NOTE:
This collection of fics was originally posted on my lj as part of my Pick a Fic: Round II, in which posters could pick a plot bunny and prompt for me to write. The response was… more than I expected. None of these one-shots is connected to the previous in any way (except for Regarding Hair as a short follow-up to Love & War), and I experimented with different styles and tones throughout. I don't think it worked out too well, but... I don't think it particularly bothers me anymore either.
(Plotting Interest)
astarvingwriter
Standard Disclaimer Applies
Author's Plea: Originally as part of Pick a Fic: Round II on my lj for the prompts picked by simones123:
Bunny #26 Narcissa invites Hermione over in an attempt to interest Draco and save the family's status. The plan works with one exception - Draco isn't the male Malfoy who is interested. with Prompt 087. Life
As always, enjoy if you can.
Narcissa Malfoy was a witch on a mission. Every step she took in her priceless footwear (designed by none other than Madam Laude) snapped on the marble floor (imported directly from Italy) of the Manor with clear intent. This meeting was going to be absolutely perfect even if she had to sully her own hands (by choking a house elf) to make it so.
Everything was falling down around her (with exquisite grace), and she simply refused to take that sitting down. The time for inaction had long passed. She had protected her family during the war in what simply ways she could (usually involving tricking others into sacrificing themselves), and she would do so again.
Her sisters were imprisoned (Bella never did like Azkaban) or untraceable (Andromeda never did like her). Her son was destitute and distrusted. Her husband was disinterested (in her, in continued wealth, in living). Her Manor was beginning to reek of desperation (and house elves). It was time someone set things to right, even if that involved inviting a muggle-born (fortunately wealthy and almost respectable) into the Manor and, hopefully, into the family (how she wished it were not necessary).
She could only hope Draco would take the bait that was offered (so willingly).
Hermione had the feeling she was at a zoo. The exhibits were all very pretty, as were their inhabitants. However, she also had the distinct impression that there was something terribly wrong about the whole situation and at any moment, one of them was going to attack.
"Hermione, dear? Would you like some more tea?"
"Oh! Yes, thank you. I was just admiring your lovely home."
"The Manor has been in Lucius' family for eight generations. I like to think every Malfoy wife has left a little piece of herself behind."
"Of course."
Hermione tentatively took a sip of her tea. Her sniff hadn't detected any obvious potions, but a minute taste was also necessary to be certain.
"I suppose you are curious as to why I invited you here today. It is not so common that we have guests."
She could hear the unflattering, unspoken comments the prim woman withheld. It took some effort to smile back.
"It had crossed my mind to ask. However, I would not wish to be rude."
"It is only natural to be curious." The woman seemed to be steadying herself for some sort of grand declaration. Hermione could only wait with calm interest. "I invited you here today to offer a proposal. My son, whom you attended Hogwarts with, will be soon taking over the family business. However, as he was otherwise occupied as a child, I fear he does not benefit from a full and rounded education. I wish to offer you compensation if you would be so kind as to aid him in completing his studies."
Immediately, Hermione chanced a look at Draco, whom had been sitting with obvious disinterest to her side. She found him now alert and more than a bit angry. His face, already thin and sharp, showed every taut muscle as he so obviously ground his jaw.
"Mother," he said with a rumble. "May I speak with you outside?"
Narcissa merely nodded with resignation. They left the room without sparing a look at either of the remaining occupants.
Draco was angry (furious really), and it scared her for a moment that he might make a scene (again). Fortunately (courtesy of her own limited powers of Occlumency), he managed to withdraw outside the (Silenced) room before he let go of his anger (definitely fury).
"What are you doing, Mother?!"
"Ensuring our future, Draco."
"By insulting my intelligence in front of a common Mudblood?"
"I did no such thing. Please, Draco, listen. Try. Take what the girl might be willing to give and use it to bring us back into power."
He appeared to give the matter some thought (though not nearly enough) before he turned angry (just angry now that he knew her reasoning) eyes back to her.
"There's more."
She felt rebuked (which she often had with Lucius but never with Draco).
"No, no more."
"You are being far too accommodating if it were truly so simple. A request of this nature could have been first proposed in writing."
Her heart almost jumped (in fear that he knew her plan, with pride that he was so cunning).
"You brought her here instead," he continued (with that dreaded wariness). "You wanted her to see us. You wanted me to see her."
Her heart did jump (in fear).
"Now, Draco, you know better than to assume. Forgive your Mother this oversight and let us not keep our guest waiting."
He didn't seem to trust (at all) the hand she (ever so tentatively) placed on his shoulder. It pained her (hurt her so much) to see the distrust in his eyes and know (all too well) that it was earned.
"Very well, Mother."
He looked so resigned (and tired and hurt and…) when he opened the door before majestically waving her in (he always was a polite boy).
They had left her alone with the senior Malfoy. It only occurred to her now that she had not seen him in person, with such proximity, since that ill-fated raid on the Department of Mysteries all those years ago.
Suddenly she was more than a bit cautious.
He was eyeing her with a distinctly odd expression, as if she was a particularly difficult puzzle he wished to decipher. She could only wonder what he would do to find his answers.
"What are the current exchange rates?" he asked suddenly, slowly. Still, she was well versed in responding to questions with efficiency.
"One Galleon to five Muggle Pounds."
"What insidious law has the Minister attached to the War Orphan proposal?"
"A tax on all war memorabilia to support the rebuilding of the Ministry, complete with Ministerial Suite."
"Why haven't you married a Weasley?"
"I have no wish for children at this stage of my life."
"You would rather concern yourself with career."
"The benefits are simply marvellous."
"Will you be marrying my son?"
"Pardon?"
She had stopped them mid conversation (important if looks could say anything). Lucius was actually conversing with the girl (he hadn't conversed with anyone in so very long), and the girl ( or woman, perhaps, if Draco would simply see the potential) was looking positively confounded (what had she interrupted?).
She hoped they would continue (so that she may know more), but the silence persisted as she and Draco (hiding his anger so terribly) resumed their seats.
"Please excuse the interruption. Have you given the offer any thought?"
The girl (woman really, with the way Lucius was staring at her legs) still seemed a bit confounded (how had he done that?).
What to say, what to say? She very well couldn't be rude, could she now? They were all being very polite, and even her untrained eyes could see the missing ornaments about the room. They had been through a bit of trouble, no doubt unaccustomed.
The smiles might be strained but the effort was true enough. Hermione never had been the type to forget an attempt.
"I'm afraid I do not have an answer ready for you at this time. I will need to review my schedule."
"Of course, my dear! We shall talk no more of such matters then."
And they didn't. The rest of the hour was filled with pleasant if tense talk of little consequence.
Still, she couldn't get Lucius' quick interview off her mind. It didn't help that he didn't take his sharp eyes off of her. It made her feel indecent and curious all at once. What exactly was he seeing that brought that smirk to his lips? Would it be something she appreciated or was he still considering her as less?
Her questions didn't seem likely to be answered. He only stared, and his wife only continued to talk, and his son pretended to be elsewhere.
When she finally managed to escape, she found those eyes followed her beyond the gates of the Manor and even felt their presence long after she had Apparated away. It was disconcerting and strangely exhilarating to be the focus of such interest.
There were still so many questions, but those that remained forefront were those of why: why had Narcissa truly had the proposal, why had Lucius asked her such questions, why had he stared, and why had she responded as such.
She had no answers. She could only wonder at the unexpected turns her life was taking.
He was smirking (how she had missed that smirk!). He was smirking (so lovely), and he seemed to have a pleasant plot (he simply had to share) in mind.
"Lucius…" she began (hesitantly, no need to frighten away his interest).
"She's become quite the witch, has she not?" he said with (fondness? gratitude?) nonchalance.
"I would not have asked her otherwise." He smirked (so positively lovely) again so she (bravely, so bravely) continued. "She could make our life happy again."
"Yes," he replied (definitely plotting something). "She very well could."
He turned and walked steadily (purposefully) towards his own suite of rooms (so far from her own). His back was straighter (so delightfully lovely!) than it had been in months (had he truly been so bored of her?).
The thought clicked (so loud, so easily), the idea hit (so hard, so easy).
If Draco wasn't interested (perhaps his interests lay elsewhere), perhaps there was an option with Lucius (he wasn't hers anymore anyway).
With a smirk of her own (it had been so terribly long!), Narcissa took her own steady, purposeful steps down the marble hall. There was plotting (it truly had been so terribly long) to do before the night was over.