Mr. Granger and Mrs. Malfoy
Chapter Two: Lunch Dates and the Affairs Before
by princecharmprincesswit
The usual disclaimers apply, and will be applied to the rest of the story: J.K. Rowling owns Harry Potter and all the idea, characters, worlds, spells, -what have you- pertaining to it. Ideas that are not recognizable are mine.
Chapter Two
Hermione strolled confidently into Thaddeus, Grimm and Associates Law Practice: Specifically Non-Wizarding and Other Magical Creatures, with the heels of her nude patent pumps beating a staccato rhythm on the impressive marble floors of the lobby. She nodded a greeting to the front desk receptionist, Anne. She was blonde, of regular height, young-ish and with a friendly, approachable manner that belied her resiliency in fielding the media and other dubious persons from the inner sanctum of the law offices. She was chatting into the phone, with a pad of paper at her elbow as she smiled at Hermione. Hermione bypassed Anne's heavy and traditional desk, a motif that echoed throughout the whole establishment, and went gliding to the elevator banks. Much like the Ministry of Magic's, the elevators of their offices whizzed by in mind- boggling patterns: backwards, forwards, and all-wards.
She stepped inside and straightened her dove-gray blazer and skirt ensemble. Along with her blush silk blouse, pinned-up hair and pearl studs and portfolio case, she looked equal parts feminine and powerful- feminine accoutrements to fool the macho-traditional types, and a crisp suit to subtly underline her power.
Hermione had chosen to work with this specific firm because of their unusal blend of success and support for Hermione's dearest cause: non-wizarding and magical creatures. The house-elves, veelas, ogres and goblins were Hermione's passion, along with books, friends and success. She had so far risen to the rank of associate, but not as senior associate with the firm. She was successful, but what mattered most was that with each success she had, one more creature looked-down upon by most of the wizarding world is redeemed.
The elevator "dinged" as she reached her floor and was satisfied to find Jacqui already situated behind her desk, with Hermione's breakfast of croissant and earl grey positioned of the low coffee table in the floor's reception room. The floor was composed of the firm's leading associates, all in all five, each of whom had their secretaries situated in front of their office's doors that led to the communal holding and sitting room decorated in muted pastels and heavy, traditional furniture. Hermione made it a habit to have breakfast and discuss the day's goal plans and strategies with Jacqui.
"Hello, Jacqui! How was your date last night and what have you lined up for me today?" Hermione asked as she settled herself in the settee and set her case on the floor beside the table.
"Henry!" Jacqui all but breathed.
"Henry apparated both of us to Nice to have dessert, Hermione!" Jacqui, only 23, beautiful, vibrant and intelligent, seemed to have found the love of her life in Henry, a fellow in a neighbor firm, ambitious and with enough capabilities to be able to rise in the business.
"It was all so sweet. Moonlight, music and then the conversation- he was so open," Jacqui continued as she flitted around her desk to perch on the neighboring settee beside Hermione's. "I believe that he's the one." Jacqui was not normally a "gusher" but she- Hermione could not decide what else she could have been- was in raptures about this Henry. Hermione noted it was a first for her young and intelligent secretary.
"Hello Ms. Granger, Jacqui," called Mary, another associate's assistant called, upon stepping out of the elevator.
Hermione chatted with the girls first, finished her briefing with Jacqui and her breakfast. She rose and went to her office and began her work.
She had just began feeling the beginnings of hunger pangs when her door was thrust open and an elegantly shod foot, followed by an equally elegant clothed body entered, topped by a head that was composed of aristocratic features, platinum blond hair and a warm and suspiciously triumphant smile. Her lunch date with Malfoy!
Hermione looked up guiltily from her work, her quill suspended mid-air, her eyes rounded, when:
"Hermione! I'm sorry! I just couldn't stop him, miss!" Jacqui panted from the doorway, referring to Hermione's instruction of not letting anyone bother her today. Hermione sighed, put down her quill and patted her hair. She waved Jacqui away, rising.
"Oh Jacqui, Malfoy couldn't be stopped by ten ogres if it came to lunch," Hermione said without ire and with a glance at Draco. Jacqui interpreted this as a fond glance. "I'll be back by two, see you then. Have some lunch too, alright?" Hermione picked her blazer up and patted her thigh to make sure that her wand was still properly holstered and stepped towards Draco.
"Where would you like to have lunch today, Granger? The Blue Danube, Izzi, or-Merlin forbid- Madam Puddifoot's? Perhaps a meander through Champs Elysees? I have been longing for Paris, you know," Draco amiably said and just as amiably enveloped her hand in his much larger one and slid it through his arm, as natural as the sun rising in the east and as dirigible plums floating.
Hermione pretended to mull over her choices and shot a conspiring look at Draco.
"How about South Exeter, I hear there's a shepherd's pie conspiracy between the housewives' of that area!" She exclaimed loudly and sarcastically.
"Or, how about Korea? I hear Asian cuisine is quite on its way, Granger."
"Or, how about we just replay fifth year, Malfoy-dear?"
They continued their banter through the reception area; with both of them occasionally passing Hermione's associates and other company employees along the way. After two years of seeing The Draco Malfoy strolling their hallowed, albeit still obscure (in the eyes of some ignorant), halls, his comings and goings were taken less and less notice.
Except the ladies of the firm, of course. Hermione could feel the daggers and the sheer magnetic force of the ladies' eyes on them both as she and Malfoy strolled to the exit. Young and old and in-between just seem to gravitate towards his aristocratic cast and elegant, yet powerfully masculine countenance. With Malfoy's restrained power and easy charm and grace, no eye did not take notice of him.
Hermione could just almost hear the question "What does he see in her?" Add a dash of scorn for Granger and concern for Malfoy, and you have the office gossip for the first two months of the Granger-Malfoy Bi-Monthly Lunch Date.
But as per usual, Hermione and Draco were seated at their regular table in muggle London, in Hermione's favorite restaurant, Cottage Cheese. Cottage Cheese was situated in the higher end of the city, chic and select. The Cottage Cheese was cozy, with mismatched chairs all done up with a unifying color of cream. The walls were done in a pale yellow. The restaurant had the ambiance of a comfortable home, yet was fresh enough as spring, with trimmings of white and clean lines and genuine passion. Hermione and Draco did not fail to miss lunch at the Cottage Cheese each month- neither thinking about who had instituted the tradition in the first place.
"We'll have the usual, Peters," Draco said.
"And a plate of that fresh fruit that I adore, please," Hermione smiled.
"Certainly sir, madam," and Peters, the maître d' withdrew. The Usual was not unfamiliar with Peters, what with Mr. and Mrs. Granger coming to have lunch in the Cottage Cheese every month, and being very generous with the tips, too! Although he never knew why any mother would name their son such an odd name of Malfoy was beyond him.
"How have you been, Malfoy? Any poor victims since last I saw you?" Hermione teased.
"Oh, just a few bloody and bruised hearts, here and there. You? How is Jeremy? That fine fellow in nursing, was it? The one you've been dating for two months?"
"Fist of all, Malfoy, his name is Jasper! Get it through your thick head, just once! And he's in law, Malfoy- like me! And he's fiiine," Hermione finished, annoyed and very satisfied at the end, with the twinkle back in her eye.
"Oho! Granger got shagged- is that why you're in such a good mood now? After how many dates was that- 7? How does that guy find the bloody patience?" Malfoy, incredulous as ever. Hermione wondered why she remained friends with him, with a roll of her eyes.
"Malfoy, just be-" Hermione stopped short as the waiter appeared to serve them their appetizers.
As the waiter retreated, Hermione furiously continued "Just because I want to have a relationship before getting some does not make me impossible, Malfoy! In fact, I think that I value Jasper more now, because of this." Hermione felt proud of defending herself so successfully. Jasper, too, of course- mustn't forget him!
"Merlin's balls, Granger. You're a daffy. It's either you like the chap or you don't. Drawing it out to two months and seven dates?"
"Just because you can't hold on to any real relationship does not mean that everyone else is just as incapacitated as you are, you arse." Merlin, now Hermione remembered why she was friends with him. The debates, and the conversations! Malfoy had the amazing ability to bring blood pumping to her heart outside the courtroom.
In main course, they continued on to calmer waters.
"How is your mother, Malfoy? How do you think she found the new novels I sent her?" Hermione had, at the beginning, formed a very tentative and highly unlikely relationship with Narcissa Malfoy. But as time drew on, they discovered a mutual passion: reading. Hermione found out that Narcissa enjoyed Wizarding penny-novels and Hermione offered to bring her some of Helen Granger's muggle romances. From thereon, the budding friendship blossomed to a degree that even Draco held in complete awe.
Draco grimaced and complained "I think she wants to replace me with you, you know Bury my body somewhere in the Manor grounds and adopt you. Where is Hermione? Have you visited her yet? Ask Daisy to bake her some cookies! How was she? Tell her to call on me!" He mimicked in a pitchy and grating voice, so unlike Narcissa's soft drawl that Hermione nearly dropped from her chair in laughter.
"Oh is Drakey-poo jealous? Malfoy, that is rich! In fact, I think I'll call on Narcissa this Saturday," she smiled maliciously.
As their desserts were served and lunch wound down, Hermione was brought back to memory lane, on the first lunch she and Malfoy had gone to.
It had been almost a year and a half since they graduated from Hogwarts. Hermione was, unsurprisingly, at the top of the class. Malfoy, being exceptionally gifted and brilliant himself- a fact that only Hermione and the professors seemed to know- came at a scrapingly close second. Harry and Ron were practically lathering at their mouths with disbelief. Hermione remembered that she could barely restrain herself from smashing their noses in. She knew that Malfoy deserved the honors and she had an unwaveringly fair mind that knew honor was placed in its due- this case, it was Malfoy.
Hermione was just exiting Flourish and Blotts when she collided with a solid and well-dressed brick wall. The wall much later turned out to be Malfoy, from a fitting in Madam Malkin's.
He reached out a firm hand to steady her, after uttering a requisite curse under his breath regarding blind bints. It was obvious to Hermione that this handsome man was not having the day of his life. It became more apparent when he set his eyes on her and scowled.
"Lady, next time you walk, you look." Autocratic git, Hermione thought. It was not as is everybody wants to be slammed to an arse each day, was it? Hermione reconsidered on behalf on some other witches who would love to slam themselves (repeatedly) into a handsome wall like the specimen in front of her.
"Sure. It would be better, though, if you did not barrel your way through a crowded section of the street, now would it?" she shot back sarcastically. She was not an idiot and hated being treated like one.
She watched as confusion veiled the man's eyes and found them mirrored by her.
"You!" Malfoy pointed at her.
"Malfoy!" Hermione exclaimed.
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I hope you enjoyed the piece so far. Thank you for reading.