A/N: Hello people and thank you so much for your support!
A big thanks to my Betas and Discord Staff - Alec, Fox, Hindu Hari, Knight, Letus, Metzger, BaptismByFire, Post Mortem and Zevoros!
Special thanks to Discord users: 5Firehawk, Guiding Moonlights, Kovacs, Dr Maou-Senpai, Post Mortem, Denduck, Wumjumba, Ac, R3, Shirokama, TrustTube, Zachary, JDH, Avatar, CJ07, Echoh, Elizabeth Wilbrooke, Jacks_, Kappe, Kryn_Womble, Mr. E, Pat, Plut0, Presno, Shawnjohn120 and Trop C'est Trop for supporting my writing and commissioning works!
Feel free to join my Discord for updates, giveaways (for those who actively chat), early access and information, link on my profile. Without any more rambling from me, I hope you enjoy the story!
(Sorry if you don't like the work!)
THANK YOU ALL SO MUCH FOR THE KIND REVIEWS. We now get so many that it's impossible to respond to all of them, but each and every one of you taking the time to speak your support mean the world to me. Please, by all means, speak with me in Discord!
"You're willing to offer that amount of money on the condition that something should happen to Harry Potter during the course of our relationship, is that right, Draco?" Nadia asked, a brow raised and her arms by her sides as she looked at the boy that had befriended her son years ago.
Draco nodded his head once eagerly as he pushed a large sack full of coins towards her. "I know Galleons aren't overly important to you, but even then, this amount is too good to turn down, isn't it? Forgive me for saying this, Miss Zabini, but I figure this is something you're quite adept at and I'm more than willing to raise the price should that be true."
Blaise must have told him that he suspects I'm truly behind the deaths of all those poor fools… the world can think what they like and if little Draco wants to assume the same as the sheep he so often rattles on about all the while offering me tens of thousands of Galleons… I'm happy to humour the boy.
"This is due to the progressive reforms in the Wizengamot, I would imagine. You don't like his push for quality, and whilst I can't blame you on account of my many investments that would be put at risk, is this not something you'd like to avoid being implicated in? It's common knowledge that you're friends with my darling boy — for clarification, I mean to ask if you'd like him handled the same as the previous ones, or leashed like a proper toy," Nadia smiled when Draco shifted uncomfortably in his seat. No doubt he wasn't at ease any longer, not with the current topic at hand and the fact that he was alone with her, the black widow or mantis woman, whichever title the masses felt like using.
"Just do to him what you did with the others, that's all. I'm not saying anything more than that, and I hope these Galleons will help you in the marriage, should you be able to romance him," Draco stood up and moved hastily towards the exit of her office, only just remembering his manners when he turned to bow at the older woman from the archway of the now-opened door. "Thank you, Miss Zabini. You've been exceptionally helpful."
"Be a dear and send Blaise in, Draco. I'd like to speak with him once you're finished — my thanks to you for your generosity, as well. You're ever so kind," Nadia waved to him by way of wiggling her fingers and with a small, beautiful smile on her face that sent the young man fleeing with haste he seldom used in her presence. It was incredibly amusing, and when she picked up the incredibly heavy bag of gold that he had left behind, very fulfilling.
Yes, she would have a lot of fun with the gold her son's friend had provided and far more amusement with Harry Potter. No man had ever denied her, no man would deny her, for no man could deny her; the most beautiful woman in the world, that was who she claimed to be and nothing less.
"Oh," Harry said as he turned around in his chair and caught sight of Nadia, the older woman sat with perfect posture and her hands demurely folded in her lap on the chair closest to his own. "Sorry, ma'am… I was just about to head home, I have an early appointment tomorrow. Sorry again, I don't recall your name or if you had an appointment of your own. It's quite busy in the Ministry right now."
Nadia smiled at him and raised her eyebrows ever so slightly, amusement plain to see on her face as he went on and on until he was finished with an awkward look at her. It wasn't hard to figure out why that was, she had snuck into his room in a low-cut dress and much of her favourite jewellery adorning her. To some, she could look the part of a woman on the prowl for a husband and to Draco, that's likely what he thought she was — for her, however, this was nought but a game that could very well make her night.
She stood up from her seat slowly, bending forward in the process to offer him a fleeting glance down the top of her dress before she was completely upright. When her eyes met his and he looked away guiltily, she knew that the young man had been caught peeping. It was very endearing how red his cheeks went when she sent him a knowing look.
"I didn't have an appointment, but I've wanted one for quite some time. You're a very hard man to meet with, harder still when you're alone and without the company of all those who would like to speak with you. If it's not too troublesome, sir, I'd like to have a few minutes of your time… would that be alright, Minister Potter?" She finished speaking at the same time she made her way over to his desk, and when she did, she leaned forward to offer him the same view that he'd been given earlier.
It was all too easy, and as she suspected, his eyes couldn't help but flicker down towards the top of her dress, but with surprising willpower for a boy his age, they came back up to meet her eyes; this act was even more endearing than his earlier blush. "I could give you a few minutes, ma'am. Please," he gestured to the chair and with a surprising show of strength, summoned it far closer to his desk. "Make yourself comfortable."
Nadia smiled at him and tipped her head in acknowledgement of his good manners. "You're ever so kind, Minister Potter."
"Harry. Please. I don't fancy the title all that much or the power that comes with it. I just want peace and a lack of corruption, really," Harry said to her politely before he gestured to a kettle of tea.
She shook her head and smiled at him, her perfectly kept teeth on display and her eyes alight with genuine happiness at the showcase of manners she was witnessing; if only her own boy or little Draco was as polite as this.
"Thank you, Harry," she said to him before she got to the point of her visit; it had to be believable and as such, she let no small amount of worry settle on her face, going so far as to tremble her bottom lip even as she allowed him that view he seemed to enjoy so much. "You see, Harry, my residence is filled with many an artefact. My family, my boy included as I'm sure you met him whilst at Hogwarts, chose the wrong side of the conflict — I personally was not involved, and I ask that you, ever the fair and handsome young man that you are, aid me in seeing the items removed safely… would you be able to help me? I'd be very grateful, enough so to welcome you for a meal and to answer any questions you might have about my knowledge of those items."
Harry blinked at her, curiosity and other emotions warring in his mind; his eyes kept wavering down to view a specific portion of her anatomy, he remained silent for nearly half a minute, but eventually, his answer came. He nodded his head slowly, and after a few nods, he spoke. "I can help you. I know the Auror corps needs… a bit of work right now, I know a lot of people aren't very fond of families in your shoes either — I can help. You don't have to have me over for a meal or anything of that sort, it's bad manners if I expect something in return for an act any decent Ministry employee would do."
You're not escaping my generosity, not when you're far more interesting than little Draco or my boy had said you were, Harry Potter.
Nadia leaned forward to gently rest a dainty hand on one of his larger ones and at that same time, she met his eyes with a friendly gaze of her own. "Please," she said to him. "Must I beg to have the Minister and saviour over for a meal? If not for your title or what you've done, then for the kindness you're showing me by keeping this devoid of any reporters."
Harry smiled at her, the thing genuine-seeming as he nodded again, this time at a normal pace. "If you're sure, Miss Zabini, and thank you."
They always listen. He's such a good boy.
"Welcome, Harry. I do hope you find my manor appealing, I fear you'll be spending quite a large amount of time here with me," Nadia greeted as the young man floo'd into her parlour room.
This time around and in the sanctity of her own home, she wore a dress that showed off much of her lower body in addition to being incredibly low-cut. It was of a Muggle make from her native country and meant for the suffocating heat that Italy had, thus making it far removed from anything the young man before her had likely seen. She assumed correctly, or she thought on account of the way his eyes went up and down her shape, not once, but thrice or thereabouts.
Clearly, she still possessed her famous looks and healthy, attractive shape that always had men seek her out.
"It's beautiful," Harry said with his eyes locked on her. "You look very beautiful today too, Miss Zabini… are you expecting guests after I finish up?"
"Only you," she responded instantly as she moved closer to him, his eyes focused on a particularly bouncy part of her body thanks to her lack of an extra garment. As she closed in on him and gently took hold of his arm, she expected resistance, but ever the gentleman, he simply looped his arm through hers and shot her a look that meant she could take the lead.
He was a darling. Had she been told that ahead of time, she would have done this for free.
"Where are we headed first?" He asked as the pair began to slowly walk, his eyes flickering from her to a bust or an artwork, and back to her.
Nadia smiled when she caught his eyes and the beautiful green shade of his eyes was as charming and warm as his personality. "The dining room for that meal I promised you, and afterwards, to my bedroom — I saw to it that all of my possessions of note were placed on my personal desk."
When he had heard 'bedroom' he had nearly tripped, but he steadied himself and nodded, happy enough with her choice of direction.
"Wow," Harry exclaimed as they pushed through and into the dining room at large, where the massive amount of food was prepared ahead of time with heating charms and an expensive bottle of wine. "You didn't have to do this much… I feel as if I've made for a poor guest, I could've brought you a gift or contributed in some way — please, stop over tomorrow or the day after, I'll make whatever your favourite meal is and a sweet to go with it."
Nadia closed her eyes to prevent her from jumping the young man with a reputation of kindness and manners the likes of which didn't exist in this day in age. They hadn't since she had been in school nearly twenty or so years ago. She wouldn't 'kill' him as little Draco had suspected she'd done to her unfortunate earlier husbands, she wouldn't do anything to the boy that he wouldn't be begging for.
"Could I ask for something aside from a possession or food of any kind, Harry?" Nadia asked with a smile, her lips at his closer ear.
"Yeah," He responded before she heard him swallow, his nervousness making her act without any further words shared between them.
She kissed his cheek and then she pinched his butt as she motioned to the two chairs that were intimately close together. If she still had her charm, he would be hers before the night was over.