A servant hurried into the hall, his face caught somewhere between hesitation and reluctance. He cleared his throat carefully.
"Master, there are guests calling."
"Who?"
"They claim to be... Gilderoy Lockhart, the Defense Against the Dark Arts professor at Hogwarts, and... Hermione Granger."
His voice noticeably stumbled on the second name.
He knew Lucius had always despised Muggle-borns. On any ordinary day, people like that couldn't even dream of approaching the gates of Malfoy Manor, let alone being announced at the door. But today was different. The servant knew enough — he knew something had happened to Young Master Draco. And one of the two visitors was the famously renowned Lockhart. So he'd steeled himself and announced them anyway.
Lucius felt a throb start up in his temples the moment he heard Hermione's name.
That business at Flourish and Blotts , Hermione and Lockhart had thoroughly swindled him. The Ministry had investigated him back and forth for months, and he'd lost a considerable sum in the process.
And now they were here again?
"Let them in." Lucius couldn't afford to care about blood purity right now.
"No, wait."
He changed his mind.
"I'll greet them personally."
The servant blinked, then nodded and turned to leave.
Lucius rose, straightened his robes, and walked to the entrance.
Creak.
The manor's great door swung slowly open.
He spotted them immediately. Gilderoy Lockhart wore that same insufferable, punchable expression as always. Hermione Granger stood beside him, beaming.
The muscle in Lucius's jaw twitched.
Under normal circumstances, it wouldn't matter how famous Lockhart was , Lucius, as the head of a noble pure-blood family, would never lower himself to personally welcome anyone at the door. Especially not these two, with whom he had very real and very unpleasant history.
But he had no choice now.
Seeing them , seeing that infuriating smile on Hermione Granger's face in particular , he wanted nothing more than to hit them both with a Cruciatus Curse.
He took a deep breath and forced the anger down.
They might be here representing Hogwarts. Their attitude could easily influence the Ministry's final judgment on Draco. For Draco's sake, he had to set aside his dignity and smile.
"Professor Lockhart, Miss Granger. Welcome to Malfoy Manor."
He made his voice as warm as he could manage.
They moved to the drawing room.
"Please, sit." Lucius gestured to the seats and signaled a servant to bring tea. Then, without preamble: "What brings you both here today?"
Lockhart glanced at Hermione. The meaning was unmistakable: You do the talking.
"We've come to make a deal with you, Mr. Malfoy," Hermione said. Her voice was clear and unhurried.
"A deal." Lucius raised an eyebrow. "On behalf of Hogwarts?"
"No. On our own behalf."
Lucius let out a cold laugh. "If that's the case, there's nothing to discuss. I must bid you farewell."
"It seems Mr. Malfoy doesn't wish to save his son." Hermione rose calmly, already moving toward the door. "Let's go, Professor Lockhart."
Draco.
Lucius's expression shifted.
"Miss Granger!"
Narcissa's voice came from behind them, sharp with urgency.
"We'll listen. Please forgive Lucius's rudeness — I apologize to you both on his behalf." She bowed deeply, then moved quickly to Lucius's side and fixed him with a look that said, very clearly: don't.
It was only then that Lucius noticed Lockhart had been standing behind Hermione the entire time, silent as a shadow. Not a word. Not a gesture.
Lucius couldn't hide his surprise.
Lockhart was flamboyant, yes, but those achievements of his were real , or so Lucius had always assumed. He'd expected Lockhart to be the one leading this visit. But the one with actual authority here was apparently this girl?
He didn't know, of course, that every one of Lockhart's "achievements" had been stolen from someone else. If he hadn't been burned by these two before, he'd have been rolling out the red carpet for Lockhart right now.
He was still working through that when Hermione spoke again.
"The details of the deal can wait. As a show of good faith, I can wake Draco first."
Narcissa's eyes went bright. She stepped forward immediately. "Really?!"
She didn't wait for an answer. She grabbed Hermione's hand and pulled her toward the bedroom at once, as if afraid she might change her mind.
Lucius opened his mouth. Closed it. Swallowed whatever he'd been about to say.
He knew perfectly well that if he said something now that put Hermione off and delayed saving Draco, Narcissa would make him regret it on the spot.
In the bedroom, Draco lay pale and still against the pillows.
Hermione reached out silently through the magic book, telling Little Voldemort to return the portion of soul energy he'd absorbed.
Little Voldemort agreed without complaint. Hermione had plenty of soul energy to spare , she could replenish him later. It was no great sacrifice.
The energy flowed back. Gradually, color returned to Draco's face.
Narcissa seized Hermione's hands in both of hers, thanking her over and over, unable to stop.
Blood purity meant nothing in that moment. Hermione was the most wonderful person in the world as far as Narcissa was concerned.
Even Lucius's expression had softened.
After a little while, Draco stirred and opened his eyes.
"Mother... what happened?"
He blinked groggily at the cluster of people around his bed, and then his gaze landed on the figure standing just behind Lucius.
Hermione. Wearing a faint, knowing smile.
"Ah!"
Draco's eyes flew wide. His whole body went rigid with a shudder, and the next instant he went limp and fainted dead away.
His last conscious thought, in the half-second before the darkness took him:
I woke up too fast. I opened my eyes and Hermione's in the house. I must still be dreaming.
Narcissa spun around, alarmed. "What — what just happened?"
"He was probably frightened by Mr. Malfoy's expression." Hermione spread her hands, the picture of innocence. "This poor child. One look at his father's face after causing trouble and he's shaking. Must have had that beaten into him from a young age."
Narcissa turned to Lucius with a look that could strip paint.
"Lu. Cius."
"Mr. Malfoy," Hermione cut in smoothly, "why don't you step out? Mrs. Malfoy, you stay with Draco. Mr. Malfoy and I can go discuss the actual business."
It was, technically, a rescue. Lucius took it.
Narcissa gave a short nod and said nothing more.
The two of them walked back to the drawing room.
Hermione regarded him with a thoughtful look. "You seem to have been rather hard on Draco."
Lucius was quiet for a moment, his son's terrified face still fresh in his mind.
Had he really been that strict?
He came back to himself slowly, looked at Hermione, and opened his mouth. Closed it. Something moved behind his eyes , a struggle, real and visible, the kind that didn't come easily to a man like him.
Finally, after a long silence, he got the words out.
"...Thank you."
Getting Lucius Malfoy to say those two words was no small thing, Hermione thought. Whatever his methods, Draco was still his son , his only son, the sole heir to everything he'd built. The care was there, buried under all that severity.
Lucius composed himself quickly, his usual hauteur sliding back into place. But it was different now, just slightly. The edge had gone out of it.
"Now," he said. "Tell me what kind of deal you actually came here to make."
➤ Next: Lucius, Have a Seat
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