I'm sorry it's late. Please don't kill me.

Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter or any of the characters from it. Harry Potter is the property of J. K. Rowling.

Bookstore Surprises

Chapter Eighteen

Hermione was silent for a few minutes trying to determine how to respond. She hadn't told Harry anything about running into Lucius Malfoy at her favorite bookstore. Not because she was keeping it a secret. She just didn't know how to tell him or how he would react. 'I suppose there's no time like the present.' She thought to herself as she finished preparing her tea. She picked up her mug and moved over to the table.

Just was she was taking a fortifying sip of tea Harry spoke again. "Does this have to do with Lucius Malfoy?"

Hermione almost spat out her mouthful as she stared across at Harry with wide eyes. She quickly swallowed and try to keep her voice steady. "Why do you ask that?"

Harry looked a little sheepish. "I couldn't get to sleep the other night and was coming to the kitchen to get some tea. I heard you and Severus talking and didn't want to interrupt. I was going to leave but then you mentioned Lucius Malfoy and got curious. So, I listened. I'm sorry."

Severus shook his head when Harry was done talking. "It appears that old habits are indeed hard to break." He smirked as he said this. "You quite often listened to other people's conversations while at Hogwarts, if I remember correctly."

"And you didn't?"

Severus raised an eyebrow but did not answer Harry. Instead, he turned back to Hermione. "Well?"

Hermione sighed and finally answered Harry's question. "Yes, it does have to do with Lucius." She was looking down at her tea and didn't notice either of her companions raising their eyebrows at her for using Lucius' given name. "He and I happened to see each other at Bōchord again this morning and talked. Deciding to get to know each other better and suggested books to each other. After finishing the first book in the series he suggested I was curious about a couple things and couldn't resist sending him a letter even though it's so late at night. So, now I'm worrying about his reaction to getting an owl at this time of night for something so frivolous."