Chapter 11 ? Reassurance And Dinner

I'd like to thank once again all of those who have taken the time to read this and review. I know that some were a little bothered by the m/m kiss in the last chapter, but this story is mainly about these two men, Severus and Lucius.

I set out to write a story about their past and present relationship.

I will however give plenty of warning next time I plan on a scene like that. There will be more than a kiss from them in a future chapter, but as I stated, I will post a warning for those who want to skip that particular section.

All canon characters belong to JKR.

Thanks as always to June for all of her help and great suggestions.

Chapter 11 – Reassurance And Dinner

Before Albus and Severus went back to Hogwarts, they and Lucius all took turns looking into the small Pensieve into which Rodolphus had drained the memories of Samuel Higgenbottom, the minor Death Eater who had made potions for the Dark Lord after Snape's recent "death."

The only foreseeable problem was Antonin Dolohov. The man was a sadist and seemed to be quite fond of abusing Higgenbottom. There were instances in which Dolohov had stood behind the minor Death Eater during an entire evening of potions making, taking time now and then to whip the poor man with a cane.

Severus wasn't very happy with the prospect of having to allow himself to be abused by Dolohov, but there was nothing he could do. He only hoped that the sadistic Death Eater didn't know his wolfsbane from his wormwood. While Severus couldn't outright poison the Dark Lord (it would be too obvious), he could dull Voldemort's magic enough so that once the final battle was in full force, Potter would have a strong advantage.

After Albus left Malfoy Manor, Lucius held Severus back for a most urgent question.

"Do you know where Ginny is staying?"

Severus smiled. "She is spending her time between the Burrow and number twelve, Grimmauld Place. But more than likely she would be spending the weekend at her parents' home."

Lucius groaned. "The last thing I want to do is alert any of the overprotective Weasley clan that I have any interest in the only daughter in the family."

Severus just laughed and bid him goodnight before he returned to Hogwarts.

Lucius looked at the clock on the mantle. It was nearly seven in the evening. He thought for a moment and decided that he would give Ginny her gift in person, so he sat at his desk and wrote her an invitation to dine with him at the restaurant of her choosing. He called for his owl Ovid, and sent the note to the Burrow. He hoped that the two elder Weasleys would not die of shock, or come and hex him into oblivion for asking their only daughter out to dinner. While he'd been accepted into the Order, Lucius knew that not all of the members trusted him entirely; he had too many years of history, and they would not quickly forget that he had once considered them to be "blood traitors."

At the Burrow a large owl arrived and flew through the Weasley kitchen window. Arthur and Molly had just sat down to dinner with Ron and Ginny, as well as Charlie who'd been visiting from Romania.

"What a lovely bird," said Molly.

Arthur was silent for a moment, as he recognized the owl and wondered why it would be there of all places, and with a note on its leg. He reached down and took the note.

"It's for you, Ginny," said Arthur. He handed the note to Ginny, who seemed just as surprised as he did.

"Who would be sending me anything?" Ginny knew it could not have been from Seamus, or any other former boyfriend. The owl was stunning and no one she knew owned one like it.

"That owl belongs to Lucius," answered Arthur.

Now they all looked surprised.

Ginny opened the note and felt her cheeks heating up.

"Well, what does it say?" asked Molly.

"He's thanking me for helping him the other day." Ginny realized she hadn't told anyone about going to help Lucius at his home. "I...well, he was very ill and I went to his home." She looked at her brothers; their mouths were hanging open. Arthur looked concerned and Molly looked excited.

"He did look rather bad when he arrived at Order headquarters," said Molly.

"He was worse when I saw him the next day. But, well, I healed him and he's thanking me and..." Her voice faded out.

"And?" asked Ron.

"And hewantstotakemetodinner," Ginny said quickly as she put the note in her dress pocket.

"Sorry, I didn't quite catch that," said Arthur.

Ginny sighed and rolled her eyes. "He wants to take me to dinner."

"Well, you're not going," said Ron.

Charlie looked at his brother. "Last I heard, Ron, Ginny's already got a father. It's none of your business who she has dinner with."

Ron looked at Charlie as if he'd grown an extra nose on his face.

"What? You're not bothered that Lucius Malfoy, a Death Eater, wants to take our sister to dinner?"

Charlie shook his head. "The man has been feeding the Order information, solid information, for the last three years. He saved Severus from being killed and is spying for us. Give the man the benefit of the doubt, Ron." Charlie turned back to his meal and continued eating.

Arthur was about to forbid his daughter to have dinner with the elder Malfoy, but thought about Charlie's words. It was true that Lucius had put himself in harm's way for three years and was currently playing a dangerous game in order not to get caught. He'd also recently lost his wife, who had given herself to Voldemort in order to keep her son and husband alive and out of the deranged wizard's hands. The Malfoys cared deeply for one another; in this, they were very much like his own family. Thinking he himself should also give Lucius the benefit of the doubt, Arthur kept quiet.

"I think it's very nice of him to ask you to dinner," said Molly. It was only recently that Ginny told her about Seamus and the relationship she'd had with him. Molly had thought they would get married one day, and that the young Mr. Finnegan was the perfect man for her daughter, but then Ginny told her why things between them didn't work out.

Molly began to wonder if perhaps Ginny might not be better off with an older wizard, like Hermione had. She'd seen the relationship between Severus and Hermione grow from a friendship to what seemed like a love match. Like a true meddling mother who wanted grandchildren more than life itself, Molly happily gave her opinion.

"When is he taking you? Does he say where?"

Ginny smiled. "Well, he suggests tomorrow evening. The location is my choice; he wants to take me anywhere I choose."

Arthur frowned. "That might not be a good idea."

"Arthur, there is nothing wrong with our daughter having dinner with Lucius."

"Molly, I'm simply saying it might not be safe for them to be seen together. What if word gets back to you-know-who?"

Molly looked at Ginny. "Your father has a point, dear. Lucius is still supposed to be a faithful Death Eater, and everyone knows we all support Albus."

Ginny looked sadly at her plate.

"Why don't you have him go to headquarters instead? We can all have dinner together; you can make him something. He might enjoy something a bit less formal," suggested her mother.

"I don't know, Mum." Ginny looked at Ron, who was shaking his head.

"Oh, don't worry, dear. Just write him a note back; he'll understand."

They finished their dinner, and Ginny noticed Lucius' owl still sitting on the window ledge. She quickly wrote a note and attached it to Ovid's leg, then gave him a piece of chicken from the dinner table.

"There you go, take this back to your master." As he flew away, she wondered if giving chicken to an owl was considered cannibalism, since they were both birds. 'Stop that, Ginny,' she scolded herself. 'Only a silly little girl would think of those things. Lucius is an adult; he's not attracted to little girls. Act like a grown-up!'

When Lucius read Ginny's note, he smiled. She'd suggested they have dinner at Grimmauld Place, stating that her father thought it might be dangerous for them to be seen together. Arthur was a smart man; Lucius hadn't thought of the possibility of being seen with Ginny as something dangerous, but it was. Lucius wondered if the two elder Weasleys would be joining them for dinner; perhaps it would be best if they did. If he was thinking of courting her, it would help if her parents supported the idea. He only hoped that the youngest Weasley son wasn't there. He knew that Ronald Weasley wasn't one of his supporters. He didn't need to be sabotaged so soon into the game.

He looked at his reflection in the mirror above the mantle.

"Well, you're a fearsome Death Eater. Surely you can get through an evening with more than one Weasley." He smiled, and then sighed. All he could do is just get through it. He would have dinner with multiple Weasleys, and hopefully he and Ginny would have a moment alone when he could give her the gift he'd chosen.

~*~*~*

At Hogwarts, Severus sat on his favorite chair, wearing a new velvet robe Hermione had purchased for him, and sipping a bit of his favorite brandy. When he entered his rooms after returning from Malfoy Manor, she'd practically tackled him and immediately led him into the bedroom.

After several very intense hours of making love, Hermione presented him with a very large box.

"What is this?" he asked, not used to getting gifts.

"Open it." Hermione smiled as he ripped the plain wrapping and opened the box. His eyes lit up with he looked at the sage green velvet robe.

"Hermione, this is wonderful." Severus practically jumped out of bed and wrapped himself in the lush velvet robe. "It fits perfectly."

"Of course it does, I know your body," she said as she leered at him.

"You didn't have to do this, but thank you." He lay back down next to her and kissed her. "I am so lucky to have you in my life."

Hermione ran her hand down his chest, feeling the lush material of the velvet. "I think I'm the lucky one."

They took a shower together and then ordered some food delivered to Severus' rooms. They ate and then sat in the living room, he in his chair and Hermione on the couch.

"I'd like to think I am the reason you have been smiling all evening, but I get the feeling there is more on your mind," he said. "You have told me little of your day. Obviously you went shopping, but what else did you do today?"

"I spent most of the afternoon in Diagon Alley, with Ginny. We shopped and had some lunch, and then shopped a bit more."

Severus looked at her, knowing there was an "and" coming.

"And, Ginny ran into Lucius, she was so excited."

"Aha." He sipped more of his brandy. "So that's what held him up."

"What was he doing in Diagon Alley?" asked Hermione.

"He went to pick up the things I need to enter the Riddle home again."

Severus noticed the worried look now on Hermione's face.

"Hermione," he said as he stood and walked to her and kneeled in front of her. "I will be careful, I promise."

"I'm just so worried, Severus. This is a huge risk," she said, unable to look at him.

Severus sat next to her and wrapped his arms around her.

"It is risky, but I will be careful." He thought that if he told her of his plan to begin feeding the Dark Lord a potion that would weaken his magic, she might at least focus on something other than his safety. "I do need your help with something. I think if we prepare a potion that would erode the Dark Lord's magic, I could slowly feed it to him and then he will be weak by the time the final battle begins. He will be venturing out into Muggle towns in the evenings. We think he will be ready to strike within the next two or three months."

Severus and Hermione spent the rest of their evening and most of the night discussing the possible potions they could either adapt or create, in order to begin their own plan of lessening Voldemort's magic.

~*~*~*~

The following day went by fairly quickly for both men.

At Hogwarts, Severus began to transfer his already made Polyjuice into small flasks. The good thing was you didn't need to drink much of the potion for it to have the full effect. He would be able to keep enough on him at all times without being too obvious. He just didn't look forward to any of this plan, especially having to stick Higgenbottom's Dark Mark – and skin – over his own Mark.

At Malfoy Manor, Lucius spent most of his day wondering what he would wear that evening on his "date" with Ginny. He knew that dinner would most likely be an informal affair, so he didn't want to look too...well, too rich.

Wanting to help his master, Emil stepped in and picked out a simple pair of black trousers and a light gray mandarin-collar long-sleeved shirt.

"You will look more relaxed if your shirt is not buttoned to the top, master," explained Dari, as she stopped him from fastening the top buttons. She tied his hair with a black velvet ribbon.

Lucius looked at himself and nodded. He made sure to take with him Ginny's gift, and Apparated to number twelve, Grimmauld Place. As Secret-Keeper, Albus had told him the location, so he no longer needed a Portkey.

When he arrived, the door opened before he even knocked. Arthur had apparently been waiting for him to arrive.

"Lucius," said the Weasley patriarch.

"Arthur, good evening." Lucius smiled and walked past Arthur, who noticed he held something in his hands.

"Is that something for Ginny?" asked Arthur.

"A thank-you gift, for her help." Lucius hoped he wouldn't have to show the man what he was giving her; after all, it wasn't for him and was really none of his business. But, he kept himself calm.

Knowing it really was none of his business; Arthur merely smiled and walked into the living room with Lucius.

"I'll let Ginny know you're here. She's in the kitchen with Molly. I hope you like Italian."

"I do," affirmed Lucius as he set the gift down on the coffee table. He loved Italian food; he also had a warm feeling knowing that Ginny was helping prepare his meal. Narcissa was once a good mother and wife, but she couldn't boil an egg to save her life. As he sat down he didn't notice Ron walk into the room.

"I don't know what you're up to with my sister, but I'm going to be watching you," said Ron. He remembered Ginny's first year at Hogwarts and Tom Riddle's diary.

Lucius turned around and looked at the younger man. He had his rejoinder all ready, but was interrupted as Ginny came into the room.

"Ron! What are you doing here?" Ginny was visibly agitated. She'd hoped her brother hadn't just said something stupid, but – well, she knew her brother.

"I left my Quidditch Weekly upstairs the last time I was here, so I had to come and get it." It was dumb, but that was all Ron could think of.

Ginny narrowed her eyes, and then looked at Lucius.

"Hello, Lucius." She smiled and extended her hand. "Don't mind Ron, he's not staying anyway." She then turned towards Ron and gave him a menacing look.

Ron knew he'd better get out of there before his sister castrated him, but he wanted to stick around and watch Lucius. He walked to the door slowly, and watched as Ginny guided Lucius into the kitchen.

"I hope you don't mind having dinner in the kitchen," was the last thing Ron heard Ginny say.

When he was sure they'd gone, Ron walked quietly to the dining room. There was a very old butler's pantry between the kitchen and dining room. It was rarely used as a pantry anymore, and would make a good spot for him to watch all of the action in the kitchen without being seen. Ron crept into the pantry and carefully opened the door that led to the kitchen, being very careful not to be heard.

Lucius greeted Molly cordially, and pulled out both her seat and Ginny's before sitting down himself. Arthur sat directly across from him, Ginny sat to his right and Molly to his left.

"Ginny made the entire meal by herself and without magic, Lucius," boasted Molly, who was very proud that her daughter was such a good cook.

"Really?" Lucius looked at Ginny, who was blushing.

"It isn't that difficult," Ginny said.

"And she's a wonderful cook too," added Arthur proudly.

Ron was in the pantry rolling his eyes.

Lucius took a bite of the lasagna and smiled. It was delicious.

"My compliments to the chef. This is spectacular," said the blond wizard. He had never had a home-cooked meal like this. The house-elves usually employed magic in preparing meals for the household, and eating at a restaurant usually meant the same unless one ventured out into the Muggle world. Even then the cooking wasn't really personalized.

The conversation was kept mainly to news topics of the day, articles from the Daily Prophet, and now and then talk of days spent as students at Hogwarts. After eating their dinner and having dessert, they all decided to go into the living room. Ginny excused herself and went to the bathroom as Arthur declared he would go into the living room to pour them all an after-dinner drink. Lucius stayed behind and helped Molly put the dishes into the sink, where she would use a use a cleaning charm.

Ron now noticed his mother growing nervous. He readied himself to come to her rescue.

"Lucius, no one will tell me what happened to my Percy. I know they all know. It was Bill, my eldest, who found his brother's body. You know, don't you? Were you there when it happened?"

Lucius had been picking up some of the cutlery on the table to bring to the sink. His actions slowed as he thought about what he'd been asked.

What Lucius did not know was that those who'd found Percy's body and readied it for burial had decided that Molly should never find out what a mangled broken mess it had been. Now, Ron held himself ready to burst in if Lucius upset his mother.

"Yes, Molly, I was there," affirmed Lucius.

"Then you can tell me. Please, Lucius, I need to know."

Lucius put the last of the used cutlery into the sink, and looked at Molly.

"Don't ask me to tell you that. He died under the most unpleasant of circumstances, as many Death Eaters have died as of late."

"Please tell me," she pleaded.

"Why, Molly? Will it hurt any less if I told you? It would not bring your son back. Why do you want your last memory of your son to be one of horror and tragedy?"

Molly's eyes glittered with unshed tears, "Did he suffer?"

Lucius closed his eyes and took a deep breath. "He died bravely and with dignity. He was defiant in the end, Molly, and fought for his life. You would have been proud of your boy. Please, ask me no more; I cannot bring myself to tell you of the details. I have told you all you need to know. Let it go and enjoy the memories you have of your son before he was lost to you." Lucius then went back to the table to continue picking up the dishes.

"Don't bother with that," Molly stood. "That's my job after all, to take care of everyone here." She wiped a tear that escaped and smiled at Lucius. "You go on into the living room. Arthur and I will be leaving soon."

Lucius nodded and smiled as he went to join Arthur, leaving Molly alone with her thoughts.

Ron leaned back against the wall of the pantry. It bothered him that his mother was still so upset about Percy, but the git had been her son after all. Even if Percy had not spoken to any of them in years, at least in the end he seemed to have regretted his decision. Ron also realized that he owed a bit of thanks to Lucius. The blond could have very well told her everything, but he didn't. Perhaps Charlie was right and the man deserved a second chance.

~*~*~*~*~*~

I hope you all enjoyed this chapter.

Thank you for reading this.