A Peculiar Meeting

Blond and Awkward

A Peculiar Meeting

Disclaimer: We do not own it.

CHAPTER FOUR

Hermione knew her impatience was unwarranted as she stood under the Texas flag outside the restaurant. It was only 11:57, but she wanted to get this over with and figure out what Lucius really wanted.

He finally arrived by Muggle taxi at 12:01. It was tempting to give him a hard time about being late, but she took pity on him, as he struggled with Muggle currency in his attempt to pay the driver.

"Did you get it worked out?" she asked, nodding at the driver.

Why is he blushing?

"Uh. Yes. I apologize for my tardiness. I had technical difficulties with, well, everything." Lucius looked decidedly uncomfortable.

Hermione glanced at his attire and realized that he was wearing an expensive Muggle suit and was sans cane. A series of thoughts washed over her in rapid succession.

At least there's nothing to drop.

He looks dashing.

The witch realized she was staring at him when he offered her his arm. She shook her head. "Sorry. I... I'm still trying to figure out what it is you want." She took his proffered arm, and they entered the restaurant.

Soon after they were seated in a booth at the back of the large room, a young waiter approached. "Hermione! How lovely to see you!" He paused momentarily, looking at Lucius, obviously confused, then gathered himself. "New company today, I see. Still want your usual?"

Hermione smiled at him. "Yes, please. I'll have guacamole with pico de gallo, and..." she paused briefly, "a Strawberry Margharita."

The waiter nodded and turned to Lucius. "And for you, sir?"

Lucius frowned slightly, still looking at the menu. "I will have a... Gold Cadillac." He looked at Hermione. "What do you recommend as a starter?"

Hermione grinned. "Everything is splendid; it depends what you like or don't like. Let's see... Do you like it spicy?"

Lucius raised his eyebrow. "Yes. Yes, indeed. I do."

"I'd go for the fried jalapeños, then."

Lucius placed his order with the waiter, who nodded and left the couple to their own devices. Hermione slipped her wand out and cast a spell so that the waiter would only think they were talking about the weather unless they were speaking directly to him. It was quite a neat little piece of wand-work she'd developed, if she did say so herself.

"How did you find this place?" Lucius asked. "It seems rather... touristy."

"Severus and I were shopping in London one day and saw it. We thought it was amusing that there was an American restaurant smack in the middle of the tourist part of Muggle London. And not just an American restaurant, either; it's specifically something called TexMex.

"We liked the food - it's spicy in a different way from Indian food. I'm sure they tone down the spice for us. It seems to be geared toward tourists, but you'll occasionally find a weary Texan traveler who stumbles in, desperate for a jalapeño and some salsa. I've spoken to a couple of them, and they said it's not as good as you'll find in Texas, but it will do in a pinch."

Lucius frowned. "You say you came here with Severus? Quite often, from the looks of confusion the waiter is giving you."

Hermione laughed. "It's one of Severus' favorite places, oddly enough. I think he likes it because he can get away with ordering four appetizers and a main dish and no one thinks badly of him. To be honest I just thought it would be funny to see you try to navigate yourself in a Muggle restaurant."

"I see."

The starters arrived and Hermione set to work showing Lucius how to eat Tex Mex. He fumbled with his knife and fork, he fumbled with putting the salsa on the chip, and he almost knocked his Gold Cadillac into his lap.

Exasperated, Hermione finally snapped, "Merlin's beard, man, what's wrong with you? Have you been cursed? Do you need me to research it and break it for you? I don't mind!"

If Hermione was bewildered by Lucius' lack of motor control, she was completely flummoxed by the sight of Lucius Malfoy, debonair ladies' man and pure blood snob, turning beet red. He began fidgeting with his fork, which slid out of his hands. Hermione took both of his hands and laid them flat on the table and held them there. He'd probably hurt himself otherwise.

"You promised you'd tell me why you keep dropping things. Talk."

Lucius cleared his throat and spoke to his plate.

"I am clumsy."

"No you're not. I've never seen you continuously drop things. You were devastating with your wand at the Ministry. Did this happen in Azkaban?"

Lucius involuntarily shuddered and shook his head.

"I have always been clumsy. When I was a child, my mother would cast a stabilization charm on me, a very complex one, so I wouldn't look like an oaf. In retrospect, I think she did me a disservice. I probably would have sorted it out eventually and learned balance. But instead, the charm took care of that for me. It requires a lot of power to cast and is a bit draining to hold. When I grew older, I learned to do it myself. I can cast it, and I can hold it, but when I'm nervous, I can't do the wand movements. In my previous life, that was never an issue...being nervous."

"Why on earth would you be nervous around me?"

"Let me put it this way: I was never even one-tenth this nervous when the Dark Lord confiscated my house and treated me like a wayward house-elf."

Hermione's eyes widened in realization and she suddenly let go of his hands. He folded them quickly into his lap.

While she had released his hands, she hadn't fled the table, screaming. He took that as a promising sign and rushed to finish the rest of his explanation. Hopefully she would appreciate his attempt at Gryffindor bluntness.

"I would watch you, with Severus. You two were always so animated. I wondered what it would be like to have a witch who actually seemed to want to be around me and listened to what I say. I know that sounds pathetic, especially from me. But you must realize that Narcissa and I had an arranged marriage, and while we were fond of each other, we were simply companions who had a son." He stopped suddenly when he realized Hermione's eyes had glazed over.

"I'm sorry. I'm making a hash of his."

"It's just... completely unexpected..." Hermione responded weakly, reaching for her drink.

"May I court you?"

She choked on her margarita. Roger, the waiter, pounded her on the back and glared at Lucius. When she'd regained her composure, she looked at Lucius for a moment and then told Roger, "We'll have the barbecue platter."

At Roger's raised eyebrow and glance at Lucius, she said, "It's going to be a mess no matter what we order."

While they waited for their meal to arrive, she looked at Lucius speculatively.

"What does this 'courting' business entail?"

"I have no idea."

"What do you mean, you have no idea. You're the one who brought it up. Isn't that what pureblood snobs do?"

"My marriage to Narcissa was arranged. There was really very little 'courting' involved. We went to tea parties at other people's houses and occasionally had formal balls. I don't know you very well at all but somehow I do not believe either of those things would appeal to you?"

Hermione looked appalled. The waiter arrived with the food, and they began eating. Hermione made a mental note to clean Lucius up after the meal. No one with any conscience would let anyone, even Lucius Malfoy, walk out of a restaurant with as much food on him as Lucius had on his expensive suit.

"I thought not. I thought perhaps we could go to a museum. Or even one of those Muggle things – the story on the screen?"

"A movie?"

"Yes. I would like to take you to a movie." He looked pleased with himself.

"Lucius... please don't take offense.... But would you mind terribly if I asked Severus to brew up some Veritaserum and I asked you what your intentions are? I was tortured at your house, and your son was horrible to me for years."

"I thought you'd never ask." He rummaged around in his coat pocket and produced a vial. "Veritaserum."

"You do realize I don't trust you enough to even believe that it's what you say it is?"

"Ask Severus, he brewed it. He said you'd never believe that I was genuinely interested in you."

Hermione whipped out a cell phone, furrowing her brow in a vain attempt to understand everything that had just happened.

Thank goodness Severus answered. He'd balked when she'd given him the phone. But she'd badgered him and he'd given in in case he needed to contact her parents or something similar.

"Severus?"

"Mmm?" She could hear lots of people talking in the background.

"Where are you? Did you give Lucius a vial of Veritaserum?"

"I'm at the Burrow. You should come; they're throwing a surprise party for Molly. It was all last minute. Miss Weasley says she's sorry she didn't have a chance to owl you about it. Yes, I gave Lucius a vial of Veritaserum. It should have a green stripe on it."

"Ok, thanks." She ended the call and stared at the phone, and then at Lucius. "First you, then him," she muttered. "The world's gone mad."

"What do you mean?"

"He said he was at a party at the Burrow."

"What?"

"Exactly. Drink your Veritaserum."

"Oh. Right."

He dropped three drops on his tongue.

"Ask away."

"What is your name?"

"Lucius Abraxas Malfoy."

"Why are you here?"

"We had a date."

"What is your interest in me?"

"I wish to see if we're compatible for marriage."

"What?!"

Lucius looked confused by the question.

"I wish to see if we're compatible for marriage."

"I thought you just wanted to court me."

Again, Lucius looked confused.

"Sorry, Lucius. Ignore that. Did Severus Snape put you up to this?"

"No."

"Did anyone put you up to this?"

"No."

"Do you desire to court me for any other reason than marriage?"

"No."

"Why do you want to court me?"

"I find you interesting. I like you."

"Are you really clumsy?"

At this, Lucius blushed.

"Yes."

Unfortunately, Hermione realized she was done questioning him before the potion wore off and realized that ethically, she'd just have to remain silent until it did. The potion would wear off in about twenty minutes. Suddenly, she grinned.

"Do you want to crash Molly Weasley's surprise part at the Burrow?"

"Yes."

Hermione looked up, shocked.

"Really?"

"Yes."

"Why?"

"Because you seem to want to go. I want you to be happy."

Hermione stared at him, incredulous. The world had indeed gone mad.