Short one but a good one ;) I made you all wait so long for the last chapter that I wanted to get this chapter out quickly. Finally, our couple actually connects! Still a slow burn, but a little bit of payoff. Enjoy.

Chapter 9

"Miss Granger, I still have to pay you your wage."

Hermione looked up from her breakfast, surprised by Lucius's random comment. "My wage?"

"Yes…and perhaps it would be a good idea to put it to some good use. Perhaps head into the city and purchase some clothing of your own."

"Oh…I could always just go back to my flat-"

"I would not suggest it, Miss Granger."

Hermione's eyes narrowed; she couldn't read Lucius's firm expression. "Why?"

"Mr. Weasley is still likely irrational, and seeing you again is probably not the best thing for either of you at the moment."

Hermione sized him up. "…what's your other motive?"

Lucius looked up at her innocently. "Motive? Must a Malfoy always have a motive, Miss Granger?"

"…Yes."

Lucius sighed. "Well, I was also thinking this weekend might be a good time to make our first…public appearance for the papers. That way my son will be able to live his life in peace and we will have the news buzzing with our names."

Hermione debated this idea before nodding slowly. "Where would we go?"

"Not Diagon Alley, of course. Far too many familiar faces. But perhaps somewhere else in wizarding London that might attract one of Rita Skeeter's cronies."

"…I'm going to need another dress, aren't I?"

Lucius smirked. "We have to be a believable couple, Miss Granger. It wouldn't be a bad idea."

Hermione snorted. "A believable couple? You and I are the most unbelievable couple to have ever existed, even if only in fantasy."

"And that's just why the papers will eat us up," Lucius said. "Then, I appear more trustworthy and like I really have changed, and perhaps I will regain some of my sway within the Ministry."

Hermione fell silent for a moment. "…Have you changed?"

Lucius looked up from his plate. "What?"

"Have you really changed? From who you once were?"

Lucius paused, furrowing his brow and actually looking like he was going to offer her an honest answer. He seemed to choose his words carefully when he finally found them. "…I abandoned the Dark Lord at the Battle of Hogwarts because he had taken everything from me. He had threatened my family, destroyed my reputation, even stolen my wand…"

Hermione put down her fork and listened intently, watching a shadow pass across his face. In the confident man before her, she caught a glimpse of the shell that emerged from Azkaban, the one she saw inhabiting the Manor when she and her friends were brought there by Snatchers only a few years ago…

"I didn't believe in the man, but I believed in his ideals. I still do, and I always will, even though he is gone and I, for all intents and purposes, have lost."

Hermione nodded, frustrated with his response but respecting his honesty. "Sad, Mr. Malfoy."

Lucius raised his gaze to her. "Hmm?"

"I think you're better than that, to be honest. The brainwashing and the blind following. And I think you're not being honest with yourself, either. Because if you are, then I will always be less than you, unworthy to practice magic, to go to Hogwarts, and to work in the Ministry. Without your leader to blind you to the truth, I think your views are starting to change, whether you're willing to admit it or not."

And with that, Hermione rose and left a shocked Lucius at the head of the table to sort out his feelings alone.

Break

Hermione straightened her flowery dress after donning a pair of pink flats and some dazzling flower earrings.

What on earth was she about to do? I'm about to parade down the streets of London with my "new man" Lucius Abraxus Malfoy, that's what.

She could almost see the headlines now, immediately attacking their age gap, their blood statuses, their pasts…

Why had she agreed to this? Did she not care about her reputation, her friends, her dignity?

The answer was no, even though she didn't want to admit it. Her reputation had been all but destroyed when she left her promising position at the Ministry. She had already sent a cryptic note to Ginny warning her that there was a game being played and to not have a complete meltdown reading the Daily Prophet over the coming weeks, but Harry and Ron would have to fend for themselves.

And personally, she found herself too involved in this dangerous game to back out now, just when things were starting to get interesting. How far could she make Lucius Malfoy go? He had employed her, opened his house to her, even flirted with her, for Merlin's sake! He studied her every movement, was surprised by her words, and it was exhilarating making the surefooted Lucius Malfoy stumble.

Satisfied with her appearance, she made her way toward the front doors where Lucius waited, cane in hand.

He looked nothing short of regale in his resplendent black robes, green and silver serpent ring, and silk-tied hair.

She imagined that this must be what Lucius looked like before a night on the town with Narcissa, and Hermione couldn't help but feel like a scrawny, ugly duckling in her shadow.

Lucius nodded at her. "Suitable choice for the day."

"Suitable?" Hermione grumbled under her breath. Just as she knew how to drive him mad, he knew her buttons as well, and he pushed them on purpose, she knew.

Lucius held out his arm to her to apparate, and Hermione gasped it firmly.

Then, the world was whirling beneath their feet, and wizarding London appeared before them.

Once the earth reappeared beneath their feet, Hermione let go of Lucius and moved a safe distance away. Lucius smirked and set off down the path, Hermione at his side.

The two wandered for about an hour until Lucius withdrew a bag of galleons and suggested Hermione enter a few stores. He waited outside for her as she explored the various shops, and Hermione felt absolutely absurd, shopping with Lucius Malfoy waiting on her. But it did allow her time to find a few articles of clothing to add to her wardrobe back at the Manor.

As they continued walking down the bustling street, Hermione squealed, making Lucius jump.

"A bookstore! I'll be back!"

"Merlin's beard, woman, do you not have enough books back at the Manor?"

Hermione laughed but ducked inside, calling out, "Five minutes!"

Lucius chuckled under his breath, then consciously wiped the smile off his face and replaced it with his usual bored expression.

A little while later, deeper into the city, Lucius began looking around occasionally, and Hermione looked at him quizzically. Seeing this, Lucius turned to her.

"One of Skeeter's men has been following us," Lucius hissed, leaning in close enough for Hermione to smell his cologne.

"How can you tell?" she whispered back, nearly intoxicated by the spicy, sensual aroma and finding herself drawing closer to him to smell it again.

"Look at his broach."

Casting a "casual" glance behind her, Hermione saw the man Lucius was talking about. He was trailing them, dressed in dark robes and sporting a metallic, beetle-shaped broach. Of course…

Lucius slowed to act like he was looking in a shop window, and Hermione followed his lead. They turned their backs to shield their conversation from the man.

"We need to seize the opportunity. Right now we could be out for a business meeting the way we're walking. You're so stiff and unnatural."

Hermione stiffened in response, taken aback by his insult. "Well I'm sorry I didn't go to the Malfoy school of acting! I don't exactly know how to walk like I'm in love with someone."

Lucius rolled his eyes before looking back in the window. His eyes soon lit up with a sudden idea, and he inclined his head to Hermione before muttering, "…kiss me."

"What?" Hermione asked, barely managing to keep her voice down and taking a tentative step back.

"You really want to sell this story and put the rumors right where we want them? Then we have to alleviate every doubt."

"But…I…"

"Oh for Merlin's sake don't act like a saint now of all times."

"I'm not, I just-"

Before Hermione could finish her sentence, Lucius had turned his body slightly so that the man mingling in the alley behind could see their faces, quickly slid his hand across Hermione's cheek and rested it behind her ear, and planted his lips on hers forcefully.

For a split second, Hermione was frozen. Those pale, thin lips were now on hers – meshing with hers – and his cologne had now completely enveloped her. Her brain told her to stop, but her body fell into his and she found herself reaching out for him.

But just as suddenly as it started, it was over, and Lucius was pulling away, but Hermione's hand remained on his arm. He straightened up, lifted his cane, and turned from the window, as if the incident didn't faze him one bit. Hermione, on the other hand, could barely even stand up straight. As he began to walk again, Hermione walked beside him numbly, and the man in the alleyway scurried in the opposite direction.

"Well, that's it then," Lucius said, looking content with their public display of affection.

"That's it then…" Hermione murmured, still in shock.

She would never admit it to herself, but if that was it, then she wanted more.