What's this? Another fic? I hadn't planned anything but this idea struck me over the weekend a couple of weeks ago and I just had to write it down. It's not going to be very long. Five-ish chapters but I hope you'll all enjoy it.

As always, I own nothing and these characters all belong to the fabulous J.K. Rowling. **Also, I was inspired by the current History of Magic Exhibit for the name.

Appealing to the Malfoys

Hermione Granger watched balefully as Draco Malfoy inspected the knick-knacks on the bookshelves in her office. When she'd originally requested a meeting with him, she'd not expected him to agree without argument. However, here he was being his annoying Slytherin self as she waited for him to comment on her request.

True, it had been five years since the war and at least three since he cornered her alone at a Ministry event to genuinely apologize to her for the things he'd said and done to her over the years, not to mention his participation as a Death Eater. The surprised shock when she'd quickly accepted his apology and held her hand out to shake on it was a sight to see.

These days their run-ins were usually limited to Ministry functions where he showed up as a public donor to events or when she passed him on his way to meetings about his Potion-making business. However, he still teased and smirked but the animosity was gone. She could honestly call them friendly acquaintances now.

That certainly didn't mean he didn't get on her nerves though. He was quite good at it after all.

"So let me make sure I've understood correctly, Granger," he grinned as he inspected a snow globe that Ron had gotten her last Christmas. A pathetic attempt at an apology for the way she'd found out he'd been flirting with other women before they broke up. It was a rather nice snow globe though. She'd only kept it because technically he hadn't actually cheated. At least not by the time she caught him flirting, it was just clear that things needed to end between them.

"You want me to help you convince my parents to allow the Ministry's new Magical Museum to loan out many of my family artifacts to put on display?"

Hermione sighed and rolled her eyes. She knew he understood perfectly well but he seemed to gain extra pleasure from drawing these sorts of things out in an annoyingly slow pace.

"Yes, Malfoy, you would be correct. The British wizarding community has done quite well in our rehab after the war. This year marks the five year anniversary and the Ministry wants to exhibit all of the positive contributions that Britain has made to the magical world over the centuries. Our records show that your family has accumulated quite the collection of magical artwork and literature. When foreign dignitaries arrive for the festivities and celebratory ball, they'd like to be able to show off as much as possible."

"Bit of a pissing contest on who's contributed more than whom then," Draco smirked as he retook the seat across from her desk.

Hermione ignored his choice of language and nodded. "It certainly appears that way behind the scenes but I should think anyone who grew up as you did would understand the need to put up a positive front and strut like a belligerent peacock."

He snorted in amusement at her comparison and while he'd normally take offense, he knew coming from her it was like a backhanded compliment. Reluctant but honest.

"Alright then," he nodded, "Sounds like worthy cause. What will they get from it though? Reformed he might be, you realize my father will only agree if he sees some personal gain from this. I'd agree on their behalf but I was only given ownership of the family vaults, not material goods."

Hermione nodded, and reached to hand him a sheet of paper. "Yes, I thought of that when this was all suggested and proposed this to which Kingsley agreed. In exchange for a loan of their artifacts, your father will receive a six month reduction in his probation. As I understand it, he only has three years left. It's the best I could do."

Draco lifted a curious eyebrow and met her brown eyes. Proud but also genuine, there was something always very admirable about them no matter what he'd said in the past of them being the color of mud. They were more the color of a nice brandy, something deep he could lose himself in.

"And you suggested this as compensation? I find I'm rather surprised, Granger. I was fairly certain you were in the camp that had wished him sentenced to Azkaban."

Hermione swallowed but her expression didn't waver and she clasped her hands on her desk as she met his gaze. "Your father made some poor decisions, Malfoy. There's no denying that—one of which included coercing his own son into the ranks of Death Eaters because he was too much of a coward to have protected his family better once he realized the magnitude of those poor decisions." She stopped and took a deep breath. "However, of all former Death Eaters that Kingsley interviewed during sentencing, he was the most remorseful and helpful in taking down others."

Draco couldn't help but be impressed by that rather scathing but accurate assessment. She'd long ago told him he was forgiven and he'd done what he could not to take that forgiveness for granted but he'd never realized how kind she truly was though he shouldn't have been shocked really—Gryffindor and all.

He nodded and folded the official offer before tucking it into his robes. "Alright, Granger. I'll help you. I'll discuss with my mother about having you over for dinner tomorrow if you want to pitch your proposal to them then." He noted the apprehensive twitch of her lower lip as she bit the corner and sighed. "That room was gutted first thing after the war, Granger. Mother's still not even decided what its use will be if anything but there's no chance of you going anywhere near it. She's redecorated the entire Manor as well so you wouldn't recognize anything."

The brave façade she always wore returned with a vengeance and she gave him a stern nod. "Fine. Please owl me the details of when I should arrive."

Draco nodded and quickly stood. He shook her outstretched hand, nearly snorting again at how silly it was that she maintained this strict business nature around him just because they were in a formal meeting when they'd known each other for years.

~o~O~o~

Lucius Malfoy was a rather proud man. This was a fact that would never change. He'd done what he thought was right in his youth, paid the price, and continued to repent for it. Lineage and history were important to him. He saw the need to maintain the richness that was his family's magic. Yet he no longer sought to eradicate those born with magic from non-magical families.

That, however, did not mean that he thought it lessened his own importance in the magical world. Hundreds of years of pure magical breeding had created wonderful magical stock. In some ways, he still felt superior.

It was that right there where he and his son could no longer agree.

Draco snorted as he poured himself a small tumbler of his father's finest imported brandy and took a seat across from him by the fire in his office that evening.

"We're inbred, father. Even you can't deny that. It's borderline humiliating in most societies. The fact that the magical world is only just realizing the oddity and backwards nature of it is only a side note."

Lucius rolled his eyes at his son and took a calming sip from his glass. "We have a rich history, son. Don't deny that."

"I don't," Draco grinned. It was the perfect opening. "Which is why I think it's appropriate to discuss this with you." He reached into his waistcoat and reached out to hand his father the Ministry letter.

Lucius lifted a curious brow and took the parchment after a moment. He unfolded the letter and allowed himself a moment to skim the contents. His eyebrows were nearly in his hairline by the time he came to the signature.

"This is your little friend's doing? The muggle-born one?"

Draco scowled as he stared into the depths of his glass. "I wouldn't call us friends by any means. Acquaintances now, sure. But yes, it was her doing. Kingsley Shacklebolt signed off on it."

"I'm rather surprised she'd agree to such a deal. Even if it is only six months early."

"What have I missed," Narcissa asked as she entered the room.

She'd insisted on overseeing the cleanup of dinner, wanting to make certain the leftovers were appropriately packed before one of the house elves took them off to donate.

It was a well-kept secret that oftentimes she donated food and other perishable goods they had in excess to the British Magical Orphans' Society in London. She'd nearly lost her own son. The idea that so many had lost their parents in the war had gnawed at her endlessly until Draco suggested this as a possible act of contrition to assuage her guilt.

"Here," Lucius handed the parchment to his wife to read.

When his mother looked up in mild shock, Draco sighed. "I agreed to help her by appealing to you myself in addition to having her over for dinner tomorrow, if you agree to hear her out, so that she may appeal to you in person herself."

"And you'd agree to this, Lucius?"

His father shrugged and took another sip of his brandy. "What's there to lose? It'd be in poor form not to take the offer when it benefits us so greatly. We may be reformed, Narcissa, but it does not mean we ignore advantageous opportunities that benefit the Malfoy name. Due to my probation, I've not been able to conduct any business of my own, leaving Draco with the burden of all of the family accounts in addition to his own business. It's humiliating," he sniffed haughtily.

She gave a terse nod and handed the parchment back to him. "Alright then. Draco, dear, will you owl Miss Granger and send her an invitation to dinner tomorrow evening for six o'clock sharp. Not a minute later."

"I don't believe Granger is the type for being late, mother so you needn't worry over her etiquette."

Narcissa bristled slightly at the slight rebuke but ultimately nodded. "Very well."

Draco did as his mother instructed and sent off an owl that evening. He received her response shortly after written in her formal, elegant script and signed with her official title—Ministry of Magic Community Liaison.

While pomp and circumstance normally called for any pureblood family to put on a show when having guests for dinner, to Draco it seemed like his mother was stressing more than usual. She was fluttering about with instructions to the elves when he left for breakfast that morning and had only ceased by the time he returned home that evening.

After his father's sentencing and probation, they'd not had much company outside of other pureblood families. Blaise came over fairly often as did the Greengrasses and Parkinsons. However, the reasons for the latter two generally differed greatly.

Hermione, for her part, had stressed a bit as well throughout the day. She'd put on the brave façade when he'd mentioned dinner at the Manor to discuss her proposal but it had been just that—a façade.

"You don't have to go, Hermione," Harry told her at lunch. "You can always assert your authority and request an official meeting here at the Ministry."

"Yeah, it's not like you owe the Malfoys any sort of kindness," Ron agreed.

Hermione frowned at the crumbs all over Ron's shirt, thankful that he was no longer her responsibility to worry over.

"It's not about a kindness, Ronald. It's about playing the game. If you want the Malfoys to play by your rules, you have to give the impression of playing by theirs."

Harry frowned but nodded. "War tactics then."

She shrugged and chewed a bite of her lunch. "If you want to look at it that way. I just see it as not allowing myself to be manipulated if I stay in control of the situation."

"You think they'll agree to it," Ron asked. "It's not like they're really the charitable sort."

Hermione bit her lip as she considered that. She wouldn't mention the anonymous, odd donations she'd spent months tracking to the Orphans' Society only to discover they were coming from Narcissa Malfoy. Or the galleons that Draco was donating anonymously to Hogwarts to support the education of children who came from families like Ron's where resources were tight. She'd been keeping both of those things to herself for quite some time after she found out, knowing the Malfoys were far too proud to have everyone know about their humility under the surface.

It was Lucius Malfoy from whom she didn't know what to expect. The man had kept dangerously quiet since his probation began.

"Lucius Malfoy is many things but a passer of opportunity surely isn't one," she finally answered. "I think he'll take a chance on anything that benefits him positively."

And she hoped dearly that she was right. According to her boss, their collection of magical artifacts and literature was large by any wizarding standards. Hundreds of years of arrogant collecting had yielded that and even she could begrudgingly admire their efforts.

For her visit, she was dressed in lovely black shift dress, sleeveless and demurely fitted. She wouldn't normally wear robes to such a dinner and refused to put on a fake show for the Malfoys by doing so now.

Consistent with Draco's directions, she entered her floo at five fifty nine and arrived as six sharp where she was greeted by Draco himself.

"Granger," he greeted and held out his arm to her.

Hermione fought the surprised lift of her eyebrows when she caught him giving her an interested once over before she took his arm and allowed him to lead.

"Nice…dress, Granger."

Hermione glanced up at him as they walked and found his eyes trained straight ahead. "Thanks. I hope my not wearing robes won't offend your mother."

He smirked and glanced over at her as they passed through a long corridor. "I doubt it. We've not had much company over the years as it is and the company we have had…well, I could not care less."

She didn't comment on that even though her curiosity was certainly sparked.

His mother and father were both standing on the opposite side of a small rectangular table as they entered what Hermione could only guess was a private dining room. Draco surprised her and pulled out her chair for her before taking his own seat as his parents followed.

Pleasantries were exchanged and it was Lucius who broke the ice as the first course of soup was served.

"I must say I was rather surprised by your suggested proposal, Miss Granger. However, we're quite intrigued by your offer. Care to elaborate what it is you're looking for from our collection?"

Hermione set her spoon down and wiped her mouth primly. She was vaguely aware of Draco's eyes tracking her every move but ignored him. She'd get to the bottom of that later.

"Yes, it's the Ministry's understanding that you have a collection of first edition novels by Viscount Marberly from the seventeenth century. If my research is accurate, their original bindings will be of dragon skin sewn with the hair of a unicorn."

Lucius nodded, a lone brow ticked high. "Very accurate indeed. Yes, we do have such a collection in our possession. He was one of few families with magical lineage who also held high repute with the muggle caste system of the time."

"Yes, and that's one reason we'd like those on loan if you agree. I was also informed that you have some paintings from Ignatius Warshaw who painted during the late nineteenth century. His use of magical herbs in his pigments was revolutionary for the time."

"Once more, you're correct, Miss Granger. Narcissa houses those particular paintings in her personal drawing room upstairs."

"Would you be willing to part with them for the exhibit, Mrs. Malfoy?"

Narcissa, who'd been relatively quiet until this point, eyed the witch carefully. A six month reduction to Lucius' probation was on the table in exchange for all of this but perhaps she could leverage more from the young woman now that they knew what items she desired.

"I would, but for an additional compensation."

Her statement surprised both her husband and son but neither let it show openly on their faces. Instead, they watched closely to see what else she would extract from the Ministry in exchange.

Hermione swallowed but refused to allow her nerves to show despite that she was shaking under the surface. She'd not come prepared with any other bargaining chips, feeling they wouldn't be needed considering what was already on the table.

"I'm listening," she said diplomatically.

"As I'm sure you understand, Miss Granger, the war has had ill effects on Draco as well despite being cleared of any wrongdoing. While he's been allowed to maintain the family vaults in his father's place and establish his own business, it's been a bit difficult to match him with eligible witches given the stigma still lingering on the Malfoy name. People are fake. They'll socialize with us if it benefits them but beyond that it's still difficult to maintain genuine connections."

Draco had gone rather pale at this point and was gritting his teeth. "Mother," he warned.

Narcissa ignored him however and pressed on. "There will be events for this exhibit with foreign dignitaries and their families invited, yes?"

To say Hermione was confused by this change of direction would be an understatement but she didn't see any particular malicious intent yet.

"Yes, that's correct," she answered cautiously.

"And you'll be required to attend, dear?"

Hermione narrowed her eyes then as she considered the shrewd woman across from her. Merlin, if the Malfoy men allowed her to conduct business of their own then the world would be in for a lot of trouble. She nodded cautiously.

"Good. My request is this: allow Draco to escort you to said events and introduce him to as many eligible, acceptable women as possible. He speaks flawless French and his Italian is passable for conversation. He should have no trouble conversing with our close, foreign neighbors."

Hermione opened her mouth and shut it a few times before she glanced at Draco to gauge his expression. His jaw was clenched and his grey eyes appeared harder than usual. He looked about ready to argue but there was something holding him back.

"I…yes, I could do that. That's all you require to agree?"

Narcissa shared a look with her husband and he merely waved a dismissive hand. "Yes, that would be all."

"Alright, then I'll have a formal agreement written out and owled to you first thing in the morning. You understand that because your request is of a more personal nature, Mrs. Malfoy, that's it's not something I can add to a formal contract. However, I assure you that I'll uphold my end of the bargain."

Narcissa eyed the younger witch closely. "I feel I can trust your honesty, Miss Granger."

The rest of the dinner was filled with rather bland conversation about what other items could be expected at the exhibit. After agreeing to secure them an invitation to attend the ball, Hermione took her leave. Draco was stiff and uncomfortable as he walked her back to the visitor's floo.

"Granger," he spoke before she could step in. "I apologize about my mother. Perhaps you may not be comfortable with it but I'll be happy to attend and lie to her about introducing me to any foreign witches. I really don't expect you to do that."

Hermione observed his stiff posture and the way he was still clenching his jaw. "So all of the social change and yet you still can't escape your parents traditional expectations for an arranged marriage then?"

He sighed and pinched the bridge of his nose for a moment. He could feel the impending headache already. He scowled as he told her the truth.

"Things may have changed for you and all other muggle-borns but I'm still expected to live up to the Malfoy name. That means maintaining the vaults, finding a wife, and producing an heir. My parents were quite lucky that they grew fond of each other but they don't know anything other than the old way of doing things."

"That's rather depressing, don't you think?"

He shrugged and shoved his hands deep in his trouser pockets. "Depressing, annoying, callous…what's the difference?"

Hermione nodded, not sure what to say really. She wasn't dating right now by choice. Ron had screwed up and his eyes had strayed elsewhere. She'd gone on dates but found the men to be tedious and boring. She even went on a couple dates with muggles but found herself uninterested and hiding her secret was rather bothersome. Maybe it would have been different if there'd been any spark or mutual attraction but without it there was no reason to invest her energy in hiding who she was until they could make it to that point.

"Don't stress over it, Malfoy. Foreign dignitaries arrive next Saturday and that's when the museum exhibit opens. Everything finishes two weeks later with the ball. I'll send you an owl with the details of the exhibit."

Draco nodded and watched as she waved goodbye before disappearing in the green flames. He released a breath he hadn't realized he'd been holding and breathed in deeply through his nose. That was her scent then. The one that had been wafting the air around him all evening. A floral mixture he couldn't quite name.

He dismissed it however and retired for the evening. He had other matters to worry about now.