Hand That Binds

4

Davies and Bertram came with an Auror Lucius did not know. Granger stood at his left, holding his arm, dressed in the same gold wrap dress she had worn to the Bulstrode-Pickering garden party. She plastered on a smile and greeted the Ministry representatives and the Auror whose name was introduced as Wiley.

"Same arrangement as before?" she asked, her voice putting on a soft lilt.

"Yes, Lady Malfoy. My Lord, will you show us?" Davies said with an air of disinterest.

Granger had been distant since the night of the opera three days before. Breakfasts had been quiet, and she only pushed The Prophet toward him the morning after. The photos were full on the front page, but Viktor Krum was in one, as was the Minister. The only photo of them was on page two with a column by Rita Skeeter.

'Jealousy, intrigue, and possibly romance? It was observed by this reporter that there was a small altercation as Act Two began. Viktor Krum, the best Seeker of our age, was held at wand point by Lord Lucius Malfoy, Lady Malfoy the subject of a gentleman's disagreement. Have the former Hermione Granger and Mr. Krum rekindled an adolescent romance?'

There were quotes, there were comments from witnesses, and of course, there was mention of the French tabloids and Lucius' divorce. The next day there were translations of excerpts from those tabloids and a photograph of Cissy in a robe over the bikini that had been mentioned. The photo did not move, but Lucius narrowed his eyes on his ex-wife's pale face, her pale hair, her long leg peeking out as she looked to be stepping onto a dock. Narcissa had given the camera a shy smile, which made her look less pinched, younger even. Lucius sulked, going to work on the teahouse all day, clearing algae, laying stone, placing tile on the roof. He took supper in his study.

Granger only greeted him shortly the morning of the welfare check, her wrist looking as good as new, her eyes shy, not even making it to his face, but resting on his breastbone under the folds of his dressing gown. Lucius had not found it worth abandoning his morning movements, and as always was in his boxer briefs and gown. But Granger...she had come down dressed for the day.

"Lord Malfoy, I would like to confer with you after, will you make yourself available?" Davies said as Granger and Bertram moved into the room, the Auror standing by the door on the outside.

"Yes, Mrs. Davies, have the Lady send Maizy."

And then the door was shut in his face. The Auror watched him out of the corner of his dark eyes and smirked, and Lucius glared, spun on his heel, and marched to his study. On the terrace, he leaned his palms into the balustrade and hissed.

"Pip!"

The elf was at his side immediately.

"Tea for Mrs. Davies...and ask Lady Malfoy to meet me in the labyrinth when they are gone."

"Yes, Master...oh, the koi have come and are in tanks by the teahouse, sir."

Lucius nodded, pushed off the balustrade, and began to shrug out of his coat, tossing it into the study through the French doors. He took the stairs down into the garden, glancing up to the terrace outside the library, then back to the garden. With a concerted thought, he Apparated to the center of the labyrinth and immediately went to move the koi to the algae-clear pond.

As he Vanished the tanks, noticed that there was a tile out of place, and fixed it, Maizy appeared. The elf walked with him out of the labyrinth, both taking their time.

"The Healer examined Lady Malfoy's wrist closer and found nothing, Master. Lady Malfoy did not even mention it, it was Mrs. Davies who wanted it done," Maizy said softly as their feet crunched on the gravel of the path. "My Lady is rather annoyed, sir. They took more blood, and this time the Healer did a pelvic exam."