Disclaimer: I don't own Harry Potter, JKR does.

Chapter Fourteen

Hermione kept walking, ignoring the footsteps behind her. If she just ignored his presence then eventually he would go away. Everyone in the house had gone out for the day, either discreetly going shopping for clothes for the wedding or running errands. Taking in slow deep breaths and counting to ten in her head mentally, Hermione tried to control her emotions and erratic heartbeat as she rounded the corner to go up to her room. Knowing he was right behind her, Hermione was about to put her foot on one step when she felt a masculine hand clamp around her upper arm, holding her in place.

That unfamiliar and unwanted heat began to spread throughout her body, starting from the way his fingers burned into her skin. Her pulse began to beat frantically as well as set her heart into over-drive mode. Regardless, Hermione didn't turn around, refusing to comply with whatever the hell he wanted. He had already done enough damage.

"Granger."

Hermione kept her chin held high, turning around. Lucius walked around to face her, spinning her around so that her arm was behind her and Hermione had no choice but to look at him. Immediately she was sucked back into that night in her bedroom. The memories bombared her brain and vision as she remembered the way she had behaved. The sole memory of how soft Lucius's lips were and the way he had kissed her so thoroughly caused Hermione's knees to go weak. Once again, heat pooled in the pit of her stomach, spreading throughout her abdomen and inner thighs causing Hermione to clamp her legs closed and hold very still.

His cold blue-gray eyes bore into Hermione's own brown ones as she took in his new appearance one again. The man was ridiculously flawless, with smooth taut skin. He was every inch the arrogant bastard and Hermione wished her ludicrous attraction towards him would end.

They stood there, observing once another. Lucius had his face composed into his usual unyielding mask while Hermione was trying very hard to not let her emotions show. He took in her face, cheeks flushed and moist full lips. She wasn't overly beautiful, at least not like the beauty Lucius was used to. He had spent his life with Narcissa, who radiated a "cold beauty", if you will. Hermione on the other hand excluded warmth, and a fresh earthly glow. She had a different beauty. Whereas his wife was skinny with curves, Hermione was voluptuous with more curves in all the right places. Right curves for the wrong man, Lucius thought. Her mass of glossy curly hair was tightly coiled, falling below her shoulder, yet not at her waist. Somehow, over the course of the years she had developed from a skinny, awkward teenager to a curvy, fit young woman but she still wasn't as confident or sure of her beauty as were the other girls. She definitely didn't carry herself like Ginny did, who walked around knowing all eyes were on her.

Yet, Lucius knew that Hermione attracted equal attention but she wasn't as confident in her abilities' as a woman. Her emotions were easily displayed and she most certainly did not know how to behave in a coy or playful manner. No, the girl was young and she didn't control herself as easily as she thought she could. Lucius preferred the sexy, confident and controlled women and Hermione had none of those qualities, except for the sexy part. She was a polar opposite from his usual taste, but that didn't stop Lucius's heart from beating in an irregular way, or stop his breath from hitching every time Hermione's eyes met his with arousal in her eyes. Hell, even when she looked at him as though she wanted to kill him, his breath would get stuck somewhere in his body and all he wanted to do was grab her and kiss her until she was a puddle of unadulterated lust and begging him for more. His very being wanted to tame this little hellion until she was purring and withering from the passion he brought her.

Oh, you are officially loosing it Malfoy, a sly and shocked voice in his head said. Lucius ignored it. He knew that Hermione was not his and that he had no business lusting after her like he was doing but that didn't seem to stop his over dramatic thoughts or the lustful monster that decided to rear its head every time she was near. He could be in her presence without her scent giving him a hard on for pity's sake! He gaze moved from her eyes to her lips, the lush, cherry red mouth so inviting he bent his head, trying to get as close as possible.

"What are you doing? Let go!" Hermione demanded as soon as she saw his head come closer to his. She ignored the little voice in her head asking her why she didn't pull away. Rather, Hermione was stuck, rooted to that spot. She refused to look at his lips but her new, wanton side was not letting her. Her gaze rested upon his lips, taking them in. the bottom lip was fuller than the top one. They curved ever so slightly, tempting a woman to touch and kiss them until she lost herself in the power of his forbidden kisses and begged for more.

I'm going crazy. Hermione didn't know a truer statement than that.

"No." Lucius didn't know who was more shocked by his answer, him or Hermione.

" 'No'? Is that what you just said?" Hermione asked, her mouth drying at the depth of desire she saw in Lucius's eyes. The man was simply the most hard-headed and rudest human being to inhabit the earth.

"Out of all the people in this world, why did he have to choose me to torture?" Hermione thought, not realizing that she just said it aloud. Lucius's mouth quirked at that.

"Because you are a mudblood."

The words made Hermione's blood boil and she could have sworn she saw red. Rearing back with all her might, Hermione pushed him back with one arm, crying out as he lost his balance and pulled her along with him, except her cry wasn't one from shock. Hermione felt her arm bend backwards as the sickening sound of breaking bone filled the room.

"Hermione!"

She recognized Sirius's voice but it came from far away, her main focus was the blinding pain in her arm. She saw a spell hit Malfoy, who was immediately flown off of her while Sirius rushed to scoop her up. His concerned face loomed in front of hers. Hermione bit the inside of her cheek, making sure the rears in her eyes didn't spill. She saw Snape move towards an advancing Lucius who threw a murderous look at Sirius while Snape kept a firm grip on him. Hermione found her gaze being dragged towards Lucius who froze, his gazing slipping from her broken arm to her terrified expression and that's when Hermione began to cry.

Hot tears began to spill down her cheeks and Sirius muttered a curse, turning away. Great sobs racked Hermione's small frame as she turned her head into Sirius's chest, pressing closer to him. Her hair covered the rest of her face as Sirius gently began to climb up the steps, murmuring tender words to quell Hermione's sobs. From down below, Lucius watched Sirius carry Hermione up the steps and felt something inside of him start to boil. Something akin to jealousy and possessiveness gripped him so hard he had to clench his fist in order to not push Severus to the side and go after Sirius to tell him just who Hermione belonged to.

"Are you trying to get yourself killed Malfoy?" Severus snapped, walking away angrily. Lucius kept quiet, fearing that he would admit to Severus just how insanely jealous he was. He knew that Severus would not at all be delighted to hear that he was developing 'feelings' for Hermione. I am not developing 'feelings'. It is mere lust, nothing more. Lucius began to tell himself this when Severus turned around and froze. Lucius knew he could see the look of envy and fury on his face as his gaze lingered on the closed door. Severus followed Lucius's gaze, looking back at Lucius with a look of mild amusement on his face. Just as Lucius was about to tell Severus the same thing he was telling himself, Severus turned around and left, and that's when Lucius realized that he was in some deep shit.

AN: Forgive me for my lack of update in these few months. I'm just getting my things together and waiting to graduate

However, here is a new chapter for all my faithful readers and anxious readers. I love you all and I adore reviews. R&R lovely people :*

XOXO- N.F