Disclaimer: I don't anything in Harry Potter. J.K owns all the characters and places.

Author's Note: This will be an AU story and the characters are OOC. Some of the dates in the story have also been changed to fit in with the story itself.

Summary: Hermione takes a break from the wizarding world, five years later she returns with her four-year-old daughter. Lucius Malfoy bumps into Hermione and her daughter whilst in Diagon Alley… A few weeks later and they're going on their first date. Post-Hogwarts & Second War. Will be AU & OOC. Some dates have been changed to fit the story.


Chapter 3

Mid-August 2004,

Hermione had been on and off thinking about her unexpected run in with Lucius Malfoy, her thoughts continually bouncing around the fact that Luciana had been correct in acknowledging that their hair was very much the same. Having never given it much thought, she had not really concerned herself over the possibility that Luciana may very well have Malfoy blood running through her veins. Deciding to message Hookfang for another meeting, she would request for an inheritance test. Her thoughts then moved back to Lucius and how he'd been alone, not that it wasn't normal for him to be without either his wife or son, it was his demeanour that she'd gotten hung up on.

He'd been friendly to both herself and her daughter, having gone down to Luciana's level in order to speak directly to her whereas Hermione could clearly recall Lucius from when she was a mere twelve years of age, he had been down right rude to his own son. She knew that being a pureblood, they were brought up under strict ruling, which would most likely be why Lucius had treated his heir much the same as she assumed Lucius himself had been treated. Deciding to push aside the thoughts of Lucius Malfoy, she got up from her dining table and walked over to her kitchen to deposit her tea cup into the sink. "Mama, Mama, there's an owl at the window." Walking out from her kitchen through the dining room and into the living room, she found Luciana pointing at the window where a large white owl sat perched, an owl that looked eerily like Hedwig.

Trying to recall when or if she'd seen Harry anywhere when she was in Diagon Alley, she found nothing in her memory. "How strange." Luciana, having heard her mother's words, turned her head and peered up at her, "What's strange?" Hermione opened the window to allow the owl inside, she took the proffered envelope and opened it. "Mama? What's strange?" Hermione looked down at Luciana and found curious blue green eyes staring up at her, "Nothing Luciana." Petulance filled her child's eyes and upon seeing the lifted brow of her mother, Luciana turned her attention back to the owl. Opening the envelope and pulling the parchment out, she glanced down and saw that it was indeed from Harry. Sighing softly to herself, she began to read the letter;

Hermione,

It's been a few years; I hope you've been keeping well and are happy with your new life.

I've heard that you're back in England and I was wondering if you would like to join myself and Ron for lunch this week? We've missed you and hope to see you!

You can send your reply with Hermes.

Hope to see you soon!

Harry

Rolling her eyes at the letter, she turned the parchment over and scribbled her reply,

Harry,

I would be happy to join both you and Ronald for lunch, when will the best time and where?

We can talk then.

Hermione

Rolling the parchment up and securing it to Hermes' leg, Hermione sent the snowy owl off and turned back to face her daughter, who was now bouncing in her seat. "Have you got ants in your pants?" A quick head shake from her child and a smile was the only reply, "Then desist with the bouncing. What is the matter?" Luciana immediately sat still and smiled even wider at her mother, "Can we go to the park?" Glancing across the living room to the clock upon the wall, she nodded, "Yes, but not for too long. Go get your shoes on." Luciana jumped off the couch and raced up the stairs to get her shoes. Hermione shook her head and moved over to the kitchen to grab a bottle of water and by the time Luciana had finished, Hermione was already waiting by the door.


Three days had passed and Hermione had finally received word from Hookfang, he'd requested that they meet on Monday morning to do the test. She'd not said anything to her daughter, not wanting to frighten her but she had become increasingly more curious as to what the results would be. Hearing the sound of her child running along the passage, she turned her attention back to the task at hand, getting ready to meet with her two friends for their lunch date. "Mama, will they like me?" Hermione turned to see her nervous daughter standing in her doorway, toeing the carpet of her bedroom, "Of course they will."

Luciana wrung her shirt between her fingers and smiled at her mother. "Now go and finish getting dressed, we leave in ten minutes." Luciana disappeared, leaving Hermione to finish fastening her clip in her hair. Walking over to her window at the sound of tapping, she found a spotted owl sitting on the window sill. Opening the window, she allowed the owl in, taking the cream envelope from its beak once it had settled upon her dressing table. Turning the letter over, she found the Malfoy family wax seal imprinted on the back. Eyes widening slightly, she opened the envelope and pulled out the folded parchment;

Dear Miss Granger,

I do hope this letter finds you well.

It must be most unusual to receive a letter from me, but I would be most grateful if you would accept a bold request for an invitation to dinner with me one week from today?

Should you decide to accept, you may owl back your reply with Lynx.

I wish you a wonderful week ahead.

Sincerely,

L. Malfoy

Hermione let the letter fall to her dressing table, surprise evident in her face. "Dinner…" Exhaling with a whoosh as she dropped into her chair, "With Lucius Malfoy." Her mind was whirling with all the possible excuses she could use to decline, but found her heart whispering a firm yes to his invitation. Her curiosity was piqued that was for sure and she found that dinner with an ex-dark wizard and Death Eater could be interesting. Turning to the spotted owl, reply in hand and she smiled softly, "Lynx?" Its wide amber eyes found hers as its head tilted to the side, "Won't you please take this letter to your Master." Lynx hopped over to her side and took the sealed letter between his beak and flapped his wings as he took flight.

Dear Mr Malfoy,

I fear perhaps my response is rather rapid, but I must confess that if I had left it to a later date, I may have declined your offer.

Dinner sounds wonderful, where shall we meet and at what time?

Sincerely,

Hermione


Hermione and Luciana arrived outside the Leaky Cauldron, just in time to see Harry and Ron stumble down the cobble street of Diagon Alley. Luciana shifted slightly until she was partially hidden from view, her nervousness near palpable, "Luciana, relax, your nervousness is seeping from your pores." A small hand gripped her knee as an audible exhale was heard, "Sorry Mama." Hermione smiled when she saw Harry waving, "Hermione!" Ron rushed down the street, engulfing her in a large hug before pulling away, "You look amazing!" Harry was next to grab her, only he lifted her off the floor exposing her daughter for the first time. "'Mione, it's so good to see you!" Luciana looked up when she heard a loud exclamation from the ginger haired man, "Merlin's balls! Hermione what are you doing with a Malfoy?"

Harry placed her back on the floor and turned his emerald green gaze upon the small child who was now looking fearfully at Ron. "Did you shack up with Malfoy without anyone knowing?" Hermione turned her hardened gaze to him, "No Ronald, I did not shack up with Malfoy." Harry narrowed his eyes at Luciana and she looked at him nervously, "What's your name?" She gulped before replying softly, "Luciana Alexia Granger." Ron inhaled sharply and glared at Hermione, "Luciana? Her name is like the girl version of Lucius, so it was the older Malfoy you hooked up with then." Harry turned his eyes on Ron before looking at Hermione who was beginning to flush with anger. "Luciana is my daughter; she is also the daughter of a Danish wizard that I happened to sleep with and not that it is any of your business even if I did hook up with either Draco or Lucius Malfoy." Hermione felt her daughter grip her hand in her own causing her to look down to her beautiful child.

"Mama? Are you angry with me?" Hermione looked at both her friends and shot them dirty looks, "I'm not angry with you, I am angry with them." Luciana looked at the two men, her blue green eyes taking in their surprised expressions, "Why? Is it something that I did?" Hermione shook her head, "No, you have done nothing wrong. I am angry because they are both being pig-headed." Luciana pushed herself closer to Hermione's leg and nodded, "Are you both quite done with your accusations?" They nodded sheepishly, "Good. Now I came here with my daughter to meet with my two friends. I expect that both of you will behave for the remainder of this afternoon?" Again, they nodded. She gave them both another withering glare before turning on her heel and making her way into the Leaky Cauldron. Harry and Ron both looking at each other before following her in, their expressions both turning embarrassed at their outbursts.

When they'd found themselves a decent table, Harry and Ron sitting opposite Hermione and Luciana. "I'm sorry for blowing off at you Hermione." Harry muttered; his cheeks tinged pink in embarrassment. Hermione nodded and looked at Ron with a lifted brow, "Yeah, sorry 'Mione." She hummed and turned to look at her daughter, "What do you want to drink?" Luciana swung her feet back and forth before replying, "Milkshake?" Harry and Ron watched the display with slight interest. "Hmm, I'm not sure if Tom serves milkshakes here. If they don't have any, what else would you like?" Ron found Hermione's interaction with her daughter slightly cold, nothing like what his mother was like with her children. "Juice then please Mama." Hermione nodded and flagged down the waitress, "What can I get you?" Harry motioned for Hermione to order first, "Do you have milkshakes available?" At the waitress' head shake, Hermione briefly glanced at Luciana before placing their order, "I would like a glass of your finest red wine and a pumpkin juice please." Harry ordered a butterbeer while Ron ordered himself a glass of firewhiskey.

"So Hermione, where have you been and what have you been doing?" Harry asked when their drinks had arrived. Hermione took a sip of her wine, savouring its nutty flavour. "I moved over to Denmark, taking up a position within a muggle hotel as their front of house manager. I then moved up after studying hospitality and after some time, I bought a hotel and two restaurants with a wonderful friend of mine, Roberto. We've recently bought another restaurant and have been searching out another one to purchase." Ron's eyes were wide as were Harry's, "Wow that's a completely different area of work." Hermione nodded in agreement to Ron's statement. "Yes, it is but I am very happy." Harry turned his gaze to Luciana, "And your daughter?" Hermione looked at Harry, her gaze becoming glacial, "That is no one's business." Harry lifted his hands up in a surrender, "Okay, sorry 'Mione." Ron turned to look at the little girl, noticing that she was concentrating on the napkin in front of her. "What are you trying to do?" His words were out before he realised, watching as the young girl looked up at him.

"Trying to make it float, I don't want to have any more accidents." Harry looked at Hermione in surprise, "She's very much like you, very well read." Hermione smiled in appreciation and looked down at her daughter, her pride shining in her hazel eyes. "I only want the best for her. Her education began when she was able to hold a book." Ron rolled his eyes, "Another Hermione Granger, just what Hogwarts needs." Harry chuckled and Hermione glared at him before turning to Ron, "Better than another lazy Ronald Weasley." Harry all out laughed when Ron glared at her. "Oh, shove off Harry." Hermione smiled at the two and shook her head, "I feel bad for Professor McGonagall, wait until our children attend Hogwarts." Harry was suddenly blushing a bright red which caught Hermione's eyes.

"Speaking of, I have some news of my own. Ron knows of the first but not the second." Hermione and Ron both looked at Harry with interest, "And what is this news?" Hermione questioned, sending a stinging hex to Luciana's fingers, "Stop that tapping Luciana." Harry sucked in his cheeks and Ron seemed perplexed. "Well I too have a child, a son. James." Hermione's head turned so sharply she heard a crack, "Oh Harry! Congratulations. How old is he?" Harry blushed a deeper shade of red before looking back at Hermione, "He'll be two months on the 28th of this month." Ron smiled with pride, "My nephew is super cute 'Mione." Hermione glanced at Ron and smiled, "And what was the second piece of news?" Harry now looked a bit nervous, having not told anyone as yet. "I asked Ginny to marry me." Ron whooped so loudly, he frightened nearly everyone in the pub including Luciana. "That's excellent news Harry! Congratulations! Again." She chuckled and stood up to give her friend a hug.

"When is the wedding?" Ron nodded along with Hermione's question, his blue eyes shining with pride once more. "We're going to tie the knot, so to speak, in December. You are of course expected to be there 'Mione as is Luciana and bring a plus one." Ron grinned. Hermione sat back down and took the last drink of her wine; Ron having downed the last of his a few minutes beforehand. "Any news on your side Ron?" He looked at the waitress and called her over before turning back to his friends, "Well I was going out with Lavender but broke it off when she told me she was pregnant." The waitress came over and the three friends ordered another round of drinks along with two platters of food, Harry joking that Ron would eat one on his own. Hermione was looking at Ron with an unreadable expression, "Why did you break it off? That's your child she's carrying, you can't leave her alone to bring up your child by herself Ronald." Harry caught Hermione's eyes flicking to Luciana before they moved back to Ron.

"Yeah but…" Hermione shook her head, "No Ron, no buts. That is your child and you will be responsible, what would your mother think if she found out that you had abandoned the woman carrying your child." Ron knew that it was a rhetorical statement and not a question that required an answer. He scratched the back of his head and felt his cheeks burn with shame, "You sound as if you're speaking from experience." Harry caught Hermione's burning eyes and swallowed hard, "Sorry, didn't mean to say that out loud." Ron caught on and looked at Luciana briefly as well. "Yes, well, we are not speaking about my life now." Harry and Ron knew not to ask about Luciana's father or even hint at him again. "You're right, I'll send Lav a letter to meet up." Hermione nodded, "Of course, I'm right Ronald." He cleared his throat and turned his eyes back to the waitress as she placed their drinks and food upon the table. Luciana making a grab for a piece of chicken, "Luciana! That is rude and improper, you do not grab for food." Her daughter looked at her sheepishly, "Sorry Mama." Hermione pushed a plate in front of Luciana and spelled a few pieces of food onto the plate for her before turning back to her own plate.

"Harry, Ron, how are you both enjoying being Aurors?" Harry smiled, "I'm second in command of the Auror Department and Ron is next in line after me." Ron's chest puffed up in pride, "We love it." Ron said with a grin, "And we finally managed to track down the last Death Eater." Hermione swallowed her mouthful of wine and smiled proudly at the two men she'd grown up with. "That's excellent news, I'm really glad you're both still loving your jobs at the Ministry." Harry smiled broadly and turned his attention back to his food and drink, Ron was already stuffing his face as was Luciana. Hermione took another sip of her wine before she too began eating. The three friends and Luciana sat for the remainder of the day, catching up on lost time and reminiscing on their school days and by dusk, they were parting ways with promises of seeing each other again soon.


Monday morning, Gringotts,

Hermione strode through the long hallway of Gringotts bank, Luciana hot on her heels as they headed straight for Hookfang's office. A brief knock on the door was soon followed by his voice calling her in, "Ah, Madam Granger and young Miss Granger. It's lovely to see you." Hermione led Luciana over to the desk, pulling out the chair for her to take a seat, taking her own moments later. "Thank you for seeing us today, Hookfang." He waved her comment away with a sharp smile, "'Tis but nothing, you are my client after all." Hermione turned to Luciana then, "Luciana, Hookfang is going to perform an inheritance test on you. All he needs a small drop of your blood." Hookfang extended his gnarled hand toward Luciana, "Give me your hand child." Looking at Hermione before lifting her small hand, Luciana tentatively placed her hand into his.

The sting of a dagger's tip piercing the flesh of her index finger had her gasp out loud, Luciana watched transfixed when a drop of her blood landed onto the blank parchment below their hands. A brief flash of light and the drop disappeared only for letters written red to begin filling the page;

Child: Luciana Alexia Granger (Halfblood)

Mother: Hermione Jean Granger (Muggle-born)

Father: Frederik Malfoy-Hillner (Pureblood)

Grandparents - Maternal: Robert and Jean Granger (Muggles)

Grandparents - Paternal: Nicholas Malfoy II, deceased (disowned, born a squib) and Freja Hillner (Pureblood)

"There you have it, Madam Granger, is there anything else that you require?" Hermione took the parchment into her hands and read it over before looking back to Hookfang, "Nicholas Malfoy the second? I've never heard of him before." Hookfang kept his gaze upon the witch opposite him, "Nicholas was the older Malfoy heir, unfortunately when Lord Malfoy found out that his heir was showing no signs of magic at a young age, he had him checked. The Medi-Healer informed Lord Malfoy that Nicholas was a squib, angered by this revelation, he disowned him and sent him into the muggle world." Hermione's expression darkened slightly at the news, thinking about how cruel purebloods were in the days of old. Hookfang went on, keeping his expression neutral as he spoke, "Nicholas was also the older brother of Lucius Malfoy; however, Lucius never knew of this as his parents removed all traces of Nicholas from their family tree." Hermione's eyes widened just a fraction at the added information. "Surely the rest of the community knew of him?"

Hookfang shrugged, "Remember Madam Granger, back in the day, purebloods like the Malfoy's were never trifled with, nor were they questioned in any way. If they said their first-born heir never existed… The heir, never existed." Hermione leaned back, her eyes falling to her daughter, her thoughts in a mess. No wonder Luciana had hair so very much like the Malfoy's, she was a Malfoy, well part of them. Her thoughts then went to her upcoming dinner date with Lucius, wondering how or if she should inform him of his relation to her child. Turning her gaze back to Hookfang, she hardened her resolve, "Thank you Hookfang. I would like to keep this information between us, the test remains within my Vault, I do not wish for the Ministry to find out of her heritage." He steepled his gnarled fingers and nodded, "As you wish Madam." Standing up and taking Luciana's hand, Hermione thanked him again before walking away.


Hermione found herself answering her front door on Friday the following week, "Hello Miss Granger, I'm Jacky." Hermione gave the teenager a once over before opening the door fully to allow her in. "Thank you for coming through Jacky." Luciana came around the corner and spotted the older girl with her mother. "Luciana, this is Jacky, she is your babysitter. I'm going to dinner with Mr Malfoy tonight and have asked Jacky to look after you for a few hours." Luciana gave Jacky a tentative wave. "Hello cutie." Hermione curled her lip at the endearment that the teenager gave her daughter. "Hmm. Alright, I'll be back home in a few hours. Luciana, I want you to behave and maybe next time you can join Mr Malfoy and I." When she walked out from her house, she headed for the small alley to apparate to her restaurant, Tesoro Roberto, she quietly giggled to herself. Lucius had decided on her very own restaurant and she couldn't wait to see the look on his face when she told him.

Thinking on her little dinner date with Lucius, she couldn't help but wonder why her mind had automatically assumed they would be going for another after tonight's. She belatedly realised that she had told her own daughter that the next time she went out with Lucius, she might be able to join them. "Why would I say that." Hermione murmured quietly to herself as she entered the small alley, with a final head shake, she twisted into her apparition and disappeared from Hampstead with a barely audible crack. When she reappeared, she was standing in the alley behind her restaurant, walking over to the main entrance, she found herself pausing at the sight before her. Standing with his ever-present snake-head cane, stood Lucius Malfoy, dressed to the nines in a three-piece charcoal grey suit and his long velvety hair left loose around his broad shoulders. He turned around at the sound of her throat clearing and gently smiled, lifting her hand and brushing his lips against her knuckles in greeting.

"Good evening my dear." She felt the warmth of a blush enter her cheeks when his silver eyes travelled the length of her body. "Good evening Mr Malfoy, it's lovely to see you again." He smiled, a genuine smile and she felt her cheeks suffuse with colour once more. "Indeed, Miss Granger, but I must insist that you call me by my given name as I mentioned in our first meeting." Hermione smiled, "Then you may call me by my own." Lucius' eyes twinkled at her mocking, turning sideways and offering her his arm. "Shall we my dear?" She nodded and placed her hand upon his forearm. He led them up the stairs and into the foyer of the restaurant, "Hello and welcome to Tesoro Roberto, have you got a reservation?" The maître d' greeted them with a warm smile, obviously not recognising Hermione. "Yes, we do, under Malfoy." The older gentlemen checked his log book and smiled, "Ah of course, please follow me." Lucius gestured for Hermione to precede him into the main restaurant, following behind the maître d'.

They were led to a table that was situated on the balcony; the view of the skyline was one that had Hermione purchasing the hotel in the first place. Lucius pulled her chair out for her and pushed it in when she was seated, moving to his own chair moments later, "I must be honest, that dress is very beautifully designed." Hermione's lips lifted into a small smile, "How so?" Lucius placed his napkin across his thighs, lifting his eyes to hers, "It accentuates your beauty." Her cheeks were burning a scarlet red at his admission and she felt the butterflies begin in her stomach. She knew when she slid the dress over her head that it would capture his attention, it was a deep forest green, with a plunging neckline and three-quarter sleeves, it had a small black belt around the waist and a slight flare in the skirts. "Thank you, Lucius. I too must be honest then…" His dark blonde brow lifted in question, "You look rather fetching in that suit of yours." He puffed out his chest and smirked. "Why thank you my dear." She smiled while casting her eyes upon the skyline, "Such a stunning sight, don't you agree?"

She felt his burning gaze on her as he replied, "Indeed." Turning her eyes back to him, she found his eyes fixated on her. "I'm curious, what does Mrs Malfoy think of you having dinner with me?" Lucius' eyes fell to his hands momentarily before he found her hazel ones, "There is no longer a Mrs Malfoy, we divorced just over four years ago." Hermione's eyes widened, "Oh, I didn't know, I'm sorry Lucius." He shook his head, a few strands of his blonde hair falling over his shoulder, "'Tis alright my dear, it had been a long time coming." He lifted his hand and brushed the fallen strands back over his shoulder, eyes finding hers once more. "And Draco? How did he take it?" Lucius kept his expression blank as he replied, "Not very well, took his mother's side and decided to follow her to France." Hermione's eyebrows shot to her hairline, "But enough of me, what about you? What have you been doing to keep yourself busy?"

She accepted his wanting to change the direction of the conversation and smiled at him, shifting into a more comfortable position, "Shall we order first?" He nodded, having briefly glanced at the menu upon their arrival, "Yes, let's and then we can continue our conversation." Lucius was thoroughly scouring the menu whereas Hermione had merely given it a cursory glance, having chosen most of the items that were listed. Hermione and Lucius both ordered the Filet Mignon with an accompanying Pinot Noir. Lucius gave the waiter their menus and turned his sparkling silver eyes back to her, "So what, pray tell, has been keeping the brightest witch of her age away from England for so long?" Her fingers were toying with the edge of the fork that lay before her, "After the war, I decided to make a move over to Denmark. I had taken up the position as front of house manager in a three star hotel. It was there that I met Luciana's godfather." Lucius shifted in his chair, moving his cane to rest properly against the side of the table.

"During the next five years, I worked my way through three different hotel's, studying hospitality as well, until I eventually was able to purchase my own hotel along with Luciana's godfather. After another short period of time we bought a restaurant which was a major success…" Hermione took a sip of her water before continuing, "With such success, we were once more able to purchase another restaurant and actually quite recently purchased our third." Lucius' expression was of pure interest and intrigue. "That is quite an expansion, if I may, what are the names of these purchases? I assume each one is co-signed with Luciana's godfather?" Hermione nodded, "Yes, all four have been purchased along with Roberto." She chuckled when Lucius' eyes suddenly widened, "You mean?" His eyes glanced around the restaurant and she smiled, "Yes, the Tesoro Roberto is mine." He shook his head in surprise, a smile pulling at his lips. "I'm impressed my dear and what of the others?"

She moved her arms away from the table when their meals arrived, "Madam Granger, with compliments from the chef. Would you and your guest like to taste the wine?" Hermione smiled and gave her thanks, "It's alright, you may leave it to breathe." The waiter nodded, placing the wine on ice. Leaving both occupants to enjoy their meal together, "As I was saying, the hotel we own is Piccola Stella which is situated in Copenhagen as is our restaurant Sølv Måne. The restaurant in Russia is The Alexia which Roberto enjoys being in at the moment." Lucius was smiling, his mouth full with a piece of steak. Hermione herself now cutting into the tender meat on her plate, piercing through a piece of broccoli as well before bringing her fork up to her mouth. Savouring the taste of the meat, she then took a healthy sip of her wine which had been poured by Lucius.

"Mmm, I must say, this is a deliciously tender meat." Lucius couldn't agree more, he too was enjoying each bite he took, however refraining from making any such sounds as those that Hermione was making. "So, you and this Roberto, did anything transpire between you two?" Hermione giggled whilst shaking her head gently, "No, nothing ever happened, he's married." Lucius nodded and smiled, happy that she was a single as he was. "Now Mr Malfoy, do tell, what have you been doing? With Miss Black and Draco now out of the picture, so to speak." Lucius leaned back a little before he responded, "I've been visiting the muggle world a little more every few weeks, trying to learn about the world that we were told was a hovel which housed the scum of the earth." Both of Hermione's brows lifted to her hairline in complete surprise, "That's an incredible feat, how did it make you feel?" Hermione ate the last of her vegetables as Lucius took a large sip of wine.

"At first, I was mortified with myself, I had gone against everything that I had ever known. I think I was outside of the Leaky Cauldron for five minutes before I was turning on my heel to return to our world." Hermione wiped the corner of her mouth with her napkin as Lucius continued speaking. "It must have been the following month when I tried again and this time, I actually managed to walk down the street before I was hurrying back into the Leaky Cauldron." Hermione giggled at the image that popped into her mind of Lucius nearly running back to the dark wood door of the wizard's pub. "Slowly over time I managed to stay out longer, until one day I happened across a muggle coffee shop. Deciding to sit down and have one of those frothy coffees, I forget the name, and I found that I rather enjoyed it. This of course had me venturing into muggle London more and more until I felt just as comfortable in their world as I do in our world."

Hermione leaned back, trying to gauge which coffee it would have been as there were two that she knew of, "Anything more for you or your guest, Madam Granger?" Hermione smiled at Lucius and replied before he could, "Yes, two cappuccinos please." Their waiter nodded and disappeared, leaving them once again, "I think that's the one I was talking about." She smiled, "So, now how do you like the muggle side?" Lucius smiled, "I quite enjoy the atmosphere in some place but there are days where I can't stand to be around them." Hermione understood what he was saying, but at least he was trying to make a difference. "I really am impressed, Lucius, that is a large step in the right direction." His cheeks tinted a soft pink in embarrassment and thankfully she did not pick up on that for he moved his gaze to the now steaming cups of coffee sitting in front of them.

Lifting the cup to his lips, he took a quick sip, careful not to burn his lips or tongue, "This is the coffee, the cup-of-chino." Hermione giggled, "Cappuccino." He smiled, "Cappuccino." She nodded, lifting her own cup to her lips, taking a sip of the hot liquid, "Ah, you have a little…" He lifted his hand toward her face, gently wiping the froth from her upper lip. Hermione felt the warm tingling on her lip from where his thumb had been and couldn't help but touch her lip with her own fingertips as she bowed her head. He watched her cheeks darken before she lifted her gaze to his, "I'm having a wonderful time tonight my dear and I would really love to do this again." Hermione's eyes shone with hope and an unreadable emotion and Lucius felt his stomach come to life with those flutters that made him want to keep close to the young witch sitting before him. "I am too and yes; I would definitely love to do this again."

He looked around and waived the waiter over, "Would you care for anything else?" She shook her head, "I'm fine thank you." He nodded, turning to face the waiter, "May we have the bill please." The waiter walked away, leaving Lucius to gaze at his young companion. The woman who sat before him, the same age as his very own son and yet she seemed wise beyond her years and a lot more mature than his heir. He looked her over, enjoying the sight of such a beautiful witch, "Your bill, sir." Turning to take the receipt from the waiter, he checked the total and without another thought placed his credit card down and waited patiently for the charge to go through. "Thank you both for your patronage at Tesoro Roberto, we hope to see you again." Hermione stood up with Lucius and took his proffered arm once more.

"Thank you for your wonderful service as well." The waiter bowed his head and watched them leave, Hermione turned to the maître d' when they were walking passed and gave him her thanks for his impeccable service, "I would like for Mr Malfoy to be treated with the same service and respect that you would do for either myself or Mr Bianchi, he is a personal guest of mine and would like for him to have first choice with everything we have to offer." The maître d' looked at her and nodded, "Of course, er, Miss?" She smiled, "It's Madam Granger." His eyes widened to the size of saucers and he quickly made a note regarding Lucius before bidding them both a wonderful evening. The two of them descended the stairs, each feeling comfortable with the silence, both just enjoying the company of the other.

"Lucius, thank you ever so much for the wonderful evening. It was a lovely dinner with amazing conversation." He lifted her hand and brushed his lips to her knuckles, moving to the back of her hand where he placed an even firmer kiss to her hand. "As did I my dear, I would love to take you to dinner again, what do you say?" Hermione giggled and nodded, "I would love that." Lucius moved away and looked into her hazel eyes, watching them swirl beneath the stars, "I shall owl you again, we can have lunch or dinner or even breakfast next time." Hermione nodded, stepping back slightly, "Yes, then it's a date Mr Malfoy." He chuckled and with a small wave, moved toward the empty park where he disappeared in a swirl of black smoke. "Huh, still able to apparate with smoke." Her lip jutted out at the thought before she walked over to the hidden alley where she too apparated away.