Call Me Sir, Minister

Chapter 5

That afternoon, she was sitting at her desk when Padma knocked and then walked in. "Hermione, Mr. Malfoy is here to see you."

"Lucius Malfoy? Did he say what he wanted?"

"Not Lucius, Draco. And it seems he has food." She smirked.

Hermione rolled her eyes. "Well, show him in then."

Padma nodded and motioned for him to come in. As he did, Hermione smiled at him. He hadn't answered her letter, so she was trying to stay calm. That went out the window the moment he opened his mouth though. "Hello, Love. Ready for lunch?"

Padma's mouth dropped. "So you are dating? I knew it. Hermione, how could you lie to me? I thought we were friends." She pretended to tear up, making Hermione roll her eyes.

Draco answered though. "She did it for me. I asked her not to say anything until I'd had a chance to speak with my parents. We all know how my father is."

Padma looked shocked. "Oh yes. That makes sense. Well, I'll leave you both to your lunch." She smiled. "Enjoy."

When she closed the door, Draco leaned in and kissed Hermione on the cheek. "How has your morning been, sweetheart?"

"It's been rather productive. How was yours?"

"It was good until I had to deal with my father, but then I got your letter which made it so much better and now I'm here with you, so overall I'd say it's been great." He smiled as he took the bag he was carrying and walked over to the coffee table in her sitting area.

She followed him over and helped him unpack the food. She was surprised by how many different options he'd brought. "You made all of these?" When he nodded, she leaned over and kissed his cheek. "Thank you Draco." She then chewed her lip, contemplating if she should ask what she was thinking. She didn't want to make him upset or uncomfortable, but she was genuinely curious.

"I can practically hear your thoughts. Ask whatever it is you're wondering."

She blushed and looked up at him. "Am I that obvious?"

"You're chewing your lip and I've learned that means you're either nervous or curious. Since your eyebrows are furrowed too, it's curiosity."

She huffed. "How do you know me better than anyone else already?" It was a rhetorical question.

He chuckled. "Seven plus years of observing you."

She rolled her eyes. "Fine. I was wondering if you got into it with your father because you told him about me."

He nodded. "I assumed it was something like that. No, it wasn't over you. It was over him pushing me to take over the company. Apparently he and mother want to retire to the Caribbean, but he needs me to take over the company before he can."

"So he doesn't know about us?"

"Not yet. I'm waiting for the ball."

"Draco! He'll be pissed if you ambush him like that."

"He wants me to take over a company I never had any interest in, so he has to accept that you're going to be his daughter-in-law. Mother doesn't know either, though she at least suspects." He passed her utensils as she opened one of the containers. It had pasta with white sauce and a salad. Both small portions.

She looked up at him. "You aren't trying to make me eat a lot."

"Little by little you'll get your appetite back. Until then, I don't want you getting sick from eating too much too quickly."

"Thank you for understanding. And I don't think that's the way to get him to accept me. Besides, he'll see it as me coming between you and him. Draco I may not agree with the man or even necessarily like him, but even I can see he loves you. He just doesn't know how to show it. So in his own twisted way, he is showing you. I think you should have a talk with him and listen to him. If you want me to come with you, I will, but I really think it needs to be done and before the ball."