foudebassan | Meme-fics, 4/7

For Dream_labyrinth

Prompt: Hermione and Lucius meet in the atrium of the Ministry. Why, what they are doing there, what happens next - all up to you.

Pre-Lumione, 800 words, no title.

Many things change over time, but the Ministry Atrium is not one of them, Lucius ponders. Individual witches and wizards aged during these five years he has spent in Azkaban, but as a whole the crowd here has remained the same, as busy as ever, as anonymous as ever.

He doesn’t know what to feel. It is not elation – he may yet return to prison; it is not fear – he is beyond fear now. Truth be told, he does not think it very wise to think anything at all.

The noise washes over him like water on a duck’s feathers. It is almost insane to remember that he was a part of this world not so long ago, an important part...

A poised young witch hurries towards them.

“Auror Shacklebolt, Mister Malfoy, Auror Dawlish-“

Her face is not unfamiliar, but he is quite sure he didn’t know her personally in this other lifetime.

“I’m so sorry I’m late, I only got the owl five minutes ago, you know how the Ministry administers the appointed lawyers-“

There it is! He remembers now. It was in this same Atrium, five years ago… she had bushier hair then, he remembers, and looked positively childish – how did a mere five years make this woman of her? But then five years were a lifetime to him...

“Oh, sorry, Mister Malfoy – I’m your lawyer. The second undersecretary appointed me, as you are presently legally incapacitated yourself, and your family in no position to act on your behalf…”

What a tactful way to say his son had been killed and his wife had sought solace in the arms of his former best friend, several thousands of miles away.

“…my name is Granger, Hermione Granger.”

All four of them, him between the two Aurors and she preceding them, make their way towards the courtrooms.

“Now I do realise we do not have time now to prepare for this together, but I have had access to your file. Let me do the talking, and the rest of it is up to the Fates, or rather, to how stupid, sleepy and / or inebriated the Wizengamot Warlocks are this afternoon.”

Lucius blinks. Is she actually making fun of the wizarding world’s highest authority?

“Chance is on our side – it’s been a long morning and it’s hot outside. With a bit of luck they’ll be grateful for the show and we might just be able to get you out…”

“I am confident you will make the best of this re-trial,” he answers, voice slightly raspy.

As he crosses the threshold into the courtroom, he realises these are the first words he has said in five years.

*
* *

They are the last to walk back to the Atrium.

“Well,” he says.

“Well,” she answers with a smile.

He looks at his shoes, then at her face. He has yet to fully comprehend that he is free, free to go back to the Manor; free to wash the prison grime from his body; free to start living again.

“It is customary to thank one’s lawyer after such a victory, especially against such odds,” she says.

He looks at her.

“You will, of course, get your fee…”

“I should hope so!”

“And yet I cannot help but wonder… you got me out of jail on specious arguments, delivered to an audience more inclined to listen to your rhetorical figures and questionable puns than to the actual content of your speech, and you are now telling me you are doing this for the pecuniary privileges it will grant you. Is this the same person who was instrumental in my erstwhile imprisonment? In my former master’s demise?”

“This person,” she answers without wavering her gaze, “has more than enough power to send you straight back to Azkaban at a moment’s notice. And I happen to believe that you are intelligent enough to recognise it…”

They have arrived to the busy hall. The giant statue in the middle of the Atrium is not the one his knew, Lucius notices – it pictures a young wizard with a lightning-bolt scar, surrounded by an array of magical creatures.

Well, well, well, it looks like things have indeed changed around here, despite the appearances, he thinks. Why, even Gryffindors seem to have adopted Slytherin tactics – perhaps the war has not been entirely lost, after all.

“Tell me, Defender Granger,” he says, “would my inviting you to lunch be a proper thank you for your efforts?”

“I am not sure that will suffice,” she answers, “but it certainly would be a good beginning."

Lucius smiles.

Not only has his life begun anew: he now has a worthy goal towards which to work.

“I shall do my best to ensure that not only the beginning is good... Hermione.”

Coming soon: the Drarry! I promise! And this time I might even keep it!