Refashioning Affection

Chapter Four: It’s the Little Things.

Lucius Malfoy made determined strides down the hallway toward the office of Hermione Granger.

He had been waiting all day for the perfect moment to set his plan into motion and the new project briefing on his desk was the perfect excuse.

He walked through the empty reception room; apparently Hermione felt no need for a secretary. He knocked on her door, when she bade him entry he walked in on one of the oddest sights he had ever seen.

Hermione sat with her legs crossed on the floor, surrounded by a semi circle of papers. Her shoes had been kicked off and rested near the coffee table. The sleeves of her silk blouse were bunch up at her elbows. She was wiggling her feet as soft Celtic music played in the background, four fountain pens stuck up from her twisted hair, the colorful caps making a halo above her curl head.

He cleared his throat to gain her attention. She looked up, startled by the strange glint in his eyes, but smiled up at him in welcome.

“Is your furniture inadequate?” he asked.

She laughed, he nearly shuddered, what a wonderful sound. “Not at all. I just work better this way for some reason.” She gestured to her paper piles and inkbottles.

“Come in Mr. Malfoy, have a seat.”

“Thanks you Ms. Granger.” Lucius strolled over to one of the leather chairs situated in front of the hearth. He sat facing her- still on the floor.

“So what brings you here this afternoon?” she asked as she returned one stack of papers to their folder, marking the front with a quick note then stuffing the red pen back into her hair.

“I have just received a new assignment from the Minister, it seems that some old vaults have been found under the old Riddle home. The curse breakers have made it into one of the vaults but the rest have proved impenetrable.”

“Really?” Hermione’s eyes lit up at the thought of another project. Sorting through all the mess Dillon had left behind was already boring her to tears.

“Yes, perhaps some of your findings from the Druid Library could be of some help to us.”

“Oh, yes the ancient curses tend to need a lot of different elements in order to break through.”

Lucius could already see the gears in her head turning. “I have some books in my collection that could be of some assistance, if you would like to read over the briefing we could meet later to discus a course of action.”

“That would be fine. I have a few meetings today though, and chances are they will run over. I can be at your office around six, if the isn’t too late.”

“Six is acceptable.” The truth was he usually liked to leave by five but exceptions could be made.

“Excellent.” Just then her clock struck two. “Oh blast, speaking of meetings I have one in fifteen minuets.”

She quickly gathered her work and piled it carefully on her desk. She then shrugged on her robe and slipped her feet back into her heeled loafers as she removed all but one pen from her hair.

Lucius, who had rose when she did, could not help but watch her. She was graceful in her movements, even if the whole situation was odd to him. Women he worked with never made themselves “at home” as it were while in the office, and the pureblood women he socialized with, who had never worked a day in their lives, never looked that comfortable even in their own homes.

With one final tug on her collar she slung her satchel over her shoulder, Lucius held the door for her and nodded his goodbye as she passed him to enter the lifts. She waved at him, a simple wiggle of the fingers, as the life took her away.

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By six Lucius had read through the briefing twice more and was continuingly glancing at his pocket watch. At 6:03 there was a knock on his door. He assistant Alan had been sent home so it could be only one person.

Hermione entered looking frazzled and slightly winded. “Sorry I am late.”

“Think nothing of it.” He waved it off, “Take a seat, was the meeting productive?”

“Oh yes, the new team seems eager and intelligent, I have some high hopes.”

Hermione dropped her heavy bag on the floor and sat across from him. She couldn’t help but observe him. He had taken off his outer robes and had only his right sleeve cuffed up to his elbow. His back was perfectly straight and his hair had been loosened so a few pale strands hung around his ears. All in all he struck a handsome figure. The dark wood paneling and muted lighting did add a drastic contrast to his person.

“I am glad to hear it. It is about time we had a decent team in the RDD. I am sure you will make things run more efficiently.”

“Why thank you,” Hermione responded a bit shocked at his compliment. She new he had been on their side during the war, and was a changed man, but it was hard sometimes to forget how he had been during her younger years.

“I only speak the truth Ms. Granger.”

“Please call me Hermione, we are colleagues now.”

“Then I insist on Lucius.”

She smiled at him and he felt a flutter through him. Was this woman really getting under his skin that quickly? Was he really that soft in is old age?

“Well Lucius,” she started trying out his name “I have looked over the notes and from what I can gather we are dealing with some blood bound curses.”

“I agree. I had Loral gather some of my less… incriminating texts, she brought them here for us to use.”

“Loral?”

“My house elf. These I think will be the best place to start.”

He handed her a leather bound tome that had to be five hundred years old. The wonderful smell of ancient parchment and aged ink filled her senses. The soft leather and weight of the text felt wonderful in her hands. She must have made a strange noise because Lucius’s head popped up from his own text.

The look on his face- Hermione had never seen before, and she looked back only for a moment before returning her attention back to the old English.

Lucius was stunned. He had only ever heard a woman moan like that during intimate moments. Hermione had merely opened a book. If that was any indication of the passion she held within her… the urge to take her right then was almost overwhelming.

He kept looking at her, even after she had returned back to the book. He read the same paragraph for the next hour.

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By seven Hermione was starving and her eyes ached from a long day of reading. She looked up to notice Lucius hadn’t even turned the page.

“I am famished, I believe we have done enough for one night.”

Lucius looked up, a bit startled at the sound of her voice.

“I will agree with you Hermione, when are you free again to compare notes?”

“I have some free time after lunch on Wednesday, if that suits you.”

“We could meet for lunch perhaps/”

“Sure, any place in particular?”

“I know somewhere quite with good food, shall I meet you in your office around half twelve?”

“Excellent! It’s a date.” Hermione smiled as she gathered her belongings. Lucius stood and walked her to his office door.

“Enjoy you evening Hermione.”

“You as well Lucius.”

As he watched her leave he knew he was in deep trouble. Seducing a witch was one thing, but these stirring were disconcerting. He hadn’t felt like this in a long time, and they were brought on by the simplest of things. A laugh, a wave, a sound brought about by a book, should not have his brain diving into a gutter, for Merlin’s sake!

He would have to tread carefully on their, well she had called it a date, coming up or he might make a drastic mistake; like taking her home and ravishing her.

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As Hermione prepared dinner she replayed the odd events of the day. Lucius was acting very strange.

Perhaps Ron had been right. He had seemed eager to engage with her in conversation and was very obliging in a gentleman like way.

She would be lying to herself if she didn’t admit that she found him handsome, but she was sure most every other woman on the street with two eyes and a pulse would agree with her.

But they were working together so nothing could come of it. That was one of her golden rules. Involving ones self with a co-worker was never a good idea and tended to end badly.

Pushing thoughts of the Malfoy Patriarch from her mind, she flipped through her diary. Tomorrow she had lunch with Ginny. It would be wonderful to catch up with only true girlfriend, well that was remotely close to her age that is.

That thought caused her to write a quick note to Mrs. McNamara. She missed the woman desperately sometimes. She hoped she would be able to find some time to visit Ireland again soon.
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A/N: So it begins! Of course things will not be easy, it never is when two stubborn, independent people come together.

Thank you for the review, Hope you enjoyed this chapter :D

xox Sarah