Chapter 23

On Thursday the paperwork was finally filed with the Wizengamot, though it was filed as a contested divorce since Weasley had refused to sign the documents. That had not surprised Lucius in the least. He noticed on Friday morning that the Weasley divorce was scheduled for two weeks from the following Tuesday. It seemed like an interminably long time, but the Wizengamot docket was quite full with other pending cases to attend to – business contracts, magical patent disputes, various criminal hearings, etcetera.

But now that the date was set, and as long as the hearing resolved quickly, he knew that in roughly two months, Hermione would be a free witch. He saw very little that could interfere with the divorce or any cause for the Wizengamot to rule against her.

Checking the clock, he saw that it was nearly one o'clock. The lunch break would be ending, and this would be a good time to inform Hermione when her hearing was scheduled. He knew that Reg would send her the information by owl, but this was news he wanted to deliver in person, especially since he would not be seeing her this evening.

When he arrived at the Potions Research Division, he casually strolled towards the lunch room. He wanted this to look like a random encounter, not something he had planned. He froze when he glanced in the room and saw Hermione sitting at a table with a rather handsome wizard who appeared to be her age. She was laughing at something he had said and reached her hand out to touch his arm in a very familiar way. Lucius could feel a tightness in his chest as he watched the two of them flirt with each other.

Rather than stand in the doorway and draw attention to himself, he continued down the hall and into one of the empty conference rooms. He leaned against the table, his hands squeezing the edge, and he closed his eyes to try to regain emotional control. Had he waited too long to make his feelings clear? Was this younger wizard his rival for her affection? She had not mentioned anyone else, but why would she? If this wizard was special to her, she would be careful not to let anyone know for the same reason that he was keeping his feelings for her concealed.

He was disturbed from his reverie when he heard her voice.

"Oh, Gilles, that is too funny," she said in French.

"I'm glad I could improve your mood," he replied.

"See you later," she said.

"How about tonight?" Gilles asked.

Lucius held his breath as he waited for her reply.

After several long seconds, Hermione replied. "Sure. I'll meet you at the Tube."

Lucius instantly regretted his dinner engagement at the Greengrasses. If he'd only cleared more time in his schedule – dared to spend more of his time with her – she'd be in his company and there would not be this other wizard to compete against. Her tone and actions clearly spoke to the fact they were more than merely colleagues. Obviously they were close enough for her to use his first name. How close he could only presume, but close enough for him to know she'd needed cheering. Had she confided in him? Was this other wizard doing as he was, getting close to her and hoping to win her affections? The fact their conversation had been in French meant any of their coworkers who happened to overhear them were less likely to know what they were saying; that alone set him on edge.

He knew she would be walking by the conference room shortly, and he schooled his expression before walking out of the room. He stepped from the room, graciously allowing two witches carrying research files pass him, and closed the door behind him silently. He looked up and tried to appear as if seeing her was completely coincidental. "Ah, Hermione, the witch I was coming to see next. Do you have a moment?"

She glanced around her, watching the withes leave and replied, "Of course, Mr. Malfoy." She then followed him into the conference room across the hall.

"I thought you might like to know that your hearing has been scheduled for two weeks from next Tuesday. I know that Reg will send you an owl, but I thought it might make your afternoon more enjoyable given how much this has weighed on your mind."

She smiled at him. "Thank you. I do appreciate you letting me know."

He quickly tried to determine some way to divine her plans for the evening, to confirm what he had overheard. "And you'll be all right this evening?"

"Oh, I'll be fine. I was always a bit of a homebody, so going out on Fridays has never been my thing. Besides, I have a new stack of books waiting for me."

He did his best to smile at her, hearing the uncertainty in her voice. "Of course. I'll see you tomorrow morning for breakfast?"

"I look forward to it. Maybe we can go best two out of three in chess?" she offered cheerfully.

"I hope for a thrilling match," he replied.

She paused a moment before turning from the conference room to head up the stairs to her lab.

Lucius watched her go and wondered if he would lose her before she knew he was interested in her.

Lucius joined Hermione on Saturday for breakfast, glad that he had begged out of the hunt. While they ate, he tried to think of a way to divine what she had done the previous evening. He had already learned from the warding on the property that recorded all non-family Apparitions that she had come home at a reasonable hour for a Friday night date. He wondered how truthful she would be. At least she was spending the morning with him and not with her coworker; though he did wonder if she felt obliged because he had asked and this was his cottage.

"So how was your dinner party?" she asked as she poured tea.

"Your usual socializing with the elite. A lot of conversation about absolutely nothing of value, but it is necessary for me to appear in public from time to time. And events like this are surprisingly good for business. After the libations have been flowing freely, tongues are loosened and you can learn a lot." He chuckled. He was always careful about how much he drank at social events so he did not become one of those with a loose tongue.

"I bet," she said before taking a bite of her eggs.

"And how about your evening?" he asked innocently, pleased that she had provided him the perfect opportunity.

"Oh, nothing special. I decided to head out into Muggle London last night. I just wasn't in the mood for reading. I grabbed a bite to eat and then hit the cinema. I haven't done that in ages."

He didn't like the fact she was hiding the truth form him – or more specifically that she was hiding that she had met with Gilles. "Sounds rather uneventful," he replied. He could tell. There was truth in her statement, but not the entire truth. Deception was something to which she was clearly ill-suited and unaccustomed.

"It was, but it was nice to be out and about, but honestly I would have rather been at the library."

He looked into her eyes, trying to decipher the meaning of her words, if there was a subtext there. He smiled softly at her before returning his attention to his breakfast, trying to decide what his next move should be. Gilles had entered an unknown variable to his plan.

After they finished eating and Lucius was finishing his second cup of tea, they lapsed into a somewhat uncomfortable silence.

Finally Hermione broke the silence by asking, "Lucius, what am I to you?"

"I beg your pardon?" he asked, taken aback by her question. He wondered if she suspected his true feelings for her. He had tried to hide them, to remain nothing more than a good friend.

"What am I to you?" she asked again and took a sip of her tea.

"That is a very fascinating question," he replied evasively before sipping his tea. He could not admit his true feelings now, and even if he could, he wanted to know what the nature of her relationship with Gilles was so that he did not embarrass himself. Both Connor and Delilah had asked him if he hadn't been imagining her feelings, and now he found himself wondering the same thing.

"I thought so, which is why I am interested in your answer." She set her cup down and crossed her arms, letting him know that she was willing to wait.

He tried to hold his teacup as casually as possible. "You are a friend; ever since our first encounter in the library, I have come to know you and I find that I truly enjoy your company. Have I given you reason to think otherwise?" he asked, turning the tables on her.

"No, but I am curious," she probed.

"And what prompted this curiosity?" he asked cautiously, trying to get to the source of this inquiry.

"Ron seems to think that there is someone else in my life," she finally admitted.

"Is there?" he asked, hoping his voice sounded neutral. He still could not get the vision of her and Gilles flirting at lunch from his mind.

"Of course not! I'm not that sort of person," she replied defensively, his question clearly insulting her. "I mean I've made some acquaintances at work, and a few that I might call a friend, but they are just work friends, people I eat lunch with and such."

"Then why did you ask that question?" he asked pointedly, trying to hide his irritation that she was concealing her relationship with Gilles from him.

"Well," she started hesitantly, "it's just that we seem to spend a lot of time together and most of that talking about me and not much about you. Not to mention the fact that we have not really known each other for all that long."

"Ah, well... You see, that is because I am used to my life being in the public domain. I presumed that if you had questions you would ask them," he replied diplomatically.

"I guess I've always wondered why you didn't have anyone else in your life. I mean, you are quite the eligible bachelor," she replied sheepishly, refreshing her tea in order to avoid meeting his eyes.

He took her looking away as a good sign that she might have feelings for him and gave her a quick, smug smile. "Thank you for the compliment," he said with a small nod of his head.

"But there's no one?" she prodded.

He gave her a sad smile. "Not at the moment." At least no one who knew what her place in his heart was.

She paused a moment before asking, "Not even Elsa Schwartz?"

"I thought you of all people would realize that you should not believe everything you read," he replied sagely. He was well aware that the media, and Elsa, wanted there to be something between the two of them.

Her expression took on a look of sadness. "I would have thought there would be no shortage of witches interested in you."

He sipped his tea again. "There has been interest, but not of the kind I'd prefer." He lowered his cup. "Most of those witches are interested in me only because they want to be a Malfoy and have access to my money. That's not the sort of witch I want."

"Surely you could pursue any witch, and she would be flattered," Hermione observed.

"That is probably true. Perhaps I just have not yet found the proper witch. Narcissa was very special," he replied sadly, setting his teacup down.

Hermione paused as she reflected upon his words. She reached across the table to give his hand a reassuring touch. "That she was. I'm sorry to have brought up such a painful memory."

He took hold of her hand, savoring its feel. "It's not painful. I have long since accepted her loss, but as I'm sure you can imagine, I will always miss her." He looked into her eyes a few moments before releasing her hand. "Now, perhaps we can find a happier subject to discuss?" he offered.

She sighed. "I wish, but Ron is really resistant to the whole idea of divorce. By contesting it, it's only going to get uglier."

"That's not surprising. I did warn you that it was rare, and it's likely his family is taking this as an affront, especially considering you're divorcing him. Pardon me for saying, but your magical years have also been in the public domain, and his association with you and Mr. Potter greatly improved his and his family's social standing. Therefore they will feel the stigma keenly, as would you without Reg's expertise." And mine, although he wasn't ready to tell her that.

"I think that's why he's started with the accusation that there's someone else. Even though he has to know that we've been having trouble for some time. It wasn't like this came from nowhere." She sighed. "It just makes me wish that we had waited until longer after the war before getting married, gotten to know each other better. Everything was just moving so quickly, and I felt rushed to commit. Everyone seemed to have marriage fever. I didn't feel that way at the time, but later I did."

She looked up at him after a pause. "This isn't any happier, is it?"

He chuckled softly. "I dare say that it's not." He dabbed his lips with his napkin. "Perhaps we can find something better to discuss over a game of chess?"

"Perhaps we can," she said as she laid her napkin beside her plate before rising to her feet. "There is something I'm wondering, did you let me win that first match?" she asked as they walked towards the parlor where the chess set was kept.

"Would I do that?" he asked innocently. He had, in fact, let her win so that he could get a good sense of her manner of play. Defeating her too quickly would have led to her being demoralized, and she would likely have not been amenable to a rematch. And he had tempered his play in the second match to prolong the game. Chess was not something played merely to win – it was an excellent way to learn about someone.

"I don't know; would you?" she asked mischievously.

"To do something like that would be very... Slytherin," he teased as he opened his box of chess pieces.

"Indeed it would," she replied, flashing him a playful grin as she let her pieces take their places on the board.

"To show you how much of a gentleman I am, I shall let you start."

As they played, Lucius decided to engage her in conversation about the movie she had seen the previous evening, hoping she might let something slip. "So what did you see at the cinema?" he asked casually, then instructed his first pawn to move forward.

"Oh, just a guilty pleasure from my youth, La Belle et la bête. It was something I remember seeing with my parents, and I couldn't resist."

"Beauty and the Beast," Lucius translated automatically. "What is it about?" Even though she said it was a movie she had loved in her youth, he didn't like the idea that it was a French film she had gone to see.

Hermione's looked up from the board. "You mean you don't know?"

"Just as I am sure you had no knowledge of Wizarding tales when you went to Hogwarts, I have had very little exposure to the Muggle variety."

Over the course of the next twenty minutes, Hermione did her best to recount the basic plot of movie while trying to concentrate on her game. Lucius was waiting to see if she would slip that she had not attended the film alone.

Hermione finished, "I hope that made some sense. I'm afraid I'm not very good at explaining a movie to someone who hasn't seen it."

"Well, since you recommend it so highly, perhaps I will have to see it for myself." He instructed his queen to across the board to protect his knight and set up her rook.

"You would go to a Muggle cinema?" Hermione asked, forgetting to hide her shock.

He grinned and chuckled softly. "I have seen a few movies, though it is not something I make a habit of doing. For the most part I don't see the appeal." He had her off guard, and if she were going to let something slip, this would be when it would happen. He just needed to steer the conversation back to her evening. "So where did you enjoy dinner before the cinema?"

"Oh, no place special. Just a nearby pub. Pubs just seem to do fish and chips better than at home." She turned her attention back to the game and told her king to castle to provide it with more protection.

Lucius studied the board trying to determine how much longer he would prolong the match. At least they had dined someplace casual. She seemed to be sticking as close to the truth as possible. Finally he moved his rook. In six moves he should have her in checkmate unless she did something utterly irrational. "A favorite meal of yours?"

She shrugged. "Comfort food. Sometimes you just feel like a greasy helping of fish and chips."

"I'll take your word on that," he replied as he watched her studying the board. He waited in silence for her to make her move.

Finally she sacrificed her bishop to take his rook. Even though he knew that he would have his knight move next, he took his time, not wanting to discourage her. Once his knight was in place and she evaluated the board, she'd realize what the endgame would be.

As he'd predicted, she flashed him a mischievous grin and reached over and tipped her king over. "It seems you have taken the best two out of three, though it was hardly fair, getting me all distracted."

He drew his wand to repair his conquered pieces. "I assure you, it was nothing more than idle curiosity. If you wish, we can play the next match in silence."

"I don't mind the conversation. I rather enjoy it. Though I do think the rematch can wait." She did the same, only repairing each piece individually and gently returning them to their box. Looking out the window, she said, "It's a shame the weather seems to have turned. I was hoping to enjoy the gardens some this weekend."

"Perhaps the weather will clear for tomorrow," he offered, trying to find some way to improve her mood.

"Maybe. Though I was thinking I should finally explain everything to my parents. I've put it off long enough. I just know how much they like Ron and his parents. I think they find Mr. Weasley's curiosity about Muggle life a bit charming." She smiled sadly as she recalled how Arthur would always single her father out at family gatherings to ask questions about motor cars and electric appliances and such.

"I'm sure they will understand. After all, surely they cannot be blind to the tension you have had in your life."

"Well, we don't get together all that often. I just live in a different world from them and we've drifted apart. I mean, I write them and call from time to time, but we don't have a whole lot in common anymore."

Lucius could understand that. As she came from a Muggle family, he knew that due to the International Statute of Wizarding Secrecy that they would have to be excluded from a large portion of her life. They had interacted briefly with the wizarding world, taking Hermione school shopping in Diagon Alley and taking her to the Hogwarts Express, but he knew that would be the extent their involvement. Even though her family knew her to be magical, she would still have been prevented from doing magic while home on holidays. "I understand. My father was a very distant and formal man; we seldom interacted." He presumed that by now she knew enough of his family's history that he would not have to elaborate. After all, he had not had much in common with his father and most of their interaction had been of a business nature or providing advice on how Draco should be raised – advice he abandoned after the war. He and Draco were much closer now than they had ever been, and Lucius felt there was nothing wrong with lavishing attention upon Scorpius.

"I can imagine," she replied softly. After a few moments silence, she rose to put the box of chess pieces on a shelf.

Lucius found himself in a strange position of not knowing what to say. Normally he could steer a conversation to where he wanted it to go, but he found himself at an utter loss on how to proceed. There was so much he wanted to say to her, to ask her, but he knew that it would not be appropriate.

Finally he rose and deposited his box of chess pieces next to hers. "I'm sure your parents will be quite understanding of your situation." He turned to face her. "Now if you will excuse me, I have business to attend to."

"Of course. See you next week?"

"I should be free on Monday if you have no plans." He watched her expectantly.

She smiled warmly at him, alleviating his concerns. "See you Monday for dinner, and I might be ready for a rematch."

He returned her smile. "I'll see you Monday." He then walked to the foyer and Disapparated.

Once back at his manor, he had to ponder the new mystery before him. She had asked about her place in his life, yet she was also keeping her relationship with Gilles from him. If it was as she said, he was merely a coworker, but if that was the case why would she not mention that she had spent Friday with a coworker? Did she fear he might dig deeper into what she had said?

He wandered the empty halls for some time before he felt ready to turn in for the night.

Since this particular Sunday was unusually quiet at the inn, Draco had decided it would be the perfect time to visit Delilah. She had been delighted to hear from Draco and was ecstatic at the promise of a visit. Lucius felt a bit guilty about not spending time with Hermione. Her mood had still been somewhat morose when he had left her the previous afternoon, but he knew that she would be spending the day with her parents. Though given the fact they would be talking about her marriage falling apart, he doubted that would improve her mood.

Lucius pushed thoughts of Hermione from his mind as he and Draco waited in the lobby for Astoria and Scorpius. They would be taking the Floo to Genoa and Apparating from there. Even Malfoys had to obey rules governing international travel, and his international travel was closely monitored by the International Magical Travel Corporation.

After Astoria came down the stairs, dressed in appropriately plain robes, she carefully set Scorpius on his feet. Scorpius grinned and stomped his way to Lucius once he had his balance, waving his arms and saying, "Paw-paw!"

Lucius caught Scorpius just as the boy lost his balance and began falling forward, pulling his grandson up into his arms. "Is my big boy ready to meet his aunty?"

"I think we're all ready," Draco replied, dressed in his most modest attire.

"Astoria, would you..." Lucius began as he tried to hand Scorpius to his mother, but the boy held very tight to Lucius.

She smiled. "It seems he wants to go with Paw-paw today."

Draco went through the Floo first, followed by Astoria and finally Lucius and Scorpius. Lucius cradled the boy protectively in his arms, so that the whirl of Floo-ports would not make the toddler ill or he'd be bumped accidently. Once they arrived at Caffé Rinaldo, Lucius gave a quick flick of his wand to clean the soot off himself and Scorpius and to ensure that any regurgitation was eliminated from his person. They then went outside to Apparate to Delilah's farm.

Walking down the road towards the farm, Draco remarked, "Quite a difference from the manor, isn't it?"

"Indeed it is, but Delilah is very happy with her life. As she has not yet told Vittorio about our family's wealth, it would be best to not mention the manor or anything of that nature." He knew it was a secret that could not be kept indefinitely, but it was not his to share.

"I understand, Father."

"Did she say why she hasn't mentioned it?" Astoria asked curiously.

"Because it had no bearing on her new life after she was exiled. I do hope that will change soon and that she can be convinced to visit us in Britain."

They turned through the gate into the farm, and it wasn't long before Delilah and Vittorio met them.

Delilah greeted Lucius warmly with a hug and a kiss on the cheek. "Lucius, so good to see you again, and this must be Scorpius." She gave the tyke in Lucius' arm a warm smile, and the boy shyly buried his face on Lucius' shoulder. Delilah embraced Draco next before moving back to arm's length and appraising him. "Draco, you have grown into such a handsome young man."

Lucius indicated to his daughter-in-law. "Delilah, Vittorio, this is Astoria, Draco's wife."

Vittorio greeted both Draco and Lucius with a firm handshake and hugged Astoria before kissing both her cheeks. "Buongiorno and welcome to our home."

Delilah gave Astoria a gentle hug. "So wonderful to meet you. Since the sun is shining, we'll have refreshments out back."

Once they were settled in the back garden, Scorpius wanted to get down and start exploring. Lucius decided to follow the youngster and give Astoria and Draco some time with Delilah. Soon Vittorio brought over a ball and joined the two of them. The two men enjoyed rolling the ball at Scorpius and trying to get him to return the ball.

It was a very enjoyable afternoon and evening. Everyone doted on Scorpius, who reveled in the attention. It was a wonderful and comfortable family gathering.

As they were finishing dinner, Scorpius fell asleep in his mother's arms. Lucius knew they should be getting home soon. He turned to his sister. "Delilah, you really should come visit. I'd love for you and Vittorio to come see my home."

"Lucius," she began to protest.

"I swear to you it will be kept quiet," Lucius said, cutting off her protest. "You need to come to terms with the fact that he is gone and everything has changed. It's not his home anymore. I'd never ask you to move back to Britain since you have built your family life here, but there is much I'd like to show you. And it's not as though you would have to make the trip this upcoming weekend, but it would be wonderful for you to visit before the year is out, perhaps even spend part of the holiday season there," he said hopefully.

"I'll think about it," she finally replied. "I'll have to talk with Vittorio before making any decisions." She glanced over at her husband who was trying to have a conversation with Draco and Astoria, neither of whom knew much Italian. "I daresay he'll be quite shocked."

"I'm sure that he will, but you really should tell him. It's only a matter of time before it either slips out or my business makes the news here in Italy."

She leaned back in her chair and sighed. "I know. I just spent so long distancing myself from being a Malfoy. And I know that you have changed what that means and that I shouldn't be ashamed of it anymore." She sat up straight in her chair. "No time like the present, is there?" She turned her attention to Draco and Astoria. "Draco, I hope you and Astoria can forgive your father and I for having a discussion in Italian, but there is something we want Vittorio to understand."

"It's no problem. In fact, we should be getting home to put Scorpius to bed." He rose to his feet and hugged Delilah. "Thank you to you both for your hospitality and hopefully we can have many more gatherings." He then shook Vittorio's hand before taking his sleeping son from Astoria so she could say her farewells.

Once Draco and his family where gone, Lucius, Delilah and Vittorio sat around the table. Lucius gave Delilah's hand a reassuring squeeze.

"Vittorio, I know that I have not told you much about my family. There was no need to because I never thought that they would be a part of my life again. Now that they are, there is something you need to know. Lucius is a very prominent businessman."

Lucius remained impassive. He knew that discussing one's wealth was a bit of social taboo.

"So you own a company?" Vittorio asked Lucius.

"Many companies. My business interests span most aspects of wizarding life," Lucius admitted, trying to put as much humility in his voice as he could.

Vittorio sat in silence as he processed this information. "So this is why you said little about your work? To not make me uncomfortable?"

Delilah answered, "It was my decision, tesero. My news to tell you. It didn't matter what my family was when we met as I had been disowned. And now, well, it's not easy to bring up in conversation that your brother is one of the wealthiest wizards in Britain."

Vittorio's eyes widened in shock. He had clearly assumed that Lucius was merely well off, not excessively wealthy.

"We wanted you to know because I would someday soon like to have your family come visit in Britain. The family home is a large and rather imposing manor," Lucius said.

Vittorio eyed him appraisingly. "You do not seem like other wealthy wizards I have met. Most would have looked at our humble home with disdain."

Lucius smiled wanly. "I have been through much in my life which has changed me and changed my perspective. And I see how happy my sister is here and that brings me happiness. I will leave the two of you to talk. I'll send you an owl later this week."

Lucius rose and said his farewells. As he walked around the house towards the lane, he could hear Delilah and Vittorio discussing this new revelation. He hoped that it would not change the relationship he had with them too much.

A/N: As always many thanks to my beta reader beaweasley2 and to all the lovely readers who have left their reviews. Hopefully the next chapter will be out in the first half of next week. Summer vacation for kids can sideline a lot of good intentions. :) Thanks for your patience.