A/N: Here we are, thanks for all the reviews so far. Chapter 11 up! Hope you're all enjoying this so far. Please Review!

Chapter Eleven: The Office

After leaving Ginny, Harry returned to his office bearing a slight grin on his face. Mechanically, he reached into his inner pocket and pulled a shiny object that was attached to his chain and started to feel it through his fingers. The mysterious key was kept in his pocket at all times now. On occasion, he would repeat the same ritual over and over again whenever he felt stressed.

The intercom began to ring as he sat down behind his desk. Still deep in thought, he lets it ring a few times before finally switching it on.

"Mr. Potter," the intercom said, "May I bring the---"

"Oh yes, Ms. Hansen, I'm sorry, please bring it in," he replied, placing the key back into this pocket.

A few seconds later, the door opened and a familiar woman with brown hair and cinnamon eyes carried the requested portfolio into his Harry's office. She sat down on the chair beside his desk and handed him the portfolio.

Harry opened the folder and analyzed its contents. "I scribbled a note here, would you take care of it?" He said, passing her a sheet of parchment without looking up. "And this," he added, handing her another sheet, "Where is the prospectus for the year?"

"They promise it would be here at 4:00," his secretary informed him, " I'll send it in as soon as it arrives."

"Ah" he sighed, "You saw the offer from Harvard and Williams?"

"Yes, Mr. Potter."

"You worked for Harvard and Williams once I believe?" he recalled, "They're driving a hard bargain. Do you think they're bluffing?"

"I think not," she shook her head, "I used to know Mr. Williams pretty well. I was his secretary."

"Yes," Harry chuckled, "I remember he was quite annoyed when you came to me. Called me a pirate."

"Oh that was not fair," she smiled, "It was really all my doing."

"Indeed?"

"I heard Ms. Parvati was leaving you and I made up my mind to apply for the position."

Harry looked up at her curiously, "May I ask why?"

She paused before answering, "A few weeks ago, I came across a picture of you in the Daily Prophet. Underneath it said, 'Industrial Prince of England."

"Dear me!" Harry chortled.

"I was impressed," she continued, "I decided then and there I must leave Harvard and Williams to better myself."

He smiled gratefully at her, "Well I'm sincerely glad you did, Ms. Hansen. You make things a great deal easy for me," He returned his focus on his desk and began to examine another stack of papers from the portfolio. "What's all this?"

"Oh that's the report of their firm in the Midlands," she told him, "the Melbridge cable company," she pronounced the world 'Melbridge' very slowly, keeping her eyes on his reaction.

"Uh huh," Harry merely nodded, still staring intently at the papers before him, "Oh yes, Mr. Weasley thinks this would be a very valuable subsidiary."

"I have a large file, photographs of the works," she added, "Would you care to see it?"

"Please, yes," he said.

The secretary made her way through the door into her adjoining office. Sitting down at her own desk, she switched on her own intercom, "Bring the Melbridge Cable Company reports Penelope," she requested.

"Yes Ms. Hansen," the voice on the other end answered. While she was waiting by her desk for the file, the phone started to ring.

She quickly picked it up, "Hello? Yes I did Mr. Wood; can you make it 4:30 this afternoon? That would be splendid. He's very busy. Thank you" and hangs up.

A few moments later, her assistant returned with the file in hand. "Thank you Penelope," she stood up and made her way back into Harry's office. She returned to her seat, putting the file in front of him. She observed closely as Harry started to inspect the pictures inside.

"Their equipment seems up to date," he noticed as he shuffled through the pictures, "And they seem to have plenty of space."

"It does seem worth investigating," she suggested.

"I'll get Ron to run down," said Harry, "I'm taking a long holiday."

"Are you?" She replied in a casual tone, "At once?"

"In about a month or so," he answered.

She forced a smile, "Why, I think that's a very good idea."

"Well I may be gone a year"," Harry added, "If things could be arranged."

"A year?"

"If it's humanly possible," he paused for a moment before announcing, "I'm being married, Ms. Hansen. You're the first to hear my news," he told her happily, "But I'm afraid it'll mean a lot of extra work for you. Putting things in order so that I can get away."

"Its Ms. Weasley, I suppose?" she asked, already knowing the answer.

"Yes, its Ginny," Harry laughed, "Was it so obvious?"

"Oh not at all," her tone was slightly higher than usual, "She's a very charming girl,"

"Yes I fully agree," Harry nodded, "But I hope you won't take it into your head to follow my example Ms. Hansen," he added, smiling sincerely at his secretary, "I don't know what I should do without you."

"I had been married, Mr. Potter," she told him, analyzing him for some hint of recognition, "You may remember I told you when I took the position."

"Oh yes, to be sure. It slipped my memory," Harry replied, avoiding her gaze, "You had a child I believe."

"Yes. A little boy," she confirmed sadly, "He died."

"Oh yes," feeling awkward, he looked down at his desk, "I'm sorry." Silence soon settled in. Harry reached over to the side of the desk and grabbed another sheet of parchment. "You'll see that Mr. Weasley gets this will you?" he handed it to her, trying to change the subject, "And I'll let him have the file later."

The secretary nodded in a trance-like state, staring straight ahead. Suddenly the loud ringing of the office telephone snapped her out of it.

"Hello?" she picked up the phone and answered, "Yes. Yes, Ms. Weasley, he's here." She hastily handed him the phone before getting up, "Ms. Weasley."

"Hello? Oh definitely!" She heard Harry say, "You want me to confirm it in writing? Absurd young person."

DUM DUM DUM..the plot thickens.