Scorpius awoke to gentle sunlight and the sound of birds in the forest: Rose's favourite setting on his lamp alarm. He turned to kiss her good morning and found the bed empty. He cast a Sonorous Charm. "Rose?"
"In the kitchen. I'm making breakfast."
He tossed the covers aside.
Rose stood at the cooker, wearing his grey dressing gown. Her eyes widened when she saw him, and then she laughed. "Is that what all traditional wizards wear under their business robes?"
"Grandfather wears business suits." Scorpius strolled over to watch her dish scrambled eggs onto plates alongside cantaloupe slices and prosciutto. "I'm not wearing robes."
"So I see." Rose lifted a pitcher of orange juice. "I'd conjure boxer shorts if you want to eat on the terrace."
Scorpius took her advice but set their plates on the breakfast bar. He sat on a stool. "I'm not wearing robes to the office."
Rose sloshed juice over the rim of a glass. "What will Lucius say?"
"Grandfather will probably offer the services of his tailor." Scorpius used a charm to clean the spill. "When I decline . . . I'm not certain how he'll react."
"Then why do it?" She handed him their drinks and sat next to him.
Scorpius ate a forkful of eggs. "My compliments to the chef."
"They're over-cooked."
"Not at all." He silently chanted Resilio and dropped a piece of egg on the marble countertop to bounce.
"Ha-ha. They're a little dry, not rubbery. I got distracted."
"Were you thinking about Ministry training?" Sonorous charms amplified tone as well as volume. She'd sounded tense. "Is that why you woke before the alarm?"
Rose gazed at him steadily. "Answer my question and I'll tell you."
So much for his attempts at distraction, not that they were anything more than a stalling tactic. He said, "If I wear robes Grandfather will take it for granted that I'll fall into line in other areas."
"The Knights of Walpurgis. I thought that was the plan."
"I reconsidered. Grandfather likes to say nothing worth having is gained without effort. That works to our advantage. Grandfather's efforts to—"
"—turn you to the Dark side—"
"—will open doors and access to information faster than a dinner invitation." Weasleys weren't the only ones who could manoeuvre around interruptions to finish a sentence.
Rose said, "Then the barbecue is off?"
"No, and I believe it's my turn for an answer."
"Mmm." She became absorbed in slicing her cantaloupe.
Since his earlier attempt at humour had fallen flat, Scorpius didn't ask if the sound was an agreement or her version of a meditative Om. He ate his breakfast and waited.
Eventually, Rose said, "I've applied to train with two departments, Magical Law and Magical Beings. I thought I could use the law to help magical beings, like Mum." She toyed with her scrambled eggs, dividing them into piles with her fork. "Becoming a legal advocate is still a workable option."
But not one that filled her with enthusiasm. "What's the alternative?"
"Magical Beings social care advocacy." She skewered a piece of cantaloupe on a fork tine. "It doesn't pay as much."
"Does that matter?"
She made a face. "Some people—"
"—are idiots."
His assertion earned a smile. "The salary isn't enough to pay half the mortgage on this flat."
"There is no mortgage." Scorpius raised an eyebrow. "Your mother said money has nothing to do with being equal partners. Didn't you believe her?"
"Yes."
He finally understood: Rose needed to hear it from him. He said, "We're equal in all ways that matter, and I want that to be true in job satisfaction as well. Do what makes you happy."
She leaned over and kissed him. Rose, when it suited her, had a delightful way of taking things literally.
.
An hour and a half later, Scorpius approached the Malfoy Enterprises Building located off St. James' street. The employee entrance was at the rear of the building, but Scorpius strode through the front door. Wizard paintings and sculpture gave the marble-tiled reception area the appearance of private museum. Behind a curved desk, a security troll protected access to the floos on the back wall. His grey skin and comparatively short stature identified the troll as a rock troll, the most intelligent of the species.
"You're new," Scorpius said. "I'm Scorpius Malfoy."
"Appointment?" asked the troll in a rumbling voice.
"I'm the new Head of Operations." Scorpius walked closer to read the nametag on the troll's grey vest. "Sendak." He extended a hand. "Pleasure to meet you."
Sendak's massive fingers briefly engulfed Scorpius' hand. "Need robes."
"I'll be wearing suits to the office." When Sendak didn't respond, Scorpius said, "If dress code enforcement was part of your job description, it ends today." He watched Sendak's eyes for any flicker of movement that would betray intent to lunge and seize hold. Rock trolls moved faster than they spoke, but if necessary, Scorpius could levitate out of reach. After that, he'd have to get creative with jinxes and hexes. Trolls shrugged off most spells.
Sendak slowly nodded. "Not job."
"That's right." Smart troll. He might deserve a pay rise. Scorpius bid Sendak good morning and headed for the central Floo.
The stares that greeted him on the executive floor reminded Scorpius of the first time he'd walked Rose to class. He pretended not to notice—the same as he'd done at Hogwarts—and strolled as if he hadn't a care in the world.
Mrs. Tacit, Grandfather's personal assistant, waved him into the corner office with the trace of a smile on her usually stoic face.
Grandfather Lucius saw him and frowned.
Scorpius said, "I met the new security troll."
"Sendak. He's the best there is."
And of course his grandfather had to have the best. "What happened to Gorignak?"
"Night shift." Grandfather's tone dismissed the subject. He waited for Scorpius to sit in one of the chairs facing the desk and said, "If purchasing the flat left you low on Galleons, I'll instruct my tailor to put your robes on my account."
Scorpius brushed a speck of lint off his suit jacket. His grandfather knew he wasn't short of funds. "I wasn't aware that Malfoy Enterprises had a dress code."
"The traditions of this company inspire employees to dress in a suitable manner."
Scorpius wasn't inspired or intimidated. He said, "I'm saving my robes for Formal Fridays."
"Never heard of such a thing."
That was because Scorpius had just invented it. "It's the opposite of Muggle Casual Fridays, dressing up instead of down."
His grandfather leaned back in his chair, considering. "How often do you intend to observe these Formal Fridays?"
Scorpius made a quick decision. "Every week."
"See that you don't forget." His grandfather made a show of checking his watch. "Don't you have a meeting to attend?"
The first of many. Personnel, Property, Legal Affairs, and Strategy and Marketing were all sub-departments of Operations. Scorpius stood. "Are you available for lunch?"
"Of course. I'm taking you to my club."
The Walpurgis Club.
Scorpius said, "I suppose I'll need wizard robes."
Grandfather Lucius smiled. "I'll send an owl to my tailor."
.
.
A/N: She was caught in a mudslide, eaten by a lion . . . no, wait, that's a line from Train's 50 ways to say Goodbye (which is so catchy because it borrows from the Phantom of the Opera theme). I don't want to be all "There was a hurricane; I adopted a rescue puppy; I got sick" (For some reason I'm imagining Ricky Gervais saying that in his high pitched, mocking voice). Life doesn't always go as planned. Thanks to everyone who's looked forward to another chapter.
For readers who remember Sendak from my Remus and Tonks stories, aren't you glad he isn't working for Evan Rosier anymore? For Galaxy Quest fans, yes, I got the other security troll's name from the alien pig beast/rock monster. At least this one didn't turn inside out and explode. :D
The readers whose reviews last chapter gave me a never give up, never surrender attitude to writing were . . . alix33, arrrgghimapiratenow, Calenmarwen, Carnivalgirl, cinroc, drcjsnider, fynnsmom, Il'Diko lalalove-Rae, Mageofthebooks, Marina Del Pilar, Missdagane, MollyCoddles, Moontime, Nocturna Mae, Rose of the West, SGed, sofia666, tambrathegreat, VandyFNP, and VanillaMostly.