The Affair

Chapter Three: The First Day







There is no such thing as a long piece of work, except one that you dare not start. - Charles Baudelaire











Hermione stared at her reflection in the bathroom mirror and her brow furrowed a bit. She was pale with dark circles beneath her eyes. She looked older than her 28 years. Makeup helped, but not much so she didn’t bother layering it on, it would only serve to make her look worse. She pulled her long curls back from her face and into a low ponytail. Her simple black trousers and lavender blouse were casual yet professional and she hoped that she would make an adequate impression on her new employer.







As she left the bathroom she questioned herself once more as to if she were really ready to begin something new; If she was ready to step back into the real world where normal people functioned. It was now or never. She had to start somewhere and it wasn’t as though she were working in a public library. She would be working in the privacy of the Malfoy home.







“You can do this.” She told herself as she smoothed a wrinkle in the bedspread as she walked by. “You have to return to real life at some point, Hermione.”







She walked into the living room and stopped suddenly. Ron was asleep, face down on the sofa with an empty bottle of firewhiskey lying on the floor in front of him. It was a familiar sight but it never got any easier to see. She picked up the bottle and carried it to the kitchen to toss away. As quietly as she could she made herself some toast and tea, and ate it over the sink. She wished she knew what to do to fix what was broken between them, but nothing ever came to mind.







Maybe it just took time. More than just a year to process such a tremendous loss. She sighed and placed her dishes into the sink. She collected her bag and stared down at the man sleeping on the sofa. Once upon a time she would have been compelled to bend down and kiss his brow, but she turned and let herself out onto the porch instead and apparated to Malfoy Manor.







It had been over a decade since she had stepped foot on the Malfoy property. She waited for the sense of dread to come over her, for the memories to flood back but it never came. Instead she was moved by the beauty of the stately home and sprawling grounds surrounded by lush forest. Flowers in every shade imaginable lined the footpaths and flowerbeds and overflowed the pots scattered about the porch. How could such beauty have housed such evil?







An elderly house-elf greeted her at the door and led her through the quiet manor to Lucius’s study. She admired the dark wood floors and paneled walls, the antiques and priceless works of art that filled the home making it seem more like a museum than a living space. She couldn’t help but think that it must have been tough for a “little Draco” to play in such a house. She imagined he was a little hellion given his behavior in school.





The elf stepped through a large wooden door and announced her then stepped aside indicating that she was welcome to enter. It was odd at first, being face to face with Lucius again after so many years. He looked no different than he had before with the exception of a few lines around his eyes and the absence of his smug expressions. In truth his face was a bit softer and his eyes seemed somewhat haunted as he came around his desk to greet her.







“Mrs. Weasley, welcome to Malfoy Manor.” He said extending his hand. She took it hesitantly and was taken by surprise when he bent over it cordially.







“Thank you, Mr. Malfoy.” She said, withdrawing her hand and eyeing him cautiously. She didn’t mean to be rude, but polite and friendly Lucius wasn’t what she had expected.







“Please call me Lucius.” He laid his hand on the back of a leather chair in front of his desk. “Won’t you sit?” She nodded and sat down as he moved back around his desk and resumed his seat. “Would you like something to drink? Tea, coffee or perhaps one of those fizzy drinks Draco is so fond of?”







“Coffee would be nice.” She set her purse on the floor and folded her hands in her lap as she waited for him to order coffee from the elves.







“I am very glad that you accepted my offer, Mrs. Weasley, I was shocked to receive your resume and letter. You immediately became the only applicant of any interest.” An elf popped into the room carrying a silver tray and coffee pot that he sat on the end of Lucius’s desk and then was away once more.







“Hermione please, and that is very flattering, Sir, thank you.” Lucius poured her a cup of coffee and then pushed a small salver containing the sugar bowl and a small pitcher of cream towards her.







“You are the most highly qualified applicant; I was very grateful as my library contains several books of a…volatile…nature and must be handled delicately. I know of your love of the written word and am confident in your ability to carry out this project with the necessary attention it requires. “He fixed himself a cup of coffee and leaned back in his chair. “I am curious as to why you accepted the position once you discovered it was me you would be working for. We don’t have a pleasant history nor do I have a very good reputation among society.”







Hermione sipped her coffee, thankful for the warmth of the brew as it slid down her throat and settled into her stomach, warming her, relaxing her. He had asked the question she had asked herself several times since making the decision to take the job.







“The past is best forgotten Mr…Lucius. I choose not to hold on to old grudges. As for the job, it was time that I begin to settle back into life, this seemed an easy way for me to gradually move back into a professional life.” She said quietly.







“I heard about your loss, Hermione. I am very sorry.” He offered his condolences. She smiled tightly and gave him a soft nod to indicate her acceptance. She recalled the beautiful arrangement of white lilies that arrived at the church from the Malfoy family and wondered if he had sent them.







“Well, I suppose you wish to know what it is I expect of you.” He steered away from talk of her child and back to something that would not cause that veil of pain to dim her eyes. He could not imagine what she had gone through and he had no wish to remind her of her pain. He had caused so much misery in his life, had put that despairing look on so many faces, he had no desire to see it ever again.







“That would probably be a good start.” She took a deep breath and settled her nerves, eager to get her mind wrapped around something that would keep her from dwelling on her own heartache.







“Well, recently it has come to my attention that my library is in a rather poor state. There is no rhyme or reason to the placement of books and the current shelving seems…inadequate. It has become difficult to use and inefficient.” He explained. “What I want is for you to fix that. Come up with a better shelving scheme, one that will not take away from the historic integrity of my home of course. Catalogue and arrange the books in a way that is easy and efficient for use as well as aesthetically pleasing.”







She didn’t look even the slightest bit daunted by the job. Of course she hadn’t yet seen the sorry state of his library. She actually looked excited by the prospect of a challenge.







“That sounds like something I would very much enjoy.” She was beginning to feel the tingle of excitement travel up her spine. She was eager to see the library and get her hands on the books.







“I expect you to be here working on the project at least three days a week from nine until four. Lunch will be provided for you of course. I take my lunch in here, but you are welcome to use the dining room if you like as no one else will be using it, or you may have a tray brought to you if you prefer. The house-elves are at your command for anything you may need. Any purchases needed for the library should be brought to my attention and I will see to it that you have what you need. You will be paid half of the agreed sum now and half upon completion of the project. Are those terms agreeable to you?” He asked.







“They are.” Magic swirled between them and sealed their agreement.







“Then allow me to show you the library.” He said, rising from his chair. She followed him to a large set of double doors that lead to the library. “It is attached to my study which is where I spend the bulk of my day. I will be near by if you need me.”





Hermione stepped into the library and sucked in a sharp breath. The room was huge. Windows made up one entire wall with a cushioned bench set before it. Floor to ceiling shelving lined the remainder of the room and flanked a large stone fireplace. There was a long, comfortable looking sofa and two large chairs situated around the hearth and a rolling staircase pushed into the corner.







Stacks of books littered the floor and the shelves were crammed to overflowing with a mixture of antique and modern texts. Near the floor of one bank of shelves were several magical texts held in place by a chain that extended in front of them. No doubt those were dark magic texts. His library was like a dream come true for a bibliophile such as herself.







“Are you horrified or are you pleased? Your expression is confusing.” Lucius said, watching her spin slowly in the center of the room.







“Both.” She said in awe. “So many books, such amazing space…it is wonderful.”







“But?”







“You are correct, it needs to be taken in hand and I am just the witch to do it.” When she turned back to him she was smiling. How long had it been since someone had smiled at him? He felt warm inside knowing that he had made someone else happy, even if it was inadvertent.







“Then I shall leave it in your very capable hands. Take your time, look around and then come see me before you leave and give me your initial impressions.” With a slight bow Lucius left her alone to look around.









~@~









She spent hours alone in the library just skimming the shelves and contemplating the beautiful mess of words and knowledge at her fingertips. She hadn’t realized just how long she had been there until the doors opened once more and Lucius entered.







He grew concerned as the hour grew late and she never re-surfaced. The elves had informed him that she had never shown up for lunch nor had she requested a tray. He looked around the room, thinking it empty until he noticed her huddled at the top of the rolling staircase with her nose pressed into a book and a smile on her lips.







“Hermione?” He climbed the first few steps and waited for her to acknowledge him. “Is everything alright? It is nearing supper time and you never came to speak to me.”







“Is it really so late?” She asked, looking around for a clock. “I apologize, it’s just…there are so many wonderful books in your collection and…well books are an addiction for me, one I haven’t fed in a very, very long time.”







“My books are at your disposal, Hermione. Feel free to borrow what you like with the exception of the ones of a more…questionable….nature.” He returned her smile, amused by her almost childlike delight in something as simple as a book. “Did you have a chance to look around at all?”







“Oh, yes! The shelving needs to be redone in a more ergonomic pattern. Deeper shelves for larger tomes and smaller for the more delicate editions. Your darker texts would be better protected with a glass enclosed shelving unit with a ward on the doors and a lock. Your chains are old fashioned and no real impediment to the very curious. You also have duplicate copies of several books that with your permission I would like to donate to Hogwarts.” She said.







“Consider it done. I will have a contractor in tomorrow to speak with you about the shelving and you have my permission to send any duplicates to the school.” He said. “The wards on the house have been altered to admit you; you may access the library and my study through the floo network. Do you need me to escort you home?”







“N-no…I shall be fine on my own.” She didn’t think Ron would be very welcoming of Lucius in their home. He still held a very strong grudge against the family.







“Then I will see you tomorrow.” He said. “Good evening, Hermione.”







“Good evening, Lucius.” She said as she slung her bag over her shoulder and used the floo network to return home. She needn’t have concerned herself with Ron’s feelings, the house was empty.