Malfoy's desires
Chapter two: The affront.
All names and placed associated to Harry Potter, belong to JKRowling and associates. I'm just borrowing its world for fun… no money is to be made from this.
Lucius left Dumbledore and Snape to their own devices, electing to keep a rather interested eye on the young woman who now stood near the end of the banquet table. She kept her undivided attention on her superior, nibbling thoughtfully as she followed the eldest Weasley's recommendations. They were soon joined by one another red-haired menace. Lucius tried to remember the lad's name; was it Bob, Bill... or some other inanely mugglish name.
The girl was gobbling up what the newcomer was saying, smiling at something he had said. Lucius frowned, wondering if something existed between the pair. The Weasley lad was a handsome specimen, but that earring he wore left something to be desired.
Malfoy kept his vigil up, wondering if he could start up some chat with the lovely witch. But to his profound regret, more wizards joined the talkative pair, obviously enjoying the fact that she had come to the ministry's shin-ding. Her impromptu visit had attracted the youngest wizards, all wanting to get her attention. He carefully tried to evaluate her age from his vantage point. From the way she talked, her facial expressions and so on, he could say she was in her late twenties or so.
The way she kept herself away from certain wizards, she seemingly had experienced some untoward attentions from some of them. Lucius smirked as he saw a few young men turn around pitifully, having had their advances firmly rebuked. She wasn't interested in any one of them, or so it seemed. Perfect! Lucius thought with smugness. He could credit her with some good taste.
'Mr. Malfoy... could I have a word with you?' The old witch asked at his elbow. Mrs. Marchbanks had crept up on him without notice, cornering him for lack of a better word. 'We have some unfinished business concerning that little event at Malfoy manor.'
Lucius glanced down his nose at the old bat from the Wizengamot, wishing she would disappear from his sight. "Mme Marchbanks! Lovely to see you again.' He said condescendingly with a look of utter boredom. No love was lost between the two and they never took the time to properly hide their feelings from anyone. 'What brings you out from your retirement home? Needing nappies for yourself, hmm?'
The old witch chuckled before taking her wand out. "Would you like to see them, my pet? Maybe you could even change it for me... '
Lucius was thoroughly disgusted by the proposal. "Never mind, old woman. I really don't need female company that desperately. And do keep that wand away from me; wouldn't want to get an eye poked out from your fumbling wand work.'
'Oh, Lucius! Do get stuffed, won't you?' She said wryly, keeping her wand in her hand. 'Now, back to my first question: When can I expect you in my offices? And this is not a kindly request.' Her gazed hardened perceptibly as she peered deeply into his gray eyes.
He felt the inkling of a mind search, but he shut off the perimeters of his mind to her obvious attempt at Legilimency. He almost scoffed at her effort. 'I'll come along tomorrow afternoon, if that is convenient for you.' He didn't want to go, but he had to keep his nose clean around this old battleaxe. Any whisper of wrongdoing on his part, would send her in a tear, calling a full enquiry with her beloved Wizengamot. Crazy old bitch...
She nodded with a smile spreading from ear to ear. 'I'll see you at one... sharp! Be there or you'll be hauled up by your pureblood derriere, my dear!' With a satisfied and smug smile, she turned on her heel and returned to Dumbledore's side.
Malfoy eyed her malevolently, a few invectives passing his lips in utter frustration. He would make sure that she was the first ministry official to be eliminated, come hell or high water!
'Tut, tut Mr. Malfoy! Such harsh words being uttered toward a lovely woman like her. Have you no shame?' The definitely female voice spoke behind his back.
He spun around, ready to tear apart the impertinent chit that dared speak to him so cavalierly. But as he started to speak, the words died within his throat, making him garble some unintelligible words before he stopped completely, paling considerably under the woman's dark green gaze.
'Mind rephrasing that, sir? I didn't get that last part...' she added with some unabashed mirth.
'Miss Cardiff... what an unexpected surprise. I didn't see you there.' Malfoy tried to compose himself quickly under the woman's amused eyes.
'Obviously, sir. I doubt that you would of used those rather colorful and explicit descriptions of Mrs. Marchbanks early demise, in a setting such as this.' Her eyes traveled across the room, where many ministry officials could be seen hobnobbing around.
Lucius studied the woman's profile as she looked around the room, getting the best view he had gotten for the night. She had unclasped her black cloak, revealing a little bit of the burgundy robes she wore under. A very discrete neckline could be seen, giving him a small taste of the silken skin that would lie below.
She turned back to face the blond haired man, catching him as his eyes strayed a little too insistently on her bust line. She rolled her eyes, thinking that men in general were only interested in one thing. She tugged the sides of her cloak tightly together, instantly getting back the man's attention.
'Hmm, it was nice seeing you again, sir. Have a good evening then...' She took a step away from him, believing that she had firmly dismissed him. But his hand had reached out and took her wrist to turn her back toward him.
'Miss Cardiff, leaving so soon? What's the rush? Is your husband waiting for you at home?' he asked coyly, wondering if she was already taken. Maybe that's why she had shot down every young wizard's advances.
She calmly took his hand off her wrist, rubbing it gently to remove all impressions his hand had left. 'I do work here, sir. Right now, I have to go back to my office and write out a report. If you don't mind, I'd rather finish my work early than having to undergo a juvenile enquiry into my personal life. Good evening, sir!' she finally said with an impatient tilt of her head.
She turned around without another look in his direction, finding her way out of the reception hall. Malfoy was slightly taken aback, if not rightly insulted by the little chit's arrogance. Juvenile enquiry... he huffed under his breath. He'd enquire about her in other ways. He hadn't acquired his notoriety without making friends along the way. They would find the information he wanted.