Disclaimer: I own nothing.
Hermione sighed and let her eyes continue to scan the classifieds; first a place to live then a job. Her mind briefly remembered Narcissa Malfoy mentioning that Lucius had properties. Hermione wasn't sure how she felt about Lucius. It was troubling; this new day in age. She concluded that it was the same surreal feeling that World War II American veterans have when they see vacationers off to Japan.
Deciding acting was better than sitting and doing nothing, Hermione pulled a quill and small parchment from her purse.
A day later, Hermione was sitting with Lucius, Narcissa and Draco Malfoy on the patio of their large estate, looking at properties, which were scattered across the table, held in place with paper weights to combat the light breeze.
They were talking about each property, what Hermione wanted and how she came to the decision to find a place of her own.
"It was always the plan; to have a home I could call mine, but it progressed quicker than expected."
It had been quick work for Lucius to jot down Hermione's interests. He liked that she knew what she wanted and what her budget was. He was impressed that she wanted to be able to do a little work to the home herself, though he would recommend a good construction company. Or maybe not, Marcus Flint owned a construction company. Lucius was certain the large lad would do the work himself if it meant spending additional time with the Granger girl.
"I'm certain I can find you what you want, however I am concerned about your budget."
Hermione nodded and bit her lower lip. "I still have the land title that came with the Order of Merlin, and I've saved some over the years. I didn't really expect to feel the need to buy so soon, but…"
"But?" Draco asked.
She really didn't know if she should tell them, but she didn't have anyone to listen to her whing. "I can't stay at the Burrow any longer. I love the Weasleys, Mr. and Mrs. Weasley, but I can't breathe and I keep thinking that one mishap of magic and the whole house will come tumbling down around us. Mrs. Weasley's style is so… eclectic-"
"That's a nice way to put it," Lucius interrupted.
"Lucius!" Narcissa chided.
Hermione giggled then continued. "Plus Ron… I need somewhere to call my own."
Pausing for a moment to envision her own library, she continued, "Maybe we can find a home that needs a lot of work. Fixer uppers are cheaper aren't they?" she asked, nearly pleading with Lucius.
He looked at her with a serious expression. "They are a lot of work and can be more expensive over time. Frustration and anxiety at unfinished work and the constant surprises that occur does not make for a comfortable life, Hermione." It was the first time he had used her given name. It felt familiar and friendly; she smiled at him.
Lucius needed time to think.
"Allow me to take another look. Let's plan to meet here this time in three days. Are you free then?"
She nodded. But her expression and presentation was off.
"Hermione, would you be opposed to staying here until you find a suitable alternate arrangement? We have a guest house in the back. It isn't attached to the main building."
All Hermione wanted to do was run into Narcissa's arms and thank her, but she refrained. Her eyes shifted to Lucius, who looked fine with his wife's offer then she looked at Draco. He looked extremely pleased.
Once again her thought processes were interrupted by noise in the foyer. Three wizards came striding through to the patio to stand near Draco. All greeted with smiles and general handsome-ness. It was disturbing the way that they eyed her with such …desire.
It'd only been a few days, and she could honestly say that she had never been pursued quite so openly. It was a flattering feeling.
"May I have the evening to think it over?" She didn't want to sound ungrateful, but it was a bit abrupt.
Narcissa smiled with understanding. "Of course, dear. I'll give you this Floo code. If you want to come back tonight, you're welcome to. If not, that's fine as well."
Hermione walked to the beautiful blonde and took grasped her hands. "Thank you."
Narcissa smiled. "You're welcome."
"Will you be returning to the Burrow?" Lucius asked, curious.
"Not at the moment," Adrian answered for her.
Hermione huffed. "Yes."
Blaise stepped forward. "Will you have dinner with us, Tesoro?"
Hermione folded her arms across her chest then unfolded them; shifted from one foot to the other and pursed her lips. Her thin lips gave way to her nibbling on her lower lip.
"Hermione love, stop fidgeting and come to dinner. It'll be fun," Marcus admonished, with his elbow out for her to take.
"Okay." But only because you called me love, she added in her mind. And because I want to feel those muscled tree trunks you call arms.
Adrian grunted with humor. Hermione's thoughts were written all over her face.
Once they were gone, Narcissa turned to Lucius. "Do you think it's possible?"
Knowing what his wife wanted, but needing to hear her confirm it, he asked, "Do I think what's possible?"
Narcissa huffed. "Don't be coy, Lucius. You know she would make a wonderful addition to our family. Grandchildren. Granddaughter…" she teased.
Lucius had wanted a daughter more than anything after Draco was born, but they had tried and tried, and weren't able to carry a baby to term. Narcissa had had four miscarriages and one stillbirth. Her emotional state could not withstand another crushing disappointment, so they had stopped trying.
When Lucius thought about what Narcissa said, his heart leapt with hope. He promptly squashed it and cleared his throat.
The arm around his wife tightened, but he didn't say anything.
oOo
Hermione smoothed invisible wrinkles from her dress once again, and she was about the run her fingers through her hair, but Blaise took one of her small hands in his and Marcus took the other. The large wizard leaned to the side towards her and said, "Stop fidgeting, Granger, you look good. Tasty."
These men seemed to be obsessed with food, and she was the experimental new cuisine.
They turned down an alley and stopped at an ornate door. Adrian knocked twice and the door opened.
Hermione gasped and looked at both Blaise and Marcus. "I feel like I'm about to be taught the secret handshake!" she whispered excitedly.
Draco, standing behind her, snorted. "Act natural," he advised, chuckling at her rolling onto her tip toes and back again. He splayed his hands over her hips to calm her jittery movement.
"Adrian Pucey, with Marcus Flint, Draco Malfoy, Blaise Zabini and Hermione Granger."
The man at the door was nodding and penning the names on the list, but he paused at the last name. Adrian repeated it with a stern voice. "And Hermione Granger."
"Yes, Mr. Pucey. I'll have a table straight away."
Hermione tried not to let little things like that bother her. It took time for people to change their views, but it still stung. She felt a Marcus' warm hand placed soothingly against her back. His fingers made scratchy movements and rubbed comfortingly as they waited.
Blaise's thumb was rubbing circles on the inside of her wrist and all three were standing very near her. She appreciated their concern. Even Adrian; he wasn't touching her nor was he even looking at her, but the anger was radiating off of him and she found a certain pleasure in his anger; that it was for her.
The door opened suddenly; a different man greeting them. A smile lit his face as he looked directly at Hermione. "Miss Granger, I just had to come see for myself that it was really The Hermione Granger waiting to dine at our humble restaurant. Please come in and I apologize for the wait."
Almost crushingly relieved, Hermione nodded, smiled and stepped forward.
oOo
They sat down at a round table large enough to fit them all comfortably. A menu was placed in her hands by the waiter, and with a promise to return in a few moments, he bowed and left.
Hermione, as was her habit, looked at the desserts first. They all appealed to her sweet tooth, so she asked for an opinion. "Have you lot had dessert here?"
When silence returned her question, she looked up from her menu to see that they were staring at her curiously. "What?" she asked.
Draco smiled and then answered. "Why are you looking at dessert? You haven't had dinner yet."
Hermione, not one to be dissuaded, quirked her eyebrow and set to scold. "You haven't answered my question, Draco."
Draco snorted. "No."
Hermione's eyes travelled to the other pairs, each met with shaking heads. Four wizards and none of them had had dessert here.
She closed her menu and said, "Well, no time like the present. Pick one then and we'll each try it," she decided for them. Not waiting for concurrence, she lifted her chin to beckon the waiter, and ordered hers first. Looking expectantly at the others, Blaise stuttered through his order of banana cream pie; Marcus ordered chocolate lava cake, Draco went with lemon meringue pie and after Adrian frowned at the impossible situation, he ordered chocolate chip cookies with ice cream.
Hermione had seen the scandalized expression Adrian wore at first, but was proud of him for going with the flow. She even went so far as to tease him a bit. "Don't be such a fuddy duddy, Mr. Pucey, it's only dessert."
"I know that," he snapped, but then smirked. He liked her. She was different, but still… His mother never let him have dessert first, and once he was of age, proper course order was ingrained. He was still a bit confused at her; clearly Muggle etiquette differed from magical. The next sentence out of his mouth would forever haunt him and if he, twenty years from now, could back in time to stop himself, he would.
Hermione was still watching him; waiting.
"I didn't think you would have dessert; you know, watching your figure and all that… I mean-"
"Wait. Did you just call me fat?" she asked, wanting to laugh, but showing a sterner expression. The Mighty Ladies Man, Adrian Pucey just crashed and burned, and she was going to exploit it. By the looks of his friends, they couldn't believe that that just came out of his mouth.
"What? No! No, no, no!" Adrian was shaking his head quite furiously. "That's not at all what I meant. Absolutely not!"
"That's what it sounded like to me," Hermione quipped.
Draco caught the evil gleam in her eye and smirked. The little she-devil, he thought.
The desserts came at that point and Adrian was still shaking his head then decided it would be best if he explained his logic. "I just… I mean, having dessert first is no big deal, but I was just thinking that Muggle manners-" Hermione quirked an eyebrow, Adrian backtracked. "Not manners, wrong word, I mean …er, I mean practice. Yes, that's it: Muggle practice was quite different from Magical." He was nodding now.
The corner of Hermione's lip twitched. She took a fork and sliced through her dessert. She licked her lips and slowly opened her mouth, moaning at its rich taste.
When she opened her eyes, the wizards at the table were watching her; entranced. All eyes were glued to her lips. She decided to throw them a bone and licked her lips – just a little.
"My mum rarely let me have dessert and never before a meal. It was considered unladylike to even request dessert. But I'm no longer a child, and the war taught me to live – break rules, enjoy life!" she exclaimed, with a wink and a smile. "So, here we are, eating dessert first. Isn't it exciting?" There was a conspiratorial tone to her voice, making the men smile.
Adrian nodded. "Yes, we were not allowed dessert either." Before he could say more, Hermione interrupted again, "See, not so different."
Blaise couldn't take it anymore and chuckled, tucking into his dessert.
Throughout dinner, really dessert with drinks, they talked and laughed and shared their desserts. Each man enjoying himself so much he couldn't remember the last time he had laughed so frequently in one sitting. Each knew what was different, why they were having such a good time.
Hermione was having a blast. And with some trepidation, she found herself attracted each wizard. She found this mildly disturbing and promptly put it out of her mind. Her reverie was interrupted when Marcus held a bite of his dessert for her to sample. Hermione smiled and opened her mouth for him to feed her.
"Delicious!" she exclaimed then became pensive. This was strange.
"What are you thinking?" Draco asked.
The question disquieted her. She thought better of being completely honest. "I was thinking how much fun I was having, and it was nice to be in such great company."
"So you like us then, huh Granger?" Blaise asked.
Hermione shrugged noncommittally. "Perhaps a bit."
Adrian snorted, and Hermione's head snapped in his direction.
He wore a smug expression, and said, "Oh, I think you like us more than just a bit, Hermione."
Hermione quirked an eyebrow, and flopped back in her seat. "No." Nodding to the server, she signed a bank note – enough to cover all the desserts and drinks, then stood and fought a smile when all of them shot up to stand with her. "Gentlemen, it's been a lovely evening. Have a good night."
They watched her walk away with swaying hips and squared shoulders then shifted focus on a sufficiently chuffed Adrian Pucey.