Never the Twain Shall Meet

NEWTs would be upon them soon and then Holiday vacation!

She was sure about the NEWTs she chose to take, Transfiguration, Arithmancy, Potions, Herbology, Charms, Dark Arts, Ancient Runes, Care of Magical Creatures and Divination.

Divination came as a surprise to everyone, but she decided that although she scoffed at the very idea that so many witches fell into the alluring trap of being able to see the future, she wanted to challenge her sensibilities and take the NEWT.

Blaise, Draco and Daphne were taking everything she was with the exception of Divination. Pansy would be taking Divination with Hermione, but not Dark Arts or Care of Magical Creatures.

Harry opted to take Transfiguration, Potions, Charms, Dark Arts and Care of Magical Creatures. He, along with Greg, Blaise and Draco had submitted their applications for Auror training and been accepted. The only NEWTs they needed were Dark Arts, Potions, and Charms.

Greg was sticking to only the required NEWTs for Auror training.

Harry had relayed the general consensus for the Weasleys; Ron decided not to take his NEWTs and work for his brother instead while he was trying out for the Chudley Cannons.

Hermione wanted to give him a few choice words on the value of education, but decided against it, believing it would fall on deaf ears anyway.

She was mildly worried for him, his OWL scores were not as… commendable as most of the students in the past who opted out of NEWTs, she wondered if he was planning on working as an employee of his brothers' for the rest of his life.

It had been two weeks since Ginny confronted her and as promised, she stopped the hexing and watched as the red head re-acclimated to having friends. She wasn't showing yet, but Hermione figured by the time they all returned from holidays, she would notice a bump.

Hermione was torn between extending the olive branch and being part of Ginny's pregnancy and remaining on the outside and waiting for her (the baby's) arrival.

Blaise had asked Draco and Hermione to be his daughters Godparents to which they readily agreed.

Hermione spoke to Marcus once a week and most of the time they ended with '20 questions', sometimes she would forego normal conversation and begin with what she was wearing… or rather, what she wasn't. He wouldn't bat an eyelash at her rather bold introduction to their discussion, rolling easily into whatever she wanted to talk about.

She felt comfortable with him and liked the anonymity of the phone. She was looking forward to seeing him again.

Sometimes he would surprise her with a mid week owl, asking a question… one that was taken from the '20 questions' genre.

Mya,

How do you feel about a light slap on the bum?

M.F.

She'd smile, blush and scribble a quick response.

Only a light slap?

She would giggle at the thought of him reading it and then go back to studying or eating or whatever she was doing before the interruption.

Blaise and Draco would look at each other and smirk.

She had had a long talk with Blaise and they had come to an understanding. At first he would pout whenever she received owls or calls from Marcus, but after a few weeks, they settled into a close friendship, closer than before; one that he valued as much as he valued Draco's.

So when she blushed at a note, the blonde and the dark haired Italian would either tease her or just smirk and shake their heads.

NEWTs were upon them, they just needed to get through the weekend; her first one was Potions with Professor Snape.

"You're not worried, right?" he asked his voice confident.

"No, I know I can brew, but Professor Snape is scary sometimes and he hates me." she whined.

"He hates everyone." Marcus soothed.

"What NEWTs did you pass?" she asked.

"Charms 90%, Dark Arts 98%, Arithmancy 86%, Potions 88% and Basic Healing 92%."

She didn't say anything at first, which made him a little nervous, but then she asked, "What did you major in at University?"

He cleared his throat, "curse application." He said quietly.

Silence.

"Princess?" he asked.

"Marcus, you realize that majoring in and passing the requirements for curse application, curse breaking or ward creation makes you smarter than 90% of the average wizarding population." She stated.

He chuckled, "you sound surprised, Princess." He said teasing her.

"Why are you working for my parents?" she asked

He sighed, this was a heavy conversation, "I'm a Flint."

"So?"

"You remember your reaction when you realized who I was?" he asked with a twinge of bitterness.

"Oh Marcus, I'm so…." she was about to apologize again, but he cut her off.

"Don't apologize, princess, you don't need to, but you're also more forgiving than most. I couldn't get a job in the wizarding world. Neither could Pucey, so we sought other means."

Silence.

He furrowed his brows, wondering what she was thinking. He was about to ask her, but she interrupted him, "What did Pucey major in?"

He chuckled, "Ward creation." He said.

He almost dropped the phone when she screeched, "MERLINS BEARD, MARCUS!"

He was laughing now at her reaction, "What princess?" he was playing dumb.

"I need to ask you a question and I want you to answer me honestly, got it?" she scolded standing on her bed wearing pajamas shorts and a tank top, her chest heaving in excitement.

"Yes ma'am." he said dutifully.

"Do you like what you're doing – the oral surgery?"

He sobered instantly, Touchy touchy he thought, this could go horribly wrong.

He didn't answer right away, "Marcus, tell me." she prompted certain she already knew the answer.

"Not really, no. It's …gross." He said and then added, "…but I'll do it, because I need to have a purpose a skill."

She was giggling, "Why are you giggling?" he asked.

Her voice turned a bit raspy and she lay back down, "Do you trust me Marcus?"
He frowned, "Not when you sound like your getting ready to build an evil empire."

Giggles again.

"Marcus, can I call you back?" she asked suddenly.

"Okay." He said and she hung up. He looked at his phone like he could see her through it.

Dialing.

Ringing.

He pulled the phone out of his pocket and looked at the caller, "Pretty witch, such a surprise, to what do I owe the pleasure of your soft voice and tender words?" he asked.

She snorted, "I have a serious question for you." she said

Her matter of fact tone and hurried manner snapped him out of his usually laid back approach, "shoot." He said.

"Do you like what you're doing… for work, I mean?"

He closed his eyes for a moment, "No. It's boring." He deadpanned, "why?"

"I have a proposal." She declared.

Immediately interested, but back to his humorous flirting, "I'm just not ready for that yet, pretty witch. Maybe Marcus would be more amenable to putting a ring on your finger, but I'm just too much of a free spirit." He said wistfully

"Are you done?" she asked.

He snorted, "Yep, what's the proposal." He prompted not really expecting anything life changing, "I'm going to major in curse breaking. I don't want to work for anyone. Let's start a company. With yours, mine and Marcus' knowledge and talent, we could be very successful." She said hoping he wouldn't shoot it down immediately, she was prepared, however, to become persistent about this, she had the rest of the year.

He hadn't spoken yet, "Adrian?"

"You realize, witch, that we couldn't get a job in the wizarding world. We were turned away." He said.

"Yes, but you didn't have Gryffindors Princess partnering with you; one-third of the Golden trio, Harry Potter's best friend, the witch who conjured a patronus strong enough to save him from Voldemort and rivaling the power of Albus Dumbledore himself." She said triumphantly, "…besides, I think your upbringing will help us; not only are you purebloods, but you're familiar with the types of curses and spells placed on ancestral artifacts, we can use that knowledge." She finished excited, this was the best idea she'd ever had!

"Have you cleared this with Marcus?" he asked suspicious.

"Not yet." She said sheepishly.

He laughed a rich chocolaty sound, "I'm in witch, but you're gonna have a hell of a time convincing Flint. He feels indebted to your parents." He said on a serious note.

"I'll take of my parents, but you need to help me with Marcus. I'll be back for the holidays, one more week." She said and then asked, "I'm calling him back, should I broach the subject with him tonight?"

"The sooner the better. Plant the seed and let him get comfortable with it."

"Do I tell him I told you?"

"Yes."

"ok, Good night Adrian." He smirked at her soft voice, she sounded sweet.

"Night, pretty witch."

CLICK.

Dialing.

Ringing.

"Where'd you go?" he asked.

"I need you to sit down or lay back or whatever you need to get comfortable. Okay?"

"I'm there, what's going on?" he asked.

"I just got off the phone with Adrian." She said and was about to continue when she heard his sharp intake of breath.

Adrian was most witch's wet dream. He was devilishly handsome and his easy manner and sense of humor usually drew the pretty ones in by the truck load, "Before you jump to conclusions, Marcus, it isn't what you think!" she snapped at him sensing his abrupt shift in mood.

"Then what is it?" he snapped right back.

She cringed, he was intimidating on the phone as well as in person, "I want to start a company and I want you and Pucey to partner with me."

That was sooo not what he was expecting, "One more time princess."

"Partners, you, me and Pucey, wizarding world." She summarized.

"no." he said

"Why not?" she asked.

"Your reputation would suffer and I couldn't … won't be responsible for people thinking the worst of you, not to mention, your parents hired me when no one else would."

"First, people are going to talk, we'll just have to work that much harder to prove them wrong. Second, my reputation is fairly solid and I doubt your sordid background could penetrate the armor of good deeds I have crafted." She said haughtily.

He snorted and rolled his eyes, "… and third?" he asked

"My mother has designs on matchmaking, so when you tell her you miss the wizarding world and her daughter within it, she'll push you out the door and hire another intern."

"She likes me. She'll miss me." he said being difficult.

She huffed, "Really, Marcus, a little full of ourselves? Just tell her you're partnering with me."

"Is Pucey in?"

"Yes."

"What will we call ourselves?" he asked

"Hmmm, GPF associates?" she suggested not having given it much thought previously.

"Why is G first and F last?" he asked sounding like a petulant child.

"In order of discovery; my idea, Pucey bought in and then you were last." She explained.

"Only because you didn't give me a chance!" he said mildly irritated and then frowned, "wait, how long is it going to be before you're ready to start?"

"Nothing is stopping you from starting now. We can announce after we sit and plan, but we should wait until my NEWT scores come in." she said.

"We need to think of a better name." he grumbled.

"So you in, Flint?" she asked.

"I think so, but what if we… this… progress and then we fight and you hex me and get sent to Azkaban. What'll happen to the business?" he asked.

"Flare for the dramatics, yeah?" she teased; "there is nothing that'll keep you from continuing to operate without me present. You just won't be able to use my untarnished and noble name anymore." She said her nose in the air.

He chuckled, "So when are you coming home Princess?" he asked.

She smiled at his phrasing – making home sound like it was anywhere with him… she snorted -she really needed to stop reading those stupid romance novels!

(A/N: Call for company names: need one, please! Include your suggestions with your reviews. thanks much!)