Hermione woke up feeling refreshed the next day. She never realized how much those dreams wore her out and was thankful to have a quiet night's rest. After checking her clock and swearing under her breath, Hermione rushed to get prepared for her day in order to be in time for breakfast. Hermione's day went by quickly; having Arithmancy, Muggle Studies, and Defense Against the Dark Arts. Hermione found solitude in her school work, another world to concentrate on. Her dreams didn't plague her as much as they had when they first began, but then again, she ignored them more then she did before too.
The next few days flew by in a blur, and Hermione realized with a start that it was the weekend already. Seeing as it was only Friday, she was all ready for the Hogsmeade trip the following day. Harry, Ron, Ginny and herself had planned on going to the Three Broomsticks for lunch together. Concentrating on getting her homework done for the weekend, Hermione set to work.
"God, why so much homework this weekend?" Ron mumbled beside Hermione on a matching chair in front of the fireplace. "Don't they know we have better things to do?"
"Ron, there isn't anything better than getting an education," Hermione huffed unsympathetically. Hermione glared at Ron as she caught him trying to peek at her nearly done essay. Ron quickly looked away and sighed over-dramatically as he realized she was done with the one he was working on. Hermione heard Harry chortle softly and smiled to herself. Almost done, just a few more inches and I'm good to go! Hermione silently chanted to herself. After a few more minutes, Hermione was done her essay on Daisy Hookum and her book My Life as a Muggle, for Muggle Studies.
Yawning of that compared to a lion, Hermione decided it was time to go to bed. She said goodnight to the boys, and promised to meet them at breakfast in the morning. Trudging up to her room, Hermione got ready for bed and climbed under her sheets. Excited about the Hogsmeade trip and knowing sleep would make time go faster, Hermione fell asleep quickly.
"You want me too, don't you?" Lucius whispered in her ear. Hermione felt her mouth dry and knew she couldn't respond, so she nodded her head. Lucius lazily drew patterns down Hermione, starting at her shoulders. He brought his other hand up and began to massage her tight shoulder blade muscles. Hermione let out a tiny moan as his skillful hands massaged her aching tendons.
Lucius stepped toward Hermione, pressing the front of his body into the back of hers. Hermione gasped as she felt him against her body. She could feel something hot and hard against her lower back and tried to keep standing. Grasping onto the shelf in front of her for support, Hermione closed her eyes and let her senses kick into overdrive. She could smell Lucius' sweet cologne, feel his body and breath on hers, and hear his ragged breathing. She wanted to taste him.
In an act of courage, Hermione spun quickly around and looked into those steel grey eyes. Her jaw dropped slightly at what she found there; lust, adoration, and… need. She smiled softly and put a shaking hand on his chest, amazed at the feel of the soft fabric she found there. Feeling the heat radiate off him, Hermione stepped closer to Lucius. He put one arm around her waist and brought his free hand to her neck. Pushing her neck a bit to one side, Lucius leaned down and trailed feather soft kisses along her neck.
A whimper left her throat before she could stop it and Lucius pulled away softly, looking into her eyes for doubts or hesitations. Hermione smiled her best at him and he grinned rakishly back at her. Leaning down, Lucius kissed her cheek, then the other. He kissed her forehead, temples, and then her nose. Hermione's senses were running on overload and she nearly died when she felt Lucius' lips graze hers. Leaning into the kiss, Hermione thought her head was going to explode.
"Fuck!" Hermione screamed when she woke up. She could swear she still smelt him as her cheeks burned. "What is WRONG with me?" Hermione yelled once more, causing Crookshanks to hiss at her. She felt like crying, something that she hardly did. How could someone as logical as herself want someone as horrid and cruel as Lucius Malfoy? She felt dirty and rushed into her shower to scrub herself clean. After her scalding shower Hermione slowly got dressed, being careful with what to wear. No one ever knew that the know-it-all liked to look good. She chose a mid-thigh denim skirt and a dark green long sleeved shirt that seemed to accentuate her curvy body. Pulling her hair back quickly, she left for the Great Hall in search of the boys and Ginny.
After breakfast, the small group went on their way to the small village they know so well. After visiting all the shops including Zonko's and of course, Weasley's Wizarding Wheezes, they trudged into the Three Broomsticks and were greeted warmly by Madam Rosmerta and they took a booth near a window. After ordering their lunch and their drinks, Harry surprised them all with some news.
"So, after much consideration and talking," Harry began, sounding a bit uneasy. "Ginny and I have decided we're going to have another go at this relationship thing, try again." Harry finally finished as Ginny turned beet red. Hermione squealed and jumped up to hug Ginny and Harry when she heard a voice behind her.
"Miss Granger, stop that revolting squealing right now," came the voice of their surly potions master who was standing just beside their table. They all turned around to glare at the Professor when they saw he was not alone. With a look of aristocratic importance, Lucius Malfoy stood smirking down at them.
"Sorry, sir," Hermione growled. She felt the blood rush to her face in embarrassment. Hermione heard a chair squeak behind her and saw that Ginny had risen from her seat to stand beside Hermione.
"Hello Professor, Mr. Malfoy. Is there something you gentlemen want?" Ginny asked curtly. Hermione silently thanked herself for having Ginny for a friend, as she got right to the point. Hermione took a step back as Lucius bent down to hiss at them.
"Trust me, Weasley… there is nothing I want from you. Same goes for our resident Mudblood." Lucius looked satisfied with their wide eyed expressions and their jaws open. Hermione was hurt by the comment, but regained enough composure to lean towards Lucius and hiss back.
"Shouldn't you be in hiding, Malfoy? Aren't you a bit of a wanted man by your old Master?" Hermione cut to the quick, and knew she had pushed it too far when she saw rage flare in Lucius' eyes. Lucius raised himself to beside Professor Snape once more and gave them the famous Malfoy sneer.
"That is none of you business, girl. You need to be taught your place." Hermione gasped at his words. Harry immediately got up and walked straight to Malfoy with Ron at his heels.
"You'll damn well treat Hermione with respect," Harry spat at Lucius. "You are staying at MY house, and you will obey by MY rules." Harry finished. Lucius sneered harder at them, and turned on his heel and left. Professor Snape turned to the group.
"You fools, 30 points from Gryffindor each. Learn how to respect your elders! You will each serve detention with me tomorrow night, 7 o'clock in my room." Professor Snape finished. Each of the students nodded and Professor Snape walked after Lucius. Turning around and looking at the boys, Hermione smiled briefly.
"Excuse us boys. Ginny, bathroom break, NOW." Hermione smiled sweetly at Ginny. Hermione grabbed a surprised Ginny and led her into the bathroom. Making sure it was empty, Hermione began to pace as Ginny stood against the wall, wondering what Hermione was doing.
"That pompous, arrogant, filthy excuse for a human being!" Hermione finally screamed, startling Ginny. She wasn't quite done there. "Thinks being pureblood makes him better then me… How dare he call me a Mudblood? He doesn't know me; he doesn't know anything about me!" Hermione screamed again, wiping the tears that coursed down her face. She screamed once more before going to the sink to wash her face.
"Don't let the crummy piece of expensive fabric get to you, 'Mione. He's nothing and he's jealous of you," at Hermione's snort, Ginny continued. "You're a Muggle born and you still had him on his ass, remember? You're more powerful then he could ever wish to be!" Hermione smiled weakly at Ginny's words. She cursed herself for letting that piece of nothing to get to her. She sighed and rested against the sink, staring off into space.
"What's going on between you and Malfoy? I mean, he's been horrible to us before, but this time you really let it get to you…" Ginny asked cautiously, not wanting to agitate Hermione further. Hermione gave Ginny a calculating look. Hermione knew she could trust Ginny with anything, but would Ginny think differently of her? Would Ginny be horrified and tell the boys? "Look, you know you can tell me anything. I won't tell anyone and you can trust me. Don't tell me because you feel like you have to though, okay?" Ginny alleged, as if reading her thoughts.
Hermione finally let out one more sigh, took a deep breath and started to talk. She told Ginny about her dreams and how she felt horrible about them. She told her about how she never knew she could feel something like that towards a man who had hated her before he even knew her. Exhausted, Hermione finished her tale and took a deep breath, waiting for a response from a very wide eyed Ginny.
"Oh, Hermione!" Ginny finally cried and pulled Hermione into a tight hug. Grateful for the comfort, Hermione hugged Ginny back. Pulling away, Ginny looked Hermione in the eyes. "You can't control what you dream about, they just happen! I mean, do you fancy him or anything?"
"No…Yes… No! I don't know!" Hermione whispered to her friend. "How can I fancy someone who has made my life hell for the past 7 years? Who followed the orders of the man trying to kill Harry?" Hermione expressed, her thoughts a huge jumble in her head.
"Past the asshole persona, actually… Malfoy is fairly attractive. Not my type, but still attractive. And you know, Hermione… Malfoy turned. He gave up his life as a Death Eater to become a spy for us, for our side. He renounced the old ways. If Dumbledore trusts him, maybe we should too. He's lost a lot Hermione, first Narcissa is murdered, and then Draco disappears?" Hermione was astounded at Ginny's wisdom beyond her years when she finished her careful words. Hermione nodded and shivered at the thought of being close to Lucius this summer, in the same house. She felt a pang of guilt at realizing how hard Lucius must have it, doing things against his own will, having his wife murdered, and then his son disappearing. Deciding that the best thing to do right now is concentrate on school and N.E.W.T's, Hermione and Ginny left the bathroom to the boys to finish their lunch.
"How DARE she? That little chit has no idea what she's talking about!" Raged Lucius as Severus and himself sat in the Library at Grimmauld Place. "Maybe I was safer with the Dark Lord then in that girl's temper!" At those words, Severus cocked his eyebrow up and gave Lucius a look that said 'Oh really?' Lucius glared at Severus and that caused Severus to chuckle.
"You've spent the last 7 years of that girl's life making it a living hell. It could take more then one meeting after you had turned sides before they trust you. Give them time, they'll come around. Hell, look how long it took them to trust me?" Snape finished, scoffing. Lucius nodded his head slowly. Taking a sip from his brandy, Lucius stood and left the Library.
What was that in that Granger girl's eyes as I called her a Mudblood?Lucius thought to himself as he walked into his bed chamber.Hurt and pain, you dolt.Lucius started at his own thoughts.Where the hell did that come from?
"I am no dolt, I assure you." Lucius murmured to himself. That's what you think, came his thoughts again. "I am not arguing with you now." Lucius concluded, and had a satisfied sneer on his face when there was no answer.
A/N: I had fun writing this chapter, Lucius is so much fun to play with! Thank you all so much for reviewing, it means a lot to me! I'm just playing with the story line for now, so if there is something you want to see, let me know! Thanks again, love you all!