Atonement | By : articcat621 Category: Harry Potter > Het - Male/Female > Lucius/Hermione Views: 16707 -:- Recommendations : 1 -:- Currently Reading : 0 |
Disclaimer: JKR owns the Harry Potter characters and I am making no money from this story. |
Hermione Granger sat in her office letting out a deep sigh. She glanced at the stack of papers she needed to go through and sign, before promptly letting her head fall on the desk. She absolutely loathed paperwork.
After the War, Hermione was the only one of the Trio who returned to Hogwarts to finish her "seventh" year. Ron and Harry had immediately accepted their honorary NEWTS and went straight into Auror Training.
Hermione couldn't accept those NEWTS. She needed to sit down and do the hard work herself. Professor McGonagall was pleased when Hermione expressed interest in returning to the school. A few other students returned as well.
Hermione was surprised to see that Draco Malfoy had returned to Hogwarts to redo his final year. At first, the tension between the two of them was awkward and dense. But after a shouting match, which had led to a sob fest, the two of them instantly became friends.
Draco was still the cocky prick she had known for all those years, but she found that he could be nice when he wanted to be and that he was incredibly loyal.
They were both victims in the War, and the two of them had lost people they had loved.
Narcissa Malfoy had been killed in a rogue Death Eater attack a few months after the War had ended. Draco was devastated by the loss of his mother. Hermione had offered him all the comfort that he had needed and supported him morally. Even now she knew that he was still hurting.
Hermione had lost both of her parents during the War. Despite the fact that she had wiped their memories and sent them to Australia to protect them, they had still been found. She had suspected it was the work of Bellatrix Lestrange, but Hermione couldn't be sure.
Bellatrix was locked in Azkaban awaiting the kiss. They hadn't notified anyone of when it would be as of yet, but Hermione hoped it would be soon. Subconsciously Hermione touched her left arm. The woman still plagued Hermione's dreams, and would often cause her to wake up in the middle of night drenched in sweat. She shuddered at the thought.
The door to her office swung open and Draco strolled in. Dropping down into a chair, he put his feet up on her desk.
"Merlin Draco," Hermione hissed, shoving his feet off as they landed onto the wooden floor with a thud.
He grinned. "Let's go out."
Hermione laughed, shaking her head. "I don't think so Draco. As you can see I have all this paperwork to go through."
Leaning forward, Draco put his hands on his knees. "Merlin Hermione, you look like absolute shit."
Hermione rolled her eyes. "Thanks, you're so kind."
Draco stood, walking around the desk to stand next to her. "No, really Mione, you don't look too good at all."
Hermione closed her eyes. "I'm exhausted."
Draco crossed his arms. "You work too much, that's your problem."
"Well, maybe I have a boss that expects far too much of me," she replied, sticking her tongue out.
Draco held his hands up in mock protest. "I do no such thing. And I know for a fact it isn't my father pushing you too hard either. Hermione, you set your own hours you know that."
Hermione remained quiet, she knew he was right. After they had both received their NEWTS, Draco had taken over his share of Malfoy Industries. He had decided to use some of the funds to dabble in the Muggle medical world. He had originally hired Hermione as a consultant, but she had soon taken over most of the affairs.
Hermione's job was to make sure that Malfoy Industries didn't break the code of Secrecy and that they remained free of all legal implications. It was harder than it sounded.
Draco could sense he had upset her. "Look, Hermione, I'm just saying I know you're still upset because of what happened with Ron. You need to let it go."
Hermione glared at him. "I'm not upset-"
"Yes you are," Draco cut her off. "When you're upset, you throw yourself into your work. It's your natural defense Hermione, and I understand, really I do." He moved forward and took her hands in his. "But it isn't healthy. I'm worried about you."
Hermione nodded, feeling a silent tear slide down her cheek.
"Mione, don't cry! I didn't mean to upset you…" Draco trailed off.
She sniffled. "It's alright. Just listening to you makes me realize how right you are. I'm so bloody miserable!"
"Hermione, it's all right to be upset."
"I'm not upset!" She cried. "'I'm lonely! When I'm not here, I'm at home, moping around being miserable. It's pathetic!"
Draco pulled her into a tight hug. "You're not pathetic."
Hermione hugged him back tightly. She opened her mouth to speak but was cut off by a knock on the door.
Hermione broke away from the embrace, quickly wiping away her tears. Clearing her throat, she muttered, "Come in."
The door opened to reveal Mr. Malfoy standing in the doorway. He looked as regal as ever. Hermione never understand why he always looked like perfection.
"Ah, Miss Granger, I was looking for Draco. And here he is," Malfoy Sr. said. Lucius Malfoy had spent two years in Azkaban for his crimes during the War. Now, he was still the Head of Malfoy Industries, controlling the financial area of the business.
Hermione still felt on the fence about Lucius. He seemed to have changed since the War, but she still felt wary of him. He was always polite to her and seemed to have no qualms about her working for the family company, and yet, Hermione couldn't help but feel cautious.
In a way, she did pity the older man. He had lost so much in the War, just like everyone else. He had lost his wife and his reputation. People treated him terribly, and she felt bad for him. He wasn't an evil person, but many of the Wizarding community were too blind with prejudice to see past the fact that he was an ex Death Eater.
Hermione waved them away. "I'm going home for the day."
Draco nodded, walking off with his father. "Hermione, this conversation isn't over!" Draco shouted over his shoulder.
Hermione ignored him, quickly grabbing her papers and disappearing through the Floo Network.
Lucius walked down the hall to his study, Draco trailing behind him. He just wanted to check on Draco's progress.
"How are things?" He asked as Draco sat down on the couch.
"Fine," Draco answered stiffly. "Hermione's in the process of finding a Muggle college to allow us to test the latest medication in."
Lucius nodded. "That's good. What does this one do?"
"It's in the form of a pill. The idea was to put a sleeping and calming draught into pill form. Muggles have their own version of a sleeping pill, but its absolute rubbish," Draco explained.
Lucius nodded. "Miss Granger seems like a very positive asset to this company."
Draco smirked. "Of course she is. She's bloody brilliant."
"Brilliant enough to settle down with?" Lucius asked, raising his eyebrow.
Draco shook his head. "Merlin, no! She's just my friend. Besides, I've been seeing the younger Greengrass girl."
Lucius nodded. "Good."
Draco rolled his eyes. "I have plenty of time to settle down father, no need to worry."
Lucius shook his head. "I'm not worried."
Draco tilted his head to the side watching his father. "Why are you so interested?"
"Can't a father take an interest in his son's love life?" Lucius asked, feigning innocence.
Draco snorted, crossing his arms. "No. What are you thinking about?"
"I don't know what you're talking about."
The two remained silent for a few minutes. Suddenly, Draco realized what was going on.
"How's your love life going father?"
Lucius huffed. "There is no love in my life anymore."
Draco rolled his eyes. "Look, I know you loved mum, and she loved you too, but your marriage wasn't perfect. You know it, I know it, and the whole world knows it. You need to move on father, find someone else."
"I do not, and will not," Lucius replied with a huff. His son had no right to say such things!
Draco shrugged. "You're lonely, and that's normal. I just don't want to see you so sad."
"I'm not sad," Lucius replied stiffly.
Draco shrugged. "Well, I'll see myself out." He stopped just outside the doorway. "Just think about it dad, I want you to be happy."
Later that evening, Draco found himself lying on his couch in his flat. He needed to find a way to help Hermione. He knew she was bloody miserable with her social life and he had to do something to change it.
And at the same time, he needed to do something to help his father as well.
Hell, they were both so bloody lonely.
Draco's eyes flung open. "That's it!" He exclaimed to himself excitedly.
The two of them were being plagued by loneliness, so what better way to fix things than to get them together!
Draco grinned mischievously. He had some planning to do.
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