrations. They are good friends of Professor Granger and I expect you all to welcome them with grace and good manners. I am looking at you, Falstaff." He turned to Jeremy with a lopsided smile. Jeremy toasted his professor and gave an elegant bow. The team chuckled at his antics, while Professor Malfoy shook his head with an indulgent smile. The doors opened again and the guests entered with Professor Granger. All of their greetings got stuck in their throats. They'd never seen their only female professor in anything revealing or form fitting, since her professor's robes covered her normally. Now the robes weren't there and she wore an elegant, simple black dress along with black pumps. Her hair was loosely gathered and a light bit of make-up accented her brown eyes. Keisha gave her a shy wave, which Professor Granger returned with a bright smile.
xXx
Draco had stepped over to the bar and gotten himself his second firewhiskey. The first he'd exed in a single gulp. His hands were tingling, wanting nothing more than to pull her into his arms. He didn't want to take her away from the unexpected reunion with her best friends. Sighing he took her in. How could he ever have thought her anything less than him? Swirling his whiskey with a melancholy smile, he kept on watching her. Stupidity. That was how it had been possible. Not any longer. Blaise had been right from the start. She was everything he wanted and more. And he would make sure that she knew. While she wasn't from one of the old families, he still intended to get the approval of her family. That would be the hardest part. He had no illusions about the reception he would get. Swallowing he saw that Potter was making his way over. Ostensibly to get drinks for the women.
"Malfoy." Potter greeted him with a slight incline of his head. Standing straighter, Draco turned to him.
"Potter. I hope you are doing well." He tried. The conversation had to start somewhere and the weather seemed too light a topic for this meeting. Wary Potter eyed him.
"Thank you. Yes, I am." Silence settled over them. Sighing Draco looked at his drink. Of course Potter wouldn't make this easy for him. Out of the corner of his eye he caught Blaise looking and raising an eyebrow. Waving his friend off with a small movement of his free hand, Draco decided to get it over with.
"I wanted to make amends, but I wasn't sure you would want to hear it. Or even see me to hear it for that matter. All those I managed to seek out told me that just seeing me brought them pain. Hence my move to the US. Out of sight, out of mind. That kind of thing." He said lowly. The team had won a great victory after long months of hard work. He didn't want to dim their party with a shouting match. But he had to get this out of the way, since the strained friendliness between the Potters and him would throw a pall over the party his students didn't deserve.
"She was wary before moving here, you know?" Potter said, confirming Draco's suspicions about Hermione's state of mind at the start of the semester.
"Understandable."
"Not even a week in though and she started singing your praises. At least according to my wife. They talk once a week, you know." Potter informed him and Draco wasn't sure whether this was a kind of threat. Was Potter implying that he had hexed Hermione? As if he could! That woman's battle instincts were as alive as ever. Surprising her and putting a spell on her was almost impossible. Even if he'd been able to, she would have found a way to counter it in no time.
"I thought she might. I am corresponding with my own family quite regularly."
Potter took a sip of his own drink and raised an eyebrow.
"Is that so? How is your dear father?" There was a slight curl to Potter's lip, which Draco understood only too well. Snorting he indicated for them to take a seat at one of the tables scattered about the room.
"Grumbling about the unfairness of the world, no doubt. Not that anyone cares what he has to say, thank Merlin." Draco took a seat, crossing his long legs. Potter took a seat opposite with a raised eyebrow.
"This coming from the man, who always called on his father's name...quite a change." Harry said and took another sip. Sighing Draco took in his students and as his eyes came to rest on Hermione a smile tugged at his lips.
"Change is a good thing. Slow in coming to some. I can understand you still distrust me. If I were you, I wouldn't trust me. All I am asking for is a chance. Living with evil incarnate and prison tend to change a man." He looked over to his old nemesis and gave a sardonic smile.
"You never gave detailed testimony about what happened at the manor while Voldemort was there. Why?" Potter asked. Draco's grip on his glass tightened, his face going blank and his jaws working hard.
"There was no point. Every depravity imaginable was being done. All I held dear defiled. The foundation my world had rested upon shattered. The scar you gave me in sixth year was a mere tickle to what I received later." He emptied his glass in one swallow, his back tensing in remembered pain. Harry took him in and saw the signs. Ever the keen observer.
"They tortured you." He said in a low voice. Draco chuckled darkly and met Harry's inquisitive gaze. Unlike most, Harry didn't flinch from the contact.
"Oh, she did. Everything for her precious Lord." Looking down, he saw that Potter had pushed over his own glass.
"She's dead." Harry offered, but Draco only snorted.
"Not in here." He tapped his head. "On bad days, she is very much alive. Laughing as she cuts me. As my mother stands by, having to watch." He took the glass off the table, emptying it and giving a grimace as the liquid fire of the beverage burned down his throat.
"I am sorry." Harry said sombrely. He had heard stories. Proud tales of the Death Eaters caught and incarcerated at Azkaban. Tales of death and torture. None of them had mentioned that their own had been targets. The snatchers working for them as henchmen, yes, but not branded Death Eaters. Yet the slight tremor in Draco's hands and sheen of remembered pain in his eyes was impossible to fake. Despite all the angst and hardship, Harry had never been tortured. Hermione had and after the war, when she had been living with him and he had held her after her nightmares, she had tried to make him understand how it felt. He only knew that it scarred deeply. So deep that trying to act as if was impossible. Looking into Draco's eyes, he saw that his old enemy had more than paid for his crimes. Crimes committed in the desperate hope that they would save his family.
"Those are my words, Potter. Nothing was done to me that I didn't deserve, though my therapist disagrees." Draco said with a melancholy tilt of his lips.
"Hermione made you go too?" Harry asked, hoping to lift the other man's spirits and wasn't that a surprise? Draco chuckled, inclining his head.
"Yes, she did. She was as sneaky as any Slytherin about it no less." Both men had to chuckle at this.
"Oh, you have no idea." Harry said with a smile. Shaking his head and looking over at Hermione again, Draco breathed deep. Looking at her helped him relax every time.
"I am getting an inkling. I hope to get much more of one. I intend to court her, Potter. I tried not to. She deserves so much better." A bit of sadness was in Draco's voice. Harry took him in. If he were to guess, he looked much the same when he was looking at his wife. This was no trick, ploy or simple infatuation. Draco Malfoy was in love with his best friend.
"Why are you telling me?" He asked. Draco turned to him, meeting his eyes head on.
"Because for all intents and purposes you are her brother. I will seek out her parents, informing them as well. They deserve to ask me anything. The role I played in the events leading to their daughter having to erase their memories and sending them to the other end of the world." Draco stiffened his spine, getting tense just thinking about that conversation. It would be torture of a whole other kind, but he would face it. For her. Anything for her.
"Maybe it would be better if I broke the news." Harry said, having Draco stare at him surprised.
"Excuse me?" Astonishment was all over Malfoy's face. Harry had to chuckle. The expression Malfoy wore not dissimilar to Hermione's when he'd rendered her speechless at their lunch so many months ago.
"I talk to her parents quite often. She talks to them often too. If the two of you start dating, they will know well before you can make it back to the UK." Harry had to work hard not to laugh at Draco's dismayed expression. "Lucky for you that she's muggleborn and they don't know about your traditions. I know Molly was a bit put out with me that I hadn't 'officially' asked her and Arthur about dating Ginny. Among muggles that kind of thing hasn't been done for a century or two. And Hermione is an independent woman. She makes up her own mind and her parents respect her for it. At some point, if this between the two of you goes anywhere, you will meet them."
Breathing deep, Draco nodded.
"Very well. I guess I may have to rethink some of my approach. I was only expected to court other witches of the high society. I guess other rules apply." He said, his eyes unfocused as he discarded some of the plans he'd made. Chuckling Harry leant back. Here was a conversation he'd never thought he'd have.
"Just do what feels natural. Trust me when I say that Hermione will let you know in no uncertain terms whether it's appropriate or not." A pair of arms slung over Harry's shoulders from behind.
"Are you done threatening him?" Ginny asked her husband with a mischievous smile, winking at Draco to his surprise. Harry huffed, taking her hand and kissing it.
"I would never dream of it, darling. Hermione said to play nice." Both Potters smiled. A tentative smile tugged at Draco's lips. This was wholly new territory for him. Possible friendship to Harry Potter. A soft hand touched his shoulder and before he looked up, he knew that it was Hermione next to him. Rising, he took her hand in his and pressed a kiss to her knuckles. She blushed a bit, but her smile was as radiant as ever.
"Are you all behaving?" She asked in jest. Opening his mouth in mock outrage, Harry spread his arms.
"Why is everyone assuming that we're about to duel?" He asked exasperated. Hermione and Draco had intertwined the fingers of their hands and she affectionately stroked his chest.
"I know the two of you and past encounters never went especially well." She chastised softly, leaning closer to Draco and looking up at him. He didn't notice the Potters watching him intently as he leaned closer to Hermione.
"I would never upset my lady." He whispered in a sultry voice, kissing her hand again. Worried the Potters noticed not only the flames in Hermione's eyes, but an answering darkness in Malfoy's.
The tense moment was broken by Blaise pulling Hermione away from Draco. Harry already had his wand in his hand to incapacitate either, as it appeared Hermione wasn't the only one with a darkness inside her. While others back in the UK had worked hard to get rid of theirs, she had embraced it and made it work for her. At a sometimes terrible cost. This included that any surprise sprung on her could go terribly wrong.
"This is a party, you dullards! Dance with me, oh badass beauty of the Isles." Blaise enthused, sweeping a now laughing Hermione to the dance floor. Draco's tense stance had relaxed the instant he saw his friend and laughed. Ginny and Harry were dumbfounded. If any of them had attempted something similar only a year from now, the entire hotel would be a smoking ruin with a crying Hermione in the middle of it all. It seemed as if the change in job and new relationship was more than good for their old friend. A blushing student stepped up to Draco, asking him for a dance. Graciously he accepted, excusing himself to Ginny and Harry. Taking a seat next to her husband, Ginny watched Hermione sway to the music, laughing at something Blaise said.
"I haven't seen her this relaxed in forever. Maybe never. She was always so uptight. When we went clubbing I could only get her to dance after she was really drunk." She murmured, while snuggling up to Harry. Laying an arm about her, he nodded and watched as well.
"I know. This is good for her. Even him, though I am loath to admit it." They took in Draco, as he attempted to classically dance to modern music.
"You saw it too, didn't you? There is something in him too." Ginny whispered. He gravely nodded, his eyes staying on the dance floor.
"Yes. I pity the fool coming between them." He muttered. He trusted both enough to have their fights not escalate to a level where they would be a danger to others around them.
xXx
The Salem duelling team were received as heroes when they returned to campus the next day. Almost every student had flocked to the gates to greet them. Some of the quidditch team members were jealous, since they never got such a reception when they returned. And Salem hadn't even won the overall competition! The dean greeted Malfoy with a hearty handshake, congratulating his newest hire on a spectacular start of the season. Already they were placed fourth in the ranking and the board was more than happy with the performance of their new coach. The administration offices had been inundated with orders for Salem shirts and hoodies to show support for the team. Reporters from various news outlets had called, asking for interviews of the team and especially their three coaches. Over night, they had become celebrities. Especially Hermione. Women all over the country were clamouring to hear more about her. Speculations were running wild of where she had learned her skills.
While Draco was happy that the first competition had gone well, he knew they still had a long road ahead of them. This was simply the start of the season and much could happen in the interim.
"Move on now. Your adoring fans can wait. Professor Zabini expects you in the gym in twenty minutes." He called out to the team. Grinning they trooped off, waving to the other students. He followed them and made his way to his office. He needed to update the student charts and files. Surprised he saw Theo in front of his door, scribbling a note on a pad.
"Theo?" He asked, closing the distance. With a smile Theo turned around, closing the notepad and stowing it in his jacket.
"Ah! The triumphant hero returns." Theo greeted mockingly with a bow. Chuckling Draco shook his head and unlocked the door to his office.
"What can I do for you?" Draco asked, inviting Theo in.
"You asked me to check on certain names. I have some interesting information and a few questions."
Draco offered him a seat and settled behind his desk.
"By all means, ask away." He invited. Lounging in his chair, Theo crossed his legs, adjusting the fall of the fabric of his pants.
"The Bellworths are up to their necks in debt. Over their necks, really. Daddy dearest lost it all playing poker in gnome dens. Idiot. His company is just about done. The only thing that is worth anything there is the real estate. Prime location in the middle of Boston's largest wizarding district. As his client base dwindled, he actually made a smart move by decreasing employees and renting out the freed up space. That tided them over for a bit. Currently there are three mortgages on the property."
Sighing Draco rubbed his brow. This was not good. The money wasn't the problem, but the inherent beaurocratic paper battle. Who owed what to whom and how much interest had accrued. The accountants were sure to make a fortune. If he had enough free time, he would be able to untangle the mess himself, but he had other priorities at the moment. No matter how much he enjoyed such financial intricacies.
"Anything on their personal property?"
Theo snorted in dark amusement.
"Oh, my father would have been proud! All smoke and mirrors. The mansion they're living in, not theirs. The bank had already taken possession. They're living there at the leisure of the 'good' friend bailing them out, Horatio Killian. Taking their financial situation into account, you would think that they would dial it back a bit. Oh no! A veritable army of house elves, dinner parties, the whole nine yards. I don't know what banks are stupid enough to give that idiot any more loans, but he isn't hurting for money currently. At least not according to my friend Groktal. Daddy is back to poker as if nothing was wrong." Both exchanged a glance and shook their heads. Addiction something both abhorred.
"Their daughter?" Draco asked. Picking at non-existant threads Theo raised a brow.
"Smarter than both her parents. Recently she's made sure that neither her mother or father can touch anything that's hers. A little late, but at least she was able to save a couple of thousand and two apartments. Her money was split and one account very successfully invested into an endeavour no one saw succeed. Know anything about that?"
Draco smirked.
"I have no idea what you are talking about." Both shared a grin. Theo sobered quickly though.
"Why, Draco? Why this girl? She's not one of your students, but I am sure the Dean would frown on such a relationship. Not to mention Granger."
Frowning Draco gave a little shudder.
"None of that, Theo. Dear Circe! As you said, she is a girl. I prefer women. No. One of my students made me aware of her plight. Her parents had the bright idea to cure all their ills by selling her off."
Theo's face closed down in an instant. Just like Draco, he was a staunch opponent of arranged marriages. As his proclivities had become public, just about every 'pureblood' family out there had stopped any and all attempts to marry their daughters off to him. Not because he was gay, but because he was openly homosexual. Rising, Theo grabbed a glass and one of the bottles in the small bar at the back of Draco's office. Raising a brow in question, he raised the bottle. Draco shook his head. Pouring a drink, Theo sat back down and took a big sip.
"Fucking bastards. To think I felt sorry for the mother!" He groused. Draco smirked.
"Who do you think had the bright idea? She was eager to keep her lifestyle. What was her daughter's happiness compared to that? It might mean she would actually have to work! Perish the thought."
"But she 'designs' jewellery! Surely that has to be enough." They shared a darkly sardonic look.
"Thank you for your efforts. I'll approach Killian at the Jupiter fundraiser. Get his measure and then lay my plans." Draco rose, offering Theo his hand. Shaking Draco's hand, Theo waved it off.
"No trouble at all. The girl seems a smart one from what I could gather. Killian's son on the other hand." He shuddered. "No one deserves to be saddled with that one. If you need anything, let me know."
Nodding, Draco accompanied him to the door, once more shaking his hand.
"Will do. If all goes according to plan, I might have an investment opportunity for you." He winked. Laughing Theo shook his head.
"Only a Malfoy could turn this whole mess around and make a profit. It's scary. On a high note, Liam has asked me to bring you and the others around. Text me." Waving, Theo swaggered down the hallway. Smiling, Draco turned back to his desk. It was time to play with money.
AN: Thank you so much for all the great reviews! :D I hope you will all continue to enjoy. I like to listen to music to inspire me, since I am a movie buff and love soundtracks. :P If anyone is interested, I liked to listen to 'Get low yo' by DJ Cue for Hermione's duel in the last chapter. Still looking for a title picture. If anyone has a suggestion, drop me a note. ;) Have a great one!