Hand That Binds

6

Granger was sitting in the nook with her tea and marmalade-laden toast when he came into the kitchen. He had not sensed her leave the bed, and he had slept later than he normally would. She was reading The Prophet with her tea hovering on her curled finger before her mouth.

"We're front page, well, more you, my Lord," she murmured as Lucius slid in across from her, wincing.

His whole body ached, and the pain reliever he had taken after emptying his bladder was slow to work. Lucius poured his tea as Hurd trotted across the kitchen with a clean ladle, and Lucius snorted at the sight. The kitchen had the scent of a soup or stew, and he watched Hurd climb up on a stool to begin stirring a large stock pot on the stove.

He turned his eyes to the front page, and there he was, dancing with Granger. It was the opening dance, and they waltzed in black and white, looping over and over, looking like professionals. Then he caught a little bit of her smile in the photograph.

First Ball in Decades!

Under that photo was his face, his Wizengamot robes, an image surely taken while he and Longbottom moved through the Atrium.

Malfoy Reclaims His Seat!

Granger sighed, lowered the paper, and he got a proper look at her face while awake. He had not even seen her the morning before. He had overslept that morning as well. As he sipped his tea, Lucius sincerely hoped it was not his age that was hampering him, but dancing so seriously, making love (or was it fucking?), as he had, then sitting in the Wizengamot chambers, making his hips ache.

"Confab, Lord husband?"

"As you wish."

Granger smirked at him, closed the paper, and folded it, tossing it to the table. She then took her toast and ate rather aggressively, and he arched a brow at her. They ate in silence for a while, just gazing at each other. She was dressed in a heavier jumper and leggings, her hair down around her shoulders.

"Chronologically...the welfare check."

He nodded and Granger bit her bottom lip, brows knitting.

"Consummation confirmed. I asked how they knew, Davies gave me a bullshit answer. Padma was a little more lively once she confirmed it, and she...glared at me."

Lucius swallowed his toast. "Is that unexpected?"

"No," she sighed, "But I'd like to know what it means, exactly. After Molly shouted at me, telling me that Ron and Padma weren't coming to the Ball, I'd like to know why."

"Molly Weasley didn't shout that you were a Mudblood slut before?" he chuckled.

Granger kicked him under the table, and he caught her bare foot. He leered at her and placed the ball of her left foot on his bare knee. She pursed her lips and left it there.

"Not so blatantly, no. I was...a barren waste of a witch, or a sad excuse for a housekeeper, or an uppity know-it-all. All of that came out in a very passive-aggressive way though."

Lucius rolled his eyes. "My how the Prewetts have fallen..." he whispered.

"But...the check was not invasive. Padma scanned me with Charms, but I don't know what, she wouldn't say. But I'm fertile, I'm in good health, I should be pregnant. Davies reminded me that I cannot use contraceptives, but I did not volunteer that something as simple as condoms are not covered by the law."

"And Davies? Her curse?"

Granger nodded. "I could see it better this time. Maybe because the light was not so bright, but..." she trailed, frowning at her teacup between her hands.