Fascinated

A First Date

Lucius knocked lightly on the door to Hermione’s room and waited for her to answer. “Coming!” He heard her say softly from the other side of the door. His heart leapt at the sound of her voice as it had each time she spoke for as long as he could remember.

The door opened to reveal Hermione wearing the new dress he had procured for her. The dress was a flowing floor length dress covered in sparkling sequins. The dress made her sparkle like a diamond in the bright sunlight. He simply stared at the beauty before him. 

“Oh! Hello Lucius I hadn’t expected you so soon,” she said looking up into his silvery eyes.

“You look lovely in that dress my dear. I have come early to ask if you would join me in Rome for dinner. A date, if you will.” He was nervous enough to not know where to look while he waited on her answer. He recognized that it was a risk for them to leave the Manor together, but he didn’t think the bond would allow her to run away. If anything, it was drawing them closer together. 

“Really?” she asked the excitement evident in her voice. “I’ve never been to Rome!”

He nodded his head as he allowed a small grin grace his lips at her excitement.

“Thank you, Lucius! Oh thank you so much!” she exclaimed, wrapping her arms around him.

“You’re welcome.” He enjoyed the feeling of her arms wrapped around his body. She fit perfectly against him, more perfectly than even Narcissa had. 

“Oh and of course I would love to go on a date with you,” she said, a bright smile spread from ear to ear. She pulled away looking at him.

“Shall we?” he asked holding an arm out for her to take.

She nodded and took his offered arm as they were whisked away by his apparition. They arrived just out front of La Pergola. Hermione looked at him in awe of the fancy restaurant. “Are you sure this isn’t too much?” she asked him thoughtfully.

“I am a Malfoy, nothing is too much for me,” he said cheekily. “My dear, you deserve this for all I have put you through. No other person would have handled coming into my home the way you have with such grace and dignity.” 

“Thank you,” she said smiling as he led her toward the front door of the grand building in front of them.

When they walked in, they were greeted by a beautiful hostess with long, straight, jet black hair. Hermione admired her hair. 

“Due, per favor,” Lucius said with flawless pronunciation.

“Si, signor Malfoy.” the hostess said, with a flirty air about her.

Hermione became slightly defensive over the way the waitress spoke to him. How dare she? Couldn’t the woman see that Lucius was with her? Hermione wanted nothing more than to smack the uptight floozy straight across the face. The look of anger and frustration melted off of Hermione’s face, into a look of confusion. It was the first time she had to share Lucius in over a week. Her feelings were much stronger than she ever prepared for. The bond was causing more trouble than she knew what to do with. She was shocked to realize she hadn’t even thought about escaping since they had acknowledged the bond between them. 

They followed the hostess to a table far across the restaurant. Lucius pulled a seat out for Hermione motioning for her to sit. Hermione sat in the offered chair smiling at him as he moved to sit in the chair opposite her. She looked at her menu unsure of what it even said, let alone what she wanted.

“What would you recommend?” she asked looking up at him from her menu.

 “Hm,” he said scanning his menu once more, “I would say the Roe Deer with polenta and black truffle. And as always their finest house wine,” he answered her calmly.