A/N: Even though I just updated A Bond for the Ages, here is another chapter for this story to help tide a few of you over until all my other stories get updates as well. I hope to update them soon. I'm trying!

If you enjoy this chapter, please, leave a review. Thank you!

Chapter 3

A few months later found Harry and Draco walking into the massive convention center in Carora, Venezuela, a small city that actually had quite a large magical population. Witches and wizards were milling about everywhere while others rushed around for one reason or another, all ready for three days of immersing themselves in the wizarding business world. This Wizarding Business Association convention was his and Draco's third, having been invited almost immediately in that first year their shop was open three years earlier. He glanced at Draco who was in the middle of adjusting his name tag and rolled his eyes at his friend.

"Come on," Harry said. "We've got an hour before the table tour begins."

Draco finally left his tag alone and nodded, picking up the duffle bag he'd dropped and walking with Harry to the set of double doors on the other side of the lobby. They walked into the huge open room through the doors, finding it also filled with witches and wizards as they set up their stations and displays to show off their businesses. They walked towards the table with the floating sign above with 'Parchments & Potions' written on it. He watched as Draco put the duffle bag on top of the table and waved his wand over it, the bag opening and morphing to create their display.

Samples of their stock floated up to settle on the wall of shelves that arranged itself behind their chairs. Examples of other services—book signings, book launches, potion consultations, and rare item acquisition, among others—settled across the table. A Pensieve with repeating memories sat on a podium off to the side, showing their interactions with customers, Draco brewing, and praise from people at past conventions. An arrangement of papers and magazines open to reviews—particularly reviews by Simon—were fanned on one side of the table.

As Draco arranged their display, Harry turned to take in the rest of the convention. He noticed many businesses from past conventions—Windemere's ethical breeding, Melania's Seer business, Bascal's publishing, Freed's wandmaking, Jolica's greenhouses, Aster's independent warding, Ollie's travel—and he couldn't help but think about that first convention.

Flashback

"Are you sure we should be doing this?" Draco muttered to Harry as he placed their sample stock on the table.

Harry looked at him and found the blonde's eyes tight as they darted around. Harry followed his gaze, realizing what had Draco so tense. They were getting looks, a wide variety—curious, angry, disgust, hateful. He sighed. There weren't many welcoming looks, if any. He turned back to Draco as he continued to arrange the books and stationary they'd brought.

"We were invited," Harry told him quietly. "We have every right to be here."

"Do they know that?" Draco said bitterly, jerking his head towards the other business owners that were not doing anything to hide their stares and glares.

"Just ignore them," Harry replied, setting up their rarest book to date on a glass stand so it could sit open without acquiring damage. "Let the shop speak for us. Reputation doesn't mean everything."

Draco nodded stiffly and resumed helping set up the potions and ingredients. Finished with his half, Harry pulled out the stack of business cards and the book for potential customers, investors, critics, and suppliers to sign. They muttered quietly to each other, Harry doing his best to hide his own nerves to help keep Draco calm. Everything about this situation was a risk. Everything about what they were attempting was a risk. They were social pariahs in most places, hated by every level of society. Attempting to run a shop in Diagon Alley was one thing; they at least had the benefit of being the only bookstore and apothecary in the wizarding town. Attempting to immerse themselves in the world of wizarding business, however…

Unless people could get past who they were and just see their business, the special nature of what they could provide, their invitation to the Wizarding Business Convention wouldn't mean much. They would be resigned to only Diagon Alley as their customer base and only out of necessity for said customers. They would never be anyone's first choice unless something changed at the convention.

They finished setting up their display just as the investor tour began and they moved to stand behind their table. There was to be multiple tours: investor, customer, supplier, and critic. During the customer and supplier tours, they would move around the room, speaking with other businesses and finding connections. They didn't particularly care about the investor tour; between the two of them, they had no need for second party financial support. The customer and critic tours were what they needed; they needed customers outside Diagon Alley, preferably influential customers, and they needed reviews praising their services.

It was lucky they didn't need investors. Any that came over left within seconds of recognizing who they were. Some gave reasons—they knew of the Potter and Malfoy fortunes, regardless of how little Draco actually had left after the war, they weren't interested in a simple shop like books and potions, they wouldn't invest in traitors if they were the last business on Earth. Others just sneered or glared or scoffed and moved on to Atlas Aster's Independent Warding Services next to them. By the end of the hour-long tour, they hadn't received a single investor and Draco seemed about ready to fall apart.

"Calm down," Harry whispered to Draco as they waited out the fifteen minute break given between tours. "We don't need investors, you know that."

"Their word gets around just as much as anyone's," Draco muttered back. "Why did you do this?"

Harry frowned at his friend. "What are you talking about?"

"Why did you wreck your life for me?" Draco clarified. "You could be here alone doing perfectly fine. Do you know the attention you would have if you weren't here with me?"

"Given I still would have defended Severus and other Death Eaters, I don't think anything would be different," Harry told him. "I didn't wreck my life. I finally chose my life and, turns out, you're a part of that and I wouldn't change it."

"But…we have no chance," Draco said, glancing over his shoulder at the rest of the hall. "All they see is me, the Death Eater."

"Then sod them," Harry said firmly, bringing the grey eyes to him. "Anyone that can't see past us to our business isn't a customer or supplier or investor I'd want anyway."

Draco looked like he wanted to keep arguing, but Harry cut him off.

"I'm doing what I want and we can do this on our own if we have to," Harry told him. "We don't need any of these people."

A small ding rang through the hall, indicating the end of the break and the start to the customer tour. He gave Draco an encouraging smile and they left their table, wandering slowly through the hall to give each business fair attention. They left a business card at each table, seeing others doing the same, and Harry signed their names in some books they agreed they would like to frequent as customers while holding the hope in the back of their minds that they wouldn't be refused as they had been in the past. They got looks as they passed people, but Harry did his best to ignore them and encouraged Draco to do the same, trying to keep their focus on the businesses around them and reminding them that they belonged there. They were wizards, they had a business, and they'd been invited.

As they came upon a potion-making business that Draco was extremely interested in, Harry glanced around and was pleasantly surprised to see someone standing at their table. He couldn't see much from their distance, the other people, and the man, but, from what he could tell, it seemed like the man was quite interested in their display. He watched as the man picked up a jar of powdered mermaid scales, inspecting it closely. He wished he could see the man's face.

"Look at this bloke's qualifications," Draco said, nudging Harry in the side and making him turn back to his friend. Harry read the page that had an impressively long list of experiences, qualifications, and certifications.

"Sign us up," Harry said and the enthusiasm with which Draco did so made him smile. "Add us as a supplier too," he added and Draco did so, putting 'customer' and 'supplier' next to their names and their business name.

The tour was longer, customer and supplier being combined into one two-hour long tour. No one spoke directly to Harry and Draco, something that grated on Harry as he saw plenty of others engaging in friendly and even boisterous conversation. Yet, Harry did notice several people stop by their table and seem to consider it seriously. He also couldn't help but notice the man from earlier circling the hall, but seeming to return to their table time and again.

Finally, the customer-supplier tour ended with another ding and they returned to their table, trying not to look at their sign-up book too eagerly. The list wasn't that impressive, only about a dozen names with a mix of customers and suppliers, but it was more than Harry had anticipated.

"Look!" Draco said, pointing to a name.

Simon Steel – customer & supplier (fervent) – extraordinarily impressed

Harry blinked in surprise. It was the name of the potions business Draco had so excitedly signed them up with, the potioneer with the impressive resume. He couldn't stop reading the additional comments after the name: 'fervent' and 'extraordinarily impressed'. Additional comments were not required or expected and, from what he'd seen moving around the room, not common either. Yet, this man had left comments indicating his apparently strong desire to work with them and his impression of their work.

The second break was longer, allowing everyone to mingle more casually and have some lunch. He and Draco sat at their table, casting a Muffliato to provide privacy as they ate and talked. Harry was happy to see that Draco seemed less stressed and concerned, seeming to be enjoying himself at least a little. They still weren't expecting much to come out of the convention, but Harry was glad they'd attended regardless. If anything, it would prove to them that they could do this, they could have this business, this life, regardless of what anyone else thought.

An hour later, the final tour began and it was this one that made Harry the most nervous. Critics from the business field would go around reviewing the businesses that fell within their particular domain and expertise. They were all renowned in the business world and their individual fields, and it was often reviews from them that determined the future success of a business, particularly a new business such as theirs.

They sat and waited, unsure who of the crowd would be critics for bookstores and apothecaries.

Harry was watching a young man to their left that, even from his distance, Harry could tell was shaking and he was so pale, Harry worried he may actually pass out. He was in conversation with a middle-aged woman with a floating notebook and quill that was just tearing across the pages. She reminded him a lot of Rita Skeeter. It clearly wasn't going well. He was focused on the interaction when his periphery noticed someone approach their table and he turned, unable to stop the slight widening of his eyes.

The man before them was tall with features that were both striking and soft. His hair was long and his eyes deep. He was dressed more Muggle than most of the others, black trousers with a light grey Oxford and a tailored, long dark blue overcoat. Harry just stared, feeling a stirring in his gut that was both an instant, intense attraction as well as a recognition of how similar this man was to Severus Snape. The stirring was a mixture of pleasure with the attraction and pain at the reminder of Severus. It had only been a little over a year and the pain of that loss was as strong as ever.

"Hello, gentlemen," the man said and held out a hand. "My name is Simon Steel."

Harry and Draco looked at each other with gapes before quickly taking the man's hand, shaking firmly.

"Pleasure," Draco said.

"On the contrary, I do believe the pleasure is about to be all mine," Simon said, making Harry and Draco look at him curiously. "You have impressive stock. Just from the few samples you have here, I do believe you have the highest quality ingredients and potions I have seen in many years. And that is not to mention the extraordinary literature collection you possess."

"We appreciate it, truly," Harry said.

"How do you procure your ingredients?" Simon asked, opening the notebook Harry hadn't noticed he was holding and poised his quill to begin writing.

"We grow what we can and prepare the majority of what we can't," Draco explained. "Such as our pearl dust. We have a relationship with a merchief and they gather the pearls for us which we then grind into dust."

"Very impressive," Simon said, making some notes before picking up the bottle of pearl dust Draco had motioned to, inspecting it closely. "A remarkable job. Where did you learn your techniques?"

Harry felt a pang in his heart as he saw the flash of pain cross Draco's face. He wasn't the only one not over Severus' death.

"A professor and man who saved my life, both of our lives," Draco said. "He was the best Potions Master I've ever met and we had the privilege of learning from him."

"Let's be clear that Draco is the one that learned. I did not," Harry interjected, hoping to lighten the quickly dimming mood. "The man was amazing, but I was fairly hopeless. It's why Draco has the apothecary half. Pretty hard to blow up books."

It worked as Simon chuckled, putting the bottle down and scribbling some more.

"You have some very rare ingredients," Simon continued. "Any possibility of revealing your sources?"

"Unfortunately, no, sorry," Draco said. "Many requested their anonymity given it's us they're working with. We respect their privacy."

"Understandable and precisely what I hoped," Simon said. "Though, I'm curious. Why would your identities require another's anonymity?"

Harry glanced at Draco again as his friend bowed his head, face growing tight.

"We're not very accepted in Britain since the war ended. We've earned particular…reputations and not many want to be associated with us," Harry told him vaguely, seeing the frown crease the man's face.

"Surely you've noticed," Draco said, gesturing to the rest of the hall.

"I did," Simon agreed. "I had hoped the wide berth was out of awed respect, especially when I came and discovered what you possess."

"Unfortunately, no," Harry said. "We were invited, but we're not exactly welcome. It's fairly common at this point."

"Pity," Simon muttered. "Place is filled with fools."

Harry and Draco looked at each other once again, surprised by the quiet defence.

"From what I have seen, you are quite the potioneer, Mr. Malfoy," Simon said. "I am sure that mentor of yours is very proud."

"I hope so," Draco said quietly. "Thank you."

"Now, the other half," Simon said, turning to Harry. "The literature you possess is incredible."

"I've got some access to some impressive collections," Harry told him. "Like with the merchief, I've also gained some relationships with key people that allow me certain channels of tracking down particular literature."

Simon looked at him with a raised eyebrow. "Impressive wording, Mr. Potter."

Harry grinned and shrugged a shoulder. "I did learn some things from that professor we had. Just probably not what he wanted me to."

Simon laughed again.

They talked for at least another half hour, Simon asking all kinds of questions about their business while some casual conversation slipped through here and there. It was the most positive, engaging interaction Harry and Draco had had since the war ended.

"I regret that I must move on," Simon said eventually, closing his notebook around his quill. "There are others I must review though I am unsure how any could possibly follow this."

Harry flushed lightly and Draco shifted at the praise.

"My reviews for this convention are published in Magical Stops and Shops. I will send you a copy personally," Simon told them. "As for the rest, I would like to act as a customer for a couple months as well as come to the shop. I can then provide a more accurate review in other sources."

"Are you serious?" Draco said, stunned.

"You have a very promising enterprise here, gentlemen, and I am not one to pass on such opportunity," Simon said and held out his hand again. "So?"

With a glance at each other to confirm they were on the same page, Harry and Draco shook hands with their future.

End Flashback

"Bloody hell, where are you?"

Harry blinked at turned to Draco who was shoving him. "What?"

"Not here, apparently," Draco grumbled. "The hell were you thinking about?"

"Sorry, the first convention," Harry told him, shrugging off his thin, Muggle suit jacket to leave him in just trousers, a shirt, and a waistcoat.

"Convention or Simon?" Draco said, nudging Harry with a grin.

"Oh, shut up," Harry said, swatting his friend away as Draco laughed. "Was Simon coming this year?"

"I am."

Harry spun around at the voice and found Simon standing there, picking up the pamphlet advertising the potions demonstration they had agreed to hold in a couple months. Draco would be demonstrating the preparation of delicate ingredients and the brewing of a complicated potion of his own creation.

Harry held back a smirk as he noticed the looks of awe they were receiving, more common each year since it became public knowledge that Simon Steel absolutely adored Parchments & Potions. They still received glares and snarls, but those people tended to keep their distance, not wanting to upset Simon. All manner of looks was common whenever Simon was seen interacting with them, especially as he interacted with them far more than anyone else at this particular convention.

"What is the matter with you?"

Harry was pulled back from his thoughts once again. "Sorry."

"Anyone seem promising this year?" Draco asked as Simon pocketed the pamphlet, a clear sign that he would be attending Draco's demonstration. Not that Harry expected anything else.

"No one has been promising for three years now," Simon said with a put-out sigh. "No, I fear you two have ruined anyone else's chances."

Harry and Draco laughed. Simon left a few minutes later as the investor tour began. Harry and Draco just sat back, having even less need or interest in investors three years on, and chatted, watching the newest invitees sweat much as they had.

"You know, if you like him, you should just go for it," Draco told him, gesturing over to Simon who was also at his table and not giving the investors any attention. Instead, he was reading one of the books Harry had acquired for him for that huge order a few months earlier.

"I'm not wrecking what we have," Harry argued. "I like having him as a friend and a business partner. Besides, I still don't even know if it's Simon I like."

"Who else would it be?"

"He reminds me of Severus," Harry admitted. "Every time I think it's Simon I like, he does something that reminds me of Severus and I'm convinced that's what I like, the reminder of this man I didn't get to know and really wish I had. I won't do that to him. He doesn't deserve to be second to a wish."

"You liked Severus?" Draco asked.

"No, but the circumstances just weren't there either," Harry said, pulling apart the muffin he'd pulled out to snack on. "I was barely eighteen, he was my teacher, we were in the middle of a war, I thought he was a traitor, and then when I finally saw him as something else, he died. I like what you've told me. I like what I learned in those memories. I like what I think things could have been like if he'd survived. None of that is an actual person and it never will be."

"Yeah, I know," Draco said quietly. "Just, if you ever figure it out and you want to go for it, I'm here for you. You've done a lot for me. You deserve some happiness."

"I am happy," Harry told him, popping a chunk of muffin into his mouth.

"And you deserve to share that with someone," Draco said. "Aside from me because, I love you, but I'm not going to fuck you."

Harry choked on his muffin as he barked a laugh at the unexpected comment. "Bloody hell!"

Draco just laughed, ducking the chunk of muffin Harry tossed at him.