Chapter 143:

To Market

A month and a half later found Draco lugging a box of freshly made and jarred balm into Quality Quidditch Supplies. Grant saw him entering and beckoned him towards the counter as he finished up with a customer.

Draco obeyed, coming to set the heavy box on the counter, the jars inside rattling slightly despite the protective spells. Grant came over and glanced inside, seeing the light, purple-tinted glass and simple, easy-grasp stoppers poking out.

"There are forty jars, each holding five ounces," he explained.

"We can put them here, next to the bandages display."

He nodded, bringing them to the wall and helping to gently stock the empty shelving. "How do you plan on marketing it? It isn't fast acting, so you can't exactly demonstrate in-store."

"I was hoping to use an example of a scar or injury before it was ever applied, then after one use, then after a few uses. I just need to find an example to use without giving away personal information."

"Maybe one of your players or customers? As we both know, the whole reason you're selling it here in the first place, is quidditch comes with injuries," Draco pointed out, using his height to help hang the small sign above the display.

He was proud of her. He couldn't fully say it or support her the way he would like, but he was. This was a big step for her, for them. The bond often read intention and Draco would be lying if he didn't admit to being worried about how the bond would react. However, as long as business went through him, that she didn't directly see or receive any profits, simply was doing the work for him, he hoped that would be enough.

"Do you think it'll be enough?"

"I certainly hope so."

"Will she be stopping by?"

"Not today. But by the end of the week, I plan on having Nott bring her over."

"I think it'll be good for her to see."

Draco just nodded, taking a step back to examine the display. Grant looked over at his stoic new business partner, pondering how they'd even gotten to the point they were working amicably together; he'd have never thought it possible back in school. Yet here they were.

"I'm assuming you don't want to be named if anyone asks about suppliers and such?"

"No," Draco replied at once. "It's safer that way."

"If they ask, what should I say, then?"

"That LEA is a real person and that she makes the balm from the ingredients listed; that it's worked on injuries over time."

"I can do that," he paused for a moment, before holding out his hand. "Thank you."

Draco raised a brow in surprise, but firmly took the hand. "I should be thanking you."

As promised, over the weekend, Theo took his friend to see the new display of her product. She gaped.

"It's real," she said quietly. He nodded.

"You did it. You're going to be helping a lot of people now, hopefully."

She smiled softly, still gazing in disbelief at the display, and he gave her a soft, one-armed hug.

"We've already sold two, by the way," Grant said, coming up behind them, greeting his boyfriend with a quick kiss and their friend with a simple nod.

"Really?"

"I think once we can market better, once people see it works, it will sell no problem."

The door opened and Grant looked over to greet the customer, confusion playing across his face as he noticed the newcomer.

"Longbottom? Suddenly interested in quidditch, then?"

"No. I saw you through the window and wanted to say 'hello'. I know you don't get out much," he said, gesturing towards her. She gave him a slight smile.

"Hi Neville. How are you?"

"Alright. And you?"

"I'm good. Busy."

Neville turned, finally looking at the display, eyes widening slightly as he took in what he what they were standing in front of. "Is this…yours, then? Your balm?"

Panicked, she turned towards Theo, who gave her a curt nod, once again stepping in officially as her master-in-absentia and hating it. "Tell him what you want to. You have my permission to do so."

"This is the balm Draco puts on my injuries," she said finally.

Neville was smarter than Malfoy gave him credit for; knowing about the bond as he did, he realized belatedly that she couldn't admit to reaping profit off anything, laying an ownership claim on anything, certainly not officially. He should have asked in a different way. But he heard what she was saying in her response.

Turning to Page, he said, "I'd like to purchase five jars. Please."

Brows raised at his request.

"Neville. You don't have to…"

"…what would you even need them for?" Theo asked, even as Grant started picking the jars and bringing them to the counter.

"I work in a Herbology lab. Injuries are as much an occupational hazard for us as it is for quidditch players, if not more."

"Right. I remember you mentioning that," Ariella said quietly. "How is your training going?"

"Well, thank you. Tough, but I'm almost through the program. The I'll be a Master Herbologist."

Grant rang him up at the counter, carefully packaging the jars away.

"Thank you," Neville said, before turning so he could face all three of them. "I'll be sure to recommend it as well. Obviously, I'll leave you out of it, but I can recommend the product all the same, if you'd like."

She glanced at Theo to be sure she could agree, before nodding. "Thank you. You don't have to, but I – we – appreciate it."

"Of course," he said, taking the small box, before hesitantly continuing. "Can I ask…how you're healing?"

"I'm okay. We're lucky it helps with both new and old injuries," Ariella replied. He gave her a smile and nodded towards the other two before leaving.

"Huh. I hadn't thought about the other professions where it might be useful," Grant mused.

"Slow down. Let's start this small," Theo cautioned, before turning back to Ariella. "Alright?"

She nodded. "I'm sorry you had to – "

" – don't. It's why you came with me, isn't it? Just in case."

"And here I thought it was to spend time with a friend," she teased back, much to his relief.

"That too."

She gazed back at the display once more and excitedly repeated, "It's real!"