He had been stuck at home for a few days. Not for any pressing reason, he'd spotted Astoria and her sister out shopping with Scorpius and the welcome sight of his son shook his belief that he had done the right thing in letting Astoria have full custody of the boy. So he went home so he wouldn't do something he'd regret, like going to Astoria and taking his son. He knew that wouldn't be a good thing.

Since he'd begun re-integrating himself into society again, Draco found the emptiness of the Manor suffocating. So, he did what Potion Masters do when they are bored. He went into his lab in the basement and began brewing all sorts of potions. Mostly, the more expensive ones, at least to those that didn't have family fortunes to fall back on.

In all honesty if he hadn't been dragged out of the lab at regular intervals by his slightly sadistic house-elf he probably wouldn't of even taken a break to eat.

After about a week of that, he had filled at least three shelves full of potions that he had no use for. Then an idea hit him. What if he used a place to sell them, not for his profit of course, towards something that he'd think of in the future.

Draco washed the last cauldron and his hands before putting it away properly (his lab was the only place in the Manor that Draco cleaned himself), he headed to his study and once at his desk, he began to draft a letter.



To the owner of the Yelling Compass,

I have a business proposition for you.

You have a shop, I make potions.

However, since few people trust my family name I would like to use your place to sell potions secretly. I don't want the payment for anything though. Keep it, donate it, throw it away for all I care. I just feel like doing something and this is the only thing I'm actually good at.

I am a tested and registered Potions Master, so nothing will be sold that is below exceptional quality. I can assure you of that.

Let me know what you think and get back to me as soon as you can.

Thank you,

Malfoy




After looking it over Draco nodded to himself, folded the parchment closed and placed it in an envelope. He sealed it with his Malfoy seal stamped into the dark green wax he kept on hand and stood to hand the letter to his owl Gerion. He knew his owl would get the letter there, so after watching him fly off, Draco went back to his lab just in case everything worked out.

Liam had just sat down at his kitchen table with his morning coffee when an unknown owl dropped a letter on his empty plate. He picked up the envelope and told the owl that there were treats and water on the counter. Opening the letter he read it quickly before deciding to send a reply back.

He went into his bedroom and quickly penned a reply at the desk and went back to the kitchen. "Can you take this reply to your owner?" he asked the owl. Seeming to answer him, the owl finished it's treat and grabbed the letter and took off out the window.

The owl made quick time towards his owner's home, and dropped letter on the desk in the study.

Draco found the letter when he made his way to his study after finishing brewing a batch of Pain Reliever potion.


Mr. Malfoy,

While I am still unsure why you chose my shop of all places to conduct your business, I am also honored that you chose to do so.

I have never thought to sell discounted potions in my shop, my fondness centers around rare and obscure, or old books, but I'm always open to new things coming in.

Maybe a trial run is best to start. A month or so, just to see if anyone actually seems interested. I'd hate to agree to our partnership, and then nothing moves. I did remember that you didn't want anyone knowing that you were involved in the actual selling, I do not know how that will work, but in the future maybe we can figure that out.

Give me a few days to think about it, and I'll get back to you.

Darrow
The Yelling Compass



Draco understood that the man would need some time to consider it. He just hoped it wouldn't take too long.

Draco had just finished lunch when the reply from Liam Darrow came to him.

Dear Mr. Malfoy,

While I would love to accept your idea and let you come and stock some of your potions in my shop, I have been told that I am a might too trusting.  Therefore, I would like to meet with you at your earliest convenience at my shop. 

If you do not want to be seen, as I'm assuming by your request that you sell potions anonymously, I have an apparition spot behind my shop.  It leads into my storage room if that is more amenable to you.  I look forward to meeting to talk this over.  Let me know when I can expect you.

Darrow.

Running a hand over his face, Draco contemplated if this was a good idea.  However, he couldn't blame the man for being cautious.

Heading to his study he sent a quick reply back, and then went upstairs to get dressed.

After seeing that no one was in his shop at the moment, he headed upstairs to his flat to get something to munch on and to check and see if any owls had delivered mail. 

Sure enough, there on his kitchen table was a reply from Draco Malfoy.

Mr. Darrow,

Thank you for the opportunity to come and speak with you about the proposition.  I'll be round your shop in a bout an hour, and while I do thank you for the offer to use your apparition spot, I'll come in the front door of your shop just like everyone else.

Malfoy.

Now all he had to do was wait.