A/N: Haha, wow, after last chapter, lemme just tell you...yes, you can all slap Ron! Thank you so much to everyone who reviewed, favorited and followed! This chapter has the much anticipated shopping excursion in it, so I hope you enjoy! You can follow me on tumblr, where my handle is nauticalparamour. Oh, and you could read my Antonin x Hermione oneshot, posted yesterday, called Black Out Days.
So, please let me know what you thought of chapter nine and be on the lookout for chapter ten soon!
Hermione had a moment of satisfaction, seeing his blue eyes widen in surprise at actually seeing her standing there next to him, in muggle jeans, heels and black fancy top. She wished that Ron could see her now, seeing the way that Lucius Malfoy wanted her, judging by the way his eyes run up and down her body, appreciatively.
She stopped herself from rolling her eyes, knowing that Ron would likely be disgusted that she let the Slytherin ogle her like that. She knew that there was a significant amount of bad blood between the two families.
Regaining his confidence, Lucius practically purred her name. "Hermione, what an unexpected surprise." He said, sharklike grin on his face. "What would you like to drink?"
Feeling bold, Hermione grabbed his Old Fashioned tumbler from his hand, taking a sniff and then a small sniff. "Laphroaig." She identified the peaty drink easily, surprised that Malfoy would be drinking muggle scotch, but then, she supposed it was one of the more expensive liquors on the menu. "I'd take an Ardbeg if they have it." She said sweetly, slipping into the seat next to him.
Hermione couldn't stop the giggle that left her lips, seeing Lucius's shocked expression. "And just how do you know so much about whiskey?"
She looked down at the bar, a melancholy smile on her face. "My grandfather always said any Granger worth their salt drank scotch." She remembered taking tiny sips from his glass when she was a just a girl, and being disgusted by the taste. How her grandfather would laugh and laugh at her tiny face scrunched up in disgust.
Once her drink was ordered and delivered and in her hand, Lucius considered her presence. He never in a million years thought she would actually show up for a drink with him. He knew then that something must have pushed her to actually show up at his bar. "So, what brings you here this evening?"
Hermione was pleased to note that there was no lingering awkwardness between them, but then she didn't really want to tell him about all of her problems again. "I was just at Harry's for dinner, and I decided I wasn't quite ready to go home yet." She said, trying to sound nonchalant.
If Lucius could tell that she was lying, he didn't make any note of it. "And just what is new with the boy wonder these days?" Lucius asked, knowing that it was just a way to get her talking. Everyone knew that the boy-who-lived and his ginger sidekick were aurors. There was talk of Potter even becoming head auror someday, though for his own sake, Lucius hoped that was several years off.
"Harry and Ginny just got engaged." Hermione said, taking a small pull from her glass, enjoying the feel of the heavy crystal in her hand. She didn't expect such finery at a Knockturn Alley pub. "I imagine that things are going to get incredibly hectic in the coming months."
It was true, Hermione couldn't even imagine what kind of media circus was going to surround herself and her friends in the coming months. It was going to be exhausting, considering the fact that the wizarding media had never been kind to her. "How do you get such favorable coverage by the media?" She asked, genuinely interested.
"I would see its a combination of being rather good looking, and giving them a little bit of what they want." His handsome face was momentarily transformed when he remembered his pot Azkaban days. "But they are quick to turn on you."
"I'm sorry." Hermione said quietly, annoyed with herself for bringing up such a sensitive topic. "I was trying to lighten the mood." She admitted once. "I kept Rita Skeeter in a jar for a month in her animagus form in fourth year." Hermione suddenly blurted out, having never told anyone else what she'd done to get the blonde's negative articles to stop. "Merlin, it felt good to tell someone that."
Lucius's eyebrows had nearly disappeared into his hairline, he was so shocked. "Did you? I must say, I am impressed." He complimented her. It was one of the most vicious things that she'd done to another human, but she didn't regret it.
That broke the bit of unease that had settled over the pair and they easily settled into a lighter conversation topic. By the time Hermione had finished her second glass of scotch, she was feeling pleasantly fuzzy. "I should get home now." She said with a regretful tone of voice. "It's quite late."
"Allow me to walk you home." Lucius offered, not wanting his time with the vivacious girl to end. He was entranced, watching her brown eyes light up every time she smiled.
"It's okay, I'm not far." Hermione said, not wanting to impose on the older man.
"Nonsense. I insist." Lucius said, already standing, laying down enough galleons to pay for both of their drinks. "Knockturn Alley is no place for such a beautiful girl so late at night." Hermione blushed, but happily took his arm, as she led them from the bar, through the narrow winding streets to her building.
It was Hermione's turn to wish the night wasn't over. "Would you like to come up? I have some brandy." She said, hesitantly. She knew that she was playing with fire, but she couldn't stop. She couldn't believe that she'd asked Lucius up to her flat. Was it even clean?
Before she had any more time to panic, Lucius was agreeing and they were walking up the narrow staircase together, Lucius looking completely out of place in such standard living arrangements. She opened the door to her flat, proud that she didn't fumble with the keys, and watched as he strode in, confident.
Hermione blushed, realizing the truth of what was happening right now. How had her night devolved into this? "I know it's not much, but it suits me." She said with a soft smile. She wondered if she could be embarrassed with the piles of books that covered most of the available surfaces. "Please, have a seat, I'll just get us a drink."
When she returned, a bit of brandy in each crystal glass, Lucius was sitting rigidly on her couch, but gladly accepted the glass. "Your home is lovely. It's very you." He told her, sincerely.
She smiled, sitting next to him, and took a small drink. Suddenly, the easy rapport that they had had at the bar was nowhere to be found, and she suspected it was because they both knew what was coming next, what they wanted to happen next.
Finishing her drink in record time, she set the empty glass on the coffee table, and watched as Lucius did the same thing. Her eyes were trained on his lips, and she felt her cheeks heat in embarrassment. Oh, she really wanted to kiss him, but in the back of her mind, she knew it wasn't a wise decision.
Lucius took the decision for her, taking his hand and tangling it into her hair, pulling her face towards his, until their lips were pressed together fiercely. Hermione moaned, instantly opening her lips to his wanting to taste him. She eagerly caressed her tongue against his in a lazy dance that spoke of simmering passion beneath the surface.
With her back pressed against the couch, she was completely surrounded by Lucius Malfoy, from his hair to his scent to his firm body. She ghosted her fingertips across his jaw, feeling the beginning of stumble, and sighed into him. Hermione thought that she could spend every waking moment like this. Each stroke of his tongue sent a pulse of desire between her legs, desperate for more.
They continued together for longer than she should have, before finally, she was pulling back from his lips and looking away, lips bruised and cheeks flushed. Lucius cleared his throat first. "It's quite late, I should take my leave."
Hermione nodded stupidly, half of her wanting to invite him into her bed and the other half knowing that she needed to stop while she was ahead. "Yes, I have to get up quite early tomorrow, myself." Hermione told him, remembering her plans with Daphne. "I had a very nice time tonight." She said walking him to her door.
"As did I. I am so glad that you took me up on my offer." Lucius replied, not wanting to leave the apartment. "Goodnight, Hermione." He said, finally, pressing one last lingering kiss to her lips.
Shutting the door behind him, Hermione pressed her hand to her heart and let her head fall to the wood of the door.
Hermione met Daphne bright and early to do a bit of shopping for work, but also to help Hermione find a nice dress for her upcoming double date with Daphne's boyfriend's friend. It was nice to spend some time with the Slytherin outside of work, and she clearly had a keen eye for fashion.
Seeing Hermione hold up a pale yellow sundress, Daphne nearly smacked the cotton fabric from her hand. "Granger. Please tell me you weren't thinking about wearing that atrocious dress to your date?" She asked, eyes flashing. "That color of yellow makes you look like you are going to spew, and you are going for sexy, not sweet."
Hermione blushed in a way that clearly broadcast she was absolutely thinking of wearing that dress to her date. Hermione picked a tight, navy blue wrap dress. "What about this?"
Daphne cocked her head to the side, looking at the dress Hermione was holding against her side. "Go try it on." The blonde had her own dress to try on in the dressing room next to Hermione's. "I have to find the best dress for Astoria's engagement party."
Astoria, Daphne's little sister, had recently become engaged to Draco Malfoy. "Oh? Have they set a date yet?" Hermione asked politely, even though she didn't particularly find Astoria's nuptials interesting.
"Yes, they are getting married in the spring, once she graduates Hogwarts." Daphne said. "She's been so insufferable since he asked, I thought about turning down her request that I be maid of honor. And my parents are over the moon. At least they have one perfect daughter to make up for my mistakes."
Although Hermione felt really badly for Daphne, it was nice to know the girl that sometimes seemed so perfect had her own issues that she was bitter about. It was good to have someone to commiserate with. Still, Hermione wasn't really sure what to say to comfort her. They were becoming better friends, but they weren't that close yet. "Ready?" Hermione asked, before stepping out of the dressing room.
Daphne looked amazing in her little black dress, but she had a discerning eye. "You have to get that dress, but for work, not for your date." Daphne said in a smile. "It's just a bit too conservative for Wa- your date's tastes." She smirked.
"Can't you just tell me who it is?" Hermione whined. "How am I supposed to know how to dress if I don't even know who it is?" She nibbled her lower lip. "Is he cute?"
Daphne rolled her eyes. "He's very good looking, and he has the most amazing blue eyes. But that's all I am going to tell you about him. You will just have to wait. Now, let me go find you another dress."
Hermione went back into dressing room to wait, looking at herself in the mirror. She couldn't imagine picking out the navy dress for work, but it did make her look powerful and confident. It made her feel sexy and she decided to head Daphne's advice and get it.
While she was taking it off, Daphne hung a green dress over the door. Hermione gasped at the shiny fabric, holding it up against her body. "Daphne, I can't wear this!" The dress was strapless and very short.
"Just try it on." Daphne said through the door, and Hermione could practically hear her smirk.
Biting her lip, she decided to give it a shot, as she'd promised herself she was going to start pushing herself out of her comfort zone. Once the dress was on her body, she nearly gasped seeing herself in the mirror.
Opening the door, she was eager to show it off to Daphne. "You look so hot." Her friend said, eyes wide. "Please, Hermione, you have to wear that."
Hermione smiled, glad to know that the girl she saw in the mirror was her. It was really flattering, and even the color brought out the vibrant shade of her hair. "Oh alright...if you think my date will like it?"
"Like it? His eyes are going to pop out of his head!" Daphne countered with a laugh. "Now, go change out of it so that we can get you some proper heels and lingerie.
"Lingerie? I don't think I need all of that." Hermione said, blush on her cheeks.
"Well, you at least need a strapless bra to go with that." Daphne said, pulling on the exposed strap of Hermione's bra, snapping her skin when she let it go.
Hermione conceded that and proceeded to change back into her clothes so that Daphne could drag her to the next shop. She followed Daphne from store to store and spent way more than she'd ever done before on clothes, tall high heels, and of course, bras and knickers, but she'd also enjoyed herself more than she thought was possible, glad to have a friend like Daphne.
When Hermione returned from her shopping excursion, carrying more bags than she ever thought possible, she just wanted to run a bubble bath, and do a bit of reading before bed. Setting down the multitude of clothes she'd purchased, she was surprised to see something unexpected on her kitchen table.
Walking into the other room, she gasped, coming face to face with the most beautiful arrangement of flowers. Reaching out, she touched one of the velvety petals, looking for a card. Inside, she found one from Lucius, thanking her for the lovely evening. It was such a thoughtful gesture, and so romantic...her heart beat a bit faster that he'd thought of her.
But at the same time, it made her nervous. It was clear that she and Lucius were attracted to each other, but...just what did he want from her?