AN- its really short. really really short. and im sorry, but i figured short was better than nothing! the title of the chapter is An Item of Importance, with heavy emphasis on ITEM -wink wink-

Hermione sat up in bed the morning after Gabrielle's visit. She had been awake for awhile now, thinking. Pensively staring in the general direction of her toes, she thought of last night. Something had been bothering her. She glanced up at the ceiling and then out the window, where the morning sun was making its presence known, biting her lip.

She was thinking about those indefinable feelings. The mutually unknown attraction betwixt herself and Lucius. She released her lip, looking at the view with a certain intensity. She could define the indefinable. That was what had bothered her. She was ready to label and classify, the question was, was he?

Nodding her head, she swung her legs out of bed and made for the shower. There was only one thing to do, talk to him about it. As she began to run the water, she thought. Draco had decided to 'escort' Gabrielle home the night before, and had said he planned to drop in at work for awhile. That left her alone in the house with Lucius. She supposed he would be in the library, working.

As she showered, her mind wandered to the week ahead and what things needed to be done and menial jobs to give Sandy. And, of course, making a rough outline of her impending conversation with Lucius.

By the time she had gotten out of the shower (an hour and a half later) it was 11:30. Taking her time, she bolstered her imaginary conversation, putting on lotion and letting her hair air-dry and then finishing it with a spell. Another half hour had passed.

As it was now noon, and she had not eaten, Hermione, now fully dressed of course, went down to the dining room. Lucius usually didn't eat lunch when he was working, as the other two occupants of the household were usually out at that time anyway, so she walked into the empty dining room and called for Flopsy, who appeared out of nowhere.

"Yes, Miss Hermione?"

"Hello, Flopsy. I was wondering if I could trouble you for some lunch?"

"Of course, Miss Hermione! Lunch is no trouble at all! Flopsy is getting it for you right away!" she squeaked, nodding her head as her ears flapped dramatically. "there is letters on the table for you, Miss Hermione!"

"Thanks, Flopsy!" Flopsy disappeared and Hermione sat down to a small pile of four letters. Three from work and one from Ginny. (The only people who knew where Hermione was living were Remus, Tonks, and Sandy, but you know owls, they'll always find you.) As Hermione began reading the letter from Ginny, Flopsy ran in with a tray balanced precariously on her head, holding soup and a toasted sandwich.

She ate her lunch and read her letters, which, sadly she needed to address fairly soon. (The letters were all from Sandy, and either needed RSVPs or an order. And she hadn't talked to Ginny in ages.)

Jogging up the stairs to her room, she scribbled replies to Sandy, and then wrote a more detailed response to Ginny, saying she was preoccupied at the moment and promising to write more later. Nipping back downstairs, she gave the letters to Flopsy (who was dusting the parlor) and went upstairs to the library.

Knocking gently and sticking her head in the door, Hermione smiled at Lucius, who had lifted his head and was looking at her through black half moon reading glasses. "May I come in?"

"Of course." He watched her come and sit in her usual seat. "May I be of service?"

"No, no, don't mind me, please continue." Lucius stared at her for a moment, then went back to his work. Hermione merely sat and stared into space, trying to find a good place to begin.

Finally fifteen minutes had passed. She gave up. "So…"

"I knew you came here to talk to me." He looked at her, corners of his mouth twitching.

"Yes, well if you are quite finished uncovering my ulterior motives, may I explain why I am here?"

"Please."

"I had been thinking-"

"Again?"

Hermione glared. "Yes, I was thinking…about a definition."

He raised his eyebrows. "A definition? Of what, may I ask?"

"Us, I suppose. I mean…remember when we said we were indefinable? Well I've come up with at least a few synonyms and perhaps we could fabricate a definition…" she trailed.

Lucius looked down at his desk. "I see. And what synonyms do you have?"

Hermione swallowed before continuing. "Namely, attraction. From all aspects, physical to emotional."

"Most certainly." He agreed.

"And of course it's a mutual attraction, so reciprocated would be another synonym. And also friendship. And a particular degree of companionship…"

"Do these synonyms come to a common total?" Lucius asked, looking at her with an eyebrow quirked.

She blushed. "Well, yes, in fact. That's why I came to talk to you…"

"Oh yes?"

"I never was good at figures…it's the sum total…I need you to check my math."

"Well, I cannot possibly critique until you give me the final product."

"Why do we always beat around the bush with these analogies?" she muttered.

"Beg pardon?"

"Nothing. Well…I think, that I, at least, would simply adore being able to say that we are…" here she paused. She couldn't quite say girlfriend/boyfriend. So she quickly factored in a substitute. "Together. I mean, you know. An item."

"An item?" Lucius said, with mild incredulity. "Well…do you mind having your reputation completely soiled and the entire world, as we know it, in complete uproar?"

"When isn't it in uproar?"

"And your friends, while they have been quite accepting of me in general to this point, would probably change their minds in light of circumstances. Also, you risk the press finding out that you have taken up residence in the Manor."

"The press is easy enough to overcome, not to mention we both have connections in high places. And if I can't handle my friends then the world is coming to an end. And we can be careful about the Manor…I would still prefer keeping my personal life private-"

"Naturally." He put in.

"Yes, naturally, and furthermore, I think it is a fabulous idea and I'm ready for it. I think. I mean, I'm ready to try."

Lucius sighed, weighing the consequences in his mind. "I suppose…if you feel you would like to be considered 'together', and I could never disagree with that notion, my answer is yes."

"Fantastic!" Hermione squealed, bouncing slightly and beaming.

"Shall we seal this affair with something?"

"Coy, Lucius, very coy." She said, grinning and going around his desk to him.

"It seems to be the only way to get anything from you…"

Hermione laughed slightly before kissing him.

PAGE BREAK

Hermione stopped pacing around the room with a giddy grin on her face and glanced at the clock. It was three and she was about to explode. She had to tell someone! Today was Harry's day off so she didn't want to bother Ginny (on Harry's day off who knew what they got up to). And that would be really awkward, she was still working out how to tell Harry and Ron. Who to tell, who to tell…

The idea quickly coming to her, she grinned and ran from the room and to the stairs. Racing for the door, she stepped outside and apparated.

PAGE BREAK

Hermione looked at her destination of choice. A slightly lopsided, white, slate-roofed house that reminded her of the Burrow, except with more cool tones and more put together.

Momentarily regretting her choice (what if they were busy, she was unannounced) she pushed open the small white gate and walked up the path to the blue door and knocked. A slight woman with pale brown hair opened the door, saying "Bonjour!"

"Bonjour, est Gabrielle-"

At that moment, a door opened on the left wall of the foyer, and Gabrielle bustled through. "Diannah, est que tu as-" she stopped. "Oh, Hermione!" muttering in French to her relative, she grinned at Hermione and took her elbow, drawing her inside. "I am so sorry, how are you?"

"I don't mean to intrude, I just needed to talk to you for a moment."

Gabrielle looked at her, concerned. "Are you alright?"

"Yes, yes I'm fine, no need to worry…but it is important." She said, grinning a little.

"Ah." Gabrielle spoke to Diannah, who smiled, nodded, and left, then took Hermione up several flights of stairs to one of the higher floors, into a small, airy bedroom. "Now, what is this thing you need to talk to me about?" she said, directing Hermione to sit on the end of the bed.

"Well…you see, Lucius and I were talking and…no, no. I should start from the very beginning."

"Yes! I want every detail!" Gabrielle said, a certain mischievous sparkle in her eye.

"I have a feeling you already guessed what this is about…"

"I still want to hear the story."

Grinning, Hermione retold the night of the dance onward, as Gabrielle sat in a chair across from her, grinning at every blush and stutter and smile her friend made.

"And then, just a few hours ago, we spoke about becoming official, an item, per say, and he said yes, so I felt like I would explode if I didn't tell anyone! So here I am." Hermione wrapped up, eyes gleaming and a massive excited grin across her face.

"Hermione I am so happy for you!" Gabrielle said, beaming and sitting forward. "Well, really, its about time." She hesitated. "I don't know much…but Draco is impressing upon me that Lucius is in the news a lot. What will you do about the press?"

"We had talked about that…I think that we will try to keep it from them as much as possible, it will, of course, inevitably get around to them but as it stands…"

"Of course. Well I must come to dinner again soon! How will you tell Draco?"

"Oh goodness, I hadn't even thought of that yet!"

Gabrielle laughed. "I assume Lucius will tell him tonight, I wish I could be there!"

Hermione's eyes grew wide. "Oh I am so sorry! I should let you get back to your family!"

"No, no, please, you can surely stay and meet them! I don't want to steal you from your man," she smirked, "but just for a moment?"

"If I'm not imposing…"

"Nonsense!" Gabrielle grabbed her hand and led her down the stairs and to the backyard.

Upon venturing onto the patio, Gabrielle blinked and said, surprised, "Hélène!"

A very young, exasperated woman looked at Gabrielle tiredly. She limply waved a hand at them both before Gabrielle continued. "I did not expect to see you here, and with Suzanne!"

A small, bouncy looking girl had appeared from behind her mother's legs. Her long, curly golden hair flounced around her as she looked from her mother to Gabrielle to elsewhere in the yard.

"I am only here for a second, then I am taking this girl to her friend's house. Then I am coming back for a glass of wine and hopefully some quiet time with Jacques."

The small girl exploded into a squeaky energetic torrent that lasted about a millisecond. Upon finishing, she stared at Gabrielle expectantly. The equivalent of what she said would have been "Mama is gonna apparate me to Claire-Lissette's house!"

Gabrielle got very excited for her until Suzanne decided she was bored and ran off. Turning to Hélène, she continued. "Where is Fleurette? And Jacques?"

"Jacques is taking her to my sister's house to play with Henriette."

"Hoping for a quiet evening?"

"At the very least one with some grown-up conversation."

"Ah. Well, allow me to introduce my friend, Hermione Granger."

The other woman shook her pale, mousy curls. "Forgive me, please, I have forgotten my manners."

Hermione laughed. "No, no, please, I understand, you are tired."

"This is true. Excuse me, it was lovely to meet you, Hermione, but I need to go and apprehend my daughter. Gabrielle, I will see you when I get back."

They bid their goodbyes and watched Hélène disentangle her daughter from a cluster of people on the lawn.

"She is my third cousin's wife. Suzanne is the eldest and Fleurette is only three."

"I see. I think I would need a map in order to navigate one of these parties!"

Gabrielle laughed. "I understand you." A voice called from inside the house. "My mother is here, that means dinner is probably being served."

"I should go anyway, thank you so much!"

"Of course, anytime! I look forward to my next visit!" Gabrielle said with a wink before hugging Hermione.

"My only hope is that Draco takes it alright."

PAGE BREAK

Hermione came home to a Draco-less manor and Lucius was (supposedly) still working. She retired to her room to answer a frantic letter from Sandy that said that she CANNOT address the situation with the International Pygmy Puff Hunter's Association in just three sentences (the organization was made up of stupid people anyway) and rewrite her letter to Ginny.

When she looked up, she realized that she was actually late to dinner by five minutes and hurried down the stairs.

Entering the dining room, she noticed that Lucius looked a little odd in a way she couldn't quite put her fingertip on, and Draco looked wary in a smug sort of way. "Sorry I'm late…"

"Father has been into the spirits."

Oh. That's why he looked so peculiar, usually he didn't nip into his stores until AFTER a meal.

"And this is any different because…?"

Lucius, ignoring Hermione's comment, said "Draco, enough of your squibbling, your mother and I have something to tell you."

"WHAT?!" came from both Hermione and Draco, Draco looking incredulous and Hermione looking pale. They both sat.

"Well you sat, now didn't you? Now, Draco. I have something very somber to talk to you about. It is high time I got back into the world as a single man!" Draco's mouth dropped open and Hermione put her forehead into her hands. She couldn't believe this. "Now, I know it might be difficult for you to realize and accept, but you're a grown man so you should understand!"

Hermione felt like interjecting, so she took it upon herself to do so. "I am sitting right here!"

"Father, really, must you carry on so? I assume, due to Hermione's indignation, that either this involves her or she is wildly embarrassed. Or both."

"Both."

"Draco it is no use protesting!"

"Draco, can we agree to never speak of this again?"

"This night never happened, mummy."

AN- okay. its up. this week is tech week for me, and so it was now or never. i ALSO know that the end was REALLY WEIRD but i havent had ANY SLEEP for the past few days and i really wanted to write that. thanks for bearing with me! REVIEW PLEASE!!!!