Checkmate

"What have we here?"

Lucius Malfoy leaned against the doorway to the study in the West Wing, Draco's Wing, of Malfoy Manor. His lips curled up in a self satisfied sneer as he watched the young woman sitting at the antique desk straighten, her concentration on the chess board in front of her broken. She was flustered, and he took notice.

"Lucius. What a pleasant surprise." She said, a razor's edge of sarcasm lacing her tone. He admired how quickly she regained her composure as she turned back towards the chess board. "Draco has just left through the Floo on a very important mission for Harry. Official Ministry business, so I am told." She laid her hand on the bishop, her head tilting slightly, as if she was contemplating the repercussions of  moving that piece. She took her time. He sauntered over slowly, adjusting the lapel on his black blazer. He sat in front of her, his legs crossing in front of him. They sat together in the brilliantly lit room, her eyes never leaving the chessboard.  After a moment of tangible silence, she spoke again. "Is there something specific you wanted?" Her eyes darted up as his sky grey eyes darted down. With a single casual move, he moved the black rook on the board. Hermione opened her mouth as if she was going to say something, but then shook her head and closed it. She glanced up to see Lucius, his bright eyes sparkling with mirth, and his lips curved up on the ends, in some semblance of a smile.

"May I ask what is so funny?" Hermione asked, casually flipping a few tumbling locks back from her shoulders. After school, She had found a ring with a permanent hair straightening charm on it. The instant she put it on, the unruly mess on the top of her head organized itself, and straightened out. Since then her newfound confidence had led her to doing things she never thought she would do. She bought a new form fitting wardrobe, new makeup, heeled shoes. Last but not least in her transformation, She accepted Draco Malfoy's invitation to his home for a light dinner, and a game of chess.

Hermione thought he was playing coy, a little game before he tried to get into her pants. It had been since the end of Hogwarts since her last little escapade in the sack, and it wasn't very satisfying to say the least. So she dolled up, pulling out a slinky little black number, and  did her makeup, in a very uncharacteristic Emerald and silver color.  Little did she know that he honestly just wanted some companionable company, someone to actually take out to dinner and play chess with.

She grumbled something about stupid boys. She looked up and saw that Lucius was still smiling at her. Her anger flared, and her almond eyes flashed ire. "Now you are laughing aloud? Would you at least tell me why you are laughing at me?"

He moved another piece and said simply, "Checkmate."

Hermione's jaw dropped. She hadn't lost a chess game since she was eight years old. She then looked up,  and saw that Lucius was simply smiling. No trace of irony or ire stood in his eyes, and she saw where Draco got his crystal blue shade from, and the dimple in his right cheek.

She shook her head , to get the sinful and downright disturbing images out of her mind. "Well if that game is over, I must go home. It's getting late, and I wouldn't want people to grow suspicious of our whereabouts."

Lucius snorted, and somehow made it sound dignified. "I am master of this house. No one cares what I do or where I go. Especially since Cissy passed away." Sorrow flashed in his eyes for a second. Then he held out a single hand. "Allow me to help you to the Floo, Ms. Granger."

Hermione stood, quickly tugging down the short black number she was wearing. Lucius gave her a once over and chuckled again, shaking his head gently back and forth.

She frowned but ignored it. "Will you please let Draco know-"

Lucius interrupted, "I will. Now go on home."

Within a flash of green, She was home. She had just started to dive into a pint of Ben and Jerry's Cherry Garcia and start a rant about bashing men and needing to get laid when a tapping startled her at the window. It was Cerberus, the Malfoy family's owl. He patiently held out a foot while Hermione took off the letter, and flew away without preamble. She looked down at the note, the handwriting unfamiliar. Inside was a note. All it said was:

It took losing one of the best parts of me for me to learn this lesson. I hope to pass it on to you, my dear.

What makes you different, makes you strong.

Meet me for chess this same time next week?

-LM


Hermione smiled.

A week later after a wonderfully intellectual conversation about political issues, Hermione looked over at Lucius, pushing a bunch of her bushy hair out of her face, and straightening the frumpy Weasley sweater and the trousers she was wearing. She looked up and found him smiling at her again, this time, a genuine one.   

"I hope you liked my Valentine."

Hermione looked up from the chessboard, and randomly moved something. "Was last week Valentines Day? I forget about these things."

Lucius smiled. "Well it was. Did you do anything special after you left?"

Hermione shrugged, "It isn't like I have anyone to do special things with on Valentine's Day. My conversation tends to bore the average minded folk, and males especially seem to think that my intelligence is a little…"
She paused, looking for the right word.

Lucius threw a few adjectives at her. "Grotesque? Frightening? Terrifying?"

Hermione laughed, a rich and hearty sound, "I was going to say: Intimidating. I guess I could see how a smart woman might terrify an average man."

Lucius mumbled, and Hermione swore she heard the words "not average man" before he looked up, moving a piece, not even really looking at the bored. Hermione smiled, "I know you aren't an average man, Lucius. If Draco… The true Draco deep down at the core of him…is anything to go by, you are a wonderful man. I would be very happy to continue this little routine. Especially since…" She moved her bishop. "Checkmate."

He smiled, "Another round?"

She shook her head. "I must go to work in the morning. Thank you though."

She flooed home, and Lucius trudged down the long Hallway back to his side of the house. A house elf he soon realized as Demie, Dobby's little brother apparated right beside him. He tapped his thigh, and held out a simple envelope. "From Ms. Granger." Was all he said, before apparating away.

Lucius hmmed and turned the envelope over. He popped the seal on it, and  a single note, along with a single seed popped out. The seed magically sprouted into a single white rose. The note said.

I lied. I knew about Valentine's Day.

Thank you.

-HG

PS. The Chess game next week… raise the stakes?


Lucius smiled, "Checkmate."