Well this is it the last proper chapter for In The Garden I hope it manages to tie everything together without seeming too bitty or out of keeping with the rest of the fic. There is a short epilogue to follow and then it is indeed the end.
~8~
Chapter Nine Once More Into The Breach
"Uhh, I don't think I can be bothered to cook tonight."
Groaned Lucius from next to Hermione on the settee in his study. The room now a little cleaner after Hermione gave in to her itching wand hand and gave the whole place a deep clean.
"Do you want me to go?"
She asked diplomatically, unsure as to whether Lucius was hinting at wanting to be alone.
"No Hermione. I just don't want to go down to kitchen and reheat the stew. To tell the honest truth I do not really want stew for dinner."
He replied burying his nose into her bushy hair and enjoying her scent as he breathed deeply.
"I can floo home and run to the chip shop if you fancy chips instead?"
She suggested brightly not really wanting Lucius's stew for dinner either. It was not that he couldn't make stew it just never seemed to come out quite right it was either too watery or caught on the bottom. She was not really sure how he managed it considering his skill at potions and other more complex dishes.
"I cannot deny that chips for supper is a better thought then a bowl of stew and a hunk of bread and butter."
"So?"
"Impatient chit."
He scolded with a half-smile on his thin lips. They sat together a moment longer neither really wanting to leave the warm of each other nor the blankets covering their legs.
"I'll go and warm the stew. You are always fetching and carrying after me."
He said stifling a yawn a hint of dark truth in his words as he thought to how little he initiated or how little he looked after Hermione compared to what she did for him.
"I wouldn't offer if I wasn't willing. Besides I do what I do for you because I want to, where as you show your affection for me in different ways. The way you are always willing to listen to what I say even if you do not agree, or the way you always make time for me just like I know you do for Draco. And the icing on an already wondrous cake you always have an arm around me or a hand touching my knee and I like it. I like feeling wanted."
"You always know what to say."
He replied softly placing a long languid kiss to her lips the barest hint of tongue running across her lips.
"I will depart for now and return bearing chips."
She said eventually knowing that one of them was going to have to leave their warm cocoon of blankets on the settee the fire burning red hot in the fireplace. Thanks to the various charms the heat radiated throughout the whole study instead of being confined just to the area immediately in front of the fire. The resin seeping out of the cut logs cracking and spitting as the flames engulfed all logs and paper in the hearth. With a sleepy nod and a wave of his hand Lucius saw Hermione on her way through the floo network and back to her own home the smell of fish and chips already clinging to her senses. Picking up her wallet containing Muggle money and a quick change into something a little more Muggle she walked a spring in her step down the cracked grey pavements to the greasy chip shop in the centre of the small town she lived in.
She sighed the queue was out of the door and part way down the road, it seemed that everyone had decided against cooking and gone for a bag of chips as the easy option. Knowing there was nothing she could do but wait, Hermione joined the queue the smell causing her mouth to water. She missed fish. It was a simple thing but the more time she spent with Lucius the les she found herself eating meat or fish when all alone at her own home. She would never ask Lucius to cook meat nor would she return tonight with a piece of battered cod it just wasn't fair on him. Vegetarian. That is what she was now another change and one that defined her as different to the old Hermione; this was truly a new start. She had a different outlook on life, different friendships, a lover she would never have taken if she and indeed Lucius had not completely wanted to change who they were and embrace a more fundamental and truer part of themselves. And now apparently she did not eat anything that she would say was once truly alive, vegetables, fruit, honey and dairy only. The queue moved forward and so did her thoughts. She thought to the wonderfully sweet man waiting for her to return. It was still strange when she really thought about it to refer to Lucius Malfoy as sweet, but when they were together in their relationship unit as for lack of better terms boyfriend and girlfriend he was. He could be romantic, funny, charming and for Hermione the most important aspect of his personality was that he could love and care. She knew from his actions and his acceptance of the little mundane things that made up their daily lives he was a man with a great capacity to love. She just thought it was a shame that he neglected the compassionate side of himself for so long and that in the end at what could have been his final hour it was giving in to his love that saved him. However weak he may of have thought it was at the time.
She was in the chip shop now and with an airy dreamy voice she ordered two portions of chips her mind a million miles away trapped somewhere between her memories and Wiltshire. They were two different people now. They were a family now. All three of them. She thought fondly as she walked back to her small home and straight into the fireplace almost forgetting the pinch of needed floo powder.
~8~
They lay together in bed later that evening, Lucius wrapped in his emerald green silk dressing gown and Hermione clad in his deep blue silk dressing gown with the peacock embroidery. The greasy torn chip papers were thrown carelessly on to the floor around the bed. Everything was peaceful and all was well in the little overlapping universes of Hermione Granger and Lucius Malfoy. Or until a small gasp left Hermione her eyes growing large with pain a pleading look in her eyes as her muscle's started to spasm uncontrollably, she bit down on her bottom lip to keep from making a noise. Silently wishing and praying for the burning pain of a million white hot daggers stabbing and tearing at her flesh and nerves to stop, a few small whimpers escaped amidst her hard breaths.
Unable to do anything else Lucius moved his body closer to Hermione's small shaking frame, gently careful only to use the smallest amount of pressure weary of his weight against and on her frame he drew his poor witch into his arms. His large hands running down her arms and sides trying to soothe her poor muscles. Shaking his head at the tragedy unfolding silently in his arms he made small noises of comfort never letting up his attempts to massage and soothe her overworked and inflamed muscles. Slowly the trembling began to ease off and tired from the pain and the memories invoked Hermione faintly registered the familiar warmth and scent of Lucius engulf her. She nuzzled weakly against his chest and closed her heavy eyes not caring for anything beyond a soft warm bed and a cuddle.
"Sleep now my sweet."
He whispered not moving an inch just enjoying the feel of Hermione in arms and content that the knot of worry tightening in his chest could relax. She was fine. Her eyelids dropped and Hermione slipped easily into sleep.
When she awoke a little later she was aware of Lucius's soft crooning whisper tickling the shell of her ear. She strained her ear to try and make out words from the soft comforting tone.
"You're so pretty my love. I wish I could take all your pain away little one but I know I shall have to be content to be here and hold you when you do suffer. But nothing I could ever do could repay what you have done for me, you have brightened my bleak pain filled existence in a way I never really thought possible. I promise I will love you from now to end of time, I just wish I never squandered the chances I was given. I wish that day in the Manor never happened. I wish no one was ever tortured under this roof. But you know that. You know that however much I regret it I cannot change the past I shall forever have to live knowing what a truly vile creature I am. I just hope you are content to spend forever here with me. I do not think I could cope if you left me Hermione. I do not care anymore all I want is you. But if I tell you all this you will think me insincere or…or well I don't know. But I have changed, I am not me anymore. I like to think I am a better person. Having to fend for yourself changes a man's perspectives over what is truly important. Love is so important. Love means we never have to be alone again. And I love you Hermione. I love everything we have together. I love…I love eating chips in bed with you on a Friday night or sitting out on the terrace on a hot summer's night. I am not and will not ever be a romantic man but I am a man who wants to love and have romance. I am not a cold blooded snake. No man could be that cold and still have a family. I swear to the divines and Merlin that if you stay I will do everything in my power to give you everything you have ever wanted. I just want to continue waking up next to you and knowing you love me and want me."
"I love you too Lucius. I promise I won't leave you."
She whispered half asleep and half aware of every nuance in his whispered words of devotion.
"You heard?"
He whispered embarrassed by his own words.
"Not everything but most of it. Sleep now my dear."
She whispered quickly placing a soothing kiss on his troubled brow.
~8~
Her eye lids fluttered and slowly Hermione gave in to her body and allowed her eyes to full open. She smiled as she saw Lucius propped up on one elbow not caring that the tie on his dressing gown had come undone, watching her sleep. Not saying a word he brushed her loose curls away from her face delicately and deliberately taking his time slowly grazing the tip of his finger across the skin on her cheek and forehead, letting the soft hairs flow over his fingers. He smiled and tapped a single long elegant digit against his thin lips. With a shake he moved his right hand across the cotton sheets to cup her right hand gently, his fingers and thumb stroking the soft smooth skin. The hand slowly slipped down to gently hold her fingers in a fluid motion he brought their combined hands to his lips pressing a soft kiss on the back of her hand. Slowly he turned her hand over the tips of his smooth digits caressing her fingers. Gently he lowered his head pressing a single warm kiss to her palm.
"I love you Hermione."
His voice little more than a silky whisper. Carefully he entwined his long slender fingers with Hermione's gently and firmly clasping their right hands together, he lifted their hands to his lips. A long soft hot kiss pressed against their combined knuckles. Careful not to cause her pain he pulled the two of them up to sit on their knees, his left hand moving between them wandless and silently causing their silk dressing gowns to fall away on to the mattress. Leaning across careful to never break their bonded hands he placed a gentle lingering kiss on her lips the warmth of pleasure tingling both their bodies.
"I Lucius Abraxas Malfoy, son of Abraxas, Master of house Malfoy do promise myself to you Hermione Jean Granger from this moment to the end of time."
"I Hermione Jean Granger, daughter of Daniel, daughter of house Granger do promise myself to you Lucius Abraxas Malfoy from this moment to the end of time."
"On the honour of my family and my love, I Lucius Abraxas Malfoy do swear to marry and to cherish you on the day of the Winter Solstice."
"On the honour of my family and my love, I Hermione Jean Granger do swear to marry and to cherish you on the day of the Winter Solstice."
He leaned forward pressing his lips to hers sealing their betrothal with a single languid kiss.
~8~
Still giddy from the knowledge that she and Lucius were officially engaged with a date for the wedding set Hermione excused herself after a late breakfast on the Saturday desperate to share her news with the people that meant the most to her. She assumed Lucius was sharing the news his own way, only aside from Draco she was unsure who he had left to talk to. He had no friends and she was not sure he had any surviving family. Her heart almost broke that after everything he was still very much alone in the world with no one to turn to but himself. And now her. The thought did make her smile as she flicked through her small Filofax to check the phone number of her parents. She was thankful her parents listened to her reasoning and trusted her so completely to modify their memories and send them away to protect them aware that it could have been the last time they saw the daughter they loved and never be able to remember and cherish it.
Taking a deep breath unsure of the phrasing to use her fingers still tender from her attack the night before pushed the small plastic buttons on the phone and hoped her parents were having a quiet Saturday in. Her finger twirled the spiral cord of the receiver as she listened to her parent's phone ring desperately wishing for either parent to pick up. Eager to finally have good news to share that her very Muggle parents could fully understand. The phone on the other end clicked and her Mother's voice hit her ear.
"Hello?"
"Hello mum."
She said nervously unsure of how her mother would react to her agreeing to marry Lucius a man her parents had only met briefly once so many summers ago outside Flourish and Blots. A man both parents probably did not remember but maybe that would be for the best.
"Are you alright Hermione?"
"Yeah mum I'm fine." She took a deep breath. It was now or never. "I'm getting married."
She held the receiver at arm's length to attempt to diminish the squeal of joy coming from her mother.
"Oh Hermione I'm so happy for you. Is it that nice boy Harry?"
"Err no. Not exactly mum. He. He is a little well he is a lot older than me in your terms. Not so much in Wizarding terms. And you have never really met him."
Her mother was quiet for a minute she could almost hear the gears turning in her mother's mind as she mentally listed all the older Wizards she had heard of or met in passing.
"Surely you can put your old mum out of her misery and at least tell me his name darling."
"Lucius. My fiancé is Lucius Malfoy."
It was a great relief to get the burden of her chest now all she had to do was keep everything under control.
"Malfoy. Malfoy that name sounds almost familiar I can't for the life of me place it though."
"I went to school with his son. You know the little spoiled boy who called me such horrible names and always made fun of my friends."
"Ah yes. I remember now. And you say your fiancé is his father?"
"Yes. You…well you would have to meet Lucius to understand him and even then…"
Hermione trailed off unsure of how to explain everything Lucius had done and how his life had affected him and caused their eventual relationship.
"Has he forced you into doing anything you don't want to do?"
"What!"
She spluttered in shock of what her mother was suggesting.
"You cannot blame me for worrying Hermione this is all very sudden."
Her mother said sternly the worry clearly manifest. She could understand her mother's concern but at the same time it hurt that after everything she had been through and seen that her mother could not trust her judgement in men. The hurt was more acute after everything she had learned about Lucius and herself over the past year or so.
"It's not sudden Mother, but he is not your typical divorcee looking for a younger wife. I fact I believe he was not even looking for a friend let alone a wife, you… Just meet him mum and judge him then."
Hermione said not in the mood to spoil her day over an argument with her mother. The rest of the call continued with Hermione and her mother exchanging small talk, her mother discussing weddings and themes and eventually she did get to tell her father the good news. She was surprised at how well her parents were taking the news but maybe they just wanted to see her happy for a change. Although she knew parents and Lucius must meet she was not convinced that it would be smooth event or that they would like each other. She knew Lucius could be difficult around people he did not know, people he would feel threatened and insecure around he was likely to lash out the only way he knew how. Through sheer arrogance, cold aloofness and general condescension. Not that her mother and father would look on him favourably once they realise he is their age and that they have nothing in common.
~8~
Lucius moved slightly to try and alleviate the pain in his knee while still sitting as close to Hermione as humanly possible. She rubbed her head against his shoulder too tired to do anything else, her day of informing people had gone from the awkwardness of explaining Lucius to her mother to just plain disastrous when it came to Harry and Ron. Firstly they were hurt that she had not told trusted them enough to tell them she was in a relationship and while she could understand the hurt it was though none of their business if she was seeing anyone or not. Then well when she told them after making them promise to trust her and not fly of the handle after hearing the identity of her fiancé it was all downhill. A mixture of swearing, shouting suggestions of mental instability and then to her disgust suggesting she had been taken for a ride and everything her and Lucius had was a lie. They had the gall to suggest she had been taken in by flowery words that she had no idea of what Lucius had done and what he was capable off. That was what truly hurt. She knew Harry had to play hero but to suggest she was just a poor air headed little woman with no idea about big bad Wizards took the fucking biscuit. In a blur of hate and disgust that her friends could so casually insult her and the man she loved she informed them in no uncertain terms that she knew Lucius to be a murderer. That shocked them into silence then told her once best friends that if they attempted to meddle in her life without her permission she would not hesitate to bring the full weight all the law down on them.
Lucius moved his arm kissing her cheek clumsily from sleep. Her fingers gently stroked his hair content to remain perfectly still on the settee instead of moving on up to the more comfortable bed.
"Bedtime."
He slurred sleepily and nodding Hermione stretched and stood up walking down the darkened hallways along the familiar and by now normal and mundane path to his bedroom. Worn out by everything that had happened and the emotional fallout of explaining themselves to their loved ones they slipped on their nightclothes and slid into bed without saying a word. The morning light came far quicker than either was ready for but on seeing the sleep dishevelled appearance of the other the sleepy dust still in their eyes they smiled.
"We are getting married in six weeks."
She said dimly.
"I know. I wasn't sure you would complete the hand fasting promise."
He admitted sheepishly.
"I have a plan for the wedding if you are amenable to hearing it."
He added politely.
"I imagined that was the case."
She said waiting for Lucius to continue.
"I want for us on the morning of the solstice to go to the registry department at the Ministry to be legally married, no guests just the bare minimum for it to be legal. Then I want to marry you properly."
Hermione nodded at his words she never cared much for weddings and Lucius had obviously put a lot of thought into planning theirs so she would let him have this. She knew how much he wanted to show he cared and just how much he wanted her by his side. Not that she minded.
"Breakfast?"
She asked a little while later once their words had sunk in and they had drifted back to a peaceful half sleep their aching bodies curled around each other. Lucius nodded his eyes half closed a small twitch of happiness on his lips. She placed a hand on his night shirt clad shoulder and gently shook Lucius reminding him that today was not breakfast in bed. A look of mild frustration at being denied a nap flittered briefly across his features, Hermione getting out of bed her night dress rising up the back of her legs rewarding him with a glimpse of thigh and backside more than made up for his rude awakening.
"Mmm."
She moaned his arms resting over her shoulders and his lips on the side of her neck.
"Dressing gown?"
He asked breaking away from her delightful body fanning the flames just enough to entice and promise of more to come later.
~8~
Lucius walked carefully into the garden he smiled weakly on seeing Hermione had already arrived; in ever changing and tumultuous times something's did not change. Hermione saw her fiancé and smiled. Fiancé. It was still strange to hear herself say it but in just a year her life had completely changed for the better. She hoped Lucius had gained the same happiness that she had. The man of her thoughts lowered himself next to her; at the close distance she could see the red rings around his eyes and the puffiness of his features. He had been crying. She was about to open her mouth but she promptly closed it again she did not know what to say and somehow it seemed wrong to invade his most intimate of thoughts.
"I'm getting married."
He said slowly to himself.
"The future of my family is in my hands and I do not want to destroy the one constant I have left. The one thing I cherished and held above everything else but I see it Hermione. I see my family as it sits our feet dangling over the cliff face as our time slowly ticks away. I will outlive Draco Hermione. I will watch as the grandest jewel in my crown fades away and I bury him along with the memories of my family our legacy crumbled into dust to be remembered by no man.
I can save my family, I cannot redeem or restore our honour but I can ensure its survival. It is you Hermione. You are the saviour to house Malfoy and me the servant to your whims. If I fail at this marriage then my family plunges from the cliffs onto the sharpened knives of our enemies waiting for us below. And I would have failed. I would have to live knowing the destruction of my family was caused by own hand.
I want us to be happy Hermione. I want to see my family flourish but I'm so scared. So scared that I will lose you by my actions. So scared that this time will not be different. That I will make the same mistakes all over again and in silent fury sit as the time ticks away to our doom. This is my last chance. I have had so many chances that I ruined and wasted and I'm almost too scared to take this chance for fear of ruining everything I want and everything both you and I have worked so hard to achieve. "
He said quietly his tears beginning to trickle down his cheeks as he told her his greatest fears and his predictions of the future.
"We will manage to work out our marriage Lucius. So long as you are true to your commitment everything will slot neatly into place. You will fix your family and your ancestors will be so proud of you."
She said holding his hand in comfort. She would be lying if she said she wasn't nervous. But she also knew what Lucius was asking her and she knew that there would be many future discussions before they came to an answer. At this moment though so long as Lucius would have her, she would give him children. She knew he would not make the same mistakes again.
"Yet I know I am asking too much of you."
He said the dark sadness lacing his every word.
"Every family deserves the chance for redemption Lucius and if I want children I cannot think of a better man than the one I love and marry to father them."
"I think on some days we are far more than either of us really deserves."
He replied sagely her kind words a balm to his empty soul. And she nodded some days were bad and some days were good but in the end they were just days. They were given one chance at life in this realm and so for the memories of the deeds committed they could not waste the chance of the future they had been given.
"We cannot waste the chance of the future we have been given. As when we are older and all alone thinking back on everything we have done we would regret not taking the chance. We would come to regret not trying to have a life together. We are not insulting those we have wronged for our punishment will also be delivered and we will weather whatever is thrown at us and still survive."
Lucius smiled at Hermione's words and kissed her chastely. All their anger all their fear for that one moment just seemed to ebb away as they looked to the bright future on their horizon.
~8~
"Please don't. I'm too sore for love I just want to look and feel you next to me."
Lucius said gritting his teeth from the pain in his body.
"That's fine I like looking at you too."
Hermione said her hand gently rubbing circles on his chest.
"I like looking at you naked, because it's for me. You feel I am attractive enough, good enough to see you. That you want to see me naked despite everything I was and am, you love and sleep with me. You gave yourself to me, you gave me the last of your innocence and I have never received such a valuable gift before. I'm rambling again but I do not care your beautiful, naked and mine."
"I like seeing you naked too. You are so very beautiful Lucius. Everything about your body the hard lines, your softening middle and even your prick is perfect and beautiful in its own way."
"Even though I can't get it up? Even though I am so broken that I spend most of my life sat on my arse or laying on my back?"
"I don't mind Lucius I really don't. Nature made you like this and there is nothing wrong in that. I love my knackered Wizard, my dark philosopher and my drinking buddy."
"You are very much the light to my eternal darkness."
He whispered.
"And as wicked as you are Lucius your beautiful to me you may be the darkest burning star but there is no one else I would rather have. You are the stars to my moon and darkness to my night."
"Till the morrow my love."
He whispered.
And they slept.
~8~
The garden was a balm for their heavy thoughts and a place to be honest and speak their minds regardless of what their relationship was to each other. Hermione was sat waiting for Lucius to arrive the more time they spent together the harder it was for Hermione to return to her solitary life in her home. Away from the bustle and noise of an active family and the sea of socks screwed up all over the floors of every room or lurking away in dark forgotten corners.
"You have never really been happy have you?"
She asked a cross between a statement and a question she knew the answer but however personal the answer was she wanted to hear it from his own lips.
"I have had precious little to be happy about."
He was not sad just resigned which to Hermione was worse than him crying tears and his body heaving with sobs as he wanted to escape his memories and deeds.
"What did make you happy?"
She asked the questioning and probing nature of what the garden was to them out weighing what she knew was emotionally and intellectually acceptable.
"Nothing I quickly grew up and saw how fleeting and hollow my life really was. To try and be the great man my father wanted and to be the man I thought I was, I sold myself into slavery to become the pet murderer of a tyrannical madman. I once thought that the cut and quality of a man's robes was the be all and end all of life but the type of person that thinking attracts are not people you want to be happy with.
To be happy I was taught was to be miserable. That our cold superiority and our immeasurable wealth was what made us great. Taught that we were at the pinnacle of life and we were the happiest people in the world. Which is why both my parents were alcoholics. Which is why every fucking day was pure misery that anything fun or interesting was so beneath us it was not worth considering. You see the Weasley's with not a Knut to their name and they have something you can never find, that they are happy. Fathers respect and love their children and they are loved in returned. And what is worse it that they don't care about your wealth. The very people you are this way to impress and subdue never bat an eyelid or if they do it is only a tut of sympathy.
They think you are so pathetic.
They think you can never be more than the sum of your breeding and it's true. It is all true.
Even you have transcended the hand you were dealt far better than I ever did or could. That in all other families the next generation is better than the last but for mine we slip down an alcohol coated hill praying for the day to end or for us to pass out to avoid the crippling pain. A brief fling with a mistress if you had the wealth, the body, the dick and the right words to try and find some semblance of love and human feeling.
I know I drink too much. You are not supposed to have a brandy after lunch and dinner, a gin and tonic sometime in the afternoon after tea and several large glasses of red wine in the evening. I don't want to die Hermione. I want to stay alive I want to live with you but everything is just so hard. Everything is always hard for me except the one thing that should be instead it hangs flaccid never interested in even the sexiest of things. I've seen you sweaty and naked, satisfied and calling out my name in your sleep, I have seen you in the bath and nothing. But that is the very definition of me. Small, insignificant and worthless. I lost everything and it still wasn't enough! I am an emperor without an empire I ask my family to respect me but how can they when I cannot respect myself? I lost everything we ever had. A few knuts tucked away for safe keeping and a Manor full of trinkets is all that remains of the Malfoy family. And me."
He reeled off as if reciting dry facts by rote.
"What happened to destroy your empire Lucius?"
She asked the pity lacing her words not that either cared by this point.
"Fines. A gesture of enforced goodwill to show that everyone gets their just rewards. Oh they would never send us to Azkaban not with our money and the damage he who was a bastard wrecked across the country regardless of you and your little friends. No to show punishment and to line their own greedy pockets they took everything in the Gringott's vault as a fine to ensure our freedom. Save for Narcissa's trust vault that was hers only for it is a dire crime to insult the wish of a dead man and what little we hid away over the years for an emergency.
Men will do almost anything for gold and jewels and waste away seeking the next shiny trinket while leaving behind and losing the one true treasure they had."
As his words reached her ears Hermione knew what she had always suspected that Lucius suffered from depression for most of his life. She could never change his past the only option she had was to consider whether it would be better or worse to addict him to anti-depressants as well as alcohol and soft drugs. She couldn't do that to him, the one thing that kept him sane was his ability to hate himself and his self-flagellation over everything he chose to do. It was not her place. Her place was to love him and be there for him when he needed her and make sure the more destructive of his impulses were controlled.
"The harshest lesson to learn is the truth. The most bitter potion to swallow is to accept the happiness and the chances given no matter how hard it maybe to find something to smile about."
She said pulling him close and just letting Lucius think never asking anything but for him to accept who he was and who he wanted to be.
~8~
Twelve days, they were getting married in twelve days. It could have been worse Hermione kept reminding herself as she listened to Lucius snore softly next to her in bed though just how much worse her day could have realistically been Hermione was unsure of. Foolishly she chided herself she had decided that it was time to take the hex and that Lucius and her parents should meet. She could not in good conscience get married without him meeting her parents not that their opinion would of deterred her from marriage it was more a courtesy to try and include the parents she loved so much even though her life was slowly forcing them apart. It was not their fault she tried to remind herself as the pain and embarrassment seemed reluctant to leave her. As she predicted parents and Lucius did not take to each other. For simplicity Hermione decided that the meeting should take place at her home, it all went downhill after her parent's car parked in the small driveway really.
Her mother and father took one look at Lucius dressed in his formal Muggle finery and denounced him inappropriate. She knew his long hair ratty, lank and limp did not help matters nor did his obvious age or the walking stick resting against the arm of the settee his dodgy leg elevated on a small foot stool. Trying very hard to defuse the thick suffocating tension she had excused herself to the kitchen to prepare a pot of tea and fetch the spread of sandwiches, biscuits and cake she had prepared the night before. Lucius's insistence on helping and standing up all evening making sandwiches and cake had taken its toll and resulted in his need to rest his leg. Her mother firmly informed her she was going to help knowing that resistance was futile and that she should have predicted that parental meddling was unavoidable Hermione meekly followed her mother to her kitchen leaving the men folk all alone. She just prayed to anything that was watching the little scene that Lucius would not use his stare it was quite unnerving when he stared especially as when he did you could believe the worst of him not that he was that man anymore but still…
As she busied herself with the tea pot and real tea leaves on Lucius insistence and the milk her mother wasted no time informing her that Lucius was an old creep who was taking advantage of her. Nodding politely Hermione just focused on making tea without breaking anything. Feeling calm enough when removing the plate of cling filmed sandwiches from the fridge she tried to rebuke her mother saying that quite frankly she was a grown woman but that maybe she should talk to Lucius before judging him on appearances.
Unresolved anger in the air the mother daughter pair re-entered the front room where the men were content with having a Mexican stand-off neither blinking or doing anything. Her mother controlled tea asking rather pointed questions about Lucius's traumatic past they were less than impressed with the truthful if sugar coated answers that Lucius gave. Her parents faces fell when it was revealed that Lucius was not only an ex-convict but a terrorist for the forces of Lord Voldemort he who lived to be a massive pain in every one's arse. Her father's only question was the final nail in the coffin really for the day. On asking what Lucius did for a living Lucius revealed the truth that he was unemployable, heavily disabled in terms of mobility and lived of the interest from a small off shore account. There was screaming and shouting from everyone. Lucius announced the only reason he was here was from respect for Hermione nothing to do with caring or needing her parent's opinion of him or their relationship. Her mother called him a disgusting letch and stormed out dragging her slightly dazed and confused father behind by the top of his arm.
It could have been worse though. If say the roof fell in or someone had a heart attack. In other words not much worse.
~8~
"In this very spot we once told each other that nothing changes. But I am afraid that I must have lied that day for here now everything changes. We survived Lucius; we made it through the darkness and found our light.
You saved me from myself but now I know that today is my last day here. I no longer need the garden."
Hermione said melancholy in her voice.
"We have saved each other and found our own salvation. Nothing has gone away but with three days to go until our wedding and last year seeming so very far away I must agree that it is time for us to leave for the last time."
He said and offered Hermione his arm and led her as his equal and his love out of the garden for the last time.
~8~
"We are married."
Lucius said in awe as they stood on opposite sides of the familiar bed in Lucius's bedroom. Neither ready to make a move the day seeming so surreal both sure it must be some fevered dream if it were not for the knowledge that their dreams could never be as wonderful as this. For Hermione it was perfect and the sign she needed to accepted that her life started anew today. Today she was no longer Hermione Granger that now she was going to be whoever she wanted to be.
"Come my sweet join me, become my queen Hermione."
Lucius purred from the bed already striped and propped up with pillows against the head board while she was wool gathering.
Careful fingers swiftly danced over the front of her robes and tugged the buttons undone, one by one showing a tantalising glimpse of pale rounding flesh as she worked slowly from the bottom up. The final button done the heavy dark robes she wore fluttered open showing off her black lace undergarments the desire rolling off Lucius as his eyes slowly moved over her body and licked his lips with anticipation sending a jolt to her core the wetness already pooling between her thighs. Conscious of her desire she slowly stepped out of the robes the fabric falling with a soft noise to the floor. Trembling fingers danced across her tight straining breasts to the back of her bra slowly fiddling with the strap drawing out the moment the deep hot wet desire building as Lucius just watched eyes wide a flash of tongue wetting his thin lips. Her eyes never leaving the cool grey of Lucius's she gently pushed her fingers into the waistband of her knickers and slowly worked them down over her legs to the floor little sounds of pleasure escaping Lucius as he watched transfixed by the erotic sight before him.
Both breathing heavily she made her way up onto the bed and settled between the outstretched legs of Lucius her back against his chest heaving from deep breathes of needy desires.
"Beautiful. Please sit, sip my wine and become my winter queen."
His voice little more than a whisper the warm breath tickling against her ear. She felt her body warm with a blush as a large golden goblet filled with rich red wine was pressed gently into her hands. Nervous she raised the goblet to her lips and partook of the wine within passing the goblet to Lucius's out stretched hand. He raised the wine to his own lips careful to drink exactly where Hermione's lips touched first his other hand drifting down to knead her bare breast. A low gasp of pleasure plucked from her lips as a single finger grazed her nipple. She closed her eyes and allowed her head to fall back against his gently rising chest as the goblet was pushed against her lips another mouthful of decadent wine coating her mouth.
Frustration built within her as Lucius pushed her head from his chest. It eased as long fingers worked out the snags and tangles of her hair, slowly easing and enjoying the feel and flow of the bushy locks. A crook of finger and a small piece's of evergreen plants levitated up on to the bed. Every piece slowly woven into her hair, she could feel as his arousal rubbed the small of her back slowly she let her body go. Surrendering to the erotic bliss of Lucius's fingers and the smell of resin as the little pieces of plant were woven in. Twisting larger supple hazel sticks Lucius made a small circle just enough to sit on top Hermione's head still holding the frame his long fingers worked twisting and wrapping more holly and pine around the hazel creating a beautiful winter wreath complete with bright red berries.
"It is done my queen."
He whispered, moving to stretch across the bed lifting Hermione so she could straddle his lap and he could admire his work.
"You are so beautiful. A wreath of ever greens to crown my beauty. I will never serve another but you my queen."
He whispered running a delicate finger down her cheek, every line and imperfection familiar to him. She leant forward and kissed Lucius their tongues slowly searching and seeking the other content for their kiss to last. Their hands following the contours of the one they loved and knew so well.
"Make me yours Hermione. Make it so I am the king to your queen."
And she did, so slow taking every little part of him, drawing every groan and gasp of pleasure out of him knowing with every movement, every rise and fall he was hers.