Ficcage:: Business Arrangements
For foudebassan: Bunny #14 Lucius discovers the identity of Draco's silent business partner with Prompt 070. Storm
Title: Business Arrangements
Fandom: Harry Potter
Pairing: Lucius/Hermione
Prompt: 070. Storm
Summary: Lucius has it in mind to steal Draco's business partner. He just doesn't know who she is.
Author's Plea: Rushing? Me rushing? Barely edited. Enjoy if you can.
Business Arrangements
astarvingwriter
Standard Disclaimer Applies
*
The boy had done quite well for himself. This was not questionable.
What was questionable was how the boy had managed it.
It wasn't as if Lucius had disapproved of the business, or would have had he been informed of it, but he couldn't exactly support his son while he languished in Azkaban. The majority of the Malfoy accounts had been released from their lock down several months after Draco was finally cleared by the Ministry of guilt in the matter of the death of the Old Fool, Dumbledore.
Still, by then the boy's business had already been occupying its present building, doing enough business to keep afloat despite the reforming economy of the post war wizarding world.
And now, Lucius' careful examinations of their banking records had yielded strange half answers to his questions. Draco had not borrowed money from any wizarding bank of repute, good or ill, nor had be used any money in the vaults to pay for business expenses at any time.
This, of course, left Lucius with only two remaining answers: either Draco had a vault of his own hitherto unknown, or he had borrowed the money from someone.
Logic told him that Draco had neither the resources to suggest a hidden vault, nor the ability to keep the existence of such a thing secret. As well, some of the better strategies the business had undertaken spoke of a finesse Draco did not possess. It was much more likely the boy had found a silent business partner for whom to borrow funds and occasional advice.
And didn't that thought make him sneer with delight? He had his own business ventures that could use a push forward. An intelligent partner would make the process smoother. Someone who already had dealings with a Malfoy would be preferable.
Therefore, it was only a matter of discovering Draco's business partner and stealing him.
Such a plan seemed relatively simple in comparison to some of his previous efforts to become successful. Thus, it was a bit of a surprise when the identity of Draco's silent partner remained hidden beneath aliases and encoded record keeping. It was beyond frustrating that this man could hide from him so thoroughly. However, it also meant that the man was very intelligent and careful and therefore even more worthy of becoming the next partner of Malfoy Enterprises.
He would also be the only partner of Malfoy Enterprises not related to the family, though that could be dealt with. There were some lesser Malfoys that remained on the continent that might be tempted over once business was well again.
The fact still remained that in order to have this success, he had first to find the genius behind Draco's booming business. Thus it was that the ferocious winds and oncoming storm outside did not distract him from reviewing the ledgers in Draco's office, searching ever so carefully for anything that would give the mystery man away.
"Oh! Draco, I'm sorry, I didn't know you would still be here--"
He looked up, expecting to see someone who he could torture enough to tell him the identity of the man he sought. Instead, all he found was Hermione Granger staring down at him with a quirk of her brow.
"Can I assist you with anything, Mr. Malfoy?" she said with ill concealed derision.
"I am perfectly capable of assisting myself, Miss Granger," he replied in kind. However, if the quirk of her lips was any indication, the statement wasn't quite as on the mark as he'd hoped.
"I doubt you will find anything you want in that ledger. He keeps the one with all his secrets locked away and hidden."
"This one was locked away and hidden, Miss Granger. I believe I am better acquainted with my own son than a commoner such as yourself."
"Was it now? I will let your son know that you think so little of him, that he would hide his ledger in such a simple place."
"Leave, Miss Granger. I have no patience for you."
"Regardless of what you may believe, this is not your office. Actually, I'm sure you'll eventually find it is more my office than anyone's. Now, if you would, leave."
There was an angry flash in her eye that he recognized, but a certain smugness that was less familiar. His thoughts backtracked as he tried to remember each and every one of their varied encounters within the last few weeks. Her words, so insignificant then, started taking on new meaning when he combined all he knew.
He was surprised and a bit disappointed he hadn't spotted the connection earlier, though he supposed anyone would be shocked that a Muggleborn witch would possess such cutthroat business tactics. It was simply unsettling. It was also more than a little… enticing.
"Very well, Miss Granger. I will take your leave if you promise me this: you will come speak with me before week's end. I have a business proposal I believe you might be interested in."
Her expression tightened, and he worried for a moment that she might turn her wand on him. Such an occurrence would be terribly inconvenient. His cane was against the other side of the desk and his spare wand was rather difficult to retrieve in this position.
"I do not suppose I will be rid of you if I do not agree," she said slowly. He was mildly surprised when her eyes flicked across his figure, but decided she could only be checking to see if he was armed. To think otherwise would make him a bit too lax with vanity.
"I am quite content to stay," he acknowledged.
"Very well. I will have Draco escort me to your offices on Tuesday. Now, if you please, I have work to do."
He smirked victoriously even as he closed the ledger and rose to his full height.
"'Til Tuesday, then. I will keep you from your work no longer. Good evening, Miss Granger."
His bow was only slightly mocking, and, after retrieving his cane and affixing his cloak, he set out from Draco's business and into the stormy gloominess of the street.
He was most looking forward to Tuesday. With luck and a certain measure of persuasiveness, he was sure to win her over to his side.
Back in the office, Hermione watched from a window overlooking the street as Lucius Apparated away.
"Tuesday then."
"Yes, Tuesday. Couldn't seem too eager, now could I?"
"And this will free me from your debt? This is really what you want?"
"Yes, Draco. He is really what I want. Now, about that merger Theo Nott suggested…"
*
FanFic100 Prompt Table
Title: Business Arrangements
Fandom: Harry Potter
Pairing: Lucius/Hermione
Prompt: 070. Storm
Summary: Lucius has it in mind to steal Draco's business partner. He just doesn't know who she is.
Author's Plea: Rushing? Me rushing? Barely edited. Enjoy if you can.
Business Arrangements
astarvingwriter
Standard Disclaimer Applies
*
The boy had done quite well for himself. This was not questionable.
What was questionable was how the boy had managed it.
It wasn't as if Lucius had disapproved of the business, or would have had he been informed of it, but he couldn't exactly support his son while he languished in Azkaban. The majority of the Malfoy accounts had been released from their lock down several months after Draco was finally cleared by the Ministry of guilt in the matter of the death of the Old Fool, Dumbledore.
Still, by then the boy's business had already been occupying its present building, doing enough business to keep afloat despite the reforming economy of the post war wizarding world.
And now, Lucius' careful examinations of their banking records had yielded strange half answers to his questions. Draco had not borrowed money from any wizarding bank of repute, good or ill, nor had be used any money in the vaults to pay for business expenses at any time.
This, of course, left Lucius with only two remaining answers: either Draco had a vault of his own hitherto unknown, or he had borrowed the money from someone.
Logic told him that Draco had neither the resources to suggest a hidden vault, nor the ability to keep the existence of such a thing secret. As well, some of the better strategies the business had undertaken spoke of a finesse Draco did not possess. It was much more likely the boy had found a silent business partner for whom to borrow funds and occasional advice.
And didn't that thought make him sneer with delight? He had his own business ventures that could use a push forward. An intelligent partner would make the process smoother. Someone who already had dealings with a Malfoy would be preferable.
Therefore, it was only a matter of discovering Draco's business partner and stealing him.
Such a plan seemed relatively simple in comparison to some of his previous efforts to become successful. Thus, it was a bit of a surprise when the identity of Draco's silent partner remained hidden beneath aliases and encoded record keeping. It was beyond frustrating that this man could hide from him so thoroughly. However, it also meant that the man was very intelligent and careful and therefore even more worthy of becoming the next partner of Malfoy Enterprises.
He would also be the only partner of Malfoy Enterprises not related to the family, though that could be dealt with. There were some lesser Malfoys that remained on the continent that might be tempted over once business was well again.
The fact still remained that in order to have this success, he had first to find the genius behind Draco's booming business. Thus it was that the ferocious winds and oncoming storm outside did not distract him from reviewing the ledgers in Draco's office, searching ever so carefully for anything that would give the mystery man away.
"Oh! Draco, I'm sorry, I didn't know you would still be here--"
He looked up, expecting to see someone who he could torture enough to tell him the identity of the man he sought. Instead, all he found was Hermione Granger staring down at him with a quirk of her brow.
"Can I assist you with anything, Mr. Malfoy?" she said with ill concealed derision.
"I am perfectly capable of assisting myself, Miss Granger," he replied in kind. However, if the quirk of her lips was any indication, the statement wasn't quite as on the mark as he'd hoped.
"I doubt you will find anything you want in that ledger. He keeps the one with all his secrets locked away and hidden."
"This one was locked away and hidden, Miss Granger. I believe I am better acquainted with my own son than a commoner such as yourself."
"Was it now? I will let your son know that you think so little of him, that he would hide his ledger in such a simple place."
"Leave, Miss Granger. I have no patience for you."
"Regardless of what you may believe, this is not your office. Actually, I'm sure you'll eventually find it is more my office than anyone's. Now, if you would, leave."
There was an angry flash in her eye that he recognized, but a certain smugness that was less familiar. His thoughts backtracked as he tried to remember each and every one of their varied encounters within the last few weeks. Her words, so insignificant then, started taking on new meaning when he combined all he knew.
He was surprised and a bit disappointed he hadn't spotted the connection earlier, though he supposed anyone would be shocked that a Muggleborn witch would possess such cutthroat business tactics. It was simply unsettling. It was also more than a little… enticing.
"Very well, Miss Granger. I will take your leave if you promise me this: you will come speak with me before week's end. I have a business proposal I believe you might be interested in."
Her expression tightened, and he worried for a moment that she might turn her wand on him. Such an occurrence would be terribly inconvenient. His cane was against the other side of the desk and his spare wand was rather difficult to retrieve in this position.
"I do not suppose I will be rid of you if I do not agree," she said slowly. He was mildly surprised when her eyes flicked across his figure, but decided she could only be checking to see if he was armed. To think otherwise would make him a bit too lax with vanity.
"I am quite content to stay," he acknowledged.
"Very well. I will have Draco escort me to your offices on Tuesday. Now, if you please, I have work to do."
He smirked victoriously even as he closed the ledger and rose to his full height.
"'Til Tuesday, then. I will keep you from your work no longer. Good evening, Miss Granger."
His bow was only slightly mocking, and, after retrieving his cane and affixing his cloak, he set out from Draco's business and into the stormy gloominess of the street.
He was most looking forward to Tuesday. With luck and a certain measure of persuasiveness, he was sure to win her over to his side.
Back in the office, Hermione watched from a window overlooking the street as Lucius Apparated away.
"Tuesday then."
"Yes, Tuesday. Couldn't seem too eager, now could I?"
"And this will free me from your debt? This is really what you want?"
"Yes, Draco. He is really what I want. Now, about that merger Theo Nott suggested…"
*
FanFic100 Prompt Table