The festivities lasted several hours after the film ended. Hermoine was bombarded with questions and opinions, but everyone made sure to tell her how much they loved it. One of the writers from the Daily Prophet had attended and assured her he would write a raving review of her new initiative.

Everyone hoped to be invited to other events in the future. It was likely they would be the topic of conversation for weeks.

Music was playing, people were talking, and she was thoroughly enjoying herself. It was only when the crowd started thinning she began to notice how awkward her surroundings were. She was the popular hostess, but this certainly was not her home. As the guests continued to leave, stopping to congratulate Draco and Astoria one last time, she realized she had not spoken to Lucius all evening.

She walked up to him, intent on congratulating him on their success, but he seemed rather standoffish.

"I have packed up your equipment, Miss Granger. I shall owl you later on this week to continue with the project. I hope your evening was pleasant."

She went to reply, but he turned and stalked away.

Odd. The engagement can't really be that off-putting to him. She is a pureblood witch after all.

She decided not to stick her head in something that really wasn't her business. She'd had enough drama to last a lifetime anyways. Schoolgirl drama, but it was enough when you piled the tensions of war on top of it.

With her box of equipment under her arm, she apparated back to her little flat and barely managed to change her clothes before sinking into a stress-free and very satisfied slumber.

It was only two days before the letter arrived. She expected a note to come that week at work, but Monday morning a rather pretentious-looking bird sat tapping on her window.

She retrieved the letter and sat staring at the address for a few moments. She would never quite get used to how flawless his penmanship was. It irritated and fascinated her at the same time.

It seemed odd that he wanted to start working so soon. His son was in town, so it wasn't like he would be bored and alone like he usually was. She pealed back the wax seal (he would seal all his letters) and unfolded the note.

Miss Granger,

I am writing to inquire about your availability tomorrow evening, and to request your presence for dinner. As is custom, I intend to take my son and his new fiancée out in celebration of their engagement. However, I feel Miss Greengrass may be less than comfortable without another woman to talk to, and I noticed how well the two of you got along. It would be greatly appreciated, for her sake, as I seem to intimidate the girl. Kindly reply immediately.

L.M.

Mouth wide open, Hermoine reread the letter several times.

She was not quite sure what to make of it on several levels. Firstly, the entire idea of him inviting her out to dinner with his son and future daughter-in-law seemed very intimate, despite the logical reasons given. Dinner with the two Malfoy men was likely uncomfortable for anyone, especially someone as normal as Astoria.

Secondly, he seemed to hint no real desire in having this dinner at all. She would think that his proud nature would swell with the notion of showing off his son's good fortune.

Thirdly, the entire thing came off rather desperate, as if he was begging her to attend rather than using intimidation and force. It was a tactic she was unfamiliar with when it came to him and his games. It made her feel like he was genuinely distressed, and that made her uneasy.

After thinking about it until she was almost late for work, Hermione finally decided she needed to go. Certainly not for Lucius' sake, but for poor Astoria's. He was right that they got along rather well the other night. When she arrived in her office she penned him a quick reply, and began wondering why she was the one to get caught up in all this nonsense.

Lucius sat in his study, tapping his fingers on the desk impatiently. What part of immediately did the girl not understand? It was so like a woman to take forever.

His reasons for inviting the girl in the first place had been a bit dubious. It was selfish, he admitted, but what did he ever do that wasn't? While what he said was not exactly a lie, it was not as desperate a situation as he made it seem.

True, he had no desire to go to dinner alone with Draco and Astoria. It was also true that Astoria did not want to sit and make idle chit chat with him in an effort to please Draco. They had nothing much to talk about. However, the idea of sitting across the table from two love sick puppies made him extremely nauseated, and to prevent his untimely death from their sickening company, he needed a buffer.

It just happened that a certain Miss Hermione Granger was one of the few people willing to be seen with him in public, if only for the sake of her career. She was also the only woman who would willingly take his owls, and whom he could contact without the Ministry becoming suspicious.

It was an excellent situation in which to slide an innocent seeming dinner invitation. She had to agree.

Finally her owl came, although it was a bit less than polite.

Mr. Malfoy,

I will gladly attend for the sake of dear Astoria. I cannot be held responsible for her sanity after an evening alone with the two of you. Please respond with the time and place when available.

Hermione

Such attitude, even when he had been so polite. Ah well, she would certainly get what she deserved on Wednesday morning.

She could not expect to go out with Lucius Malfoy and London's hottest new couple without the press having a field day. He smirked as he imagined the headlines.

Rumours would certainly spread, and from them he would weave his webs.

A/N here's a short one to lay the groundwork for the real meaty plot-line. Finally the plan gets put into action. More to come soon :)