The long and winding road to love
An odd dinner
Hey!
I just wanted to thank you for your positive reviews and I want you to please
send the best of vibes towards the very south of this continent (Argentina, Buenos Aires, San Isidro to
be more specifically… I am the one with the red curly hair) because tomorrow I
have a very important examination.
I
hope you like this chapter; the end is near though. Like 12 more chapters to
go.
So…well…
here it is; chapter 28… enjoy!
Chapter
28: An odd dinner
The
ice on Hermione’s water had almost melted when Lucius Malfoy turned his head
and started speaking to her.
Before
that, her husband and The most detestable man on the face of the earth had been
sharing ideas and plans to destroy a man she loved like a father. Narcissa
Malfoy, on the other hand, had been chatting non stop about the silliest of
themes avoiding any possibility of actually hearing what these men were
discussing. She could only depict the main topic of their conversation because
of short simple phrases which had been clear- and loud- enough for her to
portray the main concept behind their evil scheme: killing Dumbledore and
drinking the sweet wine of revenge
“If
you love it so much,” Lucius had suggested trying, in vain, to tempt the icy
Potion’s Master, “you can have the post of Headmaster,”
“Being
around idiotic children is not my idea of a reward, dear Lucius,” Severus had
replied with a sarcastic smirk on his pale face. His expressions were as empty
as they had ever been and his perfect posture showed how confident he was of
Lucius Malfoy’s little intellect.
But
just when things were running too smoothly to be true, Lucius Malfoy turned his
head for the very first time to the dreadful direction of Hermione Granger. The
moment he had feared all along had finally arrived.
“Let
your wife decide then,” Lucius had asked with a very wicked grin on his face.
It
was just then when Hermione stopped staring intently at the ice cubes in her
water and focused completely on Draco’s father’s piercing light blue eyes; the
true eyes of malevolence.
“Hermione…
Oh, sorry. It is alright for me to call you Hermione?,”
he asked innocently, obviously waiting for a reaction on her behalf that would
compromise Severus’ situation. But he was a fool if he thought Hermione Granger
ignored his intentions.
“Only
if you let me call you Lucius,” she added with a smile on her rosy lips, turned
suddenly violet because of her nervousness. It was a hypocritical smile that
made her very insides flip but a grin that, even if she refused to admit so,
would make him realize that she could be sinful like him; even more.
“Extraordinary
then, Hermione it is,” he answered with a bigger smile than hers, if that was
possible, “As I was saying, given the chance… what would you choose from all
the things in the world?,” he enquired. If she hadn’t
been a muggleborn, perhaps he would have kissed her hand. However, her blood
was not going to change at all. Not even her marriage to Severus Snape- one of
his best friends; a pure blood wizard like him- could change her inheritance.
What Lucius Malfoy really wanted to know, nevertheless, was what had taken over
his old friend from school; the Head of Slytherin House and one of the
strongest Death Eaters he had ever seen.
Hermione,
meanwhile, was giving Lucius’ question enough thought. Sure enough he had
prepared a way to reveal her true nature; her most mysterious secrets. Little
did Malfoy know, however, that he was sitting across a woman- for she was no
longer a girl- who was the most brilliant student Hogwarts School of Witchcraft
and Wizardry had seen in a century and that sure enough, she wouldn’t be easily
tricked by a blood thirsty assassin.
“I
would, if given the chance to choose of course, like to kill as many traitors
to the Dark Lord as I can and to own thousands of galleons in properties only
built by slaves; muggle slaves,” she lied, hiding her dream of owning Hogwarts
Library. What she had just said had been so tragic that no one in the room
dared speak. That was not her true nature at all but she thought that the more
she managed to hide from him, the stronger she felt; the more power she
possessed.
“You
marry a very materialistic woman, Severus. And a true evil witch indeed. But,
then again, which woman is not a materialistic evil witch?,” he said; a big
laugh escaping his lips and echoing through the enormous dinning room, “why did
you marry her, Severus?,” he finally asked, dramatically turning his head to
where Severus was peacefully sitting, as if to notice any kind of abnormal
behaviour.
“I
married her for the only reason a sensible man of my age would marry: for
love,” he firmly said while pouring some port into his brandy glass.
“Of
course; you marry her for love. The question remains, I am afraid… how could
you fall in love with such a creature, Severus?,” he
whispered for only Severus to hear. Unsuccessfully, the words had managed
rea
reach Hermione’s ears, always alert.
“It
is not so strange considering her beauty and youth, Lucius. Had you forgotten
all about youth and beauty or should I remind you of your past actions?,” Severus asked while tasting his port with his fine
palate, “My dear friend, how can you not admire her astounding beauty?,” he
asked in a higher voice, desperately trying for Hermione to hear their
conversation.
“But
she is muggleborn, Severus,” he said with a forced smile looking straight into
Hermione’s direction as if she was deaf and could hear nothing.
“I
am aware of the fact,” was all Severus said. Then reflecting upon his own
words, he added, “I could not resist the enchantments of a beautiful woman who
was born good, who has been good her whole life
actually, and who has suddenly turned bad under my influence,” he said taking
one more sip of wine. It was not red for it was sweet but sure enough the red
in the velvet chairs symbolised the blood of the innocent Lucius Malfoy had
spilled throughout his life and who, lmanymany other Death Eaters, remained
unpunished still.
“No.
But I only use their meat. I certainly do not marry them,” Lucius explained.
“I
felt in love,” Severus said, “would you resist the beauty of a woman who
betrays her own friends, her own nature, for one; for the pleasure one can give
her?,” he enquired knowing for sure he had made a point on Lucius’ head.
“Especially
if amongst those friends were the infamous Harry Potter,” Hermione interrupted,
making the conversation a lot more interesting by sitting on Severus’ lap.
“I
hardly consider this the proper behaviour a lady…,” Narcissa started
reproaching from the other end of the table were she sat alone. But as soon as
Lucius had made a quick movement with his hand, she felt silent and continued
eating her bittersweet pork.
“So,
Miss Granger… you are, indeed, an ambitious woman. I like that in women.
Beatrix had it in her; what a remarkable woman,” he melancholy said knowing for
a fact that if anyone would make a tremendous effect on Hermione’s sensibility
that would be Beatrix Lestrange; a woman who had dragged Harry Potter’s
godfather, Sirius Black, into his own death.
“I
am ambitious, Lucius,” she said, placing her hand on his, immediately forcing
him to stand upif sif she carried a plague or a mortal disease that could only
be transmitted by mudbloods such as herself, “but above all, I seek vengeance,”
she truly said from the bottom of her heart where her detestation for the Dark
Side boiled her blood in anger.
“Will
you help my friend here kill Dumbledore?,” Lucius
asked the ultimate question while standing up and walking slowly all the way
towards Narcissa’s place where his pace died away.
“I
will do what it needs to be done,” she truly answered looking straight into his
eyes, showing him she was not afraid of anything, “I know where my loyalty
stands,”
“I
can see now why youriedried her, Severus. Fine choice,” Lucius said to Severus
who had a proud smile on his face and a very attractive Hermione on his lap.
He
then claimed Narcissa’s hand and excusing themselves to their guests, they left
them alone where they would finish their meal in their past places in case they
decided to return.
Minutes
after finishing, he asked for Hermione’s hand and slowly but determined they
climbed the stairs towards their rooms where they would discuss a lot more than
Lucius Malfoy.