AN: Thank you for all the support! It is very deeply appreciated!
"Thank you again for agreeing to speak to Draco." Lucius poured himself a glass of Old Forrester Birthday.
"It was my pleasure to do so," Severus sat in his recliner. "I only hope I was successful."
"He seems to have taken your lessons to heart."
"Indeed," Severus drawled before taking a sip from his glass. After his confrontation with Granger, a drink was order. Unlike the last bourbon Lucius had brought, this did not taste like gasoline. In fact, it was quite delicious. Then again, with the price Lucius paid, it should have been nothing less than among the best he'd ever tasted.
"I think he's finally over this Angelica obsession, meaning we can return to the business of making money," Lucius continued.
"While I am pleased he has recovered from his Angelica obsession, I would be remiss if I did not point out there was more to life than making money."
"True, but building a good portfolio is important regardless of one's stage in life."
"Indeed," Severus muttered before taking another sip.
"Good connections are also important, which is why I am relieved his mind is off Angelica."
"I can agree that his mind should be on things other than women."
"Which is why I must thank you profusely." Lucius sat on the chair across from Severus, allowing his cane to rest against the arm rest. "You must have said something quite profound to get him to refocus his efforts on business."
"I said very little I had not told him already."
"Oh?" Lucius raised an eyebrow.
"I only recited my already well-known opinion of women. It was hardly anything profound."
"Hardly anything profound?"
"No, I said nothing I have not already said."
"Nothing?"
Severus furrowed his eyebrows. "I believe you are still able to hear well enough to know I said nothing profound."
"I see."
Severus twisted his lower lip. He'd seen that gleam in Lucius' eyes after he had caught an opponent making a critical error. Somehow, Severus was playing into his hands, though how he could not understand.
"Well, it's nice to know your methods were effective," Lucius replied.
"All that being said," Severus lowered his voice. "Why did you want me to speak to Draco so badly anyway? It isn't like you to trust someone to do your dirty work for you. Why did you need me to say anything to him?"
"I told you, you're his godfather and the man who saved his life more times than we can count," Lucius replied. "Your opinion carries weight with Draco than mine does."
"I hardly doubt that was the only reason you asked me to speak with him."
"But it is. You see." Lucius exhaled. "I asked you to speak to him because nothing I said was getting through. It's quite embarrassing to admit that a man has no control over his son, but in my case it seems that's the truth. Part of me thought I'd always be Draco's idol. I thought my word would carry weight with him, but yours does more so now. It is disheartening to consider if I am being honest."
Severus' frown deepened. Now he knew there was an angle. He'd seen this song and dance before with others. What was Lucius getting at?
"It was honestly difficult to come to you." Severus thought he saw a tear from Lucius glisten in the fire light. "You were a last resort, but I knew you could get through to him when I couldn't."
"Why did you want me to get through to him in the first place?" Severus took a sip of bourbon. "What was your end goal?"
"To break his obsession with Angelica. I thought I made my opinion of her character clear."
"Yes, but you seem adamantly against him dating anyone," Severus replied. "Yet at some point, you would like the Malfoy name carried on, correct?"
"I would love a grandchild more than anything," Lucius swished his bourbon. "But only under the right circumstances."
"And those would be?"
"You'll know when they arise." The blond man took a sip of his bourbon.
Severus glanced down at his half full drink. Was it too soon to ask for a refill? He may be in more desperate need of a drink than he realized.
"When I find the perfect woman for him, I will let the whole Wizarding World know," Lucius replied.
"In other words, he will marry someone of your picking."
"Ideally yes."
"And if he does not go for someone who you hand select?"
"Oh I doubt that will happen." Lucius smirked. "To have any chance with Draco, she'll have to outsmart me first."
Now Severus knew he was in trouble.
"Hermione Granger?"
Ginny nodded.
"Hermione Granger?" Draco repeated. "The woman Uncle Severus called an 'obnoxious know-it-all?' The woman who can quote Hogwarts: A History chapter and page? The woman whose hiring he complained about for weeks on end? That Hermione Granger is going to be my godfather's new lover?"
Ginny nodded again.
Draco leaned forward onto his desk and shook his head. "How could all my hopes for dating rest on Hermione Granger seducing Uncle Severus?"
"Because she's the one who has the best chance of doing it."
Draco groaned.
"You should have seen her take down your Uncle Severus," Ginny continued. "She was going toe to toe with him. A few times, I think he was speechless. She even got the last word."
"She got the last word?" Draco's eyes grew.
"Yes."
Now Draco's interest was piqued.
"I'm telling you." Ginny put her hands on his desk. "She is the answer to all our problems."
"Fine, she can seduce Severus, but why would she agree to this?" Draco asked. "It isn't like she is invested in my romances."
"No, but she does owe Gringotts a large sum of money."
Draco cocked his head.
"She destroyed the bank trying to get a horcrux."
"So she's the one who did that."
"Yes, and now they want her to pay up, something she can't do."
"I would imagine she couldn't." He scratched his chin. "How much does she owe them?"
"Half a million galleons."
Draco whistled.
"To her it's the end of the world, but to you…"
"It's nothing."
Ginny snapped her fingers. "Exactly."
"So if I pay off her debt..."
"She'll be Severus' girlfriend in no time."
"And you think she can do it?"
"I know she can."
Draco examined Ginny. The reflection of the sunset's red streaks accentuated her hair color. It rivaled the way Angelica's blond hair had flowed in the wind while they were at the beach.
There was a gleam in Ginny's eyes Draco had seen in few places though. It was as if she had won a marathon for which she'd been training her whole life. It was an odd expression for something as trivial as bribing Granger.
Perhaps she cared more about the success of his plan than he realized, but why?
"So, what do you think?" Ginny asked. "Do you want to set up a meeting with Hermione."
"Yes," Draco grinned. "A meeting with her is definitely in order."
Hermione shouldn't be considering Ginny's offer.
She tried to reread Act III of Julius Caesar, but couldn't get past the soothsayers warnings. Instead, her mind kept wandering to a snarky man dressed in black.
If she was honest with herself, Professor Snape was attractive in his own way. Unlike her friends, she'd never found his appearance revolting. More than a few times she'd wondered what it would be like to be his friend. Still, she'd never envisioned herself as his lover.
Hermione closed the book and glanced out her window. Stars punched holes in the darkness as the songs of the crickets filled the air.
How far was she willing to go for Ginny's ruse to work? Would this plan involve sex? Hermione has always believed that making love should involve honesty between the two parties, not something one did because of a bribe. Was she willing to pretend Professor Snape possessed her heart and soul when in reality she only wanted to save her own skin?
Better question: could she and Severus remain professional colleagues after her mission was complete? She didn't want to be enemies with a coworker, but it seemed inevitable that there would be some awkwardness when all was said and done. Was risking Severus' wrath worth going through with this deal?
Could she afford to say no to Ginny's deal?
She closed the book and sighed, wondering when her life had become so dismal that she was now willing to date Professor Snape for a chance to have any kind of future.