One Different Choice [Lucius & OC]

Their Saturday's Meeting

Disclaimer: All belongs to J.K. Rowling (except for my Elizabeth Rennold).

"What is wrong with your assistance?" Severus sat comfortably in Lucius's office as if it was his. After his meeting with Hermione, he went and searched for Lucius's little assistance but failed to find her. He was very curious about her reactions. Something told him that something had changed in the girl, but could not determine the cause of that strange behavior.

"So, you finally notice her," Lucius chuckled, but his eyes were darker, cold and displeased. Even though he considered Severus as his best friend, he did not like the idea of him asking and thinking about Elizabeth. He almost felt like he was the only one who had the right to care for her.

"Of course, I notice her," Severus emphasized. It was impossible to not notice someone who kept tailing him unprofessionally. After the war, he had more than enough admirers who would send him letters, stalk him at home and work, and tail him around like that girl. "You can see her tailing me like a puppy everywhere in the Ministry. Only a blind and fool would not notice that. However this morning, she looks a bit off. I... those eyes... I don't know, she just gives out a very different vibe."

"Either do I," Severus's words brough Lucius back to this morning where Elizabeth was zoning out in the middle of their conversation. "Maybe she is tired. You know our little department is the end of the drain, everything that others do not want to deal with gets pushed down here. And the Ministry refuses to hire more people for me, so there are only Liz and I."

"I can talk with Hermione if you want," Severus tilted his head and asked his friend. The old man never bothered to ask for help even though he knew very well who could have the opportunity to push these papers off.

"Oh, no, definitely not," Lucius shook his head. "She dislikes me as much as I dislike her. We can have a civil conversation because of you, not because we want to. If it's possible, we would try to stand away from each other as far as we can."

Lucius was over with the blood purity long before the second war began, so the annoyance and dislike toward Hermione Granger was based on something else entirely. It was an evening at one of the Ministry's parties. He only attended because Severus wanted a friend to go with him. They were both unwelcome in most of the social events. Lucius with his usual formal outfit and his infamous cane, standing rather bored at one of the corners of the ballroom. In the past, he would walk out there and greet people, introducing himself and his family's legacy. However, after going through everything and facing all the shits, he would rather stand here and enjoy a bit of wine. So while Severus got dragged around by the Minister, Lucius continued spacing out and waiting for the party to end. It was then, Lucius accidentally heard a very interesting conversation from someone nearby.

"I still can't understand your motive, Hermione," a soft voice commented. "Did you forget they were Death Eaters?"

"You say it yourself, they were Death Eaters, they are not anymore," Hermione Granger explained in a rather happy tone, which sounded odd.

"But, what can you get by helping them?" the other voice continued with her question.

"Nothing at all," she sounded surprised, but Lucius detected a lie when he heard one. The girl did not appear as she seemed. "Everyone should have a chance to correct their mistakes."

Lucius smirked at Hermione's reply but soon it disappeared as the memory of his trial aroused. It was true that she helped both of them without asking anything back, which was normal for a Gryffindor behavior. However, after listening to this conversation, he knew there was more to her motives than just a simple job. His Legilimency was not as good as Severus but enough to detect certain information. He only hoped that the Granger girl had not learned Occlumency and he was lucky. For a moment, he could see her ambition, her reasons behind her actions toward them.