Of course, these two can never be happy with their current situation…they always want to find more trouble to get themselves into, but that's what keeps our plot moving! This story is a slow burn, but I promise things only heat up from here, so keep reading and commenting! Thanks for your encouragement, and I promise to get the next chapter out as soon as I can!

Chapter 14

Hermione's leg continued to heal over the next few days. After the first day, she could finally begin putting weight on it, and by the third day, the only thing left to remind her of all that had happened was a few thin scars wrapping around her ankle. It seemed that her message had finally gotten through Ron's thick skull, and Ginny seemed to have placated Harry, at least for the time being, since Hermione hadn't heard a word from any of them since their encounter outside the Manor.

Despite Hermione's belief that things had changed, she and Lucius seemed to fall easily enough back into their old routine. Breakfast in the morning spent mostly in silence, then Hermione would start her work in the library. Lucius would usually wander in periodically throughout the day, and then the pair would shoot a few barbs at one another during dinner to gauge the other's response. They never played billiards again, but from time to time they would have an after dinner drink in the drawing room before Hermione would retire to her bedroom and prepare for another day.

Their routine may have been the same, but Hermione was convinced that her companionwas not. Her perception of him, at least, was beginning to change. Every day she saw less "Mr. Malfoy" and more "Lucius" in the man sitting across from her at the table, wandering into the library, sipping firewhiskey in his armchair. She was starting to see him as his own person, not the caricature of his past. But there was still a forbidden feeling, a lurking danger, and a vast unknown that Hermione knew she should fear but did not.

At breakfast a few days later, Hermione was jolted from her daydream by Lucius hissing a curse under his breath. Hermione snapped her head over in his direction and saw that he was reading over a letter.

"More fan mail?" she asked sarcastically, but Lucius did not acknowledge her.

"I can't believe they invited me…there's no way I'm going…absolutely not…" Lucius muttered, but then his eyes drifted over toward Hermione. "Unless…"

"I don't like that look, Lucius…" Hermione said warily.

A sly smile parted his lips. "Are you ready to make more waves, Miss Granger?"

Hermione waited a moment to respond, trying to figure out where Lucius was planning on taking this thread. But at this point, what did she really have to lose? Her curiosity got the best of her.

"…What is it?"

"Well, I hope your leg really has healed. We're going to a gala."

"A gala?" Hermione repeated in disgust. "You mean, like a ball?"

"Yes, for the most part. It is a very important high society gathering hosted every year around this time. It's just that…" Lucius actually looked slightly embarrassed as he admitted, "I haven't been invited in years. And when I was invited, I went only because of…"

"Narcissa." Hermione finished. Lucius nodded but focused on the letter. "And…is it likely she would be there?" she asked tentatively, but she already knew the answer.

"Yes…" Lucius said, "as well as a few other unsavory characters from your past. If I remember, Antonin Dolohov did quite a number on you in the Department of Mysteries, did he not?"

Hermione involuntarily flinched, remembering that curse that nearly killed her.

"Many other Purebloods will be there, for sure. For some, their bark is worse than their bite these days, now that the Dark Lord is gone. Others, however…" Lucius trailed off.

"Sounds like fun," Hermione said sarcastically. "Making a public appearance as the most bizarre couple ever formed in front of your former friends and ex-wife."

Lucius shook his head. "Your logic is sound, Miss Granger. That is one area that I can never find fault in you. However…it could still be beneficial for us and our cause."

Hermione let her jaw drop in disbelief. "You're actually asking me to go with you? To risk my life for some stupid gossip column? Lucius, are you insane-"

"I'll be there beside you the whole night."

"Like that will help!" Hermione cried. "Lucius, I don't know if your 'changed man' mentality will remember this, but I spent my entire life fleeing from some of these people. People like you tried to kill me! You think time has healed those wounds? Because it hasn't for me, and I doubt it has for them, either!"

"That's where your anxiety came from."

"And that's exactly-what?" Hermione stopped her tirade mid-sentence as she took in what Lucius had just said.

"Your paranoia. Before you understood true hatred, saw the depths of the depravity your fellow man was willing to go to, you were merely afraid. But once you truly comprehended the horror of what was going on before you…you were nearly overwhelmed by it."

Hermione opened her mouth, but no sound came. He had turned the tables on her, uncovering her secrets the way she uncovered his. And she hated it.

"It's not a weakness, you know," Lucius added thoughtfully. "It's quite logical…intelligent even…" In a moment of vulnerability, Lucius caught her gaze and for the first time, Hermione saw true pain in his eyes. "…We are far more similar than we care to admit, Miss Granger."

Taken aback, Hermione could only force a nod.

Lucius continued to persuade her, but a tone that sounded dangerously considerate had entered his voice. "I understand your fear…and it's valid. But we will be the talk of the event. Press will swarm us, and so many people would play witness to any foul play or ill-will anyone there has for you. There's no way someone would try something, especially if they truly believe this ruse we've constructed. I may have become a bit of hermit in the last few years, but the fear I saw on your face the night I met you at the gate is the same fear many others still harbor for me to this day. My reputation is tarnished but still remains. No one will harm you while I am at your side. "

Hermione finally found her voice again and scoffed. "So you're my knight in shining armor, are you? My protector?"

Lucius's lips twitched. "If you like."

Hermione rolled her eyes.

"This is stupid," she muttered. "Ridiculous…"

This was so risky, idiotic, even. And yet the image of Lucius Malfoy by her side, her side, her powerful protector…

"I'm bringing my wand."

A full smile from Lucius this time.

"I would expect nothing less, Miss Granger."

Break

"Ready?"

"Lucius, this is all a bit ridiculous, don't you think?"

Lucius was waiting for her by the front door, preparing for another shopping excursion. "Nonsense. The last time you went shopping for a formal gown was probably for the Yule Ball. I know the event, the crowd, and the dress code. If we want to sell this, you'll have to look the part."

Hermione smiled as she reached him in the entryway, and her eyes narrowed. "If I didn't know better, I'd think you just want to see me in evening wear, Lucius."

Lucius smirked, but Hermione suspected her statement wasn't too far from the mark. "Take my arm, Miss Granger."

Hermione obliged, and they apparated onto a street in Diagon Alley. They skirted the line between Knockturn and Diagon before finding the dress shop Lucius had insisted they visit.

A busty blonde woman met them at the door, and Lucius extended his hand to her before kissing her cheek. The woman blushed and giggled, and Hermione felt the sudden urge to hex her.

"So this is my model?" the woman asked, turning her attention to Hermione. She looked her up and down, sizing her up, and Hermione suddenly felt self-conscious under both of their judgmental stares. Her simple tunic dress and plain shoes seemed like the wrong choice all of a sudden.

"The hair will be straighter, of course," Lucius murmured into the woman's ear, noting her expression of displeasure, and she nodded.

"Will it?" Hermione snapped, but the pair paid her no mind.

"There is certainly something to work with here…" the seamstress declared, and she nodded at Lucius before leading Hermione into one of the dressing rooms.

The first dress the woman put her in was a black gown with a v-neck and capped sleeves. Once Hermione was completely zipped in, the woman ushered her toward the door.

Did she really expect her to parade in front of Lucius, to give him a fashion show in the middle of this store? Granted, no one else was around, but it still felt absurd.

In spite of herself, Hermione walked back toward the full length mirror where she found Lucius waiting in a chair, looking cool and composed as ever. He didn't seem bothered by the absurdity in the slightest, and he gestured to the pedestal in front of the mirror. Hermione wordlessly obeyed, looking her reflection up and down.

"No," Lucius finally said, and Hermione turned to look at him. "There's something…too harsh about it. It doesn't fit you."

"I look like your cousin," Hermione muttered, thinking the dark black dress was more Lestrange than Granger in nature.

Lucius smirked in spite of himself, and the woman shooed Hermione away while muttering, "Yes, sir, absolutely."

The next dress was quite the opposite: a floral pattern with lace and small flowers adorning the straps. Hermione thought it was quite pretty, but Lucius actually snorted when she appeared around the corner.

"No."

"Why not?" Hermione asked, twirling in front of the mirror. "I kind of like it."

"In spite of the delicious controversy we inspire, Miss Granger, I do not need you drawing more attention to our age gap than absolutely necessary."

Taking a second look, she did look quite childish in the flowery dress. Cringing as she realized Lucius was right, Hermione returned to the dressing room to try on one of the many other options.

After nearly an hour, Hermione had tried on more dresses than she had ever worn in her entire life. Toward the end of the evening, even Lucius had begun adding his picks to the mix.

Hermione was nearing the point of exhaustion when her blonde assistant zipped her into a long, red gown made of ruched chiffon with a sweetheart neckline and a slit to the mid-thigh up one side.

Hermione nervously approached the mirror and her judge, but she knew this was the dress before he even opened his mouth. She saw that flicker of shock, that break in his composure, and she found herself smiling as she admired her figure in the mirror.

Finally, Lucius found his voice, but only a trained ear would hear the slight change in his continually composed tone. "It fits you well, Miss Granger. Quite Gryffindor, as a matter of fact."

Hermione turned to face him, and she was acutely aware of his gaze running up and down her body. Nodding, Lucius turned to the seamstress and said, "Find her some shoes and accessories to match. And," Lucius eyed Hermione's worn bra strap peeking out from her dress with disdain, "some proper undergarments as well."

Hermione flushed as red as her dress but got her revenge on Lucius only a moment later.

"I'll need a garter as well."

Both the assistant's and Lucius's eyebrows rose at this, and Hermione could have sworn she saw some color rise in his cheeks as well.

"To hold my wand," she explained.

One blonde smirked while the other actually looked somewhat embarrassed. Hermione sought refuge in the changing room, and the seamstress returned to place the finishing touches on her outfit.

A pair of strappy heels, a black clutch bag, and a beautiful diamond necklace later, Hermione emerged with her arms full of bags. All of her new purchases had been mercifully wrapped so that Lucius could not see any of her more intimate items.

Before she could even react, Lucius extended a pouch full of galleons to pay for her expensive shopping spree. There was no time for her to protest, even though she wanted to, and the pair exited the store and reappeared on Diagon Alley.

Hermione looked at Lucius expectantly, wondering what else he had planned, if anything. Lucius, sensing this, checked his pocket watch and looked up at the setting sun.

"It's getting late…perhaps we should stop for some food."

Hermione was starving, so she didn't even think twice. Before she knew it, she was seated at an elegant table in a high-brow wizarding restaurant down the street.

They ordered their food, and as the pair shared a bottle of red wine, Hermione eyed Lucius over the brim of her glass and suddenly realized the absurdity of her situation. They were attracting a fair number of stares, and Hermione knew they were being recognized, although no one dared to approach them. What on earth was he thinking…?

"Why did you bring me here?"

Lucius looked at her from across the table, setting his glass down and calmly responding, "I used to frequent this restaurant when my outings were more common, and I merely believed that you might fancy a drink on my tab. Besides, this was more convenient than returning to the Manor. I didn't think you of all people would be so opposed to giving my house elf the night off."

Hermione eyed him skeptically and tried to hide the grin twitching at the corners of her lips. "This is almost like a proper date. Where's Rita Skeeter when you need her?"

Lucius did not respond but extended his glass toward Hermione's. "A toast, Miss Granger. To new opportunities." She tentatively brought her glass up to his. "Cheers."

As Hermione looked at the man sitting across the table from her, she felt herself begin to stop caring about this absurdity of the situation, and she fell into the moment. Before she could stop herself, her skeptical features softened, and she felt a smile break out across her face.

Clinking her glass to his, Hermione murmured, "Cheers, Lucius," and drank. She no longer saw the people staring, heard the whispers, or thought about what they were doing there. All she could focus on was the moment, this moment, with no fear of ulterior motives or true intentions. Between the pair, nothing out of the ordinary was said. But in that moment, there was no hiding from the truth, and for the first time, it seemed that neither of them were running from it.