Luckily getting to Avery's office was a short journey. The idea of having to drive to Interpol's office with both Addison and Granger was more then Draco could handle for that day. The day had already been a particularly long one, so he welcomed the speed with which they reached Avery's office. As the day kept dragging, he had more opportunity to ask himself why he had agreed to this. There was nothing he could take from it, either his aunt's efforts had worked or he was a glutton for pain. Damn his pride. He couldn't let anyone believe that he was weak. At this moment, all he wanted was his quiet room. The relaxing comfort of the large overstuffed chair was calling to him. Instead, he had hunger pains and was forced to listen to Addison's recap of the day.
Had Granger been more punctual this morning they would have been done with all the paper work and eating at this very moment. Women, their habit was to be fashionably late, or for Granger, just late. That was the major flaw of their guise, Granger had no class. Yes she was considered polite for most, but she didn't know the rules and customs of the titled class. For either Muggles or wizards, class was class, and she had none.
His eyes shifted over to her.
She had once again started to finger her hair. She would pull a piece of hair in front of her face and throw quick glances at it. He would agree that the color did suit her, bringing out the warmer colors in her skin, but she needn't gawk over herself in public. He scoffed to himself. Couldn't she restrain herself?
Unable to stifle the urge he leaned towards her in his chair. He softly spoke two words, "Mirror, mirror."
Her fingers dropped the strands of hair it held. Understanding flashed in her eyes as they darted towards him. She understood his meaning. Her lips tightened as her response was being formed in her mind. "You'll close the door on the wrong person." Having released their prisoner, her lips relaxed, lying about their comfort.
She thought she was clever with her response. Hoped to either stump him or insult him, no matter, he had a response. He always had a response.
"And you'll follow the wrong person down the rabbit hole," he whispered.
Before she could respond, Avery coughed, causing both to relax back into their chairs and become aware of their surroundings. Addison was sitting on the edge of Avery's desk shifting through folders.
The desk was well organized with an aquatic theme. A starfish paperweight held down a stack of documents on one corner. A lighthouse lamp illuminated Avery's working space. Next to the picture frame on the other corner sat a turtle figurine made out of shells, Draco assumed it had been made by one of his children or grandchildren, judging Avery's age.
"You both will pay closer attention when you're on this mission, won't you?" Avery's voice held a fatherly tone, gentle but firm. None the less, a reprimand was a reprimand, Draco knew they had deserved it. Had Granger been paying attention instead of fiddling with her hair, things would have been better.
"Sir Miles Avery has been updated on your guises, and will be fulfilling the part of Alice's father for communication purposes. When you're in need of money, or information of any sort, you will contact me, your steward. For detailed messages you will speak with Lord de Lacy. Since he is ill, it will be understandable that his daughter will call once a week, Wednesdays. If you have need to speak with him on any other day, you will call me and I will arrange for the Lord to answer the call. Remember a phone call is not secure and so do not fall out of your guise. All your reservations for hotels and transportation will be made by me. We know that Harry Potter and his friend went missing in Annecy, France, but to begin your investigation there immediately would be foolish. You will first travel to-"
Addison's voice droned on as he listed the French cities Potter had gone through on his mission with Ron. Draco knew them all, having read the list in the folder. Boredom was gnawing at each of his nerves. Though his posture was composed and his face devoid of any emotion, he could feel something attempting to claw out of his skin. Why couldn't it end? Why must he play the stupid game? He began to imagine multiple ways of destroying Addison. Most of these involved removing his vocal chords. Boredom usually turned into rage for him, as if the lack of mental stimulation forced him to become violent.
Then it happened, somewhere between imagining the removal of Addison's vocal chords and killing him, they had all stood up and Draco was shaking Avery's hand. Once he stepped out of the door he quickly made his way down the hall. The quick sound of footsteps followed him, when he turned to look behind him he saw Addison reaching his side.
"Mr. Malfoy, I haven't finished debriefing you. You also need to have dinner, and have the finishing touches to your guises made. Then there are the forms to fill out for -"
"Enough Addison." Draco stopped and turned to the panting man beside him. "We will quickly go see to our guises and fill out the forms. You will bring us our dinner and we will eat it in the car on the way over to the train. Understood?"
Addison knew when Draco took that tone of voice that it was best to agree. It seemed Draco would get short tempered when he didn't eat regularly or when he was particularly bored. Addison knew both factors were present.
"Of course I'll see to it at once," Addison responded as he turned around and walked past Hermione.
"You needn't be so harsh." Hermione frowned slightly at him.
"I see. You would rather listen to him read the folder again?" Draco was in no mood for lectures from a girl with too much self-importance.
"I wasn't saying that," Hermione brushed aside his foul demeanor. "I was just pointing out that you could have been kinder."
"I'm not going to coddle my co-workers. Do I look like their mother?" Draco turned down another hall, his quick steps left Hermione straggling behind.
Draco soon entered the workshop and found Moreley trimming Creevely's hair. Beside them were four trunks, a briefcase, and a handbag.
"I won't have you walk away from me while we are talking Draco," Hermione's voice had the tone of a mother lecturing her child.
"We need to finish our guise, Alice," Draco was in no mood to start another discussion with her.
Vivien had been waiting for the right moment to interrupt the two of them. She finally spoke, "I'll need both your wands."
With out hesitation they both handed their wands over to her. With a snap of her fingers the wands shrunk to the size of hair sticks. In seconds, she stood behind Granger pulling and twisting her hair every which way. Finally, the hair achieved some kind of order, and the two wands were placed into the hair to hold it in place.
"There, should you need your wands they will be ready for you," Vivien motioned for Creevely to come forward. He carried with him two of the trunks. "These are your things, if you are in need of any more clothing, or anything of the like just let Lorry know."
Granger moved towards the sink.
Addison walked in with a canvas bag and a folder full bursting with papers. Every bit of strength Draco possessed was being used to keep him under control. All he needed to was to get out of the office, and have a chance to be alone. Well… as alone as he could be with Granger in the car with him. He turned to look at Granger, she was standing near the sink, looking what can only be described as suspicious. If she was this transparent there would be no hope for the mission to successes. She placed a folder inside the folder on the sink. Ignoring her actions Draco took the form Addison and started signing them all rapidly. As he finished with each he would pass them on to Granger. Addison kept mentioning that the forms should be read but Draco knew what they said. If he should die; what would happen to his body, fortune, who to notify. Essential yes, but he had already filled out the important parts earlier. All that he needed now was to sign.
As they signed the papers, Creevely carried their trunks into the car. Finally, Draco arrived to the last form, his signature placed on it. He turned to others. "Bye. Granger, we are leaving."
Granger went to grab the folder on the sink.
"That stays here I'm afraid. You are to take nothing that isn't in the trunks." Addison quickly took Granger's folder and placed it near the forms.
Draco walked out quickly, deftly taking the folder with him, and traveling to their chauffeured car. He could vaguely hear that Granger was giving thanks to the others. He sat in the car, waiting for her to finish her conversation; unfortunately she held the canvas bag containing the food. Finally after what seemed to be ten or so minutes, she finally walked into the car.
"Granger, if you keep making this a habit, I'll think you really have no interest in saving those two leeches." Draco leaned back in the car's cushioned seat.