The Favor

Lucius and Severus were sitting at a table in the library at Malfoy Manor. Severus had come over for his weekly business meeting to discuss his apothecary store. Lucius was talking more about Hermione then discussing the new shop.

“She is an intriguing person. I would like to see her again,” Lucius said.

Severus huffed, looking through his paperwork. “Is she still an insufferable know-it-all?”

“A bit, she seems to think that there is corruption in the werewolf capture division.”

Severus nodded his head in agreement, not taking his eyes off his paperwork. “She's right, there is, but did she spout off needless facts to you?”

Lucius shook his head. “No, she was too drunk to.”

Severus head snapped up. His eyes widened in surprise. “Miss Granger, drunk? I think I would've liked to see that.”

“Oh, yes, and she was quite adorable,” Lucius said absently as he thought of Hermione.

Severus' eyebrows rose. “Adorable? Hmm, interesting choice of words for you. I would almost say you are smitten.”

Lucius eyebrows furrowed. “Don't be ridiculous.”

“I'm not the one using words like adorable. You are completely taken by Miss Granger.”

“Hermione,” Lucius stated.

Severus threw his hands up. “My point exactly.”

“There was something about waking up with her in my bed that ignited something inside of me I thought was gone.”

Severus shook his head at his friend. “She won't like being cooped in the manor. You will have to take her out somewhere other than the Leaky Cauldron.”

“You think that I don't know that?” Lucius said angrily.

“I'm just pointing out that you have barely left the manor since Narcissa left you.”

“It has nothing to do with her.”

Severus raised his eyebrows. “Then what does it have to do with?”

Lucius said nothing and started looking through Severus' paperwork. “Do you really need this much for startup cost?”

Severus stared at his friend. What was Lucius not telling him? “Yes, a lot of the potions ingredients are very rare and expensive. Why are you changing the subject?”

“Because I don't want to answer your question,” Lucius said nonchalantly.

Severus shook his head; he knew when to not press the subject with Lucius. “Most of those ingredients will last a while, as long as they are properly stored,” he said, getting back to his business plan.

“Maybe I should owl her,” Lucius said thoughtfully looking up from the papers.

Severus pinched the bridge of his nose, “You are acting like a bloody fifth year. Will you just ask her out already so we can get back to discussing the matter at hand!”

Lucius raised an eyebrow looking at the paperwork again. “Very well. How much of the startup cost do you need from me?”

*~*~*~*

“Why haven't you answered my father's owl?” Draco stormed into Hermione's office on Wednesday morning.

“Good morning to you too, Draco,” Hermione said as she glanced up from her work.

“He is sulking again! You were supposed to talk to him, not sleep with him, and then never see him again!” he said, storming up to her desk.

“Draco, he only sent the owl two days ago, and honestly I have no intention of seeing your father again,” Hermione said calmly.

“Why not?”

“Are you honestly trying to set me up with your father? We have nothing in common,” Hermione said a bit angrily. Truth was, she was extremely embarrassed at her behavior and did not want to face Lucius again.

“Opposites attract,” he said, giving her a little smirk.

“Don't give me that tripe!” Hermione snapped.

“Just give him another chance,” Draco pleaded.

“Why?” Hermione asked.

“Please. Just give it one more chance,” Draco said, giving her a sad, pathetic look.

“I'll think about,” said Hermione.

*~*~*~*

“So, who is he, Hermione?” Harry asked, chuckling a bit at her. Hermione had been out of sorts all week. He and Ron had come over to find out what was bothering her.

“It's nobody. I doubt if I will ever see him again,” Hermione said, scrubbing her kitchen table; she had been cleaning ever since she come home from work. She promptly changed out of her work robes and into her worn out muggle clothes she wore for heavy cleaning days. Draco had come in to her office every day, pleading her to talk to his father again. She was at her wits end. She almost caved in and owled Lucius, just to get Draco off her back.

“Doesn't seem like nobody. You only clean like this when you are upset,” Ron said.

Hermione threw the rag she was using in the sink. “I'm not upset, this place is filthy and sometimes magic can't get it as clean as I want it.”

Ron and Harry looked at each other and shook their heads at her. “What happened last Friday night?”

“Nothing,” Hermione said as she grabbed the bottle of glass cleaner.

“You're not acting like nothing happened,” Harry said as he and Ron followed her to the living room.

“You're being ridiculous, Harry,” she said as he sprayed cleaner on a mirror.

“Is he? You are acting like my mom does when I bring home a date,” Ron said.

Hermione stopped cleaning her mirror and narrowed her eyes. “Now you're being ridiculous.”

“Hermione just tell us what happened,” Harry said.

Before Hermione could answer, there was a knock on her door.

“Who could that be?” Hermione said. She opened the door and Lucius was standing here. Hermione was rendered speechless. Lucius was dressed in the very finest dress robes. He looked like he stepped out of a wizard fashion magazine. He had a dozen purple tulips in his hand.

“May I come in?” he said, handing her the flowers.

Ron and Harry peaked around Hermione to see who was at the door. Their jaws dropped at whom they saw.

“What are you doing here?” Hermione said, absently taking the tulips.

“We have a date.”

Her eyes widened in disbelief. “No, we don't!”

“Yes we do. We made it on Friday night,” he leaned in close and whispered, “After the crème brûlée.”

Hermione blushed. “I don't remember Friday night very well,” she said, bringing a hand to her head.

“I believe you said, 'We should do this again next Friday'.”

“I don't remember that. I'm sorry you came all this way, but I am not dressed to go on a date tonight.”

“I had a feeling you would say that, which is why I brought this,” Lucius said as he moved aside and a house-elf with a garment bag and a shoebox stepped forward. “Don't worry; I paid her to be here.”

Hermione eyes widened, but she said nothing.

“May we come in now?”

“Let him in,” whispered Harry.

Hermione whipped her head around to look at him with betrayed eyes. “Stay out of it, Harry!”

“Just let him in Hermione before your neighbors start spying. You do live in a Muggle neighborhood,” Ron said.

“Oh, for the love of... Come on in,” Hermione said defeated.

Lucius entered and nodded at Harry and Ron. “Evening Mr. Potter, Mr. Weasley.”

“Mr. Malfoy,” they said in unison.

“Well, isn't this pleasant,” Hermione said sarcastically.

“Hermione, why don't you show Tippy, your room so you can change for our date,” Lucius said in a very pleasant voice.

“I never said I was going out with you tonight!” she said, almost stomping her feet in protest.

Lucius raised an eyebrow. “Are you afraid? We've been out before.”

“That wasn't a date it was a chance meeting. That ended badly,” she said through gritted teeth.

“I thought it ended rather well. Maybe because you don't remember what happened after we left the pub.”

“Please stop talking,” she said in a small voice.

“Hermione, don't get mad at me, but I think you should go out with him again?”

Hermione snapped her head around at Ron. “I can't believe you of all people are saying that!”

Ron held his hands up in defense. “I've been listening to you two banter and it sound like you two are already a couple.”

“Traitor.” Hermione said under her breath.

Harry cringed a bit and looked at Hermione. “I kind of have to agree with Ron. Although, I not sure I like the idea of you two...”

Lucius cut him off. “See even your friends agree. Now, Tippy, take Miss Granger to her room and help her prepare for our date,” Lucius commanded.

“Yes, Master,” the little elf said. Hermione was helplessly dragged to her room to change. She gave Ron and Harry a murderous look as she passed them.

“Maybe we should leave before she comes back out,” Ron whispered to Harry.

“No, I want to ask him,” he cocked his head at Lucius, “what his intentions are.”

“What! You do realize Hermione would kill you if she was standing right here and heard you say that,” Ron whispered.

“Very true. I also want to see what he bought her,” Harry whispered.

“You two know that I can hear you, right?” Lucius said a little uncomfortable with all the whispering.

Harry turned to Lucius. “Sorry, Mr. Malfoy, we are not trying to be rude, it just that...”

“You were the last person we expected to show up at Hermione's door. Not that we were expecting anyone,” Ron finished.

Ron and Harry and made their peace with the Malfoys a year ago, when their true part in the war was revealed.

“I understand. I do not intend on hurting her. I just want a chance to make her happy,” Lucius stated.

“Good,” Harry said. That was the answer he wanted to hear.

*~*~*~*

Hermione studied herself in the mirror. She could not believe how good she looked. Lucius had bought her a red, silk halter dress, with a very plunging neckline, and a slit up the side. She certainly would never buy herself anything like it. She slipped on the red Prada shoes and clasped on the black beaded choker around her neck. She looked like sin. “This is a very bad idea,” she whispered in the mirror.

“What, Miss?” Tippy asked.

Hermione smiled at the house-elf. “Nothing, your Master is very generous.”

“He likes you very much. He has been less stressed this week.”

“Stressed? I thought he was depressed?”

“Oh no, not depressed.”

“Why would Draco say he has been mopey?” Hermione whispered.

“Because of...,” Tippy stopped herself. Her job was to keep her Master's secrets. “Let me fix your hair for you.”

Hermione was confused. She had a feeling that there was something that Draco wasn't telling her about his father.

When Hermione emerged from her bedroom, all eyes were on her. Harry and Ron's jaws dropped in awe. Lucius eyes glazed over a bit.

“You look delectable, I knew you would look amazing in that dress,” Lucius said.

Hermione did a little twirl. She couldn't help it.

“I think we should leave and let these two go on their date,” Harry said as he kissed her on the cheek. “Have fun.”

“You look amazing, Hermione,” Ron said. “Don't do anything I wouldn't do,” he said with a wink.

“Thank you,” she said as they both left.

“I thought they would never leave,” Lucius said as he grabbed Hermione around the waist and gave her a very sensual kiss.

“Be nice, they are my best friends,” Hermione said.

“You didn't see the way they looked at you when you came out. I thought I was going to have to fight for you.”

Hermione laughed. “So, where are we going tonight?”

“You will see,” he said as he took her arm and Apparated.

They appeared in a beautiful garden. “This is a very beautiful place,” Hermione said as she looked around. Then she stopped when she saw the fountain. “This is your garden! I thought we were going out to a restaurant?”

“Here, come with me,” he said. They walked around a large, old rose bush were there was a small intimate table lit by candlelight waiting for them.

“This is beautiful, but why are we here?” Hermione asked. Something was wrong and Lucius was avoiding her question.

“Would you like some wine?” he asked as he pulled out her chair for her.

“That would be nice.” Hermione mentally shook her head. He wasn't going to answer her question. She inwardly sighed. Something didn't add up. Lucius didn't seem depressed. In fact, he is acting like the cunning Slytherin that she knew. She never did agree to this date, yet she was here.

He poured her wine and sat down. Tippy and another house-elf appeared with various cheeses, caviar, toast points, and water biscuits.

“This look delicious,” Hermione said as she eyed the food.

“I wanted our second date to more romantic then our first.”

“We didn't have a first date,” she pointed out.

“Yes, we did,” he said causally.

Hermione laughed. “Fine, we had a date. No point in arguing with you.” She raised her wine glass. “Here's to hoping I will remember this one.”

“I will make sure that you do.” He smiled as they clinked their glasses.

“How noble of you,” she said and took a sip from her glass.

“Shh, don't let anyone know,” Lucius said as he smiled at her and took a sip of his wine.

They shared a wonderful dinner together. For the main course, he spared no expense and served fresh Maine lobster, mixed green salad, and broiled potatoes. They shared light conversation and enjoyed each other's company. He was very charming, it wasn't hard for Hermione to forget the Lucius she first met, back in her Hogwarts days, when the world wasn't as carefree as it was today. That wasn't the Lucius who was sharing a dinner with her now---this was the real Lucius. However, he did, avoid any questions that Hermione tried sneaking in about his self-imposed imprisonment.

“That was amazing dinner,” Hermione said sipped her wine.

“I hoped you saved room for dessert,” Lucius said.

Hermione smiled. “I did. What are we having?”

“Well, I was going to serve crème brûlée; I thought that it might be a little cliché, so I decided on strawberry cheesecake.”

“Sounds delicious.” As she said that, the elves brought out the dessert with a carafe of freshly brewed coffee.

Lucius watched her while she ate her dessert. She was making little sounds of pleasure with every bite. It was very arousing.

“Hermione?”

“Yes,” she said as she finished her coffee.

“I had a very lovely evening with you.”

Hermione smiled. “So did I. It's a shame it has to end.”

Lucius looked surprise. “It doesn't need to.”

Hermione bit her lip. She didn't want it to end, but she didn't want to make the same mistake twice. She was not ready to sleep with Lucius... tonight. “Yes, it does. I had a lovely time, but I...”

Lucius waved her off. “You don't have to make an excuse. I understand.”

Hermione sighed in relief. “Thank you.”

“Well then, let me take you home,” he said as he pulled out her chair for her and gently took her arm. He Apparated both of them into Hermione's living room. “I would like to see you again next week.”

“I would like that.”

“Until then,” he said as he gave her a light kiss on the lips and Apparated.

“Damn, I think I might be falling in love with Lucius Malfoy,” Hermione said aloud, and she had no idea what to do about it.

A/N: Thank you to my beta Valady!