A Business Affair

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Chapter Five: Necessary Changes


"Okay team, today we're going to try something new."

Harry fidgeted slightly while sitting on the bench in the locker room. His mind was elsewhere as Wood tried once again to explain a new move using extremely detailed charts.

Harry twisted his wedding band idly as Wood rambled on. He was thinking of the day before when he had come home to Ginny. She had been sitting on the couch and had jumped up when he'd come back.

They had semi-made up. They at least felt comfortable around each other now, although the tension was obvious. Harry wondered if Ginny felt it as much as he did.

Harry was brought back to reality as Wood smacked the chart with his wand. The rest of the team rose to their feet and Harry followed, wondering what he'd missed. They walked out onto the pitch and took off.

Harry soared around the pitch, enjoying the sound of the wind in his ears. He took a deep breath and smiled, feeling relaxed for the first time in days.

He looped around the stadium, doing a few stunts for the hell of it. He touched down in the middle of the field next to Wood and the rest of the team followed.

"Not bad," came a voice from behind the group. Harry stopped and rolled his eyes, gritting his teeth. The rest of the team turned around to see Draco striding up the pitch. He was wearing another button down shirt, green this time, and a pair of relaxed jeans. They rode low on his hips as he walked toward the group.

"Malfoy," Wood greeted him cheerfully. "Decided to come watch a practice?"

"Yes, I need to see how well the team plays in order to make the necessary changes."

The team exchanged troubled glances at the word "changes". Harry just rolled his eyes at Draco, who raised an eyebrow.

"That sounds fine," Wood said slowly, clearly unsure of what he meant by changes.

"Perfect," Draco said. "I'll let you get on with it." He then retreated back to the stands and took a seat. Harry glared after him.

"Okay... well, try to fly your best," Wood said, trying to be encouraging.

The team went through their basic warm-ups and their normal practice routine. Things went fairly smooth. Harry managed to catch the Snitch within an hour of letting it go. By the time the practice was over, Harry felt it had gone well.

They all reconvened in the middle of the pitch. They didn't say anything to each other as Draco strode towards them.

"Well, it wasn't completely horrible," he drawled and Harry scowled at him. "There were a few obvious faults which I'm sure you will be working on." He said this with a significant look at Wood.

"Right," Wood said uncertainly. When Draco showed no more signs of continuing, Wood dismissed the team.

Harry turned slowly and began to walk back but stopped when he heard Draco talking to Wood.

"Is Potter always late?"

Harry's mouth fell open indignantly and he swiveled back around to march back to Draco.

Draco looked a little surprised to see Harry coming back. "Yes, Potter?" he drawled nonchalantly.

"I am not always late! You shouldn't make assumptions about people!" Harry said indignantly.

"Assumptions?" Draco asked. "You mean like assuming that just because I was a Death Eater that means I've set out to make your life a living hell?"

"Sure seems like it," Harry growled at him.

Draco moved away from Wood, who stood in shock and closer to Harry. "Listen up, Potter. I'm not exactly thrilled that you're on this team. Lucky for you, you are a good player. I would have to be an idiot to fire you. That's your ticket, Potter, but that doesn't mean I have to like you."

"I don't want you to like me," Harry snarled.

"Right, because you get enough of that from your wife," Draco sneered. Harry's eyes flashed in anger and he had to try really hard not to jump Malfoy and start pounding him into the ground.

"You fucking asshole!" Harry hissed. "What I do in my life is none of your goddamn business, and I swear to god, I will kill Blaise and you if you ever say anything more about it!"

Draco's silver eyes darkened significantly as he surveyed Harry in disgust and anger. "You better watch what you say, Potter. Kicking you off the team isn't the worst I could do."

Harry glared at his back as Draco turned and strode off the field. Wood let out the breath he'd been holding for the past few minutes. He walked over and placed a hand on Harry's seething shoulder.

"Just ignore him, Harry. I heard he just got divorced, it must be hard."

"Hard?" Harry repeated incredulously. "What do you think this is for me, a tea party?!" He turned and walked off the field then, leaving Wood shaking his head behind him.

***

Draco Apparated to his home, seething with anger. How dare Potter threaten him like that! He was his boss now and he called the shots. He had finally one-upped Potter. He wasn't about to let that go. The fact that his marriage wasn't going well was just icing on the cake.

Draco entered into his home, slipping off his shoes by the door and falling onto his couch. He turned on the TV and sat back to relax. Yes, Draco Malfoy had a television. He hadn't always hated Muggles as everyone had suspected.

He'd gone along with most of it to please his father. But now that Lucius was dead, Draco found that he quite enjoyed some Muggle objects. Lucius had been killed by the Dark Lord himself soon before the last battle. He'd been found to be passing information to the other side.

Draco soon bored of the television. He rose from the couch and walked over to the fireplace. He grabbed a small handful of green dust from a blue and green ornamental glass bowl. He threw the powder into the fireplace.

"Pansy, come talk to me, I'm bored."

A swirling shape appeared in the green flames and seconds later, Pansy appeared, brushing soot off her black dress. She stepped elegantly out of the fireplace and gave Draco a look.

"Did you really have to call me right now?" she asked, annoyed.

"Yes, I'm bored," Draco said, pouting.

"I was kind of busy," she said, putting emphasis on the word busy.

"Pansy, we've been divorced for two days. How could you already..." Draco trailed off as Pansy gave him an obvious look. "Oh, well I guess it shouldn't be too much of a shock."

"Aw, Draco, don't feel bad, we'll find you a scandalous affair of your own."

"Scandalous? And who is this mystery man, pray tell?"

"No one, it's not important," Pansy said, waving his question away and sitting down on the couch. Draco rolled his eyes but didn't pursue the subject.

"Alright, keep your secrets."

"I will," Pansy said smugly. "So how's the Quidditch team?"

"They're not too bad. Potter's attitude is shit though. He needs to learn some self-control."

"Self-control? You mean like you have?" Pansy asked, grinning.

Draco turned to her, a look of astonishment on his face. "I have self-control! I didn't sleep with anyone else while we were married, unlike someone."

Pansy just rolled her eyes at him. "Here's your chance. We'll find you someone fun to take out your aggressions on. Lord knows you like it rough," she said, speaking from experience.

"Who would you suggest?" Draco asked.

"First things first, which would you prefer, male or female?"

Draco just stared at her. "Why would you ask that?!"

"Draco, it was kind of obvious that you don't seem to find much pleasure in women. And I've heard the stories from school. Don't think I didn't know what you and that little Ravenclaw were doing all those nights."

"But it's been years since I--"

"And now it's time to try again. I'll ask you once more. Male or female?" Pansy gave Draco a hard look, telling him he better answer honestly.

"Fine, male," Draco admitted grudgingly.

"Alright, now who do you find attractive?"

"No one."

"No one?" Pansy asked. "There isn't anyone that you know, personally or otherwise, that catches your attention in any way?"

"No, I haven't exactly been looking," he said with a significant glance at Pansy.

"Just let it go, alright? We didn't have the best marriage. You couldn't expect me to stay faithful with that."

"I did," Draco said.

Pansy sighed and patted his leg comfortingly. "That just shows that you are a good person, Death Eater or no."

"Enough with the emotions, did you have a point with all these stupid questions?"

"Right, well, take a look around. I'm sure there's someone out there that can challenge you."

"Unlikely."

Unless he's already right under your nose, Pansy thought to herself.


~*~


A/N: hehehe, my fave line in the entire fic is in this chapter! Can you find it? :D Please review and until next Monday!