Mrs.Malfoy

Author Note: More dialogue than actual story. But how will you ever find out what’s going on if you don’t listen to what they say? I warn you now. There is a place in here that will have you gaping!

Lucius appeared the same moment Severus stood straight. He observed their close proximity. “Something amiss?”

“Mrs. Malfoy dropped her napkin. It is, of course, my gentlemanly duty to retrieve it for her. Come now, Lucius. Overprotective much?” Severus asked as he laid Hermione’s linen back on the table. How it found its way to his hand from her lap, Hermione never knew.

Lucius just sneered. “Now the tablecloth will need to be burned.”

Severus seethed at the blonde man taking his seat. “I am surprised you haven’t shattered the dishes, ripped up the carpet, or, better yet, castrated yourself.”

“Jealous?” Lucius laughed.

“Of your derogatory and prejudiced way of thinking? Never. Hermione is a brilliant witch. The best I’ve ever taught. I respect her intellect, and cannot, for the life of me, understand why she hasn’t gathered her Gryffindor courage and killed you already.”

Lucius’ glare shifted from Severus to Hermione, who had the better thought to sit quietly and let the men hash it out.

“I knew you wanted her to yourself, Severus, but I never knew you were this passionate about her. Tell me, old friend. You said she was the best you ever taught. Exactly what was on your lesson plan?” he smirked.

Severus unsheathed his wand but thought better of it when he saw Hermione flinch.

Without looking at her, he spoke evenly. “Good evening, Mrs. Malfoy.” And he strode purposefully out the door.

“You have quite an admirer.”

“I wouldn’t know, sir,” Hermione finally said.

Lucius smirked again and finished his meal.

Hermione enjoyed the silence and reflected on the things Severus has said. A small grin tugged at the corners of her mouth. At the same time, Lucius hissed.

At first she thought he saw the smile and was about to condemn her. But when she looked up, the site before her was more menacing than any fist.

Lucius was clutching his left forearm.

“I want you out of my house when I return. Go to Hogwarts. NO! Severus will go there. Go to that blood traitor’s filthy abode. I will send Dobby for you when I am ready to look at you.” Lucius Apparated on the spot.

It took Hermione all of five minutes to have a suitcase packed and ready to go. She, too, Apparated. Straight to the Burrow.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

The room was filled with members of every Pureblood activist family in the wizarding world. Cornelius Fudge, himself, led this movement. He allowed the Death Eater, exonerated of their crimes, the ability to contact others using their dark mark. So it was no great surprise to Severus when he saw Lucius appear soon after himself. He approached him cautiously.

“Forgive my outburst this evening, Lucius. I had a headache and I was out of that particular potion. All of the insufferable babbling and name calling was too much for my nerves. It wasn’t my place to take that anger out on you. I should have saved it for the students. Nevertheless, do with your wife as you see fit. And accept my apology.”

“Apology accepted, old friend. Thank you for coming to your senses.”

Severus nodded almost imperceptibly. “I suppose you know what the meaning of this is?” Severus asked motioning to the congregation before them.

“No idea, but you know how he craves attention.”

“LISTEN! The law will take care of everything we’ve ever wanted. The abolition of all mudbloods!” The crowd cheered and roared. “Soon, those of less blood will have been mated off and will give birth to the new generation of the wizarding world! We will be more powerful than ever before!”

The people began to applaud again, but the former Minister quieted them with his hands. “Lucius, I believe you have things well in hand with Potter’s friend?”

“She is under my care,” he replied with a small smile.

“And how is she adjusting to your duties as husband?”

Lucius’ grin grew wider. “She is obeying quite nicely.”

The smirks, catcalls, and whistles were enough to make Severus roll his eyes.

“Severus, is there a problem?” Fudge asked.

“No, there is not,” Severus replied quirking an eyebrow and taking on his normal ‘bored’ pose.

“Good, converse amongst yourselves, and enjoy this wonderful feast,” Fudge announced to the entire room. People paired off and others grouped together to discuss everything under the sun.

Severus turned his back to the room and took a sip of his brandy. “How much longer do we have to suffer this fool, Lucius?”

Lucius stood steadfast but turned his head to look at the man standing beside him. “There there, Severus. He thinks that he has the same power here as he had at the Ministry. I daresay he will not last long amongst us.” The blonde man turned back to leer at the object of their discussion with a new malice.

“Eyeing the prize?”

“When am I not?” Lucius said with an abundance of confidence.

Severus knew he had a double meaning to that remark. Lucius saw Hermione as a prize, as well. “Speaking of prizes, Mrs. Malfoy has been up to something.”

“Oh?”

Severus pulled Lucius by the elbow to a secluded corner. “She believes she is going to make you so paranoid that you drive yourself mad.”

“She told you this?”

Severus nodded. “She enlisted me. I took the opportunity to put my retired undercover abilities back to work.”

“You mean your backstabbing and double crossing?” Lucius sneered as he swigged on his brandy.

Severus allowed him that comment and continued, “I will discover her intentions in detail and the reasoning behind such ploys. I will then report them to you so you can stay one step ahead of her, if you wish.”

Lucius tried to see any ulterior motives behind Severus’ voice and tone, but none were made apparent.

“Please do. I must be getting back. I will at least have a few moments peace as she is at Weasley’s this evening. Good evening.”

Severus nodded to Lucius and then his face changed. His eyes grew darker and his scowl was deeper than ever before.

“Placing that small seed of information in your head will no doubt grow into your demise. Everything the witch does, you will second guess. Everything she says will have double meaning to you. You will fall right into her trap,” Severus mused to himself.

He left immediately and found himself trudging through the tall grass that blanketed the ground at the Burrow.