"You remember Theo," the pale boy remarked, nabbing a slice of green apple from the fruit plate. "He's offered to help with that side of things side, being good at numbers and all."
Hermione nodded and hummed. Theodore Nott had been in Arithmancy with her and had scored second in many subjects throughout their years.
"He's the one who thought of you. He said if he was running the department then he wanted the best." Draco's shoulders straightened with pride, as though the best somehow referred to him even in this context.
"I don't know." She pursed her lips. "I am uncertain if the Order will allow it, actually. They still don't want me in public."
He waved away the concern. "You can Floo directly to the office. Father's given you Floo permissions, yes?" The list of those who could Floo to the Malfoys' ancestral home could be counted on her fingers, but she was among its numbers. She nodded. "C'mon, then. I know you must be going stir crazy. We might have plenty of books, but you've been stuck here for months—" with my father, doing Merlin knows what — "and I am sure you'd love a challenge. Just help with the initial predictions and if you don't like it, you can quit."
That was reasonable. It was generous, too. Hermione couldn't help but wonder if this was his way of getting her away from his father and what was going on between them. It clearly made him uncomfortable if the furtive glances to her marked flesh was any indication. She supposed seeing "love bites" left on a former classmate's skin by his own father was unsettling.
However, the idea of working equations again made something inside tremble like fluttering pages. "I could try it out," she hazarded. "But I don't know that I could do full time. It has been quite a while since I worked at the library, let alone had something to do for eight hours a day."
"That's fine." Draco gave another dismissive gesture. "You can work whenever, for all I'm concerned. And you'll be paid, of course. Do you have an account at Gringotts?"
She froze, voice stuck in her throat. She had had an account there, but did she still? She had broken into the impenetrable vaults, and back out again on the back of their own dragon. Enter, stranger, but take heed/ of what awaits the sin of greed. She had certainly entered, and taken what she had not earned, but she doubted the goblins would see what she'd been through as paying most dearly for her transgression.
"Granger?"
She blinked clear of her thoughts. "I don't know," she admitted. "I haven't exactly gone to Gringotts since…" Hermione spread her hands helplessly and Draco covered a shocked chortle.
"That's right. You lot broke into Aunt Bella's vault. How exactly did you manage that anyway?" His eyes sparkled with genuine interest.
"Luck, mostly. And an Unforgivable." His eyes widened at that. "I'm not proud of it!"
He shook his head and wiped away surprise. "I'll figure out how to pay you. Bloody Gryffindors, never thinking about the consequences of their actions." Whatever the meaning of the words, the tone was amused more than anything.
"I had more pressing concerns," she huffed. "When, er, when do I start?"
"As soon as tomorrow if you like." Draco stood, stretching his shoulders back and shooting her a friendly smile. "I'll let Theodore know. He'll be thrilled."
"Thank you, Draco."
A pink flush dusted his cheeks and nose. "Ah, you're welcome. See you, then."
When the emerald fire returned to orange, Lucius stepped into the room. "Did my son just offer you a job?"
"Yes." Hermione poured him tea, adding cream and a hint of sugar, to which he smiled. "But you were eavesdropping, so you know that."
"Thank you, darling." She blushed at the endearment. "And I'll have you know I only caught the end of the exchange. I was going to announce myself as soon as there was a lull in the conversation." She hummed. "You're really considering it?"
"Yes. Is that a problem."
He sipped his tea and considered her. "No. By all means, do as you wish. However, be cautious around Nott. He may not have been vocal at school, but his father was a Deatheater, one of the first."
"I will. And I will have my wand on me. Theodore Nott wouldn't beat me in a duel if his life depended on it."
His lips quirked. "I'm sure. In any case, it will do you good to do something active with that dreadfully large brain of yours, not to mention using it to improve the state of my family business."
"Oh, so you approve of muggleborns being intelligent and useful as long as it serves your interests?" she shot back.
Lucius' eyes shone. "Precisely."
He was ridiculous. And she knew a part of what he said was true.
Lucius had shown himself more willing to listen than she'd thought. He struggled with keeping an open mind with anything outright muggle, but she caught him swallowing his prejudice and allowing her to be herself. By no means reformed, but enough of an opportunist to recognize that she, at least, was worth something. And honest when asked for his own opinions. He never lied to her and pretended he was more reformed than he was.
She liked him, and that was as bizarre as The Monster Book of Monsters had been when she'd first encountered it on her third-year syllabus. He was sharp in more ways than one, an engaging conversationalist, and charismatic. It was easy to see how many had been charmed by him over the years. He was also caring toward her, perhaps because she was the only person who would allow him to do so.
"Family is everything. I lost sight of that once, for power's sake, and look where it got me. More than pureblood supremacy, more than wealth, more than power, Malfoys believe in family."
"You know he has a crush on you." The offhand words pulled Hermione from the pages of her memory, and she frowned. "My son," Lucius clarified. "At least, he did. If he still does, considering your affiliation with me, I cannot say. I doubt he'd want to compete with his own father for a woman's affections."
She rolled her eyes. "My childhood bully had a crush on me?" Hermione snorted. "What a cliche. I'm not sure I can actually believe that."
"Believe what you like, sweet girl." He sipped his tea and glanced at the fire. "Will you start tomorrow, then?"
"I'm not sure. It's a little nerve wracking, honestly. I haven't done anything intellectual in so long, I'm afraid I'll be useless."
Lucius tutted. "If there is one thing you should not doubt, my dear, it's the brilliance of your mind. Our conversations alone would tell me that, even had I not seen enough evidence when I was on the Hogwarts board. Yes, I glanced through your files a time or five. I wanted to see the little muggleborn upstart who bested my son in every single subject, even Potions, where Severus' biases gave him a lead."
"Well, er, thank you," she muttered, wishing she could subdue her blush.
"It was absolutely maddening, reading over your OWLs exams and seeing how your mind worked." He grinned, a sudden flash of white teeth. "Now I get to fuck your that smart mouth, and I very much appreciate the honor."
Hermione's blush intensified. "Must you be so lewd?"
"Forgive me. I cannot help having such thoughts when I'm around you." His tone was not at all apologetic, and his silver eyes dipped down her body.
"If I am going to start tomorrow, I can't afford to stay up all night playing with you."
A feigned pout replaced his smile. "Oh, now don't be like that. What if I promise to have you in bed by midnight?"
Hermione shook her head, then stood to go out the door.
"Where are you going?"
"To see what I have to wear," she responded without looking back at him.
"You don't have to wear anything if you stay at the manor."
Hermione laughed, but kept walking.
Notes:
Listen, folks. My health is only getting worse. I'm tired and sad, and dealing with life best I can.
But if there is even sometimes an hour a day I can function, I will endeavor to write.
