Hermione 2 August 2017

Two down, one to go and I'm early for the 11:30 meeting - the clock is only registering 11:15. This gives me a moment to go over everything from earlier today.

It's a good thing I'm so acclimated to quidditch from the many years that the Potters - Harry and Ginny, and Ron…

Aw damn… Ron…

My mood turns grey again. Another wave of pain washes over me for the umpteenth time. Pick yourself up Hermione, I tell myself. You weren't this bad when Harry had to go into the Forbidden Forest by himself, and that was a definite. This is only a meeting about the Quidditch World Cup.

The Quidditch World Cup that Ron was helping to coach the Irish team, just because he was so passionate about the sport. Before…

Before Harry walked into my office.

Putting on the most fake smile I can imagine on my face, I walk into the oversized conference room. Only in it is a black wooden table with about 25 or so seats surrounding it. And about that many seats lining the walls behind. Probably for the admins of those at the table to take notes.

I take the seat at one of the heads of the table. I'm travelling by myself, so there's no admin to linger behind me uncomfortably - for the both of us.

Without looking up from my notes from earlier today, I notice a striking gentleman come into the room, also alone. I don't look up to greet him - yet, still reviewing the previous meeting's information on the sanctuary that Luna set up. There are complications. It gave me a real reason to go see my old friend.

"You look deep in thought Granger." I hear from across the table. Oh hell no.

"Let me just finish this Malfoy." I scribble down a few more notes of what I need to talk to Luna about, "And it's Weasley, not Granger."

"You're always going to be Granger to me. Weasel just got lucky."

"Please don't Malfoy. This isn't the time nor the place to discuss my personal life."

"The meeting hasn't started yet. We're in here by ourselves. It isn't like we are have a reporter from the Prophet here." I could feel his eyes focused on me in an unnatural manner. "You can talk to me. Just know that. I am sorry for everything me and my family did. I am really trying to make up for it, every day." He sounded almost gentle in his apology, definitely sincere. He has been up against a lot after the war: his father's disappearance and ultimate jail time, him taking over a company that no one wanted to associate with for a long time just because of the name, his mother's breakdown. A lot rested on the the cold, calm shoulders of the man across the table from me.

I hold up one finger on my left hand to signal to him, wait. I finished my notes, but I wasn't ready to talk about that - any of that - yet. Especially with Malfoy.

My notes complete, I look up to him for the first time. "Malfoy, I have one question: Why are you sitting at this table?"

"Madame, you didn't know? Well the Minister should hear about this!" he gave his signature smirk. "Granger, the Ministry contracted with Malfoy Industries International to design and build the next 10 stadiums. And we are the supplies for the resident tents. And the training facilities. If it needs building or supplying Malfoy Industries International is pretty much doing it. And who else but the head of the company should be representing it at such an important meeting?"

Bloody hell. Really? Why is that not in any of the notes that were forwarded to me from the Minister.

There are times I think Kingsley is a reincarnated Dumbledore. It wouldn't have surprised me honestly if I hadn't seen them in the same room together before.

"So Malfoy Industries International," I look down at my notes, adding that tidbit, "primary supplier. Got it. Now is there a contact that you have tasked with this? Someone we can deal with directly?"

He's laughing. Genuinely LAUGHING.

"What the bloody hell is funny Malfoy?" I say through my gritted teeth. I still can't stand that prat.

"Granger, that would be me." He get up and strides - no saunters - over to the other end of the table and hands me a card with his left hand, held cockily between his index and middle fingers. I know he's right handed… "Here. It has all my personal contact information. Direct line to the executive suite of offices - Trini is in charge. She'll help you with anything you need. You'll like her. Also my cell phone. You can call whenever you need." There is that damn smirk again. "If you want," he took the card back and wrote a number on the back of it - waving his wand and it turned silver against the black paper "here's my house numbers - the Manor and my flat in London. If ever you can't get ahold of me for whatever reason, contact Trini and she will get Blaise immediately."

My time to smirk at him for once, "How does Astoria feel about you giving your number out so easily?"

He shrugged casually leaning against the conference table, "Don't know. Don't really care since our divorce was finalized 6 months ago."

His what? He's divorced? That's news to me. "I'm sorry. Genuinely."

"Don't worry yourself over me Granger. It is for the better." He took my left hand in his. "Really."

I couldn't help but see his hand. On his ring finger was a stunning emerald eyed serpent ring; on his pinky, an ill fitting ring in similar form with a large emerald surrounded by a serpent. I could feel his eyes boring into my head. He patted my hand again and sauntered back to his seat. There were a few other members joining and he was greeting each in turn. With his right hand. Yet with me it was his left. It made that off feeling even more intensified.

Looking at the clock there's still about 5 minutes before the meeting starts, and the members come trickling in. All greeting Draco freaking Malfoy like an old friend. I just keep my nose down reviewing the purpose of this meeting - site selection for the Western Hemisphere games, which will be in Brazil this year.

From what I am gathering on the off shoot discussions going around the table, this is much more preferred to that last one - which was held in the Northern Territories of Canada in late January.

That wasn't a well attended match ups; I don't think I know of anyone who attended that it wasn't part of their job description - even Ginny, Harry and Ron…

Why does he keep coming to the front of my head? I need him gone from my thoughts, if just for this meeting.

I look up at the clock once more as it turns to 11:30. "Ladies and Gentlemen, and Draco, please take your seats so we can commence with this meeting."

I get the customary smirk greeting me from across the table.

That was the most painful meeting, finally completing about 1:30. It was highly productive. Malfoy is taking lead on the supply chain and building directly, though he has two division senior managers at his flank. Also he stepped up and took additional tasks right away.

"Hey Granger, do you want to have some lunch?"

"No thanks Malfoy. I have another meeting to attend this afternoon."

"Bull. Come on. Did you have anything for breakfast today?"

"No, I usually only have coffee and maybe a muffin if I get the chance. Why are you so concerned?"

"Because it's starting to show. You looked tired at the end of the meeting. If you go to another, without eating something, you won't be functioning. Come on. I won't bite. Pinky promise." He chuckled, "unless you want me to."

"Fine. Pinky promise." I held out my right hand and he held out his left. Again with the left hand. "I don't suppose you know of anyplace close?"

"Only about a half dozen. There are 3 hotels alone that are part of Malfoy Industry International's holdings. I like to travel to the different properties to see how they're doing regularly. I suppose that I will be coming more to Brazil now for more than just work."

"Do you always have to say 'Malfoy Industry International'?" My displeasure of hearing his name over and over and over during this marathon meeting had got to me.

"What would you prefer Granger?"

"Weasley! Ugh." I thought about it. "I don't know. Don't you have something that is internally abbreviated?"

"M - I - I. Though, Blaise always squeals "MEEEEEEEE!" like a little girl in a department store with her daddy's credit card."

That was genuinely funny. I could totally picture Blaise Zabini doing that through the executive suites of MII. I laughed and shook my head. I don't think I can get that picture out of my head, especially if I have a meeting with Blaise anytime soon.

"Please, send him next meeting. I need to see that myself." I took a breath to regain my composure, "How is Blaise anyways? Why didn't he come?"

"I left him to deal with the sharks." He gave me a sideways glance. "He's dealing with the board today. I didn't feel the need to deal with a number of pureblood pricks. So I changed our itineraries. Don't tell him though. His wife, well she was happier that I did. I guess she had some surprise set for him this weekend and she was worried that he wouldn't make it home in time."

"Awww who would have thought that Draco 'Mr Insensitivity' Malfoy would be that genuinely concerned."

"Granger, you know Blaise and his wife are expecting. Like any day now, right? No way in hell am I going to have him miss the birth of his kid. I'd be dead."

"They are? I didn't know. I've been focused the last few months with work. I don't get to hear as much gossip as I used to."

"Here." Draco pointed to a nondescript restaurant across the street. "You have to try this place." He took my right arm and lead me across the congested street with ease. "So is being the Minister in training tiresome? Getting to the perfect Hermione Jean Granger?"

"Malfoy, how do you remember my middle name?" He winked. WINKED. It was actually kinda cute in a way. "No, it is just a lot to learn and I don't know how much time I actually have to do it."

"Eh Kingsley isn't retiring tomorrow. Or even next month. Probably in a year or so, I give him. He wants to see this next quidditch tournament out at least."

"Yeah he's one of those that I think has an unhealthy relationship with the sport."

"Unhealthy relationship? I hope you don't include me in that mix considering everything I just took off your plate today."

"I honestly appreciate that. And yes, you do have an unhealthy relationship. Not like it's a bad thing. Think of the company you have Malfoy. Ginny and Harry definitely have a similar relationship. And they are quite honorable people."

"How are your in laws? And Potter?" Little prick said it like with the same disdainful stress that we heard for 6 years at school. But this time it held the same inflection, but with a teasing tone this time.

"They're all pretty good. Let's see the Potters - James is causing only slight havoc, Al is actually starting this year at Hogwarts, Lily tries her mother's patience daily. There will be close to a dozen Weasley clan members at school this year, not including Teddy Lupin."

"How's my um - cousin doing?"

"Teddy? He's good. Tall like Remus, but has a lot of Tonks in him too. He'd probably like to really sit down with you and your mum and hear about Andromeda."

He looked grave. "Mother isn't so good. After everything… Plus she wasn't that close to Andromeda. She was the peacekeeper of her sisters and her parents. When Andromeda went her own way, mother well stayed behind. Yeah she kept in some semblance of communication, but nothing overly close." He looked up from the floor, "I would love to see him though. Tell him the good, bad, and downright ugly of that side. Probably the best side being his grandmum and Sirius."

I know a look of shock wiped over me as he said that, pulled out my chair, and we sat down.

"May I recommend something for lunch? I haven't had anything bad per se, but there are things that are better than others."

I looked into his stormy grey eyes. The pain swirling with - I don't know what, concern maybe? - was intense and intoxifying. "Recommend away."

All in all lunch was pretty agreeable. He nailed his recommendation out of the park, it was a perfectly cooked steak with a variety of sides and an Argentinian red wine. He insisted that I at least had a taste, which he gave me his glass, and it was divine. He laughed when I said that I probably shouldn't have anymore because I still had one meeting and some traveling to do to get to it.

"Um Granger," he leaned in across the table, "I hate to break it to you, but you're a witch." His tone was jovial and actually a little cute.

"Funny Malfoy." I couldn't resist smiling. "But it's the whole apparating, no matter how much I do it, I still get queasy. Adding alcohol of any amount, just makes it so much worse."

"Then fly. There's more than one way of getting from place A to B."

"Thanks, uh, no. Still not 100% with flying. I mean I'm better than I was in school, you have to be married into the Weasley clan, but I'll apparate before flying."

"Why not drive?"

"Excuse me?"

He shrugged confidently, "drive. Like a car. Granger aren't your parents Muggles? You know of such contraptions right?"

Now he's being patronizing. I can only glare.

His eyes are more relaxed, welcoming even. "How about this, I'll drive you to your meeting so you can prepare and relax. Then we can survey the proposed sites for the match. See if it meets with your approval Granger."

"So are you saying Malfoy, you have a car here?"

"A couple actually. I know just the one for today."

"But you don't know where I have to go."

"I'm assuming to see Luna." He was pouring another half glass of wine, offering it to me this time.

At this point I was in completely in shock. And I know I wasn't in control of my face and it was showing.

"How did you…"

"I know you. You haven't seen Luna in what - 2 years now? And you are very loyal to your friends. Kinda a Hufflepuff trait hiding in a Gryffindor." His laugh was intoxicating. If I didn't know better, he spiked my one sip of the wine.

"Don't you have any other plans for your trip? Something more important that playing chauffeur to a former arch nemesis?"

"I don't look at it that way. See I am playing chauffeur, as you put it, to a beautiful and powerful lady. I have her undivided attention. Yes we may have been on opposite sides at one point, but I never saw you as a nemesis. A - hmmm what is an apt description - academic adversary. You challenged me academically and to be a better person in the long run." He motioned to the waiter, whispering something. "Now if we want to see Luna before the end of the day, we probably should be on our way."

I'm speechless at this. His confidence is not the arrogance that I remember. He is suave, polished, gentlemanly. He offered his hand to me and by the time we left the restaurant, he was being handed keys to a red Porsche Cayenne.

"How… what…" I looked at him in shock. Regaining my senses, "what just took place back there?"

"I am good friends with the proprietor, Tomas. One of the Malfoy - excuse me - M.I.I. holdings is adjacent to this restaurant. We often recommend it to our guests. His business has more than tripled during the off season alone. I just had him send the bill to Trini. She's going to curse me when I get back I'm sure, but eh," he just shrugged it off. "Tomas just had one of his valet's pick up this which was over at the hotel." He turned and flashed an honest, glowing, smile. "Now relax Granger. I've got you."