Disclaimer:- I neither earn nor own anything from this story except my plot. Harry Potter and his world are the intellectual property of JK Rowling and her associates.
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A/N:- Well, here we are at what I believe will be the penultimate chapter in this story. Thank you for your reviews and alerts, and thank you to my beta, Golden Asp, for her work on this chapter. I hope you enjoy.
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Chapter Nine – More Becomes Clear
While Hermione slept several things happened, but the most important of them was Kingsley Shacklebolt's visit to Lucius' study.
Once they'd sorted out the mess that Ronald Weasley had caused, they drew up termination papers for Weasley. He had proven himself to be completely inept as an Auror and far too irresponsible to continue on in the force.
Under different circumstances they might have tried to support a struggling young Auror such as him, but Ron had done nothing to earn his place in their ranks and the general consensus was that he should not be there.
Sitting down at his desk in his office, Kingsley sighed. What had happened made him very annoyed with himself, as it had been he who'd offered all three of the trio a place in the Aurory ranks in the first place.
Kingsley still had great plans for Harry, but at the time, it hadn't seemed fair to offer him the place without the other two people who'd worked with him. Perhaps it was also a little post-war euphoria that had made him rash with his offers.
Of course, Hermione had instantly scuttled the idea. "No thank you, Kingsley. I wish to earn my place," she'd stated with steel in her voice.
She'd tried to talk the boys out of the offer as well, and perhaps, Kingsley reflected, he should have seen what was coming when he'd heard Weasley's reply to Hermione's declaration.
"What? You must be joking. They owe us big time for getting rid of that evil git. You're just mental, why would you work for something that's being handed to you? Don't be so bloody stupid, 'Mione."
Her mouth had pinched, but her voice had remained deceptively calm. "Firstly, Ronald. It was Harry who, as you put it, 'got rid of that evil git', and secondly, people never truly appreciate what they do not work to achieve." She'd then turned back to Kingsley and smiled calmly. "Thank you, but no thank you, Kingsley," and she'd bid them good bye and left.
Kingsley had watched her walking out and marvelled at her control and presence of mind. It was then that he'd realised something. She was the one who'd kept both boys on the straight and narrow long enough for them to achieve the victory. Then he'd heard the stupidity that had spewed out of Weasley's mouth as she'd left.
"Stupid bint, she's always been too high and mighty. It a pity those Death Eater's hadn't knocked that out of her."
Harry had gasped, obviously stunned. "Ron, they tortured her," he replied.
This was something that Kingsley hadn't known at the time, and he remembered being bought back from his thoughts with the redhead's reply.
"Obviously not enough." Then after saying something so cruel, he'd held his hand up for a high five, and said, "But we're right, Harry. We're set for life. Cushy job chasin' bad guys. We're going to have so much fun."
And just like that Harry had offered Ron the other hand of the high five and agreed with him, and that had set the pattern ever since, well until just recently. Just lately Harry had started sticking up for himself against the redhead, and Kingsley hoped to be able to exploit that now. He knew that Harry had the potential to be Minister For Magic down the track, and Kingsley wanted him as his successor. However, while he was in league with Weasley he was never going to achieve that, and sitting back in his chair Kingsley realised that perhaps the moment of reckoning had finally arrived.
That was when something else occurred to him too, and Kingsley realised that he must put Lucius on his guard over the threats that Weasley had made against Hermione, and he rose from his desk and walked to the Floo. He'd heard Hermione and Lucius speaking about going to Malfoy Manor while they'd been in their meeting with him, so he called into his fireplace, "Lucius Malfoy, Malfoy Manor."
Lucius turned back from the window after sending one of his owls with a missive as the Floo chimed, and he said, "Yes?"
"Lucius, its Kingsley Shacklebolt. May I come through?"
"Certainly," Lucius replied, walking back to his desk and summoning his outer robes to quickly make himself publically presentable.
Kingsley stepped through the Floo, and Lucius was ready to greet him.
"Thank you for seeing me," Kingsley stated, looking around the room. "Is Hermione still with you?"
"Yes, but she is currently resting. How may I help you?"
Once Kingsley had imparted to Lucius what had happened and what had been said, the blond wizard was livid.
"Thank you for your warning," Lucius replied, his calm deceptive. That boy is going to pay for this, he ranted to himself, before managing to regain his presence of mind.
Kingsley nodded, but otherwise remained silent as he turned back towards the Floo. However, he paused, his hand outstretched to the Floo Powder pot. "Is it true that Hermione was tortured during the war?"
Lucius' calm was sorely tested as he fought not to react angrily to the statement. "It is true," he stated, the icy façade he used to use seamlessly falling into place around him like a cloak.
Kingsley took in the change in his companion's demeanour and he quickly clarified, "I am not pointing the finger, Lucius."
"No, but still… I was there, and unable to do anything to prevent it."
"Would you have?"
"Yes, of course I would have," Lucius stated, shocked by the thought that he would not have done something. "Narcissa was the active Death Eater in our family," he said angrily. He watched Kingsley standing there, having turned back around, and he sighed, "And as I've already told Hermione, I would give…" he paused, seemingly to rein in a different kind of emotion. "I would give… anything for it not to have happened."
Kingsley's voice became stern. "Did you have designs on her at that point?"
"No, certainly not. She was almost still a child then. No, I did not develop any romantic interest in Hermione until I met her by chance in Diagon Alley earlier this year. Not that it is any of your business!" he replied coolly.
Kingsley nodded, knowing that Lucius was speaking the truth by his body language and expression, and he finally changed the subject, realising that he had gravely offended him. "Yes, well, I've many more tasks to achieve today. I will bid you good day, Lucius."
"Yes," Lucius nodded, his expression set to his indifferent public mask, but his mind obviously occupied with what they had just been discussing. "We shall see you soon, Kingsley," he stated politely.
As soon as Kingsley had left, Lucius went back to his bedroom, and the sleeping woman in his bed. He discarded his outer robes once more and approached the bed. She sighed softly and nuzzled her face into the pillow when she felt the bed dip, and Lucius settled down next to her facing her. "Shh, my love, it is only I."
"Lucius?" she murmured, blinking.
"Yes," he replied, accepting her into his arms.
"I'm happy you're here."
"I'm happy I'm here too," he replied, kissing her head. "How's your ankle feeling now?"
"Okay, why?" she asked sleepily
"Would you be able to walk out into the rose garden with me soon for lunch?"
"Yes, but I'd like to lay here just like this for a while," but then her eyes glanced up at him. "If that's all right with you of course."
"Of course it's all right with me. I would like you here with me always," he replied, his mouth hovering over her forehead.
"Mmm," she hummed, "Do you think we could?"
"I'd like to try, Hermione." Lucius said, looking down at her. He did not want to cause her more pain, but he wanted her on her guard too. "Sweetheart, while you've been sleeping Kingsley has been to see me. They've got to the bottom of what happened to free the Lestrange brothers."
"Oh?" Hermione said, sitting up a little straighter and looking at Lucius. "What happened?"
"It dates back the The Quidditch World Cup. Apparently Ronald Weasley had two Portkeys, one made for himself and the other made for Mr Potter. He was planning that they should use them to get to the world cup grounds quickly. Apparently Mr Potter did not want to leave work early and told Weasley to destroy the second Portkey. Kingsley suspects that the problem occurred when Weasley did not follow his friend's advice. He did not destroy the second Portkey, and it must have fallen out of his pocket somewhere just before he used the other one."
Hermione listened to what Lucius was telling her and a stab of anger went through her. Ron! Was there ever going to be an end to his idiocy? She sighed. "I am so over him and his irresponsibility," she said softly.
"Yes, I totally agree," Lucius told her, snuggling her closer to him. "Unfortunately that's not the worst of it."
Hermione pulled back to look at him with steel in her eyes. "Well, you better tell me everything then."
"How his mind works is any one's guess, but he is blaming you because they fired him, and according to Kingsley had made threats to harm you over it."
"What?" Hermione said, now obviously very angry. "The little shit!"
Lucius took in her angry countenance and he almost cried for joy. Was she finally going to stand up for herself properly? He considered this thought as he listened to the mumbled threats she was busy vocalising, and he cheered for her. He would support her all the way.
She got up and started pacing, totally forgetting about anything sore. "How dare he! I've really had enough now. I hope we meet him soon, before this anger has a chance to ebb away," and she stopped and looked at Lucius. However, when she stopped, she took him in sitting on the bed smiling at her, and she came back over and crawled onto the bed. "I want you," she told him. "I want you now."
"I am not one to stand in the way of a woman and what she wants," Lucius replied, one eyebrow aloft, as she crawled towards him undoing her blouse and obviously on a mission.
Lucius received her into his arms and kissed her soundly as she arrived between his parted knees. "But," he started, but she cut him off.
"I am so sick of not having what everyone else has," she said, tearing her blouse off. However, that was where her bravado turned into frustration and there were tears starting to spill over her cheeks. "I never got the chance to experience things that a normal teenage girl does because of Ron," she sneered as she emphasised his name. "He was always hovering, chasing all the other boys off." She swiped angrily at her eyes, but the tears still kept coming. "The worst part was that he didn't want me, he took up with Lavender I'm-a-such-baby Brown," she mimicked. "But by that time every one had the message that you didn't go near Hermione Granger. I hate him," she yelled. "He was the one who said the forbidden name in pure spite, and I was the one who paid for it at the end of Bellatrix's wand and dagger." She drew a shuttered breath, she was now openly crying. "And now I find that he's the reason that I've suffered again last night… It's too bloody much," she said, looking at Lucius, before collapsing against him in a heap and sobbing.
"Shh," Lucius murmured, stroking her hair as she cried. "This is good, Hermione, you need to get your frustrations and disappointments out, not bottle them up. I'll bet no one has ever listened before, have they?"
"No," she cried, starting to realise what she'd just done, but with realisation came embarrassment. "I'm sorry," she whispered, feebly pushing away from him.
He held her tighter. "No, you have a right to be angry. Very angry, and anger is better than just accepting what he's done."
"But I'm supposed to be the strong one," she told him.
"You are the strong one, my pet, but you're also allowed to be fragile and vulnerable sometimes too. That's the idea of having someone who's there unconditionally for you. I'll always be there for you if you'll allow it."
She sniffed, and looked at him. "Really?"
He smiled. "Really. Did you know that I've never had that either?"
She returned his smile shakily. "So, is there anything you would like to rant about now I've had my turn?"
"Many things, but not today. Do you feel better now?"
She thought about it for a moment. "A little. Thank you."
He took her wet cheeks in his hands and kissed her forehead. "We'll face this together and we'll make him pay for what he's done." Then his eyes panned down to her bra clad chest. "Now, as much as I'd like to see more, I think it might be time for lunch," and he summoned her blouse and helped her into it. "I want nothing but positive thoughts to surround our first bedroom adventure, and now is not that time."
xox
Lucius helped Hermione back down the stairs, out of his study and into a pleasant sitting room. They then went through a pair of French door and out onto a paved terrace.
Hermione gasped. "Oh my, so beautiful," she gasped as they stopped to enjoy the view over the formal gardens laid out before them.
Lucius had instructed his elves to set a small table under the wisteria at the bottom of the rose garden, and they ambled slowly towards the spot he'd chosen, and he sat her so she could admire the gardens while they ate.
Several peacocks decided that they might like to come to lunch as well, but Lucius shooed them away and set up charms to deter them from trying again.
"They can be quite aggressive if they think they can get away with it," he told Hermione.
She smiled. "Most things are," she commented, taking a sip of her wine, and glancing down at her empty plate. "That was delicious," she said. "I'm so full."
"Excellent," Lucius responded. "Would you like to stay here or go back to the house?"
Hermione's eyes glanced back up to the white marble building, but then to the garden around her. "I'd like to stay here," she replied.
"Then allow me to make you more comfortable," and he held out his hand for her to take.
She took it and he pulled her upright, and a wave of his wand changed the chairs into sun lounges.
This was followed by a wave of her wand which made one chair into a double, and she smiled at Lucius hopefully.
He chuckled, and without another word made her comfortable on the lounge before sitting next to her and pulling her into his arms.
Hermione still felt very much like she'd been hit by a truck, and they talked quietly and she was certain that she dozed several times, but Lucius didn't seem to mind.
It was a lovely afternoon, and Hermione had to say that she thoroughly enjoyed being at Malfoy Manor with Lucius, and that was something that even two months ago she would not have thought she'd say. They stayed out in the garden lounging under the shade of a wisteria in their large sun chair all afternoon.
She felt safe here with Lucius, and that was something that she'd never thought she'd think either. Malfoy Manor had always featured in some of her worst memories, but as she looked around the beautiful garden they were currently sitting in she struggled to see past the beauty to what she'd thoughts it had been like before.
As if honing in on her thoughts, Lucius said, "I've surprised you, haven't I?"
She smiled up at him, and then snuggled closer to him. "Yes," she murmured. "You've relieved me of some of my horrors. I'm not sure you've taken all of them, but I feel quite comfortable here with you."
"I'm pleased," he said, kissing her temple. "Let's take this in small steps."
"Yes, that is probably wise. As comfortable as I feel right now, I believe I might need to be more robust before we explore more. Although, I'd love to see more of your library."
"Yes, I'm sure you would, but I believe it might be time to return to Belgium for dinner."
"It's a bit early for dinner, isn't it?"
"Ah, but it's what I have organised for you to do before dinner. I've decided that if we're going to stay there for a few days, that you might like to be pampered. Therefore, a ministry car will collect us when we arrive in Brussels, and escort us to Madam Maes' where I will wait while you're treated to whatever takes your fancy." He smiled slyly at her. "And by then it will be dinner time."
"Oh Lucius," she gasped. "Thank you."
"You are most welcome, Hermione, you deserve the very best of everything," and he took advantage of her upturned face to kiss her.
Hermione quickly became lost in the feel of his lips against hers, and she moaned softly, shifting herself slightly so her back was flatter against the lounge while she clung to him, pulling him more over her.
He chuckled softly against her mouth. "Dearest, Pet," he murmured, his mouth releasing hers momentarily, only to capture it again almost immediately.
Sinking into the welcoming comfort he offered, Hermione could not recall ever feeling like this before, and she never wanted it to end. The feel of his mouth caressing her mouth, his taste, of his tongue twisting with her own exploring her mouth and then retreating as it invited her to explore his. It was pure bliss and she couldn't wait for more of this man.
She had never wanted anyone how she wanted him, but she didn't know how to move forward, so as he gentled their kiss she simply gave in to his urgings.
"May I apparate you back to the house?" he asked softly.
Hermione hid her face so as not to show her disappointment, but nodded, not lifting her head from his chest as she tried to combat the frustration lancing through her that he was not going to take advantage and claim her.
When she remained silent, Lucius tightened his arms around her and side-along apparated her back to his bedroom. "Don't be upset, love," and he kissed her forehead. "Would you like to freshen up before we leave?"
She glanced up at him, her lip wedged between her teeth. "Yes, please," she whispered, today was throwing obstacles at her that she hadn't expected, and her lip quivered. She cleared her throat and pushed away slightly.
It was then that Lucius realised that she was shaking slightly. "Would you like me to take you back to your apartment?"
"No, I'm fine," and she glanced around the room.
"Through there, is my bathroom," he replied to her unasked question.
"Okay, thank you," she murmured, and climbed off the bed.
Walking to the door he'd indicated, Hermione gently closed it behind her and leaned up against it. "Get a grip, Granger," she scolded herself. "You've been through much worse than this, with much less support," and she sighed and pushed off the door.
When she finally looked around, she saw that the room was covered in mirrors, and the concentrated scent of the owner of the bathroom suddenly invaded her senses as she looked around and took in the decadent fittings and tiles as well as the huge circular sunken bath tub in one corner. It smelt so delicious that she almost swooned, but more importantly she realised that inhaling Lucius' personal scent was now comforting to her.
As she took in the equally ginormous shower cubicle filling the other corner next to the bath, and then the vanity stretched out in front of her, opposite the door she'd just entered through, the strangest thought popped into her mind. She wondered if he had smelt the same the very first time she'd met him, but she then scoffed at herself. A twelve year old wouldn't think what she was thinking at the moment.
Then she took in her face in the wall length mirror and she was horrified to see that she plainly looked upset and very pale. Then she realised that she'd left her hand bag somewhere that wasn't here, and she started to feel like a complete failure.
However, as she was contemplating this there was a soft knock on the door, and Lucius' voice said, "You left your purse down stairs, pet, and I thought you might need it."
She turned and opened the door. "Oh yes, thank you," and she opened the door, but her lips went between her teeth.
"Something's the matter," Lucius said. "What's wrong?"
"I look awful," she told him as she took the purse from his hand. "I've only just realised it."
He smiled. "No you don't, you look like a woman who's just been through a terrible experience, but I still think you look sweet because you're you."
"Lucius," she warned. "If I say I look awful."
"Then you think you look awful, but I do not," he replied, cupping her cheek with his hand. "Now, come along, my pet, you have the perfect opportunity to rectify that," and his mouth turned up into an utterly sinful smile. "And on top of that, I wish to get you away and all to myself."
It made her smile despite herself. "But you have me all to yourself now, Lucius," she told him.
"Yes, but I'm eager to get you to a more romantic location. You can't say that the manor is romantic for you."
She smiled. "No, I guess you're right, that will take time," and she held the purse up. "Thank you again, I won't be long," and closed the door.
xox
They Floo'd to the English Ministry and then immediately through to the Belgium Ministry where Pierre Beaumonet was waiting for them.
"Bon après-midi, Monsieur Malfoy, Mademoiselle Granger," Pierre greeted them. "'Ere are ze transcripts from today's proceedings, and Monsieur Weazley zendz 'is regardz."
Lucius felt Hermione stiffen at the mention of a Weasley, and he quietly patted her arm where it lay through his. "Thank you, Pierre. It was good of Percy Weasley to sit in at such short notice. Would you be kind enough to deliver the transcripts for tomorrow and the next day to our Hotel?"
"Bien sûr, Monsieur," Pierre stated inclining his head to Lucius. "I 'ope your stay 'ere in Brussels is a pleasant one, Mademoiselle Granger."
"Thank you, Monsieur Beaumonet," Hermione said quietly before Lucius nodded to his secretary and turned towards the front doors of the building.
