A/N Thank you so much for all the reviews for the last chapter. I think we can safely say that the general readership are not in favour of them breaking up... I feel I should warn you that there is some fairly full on smut in the next chapter - nothing compared to some of the stuff I've read but probably a bit more than we've had so far in this fic. If you don't really like that stuff then you can skip the second half of the chapter. I've got three more chapters to go after this one and an epilogue. I'm so excited about finishing the story I almost posted two chapters today but I decided to play it safe since the ending isn't quite written yet. Thanks again for reading.
Hermione was taking the sensible and mature approach to her problem and avoiding Lucius. It was surprisingly easy, she was beginning to consider herself a master of subterfuge. Severus Snape would have had nothing on her. After Lucius' frankly ridiculous suggestion the previous evening she had gone to bed and genuinely had fallen asleep almost immediately. She assumed that Lucius had followed her at some point because when she awoke the following morning he was asleep beside her his blond hair tangled with her brown curls on the pillow.
It was shortly after awakening that her previously unknown stealthiness began to manifest. She had made it out of bed and into the kitchen without waking him. She had used her wand to summon her clothes from the bedroom and hastily dressed before rushing out the front door teeth and hair unbrushed. She had done her best to tame her hair in the toilet of her local coffee shop and guilty purchased a pack of sugar free mints in lieu of toothbrushing. By 7:30 am she was at her desk, ready for the day ahead and (most importantly) ready to avoid any sort of difficult conversations with her...what was he exactly?
At 10:30 she ignored the owl Lucius sent her suggesting that they meet to talk. She quickly realised though that her location was now compromised and promptly relocated to Harry's office in the auror department. Harry and Draco were both there going over a case together when Hermione bustled in and placed a pile of work down on one side of Harry's desk.
"I need to use your office for the rest of the day." She picked up her quill and started looking through a medical text looking for side effects of imbibing magically coloured dairy products.
"Ok, fine." Harry's voice was placatory, "Are you OK Hermione, you look a bit..."
"Wild." Draco supplied helpfully, "There's hardly room for us in here with your hair Granger."
"Feel free to go somewhere else then." Hermione didn't look up from her book.
"Is something wrong?" Harry clearly had a death wish.
"No." Hermione continued to read.
"Then why are you here?"
"I'm hiding." She turned a page.
"From who?" Harry actually sounded concerned.
Hermione looked sternly at them over the top of her book. "Your father." She addressed Draco.
"Well that explains a lot. I spent most of my childhood doing that. What's he done now Granger?"
"Nothing." Hermione turned another page.
"Well why are you hiding from him then?" Draco asked.
"He wants to break up with me." She said the words in the same tone she used to order her weekly Chinese takeaway.
Harry and Draco didn't respond for several minutes. Clearly their Y chromosomes were making the conversation difficult for them.
"Erm are you sure?" Harry cautiously ventured. "He seemed to quite like you a couple of nights ago."
"Forty-eight hours is a long time in the world of Lucius Malfoy, do you have a medical dictionary?"
"No." Harry placed his hand over the pages of the book, blocking her view. "Mione what's really going on."
Hermione pointedly ignored him.
"I know." Draco was looking smug and examining his cuticles.
"You do?" Harry and Hermione spoke together.
"It's obvious isn't it?"
"Not to me." Harry was beginning to look irritated.
"Keep your hair on Potter." Draco was appeared to be enjoying himself immensely. "You saw yesterday's Prophet, my father has turned from a political asset to a liability. In situations such as this the sensible thing to do is to protect the primary asset, in this case the easiest way to do that is to dissociate himself from it."
"Are you the primary asset?" Harry asked Hermione.
"I think so." She looked over at Draco who was wearing the Malfoy sneer.
"Of course Granger's the primary asset, unless you think I'm likely to elected Minister for magic in the next forty-eight hours." Harry and Hermione both shuddered at the thought.
"So your dad wants to break up with her so she'll still be elected?"
"I imagine so, although I suspect he wants Granger to break up with him."
Harry looked back at Hermione, "So he won't really be breaking up with you Mione, it's just temporary until you win the election." He turned to Draco, "Right Draco?"
Draco shrugged the sneer slipping slightly. "Well that depends."
"On what?" Harry and Hermione were in unison again.
"On how much he likes Granger obviously." Draco rolled his eyes, "Honestly, it's not advanced arithmancy is it? He clearly likes you enough to let you break up with him for your own political gain, which by the way Granger is a pretty harsh thing to do, whether he likes you enough to get back together after the dust has settled..." He shrugged.
"But breaking up with him was his idea!" Hermione couldn't hide the irritation in her voice.
"Well of course." Draco spoke as if to a toddler. "You are the primary asset."
"I'm going to go and hide in Ron's office." Hermione stood up and gathered her books and parchments into her arms again. "If your father shows up tell him you neutralised the primary asset."
Draco swallowed audibly, "I really don't think that would go down well Granger, he's pretty protective his assets."
She rolled her eyes at him before leaving.
Predictable as ever Ron asked fewer questions than Harry and after looking relieved when his offer of punching Lucius' lights out was turned down he left Hermione in peace for the rest of day. Not that she achieved a huge amount. By 8pm and having eaten three meals in the ministry canteen she was tired, hungry and fed up. She desperately wanted to go home and take a shower but Lucius was bound to be there. Short of booking into a muggle hotel she didn't know where to go, then inspiration struck. Lucius would be in her flat, therefore the last place he would consider looking for her was his own home, which incidentally he had informed her she could apparate into at will.
The manor was strangely quiet as Hermione arrived in the hallway with a soft pop. She hesitated looking around the imposing space. She had been here twice before. Once when she was tortured by Bellatrix and once when Lucius had had his way with her on the very spot upon which she now stood. She stepped to one side. Other than a strong urge not to revisit the site of her previous torture she had no idea where to go. What she really wanted was a hot bath and a warm bed. She started towards the staircase almost falling off of the bottom step when Bee appeared before her.
"Mistress Hermione!" Bee looked confused. "The Master is not being here."
"I know Bee." Hermione bit her lip, "Will you have to punish yourself if you don't tell him I'm here?"
Bee shook her head happily. "Bee is only having to punish herself if The Master asks and Bee is not answering." She reached out and took Hermione's hand. "Is Mistress Hermione needing a bath?"
"Yes, how did you know?"
"Bee knows!" The little elf replied mysteriously before leading Hermione upstairs.
She was more than a little disconcerted to be lead into a room which could only be The Master's bedroom. She turned to tell Bee that a guest room might be more appropriate but the little elf had already disappeared into the adjoining bathroom and was busily readying a bath. Hermione followed and promptly forgot her protestations. Lucius' bathroom was quite the grandest she had ever seen. It was tiled in white from floor to ceiling, the metal fittings were a predictable gold but they hardly registered. Hermione could not take her eyes from the gigantic sunken bath, as big a small swimming pool which was rapidly filling with water and enough bubbles to completely obscure Hermione should she wish it. As soon as Bee had gone she sank gratefully into the almost too hot water, closing her eyes and giving a soft sight of mingled pain and pleasure as Lucius' familiar scent wafted up at her from the bubbles.
She almost fell asleep amongst the bubbles but finally she roused herself and regretfully climbed out of the tub. In the bedroom she found a tray of food and a beautiful green silk negligee. Bee obviously felt that her usually utilitarian flannel pajamas were not appropriate for the splendor of Malfoy Manor. Not much fancying putting her dirty clothes back on her clean body Hermione shrugged into the negligee. It wasn't as if anybody was going to see her in it anyway. After picking at the food Bee had left her and gratefully brushing her teeth she climbed into Lucius' very large, very comfortable bed and picked up one of the books she had brought with her from the office. She was engrossed in a long winded description of the therapeutic effects of magically coloured milk when the bedroom door opened and Lucius entered.
"Miss Granger." He closed the door behind him, pressing his back against it as if to make it clear that that particular avenue of escape was blocked. His eyes flicked across her silk clad torso. "And beautifully gift wrapped too."
"How did you know I was here, Bee promised not to tell you."
"Did she now?" His voice was silky, "Fortunately my wards are more obedient than my household staff. I felt it as soon as you entered the house."
"Oh."
"Oh indeed." He moved away from the doorway and approached the bed. Hermione's eyes flickered towards the door, could she slip past him?
"You really must learn not to project every action you are about to attempt." Lucius withdrew his wand from its customary home in his snake topped cane. "Incarcerous."
Hermione gave a shriek as her arms were secured above her head, the book fell to the floor.
"You see?" Lucius replaced his wand and dropped the cane on the end of the bed, "you were completely unaware of my intentions."
"Your poker face is excellent." Hermione pulled against the ropes, "Point taken. Could you let me go please."
"I think not." Lucius sat down on the bed his black clad thighs close to but not touching her chest. "You've been avoiding me Miss Granger."
"Not really no," Hermione valiantly avoided his eyes. "I've just had a busy day."
"Really?"
"Yes, very busy, in fact I should really be getting some sleep now if you could just see fit to untie me." She gave a convincing yawn.
Lucius leaned forwards placing his arms on either side of her head.
"I don't think so Miss Granger. I think you and I need to have a little talk."
"I'm much too tired to talk." She closed her eyes. "Maybe tomorrow."
"Hermione look at me." Her eyes popped open at the use of her given name. He held himself over her, his hair almost touching her face, his grey eyes as cool and inscrutable as always. He slid a finger down her cheek, over the curve of her chin and down her neck until it rested between her silk clad breasts. Her nipples hardened at his touch. Lucius smiled as her obvious arousal became apparent through the thin silk.
"At least part of you is paying attention to me." He lowered his lips to hers and allowed them to touch, just a whisper of a kiss. Hermione bent her neck trying to deepen the contact. He smiled more broadly,
"Now you're listening."
Hermione sighed. "I don't want to talk about it Lucius."
"I know, but I'm going to make you. Tell me what you are going to do tomorrow after the candidate's debate."
"I'm not doing it."
"You are." His voice was sharp. His warm hand slid across her silk clad belly. "Do you want to be minister for magic?"
"Yes"
His hand slid lower. "Then it's easy. All you have to do is pick a little fight with me tomorrow evening and all your dreams come true.
Not all of them.
"Lucius there has to be another way."
"There isn't." His thumb was brushing her nipple and Hermione gave a moan.
"Promise me you'll do it." His lips were against hers once more and the world had become a little foggy. It was difficult to think coherently when he was so close, when she wanted him so badly. And what had Draco said? As long as he liked her enough then he would forgive her. Her lips moved of their own volition.
"I'll do it."
"Promise me."
"I promise."
"Good."
The conversation over, he continued to play with her nipples as he kissed her deeply his tongue languidly exploring her mouth. The sensation was overwhelming, somehow heightened by her own restraint. She was almost painfully aware of the soft brush of his hair on her cheek, of the press of his warm body against her own of the slight hint of stubble on his jaw as he moved against her. She gave a low hum of pleasure as his hand slid between her legs.
"You're so wet." His rich voice came in a hoarse whisper. "So wet for me, tell me how much you want me."
She gazed up into his got grey eyes, pulling a little against the ropes that bound her. She wanted to touch him.
"Please."
He withdrew his fingers. "Please what?"
She whimpered with frustration. "Please touch me again, Lucius, your fingers." She arched up against his hand and he obliged by sliding two digits inside her.
"Now let's try that again." His cut glass tones against her ear. "Tell me how much you want me."
"I want you. I want you so badly Lucius. Please don't stop."
He didn't stop, his fingers slowly slid in and out of her, his thumb sliding up to press against her clit. Completely disinhibited now she gave another wail of pleasure.
His lips found hers once more, his kiss unhurried as his fingers continued to work inside her.
"Tell me you want me again."
"Yes, I want you."
His finger's hooked forwards hitting a part of her no one had ever touched before. She bucked her hips wildly, almost propelling them both off of the bed.
"Tell me you want only me."
"Yes," she panted against his neck, his silky hair partially covering his face. "I only want you, nobody else has ever made me feel like this."
He hooked his fingers into the same spot again and she came screaming his name as she convulsed wildly around his fingers.
She felt him momentarily pull away and then he was inside her, his cock pushing aside her swollen tissues, almost painful in its incursion. She squeezed the tight walls of her sex around him, whispering his name as he fucked her through her orgasm. She felt him harden and start to tense and readied herself for his climax. It didn't come. Instead he pulled out of her and suddenly he was straddling her face, his engorged cock pressing against her slightly parted lips. She opened willingly for him and took him as deeply as she could, tasting her own arousal on his silky flesh.
"You are mine Hermione Granger." She barely recognised his growl as he thrust repeatedly into her mouth. "Mine and mine only. Tell me!"
He pulled away, his hand fisting his cock just above her mouth. Hermione gazed up at his jutting member, his muscular thighs, the strong flat plane of his stomach, past his shoulders where his platinum hair hung in disarray into his hot grey eyes which regarded her so intensely.
"Yes, I'm yours Lucius, only yours."
He gave a choked cry and ejaculated over her face, pressing his cock between her lips once more so the majority of his come was caught in her mouth. She licked the rest from his cock and from her own lips as he shuddered above her.
He pulled away to sit on the bed, his back to her.
"Forgive me." His voice was hesitant.
Hermione wiped a hand across her mouth. "I do Lucius." She pressed a small hand to his back and felt his body relax. He turned and lay down beside her pulling the sheets over them both. He didn't speak again but they lay together in the darkness for a long time before Hermione was finally claimed by sleep.
He pulled her towards him again in the early hours of the morning. She gave a groan of dissent.
"Lucius, not again, I'm sore." He had barely left her alone all night. It shouldn't have been possible for a man of his age to be so voracious. Countless times he had waited for her to fall deeply asleep before he woke her up, stroking her to yet another orgasm before before pounding into her over and over again, reaching his own climax every time. The final candidates' debate was only hours away and Hermione was worried that she wouldn't even be able to stay awake for the whole event let alone stage a break up with Lucius.
He had ignored her rebuttal, rolling on top of her and pressing his soft lips against hers. Her resistance lasted less than five seconds. She opened easily for him, drinking in the taste and texture of his soft, surprisingly full lips as he kissed her languorously. She was still wet from their many bouts of earlier love making and he slid easily inside her. She whimpered a little as her bruised flesh stretched to accommodate him but he was uncharacteristically gentle as he moved inside her. He looked down at her rocking his pelvis against her own. The expression in his eyes was soft but intent, his gaze never deviating from her own until Hermione looked away, closing her eyes with an exhalation of ecstasy as she came for the final time.
He didn't pull out. Simply rolled a little to the side so as not to crush her, keeping her firmly encased in the circle of his arms.
I love you. The words formed in the front of her mind where she quickly trapped them behind her closed lips. Lucius Malfoy was not the sort of man any sensible woman would allow herself to love.
