Draco had raised an eyebrow when Hermione informed him that Fleur would be coming in to the business as a secretary, but accepted all the same.
Today Hermione was sitting at her desk reading a thick tome. She was meeting one of their more… difficult business partners soon and was hardly about to have that meeting unprepared.
There was a soft knock at the door and Fleur entered, dressed impeccably and in a pair of killer heels.
"You're late," Hermione said, without looking up from her book.
"Oui, ma belle, but I am here," Fleur purred, stepping lightly across the room to deliver Hermione's schedule to her.
"Fleur," Hermione said exasperatedly, finally looking up at the blonde standing next to her, "I know this is hardly your dream job, but you do have to show up on time for it."
"Do not get me wrong, Hermione," Fleur said, leaning over to speak quietly in Hermione's ear, "I am very grateful."
Hermione blushed dark red and spluttered, "Fl-Fleur, hasn't anyone ever told you that you can't just flirt your way out of everything?!"
Fleur smirked and straightened up again, smoothing down her dress, "Non, I do not believe anyone has told me that before."
Hermione shook her head, trying to lose the telltale blush on her face when there was another knock at the door and the difficult business partner entered.
"Granger… And Delacour? Interesting." Pansy Parkinson remarked as she strode into the room.
Hermione cleared her throat hurriedly and regained her composure. Pansy was notoriously awful to deal with. But after Pansy and Draco's massive falling out following the war, it had fallen to Hermione to deal with her. Pansy was unfortunately placed fairly highly in a large scale distribution company that Malfoy & Granger relied on to mass produce their products and ship them out.
"Erm, Fleur is my new secretary," Hermione explained, running a hand through her curled locks.
"Hmm, probably for the best," Pansy drawled, taking a seat across the desk from Hermione, "The one you shared with Draco cried far too easily."
Hermione was grateful for Fleur's characteristic aloof demeanour. Pansy loved throwing people off, so it was just as well that Fleur's cold neutral expressions never gave much away.
"Delacour, be a doll and fetch us some coffees," Pansy drawled, intentionally speaking condescendingly to Fleur.
Fleur smiled coolly, taking out her wand and choosing to conjure delicate coffee mugs and swirling jets of coffee streaming into them. Pansy frowned, obviously disappointed at not getting a rise out of Fleur. Hermione took her mug, sipping at it, enjoying Pansy's bullying being thwarted.
"And here I was thinking that Granger had just hired you as a pretty piece of eye-candy to look at," Pansy remarked, reaching for her mug of coffee. Hermione choked on her mouthful of coffee. Pansy smiled widely, noting Hermione's uncomfortable reaction.
"Hermione gave me a job as a favour," Fleur replied, keeping her calm demeanour, "And I should probably return to organising her schedule, lest I take advantage of that favour."
"Yes, I imagine you would have had a hard time finding work after your stunt with Dolores," Pansy remarked darkly, "Dolores Umbridge is a close family friend of the Parkinson's."
"Je suis désolé," Fleur said airily, although she did not sound sorry in the slightest. She nodded at Hermione and Pansy and went to leave the room.
"Actually," Pansy said loudly, "Granger, I wonder if your secretary might be able to sit in on this meeting and record notes." Fleur paused, looking quizzically at Hermione.
"Pansy," Hermione said slowly, unsure of her next tactic, "We have a Quick Quotes Quill,"
"But you're a Mud—erm, Muggle-born Granger, you must appreciate the non-magic touches," Pansy smirked. Hermione sighed. The only way to get Pansy to behave would just be to avoid showing any further reaction to her rises.
"Fine. Fleur would you be able to remain and take notes for this meeting?" Fleur nodded and returned to Hermione's desk, where Hermione levitated an extra chair beside Pansy.
"May I borrow a quill and parchment?" Fleur asked, still thankfully neutral. Hermione nodded and turned her attention to Pansy.
"Now, Pansy, the issue here is that we have had word there are known Death Eaters involved in your b-business." Hermione stuttered as Fleur swept to her side of the desk, leaning across her and opening a drawer to retrieve a quill and piece of parchment. Pansy watched her carefully as Fleur withdrew and returned to her seat. Hermione tried her best not to take a second glance at Fleur's athletic body swaying back to her seat. She was a professional after all.
"Mn, I can't confirm or deny that," Pansy drawled, crossing her legs, "I don't see why Granger & Malfoy of all companies would get uptight about such a thing."
"You know Draco has cut all ties from the Malfoy Death Eaters," Hermione said curtly, "As well as any Death Eater friends."
Pansy frowned, tapping at her lips with a finger. "You see, with the popularity of your werewolf cure, we were severely understaffed. We simply did not have enough potions staff to make enough to meet demand."
Hermione frowned, "Okay, well if that is the problem…"
Pansy interrupted, "Delacour, your ex-husband was a werewolf, was he not?"
Fleur looked up coldly from her note-taking but did not reply.
"Sorry," Pansy said in an exaggerated tone, "Your late ex-husband."
Fleur paled slightly at the reference to Bill's death, but her cold and aloof demeanour remained.
"Oui." Fleur replied simply. Pansy smiled, looking at Hermione's incensed reaction and then back to the paled Fleur.
"That must have been hard for you," Pansy said in a sympathetic tone, although likely not sympathetic in the slightest.
"I suppose," Fleur said, returning her gaze to her notes and making some corrections.
"I bet a part of you is relieved that now he's gone you don't have to worry about him changing and ripping someone's throat out," Pansy remarked. Fleur dropped her quill.
"Pansy!" Hermione barked, "That's enough!"
"My, my… you certainly are protective of this one," Pansy smirked. Hermione blushed but narrowed her eyes, irritated.
"Pansy, what is it that you want?" Hermione cut in, getting to the point. Pansy smiled widely and leaned back in her chair.
"We may be more willing to perform background checks if Malfoy & Granger were to sell the rights to the werewolf cure to us."
"For what purpose? Its so heavily subsidised by us that we don't make a profit from it," Hermione commented, "That's the point of it."
"Mn, see that's where our company is a bit more ballsy than yours," Pansy smirked, "We would increase the price of the cure so we could make a tidy little profit. I'm sure then we would have more than enough resources to hire non-Death Eaters."
Hermione frowned, "Pansy that is entirely unethical. Its designed to help people, not exploit them for cash. We would never give it to you."
Pansy folded her arms, "I'm sure I can change your mind on that."
Hermione folded her arms right back, "I'm sure you can't, Pansy. All we want from your company is for you to stop using Death Eater staff when processing our products. We don't want to be associated with that."
"Granger," Pansy said, her lips tightening into a thin line, "You know as well as I do that we are the only large scale distribution company that can meet the needs of Malfoy & Granger. You need us."
Hermione rubbed her temples. This was how all of her meetings with Pansy would go. Barbs traded before reaching an inevitable impasse.
"There must be a compromise," Hermione sighed. Pansy smirked.
"How about we meet again about this over drinks later, my company's treat?" Pansy replied.
"Sure," Hermione replied, relieved. Pansy appeared, suspiciously, to be more open to resolving things this time around.
"But bring Draco and your hot little secretary," Pansy added, smirking at the reaction evident on Hermione's face. Hermione wished for once she could be blessed with having an unreadable face like Fleur's.
"Fine." Hermione said through gritted teeth. Pansy nodded and rose from her seat to leave the room.
"A pleasure as always," Pansy shot over her shoulder as she left.
"I am so sorry about her," Hermione commented to Fleur, who looked up from her notes again once Pansy had gone.
"She certainly is unpleasant," Fleur smiled, "But we can manage her."
Hermione smiled, happy that Fleur was already thinking of herself as a part of the team. Ignoring the other surge of pleasure at hearing Fleur refer to them as "we."
Predictably, Draco was less than thrilled at having to meet with Pansy after so many years of successfully avoiding her. But as eager as Hermione to remove Death Eater association from their work, he eventually agreed to be at the drinks.
Unfortunately, Hermione was the first to arrive and was stuck seated alone at a table with Pansy.
"Punctual as always, Granger," Pansy remarked, handing her a drink as she sat down.
"I hope you're going to behave tonight," Hermione said tersely. Pansy smirked as she sipped at her drink.
Before Pansy could retort, Fleur swept into the establishment, wearing a stunning cocktail dress, with her hair loose. Hermione felt her jaw slack a little as she watched Fleur slowly walk across the room towards them. Pansy snorted.
"You so have the hots for her, Granger," Pansy said gleefully. Hermione frowned and shook her head.
"I don't know what you're talking about," she snapped. But before the conversation could continue, Fleur sat down at the table beside Pansy.
"Its unlike Draco to be late," Pansy commented, looking at her watch. Hermione nodded. It was a little strange.
Fleur didn't reply, but looked past Hermione through the window behind her. Hermione and Pansy followed her gaze.
Draco was on the street, in an all black suit, impeccably groomed and talking to George Weasley outside. George was casually dressed for once, in a pair of jeans and a leather jacket. Their conversation appeared to be wrapping up as Draco smiled and nodded and put a hand on George's shoulder. Pansy and Hermione gasped as George leaned in and pecked Draco on the lips before turning and walking off down the street. Draco smoothed his hair and turned to enter the bar, before making his way over to their table.
"A Weasley?! Really, Draco?" Pansy said shrilly, "After all we said at school?"
"Nice to see you too, Pansy," Draco said coolly, taking a seat beside Hermione.
"How long has this been going on?" Hermione muttered quietly to Draco as Pansy busied herself with getting Draco a drink.
"Since that night where you kissed your secretary over there at the office party," Draco murmured quietly back, "This kind of thing is very new for him so I agreed to be… discreet…"
Hermione nodded and they turned back to Pansy and Fleur.
"So I hear you have a problem with the Death Eater association now, Draco," Pansy drawled, handing him a drink. Draco leaned back and took a big mouthful of his drink, eying her carefully over his drink. Hermione recognised his calculating look, he was strategizing.
"I am in no hurry to talk about business, Pansy," Draco said, "We haven't seen each other in a while, lets enjoy the moment."
He drained his drink, nodding at Pansy who did the same. Fleur shrugged and looked at Hermione, draining her drink also. Hermione frowned, sipping slowly at her drink. Somebody had to keep a clear head.
Many more drinks passed and Pansy had begun to warm up to Draco again, despite the lingering animosity.
"You know, the one thing I have always respected about you Draco, is that you have never ever given a fuck what people think about your sexuality," Pansy said. Draco smiled and shrugged.
"I honestly don't care what people think," he answered, swigging at his drink, "There are more interesting things to discuss than who I find attractive."
"I admit, sometimes I wish I could think like that," Pansy said wistfully, looking around the table. Her gaze lingered on Fleur beside her.
Draco exchanged looks with Fleur and Hermione. Hermione could read the look on his face: gotcha.
"Mn, but you are bold in your own way," Fleur purred, flipping her sheet of silver-blonde hair over her shoulder. Pansy smiled widely.
Hermione scoffed into her drink. So after all of Pansy's ribbing, she found Fleur as attractive as Hermione did. What a joke.
"Pansy, this drink is magnifique! You should try some," Fleur said charmingly, flashing a billion watt smile at Pansy and leaning over to offer her glass. Pansy eagerly let Fleur feed her some drink. Hermione folded her arms, irritated.
"Shall we ask at the bar for their wine list," Draco said pointedly, with a tug at Hermione's arm. Hermione nodded reluctantly and followed Draco to the bar.
"She is so unbelievable," Hermione said, rolling her eyes at Pansy fawning over Fleur, "She was just giving me a hard time for being interested in Fleur."
"That's Pansy, though," Draco said with a terse smile, "You know Delacour is just flirting with her to manipulate her, right?"
"Doesn't make it any less irritating," Hermione said through gritted teeth. Draco nodded sympathetically and looked over at the table. Pansy was leaning so far out of her seat she was almost on top of Fleur.
"Delacour would have made a fantastic Slytherin," he commented with a smirk. Hermione folded her arms and they returned to the table.
By now, Pansy had an arm around Fleur's waist and was regaling her with boastful tales of how successful her company was. Hermione tried not to show a reaction, but Pansy looked at her smugly from across the table, clearly enjoying the dual benefit of annoying Hermione as well as getting cosy with Fleur.
"Mn, it is a shame your company utilises Death Eaters so heavily though," Fleur commented, running a hand down Pansy's arm. Pansy noticeably shivered at the sensation. "You know I was a member of the Order of the Phoenix, so it is a little bit of a… turn off."
Hermione gritted her teeth. Her hand was so tight around her glass that her knuckles were white and she was glad for the unbreakable charm that most bars had on their glasses these days. Draco was leaning forward in his seat with interest, while intentionally trying to appear disinterested.
"I suppose, it could be negotiable…" Pansy said, gazing deeply into Fleur's eyes, mesmerised, "Would it be enough to negate the turn off if they just didn't work on any projects for Malfoy & Granger? Then they wouldn't have anything to do with you…"
"Magnifique," Fleur purred, kissing Pansy on the cheek. Pansy blushed brightly.
"Erm, great," Pansy grinned, "I'm just going to go to the bathroom, don't go anywhere."
She stumbled up, unsteadily, before making her way to the bathroom.
"Mistake number one," Draco said, watching her walk unsteadily out of the room, "Thinking she could drink us under the table,"
Fleur laughed and smiled at Draco, "Indeed."
"Welcome to the team, Fleur," Draco grinned, extending a hand across the table, "We should have hired a cunning strategist like you a long time ago," he smirked.
Fleur smiled back widely and shook his hand. Hermione was still annoyed and crossed her arms.
"How do we know she will even keep that promise?" Hermione said sulkily.
"We can draw up and agreement and then call a meeting with Fleur there to make sure she signs." Draco said with a smirk. Fleur nodded.
Pansy re-emerged from the bathroom, looking a little worse for wear.
"And now for me to give you a well-earned break, Delacour," Draco said, standing up and striding over to Pansy. He took the woman by the arm and led her over to the bar where he ordered them two waters. Fleur got up and took Draco's seat beside Hermione.
"I'm sorry if that upset you," Fleur said quietly, fiddling with an empty glass.
"It just irritates me seeing you flirt with other people sometimes," Hermione said truthfully. Fleur looked surprised by this free admission by Hermione.
"Are you jealous, Hermione?"
Hermione sighed, "I would just like to be the one that makes you happy, Fleur."
"I don't deserve to be happy," Fleur said darkly, the familiar pain returning to grace her beautiful features.
Before Hermione could reply, Draco and Pansy returned to the table.
"I think its time to call it a night," Draco said, clapping his hands together. Hermione nodded, she was definitely ready for the night to be over.