It was a dreary evening in Diagon alley. You stepped out of Flourish and Blotts tucking your newest literary conquest under your arm as you pulled your cloak hood over your head. The air felt heavy and you could catch a faint scent of rain in the air. Not ready to return home just yet, you decided to go to the hole in the wall coffee shop you liked to stop by on occasion. Plus, there was the added benefit of a public fireplace connected to the floo network around the corner you could use. Making up your mind you stepped into the street, your eyes on the cobblestones in front of you.
You had barely walked a meter past the storefront before you found yourself startling and jumping to the side when a pair of dark shoes came into your line of vision. Apologizing for almost running into them you looked up to see a middle aged gentleman with long blond hair look at you with a sneer. He walked past you without saying a word, expression unchanging. “Careful, or your face is going to get stuck like that,” you chuckle quietly to yourself before turning and continuing the way you were going.
If the comment was overheard the gentleman made no outward indication of it. He merely continued on his path before going into the very bookstore you had unbeknownst to him, departed seconds before.
Walking up to the counter as the bell clinked behind him the clerk called out to him. “Can I help you with something, Sir?”
“I’m here to pick up an order,” the gentleman replied, not bothering to give a name.
“For a Mr. Lucius Malfoy, correct?” the clerk clarified already making their way to the back of the shop.
Lucius affirmed before allowing his attention to be drawn by the new releases displayed on the shelves behind the counter. Nothing caught his interest, but what did was the panicked look of the clerk as they came back from the back. He silently raised an eyebrow in questioning.
“I-I’m terribly sorry Mr. Malfoy, but it seems there was a mix up with your order.”
“Pray tell, what sort of mix up?” He sneered.
“Another patron came in a few minutes ago who had ordered a reprint of the same book and it seems we gave them your copy instead,” the clerk trembled.
Pinching the bridge of his nose, Lucius took a breath, “If it was that recently certainly it wouldn’t be that difficult to find them. What’s their name so I can find them?” he asked sternly, reaching out and snatching the book out of the clerks hand.
“But sir, I-”
“I understand you are able to amend this problem, and under normal circumstances I would fully expect you to,” Lucius glared at the clerk who was now practically cowering, “However, as you are aware this is a very valuable and expensive tome. I would like to not risk it coming into my possession damaged by any further negligence on your part and devalue my investment further,” he spat. “Now, the name please.”
The Willow Grove was warm, uncrowded, and the food was to die for. It was the perfect place to get lost in your new book. Upon seeing that your favorite corner table by the window was open you quickly removed your cloak and placed it and your book down claiming the place for yourself before stepping to the counter to order. Once again seated you took a sip of your tea before picking up your book and beginning to read.
You quickly became enthralled fully forgetting your tea. You barely registered the sound of the bell sounding or the breeze that followed as other patrons came and left. It wasn’t until you heard a sharp rap on the table and someone nearby clearing their throat before you bothered to look up. “Can I help you?” you asked raising an eyebrow, seeing the gentleman you almost ran into outside the bookstore earlier that evening.
“Actually, you can. Mx. l/n, I presume?” he replied in a business like tone, placing his cane against the table, removed his gloves and sat down. “It would seem there was a mix up at Flourish and Blotts and you have my book. I would like it back.”
You scoffed at this man’s audacity. His book? The nerve. “Um, no, this is mine. I bought and paid for it. It’s mine. Now if you would excuse-”
“Actually,” the man interrupted rather smugly crossing his legs, “you didn’t, You ordered a reprint did you not?”
“And?”
“I ordered a first edition copy. I assure you, the one you are holding is indeed my book,” he stated sliding a similar looking copy of the same book across the table to you. “See for yourself if you don’t believe me.”
Rolling your eyes, you reached for the book opening the cover. Ok, that one was a reprint, so far it checks out. Eyeing him suspiciously you open the book you were reading to the very front cover as well and look down. “Holy shit!” you plop the book on the table like you were burned, eyes wide. “I was touching a first edition with my bare hands! That thing must be like- at least five hundred years old.” you exclaim before looking up at the man still sitting in front of you, “Oh my god I didn’t damage it touching it like that did I!? I’m so sorry!” you panicked.
An amused look flashed across his face. “Not at all, but I do appreciate that you are aware of exactly what you were holding.” Picking up the correct copy of the book he flipped through it before placing it carefully in his robes and folding his hands, placing them on his thigh.
“W-well if it turns out it does need restoration from something I did, please send me the bill,” you faltered, still mentally trying to grasp just what you had been holding until a moment ago. “A-and thanks for giving me my copy Mr. -?”
“Lucius,” the man provided waving his hand. He refrained from providing a last name.
“Y/n,” you supplied in return.
“That is the name the clerk gave me when I asked,” Lucius retorted.
“Oh, great we got a smart-ass,” you thought to yourself. “How’d you manage to find me anyhow?” you asked, “I assume that was all they gave you, aside from my book copy.”
“I was planning on sending an owl actually. But, I happened to see you sitting with a copy of the same book and presumed it was you.”
“Good thing you presumed right then,” you smirked before asking, “Can I get you a coffee or something? It’s the least I can do for you going to all that trouble.” Lucius acquiesced, you grinned and went to order his and another drink for yourself. Placing his drink in front of him and sitting back down with yours you asked, “So, other than buying ridiculously expensive old books and being a sass pot what other things are you into?”
Your question caused him to almost choke but he quickly regained composure and acted as if nothing out of the ordinary was said. “Rather uncouth way to ask someone their interests, don’t you think?”
“Bold of you to assume I put any thought into it at all.”
Lucius hummed before taking another sip, “You’re lucky I’m in an uncharacteristically altruistic mood this evening.”
“Altruistic enough to give me an answer?”
He smirked, “Tell me, how did you come across our shared tome? It’s not particularly well known to the masses.”
“Rude,” You rolled your eyes at his redirection, “I was poking through the works cited in the Essential Guide to Technomancy, looked interesting and along the lines of what I needed so I got it,” you shrugged.
“I was unaware such information was so… versatile.”
“Especially considering how old it is!” you exclaim, your eyes sparkling in excitement. “But that’s not why I wanted it.”
“Oh? And why did you?”
And before you knew it you were ranting and rambling as if you were teaching a lecture. Wild hand motions and all. You weren’t sure how long you had been talking before you caught yourself and immediately sat on your hands to keep them still and looked up sheepishly. “Sorry, I get carried away sometimes. You can tell me to shut up. I know it’s annoying.”
“Not at all, I was quite enjoying your discourse. It’s clear you are very passionate about the subject.” The compliment caused you to blush. “It’s a shame I can’t hear more. Perhaps another time?”
You looked out the window surprised at just how dark it was outside before looking at the time. Was it that late already!? “Oh gosh, I’m so sorry. You really should have told me to shut up.”
“Nonsense,” Lucius stood up putting on his gloves as you put your cloak back on. “What you had to say was fascinating to say the least. I’m curious as to how this,” he tapped a finger on your copy, “fits into it all. But, I really must be off I’m afraid. Good evening Mx. y/n.” And with that he left the coffee shop and disappeared from view.
You stepped out as well once you were sure he was gone. The air still felt heavy but it was drizzling lightly now. Pulling your cloak hood over your head you took off in the opposite direction before apparating home.
You groaned rubbing your eyes as you shut the door to your flat before leaning against it. Hearing impatient chirps you look down to see your cat rub against your legs, a rather miffed look on their face you were home late. “I know, I know. I’m sorry,” You apologized as you fill the food bowl and check the water. “You are never gonna believe what happened today.”
The cat meowed back as if to say “Oh yeah? Try me.”
“So, I went to get my book after work like I said, right? Well, I decided to stop by that coffee shop on the way home. You know, the one with the really good danishes?”
You always talked to your cat as if they were a person. Just because you couldn’t understand them didn’t mean they couldn’t understand you. Plus you lived alone, so it wasn’t like you had anyone else to talk to. And your cat never seemed to mind either, so you saw no point to not play the part of the crazy cat owner. “… and anyway he was nice enough to find me and swaps books. But DEAR LORD HE WAS HOT!” the cat chirped again and you spun around from where you had been lamenting the fuckability of the man who at least partially shared your taste in books. “I know he’s older than me but goddammit he was pretty! Definitely not interested and most likely married but jeez, let a y/g dream won’t ya! Ugh!”
“At least we know he can read,” you muttered while you changed in to pajamas. You decided you didn’t want to try and make any more progress on your new book that night and instead opted to finish getting ready for bed and turn in early.
The next time you ran into Lucius, you literally ran into him.
It was a few weeks later and there was a crispness to the air that became more pronounced the more fall settled in. You hadn’t really thought much about him since your initial run in. After all, it had been a one time deal, never to happen again right? Sure he’d said he’d wanted to speak to you again but, he’d made no effort to reach out. He had your name, he knew how to send an owl, so unless he was actually illiterate and had just got that book for looks there would be no reason you hadn’t heard from him outside of he didn’t actually want to speak to you. Which in all honesty didn’t bother you much. Sure he was fucking gorgeous but that didn’t mean anything other than he was fun to look at.
You were sitting on a bench near Gringots, a book in one hand and a pencil in the other, scribbling away on the notebook resting on your thigh. When you had gotten to a decent stopping place you made a mental note of what page you were on before standing and placing your notebook on top of the book and continued to write, your nose inches from the page. You stood still for a moment before making your way to some preconceived destination. You were blindly rounding a corner, having yet to look up from your musings when you hit something solid and almost gave yourself an impromptu lobotomy.
“We really must stop running into each other like this,” a familiar voice tutted.
You eyes shot up and you couldn’t stop the grin that spread across your face (and you really, really tried). “Well, fancy meeting you Mr. Sassy pants! What brings you here?” You didn’t miss how Lucius briefly pursed his lips at the moniker.
“I should ask you the same thing seeing as you’re the one wandering around with your nose stuck in a book.”
“Nuh-uh, you avoided my questions last time. My turn,” you retorted, closing your notebook using the pencil almost turned surgical tool as a bookmark before stuffing it in the pocket of your robes along with the book you were reading earlier.
Lucius extended his arm in offering and you decided to humor him and took it. He then led the way as you strolled down the cobblestone street. “Didn’t think I’d see you again,” you nonchalantly said.
“Oh? And why’s that?”
“Figured it was a one off. You know the stars align for a moment and our paths cross only to never meet again?”
“Sounds to me like you’ve read one too many romance novels,” the man scoffed.
You laughed softly, “I might agree with you if I hadn’t had my head stuck in five different volumes of runic potions books for the last month and a half,” you grimaced in recollection.
“And why’s that?”
“Oh, I’m a translator- Hey! No, no, no! I’m not answering anything else until you start answering some of mine. Fair is fair,” you glared up at the older man. God he was stupidly pretty.
“Fair is fair,” he agreed, “I merely had some business to attend to.”
“At Borgin and Burkes?”
Lucius stiffened, his steps paused, “How did-”
“Got a whiff on your cloak for a second when I bumped into you. Smell of that place is easy enough to pinpoint if you pay attention,” you shrugged as the pair of you continued your promenade down the street. “No judgment here, of course,” you said giving him a sideways glance, “None of my business why you were in there. I’ve had to enough times for work myself. And before you ask, no I can’t smell it anymore. It’s gone now.”
He hummed thoughtfully before returning his attention to you. You absentmindedly brushed a stray bit of hair from your face before sighing and leaned your head against his arm for a few seconds. Raising it again you turned to him and asked, “So, what’d you think of our impromptu book club choice?”
“You’ve had time to read it?” he asked, and eyebrow quirked in surprise, “I figured with the potions books you said you’ve been translating you hadn’t had a chance.”
“Oh, I finished that three days after I got it,” You said dismissively. “If I’m not reading for work, I’m reading for fun.”
“Pray tell, does the y/h have any hobbies outside of the literary world?”
“Nothing that would interest you all that much I imagine,” you answer sheepishly, “I very much live under a metaphorical rock. I don’t really even bother in keeping up with current events or politics all that much.” While you certainly weren’t lying, you weren’t telling the whole truth either.
You obviously did more than read and have full conversations with your cat but you didn’t really want Lucius to know about that. Mainly because most of your other hobbies were blatantly non-magical in nature.
You knew a lot of people in the wizarding world were still fairly prejudiced against anything directly to do with muggles for the most part and you were still very much in touch with the muggle world. Hard not to be seeing as both your parents were muggles. You knew blood purity was a big thing with many witches and wizards but you normally kept your blood status entirely to yourself so as not to deal with what could happen if you ran into someone that really didn’t like it. You didn’t know where Lucius stood on the matter and thought it best to not have that conversation at all. Better safe than sorry.
“Surely you’re not as cut off as you are implying,” the older man scoffed.
“I didn’t know anything about the war until six months after I got back from Linguistics School,” You say running your fingers through your hair, “I was doing field work for my dissertation in the middle of the Amazon the whole time. Not to mention writing and prepping to defend it.”
“And what were you working on that took you all the way out there?”
“Semantic comparison of different MesoAmerican writing systems and their symbol usage in written spell and incantation construction,” you absentmindedly rattle off. You’d spend so many sleepless hours on that paper that you still went cross eyed when you remembered it. But, you could also practically quote all 80,000 words from memory. Sparing your companion a sideways glance you laugh, “you have no idea what I’m talking about, do you?”
“Not a clue.”
“It’s ok, I wish I didn’t know either, and I wrote the damn thing,” you sigh in defeat. That damn paper was never going to give you a moments peace, was it? “So,” you quickly decide to change the subject, “you know what I do for a living. What about you?”
He could tell you. It was abundantly clear you had no clue who he was. Hell, you just admitted you were halfway across the world for the entirety of Voldemort’s second rise to power and you had obviously made no real effort to catch up on what had transpired during your absence. You were aware that he was well off enough sure (though by you not knowing his surname you had no real idea of just how well off he was), your previous encounter had cemented that fact. But, you didn’t let it be the focus of your interactions with him. You weren’t trying to gain favor with him for your own gain- that he could tell yet anyway. You seemed to genuinely enjoy his company for what it was.
On the other hand, you also weren’t condemning him for his past choices or affiliations either. Mainly because you didn’t appear to know about them. But your comment on his stop at Borgin and Burkes kept playing through his mind. You knew exactly what the place was, you said yourself you’d been there several times.
It wasn’t unusual that translation work needed to be done on dark artifacts, quite the opposite actually. The lack of safeguards in doing so at such a place was on the other hand. Either you were over confident in your abilities or you had a death wish. That aside, you clearly had no qualms about any motive he may have had about going to such a place, responding as if he had merely been window shopping at the apothecary’s. It was… refreshing if he were honest, and not something he was ready to give up just yet. Surely there was no harm in keeping a few personal details to himself.
“I’m afraid it’s those dreadful politics you make such a point to avoid. Though I wouldn’t go so far as to call myself a politician.” He smiled when you scrunched your nose at the statement.
“That sounds gross, is ass-kissing really that appealing?”
Lucius barely repressed a snort, “depends on what end you’re on I suppose?”
“Ooh, so you’re not the one doing the kissing, you’re the one getting your ass kissed. Makes much more sense now.”
“You truly have a terrible opinion of me don’t you,” he teased.
“Well, now who’s fault is that?” You grinned as the pair of you came to a stop at the bench you had been sitting at previously.
“Clearly, something I need to remedy post haste,” was the response as the older man released your hand and stepped back. “I’m afraid I must cut our visit short, but I should hope to call on you properly, if the stars align in our favor once again,” he teased.
You sniggered and slapped his arm, eyes full of mirth, “go away, you sappy pretentious prick.”
“Until we meet again.” Lucius bowed slightly a smile on his lips, before turning and walking away.