Summary: Hermione and Draco have teamed up to make Lucius and Daphne finally do something about their feeling for each other with some dire consequences if not achieved. (Daphne/Lucius

The Honesty Behind the Actions

Hermione tucked the book into her bag. She felt the empty phial graze her knuckles and took a deep breath. Lucius was sat in his usual seat by the fireplace in the library, legs crossed with an open book balanced on his lap, one hand holding it in place while the other held a tumbler filled with brandy. He would thank her for this.

She hoped.

"Thank you again for the use of your library, Mr Malfoy." She heard the footsteps coming down the hallway. "I hope I can repay the favour."

Draco appeared at the entrance with Scorpius by his side, both grinning and giving small nods to Hermione. Lucius missed the small interaction, his eyes still on his book.

"Are you ready, Granger?" Draco asked.

"Granger-Weasley, Draco," Lucius corrected idly. He still hadn't acknowledged her thanks, but he wouldn't allow names to be used incorrectly. "But thank Merlin those children of yours are more you than a Weasley."

Hermione rolled her eyes as Draco sighed heavily.

"Even if you are Muggle-born," all four of them said together.

Lucius lifted his head to look at them. "Have I said that before?"

"Once or twice," Hermione muttered. She looked at the phial again before closing her bag. The guilt was long gone; Lucius Malfoy could do that to a person.

"We'll be gone all afternoon." Draco signalled for Hermione to join him at the entrance to the library.

A silent exchange was passed between Hermione and Draco before Hermione put an arm around Scorpius' shoulders. "Come on. Rose is itching to show you her new broom."

Draco watched them reach the grand staircase until he turned back to his father. "Daphne's here, by the way."

Draco spotted the briefest of pauses when Lucius turned the page. "How is this of my concern?" Lucius asked without looking to his son.

Draco bit on the inside corners of his mouth to stop the smirk. He clasped his hands behind his back, wand in one and flicked it sharply. A door down the hallway clicked open.

"That wasn't funny, Draco!" Daphne's voice called to him as she stepped out of the guest bedroom. "Where's Scorpius? He's not getting away with this either!"

Draco stepped away from the entrance and pointed to the library without saying a word.

"Draco?" Lucius had stood up, drink and book still in his hands, with suspicion in his eyes.

Without missing a step, Draco grabbed Daphne's wrist as she reached him and shoved her into the library before sealing the room. The two occupants of the library stared at one another for a moment, uncertainty and confusion clear on their faces.

"You know, Granger really should've been in Slytherin." Draco tucked his wand into the inside pocket of his jacket suit, allowing himself to smirk. "I don't have much time before Scorpius wonders where I am, so I'll tell you quickly, as it's bad enough I'm about to discuss my father's sex life, don't want my son privy to it as well."

"Draco!" Lucius hissed, his eyes flicking to Daphne.

"We're – and I mean all of us – are tired of the two of you dancing around each other. So here's the situation; Daphne has been fed a potion in her cup of tea she shared with Granger – a love potion of sorts."

"You did what?" Daphne demanded.

Draco ignored the question to glance at the clock on the wall above the fireplace. Three… two…

Daphne's anger disappeared from her features and her body language. "Oh no," she said helplessly. She turned slowly to Lucius. She took a step towards him. Lucius took a step back like he was being hunted.

"The potion is encouraging Daphne to act on her feelings, Father. She cannot help her actions, but the intention behind them are honest," Draco explained.

"Lucius, have I ever told you how beautiful your eyes are?" Daphne looked to Draco as she took another step to Lucius. "You're a dead man, Draco."

Draco laughed softly. "You first, Daphne."

"Draco?" Lucius asked, picking up on his tone. "What have you done?"

"Daphne's got an hour, at most, to live. Unless you two…" He gave them a crude imagery with his hands. "And it has to be you," he said firmly.

"And I've always loved your dress sense," Daphne said softly, a hand reaching out to him.

"This isn't funny, Draco," Lucius snapped, slamming down his tumbler and book on the side table by his chair. "Fix this!"

"Oh, I can't," he replied innocently. "Only you can."

"Draco!" Lucius grabbed at Daphne's wandering hands, holding her firmly by the wrists.

"I think a year is long enough to watch you two pine over each other like there's a thousand reasons you can't be together when there isn't. It's all a bit boring and painful to see." Draco stepped backwards. "Daphne still has the ability to say yes or no, we didn't take that away from her, but you still have a deadline… chop chop."

Lucius stared at the door as it closed shut, his son's smirk the last thing he saw before he looked at Daphne.

"I…" Lucius was at a loss for words. His son would pay for this. "I'm so sorry, Daphne," he said gently, still holding her wrists.

"I love seeing your soft side. I like that no one really knows about it." Daphne blinked hard, shaking her head. "I'd like not to die today, Lucius. If that's okay with you?"

Lucius sighed, loosening his grip and letting her hands go around his waist. "I'd like to have done this more traditionally."

Daphne nodded before resting her cheek on his chest, the material of his shirt soft and smooth against her skin. "I'm excellent at revenge planning, but not the execution."

Lucius slowly wrapped his arms around her. "That is very fortuitous indeed, for I am excellent at the execution."

"I fell in love with you last summer, so it's been longer than a year. Draco doesn't know everything."

"I take a lot of things without consent, Daphne, but this will never be one of them."

Daphne lifted her head, leaning her chin on his chest. "You'll always have it… and that's not the potion talking."

"Wonderful news," he whispered.

Word Count: 1,043

Written for:

Seasonal

- Days of the Year - 10th January - Write about someone behaving strangely

- Play God Day - 13. Bookworm

- Hot Tea Month - 18. Raspberry Leaf - Draco Malfoy

- Celebrate Your Name Week - 19. Malfoy

Yearly

- Insane House Challenge - 207. (emotion) Amused

Quarterly

- Banana Bread - (character) Lucius Malfoy (3)