When Draco awoke, the next morning he found Granger long gone.
Resting at his desk Fumri brought him his breakfast. He held a letter gently in one hand, he'd read it twice already but couldn't bring himself to put it down. It was from the Ministry, he sighed, catching his head in his hand as he scowled intently at the scrawled hand writing. Another company wide audit, another Ministry visit to his offices and another security check. They were looking for anything, anything that gave them the ability to seize Malfoy industries under Ministry jurisdiction.
He'd thought back, he'd never forget the first week after the war, after the parents Fled. That's when he formed his society "The Lost Society" Him, Zambini, Parkinson, Greengrass, Crabbe and Goyle. He remembered the race against time, that first night, screaming at them, all of them in shock to get to the office's, pulling together hundreds of files, thousands of transactions, wiping memories, erasing pasts. It had been a massacre, a rampage and a gamble that had thankfully paid off.
He'd saved all of them, had he not acted as quickly as he had they would all have lost everything, that's why they celebrated him the way they did. Why he was still and forever would be their king and leader. Whilst the eyes of the ministry were firmly looking for their fleeing parents that night, together they had infiltrated every inch of their companies and removed every trace of the extensive misdealing's until there was nothing left to give the ministry any grounds to seize them.
By the time the Auroras arrived the next day there was nothing left, clearly they had under estimated the lost children who'd been left behind. He remembered so clearly lying in that forest clearing in the early hours of that first morning, basking in the glow of the bonfire with his friends whilst they destroyed every file that could have ended their empire. The feeling of contentment and relief as he watched those last embers crumble and the sun rose on the reign of Draco Malfoy. He'd made a promise to them and to himself in that moment that he would never lose what was his birth right, his father was weak, devoting his life to serving another. Draco would serve no one, he would take this world for himself whilst others served him.
"Fumri, Fetch them all, here now!"
Within a matter of moments they began to arrive. Parkinson first, as always then Zambini, Crabbe and Goyle then finally Greengrass. They were the closest thing he had to a family as they sat around his living room looking at him with a mixture of apprehension and admiration, all except Zambini who rifled his way through Draco's hidden bar and mixed himself a drink. He paced "Who else got one of these?" He held up the letter in his hand as a few of them raised their hands and muttered. "I heard that they're going to plant things if they don't find something soon" Crabbe spoke up quickly followed by Parkinson "Of course they will, the whole of the magical world is running on empty, they have no money. How long do you expect that they'll sit around waiting for the scraps we throw them?" the group sneered "Like it or not, our parents terrorism, bribes and back handers kept the ministry afloat. They're passing a motion to deem any pureblood family open to public investigation, once they do they won't even have to give us notice, they'll own us." Daphne Greengrass flicked her white blonde hair. It was Zambini who brought them all to silence as he sipped his drink, "I have someone on the inside at Gringott's, the Ministry's vaults were emptied as of yesterday." The room was silent "This is bad, this is really bad" Draco stormed through the doors to his room leaving them all in stunned silence.
"We're through, done for!" Goyle threw his hands up in defeat at the situation "Shut up, he'll fix this, we'll be fine, give him time." Zambini reassured them, then saw each of the group out. Pansy was last to leave and looked to him pleadingly "My brothers about to join my parents, if he doesn't get word from Draco soon, he cant face Azkaban." Blaise nodded before returning to his own chambers to think this over. He sincerely hoped Draco could pull them out before this went the way he was expecting.
Draco was fuming, his grey skin flushing pink as he picked up then slammed down his drink from earlier that morning. The Daily Prophet sat on his desk and the cover caught his eye, "Shacklebot annual Victory Ball to be cancelled" He continued into the article, taking a seat as he realised he may have just found his answer.
It has been reported that the first annual Shacklebot Victory Ball will not go ahead this year due to financial concerns within the Ministry. These rumours are yet to be confirmed but are raising alarm amongst all as to the state of our economy. Minister for Magic Kingsley Shacklebot announced the event shortly following the victory last year but now sources are saying that it will not be going ahead, raising out roar and concern amongst all. Could this be the beginning of a worldwide financial crisis?
A rye smile spread across his lips, oh the people had no idea the crisis that was about to unfold. He had been right though, this was the answer to his problems. He dressed quickly and apparated to the ministry.
"Minister Shaklebott" The young wizard knocked with apprehension on the office door. The Minister was surrounded by his advisors in the midst of an important meeting. "What? I told you no disruptions!" He snapped back at the boy. "Minister…. Lord Malfoy is here to see you" The boy visibly paled at the sound of his own words and several in the room followed suit. The minister eyed his suddenly sickly looking peers…"Everyone out, now" he roared as they jumped and fled the room. "Show Lord Malfoy in please." They were scared of a boy barely more than a child, what was his world coming to?
Draco strode confidently into the room, extending his hand to shake the Ministers with a firm grip. I'll get to the point shall I" he took a seat as the Minister gestured for him to.
"I've seen the papers" Kingsley raised his head at Draco's words…"As has everyone else young Lord Malfoy, nothing more than rumour I assure you" Draco knew he was lying it was painfully visible even without Blaise's inside information. "Even so, I would like to offer my services, I'd like to sponsor the ball, anonymously of course, I feel a great deal of debt to the Ministry for the harm caused by my parents. Allow me to go a small way to repaying that." Blaizes information was confirmed when the Minister did not argue, simply nodded his head and muttered "Very well".
"There is just one thing that I ask." Draco watched the Ministers eyes fill with fire at his words "What do you want Draco?" his tone was sharp and guarded. "You've issued an order for an audit to be carried out of Malfoy industries, the findings surely to be made public. This will need to wait till after the party, else my sponsorship will not be able to remain anonymous, it would cause unrest with the public to know that Malfoy money paid for the Victory Ball." The minister nodded his head in agreement, Draco's request was sensible, he'd be shooting himself in the foot to let the magical world know that an ex Death Eater was financing the Ball. "So we have an agreement then, you'll suspend the investigation till after the Ball." Kingsley nodded as Draco got up to leave, "I will… and Lord Malfoy, we thank you for your support." As he watched Draco leave he delighted in the thought that this time next month his motion would have passed, then Draco and his Vile, manipulative and violent gang of pure blood youths would be his for the taking. To strip of everything they have, he'd been waiting to do this since the moment he took his seat as Minster, it was inconceivable to carry on in a society where its power and influence lay with its most despised patrons. They didn't know what was about to hit them...or so he thought.
"Fumri, FUMRI Draco shouted impatiently as he sat at his desk in his room waiting for the elf to appear. The room was dark and Draco was hunched over parchment scrawling away before placing the Malfoy seal stamp next to his signature. The elf appeared at the side of his desk, watching as Draco took another gulp of Fire Whisky "You understand what has to happen don't you Fumri" The elf nodded "Time is not on our side, we need to greatly reduce our time frame. See to it that is done, the Ball is two weeks away, it must be done by then." Without another word the elf disappeared.