Chapter 69 – An idea

"I want you to look into this idea Kingston." Draco threw a folder at his employees' table and walked into his office, knowing Mr. Kingston would follow him.

It was on the top floor of a muggle building in the City of London. The Square Mile could been seen from up there, in addition to the Gherkin and the Bank of England. As it was placed under a spell, muggles couldn't see the whole floor, and would never find out that their elevator could transport a wizard or witch to a hidden level.

The main problem was that the elevator had to be empty to use magic inside to reveal the hidden button. In a busy business building that was nearly impossible, and Draco hated to use the elevator. It had been a pain to get a floo installed, but worth the money. Some days he had had to confuse the muggles to leave him the heck alone in his elevator, just to get to work.

It was something that attracted the attention of the Ministry of Magic, as it happened so often, and they feared for the International Statute of Wizarding Secrecy. The cameras in the elevator didn't help either, as they had to be deleted daily, not to rise suspicion. They might not be able to capture the magic itself, but to see different people wave about with a stick and press the buttons off target did raise questions.

Draco looked out of his window to see the people down below scurry like ants. He waited until he heard his employee enter the room, before he spoke.

"I need a market analysis whenever there is something like this around. If there isn't, I need a statement of costs and personnel expenditure. I need it fast and accurate."

He dropped into his chair elegantly and glared at Kingston. There was a lot at stake here.

"If I might say so Sir, this idea is brilliant. This could be just what we need. Thank you, Sir!" The tall black man was already on his way out the door, his eyes still fixed on what he was reading. They were practically gleaming with happiness about this development.

"It was her idea, not mine." Draco said so low that it wasn't understandable.

"Yes, Sir?" Kingston asked and turned back around.

"Nothing Kingston, just hurry. And add profit participation to the matter of expenses."

"Right off, Sir!"

Draco leaned back and closed his eyes.

Wine had a way to make him brutally honest with himself. He had drunk nearly two bottles of muggle wine last night, that was by far not as potent as the elven made one, and he had to admit he had felt it. His tolerance for alcohol wasn't as high as he had thought.

There was also this bizarre relationship he had with Granger now. Not old school rivals anymore, but not yet friends, or anything else. A one night stand, which he lacked clarity about, but couldn't stop remembering now. She had felt fragile in his hands, so thin and small, while she had showed him exactly what she wanted. Seeing her last night had brought up the memories again, some of which he hadn't recalled until then. It was small things, like her hands caressing him. Her voice when she was asking him if he was alright. The way he had lost himself in the sex, after so many years without intimate contact.

He was torn between feeling used by her, and knowing it had been a night benefiting them both. He finally felt like he was allowed to move on from his wife's death in a twisted kind of way. There were possibilities out there, all he had to do was reach out. Even his own son had connoted for him to start dating again.

It didn't have to be with Granger, but a voice in the back of his head agreed with his son. She was something else. He wanted to be around her, wanted to figure her out.

At the same time he shieded away from the trouble he knew she could cause in his life. She wasn't just a temperamental woman with some kids his own age. She was a misplaced soul with a intimidating past, emotional baggage, and a distinction from which she tried to hide.

She had offered they could try to be friends, and gave him an idea of how to alter course to make Ilmatar Enterprise profitable again, until he had another idea. Talking to her made him remember that he wanted to present something special to his costumers, not products for the mass market like his competitors.

"Kingston!" Draco called his most trusted employee back. "While you are at it, check the market for this kind of product throughout Europe."

Yes, he had an idea, thanks to Hermione Granger, and he prayed to Salazar that it would work out.

XxX

Lily Potter was a Gryffindor. That much was true and she kept repeating it in her head over and over again as she went to stand next to her middle brother and his best friend in the Great Hall. She had watched Rose and Scorpius interact since she had joined them at Hogwarts last year.

Until recently she had been sure Rose's cold behaviour was a farce, so she hadn't intervened, scared the older girl would get hurt. But since the accident involving Rose and Hugo's mom she was downright nasty towards her admirer. Maybe Scorpius was a bit gawky at courting her, sometimes even stupid, but he had a good heart at the right place.

For now Lily Potter had had enough. Over several nights she had decided to take her chances of asking the boy out herself. She had a crush on him since her first time seeing him on Platform 9 ¾ four years earlier. Whenever Albus talked about him at home she had listened enraptured. Shy as she was, back then she hadn't talked to him the first time they stood in front of each other, but had hidden behind James to admire Scorpius from afar. It had settled, but still she was nervous to approach him.

"Hey boys!", she offered a smile and tried to look casual. Courage could be gathered in an instance, but it could also dissipate quickly, Rose admitted to herself, when both boys looked at her strangely.

"What are you up to little sis?" Albus raised his eyebrow and watched her warily. He had wanted to talk about something with his buddy when Lily had interrupted them.

"It's Hogsmeade day this weekend." The eyebrow climbed even higher in Albus' face and he snorted. "Did mom or dad set you up on this to spy on us, so we don't do any more stupid stuff."

When he said stupid he sneered at his sister and it was her turn to raise an eyebrow.

"No thanks, I don't want to be the snitch in this family. While I think you could try to stay out of trouble and act a little bit more mature, I love you too much to do that. Also, it would rob me of all my free time."

Scorpius laughed and tried to hid it behind his hand when he saw Albus glare at him. Lily's face lit up when she noticed it and Albus groaned. "You've got to be kidding me. Really Lily, really?!"

His sister fluttered her eyelashes and asked, "What dear brother of mine, what?"

Albus only shook his head and turned around without another word.

"Waitttt!" Scorpius called after him and started to follow. Then he turned around towards Lily and smiled apologetically. "Sorry Lily."

She smiled at him and mustered all her courage.

"You can make it up to me at Hogsmeade. How about a butterbeer?"

"Sure, I'll tell – "

"No." She called out and blushed when Scorpius' eyes grew wide. "Just us. You, umhh, just think about it, ok?"

This time it was Lily who turned around and nearly ran towards the stairs upwards. How embarrassing, she thought and hid her red face behind her hands when she finally made it out of Scorpius range of vision. Now she wouldn't know his answer until the weekend, and would have to ask him a second time because she hadn't waited.

Happy New Year and don't plan to many New Year's resolutions.