Closest To Heaven That I'll Ever Be

9. I'm All Yours

It was strange how quickly an ordinary Wednesday evening had turned into something I hadn't expected.

Less than an hour ago, I'd been halfway up a ladder, counting potion bottles and planning another thoroughly uneventful evening of finishing my stocktake, closing the shop and going home alone.

Now Narcissa Malfoy, Pansy Parkinson and Blaise Zabini were standing in my apothecary, Draco Malfoy had just informed me that he'd been trying to arrange a meeting with me for weeks, and I'd somehow agreed to hear his mysterious business proposition that very evening.

Not exactly how I'd imagined the night going.

Still, I was curious.

Whatever Draco wanted to discuss clearly mattered to him. He'd gone to the trouble of sending an owl, trying to track down the owner through the Ministry and eventually coming into the shop himself when neither attempt had gotten him anywhere.

The least I could do was hear him out.

Besides, I had absolutely nothing else planned.

A fact that sounded considerably more depressing the longer I thought about it.

"Tonight works perfectly," I assured him.

Draco gave a small nod. "You're sure?"

"Positive."

Narcissa smiled. "Wonderful." There was something about the way she said it that immediately made me suspicious.

Not the word itself.

Wonderful was a perfectly normal response to hearing that Draco and I were going to discuss his business proposition that evening.

It was the smile. I narrowed my eyes. Narcissa Malfoy looked entirely innocent. Far too innocent.

Her hands were clasped elegantly in front of her, her expression serene, but there was the tiniest glint in her eyes that made me feel as though I'd somehow walked into the middle of a conversation I hadn't been present for.

I glanced at Draco. He didn't seem to notice anything unusual. Or, if he did, he was very good at pretending otherwise.

Then again, this was his mother. Perhaps he'd spent his entire life learning to ignore that particular expression.

I looked back at Narcissa. She smiled wider. Oh, she was definitely up to something.

"What?" I asked.

"What?"

"That."

"What, dear?"

"That look."

She feigned innocence. "I don't know what you're talking about."

I stared at her. She stared back. "Narcissa."

"Addalie."

There was a warning laugh hiding beneath my voice now.

"Why do you look so pleased?"

"I'm simply happy that the two of you have managed to arrange your meeting."

"Right."

"I am."

"Of course."

She tilted her head, looking every inch the picture of innocence. "I've been telling Draco for weeks that he ought to come and speak with the owner personally."

Draco sighed. "Mother."

"What?"

"You don't need to explain."