Refashioning Affection

Chapter Eleven: An Understanding...Of Sorts.


Hermione walked into work the next day nervous but confident she could work things out with Lucius.

She made her way to her office and found Lucius standing in front of the hearth.

‘I really need to get a secretary, or a decent locking charm,’ she thought.

“Lucius?” she asked.

The blond turned around, surprised by her presence, but quickly walked toward her.

“I am so sorry,” he half whispered, coming to a halt about three feet from her.

“Lucius, I shouldn’t have…”

“No, you had to. We need to know where the other stands if this is going to work between us. I accept what you have to give me and give myself to you in return.” As he spoke he closed the gap and gentle cradled her cheek in his palm.

“I would never forgive myself if I gave up a chance to be something greater to you than just a co-worker and friend.”

Hermione reached up and copied his stance. Her fingers gently danced over his high cheekbones.

“Are you sure?” she asked.

“Yes.”

“You have nothing to be sorry about, Lucius. I went off at you instead of explaining myself.”

“Nonsense, I was being a prat,” he said as he brought his other hand up to rest on her hip.

“Yes, but so was I.” She stepped closer and rose up on tiptoes to kiss his nose. He smiled down at her and returned the gesture.

“So, we are going to try this?” Lucius asked.

“Most definitely.” She smiled at him.

He kissed her. It was different from the first one they had shared. He was gentle, exploring her reactions and holding her like a precious gem.

Hermione was the one to deepen the contact. She pushed herself against his taller frame, wanting to feel the hard body beneath all the layers of work clothes he wore. Lucius drank her in: her scent, her taste and the feel of her soft curves. She was utterly intoxicating.

The clock struck the half hour; its chimes pulled the two from their embrace.

“Nine-thirty, I have to meet with the governors soon.” Lucius scowled at the offending timepiece.

“I should really get to work. Are you free anytime today?”

“Sadly, no. Are you free tomorrow?” he asked.

“Only at lunch time. Care to join me?”

“I would love to; until then, my dear.” He kissed her hard once more and swept out of the room, leaving Hermione flushed and distracted for the next few hours.

*****************************

Wednesday passed slowly, but Thursday morning was agonizingly slow for the pair. Hermione was trying to focus on the new team outline for the meeting she had later on that day with the Shetland team. Lucius was up to his neck in applications for the new position at Hogwarts, a bunch of nutters in his opinion, but he had to look over them all.

When, finally, lunch time came around, the two were more than happy to drop everything and make their way to the lifts to meet.

Lucius smiled as he watched Hermione exit her office. She still had a pen in her hair and her cloak was half on.

“Couldn’t wait to see me?” Lucius asked as he tucked her hand into the crook of his arm.

“No, I really wanted to get away from the paperwork,” she joked, but gave him a peck on the cheek to get rid of the pout on his face.

They made it to Babel before the cold November sleet began to fall. They settled into the booth in the back and Lucius ordered one of his favorites for them. They talked about work and the progress they had made with the Vaults, deciding a trip to the house was going to be necessary.

“We will have to find some time when we are both free to go down and work for a couple of days,” suggested Hermione.

“I will have to check my diary and the Governors’ calendar and let you know.”

“Excellent, the curse breaker reports can only give you so much without actually seeing the sight it yourself.”

Once the meal was done, Lucius decided to make a move.

“Are you free this Friday night?” he asked.

“I believe so. Any naughty plans for me Lucius?” she teased with a smirk.

She had no idea. “I have the Manor to myself this Friday evening and was wondering if you would like to join me for dinner.”

“That would be lovely. What time should I arrive?”

“I will open the floo at seven, if that is good for you?”

“Perfect.”

The pair enjoyed a quick snog in the lift. When the doors opened, Hermione slipped out quickly, but not before she gave his gorgeous bum a pinch.

She laughed as she heard him growl behind her.

******************************

Six o’clock Friday night, Hermione was standing in front of her wardrobe, in her favorite black bra and knickers set and thigh high stockings, trying to figure out what to wear to dinner.

There was the classic little black dress. She pulled the dress out and laid it on the bed. There was the dark plum one, always a possibility; it was set out next to the black one. Then there was an emerald green dress she had bought on a whim during her travels.

She put that one in the line-up. She stared at the garments hoping one would just jump off the bed and onto her. She heard her floo open and then the voice of Ron coming through the house.

“’Mione, are you home?”

“Yes, Ron, I am in my bedroom.”

She listened as his footsteps came closer until he was outside the door and let out a wolf whistle.

“Damn, who is the lucky bloke?”

“A wizard I work with,” she responded, somehow they had managed to keep their new relationship private.

“That hunky Highlander, I hope.” He smiled as he entered the room in his fitted jeans and under shirt, carrying two different shirts with him.

“Looks like you are having the same problem I am.” Hermione changed the subject.

“Yeah, I am just not sure what to wear tonight.”

“I say the dark blue, matches your eyes.” She smiled as he shrugged on the collared shirt and buttoned up the front. She looked him up and down, his black leather loafers, perfectly fit jeans; the blue did bring out his eyes and his slightly messy, red hair. He cut quite a handsome figure.

“Do I look alright?” he asked and ran his hand through his hair.

“Delectable, I think someone may be getting lucky tonight.” She winked at him and he blushed but chuckled.

“You will be too, if you show up just in that. Gods, if you had worn something like that while we were dating, you may have not made it away a virgin.”

“Oh gee thanks, Ron.” She rolled her eyes at him.

“What! You’re hot Hermione,” he said as he went over to the bed and examined the dresses.

“So, what are your plans tonight?” he asked.

“Dinner, then some conversation, I guess.”

“Sex, yes or no?” Ron questioned.

“Oh Ronald, I don’t know!” Hermione wasn’t sure what Lucius wanted, or had planned for the evening. She knew what she wanted but she didn’t want to push anything to fast.

“I say the purple, then. It is not quite as seductive as the green but more promising than the basic black,” he explained.

“Right then, purple it is.” She went for the dress but Ron snatched it up first. He unzipped the dress and she raised her arms so he could drape it over her frame. She turned around and he zipped up the back.

“You look beautiful, darling,” he whispered from behind her.

“Thanks, Ron.”

“I best be off. I’ve got a hot date tonight I can’t be late for.” He smiled and kissed the top of her head before he headed back to the floo.

Hermione put in small pearl stud earrings and twisted her hair up in a comb. She added a light layer of makeup and glanced at the clock. Five of seven.

She slipped on a pair of flats and slipped her wand into her handbag. With one last glance in the mirror she made her way to the floo.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

While Hermione had been agonizing over her outfit, Lucius had been popping around the Manor desperate to find the right room to dine in.

He had ruled out the dining room as too cold and impersonal; the sunroom was too casual; the greenhouse was in disarray, and the bedroom was a bit too presumptuous.

His elves were following him around trying to calm their flustered master.

“Master, what about the Library?” Loral, his head elf asked.

“The Library?” he repeated looking down at the small creature.

“You said the Miss liked books as much as you,” Loral explained.

“Loral, you are a little genius.”

“Thank you, master.” The elf glowed under the praise of her master.

*******************

By ten of seven, the elves had set up a lovely dinner for two in the library. Lucius sat on the leather couch in front of the hearth waiting for Hermione.

He had decided on something slightly more relaxed for their evening together. The sight of his black slacks, white shirt with the first couple of buttons undone and green waist coat was what greeted Hermione as she stepped out of the floo at seven on the dot.

“Good evening, Hermione,” he said as he welcomed her into his home. Gracefully, he rose from the couch and gave her a warm embrace and a kiss on the cheek.

“You look beautiful,” he said into her ear.

“You look dashing, as always.”

“Come, dinner is waiting.”

Hermione looked around and noticed the walls, all the way to the vaulted ceiling, were covered in books.

“Is this your library?” she asked in awe, as she spun around to take in all of the volumes.

“Indeed, I figured we would be more comfortable here. Most of the Manor is impersonal and cold.” He pulled out one of chairs for her and then seated himself.

*****************

After dinner, they sat curled on the sofa together, Hermione nursing a glass of red wine and Lucius had his whiskey.

“This is really a stunning room, Lucius. I don’t know how you leave it.”

“I do love it here, but there are some things I enjoy more then books.” He smirked at her and she gasped in mock horror.

“Something better than the pursuit of knowledge?”

“Not all knowledge is learned from books, my darling,” he whispered as he moved his head down toward hers and allowed one hand to stroke up her calf.

“What type of knowledge are we discussing here, sir?” she asked, her hand moving to the buttons of his waistcoat and sneaking inside.

“Carnal, of course.” With that he sealed his lips over hers.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

A/N Sorry for the delay, my poor beta is swamped with 'real world' work, but a huge thanks for getting it back AQAP!

So our new couple shall have all they desire, kind-of.

Thanks to all who read/reviewed/enjoyed and hoped this one was enjoyable as well!

xoxo Sarah