The Cream Meeting Room

Disclaimer: I don't own Harry Potter. Like duh! I'd so change the Half Blood Prince. At first, I couldn't write for a while, but then, I concentrated. Now I can. I still will love Draco and this ship.

On with the story!

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On Thursday, after the shop closed to customers, Hermione called a meeting.

Ginny was not really surprised, and indeed, had been wondering when she was going to do that. Her conversations with Draco in a corner of Le Café were mostly about what would happen at the turn of the season. And most of them, Ginny either overheard or Hermione told her much of the same things.

They were in the meeting room at the end of the corridor of offices. Ginny had always liked this room. The carpet was a soft, plush cream one that was a couple of shades darker than the well spaced walls. In the centre, beautiful, always comfortable wood chairs were clustered around a large table. The blank walls were absolutely perfect for any sort of slide shows.

It was in here some of the most surprising announcements were made—in the first year, the decision to take photos; in here, the decision to hire people; the sorting of the mail and the most recent trip to France. Some of things in here were not that important, but it always a feeling of accomplishment. She'd been with Hermione when this place had been started, and it had become so much larger.

Ginny looked around, a hand affectionately on her stomach where she could feel one of her babies squirming around. It always made her feel rather warm and fuzzy, just thinking about it. It also made her rather scared. She knew that Harry was slightly unnerved, never having to deal with small children, let alone babies. But she wasn't worried—Harry should be wonderful with their children.

"Good afternoon to you all," said Hermione, and instantly the minor chatter ceased. Hermione was wearing a bright red suit with her hair in an elegant one. The look suited her.

"Good afternoon, Hermione," Ginny replied with everyone else, with variations.

Hermione had her ankles lapped to the side. "Now as you know, summer will soon be coming to an end—it is after all July."

"Don't remind me," Ginny murmured, rather snidely, and Laura who was sitting opposite her sent her a smirk.

"As I was saying," said Hermione looking supremely unconcerned, "Autumn will soon be upon us and as you all know that means a change in fashion, and hence a change in the window, and to a lesser extent a change in demands. An increase, actually. Winter beckons."

Ginny was watching Draco, who was doodling on a piece of paper.

"But enough of that—let's get down to business." She waved her wand and brought up a picture of the showroom downstairs.

"I want to renovate."

There was a silence after this.

"But Hermione," remarked Laura, very sensibly, "there's not much space to renovate. Only about the space of about three rooms."

"I know. However I don't think you are aware of the charm on all of the rooms in this office. Each room can hold more than its actual capacity thanks to the spells. Oh they are large," she said, seeing the looks on the Muggle employees' faces, "But they can hold more than you would think."

She poked at the small image and showed them. Then she sent it down the line so that everyone could look at it.

"So what do you intend to do with the extra space?" asked Draco, examining it with a seeming boredom. Brushing a piece of red hair out of her eyes, she now understood that this meant that he was paying great attention.

"I intend to expand the showroom a little. Also, I would like to expand the workrooms," she gave a gentle nod to Mike and M.J. "We would only have to buy the three rooms that were previously in use in this building—not much to connect them, just a few spells."

There was an all-round nod: although the Muggles were not entirely comfortable with the entire proceedings they didn't want to have to pay the amount that was used for Muggle renovations.

'And of course with the new space would come—"

"New staff," said Laura, now admiring the model. "I figured as much. When are you planning on hiring them?"

"I was hoping to start interviews in two weeks time just before we do the renovation. But I hope this time that we have no problems in getting the notices out."

There was a groan. Everyone remembered the fiasco involved with the advertising for Draco's position, actually, though Ginny would never admit it, she was actually rather desperate when he came and she was quite glad that it hadn't been somebody worse.

The man understood—he wasn't stupid. A slow smirk began to tease across his features.

"Oh, I think you'll have no problems whatsoever," he drawled, looking contented.

"You wouldn't know," retorted Ryan, speaking for the first time, "You weren't here, after all."

"I was aware of that," he said dryly. "But perhaps you misunderstand."

From his seat next to Laura who was opposite Ginny, he passed a sheaf of newspapers. As they approached her, she noticed that there weren't all newspapers, but magazines. The pictures were moving, at least in a few of them.

"I've marked the page in the Prophet," he said.

There was a rather audible snort from Hermione. "And what does it have to say today?"

"Oh, and look who's talking about biased," he retorted, but he was smiling.

Ginny saw Ryan's brilliant blue eyes roll.

"Interrupting this touching conversation," said M.J., with a touch of dryness to it, unusual for her, "The rest of us are in the dark here, and we do not appreciate it."

"Actually she has a point there. What is going on?" Ginny seconded.

Hermione skimmed through all of three of them. Ginny discovered that if she put herself in a most uncomfortable position, she could read over Hermione's shoulder.

And in the papers were stories, articles about a jewellery store located opposite a café.

"Ginny, sit down properly, will you?' scolded Hermione, and handed her the Daily Prophet. The pregnant woman gambit. Always works, thought Ginny, with a not quite innocent grin.

"Well?" asked Mike, impatient, speaking for her sister.

The redhead read aloud. "This elegant jewellery store is becoming a competition to Borgin and Burkes, in the popular Nocturn Alley, and Sparkle! in Diagon Alley."

A soft chuckle came from Draco. "Borgin and Burkes. Really." He passed down the Quibbler to Laura. "You should be flattered Hermione."

"Competing with Dark Objects and blackmail? Oh, I am."

"And those are what?" asked Latonya, who previously, had been very silent.

Ryan explained to her, Tanisha and Sam. "Diagon Alley is sort of like the wizard version of . . . um London in general. It's got everything there that we need. Nocturn Alley—two words—actually is"

"Rather shady," said Draco with a reminiscent smile.

Ginny couldn't help but roll her eyes. "As I was saying. Previously, the popular Sparkle! was almost incomparable. Then Hogwarts' most brilliant student of her time—"

Hermione turned a faint shade of pink. "Nonsense."

"Besides Harry Potter, the Man-Who-Lived," she sighed at his title.

"Isn't that your husband?" asked Latonya.

"Yes. Long story. 'Put her mind to a new venture, and Jewellery Exquisite was the result of her brainchild."

"They haven't lost their talent at writing nonsense," said Hermione.

Ginny grinned. 'I'm in here too 'Ginny Potter, nee Weasley, the beautiful, powerful wife of Harry Potter'. But to cut a long article short, it basically sums up popularity, says that your beautiful shop is one of those popular in the whole of Britain, is very good."

Draco looked up over his interlaced fingers. "Tell them what they said about me. They might find it interesting."

"Oh yes, where was it? 'The dangerous, slightly unbalanced, yet highly handsome ex Death Eater'. There's also a snide comment about the amazing turnout of Hogwarts students from our year."

"Better than Witch Weekly," cut in Hermione dryly. "You are one of the most eligible wizarding bachelors, supposedly dangerously handsome, with a drawl described as 'chocolate for the ears' and two time winner of the Best Smile."

"I didn't know that," said Ryan, interestedly.

"I didn't know I was a bachelor," he said. Ginny got the impression that his eyes had done the merest flick to Hermione. She had to be imagining it, because now he was looking at Ryan.

"Apparently." Now she decided that she hadn't imagined it. Hermione seemed rather . . . displeased. "Don't go getting a swelled head, Draco."

"I?" He pretended to look injured. "Now, when was I ever like that . . .?"

Hermione and Ginny snorted together. "I can recall numerous instances . . . something about Mudblood? Only in fifth year or sixth year . . ." asked Hermione, sweetly.

"Break it up," said Kevyn, "Though this is a most amusing conversation."

He received two looks of murderous propensities.

Ginny decided to intercede so that Laura didn't become a widow before she was even engaged. "What does Luna say?"

The Quibbler, which Luna had taken over, was one of the foremost magazines. She still posted absurd articles occasional, but sometimes the absurd was true. Her magazine was a hard hitting one, and kept the current Ministry of Magic on their toes. Luna had also become . . . . interested in Neville. She would be a godmother of one of the twins. Along with Hermione, and Tonks.

She was interrupted from her reminiscing by Hermione saying "She says that this medium sized shop is one of the best in London. She says that the employees are extremely well informed, and that recent addition Draco Malfoy seems to fit right in. She mentions that coming from a rich pureblood family he is natural at the job and an excellent professional."

"She seems the most sensible," said Laura. "Better than mad ex murderer—or whatever it was—or winner of the best smile thing."

"I assure you that all articles have a grain of truth," he said, quite smoothly, his hand absentmindedly—or so it appeared—holding his left arm. "But I shall return to the original reason for producing these interesting articles. The publicity."

Laura smiled, a little uncertainly, no doubt pondering his comment. "True. And I think with all of this, we need a Public Relations Officer."

"I know the person for the job," said Hermione, softly. "But the point that Draco was making is this: I don't think we'll have that same problem again with trying to get hold of people. It'll be easier than in April."

"How far we've come," Tanisha said, her voice softly. "In wizarding magazines, and in only a few months. I do think we should have some sort of a toast."

"A celebration is coming up in September," said Ginny.

"Really, get this meeting back to business," said Hermione, blushing again. "Now. I was saying. We should start to advertise a lot earlier this time, perhaps this week, in the Muggle and Wizard newspapers."

"We should have no problems. I don't have a Muggle paper, but I'm a little surprised none of you have seen the articles yet," said Draco, in a tone that said clearly what he meant: I thought I was supposed to be the Muggle hater, and here I am knowing about things in Muggle magazines before Muggles.

There was a silence. Then, someone said "Goodness, man, what other tricks have you up your sleeve?"

Ginny thought that it was Ryan who asked, but she remembered Draco's answer. Perfectly.

"I'm sure you wouldn't be interested," he said, exhibiting his famous drawl, and she saw the tiny flick of his eyes to Hermione. He was wearing his platinum blond hair in a ponytail, as usual.

Quite the contrary.

'Let's wrap up this meeting," said Hermione. "It's time for us to be getting home."

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It was over fairly soon, and suddenly Ginny remembered something. As they were filing out, she walked over to Draco.

"How did you know?"

"Why shouldn't I?"

"None of us old Hogwarts group reads those magazines. I know you don't. So . . . ?"

He sighed, and said softly, "Theodore Nott. It has his fingerprints all over most of it." His grey eyes looked disturbed for a moment, as he looked at her. "Perceptive, are you, Miss Weasley—Potter." He added it on as an afterthought, as if he suddenly remembered her marriage.

"Thank you."

She left him behind and walked into Hermione's office. "Hello. Tired?"

"A little," said her friend. "Not much. I was just remembering . . ."

Ginny knew what she was remembering. That, had not Ron disappeared, she wouldn't have been here. But—did any of them want it any different?

"I really know what Cho felt like," murmured Hermione. Checking her door was closed she said lightly, "I think I'll make Ryan PRO."

"Public relations officer?" asked Ginny. A good choice . . . she was bubbly, energetic, enthusiastic, and understood the best of both worlds—which were still rather separate. After the war, the Muggles knew a little of the existence of the Wizarding world, but it was for a select few, and even for most of them knowledge was limited. It had taken a while for the staff of Jewellery Exquisite to explain some of the secrets of their world, but they had not told them everything.

"Yes. What do you think?"

"Will she get a new office?"

"Probably . . . . I think there's space."

"She's a good choice. Actually, she's perfect."

"Glad you think so . . . Hark, I hear Harry."

They both did. Ginny opened the door and went out to meet him.

"Good afternoon, Gin, how have you behaved today?"

"Perfectly well, thank you very much," Ginny said, indignantly, and received a kiss. She felt . . . so warm, happy, and loved.

And she couldn't hate Malfoy if he did that for Hermione, could she.

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Another chapter! I apologize . . . HUGE WRITER'S BLOCK. I couldn't write for weeks . . .and then I sat down and this just . . . wrote itself. I gave chocolate to the muses for it.

Reader responses:

Sunny June 46: I realized, and I appreciated it, too. It was a really good one. But yeah, too much fluff gets on my nerves . . . but I am a fluff at heart.

And yes, actually, the title was the inspiration for the story. I saw the title and Hermione immediately came to mind. I just decided to . . . tweak the name around. But no, I haven't read the book: it's only recently mum's allowing to me read adult books. I only turned fourteen a month ago, you know.

Serlene: Thanks! But no, I didn't like it . . . I like this one though.

HgBookworm: Sort of, but not really, it just was in my head. Sort of thing Draco would do. At least, to me.

Now, that's definitely a compliment. Attempts to blush, fails, complexion too dark.

Everyone else: THANK YOU! I hope you like this chapter! It's great. Oh, yeah, to clear up one thing, I didn't know Ginny's name before I started writing this. I just used Virginia.

Review! Help me reach seventy!