"If it were up to me, I wouldn't have to interview this monster.."
The soft mutterings of Miss Hermione Jane Granger-Weasley could be heard, as the twenty year old witch bustled around the home she shared with her husband, Ronald Weasley.
The interview she dreaded today happened to be one with the man who'd almost done the Golden Trio and Ginny Weasley in a good seven years ago.
The man who detested magical children of muggle decent, the man who obviously and particularly couldn't stand her the most, it seemed, for bypassing Draco in all of his classes by at least ten points.
The man who had recently been released from Azkaban, to her dismay.
Lucius Malfoy.
She harbored more hate for the Malfoy patriarch than imaginable. It was hard to put into words, the hatred she possessed.
She couldn't stand him. She couldn't' stand walking on the same ground as him, thinking she was breathing the same air, living on the same planet.
Well, her job was her job, and they wanted her to interview said Malfoy. She had no choice but to do it.
"May as well put a smile on while I'm at it.. Not that he deserves it." she muttered as she buttoned up a white dress shirt after tucking it in neatly to a grey pleated skirt, much like the Hogwarts uniforms.
Stepping into black high-heels, she pulled a robe on over it all; fixing the very detailed brooch Ron had given her for her nineteenth birthday, which also happened to be their anniversary.
Putting on a silver clasp that held the cloak closed at her neck, she brushed out her shoulder length hair, putting a charm on it to make it less bushy, although it was still slightly curled.
Tying it back in a tight bun, a single strand hanging down in her chocolate brown eyes, she sighed, surveying herself in the mirror once more.
Putting a Quick-Quote Quill in her small black traveling bag, as well as a few extra rolls of parchment, she slipped her wand into her robes and sighed yet again.
Looking at the mirror one last time before going into the bathroom, she brushed her teeth, washed her face quickly and quietly, trying not to disturb Ron as he slept.
She'd obviously grown a bit over the years. She now had a nice, hourglass figure, and was thinner, cheekbones a bit more pronounced, a light blush on her cheeks, very light copper eye shadow on her eyes to accent them.
Small diamond studs in each ear were the only piercing she'd had. She didn't like permanent body art. Enjoyed admiring it, but not walking around with it on her. She'd just thought the earrings would look cute, and indeed, they did.
Walking over to the bed slowly, she brushed the shaggy, red locks from Ron's pale forehead, kissing that lightly. "I'll be home soon, Ron." she whispered, although he still slept.
Picking up her traveling bag, she left the room, making sure to close the door quietly before going into their baby's room, which was adjacent to theirs, in the next room over.
Kissing the sleeping child's forehead, she left that room as well, not sure what the day's activities would bring.
Once down in the kitchen, she sighed, making sure everything was neat and tidy, before aparating to the front step of the Malfoy Manor.
Clearing her throat and smoothing out her skirt, she sighed, a little smile appearing on her face as she raised a hand to knock on the door.
Surprisingly, she was greeted warmly, but she knew not to be thrown off by this man-... oh, my.
She knew not to think much about him, since he could invade her thoughts and read them, but she couldn't help but see how.. Lifeless Lucius was.
He'd once been so high-strung, yet alive, and snappy. Now he looked as if poking his arm would break it, so fragile, so helpless-but he wasn't helpless!
Hermione had to keep reminding herself of that.
'You're dealing with an ex-Death Eater, here, 'Mione..' she thought to herself. 'He isn't to be taken lightly. Imagine what he could be thinking...'
"Pleasure to see you again, Mister Malfoy." she said politely, the little smile still plastered to her soft honey features.
Lucius merely grunted in response, which she found rather rude, but let it pass.
She sighed, saying, "Is there any place you'd like to-"
"-the Living Room, Miss Granger. If you'd be so kind." he smirked, and Hermione thought she saw just a small little flash of maliciousness in it, but was proved wrong.
This man was probably incapable of smiling.
"Yes.. Do you need any-" she was cut off, yet again.
"I'm quite fine, thank you." Lucius responded curtly, hiding the limp, although it was clear he was in a bit of pain as he made his way to the Living Room, waiting for her to be seated before he sat.
She took a seat on an armchair not far away from him, placing her things on the floor, parchment on the table, Quill poised on the tip, quivering, ready to jot down whatever came out of her mouth next.
She cleared her throat, saying, "You may refuse to answer questions if you find them too personal, Mr.Malfoy," informatively.
"Or if you find them inappropriate in any shape or form."
Lucius nodded tiredly with a sigh. "Yes yes, Miss Granger, I know. I've had countless interviews this week. I know how they work." he muttered flatly.
She sighed.
Maybe this would be a little harder than she thought..
Speaking directly to the Quill now, "Begin interview."