81. Chapter 81 (1/2)

previously on returning to his roots: chapter 80

changing the subject, draco handed blaise the three cases that needed to go upstairs. "these cases are ready to go. would you care to review them while you're here?"

"i'll review them in my office. by the way, what did you think of theo and anna grace? he seems to like her."

"hermione and i had sunday dinner with theo and anna. he didn't share any personal information with me, but i concur with your notion. he likes her very much."

blaise sat back down. "she was there for the party then back for sunday dinner. that in itself is telling. with what theo has been through, i don't care who she is or where she came from. i'm happy if he's happy. that's all i'll say about that."

draco grinned at his head. "i'm sure theo will thank you for your acceptance."

"don't be an arse draco. this is a private conversation between you and i. i would never interfere in theo's business." blaise huffed, rising from the chair.

draco stopped blaise before he could walk away. "come on blaise. i was just having my little joke. i know neither one of us would step foot into theo's business because neither one of us wants to die."

blaise nodded. "yes, there's that. thanks for the files mate. i'll be in my office if you need me."

before draco could reply, his mobile rang. severus snape was calling. it was time to put up or shut up.

hello severus. thank you for getting back to me. i have a question and an idea.

/

returning to his roots: chapter 81

my time is limited draco. please explain quickly.

draco wanted to huff but he knew better. his godfather didn't accept huffing well.

fine severus. i'd like for wcs to explore setting up mobile lines in switzerland. as you know, i spent several years there and had plenty of friends, colleagues and connections whom i would like to be able to contact by mobile. would this be possible?

severus pondered what draco had just said. wcs hadn't gotten as far as switzerland but it was on the agenda.

i applaud your forward thinking draco. i have the wiring and installing wizards in all areas. we have france, italy and parts of austria wired. at this moment, there aren't any in switzerland, but it is on my agenda. i have groups ready to be sent to the next area. your request has made me want to adjust our agenda. we will finish off austria then instead of going to germany we'll do our installations in switzerland if we can get the proper authorizations. germany can wait a bit. if all goes well, i surmise we can have switzerland up and running by the end of the week. you've put forth an excellent suggestion. from here, i suggest you start contacting swiss prospects. in addition, get me the name of a contact who will be willing to push our products. perhaps if mr. zabini can see his way clear, you'll be allowed to present yourself in person to explain details. if i'm going to work fast, you'll have to work faster.

severus was interested but draco realized he'd gotten himself in it. he had to make his position clear.

at this time severus, i cannot visit switzerland. i have discussed taking a vacation with blaise. not wanting to play favorites, he won't allow it until i've been with ots for a year. i have plans in place to see my mates at the end of june.

severus snapped at draco.

we aren't talking vacation draco. this is business. you

ing me a suggestion but no solution. with that said, i'll have to defer to mr. zabini. he is your head after all. let me see what can be managed. perhaps after you give me a few connections, i can go to switzerland to explain details and set up a small

anch there.

draco let out a sigh of relief. he didn't want to get on his godfather's bad side thinking most days severus didn't have a good side.

sounds fine severus. i haven't made contact with my connections. i wanted to wait until i spoke with you to be sure it could be done. i'll get with wil and clarke straightaway and have an answer for you this evening. thank you for your time.

severus was silent for several seconds.

it's me who should be thanking you draco. going into new areas is difficult. it is always better to have connections. i'll check on a few things on this end and wait for your call. i appreciate the initiative.

my pleasure severus. i hope it all works out.

/*/

draco lifted his wand to close the door to his office before sussing out exactly what he would write to wil and clarke. twenty minutes later, he had his letters completed. he would write basically the same thing to wil and clarke. he needed their help.

draco smiled at the finished letters. given the opportunity to lord it over him, both wil and clarke would get back to him as quickly as possible. draco decided not to wait until a mail witch or wizard came by to pick up. he'd take the letters down to the atrium where letters were sent out as soon as they were received.

draco stopped by blaise's office to let him know he was leaving the department, but, as usual, the office was empty. he headed for the doors.

passing

ian and donald's offices, draco called out he would be leaving the department and would be back in a moment.

ian gave a silent nod while donald uttered a few softly spoken remarks.

/*/

after speaking with draco, severus was so pleased with the way things were going he had an actual smile for hermione when she turned up at his office door.

"good morning hermione. do you need assistance with something?"

hermione smiled back elated that her miserable sot of a boss was in a decent mood. "there is a matter i'd like to discuss. we touched on it

iefly but i believe it warrants an in depth discussion."

the smile vanished from severus' face. there was too much going on for him to sit and listen to any of hermione's bullshite yet he remained pleasant. "an in depth discussion? my monday mornings are very busy. can this wait?"

hermione didn't even stop to think about it. instead, she went directly into her spiel. "it was quick work to expand the transition department. thank you for that. we-i mentioned getting an assistant to, among other things, be a conduit between transition and dmts. it would alleviate the need for any of jean's people to leave the ministry. in addition, an assistant would be able to deliver units directly from here…."

severus held up a hand. "slow down hermione. you've been in charge of a department for five minutes. just slow down."

the last thing hermione wanted to do was aggravate so she slowed down. "sorry severus. i know you have loads on your plate. i was just trying to be proactive."

"proactive is always good hermione, however, i'm not one to accept things blindly. you have a plan. put it in writing. we'll see where it goes from there. one caution. do not proactively hire someone before i've given authorization. have your plan on my desk as soon as possible."

hermione felt deflated but enthusiastic as well. what had she expected? severus snape wasn't about to do anything without proper review. "alright severus. i'll have my plan in your hands before the end of the day. why was draco here?"

an immediate frown appeared on his face. "mind yourself hermione. draco coming to see me has nothing to do with you. i'm sure if he wants you to know, he'll tell you. if there's nothing else, i'd like to get to my work."

hermione felt herself flush. severus could be such a beast. "of course severus. thanks for your time."

hermione straightened her shoulders as she walked away from severus' office knowing he was scowling at her back. scowl on mr. snape she thought. draco will tell me everything anyway.

/*/

back in the office, draco stopped by

ian's office to ask that he keep an eye out as he was expecting several speed owls.

ian agreed and draco headed to the big conference room to work on the open cases. he wasn't there for a good fifteen minutes before donald appeared in the doorway.

"i've finished up wands and biologicals for the weldon case. do you need help in here?" he asked, laying his items and documents on the table in front of draco.

"thanks donald. i'm just finishing up the notes on weldon. get

ian. we can go over what we have."

"that's fine draco, but

ian stepped away for a few minutes. i think his pink arse might be giving him trouble again. not sure though. i didn't want to get too far into it."

draco smiled in spite of himself at donald's bit of play on words. "don't start donald. keep your mind off

ian's arse and show me what you have."

donald may or may not have been about to respond to draco, but

ian appeared in the doorway. "hello men. i needed a quick word with harry potter. these three international, speed letters addressed to you were in our mailbox. i see you have the weldon material out. it's past lunch time and you look like you need to take care of these letters. shall we pick up here after lunch?" he asked, handing draco the envelopes.

"yes. let's do that. thanks for picking these up for me

ian. i'll see you both back here in an hour."

"would you like us to

ing you back anything?" donald asked.

"nothing for me thanks. i might have something a bit later. thanks though."

"alright then. we are off."

/*/

draco hurried to his office anxious to read what wil, clarke and desmond wrote. knowing wil would be the most obnoxious, draco opened his letter first.

hello draco my lad;

what a surprise to have a bloody speed owl nearly take my eye out. it was an even bigger surprise to find out the owl was from my london mate. any of your good mates act out lately? never mind. i'm sure they have. all that aside. your letter was intriguing. clarke and desmond thought so too. they are answering you separately.

to business. i have had the opportunity to read in the prophet what mr. snape is up to. yes draco. i still receive the daily prophet. i find the whole mobile device thing interesting. from the tone of your letter, it would seem as though you need a favor. just like old times. however, this is a serious matter and i will treat it as such. i will gladly make inquiries here as will clarke and desmond, but that's their story to tell.

as soon as i read what you needed, i made an appointment to sit down with dawley and fletcher, your favorite executives. i'm sure they will be amenable to this new avenue of communication. it wouldn't surprise me if they have already heard about mobiles. if they aren't interested, i volunteer clarke to be severus' contact. if dawley and fletcher are interested, i volunteer to come to london to meet with severus. a winning situation all around.

i'll try to get another international speed owl out to you by late this afternoon. this all sounds very promising. i'll do my best with the executives.

regards,

wil

ps: how is hermione? i know your short attention span. if you two aren't still dating, put in a word for me in case i have to come to london.

pps: calm down malfoy. the last was just a bit of cheek.

/*/

draco smiled at the nonsense parts of wil's letter but was enthused by the rest remembering dawley and fletcher to be far sighted wizards who delighted in being on the cutting edge, draco was chuffed. this might be easier than he thought. in addition, if everything went right, wil could be coming back to london. knowing that, draco grinned as he realized if wil came, clarke would wrangle a way for himself to come as well which was great.

draco read clarke and desmond's letters which said essentially the same as wil's with the same bits of nonsense thrown in. they were willing to help out, but agreed wil should be the front man. they both ended their letters stating draco owed them.

draco remained at his desk trying to decide if he should contact severus or wait until he had solid information. caution won out. he wouldn't be calling severus until he had something to tell. draco slid the letters into his desk drawer before returning to the conference room.

/*/

anna grace was having an amazing day. not only had the shop owner complimented her on her sales presence but her quantity of sales as well. it was as though a lucky star was shining down on her.

as silly as it sounded, anna put it all down to theo nott. well, not theo nott exactly, but his actions. he had invited her to a party, taken an interest, invited her back to sunday dinner then purchased her a mobile. best of all, he didn't care one whit about her circumstances. then there was the

illiant hermione granger inviting her to dinner. it was almost too much to comprehend. all this from taking an interview for a nanny position.

as she assisted the next customer, anna made the decision to withdraw a few sickles of her paltry savings in order to serve theo a half decent dinner wednesday evening. if she could manage, she'd purchase some

andy for after dinner. the customer purchased a dress, a scarf and two jumpers.