Chapter 9
Over the next week, Lucius was surprised to realize that his drunken outburst, and perhaps partially setting fire to the library in that Muggle town, seemingly had done its job in making Hermione leave him alone. He found that he missed her almost all the time, and when he saw her in meetings, he couldn't help but stare. However, he knew that he had made the right decision in chasing her away. She wasn't good for him; she made him think things he didn't want to think. He could admit to himself, only in his head, that she meant a lot to him. More than any woman had ever meant to him. But she could never know that, he didn't even want to think about what would happen if she did.
Luckily, he had figured out a way to forget about her—even if only for a few hours. Night after night, he would sit in a different seedy Muggle bar, downing glass after glass of whiskey, and at the end of the evening he would find a woman to take home. He didn't like to admit that when his head was spinning from the alcohol, every woman looked like Hermione.
On this particular night, he had had only one glass of whiskey before a woman came and sat beside him. He put on his most charming smile before turning to see—Hermione.
"Found you," she said, casually, before turning to the bartender, "I'll have a glass of whatever he's having."
Lucius raised an eyebrow in surprise, and said in a mocking tone, "I don't think you'll have a taste for what I'm drinking," he turned to the bartender, "Give her something really fruity, maybe something pink."
Hermione's eyes hardened and she muttered to the bartender, "Make that a double, will you? Of what he's having."
The bartender shrugged, and turned away to make the drink.
Lucius expected Hermione to immediately start talking to him, demanding answers for his behavior. But she stayed silent, only giving the bartender a quick thank you when he passed her a tall glass of whiskey. He couldn't help but sneak a quick glance at her when she took the first sip of her drink. He had never known a woman to enjoy whiskey, and he didn't think that fact would change today. But her sip turned into a gulp, and she had downed half of the glass in only moments. Trying to hide his surprise, he turned away and took a gulp of his own drink, finishing it off.
"Another one, please," he said to the bartender, pushing the glass toward him, "and make it a double."
He could feel Hermione's eyes on his as he spoke, and he was sure that she would take it as a challenge. By the time the bartender had passed him his next drink, Hermione was asking for another.
Rolling his eyes, he turned to the girl,
"I'm not carrying you home tonight, wench, I hope you realize that."
After taking a swig, she smiled sweetly,
"I'm under no such illusions, Mr. Malfoy."
And so they sat, and drank, in silence for the next half hour. That ended though, when the effects of the alcohol finally started to settle onto the young woman. She chugged her fifth glass, and slammed it down on the bar,
"Another please," she ordered, before getting to her feet, "I'll be back in a moment." She let go of the edge of the bar, which she had been holding onto for balance, and turned away. Lucius rolled his eyes as the girl stumbled toward the restrooms.
"You need to get a handle on your girlfriend," the bartender suggested, as he filled up both his and Hermione's drink.
"She's not my girlfriend," Lucius muttered.
"Sure seems like it," he countered.
Shaking his head, Lucius took the drink from the bartender and took a swig of his drink. Although his drinking had slowed, her's had continued, and now he felt only tipsy, while she was obviously very drunk. But that was not his problem.
"Well she's not," he said, almost to himself as the bartender had turned away.
But he turned around at the comment, and then pointed out at the makeshift dance floor, "And I would keep her away from that bloke, and that's more than just a suggestion."
Lucius turned his head and saw Hermione getting close with a tall, sleazy looking bloke. His hands were wrapped tightly around her waist.
Before Lucius even knew what he was doing, he had tossed money on the bar, got to his feet and stomped over to the two. Grabbing Hermione's wrist, he pulled her away.
"What the hell, man?" The bloke asked, but Lucius sent him a look that had him raising his hands in peace and backing away.
"We're leaving," Lucius hissed at Hermione, and dragged her through the crowd and outside.
"What is wrong with you?" Hermione slurred, pushed away from him. But then she began to fall backward, and Lucius had to reach over and pull her back to her feet. In doing so, he pulled her flush against his body. Hermione looked up at him, obviously attempting seduction, and whispered, "So that's what's wrong with you."
He furrowed his brows in confusion, as she got onto her tiptoes and brought her lips close to his, "because you only have to ask."
She brought her lips to his, slowly at first but in only moments he had her pushed up against the wall, attacking her lips with a hunger he hadn't anticipated. All of the passion that he had been holding in for the girl had come out in this kiss.
"Take me home," she whispered to him, "now."
He didn't know what exactly she was asking for, but moments later he had apparated them back into his bedroom. She continued to kiss him, pushing him toward the bed, as she worked on the buttons of his pants. Not really knowing what was coming over him, he pushed her lightly away.
"No," he whispered, "you're too far gone for this. You need to go to sleep."
Hermione pouted, "This is what you've been taking from those other women this week. Why not me?"
"Go to sleep," he replied, not answering the question.
"Fine," she sulked, and collapsed onto his bed. She was asleep moments later, and Lucius shook his head.
"What's wrong with me?" He asked himself. Normally no matter the intoxication of the woman, he would bed her. It wasn't a question of taking advantage for him, ever. But she was different. Why was she different?
Author's Note: Another short one, not much plot to be seen! All in a matter of time, only probably two chapters left and an epi! Review if you like, review if you don't!
Thanks krista04 and Smithback for reviewing.
