shoutout to:

MissesE: Yess it takes Lucius long enough to admit his feelings lol XD I feel sorry for the poor man, torturing him like this! *slap myself* Don't worry, there's a bit mystery in the story. After all, what's life without a good mystery? ;) I hope you enjoy this one! Cheers!

P/S: Sorry this chapter's short!

CHAPTER 12: A Fool

THE clock finally struck at midnight. The day was now Sunday morning. Claire Rollins were waiting at the big rounded table in the Minister Kingsley Shacklebolt's office, for the arrival of the three men who had been gone from morning. They had been assigned to find the location of Draco Malfoy and Astoria Greengrass' whereabouts.

Claire sat anxiously the table. Dotted in a black turtle-neck top with a red bandanna on her head, she wore an army pants with a matching army boots, and a pair of black fingerless gloves. Sitting beside her was Lucius, looking as calm and collected as ever. Sitting opposite them were Hermione, Ginny and her older brother, George. At the head of the table was Shacklebolt.

The thick silence air between them was intense. The assigned group was supposed to come back at ten o'clock sharp with the news, but something had happened. None of them wanted to speak,fearing to break the silence.

After some time have passed, the fireplace of the room lightened up in green flame.

The first person to step out from the fireplace was Ronald Weasley, followed by Harry Potter and lastly Severus Snape. None of them looked too pleased.

They took their seats at the round table and let out a heavy sighs.

"Severus... My son. Have you seen him?" Lucius asked worriedly.

Severus nodded. "He and Miss Greengrass are okay. In fact," He turned and looked at the fireplace. Not sooner than that, the fireplace once again lightened in green flame before one Draco Malfoy appeared.

"Draco!" Lucius got up and rushed to hug his son. Who awkwardly hugged him back.

"Are you all right?" Lucius pulled away and inspected his son's face for any injuries. When he found none, he let out a long relief sigh. "Thank Merlin you're okay. Where's Miss Greengrass? Wasn't she with you?"

At Lucius' question, Draco avoided his father's gaze.

"Draco?"

"Tell him the truth,Draco." Severus said lowly with a hardened gaze on him.

"Tell me what?"

Guilt filled in Draco's face.

"I-I'm very sorry, father. I didn't mean to do it.. I didn't mean to get Astoria involved with this. I-I was just trying to teach you a lesson."

"What in Merlin's name are you talking about, boy?"

"It was all a set-up! There was no kidnapping plot!" Darco screamed.

Lucius felt like someone had just splashed him a bucket of cold water. He lowered his hands and brought them back to his sides. "What?"

"I'd tried to warn you, Father! I said if you don't get rid of your feelings to that-that Muggle I will-"

SMACK!

A loud sound echoed in the empty room as something hard hit Draco across his face till he shamefully fell backward on the ground.

Draco hissed and swore. One hand reached out to his bleeding nose. When he looked back, instantly he met with a pair of angry brown eyes, glaring back at him.

"You ungrateful spoiled bastard!" Claire yelled angrily. She clenched her left fist, the one she'd used to struck him with.

Just then, Claire felt a hand roughly wrapped her arm from the back and forced her to face with one angry Malfoy.

"Who gives you any rights to struck my son, Miss Rollins?" Lucius hissed.

"If he was my son, I'd hit him even harder than that!" She roughly pulled her arm away before turning to face with Draco again while ignoring Lucius's angry rants at her.

"You! Do you have any idea what sort of trouble you've caused? How worried your father was for your safety? From now on, if you have any problems with me, you come talk to ME like the man your parents have raised you to be! I don't give a crap if you despise me, or insult me, or even want me dead, but you do not drag other people into your own personal damn business! This is low, Malfoy. Even for you."

Claire roughly grabbed the ice packet from Severus' hand much to his dismay, and then threw it at Draco, nearly hitting his face.

"Keep that thing on your face unless you want to suffer an ugly bruise later on. You annoying prat!"

Without waiting, she stormed of the room, leaving everyone stunned by her actions and behaviours.

Claire was lending her head against the wall while cursing her own stupidity.

Idiot,idiot,idiot! Just what the hell possessed you to do such thing to him? Hit him in front of everyone?! I'm pretty sure I won't be able to live long after this! In fact, I bet he's cursing my soul to hell and back for hitting him now...

Taking a deep breath, she recalled back just what had made her stepped in front of Lucius and punched Draco.

It was more of just him insulting her by blaming her for his father's feelings toward her. Like seriously? How could you blame the person his father had feelings for? It's ridiculous!

Taking a deep sigh, Claire was about to put everything behind and walked back into the room when the door suddenly opened, Hermione and Ginny stood at the door with hard faces.

Claire lifted her hands in the air.

Perhaps she'd been mistaken. Perhaps they have been sent by Lucius to get rid of her. After all, all is fair in love and war, right? It takes a woman to fight with another woman－well in her case, women. But still!

"Listen girls." Claire took a deep breath. "If you're going to curse me with whatever spell, I ask that you do so very quickly and-"

Before she could finished her words, Claire was pulled into a hug by both of the girls and they jumped gigglingly and excitedly.

"I can't believe you'd actually punched that stupid ferret! That's like the second times he'd being punched by a girl!"

Ferret?

"I'd thought only Hermione had the guts to do so! But you, you sneaky little minx you!" Ginny chuckled and released the older woman from her arms.

"I'm afraid I can't comprehend what's going on at the moment here... Shouldn't you two be like, cursing me or something? I did hit a Wizard in front of everyone after all. Isn't there like a sort of Wizarding Law when a Muggle to hit a Wizard or something? A punishment?"

Hermione snorted. "Of course there are laws. But it's Malfoy. As much as I'm willing to give him a chance to redeem himself for what he'd done to us, than most of us are willing, he'd practically insulted and annoyed the hell out of me all those years in Hogwarts. I'll take whatever chances I can to get back to him. This is one of them. Indirectly speaking, of course."

"I see... So you're not going to...hex me or do anything like that, right? I've heard of you, Ginny Weasley. Especially your infamous Bat-Bogey Hex from Severus. And dare I say, I do not wish to experience that in this lifetime."

Ginny chuckled again. "No worries. I'm quite a reasonable person really. As long as you do not annoyed me, I won't do such things to you. Honest!"

Letting out a relieved sigh, Claire looked back at the two women with a smile of her own. She looked at her wristwatch; two O'clock in the morning.

Letting a yawn, she decided to call it a night. "I dunno about you two but I'm exhausted."

"Oh, then would you like us to give you a lift then?"

Claire smiled. "Thank you. But first, let me ask my dear house-mate. Excuse me, ladies." Claire turned the knob and opened the door.

"Severus?" she called from the door. Severus had been talking quietly with Lucius lifted his head when he heard his name was being called.

"Are you coming home any time soon? If not, I'll have to ask Hermione and Ginny to drop me off."

The ex-Potion Master looked from the Muggle who asked him the question to the two women behind her before he turned to Lucius and nodded his head.

"I still have some matters that needed to discuss with Kingsley. You go on ahead. Be sure to lock the door before you go to bed."

"Got it. Good night, Severus. Good night, everyone."

"Good night, Miss Claire. Sleep well."

Her eyes looked up when a soothing voice wished her a good night rest. Dark brown met with Lucius' grey eyes as smiled at her. Her mind suddenly recalled his love confession to her earlier of the day. Instantly, her face turned bright crimson. Quickly Claire nodded her head before she looked away and shut the door.

W-What's wrong with me? I'd never reacted like this before whenever he smiled at me... What changed I wonder?

"Claire? Are you ready to leave now?" Hermione's voice broke her out from her thoughts. She looked up and gave an awkward smile at the younger women. Hoping they won't see just how red her face was.

Lucius was at his private library, sitting at his desk with a glass of firewhiskey in his left hand. His other hand was massaging his throbbing forehead. He was dressed in a silky evening robe.

Despite how many hours have passed since Draco was 'found', he couldn't force himself to go to sleep. There were so many things running through in his mind at the moment.

The most crucial thing was what Severus Snape had told him in private earlier that got him all troubled and bothered.

"We've found this Poison Ivy dart that was aimed at Darco when we'd confronted him at the Greengrass' Summer mansion. We've failed to catch up with the shooter,but this proves that someone is out to get you for real, Lucius. Whether it's Death-Eaters or business rivals, I'd watch my back if I were you."

Two soft knocks were knocking on his door, instantly Lucius was brought back to reality. He looked up and saw his only son, dressed in his own evening robe. The last time Lucius had seen him looked this miserable was when the Dark Lord had tasked him to kill Albus Dumbledore.

Lucius knew he must have felt guilty for deceiving him, to go as far as plotting his own kidnapping. Lucius also knew he had every rights to be angry and scold the young fool for his thoughtless and reckless act.

However, when his eyes looked up at the boy's face and saw the ugly bruise still presented on his son's left cheekbone, all of his anger fade away.

She had done it again.

Claire Rollins always done the unexpected things at an unexpected times. The first time were when she'd suddenly showed up at his Muggle Office to offer a friendship truce. And then when she had suddenly slapped that cow Rita Skeeter, and boldly kissed Severus Snape in public.

Time and time again, she had never once, stopped to amuse him with her unusual antics. That was one of the many reasons why he'd found himself attracted to her. And eventually, he began to fall for her.

"Can I help you, Draco?" He spoke with a neutral tone. He had his hands underneath his chin as he looked at the young man in the eyes.

"I would like to talk to you, Father." Draco stepped into the door and closed the door.

Silently, he made his way toward Lucius' desk. The young wizard refused to sit down even when he was offered to. Taking a deep breath, he said with a shaky voice.

"Father, what I'd done was terribly wrong and childish. I deserved to be humiliated by a Muggle like her. I also deserved to be scolded by you, Father. But understand this Father, I'm trying to protect our family from being manipulated by people like the Dark Lord again! She may be a Muggle, but even a Muggle knows how to be a wicked witch! What made you so sure that she's harmless? For you know she could be hidden an ulterior motive beyond her cheeky attitudes-" He stopped talking when Lucius raised one hand in the air and got up from his seat. His back was facing Draco when he looked at the cold, Autumn view outside through the glassed window of his room.

"I will only say this once, Draco, no matter what you say or do, I will not leave her."

"Father-"

"I'd loved your Mother greatly, Draco. She had been a constant support for me. However, I'd never falling truly deeply in love with her. Your mother and I came from the same high-class family. We'd grown to love, respect and loyal to each other. But we were never truly in loved. What I felt for Miss Claire Rollins was nothing like I'd felt for any women. I felt loved for her. I felt myself falling in love for the first time. I don't expect you to understand this, Draco, but I do expect you to respect my feelings."

Draco looked disguised but he tried to control it.

"Does she reciprocate your feelings?"

"She does not nor do I wanted her to. I'd told her about my feelings earlier today."

"You did?" Draco's eyes grew widened.

"Yes. I'd told her she's free to love whoever her heart desires. I will not stop her nor will I ever hurt her." Lucius let out unexpected sigh. "I'd thought of courting her. But after that incident, there was no way I could bring myself to cross that line ever again."

"So you're just going to stand there and watch as she loves another man? You're willing to do that all for her sake?"

To Draco's great surprise, he smiled at him.

"Yes. In the future, should things changed between us, it will have to be on her calls, alone. Not mine. Never mine. You see Draco, love is a fragile thing. It needs not only to give but to receive as well. As deeply as my feelings goes to her, I will not be the type of man who would simply gives his love away to a young woman who may or may not reciprocate my feelings."

Draco said nothing at that. Who was he to talk about love anyway when his own love life was closed to zero.

Astoria Greengrass.

She'd been the little sister of Daphne Greengrass, his former classmate and one of Pansy Parkinson's gang. He'd met her right after the War ended at The Three Boomsticks, after his father chose to abandon everything and left the Wizarding World to grieve for his dead wife, thus, leaving everything on Draco's laps.

Astoria had been there to have some peace of mind after a huge riot going on between her and her dear father.

It had been awkward at first, talking between them. They'd found they have more commons than they'd thought about their life views on the Muggle, half-blood and squibs after the Second Wizarding war ended. They'd shared things, secrets thing none of them were willing to share with anyone else.

Draco soon found himself comfortable with Astoria's presence more than he could tolerate Pansy's possessive behaviours, at times.

But that was simply it between them.

Astoria had her own demons she needed to deal with and he had his family to worry about. There was no rooms for them to have any other feelings for each other except for non-physical comforts. They both needed someone to be able to talk and to release some of the frustration they had kept inside. Someone who could understand what they went through with the drastic changes of the war.

"Understood, Father." Draco said after a moment. "Just to clear, I will never accept a Muggle marrying into the Malfoy's family. But for your sake, I will try to act more tolerable toward Miss Rollins in the future. Because I love you."

Lucius's eyes widened of hearing the last sentences that was said to him before Draco left the room. Turning his head, Lucius stared the empty space Draco had just occupied a minute ago, with his mouth slightly agape.

Had Darco just given him permission to court the lovely Miss Rollins?

CLAIRE Rollins woke up early on a cold Tuesday morning. She made two cups of coffee and two plates of toast, baked beans and eggs for herself and Severus before the latter left for work - he'd found another job as a Chemistry Teacher at another Muggle Private high school, with the help of Lucius Malfoy.

Lucius had pulled back the generous amount of donation he'd donated at the school Severus taught due to the fact the school chose to fire Severus because of the apparent 'scandal' he and and date had made on the Spring break ball.

Drinking her coffee calmly, Claire's peace of mind was interrupted when someone had rang a bell at her door.

"Just a minute!" She tightened her robe and hurried to the door.

Claire opened the door slightly before she slowly opened it fully.

Her mouth was agape, her eyes were widened. There he was, standing before her wearing his finest suit was Lucius Malfoy with a single red rose in his right hand, while his left hand was holding onto his walking stick.

"Miss Claire." Lucius began, with a smoothing voice that sounded a bit too seductive to her ears.

He offered her the rose, which Claire reluctantly take it from him.

"T-To what do I owe you the pleasure early this morning, Lucius?"

Lucius smiled. "I would like to formally ask you to spend the rest of your time with me. In short, Miss Claire, I'm asking you for a date with me, if you will?"