A/N - I know you were hoping the event would be in this chapter, but I started writing this hoping to include them both, and this ended up being longer than expected. Event will be the entire next chapter though, promise!
Lucius was very pleased as he sat across from Miss Granger in the same little Diagon Alley pub where they had their first meeting. Things hadn't gone this well for him in ages, and he had almost forgotten the wonderful feeling of success.
It was shocking what a little attitude change could actually achieve. He simply leveled out his personality, taking down the charm, adding a bit more positive feedback.
He played it all well, and in turn she was much more agreeable. She took his suggestions without argue, and seemed to forgo the power struggle that she was obviously never going to win.
Today her eyes even lacked their usual disappointment when she saw that he was there. He never quite understood that look, but it may have always been her secret wish that he had died some tragic death since their last meeting.
Slowly but surely, if he could keep the charade of decency going, she would warm up to him. He didn't think she trusted him yet; she wasn't naïve enough to think he had a sudden change of heart, but Lucius did not feel it would take long.
"There has been quite a bit of hype since invitations went out." She commented, after they had taken care of the other details.
It was certainly true. He received many owls from the invitation recipients. Some were positive, others merely intrigued, and a few questioned his involvement altogether. He also received many from the rest of the community, voicing their displeasure. Apparently they deemed his partnership with Miss Granger quite unsuitable, and wished to know who he imperiused to get himself in such a position.
Hermione received many similar letters, congratulating her on an outstanding effort of reform, but questioning how she ended up working alongside such a monster.
She wrote back assuring them it was more necessity than choice.
The surrounding drama seemed to have no effect on attendance, if their responses were any indication. Nearly everyone invited planned to attend, whether out of interest or mere curiosity.
"Lucius, do you actually think this will make any difference? I know you have only been thrown into the entire project, but you have never expressed any real opinion of it."
She looked at him expectantly, as if the question had been on her mind for weeks but she was too afraid to ask. Now, in the stress of their first real event, she needed confirmation that it was all worth it.
But how could he answer that? He still didn't feel she was a creature deserving of his honest opinions, unless they were in the form of an insult. However, he could not come out and say it would be a complete failure. That would get back to Shacklebolt somehow. It would also likely reduced her to tears, and he did not want to deal with that.
"It certainly has potential." He tried to control his usual sarcastic drawl, not wanting to sabotage all his hard work.
In truth, he did see real potential in this ridiculous project. He thought it a rather stupid aim, educating wizards about muggles, but if there were any way to do it this would be the way. They were disguising education in tolerance as entertainment, and that was a very clever way to go about it.
For a moment, she looked a bit downcast. He continued.
"I suppose the only way to know for sure is to see for ourselves."
Draco and Astoria arrived at the Manor in the afternoon. It had taken them some time to settle things in order to take a vacation, but they were able to come home for two weeks. Plenty of time for her to visit with family, and more than enough time for him to tolerate his.
A house elf popped up. He had seen this one a few times, but as a youth he never bothered remembering their names.
"Oh the young master! Is he home to stay with his pretty young lady friend?"
"No, actually I'm just here to see my father. I presume he is in his study?" It was the only place the man spent any time. He began heading for the stairs.
"No, oh no young master. The master is not in today. He is out again with the muggle-born girl. May be gone some time."
Wait, what?!
What had happened that his father was suddenly out consorting with muggle-borns? Who was she and what exactly were they doing?
The house elf likely couldn't say, so he decided to wait in the study until the elder Malfoy returned.
"You don't need to stay. You can go see your family." He said to Astoria, who was standing awkwardly by the door.
"No, no, I don't want to just leave you sitting here."
"Honestly, he really isn't much of a pleasure to meet, and the fact that I've dropped in unexpectedly may not please him. I promise if you go home now, we will come by tomorrow for proper formalities." He knew Lucius would be angry, and he did not need Astoria to be any part of that. He didn't want her to have anything to do with his father, but that seemed to be asking too much. She apparated out to surprise her own parents, which was likely to be exceedingly more pleasurable than what was in store for him.
There was a distinct pop, and the man he was waiting and yet dreading to see stood before him.
"Ah, my long lost son has chosen to return. I must confess I expected you to arrive much sooner than this, Draco. Whatever was keeping you so preoccupied?"
There was that knowing smirk. The man was impossible.
"I might ask you the same question, father. You see, I have been waiting in this study for quite some time."
"Ah my boy, always making assumptions. If you recall, I have been released from my home on probation. Partially by my own attempts to make my way back to my former influential glory, partially by the ministry's attempts to get me involved in the betterment of society, I have been assigned a task to help wizards understand muggle culture."
Draco stared at him for a minute before the laughter started.
"They are actually letting you be a part of their pro-muggle projects? They must be really desperate for help."
He was still laughing. Had the boy always been so rude, or was this some new product of his life away from England?
"That is quite enough! Perhaps it is their plan to submerse me so deep in muggle life that I will have a complete change of heart. It's rather amusing how naïve they seem to be. A few weeks with Miss Granger and I'll suddenly be a new man! Of course, the entire aim of my plan is to make it seem that way. I will need to be the poster boy for all this nonsense, but it is a small price to pay." It was good to have someone to tell about his plans, even if his son no longer seemed to approve of such things.
"Wait…did you say Miss Granger? Granger as in Hermione Granger, bushy haired know-it-all who was the bane of my existence? It would be her they put in charge of all this. She actually agreed to work with you?"
Draco knew the girl rather well, as he had been jealous of the way she always seemed to beat him in school. Lucius wondered if the boy used to have a bit of a crush on her, but was just unable to admit it.
"Yes, her. I'll admit she hasn't been very pleased about the situation, but my skills in deception are slowly changing her mind. If I can have her singing my praises by the end of this project, the ministry will not be able to deny my change of heart."
Draco simply shook his head.
"Father, I'm going to tell you something that you likely will not understand or bother to think about. I left this place to turn over a new leaf. Along the way I learned a very important lesson. It is far more meaningful to actually try than it is to fake your way through life. Maybe it's harder, and it may take more time, but you build real relationships and the success you gain is truly earned. I am more proud of my current achievements than anything I have done, despite the difficulties I needed to experience to get where I am. I have made true friends, who don't expect anything in return for their kindness. I fell in love with someone who doesn't care about my family, my money, my heritage. All I want is for you to experience even a little of that. When was the last time you had a true friend? The last time you did anything without an ulterior motive?"
He knew Draco wasn't expecting an answer, which was good because he was speechless. He had no idea the boy had grown into a man in the time he was away.
His pride would not let him admit it at the moment, but it was really all he ever wanted for his son.
"I need to go find my girlfriend. I was hoping to bring her over tomorrow for dinner, if that suits you." His tone was a bit annoyed, possibly because Lucius had nothing to say following his emotional speech.
"That will suit me fine. I look forward to meeting her. Perhaps, if you still plan to be here, you can attend our first even next Saturday. Your forward thinking attitude in this new world may be a good example for the others we have invited."
"Certainly father. I shall see you tomorrow evening then." His dismissed himself and apparated out of the study.
Lucius thought about having his son at the event. The drastic change in Draco's lifestyle might reflect well on him. Contrarily, it gave everyone the opportunity to compare the two generations of Malfoys, and in the post-war world it wasn't Lucius coming out on top.