Chapter 11

Lucius... or Poppy, Hermione wasn't sure which, had moved the two armchairs to the center of the room and placed a small table between them. The food, which looked wonderful and smelled even better, was spread out on the bar, buffet style. Lucius was seated in one of the armchairs, but stood as she entered the room, and Hermione couldn't quite meet his eyes.

"Would you care for some wine? I had Poppy get a few bottles from my wine cellar at the Manor, so you have a choice," Lucius held up two bottles, one was a very dry red, and the other a sweeter white.

Hermione hesitated. She had just taken a pain potion to dull her headache, but knew a small glass wouldn't hurt her. She smiled and pointed to the bottle of white wine and headed towards the food.

She helped herself to some crab and lobster salad, a small piece of spinach and Swiss quiche, a meat pie that was making her mouth water, a few chunks of cheese and a handful of grapes. Carrying her plate back to the armchair, she sat down.

Lucius joined her and held up his glass for a toast. "To new beginnings, and new... friends," Hermione thought she heard... something... in his voice, but it was gone before she could pinpoint what it was. Internally shrugging, she took a sip of her wine and found it surprisingly delicious.

They were both silent as they ate, Hermione because she was still embarrassed about him seeing her naked, and Lucius, because he was trying to keep the erotic images of her naked from causing him to embarrass himself.

Deciding she needed to break the heavy silence, Hermione asked "So how is Draco? We saw him with his son at the Hogwarts Express last week, but we didn't speak," Hermione knew instantly that Draco was a sore subject, as she sensed Lucius stiffening beside her.

"I'm sorry," she said quickly upon seeing his reaction, "Forget I asked," Hermione resumed eating. She was no longer hungry, but she wanted to keep her hands busy.

Lucius sighed and put his fork down. Taking a large sip of wine, he hesitated before speaking in a tight voice.

"Things with Draco are... complicated," he took another drink before explaining.

"As I told you, Narcissa and I lavished Draco with everything he could ever want, he was, after all, my sole heir. It became apparent about the time he entered Hogwart's that my son was arrogant, whiny, and a bigoted, bully... exactly what we had unconsciously raised him to become," Lucius smirked, once more sharing intimate details of his life that surprised Hermione.

"Draco was trying to imitate me, and while flattering, he lacked the maturity or skill to carry it off effectively. As I said, he was eager to prove himself, and begged me to let him take the Dark Mark. Of course, imagining something, and actually being faced with the reality of it are two different things, as Draco realized as soon as he met the Dark Lord face to face for the first time."

Lucius took another sip of wine, and Hermione was too enthralled with his story to interrupt.

"After my failure at the Ministry...," he hesitated and gave Hermione a small smile, "... and subsequent arrest, Draco and Narcissa were punished in my stead," a pained look crossed his face at what he had brought upon his family.

"Azkaban was almost a relief, and it allowed me to gain some much needed perspective. My greatest desire was the removal of my family from the Dark Lord's clutches, even if it meant my own death," Lucius shrugged nonchalantly, but Hermione sensed how much his words were costing him.

"Unfortunately, that was when Draco was plotting Dumbledore's death, and the Dark Lord had decided to make Malfoy Manor his new Headquarters. Narcissa was forced to act as hostess at the... parties... he hosted."

Lucius' face was pinched and angry at what Narcissa was forced to endure in his stead, and didn't speak for a few minutes. Hermione wanted to lay a comforting hand on his, but wasn't sure he would welcome it. Lucius suddenly started speaking again, startling Hermione as she hadn't been expecting it.

"As you know, Draco failed, but Severus saved the day... so to speak, and after our side took control of key people at the Ministry, I was released. Of course, I had to relinquish my wand and was never trusted again, but at least I was back with my family...or what was left of my family."

Lucius laughed bitterly and refilled their glasses. Hermione hadn't even realized her glass was empty and nodded her thanks.

"It wasn't until later that I found out...," Lucius hesitated, "... well, that's not important," There were obviously some secrets Lucius wasn't ready to share.

"Draco was a nervous wreck, afraid of his own shadow, and Narcissa was... well, let's just say, things weren't the same between us," Hermione wanted to hear more about Narcissa, but didn't want to pry until he was ready to talk about it.

"The Dark Lord stationed Draco inside Hogwarts for the final battle and Narcissa and I were terrified for his safety, and the relief when we found him alive and essentially unhurt, was indescribable," Lucius' expression grew pensive, and he continued in a softer voice.

"Draco was never the same after that. During our house arrest, we barely spoke, and as soon as he was able, he moved into his own flat in London. He began dating and I didn't get to meet his intended until the wedding, and then only briefly. I have seen him a total of three times in the last ten years, and have seen my grandson only once," Lucius' face suffused with sadness and against her better judgement, Hermione felt her heart wretch at his pain.

"He has continued his relationship with Narcissa, but he holds me responsible for... everything... and I can hardly fault his logic," Lucius took a very large drink of wine.

"Narcissa tells me he's happy, and I hope, for his sake, that he has found happiness. Maybe... someday...," Lucius trailed off as if suddenly realizing how needy he sounded.

"Forgive me. Once again, I have managed to turn a meal into a confessional. At this rate you will either discover all my faults and weaknesses or avoid eating with me altogether," Lucius gave a small laugh hoping to lighten the mood.

"You are very easy to talk to, Mrs... Hermione. Thank you for listening," He raised his glass in a silent toast.

"Thank you... I think," laughed Hermione, "I am very sorry about Draco, Lucius," Hermione hesitated, but since he had been so open and honest with her, she felt she owed the same to him.

"While there is no love lost between Draco and myself, I am glad that he is happy now. I hope you forgive my interference, but I feel its only fair that I be as frank with you as you have been with me," Hermione hesitated and tried to gauge his expression.

"I think its unfair of Draco to blame you for everything. He made his own choices along the way, and could have done things differently... if he chose to," she held her hand up to stall his objections.

"I know how easy it is to assume every bad thing your child does is because you weren't a good enough parent, I do it all the time. But at the end of the day, they are responsible for their own actions," Hermione paused, not wanting to offend him, but deciding it needed to be said. In for a pence, in for a pound. Hermione inwardly smiled as one of her mother's favorite euphemisms crossed her mind.

"Draco is blaming you so that he doesn't have to admit his own mistakes.... I've been guilty of that at times as well, so I understand it... but it doesn't make it right. I'm afraid you won't have a chance at any kind of relationship with him until he comes to terms with himself," Hermione gave Lucius an apologetic smile, and waited for the blast from Lucius... but it never came.

She looked up to find Lucius giving her such an intense look that she struggled not to fidget under his gaze. She decided to take a drink of wine to cover her nervousness, and found her glass empty... again. Lucius refilled her glass from the second bottle before breaking the silence, his eyes blazing with an emotion didn't recognize.

"Hermione, your candor and insight are incredibly... refreshing. I have never met anyone like you, and I must admit to an intense desire to get to know you better," Hermione shivered as Lucius' words fell on her skin... like a caress, almost... a promise.

Hermione tore her eyes away from his hypnotic gaze, and abruptly stood up, intending to walk over to the bookshelf and hopefully regain control over her wayward thoughts. She must have had more wine than she realized, because suddenly her head started to spin, and she stumbled. It dawned on her that the pain potion she had taken for her headache must not mix well with the multiple glasses of wine she had just consumed.

Before she could hit the floor, however, she felt herself rescued by a pair of strong arms and pulled up against a hard chest. Hermione's head continued to spin, but she knew it wasn't from the wine. It was her close proximity to Lucius, his clean, masculine scent invading her senses and causing a surge of desire to pool in her abdomen.

Her ragged breaths caused her hardened nipples to graze his chest and electric sparks shot along her overly sensitive nerve endings. She moaned in pleasure.

Hermione shivered as Lucius' arms tightened involuntarily around her, his sharp intake of breath finally penetrating the erotic fog she was wading through. She looked up into a pair of eyes that were no longer a cool grey, but now resembled hot, molten steel, and she found herself struggling to breathe... as she seemed to have forgotten how.

"Hermione...," Lucius' voice was a breathy whisper as his face inched slowly closer, his eyes never leaving hers... searching... questioning... seeking permission. His hands burning a trail down her back to settle possessively on the swell of her hips, drawing her even closer.

Hermione stood frozen, completely unaware of anything except him, and she knew that nothing existed outside of this moment. She knew this was wrong, he was married and so was she... they shouldn't be doing this... feeling this.

But Hermione couldn't remember ever feeling this before...what was this, and why had she never felt it with Ron?

Lucius' breath hitched and he felt himself drowning in the depths of her warm brown eyes, filled with desire and... fear? Lucius hesitated. The last thing he wanted was for her to fear him. He wanted to inhale her intoxicating desire, and consume her unbridled passion. But more than anything, he desperately wanted her beautiful body writhing beneath him as she screamed out his name... but not her fear... never her fear.

She was melting in his heated gaze, but she was afraid... so afraid that once he kissed her, she would be lost... lost to everything that her life had been up till now.

No... this can't happen, no matter how much I want it to!She fought an internal battle. Her desires warring with her responsibilities, and her responsible self won... barely.

Hermione pulled away before she gave in to to the heat... the heat that was coursing through her veins like liquid fire... and oh how she desperately wanted to give in.

But she had a life and so did he... lives with other people. She wasn't this person, she couldn't be this person. She didn't want to be a meaningless shag to someone. She couldn't.

So she pulled away... pulled away and walked across the room... across the room where she could breathe again... breathe without his intoxicating scent... breathe without his burning touch.

"Hermione?" she felt his hand gently touch her shoulder and she jumped. Spinning around, she placed both her hands on his chest to hold him back... to hold the temptation at bay.

"I can't... we can't...," she said in an agonized voice as she turned and quickly left the room, pausing at the door only briefly, to whisper...,"I'm sorry."

Lucius sank down onto the sofa, feeling suddenly empty... very empty.