Malfoy's desires

Chapter seven: Things that go bump?

All names and places 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.

Katherine returned to the ministry a few galleons richer and a large smile adorning her face. Jeff apparated next to her a few seconds later, his face slightly scratched and his cloak hanging awkwardly from his shoulders.

'In the name of Circe, what was that woman going on about? Did she really thing we were mad ax murderers? Gods!' Jeff huffed as he tried to untangle his cloak. The muggle woman, Mrs. Pritchard, had physically attacked Jeff when he innocently pointed his wand at her husband.

Katherine laid a hand on his shoulders, 'I told you, Jeff, they don't always understand the concept of magic wands and that wizards are not malevolent beings. You should have stunned them both before trying to obliviate them.'

Jeff huffed again, giving Katherine a very angry stare. 'Fine, next time I'll listen to your sage advice... if you happen to mention it BEFORE we enter a muggle home!'

'You're just sore because you lost the bet. I had explained before we left, the finer details of a mission such as this. Weren't you listening?' she answered back, before opening the office door with a bit more strength then was necessary.

They both heard something bumping sharply against the door, followed by the muffled oaths of a man that had been standing right behind it; some of it was rather graphic and gruesome. Katherine winced, wishing she had been just a bit more careful with the shove she had given the door.

Jeff looked at her, a small grin slowly appearing on his face. 'I do hope that was not Mr. Browning from accounting. Remember the last time you accidentally rammed him in the face? He promised that the next time it happened, he'd hex your hands together for the rest of the millennia.'

'Don't remind me... it was bad enough that I had to explain his injuries to that bloody Healer with the bad stutter. The bugger made me explain it again and again for his report.' Katherine took a deep breath and tried to push the door again, but with a lighter touch.

As she peered around the door, her eyes met a rather irate pair of steel-gray orbs. Her heart faltered, as if it had dropped to somewhere around her knees, before it uncomfortably bobbed back up. Heaven help me! She thought anxiously, not him!

Lucius Malfoy's fury was very evident, as was the deep groove upon his forehead, where the door had lodged itself momentarily. One hand was gingerly feeling his forehead; his other one was gently holding on to his… um… family jewels! 'In the name of bloody Merlin, woman! Watch where your going, you incompetent...'

But the rest of the sentence was abruptly stopped by a carefully placed nudge from the man's son. 'Father...' he warned him quietly. The boy was desperately trying to keep his mirth in check.

'Draco, if I need your assistance, I will ask for it. Now, be quiet before I...' Again his words were interrupted by an unlikely source. The man's house elf had started to bang its head on the side of the door.

'Bad Digby, bad Digby... didn't protect his Master from harm.' the poor beast was starting to wobble from the strenuous head bashing it was inflicting on itself. Katherine almost bent down to stop the guilt-ridden elf.

Katherine didn't know what to say, except for the obvious, 'I'm so sorry, Mr. Malfoy. I hadn't expected anyone to be behind the door.' Her face was flushed and she felt extremely embarrassed as she lowered her eyes. This was not going to look good in her dossier. She could almost see it: '...this employee, almost maimed one of our most illustrious benefactors.' Arthur was going to have a head hemorrhage over this.

Meanwhile, Lucius had taken the time to calm himself (barely...) and had even managed to paste a somewhat stiff smile on his face. If they had been anywhere else but the ministry, he would have hexed her to oblivion without a second thought.

'Miss Cardiff, do be careful the next time around. You could have easily ended my future as a procreator with that majestic entrance of yours.' Lucius said between his clenched teeth, trying to be graceful in his present state of pain. His head was now a pounding mess of soreness that begged for some kind of relief… (Please don't ask what his…cough… jewels needed.)

Katherine and Jeff both flushed at the man's rather delicately worded lecture.

'I'm extremely sorry... and will be more careful next time, sir.' she reiterated quietly, taking a chance to look up at the irate wizard. He was still seething, but he had mastered his impulses for now.

'Very well!' he huffed at her and then gave his coldest glare to her partner. 'And who is this?' he asked peremptorily.

Katherine looked over her shoulder then gazed back at Malfoy. 'This is Jeffrey Lane from the Obliviators office. We just came back from a mission in Surrey.'

'Mr. Lane,' Malfoy nodded to him with a haughty look, 'pleased to meet you; though I believe the circumstances are rather not conducive for idle chit-chat.'

Lucius reached up to gently dab at his forehead, reassured that she hadn't drawn blood during the bloody mishap. 'Draco... follow me. We are going back to manor right away. I'll need some salve before my head turns to a nasty shade of purple.'

He had dropped his tone to speak to his obviously surprised son. Nodding to both Katherine and Jeff, he left in a flurry of billowing robes and cloak with his son in tow. (Lucius now sported a mild limp… wink)

Katherine watched the departing duo with some relief; until she felt the heavy stare her partner gave her. "I know, I know... Billingsworth had warned me months ago. I'm fully chastised and completely ashamed of my performance. Happy now?'

Jeff gave her a slight tap on the back before turning away with a satisfied smile. 'Guess nobody will hear about my first outing while in service, huh?'

Katherine glared at him, 'no, but if I even hear one word of this event in the cafeteria, you will pay dearly for your indiscretion. Understood?'

'It's crystal clear to me. Come along, we still have that report to write out.' he said gleefully with a wave of his hand.

'Bugger!' Katherine hissed under her breath as he left her side. Of all people to bump into, she had to get HIM on the nob. After that dreamy kiss he had given her during the ball, he'd surely have nothing to do with her anymore. Feeling quite sullen, she followed Jeff through the other door that led to her office.