Adult-FanFiction.org : Harry Potter

A Gift for a Lotus	By : FemmeBono Category: Harry Potter > Het - Male/Female > Lucius/Hermione Views: 5041 -:- Recommendations : 0 -:- Currently Reading : 0
Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter, nor the characters created by Rowling. This is a free work of fan fiction.

Chapter List
- 2
- 3
Cht 3

“You’re moving where?” Ron exclaimed, a wad of half-eaten sandwich still in his mouth. “Hermione, no way! What if it’s a trick?”

“I think he’s a little beyond that, Ronald,” Hermione reasoned, as she guided a stack of books into an open box with her wand. She turned back to study her friend, perched comfortably on the edge of her kitchen counter. He was supposed to be helping pack, but true to form, he seemed to be helping empty her fridge instead. Harry, on the other hand, popped in from packing Hermione’s office and leaned on the door frame long enough to weigh in on the subject.
“It’s true he’s not the same Malfoy he used to be,” Harry said levelly. Then seeing Ron start to protest again, he raised his hand. “Mind you, he still works his way with the Ministry the same as he always has. But he’s also realized that it is just more politically expedient these days to look like he’s turned over a new leaf. Besides, Azkaban changed him. I can’t even explain how, but from his parole hearing, I can tell you he’s different somehow.”
“You should have seen him with Mei Lien,” Hermione chimed in. “As if he really enjoyed her company. He laughed, he threw her up on his shoulders, bought her cocoa…” Hermione trailed off, at a loss as to how to convey the new Malfoy she had witnessed. “It was unlike him at all. He even had the curses removed from that opal necklace.”
“Well, he’s had to, hasn’t he?” Ron rejoined, taking another bite of sandwich. “We’ve been cracking down on all the pureblood families and all the old Voldy supporters for their Dark objects.”
“He did say he was in a bind there,” Hermione said. “No way to get rid of them except selling them to museums and such.”
“Oh the laws are mad, they are,” Ron acknowledged. “And it’s madder yet the fly by night businesses that have cropped up since, taking advantage of the bind these people are in. Dad’s been working overtime with the Law Enforcement office trying to put a stop to all the scams and cursed objects that have been streaming into the black market. Something’s got to be done about it, and soon.”
“You could have a regular cottage industry, Hermione,” Harry piped up. “You and Neville both, it seems. The Averys and Yaxleys have him on retainer now, and in exchange Damien Yaxley has been helping to try to reverse the damage on his parents.”
“He didn’t take the job at Hogwarts then?” Hermione queried.
“Nah, he said he’s not cut out for teaching. He’s been doing work on landscaping, wizard style. He’s doing a bang-up job on Snape’s new potions garden.”
“Where in blazes is Snape putting in a garden?” Ron asked. “There’s no way he can do that in that piece of a back yard of his.”
“Of course he can,” smiled Harry. “That’s the beauty of Neville’s landscaping. It comes as a package deal with concealment charms for the Muggles. They think it’s a regular summer garden. Besides, he bought the house next door before it could be demolished. Since it’s terraced he’s got an extra yard now to boot.”
“Great,” Ron said grudgingly, “that means more room for Curmudgeon to wreak havoc.”
Ron was referring to Snape’s kneazle, which Hermione had given him last Christmas. Snape was adamantly opposed to Hermione’s well-meaning gift which she saw as a way to provide Snape with a partner for his solitude. Snape would have none of it, until he realized the ratty looking tom took pleasure in attacking Harry and Ron’s legs when they least expected it. Much amused with his new pet, Snape ever so fondly named him Curmudgeon, for the cat was old and grizzled with patchy black fur that had long since faded to charcoal gray.
“Well, passing over that evil hellcat,” Harry said tersely. “I think you’re doing a brilliant thing, Hermione. You may be just what Mr. Malfoy needs. Or more particularly, Mei Lien is. She’ll brighten anyone up.” He looked over his shoulder at the girl who sat in the living room explaining to her dolls about the move and how they would have to go in a dark box for a short time until she could rescue them again.
“That she will,” said Hermione, rubbing her forehead. “But oh, Ron you just reminded me—I never told Malfoy about Crookshanks!”
“Forget Crookshanks,” said Ron, looking suddenly perplexed. “I wonder if Malfoy senior told Draco that you’ll be living there…”

“You hired who?!” exclaimed Draco. He was not accustomed enough to his father nowadays to be certain Lucius Malfoy was not having him on. The younger Malfoy studied his father’s features carefully. It was not often that Lucius stopped in to visit him in the tiny flat he shared with Goyle, and slowly but surely their visits were getting easier, but their conversations were still stilted and forced at times. This, clearly, was not one of those times.
“Hermione Bucktoothed Bloody Granger?? The one who popped me one in fifth year?” he said aghast. Draco rounded the desk and perched on the edge of it to get a better look at his father, who sat back in the winged armchair now looking distinctly amused.
“Granger did that?” he said, a slow smile creeping into his eyes. “I believe you told me that Potter the Boy Wonder did it.”
Draco huffed imperiously and crossed his arms. “Father,” he said, avoiding the still touchy subject. “Have you gone round the bend?” Then looking as if this were actually possible, he added, “You’re not still talking to portraits are you?”
It was Lucius’ turn to look discomfited. “No I am not,” he said, earning a disgraceful snort from Draco. He gave his son a sharp look, and then continued. “Granger is not only the most viable choice, but using her gives a bit of extra credence to the idea of my turning over a new leaf for the powers that be. My choice to use her will not go unnoticed, and can only help our situation. Besides,” he added, “I quite enjoyed their company if you must know.”
Draco said nothing, but raised an eyebrow. His father had come back from prison a different person from the one who had raised him. He did not know this new man and was not sure how to relate to him. His mind simply could not adjust to the paragon of pureblood sanctity conversing with and even going so far as to open his ancestral home to a…well, it did not suit to use that term anymore, but a Muggle, he thought.
“What about the girl?” Draco inquired. “You said she was a pureblood?”
“Yes,” his father replied, resting his cheek on his hand. “Her name means lotus blossom, or some such. I looked it up. She’s liable to brighten up the manor considerably. Something about all that chipper talking she does, reminds me of you at that age.”
Draco’s eyebrows shot into his hairline. He seemed to remember getting driven out of his father’s study for his incessant “nattering” at a young age.
“Draco,” Lucius said in measured tones. “I would appreciate it if you would come round for dinner Sunday evening to help welcome them both. I would appreciate it even more of course if you could remain civil as well.”
“I suppose I can do that,” Draco replied, then changing tactics, decided he may as well test the waters himself since his father was taking strides in trying to connect. “Do you mind if I bring someone?”
“Draco, if you mean Pansy I’d truly rather you di—“ Lucius began, knowing that as bad as Draco’s relationship with Hermione had been, Pansy and Hermione’s had been worse.
“Not Pansy, Father,” Draco interjected. “Blaise.”
“Zabini?” he asked, casting his mind back for some story Draco may have told from his school days of any times Granger and Zabini may have butted heads. He could not think of one. “I suppose you may, as long as he understands that she and her daughter are welcome guests.”
“He’ll behave, Father.” Draco promised, making a mental note to prep Blaise ahead of time.
- 2
- 3
You need to be logged in to leave a review for this story.You need to be logged in to leave a review for this story.
Report Story

A Gift for a Lotus