AN: This story was originally posted at the LJ comm: lm_hgficxchange, for the 2012 exchange. It is complete in seven chapters. Many thanks go to my wonderful beta: clairvoyant12 and to my alpha reader and Brit Picker: talesofsnape. Please note: any mistakes are my own, I do admit to 'tweaking' things a bit even after the beta work was done. And special thanks to blueartemis07 for the lovely prompt.
Also in light of the recent activity on this archive of purges of M rated fics, please note that I do have my stories saved at other archives. Check my bio for the names of these sites.
Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter, I make no money here.
They landed in the middle of Lucius' bed, which to Hermione seemed large enough to accommodate them and a small army. The room itself was not as huge as she might have imagined, but it was quite clear that the man spared no expense in seeing to his personal comfort. Plush carpet, a large fireplace, and heavy comfortable furniture graced the room. The decor showed no signs of frills or frou-frou, so Hermione assumed that Lucius had either redecorated since his divorce or Narcissa had never bothered to spend much time here. The colors surprised, yet appealed to her, as well. No Slytherin greens or silvers, as one might expect, but soft earth tones with splashes of black and deep burgundy.
"Hellooo!" said Lucius, his tone telling her that he didn't appreciate being ignored. He was now standing beside the bed. "You're easily distracted aren't you, my sweet?" he asked, taking her hand and pulling her off the bed to stand next to him.
"Not normally," replied Hermione with a shy smile. "But then I'd never really imagined that I'd ever get to see the inside of Lucius Malfoy's boudoir. I have to check it out while I have the chance."
"Don't worry. You'll have plenty of chances. You can look your fill then. We have much more important things to do right now." Wrapping her in his arms, he pulled her close for a deep kiss.
Hermione pushed slightly away from Lucius as she slid her palms up his chest. "Let's see, where were we?" Hermione whispered. One hand rested on his shoulder and the other stroked his cheek, her thumb tracing over his lips. Lucius sucked the tip of her thumb into his mouth and then nipped it playfully. Hermione jumped in response to his bite and giggled loudly.
Hermione still had on her robes and shirt although they were both unbuttoned. Lucius began pulling at her clothing and tossing bits aside like a little boy opening a birthday present. "Off," he insisted enthusiastically. "Off with your clothes!"
Hermione laughed, feeling a bit like she had fallen through the looking glass, and began pulling at Lucius' clothing as well. Before long, they were both naked, and they fell upon the bed, stroking and touching each other while rolling around like a pair of gleeful puppies. Things had started to heat up when Lucius pulled away and inquired casually, "I assume you are protected?"
Hermione looked so shocked, and he groaned, knowing immediately what her answer was going to be. "No! Oh no, I hadn't given it a thought," she cried, throwing her hands over her face. "Shit! How could I not think of that? I don't trust the Contraceptive Charm by itself. Oh, Lucius, what are we going to do? I'm such an idiot!" she wailed.
"Shhh... Don't panic. There is a very well stocked potions storeroom right downstairs." He reached down to pull the sheet up to cover them both, and without any further warning to her, he called a house-elf. It was Fifi who popped in, looking extremely happy and not especially surprised to find Hermione in Lucius' arms. "Fifi, we are in need of a vial of Contraceptive Potion. Please go to Master Se... ah... Julius' storeroom and bring one back for us. Do you know where to look?" The little elf assured him she did as she hurried off to do her master's bidding.
"Lucius, how could you do that?" she whispered, embarrassed. "Now Fifi knows about us."
"Lucius chuckled. "My dear, trust me. The house-elves always know what the people they care for are doing. In all likelihood, Fifi has been secretly hoping for us to get together all along and will probably even take credit for it."
While waiting, Lucius stroked his hands over Hermione's body and teased her with his mouth, discovering several very sensitive areas on her neck. He made careful mental notes of all these trigger spots for future reference. She was soon lost to Lucius' ministrations, forgetting all about Fifi and being embarrassed. He knew just where to touch her to make her moan, and hearing her voice her passion pleased him to no end.
Before long there was a soft 'pop,' and a vial of potion appeared discreetly on the bedside cabinet. Lucius thumbed the cork out of the bottle and offered it to Hermione. Taking his wand, he cast the Contraceptive Charm too. Better safe than sorry.
"Now where were we?" asked Hermione coyly as she set the empty vial back on the nightstand and settled into Lucius' arms.
"Mmmm... right here, I think," he said, dropping a kiss between her breasts and then suckling at her nipples, first one then the other. "Or was it here?" His hand moved down to cup her mound, his middle finger insinuating itself between her nether lips to tease her most sensitive spot.
"No, I think maybe it was here," she said as her hand slid down his torso until she gripped his cock firmly. He gasped when her other hand then went even lower to finger his balls, rolling them in her palm before tugging them just a little roughly. He loved it. He groaned in pleasure as she stroked his length, finding a rhythm that soon threatened to set him off. Wanting to hold off until he'd given her at least one orgasm, he pushed her hands away.
"Hey, I wasn't done with that," she complained.
"Clearly, I'm not trying hard enough if you're still fully capable of rational thought," Lucius said, pulling back from her, sliding down her body to taste her.
He teased her mercilessly with his lips and tongue as he slid first one finger inside of her and then two, stroking her firmly, bringing her nearly to the brink, then calming her, pausing before he started again. He did this several times until she was nearly incoherent with lust, begging him for release. Her body undulated against him, and he placed his arm across her hips to hold her in place. As he continued pumping his fingers in and out of her body, his lips closed over her clit, his tongue flicking it as he sucked.
Sweet Nimue, but she was beautiful when she came. She screamed his name. "Lucius! Oh, dear gods above, Lucius!"
He continued to stroke her, but lightly now, slowly, until she calmed again. He wiped his face discreetly on the sheets before he moved back up her body. She glowed with a light sheen of sweat, and there was a contented smile on her face.
Her arms reached for him, and she crooned, "Mmmm... Lucius." She tugged him over her. "Come into me now, Lucius. Please, I want you." Her hands were urgent, touching him, stroking his back, squeezing his arse. She begged, "Please, I need you. I need to feel you inside me now. Please, Lucius."
Obligingly, he positioned his cock and pushed into her, he'd meant to take it slowly. But Hermione was having none of that. She wrapped her legs around him. Locking her ankles together, she pulled him into her. "Yesss!" she hissed. "Oh, Lucius, that's good, so good. Fuck me, please."
She felt so damn perfect that he couldn't have stopped himself even if he'd wanted to, which he didn't. She was wet and hot and tight and welcoming, and he wanted to fuck her hard until she screamed for him. He whispered all these things to her as he slid into her over and over, slowly at first, drawing out each stroke, until he could stand it no more and began to quicken his movements. Hermione continued to urge him on, her words kindling a frenzy in him as he pounded into her. He could feel her body's reaction; she was so close. "Come, ma chérie, come for me."
His words seemed to trigger her orgasm. She screamed her release, clutching him to her. He thrust three more times and, shouting her name, he came hard inside of her.
Being careful not to crush her, he rolled to the side, off her body. Glancing down at her, he nearly laughed out loud. His little succubus had either passed out or fallen fast asleep. He wasn't entirely sure which.
Lucius stretched out beside her. Elbow bent, he propped his head on his hand to study her. He gently pushed her hair off her face, tucking the wayward strand behind her ear. And she'd been worried that he'd find her boring? Impossible! He'd been attracted to her practically since she'd first walked in the door of his chateau, but he hadn't known what to expect of the girl. He'd never imagined the depth of passion within her. Lucius had expected her to be shy and demure; she was anything but. He'd been extremely surprised, but pleased, nonetheless, at how vocal she became during their lovemaking. He smiled. He never would have thought that the swotty little bookworm, Hermione Granger, would turn out to be a screamer.
Lucius gently maneuvered Hermione so he could pull her body close to his. Spooning against her, he pulled the blankets up over them, taking care not to awaken her. With his arms wrapped securely around her, Lucius gave a sigh of contentment and drifted off to sleep.
Hermione woke up to a slight feeling of panic. She felt restrained, uncomfortably warm, and somewhat disoriented. This wasn't her room. As her eyes opened fully, she immediately remembered whose bed she was in. She soon realized the reason she felt restrained and hot was that Lucius was clinging to her as if she were his giant security blanket. Gods, the man was like a furnace! Kicking her feet out from under the covers helped a bit, and Hermione giggled at the idea of Lucius Malfoy as a cuddler.
At that very moment the wizard in question mumbled something unintelligible as he nuzzled her neck and lightly ground his morning erection against her rear.
Hermione twisted her head around, prepared to tease him with the old 'is that a wand in your pocket' joke, only to realize that he was sound asleep. Hermione considered her options for a moment, and then gave Lucius a gentle jab in the ribs with her elbow. It produced exactly the results she had hoped for, and he released his hold on her, then flopped onto his back, snoring lightly. The drapes were open a little, allowing the soft pre-dawn light to infiltrate the room. Hermione's heart constricted a bit as she realized that he must always leave them cracked, so as never to be stranded in total darkness. She was suddenly glad that Dragon Pox had taken Abraxas Malfoy; were the man still alive, she feared what she might be compelled to do to him. Her inner avenging angel imagined something along the lines of dank, dark dungeon cells and lots of creepy, crawly things. Needless to say, she dearly hoped that he'd had a long, lingering, and extremely painful death. Pulling her thoughts back to the present, she took advantage of the opportunity and turned to her side so she could observe Lucius as he slept.
Great Godric's Garters! The man was gorgeous. Even rumpled and disheveled from their amorous activities, he was still sex on a stick, and she wanted to lick him all over. Studying him closely, she couldn't help but think that his sensitivity about their age difference seemed ridiculous. Comparing him now to the broken, disheveled man she had encountered at Malfoy Manor those many years ago, he seemed far fitter and more attractive. His skin fairly glowed with a healthy tan, and his platinum locks were streaked with kisses of sunshine. He looked firmer too, his muscles toned and well defined. Oh, yes, he now looked at least ten years younger than his actual age, and she wondered idly if he had discovered some secret charm or potion, but she quickly discarded that idea. His appearance was more than likely a result of the physical demands of running the vineyards, which kept him in excellent shape and gave him a new found satisfaction in what he was doing with his life.
As she continued to study Lucius, she wondered if his reluctance to pursue her might not also have also stemmed from what had happened in his home that night when the Snatchers had brought them in. She had, in truth, hated all of the Malfoys for a time. But in getting to know Draco after the war, she had found herself able to empathize with him and gain a better understanding of what it had been like for him, to endure the daily terror of having the Dark Lord in residence. She was positive it must have been much the same for Lucius. Probably worse, in fact, being virtually under house arrest with no wand at his disposal while his natural instincts would have been to protect his family at all costs. She decided that at some point she would need to talk to him about how she and Draco had become friends and to put his mind at ease that she had already forgiven anything from the past. After all, she better that most could understand just how far someone might go to protect those they love.
Although she would have been content to lie there and stare at him for hours, she now realized that she really needed to find the loo. Shoving the covers back and being careful not to wake Lucius, she arose. Reaching down, she grabbed his shirt and slipped it on before padding over to the nearest door.
It didn't take her long to realize that this was obviously an entire suite of rooms. The first door she tried revealed a walk-in closet that was bigger than the bedroom of her flat back in Australia. The second door led to some kind of sitting room or private study. She was beginning to get desperate when she finally found what she'd been searching for. If she'd thought the closet huge, the bathroom was palatial.
Hermione took care of her business, and as she washed her hands, she took stock of the room. Again, nothing frilly or feminine in sight, leading her to wonder if Lucius had remodeled the entire master suite following his divorce. The counter tops were polished granite, a rich, deep black with pale pinkish-tan contrasts that were reflected in both the floor tile and bathing areas. There was a shower that looked big enough for half a Quidditch team and a tub that easily rivaled that of the prefects' bath at Hogwarts.
Amongst all of Lucius' variety of toiletries two bottles of cologne sat on the counter, nothing commercial here, obviously custom-blended scents. Hermione couldn't resist the temptation and unstoppered the first to sniff. Mmm... She recognized that scent immediately, definitely Lucius. She closed her eyes and sniffed again: sandalwood and spice... maybe cinnamon? Possibly combined with just a hint of cloves and a very slight musky note with a tiny bit of sweetness... vanilla maybe. Yes, most definitely Lucius. She replaced the bottle, and curious, she picked up the second. Opening this one, she sniffed. Hmmm... It seemed vaguely familiar. A woodsy scent like a pine forest... a bit of smoke and spice again... cloves for sure this time. Then, just a hint of citrus... lime, she thought, and just a tiny note of patchouli. Hermione's brow furrowed in concentration, and she sniffed again. So familiar, and yet... not Lucius, not Lucius at all. Now, where did she know that scent from?
"Here you are," said Lucius, interrupting her thoughts. He was lounging against the door frame, stark naked and completely at ease with his own nudity. "I woke up, and you were gone. I was lonely," he pouted.
Hermione laughed at his forlorn expression; he looked so much like a little boy who had lost his favorite teddy bear. "I needed the loo," she explained. "I nearly got lost trying to find it, this suite is so huge. It took me three tries to find the right door. Quite impressive, I must say. It looks like there's enough room in that shower for several people."
"Indeed," drawled Lucius. His eyebrows waggled at her as he strode over to the shower, and opening the glass doors, he turned the water on. "Or just two is nice, as well," he said. Hooking his finger in the top of her shirt, he pulled her toward him. "Hmmm... I like seeing you in my shirt. It's very sexy, for some reason. Why is that, I wonder? I'm sure it has never looked that good on me."
Hermione was about to protest that she thought it had when Lucius continued,"But right now, ma chérie, I just want you out of it." He quickly unbuttoned the shirt and pushed it off her shoulders to fall to the floor. Eagerly, he tugged her into the shower. It wasn't long before Hermione was living out her shower fantasy with lots and lots of wet, slippery skin.
The next night, she got to the fulfill the fantasy of having Lucius in her bed. As an added bonus, they also got to sample the window seat as well. While not quite as comfortable as the bed, it had definite possibilities. It turned out that with Hermione kneeling and facing the window with her hands braced on the sill, it was the perfect height for Lucius to take her from behind. She really liked that window seat.
In truth, Lucius had been more than just a little bit put out when she had refused to come to his room. In his typical domineering Malfoy way, he had simply assumed that she would move into the master suite with him. When Hermione pointed out that it wasn't one of the terms they had agreed to, she thought he was going to shoot straight through the roof. Lucius had sputtered and fumed for nearly an hour until he calmed down enough to listen to her explanation that sex was one thing but moving into his rooms was just too much for her. For now at least, she wanted to her own space. However, she might be willing to consider his suggestion at a later date. She needed time to get used to the idea.
They nearly had their first fight the second time she stayed in his rooms. She found that the 'not Lucius' bottle of cologne was now gone from his vanity. When she asked what had happened to it, his reply puzzled her.
"Oh, that wasn't mine. A guest left it here," he explained.
"A guest? A guest was using the master suite? That seems odd."
Lucius hesitated only slightly, but it was enough that Hermione picked up on it. He responded, offhandedly, "I'm sorry, you misunderstood my meaning. What I meant to say was that it was a gift left by a guest. But I decided I don't care for the scent, so I got rid of it."
Hermione thought for a bit, her eyebrows drawn together in a frown. "The bottle was half-empty."
"And your point is...?" he asked curtly. He seemed increasingly annoyed by her questions.
"Why would someone give you a gift of a half-empty bottle of cologne?"
"I'm sure the bottle was full to begin with, but I must have used half of it up."
"You just said that you didn't care for the scent. Why would you use up half a bottle of cologne you didn't like?"
"Perhaps," said Lucius, his teeth gritted, "I am mistaken and was right the first time, and they merely left it behind."
"Do you often have guests here at the chateau who have access to the bath in the master suite?"
"I let you use it, don't I?
"That's true," replied Hermione considering. But I only used it after we became intimate; otherwise, there would be no reason for me to be in these rooms. So, was this particular guest someone he was intimate with? Funny, I could have sworn it was a man's cologne. So, if that's the case, then that means... Oh... OH!...
Hermione proceeded cautiously. "I've been here for several weeks, and I'm sure you haven't had any guests in that time that I have noticed."
"Again. What. Is. Your. Point?" He bit out each word.
"Just that there have been no guests here in nearly six weeks, so obviously it sat there on your vanity undisturbed for at least that long. If it didn't bother you sitting there all that time, why would you suddenly feel the urge to get rid of it?"
"Why are you making such a fuss about a silly bottle of cologne?" he shouted, his face flushed in irritation. He stood and paced before her in agitation.
"Why are you getting so angry that I asked about it? I was just curious, that's all. The other day, when I smelled it, the scent seemed vaguely familiar, which is strange since it was obviously a custom blend."
"Familiar? You recognized the scent? From where... who?" he asked her uneasily.
"That's just it; I don't remember. I just can't put my finger on it, but I'm sure I've smelled it before."
Hermione glanced up at Lucius, who was looking at her as if he either wanted to choke her to death or fuck her to the same end. She felt a spear of heat shoot through her body, only to curl up and settle low inside her. Gods, she wanted him. All he had to do was glance at her sideways, and she was ready to crawl into bed with him. So what if he had been intimate with another wizard? It didn't matter to her. That was in his past, and it didn't stop him from being the sexiest man she'd ever known. Clearly, she was the one he wanted now, and Merlin knew she wanted him too. She realized that she really didn't want to fight with him over a stupid bottle of cologne that he had thrown away probably because he was afraid she'd figure out the other wizard thing.
She smiled shyly, and reaching out for his hand, she pulled him down next to her on the sofa. "Don't be angry. Lucius, I'm sorry for making such a fuss. I was just curious; that's all. I thought if I smelled it again, I might remember who it reminded me of. It really doesn't matter."
Lucius relented and draped his arm across her shoulders, pulling her close. "And I too am sorry for shouting at you. I suppose I have been little put out today. I was making room for your things that I assumed would now be cluttering my vanity. But that clearly is not going to happen."
Hermione laid her head on his shoulder with a sigh. She figured it was partially a lie. She thought the real reason was the other wizard thing. Still, it was sweet that he was pouting about her not moving into his suite. "It might happen someday soon. Just bear with me for a bit, Lucius. Okay?" she asked, rising from the sofa.
"All right, Hermione. I'll admit that I may have expected too much too soon." He craned his head around to look at her. She had walked around the back of the sofa and was now bending over it, placing her hands on the seat next to him. "What the devil are you up to now, woman?"
She eyed him flirtatiously. "Lucius, look. I just noticed the back of your sofa. It's the perfect height." She demonstrated by bending forward at the hips and standing back up several times, draping herself directly over the back of the sofa. "And it's so well padded, too. This is even better than the window seat. Come around behind me and see."
"Circe's titties! Hermione, are you trying to distract me?" he asked, but he jumped up eagerly to do her bidding.
"Maybe I am. Is it working?"
"Yes," he answered and then gasped as he raised her skirt to find her bare underneath. "Sweet Salazar, witch! I think I've created a monster; you're insatiable."
Hermione straightened up, dropping her skirt back over her arse. "Well, if you're not interested...," she pouted.
He shoved her firmly back down and swept her skirt up over her hips. "I didn't say that at all, sweet," he whispered in her ear, bending over her. "Put your hands right here... There, that's perfect."
It didn't take them long to determine that it was, indeed, even better than the window seat.
For the next couple of weeks, they divided their time between his room and hers. Hermione soon began to notice that her room seemed to be prone to subtle changes each time Lucius spent the night with her. It became slightly bigger and more luxurious with each visit. He denied any responsibility and claimed he had no idea what she was talking about. Ha! As if she wouldn't notice that her bathtub had suddenly grown to triple the size.
She finally gave up and moved into his rooms.
Lucius could not believe that the man was being so stubborn. When he'd asked the Potions master to grant Draco an apprenticeship, he'd obviously been reluctant, but a few mild threats and carefully chosen bribes had done the trick. However, now that Lucius had asked him to give Hermione the same consideration, he was being an absolute bastard about it. One would think he had asked the man to give up his first born child, for Merlin's sake.
The owls had been winging furiously back and forth for the last week, and so far, he had nothing more to show for all his efforts than the pile of parchments littering his desk. And he was no closer to an agreement now than when he had sent the first proposal. He honestly hadn't realized that it would be such an issue, or else he would have started these ridiculous negotiations much earlier in the summer. Blast!
There was no way on earth that he was going to renege on his promise to Hermione, as he had no intention of losing her company. It had been close to two months, and rather than wearying of her company, he wanted her more every day. It made no sense; clearly, he should have got his fill of her by now. That is what always happened whenever he took up with a new amour. No matter how much he lusted after a woman, following the thrill of the chase and spending a couple of weeks in her company, he normally either found himself bored out of his mind or irritated enough to consider a quick Avada and the best place to hide the body.
But Hermione had neither of these effects on him. Because of their astronomically different backgrounds, past history, and rather significant age difference, he had honestly expected them to have very little in common. And yet, just the opposite was true, their similarities seemed endless. They both were highly intelligent, bookworms, powerful magical beings, methodical researchers, logical thinkers, clever, a bit cynical, more than a bit antisocial, at times devious; the list went on and on. He'd just realized that they both had tempers that were quick to ignite, but equally as quick to extinguish. It was a trait that lent itself well to some fabulous make-up sex; in fact, he was suspicious that Hermione might very well have picked a fight with him last night just so she could shag him into the mattress afterward—as if she needed an excuse!
No, he decided firmly. There was no chance he was going to allow that stubborn git to ruin this for him by acting like a total idiot. It was time to pull out the big guns; he sat to write a reply to his old friend.
S:
In reply to your last note. Very well, you stubborn git. You shall not have to take on HG as your apprentice.
Please be prepared, however, to share your lab space and potions stores with an independent Potions master (as yet undecided) whom I will be hiring to fulfill Hermione's apprenticeship.
L
With a smirk, Lucius rolled up the parchment and summoned a fresh owl to deliver it. Looking at the clock and determining just how long it would take the owl to make the flight there and back, he estimated when the bird would return.
Just as he was sitting down to enjoy afternoon tea with Hermione on the terrace, an owl flew in to deliver his reply. Lucius glanced down at his watch and muttered, "Hmmm... seventy-four minutes. Right on the button."
"What is that, Lucius?" asked Hermione, curious. "Something you were expecting?"
"Yes, sweet, it is. Now if I have chosen my method of extortion correctly, this letter should hold the key to your apprenticeship."
Lucius unrolled the parchment to read it first, wanting to be sure there was nothing confidential in it before he handed it to Hermione.
L,
You win, you bloody bastard. Don't you dare let some cretin touch anything in my lab, or I'll skin you and use your parts for ingredients. I'll take on the know-it-all Granger as my apprentice. Make note for future reference that I said this was a huge mistake. I shall be pleased to say 'I told you so.' I hope you know what you're doing.
S
"We've won my dear. Your position is secured."
Hermione frowned as she read the note. "Mr. Sebastian must have been an associate of Professor Snape's."
Lucius looked up sharply."What makes you say that?"
"He calls me a 'know-it-all.' It was one of the professor's favorite appellations for me," replied Hermione with a sad, wistful tone. "He sounds very upset over the whole matter. Maybe it wasn't a good idea to force him into this, Lucius."
"Nonsense! He was much the same with Draco's apprenticeship. He is just resistant to the idea; it will be fine." Lucius then laid his hand over Hermione's and teased, "And, according to Draco's stories of your school days, you were a bit of a know-it-all. Embrace it, my dear, it's who you are."
Hermione huffed, "You're right I suppose. But Professor Snape didn't mean it in any positive way, I'm sure. I just always wanted to win his approval, to somehow show him that I was worthy of it, and I never did. After the war, when I learned what part he'd really played, I realized that a lot of the things he said and did were his way of keeping within that role he was forced to play. I'm so sorry he died never knowing that everything he worked for all those years was finally realized. In a way, I suppose, my dream of becoming a Potions mistress is a way of honoring his memory."
Lucius was glad that Hermione was staring down at the letter because then she couldn't see the shocked look on his face. Dear Merlin! It sounds as if she practically worshiped Snape's memory, and I've just tied her to a two-year apprenticeship with Julius Sebastian. I'm not so sure I like the idea that she will be spending more time with him than she does with me. Plus, it could end up like a replay of her Hogwarts days. If she'd thought Severus hard to deal with back then, she might find this situation to be ten times worse.
Lucius was in his study, working on some correspondence for the Malfoy estates. Hermione had received an invitation to lunch from Luna, who was in Paris for a work assignment. Lucius suspected the girl might actually be an Unspeakable with the Department of Mysteries, but of course he had no idea if this was true or not. At any rate, Hermione had Apparated off for the day, and he was left to his own devices; so, he had decided to catch up on things that had accumulated.
He managed to clear up a lot of the backlog and was considering calling for tea when he heard the sounds of arrival from the front hall. A second later, the study door flew open to reveal that the Potions master had returned. He looked hale and hearty, as he always did upon returning from his summer travels. His black hair, a bit longer than he usually wore it, was tied back with a leather thong. His complexion looked much less pale after weeks spent out of doors while on the search for new or rare potions specimens. Instead of his accustomed formal robes, he was dressed casually in black jeans and a grey shirt.
Lucius stood and greeted his friend warmly, "Welcome home, Se... Se... Julius. Damn it all! Remove this Inhibitor Spell!"
With a chuckle and a quick wave of a wand, the spell was lifted. "It's a good thing you and Draco agreed to the spell, or my identity would be common knowledge by now," he growled.
"You're looking well, my friend. I was just going to call Fifi to bring tea; join me, and we can catch up."
"Fifi met me in the foyer. I've already told her we'd want tea." At that instant, the tea tray appeared on the table next to the French doors. Taking note that there were only two cups, he commented snidely, "I assume she won't be joining us then."
With a sigh, Lucius sat at the table. This was not going to go as smoothly as he had planned those many weeks ago when he had entered into his agreement with Hermione. Pouring tea for both of them, he said, "No, she isn't here at the moment. Hermione has a luncheon date and is gone for the afternoon. She will be back in time for dinner, though.
"I've learned that you two may have some issues to deal with that might make this arrangement more difficult than I'd at first anticipated. However, I do expect you to behave like an adult and a gentleman and not like a petulant little boy. You are to treat her decently, or you will answer to me, Severus."
TBC