Lucius Malfoy was not surprised with Draco introduced Hermione Granger as his intended. For he had known for a long time that she would be trouble.
It was when Draco first wrote home from Hogwarts freshly sorted into Slytherin that Lucius knew Hermione Granger would be a problem.
Dear Mother and Father,
Thank you for the treats, I shared them with my fellow Slytherins and of course they were the talk of the evening in the Slytherin Common rom.
Uncle Sev's potions class went well. He docked points from a Know-it-All Mudblood, and I've never seen anyone look so crushed. She's right awful and looks a fright.
Defense Against the Dark Arts is a joke. Professor Quirrell…
And while she never solely featured in his letters, mostly in conjunction with the proclaimed Golden Trio of Hogwarts, Draco never could stop himself from singling her out.
Potter, Weasel and the Know-it-All Mudblood were awarded 160 points at the end of the year. They took the House Cup, away from the rightful winners. Slytherin was robbed Father. Especially by that pitiful Mudblood. She's taken too much from Slytherin that was rightfully ours.
Second year wasn't any better, in fact Lucius thought second year might be worse. Draco began dropping the "Know-it-All" epithet from her name. It was obvious that he was observing her more, paying more attention to her.
The pitiful Mudblood ended up in the Hospital Wing for weeks over Christmas Holiday's father. It's a shame she didn't end up there far more permanently. Rumor is she ended up their because of a potions accident gone wrong with Potter and Weasel. Shame it didn't off all of them at once. Would've been much better for us all.
When she was petrified by the basilisk that Lucius himself had helped set free in the Chamber of Secrets, Lucius thought there would be less chatter about her. She was no longer there, hopefully Draco would be guided to the right sort and ignore her. But alas, he seemed only to notice her absence.
Potter and Weasel look pathetic without their Mudblood hanger on. It's not like they use her for anything other than homework help. Goodness gracious knows the fools can't put an essay together unless she's peering over their shoulder.
During the third year, there was a startling lack of the girl starting in the Spring. Lucius was relieved. No more letters about what she the Golden Trio were up to. No observations about how she looked or what she was doing. It was a short blessed free space where letters didn't discuss her unfortunate hair, choice in friends, poor decisions, etc. Lucius was very pleased.
Unfortunately, it didn't last. And once again during Fourth year Lucius was treated to more scathing remarks regarding the girl. And it was during Yule that he first understood how much trouble she could be.
That Mudblood went with Krum to the Yule Ball! She looked hideous in her periwinkle dress. Mother would think that she was dressed like some poor frumpy hedge witch. Krum of course would be much better suited to a woman of better breeding. As if Granger would ever consent to being some Quidditch groupie following Krum around the world to his games. Krum should be with someone like Pansy with breeding and grace.
Lucius of course, was able to read between the lines. Of course this girl shouldn't be with Krum, not because he deserves better. But rather because she should be tried to Draco herself. Why else would he try to foist up Parkinson, even in his thoughts alone.
Lucius tried of course, to set Draco up with the right sort of girl. He invited Pansy Parkinson and her pug faced family over the previous summers (It ended following that fourth year, clearly Draco had no interest in pursuing anything with her). He invited Daphne and Astoria Greengrass to their summer cottages in France. They were on holiday in Spain to meet with other witches of the right sort for Draco and still nothing. So when Draco went back for his fifth year at Hogwarts, Lucius was prepared for more observations and ramblings about the girl.
Of course, Lucius was a little distracted this year. Groveling to the Dark Lord. Ensuring and expanding his influence in the Ministry. His letters back to his son were cautionary, imploring Draco to use discretion even in his letters. The Dark Lord of course would be happy to read through all of his letters should he be suspect of even the slightest dissent.
Then came Draco's sixth year. Letters from him were far between and sparse. Lucius could see that Draco had become withdrawn and foolish. And from the reports that Severus would share with him, desperate. Desperate enough to use cheap ploys that wouldn't work. Desperate enough that he would try to circumvent the Dark Lord's orders of killing Dumbledore and finding a way to get Death Eaters into the castle.
The came Draco's seventh year. Lucius received not one letter from Draco. Of course the Carrow's gave him updates on how well he was doing. How much he was helping terrorize the other students at Hogwarts. How much he was helping curse students in detention. But Lucius heard not one bit of this news from Draco himself. He had completely withdrawn into himself from his father. And Lucius caught up in the war himself, terrified that he could lose everything to the whims of a mad man his father had vowed to years and years ago, could only be thankful that he had not totally lost his son yet.
The events of Easter holidays left everyone in pain. Writhing in agony as the Dark Lord crucio'd everyone who had let Potter escape. Nearly killed Bella once he had heard that the cup he had given her for safekeeping had been stolen. And then aching with the aftereffects of crucio in his bones, Lucius went to battle. Well he mostly tried to keep out of the way of the battle. Cursing someone every once in a while to keep up appearances, but mostly looking for his son, and trying to bring him back to his wife, out of this battle. Then Potter walked into the forest and all hell broke loose.
The threat of Azkaban could not keep his knees buckling from relief when he the Dark Lord fell. There clutching his family, collapsing on Hogwarts grounds in sheer relief that they had survived. And then they picked themselves up as did the rest of the remnants of the Battle of Hogwarts, and the world moved on. And while some things changed, some things never change at all.
For when two years later Draco begins at the University of Arcadia, and the letters once again begin.
I've been partnered with Granger for the cross-disciplinary project. Her ideas are almost mundane and their thinking yet still lack total practicality…
So when Draco, first introduced the girl as his intended, in a neutral café shortly after gaining his Potions Mastery. Lucius was no surprised. And when a short six months later the two had wed in small outdoor ceremony Lucius was resigned. And when a few years later Lucius held his first granddaughter when she was born he was thankful. And when years later Lucius died in bed surrounded by family, he was at peace.