Draco 18 August 2017

"Scorpius, son… you are too young to be involved with Miss Weasley. Please. For my sanity, please just don't."

"Dad, why do I think there is more to this than you're saying. I mean you and Mrs Weasley this morning were - like Aunt Pansy and you. I haven't heard you talk about her before your trip to Rio, and now we went to Rosie's birthday party - not that I'm upset about it dad - it's just weird."

"Son, it's hard to describe, but Granger and I have a long history. Not always the best. But it is nice to have someone like that come back into your life when you get my age."

"Dad, that made almost no sense."

"Only because you're young son. You'll understand one day." I give him a hug. "Did you find out when Miss Weasley is going shopping for her supplies?"

"Al thinks she's going with them on Monday. If that's okay with you, I'd like to meet up with him."

"Him? Or her?"

He's blushing. "Both?"

I nod in understanding. "Monday it is." Timing is perfect, we will have just broke the news to the kids and it won't have hit the press yet, nor will we have moved into the new house. We can look over the house on Monday after shopping. Breathe Draco. This is fast but it is working out. Working out a little too good. "Astoria darling," I chime as we walk into the Manor, "you look well this morning. Is there anything I can do for you? Anything you'd like me to bring back for you?"

"Nothing Draco. I am in need of nothing but time with my son." Scorp gives his mother a gentle hug and kisses her cheek.

"Mother, I wish I could stay with you and not go to school. I'm going to miss you."

"Not as much as I'm going to miss you darling. Now go upstairs and get settled. I need to speak to your father." I give my boy a hug before he rushes upstairs.

"How did we get such a good boy Astoria?" I shake my head in amazement as I watch his blond hair fly upstairs.

"We are lucky Draco. Very lucky with him. Now any news on school shopping?"

"Ah yes. It will be Monday. He is wanting to join the Potters and" I chuckle "Miss Rose Weasley."

She looks slightly befuddled. "Rose Weasley? Which one of the weasel clan does she belong to?"

"Um she's kinda my stepdaughter." I nervously rub the back of my neck, since I know it is going to ultimately be the cause of a major migraine.

"You can't be serious?" A smile crosses her face as I shake my head. "Oh Draco, this is good. I cannot wait to break my silence and tell Pansy this. She is coming by for tea with the baby on Tuesday. Oh and so you know, I declined being the baby's godmother. I assume your wife will take the roll."

"Unknown at this time. I can pose it to Blaise, since he knows."

"How many people are you entrusting to keep your secret?"

"On my side - there's you, Theo, Blaise, and Mother. Her side, the Potters."

"The POTTERS? You are now associating with the Potters? On a regular basis?" Her voice echoing through the vast emptiness that is the Manor. The same echos that Hermione screeched many years ago as she was tortured here by my aunt.

"Yes the Potters. Actually our son spent the night there last night. He had a good time from what I've gathered."

"Why would Scorp spend the night at the Potters?"

"Because he's befriended Albus Potter."

She scowls. She isn't against the different wizarding families, but some things are hard to un-instill.

"It's not a bad thing darling. Scorpius is a good judge of character and from what I've gathered Al has a severe case of middle child syndrome. Talk to him." I lean over and kiss her cheek. "I have to be off though. I'll be home late Saturday, so can I pick him up on Sunday after brunch?" All I get is a curt nod as I make my departure.


"Ahhhh it's good to be home. Blaise darling, what is on the agenda before I go pick up my toy?"

"Selfish git," he snarls.

"What climbed up your backside?"

"How in bloody hell are you so chipper? I mean other than spending a small fortune on a car and not thinking of buying your best mate one too."

"I saw my beautiful bride this morning. And I can see her tonight also. Why else should I be so happy?"

"Oh Merlin, you're not even in the same house yet and you look like you had morning sex already."

"Nah we got nixed by Saint Potter. He didn't think having sex in his kitchen with the kids in the next room was a good idea."

"Wait! It crossed your mind? Having sex in Potter's kitchen? I knew you were a dirty dog, but damn Draco!"

"No mate. I honestly didn't think of it. Though seeing my wife and having her get me a cup of coffee this morning was a good way to get functioning."

"Oh mate. When you finally get moved in and everything is calm, you are going to be coming into work tired already."

"I'm more concerned about her." I smirk. "It is noticeable when she is happy. Very noticeable."

"Draco… that's enough. Now can we discuss the upcoming budget before you spend all your profits?"

"Draco," Trini interrupts, "you need to go to your appointment in Detroit. You toy is waiting for you."

"Thank you. Oh and can you check on my wife's dinner arrangements? I believe she's having dinner with some members of MACUSA, but don't hold me to it. And if possible, get a table at the same restaurant. I would love to see her again tonight."

"How are you getting from Detroit Michigan to Chicago Illinois?" My poor administrative goddess...

"I looked it up. It's about 4 ½ hours driving. And that isn't including the little speedster that I am going to have. So shave an hour maybe an hour and a half off that. Gotta play with my toy. Plus I have the perfect dress waiting for her for dinner tonight. I would love just to be her chauffeur."

"Draco Malfoy, you little…" Trini begins to scold, "helpless romantic."

"Remember you want this out of the press until you tell the kids." Blaise is just shaking his head at me like the brother he is. "Or make the announcement formally. So maybe tone it down a notch or two."

"I can't. I'm excited. I don't remember ever being this excited." It's true. A new toy. My beautiful bride, looking stunning. Today is going to be perfect.

"Draco, you are acting like a teenager. And it's going to bite you in the ass. So when it does, remember I told you so." Trini reminds me, as I give her a hug and almost bounce out of the doors.

I head to the dealership in Detroit, right outside the production facilities where my new toy was made. I literally went on the website, picked out every option imaginable, the color Venom Black, and called the dealership wired the money to them and asked when I can pick it up. The cool thing is it was made for me. Pretty much by hand. I can't get service like that.

I told the sales manager that I wanted to pick it up so that I can get my wife for a date in Chicago today. He asked if I wanted it shipped to my hotel. I guess he doesn't understand my love of flying. Silly Muggles. Now I just have to keep the police off me while I fly on the ground to my wife. That won't be hard with a little magic.

I am having a gold toned dress delivered to my love's suite for tonight with red roses. I want her to know every day, how much I love her.

Yeah I'm soft. I am squishy soft. But I honestly have never felt like this before. I deserve to be honestly happy and on the top of everything for the first time. Before it was financially. I never had all the pieces, most importantly love, at once so I am going to enjoy it while I can.


This is as close as Muggles get to flying and I can say, it's pretty close. The speed, the exhilaration, but the traffic. Ugh. I am on a time frame.

I meet up with Christine at the hotel that we are looking to acquire, which happens to be the one my wife is staying at tonight coincidentally, and meet with the General Manager. It is a Muggle hotel - needing some technical upgrades (I mean who doesn't have WiFi for their guests nowadays), there are some structural upgrades that are tricky since it is designated as a historic hotel, the rooms themselves are nightmarish. There is vintage and then there is decrepit. I wouldn't want to spend a night here.

I lean over to Christine, "can we find out what room Hermione Weasley is registered in?"

"I can try Mr. Malfoy. Is there any reason in particular?"

"If hers looks like this, I will have her moved to another hotel," as I examine a bedbug ridden lumpy mattress. "Give me some numbers to get this back up to par and I'll look at it. Otherwise let's focus more on the Los Angeles acquisitions."

She nods as I take my leave to the lobby. I look at my phone to see if there has been anything important that I missed. Of course there is… Blaise.

Blaise: Draco, press asking why you are in the states "with HG-M". What should we say?
Me: We aren't going for Chicago. We are looking solely at Los Angeles. Say I vetoed it. Place is a dump. No helping it.
Blaise: On it. That bad?
Me: Bedbugs mate. NASTY! I am getting another hotel, and suggesting HG-M does too.
Blaise: I'll get Trini to get the hotel for you. Any place in particular?
Me: Trump, Waldorf, or Langham - something that isn't here. It is a place Weasel would go.
Blaise: Poor HG-M. I can't believe she put up with that for so long.
Me: No more. See if you can get Trini to get a room for her too. Thx. Talk later.

I am still waiting for Christine to finish up and return with her projections for the costs, which right now if they gave me the hotel I still doubt that I would add it to the portfolio, I start reading the close to 100 emails, sorting the important ones out from the frivolous ones.

My son emailed me. He emailed me? He usually texts me.

Dad, Sorry for bothering you during a work trip, but Mum was saying you weren't getting home until late Saturday. Do you think it would be okay if I go to the Potter's tomorrow? I wanted to hang out with Al some more. Mum doesn't seem too keen on the idea, but I wanted your okay to persuade her.
Love, Scorp.

I am laughing. Oh son that is the oldest trick in the book. Yeah use the cousin to get to the girl. I just hope that he is a friend with Al and that they can remain friends at school. Because I would hate to see Scorp at school by himself or have his friends in a different house than him. It would make for a lonely seven years. But now to write a reply. And not laugh all the way through it.

Nothing else in the important file and I see Christine coming and she is shaking her head.

"Mr Malfoy, I cannot recommend this at any price point. It is just too much of a liability."

"That's what I thought too Christine. You're not hurting my feelings or anything. I even am having Trini change my hotel reservation. Do I need to change yours also?"

"That's generous Mr. Malfoy, but I am actually staying with family here."

"I didn't know you had family here Christine? Are you close with them?"

"Oh Mr Malfoy, yeah. I have a couple of cousins that moved here upon completion of school and they like it here in the states. I don't know how, this weather and the people and you can't get a decent cup of tea anywhere."

"Christine, that is pretty much anywhere in the world. One of the reasons I started drinking coffee a few years back. Oh and did you inquire on the guest like I asked?"

"Yes, I feel terrible for her. She deserves something better than this rat hole. I'm sorry sir, but if the Ministry treats their employees like this, I am grateful to be working for you."

"No, I believe it has to do with her meeting here." Or at least I hope so, otherwise Kinsley will hear about it.

"Oh isn't that her now, sir."

I turn and see her, with her face in her files. "Don't say anything Christine, okay. Now have you looked at other possible acquisitions here and what does the Los Angeles prospects look like."

Luckily my wife doesn't even notice me, I guess there are more desirably handsome wizards here than there are back home or she's really focused. I catch Theo's eye and flag him over.

"Tell me you said no to this place Christine," Theo begins, "because I don't even think, with everything at our disposal, we could make this decent. Did you hear that it's haunted? I ran into the resident ghost and she's a nasty piece of work."

"So I guess you're not wanting to stay here either Theo?" I joke.

"Tell me you're getting something somewhere else. Please. And a room for her. She is in 'his' room," he uses air quotes.

"Aw crap. I'm waiting to hear back from either Trini or Blaise on a new place for me, and I guess you're bunking with me."

"Just be quiet or charm the room, mate."

"Shut it." I mutter under my breath. "Christine, I hate to ask, but can you give us some privacy? There are a few things we have to discuss."

"Of course sir. Actually I was going to head out to my cousin's place if you don't need me further."

"Not until the report on the Los Angeles acquisitions is ready. Have a great evening."

"Thank you sir." She looks genuinely happy. I really hope she is, and I hope she knows how vital she is to the expansion of my company. I need to think of something special for her when she gets home.

"So, Theo, what was discussed. Or should I say how much were you privy to?"

"She's holding up well, per se. I mean considering what she went through less than a week ago. And Tony is keeping on her tail like a hawk. Potter is in constant communication. I think he's coming tomorrow for breakfast with her, but I'm not sure. I just can't believe that MACUSA set her up in the room her husband disappeared from. Arseholes they are."

"That's good to know, because they've been begging me for a month or so to work with them on a couple of projects and I've been hesitant. And they're shit projects too. The type no one in their right mind wants to touch, but they think we will because we have practically unlimited resources."

"Yeah tell um to shove it. I wouldn't touch anything out of their offices"

"Theo, come on now. We are trying to buy up a good portion of Los Angeles, so it would do us some good to stay on their nice side. But yeah, they're not getting much from me. Would you be upset if we moved her hotel room, mate?"

"I assumed it, which is why I said to keep it quiet." He winked at me.

"We are trying to stay out of the press, keep a lid on it. So it would be two rooms - hers and ours. But not really." My phone starts buzzing; it's a text from my wife.

Her: Draco Malfoy what is this about?
Me: What love?
Her: Roses and this dress? Dinner plans? No I don't have any. I was planning on room service.
Me: Pack your bag love, you're not staying in this dump.
Her: 'This dump'? Talking to Theo?
Me: Actually yes.

I left out the part that I'm talking to him in the lobby of said dump, but she doesn't need to know.

Me: Dinner?
Her: Room service.
Me: Dinner?
Her: ROOM SERVICE.
Me: Dinner?
Her: What the hell Draco?
Me: Your chauffeur will be waiting for you downstairs. Pack your bag.
Her: DRACO?
Me: Trust me love.
Her: Ugh….

I'm laughing and show the conversation to Theo.

"She is going to have to learn to deal with your juvenile ways. Or you're going to have to grow up mate."

"How about we meet in the middle. I mean during work, I pretty much am down and dirty adult-ish, except with Blaise. So I can be a kid outside. Oh did you see my new toy?"

"Yeah a kid… a five year old kid."

"A five year old kid with a driver's license. Come on let me show you." I take him outside and hand the valet my ticket, from what I gather there were bets being placed as to who will get to drive it.

"Must be something to have the valets scramble like that."

"It is and more, mate. Blaise says he wants one. I think something like these will be part of the bonuses this year. Not this one exactly, but ones like it."

The Viper pulls up and Theo's jaw falls down. "You didn't…"

"Yep it's mine. I am still trying to figure out if I should leave it in the states, or bring it back with me."

"Take Scorp to school in that. He'll have every girl after him."

"He has eyes for one already. But that's another story." I tip the valet and say that I'm waiting for someone who should be down momentarily.

"So where are you taking her for dinner?"

"A little steakhouse, Bavette's."

"Good choice. Tell me later, I think I see her coming now."

Sure enough the most amazing witch on the planet looks stunning in her gold die cut mini dress. She even looks more relaxed, which is a good thing.

"Theo, tell me you know what's going on around here? I get a text from Draco to pack and dinner, but there's nothing much to it."

"Granger, welcome to my world. He can be cryptic at times, but that's usually when he's being childish." Remind me to take him off the Viper list for Christmas.

"Hello Granger. Now about dinner." I wink at her, as my arm slips around her waist.

"Draco Malfoy, why didn't you tell me you were here. Damn you." She's flustered, and it's cute on her.

I lean down, just in case someone other than Theo can hear, "Sorry love. I wanted to surprise you." I look up and wave to Theo, "I'll let you in on the plans as soon as I hear back." He nods in agreement.

Opening the door to my new toy, my wife glares at me. "What is this Draco?"

"Well you got my most recent toy, and I know how you like keeping your feet on the ground, so I got this." I probably look a little guilty, but she looks like she's going to scold me. And not in a good way. "By the way Granger, you look stunning." I kiss her hand before closing her door and racing to the other side.

Dinner was great, of course. She actually liked the car. She said it's much more practical than a broom. I guess we have to find a way to get it home to England then. And keep it away from Blaise and Theo.

That second part might be harder than the first.

About halfway through dinner we got our hotel reservations. The Langham - two Regent suites, one under her name and one under mine - well Malfoy Industries.

"Darling, did you pack your bag as I suggested."

"Draco dear, I am learning one thing from you: Do what you say and roll with it. Will you tell me now why I was to pack my bag?"

"Bedbugs. Nasty gross," I cringe at the thought of them, "and the rooms, at least the ones I toured with our Assistant Vice President in Charge of Acquisitions, today were dreadful. Trini just gave me the details on where we're staying. And that includes Theo." I pause, "Theo probably wouldn't mind sharing his suite with Tony if he'd be interested."

"Tony is staying with friends. I guess his cousin lives out here and he's visiting her."

"Funny, that's what Christine said also."

"What's her last name?"

"Rosemond, wait… crap that's her married name. What was her bloody maiden name? I remember it also was an RO…. because that is how the HR handles their files. Rowe? No that's not it. Something like that though."

"Could it be Rowley?"

"Possibly. Probably. I think so, why?"

"That's Tony's last name. They probably are related."

"Tony's her little brother." Hit me like a bloody bludger. "That's where I saw him before. His graduation picture is in Christine's office. I knew I recognized that baby face before Manila." I run my fingers through my hair. "Now I feel like a fool. But it will make this year's holiday party a little more interesting."

"Why dear?"

"Your auror, my Assist VP. If you come to our party, he'll be sure to follow, even though the Potters will also be invited. Christine will see her baby brother in his official capacity. She's very proud of his accomplishments. She tried to get him to work for us. And in a way, studying under Theo, he is."

"Draco, you're terrible. But in a good way."

"I love you honey."

"I love you too. Now about the car…" She gives me a dirty look. I'm in trouble.