Family Business

Chapter Six

Three days later

\"Markus, it\'s Malfoy.\"

\"Hi, old man, how are you?\"

\"Fine. You?\" asked Draco

\"Despite the fact that Pansy wanted to lynch me because of keeping the party in secret, I\'m fine.\"

\"Good. Have you seen Jane?\"

\"I always admired your straightforwardness but yes.\"

\"How was the date?\"

\"Malfoy, you amaze me. For your information, it was great and we are to see each other this afternoon when she finishes her work.\"

\"Great. Will you do me a favour?\"

\"And do I ever refuse you anything?\"

\"No, but preferred to ask. Go and meet Jane in the office.\"

\"Why?\"

\"Please, I\'ll make sure you have no problems going around the building. Just go to where she works. I presume Hermione is working with Jane.\"

\"You presume?\"

\"Yes. I wouldn\'t ask her. Are you nuts!? Anyway, try to find out when Hermione finishes her work and give me a call.\"

\"Malfoy can\'t you just call her and ask yourself?\"

\"No, she would feel awkward. I don\'t want it. And then I want to surprise her.\"

Flint seemed to consider Malfoy\'s request.

\"Okay, I\'ll do it but it\'s already a second favour this week. You owe me.\"

\"Fine, Markus. Thanks.\"

**********************

Five o\'clock p.m.

\"Jane!\"

\"Markus what are you doing here?\"

\"I thought I\'d surprise you.\"

\"That\'s so nice of you, Markus. I\'ll be ready in five minutes.\"

\"Great, we then go and have a snack and go for a walk. Oh, I see Hermione. I\'ll go and say hello to her.\"

\"I\'ll be ready when you\'ll be back.\"

************************

\"Hermione, how are you?\"

\"Hello, Markus. Fine thanks. And you?\"

\"Great. Where are you carrying this pile of papers?\"

\"To my desk.\"

\"Aren\'t you overworking yourself?\"

\"No, it\'s for tomorrow. I had enough for today. I\'m going home in fifteen minutes.\"

\"Good. I see Jane is ready. See you.\"

\"See you Markus and have fun.\"

\"Bye.\"

Markus waited until she disappeared and dialled Malfoy\'s number.

\"You have fifteen minutes.\"

\"Thanks, man. I owe you.\" He hung up.

************************

Hermione was walking out of the lift when she heard someone calling her:

\"Hello, Hermione, remember me?\"

\"Of course, Mr Malfoy.\"

\"It\'s Draco.\"

\"Yes.\"

\"May I give you a lift home?\"

\"I\'d rather….\"

He had this \"please\" expression on his face: \"The weather is so horrible.\"

\"Okay.\" Decided she after a short hesitation.

*******************************

In Malfoy\'s car

At the beginning there was awkward silence between them and then suddenly they started together:

\"How…\" They laughed.

\"Please, continue.\" Said Malfoy

\"I just wanted to ask how the trip to Holland was.\" Said she remembering that Pansy was talking about it for the last two days.

\"Mostly prosperous. I think we\'re going to get this contract from Liselotte B.V. This would be our first major investment in Holland after \'02 so we… Oh, no, I\'m talking business again. I don\'t want to be boring you.\"

\"No.\"

\"How was your day?\"

\"As always. Tell me, do you often go on business trips?\"

\"Yes. Lucius is getting older so he needs rest. I cover most of the business. Of course, he still comes to the office and makes the decisions but I\'m the one who implements them. What does your family do, if one may know?\"

\"One may know. My parents are dentists in the town of Middleton.\"

\"My Mum is dead. She died two years ago. Lucius was in poor condition then but he began to get better some six months ago. It seemed he began some other life, completely new.\" Hermione smiled. She knew just how the change came around.

\"It\'s good he made it and came back to life, so to speak. My Aunt, hardly did when Uncle died. She is getting a bit better now. Especially when she meets new people. It does her good.\" Responded Hermione enjoying the thought how important this answer would be to Draco, if he knew how to interpret it.

The rain was increasing.

\"Hermione could you wipe the steam of the window, please. The chamois is in the car box. \"

Hermione opened the box. A sheet of paper fell off it. Having wiped out the window, she picked the piece of paper up and looked at it. It was an old, black and white picture. It showed two boys dressed as… elves.

\"The boy on the left is cute.\" Called Hermione. \"Who are they?\"

\"Oh, no. Don\'t look at it, please.\"

\"Why, this is cute. Two boys wearing green tights and red coats. Who are they?\"

\"That boy on the left is me and the other one is Vincent Goyle.\" Said Junior reluctantly.

\"Vincent Goyle?\" asked Hermione knowing full well who the scoundrel was.

\"No one interesting, really.\" She was surprised Draco was no longer friends with him former crony.

\"When was this one taken?\"

\"Christmas \'87. I was 6 then.\"

\"That is a nice tradition. Why were you not a Santa at this year\'s Office Christmas?\"

\"I though I would look stupid.\"

\"No, you would be sweet in….\" she broke the sentence. \'Dammit, how she wanted to take his face in his hands and kiss him passionately.\'

They have just arrived to Atrium Building where Hermione lived, when it stopped raining.

\"Thank you for the lift.\" Said she.

\"Always at your service.\"

\"Thanks. Bye.\"

Draco wanted to ask her out but in the last moment decided not to. There will be another occasion. though he, driving away.

*************************

Hermione walked into the building. In fact it was 12 houses together. She was just crossing the yard when she saw a familiar face.

\"Good afternoon, Mr Malfoy.\" "Wil"Will you ever learn it\'s Lucius?\" was the reply.