The Seduction Game

Disclaimer: All of the Harry Potter characters and the Harry Potter universe belongs to J.K. Rowling/Warnerbros. I am making no money.

Right, another chapter here! Just a quick notice: I\'m leaving for Prague tomorrow, and won\'t be back for a week... But as soon as I return I\'ll post another chapter :)
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CHAPTER THREE: FIRST DANCE

As the clock approached ten in the evening, most of the British witches and wizards had left the dining room, now they were rather enjoying themselves in lounge, either by the bar, at tables or on the dance floor. A small, classical orchestra had been hired for each and every Department, and this was what made people turn to the dance floor.

Lucius had even noticed a few people about there from other nations, they were clearly joining in because they knew several British magicians. It was a relief, though, to see that the Departments didn’t add to dividing the countries. That would have been rather unfortunate.

By a table not too far from the bar sat a rather large group of people, all chatting and laughing together like a very loving family: It was Hermione Granger, Potter and almost the entire Weasley family. The Weasleys had arrived later that evening, and just joined in on the festivities.

Lucius had to smirk to himself at the sight of the Weasleys. He knew they were, like the Malfoys, a pureblood family, but the irony lay in that they still were of the greatest shame to wizard kind. Ragged and poor, they were, and mingled with others’ business and had an opinion about everything.

No, Lucius didn’t care much for the Weasleys, or their friend Potter. His gaze was upon Hermione. And, he found himself reacting when she stood up. She wasn’t bad looking at all, and she had a beautiful body, even if - it seemed - she hadn’t realized it herself. Everyone else had, though, Lucius could see every male member of the Weasley family, and of course Potter, eyeing her. Even as she got up their gazes followed her.

She said something to them, then turned and started walking towards the door leading to the rooms’ corridor. Lucius found himself acting quickly, this was the first moment all evening she hadn’t been spending with the Weasleys and Potter.
He hurried casually across the room and reached her just in time before she went for the door. “Excuse me, Miss Granger? Er - it is Miss, isn’t it?”

She looked at him, puzzled, and didn’t open the door as she’d planned to. “Ehm... I guess so. I’m not married, if that’s what you mean.”

Lucius smiled. “Leaving the party so soon?”

“Party?” smiled Hermione; this was hardly a party. “Well, I’m getting up early tomorrow, I’ve got a lecture to prepare. If you’ll excuse me, Mr Malfoy...”

“Please,” said Lucius, stopping the door with his hand as she opened it, “call me Lucius. It would be so formal to call me Mr Malfoy. Now, I really don’t think you should leave this early. Have you even danced tonight?”

“Danced?” said Hermione, she was almost laughing. “No, I - I haven’t. I don’t dance often.”

“Really?” said Lucius, smiling. “Well, you should. It’s wonderful, and you look like someone who would greatly enjoy it. If you allow me -” He held out his arm, gently offering to escort her to the dance floor. “Unless you think it’s too inappropriate?”

Hermione seemed a bit put out, Lucius noticed, she’d let go of the door but didn’t react for a few seconds. “I - are you asking me to dance?”

“Yes, of course,” smiled Lucius. “If you’ll do me the honour?”

Hermione’s eyes twinkled. Lucius had to smirk. This was going to be easier than he’d thought, it seemed as though Hermione never had any attention brought to her feminine sides at all. Perhaps everyone just saw her as a childhood friend or a brilliant colleague, but nothing more. In that case, winning her over would be no problem at all, she’d fall right into his charming words.

She hesitated, however, at the offer to dance, casually glancing over at Potter and the Weasleys in the corner of her eye.

“I understand if you see it wrong,” said Lucius humbly, “because of some untrue speculations regarding my actions during Voldemort’s times...”

“I thought you were under the Imperius Curse?” said Hermione sceptically.

“I was,” insisted Lucius, “but not everybody believes my story, you see. Sadly, some think I was acting out of free will... It’s a terrible thing, having ones reputation and relations ruined because of false words.”

“Harry says you’ve always been really faithful to Voldemort,” said Hermione quietly, obviously she seemed to be afraid of how he might respond to this. “He said you’re just trying to clear your name.”

“Poor Potter,” said Lucius in his softest voice, “it’s easy for him to believe that, I know. I must have seemed so cruel and gruesome in the battles, it must be difficult for him to deal with the fact that it wasn’t really me acting out those actions.”

Hermione seemed to be seriously considering his words, checking them for faults. She didn’t seem to find any though, because she gaze a slight smile. “Well, if it really is the case, then I’m sorry you’ve gotten into all this trouble. It must be tough.”

Lucius smiled. “I manage,” he winked, handing her his arm again. “Will you do me the honour then, Miss Granger?”

Now she really smiled, happiness shown over her fair face. “Sure - why not?” She took his hand and let him guide her out on the dance floor. “But I guess you should call me Hermione then, since I get to call you Lucius...?”

“Wonderful, Hermione,” he said, and expressed her name in the most enchanting voice as he put his arm gently around her waist. The other hand took hers, and she hesitantly put her free hand on his shoulder, keeping him at a good distance all the same.

“You say you do not dance often?” said Lucius after a short while. “You should! You’re a great dancer.”

Hermione blushed slightly, dancing along with him. “Don’t say that, I know it’s not true. But thanks for the compliment, nevertheless.”

Lucius continued the dance in silence, he enjoyed the quietness to just hear his own thoughts and to watch her. It felt good, having her body this close. It was a slightly passionate thing, dancing, and he knew very well it felt that way not only with him, but with possibly every other human being in the world. He deliberately but discreetly pulled her a bit closer with the arm around her waist, and moved it a few inches lower on her back. She smiled, but didn’t meet his eyes. Obviously, she was shy.

Lucius had to smile he, too. Hermione had probably never experienced something quite like this before, she seemed just like the type who’d be sitting inside all day doing research and work, not bothering with a lovelife at all. This was really his chance to show her a few things...

“So,” she said, breaking the silence, “what brings you here, anyway? To the Gathering?”

Lucius grinned. “Oh, the obvious of course, all the lectures. There is lot to be learned here, Hermione. I lust for knowledge, as I suspect you too do...?”

Hermione blushed slightly again, but this time she looked back up at him. “Yes, I suppose I do. I like to learn everything about everything, if you understand what I’m trying to say.” She laughed a bit, clearly she thought her sentence sounded rather stupid.

“I understand perfectly,” smiled Lucius, and silently added that he would certainly learn her everything within a certain area she’d probably never experienced before. “I know the feeling. Believe me, Hermione, there is nothing like knowledge. I find myself constantly seeking it in every field, don’t you?”

Hermione nodded. “Yes, and there’s still so much to learn. Every time I think of it I realize I still really know so little, compared to what there is to know. There’s fields I haven’t even touched yet, you know?”

Lucius smirked. Oh yes, Hermione, that was true. But you will soon be touching them... “Yes, definitely. One should explore all of them though, don’t you think?”

Hermione nodded. “Get some basic knowledge, you mean?”

“For example,” smiled Lucius, “or rather, investigate deep into it. Any particular fields you haven’t yet touched, but wish to touch?”

“I’m still very ignorant when it comes to litterature,” she admitted.

“Ignorant? Surely not,” said Lucius, “you must know a lot, if you read so much, lusting for knowledge as you do?”

“Yes, that’s all I do,” said Hermione with a smile. “I read all the time. But I mean, I don’t know anything about litterature history. How magic litterature’s been developing, why some fact books are more accurate than others... Such things. I’d like to learn something about that. For example, when, and in which circumstances witches and wizards first startet writing down their magic theories and such.”

“Oh, I see,” smiled Lucius. “Yes, it’s an interesting subject, no doubt. I believe I have once -”

He stopped his sentence. That damn Potter was approaching them with hurried steps, and when he got close enough he quickly grabbed Hermione’s arm. “What are you doing?” he demanded. Hermione looked terrified.

“Honestly,” said Lucius, with a friendly smile, “we’re only dancing, Mr Potter. There is no reason to get upset.”

“Hermione,” said Potter, clearly not even listening to Lucius, “why are you dancing with this guy? I thought I’d told you all about him.”

“Well, he’s told me his side of the story, Harry,” explained Hermione, “and it sounds probable, I think. Besides, it’s just a dance. Nothing big, right?”

“Just a dance?!” beamed Potter. “You don’t know Malfoy like I do, Hermione! Clearly you don’t, otherwise you would have known you can’t trust him. Come on, come back with me to the Weasley family. We’re having a great time.”

“Yes, well - so am I,” said Hermione hesitantly. Lucius had to smile. She was enjoying this, there was no doubt. It was going to be so easy, proving Severus wrong. And, at the same time, he was really going to have a lot of fun with this Mudblood.

Potter just glared at Hermione. Without another strong reaction he just said, “Fine, you do that then, but don’t say I didn’t warn you, and don’t come crying to me!” and then went off again.

Hermione smiled shyly to Lucius. “Sorry about that,” she said humbly.

“Don’t mention it,” said Lucius reassuringly. “Like I said, this is what happens with ones reputation after something like the Imperius Curse. I just have to live with it, hopefully people will with time understand.” The orchestra had just finished, and began another dance. “Would you care for a last dance?” Lucius asked with a smile.

“Oh,” hesitated Hermione, “well - I should really patch things up with Harry, you know? I would hate it if he were mad at me. And he’ll probably tell the Weasley family things, I want to explain to them everything. Don’t worry, I’ll just tell them the truth as you told it to me. But thanks for the dance, Lucius,” she smiled, and blushed slightly as she called him by his first name. Then she let go of him and rushed off across the dance floor.

Lucius smirked. He was well on his way to accomplishment.

* * *

It was just pure unluck that he had to run into Lucius yet another time before the night fell. Severus had just spent the last of the evening with Albus in the Lecture Department of the manor, going over some business and updating one another, when he whilst returning ran into Lucius in the rooms’ corridor.

“Ah, Severus,” he grinned, stopping Severus from entering his room. “Where have you been all night? You missed out on quite an evening in the lounge.”

“Really?” said Severus sarcastically. “I am sure it was unforgetable. But I was busy with Albus, we had some business to take care of.”

“I see,” smiled Lucius. “Well, you should really have been there. You are well on your way to loosing your bet, my friend.”

Severus couldn’t help but looking at Lucius with a sting of anger. “Which bet?”

“Regarding Hermione Granger, Severus.”

Severus took a deep breath, almost unnoticable. “Ah, you are still on about that, I see. That is what you claim I missed out on in the lounge then, I take it?”

“Indeed,” smirked Lucius. “Hermione pratically threw herself into my arms on the dance floor, Severus. You will soon realise that a Malfoy can bewitch any woman into bed.”

Severus felt his anger boil. Into bed? He was really going to trick Hermione into bed with him? “I advise you to stop this game now, Lucius. Before you make a fool of yourself.”

“You will be the fool, Severus,” said Lucius, leaning in closer to Severus, and lowering his voice into barely a whisper, “when you realise the woman you lust for will willingly sleep with me, but not you...”

And without waiting for a reply, he turned and left, having indirectly declared that the real battle between him and Severus had now commenced.

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