Narcissa watched them all arrive for luncheon. She'd expected only Draco. It seemed a bit early in the game for them to be working as a unit. Hermione was probably behind it. Brash Gryffindor. She sighed.

"Impetuous youth, it is good to see you." She rose slightly to receive her son's buss to her cheek which he dutifully surrendered. "I see you have brought guests."

"My business partners, Mother." Draco inclined his head. "I believe you are acquainted with Miss. Granger and Mr. Nott."

Narcissa smiled at the pair and nodded her head slightly. It was too much fun watching them to drag her eyes away. There was an awkwardness about how they moved as a group. It would be a joy to watch them all grow into the sleek predators they were meant to be.

"I do believe I have met Mr. Nott a time or two. He did scamper through the garden naked at one time. I believe you boys were not yet two." Narcissa smirked as both boys blushed.

"It is a delight to see you again, Mrs. Malfoy." Theo bowed with perfect form. He really was a dear child.

"I think it's wonderful that you've taken on Miss. Granger as a partner." She smiled and glanced between Theo and Draco before turning to smile fully at Hermione. "I'm sure Theo and Draco will treat you with the respect you deserve, Miss. Granger."

"They are both quite wonderful." Hermione blushed. "And you should be calling me Hermione. After all the work we did together to design a class for Muggleborns, formalities seem a bit unnecessary."

"Of course, dear." Narcissa smiled. "You must call me Narcissa, Hermione."

They settled into their seats and the conversation flowed easily between them. The boys looked slightly panicked as they watched on. It was too amusing. They spoke of inconsequential things. It wasn't as if they were planning world domination. The food arrived and the conversation slowed, but that was also a delight. The meal drew to a close, and Narcissa hid her smirk as both men tried to help Hermione from her chair. The awkwardness of it was a special delight.

"Don't let this dear girl work too hard." Narcissa looked pointedly between the boys before turning to Hermione. "And don't be afraid to crack the whip with them. They are well used to my doing so."

Hermione blushed deeply again.

"Such a delight." Narcissa smiled and patted Draco's cheek. Her beautiful boy had a beautiful future ahead of him. She'd let Lucius do the paterfamilias thing, and he had failed. She tilted her head and pretended to flick some dust from her son's robes. She wouldn't fail him.

Ron stared at Luna as she hummed and danced around with files in her hands. She was still as loony as ever. Her clothing was improved, but the song was annoyingly repetitive. She hummed and danced in the same odd syncopation, and he hated it.

He was tired of being ignored. Watching her file papers was boring. She wasn't being the least bit helpful, and he couldn't figure out how to get her on his side.

"You should go before they get back." Luna smiled at him with that wide smile that had always made him uncomfortable. "The wrackspurts don't help you express yourself well. You need to think about what you should say and how you should say it."

"I'm here to knock some sense into Hermione. Neither of you should be here with the snakes." Ron glared around the office. "What kind of person puts this many plants inside?"

"I do." Luna smiled at the seven foot variegated sansevieria. The purple and green leaves reached up toward the glass roof. "The natural light in this room is wonderful for the magical varieties."

"Magical varieties of what?" Ron snarled.

"What are you growing?"

"Snake grass." Luna grinned wide and stroked her fingers along a single blade like leaf. "It seemed apropos."

"You really are looney. I should never have let Hermione be friends with you." Ron planted his hands on her desk. "Let the snakes deal with you. I'm taking Hermione out of here."

"No." Hermione's voice was clear and clipped as it echoed in the large room. "I'm not going anywhere with you, Ronald."

"Mione, you can't want to be here." Ron managed not to roll his eyes. "These snakes have done something to you. We'll get you sorted at the Ministry."

"Get me sorted?" Hermione's voice dropped, and her hair sparked with stray magic.

Ron took a step back and bumped into the desk. He couldn't think of anything to placate Hermione. His confidence faltered as she stepped forward. The snakes moved to the sides. The chess player in him was well aware that he'd lost this game.

"When you realize that they're just using you, you'd best hope I haven't replaced you." Ron crossed his arms over his chest. "I'll let you come to your senses. Pity you aren't smart enough to know a good thing when it's looking you right in the face."

He brushed past her as he left. No one bid him adieu or acknowledged his leaving. The two Slytherins watched him though. He felt their gazes on his skin like curse fire.

Hermione took a deep breath and let her excess magic flow through her before using it to transfigure the boring office furniture in their waiting area to club chairs and a chesterfield couch. The tables twisted and reformed into dark wood that gleamed in the light. She let her breath out slowly. It was infinitely better to use her rage induced magic to improve something than to destroy it. She flicked her fingers and the plain area rug became a lovely Aubusson.

"I think that might be too nice for a waiting area." Theo stepped next to her. "People won't want to leave."

"You just want to steal it for your study." Draco walked over and flopped down onto the couch. "It's comfortable, too."

"A nice painting on the wall and a few more plants will set the mood perfectly." Luna came out from behind her desk. "We want a modern twist on the pureblood classics. I think a muggle artist would be best. A Picasso from the blue period?"

"No." Hermione shook her head. "A Modigliani."

"I think a Miró would be fantastic." Theo grinned and surveyed the wall. "Or a Kandinsky?"

"Why don't we get one of each? One for each office and one for this far too fancy waiting room?" Draco smirked. "Then we can shift them around when we want to look at something new. I'll see what's available."

Hermione blinked as he headed up the stairs towards their offices. He had changed so much, but at his core he was still very much a Malfoy. Spoiled rotten and wonderful in turns.

"If you want any say in what he buys, you'd best get up there." Luna pushed Hermione and Theo on the shoulders. "He's impetuous."

Hermione grabbed Theo's hand and dragged him up the stairs. He didn't protest or try to shake her off. She grinned back at him, and he squeezed her fingers.

"He does these things." Theo shook his head as he caught up to her. "If you say you want something around him, there's a good chance it will show up."

"Good to know." Hermione nodded. "Does this only hold true with material things?"

"No." Theo grinned. "He actually went to classes to learn how to give a perfect massage. Ask him for a foot rub and let him go wild."

Hermione giggles as they strolled down the hallway to Draco's office with their hands clasped and swinging between them.

Lucius frowned at his wife as she hummed. She was busily arranging flowers. He examined the bouquet and tried to understand why this particular task took such effort. He knew better than to ask. Some things were simply beyond him.

"Do you think it would be a good idea to throw a party to welcome Miss Granger into the business?" Narcissa glanced up from her flowers to smile at him. "They would be able to see how different she is from the young ladies of our acquaintance."

"I suppose." Lucius frowned. "Do we have to invite her usual crowd?"

"It would be rude not to do so." Narcissa smirked. "Imagine how uncomfortable our son will be with Potter in attendance."

Lucius smirked and imagined his son's rage. Narcissa stepped back from the table and he admired her work. She always knew how to make things work the way she wanted.