Lucius ran a hand through his hair, paperwork in front of him as he sat in his bed. Ginevra was sleeping beside him, her breathing much more even now he'd managed to get several potions in her. It was only a matter of time, now, she would either wake, and be- if not a bit scarred- good as new.
Or, and this was the outcome he didn't want to think of, she would be damaged beyond repair.
He wasn't sure how long the curse had persisted, had no clue how much damage Bella had done before she cast the curse, if that was all she'd done to the girl.
It was honestly up in the air.
Something he was not at all fond of, he was a man who enjoyed order, he was a man who needed control, and most of all, he was a man who was not accustomed to not having his way.
She shifted beside him, the first movement she'd made on her own and his eyes locked onto her, the parchments he'd been working on forgotten as he stared over at her. He was in the process of writing recension letters to the Ministry, he was withdrawing his legislation against the muggleborns.
It did not mean he agreed they were his equals, but when he watched the witch beside him, red hair splayed around her, face wrinkled in sleep. When he thought about losing her, knowing what it felt like to lose that look of affection he'd grown so attached to…he couldn't do it.
He would not do this to her, he would give her what she wanted, it did not mean he was changing his own personal views, it only meant he was withdrawing from this particular fight. Bellatrix had proven to him it was not a battle he wanted to be on this side of regardless.
When one began to torture their own kind, their peers, it changed things, very quickly.
His attachment to the girl may have played at least a minor role in it all as well.
She rolled onto her back and he reached over to brush the hair back from her face, her sleeping face completely visible to him. He took a breath, would she always stun him with her beauty? How could anyone be so incredibly fascinating, so lovely, and so sweet?
He picked up the charm bracelet from the table beside him and picked up her limp arm, securing it on her wrist as she slept and settling the limb across her stomach. The dragon writhed and moved, shifting in the light and he cleared his throat, trying to deny the sting of his worry as he turned back to his parchments and carried on composing letters to the Ministry.
He could only hope she would give him another chance.
She said she saw potential in him, and he was going to prove to her he could be what she thought he could, if she would only wake up undamaged.
LMGW
Ginny woke with a start, her eyes wide as she glanced around the room.
No mad witch, she exhaled a sigh of relief. Large, familiar arms were wrapped around her and she turned, Lucius held her, enfolded in his arms, his eyes closed in sleep and the remnants of his work littered the bed.
She wondered for a moment exactly why he'd been working in the bed but then, when she thought about it, her stomach flipped.
It couldn't be because he was worried for her, could it?
Could she hope it was?
She took another breath and tried to shift away, being grasped more tightly and shook her head, a small smile on her face.
Her anger was forgotten, for the moment, the lingering twinges of pain in her joints and nerve endings were a bit unsettling, a troubling reminder of what she'd been through and she closed her eyes, laying her forehead against his lips. Lips that kissed her head when and she pulled back, eyes wide.
Lucius' eyes were open, focused on her and the clearest color of grey, like they'd been that first time he'd kissed her.
"Hi." She managed, her throat was raw and she winced, her voice was scratchy, she didn't even sound like herself.
"Don't talk, okay? Your throat is going to need time to heal." She nodded, her eyes focused on his, pity, there was a lot she wanted to say. He pulled back from her and sat up, helping her to do the same and lean back against the pillows.
"I'm going to call for breakfast in bed. You have no idea how relieved I am that you are awake." He handed her a parchment and self-inking quill.
"How are you feeling?"
I've been better. She scrawled and he gave a nod, a hand coming up to brush red hair back from her face, she leaned against his knuckles for a moment before looking up at him again.
Did you stop her?
He nodded.
"I did, I cut all ties with her, and her cause." He watched for her reaction, her eyes were wide and her face flushed as she stared over at him.
Really? But- I thought you couldn't… Her face fell, when she looked down at her hands her eyes went wide and she held her wrist up closer to her face, fascinated.
There, hanging from her wrist was her silver bracelet, the thin chain and squirming charm right where they'd once been.
She shot her eyes back to Lucius, giving him a long look that spoke volumes exactly what she was feeling. Her eyes pricked with tears and she jammed the down, trying to stop them before they could flow.
"I would also like to show you this." He handed her another piece of parchment.
She read over it quickly, her eyes skimming the words and her body bubbling with excitement as she read over it.
"Oh Luc…" She cooed, her voice cracked and it hurt but she didn't care, the tears were flowing now and she launched herself into his arms, he was rescinding his legislation.
"Don't talk, stubborn woman." He held her to his chest, his arms wrapped around her small frame as she cried into his chest. He hadn't expected to make the witch cry, as far as he'd been able to tell she wasn't one for such displays of emotion.
It must have been too much at once, he concluded as he stroked her back and the long locks of red hair that ran down it.
Dobby appeared with their breakfast and he eased her back into her place, his eyes watchful as she settled back into her place. Two trays were settled at the foot of the bed for the moment they were ready for them and he glanced from the food to the witch.
Does this mean you're going to send me away? She scrawled quickly on her parchment. Her face contorted into something that looked briefly like pain before she wiped it away and looked to the other side of the bed, not making eye contact.
"Ginevra…" He exhaled and hooked a hand onto the back of her head, helping urge her to turn to look back at him.
"I'm not going to send you away, I do think you should complete your education, and see your family and your friend."
I won't let you be in trouble. She scrawled and he gave a slight nod.
"If I must I will beg forgiveness." He pursed his lips, as if the words left a bad taste in his mouth and she let out a croaking laugh.
No need to make yourself insane, Luc.
"Very cute, Ginevra." He smirked and she gave him a broad grin, her fingers dropped the quill to play at the bracelet around her wrist.
"Thank you." She croaked out and he pressed his lips to hers, he brought his hand up to cup her cheek as he kissed her softly before pulling back and giving her a long look.
"If I must keep my mouth on yours to keep you silent I will. You will only make your throat worse." Ginny wasn't sure why, but she was pretty sure that was the sweetest thing anyone had ever said to her.