Lucius\' Bookshelves

Chapter 15

Hermione showered and dressed slowly. They hadn’t talked about it, but Hermione guessed that Lucius wanted to spend some the time with Draco without the added element of having to defend his relationship with her.

And it would most certainly be a defense. Because no matter how well she had gotten along with Draco as Harry’s friend, she had a feeling that he would regard her differently as his father’s – his father’s what? Girlfriend? Whatever. The title didn’t matter – she doubted Draco would be thrilled regardless of how Lucius referred to her.

And, there was the whole other issue of how Harry would react if he found out. No, it would likely be ‘when’ and not ‘if’. She was uncertain as to how Harry would react. On the one hand, Harry and Lucius had been mortal enemies for years, and it was unlikely that Harry’s thoughts would change overnight. On the other hand, Harry was her best friend, and she knew he wanted to see her happy. Of course, Harry was living with a Malfoy himself. Which could either be in her favor, or against it. And she wasn’t sure which it would be.

She sighed. Damn. Certainly, living with Lucius was going to cause her some problems. Definitely, the Ministry would fire her if she didn’t get the chance to quit first. And there would be a lot of old friends who would likely disassociate themselves from her when they heard the news.

Damn it, Granger. You can’t keep living your life around someone else’s expectations of what you should and shouldn’t do. If you like him, and he likes you, that’s all that matters, right? She frowned at her reflection in the mirror. It was never as easy as that. Even she knew that.

“If you do that too often, you’re face will freeze like that.” Great. Her mirror had turned into her mother. And besides, wasn’t that just a thing Muggles told their children? She didn’t realize that it was a common threat in the wizarding world, too. She glared at the mirror.

A small smile crossed her face as she pulled on a long skirt. Images of Lucius’ private study flitted through her mind, even though she had chosen the skirt to make her look like a demure scholar.

She pulled her hair back, and surveyed the results in the mirror. “Looking a little prim there, aren’t you dearie?” She ignored the mirror, although the response was what she was hoping for.

Not sure where they would have gone, Hermione stopped to ask one of the house elves as she walked down the hallway. She entered the drawing room, and Harry looked up first.

“Hermione! I am so glad to see you.” He got up and pulled her into a friendly embrace before stepping back. His voice was softer, a hint of concern apparent. “You okay, Herm? Things going all right here?” Hermione nodded, a hint of a smile on her face.

She tried to make her voice sound as natural as possible. “Yeah. I heard you guys had arrived, and I wanted to come down. Everything’s going well. A lot of work, but it’s going well.” She smiled again. “It’s so good to see you Harry. Everything good with you?”

Harry nodded and smiled. “Couldn’t be better.” He sat back down on the couch as Draco got up from his conversation with his father and gave Hermione a clumsy hug.

“Hi, Herm. Good to see you.”

“Good to see you, too Draco. You’re looking well.” Hermione smirked slightly at Draco’s less-than-enthusiastic tone. He had never quite forgiven her for being more successful at school, and for being Harry’s best friend. Eventually, she and Draco had learned to get along for Harry’s sake. At times Hermione even enjoyed Draco’s sense of humor. Mostly, though, her feelings for Draco were based in her relationship with Harry. If Harry loved him, Hermione had long ago decided that she could learn to like the blond ferret, too. Draco had grudgingly come to the same realization, and they had settled into an uneasy friendship. Briefly, she realized that she’d have to like him for Lucius’ sake, too. He sat back down, and Hermione caught Lucius giving her the briefest hint of a smile before turning back to his son. Hermione sat on the couch next to Harry.

“So how’s the work coming, Herm? Are you okay with book burning? When I saw that – I had to go –“ he added apologetically, “I knew you’d be sick about it. I mean, it was all bad stuff, but I know how you feel about burning anything with words on it.” He smiled, hoping to soften his words.

Hermione nodded. “Yeah. That really got to me. In fact, I think that once I finishe, Ie, I’m going to quit the Ministry. I don’t think I’m cut out for that sort of thing.”

“Quit?” His voice was louder than he intended, and he noticed Lucius and Draco looking over at him curiously. He lowered his voice. “But what will you do?”

She shrugged her shoulders. “I don’t know. Maybe Dumbledore will have something open – maybe he’ll need a professor or an assistant or something. Or, I don’t know. I’m sure I’ll find something. I just don’t think I’m quite cut for for the Ministry.”

Lucius had been listening to Hermione’s answer. He wasn’t concerned about her plans for the future; he felt that they had already addressed those. No, he was interested in whether she would say anything to Harry about him. Interesting. She obviously didn’t think that Harry would take the news lightly. Perhaps that was a prudent decision, since he doubted that Draco would be pleased, either. He turned his attention back to Draco, still half-listening to Hermione’s conversation

“So, how’s he been treating you? Has it been okay? I know this has got to be a tough assignment. Particularly with his history.” Harry inclined his head towards Lucius briefly, and Hermione tried to avoid giving a look that would be a cross between panic and amusement.

Hermione nodded. “Really. It’s been fine. Lucius has been really pleasant, and has been very good about giving me access to, uh, everything on the estate.” She immediately saw Harry flinch at her casual use of Lucius’ name. She had used it deliberately, trying to gage Harry’s potential reaction to their relationship. His response had given her all the answer she needed.

“Herm, we need to talk later. I can tell.” Harry’s voice was serious, and Hermione wondered how Harry would broach the subject.

The discussion drifted to other topics before Draco stood up. “C’mon, Har. Let me show you my room – our rooms,” he grinned, winking at his partner. Hermione caught the briefest glimpse of distaste crossing Lucius’ face before he compose his features into a half-smile.

“I, uh, I think I’ll head back to my, uh, chambers.” Hermione managed, trying to remember that she was supposed to be nothing more than a tolerated visitor from the Ministry.

“Before you go, Miss Granger. A word with you, please.” Lucius’ voice was appropriate, and betrayed no underlying feelings. Hermione nodded, watching as Harry followed Draco out of the room.

Hermione walked over to Lucius. “I gather that you are not interested in divulging the nature of our relationship with Harry?” A raised eyebrow, rather than the tone itself indicated that it was a question.

“Well, I wasn’t certain if you wanted to say anything to Draco – or not, and so I thought it might be better to, uh, not say anything at the moment. Lucius nodded thoughtfully.

“I think it will be best to tell him, but I think I might tell him privately – tomorrow morning, perhaps, and that will give you a chance to tell Harry at the same time.” He grinned briefly, his fingers brushing against her cheek, his voice softer. “I do expect you in my rooms tonight, though.” Hermione cast him a questioning glance. “Floo. They’ll have no idea. We’ll have to finish what we-\" He looked up sharply, dropping his hand as he heard Draco enter the room. “Fuck.”

Hermione looked up, her thoughts still on Lucius’ hotath ath on her skin. “Father.” She watched Draco walk across the room, his eyes narrowed in suspicion. “You must have changed the wards on my room. I’ll need you to change them back.”

****

Harry lay in bed, the blonde head resting peacefully on his chest. Suddenly Draco sat up. “I think there’s something going on there.” Harry shook his head. He couldn’t believe it. Draco must have misinterpreted whatever he had seen.

“I’m telling you,” Draco persistedI thI think my father’s fucking her.” Harry flinched at Draco’s loathing tone, although he couldn’t tell whether Draco meant it for the senior Malfoy or Hermione.

“Not Hermione. I can’t see her and your father…” Harry made a face at the thought. “No. I can’t see it at all. I bet he was just talking to her about something. I can’t see it at all. I mean, your Dad’s not really the nicest guy in the world,” Draco snorted, “And Hermione’s not, well, she’s not, uh, from a wizarding family.”

“That doesn’t bother my father. I mean, yeah, for having kids, and all, you’ve got to be married to an aristocratic pureblood, even if you can’t stand the person, but for fooling around? Nope. My father will sleep with anything with a pulse.” And he obviously is. Open your eyes Harry, she’s probably begging him for it.

Harry appeared to consider the idea, although his mind had rejected the idea forthwith. He finally responded languidly, ruffling Draco’s hair, “I think you Malfoys just have sex on the brain. It’s the blond hair that does it.” Harry pulled his lover back to him, and Draco giggled.


****

“Ready luv? Or do you need me to fix your tie?” Draco grinned wickedly, coming up behind Harry.

“Drac’, my dear, if you make any more attempts to fix my tie, we will have to tell your father that there is simply no way that we can make it to dinner tonight,” Harry replied, giving up and charming his tie into place. “But what is up with the ‘black ties/formal gowns requested’ nonsense?”

Draco scowled. “He’s trying to impress you as ‘lord of the manor.’ And he’s trying to remind me that he’s my father, and that he’s in charge here.” And he’s doing it to impress Hermione, too. I know it, Draco added silently. “But watch out. He can be pretty stunning looking when he’s in formal dress robes. Just you don’t go getting any designs on him, because I’m not sharing.”

Harry turned around and gave Draco a light kiss. “Don’t worry dear. I don’t care how stunning looking your father could be. You’re the man for me.”

Draco preened, but couldn’t help adding, “You watch, though. Just watch how Hermione looks at my Father. He’s fucking her.”

Again Harry was surprised at the venom in his lover’s voice. He couldn’t help but wonder why Draco was so upset about this. He hoped to hell it wasn’t true, for Hermione’s sake, but he couldn’t understDracDraco’s reaction. If anything, Harry should be the one more upset.

****

“’Formal gowns requested’?” Hermione smiled. How very like Lucius. She looked at the note from the house elves again, and was struck with a sudden idea. She whipped out her wand, made a few transfigurations, charmed her hair, got dressed, and headed to the drawing room. She encountered Harry and Draco in the hallway, and gave them both appreciative grins.

“Wow! Look at the two of you. Very, very sharp. And Draco, I’m impressed that you got Harry into something other than those baggy jeans of his,” Hermione smiled.

“It took a little careful, er, persuasion,” Draco leered. “You look fantastic, Hermione. Absolutely gorgeous.” Yes. His father had to be fucking her. No question. He’d never seen her look the way she did now.

Harry nodded. Hermione had swept up her hair, leaving a few curling tendrils at the nape of her neck, and was wearing a deep red strapless gown with a fitted bodice and long flowing skirt. What looked to be a diamond and ruby necklace complimented the dress perfectly.

“Herm. You’re beautiful. And that necklace – that’s nice!” Harry couldn’t help but wonder where Hermione had gotten that. Certainly it wasn’t anything she could afford. Gods. It had better not be a gift from Malfoy.

“This? Thanks. It amazing what a little transfiguration can do to a few small stones.” She smiled. “Gentlemen? Are we ready for pre-dinner drinks?”

Lucius was already in the drawing room. He was very curious to see how Hermione would be dressed. Hopefully she wouldn’t resort to those long-sleeved things she had been wearing. He poured himself a scotch, and had a few sips, hearing the energetic voices coming down the hall. He looked briefly at his clothes. Full dress robes, black with silver trim, black cape with a burgundy lining, high-polish black leather boots, rich burgundy silk shirt. His hair was left long; it was rapidly becoming apparent that Hermione preferred it that way.

He looked up as the young people entered the room. Gods. It was going to be hard to pretend that she was just a Ministry representative when she looked like that. He approached her, taking her hand and bringing her knuckles to his mouths. “Gods, Hermione. You are exquisite,” he whispered.

Hermione nodded her thanks, awed with Lucius. Damn. The man was more than impressive. “Thank you. And you – your robes suit you nicely,” she responded, afraid that it would appear suspicious if she said more than that.

Draco nudged Harry discretely as his father approached Hermione. Finally, Lucius’ attentions were drawn to Harry and Draco. “Draco.” Lucius paused. “Son, it is so good to see you here again. And Harry. Very nice to have you here.” He paused. “May I get drinks for you? Hermione? Would you like some scotch? I’ve just opened a new bottle, and I think you’ll find the flavors subtle but distinctive.” Hermione nodded. “And what can I get for you two? Scotch? Sherry? Something else?”

Draco smiled. “Sherry, please. For both of us.” The fact that Hermione drank scotch also interesting, Draco decided. He’d have to find a way to discover whether this was a newly-discovered taste or not.

Drinks in hand, Lucius decided that he wanted to stay close to Hermione, but he still wanted to chat with Draco. So all four adults discussed general subjects amicably.

“So Harry, what are you going to do now? Stay with the Ministry?” Hermione asked, trying to draw attention away from herself.

“Well, now that things are how they are, the, uh, British National Quidditch League has decided to reform, and uh, the Chudley Cannons approached me about becoming their new seeker,” Harry said proudly.

Splendid. It was a good thing he didn’t have much contact with any of thestocstocratic wizarding families any more, Lucius thought. He could just see the conversation: “Oh my son? He’s living with the Chudley Cannons seeker. Yes, the professional quidditch team…” Gods. It was bad enough when someone’s daughter became infatuated with a professional athlete. But your son?

Luckily, Hermione’s reaction covered Lucius’ silence, “Harry! That’s wonderful! And Draco, how about you?”

Harry smiled and put his arm on the sofa behind Draco. “I think I’m going to be a house husband for a while. Bask in his glory, have dinner and martinis ready when he comes home, and all that.” Hermione was sitting close enough to Lucius to hear his low groan. Clearly, though, neither Harry nor Draco heard him, as neither of them reacted in the slightest. Hermione tried to stifle her giggles. Poor Lucius. This was probably such a shock to him.

“What about you, Herm? Going to stick with the Ministry?” Draco asked curiously, having not heard her discussion with Harry earlier.

“Uh. Actually. I’m not sure. I have some fundamental disagreements with some of their policies, and I’m not sure that I can stay with them. So, I don’t know. Maybe, I don’t know. Maybe find a teaching position some place. I don’t know. I’m still trying to figure out what I’m going to do….” Her voice trailed off, until she added brightly, “But I’m not going to worry about it right now. There’s plenty of time for that later.”

Thankfully, one of the elves announced dinner a few minutes later, and the conversation about some at-the-time-6th-year-Hufflepuff that Harry and Draco had known at school died down. Lucius stood up, and offered Hermione his hand to help her up. She smiled at him, her brown eyes looking into his own flint grey ones. Harry noticed the intense looks passing between the two and raised an eyebrow at Draco. Drmeremerely shrugged his shoulders and scowled.

Lucius escorted Hermione into the dining room, his hand brushing briefly on her bare shoulders, his fingers lightly teasing her skin, while they both tried to maintain an outwardly formal demeanor.

In an attempt to appear egalitarian, Lucius opted to not sit at the head of the table. He told himself that he wanted to show Draco that he was not trying to heavily impose the father-son relationship on him. In fact, he was hoping that he might be able to press a few friendly caresses on Hermione without Harry or Draco noticing. The hot tub had left him achingly unsatisfied. So much so, in fact, that he’d had to get himself off in the shower, knowing that he’d have to wait until late in the evening before he could be alone with Hermione.

Draco gave his father a surprised look as Lucius seated Hermione, and then sat next to her; he couldn’t remember when his father hadn’t sat at the head of the table. This was a very interesting development in and of itself. Draco raised his eyebrows in mock surprise at Harry. Harry pretended not to notice.

Dinner progressed smoothly; Draco told his father that he wanted to give Harry a proper tour of the estate tomorrow – a statement which seemed to please Lucius – including, Draco added with a smirk reminiscent of his father’s, the dungeons.

Hermione stifled a giggle, while commenting, “Make sure that he shows you the antique torture devices, Harry – I believe they are family heirlooms.” Harry smiled. He could appreciate Hermione’s sense of humor. Lucius and Draco, however, clearly did not see the humor in the bequeathing of ancient family torture devices.

“So, my father’s taken you down to the dungeons already, huh? I wouldn’t have thought you were the type,” Draco smirked at Harry knowingly. Harry cringed inwardly, praying that it wasn’t true.

Hermione smiled back confidently, “There’s a lot that you don’t know about me. But in this case, I think the answer to your underlying question is that your father gave me a tour of the manor when I first arrived.” No need to mention her other visit. She felt Lucius’ hand patting her familiarly on the leg, the touch as much a promise as a reassurance.

Lucius nodded politely at the conversation. “Draco, you no doubt will want to spend some time giving Harry a thorough tour,” he paused, certain that Draco had youthful fantasies of his lover taking him in multiple and varied locations on the estate (and Lucius harbored no uncertainties as to who was the ‘bottom’ in his son’s relationship, as Draco had never been the dominant type). “But if you could spare me some of your time before you went out – say tomorrow morning? – I would enjoy your company in my study.”

For a brief moment, Draco looked like he was going to contest his father’s request, but he acquiesced. “Of course, Father. No doubt Harry will want to spend some time with Hermione in the morning.”

Both Lucius and Harry nodded their agreement, while Hermione hid a smile. Draco did not have his father’s subtle ability to make a command sound like a simple request. Lucius glanced to his side, catching Hermione’s eyes for a split-second, while he rubbed his thumb along her thigh, his brief gesture indicating to her that he could guess the source of her amusement.

Dinner continued without further friction. As the fruit and cheese platter were being cleaned away, Lucius looked at Harry and Draco, “Drinks in the library.” Lucius’ raised eyebrow suggested that he was making a request, and yet his tone left little room for backing out. Again, Hermione bit back a smile. Draco had definitely not inherited his father’s proficiency with subtle commands.

“And Hermione. You too, please.” Hermione nodded. “It is so rare these days that I get to spend time in the company of others,” his hand traced lazy patterns on Hermione’s leg, “that I would like to take full advantage of these occasions.”

Again, Draco looked as though he wanted to disobey his father, but he didn’t seem to have the courage to actually do it.

****

In the library, Hermione sipper her brandy and watched the other three individuals interact. Ostensibly, she was not a part of the family, but Harry was her friend, and she was interested in hearing about the new flat that Harry and Draco had purchased, as well as Draco’s brief forays into Muggle London.

Lucius’ facial expressions ranged from disdain to horror as the lovers talked about the size of their new place, and Hermione tried hard not to catch his eye; she would have laughed if she had. Particularly since he was trying to act very interested in the conversation. Still, he was making an effort to be pleasant to his son and his son’s lover, and that said something.

****

“Draco. What’s your father done? What are you so angry?” They were back in Draco’s rooms, have seen Hermione safely back to her rooms, despite her assurances that she didn’t need any assistance.

“Sod off, Potter. You wouldn’t understand.”

Harry rolled his eyes. Occasionally, Draco got into a funk over his professed hatred of his aristocratic heritage. Much of it, in Harry’s opinion, was due to unresolved issues between Draco and his father. Which was why he had been supportive of this visit.

“No. You’re right. Not having a father means that I have no way of understanding – or of even being able to listen – to your feelings.” Harry’s voice had a hard edge to it, but the hurt underneath it was obvious. Draco at least had the sense to look chagrined. “Damn it, Draco,” Harry’s voice was much softer, “I’m your partner – share with me whatever you’re feeling – I want to datevatever I can to help you.” He paused, his voice breaking. “I love you Draco. I’m here for you.”

Draco took Harry’s hand, his eyes still focused on a pennant on the wall. Briefly, his eyes flicked over to Harry, “I’m sorry. You’re right. You know better than anyone what it’s like to have expectations placed on you because of your name.” Draco smiled bitterly. “At least you lived up to those expectations.”

It was Harry’s chance to look bitter. “Yeah. Except when it really counted,” Harry muttered, his mind flashing back on the image of Snape finishing of Voldemort while he was still stunned from the Cruciatus that had used on him. He pushed the memories out of his head. He wanted Draco to continue; his lover didn’t talk much about his childhood, and he wanted to encourage every opportunity. He nodded his head reassuringly.

“I – I don’t know how my father does it. But every time I come here, he makes me feel like a child again.” He paused, taking a breath before he started again. “He makes me feel like everything I do is wronhat hat I’m lly lly inadequate. I don’t know. Maybe it’s me.”

Secretly, Harry thought that Draco needed to stop being concerned about whether his father approved of him or not. But that was a realization that Draco would have to come to on his own.

“Maybe I just feel like a child from the moment I arrive – I mean, staying in my old rooms with my old school stuff,” he gestured around the room, “Maybe I just automatically give him this power over me. I don’t know. But somehow, he has this thingr mer me from the minute I see him. “ Draco paused, an anguished look on his face. “I just need to get him to see that I’m not a child any more.”

Harry nodded. “You could try talking to him,” he paused, hoping that Draco wouldn’t take it the wrong way. “I mean, he’s in a kind of vulnerable position now, with all the restrictions the Ministry has laid on him. Really. Why else would he have invited you?”

Draco snorted. “My father’s anything but vulnerable. Yeah, he doesn’t have the Ministry totally eating out of his hand like he used to, but he’s not vulnerable. But,” Draco paused. “You’re right. And besides, I’ll bet the Ministry would be happier with him if he was getting along with me. That might be enough to get him to actually talk to me. And besides, I’m not a kid any more. I’m going to talk to him tomorrow, and let him know that I’m a person, and not just something he can show off to his friends.”

Harry nodded. Interesting. That was the first time that Draco had vocalized his feeling that he was nothing more than a trophy for his father to hang on the wall. He hugged Draco, hoping that his lover could resolve some of those issues.

****

Hermione lay nestled in Lucius’ arms, his chin resting on her head. Their coupling had been urgent, tugging at each other’s clothes, fingers scraping at skin, and teeth nipping at flesh. Truthfully, Lucius wasn’t sure why Hermione had been so hungry for him, but he had decided quickly that he liked that side of her, too.

“They know, of course,” Lucius muttered. Hermione nodded in response.

“Yeah. It will be interesting to see how Harry deals with it. I’m expecting the ‘You’re throwing away your life, he’s evil’ lecture tomorrow.” Hermione could feel Lucius’ laugh run through his body.

“’Evil’? Indeed. You’d think that after those years of education, he could come up with something better than that. ‘Pernicious’ perhaps. Or even ‘pestilential’, although I am a personal fan of ‘nefarious’, myself.”

Hermione giggled, but quickly sobered up. “I can only hope that Harry will remember how much shit he got from everyone when he and Draco hooked up,” she could feel Lucius tense underneath her, “and not give me a hard time. I mean, I was supportive of him with, uh, with his choices. I have a feeling, though, that he’s not going to react that way.”

Lucius said nothing for several moments, and Hermione couldn’t help but consider how Lucius must view his son’s relationship with Harry. No doubt his aristocratic genes were having a hard time accepting it. She was surprised when she felt Lucius’ body vibrating with suppressed laughter.

“I’m glad I wasn’t in the Portrait Gallery when Draco said that he was going to be a ‘house-husband’. I can imagine the hexes that some of those people would have been trying to cast.” Lucius paused. “Gods. My own son.” Lucius’ voice trailed off. Gods. He’d just have to accept it. As much as he hated it.

~~~~
A/N: This chapter sort of sets up the next chapter: Draco’s conversation with Lucius, and Hermione’s conversation with Harry. Anyway, again, I want to thank all of you for the wonderful reviews. I really appreciate them, and I am glad to know that other people are having fun with this too! So thanks - I really like reading your comments!

I am going out of town for a week, which means that I probably won’t update this until I get back (although, who knows – I may get energetic at some point), but I probably will be able to finish writing it, so I will be able to post the full thing when I get back.

Also, big thanks to Persephone for the Jason Isaacs link. Oh wow! That was greatly appreciated!