Title: Shadows and Glimpses (7/?)
Author: QueenC
Feedback: queenc@HotPOP.com
Rating: R
Pairing(s): Cordelia/Lucius
Disclaimer: Nope, not mine. AtS belongs to Joss Whedon and HP belongs to J. K. Rowling.
Distribution: Anywhere I send it. Anyone else wants it just let me know.
Spoilers: Through 'Birthday' on AtS. The first four books of HP.
Summary: What happens when you mix an amnesic Death Eater with a recently demonized Seer?
Author's Notes: Okay, so I'm changing a few things in the AtS world to make this fic work. First of all, Angel and Cordelia are not in love. They are just extremely good friends. Second, Holtz was never pulled from the past. Connor is still here. He's just a baby and staying that way. And finally, Cordelia's apartment is a two bedroom. I think that's it, for now. I'll let you know if anything changes. As always, Angel is Spike's sire. Words in *'s are emphasized, words in ::'s are thoughts, words in ~'s are dreams, and words in ^^'s are flashbacks. Enjoy!
Special Thanks: To everyone that reviewed this fic so far. It's good to know that I'm not just writing this for the sake of my muse. You all are great!
******
Cordelia woke to the sound of the telephone ringing. Groaning softly, she burrowed further under the covers, laying her cheek back on Lucius' chest. Inhaling, she smiled sleepily, the smell of his scent combined with her own wonderfully intoxicating. Slowly, she pressed her lips to his bare skin, kissing him tenderly.
"Keep doing that and you most certainly won't be going back to sleep," a voice chided teasingly.
Raising her head, she grinned at him. "Hmm. Now, was that a threat or a promise," she replied. Slowly, she slid her way up his body, finally straddling him. Placing her hands on either side of his head, she peered into his shining eyes.
Lucius returned her smile, noting the way her skin seemed to almost glow in the sunlight that streamed through the window. Running his hands along her ribs, he said, "Last night was wonderful."
Cordelia raised an eyebrow. "Just last night? What about this morning?" she teased, suddenly kissing him tenderly.
Lucius returned the kiss then chuckled softly. "Every time was wonderful," he replied. Suddenly, he rolled so she was lying on the bed and he was laying over her. Kissing her jaw, he began working his way down her body, letting her moans and sighs guide him.
Cordelia closed her eyes, becoming lost in the feelings of his lips against her skin. Running her fingers through his hair, she felt her body begin to stir at his ministrations. Then, just as he was working past her belly button and she felt as if she were going to go insane from anticipation, the unthinkable happened.
The phone rang.
Groaning, Lucius pulled back, glaring at the offending object currently resting on the night stand. Looking at Cordelia, he couldn't help but feel bad for whoever was calling. She looked ready to kill someone.
Cordelia sighed, giving him an apologetic look. "Okay, so that's the third time someone's called in an hour. I guess the only way they can take a hint is if I actually *tell* them I'm busy," she snapped, reaching for the phone.
Lucius chuckled, moving to lay beside her. "Wouldn't that defeat the purpose of giving them a hint?" he questioned.
Rolling her eyes, Cordelia put the phone to her ear. "Hello? No, I do *not* want to buy homeowners insurance! I don't even own a damn home!" she cried. Hanging up, she resisted the urge to toss the object across the room. "Damn telemarketers," she muttered. Then, her eyes landed on her clock and she gasped.
"What is it?" Lucius asked, feeling her entire body go tense. "Are you having a vision?"
Cordelia shook her head, sitting up. "No. I just totally forgot that I made plans today!" Seeing his confused look, she explained, "There's this girl that I met a few weeks ago. Actually, we saved her from a group of demons. She was new to LA and didn't have any friends, and I felt kind of bad for her. So, I took her out to a few clubs, introduced her to some people, and then agreed to go see her artwork on display at this art fair today."
Lucius nodded, releasing her when she stood up. "I see. Well, I'm certain that she will certainly appreciate you taking the time to remember," he said as evenly as he could, his entire body reacting to the sight of her walking around her room naked as she searched for something to wear.
Glancing at him, she frowned. "What are you just sitting there for? Go get dressed! The thing started an hour ago! We need to get moving," she exclaimed.
He gaped at her, shocked. "You want me to go with you?" he asked increduosly.
Cordelia gave him a strange look. "What else are you going to do, besides sit around here and be bored?" she questioned. "Of *course* I want you to go. I want to introduce you to her, too. Let her see that there are decent guys in this town. Now go!"
Deciding not to question her, lest she decide to drop him off at the Hyperion for the day, he quickly stood and made his way out of the room. Not before pulling her against him and kissing her senseless, though.
******
Angel growled, slamming the phone down so hard that it cracked the reciever. "Damn it!" he swore, swiping at a pile of papers laying on the counter. "Why won't she answer her damn phone!"
Fred watched nervously as the vampire began pacing the length of the lobby, a constant growl sounding in his chest. Glancing at the three men that she'd met on the street, she gave them a small smile. "He's not normally like this," she apologized. "He's just a little...upset."
Ron laughed softly. "You call that upset? Sounds like he's about to tear this place apart to me," he replied without thinking. Swallowing, he took a step back when Angel glared at him.
Harry forced himself not to grab his wand. While he was glad that they'd found the people who knew where Lucius was, he was beginning to think the wisest coarse of action would be to return to the hotel and wait for the man to actually be located. Silently, he turned to Snape, waiting to see what he was going to do.
Snape, for his part, wasn't very concerned with a growling, glowering Angel. In fact, he found it rather admirable that he was able to invoke fear so easily. So, he merely stood there, watching with interest, wanting to see how these unique Muggles acted in the face of adversity.
Gunn sighed, hanging up the phone. Looking at Angel, he shook his head. "No answer. Dennis ain't even picking up," he replied.
Angel swore again, shooting the doors a frustrated look. Cordelia was out there with a dangerous killer and here he was, trapped in the hotel until nightfall.
Some Champion.
"That's it," he stated firmly, moving to the weapons cabinet. Flipping it open, he ignored the gasps from Harry and Ron as the multitude of sharp objects came into view, and began picking up various daggers and swords. "I'm going over there."
Gunn stood up, shaking his head. "Angel, man, bad idea. In case you ain't noticed, the sun's out. So unless you suddenly developed some whole new abilities that I don't know about, you won't make it to the car, much less to Cordy's apartment," he said.
Angel turned to his friend, his gaze dark. "She's alone with him, Gunn. And she doesn't know what we now do. I have to make sure she's all right," he replied quietly.
The man nodded. "I get that. Look, I want to make sure she's safe, too. So, why don't I head over there, see what's up? For all we know, she could have stepped out."
Fred snorted. "Cordelia getting up and going somewhere before noon? Sure," she commented. Seeing the aghast look on Angel's face, her eyes widened. "Although I suppose it's possible. I mean, she *has* been acting kinda different since she got that boost of demon juice."
Ron and Harry both exchanged wide-eyed glances at this comment. "Demon juice?" the redhead murmured. "Bloody hell."
Snape glowered at the two boys. "Silence," he hissed, watching with satisfaction as the immediately grew quiet.
Suddenly, Wes stepped out of the office, his face solemn. "Angel, we really needn't be overly concerned. Let's keep in mind that Lucius could very well have amnesia. If that is the case, he is not a threat to Cordelia."
Angel shook his head. "And what if he's faking, Wes? He's *alone* with her! I think that's reason enough to be concerned!" he argued.
"Yeah, that or what if his memory suddenly shows up? Something tells me Cordelia wouldn't stand a chance..." Gunn trailed off when everyone glared at him. Picking up an ax, he headed toward the door. "Right, I'm off. I'll call you once I know something."
Angel sighed, sinking heavily onto the couch, beside Fred. Putting his head in his hands, he muttered, "This is all my fault. I shouldn't have let her leave here."
Fred patted his shoulder, frowning. "Don't blame yourself. We both know Cordy's gonna do what she wants. That's what makes her Cordy. And, besides, she still has her new powers. If he did try to attack her, maybe they'll somehow protect her," she offered.
Wesley nodded. "Yes. Fred does have a point, Angel. For all we know, Cordelia could easily be impervious to danger." Turning around, he cleared his throat, looking at the still-silent guests. "Yes, well, I do apologize for this. Normally we don't lose those that we're meant to help," he stated.
Snape frowned. "I'm afraid I don't understand. What do you mean, help?" he questioned.
Wesley shrugged. "Well, Cordelia, the young woman that we are trying to locate, who has Mr. Malfoy with her, apparently recieved a vision concerning him," he explained. "Therefore, since her visions come directly from the Powers That Be, it is clear we are meant to assist him in some fashion. Of course, at the time we merely assumed it was to aid him in retrieving his lost memories. Now, though..."
The Potions Master nodded. "What was the vision about?" he asked evenly.
Slowly, a frown filled the former Watcher's face. "You know, come to think of it, I can't remember her actually describing the vision." Turning, he gave Angel and Fred curious looks.
Fred shook her head. "All she said to me was that she was supposed to help him. I didn't really ask anything else," she replied, sounding apologetic.
Angel raised his head, his brow furrowed in concentration. "You're right, Wes. She didn't get into any details. And, by the time she told us about it, she had him with her. I just assumed that the basic vision was where he was located, and the rest was up to us." Sighing, he shook his head. "I can't believe this. Damn her! Why does she always have to do things the difficult way!"
Fred bit her lip. "I've got a question. If she isn't home, where are we going to start looking? I mean, she really could be anywhere..."
Silence fell over the hotel as everyone absorbed what she said. If Cordelia wasn't home, then they now had two missing people in a city with millions.
And time was running out.
"I can't believe I'm going to say this," Harry suddenly spoke up, blushing slightly when everyone looked at him. "But, let's hope that Malfoy and Hermione are having more luck than we are."
"Yeah," Ron snorted. "If they haven't killed each other first."
******
Draco stormed out of the hospital, angrier than he'd been in a long time. Kicking at a soda can that was lying in his way, he stomped across the large parking lot, heading back to the main road.
He heard Hermione behind him, having to run to catch up with his large strides. Finally, she fell into step beside him, her brown eyes wide. "Draco, you really shouldn't have done that," she said sharply. "That woman could very well call the police! And getting arrested is not going to help us find your father any faster."
Not even looking at her, he laughed harshly. "Yes, well, perhaps if that stupid Muggle had provided a bit more assistance, I wouldn't have felt the need to toss her...contraption on the ground," he growled.
The young woman rolled her eyes. "It wasn't a contraption, Draco. It was a computer, and a very expensive one at that!" she stated.
Stopping, he spun quickly toward her, causing her to take a step back. Glaring at her, he hissed, "I don't give a damn what it was! She *refused* to answer our questions, instead treating us like we were some type of nuisance. I am Draco Malfoy! I will not have some common secretary look down on me!"
Hermione met his gaze. "I understand that she upset your precious ego. However, *you* must understand that we sought out her for assistance. And, if we are to stand any chance of finding your father, we are going to have to enlist the help of...of...common Muggles! This is, after all, *their* city!" she exclaimed. Taking a calming breath, she continued, "All right. So we know he isn't here."
Draco's eyes widened. "Are you daft? We don't know he isn't in there somewhere! That woman wouldn't tell us, remember?" he cried, angrily running his fingers through his hair.
Slowly, a self-satisfied smile filled the young woman's face. "Actually," she corrected, "While you were busy breaking valuable equipment and frightening an entire waiting room, I took the liberty of using the courtesy phone that was by the snack machines. I merely called the hospital, asked them if they had any patient named Lucius Malfoy or matching his description, and they told me they didn't. *So*, as I was saying, now that we know he isn't here, we need to determine the next place to check."
Draco narrowed his eyes, torn between wanting to congratulate her for finding a way to get the information and throttling her for making him look bad. Finally, he settled for a muttered, "It doesn't matter. We aren't going to find him anyway."
Hermione raised an eyebrow. "Draco Malfoy, you stop that this instant! It's bad enough that I'm forced to work with you, but I'm not about to stand here and listen to you feel sorry for yourself!" she cried. Looking around, she noticed the large building that she'd been using for a landmark. Giving him one final glare, she turned on her heel and headed toward the area they had yet to cover.
Standing there, Draco watched her storm off, rage bubbling inside of him. How dare she speak to him like that! He didn't have to stand for this. He would go find his father himself, damn it. He didn't need some stupid, stubborn witch bossing him around.
Now determined, he looked around, his eyes finally landing on a nearby park. Rolling his eyes, he was about to dismiss it, knowing how his father was opposed to most things in nature. However, something caught his eye before he could look away.
Squinting, he could just see a banner through the trees, the bright colors clashing with the green leaves. Without giving a second thought to what he was doing, he moved toward the sign.
Making his way down the path filled with joggers and pet owners, he didn't even notice that Hermione was following him, frowning darkly. Finally, he came through the treeline, his eyes widening.
Apparently, this park wasn't nearly as large as it had first appeared. In fact, just on the other side of a field and playground was another street, with what appeared to be some type of event. His legs, as if moving on their own accord, began following the path around the field, moving closer to the rows of booths lined up and down the sidewalk.
Hermione followed silently, wondering why Draco would want to look here, of all places. Surely Lucius didn't have some secret love for Muggle artwork? Shaking her head, she decided, for once, not to ask any questions and merely follow along. Who knows? Perhaps she'd find a few items to purchase herself.
Draco stopped just on the outskirts of the booths, making sure to keep enough distance that he could see most of the crowd. Frowning, he watched as groups of people wandered aimlessly about, laughing and joking and looking at ridiculous items to buy.
Rolling his eyes, he cursed silently. There was *no* way his father was here. He would rather die than be around all these Muggles. Turning his head, he noticed Hermione beside him and was about to tell her that they were leaving, when a flash of blonde caught his eye.
Quickly, he began looking around frantically, trying to spot it again. Finally, as a large group of hyper active teenagers began walking, he saw the one person he'd been searching for.
Lucius Malfoy was standing on the other side of the street, holding a painting and laughing happily.
******
A/N: All right. And now things are starting to come together...or are they? *eg* I know what some of you are probably thinking. That Cordelia and Lucius haven't known one another long enough to be this involved. But, keep in mind, no one has said the 'L' word yet. As of right now, they consider this to be a fling, with emotions starting to surface. And as for Cordelia's demon powers...don't fret. They WILL be making an appearance soon. I promise.
Now, about that review...
Author: QueenC
Feedback: queenc@HotPOP.com
Rating: R
Pairing(s): Cordelia/Lucius
Disclaimer: Nope, not mine. AtS belongs to Joss Whedon and HP belongs to J. K. Rowling.
Distribution: Anywhere I send it. Anyone else wants it just let me know.
Spoilers: Through 'Birthday' on AtS. The first four books of HP.
Summary: What happens when you mix an amnesic Death Eater with a recently demonized Seer?
Author's Notes: Okay, so I'm changing a few things in the AtS world to make this fic work. First of all, Angel and Cordelia are not in love. They are just extremely good friends. Second, Holtz was never pulled from the past. Connor is still here. He's just a baby and staying that way. And finally, Cordelia's apartment is a two bedroom. I think that's it, for now. I'll let you know if anything changes. As always, Angel is Spike's sire. Words in *'s are emphasized, words in ::'s are thoughts, words in ~'s are dreams, and words in ^^'s are flashbacks. Enjoy!
Special Thanks: To everyone that reviewed this fic so far. It's good to know that I'm not just writing this for the sake of my muse. You all are great!
******
Cordelia woke to the sound of the telephone ringing. Groaning softly, she burrowed further under the covers, laying her cheek back on Lucius' chest. Inhaling, she smiled sleepily, the smell of his scent combined with her own wonderfully intoxicating. Slowly, she pressed her lips to his bare skin, kissing him tenderly.
"Keep doing that and you most certainly won't be going back to sleep," a voice chided teasingly.
Raising her head, she grinned at him. "Hmm. Now, was that a threat or a promise," she replied. Slowly, she slid her way up his body, finally straddling him. Placing her hands on either side of his head, she peered into his shining eyes.
Lucius returned her smile, noting the way her skin seemed to almost glow in the sunlight that streamed through the window. Running his hands along her ribs, he said, "Last night was wonderful."
Cordelia raised an eyebrow. "Just last night? What about this morning?" she teased, suddenly kissing him tenderly.
Lucius returned the kiss then chuckled softly. "Every time was wonderful," he replied. Suddenly, he rolled so she was lying on the bed and he was laying over her. Kissing her jaw, he began working his way down her body, letting her moans and sighs guide him.
Cordelia closed her eyes, becoming lost in the feelings of his lips against her skin. Running her fingers through his hair, she felt her body begin to stir at his ministrations. Then, just as he was working past her belly button and she felt as if she were going to go insane from anticipation, the unthinkable happened.
The phone rang.
Groaning, Lucius pulled back, glaring at the offending object currently resting on the night stand. Looking at Cordelia, he couldn't help but feel bad for whoever was calling. She looked ready to kill someone.
Cordelia sighed, giving him an apologetic look. "Okay, so that's the third time someone's called in an hour. I guess the only way they can take a hint is if I actually *tell* them I'm busy," she snapped, reaching for the phone.
Lucius chuckled, moving to lay beside her. "Wouldn't that defeat the purpose of giving them a hint?" he questioned.
Rolling her eyes, Cordelia put the phone to her ear. "Hello? No, I do *not* want to buy homeowners insurance! I don't even own a damn home!" she cried. Hanging up, she resisted the urge to toss the object across the room. "Damn telemarketers," she muttered. Then, her eyes landed on her clock and she gasped.
"What is it?" Lucius asked, feeling her entire body go tense. "Are you having a vision?"
Cordelia shook her head, sitting up. "No. I just totally forgot that I made plans today!" Seeing his confused look, she explained, "There's this girl that I met a few weeks ago. Actually, we saved her from a group of demons. She was new to LA and didn't have any friends, and I felt kind of bad for her. So, I took her out to a few clubs, introduced her to some people, and then agreed to go see her artwork on display at this art fair today."
Lucius nodded, releasing her when she stood up. "I see. Well, I'm certain that she will certainly appreciate you taking the time to remember," he said as evenly as he could, his entire body reacting to the sight of her walking around her room naked as she searched for something to wear.
Glancing at him, she frowned. "What are you just sitting there for? Go get dressed! The thing started an hour ago! We need to get moving," she exclaimed.
He gaped at her, shocked. "You want me to go with you?" he asked increduosly.
Cordelia gave him a strange look. "What else are you going to do, besides sit around here and be bored?" she questioned. "Of *course* I want you to go. I want to introduce you to her, too. Let her see that there are decent guys in this town. Now go!"
Deciding not to question her, lest she decide to drop him off at the Hyperion for the day, he quickly stood and made his way out of the room. Not before pulling her against him and kissing her senseless, though.
******
Angel growled, slamming the phone down so hard that it cracked the reciever. "Damn it!" he swore, swiping at a pile of papers laying on the counter. "Why won't she answer her damn phone!"
Fred watched nervously as the vampire began pacing the length of the lobby, a constant growl sounding in his chest. Glancing at the three men that she'd met on the street, she gave them a small smile. "He's not normally like this," she apologized. "He's just a little...upset."
Ron laughed softly. "You call that upset? Sounds like he's about to tear this place apart to me," he replied without thinking. Swallowing, he took a step back when Angel glared at him.
Harry forced himself not to grab his wand. While he was glad that they'd found the people who knew where Lucius was, he was beginning to think the wisest coarse of action would be to return to the hotel and wait for the man to actually be located. Silently, he turned to Snape, waiting to see what he was going to do.
Snape, for his part, wasn't very concerned with a growling, glowering Angel. In fact, he found it rather admirable that he was able to invoke fear so easily. So, he merely stood there, watching with interest, wanting to see how these unique Muggles acted in the face of adversity.
Gunn sighed, hanging up the phone. Looking at Angel, he shook his head. "No answer. Dennis ain't even picking up," he replied.
Angel swore again, shooting the doors a frustrated look. Cordelia was out there with a dangerous killer and here he was, trapped in the hotel until nightfall.
Some Champion.
"That's it," he stated firmly, moving to the weapons cabinet. Flipping it open, he ignored the gasps from Harry and Ron as the multitude of sharp objects came into view, and began picking up various daggers and swords. "I'm going over there."
Gunn stood up, shaking his head. "Angel, man, bad idea. In case you ain't noticed, the sun's out. So unless you suddenly developed some whole new abilities that I don't know about, you won't make it to the car, much less to Cordy's apartment," he said.
Angel turned to his friend, his gaze dark. "She's alone with him, Gunn. And she doesn't know what we now do. I have to make sure she's all right," he replied quietly.
The man nodded. "I get that. Look, I want to make sure she's safe, too. So, why don't I head over there, see what's up? For all we know, she could have stepped out."
Fred snorted. "Cordelia getting up and going somewhere before noon? Sure," she commented. Seeing the aghast look on Angel's face, her eyes widened. "Although I suppose it's possible. I mean, she *has* been acting kinda different since she got that boost of demon juice."
Ron and Harry both exchanged wide-eyed glances at this comment. "Demon juice?" the redhead murmured. "Bloody hell."
Snape glowered at the two boys. "Silence," he hissed, watching with satisfaction as the immediately grew quiet.
Suddenly, Wes stepped out of the office, his face solemn. "Angel, we really needn't be overly concerned. Let's keep in mind that Lucius could very well have amnesia. If that is the case, he is not a threat to Cordelia."
Angel shook his head. "And what if he's faking, Wes? He's *alone* with her! I think that's reason enough to be concerned!" he argued.
"Yeah, that or what if his memory suddenly shows up? Something tells me Cordelia wouldn't stand a chance..." Gunn trailed off when everyone glared at him. Picking up an ax, he headed toward the door. "Right, I'm off. I'll call you once I know something."
Angel sighed, sinking heavily onto the couch, beside Fred. Putting his head in his hands, he muttered, "This is all my fault. I shouldn't have let her leave here."
Fred patted his shoulder, frowning. "Don't blame yourself. We both know Cordy's gonna do what she wants. That's what makes her Cordy. And, besides, she still has her new powers. If he did try to attack her, maybe they'll somehow protect her," she offered.
Wesley nodded. "Yes. Fred does have a point, Angel. For all we know, Cordelia could easily be impervious to danger." Turning around, he cleared his throat, looking at the still-silent guests. "Yes, well, I do apologize for this. Normally we don't lose those that we're meant to help," he stated.
Snape frowned. "I'm afraid I don't understand. What do you mean, help?" he questioned.
Wesley shrugged. "Well, Cordelia, the young woman that we are trying to locate, who has Mr. Malfoy with her, apparently recieved a vision concerning him," he explained. "Therefore, since her visions come directly from the Powers That Be, it is clear we are meant to assist him in some fashion. Of course, at the time we merely assumed it was to aid him in retrieving his lost memories. Now, though..."
The Potions Master nodded. "What was the vision about?" he asked evenly.
Slowly, a frown filled the former Watcher's face. "You know, come to think of it, I can't remember her actually describing the vision." Turning, he gave Angel and Fred curious looks.
Fred shook her head. "All she said to me was that she was supposed to help him. I didn't really ask anything else," she replied, sounding apologetic.
Angel raised his head, his brow furrowed in concentration. "You're right, Wes. She didn't get into any details. And, by the time she told us about it, she had him with her. I just assumed that the basic vision was where he was located, and the rest was up to us." Sighing, he shook his head. "I can't believe this. Damn her! Why does she always have to do things the difficult way!"
Fred bit her lip. "I've got a question. If she isn't home, where are we going to start looking? I mean, she really could be anywhere..."
Silence fell over the hotel as everyone absorbed what she said. If Cordelia wasn't home, then they now had two missing people in a city with millions.
And time was running out.
"I can't believe I'm going to say this," Harry suddenly spoke up, blushing slightly when everyone looked at him. "But, let's hope that Malfoy and Hermione are having more luck than we are."
"Yeah," Ron snorted. "If they haven't killed each other first."
******
Draco stormed out of the hospital, angrier than he'd been in a long time. Kicking at a soda can that was lying in his way, he stomped across the large parking lot, heading back to the main road.
He heard Hermione behind him, having to run to catch up with his large strides. Finally, she fell into step beside him, her brown eyes wide. "Draco, you really shouldn't have done that," she said sharply. "That woman could very well call the police! And getting arrested is not going to help us find your father any faster."
Not even looking at her, he laughed harshly. "Yes, well, perhaps if that stupid Muggle had provided a bit more assistance, I wouldn't have felt the need to toss her...contraption on the ground," he growled.
The young woman rolled her eyes. "It wasn't a contraption, Draco. It was a computer, and a very expensive one at that!" she stated.
Stopping, he spun quickly toward her, causing her to take a step back. Glaring at her, he hissed, "I don't give a damn what it was! She *refused* to answer our questions, instead treating us like we were some type of nuisance. I am Draco Malfoy! I will not have some common secretary look down on me!"
Hermione met his gaze. "I understand that she upset your precious ego. However, *you* must understand that we sought out her for assistance. And, if we are to stand any chance of finding your father, we are going to have to enlist the help of...of...common Muggles! This is, after all, *their* city!" she exclaimed. Taking a calming breath, she continued, "All right. So we know he isn't here."
Draco's eyes widened. "Are you daft? We don't know he isn't in there somewhere! That woman wouldn't tell us, remember?" he cried, angrily running his fingers through his hair.
Slowly, a self-satisfied smile filled the young woman's face. "Actually," she corrected, "While you were busy breaking valuable equipment and frightening an entire waiting room, I took the liberty of using the courtesy phone that was by the snack machines. I merely called the hospital, asked them if they had any patient named Lucius Malfoy or matching his description, and they told me they didn't. *So*, as I was saying, now that we know he isn't here, we need to determine the next place to check."
Draco narrowed his eyes, torn between wanting to congratulate her for finding a way to get the information and throttling her for making him look bad. Finally, he settled for a muttered, "It doesn't matter. We aren't going to find him anyway."
Hermione raised an eyebrow. "Draco Malfoy, you stop that this instant! It's bad enough that I'm forced to work with you, but I'm not about to stand here and listen to you feel sorry for yourself!" she cried. Looking around, she noticed the large building that she'd been using for a landmark. Giving him one final glare, she turned on her heel and headed toward the area they had yet to cover.
Standing there, Draco watched her storm off, rage bubbling inside of him. How dare she speak to him like that! He didn't have to stand for this. He would go find his father himself, damn it. He didn't need some stupid, stubborn witch bossing him around.
Now determined, he looked around, his eyes finally landing on a nearby park. Rolling his eyes, he was about to dismiss it, knowing how his father was opposed to most things in nature. However, something caught his eye before he could look away.
Squinting, he could just see a banner through the trees, the bright colors clashing with the green leaves. Without giving a second thought to what he was doing, he moved toward the sign.
Making his way down the path filled with joggers and pet owners, he didn't even notice that Hermione was following him, frowning darkly. Finally, he came through the treeline, his eyes widening.
Apparently, this park wasn't nearly as large as it had first appeared. In fact, just on the other side of a field and playground was another street, with what appeared to be some type of event. His legs, as if moving on their own accord, began following the path around the field, moving closer to the rows of booths lined up and down the sidewalk.
Hermione followed silently, wondering why Draco would want to look here, of all places. Surely Lucius didn't have some secret love for Muggle artwork? Shaking her head, she decided, for once, not to ask any questions and merely follow along. Who knows? Perhaps she'd find a few items to purchase herself.
Draco stopped just on the outskirts of the booths, making sure to keep enough distance that he could see most of the crowd. Frowning, he watched as groups of people wandered aimlessly about, laughing and joking and looking at ridiculous items to buy.
Rolling his eyes, he cursed silently. There was *no* way his father was here. He would rather die than be around all these Muggles. Turning his head, he noticed Hermione beside him and was about to tell her that they were leaving, when a flash of blonde caught his eye.
Quickly, he began looking around frantically, trying to spot it again. Finally, as a large group of hyper active teenagers began walking, he saw the one person he'd been searching for.
Lucius Malfoy was standing on the other side of the street, holding a painting and laughing happily.
******
A/N: All right. And now things are starting to come together...or are they? *eg* I know what some of you are probably thinking. That Cordelia and Lucius haven't known one another long enough to be this involved. But, keep in mind, no one has said the 'L' word yet. As of right now, they consider this to be a fling, with emotions starting to surface. And as for Cordelia's demon powers...don't fret. They WILL be making an appearance soon. I promise.
Now, about that review...