The Favor

Draco Malfoy walked through the Ministry of Magic to the Department for the Regulation and Control of Magical Creatures, to find Hermione Granger. People greeted him as he passed. So much had changed since the war ended three years ago. Draco worked in the Magical Law Enforcement department for the past year. After the war, Draco took a six-month leave to figure out his life. His parents took a long vacation to the Greek Isles. His father returned, his mother didn't. She fell in lust, as his father put it, with a young musician that was performing at the resort where they were staying, and decided she didn't want to leave. Lucius took it hard, but in the end, did not blame Narcissa for not wanting to return to London.

Draco knocked on Hermione's office door but did not wait for an answer. “Granger, I need to talk to you.”

Hermione was offered the position she wanted at the Ministry after the war ended. She already succeeded in improving the quality of life for House-elves. Her next project was working on abolishing the anti-werewolf law, which made it impossible for werewolves to secure employment.

Hermione's head shot up from her work. “Draco, do you think that maybe you could call me by my actual name?”

Draco shook his head and closed the door. “No. Why would I do that?”

Hermione threw her hands up. “Oh, I don't know, maybe to be nice.”

“Okay, Hermione,” Draco said as he let her name roll off his tongue.

Hermione rolled her eyes. “What do you want, Malfoy?”

Draco chuckled and sat down; he could still ruffle her feathers. “I need to ask you a favor.”

Hermione's eyebrows rose. “What kind of favor?”

Draco sighed. “I need you to talk to my father.”

“Why?”

“Because he is not himself anymore. He hasn't really left the manor since the end of the war. Unless it is to go to the pub.”

Hermione was astonished at this news. “Are you telling me for the last three years your father has done nothing but sulk around the manor?”

“No, at first he threw himself into his business, trying to restore some kind of dignity to the Malfoy name. When my mother left him that is when he began to sulk.”

“Why do I need to talk to him? He and I aren't exactly friends, or acquaintances for that matter.”

“Please, nothing else I've tried worked, and I'm afraid that he will start trying to take over my life soon. He already made very clear that my girlfriend was not good enough for me. Or was it I was not good enough for her?” Draco said, shaking his head.

Hermione wasn't sure she could help, but she saw the desperate look in Draco's eyes. “I will try and talk to him, but I make no promises that I will be able to help.”

“Thank you, Mione,” he said.

Her eyes darkened. “Do not ever call me by that name, Ferret!”

Draco held up his hands in defense. “Sorry, I will never refer to you by that name again, Granger.”

Hermione rolled her eyes. “Where will your father be tonight?”

“At the Leaky Cauldron. He usually gets there about six.”

Hermione sighed. “Okay, I will go and see what I can do.”

Draco smiled at her. “Thank you,” he said as he turned to leave. “It might go better if he didn't know I sent you.”

Hermione nodded her head. “Okay.”

*~*~*~*

After work, Hermione went home to her flat in London, showered and changed into a light, striped blue sweater and dark wash jeans. When she applied her makeup, she put on dark eyeliner, giving her eyes a smoky look, and applied a light lipstick. She examined herself in the mirror. She looked older than her twenty years, which was good, since she didn't want to look like a child while trying to talk to Mr. Malfoy.

She walked into the Leaky Cauldron at six thirty. She figured that would give Lucius enough time to have a few drinks, then he might be more willing to talk to her. She waved to Tom at the bar and scanned the floor.

She found him in a corner booth with a bottle of firewhisky and a shot glass. The bottle was already a quarter gone. Hermione just shook her head. It was a surprise to everyone to learn that Lucius Malfoy was in fact a spy for the Ministry, during the first war and continuing during the second. Lucius knew that Voldemort would have destroyed the Magical world along with most of the Muggle world if he succeeded. Contrary to popular belief, Lucius actually did like the Muggle world, especially the stock market; he did not want to see it destroyed. He put his family at risk, almost losing Draco in the process, to learn Voldemort's secrets and relay them to the Order of the Phoenix. Only a few people knew Lucius' role, Dumbledore, Kingsley Shacklebolt, and Mad Eye Moody; he played his role very convincingly. When the truth came out, six months after the war, very few people believed him even with evidence backing up his story. Most people have come to accept that the Malfoys were spies, but there are some people who still recoil from any Malfoy.

He was dressed impeccably, as always. “At least he didn't left himself go,” Hermione thought as she causally walked by the table, hoping he would see her. If he started talking to her first, it might not seem so suspicious that she was there.

“Miss, Granger?” he said in a surprised voice.

Hermione tried to act surprised. “Mr. Malfoy, how interesting to run into you here.”

Lucius gave her a questioning look. “Are you meeting anyone here?”

She shook her head slightly. “No, I just stopped in for a drink.”

“Then sit, nobody should drink alone,” he said, gesturing to the seat across from him.

“Oh yes, he must be drunk already, if he invited me to sit with him,” Hermione thought as she sat down. “Then what are you doing here drinking alone?”

“Nobody wants to sit with me.” He waved his hand around the bar.

“I am,” Hermione said as she signaled the bartender for another shot glass.

“I never took you for a drinker, Miss Granger,” Lucius said as he poured her a shot.

“Please, call me Hermione, and I usually don't drink a lot, but I like to occasionally let loose, Mr Malfoy,” she said with a smile as she downed the shot of whiskey.

“Please, if we are going to share a drink I insist you call me Lucius,” he smiled at her.

“So, Lucius, what have you been doing with your life lately?” Hermione asked, trying to start a conversation.

“Nothing,” he said stonily.

Hermione eyebrows rose. “Nothing? Nothing at all. I find that hard to believe.”

Lucius sighed at bit. “I am helping a friend finance his own apothecary store.”

“Yes, I remember Draco telling me that Severus was finally opening his own shop. I had no idea you were helping him.”

Lucius poured himself a shot. “He was reluctant to accept my help at first, but his desire not teach anymore had him sucking in his pride, and asking me for help.”

Hermione took another shot. “I never thought Severus could ever 'suck in his pride', as you put it.”

“When you want something badly enough, you will do things you never thought you would do.”

Hermione had a feeling that Lucius wasn't talking about Severus anymore. She poured a shot for both of them. “I appreciate what you and your family did,” she said in a small voice. They both downed the shot and promptly poured another one. The bottle was almost gone.

“How are things in the Department for the Regulation and Control of Magical Creatures?” Lucius said, changing the subject.

“Fulfilling and frustrating at the same time. It's hard to change century old laws,” Hermione said, downing another shot. She had lost count how many shots she had. Her head was fuzzy, and she was really enjoying talking to Lucius. “I do think that I am making a difference. I just wish I could change things faster.”

“I heard you are trying to change the anti-werewolf laws.”

“I am, but it's proving harder than expected. I think someone on the werewolf capture unit is trying to stop me. There seems to be a lot of corruption in that department,” Hermione said in a low, slurred voice. “But I am determined to change this barbaric law.”

“I'm sure you will. Would you like to order another bottle?” Lucius asked.

“Sure,” Hermione said in a slurred voice, waving the empty bottle at Tom, gesturing for another.

“Maybe we should also get you something to eat.”

Hermione's eyes widened. “Mmm, I would love some crème brûlée. Do they even have that here?” she said with a giggle.

Lucius smiled at her. “For you they will.”

“You're so sweet, I don't know why I didn't see it before,” she gave him a sexy smile.

Lucius eyebrows rose. “I believe, Miss Granger, you are drunk.”

“The name is Hermione, and I am not nearly drunk enough,” she said as she opened the new bottle that was put on the table. “I don't remember the last time I had this much fun drinking.

Lucius raised an eyebrow. “Who am I to argue,” he said as he grabbed the bottle and poured himself another shot.

*~*~*~*

Hermione woke up in a strange bed and her head spinning. “Oh gods, what did I do?” she whispered. She felt a body next to her; she stole a quick glance, afraid of whom she might see. What a sight she saw! Lucius was asleep next to her. His long silver blond hair was slightly tousled around his head. He looked like he belonged on the cover of a muggle romance novel.

“He is gorgeous,” Hermione whispered and then panicked. “I need to get out of here.” She quietly and quickly started searching for her clothes, which seemed to be scattered everywhere.

Lucius stirred in his sleep. He saw Hermione scrambling for her clothes. “You weren't thinking about leaving without saying goodbye, were you?” Hermione froze picking up her knickers, giving Lucius a wonderful view of her bare bum.

Hermione turned around eyes wide. “Hi,” she said in a small voice.

“Good morning,” he said, smiling at her.

Hermione sat on the edge of the bed, the room was still spinning. “What happened last night?”

“What is the last thing you remember?” Lucius said, sitting up.

Hermione's eyebrows furrowed. “I remember us ordering another bottle of firewhisky.”

“Do you remember the crème brûlée?”

Hermione shook her head. “No.”

Lucius raised an eyebrow. “Interesting, do you remember us coming here?”

Hermione closed her eyes trying to remember. “No.” she said in a weak voice.

Lucius smiled. “You don't remember me playing the piano for you?”

Hermione bit her lip and shook her head no; her cheeks flushed turning a nice shade of red.

Lucius smiled at her. “Us on top of the piano?”

Hermione held her head in her hands. “Oh, gods.”

“I must say, I've never been with a woman who could arch her back that way. Do you take yoga?” Lucius said, chuckling at her.

Hermione leaped off the bed. “Okay, that's enough. I need to leave.” She hurried to put on her knickers and jeans as she made her way towards the door, stumbling on the way out.

Lucius climbed out of bed, quickly found his trousers, and followed Hermione.

Hermione found her sweater on the steps, she had no idea where her bra, shoes, or wand were.

Draco came out of his room just as Hermione finished hastily putting on her sweater. He saw her disarrayed hair, crumpled clothes and knew what had happened. “Granger, you were supposed to talk to him, not sleep with him!”

Hermione winced. “Sorry I didn't mean for that to happen.”

“What happen exactly?” Draco asked, blocking her way.

I don't remember!” Hermione pushed past him, ran down the stairs and out the door. Too bad, it was the doors to the garden and not the front doors.

“Bloody hell, now what.” She tried to Apparated, but without her wand, nothing happened.

Draco and Lucius stared at her in the doorway, Draco was laughing. “Why don't you come in, eat some breakfast, find the rest of your things, and then you can rush out of here embarrassed.” Lucius teased.

Hermione shoulders sagged in defeat. She reluctantly turned around and went inside. What else could she do?

A/N:Thank you to my wonderful beta Valady! Written for the lm_hgficxchange on Live Journal.