Debt Relief, Malfoy Style

"Stay for a drink before you head home?" Lucius called over his shoulder as the four weary travelers climbed the steps and entered the foyer a Malfoy Manor.

"Oh God yes, I need a drink." Hermione said heading straight for Lucius' study.

"I guess we'll be staying for a drink." Severus said with a shake of his head.

"It must be bad." Lucius laughed. "She's invoking Muggle deities."

"I can't believe I ever dated that git!" Hermione groaned as she stalked over to the liquor cabinet.

"Well how do you think I feel?" Ginny sighed, taking the whiskey bottle from Hermione's hand and pouring herself a generous amount. "I"m related to the bleeding wanker."

"Come now." Lucius said cheerfully. "It could be worse. At least neither of you are Lavender Brown."

"Thank Merlin for that." Hermione sighed, sinking heavily onto the sofa. "But can you believe it? I'm utterly gobsmacked."

~~~~~~flashback~~~~~~~

"Zis iz too much, Mr. Malfoy." Fleur said, her eyes wide as she gazed at the amount on the cheque.

"It's Lucius and no it isn't. Invest it if you'd like, use it for Victoire's education."

"It really is very generous of you Lucius." George said softly as he gazed at his own cheque.

"We're not keeping it." Ron said, snatching the envelope from Lavender's grasp. "I can't be bought with your guilt money." He tore the envelope in half and threw it to the floor.

"Ron!" His mother gasped. "Pick that up."

"No." Ron roared, his face red with anger. "Can't you see what he's doing? Cars, trips, money. He's trying to buy us and I'm not for sale."

"They are called Christmas presents you stupid git!" Ginny yelled.

"Put that down." Ron cried out as Lavender bent down to retrieve the discarded envelope. "I said we aren't keeping his blood money."

"And I say we are!" Lavender whirled on him, furious. "Now you listen to me Ronald Weasley. I'm pregnant and we need this money. Now you can either stop acting like an arse, except this generous gift and start a life with me and the baby or you can go and I'll keep the money myself and we'll never trouble you again. Make up your bloody mind." With that she whirled on her heel and stomped upstairs.

~~~~~~~end flashback~~~~~~~

"I thought Mum was going to have a heart attack." Ginny laughed. "What a way to find out your second grandchild is on the way."

"Well I'm proud of Lavender, standing up to Ron that way." Hermione took a sip of her drink. "I really didn't think she had it in her."

"Neither did Weasley, judging by the look on his face." Severus added softly. "Though you have to admit Lucius, your gifts were a bit extravagent."

"How so Severus? You don't like the car?"

"Not at all. I love the car. But that is the point Lucius, it's not many people who give cars. money and trips to Hawaii as Christmas gifts."

"Because not many people are billionaires, Severus." The blonde wizard sighed. "I am a billionaire. I have more money then I can ever hope to spend in several lifetimes. I merely gave gifts in accordance with the money I have. I wasn't trying to be ostentatious. I just think it would be rude for me to only spend a few galleons on gifts when I have it in my power to do so much more. I don't remember you objecting to my gifts when you graduated Hogwarts." He narrowed his eyes at the dark wizard.

"Well Mum and Dad absolutely loved the car." Ginny smiled. "Though Mum did say she's going to have to make him swear not to enchant this one to fly."

"And I heard George and Luna talking about maybe putting a down payment on a house with the money you gave them." Hermione said gently. "I think everyone appreciated your gifts Lucius. Ron's just a stupid git."

"Everyone else loves you Lucius." Ginny said, crawling onto his lap and nuzzling his neck. "Who cares what Ron thinks." She yawned loudly and lay her head on his shoulder.

"Come on Witch." Severus said, groaning as he stood up from the sofa. "I'm tired and I need a nap." He held out his hand and pulled Hermione gently to her feet.

"We'll see you both on New Year's Eve?" Lucius called after them.

"Wouldn't miss it for the world." Severus called back over his shoulder on the way across the foyer.

Sighing, Lucius rested his cheek on top of Ginny's head. "How about you? Are you ready for a nap?

"Mmmmm Hmmmm." She nodded her head sleepily against his chest.

"Shall I carry you?"

"Mmmmm Hmmmm."

"Cheeky witch." He muttered, gathering her up in his arms and heading for the stairs.

"So what did you give Severus when he graduated?" Ginny asked sleepily, as she snuggled under the covers.

"A holiday in Tuscany and a whole new wardrobe."

"Nice gift." She chuckled, curling up against him and resting her head on his shoulder.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

"How do I look?" Ginny spun nervously in front of the mirror, her white evening gown flaring out gently before settling around her legs.

"Stunning, my darling." Lucius said, stepping up behind her. "I love it when you wear you hair up like this, it's so elegant. But something is missing..., here." He wrapped a thick emerald and diamond necklace around her neck. "Perfect. It sets off the neckline of your dress beautifully."

"Lucius." Ginny moaned. "Are you going to buy me a new dress and matching jewelry for every formal dinner and party we attend?"

"Yes." He said reaching into his pocket. "And here are the matching earrings." He placed his index finger to her lips when she started to speak. "And it would be most helpful if you would just except them graciously."

"But Lucius..."

"That means just taking them without complaint. Apparently I was unclear before." He leaned down and placed a tender kiss on her lips. "You might even say 'Thank you'."

"Thank you." Ginny sighed heavily as she put on the earrings. "They're absolutely stunning, Lucius."

"You're welcome." He said, stepping in front of the full length mirror. "Now how do I look?"

Ginny took a step back and let her eyes roam over his body. He looked elegant and perfect in his black tuxedo. "Handsome as ever." She smiled up at him.

"Good." He said, holding out a hand to her. "Come on, our guests should be arriving any minute now."

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

The party was in full swing when Ginny and Hermione sank gratefully into seats next to Headmistress McGonagall.

"How are you enjoying the party, Headmistress?" Ginny asked.

"Oh, call me Minerva. Lucius has really outdone himself this time." She said, gazing around the richly decorated ballroom.

"Did I hear my name mentioned?" Lucius asked, sliding smoothly into the seat between Ginny and Minerva.

"Minerva was just saying how you've really outdone yourself." Ginny said, taking a sip of champagne.

"I had a little help." He said, kissing Ginny lightly on the cheek. "Where's Severus? I thought he was entertaining you two lovely ladies."

"He's dancing with Madame Pomfrey." Hermione said, raising her hand to signal for another glass of champagne from a passing house elf.

"Oh." Lucius sneered, searching the dance floor until he located the dancing couple. "The old flame. Any jealousy Hermione?"

"Lucius." Ginny hissed, slapping him on the leg.

"What?" He feigned innocence. "It's an honest question."

"It's okay Ginny." Hermione said, leveling Lucius with a serious gaze. "Don't you think if I were the jealous type, it would be you I'd be worried about?"

"Touche." Lucius smirked, taking a sip off his drink.

"Are you stirring up trouble Lucius Malfoy?" Poppy Pomfrey asked as she lowered herself into an empty chair. Severus kissed her tenderly on the cheek and then moved to sit beside Hermione. "You always were a trouble maker." Poppy glared across the table at the blonde wizard.

Lucius pressed his hand to his heart. "I'm hurt."

"Because the truth hurts." Minerva quipped, causing the rest of the table to laugh loudly.

"Hermione?" The mediwitch looked across the table. "Severus tells me you two are living together now. I hope for your sake he's filed down that sharp tongue of his, it can cut."

Severus' soft 'I have' was drowned out by Hermione's laughter. "You have?" She glared at Severus. "So the other day when I failed to cut the flobberworms to your exacting specifications and you told me to, and I quote, 'get the fuck out of your dungeon and go be a pastry maker' that was meant in the nicest possible way?"

"So he hasn't." Poppy laughed as Severus flushed crimson. "How do you stand it?"

"Well." Hermione turned to smile at the dark Potions Master. "I love him. And I'm pretty thick skinned. But mostly I know he regrets the mean things he says the second they come out of his mouth, so I just don't take him seriously anymore."

"You'll be good for him then." Poppy smiled fondly at Severus. "He needs that."

"Could I ask you both a personal question?" Hermione asked shyly, cutting her eyes from Severus back to Poppy. "Why didn't you two get back together when he came back to teach at Hogwarts?"

"Who says we didn't?" Poppy laughed, winking at Hermione. "That castle can get awfully cold and lonely at night."

"So what happened?" Ginny asked. "Why didn't you stay together?"

"Poor Severus was already serving two masters, he didn't need a third." Poppy said sadly. "And after the return of He Who Must Not be Named I think he sought his solace with a lover who better understood his plight." She stared pointedly at Lucius.

"To be perfectly frank," Severus said in his rich baritone, "the stresses of spying for the order and simultaneously serving the Dark Lord did not do much for my libido. At the time, it was all I could do to simply survive most days. However I will always be grateful to Poppy for taking care of me when I returned from meetings with the Dark Lord a little worse for wear." He reached across the table to hold her hand. "And I am also grateful that you never said to me 'I told you so'. Even though I did deserve it."

"Only you could describe 'beaten to hell' and recovering from the Cruciatus curse as a 'little worse for wear'." Poppy smiled ruefully at him. "I knew you were already suffering enough for your choices. You didn't need me to rub it in."

"Will you all excuse me for a moment?" Lucius said, standing suddenly and hurrying across the ballroom floor.

"What's that all about?" Hermione asked, her eyes following Lucius.

"Beats me." Ginny shrugged. "Who's that Wizard he's talking to?" She watched as Lucius and a strange man stepped into a corner of the room. The man was dressed in jeans and trainers and seemed out of place among all the tuxedos and dress robes. As Ginny looked on, Lucius reached into his pocket and handed something to the him.

"Severus, do you know who Lucius is talking to?" Hermione turned back to face her lover.

"Um, it's not a Wizard, it's an old friend, muggle." Severus said quickly, avoiding Hermione's gaze. "From our younger days." He stood abruptly. "I'll just go say Hello." He called over his shoulder as he hurried across dance floor to join Lucius and the stranger.

"Well that was weird." Hermione said, taking a sip off her champagne.

"They're weird." Ginny shrugged, turning her attention back to Poppy and Minerva. "I want to hear more about them when they were in school. Lucius had a crush on you Minerva. Did you know?"

"Did he now?" The older woman flushed crimson. "I had no idea. Probably best I didn't." She smiled shyly.

"Oh?" Ginny raised an eyebrow.

"If I'd have known, he might have been even more tempting then he already was." She winked wickedly at the two younger witches. "Even at seventeen he was a fine specimen. Perfect sculpted muscles, that glorious blond hair and his..." Minerva's lips snapped shut and she looked embarrassed.

"His what, Minerva?" Ginny asked, her voice dripping with innuendo. "What are you not telling us? Have you seen my man in the all together? Oh Merlin, look at the blush, Hermione! I think she has."

"You do look a bit guilty, Minerva." Hermione giggled. "Do you have something you'd like to share with rest of the class?"

"Yes Minerva." Poppy said. "I'm rather interested myself now."

The Headmistress glared around the table, before smiling wickedly. "Oh alright. It was almost 30 years ago, I don't think they can fire me for it now." She sighed. "Well you all know Lucius was a Prefect?"