Chapter 11 Decisions


Ron plopped down on an armchair in the Common Room and looked at the package in his hands curiously. This was a lot heavier than the mail that he usually received from George. No wonder why those owls had been so grumpy.

Ron opened the package carefully. His frown deepened when he saw a big stack of official-looking papers along with a mustard-coloured envelope. What on earth?


Ron,

I had my lawyers look at all (reasonable) options and here is what they say:

They recommend going ahead with the business proposal from MagiCeuticals. While their bid wasn't the highest, their contract is the most fair. It would also protect you from any potential lawsuits. (It would be MagiCeuticals' problem to deal with and not yours.) You would be surprised how many times people tried to sue Fred and I. If you ever wondered why we discontinued our Happy Fires product line, there is your answer: too many lawsuits. (Not that we ever lost any but people still try to sue.)

Partnering up with them also makes most sense since they are the ones commissioned by the Ministry of Magic to find the antidote to your potion. This will give customers more confidence in your product.

One of MagiCeuticals' big stipulations, and they insist one this one, is that you stay the face of the brand for at least a year (preferably two). Meaning you can´t change back for a while. Perhaps also ask Harry (or was it Hermione?) if he can say positive things about his experience with your potion. It would be great PR.

Plus, you never know if declining their business proposal could lead to campaigns by MagiCeuticals', saying that your product is dangerous or harmful. Happens.

The next-best business proposal apparently came from Malfoy Apothecary. My lawyers explained all the pros to me but I told them that you would not consider this offer. For obvious reasons, no matter how big the check. You actually have some integrity. (Yes, I actually said that, believe it or not.)

Then, of course, the third option – you starting a company of your own. If you are really interested in this, I say, go ahead and read blue marked pages. It is a copy of what my management team drew up a few years ago.

Being a business owner myself, I can tell you that it is very rewarding (once you are finally out of the red and in the plus). However, it is also a very long and hard road to get there.

Partnering up with someone who is established makes this a lot easier. But of course, you may not always have the same vision and will need to make sacrifices etc.

Think about it carefully.

See you soon,

George (a. k. a. the most handsome and smartest of the Weasley bunch)

PS: If you end up making a big bank, I would very much like to have all lawyer fees reimbursed.


Ron gulped. He greatly appreciated George`s insight and resources. This was indeed a difficult decision to make. Thankfully, he did have a few weeks to think this over. Perhaps he could also ask Harry and Hermione about their opinion on this matter. But ultimately, it was his choice.

So Ron picked up the big stack of papers and began to read.


"What are you reading?" a voice behind him asked curiously. Ron turned around to find Harry behind him. Hermione followed, carrying a big role of parchment, no doubt wanting to start the homework that was due in a week.

"George sent me this," Ron answered, handing over the letter. After a few minutes, he asked them, "What do you think about this?"

"This is huge, Ron," Hermione replied, handing back the letter with a smile.

Ron nodded. "It is. I have some time to consider all options though."

"Not going to lie, Malfoy Senior's offer surprised me," Harry cackled.

"I know, right? I'm going to have a ball letting the Ferret know," Ron agreed.

"George sounds so… grown up. It's odd. Do you mind if I skim over some of the pages you have already read?" Hermione asked, pointing to the growing stack to Ron's left. She could always do her homework later today. This sounded way more interesting than the History of Magic. She had actually considered a career as a solicitor at one point.

"Knock yourself out," Ron permitted.

"Thanks!"


Harry yawned and rubbed his eyes. They had been sitting together, reading the documents that George had sent. All the bureaucracy made this a lot less exciting. He was dead-tired and needed to rest his eyes.

"You lot, I think I´ll hit the sack," Harry said with another drawn yawn.

Ron finished the sentence he was reading before glancing up. He was also pretty tired but wanted to finish this. He wouldn't be able to find any rest with all of this information overload anyway.

"Alright. See you tomorrow morning. I'll read a little more," he replied.

"Should we wake her up?" Harry asked, pointing to their friend who was sleeping soundly on the carpet in front of the fireplace.

"Nah, I'd let her sleep."

If Ron was not mistaken, Hermione was drooling a little on his papers. He carefully pulled them from under her head, trying not to wake her.

He had been so sure about what to do before George's letter. But now he was torn.

Who would have thought that it would be this difficult?


Hermione pulled the strap of the messenger bag over her shoulder and hurried to her next class. While she supposed that the therapy sessions helped some, she disliked them being mandatory, opposed to voluntary. To her, those ninety minutes felt like having detention.

Well, at least it is only once a week now.

Her classmates had (mostly) moved on from their anger towards Ron and reached the acceptance stage. Almost three months had passed since the Incident. It, however, felt much longer. On some days, Hermione had a hard time remembering how it used to be as a girl. That was scary. She supposed it had to do with how some people treated her differently now. And of course all the testosterone did not help either. It made her act differently.

When Hermione finally arrived at the edge of the forest near Hagrid's little hut, most students had already paired up. She looked around for a partner.

"I guess it's you and me, Granger," a familiar voice drawled from behind her. Hermione tried not to act annoyed.

"I guess so," she answered with the same drawl and left to get them one of the cages that contained a fluffy, bright orange, purring creature. Hagrid mentioned its name but Hermione (and most of her classmates) couldn't pronounce it to save her life. The thing looked like a cross between a raccoon and a wombat. With very sharp and long teeth.

"Do not open the cages. They have poisonous fangs," Hargrid warned before proceeding to tell them what he wanted them to do.

Hermione and Draco worked quietly for ten minutes until something caught Hermione's eyes that made her break the silence: a parchment peeking out of Draco`s book…

overjoyed to share the happy news with you: Your mother and I are expecting twin gir-

Hermione gasped.

"What the actual fuck, Malfoy?" she whispered furiously.

"What, Granger?" Draco asked in confusion, however, with an equally annoyed voice.

Hermione pointed accusingly at the letter. Draco`s eyes narrowed.

"Invading people's privacy as usual, I see? How dare you!?"

"You committing a felony is my business. Because it happened on my watch!" Hermione quickly defended.

"I did not commit a felony," Draco begged to differ.

"No? Then how come your mother happens to be pregnant? With twin girls, no less! You cursed her with Dark Magic!"

"Again, Granger, I didn't do anything. Now leave me alone," Draco answered dismissively.

But Hermione, however, wouldn't let this one go. He had gone too far this time. There needed to be consequences to his actions.

"Liar!" she whisper-yelled. Draco took off his gloves and threw them at her forcefully.

"Listen up here. I. Did. Not. Curse. My. Mother," Draco repeated.

"Oh, you can`t tell me that this is a coincidence! I'm not stupid, Malfoy," Hermione hissed, scrunching up his gloves. Expensive dragon leather, no doubt.

"And this is where I disagree," Draco countered, holding out his hand for his gloves. Hermione pocketed them defiantly.

"Finders keepers," she said simply. "And: you're going down for this!"

Draco sighed tiredly. "Granger. I will spell it out for you one more time: I did not use that curse on my mother. Believe it or not: I let the Higher Powers decide and they were kind to me, granting me my wish. Now leave me alone and do your work. I'm not going to carry your grade."

Hermione was about to say something else but shut her mouth when she saw Hagrid coming to check on them. She watched Draco from the corner of her eye. The longer she watched, the more doubt was creeping in.

Was he actually telling the truth? … It could be a coincidence. Doubtful, but possible…

Hermione decided to let the matter rest – for now. She would, however, keep a close on the ferrety bastard. He fooled her before.

"See what you did with your tantrum, Granger? You upset it!" Draco then turned to accuse her, pointing at the… what's-its-name. The orange creature had puffed up its fur and was hissing at her.

"You were just as loud," Hermione said lamely to Draco who only rolled his eyes and reached into his pocket. He pulled out a small biscuit.

"Here," he offered the furball who eyed the treat with great suspicion but seemed more calm now.

"Malfoy, don`t feed it," Hermione warned but Draco didn't listen, still holding out the treat.

After sniffing it thoroughly, the what's-its-name decided that the treat was safe and snatched it from Draco's hands. The raccoon-wombat began to purr as it munched away.

Draco threw Hermione the stink-eye. "See?"

No further words were exchanged between them that day.