Author's Note: Thanks for the reviews! The plot begins here. Hope that you don't mind all the trivialities of writing a story, after all. Foundation is key. ) Anyways, you might notice my 'bias' to the Slytherin House... As well as the addition of a supporting character who you might not expect. What can I say? I like bad guys. Bad guys with long hair. )

Chapter 2

Draco Malfoy had not a single care about what the Daily Prophet had to blare about in the front page that early Monday morning. It was around nine o'clock and already his day was shaping out to be hell... or something far worse than that. Idly scanning the paper for a few minutes, only discard it on his desk as he reached out for the schedule his secretary had laid out on his desk before he came in.

Meeting at 10:30... Luncheon meeting at 12... Another meeting at 2... A reminder that the new shipment of flying cars (Mercedes Benz's and BMW's) had arrived and the Dealers themselves wished for him to take a look at around 4 that afternoon.

Not a very hectic schedule to others, but if you were Draco Malfoy and had to endure every meeting everyday then you'd be bored too.

He was only 23 and already he was CEO of one of the major fuel companies in both the wizard and muggle worlds. For Muggles, he directly supplied fuel for automobiles and airplanes. For the wizarding world, he was the one who revolutionized the broomstick, adding fuel to the units to make them accelerate faster and their sensitivity more up to par with the Quidditch player's reflexes. Also, he made fuel more efficient for flying cars.

And what was most surprising was it was not because of bloodlines or power that his family had. It was because he was a smart businessman and he never took anything for granted. Not since his mother had died a few years back and his father had been sent to prison before Voldemort's fall.

Not to mention, Draco was one of the most handsome bachelors around. His hair was long, almost as long as his father's had been many years ago. He kept it in a low ponytail, however. His eyes were actually more gray than blue, his aristocratic features were enough to make any woman swoon. Combining his looks with the power and wealth that he had gave a single conclusion: it was amazing that he was single... and did not care that women were actually fighting among themselves for his attention.

A small knock on the door of his vast office before his secretary peeked inside. "A man is here to see you, Mr. Malfoy."

"Who is it?" Draco replied.

"He refuses to give his name." His secretary said, smiling knowingly.

"Send him in." Draco took a deep breath and knew that his predictions about this day were right. A few seconds later, a tall, beefy man entered his office and closed the door behind him. He was only a few years older than Draco, aristocratically dressed and exceedingly well-mannered. He was a good-looking man as well, with his short dark-brown hair and striking features.

"Malfoy," The man addressed, nodding before taking a seat across the blonde-haired wizard.

"Come to disturb me on the first day of the week and it's not even 10 o'clock? Where have your manners gone to, Flint?" Draco replied, leaning back into his chair, ready for another discussion with his former classmate and right now, his closest ally.

"What can I say? The weekend has been good to me." Marcus said, grinning. His once hideous teeth were now fixed thanks to Marcus' mother who couldn't believe that her handsome son couldn't bring a girl home to meet the family. Contrary to what the other wizards thought about Slytherin families, the Flints were actually pretty close and cheerful.

And with that, Marcus started to recount some of the general details of what did happen during the weekend.

"Have you succeeded?" Draco asked, knowing all too well what the answer to his question would be.

"Have I ever failed?" Marcus replied smugly.

"No, I guess you haven't." Draco stood up as Marcus did the same and they both shook hands.

"Expect the check in the mail." Marcus said before turning to leave. "Oh, and before I forget, check the paper... there's has some news in there which I hope you would be interested in." With that, Marcus let himself out and closed the door behind him.

Draco looked at the departure of his friend in mild annoyance. Marcus Flint might be a good colleague and an even better friend as well, but it was always slightly unnerving for him to keep everything in suspense. Draco sighed and picked up the paper, again scanning its contents. When he did have time to read the paper, his reading was usually of the business section and the sports section.

A few unimportant stories later and Draco was starting to think that Marcus was just messing around with him... until he finally saw it. His eyes widened and he read that one sentence over and over. A look of shock and disbelief washed over his face before he altogether dropped the paper on his desk and proceeded to make a few phone calls.

-

"Congratulations, Harry." Dean Thomas said, coming over to slap Harry Potter on the back and grin at him. "The wait is over, I suppose?"

"Damn right." Harry said, laughing.

It was Friday night and everyone—friends, Hermione's family—were at his apartment unit, celebrating and enjoying the night. It was his engagement party to Hermione. Harry smiled to himself as he sipped his wine. It was only five days after he'd proposed to her and she'd accepted. As usual, the tabloids and every decent paper were all over it, but he didn't mind. She'd said yes and that was all that mattered.

Ron came over to his best friend with a huge smile on his face. Ronald Weasley had been playing for the Chudley Cannons as Keeper for the past two years and Quidditch had definitely been good to him. Countless women and girls alike swooned whenever he was around and he was currently one of the wizarding world's most sought after bachelors. After all, the tall frame, the boyish features and the success he was having, it was no question why he was still single and very much in the dating scene right now.

"What now, Ron?" Harry asked, a small smile on his face.

"You just had to go and do it..." Ron said, shaking his head. "Without telling me, even. You just had to go and propose to Hermione with me out of the country!"

"You had a game in Germany..." Harry replied, trying to get out of the situation.

"And when do I get to hear about it? Yesterday! Just yesterday! I was walking around, like a fool, not knowing that my two best friends had gone out and gotten engaged." Ron continued.

"Hermione likes you being the fool." Harry said, trying hard not to laugh too much.

"Yeah, but Hermione doesn't like having no presents at these kinds of events." Ron answered... but he was grinning.

"Speaking of Hermione, where is she?" Harry asked, trying to look for his fiancé.

"Over there, by the couch, talking to Ginny." Ron said, easily spying the two as he looked over most of the people's heads.

"Thanks. I always feel intimidated by your height." Harry mocked, setting down his wine glass and brushing off imaginary lint from his clothing, before going over to her.

"Hey," Ron called out as Harry went towards Hermione. "You should be happy... you've got your girl!"

Harry waved Ron's comment off and continued on his way to Hermione's side. It seemed that she and Ginny were launched into such a deep discussion about some womanly matters that she didn't even notice that Harry was there. When she did, though, no smile could've been more radiant than the one she'd shown to him.

The rest of the night wore on... with Hermione and Harry never leaving each other's side. In the midst of the friends and family laughing and talking, the two maintained an almost blissful state, not needing words to communicate with each other... just their love.

In front of Harry's apartment building was a different scene, however. For no one would suspect and no one would dare question as to the reason why the black Ford Expedition that was parked a few feet from the building's main entrance. The windows were heavily tinted, giving no clue as to who the passengers and the driver were. But they were inside... looking out for the inevitable coming out of their prey.