Chapter 19: Date
Won't you call me Lucius?" He asked her curiously. She pinkened a little. Calling a boy by his given name was something only close friends, or maybe a boyfriend or girlfriend might do.
"What exactly do you want from me, Mr. Malfoy," Hermione stopped in the middle of the road, her hands on her hips. Lucius looked at her for a minute, those silvery grey eyes narrowed.
"I'm not sure," he said finally. "I like you. I feel drawn to you. I think…I think I'd like to court you."
You have got to be kidding me. If Harry and Ron could see this, they would both just die.
Shut. Up! This is my life, not yours. He isn't evil, he's just a kid, just like me.
Ha!
"I think I would like that, Lucius," Hermione said softly, watching the Slytherin from under her lashes. He smiled at her, a genuine smile, and it changed his face completely. Hermione blinked up at him.
Oh, shit.
Whispers and stares followed Hermione and Lucius as they wandered through Hogsmeade. He took her to Honeyduke's and bought her a bag of candy. They spent some time in a used book store, perusing titles. Hermione was pleased to note that Lucius was just as studious as she was. They got into a spirited argument about the merits of a certain volume, and they left the store laughing, her arm hooked companionably through his elbow.
James was far too busy to notice the burgeoning romance between his sister and Lucius Malfoy. Instead, he was staring in horror as Lily wandered through Hogsmeade holding hands with Severus Snape. Jealousy flared in him like a vicious monster, and he didn't even want to stomp on it. He wanted to let it run free and drink Snape's blood. Sirius had grabbed one arm, and Remus had the other arm.
"James," Sirius growled warningly.
"Look at them," James hissed seeing red.
"We need to go back," Remus said calmly. "If you hurt him, she'll never forgive you. Come on, James."
The boys turned and left Hogsmeade early, never having seen Hermione's beautiful face turned up toward Lucius with a soft smile playing around her lips.
HP/HG/HP
The Marauders were not stupid boys, they just didn't pay attention sometimes. It took them awhile to realize that Hermione was hardly ever in Gryffindor Tower. The fact that James was obsessing over Lily's quasi-relationship with Severus Snape probably didn't help. On top of that, they had already begun the long, tedious process to become animagi. They were making slow, careful progress, but they still had a long way to go.
"We need to finish the map," James decided. "That way I'll know where the slimy git is every second of every day."
"You mean you'll know where Lily is," Sirius drawled lazily as he leafed through Quidditch Quarterly.
"It might be a good idea," Remus said thoughtfully. "If it showed where everyone was, we could pull off some amazing pranks."
"That's brilliant," Peter breathed.
The creation of the map took on a life of its own. Remus was the mastermind behind it, and he divided the work into easier sections that played to each boys' strength. They had already done their visionquests, and knew what their animagus forms would be. They'd picked out nicknames for one another, but promised to only used them once they'd become animagi. They used these nicknames when they named the map. The boys spent weeks on it, and when it was completed they were amazed at themselves.
"Wow," Remus said softly as they stared at the map spread out in front of them on James' bed.
"Where is the prat," James was muttering as he scanned the map.
Sirius rolled his eyes. He loved James like a brother, but this Lily thing was definitely becoming a problem. Why couldn't he just date one of the girls that threw themselves at James and Sirius? Plenty of girls out there, and as far as he could tell, they were all pretty similar. They were pretty and soft and smelled nice. He grinned wolfishly to himself, thinking about his latest girlfriend. A Hufflepuff who was only too eager to show him how she felt about him.
"Oi!" James' voice was irritated. "What the hell is Malfoy doing next to my sister?"
The boys all crowded around the map. Sure enough, Lucius Malfoy was standing still, next to Hermione Potter. They were in the library. Sirius looked closely at the map and frowned. That particular area of the library was dark and tucked back. He'd spent many happy hours there…oh, shit. He cleared his throat uncomfortably as the image of Hermione in his arms suddenly popped into his head. Bad thoughts. Oh…bad, bad thoughts.
"Uh, James," Sirius said with a frown at the map. "Just try not to lose your temper. Maybe he's…uh…helping her study or something."
"Malfoy? Is helping my sister study? Are you yanking my chain?" James snapped sarcastically. Peter looked closer at the map.
"Isn't that the make out corner in the library?" He asked innocently. Sirius closed his eyes.
"The WHAT!" James was out the dorm and down the stairs with the other boys chasing after him.
They managed to tackle James in the corridor outside the library. The boys snuck in and headed toward the back area. Sitting at a table was Hermione looking down at a book. Lucius sat next to her. James relaxed slightly. Okay, maybe studying wasn't so crazy. Then the slimy prat put his arm around Hermione's shoulder and leaned down toward her to whisper something in her ear. She smiled up at him, and it was NOT a studying sort of smile. A red haze began to cloud James' vision and he was having trouble breathing properly. He managed to walk toward the table without doing a flying leap and ripping out the bastard's throat, but it was very, very difficult.
"Hermione?" James' voice was dangerously quiet. She glanced up at her brother in surprise and blushed. That was all the answer he needed. His hands flexed as he struggled for control.
"Jamie," she whispered.
"What are you doing?" he asked calmly.
"Studying with Lucius," she whispered, her hazel eyes wide.
"Lucius? LUCIUS!" James shrieked. Madame Pince hurried over and glared at James.
"Out," she said shortly, pointing to the door.
"Fine, Hermione, come on," James said flatly. She looked up at Malfoy.
"She's fine where she's at, Jamie," Lucius drawled. James had a hold of the front of his robes.
"You do not get to call me that," he snarled in Lucius' face.
HP/HG/HP
"I can't believe you punched a prefect," Remus said shaking his head.
"I can't believe I have detention for the next two months," groused James.
Weekly Power Status
-- Power
Ranking 
-- Power
stone