The surprise loaded into Malfoy’s question took Paul aback. Over the passing weeks, he had seen Malfoy and Potter share almost too-intimate encouragements, but in that moment, it seemed to Paul like he was the first person that had offered this as a viable option for Malfoy.<br/>It made him nod, a little surprised himself.<br/>“People are paying note of your publishings, and the work you<span style="font-style: italic">have</span>done with your name attached to it holds up. I think you show great promise in the field,” he shared, and he almost smiled, before pausing once again with consideration.<br/>“I cannot offer you a job, but I will strongly encourage you to apply when a position opens up,” Paul said, his tone tilting back to a note of professionalism as though there suddenly was an increased risk that anybody would overhear. A public office, the DMLE could not scout for talent, although Paul had often enough wished so.<br/>This was one such case, for when he followed it up, his tone had once again grown loaded, but with something else entirely. “And one will.”