Disclaimer: I own nothing but the plot.
"Lucius?" Severus's voice echoed in the fireplace.
"Severus?" Lucius's disheveled head poked out from behind the doorway of the living room.
"What are you—never mind," Severus shook his head to recalibrate his thoughts, despite the curiosity to his lover's state. "I just needed to tell you, I talked to Miss Granger and she has agreed to reside here. "
"That's good! Right? She understands?" Lucius questioned hurriedly, worry apparent on his face.
"Yes, but she wishes—is that paint on your shirt? Isn't that my shirt?" Severus noticed Lucius's dark shirt, which was speckled with paint, and such a curiosity of his character could not be dismissed.
"Er…yes, but it is only one of your old shirts, plus it has a hole in it! Look!" Lucius presented the shirt for inspection, but Severus just waved him away. Despite Lucius's prostrations, Severus knew no hole existed and so he resigned himself to just shaking his head.
"Yes, well, she wishes to move in as soon as possible," Severus pushed on.
"As soon as possible? As in, now?" Lucius questioned, his face was still apprehensive.
"Yes, if you would allow it?" Severus questioned Lucius looking upon his face for any hint of an answer.
"That shall all be fine," Lucius replied glancing toward the room he was previously occupying prior to Severus's call.
"Lucius, if you do not want her here now, it's quite alright, I don't wish to force you into this," Severus tried to convey his concern.
"No, Severus, it's quite alright, I promise, bring her down," Lucius insisted with as much sincerity in his face that Severus had ever seen in a long while.
"Alright, I shall inform Albus and then bring her down, if you are certain?" Severus asked once more.
"I am certain," Lucius punctuated his statement with one firm nod of his head.
Severus pulled his head out of the fire to hear, "And what do you wish to tell me, Severus?"
"Albus, you damnable, old fool," Severus was obviously startled.
"Ah, Severus, you are only disgruntled because I managed to take you by surprise!" he chuckled.
"That must be it, old man, it could not be that I'm making an observation," Severus drawled out.
"Oh my, such sarcasm from an employee, what kind of employer am I to receive such a tone? Nevertheless, what is it that you wanted to tell me?" Albus smiled.
"Yes, I wish to inform you that Miss Granger wishes to leave the Hospital Wing and stay with Lucius and I," Severus remarked.
"Alright, I assume everything is arranged?" Albus asked with a twinkle in his meddlesome eyes.
"Of course, and with you permission I will go collect Miss Granger and show her, her new quarters," Severus nodded and waited for Albus' permission.
"And you have it, most assuredly, however if this does not work…" he trailed off.
"I will inform you immediately so that an alternative solution can be found," Severus nodded to Albus before re-entering the Hospital Wing.
"Good Luck, my boy!" Albus' voice followed Severus out to where Miss Granger was sitting on the edge of her hospital bed.
"Miss Granger, if you are ready, we can depart the wing."
"Of course Professor. Thank you for allowing me to stay with you and Mr. Malfoy and freeing me from this place!" Hermione smiled, truly happy to be leaving the Hospital Wing, she felt trapped there. While she would still have to be limited in her outside contact with the world, she'd at best be in a place where she felt safe and less exposed.
"It is not a problem, Miss Granger."
"Please, sir, Hermione," she insisted as they made their way to the fireplace, as she was not strong enough to make the journey all the way.
"Miss Granger, Hermione, welcome to our chambers," Severus announced as Hermione stepped though into the sitting room. Hermione looked around and took in her surroundings. The sitting room was decorated in warm browns and forest greens. There were two soft, cloth, beige couches and a similar large chair arranged around a low wooden table. Hermione reckoned the table was made out of walnut, to match the end tables she found between each piece of furniture. Despite the comfort Hermione experienced with the homey room, she felt at ease when she saw the books that lined the shelves that overtook the walls on either side of the fireplace. She noticed the little trinkets between the books that seemed to break the books into sections and organize them into some state that she was unable to discern in the few moments she had to look over said books. She smiled at her old professor, who had looked away from her. She followed his gaze to find Lucius Malfoy standing in the doorway. He had not changed much since her second year, however he did appear nervous—not something she would have ever imagined of the eldest Malfoy from her childhood. He was not wearing full, elaborate robes as he had in the past, but rather a simple dark blue shirt and slacks.
"Mr. Malfoy. Thank you so much for allowing me to stay with you," Hermione spoke, moving in front of him and extending her hand to him.
"It is no trouble, Miss Granger," Lucius replied with a small smile and took her offered hand, understanding that she was forgiving him and withholding judgment upon until she got to know him better.
"Please, call me Hermione," she smiled.
"Then I must insist on Lucius. We are, after all, living together for the foreseeable future. It might get a tad awkward, otherwise," Lucius returned her smile. "Would you like to see your rooms? I just finished painting them!"
Severus smiled, this was the Lucius that was his favorite; he was relaxed.
"Oh, you needn't have gone through all the trouble! A bed would have been more than enough!" Hermione gushed, instantly relaxed around this new Lucius Malfoy, despite only just being introduced, to the real Lucius.
"I do not believe that I could ever leave a guest with 'just a bed', as you put it. I am a Malfoy, after all, it is our duty to show our hospitality!" Lucius cried, with a smile to show that he was putting on airs for amusement. "Here, this is your door," he pointed to a door on the left, "this door leads to Sev's and my door," he pointed to the door across from her own, "and this is a guest room. Generally, Draco will stay here if he is spending the night."
Hermione smiled as Lucius opened the door to her room and showed her, her new residence for an undetermined amount of time. It was done in various shades of blue and accented with whites and silvers. Her walls were a cheery, light blue and her bed was a warmer tone of blue. She had throw pillows done in white, silver, and blue which tied the silver and blue bench at the end of her bed together. She had a study area with a desk, bookshelves, and comfortable-looking, high backed, chair. Lucius brought her though the room, showing her the walk in closet with a chair, table, and mirror located inside the closet, which she believed to be a full room. He then showed her the bathroom with an enormous tub. The walls were tiled with a dark silver and dark blue with white fluffy towels hanging off the wall. She had not felt so comfortable, or so pampered in years, and she had the largest smile on her face to prove it. Before she could even think, she had her arms around Lucius chanting "thank you".
A/N: Sorry for the long wait, but I haven't abandoned it! I've just been busy with the start of classes again and work! Please Read and Review!