It was warm. That was the first thing she thought as thin threads of light pushed their ways past her eyelashes. A plush white comforter was tucked up under her arms and snug around her chest, wrapping her tightly in its embrace. She hummed with pleasure at the feeling of the blankets around her body. She was warm, safe, tranquil. The light lassitude coming from verging on too much sleep settled into her bones even as the outside world began to filter into her senses. Sunlight played on her face, the smell of lavender and vanilla combining pleasantly to sedate, and the soft ticking of a clock somewhere in the room thrummed a metronome against the passage of time.
She sighed contentedly, and smiled as she felt the bed dip behind her. The blankets briefly lifted before a warm, hard body pressed up behind her, wrapping an arm around her midsection and pulling her back against it. Feather light kisses were pressed against the side of her neck, and a nose nuzzled the shell of her ear. A breathless moan trickled out past her lips and she squirmed backwards against her visitor.
"Hermione" her name was whispered against her neck, and she fluttered her eyes open to look into two silver orbs filled with longing and lust. Her left hand snaked up and grabbed the back of his head, twining with platinum silk as she pulled his lips down to meet her own.
"Lucius" she murmured against his lips, "You're ok" He moved his mouth against hers, drawing out a more audible, definite moan from her throat. His hands stroked her sides, sliding against her skin and skimming the underside of her breasts.
"Of course kitten" he muttered back, "Why wouldn't I be?"
"The LeStrange brothers" she whispered and he hushed her with soft puffs of breath.
"Nothing. Easy to deal with when Harry arrived. They are in custody now" She nodded complacently at him, feeling too good to want to carry on further conversation. She could feel a bulge pressing against her bottom and she groaned as one hand traveled from her breast down to the junction between her legs. He echoed it as he discovered her lack of hair, skimming the soft skin with fingertips, "Keeping trimmed for anyone special?"
There was a note of possession and jealousy in his voice, even as his wicked fingertips smoothed their way around her lips, teasing her with their purpose. She whined against him and shook her head, "You, Lucius. Always, only for you"
He muttered a soft obscenity as he buried his face into the crook of her neck, his fingers plunging between her fold and into her warm, tight depths. She gasped, a cracked sound as he began to work her clit, expertly bringing her to the edge of pleasurable oblivion. The skin across her shoulders and chest began to tingle and tighten, and she arched against him one hand grabbing his shoulder and the other fisting the sheets under her.
"I love you Hermione" he breathed into her ear and she let out a sweet keening as her nerves exploded, bringing her over the edge and into bliss. His fingers stilled, holding her tight against him, allowing her wet walls to milk him as she became rigid in her orgasm. A moment later she collapsed against him, sobbing softly as her eyes became damp at his admission. He stroked her arms, whispering lovingly into her ear, nuzzling her neck tenderly as she came back down to earth.
Hermione sniffled, allowing herself to feel the great rush of pleasure that was threatening to consume her soul, before she acknowledged the tingling of her skin had turned into a sharper pinching sensation. Wincing she sniffled again and then paused. Sandlewood and green tea. She sniffed again, trying to act convincing enough that he might not notice that she knew something was wrong. Lucius always smelled of warm tobacco and firewhiskey and fine cologne. She tampered down the rushing beat of her heart, and twisted her head to look back at his face. Grey eyes, soft with emotion smiled at her and she forced herself to smile back, pretending nothing was wrong. But there was. Around his irises was the smallest circle of brown. She knew Lucius' eyes like she knew her own flat, and his were a complex swirl of grey and black and white, but there was no brown. She reached a hand back to touch his face and the pain along her upper body intensified.
Silver shimmered, blazing to life as she leaned in to kiss him, searing her skin as their lips touched again. She gasped and then shrieked in pain, allowing the moment of surprise to help propel herself out of bed and away from her seducer. In that instant, the charm fell and she yanked a sheet off the bed to cover her body as she realized the severity of the situation.
Dwenn – she shook her head – Rabastan lay on the bed in only his boxers, looking surprised to see her standing. A small hint of amusement, and something akin to admiration played across his face as he perused her form. She sucked in a deep breath, cursing silently in her head as she stared at him and then snapped her eyes up to the man who moved silently across the room. Rodolphus was not nearly as handsome as his brother, but he had an agility and grace about him that drew people in. His face was harder lined, more weathered than Rabastan's, but there was the same dark skin, same chocolate eyes and sleek black hair. His fingers twitched forcing her eyes to acknowledge the small knife in them and she shivered as she recognized what it was for. Stories about Rodolphus' lust for blood were legendary, and watching his fingers lithely play with the metal she was suddenly quite certain they had not been embellished.
She took in the scene for a full minute before a low chuckle broke the silence.
"Well done kitten"
She wrinkled her nose and glanced down at Rabastan on the bed. He was smiling at her, his eyes perusing her form. She blushed as she pulled the sheet up higher in front of her breasts, and then tipped her chin up defiantly. If she was going to go out, it would not be without a fight.
"You didn't say anything about wards little brother" Rodolphus's voice was smooth honey that drizzled across the room.
"I didn't know she had them. Our kitten here has been busy. And sneaky" came the lazy response. Hermione clenched her jaw, unwilling to join into their game.
"So much for your plan. I prefer it this way anyhow. A little struggle to get the blood going" menace, and appreciation laced the statement and Hermione tensed, her head trying to catch up and form a plan.
"You won't get away with it" she said softly, wheels frantically turning as she tried to buy time. Rabastan licked his lips and gave her a sad smile.
"That is not the point. It will happen regardless" he responded, lying back on the bed and tucking both hands behind his head, "I was trying to make it a little kinder for you"
She felt her stomach recoil and her heart gave a sympathetic squeeze. This was Dwenn. Her sweet Dwenn whom had been her close friend and confidant. Who had comforted her when she was hurting, celebrated with her when she was joyful and been there for the past 5 years. How could she not have known?
"Somehow I don't feel the inclination to thank you" she responded acerbically. Her runes pinched her sharply and she cursed, eyes jumping to Rodolphus who had wordlessly crept closer during the exchange. His lips twisted into a cruel smile and he fingered his knife again. Sighing she lifted her hand and softly commanded
"Accio knife"
The small knife shivered in his hand momentarily and then forcefully yanked itself past his fingers and into her awaiting palm. Rabastan gave a barking laugh and sat up.
"Good job, kitten. Unfortunately I'm afraid you've just presented my brother with an even greater challenge however, and that is never wise"
Hermione would never be entirely sure of what happened in the next few seconds. She knew that Rodolphus had made his move, launching himself across the room at her. She knew that she threw her arms up to protect herself, simultaneously dropping the bedsheet and releasing the little knife in a silent spell that she prayed would find it's mark. Her eyes squinted shut as she awaited the impact of Rodolphus's body with her own…but it never came.
After what seemed like eons, she opened one eye and then the other, gasping in shock at the changed scene. Rodolphus dangled in the air, frozen and suspended a metre away from her head. Rabastan lay motionless on the bed, the blade having found it's mark between his eyes which now stared at the wall lifelessly. And beyond them both was her savior adorned in black and crowned with a golden halo. His wand was out, and trained on Rodolphus, the statis spell streaming from the end of it to encompass the elder brother.
"Lucius" she breathed. His eyes locked with hers and she swallowed hard at the mixture of emotions she found swirling in them.
"Come here" he commanded, his tone not one to be dismissed. She obeyed without thinking, her feet taking her to his side as her hands greedily grabbed his arms, his shirt, anything she could touch. His face softened as he took her in and his free hand grabbed her chin, pulling her in to him for a brief, bruising kiss before he again commanded "Go now. I will finish this. You will go to my house and wait for me" She nodded and stumbled towards the fireplace at the other side of the room. Before throwing in the handful of powder she paused and looked back over her shoulder at him, knowing that Rodolphus would likely not survive whatever happened next. It surprised her only a little to realize she simply did not care.
"Malfoy Manor!"
