Chapter Eight

London

"What on earth possessed you to think this was a good idea?" Hissed Draco as they made their way to the private room at the back of Doves Cross. It was a small but comfortable room, all dark wood and polished brass with large leather armchairs and a private sidebar. Draco, Theo and Blaise had been coming here since they were in fifth year and, since the owner was an old friend of the Zabini family, it was one of the few establishments where they had been welcomed back to after the war and where they felt safe having a drink.

"Well, vecchio mio, she did help us out of a tight spot yesterday. I am trying to be a gentleman, as madre raised us to be." Blaise said.

"She helped us out of a tight spot today as well" Theo added with a sigh as he sank into one of the armchairs. "She lied to her boss for us. Told Worthington it was a 'clerical error'. We still need to sort out the lease but I think the old man who owns it would be amenable to a bribe."

"Granger lied? To her superior?" Draco asked incredulously, taking the chair opposite Theo closest to the fire.

"Granger would be a useful ally at the ministry if we actually get this functioning." Mused Blaise handing Draco a glass from the sideboard. Draco knocked it back and choked.

"What was that?" He sputtered.

"Pepper up potion." Blaise grinned at him. "You still look like death."

"I'll handle the lease tomorrow, Granger gave us until next week to get it squared away." Theo said, accepting a glass from Blaise, discreetly sniffing it before taking a sip. "We should try to talk to Granger about helping with some of the other aspects, see if she would be willing to keep an ear to the ground."

"I still can't believe she lied. Did any of you know Granger could lie?" Draco demanded.

A knock sounded and the barkeep opened the door. Hermione and June stood nervously behind him clutching their coats and purses tightly to them. Blaise sprang from his perch on the arm of Draco's chair, welcoming them and ushering them inside.

June took the chair beside Theo and Hermione took the one next to her with Draco on her other side.

Draco watched them as Blaise, ever the gentleman took their coats and took their drink orders. Draco would have liked to help, his manners and pride screamed at him to get up and attend their guests, but the fact of the matter was the ordeal last night had taken a lot out of him, quite literally.

When he had finally woken and realised Theo was gone it had taken several pepper up potions and blood replenisher potions before he had the strength to get up. Blaise had to help him with his cufflinks and buttons and had been the one to suggest the cane after Draco had fallen over several times.

He fidgeted with the cane, it wasn't his father's, that one had been confiscated and probably destroyed by the ministry. This one was his great grandfather's. Dark stained ironwood with a silver snake curling around its length with its head as the pommel. Diamond eyes stared back at him and he wondered if he would want to design his own cane as it seemed to be an unwritten family tradition.

June's laughter snapped him back and he looked up. Theo was grinning, June was giggling obviously something he had said had amused her and she visibly relaxed. His eyes drifted to Hermione, who was watching him over her martini glass. Draco met her eyes defensively but she wasn't glaring at him, she watched him with a mixture of concern and calculation.

Draco didn't think he was much to look at these days, even when he hadn't just been poisoned. He was relieved when Blaise captured her attention and she released him from her scrutiny.

June and Theo seemed to hit it right off and quickly fell into a conversation about the importation of South American artifacts for Gringotts. Blaise, once again perched on the arm of Draco's chair, bridged the conversation between Draco and Hermione. Politely engaging each of them and valiantly fighting off any awkward silences.

"Oh my goodness it's half past six! I'm so sorry but I'm expected at dinner with my mum!" June jumped up from the armchair and Blaise sprang to grab her coat, gloves and purse. "Thank you for the drink! See you tomorrow at work Hermione!" She called over her shoulder as she hurried out the door. Hermione who had risen to follow her now stood awkwardly by her chair as Blaise tipped the door closed with a flick of his fingertips. It shut with a click and Hermione realised she was now alone with a group of people she wasn't particularly keen on being alone with.

"I should probably be going as well-" started Hermione edging towards the sideboard. Theo glanced at Draco who tipped his head to Blaise. Draco hadn't expected to have the fortune of getting a private moment with her this evening but there was no point in letting the opportunity slide, they had business to discuss.

"A moment of your time Fiore mio, if you don't mind." Blaise said in his deep Italian. "We would like a word regarding this unfortunate situation we're all mixed up in." Hermione hesitated. "Another drink, a quick conversation and you will be home before Seven. Sul mio onore."

For a moment, Draco thought that Blaise's infallible Italian charm had failed but then Hermione sat back down on the edge of her chair.

"No more alcohol, thank you. Say whatever it is you need to say and then I'm leaving." She said sharply, handing Blaise her empty glass.

"Fine," agreed Draco wearily. He was too tired to care. "Firstly. You realise by lying for Theo and helping conceal our involvement with this venture that you have, in a certain regard, become entangled with it and its success. As, if anything should be discovered, you would also be facing the scrutiny of your department, an inquiry by the ministry and the ire of the press."

He paused, waiting until Hermione nodded her understanding before continuing. "As it would be a great help to us and to conceal your own involvement we would like to politely request your assistance a little further."

Draco put up a hand to stop Hermione's indignant sputter. "Nothing illegal or illicit, we are just asking that you keep us informed if there are any more… paperwork issues. Or if you hear any whispers around the ministry that might indicate we need to take action to protect all of our interests. Additionally, if you have time to consult on any legal questions regarding importation of supplies it would be greatly appreciated"

"You want me to spy for you?" Hermione asked incredulously.

"In return you will be compensated fairly for any consultation you do for us, untraceably of course" Blaise offered cheerfully.

"And if things get out you can always say we were blackmailing you or imperioed you or something" Theo added.

"If you agree to help" Draco cut in, shooting Theo a glare, he didn't need Theo putting ideas into her head. "We have a reputation for protecting our own Granger and we will do everything in our power to shield you and your career from any backlash."

Hermione chewed her lip nervously. "And if I don't agree?" She asked.

"Then you're on your own if things get out." Draco said simply. "Like I said, we have a reputation for protecting our own but if you choose to part ways here then we are under no further obligation to assist you."

"But I've already helped you!" She said indignantly.

"Which we greatly appreciate and is why we are offering you this opportunity" Blaise cut in smoothly. "You must understand that, by design, we have very limited influence over this entire venture. If our involvement was to be discovered, the repercussions and ramifications for us compared to you would be-" his eyes flicker over to Draco "more consequential."

"What he's trying to say is, if things go tits up, we're going to have a hell of a time without worrying about allocating resources to deal with covering for you. Your PR alone would be a nightmare to deal with, not to mention what we'd have to do regarding the ministry. By agreeing to help, you are gaining protection and a generous salary. So, honestly, you would be getting the better end of this deal in my opinion." Theo said bluntly.

Draco could see she was considering what they had to say which was better than the outright refusal he had been expecting.

"Look, we wouldn't be offering if we didn't know for certain that we could protect you." Draco told her quietly, ignoring the look Blaise sent him. "And we wouldn't involve you further unless it was important."

Hermione sighed and rubbed the bridge of her nose, an unconscious nervous tick. "Do you need a decision now or can you give me the night to think it over?" She asked.

"We'll give you two days Granger and then one of us will call on you for your answer. In the meantime I'd ask that this little venture be kept to yourself" Draco said, standing up and offering her his hand. After a moment, she took it.

Blaise helped her into her coat and offered her his arm to escort her to the apparition point outside.

As soon as the door closed behind them. Draco sank back into the chair and Theo rounded on him

"What did you give her two days for?" He demanded "Are you trying to give her time to talk herself out of helping us?"

Draco signed "Theo, Granger is in. She won't need the two days I was being polite, making sure she didn't feel cornered or rushed"

"And you're sure of that because of what?"

"This is Granger Theo, if she had decided against us she would have told us outright but she didn't . She hesitated and asked for time to think." He told him.

"I didn't know her as well as you did at school, care to explain to me how her asking for time to think things through and giving her the time to realise we're not worth her trouble or that she wants to come clean to her old bat of a boss, is a good thing?" Theo asked, exasperated.

A slow smile spread across Draco's face. "Granger had what some might call an 'unhealthy interest in the downtrodden'. Her Achilles Heel is her bleeding heart. It's why we survived the war and Azkaban and why she's going to agree to help us now. She can't help herself, she's almost pathological in her need to help those less fortunate. I'll bet my broomstick that we'll have her answer by tomorrow evening."

A/N:

Veccio mio: old friend

Fiore mio: my flower

Sul Mio Onore: On my honor

I bought a sticker this week for my notebook and it just arrived, I really need to start looking more closely at item descriptions because it was not a sticker but a rather large window cling for a car. Still cute tho but definitely not what I was expecting!