Challenge info:Gift exchange 2015 for DelusionalDoll Pairing:Draco/Hermione
Usual info about it being a rush job etc
Draco was born for greatness. He had every opportunity that his parents could afford to give him but now his father was dead. The former Lord Malfoy was a greatly respected politician and he hoped to follow his father's foot steps eventually. He was now Lord Malfoy and as such it was his duty to ensure his house ran smoothly. Therefore, he was hiring helpers personally for maintenance of the main house. He had hired a gardener and a new landscaper and now his final task was to hire a librarian/tutor for the children he was fostering personally as a favor.
The candidate's name was Hermione Granger. She looked painfully familiar but he couldn't place her face. Her brown hair curled down to her shoulders, she had bright brown eyes, and she was looking for a well paying job. He had asked around and she was known in his circles as a nice girl who tutored her aristocratic friends. She was apparently a bossy know-it-all but with help from her foster brother had smoothed out her edges and under pressure came out a diamond instead of crumbling.
He sat down at the only free table as he looked at her. The picture didn't do her justice. It was recent but she put on some slender muscles and she was focused on the book in her hands. He smiled and waited until she looked up. Their eyes met and her face became stony before changing to a polite mask. He shrugged and spoke first.
"You wish to become the tutor and librarian for my house?" He asked her.
"I… yes. I do. Thank you for meeting with me for this interview." She told him stiffly and stumbling and he got the impression she was normally less curt and clumsy.
"I read your qualifications and you're almost over qualified for this position…" Draco began.
"I need the money so I can start saving now. I don't have many options despite my education and experience." She relaxed a little as he ordered a drink for himself and a refill for her.
"As long as you can work with the other staff- I would say that the job is yours. Your reputation among my peers is excellent, you will be able to help them with etiquette, and your education and credentials are excellent as well. This job does mean living in the house, however, and helping out within reason with the other staff. Your contact will be Vincent Crabbe- though he's not the head butler but my driver and head body guard. He will help you with anything you need and ensure your safety. When can I expect you to move in?" Draco looked at her expectantly.
"I've given my two weeks notice last week so about a week until I can… join your household." Hermione was tense and stiff as she looked over the newly minted Lord Malfoy with thinly veiled distrust.
Draco smiled and nodded, "Wonderful. I'll see you then Miss Granger."
Draco watched the woman leave the shop. Her motions were slow, measured, and irritated. He bit back a sigh as he tilted his head back and stared at the ceiling. He could tell that she would be stubborn but he wanted the best for his foster kids and she was the best that money could buy and she didn't even ask for as much as any of the other tutors did. Vincent came in and he and Draco left the coffee shop together.
He had asked Lord Potter about whether the interview would best to do it in his office or at a her requested place and he looked positively amused before answering the second. Everyone told him that if he planned on hiring her then he would have to go through Harry but the other Lord just accepted that she was the best and he was the one who encouraged him to help with the cause. He just told Draco to be careful of her left hook if he pissed her off. The last time a woman hit him was years ago- she was a commoner who was friends of the Potter heir- his adversary at the time. He accidentally called her common braced beaver to her face and she slapped him before Harry dragged her away. He was caught by surprise by it- but was happy that Harry was forced to apologize on behalf of herself and him and agreed that he owed the Malfoy heir a favour. It was immediate cashed in when he and Harry had to go to a meeting and Harry had to make excuses for Draco and sit through the meeting alone.
He and Lord Potter weren't best friends but they were friendly towards each other. Their antagonistic relationship evolved into a mutual respect that worked when doing business. The Malfoys were rich and influential French exports that needed allies and Harry Potter was the last Potter left- he was heir to a rich, influential, and ancient family but the last Lord was a commoner Lord thanks to being an orphan and being forced into their world instead of being born and living in it.
Finally the appointment came and Harry Potter walked into the sitting room. The other lord looked worst for the wear and tired. Draco motioned and Harry took a seat as a butler came and served them tea and cake. Harry took a sip before setting the cup on the coffee table and looking at Draco. Draco stared back and they had a brief staring contest.
"I heard the meeting went well for you, Draco." Harry began.
"Yes it did. I have met her before haven't I?" Draco began as he began to sip his tea.
"You don't know? Draco- she's the girl you called braced beaver when we were at Eton." Harry began to laugh.
"Why didn't anyone tell me?" Draco asked Harry.
"We assumed you knew. After that happened she was forbidden to meet me and I had to visit her. Did you really not recognize her?" Harry asked incredulous.
"No, I did not. She agreed to work for me though, so she must have matured." Draco chuckled nervously.
"No, It was you that needed to do the maturing. I did too, for that matter, because she always seemed older than her actual age." Harry told him.
"Can I tell you something that I will kill you if you tell anyone?" Draco asked Harry.
"As long as I don't have a conflict in interest go ahead." Harry told him.
"How do I get her to relax, forgive me- then ask her out?" Draco asked bluntly with a bright red blush.
"Are you asking me how to get my sister to like you?" Harry asked as his eyes widened in shock as he almost slammed the delicate china on the table.
"No- just not hate me like she probably does." Draco told Harry with a slight twitch in his right hand.
"I don't think she ever held a grudge against you because she cooled down right after- as for getting her to relax- try being on your best behavior and being yourself. She'll come to her senses and see your slightly more like-able." Harry grinned.
"I assume I'll be dead if I hurt her, then Lord Potter?" Draco looked at Harry with a raised eyebrow.
"Hermione wouldn't leave enough pieces for me to do anything if she allowed me to protect her like that." Harry grinned at him.
"Just imagine if we were all in the same school. It would have ended badly. She would have hated 'Lord' Justin Finch-Fletchley more than me though." Draco laughed and Harry nodded after thinking on it.
"… He's up for a big title- he can back it up unlike you. I do agree that despite growing up- he's worst than you when you were at your 'prime' - and you've gotten better while he hasn't." Harry drank the cold tea.
"Not as big as yours though. I don't get why you didn't just shut him up sometimes by pointing it out." Draco told him.
"He wasn't that bad of a person. You should have seen him with an upstart new lord. He was annoying everyone and Justin got him quiet in a minute. If I was that kind of person- would I have dealt with you like I did?" Harry asked Draco.
"Oh god- that would've meant there would have been two of him and I don't think Eton had a door big enough for him- much less me and if you had one too- we wouldn't have survived." Draco laughed and Harry joined him.
Draco looked at the time and realized it was time for Harry to go. Harry left the Malfoy house and Draco was left alone with his work. He realized that Harry didn't have any advice on how to ask her out if she ever defrosted around him. Shrugging his shoulders he went to work and didn't think about her until the day that she moved into the house.
Before Hermione came into the house, Draco, had been intent on moving more valuable books to his study and expanding the library. His library was as vast as it was varied. It had first edition Shakespeare, and other valuable books. The most valuable was kept in his private study or vault but a few rare editions lay on the shelves. He had expanded it to include many topics in recent years.
Despite liking to read in the library he avoided it as much as possible in the next two weeks. Finally she came up to him in his office and asked if he was avoiding her. Draco denied it as he looked away from her unable to meet her eyes. She dragged him to the library and got him the book that he was reading last.
"This is your house. I know we have a past but we shouldn't let it decide our future." Hermione crossed her arms and went to do her job. Draco grinned and vowed to visit as he often did before and seek her out if she wasn't busy. The tutoring went great for his kids and they loved her like a mother figure. He was their father figure and Harry was the fun uncle that took them places.
It was almost Christmas time and Hermione and Draco were alone. She had warmed up to him and they were friends. She was the only one in his house other then his head butler who could get away with being personal with him. He was reading a book when she came up to him and sat down across from him. She seemed to look through him before walking away without a word as she went to organize the book shelves.
He chased her when she was done her chores. Draco had accepted that she likely didn't see him that way since she was so devoted to her kids. He admired her for it and didn't see her glance his way. Therefore when she let him catch her he was surprised when she took his hands then asked him if he wanted to go out. His face turned red as he stuttered an acceptance. They shared a brief but gentle kiss. He swore to himself that if it got serious that he would be the one to ask her to marry him not the other way around.