Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter. Nor do I make any money.


Unexpected: Forbidden Fruit

It was official.

Lucius Abraxas Malfoy hated raspberries.

His favorite fruit was never going to be allowed to be seen, used or eaten again in the Manor as long as he lived there.

All because of how the Weasley brat was eating them at that moment.

He didn't eat them as a normal person would. Lucius watched as Ron picked up a single raspberry from the bowl, dipping it into cream before placing it into his mouth as he casually read today's edition of The Daily Prophet.

The simple action of watching that pauper place each individual raspberry in his mouth and then wrap his lips around those accursed fingers that put the fruit there was too much for Lucius this morning. More importantly, it was too much for Lucius' traitorous groin.

He had been an idiot for not taking another lover since his last had died years before. Years of celibacy, out of respect to his lost love, was now going to be the death of him.

How the bloody hell could he be attracted to the blood traitor, his mind screamed. It wasn't like he was that attractive with all those freckles and that awful red hair. And then there were his eyes. They were such a deep and breath-takingly blue...AHHHH.

He finished the thought with a mental scream.

At least he thought it had been a mental scream.

"Is everything okay, Mr. Malfoy?" The pauper's voice filled his ears as for the first time since he was a boy at Hogwarts, Lucius had lost all semblance of control.

"Everything is fine, Mr. Weasley," he snapped quickly, attempting his most calm and put together front he could while still feeling mortified for acting like a hormonal, teenage boy.

"Mopsy," Lucius yelled aggravated. Seconds later, the house-elf appeared with his usual breakfast of porridge, fruit, toast and coffee.

"Do you have any matters that need attending to outside of the Manor today?" Ron asked as professionally as he could, unsettled by seeing a flushed and befuddled Lucius Malfoy. Something he had not prepared himself for though it had been his goal when he walked into the Manor.

"No," he snapped back. "I will let you know if that should change."

"Thank you, sir," Ron spoke carefully, finding himself unwilling to push Lucius any further. "I'll leave you to your breakfast Mr. Malfoy."

Lucius didn't say anything in return as he settled into his morning meal, glaring at the Weasley brat as he left the room. Waiting until he was sure that the pauper was well clear of the morning parlour, he then summoned Mopsy back.

"Is everything okay, Master Malfoy?" the house-elf's timid voice squeaked as she rung her hands.

"Breakfast is fine Mopsy," Lucius coolly said as he took a sip of his coffee. "But I do not want to ever see another raspberry in this house again. I don't care who wants them. They are not to be seen or used, ever. Understood?"

"Yes Master Malfoy," Mopsy replied before repeating, "No raspberries in the house."

With a wave of his hand, he dismissed Mopsy before letting out a large sigh of relief that he still could be in control. He continued with his breakfast as quietly and as calmly as he could while trying not to think about the brat eating those blasted raspberries.

He never noticed that the focus of his irritation was standing just outside the parlour, having forgotten to ask Mr. Malfoy a question earlier. What that question was, escaped Ron. He was more confused about just what had set Mr. Malfoy off regarding raspberries.