Refashioning Affection

Chapter Six: Lunch Date of Naughty Thoughts

Lucius had been pacing in his office for the past hour. He was to meet Hermione soon and still hadn't come to any conclusions. Well, ones that he liked anyway.

Snape's words had unnerved him. Had he really never felt like this before? He couldn't remember ever being so fascinated by a woman. He and Narcissa had been betrothed before she had even entered Hogwarts. He had indulged in his youth; his looks, name and money made for no lack of willing witches, but not one of them, not even his ex-wife, had stirred this much emotion in him before.

Snape was right-- he was doomed. Hermione didn't care about money. His name would be forever tainted by his past and to top it all off, he was old enough to be her father.

The fates were cruel.

He glanced down at his watch. He had three minutes. He gathered his cloak and cane, said goodbye to Alan and made his way to her office.

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Hermione was also pacing her office, the voice of Ginny Weasley taunting her. She stood in front of the mantle, the moving picture of her and Charlie and the muggle photo of her and Sully at the pub, his arm around her shoulders and his cheek resting on the top of her head, taunting her all the more.

Bracing her hands on the wooden mantle, she dropped her head and stretched her back and legs. She was stressing out over nothing. She gave a sigh when she felt her muscles relax a bit.

That is how Lucius found her.

At this point, he was convinced she was trying to kill him, very slowly.

Her arse was hugged wonderfully in her grey slacks; her long, dark hair fell to the middle of her back-- gods, he wanted to wrap that hair around his--

His thoughts ended as she turned around to find him gawking at her.

"Lucius, I didn't hear you come in. Give me a moment to look presentable and we can head out."

He couldn't respond as she quickly twisted her hair up and pinned it into place.

'What a pity,' he thought. She slipped on a pair of ankle boots and quickly zipped up the sides, unknowingly giving him a wonderful view of her cleavage down her ruby red blouse.

He inconspicuously pulled his robe over the front of his trousers as she fastened her wand into a wrist holster and pulled on her cloak.

"All set," she announced as she smiled up at him. Damn her.

Though he was trying his hardest to keep the Malfoy mask in place, it was difficult as she wound her arm through his offered one.

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They made it to Babel; cheeks cold and rosy from the November wind that had blown in from the west.

Lucius had made sure that they would have a back room to themselves yesterday, so he guided her past the front table and the bar to the booth at the far end.

The walls of the room were lined with books, muggle and magic, fiction and non-fiction. The look of wonder and joy on the witch’s face was enough to make him buy the place and give it to her if he could see that look everyday.

"This place is amazing, Lucius. How did you find it?" She slid on the long leather bench, running her fingers gently along the spines of the books above her head.

"Severus actually found it when we were younger and we have been coming here ever since."

Just then the bartender drifted over, a pint of the house ale in each hand.

"I hope you don’t mind..." Lucius started.

"Nonsense, Lucius, you know what is good here." She tipped her glass toward him.

He ordered the house special and turned his attention back to the witch who had a small black book on the table with a black fountain pen resting on top.

She flipped it open to reveal curvy, even script.

"So, with a little more research and looking over the curse breaker reports it seems that we are dealing with some very strong, blood-bonded wards."

"I have to agree and you have noticed the problem with that, I assume?"

"The fact that it was most likely Riddle's blood used in the making of the wards and that the last of the Riddle line was killed seven years ago?"

"Exactly, there are really only three options."

"Gaunt, Harry or dragon," Hermione laid out.

"Yes, but there will be issues with finding a Gaunt since they went into hiding. And even though I'm sure Mr. Potter will be more than willing, it is a long shot that the magic will recognize his blood. Then if that fails we will need to find the specific dragon breed associated with the former Dark Lord's blood. All those who were there are long since dead. I may have some information in my library though.”

"It seems we have our work cut out for us. I will send someone down to the archive room to dig up the files on the Gaunt family, and we'll see if we can gain any footing on that front."

"I will do some searching through my contacts and see if they have heard anything recently."

"Excellent."

Soon their food came and the talk moved away from the Riddle vaults to more everyday topics.

Hermione was pleasantly surprised about the fact that they shared many of the same interests including favorite authors and periodicals.

****************************

By the time the steak and ale pie with steamed vegetables was consumed Hermione felt like that regardless of the fact that they could be friends she still had sudden inappropriate thoughts about the man sitting in front of her.

Did he really have to have such nice hands? And that voice, when he was truly passionate about a subject, would drop an octave and send a shiver right through her. She ordered her brain to crawl back out of the gutter, but it really only made it a quarter of the way out, if that.

Lucius was ready to propose marriage. Hermione was everything he could want, now that he was able to think for himself and see the world from beyond the veil of prejudice his forefathers had laid before him.

He had been bred for a pureblood bride, someone who could be a social and political partner. He had cared for Narcissa and would always be grateful to the woman who gave him his son, but she was not the type of woman he always felt-- comfortable around.

He wanted a woman who would love and care for him as he was, someone who would challenge him and was her own person through and through. He knew he didn’t deserve such a second chance, and he definitely didn’t deserve her, but by gods, he wanted Hermione.

Hermione glanced down at her watch, shocked to see how late it had become; they both need to get back to the Ministry.

“Lucius, as much as I hate to say it, we need to head back. Thank you for lunch. I owe you one.”

“Nonsense, it has been a while since I enjoyed my lunch break this much.”

“Likewise, perhaps I can cook for you then? Dinner maybe? I have been told my caramel chocolate bars are sinful.”

“If you insist.” He hoped she didn’t notice his swallow at the word sinful coming from her lips. “I do have a rather big sweet tooth.”

Both stopped for a moment and broke eye contact. Hermione was thinking of other big things Malfoy men were supposed to have, and Lucius was thinking of other uses of chocolate, none of which involved graham crackers.

Hermione cleared her throat, “I am really busy for the next couple of days with meetings and the like, but if you find anything, feel free to pop by my office.”

“I shall.” As he rose and helped her put on her cloak, he noticed the triquatra clasps.

“The three stages of life, very beautifully made.”

“Thank you. I found the charms in a silver shop in Cork, and had a friend of mine make them into a clasp. I fear I may just skip over the second stage, but I have always loved the symbol,” she explained.

“The mother? You do not want children?” he asked.

“It's not that I don’t want them, I just don’t think I will have the time to find a husband and have children until I am nearly a crone.” She laughed, but there was not much mirth in the sound.

“Men are most likely falling over themselves to win you.” He knew he sure as hell was falling for her, and hard.

“They like the idea of me, not the real me. Here.” She handed him his cane.

“Thank you.” He wanted to ask her more, but she seemed to want to avoid the topic.

He once again, he offered her his arm and they made their way in companionable silence back to the Ministry.

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A/N First off: A GIANT THANK YOU! to Labib and my new beta. She was even willing to edit my first five chapter so at some point they will be up and edited!

meankitty69: your enthusiasm is wonderful, thank you!

Ithilwen: You are welcome for the smiles :D

Thanks to everyone who reviewed and enjoyed, hope you liked this chapter as well.

Cheers!
xox Sarah