Scorpius returned to Malfoy Enterprises. In the lobby, a wizard with a security badge in one hand and a thin golden tube in the other frisked the photographer Crispin Pry.

"Oi! Watch where you put that Probity Probe," Crispin said. "If it malfunctions and switches to body cavity mode, I'm going straight to the Daily Prophet."

"If you take pictures, you'll get paid more by the Intruder." Scorpius stepped forward. "I'm glad you could stop by, Crispin." He turned to the security wizard. The name on his tag was Barnaby Goggins. Scorpius recalled that Goggins was the newest security team member and yet his file had included several mentions of zealous performance of duty. "Mr. Pry is my guest."

Goggins muttered, "Yes, sir," and scuttled away.

Crispin smiled uncertainly. "You told me to come by your office?"

Scorpius had addressed Crispin by his first name to put him at ease, but it seemed to have unsettled him—or maybe he was still nervous about the Probity Probe. "Come on up."

"Sign," said Sendak, who sat guarding access to the floos. He pointed to a visitor's log on his massive desk.

Crispin hurriedly signed his name and time of arrival. "Never seen a troll outside a text book," he said. "Pleasure to meet you."

Sendak didn't answer. His attention had returned to the entrance door.

"Very constant vigilance, isn't he?" Crispin asked as they strolled from the floo on the executive floor toward Scorpius's office. "I like him a damn sight better than that security bloke."

"Goggins," Scorpius said. "If you feel he mistreated you, I'd be happy to file a grievance on your behalf." It would be first one ever filed at Malfoy Enterprises.

Crispin replied, "He did almost change me from a bass to a soprano."

"It won't happen again." Scorpius would make an example of Goggins. Security team members would treat employees and visitors with professional courtesy, or they would be sacked.

They passed by the open office door of Mitchell Cole, Head of Property. "Malfoy! A word," Cole called out. He hustled over to the doorway. "Have you made a decision about Iron Mountain Storage? Rosier is offering us a bargain."

"You'll have my decision by the end of the week." Scorpius moved on.

Crispin asked, "Does it feel strange being the boss of a wizard twice your age?"

Scorpius shrugged. "Some of my employees are three times my age."

His personal assistant rose from her desk when he approached. She opened the office doors with stately aplomb. "Your next appointment will arrive in ten minutes, sir."

"Thank you, Mrs. Jamieson." Once she'd closed the doors—nice touch, using both—he sat behind his desk and waited for Crispin to lower himself into a visitor's chair. "I'd offer tea, but time is limited. Are you here to accept my offer of employment?"

"Freelance?"

"Yes. You'd communicate directly with me or my assistant."

Crispin nodded. "I'd appreciate the work. I haven't had much luck selling to the Prophet lately."

"Then you'll be able to complete two assignments." Scorpius opened a desk drawer and removed the Iron Mountain Storage file. He wrote the address on the back of a photo of the exterior. "I need you to photograph what you find to help me make an informed decision."

Crispin studied the photo. "I should have a report for you by Thursday."

"Excellent. The second assignment is event photography."

"I can do that," Crispin said. "Just tell me when and where."

Scorpius told him.

Crispin didn't seem daunted by the task. "What kind of photographs do you want me to take?"

"Society column."

"Slytherins party in style sort of thing?"

"Heavy on style, no shots of anyone boozing it up."

Crispin gave him a knowing look. "Photographs to reassure a girl's over-protective family?"

Scorpius nodded. "And let the rest of the Wizarding world see what they're missing."

.

The rest of the afternoon passed in a series of meetings, followed by Scorpius asking his Head of Personnel to bring him a grievance form, making Pawsey wait until he filled it out and handed it back, and after Pawsey had slunk away, reclining in his chair, enjoying the moment. Not until Mrs. Jamieson stepped into his office to ask if there was anything else she could do before she left did Scorpius realise that he'd forgotten to ask her advice.

"There is one thing," he said, sitting upright in his chair. "If you had agreed to co-host a party with Mr. Jamieson to promote his agenda in, say, business, and he found a way to complete his agenda without the necessity of throwing a party, but he sent invitations out anyway, without asking if you were still willing to co-host the party—"

"Flowers. Candelight dinner. Bit of grovelling." Mrs. Jamieson smiled a little. "For Miss Weasley, I suggest you add a new agenda to all the rest. Good evening, Mr. Malfoy."

"Good evening, Mrs. Jamieson."

.

Rose was delivering her parents' invitation after work and staying for tea, so Scorpius had time to prepare. He stopped by the florist's, McGregor's Market, and a Muggle corner shop. The chatty Muggle woman who offered advice as she rang up his purchase was the most helpful. The florist—who would have talked him into a bouquet of fifty red and white roses if her shop assistant hadn't mentioned that they symbolised an apology for cheating on one's partner—was the least. By the time he'd prepared dinner, he was ready to blurt out what he'd done the second Rose walked in the door just to be through with the whole apology thing.

His attitude changed when Rose saw the centrepiece of fifty cinnamon roses on the dining room table. "They're absolutely gorgeous." She took in the china and the crystal sparkling in candlelight and sighed. "How romantic. What's the occasion?" She caught sight of the food on their plates and laughed. "You made Nutella pizza for dinner?"

"The woman who sold me the Nutella reminded me that life is short, and we should eat dessert first." He pulled out her chair. Once they were seated, he barely hesitated before picking up his slice of Nutella pizza with his fingers.

Rose plucked a raspberry off her slice of pizza. "Drizzled with dark chocolate. My other favourite." She licked the chocolate off the raspberry. "You wouldn't be trying to get out of our housewarming party, would you?"

"Hadn't crossed my mind." Next time he would buy strawberries to watch her lips close around the fruit.

She nibbled her way through the slice of dessert pizza. "You're not hungry?"

He'd taken one bite. "I ate a big lunch."

Rose dabbed her lips with a linen serviette. "If you're not trying to postpone the housewarming party indefinitely, why do I have the feeling that you're trying to turn me up sweet?"

He pulled out her chair and smoothed her hair to one side to kiss the nape of her neck. "Because only nice men do nice things for their partners?"

She shivered. "Is that what you're doing? Nice things?"

"I hope you'll think so." He extended his arm. "We're dining al fresco for the main course."

In retrospect, he might have gone overboard on the impulse purchase of enchanted Muggle-style fairy lights at McGregor's Market. "I thought they'd make the space more festive," Scorpius said when Rose stared at the glittering display. "It's a large terrace, requiring a proportionate amount of lights." She was starting to get that what are you up to? look on her face. He gestured to the plates with stasis covers he'd arranged on a low table beside the double lounger. "My first experiment with the barbeque oven. Turned out rather well, considering I used store bought dough. I made pizza Margherita."

Rose sat on the lounger with him, but she didn't reach for a plate. She said, "I adore everything you've done, but if there's something you're waiting to tell me, I'd rather hear it now and get it out of the way."

"All right." He whistled.

Felix bolted through his Niffler door and ran straight to the lounger and jumped onto Rose's lap. "Good boy!" Scorpius said. He told Rose, "The first few times he ran past the lounger and jumped into a planting box."

"What's this on his collar?" She untied the blue ribbon and held up the vial.

The moment of truth, probably better told without food churning in his stomach. "Nathaniel's hair. I saw an opportunity and took it." Rose didn't comment. He said, "You won't have to take a hair from him at the party." He could out wait Harry Potter, but Rose's silence was different. "There doesn't have to be a party now."

"But you still want one."

"Yes. Nathaniel's on the alumni board. He's sending me a list of names. Crispin Pry's handling the photography. I should have talked it over with you first," he said when she started to speak, "but I chose to act and ask forgiveness later."

Rose smiled. "You don't need forgiveness."

"I don't?"

She stroked his cheek with the backs of her fingers. "When you took Nathaniel's hair, did you consider that the housewarming party wasn't necessary anymore?"

"No."

"Then why would you think I'd want you to cancel your party?"

Honestly? "They're Slytherins."

Rose brushed her lips against his. "I love a Slytherin. I really like his parents. I can learn to like a few more."

.

The memory of kisses that led to lovemaking on the terrace and pizza in bed inspired Scorpius to stop by the florist's on the way to work. He bypassed the owner for the shop assistant, who assured him his bright red rose would be delivered to the Ministry right away, and helped him choose an arrangement for Mrs. Jamieson.

"Made up your mind yet?" Cole asked when Scorpius passed his office. He trailed him into the corridor. "Who are those flowers for?"

"New haircut?" Scorpius asked. Cole's head looked more egg-shaped than usual.

Cole said, "Yes. About that property—"

"I'll let you know. The flowers are for personal assistant appreciation day." Scorpius glanced at Cole's assistant's desk. "You must be buying Mrs. Davis lunch." He continued strolling toward his office.

"Dark pink roses in full bloom are a symbol of thanks," Scorpius said as he placed the crystal vase on Mrs. Jamieson's desk. He'd made sure "mature blooms" wasn't a euphemism for about to wither and fall off the stem. He wanted to convey his gratitude, not offend. He added, "I told Cole it was personal assistant appreciation day."

Mrs. Jamieson's eyes gleamed. "Shall I send out a memo to inform the rest of the departments?"

"Why not?" He opened his office door. "And I'm taking you to lunch."

His assistant chose to have lunch in the company dining hall. From their vantage point by the window, Scorpius could see several department heads dining with their personal assistants. Mrs. Jamieson, however, was one of only a few PA's who appeared to be enjoying the food.

"May we join you?" Grandfather Lucius and his PA Mrs. Tacit sat down before Scorpius finished saying, "Please." Servers appeared and poured premier cru Chablis into their glasses: a finer vintage than the grand cru Scorpius had chosen. Grandfather flicked his fingers in dismissal once he and Mrs. Tacit were served the same Nicoise-style lobster salad Mrs. Jamieson had highly recommended. He said, "Appreciation day for one's assistant. How innovative. Rather like these pheasant eggs the chef has chosen for garnish." Grandfather speared one of the shelled, halved eggs with his fork. "If I did not appreciate the change . . . ." He smiled coolly. "Malfoy Enterprises would be acquiring a new chef."

"Yes, sir." Message received and acknowledged.

Scorpius's deferential tone seemed to appease. His Grandfather's expression warmed. "As it happens, I enjoy pheasant eggs. They amuse me." He set down his fork and picked up his wineglass. "Now, what's this I hear about a Slytherin reunion party?"

By the end of lunch, Scorpius had given as few details as possible while confirming his own suspicion that Nathaniel's request for a list of names had directly been relayed to Lucius instead of through the Knights of Walpurgis grapevine. He went to the owlery to inform Zod of his wish to book the Slytherin Room.

Just as he was preparing to leave for the day, Mrs. Jamieson delivered a note from Crispin asking Scorpius to meet at the Gnome and Jarvey as soon as possible. Scorpius headed straight there. He found the photographer hunched over a pint in the back corner booth.

"You're too large to be inconspicuous, if that's what you were going for," Scorpius said as he sat down opposite Crispin. He picked up the Manila envelope Crispin slid across the table after looking around to make sure they were unobserved, presumably. "Relax. You'll draw more attention if you sit there coiled like a spring."

"I can't help it. Those pictures . . . ."

Scorpius looked at the pictures and quickly returned them to the envelope. No wonder Rosier wanted to offload the building without a public sale. "Thank you," he said. He took pay to bearer drafts out of an inner jacket pocket.

"I can't take hush money."

"I'm paying you for your work." Scorpius set the drafts on the table. "After I decide what to do, I'll contact you to write the story."

"I could go to the Daily Prophet on my own," Crispin said with a hint of threat. He'd been a Hufflepuff Beater. They weren't the best at intimidation.

"I'm guaranteeing a front page exclusive. And twice the pay."

Crispin slowly nodded.

Scorpius said, "I'll be in touch."

.

He stood in the alley where he'd made his deal with Barry Boot and had to clear his mind of everything except the memory of Rose saying, "I love a Slytherin," before he could cast a Patronus Charm.

Rose appeared at the head of the alley moments later. The rose he'd sent was pinned to her Ministry robes over her heart. "You said you needed to see me right away."

"There's something we need to investigate."

"As the Green Knight and Raven?"

"As ourselves." He held out his hand. When her fingers clasped his, he turned to Disapparate.

Rose clutched an arm across her middle when they stepped out of darkness and onto a kerb in East London. "You could have warned me about the Side-Along Apparition."

"Are you all right?"

"I am now. What is this place?"

"An industrial warehouse Rosier industries is trying to sell. It's zoned commercial and residential, but they claim the subsidiary, Iron Mountain Storage, houses archived business records. I asked Crispin to take interior photographs to help me decide whether to take the deal." Scorpius handed her the manila envelope.

She gasped when she saw the first picture. Her cheeks flushed with outrage as she looked through the stack. "How do they afford privatised housing?"

Scorpius pointed to a tall wizard who approached the building. The man had the over-muscular physique of a body builder or security guard to the rich. "Like that."

"Appearance Charm. Of course. It's in the amulet around his neck."

He agreed. "They couldn't get jobs otherwise. Couldn't live in a city filled with Muggles. Let's talk to him."

Rose matched him stride for stride, even as she asked, "What if he doesn't like us asking questions?"

"He'll answer anyway. See the monogram on his robes? He works for Malfoy Enterprises." Scorpius raised his voice. "Sendak!" The troll in disguise waited as they hurried to catch up.

"I'll start," Rose whispered, before greeting Sendak with, "Good evening! I'm a trainee social care advocate with the Magical Beings Department. I'd like to interview you and your family about your current housing. It will only take a few minutes of your time."

"No." Sendak's voice made the Green Knight's deep gruffness seem light and friendly by comparison.

"You can't be happy with it," Rose said.

Sendak appeared even more inexpressive human: no one expected a rock troll's face to show emotion. He took a deep breath and said, "Better than . . . nothing." He started to turn away.

"Rosier is selling this property," Scorpius said. "If I don't buy it, you'll have worse than nothing. A developer will tear the building down, and you'll be relocated to the closest dragon sanctuary that needs workers. Invite us in, answer a few questions and things will change for the better. You have my word."

Sendak covered the amulet with a large-knuckled hand.

"We don't want the Ministry to take away your Appearance Amulets or your freedom," Rose said. "Won't you help us?"

Sendak said, "Come."

The walls of the lobby were dingy magnolia. "When was the last time your landlord painted?" Rose asked.

Words dragged out of Sendak like blocks of granite cut from a quarry. "Twenty five years."

Some troll children sat with their backs against the closed door to the lift. The rest gathered around in a circle. A hairy tarantula race was in progress. "And how long has that been broken?" Scorpius asked.

"Always."

Scorpius and Rose followed Sendak up the brightly lit stairway. "At least the property manager keeps the lights working," Rose said.

"They'd have a case to sue if he didn't," Scorpius replied.

Sendak grunted his agreement. He led them to a third floor flat and took off his amulet before knocking on the door four times. It opened, and a girl troll a head taller than Scorpius asked a question that sounded like an avalanche of pebbles sliding down a mountain. She looked past Sendak and then said in English, "I asked Dad if it was four knocks for guests or four knocks he forgot the counter rune for the security ward." Her dark eyes twinkled. "It's guests."

"Nas?" A low-pitched yet feminine voice called out.

"Yes, it's people, and famous ones," the girl yelled over her shoulder. "Get the camera."

"Barrabatta," Sendak said. The admonishing paternal tone transcended language barriers.

The girl's answer in troll was the rapid ping of hailstones. She flashed a smile at Scorpius and Rose that displayed large white teeth. "Barrabatta means quick talker. The midwife warned my parents about giving a rock troll child such a name. I've been magically cursed with the gift of gab."

Sendak uttered a rumbly growl.

Barrabatta rolled her eyes and bowed. "I was also cursed with the inability to behave myself. Forgive and enter our humble dwelling."

The flat was painted the same shade of magnolia as the rest of the building interior, although it was cleaner and the walls were decorated with framed photographs of the family and mountain landscapes. Sendak's wife asked, "Tea?" once they'd taken a seat at the oversize wooden table that engulfed half of the living/dining space.

"That would be lovely," Rose said.

"Means yes, Mum." Barrabatta said. She grinned at Rose. "Nas voices are birdsong to her. Cheep, cheep, cheep."

Rose asked, "Have you considered being a Ministry translator?"

Barrabatta seemed taken with the idea. Sendak directed his rumbly growl at his guests. "Ask questions."

"It's more of a proposition," Scorpius said. Rose didn't need to ask if the housing was substandard, or if the trolls living there felt their quality of life would improve with new management. "I want to buy this property, fix the lift, and refurbish your flat as an example of what Malfoy Enterprises plans to do to the rest of the units. A photographer will interview your family and take before and after pictures."

"For the Daily Prophet?" Barrabatta asked. She broke into a spate of rapid fire troll, ending with, "Then I will be famous too!"

Sendak's wife set a mug the size of Felix on the table between Scorpius and Rose. "Share?"

He spoke as deeply as possible. "Thank you, ma'am."

Understanding lit the troll mother's face. "Eke," she said, pointing to herself before settling into the chair beside her husband.

"Why?" Sendak asked Scorpius.

Why buy the building and refurbish the units? He didn't blame the troll for asking. He was a Malfoy. Until he'd spoken with the bank manager, every time he donated to charity a Gringott's fraud alert team member sent an owl to verify that the pay to bearer notes weren't stolen. "I'm the new Head of Operations," Scorpius said. "I'm creating a new public image."

Barrabatta translated for her mother.

Sendak said, "Re . . . furbish tomorrow."

It wasn't a question. "Tomorrow," Scorpius agreed. He planned to own the building the next day, why wait to start fixing it up? Crispin could interview the family on Friday, and by Saturday, the story would be headline news.

"Tomorrow?" Rose asked. He could tell that she'd created the same timeline in her head. "Two days from our family dinner tomorrow?"

Scorpius smiled wryly. "At least we're giving them something to talk about."

.

.

A/N: I totally intended to write the family dinner this chapter, but then there was this thing, and this other thing, and loads of words later I had to hope, like Scorpius, that they've at least given you something to talk about. If anyone noticed, I broke my two word title streak (for a subtle hint that the dinner would not be this chapter, heh). If anyone has a suggestion for one, please give it. I'm still in stuttering disbelief mode (which Crispin thinks is better than cavity search mode). Readers who remember my Tonks and Remus series and that I first wrote Sendak as Evan Rosier Jr.'s security troll might remember Evan having his arm twisted by Tonks into painting the grey walls of the building and fixing the lights and lift. I think he figured two out of three was close enough to fulfilling his promise. Sentimental trivia: Sendak always called Tonks Barrabatta because she was a quick talker, and he honoured her memory by naming his daughter Barrabatta too. I like to think she magically inherited Tonks's gift of gab and inability to behave herself, and the gifts were blessings, even if some trolls think she's cursed.

Along with finishing this chapter, I was inspired to write all the plot bunnies that popped into my head this week. Thanks go to everyone who read and reviewed the Draco/Astoria one shot Hogsmeade Weekend and the Dennis Creevey/Gabrielle Delacour one shot Mastermind vs. LaVeela (thank you drcjsnider for catching that I forgot to add "I saw him at Hogwarts" to explain why Gabrielle called Dennis le petite prince. Fixed that).

Another special thanks to nobodysperfect2133 for mentioning the "now unnecessary housewarming party" in your review. I was writing the go all out to soften Rose up before telling her part, and when I read your review, I grinned because the thought had never crossed Scorpius's mind and I had to put that in. I suppose Rose should thank you as well. :D Thanks to everyone who reviewed the last chapter and will (I hope!) be all right about waiting one more week (no more, and I promise a full chapter of family togetherness with plenty to talk about *cackles*). Thanks alix33, alleaf, Arcoiris, Beauty Eclipsed, ctc, drcjsnider, glassycry, Needle In A Haystack, nobodsyperfect2133, Rose of the West, seelieprincess,The Chirpy Bitch (I hope Crispin's comment cleared up why Scorpius wants to throw the party) trinityblue76 and VandyFNP!