AN: Thank you for all the support! It is very deeply appreciated!
Draco slumped into his leather chair and stared into his white coffee cup. Even though the sun was shining from the large window behind him, he could not muster a smile.
How was he going to get the most coldhearted man he'd ever known to fall in love? It was unlikely Severus would entertain another conversation, but what other recourse was there? If Severus knew about Lucius' deal, would he at least ask him to call it off, or would he dig deeper into his life of seclusion, claiming it was for Draco's own good?
Why couldn't the universe allow him to be happy with Angelica?
"Sir?"
He glanced at the visitor, only to straighten his posture upon recognition. "Yes, Florence?"
"Ginevra is here to discuss her latest sale's pitch," the secretary replied.
"She is?"
"Yes, I came a little early," Ginny poked her head into the office. "If I need to wait in the hallway, I can."
"No, no, you're fine," Draco cleared his throat. "Please come in."
The secretary backed away from the door, allowing the Quidditch star to enter.
"I had some new ideas for the pitch," she began, "something which would make the dialogue a little snappier, yet sound more natural coming from me."
"I'm looking forward to hearing it." He forced himself to grin.
"Okay." She covered her mouth and coughed. "After a long day of playing for the Holyhead Harpies, I just want to relax in my favorite recliner and listen to some smooth jazz."
"Excuse me, but smooth jazz?" Draco asked.
"Yes," Ginny answered. "Anyway, I was going to say, 'I listen to smooth jazz and want something refined for my palate, something fruity yet with a full body.'"
"I'm sorry," Draco interrupted. "But jazz?"
"What's wrong with jazz?"
"Nothing at all. I just never pictured you as someone who would enjoy jazz."
"I've always loved jazz."
"Who do you listen to?"
"I particularly like Brian Culbertson."
"You know who Brian Culbertson is?"
"I sure do."
"Wow," Draco's eyes lit up. "I didn't think I'd find another person in Wizarding Britain who liked him."
"It's rare, isn't it?"
"Yes," He felt a surge of energy go through him. "Who else do you listen to?"
"I am also a huge fan of Boney James and Norman Brown."
"They're good, but I'll be really impressed if you know David Sanborn."
"I saw him in concert a few years ago."
"Really?"
Ginevra nodded.
"I wanted to see him so badly when he played in London," Draco frowned. "Then Dad called me away to go on a business trip with him."
"You could have apparated to the concert, then come back."
"No, we were having dinner with a finicky seller, and I was trying to prove to Father that I was able to deal with some of the more difficult clients. The negotiations would've caused me to miss the concert even if I'd been able to apparate there."
"Did the deal go through?"
"Yes, thankfully," Draco's expression lightened. "Though at times I wasn't quite so sure it would."
"At least things worked out then."
"Yes," Draco shook his head. "Though I still wish I could've seen Sanborn."
"He's still performing, maybe not in Britain, but he does go to the States on occasion," Ginevra replied. "We could go see him together sometime."
"I'd like that," Draco relaxed. "There aren't many wizards in Britain who appreciate jazz, or can say they snuck jazz CDs behind their Death Eater father's back when they were teenagers."
"Your teenage rebellion was listening to jazz?"
"I guess you could say that," he replied. "How did you get into jazz?"
"Actually, it's a similar story to yours. I stole my father's jazz CDs when he wasn't looking. He didn't understand the music, but from the minute he started played George Benson I was hooked." Ginevra's eyes gleamed.
"I scratched the record I had of his."
"I scratched up my dad's CD of his greatest hits." Her face brightened. "I know! We should play Affirmation in the background of my commercial."
"Yes," Draco answered. "It would be absolutely perfect, assuming we can get the rights for it."
"It shouldn't be too hard, should it?"
"With my money," Draco grinned. "No."
She returned his smile.
"At least." He sighed. "It will be no harder than getting my Uncle Severus to date someone."
"I take it you spoke with him last night."
He sighed.
"Things went that well then."
"It couldn't have gone worse. He gave me the whole spiel of how he's happier without a woman, how women are a waste of time, and how I should focus on my career. The problem is," Draco took a shaky breath. "He means every word. He'll never date another woman, not as long as he draws breath."
"Did you tell him about your dad's deal?"
"I didn't get the chance. Quite frankly, I think that would only encourage him to stay single forever."
A tense silence fell between them.
"Part of me doesn't understand it." Draco put his head in his hands. "He's famous for saving the Wizarding World in Lily's name. Everything he did was out of love, yet he acts like he wouldn't know the sentiment if it kicked him in the head."
"Do you think he's so deeply in love with Lily he can't see himself with anyone else?"
"I don't think that's all there is to it," Draco lowered his hands. "When he speaks about women, it's clear he does have a genuine disliking for them. It's as if he finds even the notion of a romantic relationship revolting."
"If he felt that way, he wouldn't have saved the Wizarding World, or at least I don't think he would have."
"The older I get, the less I understand him."
"That makes two of us, because I've never understood him." Ginevra began tapping the table. "Too bad we have to think like him if we want to get you out of this mess."
"Indeed." Draco tried to decipher the beat Ginevra was creating. It seemed somewhat familiar, but he couldn't place it.
"But you didn't tell him about your dad's plan, did you?" Ginevra stilled her finger.
"No," Draco replied. "I didn't get a chance to."
"Then there's hope," her voice was low.
"How?"
"He won't see her coming." Her lips curled up.
"He won't see who coming?"
"The woman we're going to convince to date him."
"Excuse me?" Draco's voice was louder than he intended.
"Yes." Ginevra had the same expression his father wore when he had a scheme he particularly liked. "We're going to find a woman to seduce him and make him fall in love."
"Have you not been listening to a thing I've said?" Draco exclaimed. "He won't date. He hates women. Relationships are below him."
"Right now they are, but for the right woman they wouldn't be."
"What exactly would the right woman be?"
"She'd need to be someone assertive who wouldn't let him run roughshod over her, someone who could match him intellectually, and someone who could at least pretend to care for him."
"Don't you think we should find someone who actually loves him?"
"That may come in time," Ginevra replied. "But we don't have much time to put this plan in motion."
Draco's eyebrow was raised, though he didn't say a word. With the right type of persuasion this plan could absolutely be considered downright Slytherin. If Ginevra wasn't a Weasley he'd swear she had been sorted into the wrong house.
"We need to find her first," she mused aloud.
"That's going to be impossible," he argued.
"Why?"
"Well, it isn't like we can put an ad in the newspaper and go, 'please date Severus Snape. The reward will be worth the scowling and scathing remarks, I promise.'"
"There are personal ads."
"Which I'm sure Father will read and Uncle Severus will ignore."
She hummed.
"If we are going to convince this woman to date my godfather, it has to be done in such a way that Father will never know suspect anything is amiss. It has to be someone he'd never suspect of working with us to date Uncle Severus." Merlin, was he seriously considering this plan?
"It would have to be someone who has access to Hogwarts, or could at least gain entry at times," she replied.
"And who would that be?"
"I don't know," she shifted in her chair. "But I have people on the inside who could give her access."
"Who?"
"Neville and now Hermione."
"What use would either of them be?"
"The woman we choose could be their friend who just so happens to meet up with Severus every now and then while she's visiting them."
"She talks him up while she's visiting your friends, and love blooms, assuming he doesn't chew her up alive."
"They may have some insight on who he'd go for too. They do work and technically live with him after all."
"They could prove useful." Yes, Draco was seriously considering this plan. What's more, it was beginning to sound workable.
"I'll speak with them as soon as we conclude this pitch."
"Do you think they'll help me?"
"If they know it's for me, then yes."
"What do you mean, 'it's for me'?"
"I'm your friend, and I want you to be happy."
Draco looked at her. It was clear she wanted him to be happy, but it wasn't for pure altruism. What other motive she could have was beyond him, unless it was some Gryffindor notion of helping someone find true love. If that was the case, she had been sorted correctly.
"What do you think?" She asked. "Do you think we have a plan to get your godfather to fall in love?"
"I think we do." Draco's lips curled up. "I really think we do."
"Perfect."
Draco was too pleased to try and decipher that sparkle in her eye.