A/N: This chapter is un-beta'd so I could put it out more quickly. It also breaks to the next chapter sooner than I'd anticipated, but again, I wanted to get it out before I went to bed and it seemed like an okay place to stop for the moment. It's also possible I fear the wrath of M and hope this small offering of a fic chapter pleases her.
Disclaimer: I own nothing and make no money from this. Thanks JK for giving us such awesome characters to let us play around with.
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"Sorry to disappoint, dear Severus, but it is worse… much worse. I come bearing urgent and sensitive information."
"Regarding?" Snape's slow, silky drawl preceded his teeth across her neck once more. It was, well, hot, that he was doing it in front of Lucius, and doubly so since he was normally such a private man. Then again, Lucius had probably seen more of Snape than anyone. Figuratively and literally, if the accounts of certain activities at Death Eater Revels she'd heard were true.
"Regarding your imminent proposal of nuptials."
The remaining haze of lust that clung around Hermione's mind faded away. She was suddenly aware; her back ached where it had scraped over a particularly rough stone on the fireplace and the friction against her jeans was starting to chafe. Severus let out a half-sigh, half-growl as he gently lowered her legs to the floor, and then gestured for them all to sit. She plopped down at the end of the couch, her mind now filling with questions. How had he gotten in? What was that important? Would she be taking him to St. Mungo's when Severus was done with him? Would she and Severus pick up where they left off after whatever Lucius was here for?
"I am terribly sorry for interrupting, Severus. I only wish I'd gotten here later." Lucius sank into one of the armchairs with an absolutely devilish smirk. Snape stood a few feet from the hearth with his arms crossed over his chest, and she wasn't quite sure if it was less or more scary than it was in his 'professor' robes. He didn't speak, but his silent glare was enough to prompt the other man's explanation.
"Yes… well, then. I'm sure you're wondering, firstly, how I got in; it was your elf. I tried every house and hovel you own only to find them all empty, and then remembered that your elf attended me at Spinner's End even when you weren't there. I explained the situation and he brought me here, after swearing me in with some rather complex oaths and-"
"Wulfric!"
The elf appeared instantly, already bearing a tray with tea and biscuits. Snape glared at him as well.
"Why did you not think it prudent to notify me about our guest, or simply call me to Spinner's End?"
The elf sat the tray down on the table before them, and turned his tiny face to Snape between movements as he served the group.
"Master Malfoy insisted the information and knowledge thereof involved a significant amount of risk to all parties involved. When he told me the subject matter, I agreed, and decided that the conversation was too sensitive to be held anywhere less secure than this residence."
"You're forgetting to mention why you did not inform me."
The elf smiled broadly as he took a few steps back.
"Wulfric does not have a death wish. It is Master Malfoy's problem to interrupt you with!" He vanished from the room, leaving a small 'pop' and a trace of elf laughter in his wake. Snape looked at Malfoy expectantly.
"I have been informed that the Ministry will be instituting more requirements for Matchmaking, as well as enforcing the suggestions already in place. You will get an owl tomorrow inviting you to the next two Mixers; they will now be held weekly. While the scheduled event at the Manor still holds, the next event will be at a different location. I do not yet know who will host."
"How bad are the enforcements?" Hermione asked.
"I only have knowledge of what will happen at the Manor, but I anticipate they will be improved upon at subsequent Mixers. The Hall will be warded against various forms of deceit: glamours and enhancement charms will disappear on entrance, lust and love potions will be rendered ineffective, and other misleading spells will fail or backfire. I am unsure of the full potency, but it seems that magical interference of any kind other than make-up or dressing charms will result in embarrassment and Ministry suspicion."
"Great," Hermione said. She set down her teacup with a clunk louder than she intended.
"Why Miss Granger, it doesn't appear that you'll be needing those charms, anyway, based on your mutual enthusiasm earlier."
"The rest, Lucius." Hermione was grateful Snape had ignored her blush and kept the conversation on track.
"I have even less specific information about this, but the informant is of utmost reliability. In an effort to look more ethical, the Ministry wants Matches to be 'right'. You'll have to have "tried out" more than one Match, at least, before getting married; I assume they'll check those for any funny business. They'll also be checking in on Declared couples to make sure they're fulfilling contractual dating obligations, along with additional measures for married couples."
"And?" Severus' tone made her suspicious.
Malfoy sighed and set his drink down. The image of the once cruel, narcissistic, unfeeling man leaning near the coffee table with his elbows on his knees and his head in his hands was one that Hermione would never forget. His voice was raw and shaky.
"They are… revoking many of the waivers…that is, for people of certain circumstances who wouldn't be required to marry under law. I… I'll have to re-marry, Severus. Apparently I'm now classified as a bachelor instead of a widower. A widower-bachelor with an heir, expected to produce another child while marrying off my first-born and still mourning my wife!" His teacup exploded but the raining shards of glass vanished in midair, along with the remaining dishes and tray. Hermione made a mental note to thank Wulfric… and never piss him off.
"I am truly sorry, Lucius," Severus said. His tone was softer, though it still had an undercurrent of anger.
"I'll do it." Hermione blurted the thought out at is came to her and was surprised, but not horrified, by her offer.
"What?" Severus cut over Lucius' muffled question with his own resounding demand.
"I'll be his first date."
She could feel Severus' magic radiating off him in the short silence after she spoke, and quickly hurried to fill it.
"I'll need another person on my punch-card," she explained. "We meet each other's requirements, and matching with Lucius will make it seem as if I simply have a thing for older Slytherin men. At the same time, it will send a message to those loyal to our cause that he is to be trusted. It would be less risky than pairing with a random male who may try to make a claim. Lucius or I can back out by saying it weirded us out that Draco and I are the same age."
Lucius looked up at her with hope gleaming in his eyes. This was clearly the only good news he'd heard all day.
"Miss Granger," he said, "I thank you for your offer, and I accept. Severus… I give you my word that I will not attempt anything uncouth."
"Give me a promise you can keep, Lucius." His words were harsh, but the men chuckled. The newly-hatched plan seemed to have eased Malfoy's anxiety.
"You have my word I shall not stand in the way of your… whatever it is that the two of you are developing."
"Indeed."
It was Hermione's turn to sigh dramatically. "Unfortunately, this completely screws our timetable sideways. At least we have the forewarning to work on it, though. Thank you, Mr. Malfoy."
"I daresay we can drop the formalities, Hermione – if I may?"
"Yes, Lucius." She stood from the couch. "When will you be calling on me? The sooner the better, so we can avoid suspicion by getting a date in before the Ministry announces."
He thought for a moment. "Tomorrow around eight, if that's suitable?"
She shared a look with Severus, who nodded almost imperceptibly. "Yes, that will do. If you two will excuse me…"
They nodded, and she made her way down the hallway toward the bathroom.
/\/\
"Severus, Severus, Severus," Malfoy chided from his seat on the couch. "I don't even know what to say."
"Then do not consume the valuable air of my study to speak."
"Please. Your air is at least twice as valuable after I've inhaled and exhaled it." Years of trained and practised stoicism kept Snape from batting an eye at the joke, but years of watching Snape let Malfoy see the faintest flicker of his amusement.
"I'm glad you took my advice, at any rate." Malfoy stood to walk to the doorway, where he glanced down the hall to check for Hermione's return. "How is… it?"
"I. Wouldn't. Know." If looks could kill, Lucius would have turned into a cat and died nine times.
"Well, then," Lucius said, "my apologies. It would seem to be a sure thing, at least."
Severus cleared his throat. "And you? Any prospects – Narcissa's friend from the first ball?"
Lucius shook his head sadly. "Trinity, unfortunately for me, is blissfully happy. I merely danced with her to catch up and appear to be participating in the festivities. She may, however, be able to lead me to other prospects as you so eloquently put it."
/\/\
In the bathroom, Hermione was fighting a losing battle with her own sanity.
She had needed to use the facilities, but not enough to leave immediately. What she'd really wanted was to escape for five minutes.
Longer than five minutes, she admitted to herself, her leg perched on the edge of the bathtub, razor in hand. She'd needed to pee, and she'd needed some air to think about how she was interrupted almost having sex with her former professor by a man older even than him, who she'd also asked out on a date. And then she'd realized that even out of the heat of the moment, yes, she did want Snape. Severus. Just because life was dealing her a crap hand didn't mean she couldn't enjoy parts of it, and if getting a good shag was the only perk to this whole situation she was damn sure she'd take advantage of it. It had 'been a while' for her.
That was when she realized that in the lull of lonely (and cold!) nights, she'd grown quite a monstrosity of leg hair. She had to shave. Immediately. It wasn't the first thing on her mind, and it certainly wasn't the most important – but for once in this whole damn ordeal, she was able to worry about something normal. She could fix hairy legs, and that could be the only victory she got today, or the next day, or the day after that.
So, she shaved her legs. Then she thought that since she had to go back through her bedroom anyway, it made sense to change certain garments on the way out… namely her knickers. As long as she was putting on fresh ones, she may as well put on sexy ones. And as long as she was in the drawer, it wouldn't hurt to put on a nice bra that somewhat matched the underwear. Now that she was standing there in just a bra and panties, well, why not throw on something to show off the smooth legs? And a different, lower-cut shirt that suited the bra.
It was probably the most Hermione had ever thought about clothes, especially in relation to a guy seeing them on her. Or off her. It felt oddly liberating to laugh in the face of the Ministry by taking the time to debate thong vs. cheeky cut, skirt vs. shorts, tank top vs. clingy t-shirt. She needed Ginny, but boy was that ever a conversation she wanted to put off.
Clothing was the cut-off point, though. She didn't pretend to be an expert on hair and make-up, and she didn't like messing with it. She had to come out of the bathroom at some point; she hoped Lucius would be gone by now, because she didn't feel she should wait much longer.
As she made her way back down the hall, she saw that Lucius and Severus had moved into the living room area. Lucius had his back to her, but Severus did a double-take as his eyes fell on her figure.
His words were loud enough for carry back toward where she stood.
"Get out, Lucius."
