Previously: Draco and Blaise continued talking, for a few more hours, veering the topic away from Draco's obvious fury, and to safer topics and issues.
One thing was for certain, even though Draco's revenge plan wasn't in motion yet- let's just say: Slytherin's know how to do it best!
Chapter 17: Never Underestimate A Malfoy!-Friday 29th April-
-Draco-
Draco awoke with a slight spring in his step, today his ultimate revenge plan, in honour of Granger was to be set in motion; he had everything to be happy for, for soon he would be the crucial victor over his arch-rival, the red headed twit.
He would take the ground the twit so haughtily walked on from underneath him, and show him exactly who he was messing with, all the while waiting for the perfect moment to seize what he, Draco himself had been waiting for, the prize in this duel.
Whoever said the battle was over?
It was all like a game of chess; Draco was just waiting to move in for the final check-mate, the red head had already made a few crucial mistakes. And they said he was the best at chess, he clearly had never played a Malfoy. It was like playing with fire, you always get burned.
After a quick shower, the blond exited his en-suite bathroom to find a copy of the Daily Prophet lying across his bedspread, curious as to why it was lay on his bed instead of his office, or the dining room table he walked over to it.
On top a small piece of folded parchment was perched, fingering the parchment he noticed his name scribbled in a rather rushed handwriting, that he could still tell had a femine touch. Flicking it open he read the rather short note;
"D,
Open to page 3 you're not going to like what you see. I'll be back around eleven to see what you want to do about it.
P x"
Thumbing the black and white paper to page three, he scanned looking for the article that he wasn't going to like and low and behold he found it within milliseconds, taking up half the page was a clearly adapted photo of himself and Hermione trapped in what looked to be a lust filled, make out session, outside Malfoy Manor. The picture was made so you could see neither face of the participants; the only distinguishable characteristics were her curly mane, and his blond locks. The back of his head, and body blocked their faces, and what they were doing from view. But it did show his face lean down towards hers.
Draco could feel his anger bubbling, thick and fast to the surface. Someone was going to feel the infamous Malfoy wrath. Reading the headline his anger doubled;
"War Heroine Caught with Death Eater" the sub headline was just as bad
"The truth behind why Hermione Granger saved Draco Malfoy from the Dementors kiss"
Scanning the article words jumped out at him- heating his anger, but what really set him off causing him to throw the paper across the room, was the picture of Hermione being hassled as she went to work, a caption of "Non-commital response from Mrs Weasley" underneath.
He needed to see her, check that she was alright, this had complicated things even more, not to mention the article had no author, no one had claimed this as theirs, he had to speak to Pansy, she'd be able to trace or at least find out who had wrote the article, and then he could deal with them. But he still had his meeting with Lord Ardenbrook to attend as well.
So much for the quiet day he was originally going to have.
-DM-
Once he was dressed in a crisp suit, his hair flattened to his head, Draco made his way downstairs for something to eat before his meeting with Lord Ardenbrook.
Once finished he apparated from the apparition spot to the home of Britain's most famous Quidditch team owner; Lord Ardenbrook. The man himself was nearing his hundredth birthday, but still managed to take care of himself, whether that was because of his second hand Mr Portman, was another matter. Draco held Lord Ardenbrook in rather high esteem, not because of his wealth, but because the man had seen so much in his life time; having lived through and later battled in World War Two, under the pretence of a Muggle soldier; set to aid the front lines at D-day. He had lived through both uprisings of Voldemort, and never once having been touched no matter his power in pure blood social standings. Draco had to admit there was no doubt he found much to admire in the aging man.
The person who answered the door was Mr Portman, Mister Henry Portman, who fancied himself as the new Lord of the mansion, once the current one had passed. Mister Portman was a chubby fellow, who fell to the height of Draco's shoulders, just about, he was a male version of Molly Weasley in terms of proportion, however he lacked Molly's people skills and Draco would go so far as saying Henry had none.
"Mister Malfoy, to what do we have this pleasure?"
"I have a meeting with Lord Ardenbrook" Draco tried to keep the bite out of his voice but there was something about the man in front of him that just niggled, and it was an immediate reaction to be bitter towards.
Henry wobbled over to pick up a diary lay on the table near the door, scanning it, he had the audacity to smirk at Draco, "It appears you do not Mister Malfoy, perhaps I can book you in sometime next week?"
"I have a meeting today Mister Portman" Draco sneered at the man, he couldn't help it. "Now if you'd be so kind as to go and tell Lord Ardenbrook I am here, or shall I do so myself?" he went to step passed the portly man but he blocked Draco's path with his frame.
"That won't be necessary, we shall make an appointment for next week, and I shall see you then" he was clearly getting annoyed with Draco as he tried to force him back out the door he came, "Will Tuesday do?"
"Draco my boy, is that you?" A voice sounded from down the corridor, "I've been expecting you" Draco smirked at Henry, "Henry what in blazes are you doing let Draco in" Henry huffed as Draco shouldered his way back in.
"But he doesn't have an appointment"
"Oh shush, yes he does"
"But it's not in the diary"
The older gentleman shrugged his shoulder, "May be I forgot? My whole life isn't dictated by that you know I still have some marbles up here" he tapped his head, "To remember events." He signalled for Draco to follow him and he soon found himself in a cosy office. Signed photos of famous Quidditch players hung about the place, and pride of place just behind the older man's chair was a picture of Draco and Lord Ardenbrook shaking hands, the day Draco signed for Puddlemere United.
Draco's attention was summoned back to the Lord of the manor when he spoke; "Nasty business this, isn't it?" when Draco brought his eyes to what Ardenbrook was holding the Daily Prophet.
"It's not what it looks like Sir" the blond tried to explain, but was stopped when the elder man waved his hand.
"How many times do I have to tell you it's Harry? And there's no need to tell me Draco, I've got to admit you'd make a very good couple."
Draco rubbed the back of his neck, "Were not together"
"That's why I said you would make a very good couple. I never quite saw what she saw in the youngest Weasley" a twinkle formed in the older man's eyes. "She's much to intelligent for him, she needs someone who challenges her, just to promote stimulation of the brain cells, who can have a valid argument against her beliefs, even if they don't believe them themselves." He suddenly became solemn, "The pair of you remind me of something that happened to myself, many moons ago." He looked Draco in the eye, "Would you mind if I told you? I believe it may help you."
Draco shook his head, he was intrigued as to what Harry would say- the older man never divulged much of his private life.
"Many years ago, while I was at Hogwarts in Slytherin, there was someone who intrigued me, she was the smartest Witch in our year by far, she was a very good dueller and she could play Quidditch with the best of them. However she was a Gryffindor, much like Miss Granger was- the divide between the houses existed then as well, and when it came to our seven year the pair of us were picked as Heads. We didn't share a dormitory like you two did, however we were required to meet few days to organise rotas for the prefects. We often argued, and it was during these arguments I could see myself growing attracted to her, and her me. But we were both too proud and stubborn to do anything about this attraction, so we pretended it didn't exist, I could sometimes feel her staring at me with furrowed eyebrows. To me she was the most beautiful woman at the school, she maintained my interests even when others tried in vain to via for it."
"She was my, Miss Granger, and I can see many of her traits in Miss Granger, her teaching influence must have rubbed off on her. When I saw this woman many years later, after the battle at Hogwarts, imagine my surprise to find out she hadn't changed, sure she had aged but to me she had grown even more beautiful, she still had a bossy, know-it-all attitude, and I realised that I passed the opportunity to have, my hearts greatest desire."
"At the next possible moment I seized it, and I haven't looked back since. Don't dwell on the past Draco my boy." The older man suddenly clapped his hands together, not letting Draco have time to think on what he had said, "But enough of my senile jabbering, what can I do for you?"
Draco didn't speak for a moment, before he pulled his brief case onto his lap, "I was wondering whether I could make an offer to you for a majority stake in Puddlemere and Chudley Cannons?"
"Unfortunately, my shares in both teams will go to my heir." Draco hadn't factored in that fact- but who was the heir? As far as the blond was aware Lord Ardenbrook didn't have much, if any family left. So who could possibly be the heir?
The logical choice seemed to be Henry. Which meant Draco's plans had just hit a downward spiral, with likelihood of a crash landing.
"No chance, I could offer you money?" the older man shook his head.
"You see it would be unfair to make you pay for something which will one day be yours."
-DM-
A/N: Wow, that update has been a long time in coming, but luckily it is finally finished and posted. For those of you who thought I had given up- I will never give up it just might take me a long time to update.
As always thank you to those that reviewed the previous chapter, and it would be greatly appreciated if you could leave a review with your thoughts of this chapter to, as well as the rest of the story.
Until the next update; Scorpio219 -x-