82. Chapter 82 (1/2)

previously on returning to his roots: chapter 81

"believe it or not, my most salient point to severus was he should give anna the same chance he has given conor and mick. i thought i might have gone too far with that one, but surprise, surprise he agreed with me. if all goes well during the interview, i expect anna will have to give notice at the shop. it's only proper. she can be at wcs by june 3rd."

"sounds fantastic," mumbled draco between bites. "let's just hope severus and jean like anna as much as you do."

hermione gave him the fish eye. "don't be negative draco. why wouldn't they like her? she's a perfectly lovely, intelligent witch who just needs a hand up."

draco thought about holding his tongue, but he didn't. "i'm not being negative love. i'm being realistic. you see a waif you want to help while severus and jean want someone who will fit in and work well at wcs." before the conversation went left, draco elaborated. "anna strikes me as a soft spoken witch. you'll be having dinner with her tomorrow night. all i'm saying is be sure she is prepared for a severus and jean interview."

hermione thought about it for a moment. draco was right. anna was soft spoken. it wouldn't hurt to share a few pointers. after all, many witches who interviewed with severus didn't live to tell the tale. "excellent point love. i will give her a few pointers. thank you. i've talked so long the food has gotten cold." she remarked while waving her wand to heat up their food. "this chicken is delicious."

then, looking draco directly in the eye while waving her fork around, hermione asked why he had been in to see severus when they both had mobiles.

draco held hermione's gaze as he took another forkful. she had run out of things to say. it was his turn to talk, so he did.

/

returning to his roots: chapter 82

between bites, draco explained about his epiphany regarding mobiles in switzerland, his spur of the moment visit to wcs admitting he had forgotten about having a mobile until he was walking across the floor to severus' office. he went on to explain ringing severus later to offer his idea.

hermione was almost as excited over draco's idea as she was over her own. "what did severus say? is he…."

draco cut across hermione sporting a wide grin then shared how severus just about told him to get his arse to switzerland. "he is chuffed. i explained that i had to refuse going to switzerland because blaise had already denied me a vacation until i was with ots for a year. he then told me if it became necessary he would go to switzerland himself. i volunteered to get in touch with wil and desmond to set up connections and get back to him. when i heard back from wil, desmond and clarke, i got back to severus who made the decision to send the wiring and set up teams to switzerland instead of germany if he could get everything sorted. we left off…."

"what vacation? you haven't mentioned a vacation?"

draco sighed. suddenly his information about mobiles in switzerland had become less important than a tentative at best holiday, but he answered frankly. "when we were having our little troubles, i thought about taking time to go back to switzerland for a short holiday, but as i said, blaise denied holiday time because i haven't been with the department long enough."

"you were going to switzerland without me?" hermione asked with a sniff.

hermione was being annoying and draco was getting annoyed, but patiently elaborated. "at that point in time, i believed we needed some time apart, so yes. i planned to visit my mates without you. that was then. this is now. our relationship has since gotten back on track. anyway, it's neither here nor there now. wil and possibly clarke or desmond will be coming to london to meet with severus and stay for a few days. we'll see them then."

"we'll see them then? we as in you and i or..."

leaning back in the chair, draco glared at hermione. "i've explained my reasoning. i don't see why you're upset."

"i'm not upset draco. i was simply questioning why you'd plan a holiday without me. however, you've made it clear enough. now i know. i apologize for getting you off track."

even though hermione was saying the right things, the air in the kitchen suddenly seemed stuffy. summoning his wand, draco cast another reheat spell over both plates before silently tucking back in.

/*/

suspecting her questions had driven draco into silence, hermione tried to restart the conversation.

"finish your story love. i want to hear the rest."

with a smile that didn't quite reach his eyes, draco shared the last little bit. "there's not much more to tell except severus thinks if all goes well he could possibly have switzerland up and running by sunday evening."

reaching across the table, hermione grabbed draco's hand. "amazing. severus certainly doesn't waste any time."

draco replied, this time with a real grin. "you say that as if we didn't already know it. if the past is any measure of the present, my godfather will be going to switzerland or he'll send mick to ensure everything is done right."

hermione made a soft chuckle. "too true. if something has his name on it, severus will make sure it's done right. anyway, it will be nice to see wil, desmond and clarke again."

"yes it will. by the way, wil sends his regards. he mentioned if we weren't still dating, i should put a good word in for him. i told him to sod off."

hermione chuckled even louder. "still a tosser then?"

draco gave hermione a hard stare as he replied. "perhaps, but he'll be a tosser without my witch."

a now giggling hermione twirled her wand a few times to clear away the dinner remains. "excellent dinner mr. malfoy. let's go relax for a bit where you can expound on how many witches tried to catch your attention because of that gray suit."

draco responded with his own bit of humor. "although i am a fine specimen of wizard and my suit is quite handsome, the answer to your query would be none. actually, if any witch was oogling me, i wouldn't know because i am not a witch watcher. i have the witch i want to watch."

hermione threw her arms around draco's neck. "i love it when you spout shite because you don't want to get your arse hexed."

crushing his lips to hers, draco mumbled. "yes, there's that. let's go relax."

/*/

while they were relaxing, hermione remembered she had invited anna to dinner. as she laid there running her hands across draco's chest and through his hair, she reminded him they would be having company for dinner tomorrow.

just before he relieved hermione of her pajamas, draco murmured. "lovely."

/*/

mick byrne was a bit surprised when severus personally stopped by the wiring department monday afternoon to request a short meeting in his office in ten minutes. mick, who was sure there wasn't any fault with his work wondered what severus had on his mind.

ten minutes later, mick was in severus' office listening to him explain about switzerland and how there was a slight possibility mick might have to travel if a top wirer was needed to oversee the project.

although, in the past, he had to travel from one bum position to the next to keep money in his pocket, mick had found what he hoped was his forever home in london. he'd have to go if required, but wasn't chuffed about it. however, he had good sense to answer with a positive response. "this sounds like an outstanding opportunity severus. i'll be happy to do my part. is there a scheduled departure date?"

severus wanted to smile. he might be much older than most of his employees but he recognized hidden reluctance when he saw it. his top wizard in the wiring department no more wanted to go to switzerland than he did. however, if that's what was needed, that's what would be done. "thank you for being so receptive mr. byrne. i will stress that you going to switzerland will be a last resort. i'm hoping it won't come to that. in the immediate future, all that might be necessary is for you to make yourself available thursday mid-morning to the swiss wizards who are coming to london to acquaint themselves with mobiles."

mick felt a bit relieved. he wasn't being sent to switzerland on the next portkey. he was simply a backup measure if all didn't go to plan. mick answered accordingly. "as i said, i appreciate you extending me such a great opportunity. i'm even more chuffed to find out i'm only the backup plan. i can make myself available at any time with ten minutes notice."

this time, severus did smile as he mentally patted himself on the back. he had such excellent insight. "that's all i have for now. if anything changes, i'll let you know."

"alright severus. good day to you."

"good day to you as well mick.

on his way back to the wiring department, mick stopped off in the men's where he let out a huge sigh of relief as he glanced in the mirror over the sink. "thank merlin mick byrne is just a backup plan."

/*/

jean was pleased with the way things were going in dmts. the entire team was stepping up. cassie had the front end running so smoothly, jean barely had to check on her. conor was another exemplary team member. he had set up demonstration booths at the front end to teach new mobile owners the ins and outs of their new devices. to make it easy, he had posted a large sign just inside the doors informing clients that the demonstrations went off every twenty minutes for those who cared to sign up. he had even requested authorization to set up a small tea area where the clients could wait for the next demonstration to begin. he was as busy as cassie. jean loved it.

the only small wrinkle was gloria. although she was doing a great job, it seemed to jean that gloria wasn't chuffed to be stuck in a ministry department. it was with that thought in mind jean had been quick to offer gloria up when severus mentioned giving hermione an assistant.

severus had been surprised when jean mentioned gloria as a possible candidate, and questioned her at length with the upshot being jean didn't have a problem sending gloria back to wcs. however, hermione would be the deciding factor. it would be she who had to work with the assistant, so it should be she who had the last say.

when severus got back to her with hermione's input, jean had been chuffed not to have approached gloria with the proposition because hermione already had a witch in mind. her name was anna grace and they would be interviewing her thursday morning. for now, unless gloria specifically asked to be moved, she would remain at dmts.

/*/

conor and cassie didn't mind any extra work. they were happy to oversee the front end together as it gave them time to sneak a few kisses when they were alone. in between demonstrations, conor and cassie sometimes met up in the tea room to do a little more than kiss.

this particular monday they had nearly been caught with their hands in places they shouldn't be during work hours. severus had popped in to compliment them on the job they were doing seconds after they had pulled apart. severus noticed but didn't comment on cassie's beet red countenance or conor's quick turn away to hide a burgeoning bulge. he had given his compliments then left the area.

"oh merlin. we would both be out on our arses if severus had entered the room several seconds earlier." carrie whispered.

conor concurred. "you're right on that front love. jean and severus trusts us to do our jobs, but we are taking liberties because we can. that stops today. i don't think a quick rub and tug at work is worth either of us losing our esteemed positions in a prestigious department."

cassie nodded. "i agree love. from here, we keep our minds on our work and our hands to ourselves."

they both hurried back to their positions still thanking merlin severus had not walked in seconds earlier.

/*/

earlier, gloria had dawdled a bit when passing jean's office after hearing her name come up in conversation. hermione granger who was now in charge of the transition department at wcs was looking for an assistant and jean had recommended her. for the several seconds she listened in, gloria was chuffed. dmts was an excellent department if one wanted to be stuck inside all day doing the same mundane things over and over. initially, it had been great being chosen for the newest ministry department, but lately…. lately she had been regretting leaving wcs.

/*/

as the day went on, gloria became antsy waiting for jean to call her into the office to discuss the assistant's position. when jean hadn't called her by late afternoon, gloria made an excuse to visit jean's office.

knock, knock.

jean who was in the middle of documenting that days business looked up to see gloria at her door. "gloria. come on in. what can i do for you?"

now that she was in the office, gloria had to reach for a reason for appearing at jean's door, so she pulled one straight out of her arse. "i'd like to request a late start on wednesday as i have an important engagement. the appointment should be over and done by 10:30."

jean didn't hesitate to give gloria the requested time off, but had a strong feeling something else was going on. realizing it wasn't her place to step into a staff member's business, jean didn't press. instead, she tried a bit of psychology when gloria didn't move after having her request granted. "how is everything going? nice bit of magic hermione used setting up the mobiles with telephone numbers. it's nice to be able to offer our clients a few perks."

gloria straightened up in her seat. she'd hard everything jean had said but discarded it all when jean mentioned hermione's name. perhaps she would also

ing up the topic of hermione needing an assistant. no such luck though. jean didn't mention anything about the position so she did. "how is everything going with the transition department upgrade? i heard hermione is looking for an assistant."