The Preparations

Disclaimer: I own no Harry Potter characters . . . etc. etc. I just write plot and other characters.

Draco knew that Hermione was becoming increasingly edgy as the days went by. She was almost constantly buying, buying, buying. Summer was halfway near—after all it was only two weeks since they came back from France with glorious tans—but that wasn't his worry.

What his worry was just happened to be the Dragon Box. Two weeks in his house and he stared at it, and it and him. He had no idea what to do with it. He loved it, it being one of his favourite heirlooms. On the other, more practical side, he needed to sell it. It had brought a mint of money.

And then what happened? Your boss very nearly bought it!

Damn it, he thought, now in a foul temper. He didn't like thinking about Hermione. Or the box. Either drove him mad. One with absolute and furious exasperation tinged with something else, and one with complete love but no idea what to do with it. The latter, no matter what you might think, was the box.

He flicked the light and decided to sleep, after all, wasn't that safe?

&&&&&&&&&&

As he slipped himself into his office again, a familiar routine, he was immediately hit by a whole set of memos. Not that he was late, or anything, but at once, cream, wine and then two white memos swerved down onto his desk.

The cream one he read first, it being Hermione's. It simply stated that she wished a meeting in forty five minutes. The wine memo was Kevyn's. In one hour, he needed to talk to him about the remaining budget. The white ones were M.J. and Mike. A design was needed, and on the double.

He rolled his eyes. Yet again, plagued. He went downstairs to M.J. and Mike.

"Ah. Draco. There you are," said M.J. smiling. "We may or may not have a problem. We need this diamond set in a design. It's an engagement ring."

He looked at it. "It's got the three C's. Whew." It had the three Cs, and a glitter and polish that shocked him beyond belief. "Any specifications?"

"Yeah. We're setting this in platinum."

He whistled. "Platinum? This guy's got some serious money."

"Yeah. And that's why we need a design."

He checked his watch. "Sure. Give me to the end of the day. I don't really have anything else to do, but I've got a meeting with the boss, and then with Kevyn in ten minutes."

They nodded. "Alright."

He Apparated again, straight into Hermione's room, right on the dot of nine.

"Mr. Malfoy. Please sit down."

He sat, and laced his fingers and watched her. "Miss Granger. You are well, I presume." Suave, debonair and charming. Almost always worked.

"I am well. I trust that you are the same." The quirk of her eyebrow told him quite plainly: Give it a rest.

He smiled. "What do you want me for?"

"That's more like it." She smiled at that, and handed him a handout. He scanned it, quickly, mentally, and when he looked up, he was smiling. "But perfect . . ."

"Thank you. Now, as you read it is summer preparation. Next week, we put out the window pieces. According to plan. Oh and here."

A stack of Muggle photos was handed to him. Leafing through them, he realized what they were: France mementos. "Great and good. Good morning Hermione."

"And the same, Draco." The air was crackling with static electricity. It was a habit of both of theirs.

He dodged out. Being in her presence, smelling the air drove him absolutely crazy. And she wasn't wearing the usual perfume. She was wearing a different, but not less maddening one. He shook his head slightly, and then proceeded down the corridor to Kevyn's office.

It was well decorated with burgundy and wine carpets and a little lighter for the walls. In the middle was Kevyn. On his desk was a picture of Laura. Draco hid the smile. The France trip had set off a series of romantic repercussions. Not that he believed in romance, but look at it: Potter and his wife, Kevyn and Laura, Sam and Latoya, Hermione and . . . him?

This time the smile was visual as he sat down.

"What put you in such a good mood today?" asked Kevyn. He knew very well that Malfoy was not the type to smile without reason.

"Ah, nothing much. And you?"

He rolled his eyes at him. "Laura."

"Figures. And what can I do for you?"

"Your section of marketing coincides with accounts, as it so happens. That's unfortunate for me, but there it is."

He jabbed a light spell with his wand at Kevyn. "Watch it. I'm the wizard." He purposely missed him. Who'd have thought that he'd get along with Muggles?

Kevyn, who'd ducked, laughed and said "Whatever. I have been instructed to hand out eight hundred pounds, and send you, Ryan, and whoever else wants to go on a shopping spree. That includes Laura."

"And you're not coming because . . . ?"

He waved around the office. "Paperwork. The boss is on my tail," he said rolling his eyes and laughing. "And as for Laura . . ."

The words were unspoken and perfectly understood. Draco smirked. "As flattered as I am to be a potential rival for the hand of the fair-haired and lovely Laura, my eyes are set on bigger game, pardon the term."

Kevyn raised his eyebrows. "Bigger game? Miss Hermione Granger of course."

He nodded. "Naturally. Though at the moment, I'm trying to forget that. So is she."

Kevyn there laughed. "I'll give you till the end of the year."

&&&&&&&&&&&&

Of course, he would have preferred if he'd done this alone. Actually he would have preferred if he didn't have to do this at all. Surrounded by females: Hermione, Ryan, Laura and Tanisha was not his idea of fun. Though it had its perks.

Every salesman suddenly became absolutely helpful at the sight of the women, and any rude ones were either shut up by the latter three flirting, Hermione's dry, cold sarcasm, or his mere charm. The saleswomen loved charm. Hermione rolled her eyes, after all, what could she do?

Nothing.

It was fun, in a way, to go shopping for items like this. From as simple as large felt tip pens to as complicated as fabric, a list was checked.

Hermione was at the moment inspecting a piece of leopard print velvet. And then black velvet. The black velvet gave her more food for the thought. In her mind's eye, she saw the panther in the tree with the glittering, gleaming eyes. But then she also saw the classy black dress dripping with diamonds.

"Decisions, decisions," she heard, and without looking up, said "What Malfoy?"

He sighed. "Always hostile." Not that it bothered him. "What are you trying to decide, anyway?"

"Black or leopard print velvet."

"Leopard print."

"Thanks for making up my mind. I'll buy the black one." She was being childish. She knew it. She bought it. And looked up in time to see the glint in his eye. "Bastard."

"What? I do prefer the black one. Whatever works."

Her hand glowed with the spell. Wandless magic was hard, but it would still work. "Leave me alone, will you?"

He stared straight at her eyes. "I never did a thing to you." And then he watched her. The brown, expressionless eyes suddenly flashed with anger. The orb disappeared. She couldn't hold concentration. He smirked. She turned her eyes away.

Ah yes. To torment her. He loved it.

It was amazing how they looked, when they came back. Laden down with bags, pieces of fabric, and lots and lots of sequins. Hermione managed to unlock the door and let them into the store room. The others were surprised at it all. Fabric beyond beauty.

"Well," said Hermione, briskly. "Summer is soon, and this is the décor. This is what you have to do. Each of you is going to get a task."

And they did. Draco was grumbling. He, Kevyn and Sam were woefully sitting down cutting out leaf and shadow shapes. The women were cutting dresses out, all but Ryan. She was picking and enlarging a few pictures to add to the gorgeous décor.

The men were reporting frequently to the busy people. Mike and M.J. now turned to the gemstone planning, M.J. checking to make sure the gems would fit in perfectly.

And so it was. Time became more and more pressed. They all worried about finishing.

Gloriously gems were polished, examined, worked on. Since they were taking in no more stock, he, Kevyn and Laura were added to the gem cutting and inspecting. Hermione occasionally joined them, and that's when they loved it best.

Hermione breathed a sigh of wonder, and Laura looked over her shoulder. "It's genuine."

"Of course it's genuine," Malfoy snapped. "Excellent orient, superb colour and near perfect shape. It's not a perfect sphere—one end dented in. Lovely shade of black."

Laura stared at him. "You are on the other end of the room, looking at diamonds, by yourself, since Kevyn just came over here to see what we're talking about. How on earth do you know?"

"I have my ways and means." Naturally. It was one the Malfoy heirlooms that he loved like an old friend. "I've got a blue diamond over here. Nowhere near wonderful, but blue nonetheless."

"Let me see." Hermione bent over his shoulder, and he wished she wouldn't do that. Her scent was extremely feminine. "Good point. That compartment."

They had been sorting for the whole day. Occasionally, one of the four cashiers exchanged with the others and let them stretch a bit. Hermione refused to let him go on cashier duty. Apparently he was too valuable. Ginny was often on. She had nothing to do.

Working like this, though comfortable, did require perks. And the one what he saw next bowled him over. He whistled.

"What's got you whistling?" asked Kevyn.

"Another blue. Who on earth bought it?"

Hermione inspected it. "Me."

"No surprises there. This little baby—though little isn't really the word—is the size of a baby's fist. And it's blue." His drawl was pronounced. It happened when he didn't keep it in check.

"It's worth money. No way is she going in the window." The gems were sorted so that they had a few pieces and raw gems for the window. Uncut stones and cut. It was an amazing plan, and meanwhile, the others continued to cut out fabric in spare time. Things were painted and assembled. It was a glorious feeling to be nearly ready.

&&&&&&&

Better yet to be ready. It was the weekend over which a magnificent transformation was to be made. They boarded the windows, and anyone coming in was issued with a pass. Those unlawfully entering were either kicked out or hexed out by Ginny.

The painting of additions to the wall were done. They all began to climb into the person size windows, and then began to stick. Models of trees, umbrellas, and cut out people, skylines, lights and animals were in.

And then the gems.

On Sunday they were finished. And Hermione set a purpose resolution to visit Le Café to see how it looked from across the street.

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Sorry, sorry and sorry. Computer did crash. Am using borrowed one. Updating soon . . . I think. Of course I don't have my drafts!!!

Then again, you people don't care . . .you won't review. :'(