February 2001

There was a buzz of romance in the air as January drew to a close. Whenever Draco decided to venture down to Diagon Alley, there were traders selling valentine's day gifts and offered Draco many things at half the price. He never responded to them simply because he hadn't even thought about celebrating the romantic day.

He went to the bank and made his withdrawal, he was meeting Blaise for a few drinks later at The Three Broomsticks. As he left Gringotts, he made his way back to The Leaky Cauldron, as he had a meeting with a French business man who wished to discuss something. He ordered himself a butterbeer, having calmed down his firewhiskey habit a bit since his agreeing to see a counsellor, and sat at one of the empty tables.

A man sat opposite him, a tall man with a dark brown goatee that matched his recently cut hair and squinty blue eyes which gave the impression that he was sensitive to light. The man's name was Alexandre Olivier, and he was known to the Ministry as a trader in medieval magical items.

"Monsieur Malfoy, a pleasure to meet you again!" said Olivier, shaking Draco's hand.

"Likewise Monsieur Olivier."

"Malfoy, there is a certain artefact that your Ministry would like to return to my employer. They have requested that I arrange with you to take it back to Paris."

"And this artefact is?"

"It belonged to the French Rosier's since the seventeenth century, it fell into the hands of some muggles who traded it with the English for protection from a death sentence from the King at the time. The muggles were found guilty of treason but that hardly matters."

"And the artefact?"

"It is of ancient Chinese origin, it is a crystal vile which contains the elixir of life encased in a gold and jade protector shell which can only be broken should the riddle be solved."

"What riddle?"

"The riddle written in ancient Chinese, only those who can speak and read the language can solve the riddle."

"And why do the Ministry wish for me to return it to your employer when you could take it to him yourself."

Olivier took a large mouthful of his butterbeer before answering him, which made Draco rather eager to finish this conversation sooner rather than later.

"They believe that you are capable to handling such a task, you have redeemed yourself after all young Sir."

Draco drained the rest of his butterbeer and gently placed the bottle on the table in front of him. He looked Olivier in the eyes, wishing that the man hadn't brought up the subject of his past.

"My past is nothing to you Olivier. I am under Minister Shacklebolt's employ, not yours. So I do not see why you feel the need to bring up the subject of my past when the French were not involved. I have paid the price and I have to live with that regret for the rest of my life."

Olivier nodded obediently, "I apologise Monsieur, I did not mean to offend."

Draco nodded curtly before settling back into his chair.

"When does this item need to be in Paris."

Olivier smiled and handed over some paperwork, "You shall meet my employer, an Edouard Rosier outside the Musée du Louvre on the twentieth of March at noon. He will take you to an underground vault where the artefact will be safely placed, he is a distant relative of your grandmother; Druella Black nee Rosier. That is why you have been requested for my employer feels that a blood relative is of great importance."

Draco nodded once more and rose from the table, "Tell your employer that I shall meet him then, goodday Monsieur Olivier."

"Goodday Monsieur Malfoy."

Draco arrived back at the manor just after one that afternoon, the house elves took his cloak and letters and he went through to the living room; only to avert his stare to the wall opposite the sofa where his parents were sat sharing a passionate kiss. He cleared his throat to make his presence known and Lucius and Narcissa jumped apart, as if they had been teenagers caught in a broom cupboard at Hogwarts.

"Nice to see that this romantic day has you two in a good mood." Draco drawled as he crossed to the brandy cabinet.

His mother flushed a little pink but he pretended not to have noticed. He did notice that his father was looking a lot better than he had done in a long time, his long hair had been cut shorter and was brushed neatly, the stubble had gone as had the bags under his eyes. In fact, he noticed for the first time in months that his father no longer stank of alcohol, he guessed his parents were really working on their marital problems.

"How are you son?" Lucius asked.

Draco poured himself a brandy and turned to face his father, things were still slightly awkward between them and he guessed that until he knew that his father was ready to speak of their past, that things between them would remain that way.

"Good thank you father, I am going to Paris next month on a work job."

Narcissa rose from the sofa and kissed his cheek in pride, "That is wonderful, the Ministry seem to be rather impressed with your work."

"And why shouldn't they? He is rather good at what he does."

Draco met his father's gaze, this was the first time that his father had ever complimented his work at the Ministry. This was the first time that they had ever spoken more than a few words and certainly it was the first time that he could remember in recent years that his father seemed proud of him. But before he could thank his father for the unexpected compliment, an owl dropped a letter into his free hand before flying back out of the room. Draco placed his brandy on the side before tearing open the letter.

Draco,

At Daphne's, meet me there in half hour and we'll go early. Want to take Daphne out for dinner tonight, it is Valentine's day.

-Blaise.

Draco made his goodbyes to his parents, rather glad that he and Blaise were going to the pub earlier than planned, for it gave his parents more time alone together now he was out of the house. He apparated outside the Greengrasses and knocked on the door, to be greeted by Daphne. He hugged the blonde haired girl once before being led into the living room, smiling when he saw Tori; who was dressed like she was going out. Going out on a date. Why did that bother him so much?

Since they had shared two kisses, the two had remained on good terms and their friendship had grown even more. He often met her for a coffee or a butterbeer in Hogsmeade, even going to Saliunca Alley for lunch or dinner. She hadn't shown an interest in him and for that he had been quite glad, he still needed to fix a few things about himself before he could even consider dating again. But seeing her dressed in a yellow day dress that clung for her perfect figure made him feel a little jealous, what man would be lucky enough to have her interest?

"Hello Tori."

She turned to face him, smiling a little. Her smile, so gorgeous, always lighting up her eyes. Had her eyes always been that perfect shape of green?

"Hello Draco, how've you been?"

"Great thank you and yourself?"

"I've been good."

Blaise and Daphne looked at each other and exited the living room, leaving Draco and Astoria alone.

"Off somewhere nice?"

"I have a late lunch date with Tobias Flint."

Tobias Flint, so that was who her date was with? The younger brother of Marcus Flint. He remembered Tobias as being a lot smaller and weedier than Marcus had been, Tobias had never been much of a socialiser, or much of a Quidditch fan as Marcus had been. Surely Tori could do much better than that? He smirked at the thought, causing Tori to frown in disapproval.

"You find it funny?"

Draco dropped the smirk, "I just think you can do much better than that weedy little worm."

Tori sighed, "People change Draco, surely you of all people can understand that?" she replied harshly.

That hit him hard and he couldn't reply to that. She had a valid point and he had hurt her feelings, for the look on her face said that he had. As she picked up her bag and made her way to the front door, he lightly grasped her wrist and turned her to face him. She looked at him curiously, wondering what more there was to say.

"Look I apologise for hurting your feelings and for what I said but I strongly believe you can do better."

Tori rolled her eyes, "You suck at apologies sometimes Malfoy."

Draco grinned, knowing that her amused smile had made him forgiven.

"Make it up to me." she said firmly.

But before he would allow her to go and before he could stop himself from blurting it out he said, "Come to Paris with me."

Tori raised an eyebrow, stunned at his request.

"C-come to P-paris, with you?"

He nodded, "I'm going next month on a work thing, it'll be for at least a week and my business will be concluded in a day or two. So that leaves me some time to go sightseeing. Have you ever been?"

Astoria shook her head, "I'd love to see Paris."

"Then come with me."

He didn't care that he sounded quite pushy, so un-Malfoy like as his father would describe it. But he wanted some more time alone with Astoria and where better than a week with her in Paris?

Eventually he released her and she met his grey eyes and nodded happily.

"I'd love to go with you."

Draco smiled widely, "Good, I'll talk to you about the details later."

"I'm already looking forward to it."

A/N: So I apologise that it's been a while since my last update, my life has been a bit hectic and I've been catching up on other fics that are a work-in-progress. But enjoy this chapter and Paris will be coming shortly :)