Getting to Azkaban was not the easiest thing to accomplish. The wards made it impossible to get to the island via magical means so it involved a long and uncomfortable journey across the North Sea in a very rickety boat. It was bitterly cold and raining. Of course it was raining, she thought. Just her luck. She breathed out a shaky sigh of relief as the prison finally came into view. This had to be the last place on Earth she wanted to be and it was a challenge just to be here, but she had to do this. She needed to know.

The boat jerked violently as it was pulled up to the dock and she watched the guard tie it to a post, thankful for the slight delay. Even though she spent nearly an hour in that boat she still needed some time to steel her courage, now that she was just steps from the entrance. Staring up at the very tall fortress, she was suddenly overcome by fear and her feet felt like they were glued to the bottom of the boat. She couldn't do this, she should turn around right now, never to return. Her internal rambling was interrupted by the guard offering her his hand to help her off the boat. She took it, reluctantly. This was it; there was no turning back.

The inside was exactly how she imagined it. Dark, dreary, cold,and looking completely devoid of any life. The guard checked in her wand and told her that the Warden would be right with her. Hoping he did not take long, lest she lose her nerve, she began to wait. Luckily, the Warden arrived very quickly. He motioned for her to follow him so she jumped to her feet and did just that. Before long, he stopped in front of a solid black door.

"This is the visitors room. He's already in there. He cannot move from his chair and his magic is bound, as you know. You'll be perfectly safe."

"Thank you. I wasn't worried about my physical safety," she replied softly as the Warden opened the door. Taking a deep breath, she entered the room. She shivered; it was downright chilly in here. Her eyes found the man sitting in the middle of the room, nothing but a small, rectangular table between them. He looked nothing like himself, his so far short time in Azkaban already doing a number on him. His skin was gray; his hair dirty; his eyes dulled. In short, he looked awful.

"Hello, Lucius."

He said nothing, just continued to stare at her. She carried on.

"Draco's horribly upset at you, as I am sure you know. Don't expect him to visit any time soon. Or ever."

Still no response. She sighed.

"He's named me Head of the family in your absence. I imagine he did it to take a stab at you."

There! Finally some sort of reaction, even if it was just a sneer. She was sure this news did not please him, as he left instruction for Draco to take over Head duties in his absence. Considering his silence, Hermione began to wonder exactly why she was here. Did he really deserve to learn her news in person? She didn't think so, yet, after all that happened, she just couldn't find it in herself to tell him in a letter. Stealing herself, she relayed the information.

"Lucius... I... came here for a specific reason. I'm pregnant."

Some emotion she could not decipher crossed his face, briefly, before it was gone again. But yet, he still said nothing. She closed her eyes briefly in defeat, wondering just where her loving husband had gone.

The ballroom was packed with people, all decked out in their finest formal-wear. Many were completely in their cups and having a grand ol' time out on the dance floor. Hermione, however, was utterly bored. Even though she had grown used to attending these sorts of events, she had never quite gotten to the point where she actually enjoyed them. Noticing a boring windbag from the Ministry heading her way, she grimaced and wished for an escape. She placed her glass of champagne on the nearest surface, quickly turned heel, and tried to get away. Her escape was thwarted, unfortunately, when she felt a hand go over her mouth and was pulled into a dark corner. She was struggling to get her hands on her wand as her abductor turned her around to face him. A loud sigh of relief escaped her mouth as she recognized him.

"Are you insane? If I had gotten to my wand, I could have hurt you! What in Merlin's name are you doing?"

"Saving you from your boredom, of course."

"By pulling me into a dark corner and scaring the wits out of me?"

He chuckled and pulled her closer to him, if that was even possible. Her hands rested on his muscular chest, and she started fiddling with the buttons on his robes. He bent his head and suddenly his lips were at her ear.

"You know you like it," he whispered, sending shivers down her spine. There was no use denying it. He was right; she did like it. His need to always get what he wanted was something of a turn on for her, something that surprised her in the beginning. And he not only knew it, he took full advantage of it. Just as he was doing right that minute. He began to trail light kisses down her neck, stopping only when he reached the junction of where her neck met her shoulders, where he bit lightly. She moaned softly and writhed gently against him.

"Eager, are we, Miss Granger?" His voice husky as his hands began to wander across her body.

"Always. And it's Mrs. Malfoy," she replied with a smirk.

She was fairly sure that their child was conceived that night, only days before Lucius found himself in Azkaban. Unable to take his silence any longer, she knew she had to ask what she needed to know even if she didn't think he would answer.

"Why did you do it? Why did you betray me?" she asked softly, as if afraid of the answer. Truth be told, she was. She needn't worry as his stony silence continued. She stood quickly then, tears threatening to fall. Coming here had been a mistake, why did she think he would tell her anything? She made her way to the door and then stopped right before it, hand on the handle.

"Did you ever love me?" she asked her last question, unable to turn around and face the man that had effectively broken her heart. He was silent still, and yet as her hand began to turn the handle of the door, a soft reply reached her ears.

"No."

Hurt and broken, she quickly threw open the door and left the room, trying desperately to hold in the sobs that wanted to escape.

Since she never looked back, she missed the lone tear that slid slowly down her husband's face, along with the look of utter anguish that rested there.

Written for the AU Battle Competition

Prison!AU

Prompt: Challenge

Thanks to my beta, erbkaiser for looking this over and the fast turnaround time! :)