Chapter 6

Chapter 6

Lucius pondered what he would say as he waited in the Three Broomsticks for Hermione. He didn't want to undermine Severus's efforts – the man could be entertaining at times, and he did still owe him for his efforts on Draco's behalf. Far better to repay the debt in small ways of his own choosing than to leave the field open for Severus to demand something big. On the other hand, if he could figure out what exactly Severus thought Hermione was blackmailing him with – well, information was never unwelcome, was it?

A few moments later, Hermione arrived. Lucius studied her dispassionately as she paused in the entryway, her eyes sweeping the room as she removed her cloak and ran a hand over her hair in a seemingly futile attempt to smooth it. The damp weather of Scotland certainly didn't do her any favours in that regard, he mused; he knew perfectly well from numerous fundraisers in the past three years that her hair could be quite lovely when she bothered with it. However, she apparently had forgotten (or simply not cared enough) to cast Impervious.

He wondered, not for the first time, whether Severus's animosity toward the woman was evidence of a suppressed crush. She wasn't his own type, but objectively speaking, she had grown into an attractive woman, and Merlin knew Severus had always liked outspoken Muggleborns.

He politely stood to greet her as she approached the table, waving his wand to pull out her chair for her. "It's good to see you, Hermione. How are you?"

"Fine, thank you, Lucius. It's good of you to meet me on such short notice – I realise you're very busy."

"Never too busy for my friends," Lucius said smoothly. Tea arrived, and they busied themselves with preparing cups and plates for a moment before Lucius continued, "Your letter sounded concerned about Severus?"

"In the past few days, he's done a complete about-face in his behaviour toward me, and I don't know what to make of it. I thought perhaps you could help me decipher his motives."

"What sort of change? Suddenly rude and unpleasant?"

Hermione laughed, "No, not at all – more the opposite. Suddenly polite and respectful."

Lucius frowned. "He should have been polite and respectful from the moment you joined the faculty. Are you telling me he hasn't been?"

"Well, no," Hermione said, flushing. "No more than he ever was, in any event."

Lucius raised an eyebrow. "He's always rude to the staff?"

"No, no, I wouldn't want you to think that," she said hastily. She seemed to consider her words carefully. "I meant his behaviour toward me was never anything but rude and unpleasant, except perhaps the day he interviewed me for my current position. I wouldn't have taken the job had I known that was a one-time thing rather than an indication of more cordial relations in the future."

"I cannot help wondering, Hermione, whether you somehow offended him at some point?"

She laughed again. "I think he finds my very existence offensive, which makes it strange that he ever hired me in the first place, and perhaps even stranger that he's been so nice – well, for him, anyway – for the last few days."

"Perhaps he was more displeased than he anticipated when he learned you were thinking of leaving."

"I'm not thinking of leaving, Lucius. I am leaving. I assume he told you I had given my notice."

"Yes, although he didn't seem inclined to accept it."

"He said something like that, but I don't see how it's relevant whether he wants to accept it or not. And really, why wouldn't he accept it? I expected him to be dancing with joy – figuratively speaking, of course, since I'm quite certain he's too serious to ever do anything as frivolous as dancing. He's made no secret of his feelings toward me – disdain at best, hatred at worst. Actually, I considered whether this new pleasantness is his way of rewarding me for leaving, but then why not grab my resignation and run with it instead of hinting he won't take it? Is this some elaborate attempt to ensure he can keep me miserable longer? Was three years not enough?"

"I'm sure that's not it. Perhaps your resignation shed light on his own behaviour and he realised he'd been unfair. Perhaps he's trying to make amends," Lucius suggested carefully.

She snorted indelicately. "Unlikely. He's hated me since the moment he met me, and no matter how I tried to improve his opinion, it was set in stone. I hardly think he'd suddenly change his mind after all these years."

Lucius frowned. "He can be unreasonable, certainly, but usually not forever. Unless you did something to him ..."

"What could I have done? I was eleven!"

"Perhaps it was later, then. When you were a pupil, he had a cover to maintain – he had to be unpleasant toward you. Did you do something in the final battle, or soon afterward? Did something happen in that job interview?"

Hermione shook her head. "I've wracked my brain, Lucius, and I can't think of anything. I tried to be supportive while he was in hospital – as far as I can tell, he had few visitors, so I used to read Potions journals to him when he was comatose. When he woke up, he did everything he could to get me to stop visiting, which I ignored at first, but eventually I realised getting so worked up couldn't be good for him and I stopped going. I had no contact at all with him when I was in France, and he seemed fine in response to my letter inquiring about the position as well as at the interview. I wouldn't have taken the job otherwise." She shrugged. "If I offended him in some way, I can't think how. Unless my very presence at his sickbed was so offensive that he's still holding a grudge."

Lucius sipped his tea thoughtfully. "Well, the workings of Severus's mind are often a mystery, even to me. I suppose you've tried apologising?"

Hermione rolled her eyes. "Many times – I thought it couldn't hurt, although I never had any idea what I was apologising for. He didn't want to hear it. Which makes his current behaviour completely perplexing." She sighed. "I can only conclude he's so pleased to be shot of me for good that he can't contain his delight."

"But there's still the refusal to accept your notice, which seems to render that highly unlikely. No, I think Severus has decided he wants you to stay – it's the only thing that makes sense."

"But why? Does he want to actually start afresh this time, like he said he did three years ago? Or does he feel I haven't suffered enough for whatever horrible transgression he thinks I've committed?"

Lucius shrugged. He clearly wasn't getting anywhere in convincing her of Severus's good intentions. He had only one more possibility to offer her, and he was quite certain Severus would have his head for even suggesting it. Still, if it would soften her even a little ... "You know, Hermione, all I can think is that his behaviour toward you over the past three years is rather reminiscent of Draco's attitude toward you when he was about twelve years old." He allowed a small smile to cross his lips fleetingly, as though the follies of his son's youth amused him.

"That's hardly a recommendation, Lucius. Draco hated me when he was twelve."

"No, he didn't. He had a completely inappropriate crush on you, and since he knew it was inappropriate, he ensured you would hate him enough to keep him from acting on it."

After a long shocked stare, Hermione burst out laughing. Lucius smiled slightly at her – she really was attractive when she was amused like this, and he could see why Severus would want her. She finally brought herself under control. "Honestly, Lucius, I don't know what's funnier, the idea of Draco with a crush on me when he was twelve, or of Professor Snape with a crush on me now." She shook her head and stood. "Thanks for the laugh – I really needed it." She made to pull out some Galleons, but he waved her away.

"I've got it. Good luck with Severus."

"Thanks," Hermione said, giving him one last smile before she left.

"Well?" Severus demanded as he stepped through Lucius's Floo that evening. "What did she have to say for herself?"

"Really, Severus, where are your manners? Not even a hello and a chance to pour the brandy before getting down to business?"

Severus rolled his eyes. Lucius could be such a pain in the arse sometimes. "Oh, excuse me. Hello, Lucius, how are you this evening?" he asked with mock sincerity.

"Fine, thank you, Severus." Lucius responded, but this time with complete sincerity. Severus glowered at him. Lucius's features remained smooth as he continued, "How are you? Shall we discuss what Professor Granger had to say over some brandy?"

Severus still glowered, but when Lucius didn't speak, he managed to bite out, "Yes, thank you. That would be very pleasant."

"Excellent. Have a seat."

Severus forced himself to wait until they had each taken a sip before continuing the game Lucius was amusing himself with this evening. "And how did you find Professor Granger today?"

Lucius shook his head mournfully. "Sadly, I'm afraid she seemed quite unable to remember to cast Impervious whilst walking in the rain."

"Lucius!"

Lucius looked pleased to have provoked him into an outburst; having done so, he got down to business immediately. "You have your work cut out for you, Severus. She can't decide if your current manners are a reward for announcing her imminent departure, or an attempt to get her to stay so you can torture her longer. And she's quite certain you wouldn't do anything so frivolous as dancing. Really, you've dug yourself quite a hole to wallow in."

Dancing? What the bloody hell does dancing have to do with anything? Severus decided he didn't really want to know. "What did you tell her?"

"I didn't comment on your propensity to dance, but pointed out that though you could be unreasonable for long periods of time, eventually you would recognise your mistake and try to make amends, which is apparently what you're doing now." He gave Severus a meaningful glare. "Aren't you?"

"Obviously," Severus agreed irritably. "I've been as polite and charming as I can possibly be. Thank Merlin I go into St. Mungo's Monday morning. I doubt I could maintain this charade longer than that without some sort of break."

"Don't be such an arse. You'll maintain this as long as you must to get her signed to a new – and preferably long – contract."

"Yes, yes." Severus agreed dismissively. "But it still irks me that she's getting everything she wanted from her little blackmail scheme."

"First, she definitely isn't getting everything she wants, and second, are you still on about that? She wasn't blackmailing you."

"You weren't there, Lucius. You didn't see her talking about 'fresh starts' if I hired her."

"Perhaps not, but I was there today when I asked her what she had done to offend you. The girl is a terrible liar, as you should know after all these years, and her bewilderment was completely genuine. I would stake my life and Draco's – and my fortune, for that matter – on it."

"She's got you fooled, Lucius." Severus shook his head in frustration, but he couldn't resist asking, "And what did you mean by 'she isn't getting everything she wants'? She's got the job she wanted, hasn't she? And now, despite my best efforts, she gets to keep it. It's not fair."

"You sound like a spoilt child. Since when have you expected life to be fair? And if you ask me, it's not the job she really wanted." Lucius's smug expression suggested he thought he was privy to inside information, which perhaps he was. The man was still better at ferreting out information than anyone Severus had ever known.

That wasn't the point now, however, so he asked, "Well, then, why did she blackmail me for it?"

"Gods, Severus, will you let that rest? She didn't blackmail you for the job or anything else. Is it so hard to believe she wants your good opinion?"

Severus was stunned. "Yes, frankly, it is. She hates me as much as I hate her."

"She said she visited you for months while you were in hospital. Who does that for someone they hate?" Severus's scepticism must have shown, because Lucius sighed. "This is pointless. Let's get my Pensieve out and I'll show you the memory. You'll see what I mean."

"I'm sure I won't, but if you insist on showing me ..."

Lucius smirked again. "This way."

Lucius was amused at Severus's stubborn insistence that Hermione must have been blackmailing him, even after they watched the Pensieve twice. He had, of course, carefully ended the memory before he began hinting to Hermione about Severus's 'crush'. It was, after all, fun to provoke him, but it would be much less fun to dodge hexes in his parlour. "Severus, it's as obvious as the nose on your face." (This earned him one of Severus's best glares). "She's completely perplexed. She has no idea why you hate her so much, and she never intended to blackmail you. If you watch carefully, she seems to be trying to protect you, at least at the beginning."

"Protect me?" Severus snorted. "From what?"

"Gryffindor that she is, she clearly has no idea that many Slytherins would be impressed by your ability to keep her under your thumb for nearly three years while treating her like something lower than a house-elf. She's obviously trying to make sure I don't think your treatment of her is as bad as I'm sure it was because she doesn't want you fired."

Severus frowned, then looked at the memory again. He was still frowning when he came out. "It doesn't make sense. I remember the interview very clearly. I still have her letter in my files. I'll grant you, it was subtle, but ..."

"Perhaps we ought to review that memory, along with the letter."

Severus glared at him, but Lucius suspected Severus would run to his files and his own Pensieve the very moment he got back to his office. He decided to add fuel to the fire. "In any event, if you watch closely, it's clear she doesn't hate you. In fact, it looks to me as though she likes you rather more than she's comfortable with."

Other than another glare, Severus didn't respond to that; instead, he took his leave moments later.