The next morning, Lucius and Hermione went back to Malfoy Manor to discuss the situation. Lucius was not a man who liked anything he considered his to be taken simply because someone wanted it and to be honest, he considered Hermione his. He took Bills words to heart and decided to corner Hermione about possibly moving into the manor for her protection and his sanity. He had noticed a change in himself over the last few day concerning her. He noticed that he felt very possessive over her, he actually feared for her safety and that concerned him.
When this entire thing started he expected to only go to her when he needed to feed but now, he just wanted her, all of her and as a Malfoy he planned to get it. He knew it was the bonding causing these feelings and not love but damn he needed her.
They passed an irritated Draco on the way to his study and a goofy grinning Blaise holding up a sign that said, ' bite me'.
"Draco, come get your damned friend before I hex him." Lucius yelled, making Hermione laugh.
"Come on Lucius, one bite is all I need and I'll leave you alone."
"You will leave me alone anyway because I will not bite you under any circumstance."
"Can she do it?" he asked while pointing in Hermione's direction.
"No, she cant do it you idiot... Draco get your friend now!!"
Blaise raised his hands in defeat... for now, and walked away.
He and Hermione continued to walk to the study. When they arrived he allowed her to enter first then closed and warded the door for privacy. Hermione had taken her place in one of the leather high back chairs that surrounded his desk and waited for him to begin. He took the chair next to her and folded his hands in his lap. He cleared his throat.
"I wanted to discuss with you about what Weasley said." He paused for a minute to figure the best way to ask her ad decide blunt was probably the best way to approach her. "I see no need to dance around the question so if you don't mind I'll just come right out and ask. I was wondering of you would consider moving into the manor with me."
Hermione raised an eyebrow, silently asking him to elaborate.
Lucius sighed, she was not going to make this easy, " I fear that with the population rising, one may decided to challenge Bill. While I have no desire for anything then to live my life, another man may decide he wants the whole package. So in short, I want you to live here so I can keep an eye on you."
Hermione slumped back into her chair, rubbing her small hands over her face, " It wont work. While Harry knows the truth, no one else does and if I up and move into the manor all hell will break out... they may even cart me off to St. Mungo's."
Lucius sat back and thought about what she had said. He was sure she was overreacting but didn't really want to argue with her.
"Then date me for a few weeks... publicly. After everyone knows about us then you can move in."
Hermione raised an eye brow and laughed... hard. She could see the headlines now, ' Pure blood king dates mudblood princess', everyone would be in an uproar.
"Please tell me you are not serious Lucius."
"What's wrong with that plan?"
"Ummm, everything." she stood from her chair, not wanting to sit any longer, "If you and I date publicly, not only will I be carted off to a room with rubber walls, you will be in the room next to me."
"Oh come now, it wont be that bad."
"Really – I'll make you a deal." she said sarcastically, "Lets go out to dinner tonight and in the morning we will check things out. I can guarantee you that we would be front page news. If it is generally accepted and neither of us end up being hexed into the next year, we continue. However, if it is badly taken, we say we had one date and that was it."
Lucius smirked, "Deal."
kkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkk
That night...
"Look at how they are looking at us – you would think we had two heads or something." Hermione said while taking a sip of her wine.
"Ignore them and they will go away." Lucius replied calmly, "They are merely in shock."
"They aren't the only ones" she said with a laugh
They had been in the restaurant for almost an hour and had been gawked at since walking in the door. The attention made Hermione a bit nervous but Lucius sat there looking cool as a cucumber, smirking at people here and there. Lucius suddenly stood and offered his hand.
"Come, let us dance a bit shall we."
Hermione gave him a horrified look, "In front of everyone?"
"Of course, unless that is you do not know how to dance."
She raised and eyebrow, "I can assure you that I can dance just fine."
Lucius leaned down to her ear, "prove it."
Hermione sighed and stood, taking Lucius's offered hand. The made their way to the dance floor where a few other couples were dancing to the slow, romantic music. The pair started dancing together immediately. It wasn't awkward considering that had been with each other in the most intimate of ways.
Hermione had noticed a few people stop eating all together while others accidentally knocked over their wine glasses or completely disregarded all dinner conversation to watch the unlikely pair.
"They think we've lost our minds you know." She said into his ear. Her hands were around his neck while his around her waist, moving together in a sync.
"Let them think" he replied, He took a look around and smirked, if they wanted a show, he'd give them a show. He leaned his head down and took her lips into a kiss... a long, deep kiss in front of everyone.
When he finally pulled away, Hermione buried her face into his chest, attempting to hide her laughter as two women fainted dead away.
"I think we've made an impression... are you ready to get out of here?"
Hermione nodded, wiping the smile off of her face and pulling her head up. He tucked her arm into his and they walked from the restaurant, not looking back.