Hola! Chapter 6 all sorts of live for you. That said, gimme a few days to get the next *reads what I have written* 3 chapters done, and I will update again, probably in rapid succession. The love is, as always, appreciated.
If you like that this has been updated, thank Vanime, without whom this Lumione wouldn't exist. No, I'm serious. Vanime was a huge supporter when Making Magic came out, and I just couldn't stop thinking about doing another one after that. So thank you.
This story had a completely different premise when I started writing it, though it was always going to be Lucius and Hermione. If you're ever interested in what it was intended to be, drop me a line, I'm always happy to share. Same goes for prompts or requests, and general questions/comments. My email is listed in my profile and I always accept PMs.
Standard disclaimers apply, warnings in chapter 1
"Hey," Hermione shot her flatmate a smile as he speed-walked into the kitchen. "You okay?" Draco was normally fairly serious, but the expression on his face seemed more disturbed than anything. 'Probably should stop messing with him about his father,' Hermione considered, pulling the poultry from the oven. As she worked a charm over the chicken to keep it warm yet moist, she watched her bully-turned-best friend. She hadn't seen a look like that since Sixth Year.
"What's up?" He refused to make direct eye contact, shaking his head, and slugged the glass of Sake Mizu he had poured himself while she wasn't watching. This went much further than just her harmless flirtation if he was bringing out the rice wine he had picked up in the Wizarding district of Tokyo. Hermione pressed her lips together, looking away toward the clock on the stove, and decided to take a chance. "So… which one?"
"Which one what?" came his mumbled reply over the rim of his tumbler.
Hermione rolled her eyes and stomped the entire three steps it took to cross their kitchen. "Okay, a couple of things. Number one," her nimble fingers plucked the drink from her taller counterpart's hand, gulping the rest in one sip before setting it on the counter beside them. "No one drinks room temperature sake from a tumbler. That's crass. Number two, to answer your question to my question with yet another question, are you sulking about your father or about Harry?"
Hermione leaned her hip against the nearby surface, a delighted smile drawing her lips wider when Draco jolted, mouth open yet making no sound. A guffaw finally bubbled forth and her hand smacked over her mouth before it could be set free.
"I'm not sulking," his lips pulled themselves into a pout, completely ruining his proclamation. "And even if I were, which I'm not, why would it be about Potter?" Arms folded defensively over his chest, but in his flinty stare, Hermione could see trepidation and what looked like fear and doubt. She knew he realized his own transparency and was not the least bit surprised when he attempted to change the subject. "What is with you and my father, anyway? He's my father, Hermione. That's my dad!"
His friend nodded, dropping her head a bit to consider her next words, rubbing her forehead with thought. "Your mum, actually. She's been putting ideas into my head, I think. Every time we've met recently, all she's spoken of is- no. No. This is not about me." Her head raised quickly and she glared at him. "Draco, have I ever said anything against anyone you've spent time with?"
The man in question shook his head, opening his mouth to protest, only to be cut off by her hand. "No, I haven't. You don't get to do it to me, either. I get that it's weird to you, it's strange to me as well considering the past, but you don't get to make my choices for me. I would never do that to you." Seeing he was coaxed from his upset at least a bit, she went on.
"Draco," she sighed. "About Harry. I know you've been seeing each other for the last month." Her tone was gentle, understanding, but it did nothing to ease his anxiety, it seemed.
"But how-"
"I'm not blind. You've had a thing for him for ages, and he, well… I think now that he can just live his life and be Harry, he finally knows he can be his true self. I've always supported him, and now that you're also in my life, I will support you, too. You're family."
The boy who once wished her dead, who had watched her tortured on his floor teared up slightly. "I've been so worried about what you would say. Harry said that it would be fine, but you're one of the few who still even talks to me or treats me-" he broke off with a shuddering breath. "I should've known. And you're right. Weird as it is, if you and my f-" Draco broke off, swallowing what looked like a gag. "Father hit it off, it's not my business. Just one question, though, how did you know?"
She reached over, patting his cheek. "It's called a silencing charm, dearest." She started past him, stopping to whisper into his ear, "I bet your dad knows a few," At his answering groan, she laughed loudly and left the room, hearing the Floo in the next room.
Harry himself was just stepping through the Floo when she walked back in and immediately over to kiss his cheek. "Harry! Draco and I were just discussing you!" Her smile turned cunning and Harry's emerald green eyes widened. Hermione turned then, gesturing to the wizard standing from the settee nearby. "You, of course, know Lucius."
The aristocratic man held out a large hand to his son's apparent flame, if the blush and startled look on Potter's face were anything to go by. "Mr. Potter, I am pleased to see you under better circumstances." The two men shook hands, Harry a bit more warily for obvious reasons.
"Harry, Draco's in the kitchen, probably drinking half the sake, if you want to go whisper about how you've been set-up and caught out." She was shooing him out of the room a moment later.
"You would have done well in Slytherin, my dear," a deep voice said from directly behind her. Shivers crawled up her spine, moist warmth blossoming in the juncture of her thighs. She felt him as he stepped closer, the difference in size and the broadness of his body just barely pressed against her back, overpowering yet secure. Before she could lean back into him or even formulate a reply, his ex-wife and her new beau were stepping through the Floo.