Diamond in the Rough

Saturday’s weather brought in a cooling trend, the air was cold and crisp by late afternoon. Lucius strode into the foyer looking so potently virile and casually chic that Hermione’s jaw literally dropped as if gob smacked. He was wearing a knee-length, black, leather coat, the collar trimmed in sheared black mink, a midnight blue cashmere sweater, black cashmere trousers, and black leather boots. His hair cascaded over his broad shoulders in lush abundance. He was pulling on black kid leather gloves as she stepped into the foyer.


“Oh my,” she whispered not able to take her eyes off of him. He looked up as he heard her enter, those cool gray eyes assessing her appearance.


“Something amiss Poppet?” He asked as he finished drawing on his gloves and took his silver snake-headed cane in hand.


“No, it’s just that I haven’t seen you dressed informally before.” She said slowly taking in all of his elegant, masculine beauty.


“I daresay, you’ve seen me dressed in far less than this.” He smirked at her.


Her mouth quirked, “I haven’t seen you wear a sweater before Lucius. You look very nice.”


He smiled down at her as she approached him. “Thank you Poppet. One must dress according to the occasion. You are wearing those pants of yours again.” He raised that eyebrow of his and twirled his finger at her so he could appraise her outfit. He was slowly but surely learning if he acted more as a consultant rather than dictate to her, she responded much more favourably. Besides he now had more delicious ways to get a rise out of her.


She smiled to herself as she turned around slowly for him. The old dog could learn new tricks, she thought, as long as he didn’t dictate, she could easily deal with Mr. Image Conscious. Hermione was wearing her favourite pair of jeans, dragon-hide boots, and she was wrapped in a thick dark green goose down waist-length jacket with fur trim on the hood. Her outfit was topped off with a dark brown knit beanie. Her riotous golden brown curls tumbled down her back.


“You did say you liked the fit.” She smiled coyly up at him. She bent down and slipped her wand into her inner leg pocket.


Lucius enjoyed the view of his wife’s little, round bottom as she bent over, replied, “Indeed I do.”


As she turned back towards him, he pulled her into his arms and they apparated to the entryway of Wiltshire Stadium. Lucius tucked her hand under his arm pulling her close to his side and used his cane to jostle the mass crowds of excited people out of the way as they made their way through the stadium gates. The season opening game was always very popular. By all accounts, this opening game day would be particularly exciting given the Falmouth Falcons were playing the Tutshill Tornados. The Falcons were a particularly hard playing team and very much wanted to win against last year’s league champions.


Hermione and Lucius slowly made their way to his very select box seats. The box was private, situated to provide a panoramic view of the game at best vantage point and because it was the Malfoy family’s private box, it was sumptuously decorated so one could enjoy the game in luxurious comfort. He opened the door to find that Harry, Ron, Ginny, and Lavender had already arrived, Draco having let them into the box with Susannah on his arm. They greeted Lucius and Hermione loudly. Hermione rushed in and they all began talking at once. Draco, Harry, and Ron fell back into their earlier debate on who would win this particular match. Lavender, Ginny, Hermione and Susannah began talking about Merlin knows what, Lucius shook his head slightly as he stood at the door and listened to the babble of voices.


“Isn’t there a separate box for children?” A snarky voice asked.


“Severus, I’m delighted you are here.” Lucius said relief evident in his voice. It was one thing to be photographed with the golden trio quite another in having to converse with them. He had absolutely no idea what to discuss with Hermione’s male posse.


“Why? Did you need help babysitting?” Severus Snape sneered as he looked around the Malfoy box, his dark eyes settling on an old familiar sight. “Good Gods, Lucius, the golden trio here in your box. You must be growing soft.”


“Now, now Severus.” Lucius haughtily replied.


“I assumed it would be Draco, his affianced, and that curly-headed moppet of yours. Which believe me would have been torturous enough,” Snape grumbled.


Angling Severus from the doorway so he couldn’t flee, Lucius said, “You make her sound like my pet.”


“Indeed.” Snape smirked. As he passed the younger male contingent, he nodded his head at the Potter brat. “I still can’t believe that those two are aurors and Potter heads up the auror office. The minister is tetched.”


Lucius led Snape over to some very choice seats, although, truth be told, all of the seats in the Malfoy box were choice. “I have some of Madam Rosemerta’s best oak matured mead.”


“Well don’t be stingy man, load me up.” Snape sniffed as he sat down, looking disdainfully at the black- tousled head.


Lucius had deliberately left the door to his private box open, knowing it would draw some attention. Sure enough out of the corner of his eye, he saw a photographer from the Daily Prophet lurking outside. He casually moved to stand next to Hermione with his hand at the small of her back, as she gossiped with Harry and Ron. A bright flash went off and a pop sounded causing everyone’s heads to turn towards the doorway. The photographer and an eager, little reporter were pressing in through the doorway. The flash and pop went off again as all heads were turned towards the commotion.


Smiling to himself, Lucius caught Draco’s eye and said, “Draco, take care of this please.” Draco moved over to the door and ushered both photographer and reporter out of the doorway, closing and locking the door.


“Thank you Lucius,” Hermione smiled gratefully up at her husband. He squeezed her to him gently and said, “Think nothing of it, my dear.”


Smiling to himself, Lucius made his way back to Snape and sat down. “I don’t see my pilsner of mead in your hand Lucius.” He said sarcastically after having watched Lucius subtly maneuver a photo opportunity for what would most likely be on the front page of the Daily Prophet.


“It’s right next to you Severus on the sideboard, help yourself and while you are there, pour me a glass would you?” Lucius smiled as he sat down.


The stadium lights flashed on and off indicating the teams would be flying out soon. Hermione moved towards the two dark wizards and sat down next to Lucius.


“Hello Severus!” Hermione said cheerfully still tickled silly by calling her professor by his given name. Snape eyed her carefully and sniffed, “Madam Malfoy.”


“Hermione!” she piped back then turned to Ginny who was seated on her left, grinned madly and sniggered.


Snape rolled his eyes, downed the remains in his glass, looked at Lucius and said, “Another.”


The music sounded and the quidditch teams flew in and circled around the stadium. The crowd went wild, cheering madly. Finally the referee released the snitch and blew the game-starting whistle. Hermione found herself watching her husband and friends more than the game. It was surprising how like-minded the men in the Malfoy box were as they intently watched the game, shouting out at foul plays and cheering with drinks for successful plays.


During half-time Lucius had instructed his house elves to serve appetizers. Ron’s eyes lit up as he took in the vast array of finger foods. Rushing to the long table near the back of the box he began loading his plate and eating simultaneously. This was quite a common sight for his old school mates and professor. Snape shook his head and poured himself another glass of mead. Lucius’ mouth hung open as he watched the boy cram food in his mouth and found himself experiencing a sense of déjà vu. Turning towards Hermione, he caught her eye, looked at Ron then at her and narrowed his eyes. Hermione grinned sheepishly and shrugged, laughing nervously. Their silent interchange was interrupted as Draco walked between them towards Ron and said disgustedly, “Oi, Weasley, one would have hoped you would have grown out of those appalling meal behaviors of yours and can you try to save some of that food for the rest of us.” Ron scowled at Draco and mumbled, “Ferret.” Hermione quickly stepped over to stand with Harry and Ginny to get out of her husband’s line of sight.


Taking a plate of appetizers back to her seat, Hermione settled in to watch the halftime show. Lucius sat down next to her and stretched out his long, muscular legs. She held her plate out to him and he selected a few sweet meats. “Interesting table manners.” He said in a low, silky voice. Hermione felt butterflies begin to dance low in her body and she squirmed as discreetly as possible in her chair.


Severus was beginning to feel pleasantly buzzed after having downed three glasses of mead on an empty stomach. While the rest of the rabble was getting food, he leaned towards Hermione, “I wanted to ask you about your potion combinations.”


“What about them?” Hermione asked with relief at the interruption.


“As brilliant as you are reported to be, I find it quite unbelievable that you can just spew out ingredients which can be substituted to increase a higher strength at a drop of a hat.” Snape drawled.


“I did graduate with two majors Professor. Magical Law and Potions.” Hermione replied stiffly.


“Be that as it may, Miss Granger, even with a Potions degree, one doesn’t just instinctively know how to substitute volatile ingredients out of thin air.” He snipped back at her.


“It’s Malfoy.” Lucius piped in.


“What?” Both Severus and Hermione asked concurrently.


“It’s not Granger, her name is Malfoy.” Lucius repeated calmly.


Hermione waved dismissively at Lucius. He raised an eyebrow at her, did she just dismiss him? He thought about saying something but opted to sit back and watch the fireworks instead.


She eyeballed Snape, “I suppose only you would know how to instinctively combine ingredients?” She shot back at him.


“Listen here you annoying girl.”


“Don’t you call me names, you overgrown bat.”


“Hermione!” Lucius sat up looking at his fiery little wife. “Severus is a guest.” He then turned to Snape and said, “Severus, get to your point, you are purposely baiting her.”


“A man’s got to have some fun.” Snape mumbled and poured himself another glass of mead. He looked at Hermione and said begrudgingly, “your combination of hellebore, valerian, and phoenix tears was correct.”


“Really?” Hermione asked surprised and pleased.


“Really.” Snape told her. Looking at her assessingly. “I did know you had graduated with a potions degree.”


Hermione so true to her nature told him, “I knew you were working on extending the potion life of key potions for St Mungo’s, I read the interview you gave in Potions Masters Quarterly several months ago.”


“Indeed?” Snape leaned back in his seat. “I suppose you did a bit of research to determine what potions were most needed…?” He asked.


“Yes and I found an article written by the Belgian Potions Master Heinrich von Kleinfeld. He’s been investigating stabilizing agents and has done extensive work on the uses of phoenix tears.” She said earnestly. “I wasn’t entirely sure it would work but based on the research and a quick owl dialogue I had with Master Kleinfeld it seemed a likely possibility.”


Severus looked at Hermione approvingly, “Rather brilliant deductive research work Hermione.”


“Oh, Professor, thank you. I’m sorry I called you an overgrown bat.” She said guiltily, her gryffindorness coming to the fore.


“It’s Severus.” He inclined his head towards her with a slight quirk on his lips that might have been a smile. Hermione leaned into her seat and smiled broadly.


Lucius sat back an amused look on his face.


The rest of the game seemed to fly by. The Tutshill Tornados beat the Falmouth Falcons soundly. After the game the small group made their way slowly to the stadium gates. People stared and waved to the golden trio, how exciting to see the three together and at the season opener. Lights flashed as photographers took pictures.


Lucius caught the eye of the photographer that had been at his box earlier and nodded subtly to him. Hermione had turned just in time to catch that nod. Her eyes narrowed. That sneaky slytherin, damn him, he was maneuvering things again. With a wicked smile on her face she knew it was time to put an experiment into action.