Well, I know this has been a long time coming, but I've been trying to finish this chapter for months! Got completely stuck on the dialogue! I hope it reads okay, and I am updating other stories this week!

Chapter 2

Second Course

The following week passed by rather quickly. Matilda had little time to think about the coming dinner date with Lucius, or her upcoming nuptials, with her exams looming so closely. Still, she could see how some of the other students looked at her now that they knew of her engagement to an ex-Death Eater. She got sympathetic looks from most of the Gryffindors and Hufflepuffs, curious ones from her fellow Ravenclaws, and utter distain from most of the Slytherins. It became tiresome to be known around the school as the 'Mudblood Marrying Malfoy'.

She still hadn't made up her mind about him. He had been cordial and even quite… pleasant to her. He hadn't sneered at her or looked down his nose… much. He'd even seemed to regret his past actions and thoughts, though she wasn't entirely sure if it wasn't simply a ruse to lull her into a false sense of security until they were married.

She tried not to think too hard on what his motives were, and the week seemed to pass rather quietly. Many others were worried about their own Marriage Law issues to pay any attention to the insults being thrown at them too. Matilda was surprised to hear that there were a couple of Pure-blood students also affected by the Marriage Law. They were to be married off to several Ministry Muggle-born workers, though it seemed the Ministry seemed more intent on the Muggle-born students.

Saturday came around all to quickly once again, and before she had any chance to think of some excuse to get out of her 'dinner date', she was waiting inside the Headmistress's office for Lucius to arrive.

Lucius had chosen his suit carefully. He'd had the entire week to think about his interaction with the Ravenclaw. The more he'd thought about her, the more he'd come to realise that this marriage could very well work in his favour. She was attractive and polite, and was a far cry from the society women he was used to. She expected nothing to be handed to her on a plate and was fully prepared to work for everything she needed.

He had been sincere in his assertion that they should get to know one another; after all, they were to be married soon. It wouldn't do to live together and have little interaction aside from the Ministry insistence that they copulate regularly to ensure eventual procreation. This part of the law he most certainly didn't have an issue with. If he was honest, he'd spent a good amount of time imagining just how responsive she would be to his touch. He hoped she would be open to his desires. He'd hate to be married to someone timid and prudish. He knew she was most likely a virgin, but he had been with a good amount of inexperienced women to know exactly how to handle them.

He shook his head of such thoughts. He was getting ahead of himself. This was only to be their second meeting, and yet he was already imagining her under him. At least desire was there. He would take small steps in showing his desire for her. Perhaps a gentle kiss was in order? He would decide after their meal. He needed her to open up more.

Lucius arrived exactly on time, and had carefully arranged a subtle but seductive smile as he stepped through the floo. Matilda blinked a few times at the slight change in his demeanour, but smiled back timidly, trying to keep her eyes on his face and away from the expensive and impressive cut of his suit. He seemed… different. More relaxed. She wasn't sure if that was a good or bad thing.

Lucius boldly stepped up to her and took her small pale hand in his so he could place a gentle warm kiss upon it. Matilda gasped at the contact and blushed when his eyes met hers.

Before she had any time to think about what it could possibly mean, he offered out his arm for her to take.

"Um…" Matilda started, unsure how to voice her concerns about being seen with him.

"I trust the rest of the school already know about this new law?" he said calmly.

"Yes, but…"

"Then I hardly think it will be much of a surprise for them to see you with me," he replied arrogantly, holding his arm out again.

Matilda eventually took it and he lead her out of the office and through the corridors, ignoring all of the stares and gasps as they passed. Matilda kept a firm grip on his strong arm as she walked next to him. He also waked a little slower than last time, so she didn't have to run to keep up.

She felt a little uncomfortable as he gave her the occasional once over, his eyes straying too long at her fitted dress. She squeaked in surprise as he pulled her close once they reached the gates, and Apparated them to Hogsmeade. He held her for a few seconds longer than was necessary as she righted herself, the same strange but sensual smile still gracing his lips.

He offered his arm to her again and gallantly lead her to an unfamiliar restaurant. Matilda had thought they would eat in the same place as the previous week, but she supposed it would be nice to try somewhere new. As he lead her inside, the atmosphere was very different. The lights were dimmer and the décor darker. There was also not a single table that would seat more than two people. It was a place for couples and Lucius strode right through to a secluded table in the far corner which was partially obscured by a crimson silk curtain. Matilda had no idea what to think or expect when he guided her to the rounded seating fixed to the wall and sat immediately next to her.

"I thought perhaps this would be more beneficial to us getting to know one another. A more private setting," Lucius said as the waiter brought over their menus.

"Oh, um, it's very nice. I've never been here before," Matilda said, eying the menu carefully to avoid ordering more disgusting seafood.

Lucius squashed the urge down to agree with her, considering her background. He knew he would have to control his need to point out other people's underprivileged lives. Such a mind-set had become so ingrained within him, it was difficult to ignore, and near impossible to change.

"It is relatively new. I thought it might be nice," he replied as he ordered an expensive bottle of wine.

Luckily, the menu was in English, so Matilda ordered a simple pasta dish, just in case Lucius decided to have dessert again. As it was, he seemed content to order another rare steak and smiled as the waiter charmed the curtain to move around their table more.

"Does it make you uncomfortable?" he asked as he noticed her slightly worried face.

"No, it's just… unusual. I'm just not used to it," she tried to explain.

"How are your studies progressing? Do you feel ready for your exams?" he asked, intending to distract her from the intimacy of their table.

"Oh! I think they're okay. The Professors think I'll do well, and I hope I do. I'd hate to do badly and have to re-sit them!" she replied with a nervous laugh.

"I'm sure you will do marvellously. Are your grades good?"

"I get mostly E's, with the occasional O. I would like more O's, as anyone would, but I think it's just not meant to be," she said, looking slightly forlorn.

"I was the same. My only O was gained in Potions, and I had some help in my studies for it from Severus," he replied.

"Professor Snape?"

"Yes. He was only a first year when I was a seventh year, but his Potions knowledge is remarkable."

"Oh, I know. I've learnt so much from him," she said with a smile.

Their food arrived and they ate in silence for a while, though Lucius watched her intently, his eyes drifting down her body occasionally, gauging the right moment when he could kiss her.

Matilda enjoyed her food, having deliberately skipped breakfast in case he wanted dessert again, though she still thought she wouldn't be able to manage any. She was also keenly aware of his eyes on her, and began to feel slightly paranoid about him scrutinising her appearance.

"I think perhaps I should have bought some new clothes. I don't have anything fancy," she said, feeling completely underdressed.

"Why would you need to do that? There's nothing wrong with what you have on."

"A lot of the girls in my year like to buy fancy things. I suppose it makes them beautiful," she remarked, looking down on herself.

Lucius took hold of her hand and pulled her slightly more towards him. "Did you believe I would judge you because of your attire?"

"Um, I don't know… I thought men liked women to dress nicely?" she asked.

"A beautiful dress does not make the woman beautiful. A beautiful woman is beautiful regardless," he replied, stroking her delicate hand tenderly.

"My brother says something similar. He says a person is good looking whether they wear an Armani suit or a bin bag," she said, chuckling to herself.

"Your brother? Is he at Hogwarts?"

"Oh, no. He's a Muggle. When not at Hogwarts, I stay with him. He has a flat in London. Our parents don't speak to him either," she told him.

"Oh? Why not?"

"He's umm… gay. They don't accept him for it," she explained, not knowing how he would react to such information.

"Why should that be a problem?" he asked, confused as to what the issue was.

"A lot of Catholics don't agree with it. They think it's a sin."

"What a strange way to think! Surely not all Muggles think this way?"

"Oh no. It's accepted for the most part, but there are always some who think it's unnatural. It's silly really. If it was so unnatural, surely it wouldn't happen?" she remarked, looking up at him to gauge his response.

"Absolutely. The Wizarding World has no such issues over same sex couples, or same sex marriages. There are even ways for men to have babies," he told her.

"Really?"

"Through magical means of course. From what I understand, a magical womb is created in the same place in a man that a woman's would be, and after the foetus is implanted, the womb magically expands to accommodate the baby, all the while feeding it without the need for an umbilical cord. The success rate is around 75%. There are occasions that the baby will be rejected by the body, as men naturally don't have babies. It takes time, commitment, and a lot of potions to keep the man and the baby healthy," he explained as she sat staring at him in wonder.

"Wow! I had no idea! Would you have ever considered doing it? To, you know, take turns? I would think it would be nice of the husband to share the burden with his wife, as well as two males being able to have children."

"To be honest, I never really thought about it. I suppose it is certainly possible, and it would mean that the child would still be biologically tied to both parents… I've simply never heard of a case where a man carried the child in place of the woman," he said, though if he was honest, he would never consider it at all.

Lucius was happy with his only son, despite knowing that he would have to have a child with Matilda. He knew it wouldn't be an issue for him insisting on her carrying their child, as he would be deemed too old to safely carry a child magically.

"I suppose if the woman was physically capable, it wouldn't really be needed. It's probably safer for the woman to carry the child anyway," she mused, playing with a strand of her curly black hair.

He didn't know why, but such an innocent act was utterly arousing to him. He watched for a few moments ad a multitude of thoughts crossed her delicate features and her small fingers continued to twirl the lock of hair. He smiled and gently turned her face towards his, taking hold of her other hand and kissing it slowly, making a show of closing his eyes and savouring her warm skin, before lifting his face and placing a gentle kiss to her plump lips. A rush of arousal shot through him as he felt her turn her head slightly to avoid their noses bumping together, though she made no move to open her mouth. It did not matter. He moved his lips slightly against hers, taking her full bottom lip between his and touching it with his tongue before pulling back.

He smiled widely at the glazed look in her eyes, pleased to have elicited such a reaction from such a simple kiss. He stroked some stray curls out of her face and pulled back slightly from her.

"Would you like dessert?" he asked softly.

"Um… no… no thank you," she whispered, still staring like a startled deer into his icy blue eyes.

Lucius nods and smiles, dropping money onto the table before draining his drink and pulling her to her feet. He holds her hand as he leads her out of the restaurant and slowly ambles down the lane, watching her occasionally.

Matilda was still reeling from the kiss. It had been more than pleasant, but completely surprising. She hadn't expected that he would want to touch her at all, unless absolutely necessary. She wasn't sure what to make of it, but it had felt nice, particularly when she felt his tongue touch her bottom lip. Was it a one off? A test to see how she would react? If she would recoil from him?

He walked them slowly back to the apparition point and pulled her close, looking down at her with a soft smile as he turned and apparated them back to the gates of Hogwarts.

"Did you enjoy your meal?" he asked, keeping his arm around her waist.

"Oh, yes, thank you. Very nice. And in English this time!" she said with a nervous chuckle.

"It is a better quality of restaurant. The food is always nicer. I'm glad you enjoyed it. Would you care to go there again next week?"

"Yes, I'd like that!" she smiled widely, feeling an odd flutter inside her belly at the thought of him wanting to spend more time with her.

"I'm glad. I will come for you at the same time then," he said, and leaned down to kiss her again, swiping his tongue over her top lip.

He pulled away and kissed her hand. He waited for the gates to admit her before apparating back to the Manor, utterly pleased with how their second meeting had progressed. He had battle with the idea of kissing her so soon, but had decided that the risk was worth taking if they were to be mostly comfortable with each other in time for the wedding. He was looking forward to seeing what their next date would bring.

A/N: Just a small taste of things to come!