Lucius Malfoy towered over the elves chopping vegetables at their tables, his head almost scraping the ceiling as he peered down at a long scroll of parchment that looked like a menu for the week. Remmy stood next to him on a stool, waiting for instructions or notes. He said nothing as Hermione paused awkwardly in the doorway. He was wearing a thin-rimmed pair of glasses, and the sight of them might have made Hermione giggle if she wasn't so nervous.

"Miss Granger," he said, whipping the glasses off his nose. He studied her briefly, letting his narrowed eyes drop to her bare legs. "I see you're still having trouble fully clothing yourself."

Her cheeks flushed. Remmy jutted her chin up in approval.

"Since this appears to be a… difficult order for you to follow, one might hope you would at least take necessary precautions." He paused delicately. "However, my wife tells me that you declined a Contraceptive Potion."

Hermione blinked at him. The chopping knives ceased. Even Remmy seemed surprised, before turning to glare at her like she was an idiot.

"The elves will be stocking your cabinets with the potion tonight. Each dose is effective for exactly thirty days."

Outrage began prickling through her shock. She opened her mouth to defend herself.

"Let me be very clear, Miss Granger. I expect you to drink it whether or not you are currently having intercourse with my son." He looked back down at the week's menu, scribbled his name with a quill, and handed it to Remmy with a careless flourish. "If you still refuse, the elves are under instruction to dose your meals with it."

Hermione narrowed her eyes, fury licking her veins. "Assuming I ignore your wildly invasive accusation that I'm—I'm—"

"Having sex with my son," he offered.

"—might I ask what Draco's contraceptive responsibility is in all this?"

Lucius lifted a cool brow. "He has already been given instructions and is blatantly disobeying them. I'm afraid I don't trust him to remember the Contraception Charm every time you two happen to find yourselves alone."

Hermione's ears burned. Lucius smirked at her before glancing at the elves to his right, who quickly resumed their chopping.

"My wife is opposed to my more... stringent suggestions, so my compromise was to come to you first. You cannot become pregnant."

Something strange bubbled through her, closing her throat. "Of course, Mr. Malfoy." She felt her eye twitch. "I would hate for a Mudblood to sully your pristine family line."

His lips twisted in a grin that didn't reach his eyes. He stepped toward her, and she fought the urge to retreat.

"Am I correct to assume you are acquainted with Miss Mortensen, Adrian Pucey's Lot?" He tilted his head at her, and she blinked and nodded slowly. "The imbeciles who examined her before the Auction decided to spare her from full sterilization, just as they did with you. She became pregnant." He tapped his fingers on the table, watching her. Hermione swallowed as blood pounded in her ears. "Miss Mortensen is a Muggleborn. Per our new laws, the fetus was removed. I'm told she was fully conscious and forced to watch. Dolohov himself did the honors."