AN: There's going to be a scheduling change starting next week. They've switch up my hours at work, so I won't be able to update on Tuesdays anymore. Thus, I will move posting to Monday. So, starting next week I will post on Mondays and Thursdays. Updates will remain regular though!
Thank you for all the support! It is very deeply appreciated!
Draco hoped his wife knew what she was doing.
When Ginny had told him about her plan, he was skeptical. The more he considered it, the more he realized it could work. It was also necessary. Uncle Severus and Hermione would dance around their growing feelings for each other for the rest of their lives if nobody intervened. With a little push though, they may realize there was something more between them, something they could build upon, something beautiful which would bring them happiness.
Draco took a deep breath and knocked upon Uncle Severus' door. Sunday was his day to brew, and the day Hermione was least likely to come over for cards. That was perfect. For this to work, both Hermione and Severus needed to be completely unaware that the other was receiving a visitor.
The door opened. Severus's eyes met those of the young man.
"Draco," Severus scowled.
Here went everything…
Ginny knew what she was doing.
While Draco had been skeptical of her plan at first, he later admitted the plan could work. It was also necessary. Severus and Hermione were dancing around their growing feelings for each other, and neither would ever admit it. Knowing them, they could spend the rest of their lives denying their feelings for each other in the name of not getting hurt again. With a little push though, they may realize there was something more between them, something they could build upon, something beautiful which would bring them happiness.
The first step was to be heard over the blaring music.
"A little less conversation, a little more action, please! All this aggravation ain't satisfactioning me!"
Ginny glanced over at the house next door, where the neighbor was half dancing, half sweeping her porch. She couldn't carry a tune to save her life, but at least she was enjoying the morning warmth before the temperature rose to 110 degrees.
Ginny took a deep breath and knocked upon Hermione's door. Sunday was Hermione's day to close the store and relax. Given that Severus never came to her house, he would not be present. That was perfect. For this to work, both Hermione and Severus needed to be completely unaware that the other was receiving a visitor.
The door opened. Hermione's eyes met those of her friend.
"I'm tired of talking! Grab your coat and let's start walking! Come on! Come on! Come on! Come on!"
"Ginny," Hermione gritted her teeth as the music and her neighbor's voice crescendoed.
"Don't procrastinate, don't articulate! Girl, it's getting late, gettin' upset waitin' around!"
Here went everything…
"Draco, what a surprise," Severus furrowed his eyebrows as he stepped backwards.
"I promise this will be a pleasant surprise." Draco followed him inside, closing the door behind him.
Severus huffed, not bothering to hide his skepticism.
"I've recently come into a lucrative deal which you may find intriguing."
"I will?" Severus rolled his eyes.
"Indeed, I have a client who wants to form an alliance with Malfoy Industries. If this deal goes through, we will be able to expand into Southeast Asia."
"How intriguing," Severus turned to the kitchen. "Would you like a glass of water? The desert air has a way of drying one out."
"Sure."
Severus made his way to the kitchen, Draco following close behind.
"Anyway, this business client wants to know what he's getting into before signing any deals with us," Draco continued.
Severus grabbed two glasses, his expression one of boredom.
"But he wants to meet the family first. He wants to know what kind of people the Malfoys are."
"You shouldn't have anything to fear then." Severus opened the freezer and took a handful of ice. "Ginevra will charm then, and everything will go well."
"Yes, but he wants to meet the whole family," Draco lowered his voice. "Including you."
"Ginny, what a pleasant surprise," Hermione gave her a small smile before looking over at her neighbor and frowning. "I apologize for Melonie's lack musical of is Elvis weekend."
"Lord almighty, I feel my temperature rising! Higher and higher, it's burning through to my soul!"Melonie dropped any pretense of sweeping and began dancing with the broom.
"That's fine, I like muggle music," Ginny replied.
"Perhaps Melonie can introduce you to some of her older songs then," she gestured for Ginny to come inside.
"That would be nice," Ginny followed her inside and shut the door behind her.
"So what brings you here? Is the baby doing well?"
"Oh the baby is great. They're really doing well now because Draco has just come into a lucrative business deal, one you may find intriguing."
"Oh?" Hermione stood beside her faded blue couch.
"Indeed, he has a client who wants to form an alliance with Malfoy Industries. If this deal goes through, Malfoy Industries will be able to expand into Southeast Asia."
"That is intriguing," Hermione glanced behind her to the doorway into the kitchen. "Would you like a glass of water? The desert air has a way of drying one out."
"Sure."
Hermione led Ginny into the kitchen, where Melonie's Elvis marathon was less audible.
"Anyway, this business client wants to know what kind of family he's getting into before signing any deals with us."
"I cannot blame him. I like to know what I'm getting into too before I enter into any contracts, though I can't say I always care about a potential partner's family," Hermione grabbed two large, pink glasses.
"Most people don't, but because we'll be working so closely together, he wants to know everything about the Malfoy family."
"You shouldn't have anything to fear then." Hermione opened the freezer and grabbed a handful of ice. "You and Draco will charm them, and everything will go smoothly."
"Yes, but I want to show him the kinds of friends I have. That way, he'll get a better sense of who I am."
Hermione's eyes grew. "What is that supposed to mean?"
"It means he wants to meet all my friends," she lowered her voice. "Including you."
"He wants to meet me?" Severus sneered.
"Yes," Draco's voice was more confident than he felt. "He wants to see exactly who the Malfoys associate with. In order to do that, he wants to see everyone in the family, including you."
"I cannot think of a better way to torpedo your business venture than to drag me into it." He turned on the tap water and put a cup under it.
"No, you'll do great," Draco argued. "I mean, you're a war hero."
"I was hardly heroic and you know it."
"That's not true. How many times have you saved my life?"
"I try to forget how often I've saved everyone's arse. Life is less frustrating that way."
"You've done it so often that you've lost track, haven't you?"
"Again, I'd rather not remember." He shoved the full glass of water into Draco's hands. "I'm happier when I don't dwell on my past."
"I'm just saying that you would be a great asset to this business venture," Draco took a sip.
"And I'm just saying that you are gravely ill and should see a doctor if you believe I can contribute anything useful to your venture." Severus poured himself a glass of water.
"Fine, you don't need to meet with him directly. I could probably get you out of a big dinner or some other formal one on one meeting."
"That would be advisable."
"But you should meet with his business associate."
"Business associate?"
"Yes," Draco grinned. "Meet with his business associate and let her know exactly who you are."
"He wants to meet me?" Hermione pointed to herself.
Ginny nodded. "He wants to see exactly who the Malfoys associate with."
"Ginny," Hermione groaned as she turned on the tap water and put a cup under it. "I told you when I left for Vegas, I would not go to any more formal dinners. I will have meetings at the Bellagio with potential buyers, perhaps go to the Luxor for a book sellers convention, but nothing more than that."
"I know you said that, but please consider doing this. You'll charm the socks off him."
"How is a failed Minister of Magic candidate going to charm a potential business partner?"
"You aren't just a failed Minister of Magic candidate. Think about what gave you the notoriety to run in the first place."
"Grandiose pride?"
"No, you saved the world. I mean, how many times did you save Harry from sure destruction?"
"I'd rather not remember. Life is less frustrating that way."
"You've done it so often that you've lost track, haven't you?"
"Again, I'd rather not remember." She shoved the full glass of water into Ginny's hands. "I'm happier when I don't dwell on my past."
Ginny's eyes softened. "I know Britain brings back terrible memories for you."
"That's putting it mildly," Hermione poured herself a glass of water. "There's a reason I'm seriously considering renouncing my British citizenship in favor of being a sole citizen of the US."
"Yes, and perhaps meeting with the business partner is not what you want to do."
"That's putting it mildly."
"But you should meet with his business associate."
"Business associate?"
"Yes," Ginny grinned. "Meet with his business associate and let him know exactly who you are."
"Her?" Severus furrowed his eyebrows.
"Yes," Draco replied. "This potential business partner has a right hand woman who goes everywhere with him. He listens to everything she says. If she likes you, then the deal is as good as done."
"So, my understanding of the situation is this," Severus furrowed his eyebrows, "you need to impress someone important and his right hand woman. Thus your solution is to have the one person you know is incapable of interacting appropriately with women try to impress her with his nonexistent people skills."
"You have plenty of people skills."
"If you think I have people skills you are not as intelligent as I believed you to be."
"I mean it, you have people skills. You talk to Ricardo and Hermione all the time. Both of them like you, and you continue to get customers, meaning you have some kind of people skills."
"Ricardo likes me because I put him and his husband on his insurance when few other employers would. Hermione likes me because I helped her move here under the threat of harassment if I did not do so. As for my customers," he snorted, "they would just as soon my apothecary become a delivery service. There is little enjoyable about interacting with me."
"Perhaps you should pretend this woman is Ricardo or Hermione then."
"You want me to give the woman potions orders and take her to the cleaners in poker?"
"Okay so you shouldn't treat her exactly as you would Ricardo or Hermione, but you could show her the same respect you give them. If you're feeling up to it, you could even show them a little charm."
"If you want charm then you need to allow Ginevra and Lucius to run the meeting. That is where the charm of the Malfoy family lies."
"Yes, but Father will be offended if you do not make some type of appearance."
"Then remind him of who I am."
"You mean the man who will die to defend those he loves? The man who cares deeply for those who have earned his loyalty? The man who has a heart hidden under all that snark?"
"When you put it that way, it sounds like you want me to date this business associate," Severus' eyes were clouded with suspicion.
"Not date her, just charm her, make her feel welcome in the United States," Draco took a sip of water and cleared her throat. "Show her the whole Vegas experience, what could be hers if she says yes to us."
"Him," Hermione furrowed her eyebrows.
"Yes," Ginny replied. "This potential business partner has a right hand man who goes everywhere with him. He listens to everything he says. If he likes you, then the deal is as good as done."
"I am hardly the kind of woman who can charm a man."
"Of course you can. You charm book sellers all the time."
"They are charmed by their potential profits, not me."
"Yes, but you are charming in your own way."
Doubt clouded Hermione's eyes.
"Look," Ginny put a hand on Hermione's shoulder. "I know you've been hurt by others before, but that's only because the men you tried to impress were all dunderheads."
"That's one way of putting it," Hermione's eyes drifted to a bread crumb on the floor.
"But this man won't hurt you. All you need to do is showing him what an amazing person you are."
Hermione raised an eyebrow. "Are you sure I need to be involved with this?"
"Yes," Ginny released Hermione's shoulder, "because this business associate wants to know about everyone the Malfoys are involved with, including you."
She twisted her lips.
"Any man would be thrilled to know you. You defend those you love. You care deeply for those who have earned your loyalty. You are hilarious when you relax and are yourself."
"When you put it that way, it sounds like you want me to date this business associate," Hermione's eyes flashed in suspicion.
"Not date him, just charm him, make him feel welcome in the United States," Ginny took a sip of water and cleared her throat. "Show him the whole Vegas experience, what could be his if he just says yes."
"What do I gain from helping you?" Severus demanded.
"We have an excess of Felix Felicis," Draco answered.
"In other words, you have four bottles."
"That's four more than you have right now." Draco set his water onto the counter.
Severus scratched his side before taking a gulp of water.
"Here," Draco reached into his pocket and pulled out his wallet. Then, he pulled out a rectangular object. "I have a credit card. I can book you a table at Sinatra. You won't pay a dime for any of this, and you'll be doing us all a huge favor."
Severus stared at the credit card.
"Do we have a deal?"
Hermione bit her lower lip.
"Okay," Ginny took a deep breath. "Let me sweeten the deal for you. How would you like a first edition signed copy ofHogwarts: A History?"
"You have that?" Hermione's eyes grew wide.
Ginny's lips curled up. "Would I ever lie to you about something so serious?"
Hermione took a gulp of her water.
"The business associate will pay for everything. Just meet him at Sinatra wearing your best dress. You won't pay a dime for any of this, and you'll be doing us all a huge favor."
Hermione swallowed.
"Do we have a deal?"
"I expect the Felix Felicis by Tuesday." Severus took the credit card from Draco.
"Great, your date is on Friday."
"Fine."
Draco smiled. "Perfect."
"I expect the book by Tuesday," Hermione took a sip of her water.
"Great, your date is on Friday."
"Fine."
Ginny smiled. "Perfect."