Chapter 11: Work is such a drag…

Draco looked at himself in the mirror as he buttoned his robes, the circles under his eyes made him look ten years older and he thanked God not for the first time in the last four years that he was a wizard. He pulled the wand from his pocket and did a small concealment charm, although unfortunately that didn't change the fact that he was exhausted. He threw one last longing look at his bed and apparated to his office.

He sunk down on the sofa wondering if, as he was already at work, he had a quick kip on the sofa that would be okay. He began to close his eyes when he smelled hot cakes and rushed to his desk where his breakfast was placed as always, Cassandra was amazing. He sat down and began devouring his breakfast, yesterday's stress had not only disturbed his sleeping but had made him forget all about his dinner and he hadn't had anything to eat since around midday yesterday.

When he was done he vanished everything and noticed a note Cassandra had left Carwin, 9:00 AM, below it was a pile of files that had been shrunken considerably, upon further examination he found that they were the copies of all his employee's files. Draco was glad, he'd spent all afternoon trying to get in touch with Carwin and had been unable, whatever Cassandra did, after this mess is fixed she's getting a raise.

The intercom buzzed and he answered it, "yes?"

"Carwin is here."

"Let him in," Draco looked at his watch and indeed it was 9:00 on the dot. The man that walked in was not what Draco expected to see. He was slender around fifty and looked jolly. He had a friendly smile on his face and wore a lime green tie. Draco stood to welcome him, "hello Mr. Carwin, and thank you so much for stopping by on such short notice."

"Just Carwin is fine," the man said sitting down, "I need the employee's files."

Draco was startled, "Of course, they're right here," Draco waved at the files and removed a box from his last drawer, "are you aware of our problem?" He placed the files inside.

"Your secretary and lawyer have informed me."

"You spoke with Mr. Derring?" Draco asked flabbergasted.

"Earlier this morning."

"Is there anything I can help you with?" Draco asked as a last attempt to have some involvement in the process.

"You can give me carte blanche over the company."

Draco looked at the man whose smile had yet to leave his face, who had spoken so far as if they were discussing a walk around the park and considered kicking him out on his arse immediately, who did he think he was? But seeing as he had nothing to lose he said, "Of course, if anyone gives you any problem just tell them to come see me."

"Thank you," Carwin said grabbing the small box and leaving the office at once.

"Goodbye!" Draco called and slumped against his chair ready to doze off when a small beeping startled him. He looked around and his eyes fell on his Day Planner. He opened it wearily and saw that today was Luke's birthday. Not knowing what ungodly hour he'd had his meeting with Carwin he decided that sending him his present as soon as possible was best. He got the box out of the bottom of his drawer and added a quick postscript before calling Cassandra in to send it for him. He hoped he enjoyed it; it was full of the latest products from Weasley's Wizarding Wheezes as Luke was obsessed with their products. He'd sent them inside a new leather briefcase in case Luke's wife, a muggle nurse who hated the store, wondered what Draco had given him.

Draco stood up and walked down to the hallway to Samantha Alden's office. He'd hired her two years ago when the House-Elf rights laws had first come into effect. At the time the House-Elves had been left to their own devices, as long as the work was done and done right nobody spoke to them. Draco had immediately put Wheezy who seemed to be the oldest and someone the others looked up to immediately in charge of them and had hired Ms. Alden to supervise them and ensure that none of their "rights" were being infringed upon.

Draco walked in to find her browsing a magazine, Spellbound, which was a worst rag than Witch Weekly. The startled woman put down the magazine quickly and straightened up in her chair.

"Is this what I pay you for?" Draco asked walking in and closing the door behind him making sure that it banged.

"No-no sir," she said quickly, then relaxing she leaned forward revealing the best cleavage he'd ever seen, "I have already completed most of my work, I was just taking a small break."

Draco lowered himself into one of the chairs facing her desk and merely looked at her as she coquettishly twirled her hair around a finger. The woman was beautiful there was no denying it, but it always put him off how forward she seemed, although he'd be lying if he said he hadn't been tempted in the past. "So, what happened during the inspection."

"Inspection, sir?" She asked sitting up again.

"Yes, last Thursday." He said coldly.

"I wasn't aware of an inspection," she said meekly.

"Of course, that is why they are called surprise inspections," he stood up and lowered his voice significantly, "I would like you to look into it, and when Carwin comes around cooperate with him, if you want to keep your job."

He walked out of the office his robes billowing behind him as he stormed down the corridor. He noticed that John Darwin slipped back into the copy room quickly when he saw him nearing. When he walked into the elevator he smiled, he loved terrorizing his employees.

He got off on the 4th floor and walked quickly towards the lab. He thought back on how it'd happened he'd hired these two, it was actually one of the first things he'd done when he'd first re-entered the wizarding world.

Draco stood outside of the large manor and stared at the door. He had no idea how long he'd been standing out there. He was scared he was about to see his girlfriend for the first time in two years and he wasn't quite sure what to expect. He finally worked up enough courage to lift the knocker once and let it fall almost inaudibly, not that it mattered, it was charmed and the door opened immediately.

Draco stepped in hesitantly and was met by the Parkinson's ancient butler who didn't seem the least bit surprised to see Draco. "Mr. Malfoy," he said nodding, he turned around robotically and led Draco into the reception room. He bowed and left the room. Draco perched himself on an uncomfortable old chair and waited.

"Draco! You're alive!" He heard Pansy exclaim he stood and almost fell back when she launched herself at him. He felt something push against his stomach and he set Pansy down and noticed that she was much bigger.

"You're pregnant! It's not mine?" He asked fearfully.

"Of course not, we haven't seen each other in over two years!" She laughed and grabbed his hand, "come over to the family parlour, Theus is here! He'll be so glad to see you!"

Draco doubted it as last time they'd seen each other he had been threatening Draco, something about hurting him if he hurt Pansy and here he was after being missing for two years and now she was pregnant he was so dead!

"Draco!" Theus yelled and he pulled Draco into a hug, "Where've you been?"

"America," Draco said smiling, "how've you been?"

"You know same old, same old." Theus said quietly and stepped back allowing Draco to see Dan, Theus' best friend.

"America, huh?" Dan asked giving him a quick hug, "where exactly?"

"New Jersey," Draco said knowing what was coming.

"Yuck!" Dan said, "I'll forgive you 'cause you're a Brit and don't know better, but for the future, it's New York," she said enunciating and gave a small giggle, things had really changed, he'd never known Dan to giggle.

Draco laughed and began to relax it was almost as if he'd never left and as they all took seats he looked at Pansy, really looked at her. She looked happy, there was a sort of glow about her, she'd cut her hair in a bob, for once was wearing very little makeup which made her look beautiful, and she was pregnant.

Pansy smiled, "I'm sorry I didn't wait for you, but I sort of fell in love."

Draco looked up from where he'd been staring at her stomach and met her eyes, "that's okay, I proposed to someone."

"Oh," she said unsure of what to say as he hadn't said he was engaged.

"It was a big mistake; she was smart enough to set me straight." Dan giggled from the sofa, he glared at her. "So who's the lucky man?"

"Terry Boot, from school, he was a Ravenclaw, do you remember him?" She asked fearfully.

"He wasn't the skinny kid that was obsessed with Quidditch?" Draco asked disgusted.

"Yeah," she said sheepishly.

"So where is he now?" Draco asked.

"At a Quidditch game." At this point Dan was laughing so hard that Theus was holding her up and trying to calm her down.

"Sorry, she's been like this all day, the littlest things set her off."

"I- I- did a laughing charm!" She laughed then started laughing harder.

"Finite Incantatem," Pansy said waving her wand at Dan whose laughter began dying down.

"Why did you cast a laughing charm on yourself?" Draco asked incredulously.

"I wasn't in a very good mood, so I thought that would make me feel better," she explained calmly leaning back against Theus.

"Did it work?" Draco asked.

"Yes," she said and smiled widely.

"So, how is everything going?" Theus asked.

"Not much to tell except that Jasper Rowley is a fucking bastard." Draco sighed, "Things are so different, and I can't even watch the Real World anymore."

Pansy cleared her throat and said slowly, "Draco, love, this is the real world."

He looked up and chuckled, "it's a muggle T.V. show."

"I vaguely remember talk of it before I left the U. S." Dan said.

"Yes, well, it doesn't matter, I can't use any muggle products in the manor," Draco said sulkily.

"Actually, Dan and I were just discussing this the other day," Theus said, "she thinks it's the magical energy messing with the electricity, since not even battery operated products will work."

"Theus, you know about muggle products?" Draco asked startled, he'd always thought the Parkinsons were as pureblood obsessed as most of the other old families.

"That's why I moved out of here."

"I thought you told Dad that it was time to claim your manhood." Pansy said softly.

"Yes, well, Dad always believed anything I told him."

"Believed?" Draco asked noticing how quickly the room's energy had shifted.

"He passed away Draco, in the last battle." Pansy said quietly.

"I didn't know he was a death eater."

"He wasn't, he was one of the bystanders that got killed in the confusion, He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named, attacked Diagon Alley in the middle of the day. It was about a week after graduation everyone was caught off guard…"

"I'm so sorry," Draco said quietly.

"It's alright, it's been a while." Pansy said.

After a few more minutes of uncomfortable silence Draco stood, "I have to be going; I promised Mother I'd be home for dinner."

"Of course," Pansy said standing ready to lead him from the room they were at the door when Draco turned.

"Dan, this electric-magic problem do you think it's fixable?"

"All problems have solutions," Dan said.

"Do you guys want the job?"

"What job?" Theus asked loudly.

"Do you want to work for my company and develop a way to use electrically operated devices within magically infused areas?" Draco said slowly as he searched for the right words.

Theus and Dan shared a look and Dan shrugged and Theus said, "It has been rather stifling at the Ministry since those muggleborns lawyers showed up and started shoving their noses in everything."

"Great! Stop by at Hogsmeade on Monday morning; I changed the name to Malfoy Enterprises." He said and walked out of the room.

It was probably the smartest thing he'd ever done. He knocked once and walked in on time to see a wrench fly past and hit the wall not a foot away from Theus. He backed towards the door and turned to see Dan her face flushed with anger holding a radio. "Have I come at a bad time?"

"No!" Theus yelled from where he hid behind a chair.

"Yes!" Dan said as she set down the radio, a loud crack echoing though the room.

"Maybe I should leave," Draco said turning around and moving his hand toward the doorknob.

"No!" Theus yelled again this time launching himself at Draco, "please."

"What happened?" Draco asked cautiously, he knew that Dan and Theus usually argued but it was mostly about work, it was why they were such a good team they had such different ways of looking at things that when they worked together it was hard to get anything past them. He'd never known either of them to be violent especially not Dan who was usually a very quiet woman, Theus tended to be the more passionate of the two.

"That bastard said that he'd leave me if I got pregnant, doesn't want an emotional tent hanging around!" Dan yelled pulling her long hair up into a messy bun. Draco personally thought it was a little late for the emotional part.

"I was joking!" Theus said, "You're too tiny to ever look like a tent!"

"Yeah, but you meant the pregnant part!" She said tucking her white dress shirt inside her trousers haphazardly.

"It doesn't matter, you're not pregnant!"

Dan stopped all movement and said, "That's not the point!"

"It never is!" Theus said walking slowly backwards, "I never seem to have the point!"

"Humph!" Dan huffed and walked quickly towards the door; Draco jumped aside and almost fell over a chair as she left the room slamming the door.

"Shouldn't you go after her?" Draco asked when he saw Theus lounge on the chair he'd previously been hiding behind.

"Right, and have her hex my bits off?" Theus laughed.

"That's not possible," Draco laughed nervously.

"It is, I heard of an Auror it happened to a couple of months ago, he was at St. Mungo's, in the psychological analysis ward for more than a week!"

Draco pulled his hand away from his crotch although he couldn't remember placing it there, "sorry mate, but this is a business visit I was wondering how things were coming along."

"Oh! It's great! We've finally figured it out! What do you know of muggle physics?"

"Very little," Draco said, "nothing actually."

"Good, 'cause neither do I, this is all Dan, but since she's not here, I'll do my best. Light, sound and apparently magic are types of energy and they all emit different frequencies, I think she called them, magic's frequency is a lot smaller than sound or light. Normally all these different wavelengths happen simultaneously and they don't interfere with each other. However for whatever reason, Dan can tell you, the frequencies emitted by magic disrupt most of the frequencies on the higher end of the scale which are mostly radio waves which are the ones used by the well, radios."

"Great!" Draco exclaimed who hadn't grasped much of what had been said, "When will you be done?"

"That's a bit harder, although we're close," He rushed when he saw Draco narrow his eyes, "I'm working on the Arithmancy equation that will help us develop a spell that will allow antennas to ignore the lower frequencies emitted by magic. However, it's working out to be a bit harder, although I did develop a spell that will stop magic from being performed for about five hours within a given area."

Draco sighed in disappointment, "alright, well, pass that spell and its notes along to the toy department maybe they can make a crib or something that will prevent children from doing accidental magic." He stood up and walked towards the door.

"How's Ginny?" Theus asked.

"She's okay, busy with this play she's working on. I'm going to see her tomorrow, I'll tell her you asked after her."

"Of course, tell her she ought to stop by for tea sometime, Dan really took to her."

"All right," Draco said and walked out of the room in time to see Dan coming out of the bathroom, her clothing as straight and neat as ever her hair in a ponytail. "Dan, I'll need you to stop by my office sometime and explain this whole radio waves thing to me, I think Theus just bollixed it up." He said smiling, "and go easy on him, alright, we need his Arithmancy skills."

"Of course Draco," she said smiling; she gave him a quick hug before ducking into the office.

Draco walked to the elevator and took it down to the first sub level. He stepped out and was confronted with a very typical hallway except for the fact that it was full of doors that were only three feet tall. As he walked down the hallway he remembered how this floor had appeared the first time he'd seen it. It had been one large room, it was dark and hundreds of small beds lay scattered around the room. The place was clean for the most part although it had a feeling of neglect and poverty. He was sure he'd been the first human to come down to that level in five centuries and truthfully if it hadn't been for the fact that the House-Elf laws had just come into effect he'd never have even thought that the House-Elves must live somewhere, much less entertain the idea of visiting the area.

He came back to the present looking around at the bright hallway and walked down unbelieving that this was the same place. The large area had been turned into several small apartments that included a living room with a small kitchenette, bathroom and three bedrooms, these of course were only for the families. On the lower levels were several large dormitories for the many single Elves. Draco walked until the end of the hallway and turned he opened the only full sized door and walked into a small room. He opened the ice box on his right and pulled out a Butterbeer. He closed the ice box and the door, the room was plunged into darkness, he walked forward two steps and sunk down on the bed. He drank the Butterbeer as he kicked of his shoes and with a sigh he set down the bottle and laid back, glad he'd worn robes today, they were much more comfortable than muggle clothes.

A/N: Tuesday, May 4, 2004.