Blaise Zabini was staring at the older wizard before him, barely digesting what he was telling him. It was bad enough that his beloved mother has passed away so suddenly, but now he was obligated to hear her last will.
All of her belongings she gave to her favorite niece in Italy – Isabella Martinelli. Her designer dresses, robes, jewelry, makeup, the whole lot. All of his mother's money in Gringotts was to be given to her future grandchildren when they reached adulthood. Her home and condo in London she gave to Blaise, however, the hotel in Switzerland she gave half to her son and half to Nathaniel Parkinson.
"How is that possible? She told me that the hotel will be mine one day and I can do business of my own with it!"
"Your mother and I were very close friends for ages, you know that boy!" aid Nathaniel "She was afraid that if she gave you all of it, you couldn't handle it. "
"And what now? I can't do business without you?" raised an eyebrow Blaise
The old wizard stared into his dark eyes for a moment and said
"We both know you are too young and too stubborn for that giant business; I won't give up my half just like that!"
Blaise exploded in anger, "You know nothing about the Hotel! You've never even been there! Everything is just a paper for you! This is my family business and I have the right to rule it!"
He shook his head in disbelief "I can't believe my own mother didn't trust me...I have proved time and time again that I am grown and responsible – I have a stable job in the Ministry! I've been promoted few times..."
"And yet a single muggleborn got the boss position instead of you" Nathaniel added with a smirk.
"She is the brightest witch of her age…" mumbled Blaise, looking away to avoid the gaze of the older wizard who was clearly denying that fact.
"I want to work for myself! Not to prove my skills for the rest of my life. Especially not to others who think I am a trash!" he snapped.
Nathaniel Parkinson shook his head but then said with a wicked smile
"I don't think you are a trash, boy! I just don't think you can handle the hotel; and I most certainly will not give up my half just so you can play boss and ruin your mothers hard work!"
"I can run that business just as successfully as she did! I know everything my mother did in the past 25 years!" Blaise clenched his fists and raised from his seat, however, Mr. Parkinson didn't even flinch.
"I won't give up my half just like that dear boy."
"You won't give up just like what? What you want me to do? To buy your half?" Blaise said, knowing that he couldn't afford to buy his half. The hotel was way too expensive to be bought outright, and with his salary in the Ministry that would take a lot of time. More time than Parkinson would give him.
"Not quite... I don't need the money." Parkinson said very coolly.
"What then?" asked Blaise anxiously.
"I would be willing to give up my half, but only to family," warranted Nathaniel "If you marry my daughter...everything will be yours"
Blaise stared at him, wide eyed. He couldn't believe he was willing to exchange half of a hotel for his own daughter, as if she was just an asset!
"Pansy?" Blaise inquired.
"She is so in love with you...and has been for quite some time." Nathanial clarified. "I have seen how she pines for you. She's even told me you have declined her advances quite numerously because of that stupid little witch of yours!"
"Tahmina Rain." whispered Blaise
This time, Nathaniel Parkinson raised from his seat and faced him.
"If you marry my daughter and make her happy, I will give you my half immediately. You can do whatever you want with the Hotel, just make Pansy happy again." He pleaded with Blaise. "She has been depressed for months, to the point where she has moved in back with us. Her mother is taking care of her now."
Blaise opened his mouth but couldn't say anything to the man standing in front of him.
"So, are you ready to get a magnificent luxury hotel in Switzerland and a beautiful bride? or are you going to work in the Ministry as a bookworm for the rest of your life, under the hand of a muggleborn?" he challenged. Blaise had to do some fast thinking, or he was going to be screwed.
Mr. Parkinson stretched out his hand and offered it to him.
"Do we have a deal?"
"We have a deal" he noted and shook Nathanial's hand.
No one knew that this deal would reverse the course of fate and that many events would go wrong...
Draco Malfoy couldn't sleep. He was thinking about his project for the Ministry. He and his best friend had worked for two grueling months and tomorrow was the big presentation. They had spent so many nights experimenting and putting everything together. For the first time Draco was so excited about a product he had invented by himself. He put his heart and soul into this project. The idea came to him one night after his annoying boss told him he couldn't protect a fly.
The idea also stemmed from a protective charms system that German Ministry were looking for last year, to no avail. He pitched it to Blaise and since then, they both had been working on, practicing, and developing it. If his boss approved the project, they could go to Berlin and sell it for a decent sum of money. Draco knew that a few other colleagues were working on their own projects as well, but he was convinced that his idea was going to be the best. So, he was currently thinking about how tomorrow morning would go and how he would impress that demanding boss of his and render her speechless.
'I can't wait to see Granger's admiring face when I'm done with my presentation!' Draco thought. Ever since Hermione Granger had become the Head of the Department, he never heard anything positive. She was very critical, a bloody perfectionist, and she always pointed his mistakes! Even the most miniscule ones! She never told him anything, even when he did a stellar job these last few months 'Why do I need her approval? She's just a bossy bitch!' Draco considered, staring into the darkness.
Three years ago, he qualified for the bloody promotion, but she won and was appointed Head of the Department. Draco wanted to quit his job in the Ministry right then and there, and join his father in the family business, but something inside of him wouldn't let it go so easily. He wanted to prove himself there, and to show Granger that he might not have won, but he was hell of a good agent, so he stayed and worked ferociously.
Draco looked at his watch, 4:27 a.m. He needed to sleep, but dreams were far away from him. He went to the kitchen for a glass of water and returned to his previous state.
'I don't need anyone's opinion! Only a blind man couldn't see how genius our protective charms system is... I only need sleep... and Granger can kiss my ass' At this, he smirked imagining her face.
Before long there was harsh light that entered into though the window and Draco knew it was time to get up. He prepared two coffees and went to take the other to Blaise, who was living next door.
"Why are you so early?!" resented Blaise "The Ministry won't disappear if we show up two minutes late."
"Why are you so nervous mate?" smirked Draco "Did your chick leave you for younger wizard or something?"
"Tahmina?" Blaise shook his head "No, no…she wasn't here last night... I'll explain later after the presentation... now let me have my coffee."
"We will drink it there, come on hurry up " insisted Draco and apparated them away."
Hermione Granger got up quite early, she knew it was going to be very long, hard, and stressful day. She didn't have time to wallow in sadness and self-pity today. Looking at her reflection she recited her new daily mantra.
"I am strong independent woman and I do not need a man to feel beautiful or wanted."
Last night, after the second time, she finally understood that she and Ron are definitely not good for each other and much better off as friends. After the war, they were together for two years but fought constantly. He never seemed to get her the way she needed him to. More often than not, he took her for granted and the sparkle that once burned brightly, went out quickly.
Sometimes when he was acting like a child, it made her feel like a mother to him. They took a break for a few years, but at Ginny and Harry's wedding, they decided to try again. Hermione was thinking that this time around things would be different since Ron was older, wiser, and more mature then the last time they were together but she was wrong...
"Pull yourself together…" Hermione whispered "You have so much work to do today!"
It was true - today was the presentation of the protective charms system and she was going to pick who would travel with her to Berlin. Her decision needed to be of the utmost perfection and truly wise because this deal with the German Ministry was a big deal for them.
She arrived early at the Ministry and went straight to the presentation hall, followed by her secretary who handed her a hot cup of coffee.
"Thank you, Lisa," Hermione said and was about to sip from the soothing aroma she held, when two of her agents rushed into the hall.
She looked at them and saw Draco Malfoy and Blaise Zabini holding some folders and their wands. Rolling her eyes, she sipped her coffee.
"Let's rock this system, Boss" Blaise playfully said and raised his wand.
"Oh no, no, no!" Hermione stopped him "We will wait for all colleagues to come in."
At this, Draco rolled his eyes, knowing that they would be obligated to wait and watch all of the crap his colleagues will undoubtedly show, and how they will kiss Granger's ass to try and impress her. He knew he didn't need to kiss anything of hers because his work was brilliant.
First, was Thomas Becks whose project was cheap and funny. They all tried not to laugh after he left. Second were Elizabeth Claus and Peter Ridge who did a decent job, albeit, messy. Hermione nodded and wrote something on her little black book.
Next, Chris Rodman showed a group of purple little fairies who were supposed to circle around people and if they found something suspicious, they would make a specific noise. He even demonstrated it using Hermione's secretary help. The view was pretty funny especially when she was startled by the noise of the fairies.
"That's enough, Chris!" said Hermione and waved at him "Thank you very much!"
Draco and Blaise exchange a smirk between them as they rose from their seats to begin their presentation
"In a world full of the unexpected, wizards can't expect everything." Draco began with a deep tranquil voice, looking into his boss eyes "We need to be protected and secure in every situation- we have to protect our homes, our families, our work places, and of course ourselves. Me and my partner, invented a new charm to do just that…Blaise"
The blond nodded to his partner
"Usque Aeternum" Blaise said clearly and concisely, a simple white light emerged and warped around his body, then disappeared. Draco tried to approach him but an invisible force stopped him as if Blaise was behind a glass wall.
"See, the charm is protecting him," said Draco assuredly "No one can touch him or curse him. The same would be true if he were to put this house or any other building under this charm."
"And does one lift the spell?" asked Hermione raising her eyebrows.
"Adicias Loqui" said Blaise and the protection was lifted
"Well?" said Malfoy and almost smirked at his boss who was looking straight into his eyes.
Draco Malfoy slammed the office door behind him.
"Mate, you look mad..." said Blaise
"Mad? No, I'm not mad." he denied and threw himself on the chair "I'm bloody furious!"
"Don't tell me this is about Granger's decision..."
"Damn straight it is about Granger's decision! We worked so hard on our presentation and she chose Finnigan's project!" exclaimed Draco hardly breathing.
"Are you sure it's just the project...I think this is more than that." smiled Blaise and sat opposite him.
"What?!" He asked perplexed.
"Well...the winner is going with her to Berlin, and since she chose Finnigan's project...you can fill in the blanks Draco."
"Don't finish that gross sentence!" Draco cut him off "I'd rather die..."
"And you will...from jealousy!" laughed Blaise
"Aren't you mad that she didn't even appreciate our work?!" asked the blond wizard
"To be honest I have a lot more important things going on in my life. I can't get upset by everything or I would go nuts, and besides who cares about Granger's opinion anyway? Why are you so obsessed with her?"
Draco rose from his seat and stand by the window shaking his head, his blood boiling.
"I am not obsessed, it's just… I worked so damn hard on this and she… she declined the project before she could even blink! It's not fair! "
"It wasn't fair, but you have to admit that Finnigan's project was really good," said Blaise and then added playfully, "If you want to impress her so badly, just do it in another place…"
Draco faced his best friend "Another place?"
"Yeah" nodded Blaise and smirked "Between your sheets!"
The blond rolled his eyes and then shook his head to drive away the picture of her naked body in his mind.
"Besides the fact that the idea is so gross and unpleasant, she's with Weasley."
Blaise laughed "We both know that he's not a factor and it is only a matter of time for them to be over, he's out of her league."
"You, Zabini, are out of your mind if you think for a second that I would touch that filthy, little, bitch!" Draco snarled, still angry.
Blaise looked at his infuriated state, but didn't want to argue anymore or he would be obligated to listen hours of what an ungrateful, sneaky, bitch she is; who can't think about anything else but herself.
"Anyway…. Let's go grab something to eat, this whole drama makes me very hungry." Blaise suggested. Draco who was still cross and breathing heavy said one last thing.
"I won't let her get away with this injustice without a scratch! I will speak to the Minister!"
"Draco, do me a favor and don't embarrass yourself- she is the Head of the Department, it's her decision and he will trust her judgment!"
"We'll see…"
Hermione took her chance during her lunch break to take care some charity work. After the Battle of Hogwarts, Luna, Ginny, Hermione founded an organization named 'Angelis.' The organization tried to help all of the war victims, orphaned children, and wizards who lost their families and homes. The organization also raised funds for the sick and the terminally ill, in addition to organizing a lot of events.
In the beginning, it was hard, but recently more and more of the wizarding world's most affluent families were volunteering to help. Hermione knew that this was a lot to take on in supplement to her responsibilities as the Head of the Department, but she needed to keep her mind busy, especially now when her future was unclear and her house was empty again.
Her mantra floated to the forefront of her mind. I don't need a man to feel strong and confident. I don't need a man to feel beautiful or wanted. Her next thought only solidified her need to keep busy. I need work and a good cause. I am useful.
Someone knocked on the door so quietly that Hermione didn't hear it. After few seconds, the knocking repeated but a bit stronger. The witch picked her head up.
"Come in"
The door opened and before her eyes appeared the most unlikely person. She would have never expected to see in her office.
"Hello Hermione," said the black-haired witch "I am sorry I came in unannounced, but your secretary is gone."
"Hello Pansy" said Hermione a bit confused as to her presence. "My secretary is having a lunch break, as am I…"
"I know, I'm sorry" She stated and turned to go, "I will come back later."
"Pansy, wait." said Hermione curious to know what could this pureblood witch want with her?
Pansy turned back, she looked so different now. For starters, her voice was softer and lower than it used to be. Her eyes looked tired and a bit narrower, her hair once black and long, now was pulled back in a tight bun. She looked skinnier, but that could be from the black dress she was wearing since black dresses tend to make people look skinnier. Her facial expression wasn't arrogant or sassy, it was more like sad and depressed.
"Please, sit. Do you want some tea?" offered Hermione
"Yes, please" Pansy replied as she sat across from Hermione in the armchair.
While Hermione was serving tea, the silence was awkward and she decided to break the ice.
"So Pansy, I have to say I am bit surprised to see you in my office… what brings you here?"
Pansy took the hot cup full of tea and lemon gratefully.
"I had heard that you, Luna and Ron's sister, Ginevra, are doing charity work. I wanted to ask if I could volunteer?"
Hermione had to make an effort not to raise her eyebrows in surprise, so she just nodded.
"You heard right. We are doing charity for the victims of the war and we are open to anyone who want to help us. Currently, we are planning an event next month" explained Hermione watching how Pansy's face became more and more bright.
"I would really like to help you" she stated as she sipped the tea " Please, tell me what can I do?"
"Well…you can help us with the guest list and the invitations. I believe you have connections, and truthfully, the more rich and influential people that come, the better!"
"What is the event and where will be?" asked Pansy whose curiosity was peaked.
"Have you heard about Hans Gilbert?"
"The painter?"
"Exactly!" said Hermione "We talked to him and he is willing to sell some of his paintings. Part of the proceeds will be donated to St. Mungo's and the other part will be donated to the orphans. I will take care of the hall, but we will need people to help us with decorating, ordering, catering, those sorts of things. Something simple, I think. We won't be there to eat after all. I was also thinking of 'thanks' cards for the people who will be purchasing a painting.
"Yes! On the back we can write 'Thank you for donating, your money will be used for a good cause'" suggested Pansy who seemed very excited.
"This is a good idea, we will talk more about this." smiled Hermione, still surprised about Pansy's wish for help. "For now, you need to work on inviting as many people as possible, and if you start today, that gives you time. We are planning this event for 20th of October. Gilbert will travel after that date and won't be coming back anytime soon."
"So, we have 4 weeks, I really have to hurry…" said Pansy looking at the calendar on the wall behind Hermione.
"Yes and you if you need to contact me, this is the address." She passed her the organizations business card.
"On the back is the address of our office, we have meeting twice a week, but because of this event I think that we will be meeting more often."
"Thank you, Hermione!" Pansy took the card "I am very thankful that you are letting me help. I promise to do my best so we can raise funds. Additionally, I will donate myself!"
Hermione smiled at the news and got up to send her out the door.
"I really appreciate your help, Pansy! I believe that we will do amazing work"
Pansy smiled a bit.
"I want to thank you for giving me a chance to do something good, you know…. A lot of people still have doubts about people like me."
"Don't think about them. I am sure that everything will be ok" Hermione assured her, smiling warmly at the witch as she left.
The Minister of Magic – Kingsley Shacklebolt was reading a report when his secretary informed him that Draco Malfoy was waiting for him outside his office.
"Tell him to come in." He told her and put away the files.