Chapter Two
At 7:45 Friday night Hermione stood at the door of Malfoy Manor. Lucius had told her where to Apparate to, and then it was a short walk up the path to his front door.
She looked down, running her sweaty hands up and down her sleeves. The blouse she wore was one of her favorites - it was a soft pink, with poufy frills at her wrists. It was odd coming here without her Dad. Odd, but not entirely uncomfortable. She had been here dozens of times growing up. No big deal. She could do this.
Clearing her throat, she rapped at the door with the large griffin-shaped knocker. The door opened of its own accord, and there stood Lucius Malfoy, a jaunty, though maybe a bit nervous, smile on his face. He wore a pinstriped 3-piece suit, and his walking stick hung loosely in the crook of one elbow.
"Miss Hermione... I mean, Miss Snape. Thank you so much for coming. It means so much."
Hermione found herself smiling at his obvious awkwardness, and she took his arm when he offered it and together they walked to the dining room.
A house-elf with a wide grin pushed Hermione's chair in before Disapparating with a pop. Lucius took his place at the head of the table, with Hermione sitting at his immediate right. He saw her checking out the long, formal table, and knew she was glad they were sitting close together and not at either end of the table.
Lucius seemed nervous. It was a little jarring, because the tall, blond wizard generally exuded confidence. He played with his fork before setting it down.
"I'm sure you have a guess why I invited you here tonight, Hermione. I want to make sure you feel as comfortable as possible. I want to go slowly and make sure you feel respected and safe."
"Thank you, Mr Malfoy. I appreciate that." Hermione smiled in his direction. She did feel comfortable.
He took her hand in his own -- his skin was surprisingly warm and soft.
"While we're on the subject, why don't you call me Lucius instead?"
His smile was inviting and courteous. She found herself attracted by his sparkling blue eyes. And she nodded and said okay.
Hermione, with her father, had eaten many meals at the Malfoy Manor dining table. Their house-elves' culinary talents were unparalleled. Nevertheless, Hermione was grateful to see that dinner tonight was a mere three courses instead of the six (or more!) courses she had experienced in the past. Lucius seemed to be wanting to put her at ease and seemed to have put together an evening she would enjoy. He asked her about Hogwarts, her classes, books she was reading, and spells she was studying. She hadn't really talked to him since she was a student, as her teaching career kept her busy. It was a refreshing change. Hermione found herself really enjoying his company -- it was nice to have such an intellectual and experienced wizard to talk to.
Lucius pushed away his empty bowl. Dessert had been an elegant confection of chocolate ice cream with fudge sauce and dotted with cherries and berries.
"Would you like to speak in the library, Hermione? I can order us coffee. Or are you comfortable here?"
Her brown eyes widened with anticipation. "Oh, the library, please!"
He laughed a little and offered her his arm. Together they walked down the hallway. Lucius took the time to explain to her the paintings, the suits of armor, and other trinkets from his family's heritage that adorned the walls. As a little girl visiting this spacious mansion, Hermione had always looked wide-eyed around at everything. At the time Lucius had been too busy in meetings with her father and other Hogwarts/Ministry of Magic staff and no one had been able to entertain her. Instead, she had been relegated to the kitchens and been allowed to help the house-elves cook and bake.
Tossing a smile over his shoulder, Lucius pried open the double doors with both hands. Hermione couldn't help but notice how his biceps rippled under his white dress shirt.
But then, her attention was captured by the three levels of bookcases surrounding her. There was a fireplace at either end of the large, cavernous room. Plush, cozy-looking furniture was placed strategically around the room. Lucius gestured to a long, ivory-colored couch facing a crackling fire.
"There are stars in your eyes, Hermione."
She blushed as she allowed herself to be led to the couch. Lucius sat at the other end, placing plenty of space between them. He snapped his fingers twice, and a house-elf appeared, placing a tray of coffee things in front of them. With a twinkle in her eye and a dimple in her cheek, she curtsied and Disapparated.
"Cream? Sugar?" Lucius picked up the pot of coffee and gestured towards a mug. Hermione nodded in the affirmative and Lucius passed her her drink. The mugs and coffee pot were all a pristine white, standing together like soldiers, and all monogrammed with the Malfoy family crest in gold.
Lucius took his coffee black. Lifting his mug to his lips, he asked over the rim, "What do you think of this marriage law business, Hermione?"
Hermione set down her cup a bit louder than she intended.
"Well, you know, maybe it might not be that bad. I've been thinking about this for quite a while now."
Lucius' bright blue eyes lit up in a smile. Of course you have, you little darling.
"Maybe... maybe it would be alright if both parties knew each other beforehand? So you wouldn't be marrying a complete stranger? I would want someone compatible, someone intelligent... and someone kind." Her words trailed off as she smiled a little, biting her lip.
Lucius could not tear his eyes away. Hermione's lips were perfectly curved in a tantalizing shape. He wanted to know what her kisses tasted like.
"Someone kind, hmm?" His eyes gleamed; he wasn't teasing her. Setting down his coffee cup on a side table, he took Hermione's hand. "I think you know what I want to talk about tonight. I want to ask you if marrying this old bachelor really wouldn't be that bad. I know this is unusual in many ways, but you know that I would move heaven and earth to treat you well. If you want to continue teaching, that's fine with me. I'll support whatever decision you make. If you want children, that would make me the happiest man on earth. If you want our marriage to be name-only, that's okay too."
He looked deep into her brown eyes. He could see the wheels in her mind churning.
"I just want you to be happy, Hermione. I've come to care for you. Whatever you decide."
This was not the proposal Hermione had dreamed about when she was younger. But, as she heard the fire crackling in the hearth and smelled the deep, earthy cologne of the older man sitting next to her, she immediately realized that it was picture-perfect. Her heart did a flip flop, and she felt suddenly shy, but also very much in love.
"Yes," she replied, "yes, I'll marry you."
She had never seen Lucius Malfoy smile that big. He squeezed her hand and brought it up to his lips. There was a sexy glint in his eye, even though the words he spoke were chaste.
"Thank you. I will make you so happy, Hermione. I will be so proud to have you as my wife."
He stood and walked over to the mantel, picking up a little wooden box that Hermione had not noticed. Her mouth fell open as Lucius knelt at her feet. It was an awestruck moment, having a great and powerful wizard literally on his knees for her.
Lucius opened the tiny box and took out a ring, placing it on her finger. Hermione turned it this way and that, admiring it in the firelight. At first glance it was a modest design, and exactly the type of ring she would have picked for herself. The ring was set with a sapphire, her birthstone, with a smaller diamond on either side. The band was a dark gold, and etched with vines, flowers, and miniscule little M's.
Lucius felt pleased as he saw her admiring the ring.
"It's a Malfoy family heirloom. I had it charmed so it would fit your finger."
"Lucius, it's beautiful. I love it."
Without thinking, Lucius reached out a hand and slowly tucked a long brown curl behind Hermione's ear. He felt her warm breath on his hand, and her gasp was a feather-light touch, barely audible.
"May I... may I kiss you, Hermione? I want to go slow and respect your boundaries."
His words caressed her soul, and Hermione felt herself falling deeper. She couldn't manage saying the word, but she simply nodded.
His hand caressed her hair, swept over her cheek, and drew her down to him. He hesitated only for a second before claiming her. He tasted like coffee and honey, and Hermione found herself responding, meeting him kiss for kiss. His arms pulled him to his firm chest, where she instantly felt safe and protected and like she had been waiting for something exciting and now it was finally here.
"Hermione," he whispered, placing one final kiss on her forehead. She searched his gaze, silently telling him to go on with whatever he needed to say.
Lucius touched his forehead to hers, closing his eyes. "My knees are killing me. Let me get up."
Her laugh was like little silver bells in the air. He pushed himself up and resumed his place on the couch, albeit a lot closer to Hermione than where he had started out sitting. He wrapped an arm around her and with his other hand played with her hair.
"I'm an old man, Hermione. I'm 25 years older than you. Are you okay with that?" He felt suddenly insecure, like a little schoolboy.
"I'm honored, Lucius, so honored you chosen me. I can't wait to begin our life together."
When their lips met again, all Lucius' insecurities melted away.
Hermione Apparated in the Spinner's End kitchen around midnight. Her father didn't look up from where he was fixing a cup of herbal tea.
"How did it go?"
"Wonderful." She dropped a kiss on Severus' scratchy cheek and twirled away.
Severus Snape smiled to himself.