Refashioning Affection

Chapter Nine: Friendly Advice or 'Lucius Grows a Pair'


Lucius sat in the Headmistress office. “I assure you, Minerva, that not only will you be at the interviews for the new Divination professor, but you will have the final say. You have far more sense then the majority of the Board put together.”

“Why, thank you, Lucius. I was going to give her until the end of the year, but this term has been so disastrous. Do you think we will be able to hire someone for the start of next term?"

“I have team on it already, Headmistress and I believe we will be able to start interviews directly following Christmas.”

“That is wonderful. Lunch is about to start, would you care to join us?”

“Thank you, but I have promised to have lunch with Severus in his chambers.”

“Enjoy then.” She stood, as did Lucius.

“I shall. Have a good day, Minerva.” He smiled at the older witch.

“Same to you.” They parted at the bottom of the stairs. Minerva watched as Lucius made his way to the dungeons; there was something different about him, she couldn’t quite place it.

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Severus was waiting when Lucius knocked on the door. When he opened the heavy, wooden door, Lucius greeted him with a smile and initiated an old handshake they had developed while still at Hogwarts.

“Someone is in a good mood today, and I am certain it has very little to do with your meeting with the Headmistress, and a lot to do with your Ms. Granger.”

“She is not my Ms. Granger, Severus, but yes, I suppose she is a factor.”

Severus just rolled his eyes and led Lucius into the sitting room where lunch was waiting for them. They sat and chatted for some time just about everyday things.

Severus was thrilled to hear that a new Divination teacher was to be hired and was pleased that only three fourth years had got themselves sent to the hospital wing that week after a cauldron explosion. Severus asked about his godson and whether or not this would be the year to restart the Malfoy annual Christmas party.

“I don’t think it will ever happen again. I know it was your only excuse to get out of this drafty dungeon,” he laughed as Severus scowled at his comment.
“But…” prompted Severus

“But, since the war and everything that has happened, I haven’t had the time or energy to plan such an event. Narcissa use to handle all those things…”

“You could always hire someone to plan the event, Lucius.”

“I wouldn’t trust anyone to do it. They would be in my home and using my money. I still have too many enemies.” He slumped slightly in his chair.

“How about another Madam Malfoy, then?” Severus asked.

“Ha-ha. Can you think of anyone willing to take on my name, and not just because of my Gringotts accounts?”

“I know you have your heart set on a witch who has already given you forgiveness and doesn’t give a damn about wealth.”

“Severus,” Lucius groaned

“I know you keep second guessing yourself. Half the time you are ready to sweep her off her feet and disappear to one of your holiday houses for a week, and the other half it seems your balls mysteriously disappear and you start sulking.”

“You don’t understand, Sev.”

“I know she has stirred feelings in you like no one else; that you come alive again when she is around or even mentioned.”

“She is weary of men. She said they have never wanted her, only the idea of her, or some other nonsense.”

“Who better to understand that than you? Her whole life she has been given labels and expectations that she wouldn’t dare let down. You have lived quite a similar life.”

“Sev, what if - ”

“Oh, for the love of Merlin, Lucius! Find your balls and go get her!” Severus was standing, hunched over the table to be eye to eye with his old friend.

“You know what, I think I will.”

“Thank the gods for small favors!”

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Hermione had just returned to the Ministry after lunch with Ginny; it seemed that a Tuesday tradition was forming and Hermione was glad to have a girlfriend to talk to.

Ginny had been very excited after Hermione had told her about what had happened the night before with Lucius. Ginny had told Hermione to just go for it. If she wanted Lucius, and he seemed to want the same, then there was no pointing in denying oneself.

Hermione was very tempted to take her advice, but she still wasn’t quite sure how she felt about the man who had suddenly turned everything upside down. She wanted the man to make the first move this time; to be the dominate one in the relationship. She was tired of always having to take the lead.

As she walked into her office, she was taken by surprise as not one, but two smiling wizards greeted her.

“Hello, Herms.” The redhead smiled and opened his arms.

“Don’t call me that, Charles.” Hermione laughed as she was lifted into the strong arms of Charlie Weasley.

He laughed as he set her down and gave her a kiss on the cheek, which she returned, the warm smile never leaving her lips.

“What are you doing in London?” she asked.

“What? Don’t you want to see you favorite dragon keeper? I am hurt,” he pouted. “Or perhaps you’re trying to hide your new boyfriend?” he asked as he nodded to the other man in the room, watching the pair with interest.

“Oh, Liam, I am sorry this is…”

“We have already met, Hermione, waiting for you to come back.”

“That’s good. So, what brings you to my office?”

“I am here to pick up the salve you promised, the little bugger is about to hatch and if he is anything like his mum, we are all going to need it.”

“Of course, it will be done in the morning. How long are you here for?” she asked, sitting at her desk and pulling out her diary. Charlie followed and sat on the edge of her large desk and folded his muscled arms over his chest.

“Just the night, I am afraid. All hands on deck for this hatching.” Charlie was watching Liam out of the corner off his eye. He was moving closer to Hermione and stopped behind her desk.

“Oh, that is a shame. Will you come over tonight? I would love to catch up with everything going on back at the reserve.”

“’Course, luv,” he replied, reaching out and twisting one curl around his finger, “as long as you make that pineapple upside-down cake.” He winked at her and they both laughed.

“You bake?” asked Liam, feeling the need to butt in.

“Mate, you have no idea.” He winked again at Hermione who slapped his thigh.

“Ah, some inside joke I see,” Liam uttered.

“Not at all, Liam. Charlie is just being his usual self. I do enjoy baking.”

“Maybe one day I could try one of your specialties.” He was now bracing himself on the desk with one arm while the other hand was on the back of her chair.

“Oh course, Liam. I would love to make you something.” She smiled up at him. “So, why are you lurking in my office? I doubt it had to do with my skills in the kitchen.”

“Wrong room, I think, Herm,” Charlie mumbled as he glared slightly at the Scot.

“What was that, Charlie?” Hermione asked.

“Big folder of paperwork,” he clarified.

“The briefings?”

“Yes, Clara has scouted the location and the rest of the team has been studying the maps and magical traces extensively. I say we should be ready by the end of the week, but that is for you to decide,” Liam explained.

“Excellent, I will look this over and call a meeting Thursday to make the final decision.”

“Fantastic.” His deep voice was low and rumbled as he leaned in closer; his blue eyes sparkled.

The outer door of the office slammed shut and the three in the room looked up to see a rushed Lucius enter the office.

What Lucius walked in on made him see red. There was one of the Weasley brood sitting on Hermione’s desk, and there was bloody McTavish basically folding himself around Hermione.

“Lucius, is everything okay?” she asked standing up.

“I must speak to you,” he said, finishing the sentence in his own head with ‘before I kill these two or lose my nerve.’

“Yes, of course, Lucius.”

“I will see you at the meeting if not sooner, Hermione,” Liam said as he ran his hand over her shoulder before exiting.

“I will see you tonight Hermione, is your floo open?”

“Yes, Charlie,”

“Excellent. I can just leave from your place in the morning.” He leaned down and gave Hermione a quick peck on the lips before turning to leave the room.

“Good afternoon, Mr. Malfoy,” Charlie said as he passed the blonde wizard.

All Lucius could do was nod, and once Charlie had cleared the doorway he flicked his wrist and slammed the door.

Hermione was stunned and slightly frightened as Lucius turned his molten silver eyes on her.

“Lucius, what is wrong?”

“You have no idea, do you?”

“About what, Lucius? I’m confused.”

“Those men were drooling over you,” he snarled.

“I hardly think so, Lucius…”

“Are you really so blind when it comes to male attention?”

“I don’t trust it to be real, is all. I am nothing but a passing fancy.”

“How do you know that? What if they love you?”

“I doubt that, and why are you so concerned with this?”

He advanced on her tossing his cane to the side and grasping the sides of her face.

“All that you do concerns me, Hermione. You are in my every thought.”

“Lucius I…” she never got to finish her sentence, or even the thought as his lips found hers.

He dominated the kiss licking, nipping and soothing her lips. She kissed him in return. Her arms wrapped around his waist as he backed her into one of her bookshelves.

One of his hands had wound around her neck, his fingers pulling the comb from her hair then tangling his fingers in the free tendrils. His other hand then moved down to the small of her back, pulling her closer.

She moaned when she felt his hard body pressed into her own. She had slipped her arms under his outer robe and waistcoat to the shirt underneath, feeling his muscles move as her fingers danced over them.

Lucius pulled back to look at her. Her dark blouse was wrinkled, her lips were dark red and moist, and her eyes were dark, all because of him.

He couldn’t say anything. She took a hand from beneath his clothes and ran her fingers over his brow, down his nose, across his lips and down his neck.

“Well, Lucius, where do we go from here?” She smiled at him.

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A/N: First many thanks to the wonderful beta for all her hard work!!

Thanks to all my readers/reviewers. The positive feedback is wonderful :D Hope you enjoyed this installment of the saga.

Chapter ten is done and off to the beta- so it should be up soon!

Cheers,
Sarah