This fic was written for the H/D Book Fair of last year. My book was Basic Hexes For The Busy And Vexed. The chapters are all very short but I will update as often as I can.

Enjoy!

Preface: Basic Hexes for the Busy and Vexed is a book about hexes aimed at wizards who don't have the time or the patience to learn more elaborate spells.

Draco Malfoy was extremely proud of himself. Not only had he managed to scale the corporate ladder at the Ministry in just eight years due to his excessive talents in his department and his multi-lingual eloquence, he had also managed to find a way around his extremely busy schedule to pursue his favourite hobby: hexing Harry Potter.

As head of the British and Irish Quidditch League Headquarters in the Department of Magical Games and Sports, twenty-six-year-old Draco didn't have a lot of spare time on his hands. Even before being elected as the youngest head of his department in a century, he'd spent too much time doing Very Official Business with the best Quidditch teams in the country and sucking up to his boss to really have enough time to do what he loved doing best. It wasn't easy, seeing as the object of his entertainment was equally busy and about one step away from promotion to the Head of the Auror Office. Draco would have been more than willing to bet his bottom dollar that by this time next year, Potter would have already filled the prestigious position, especially since Gawain Robards was planning to retire. It was about time, too – the old man looked just about ready to dissolve into nothing but wrinkles at any second.

Draco had spent copious amounts of his free time over the past few years hexing Potter. Whether it was by simply casting a spell over his shoulder to make the stack of files Potter was carrying tumble to the floor in a mess or finding a way to stall the lift he was in, Draco had conceived all sorts of elaborate plans to drive Potter crazy. It was difficult being in the same place as Potter due to the fact that their offices were five floors apart, but Draco usually managed to find an excuse to take a trip down to the Department of Magical Law Enforcement on the second floor. Unfortunately, coming up with all these ingenious ideas took up majority of Draco's time and it had been a fair while since he'd paid Potter a visit.

But who cared, really? All that mattered now was the fact that Draco had finally, finally received that book he'd ordered a fortnight ago that would definitely help him with his area of expertise. Excitedly, Draco tore the plain brown paper from the package he'd found sitting at his desk that morning and revealed the simple, mahogany, hard-bound book he had been longing to see forever. Engraved in gold on its cover was the title: Basic Hexes for the Busy and Vexed.

Draco smirked, feeling immensely satisfied with himself. He flicked it open and began reading, his eyes widening at the contents page. There were definitely some rather interesting options, and he couldn't wait to start –

"Mr. Malfoy!"

A voice called from outside Draco's small office. He glanced up just as his secretary, Miss Heidi Macavoy, a former Hufflepuff, opened his door a crack and peered in. He sighed, annoyed at being interrupted, and nodded for her to enter. She stepped into the room, her expression similar to one a child would have after eating a lemon. "The manager of the Appleby Arrows is on his way up," she informed him. "He says he would like you to reconsider your decision to continue the ban his team."

Draco groaned. "Tell him I'll reconsider when his fans reconsider shooting arrows at innocent spectators and referees during games," he snapped. "I'm busy and do not wish to be disturbed."

Macavoy rolled her eyes. "Yes, sir," she replied, quite used to Draco's many definitions of the word "busy" by now. "But you do realise that he's going to burst into your office no matter what I say?"

"He can't do that if I'm not in," Draco said decidedly, striding out of the room quickly. "If anyone asks, I've gone to do some Very Important Work!" he added, calling over his shoulder. Being head of this department wasn't easy. He was only allowed to take thirteen teams per year to play in the League, he was used to having angry Wizards come after his head. Whenever the situation became too life-threatening, Draco preferred to step out. Especially, when it came to dealing with annoying managers who really had no right to complain about their ineligibility in the Quidditch League.

Draco had just decided that he'd grab a cup of coffee as an excuse when someone called out to him. "Slacking off again, Malfoy?"

Draco started, spinning around, and was extremely surprised to see Potter striding out of the Ludicrous Patents Office. "What's it to you?" he demanded, glancing around fervently. He didn't want to get caught by that Appleby Arrows manager – although it would be just typical for Potter to ruin everything for him as usual. "And what are you doing here?"

"Some case involving illegal patenting," the infuriatingly calm man replied. "No big deal; I was just heading back down. Have fun avoiding Howlers – I saw a rather nasty-looking one with your name on it flying up the stairs."

Draco glared after him, about to retaliate, when he spotted the familiar top hat of a manager he really didn't want to see right now exiting the lift. He hurriedly dashed around a corner and disappeared from sight. He was instantly annoyed by the fact that he hadn't been able to shoot a clever, sass-filled comeback at Potter. He couldn't possibly let Potter win this! He had never allowed such an occurring before, and he certainly wasn't about to start now!

Draco scowled, feeling quite angry with himself for allowing Potter to get away with speaking to him like that. He frowned, forcing his brilliant brain to think of a plan to get back at him. When he did, a devilish smirk formed across his lips. It was time to put that book he had ordered to good use.

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See you guys next week (hopefully)!