Chapter 33 – Mia's Little Company

17 April, 2010 – 5:10 PM

The Leaky Cauldron

Room 16

Diagon Alley, London, England

Hermione Granger

That goddamn mother fucking pile of shit! How dare he say all the shit to me. I get to my room and open my chest. The nerve of him. He wanted to figure things out my ass! His solution was to make ME his fucking mistress!

"I love you, Mia. I'll be anything you need or want me to be, but fuck, please let me love you!"

Where was this fucking guy when I fucking needed him? Let him love me? I fucking did, and he fucking broke me. I hate him for that. I hate him for leaving me. I hate I can't fucking hate him. Fuck!

I close my eyes, I wish I had a fucking piano. I hate all these fucking feelings I'm feeling right now. Why can't I process emotions like a normal person? I take off my jeans and hoodie and I'm going through chest of clothes. I need something impressive to wear. I don't know why and I can't even function properly to think of a reason.

"LET ME LOVE YOU…." Well fuck you Draco Malfoy! You had your fucking chance.

I grab my brush and use it as a microphone, and find the MP3 on my phone and turn up the volume.

"At first I was afraid, I was petrified Kept thinking I could never live without you by my side But then I spent so many nights thinking how you did me wrong And I grew strong And I learned how to get along"

I jump on the bed, close my eyes. I start singing louder and dancing to the beat on the music.

"And so you're back From outer space I just walked in to find you here with that sad look upon your face I should have changed that stupid lock, I should have made you leave your key If I'd known for just one second you'd be back to bother me"

I should have never taken that fucking meeting. I should have went with my fucking instincts and made Sasha take the meeting, he could have never fucked with my head again.

"Go on now, go, walk out the door Just turn around now 'Cause you're not welcome anymore Weren't you the one who tried to hurt me with goodbye? You think I'd crumble? You think I'd lay down and die?"

What the fuck did he expect me to fucking do with the news he was fucking engaged to another fucking person? He literally waited until the last fucking second to tell me what was happening. He knew for a week, A FUCKING WEEK! " There's no fidelity cause." Are you fucking kidding me?!

"Oh no, not I, I will survive Oh, as long as I know how to love, I know I'll stay alive I've got all my life to live And I've got all my love to give and I'll survive I will survive, hey, hey" (A/N Footnote 1)

I'm practically screaming the lyrics at this point.

I did it. I fucking survived without him! I made real friends. I even had a few boyfriends! I had relationships that lasted longer than the six fucking months Malfoy and I were together. I created a world wide fucking company. I have done everything without this fucker in my life. How dare he add me to his vaults as some convoluted bullshit symbol of his commitment. Fuck him!

"It took all the strength I had not to fall apart Kept trying hard to mend the pieces of my broken heart And I spent oh-so many nights just feeling sorry for myself I used to cry But now I hold my head up high and you see me Somebody new I'm not that chained-up little girl still in love with you And so you felt like dropping in and just expect me to be free Well, now I'm saving all my lovin' for someone who's loving me"

"MIA!!!"

I open my eyes and see Sasha in the doorway leaning against the doorframe. Theo is behind her with a red face from laughing and a giant smile on his face. I embarrassingly bend down and turn off my phone volume. I look at Sasha and she's smirking.

I look down and when I meet her eyes she asks, "What the ever living fuck could the Douchebag have done to cause you, in a half an hour, to resort to fucking disco, Mi?"

I sat on the bed and placed my elbows on my knees, allowing me to support my head. "I asked him about his vaults and why I was on there."

Sasha comes to sit by me. She sighs, "As much as I hate that fucking asshole, it was probably the only way he could think of to show you he chooses you, Mi."

I glare at her, "What the fuck is this? Are you fucking defending him?"

She laughs, "Not really. I'm just trying to get you to see things from a different angle. Your stubborn ass has trouble with that sometimes."

I huff. I'm not stubborn! I lift my chin and look at Sasha. "I tried reasoning with him. I asked him reasonably to simply remove me from the vaults and the fucker said no, not only had he put me on his vaults, he changed his will and left me everything."

Theo who is standing in the doorframe, says rather loudly, "HE DID WHAT?"

I look at Theo, and say, "He said he changed his will to leave me everything."

He looks confused, and says, "You're telling me the Head of Malfoy House changed his will leaving everything to you?"

I nod.

He sighs in defeat, "Granger, do you know what a big fucking deal that is for a pureblood to change their family will and leave everything to a person unrelated to them? It's unheard of! Malfoy has cousins the legacy should go to. He is leaving it all to you. He is renouncing his legacy."

Sasha looks at me, "Did he give you reasons?"

I put my head back down defeated, "He said he loves me. He only wants me. He would be anything and do anything to be given the chance to love me."

Sasha deadpans, "I see why that would drive someone to disco." She turns to me and takes my hand and I look in her eyes. She continues, "Mia, why fight it? You know he's the one. You know he's your future. Aponi only sees truths. I see the bond you both have. Your aura has changed drastically since he came back into your life. Your logical mind will be unable to fight what your heart and soul are screaming at you."

I shake my head, "I don't want him."

Theo laughs, "That lacy red brazier and knickers tell a different story, Granger."

I look down and realize I'm sitting in my bra and panties. Fuck! I stand up and tell them both to get out.

Sasha goes through the door and Theo starts to close the door, but stops and says, "He's been lost without you, Granger. Oh and thank you for the best entertainment of my fucking life! I'll never be able to remove the memory of you dancing on your bed and singing in your knickers. Amazing!"

" GET OUT!"

17 April 2010 – 6:00 PM

Shell Cottage

Cornwall, England

Hermione

We arrive at Shell and get about 6 feet from the door when Bill opens the door and stands in the doorway, with a slightly panicked look, and quietly says, "Hermione I apologize, we have a situation."

I start to ask what kind of situation, but I'm interrupted by the last voice I was prepared to encounter, Molly Weasley. Did he set me up? I hear her coming closer as she asks, "Bill why are you standing outside, all the family is inside. Come in, now."

I watch as Molly shoves her way through the door and she shoves her ways past Bill and she looks at us and says, "YOU!"

Fuck, fuck, fuck. Why is she here. I start to say something and Molly Weasley just continues to stare and she points her finger above my head, WHAT?!

She continues, "You Theodore Nott, why would you come to dinner at a respectable Order of Phoenix Member's home when you wrote such blatant lies about our fearless benevolent leader?"

I visibly relax and I hear Theo laugh, "I heard he was extremely benevolent to Armando Dippett's…"

Bill quickly interrupts, "Mother, Theo Nott is and will always be an invited guest into my home. All four of these people are my invited guests. You, Ron, Lavender, and Ginny, however, were not invited. Percy had no right to inform you I was expecting guests tonight, and I will have a talk with him later. You and your other children need to leave."

Molly smiles and looks at me, her eyes bright with excitement. In a saccharine sweet voice, she says, "Oh Hermione, you wouldn't mind catching up with your old friends, would you?"

"I…"

Molly interjected, "See, it's fine. Fleur made plenty of Shepherd's Pie for everyone. It's no trouble."

She turns and walks into the house. Bill turns to me, and says, "Hermione, I'm so sorry. Percy wanted Fleur and I to go to a function at the Ministry tonight and I told him I was having guests. I didn't know he would tell our Mother. Can we schedule a time for the both of us to talk?"

I nod, "I heard I have an assigned curse-breaker to help me with my vaults, how about Tuesday when I go to Gringott's?"

He nodded, "Sounds good. George is ready to take everything to his place. There's no reason for you to be around her."

I sigh, "I have backup. These three won't let anything happen to me."

He laughs, "This should be fun. Fleur is going to lose her mind."

I start to walk and Draco takes my elbow, "Mia, are you sure?"

I smile, "Oh I am positive. I think it's time to bury my Molly Weasley demons."

We walk into Shell Cottage and immediately bombarded by people. Freddie comes down the stairs and yells, "AUNTIE MIIIIIIAAAAAA!"

I barely have time to catch him when I hear the sneering voice of Ronald Weasley, "Auntie? George why the fuck is your kid calling her Auntie?"

I'm too busy hugging Freddie to look what is happening, but I hear George say, "Hermione is his godmother you daft wanker, Freddie can call Mia what ever he wants to."

I hear Ron say, "She was gone for the last decade."

George laughs, "She was gone from your life for the last decade, but not mine." He says.

"….and I get days off school and we can go to a park together and you can take me to the tall white building you work at so we can go the roof and see the whole city. I'm so excited for summer Mia."

I look at Freddie, "Well Auntie Mia would love for you to visit her this summer, but I have a surprise for you, I will be in England for at least two weeks. Maybe on a weekend day I can take you someplace in London, would you like that?" Freddie nods, "We have to get permission from your mum and dad first, but I would love to show you some places I know you would love."

He hugs me again, "I'm so happy you came to see me at Unca Bill's house."

I smile, "Of course I came to see you, Freddie, I missed you!"

Freddie smiles, "I missed you too Mia, I'm gonna go tell Roxie were going to have fun with you soon."

I kiss his cheek and let him go. Then Bill comes over with Fleur and their three children. Fleur hugs me, and says, "I'm zo happy to welcome you into our home, Hermione. I know I zhowed you picturez of my children, but I like to introduze you to zhem. This is Victoire she is almost 11, Dominque, she is 9, and Louis or Louie is 6."

Victorie is a spitting image of Fleur. Dominique has Bill's jawline and nose. She has a sprinkling of freckles across her nose, but has the same blond hair as Victoire. Louis is the spitting image of Bill. They are all quite beautiful children. I greet them all kindly and then introduce Sasha, Theo, and Draco to the children.

Next I see Ginny. She is using a cane to walk to me. She stiffens for a moment and then smiles, "Hello Hermione. It's lovely to see you again." How fucking very formal of her.

I smile and say, "Hello Ginevra. Thank you it's been a long time since I have seen you. Are you doing well?"

She smiles, "I have been well, thank you."

Lavender comes over and asks, "Where did you have your dress made? It's quite short, is it not."

I smile, "It's Chanel, it's a muggle designer."

Lavender smirks, "Oh? Can you not afford wizarding robes?"

I laugh. "This particular dress cost about two thousand galleons. I think I could afford wizarding robes if I chose to wear them. Thank you for your concern, Lavender."

Lavender lost her smirk, "I don't know why anyone would spend that much on a dress."

I smile, "I would guess the best answer is; because I can." I smirk at her. George has told me about her and Ron's money issues.

Lavender scoffs, "That seems awfully frivolous."

I smile the most genuine fake smile I can muster and say, "Isn't it bizarre that one can go from being a pauper to frivolous in such a short span of time?" I wonder which I am, a pauper who can't afford wizarding robes or frivolous for spending money on a beautiful dress that makes me happy. Lavender, did you forget that YOU owe ME a life debt?

She scoffs, "I do not!"

I laugh, "Oh, but you do. Can you tell me about the scars on your neck, Lavender?"

She frowns, "I don't remember."

I step up to her slightly menacing and say, "I remember and I bet the two thousand galleons my dress costs that your magic remembers, too. Greyback attacked you and I blasted him off you and Avada'd him. I suggest you stop being such an unmitigated, vapid cunt towards me before I call in that life debt, Lavender." My eyes scan to her protruding belly, and I continue, "In your obvious condition, I guessing it would be an inconvenient time for me to do that now."

I winked at Ginny and turned the other way, and found Sasha speaking with Ron. He looks like Molly now with a lot less hair. "….I didn't realize you held such an important role at your brother's company. A manager of sales sounds like a very important job." WTF? She's fake flirting with him? Did she just bat her fucking eyelashes? Ugh, what is she up to?

I look around and see Draco and Theo talking to George, and walk over towards them on the other side of the sitting room. When I get close George puts his arm around me, and says, "By the look on your face I'm guessing you are ready to leave."

I roll my eyes and ask George, "Did you put Sasha up to flirting with Ron?"

Theo laughed, "Is she earning her 10 galleons?"

I laugh, "I don't know, but I heard him tell her he's manager of sales." I look at George and ask, "I thought you were firing him."

He laughs and whispers, "I am on Monday."

I giggle, "But he's your manager of sales…" We share a laugh.

Ten minutes later we are called into the dining area. It appears the round table has been magically expanded. I'm sitting next to Freddie and Draco. Sasha and Theo are sitting next to Draco. Molly and Arthur are across from us with two small little girls between them. Fleur is busy serving everyone, and everyone seems to be involved in small talk. Freddie is bouncing in his seat talking about school.

Once everyone seems to be settled to tuck in, Molly asks me, "Miss Granger, I see you are back home after a decade of missing, where have you lived all this time?"

I smile and say, "I moved to America."

She smiles, "Ah yes, the place people historically ran away to live when they couldn't handle living in England any longer. What is it you do there?"

I smile and say, "I own a business."

She beams and states, "My George has been very successful with his business. If you need pointers, you should ask him."

I smile, "Of course, George has always been a savvy businessman. His ideas and thoughts are always appreciated."

Molly smiles, "What kind of business do you have, Hermione."

Hmmm. She has no idea. I smile, and say, "I own a magical tech company."

She grimaces, she must not know what a tech company is. "What made you come up with that idea?"

Two can play at this game, I smile and say, "While I was working on my masteries and undergrad, I began developing the ideas behind the company."

She looks surprised, "Oh what is your mastery in, Hermione?"

I counter with, "I attended Harvard Magical University and received masteries in Transfiguration…."

She interrupts, "That's nice, Miss Granger."

I nod and take a drink of wine hoping the conversation is over. I look at Charlie and he is smirking at me.

Charlie then clears his throat and asks, "Hermione why don't you share the gross income of your little company with us?"

I huff, "Charlie, talking about money isn't quite a polite topic to discuss at the dinner table."

Molly says, "There's nothing to be ashamed of if your little business isn't doing that well Hermione. I'm sure with your shares of Ophelia's company, your hardships will be over in no time. George's company made 250,000 galleons last year."

I look at George and he's begging with his eyes for me to stay quiet. I know George's company made closer to ten million galleons last year in profits alone last year.

I smile, "That is a really impressive amount for one retail store." I look at George and say, "I'm so proud of you!"

Molly says, "Yes well he is very good at what he does."

I smile, "I imagine he is." When Molly turns her eyes from me. I look at Angelina and wink at her and she is trying very hard to not laugh.

I take a bite of food and Molly directs her questions to Sasha. "Miss Trueblood, what is it you do for a living?"

I can't see her face, but I hear the tone in her voice. The one she uses when she's about to go nuclear on a department head for a major screw up. She says, "Oh I work for Mia, I have been with her company from the start."

Molly smiles, "You must be a good friend to stick with Miss Granger in her little company. What do you do at her company?"

Sasha pauses, and I see George slightly shake his head, "I am Vice President of logistics, marketing and sales, and engineering."

Molly smiles condescendingly, and says, "It's really nice of Miss Granger to give you such a fancy title. My Ronald works for my George and he is a store manager."

Sasha gasps, "Oh really, he said he was manager of sales. That's a bit of a difference."

Molly's façade breaks for split second, but recovers just as fast. She then asks Sasha, "How much do you make working for Miss Granger? My Ron is struggling with what George pays him."

Sasha says, "It really isn't the place to discuss money. However my sweet father, who is a mere farmer taught me to respect my elders, so I'll tell you. My salary is 1.2 million galleons a year, but with bonuses and such I made closer to 15 million galleons last year. Mia is a very generous boss."

Molly dropped her fork, and glared at me, "Miss Granger you said you had a small company."

I smile and Draco interrupts, and says, "She only said she owned a magical technology company, she didn't say it was small. I'd say outside the United Kingdom her company is a household name around the world."

Molly glares at Draco and then Ron says, "No one asked you, Death Eater."

Sasha says, "Oh but, my good friend Draco Malfoy is one hundred percent correct. We have even entered into the No-Mag markets and debuted at third across the world on our phones, computers, and tablets. The operating system Mia designed is the fastest, easiest, and has less crashes than any other operating system to date. Let's not forget Mia single-handedly invented the most convenient form of travel. For one galleon a mile a person can travel easily to any point in the world. Her technological changes have made court proceeding easier, travel easier, and communication simpler. The engineering team have even tackled advanced products in the medical field. The magical web is constructed to allow magical products to be bought and sold at a touch of a screen. Studying magical subjects is easier with the ever expansion of the wizarding web. Yes Mia's little company is a worldwide household name and soon it will be sold in the United Kingdom. You see, she banned the sell of her amazing devices to the United Kingdom for the first 5 years. This country used her and spit her out all because they assumed she was a first generation witch. Worldwide these Witches and Wizards are revered for their unique magic. Isn't funny how badly she was treated when she was a pureblood all along."

Ron gasped, "You lied to us?"

Molly interrupted, "No Ronald, her parents were only squibs."

Sasha laughed, "Yes, but her grandmother and grandfather were the Dagworth-Grangers."

The people who didn't know gasped. Molly grimaced.

Sasha looks at Molly Weasley and says, "Do you want to know how much Mia's little business made last year? Speaking purely profits, mind you. I wouldn't want to exaggerate by quoting the total sales. The total profits last year after large charity donations, bonuses, and insurance payments, and of course taxes were 28,210,573,421 galleons, 7 Sickles, and 3 Knuts. It would have been much more, but our Mia is a very generous boss to her 42,178 employees. Imagine how beneficial the taxes on such a company would have had on the wizarding society in the United Kingdom if she would have stayed here. Thankfully though, she moved to America after half of the adults in this room treated her like yesterday's trash."

Molly is opening and closing her mouth like a fish. Bill, George, Theo, and Charlie are obnoxiously laughing. Draco shrinks into his chair. Lavender's face is bright red. Ron and Ginny looked shocked.

George says, "Sasha, you were always my favorite of her friends. You forgot to mention, our Mia owns 30% of Weasley's Wizard Whizzes, Incorporated, and she earned an additional three million galleons last year from that as well."

Ron stands up and yells, "WHAT?!"

George laughs at Ron, "Oh little ickle Ronniekins, did you really think I would tell you how much my 12 stores make? By the way, your fired. Angelina will be taking over your store as of tomorrow."

Molly then stands up and yells, "GEORGE FABIAN WEASLEY HOW DARE YOU FIRE RONALD. HE HAS DONE A WONDERFUL SERVICE FOR YOU AND THIS IS HOW YOU REPAY HIM?!"

George laughs, "By service do you mean the fact I have had to install security cameras to keep his lazy arse from stealing me blind? You're right, he did a great service!"

Lavender turns to Ron, and asks, "But Won-Won how am I going to be able to stay at home if you lost your job? You promised me Won-Won."

I'm finding it incredibly hard to remain composed. I look over to Draco and ask, "Would it be incredibly rude to leave now?"

He smirks, "Extremely rude! Shall we?"

I get up to stand, and Freddie grabs a hold of my neck, "Auntie Mia, will you come play with me this week after school?"

I give him a squeeze, and say, "I would love to little Freddie!" I kiss him on his cheek.

I walk over to where Bill and Fleur are sitting. They both get up to hug me. Bill apologizes to me as he hugs me. I laugh and say, "It's about what I expected once I heard her speak."

Molly yells, "Hermione, I see you are running away. How very typical of you to cause chaos in my family and leave."

I turn on her and say, "Excuse me?" I wave my hand and freeze her in her place. "Mrs. Weasley I was invited to dinner by your eldest son. You, however were not invited. I should have left the moment I knew you were here. You have done nothing, but belittle me as long as you have known me, and decided to interrogate me about my life. I politely answered your questions, and yet you still felt the need to belittle me. I am a Dagworth-Granger, and you have known this since day one of knowing me. You tried to guilt me into changing the war to save Fred knowing I could have died doing so. You then minimalized my parents death, knowing he was Ophelia's son. Your belittling of me only made me stronger. I accomplished a total of five masteries in college and have a Master's Degree from the best Technical College on the planet. From what George has relayed to me, The Burrow was a gift from Ophelia, and I can promise you I will look at the legalities of its ownership. I am done with you. Do not ever contact me again, and that goes for Ron, Lavender, and Ginny! Good day."

I look to Bill and say, "She will unfreeze in twenty minutes. Thank you for inviting us."

I look to make sure Draco, Sasha, and Theo are behind me. We leave and apparate back to The Leaky.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Footnote 1: I Will Survive by Gloria Gaynor

Songwriters: Dino Fekaris / Frederick J. Perren

I Will Survive lyrics Universal Music Publishing Group