A/N: I don't own Harry Potter or any related characters
Word Count: 2775
"I don't care if it is cursed, I want it!"
"Princess, are you sure that you don't want something else, something that maybe isn't cursed?"
"I want the Vanguard Diamond!" she screamed. Lucius sighed. Why did it always seem his daughter wanted the impossible. Last year she'd asked for a unicorn. Granted, she had ridden the creature for nearly a week before growing board with it.
"Very well then, Princess. You shall have it, after I find a curse breaker to break the curse on it so it's safe for you. I wouldn't want anything to happen to you, my Princess." She looked up at him with her big blue-grey eyes and smiled sweetly.
"Thank you, Daddy! This will be the bestest birthday ever if I get that diamond," she stated twirling around the room. Lucius watched for a moment before he was forced to return to working. Lyra was his only child, the only thing in his life that made it worth living now. His Narcissa had died of dragon pox soon after the child's birth. Lucius knew there was a line a kilometer long of witches who would love to marry him. Most, however, were simply after his money and had absolutely no interest in being a mother to little Lyra.
He looked at the little Rolodex on his desk and flipped to the curse-breaker section. He had several names highlighted, ones he had worked with before, ones that he could trust. He smiled picking a name on the list and summoned his owl to take the letter. Mr. Decomber Granger was one of the best curse- breakers he could bribe. He watched the owl disappear into the darkening night sky and smiled. He would get that diamond for his little Lyra, his sweet little princess.
Content his business was finally concluded, he walked to Lyra's room and knocked on the door.
"It's open!" Lyra screamed. Lucius smiled pushing the door open. Lyra was already in her pyjamas and was currently having a tea party with her stuffed animals and one very put out looking house elf named Cina
"Master, little Mistress has given me clothing, but she is not Master."
"We've had this discussion before. Clothing given by Lyra doesn't free you, now back to work. Lyra, it's beyond bedtime. I thought Cina was going to put you to bed, not join in a tea party."
"I ordered her to join me, and she had to obey," Lyra stated with a sharp smile. Lucius shook his head. It was late, he must be seeing things. There was no possible way his sweet little girl could be that manipulative to have plotted the whole thing. The child was only six.
"Bed, Lyra." She pouted but climbed into her canopy bed and allowed Lucius to tuck her in.
"Did you write the curse-breaker about my birthday present?" she asked as Lucius handed her one of her stuffed animals.
"I did, Princess. Hopefully, I'll hear back from him soon, but he might be out of country on an expedition. It might take time."
Lyra yawned and snuggled into her silk and satin sheets.
"Good, I want that big diamond," she whispered before closing her eyes and falling asleep. Lucius smiled watching her for a second.
"Good night, my sweet Princess," he whispered kissing her forehead before retiring to his study to do some research on a project before turning in himself.
MMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMM
Lucius frowned. Lyra's seventh birthday party was less than a week away and he still hadn't heard from the curse-breaker. He debated contacting someone new, but decided against it for the moment. This was important, and for something this important he needed the best. The sound of something flapping at the window caught his attention.
"Daddy, there's an owl," Lyra stated pouring more sugar on her breakfast the minute he turned his attention from her. He opened the window and let his owl in. He gently removed the letter and smiled seeing there was a scrawled response to his request.
Dear Mr. Malfoy,
I regret to inform you that Decomber Granger was killed in a riot in the village of Votded during a research expedition. I will however take your request to find and break the curse on the Vanguard Diamond. I expect my owl will reach you soon with this announcement. I will have the diamond by the date you mentioned. See you then,
Signed, Hermione Jean Granger
Lucius stared at the letter. Decomber was dead and his daughter was going to get him the diamond? He sighed wondering if he could find something else Lyra might accept as a present. He looked over at her.
"Lyra, put the sugar bowl down, there's enough sugar in your breakfast to make an entire candy shop already."
"Is the letter from the curse-breaker?"
"Yes, and no, the curse-breaker I normally work with was killed."
"By idiots?" she asked tilting her and letting her blond curls fall around her face. Lucius smiled. She looked so innocent at the moment.
"Yes, Princess, by idiots. However, his daughter promises she'll find and get your diamond for you."
"She'd better, or she'll learn what a killing curse feels like," Lyra stated with a smile stirring more sugar into her cereal. Lucius summoned the sugar bowl away from her.
"Lyra! Where did you learn such language?" he asked knowing he never spoke of those things, it had been years since the Dark Lord had fallen. All talk of Dark Magic had stopped with his disappearance. He didn't believe for a moment the Dark Lord was dead.
"Aunt Bella was here the other day," Lyra answered taking a bite of her cereal, well at this point it was nothing more than sugar in milk.
"Of course, I thought I told the house elves to not let her into the Manor."
"She got in," was all Lyra said continuing to eat her sugar.
"I see. I'll have to reset the wards. There must be a way to keep her out."
"She's not your blood," Lyra stated. "She was Mummy's blood and Mummy's blood will still pass through the wards," she sang. Lucius stared at her. Sometimes he worried his daughter would become like Bellatrix, and lose her mind. Other times, she seemed like a normal little girl, if a little too smart and manipulative.
"You have your tutors coming today, Lyra. I expect you to be on your best behavior." Lyra nodded.
"I will Daddy, I promise," she stated finishing her breakfast.
"Daddy's got to head to work now, if you need anything before your tutor arrives-"
"I know, call Cina and no I'm not allowed to give her clothing to free her," Lyra recited.
Lucius smiled. She really was almost perfect, if he ignored the fact she seemed like a sadistic little psychopath. He'd hired the best tutors for her, in all the important subjects. He wanted to make sure once she got to Hogwarts she would be top of her class. So far, all reports of her school work was positive. She was a bright little witch. Lyra gave him one last smile before darting off towards her room. Lucius sighed. She really wanted that diamond and now, Decomber had been been an impressive curse breaker, his daughter... well, time would tell, wouldn't it?
Lucius had finished several pages of paperwork, things that had to be signed for the ministry, things that kept society secretly running. No one ever seemed to know the extent of what exactly it was Lucius Malfoy did. Sometimes, he wasn't even entirely sure how many pies he had his fingers in. It was noon when he heard the front door chime. With a sigh, he rose from his desk. He could have a house elf deal with it, but lately, they'd been allowing visitors inside the manor, and there had been that problem with Bellatrix. He strode down the long hallway, pausing to look over the railing of the red velvet carpeted stairs. Standing in the door was a woman he'd never seen before. She wore a pale blue dress suit with a matching hat with black accents. She was wearing a brown leather bag with its strap across her chest, indenting her breasts slightly. Lucius blinked wondering who she could be, he didn't remember requesting any visitors today, especially ones who looked like her. She almost reminded him of a governess he'd had as a child. Lucius decided he should put the matter of her identity to rest. He walked down the stairs, leaning on his snake headed cane slightly. She turned and smiled at him upon hearing his footsteps.
"Good morning, or should I say good afternoon, sir. I am Hermione Granger, you requested my assistance as a curse breaker," she explained. Lucius blinked in surprise. This woman was the curse breaker he'd hired by default. Up close, she was stunning. Her brown curls formed spirals down her tanned face. He could see calluses on her fingers, a sign of working often with her hands.
"I did. Have you accomplished the task then?" he asked, wondering why else she could have shown up here. She could have just sent him the diamond, couldn't she have? Besides, Lyra's party was still several days away.
"I have," Hermione answered, pulling the gem from her bag. Lucius marveled at its beauty. He had known it was impressive. He'd seen pictures, but none of them had ever done this stone justice.
"It's beautiful," Lucius whispered, reaching out to touch it. He snapped to his senses at the last minute. "You have broken the curse on it, correct?"
"I have sir. It was a run of the mill bad luck curse, same as the Hope Diamond. This one was a bit more complex, but essentially the same. It should be completely safe."
"Should?" Lucius asked, catching on the word.
"There's a rumor about the stone, one that I haven't found in any journals or books, but the locals have said that if two people were to touch the stone, they will fall in love with each other."
"And you have found nothing to support this claim?" Lucius asked.
"I have not. But I also have not dared test it either."
"Then we shall do just that, test it and see it is utter nonsense," Lucius stated, reaching back out and putting his hand on the stone. Hermione was still holding it from the bottom. For a moment, it seemed as though Lucius was right and the whole thing was nothing more than nonsense. Then the stone glowed brightly in their hands. Neither could pull away until the stone dimmed again. Lucius yanked his hand away and looked at Hermione. She was staring back at him.
"Well, that was interesting, but I don't feel as though I am bond to you in any form or fashion."
"Nor I you," Lucius replied, ignoring the fact his focus was currently on Hermione's lips.
"Good, then I'll collect my pay and leave the stone with you," she stated. Lucius was about to answer when he heard footsteps on the stairs behind him. He turned to see Lyra's tutor running down the stairs.
"I quit!" the man shouted. "That child is impossible!" he added before leaving the manor, slamming the door behind him. Lucius sighed. He'd thought Lyra was doing so well, apparently he'd been mistaken.
"You wouldn't happen to be interested in tutoring a young girl would you?" Lucius asked, looking at Hermione.
"I could give it a go, I don't have any jobs lined up at the moment. Despite being my father's daughter, there's not much trust in a female curse-breaker," she said.
"Very well, I shall introduce you to Lyra. Right this way," Lucius said, taking Hermione's arm and leading her up the stairs. '
Lyra was sitting in her desk reading a book when Lucius entered.
"I didn't do it," she stated immediately. Lucius didn't even have to ask what she didn't do. He glanced at the chalk board which was covered in badly drawn unicorns and diamonds.
"This is Miss Granger, she's going to be your new tutor," he stated, giving Hermione a brilliant smile, one she returned which caused Lucius' heart to beat a little faster. Maybe the diamond had still been cursed? There was no other explanation, was there? Lucius shook those thoughts from his head as he left Hermione and Lyra.
It was lunch time when he saw them again. Hermione walked Lyra downstairs to the dining room. Lunch was already being set up. Lucius was sitting at the table. He looked up from the newspaper to see Hermione settling Lyra into her seat. He smiled. Apparently she was good with children as well as breaking curses.
"Join us, please, Miss Granger," he said, motioning for one of the house elves to add another plate to the table.
"Thank you, sir," Hermione said, gracefully sitting down. Lyra reached for something, but one look from Hermione caused her to retreat her hand.
"Please pass the bread," Lyra asked, looking at Lucius. He did so and stared in wonder.
"What did you do my daughter?" he asked, wondering how Hermione had tamed Lyra in just one afternoon.
"I figured out what her previous tutors hadn't," Hermione answered. "She acted out because she was bored. I was the same way as a child. Once I changed her studies to something harder, we became friends, didn't we, Miss Lyra?"
"Yes, Miss Hermione," Lyra replied.
"Well, in that case, Miss Granger, would you like to consider being Lyra's tutor until you get a job?" Lucius offered, hoping she would accept. The idea of seeing her every day was brought a smile to his face. Hermione nodded.
"I would love to!" she answered. They finished lunch in silence. Lyra heading to her room afterwards, leaving Lucius and Hermione to talk.
"I think you might have been right about the diamond. There's something strange since I touched it."
"You feel it too? I thought I was the only one."
"But how do we break it?" Lucius asked. It had to be the diamond, he'd never believed in love at first sight. Hermione couldn't be... he couldn't feel this way about her. She was brilliant, she was good with Lyra, she was able to hold her own, all qualities he would have looked for in a woman if he'd been looking.
"There's one way, according to the stories. If the man and woman kiss, it'll break the bond between them. But if the love is real, if it isn't just caused by the stone, it will bond them together forever."
"I'm willing to risk it," Lucius stated. Hermione laughed.
"You'd risk being bound to me for life?" she asked, raising an eyebrow at him. He nodded, realizing he meant it. If this was the work of the diamond, so be it, but a part of him, a growing part of him wanted it to be real. He could see a life with the woman sitting in front of him. He could see them raising Lyra together.
"Alright, then let's do this," she stated, rising to her feet and walking to face him. She bent down slowly, her curls falling against Lucius' chest. For a moment, they just stared into each others eyes, Lucius' blue ones meeting Hermione's brown. She leaned in, her hands Lucius' shoulders for support. Slowly Lucius leaned forward, his lips finally meeting Hermione's as they shared a chaste kiss that evolved into something more passionate. Hermione was the first to break it. Her eyes met Lucius' again.
"How do you feel now, sir?" she asked. Lucius could hear her heart pounding loudly in her chest, keeping the same rhythm as his own. He knew in that moment, the diamond had had nothing to do with how he felt towards Hermione.
"I feel like I would like to get to know you better, if we are to continue to pursue this course of action," he stated. "I would like to take you dinner tonight, or tomorrow if you'd prefer?"
"Tonight will be fine. I look forward to it. I need to apparate home and freshen up a bit, should I meet you back here at?"
"Seven. Meet me back here at seven," Lucius replied, smiling brightly for what seemed like the hundredth time today since he'd met Hermione. If it hadn't been for that diamond, he never would have met her, never would have fallen in love with her. Maybe he needed to thank Lyra for asking for such an extravagant gift? After all, it had been all her idea.
