A/N: Disclaimer still applies. I do appreciate the reviews peole have taken the time to write, and I thank you for the support.

On to the story...

I cast a tempus spell discretely, and mentally agonized that the meeting wouldn't be over for another half hour. Merlin I hated board meetings. I usually avoided them at all costs, and since everyone knew that the Potter holdings were so vast, no one got their nose bent out of shape that I didn't attend the annual ones.

The profits coming out of this company were large enough to warrant my special attention, but not large enough I would have attended had I known that Draco Malfoy would be sitting just several seats away. I hadn't even known he was involved in Krum Brooms. Probably because my own interest in the company was rather small, and only in support of the one Quidditch player I could stand. I'd never seen or heard Malfoy's named mentioned though. Not that it mattered. The old school rivalry had ended long ago, or I thought it had. It was actually amusing to think that once upon a time the biggest threat to me was a hex in the hallway from Malfoy.

Memories raced through my mind of our time together through the years. Most, if not all, wasn't pleasant. It was like fighting a battle, long and strategic with little stupid skirmishes along the way and a few poinant moments to remember the whole thing by. Most often those moments were the worst parts, and one looked back after a while and wondered if there were any good moments, heroic moments, moments that made the battle worth it. If there were in my battle with Malfoy, well, I didn't remember them.

I reminded myself that he had acted well to Albus and James at the World Cup, so there was no reason to be anything less than polite to Malfoy. Years certainly mellowed a person out, and they seemed to have done the Slytherin some good.

Shuffling of paper drew my attention to the fact that the meeting had closed. Thank Merlin. I shuffled my own papers so I could read them at home tonight like normal.

I strolled out the door without looking towards anyone, still fearful that someone would stop me or try to gain my attention with mindless chit-chat. I knew it was no longer necessary. No one had dared in years, but my instinct was still there. Honed from the year I'd endured.

Outside the large conference room my assistant took my parchment and quills, simultaneously letting me know my next meeting was in twenty minutes. I looked around for what I wanted, and spotted a buffet table at the end of the hall. Board meetings I attended often had coffee and pastry tables. I am certain its so that no one has an excuse to fall asleep or claim that they couldn't concentrate because they missed breakfast.

I poured myself a cup of steaming brew, and smelled the richness. I thanked Merlin they sprung for some decent stuff. A hand came in from the right and picked up the canteen as I was setting it down.

"Is it worth it?"

Why was it that I could tell it was Malfoy with out even looking, before he'd spoken? Even in Hogwarts I could tell his stare, well glare, more like death gaze, from a mile away.

What was his question again?

"It's tolerable," I said as I stirred in my additives, namely mounds of sugar. Malfoy chuckled.

"You always did have an insatiable sweet tooth."

It was true, and there really was no reason to deny it. I finally turned and really looked at Malfoy. I hadn't seen him in ages. He still looked the same though. Perfection at its best, though I would never admit it. A Malfoy certainly wouldn't have it any other way. From the top of his perfectly styled hair, to the tips of his expertly polished shoes he was front page paper ready. Including the perfectly tailored suit, with wizard robes over it.

"I suppose so," I stated belatedly.

"I met yours sons."

There was no faster way to get my back up then to mention my sons. Malfoy's tone may have been calm but I wondered at the hidden meaning. I wouldn't allow him to say one word or loud thought against them. They were my everything.

I gave him a hard stare, one perfected to whither my opponents with out words, however he only shook his head as if amused. Idiot. I hated his ability to make me feel like the butt of his joke, as had happened all to often at Hogwarts.

"Stop thinking what you're thinking. They're a credit to you," Malfoy said and actually looked sincere. "Really Potter. You must be extremely proud of them. "

Was he actually complimenting me? I found that hard to believe and searched for the veiled insult. I was a master at the subtleties of elite double entre, but found none in his compliment. Which brought forth the question of what did Malfoy want?

He had to want something. And he needed to stop staring at me with these unreadable penetrating eyes! The ocular dissection was not only annoying it was weird.

It wasn't a hateful gaze, it was just a bit intense, but I stood firm under it. I was used to people staring, I thought with distaste. One got used to it after a while. I watched as he nodded his head slightly, as though a decision had been made.

"I'm looking into starting a new charity to be paired with a camp. I want to model it off of that camp you started in Canada. The one for disabled children, although I am looking to take an economically disadvantaged approach. Would you have dinner with me so I can pick your brain? The research is likely to take forever."

Nothing in Malfoy's face showed a joke, and my camp had actually been quite successful. I certainly couldn't think of any ulterior motive, and he could certainly learn a lot and skip the years of research I had done before opening my camp. More kids would be helped, and sooner. That overrode my desire to question him of why a Malfoy would ever be altruistic?

"Yes I could do that." I mentally shuffled through my next week's appointments. I tended to keep my nights free of appointments and meetings in order to spend time with the boys, who were leaving for Australia, so I was actually quite open. "I can do practically any day this week."

He considered shortly. "Tomorrow?" I nodded, and he smiled. Warm and friendly, in other words, odd and rare. He gave me a strange look then, and touched his hand to the upper part of my arm with a slight pat.

"I'll owl you with the location this evening."

He walked away leaving me there staring after him. I was missing something. What was I missing?

He said yes I thought as I walked out, trying not to smile, and instead settled for a smirk. I was shocked he had said yes, and shocked I actually made the offer. Merlin, why had I made the offer? Well, I knew why. Because Neville had basically called me a chicken, and I had later realized he was right.

Of course Harry wouldn't have said yes if I straight asked him out. No, he was too used to that, too jaded to the world to going so straight into a romantic entanglement. I imagined he had convenient lovers around the globe; ones who understood he was there for only a few hours and they were to stay silent about it.

Ones who knew they would never be introduced to Potter's sons. That they would never be more than a convenience at best.

I know this because I met one a long time ago. Of course the man was drunk at the time and just mentioned how he had fallen for Potter and then was left with half a heart. I sent the man home with a friend to get over his broken heart with some intense sex, and orders to obliviate him if that didn't work. No one gossiped about Potter…even if it was unintentional.

Plans were flying through my head now though of old courting traditions, which were forgotten except by the elite of the world. I would need to check the books to ensure there had been no updates on the information, but I was reasonably certain I could still recite every rule and idea from memory. Memories of my mother's recitations came back at the oddest moments, though even Scorpius could recite them. A Malfoy heir didn't shirk from learning the fundamentals of proper behavior.

I didn't imagine Potter would be willing for a while, but that was fine. Harry Potter was a changed man and it would take time to gain his trust. Even then I didn't know if there was anything left of the fun, passionate person I knew. My understanding was that his main passion now was business and his sons.

I delighted in his sons though. Meeting them for the first time at the World Cup had been a shock, and I half expected them to break out in grins, whooping along with the rest of the fans, and reminding me very much at Harry Potter during his first world cup. However, they were incredibly restrained. The eldest a little less so, but half way through I looked over to find Albus Potter bored. A Potter bored with Quidditch!

It was in those moments of boredom though that I realized all the rumors were true, and Harry Potter had actually raised his sons to be almost the exact opposite of himself at that age. They were what perfect pureblood gentlemen should be on the outside, but I thought it almost certain that the public shell and the private people were one in the same. The restraint was just too innate, especially for Albus Potter.

It was certainly difficult to watch, and almost sad. Then to watch them with the Weasleys, well, that had been another sad sight. I had assumed the sons must have known the Weasley's to some extent, after all they hadn't been a part of the bint's betrayal. However, the sight that presented itself were two boys who were strangers to the other side of their family. Absolute strangers. Granger had looked ready to burst into tears.

It didn't matter I told myself. I would take my time with the family. Scorpius' on going feelings towards Albus Potter were an issue, but one that didn't need to be addressed yet. For all I knew Harry Potter was in a committed relationship. Which meant that this dinner needed to provide me with some answers before I moved forward.

I apparated straight to the restaurant that Malfoy had owled the address of, and was thankful it was a quiet place on the edge of Italy that I had been to more than once.

The food was superb, the staff efficient and discreet. I was right on time, and so a bit surprised when Stephanie, the hostess, told me Malfoy was already at the table waiting. I had expected him to be fashionably late, which was an unfashionable irritating habit of the high class in my opinion. Disrespectful.

I was shown to a quiet corner booth where Malfoy sat perusing a menu, and sipping on a glass of some sort of white wine. He had a quick quill next to him, which I was thankful for. Business was a very safe topic, so we didn't end up arguing over anything.

The more I had thought about our conversation at the board room the more I thought it must have been a fluke. Malfoy and I were oil and water with claws and teeth. I had all but convinced myself of that until Malfoy glanced up at my arrival and slowly smiled.

"Potter," he said by way of greeting, which I returned in the like and sat down.

Steph waited for a moment until I addressed her. "The house white, thanks." She scampered off quickly to get my drink, while a pitcher of water flew over and filled my glass.

"Thanks for coming Potter. I started some preliminary research but I certainly appreciate your vast knowledge." Had Malfoy just complimented me, I thought with no little surprise. He seemed to be doing that quite a bit and I wasn't sure how I felt about it.

"Thank you, I'm always available to help with this type of charity." It was my standard reply, and Malfoy's mouth tightened at the impersonal response. That was just too damned bad for him.

We ordered a few minutes later, and I started prattling off my research on Quidditch camps for kids. It was the only way I would have anything to do with Quidditch, and now that the place had opened I never visited it personally. I sent someone to do that and make sure the place was running smoothly, but I didn't keep in touch personally. It was a success, that's all that was important. I prattled off all my figures, expenses, pledging companies, and little tidbits I thought might be helpful to him. The camp was my favorite cause and I knew the numbers by heart. I even went over the numbers for this project with one of my accountants every month, instead of just letting my employees work.

Malfoy looked a little overwhelmed, but I told him he could owl me with questions at any time and either I, or my assistant, would get back to him.

"You must be proud of it Potter." I nodded smiling/

"You must visit often."

I buttered some bread and didn't look at him. "No, it's not necessary. My reports are very detailed, and the children enjoy the camp."

"Oh come now Potter. You don't visit your own camp where a hundred kids fly around daily?" I looked up trying to ascertain what he was searching for. And he was searching for something, some detail.

I fell back on my standard replies.

"No, it's not necessary." Again his mouth tightened almost imperceptively.

Malfoy then nodded and put away the quick quill as our meal came. It smelled delicious and tasted even better.

"So tell me Potter what are your plans next week?"

I had to keep myself from choking on the pasta. Just what was he up to? I mean obviously he wanted to invite me to do something, but the question was why? Social or business? Though my instincts screamed that this had nothing to do with business. I wouldn't allow it to be anything else. Somehow Malfoy gained the impression that we could be friends or acquaintances. I wasn't sure where he deduced the possibility from and honestly wasn't sure I cared.

I quickly thought through my plans, noting the determined gleam in his eye, and decided on a course of action. A Malfoy was relentless when he desired something. So, Australia for the summer it was. I could certainly hold meetings there, and floo when need be. I had already considered the idea since I didn't want to be that far from the boys.

"I'm vacationing with my sons in Australia over the summer." He looked steadily at me, betraying no emotion. I charged on, "We are so busy sometimes that I often don't have time to just focus on them. However, I suppose every parent has their weaknesses," and I threw in a woe is me look for good measure. "So, this summer I decided it would be just the three of us for a month or two." I made sure my face looked properly thrilled.

"Sounds splendid," Malfoy remarked without any real enthusiasm.

I'm not sure why I thought it necessary to expound when the man hadn't really shown an undeniable interest, but it was best to head anything off at the pass. After all, I could never see myself trusting the man, so there was no reason to start purposely being around him. Hours of useless chit chat wasn't fun, I thought with distaste.

"What are you plans for the summer?" I asked in return with a smile, knowing full well that he would have to lay out something, that or invent it on the spot. I really didn't care what he did.

Malfoy seemed to understand that pointless topics were all I would discuss with him. We talked theatre and other sports decidiedly not related to Quidditch, and by the end of our meal I felt relaxed in his company. Malfoy was able to converse fluidly, and there were no awkward pauses anywhere along the line. Success, I thought to myself.

As we paid the bill I felt his gaze on me, and looked up.

"Tomorrow night is the opening of Merlin's Witch in London. Would you like to attend with me?" We had come upon the information that we both had boxes at the same popular theatre, though I rarely attended.

I ensured that my face was properly regretful when I answered him very properly. "Thank you for the invitation but I unfortunately have another business dinner to attend." Over all, it went off fine, and gave the impression that I considered this just a business dinner, which for some reason Malfoy was pushing the limits of.

Malfoy smiled tightly in response, a smile that didn't reach his eyes. I was okay with that though. I had gotten very good at setting the limits of my relationships. Relationship, I thought, what type of relationship was this?

Once the bill was paid we walked out together and headed to the apparition point down the street. Of course by that time there were a few flashes of light bulbs from media, but I ignored them and let Andrew do his work. The man was very effective at getting the media to leave my family alone.

Malfoy walked close to me, and followed my example of ignoring the press. Finally at our destination of the restaurant's private apparition spot I held out my hand to his, for a hand shake. However, he kept mine and looked down at it. I refused to tug it away. Merlin, I had my pride.

Malfoy then looked up into my eyes, staring like he had during the dinner, and making me wonder what he wanted.

"You let her win," he said in a whisper. He said it in a tone conveying disappointment, I thought with frustration.

What the hell was he talking about? I never let anyone win at anything unless it suited me. I was determined to be polite though. "What on earth are you talking about?"

He shook his head slightly and though he couldn't quite believe his own words and thoughts. "Ninety-nine percent of purebloods and high class show the mask for the public and kick back with friends, but it isn't a mask is it Potter? This is who she turned you into." I felt my anger boil up but reigned it in tightly. I hadn't been this furious in years, and Malfoy accomplished the feeling in three sentences! "You let her win. And your boys, you turned them into replicas of you. Their picture perfect, but I wonder if they are as mechanical and dead on the inside as you are? Because you're just surviving aren't you? Have been for years."

I wanted to hit him. God I wanted to hit him more than anything else in the world at that moment, and for a second I thought my anger might actually over take me. I asked myself what the consequences would be though, as I did every time I was pissed off and ready to break my own rules.

Newspapers flashing before my eyes, and the media viciously following my sons. Malfoy gloating as the world exposed me as an overly zealous idiot; a half blood raised by scum. My sons suffering for my decision.

I stepped back from the grip I unknowingly had taken on his suit jacket. Walking backwards until I stepped to the square labeled for apparition.

I hated him in that moment, and he looked on at me not with anger, which I could have handled, but with this look of knowing, pitying, and a bit of disbelief. I hated him.

"Fuck you," stated very clearly, was all I could get out before apparating away.

I arrived at the London estate and strode furious into my office, though I made sure that the door only close behind me with a soft click. I ripped off my out robes, hating their confinement. It had taken me years to get over the feeling of being restricted and now I couldn't stand it. My tie went flying to the side, along with my suit jacket, and vest.

Finally once I was sitting in my desk chair with a glass of fire whiskey I began to calm down. How dare he! He fucking dared to assume he knew me, and my sons! Like he knew anything about anything! Presumptuous prick! Of course it would be a Malfoy to tell me about myself!

I hated most of all what he'd said about James and Albus. They were the best things in my life, certainly the most important. They were cautious not mechanical! Loving and protective over each other in a way the fucking Malfoys would never understand. I had worked hard to ensure that they had every opportunity in the world, and that finally when they walked on to lead their own lives, they had the resources and the knowledge to do so. I wanted to make sure that they saw the world through open eyes, and were never protected from the truth. It was one of the best things I could do for them.

And Malfoy had the nerve to tell I was my mask! Asshole. That's exactly what he was.

I suddenly got restless and at the late hour roamed the halls of our London estate. It was one of my favorites, with its old world charm and lots of space. It was open, which I loved. I hated the feeling of being closed in. I made my way to the family wing and saw the lights off in both the boys' bedrooms.

I don't think they know that I check on them, and tuck them into bed as often as I didn't, even if I was supposed to be across the world. Translatic apparitions had become easy for me over time.

I walked into Albus' room and couldn't help but smile each time I went into the organized space he called his room. Everything had its place and was as neat as a pin. The dirty change of clothes from the day that lay strewn across the floor along with a few magazines were only evidence that he was in fact a teenager.

He slept peacefully, as always, and deeply. Sometimes I couldn't believe how much he looked like me. It was a blessing in many ways, though I'm sure he considered it a curse too. I hated being compared to my Father, and sometimes I wondered if he got the same comparisons.

I pulled up his blankets, and made my way over to James' bedroom. His room was forever a mess. Not because he was irresponsible but because his mind just seemed to be constantly going, and he would forget about a book on the floor when he thought of something else. Well, that and he really was a typical teenager. I often saw the energy and impatience for life in his eyes that I'd had at his age. I wondered often if I would have been like him had my own mother and father lived. I probably would have been wild, the typical son of a maurader. It was a weird thought, and one not worth dwelling on.

James was a little bit of a wild sleeper, the blankets already around his feet instead of body, and he was hanging off the bed in and odd position that would have given me muscle problems but worked for him. I didn't make to touch him, since he was a light sleeper. I just watched for a bit, taking him in.

Sometimes I couldn't believe that two such beautiful children had come out of such a crappy situation. Two beautiful children with feelings I thought sourly. They were loving, caring children. I looked down again and reminded myself that they were almost men. Merlin, where did the time go? It flew faster then I wanted it to.

I finally tore myself away and walked to my own bedroom. It wasn't an overly large room, but still it suited me. I got lazy and transfigured my clothing and spelled my teeth clean. I really didn't have the energy to complete the normal task. I climbed in my bed, and laid in the dark for a while.

However, the more I laid the less angry and more resolved I became at Malfoy. He really was a prick, but he usually only told the truth about what he believed, though with out concern to anyone else or there feelings. It was almost laughable that back in Hogwarts they all told me I needed restraint and manners, and now the biggest git was telling me I had too many.

The weird part was he didn't do it with any heat or hate. The why's of it weren't something I wanted to contemplate either. I would do exactly as I told him I was going to do, and take off for a while. It certainly was easy to have my managers take over for a time, and make sure that the boys were happy. Australia would be a good place for that.

I had subtly noticed their luggage was packed, and that James had a broom tucked in. No wonder he wanted Australia. The one family estate with a nice professional size Quidditch pitch. Would he be upset that I was coming, since he felt uncomfortable playing around me? I hoped not. I meant to enlighten him to the down falls of the game, and make sure he didn't become obsessed, not turn him away from it completely. He was getting to be an adult, and able to make his own decisions.

Tomorrow, I vowed, we would have a conversation about that. I wanted him to be happy. I would make sure they were happy during their months in Australia.

TBC...