Thanks as always for the lovely reviews, follows and favs. Glad you are enjoying my little folly. Apologies as always for any errors etcs.
"Coffee and a small brandy?"
His questionstill sounded like a command as he pushed his chair back from the table.
After three kir royales and what must have been half of the bottle of wine, Hermione certainly wasn't going decline the offer of coffee, she however doubted the wisdom of the brandy, no matter how small, wrinkling her nose at the thought.
"Or perhaps something else?"
Obviously interpreting the action as a distaste for the cognac, he continued undeterred.
"A Cointreau over ice."
Lucius Malfoy went on smoothly in that same commanding and dominating tone.
Considering the fact she did not usually drink, well nothing more than the odd glass of wine, maybe two, Hermione felt remarkably clear headed. Which also considering the company she was keeping, was just as well and just as remarkable.
The dark wizard pushed his chair back a little further, the feet scraping lightly against the polished wooden floor, with a brief wave of his hand and a muttered incantation the French doors gently swung open, and a few more lights on the private veranda twinkled into life.
"On the terrace." He suggested easily, but with that same sense of authority.
He now rose from his own seat, moving gracefully behind hers, his hands grasping the smooth damask covered back and allowing her to rise. Whilst continuing to exude that arrogant imposing air, his tone was now a lot more sultry and far more persuasive. Hermione constantly aware of his powerful presence, took a very deep breath.
"I'm sure we can find more interesting things to talk about than Iranian caviar and my choice of décor."
Yet again she was unable to refuse.
"Once again Mister Malfoy you make me an offer that I find impossible to refuse."
His powers of persuasion were second to none, appealing to the inquisitive side of the young witch and echoing her own thoughts.
"Good!" He said proffering that familiar darkly clad arm and escorting her onto the small paved area beyond the windows.
The house elf was again summoned with an impatient snap of Lucius Malfoy's long elegant fingers. He didn't ask Hermione what she wanted, clearly taking her wrinkled nose as an indication of her preference. Simply ordering for her, two coffees, a rather large brandy and a Cointreau over ice arriving a few moments later.
Much like the table they had shared inside, the patio area had clearly been designed with seclusion in mind, for a romantic liaison, a business meeting or simply for those who valued their privacy. Hermione found herself wondering which category she fell into. Quickly dismissing her first thought and despite the conversation over dinner, this was hardly a business meeting. She was sure that a man like Lucius Malfoy did indeed value his privacy but only when it suited him, apparently this was one such occasion. Perhaps somewhat unjustly, she couldn't even surmise that it was because he did not wish to be seen with a Muggle. He'd certainly had no issues sitting at the bar with her, he had been the one who invited her to dinner, even going as far as offering her his arm and walking unperturbed through his already busy restaurant. The romantic liaison flitted across her mind once more, it was poo pooed and banished with the same speed, it really was as ludicrous as her thoughts on x-ray vision, she was the last person on earth he would look upon in that light. But as the handsome dark wizard made himself comfortable next to her, the thought again reared its ugly head.
There were two chairs on the cosy, intricately paved area, wicker with heavy plush cushions to sit on. There was also a smallish sofa, some might call it a love seat, Hermione felt her face flush, it was definitely a small sofa, it matched the two chairs and had the same heavy plush cushions which they now sat on. All three were effortlessly arranged around a hexagonal mosaic topped table, the tiny misshaped tiles in similar pale shades to the soft furnishings.
Hermione had for some reason assumed that her companion would sit in one of the chairs, wishing at this point that she had. That spicy, very masculine cologne of his, drowning out even the highly scented flora that surrounded them, filling her nostrils and making her all the more aware of his presence, as if that were possible.
For her to move at this point would look exactly what it was, and under no circumstances was Hermione Granger going to allow herself to be intimidated by Lucius Malfoy, not on any footing. But it wasn't intimidation which was pumping around in her body or that she was so very conscious of.
The sip of the warming Cointreau over the tinkling ice did not help.
"You mentioned your trip overseas." He all but drawled.
"That it was somewhere warm, but you neglected to say where it was you went."
Of course, she hadn't neglected anything, Hermione purposely hadn't elaborated, not wishing to be drawn too much into that particular conversation. Her Unspeakables training had taught her to reveal little, or better still nothing at all, and where possible to answer a question with a question.
"Oh did I?
Her companion's brows knitted together in an enquiring fashion, obviously, the Dark Wizard was very much intent in drawing her into that particular conversation, hopefully they could stick to the weather and the scenery.
"Ocho Rios, the Caribbean." She volunteered easily, not wishing to appear too cagey, but at the same time not giving too much away.
"Ah Jamaica, very nice. That certainly explains the golden tan."
Hermione's tan prickled with warmth under his cursory, but disconcertingly knowing glance, impressed with his geographical knowledge. She tried to steer the conversation back to safer ground the weather and the scenery.
"It was lovely, and fortunately I did have some time to enjoy the wonderful beach and relax by the pool."
She wasn't entirely sure images of her in a skimpy bikini, stretched on a sun lounger was entirely safe ground, but if nothing else, hopefully it was distracting.
"I would not have imaged that the Ministry of Magic had too many Imports or Exports to deal with in such a far flung location."
Nope, diversionary tactic failed miserably, talk of the local climate and vista of any kind was not what Lucius Malfoy had in mind. She gave him a small laugh, raising her glass to her lips but not drinking, she spoke to him over the rim.
"Unfortunately not usually, no." She kept the regretful but amused note in her voice.
Keeping her response offhand and using the cover story she had been given by RM before her departure overseas.
"There were various items in a private collection there, the owner wanted some expert advice and asked the Ministry for help."
She and the Ministry for that matter, were well aware that the former Death Eater himself still had a large collection of interesting magical items of his own, and she hoped this might deter him from asking too many questions.
"Ah I see, what a lovely job you have my dear, so much nicer than sitting behind a desk at the Ministry all day. And did you accomplish your mission?" He practically purred.
This time she did take a sip from her glass: It was just an expression and one she herself had used hundreds of times prior to becoming an Unspeakable, but of course since she had, it had taken on a very different connotation.
Hermione couldn't put her finger on it, there was just something in that aristocratic tone of his, that he should use that particular idiom. Hermione got the same feeling that she'd had earlier in the evening, the man sitting beside her definitely knew more about what she did than he should, but how to draw him out without showing her own hand?
"Mostly, there were one or two loose ends that need tying up, but nothing that cannot wait, or that I will bore you with."
As always, Hermione kept as much to the actual truth as she could, whilst maintaining her cover story, she certainly didn't want Lucius Malfoy catching her out later.
It was just as she had told him, the mission had mostly been a success, at least on the fact finding front. One particularly Dark Wizard who her section had been tracking for some time had reportedly shown up on the Island, that was of course the real reason Hermione had been sent to the exotic location.
Intelligence had it that he was trying to rally support from former friends and far flung practitioners of the dark arts for some illicit end. Two such acquaintances had been captured by the local Aurors in Ocho Rios and questioned at length by Hermione. After several days, despite her own skilled powers of interrogation they had not been able to reveal all of the details of the plot, only their particular roles. Hermione had however managed to glean that they were part of a much larger puzzle, of which everyone had a very small piece, once they had all been recruited, they would be summoned together, the fragments slotted into place and the full picture revealed.
After a few more stressful, very tiring days and even the last resort of the application of Veritaserum they were still unable to reveal the whereabouts of the Mastermind behind the mysterious plot, Julius Nihil. It appeared he had been long gone, presumably moving on to some other past associates in another corner of the world. Finally conceding no matter how long she questioned them for, they would not be able to give her any more information, Hermione had obliviated their memories, enough only to eradicate their encounter with the aurors and her. The Unspeakables section were still of course very interested in the whereabout of Julius Nihil, the missing parts to the puzzle and of course the endgame, which had been code named Goldeneye.
"As long as the spectre of work isn't lurking at your shoulder when you are supposed to be relaxing."
There was that strange, almost knowing tenor again. Hermione wished she could slip some Veritaserum into Lucius Malfoy's brandy, but that might not be as much fun a little voice in her subconscious suggested, she quickly shooed it away. She would have to use her own subtle powers of persuasion. The interrogational skills she possessed, directed her to change the topic, move onto something else, and the subject might inadvertently revel something…
"No Mister Malfoy, I can assure you it isn't. Not even the white sands of Oracabessa beach made me feel as relaxed as I do right now. Your lovely hotel and spa seem to be working their very own brand of magic."
A self-satisfied look settled on his pale features at her compliment, just enough Hermione thought to herself, with her own amount of smugness.
Putting the large brandy goblet in which the orange liqueur had been served, back on the table, Hermione exchanged it for a bone china cup and the pungent aromatic black coffee, not really a good idea at this time of the evening, but she had a feeling she wasn't going to sleep very well anyway, her mind going off in far too many directions.
"So is your party for a special occasion?" She asked lightly, going with the change of subject,
She stirred her coffee absently and needlessly, not wanting him to think that she was probing, but simply making polite conversation.
The elegant blonde had left his own cognac untouched, he too opting for his strong coffee and stirring it legitimately, having added a small cube of brown sugar to his own cup.
His actions were unhurried and very deliberate, putting Hermione in mind of a sleek panther stalking its prey. The hooded look in his grey eyes, reminding her of Nagini, Lord Voldemort's Horcrux snake, about to strike its equally helpless quarry. The soft but cruel mouth Hermione was so drawn to curved in a half smile, half grimace.
"If only." He said almost wearily, savouring his coffee as if he needed the infusion of caffeine.
"As I mentioned, it is for some business associates, a gesture of thanks to some for their support and assistance. For others whom I haven't seen for some time, an incentive, one never knows when you might need their capital, influence and connections."
Hermione was surprised by his candour and just how much he was prepared to share. Her sharp, but often doubtful, Unspeakables mind was even more intrigued by the possible guest list, certain that Lucius Malfoy still had some very dark and unsavoury associates, she listened intently.
"Fortuitously, they could all make this weekend." He went on.
"Entertaining them, wining and dining them, it makes them feel important, keeps the wheels oiled and them sweet, I think is the phrase.
"A rather Muggle one." Hermione couldn't help but add.
His half smile increased as he traded the cup for his own brandy glass, taking it between his fingers and swirling the liquid gently around the bulbous goblet.
"For me you mean?"
Hermione said nothing, simply smiling at him in an if the wizard hat fits, kind of way. As he lounged easily against the back of the sofa, Hermione realised she had become oddly and rather quickly accustomed to his close proximity and his choice of seat.
"One must move with the times Miss Granger, encompass everything from all cultures and walks of life."
His words were carefully chosen, there was an almost blasé resonance in his voice, but she could still hear the tinniest hint of condescension, confident his acceptance of everything and possibly everyonehad been more to do with necessity than him moving with the times.
The Dark Wizard was as sharp as ever, not missing a trick.
"This time my dear I detect a whiff of cynicism." He lifted his nose into the air for effect, his nostrils flaring as he sniffed the air, and her.
Whilst he might be happy to reveal, the Dark Wizard left her under no illusion that he was also just as eager to delve. Hermione felt heat suffuse her body, grateful for the dimness of her surroundings that he did not see the flush sting her cheeks, but her own wits and reactions were as keen as his.
"I was just thinking that this all-encompassing Lucius Malfoy is more a necessity than you moving with the times."
There was a hint of laughter in her tone as she quoted his words, voicing her own thoughts with brutal honesty, tilting her head, almost daring him to respond. The duel of words had become one of subtle movement.
"A leopard doesn't change his spots." She added tauntingly.
He took another swig of his cognac, savouring the taste, still gently almost imperceptibly swishing the remainder of the dark golden liquid around in the glass, his eyes glinted.
"I am not one for clichés, the people can change etc etc, but you must believe that there is something different or I doubt you, especially you, would have agreed to have dinner with me."
His eyes now twinkled brighter than the fairy lights around them, his tongue licking the taste of the brandy from his lips. Hermione pondered his words, wondering if the warming spirit tasted any different on them than it did in from glass. She was horrified at the path her own thoughts had suddenly taken, his words not helping as their bodily duel of movement continued and Lucius Malfoy leaned just a little bit closer, swapping his rapier for a much larger blade…
"Or perhaps you have an ulterior motive Miss Granger?" He all but whispered seductively.
A waft of the swirling brandy drifted to her nostrils, it mingled intoxicatingly with the scent of the man himself and Hermione found his proximity and perception increasing the flush of heat that flowed through her body.
"Hmm…"
Upping her own weapon, she too leaned a tad closer, stretching passed him, what could only be described as teasingly, putting her cup and saucer back down on the mosaic topped table, raising just her eyes to meet his as she once again wrapped her slim fingers around the crystal goblet.
That Unspeakable training had not only taught her to answer a question with a question, to reveal little or nothing, it had also instructed her to always get your opponent to give something away first. She frowned at him, feigning just a little hurt in her big brown eyes.
"Me!" The horror struck flippancy in her quiet tone turned to one of dismissive impatience.
"Such as?" she continued, all the time baiting him.
Let's see what Lucius Malfoy thinks I'm up to thought Hermione, draw him out, watching as his eyes narrowed and that mouth of his twitched hypnotically. An inexplicable tremor of anticipation danced up her spine as her fingers tightened around the short stem of the glass.
"Hmm…" This time he mimicked her response.
"Then again perhaps it is not you who has the ulterior motive."
Hermione concealed her outright surprise at his admission, merely raising an eyebrow, not a question per se, although perhaps a thinly veiled one, or maybe a statement, it was however as good a tactic as her own and either way it sent both that fast flowing heat and the flush up in Hermione's body.
"And do you have one Mister Malfoy?"
She couldn't conceal her curiosity, but Hermione began to realise the question with a question was backfiring on her, feeling that their respective ulterior motives were very different, although both could lead down very dangerous paths.
"Oh yes Miss Granger indeed I do, although if I confess what it is, it is no longer ulterior."
The movement was barely perceptible, but in the same way his fingers had accidently brushed against hers, one long darkly clad leg came to rest lightly against her own. The action might have been cool, the touch light, but the heat it radiated was ferocious, reminding Hermione that she was playing with fire, but it didn't stop her fanning the flames.
She patted his knee almost condescendingly but playfully, her mind trying to stay one step ahead of him. The young witch weighed up her response thoughtfully, letting him see she was doing precisely that, her hand now just stilling on his knee, even with her tan, its pallor was stark against the darkness of his clothing. Her polished red nails glinting wickedly in the half light.
"Well as you have already confessed to having one, I think you should go all the way, no sense in doing it half cocked."
Beneath her fingers Hermione felt him shift ever so slightly, she could sense him fighting his reaction; to her calculatingly, provocative phraseology or her blatant tactility, she wasn't sure which, she'd definitely stirred something, her eyes widened at the thought, directing them at him, soliciting a comeback.
"An interesting turn of phrase, but a point well made. Perhaps my motive is not so much ulterior, but as you put it earlier very… male."
Hermione wore a delicate silver bracelet around her slender wrist, it had been a gift from Harry when she had joined the Ministry of Magic. It had five unobtrusive charms on it, two simple gold balls sat either side of two red heart shaped glass beads, at the centre of them all was an otter, its tiny paws securing it to the subtle snake chain. Lucius Malfoy's fingers looked huge against them as he carefully moved them along the thin silver strand like counters on an abacus wire. The action was as erotic as it was menacing, she didn't withdraw her hand which still rested lightly on his knee. The action no longer seeming condescending or playful just downright suggestive.
Hermione Granger remembered everything about this man from her childhood, from her teenage years. His arrogance, his cruelty, his bullying, his bigotry, his murderous intentions. Her blood chilled at the recollection but as his fingers brushed against her skin, it all but burnt.
Hermione Granger also remembered that the dark pureblood wizard had a wife, and whilst she might be able to put aside many things from the past for her job, the cold, haughty Narcissa Malfoy was not one of them. She glossed over his comment, returning to the subject of the party. Hoping it would detract him from where this thoughts and intentions were misguidedly taking him.
"And is your wife looking forward to entertaining your guests?"
He stopped counting the beads on her bracelet, his fingers stilling momentarily against the silver metal. His thumb and forefinger grasping the small otter and twisting it around the chain, its tiny diamond eyes glinting up at him on every turn, fixating on him, just as Hermione's were, waiting for his response.
Those penetrating eyes of his morphed from palest blue grey, to an ominous shade of slate.
"I think not." He said, his brief laugh was hollow and lacked any mirth.
Hermione thought for a moment he wasn't going to continue, that his clipped remark was enough.
"Even if she had been invited. Now she is the rather aptly Mrs Alexei Janus, I doubt she could tear herself away from her castle in St Petersburg."
His tone was as dark and cold as his eyes and steeped in acrimony.
Hermione's brain raced for more reasons than one, as it processed what he had just told her. Starting with his derision of her name. Rather aptly? She replayed his words over in her head, she was missing something, but didn't dare ask…Ouch, suddenly the sickle dropped, Janus, a two faced Roman God.
Not having kept those tabs on the man's activities in recent years the fact that he and Narcissa were no longer married had also passed her by, his clearly bitter and personal admission caught her off guard. For the first time she was unsure how to respond, his revelation also made her very aware that the Dark Wizard was now very much a free man, and that made him far more dangerous.
"And what of Mister Weasley?" He asked suddenly without preamble, his fingers moving to one of the small red hearts at her wrist.
"As you have been overseas with your work, I am surprised he is not here relaxing with you."
He was assuming that the jewellery she wore was from her former boyfriend. This time it was Hermione who strove to control her actions and her reactions, not wanting to unconsciously give anything away or let him think he had unsettled her. It wasn't that he'd actually hit any nerves, her relationship with Ronald Weasley had ended some considerable time ago, and unlike the Malfoy's it would seem, their split had been amicable. They made much better friends than lovers, and she and Ronald had remained the good friends they always had been. No, Hermione was just certain, however she reacted and whatever she said to him now, would determine what happened next.
Just as Hermione felt that Lucius Malfoy knew more about her work than he should, there was also the very real danger that he might already know that she and her old schoolfriend were no longer romantically involved and he was just testing her. The same way she could not be caught out by him, Hermione could not afford to be caught in a lie by Lucius Malfoy, not if she wanted to catch up on those activities and find out exactly what he was up to now. She doubted his trust was easily gained but was certain it was very easily lost. She pitched her response carefully but lightly.
"I don't think Ronald's girlfriend would like that."
"Oh!"
She was unable to read much into his response, couldn't tell if it was a surprised "oh" or a leading, pleased "oh". She did however notice he had switched his attention back to the silver otter, and there was the tiniest quirk lifting his lips once more.
"In that case perhaps I could persuade you take a stroll in the gardens with me. I like to stretch my legs before bed."
His face was totally impassive. His "oh" might have been unreadable, but his seemingly innocent "before bed" was fully loaded. A shiver danced along her spine, but heat coursed through her veins. The last tiny fragment of ice melted in her glass and her brightly polished nails sparkled almost gleefully, but the young witch was confident she could handle Lucius Malfoy.
Determined to keep the footing as even as it had been up to this point, unfazed and with equal impassivity she accepted.
"You have been very persuasive all evening Mister Malfoy, it would be churlish of me to refuse this one last time."
