Closest To Heaven That I'll Ever Be

10. Brave

I took another sip of Firewhisky, partly because I wanted one and partly because I needed something to do with my hands after Draco had so casually informed me that he thought my younger self had been pretty great.

He was still wearing that faintly amused expression.

I ignored it. Or tried to.

"So," I said, setting my glass down on the coffee table. "You keep talking about this business proposition, but I actually know very little about what you do."

Draco leaned back against the sofa. "That sounded accusatory."

"It wasn't."

"It did."

I scoffed. "Fine. Mildly curious with a hint of suspicion."

"Better."

I smiled. "What exactly do you and Blaise do?"

He considered the question for a second. "A bit of everything, really."

"That's vague."

"Because there isn't one simple answer." He shifted slightly, turning more towards me. "Blaise and I have several businesses together. Some we started ourselves, some we invested in, some we've bought into over the years."

Draco took a drink. "We're both heavily involved in investments. We own several properties together, mostly commercial. A few residential developments."

"Very glamorous."

"Extremely."

"There must be nothing more exciting than discussing lease agreements."

"You'd be surprised."

"I absolutely would."

His mouth twitched. "We also have interests in a few hotels."

That caught my attention. "Hotels?"

"Three currently."

"Where?"

"One in London. One outside Bath. One in France."

I stared at him. "You own a hotel in France?"

He continued. "Yes. Then there are the vineyards."

I blinked. "The vineyards?"

"Two."

I laughed. "Draco Malfoy, are you secretly eighty?"

He frowned. "What?"

"Property. Hotels. Vineyards. Investment portfolios." I gestured towards him. "All you're missing is a cigar and a chair by the fire while you complain about taxes."

"I do have a chair by the fire."

"Of course you do."

"And I complain about taxes frequently."

I stared at him.

He smiled.

"You're making my point for me."

"I'll accept that."

He set his glass down. "The vineyards came through family investments originally. Blaise's mother had interests in one of them, and we expanded into another."

"So wine?"

"Mostly wine. Some magical varieties as well."

"What does magical wine mean?"

"Some have potion properties. Others use enchanted grapes or ageing methods."

I tilted my head. "That's actually quite interesting."