A/N: Thank you to everyone you reviewed, favorited and followed after last chapter! I know some of you were upset that Hermione gave in so easily, but I promise it is almost over. This story contains some are adult moments...I did not intend this story to contain so many, but then again it is a story about an affair. After this chapter, we are caught up the to first chapter, so you might want to go back and read that one after this one.

Please let me know what you thought of chapter twenty and be on the lookout for chapter twenty-one soon!

April, 2000

Hermione hated the way that all of her hard work, each inch hard earned over the past four months, could be completely destroyed in an instant. She knew that the moment that Lucius had kissed her in that alcove, that she was lost to him.

All of her feelings and thoughts about the blond man came swirling back. She wanted to hate him, really she did, but she found that it was impossible when all of her memories of their time together were still so fond.

She knew that she should hate him because he chose another woman, a woman he admitted to hating, over her because of the nebulous idea of a reputation. She knew that she should hate him because he couldn't let her go, couldn't lead her on.

She knew that she should hate herself because one touch was all it took to have her pinning after him, longing for just one more kiss or one more look, but she couldn't let it go either, despite her best efforts.

Harry, though very wrapped up in the break up between Ron and Romilda, was perceptive enough to notice the change in her demeanor. When he pressed for details, Hermione came close to telling him everything, only to hold back. If he thought that she was having trouble with Cassius, she wouldn't elaborate. She couldn't imagine what he'd think about if he knew the real Slytherin that she was pining over.

Daphne was more perceptive, noting that Lucius and Hermione had been nowhere to be found for some time during the wedding. Apparently, even Draco had noticed, which mortified her. Hermione tried to tell Daphne that nothing had happened, but her excuses sounded lame even to her. "I'll be here for you when you are ready to tell me the truth." Daphne told her, squeezing her hand.

For her part, Hermione tried to ignore Lucius at work, but he was more persistent now that he knew he could break her down. It didn't take long for him to get her alone, calling her into his office to discuss bronze futures.

He was very professional during their discussion, and Hermione felt her defenses coming down, hoping that he had gotten her hint, only to be shocked when he warded the door, pressing her against his desk and pressing against her. "How I've longed to get you alone again." He told her, his fingers playing with the lines of her collarbones.

Hermione tried to break free of his hold. "Lucius, we can't do this." She protested weakly, her stomach tight with the possibility of more amorous actions.

"Don't you understand? I want to be with you. Why won't you just let me have this? We both want it." Hermione was surprised by the pleading tone in his voice. Just by his words, one would think he was just talking about the sex, but Hermione could tell that he meant the whole relationship.

"It's not right, Lucius. I can't be with you while you are with Narcissa. It's not fair to me." She fended off a kiss by turning her head, tears already forming in her eyes. "I want a wedding, I want a family, and I am not going to get that with you."

"But I love you." He told her, desparate. "Please, Hermione, I love you."

Hermione stiffened, hearing his words. She wished that she could believe him, but it was impossible that he loved her while putting her through all this pain. Was it just empty words designed to trick her into falling back into his bed? She refused to be manipulated by this man a second, third time.

It hurt because she realized now just how much she loved Lucius back. He was romantic, thoughtful when he wanted to be, remembered things about her, and asked her about things that interested her. He believed in her. He wanted her to succeed. And, she couldn't deny that they shared a deep physical connection.

Hermione twisted her body out of his grasp. "It's not fair to me. I am not going to change my mind about this." She insisted, but already she felt her resolve failing her. She just always seemed to give in with him. He was so stubborn about their relationship, it seemed that he could just roll over her desires.

She wondered what he really thought of when he saw her. Did he think she was a weak little fawn, just waiting to be taken advantage of? Had he convinced himself that he did love her truly? Was his concept of love warped?

Tired of him not playing fair with her, she pulled down the wards keeping visitors out of his office, before turning and heading back to her desk, her thoughts confused.

May, 2000

Two weeks after Lucius had told her that he wanted to be with her, Hermione realized that she'd slipped back into a relationship with the blond man. It had started slowly, with him speaking to her throughout the day, making her laugh despite her best efforts.

After they closed a big deal, the whole office went out for drinks, and he'd spent the evening sending her smoldering glances, his fingers brushing over hers when he offered her another cocktail. She knew that her desire was quickly growing, and she was liable to have a whole blaze on her hands if she wasn't careful.

It wasn't until a work meeting though that the wildfire had ignited and sent her reeling. During her time at the Ministry, Hermione learned that it was not unusual to have dinner meetings, as many of the other countries liked to be wined and dined before they would agree to any kind of contract. She'd only gone to one before, as they were usually attended with spouses, and Hermione got the impression that they didn't like any single young witches to compete with wives for the men's attentions. Not that she would do that anyway.

She dressed up nicely for the dinner with the trade wizards from Latvia, Lithuania and Estonia, excited to get to participate again, especially because she was so fascinated with those countries. They had a very delicate relationship with Russia, so all of the trade agreements required special attention.

What she hadn't been expecting was to be the only single witch at the dinner, leaving her and Lucius as the odd pair out. Hermione bristled momentarily, only to graciously sit down when the tall wizard pulled out her chair for her. In the back of her mind, she wondered why he hadn't brought Narcissa. Surely these other wizards would be more impressed with his stately wife.

When it was time to order dinner, Lucius leaned over to whisper in her ear some dishes he thought that she might enjoy. The feeling of his hot breath on her ear made her shiver with desire. She purposefully picked something he hadn't suggested, just to annoy him, but if anything it seemed to amuse him.

During the conversation, Lucius seemed to keep in constant contact with her, touching her leg under the table, or brushing her hand with his when he reached for his glass or the salt. All it did was ensure that her focus was completely on him. "Your earrings are especially lovely, Miss Granger." The wife of the Estonian Trade Minister said, startling her.

"Thank you. They were a gift." Hermione said quietly, annoyed that she was only just remembering that they were a gift from Lucius. She hadn't touched the necklace he'd given her since Christmas, but she did wear the diamond earrings on nights out. Perhaps there was some subliminal reason that she'd chosen to wear them tonight.

"Are they from Russia?" The woman asked, unaware of her discomfort.

"Um...I am not sure." Hermione said softly, refusing to look to Lucius to see where they were from. To her mortification, he replied anyway.

"The diamonds are from Czechoslovakia, actually." Lucius said, not missing the appraising smiles from the other wizards at the table. It was plain for all to see the sexual tension between the young witch and Malfoy.

Hermione, desperate to get the conversation onto other topics, snapped at Lucius. "Czechoslovakia has been dissolved for nearly a decade, Lucius."

He rewarded her with that sharklike grin he was so fond of whenever he was right. "Yes, but when the diamonds were mined, it was still Czechoslovakia." He squeezed her leg under the table, before letting his fingers trail up her inner thigh, causing her breath to hitch.

Sufficiently cowed, Hermione bit her lower lip trying to regain control of her emotions while the wizards talked about anything but trade deals. In the blink of an eye, the dinner was completed and they'd accomplished absolutely nothing, leaving Hermione feeling foolish for having gone at all. "Won't you make sure that the delightful Miss Granger gets home safely?" The short Latvian wizard asked Malfoy.

Malfoy was already helping Hermione into her coat, and tucking her arm into his. "Yes, of course I will." He lead her away from the restaurant, which was not far from her flat.

Once they were out of sight of the other wizards, Hermione spoke. "You don't need to walk me home." She said, knowing that she could take care of herself, and not trusting herself alone with the delectable wizard.

"And miss the chance of a goodnight kiss?" Lucius asked, with a smirk. "Absolutely not." Belatedly, Hermione realized that they were walking along Diagon Alley in clear view of anyone who cared to take a picture. They were finally out in the open. Her heart fluttered, wishing someone would just tell Narcissa of his infidelity so that she would give him the divorce.

Before she knew it, they were standing in front of her flat. Dinner had been just like old times, Hermione thought, and it had stirred up a lot of feelings. Not to mention being so close to him all night, all his little touches had her body longing for a more intimate touch.

She didn't even hesitate to reach up to him, pressing her lips against his in a fierce kiss, desire in her belly pooling like liquid fire. He wrapped his arms around her, holding her against him tightly. Just when things were going too far, Hermione pulled away, a bright blush on her cheeks. "Goodnight, Lucius."

June, 2000

"Miss Granger, could you step into my office?" Lucius called from his desk one Friday. Hermione stiffened momentarily, noticing Lucian Bole staring at her rather oddly. Setting down her quill, Hermione stood and walked into his office, shutting the door behind her.

"You asked to see me?" Hermione asked, feeling nervous. It was true that they'd grown more intimate, but each encounter always left Hermione feeling utterly conflicted.

Waving his wand, Lucius put up silencing and locking spells on the door. "Please, come here and sit on my desk." Lucius said from his spot in his chair.

Hermione immediately blushed. "We can't do that here, Lucius, there are too many people." Truthfully there were many more reasons why they couldn't do it at all.

"Nonsense. Do you not trust my spellwork?" He asked. Hermione kept silent. He patted the spot on the desk in front of him. "Come on. Up here now. I have a special treat for you."

His words immediately sent Hermione's thoughts into overdrive and she was walking on autopilot, hopping up onto the desk, her legs spread to accommodate his legs between them. Her breath hitched feeling his big hands running up the skin of her thighs, sliding under her skirt, before grabbing the edge of her knickers, pulling them down. Hermione shifted to help him remove them.

Standing from the chair, Lucius kissed her, his tongue tangling sensuously with hers, slowly pushing her back until she was leaning on the papers he'd been reviewing. Hermione felt herself getting so wet, anticipating his every move.

His hands pushed her skirt up around her hips so that she was completely bare to his gaze. "I've missed this." He said before sitting back in the chair heavily, pulling her to the very edge of the desk.

The first touch of his tongue to her sex had her gasping for air. He wasn't tentative, seeming to know just what touch she needed, whether it was flicking back and forth or soft taps of his tongue against her clit. When his fingers entered her, Hermione was unable to help herself. Propping herself up on her elbows, she caught a glimpse of his white blond head between her thighs.

The image was much more erotic than she was expecting, and she found herself careening over the edge, tightening around his fingers, and moaning out his name. Hermione hoped that his spellwork was as good as he said it was, because she wouldn't be able to return to work if she knew her coworkers had heard that.

Once she had recovered, Lucius pressed a kiss against her lips, helping her up and pulling down her skirt. "That's just a little preview of what the rest of the night has in store. You are going to the party tonight aren't you?" He asked.

Hermione nodded. She was going to the ministry party that night, even though she'd come to resent all the parties and celebration in the wake of Voldemort's defeat. "Are you bringing Narcissa?" She asked, her heart unprepared for the answer.

Lucius stiffened. "You know I am, Hermione. It's expected of me." He told her, unwilling to meet her eyes. "But if I have my way, I won't be going home with her. I'd much rather spend the night in between your sheets."

His words excited her. They hadn't had sex since the wedding, and as much as she hated to admit it, she wanted him inside her again. "We'll see." Hermione said, unable to agree to anything, knowing that Narcissa was going to be there.

"Well, why don't you go home early. Take time getting yourself ready for tonight." He helped her stand from the desk, pressing an indulgent kiss on his lips, laving his tongue over her lower lip. "I can't wait to see how beautiful you will look."

Hermione nodded dumbly, and headed back home, thinking on his words. She thought about his actions the whole time that she was getting ready, coming to a horrifying realization. She'd kissed him for the first time at this same annual party the year before.

She'd wasted an entire year on a wizard who couldn't love her the way she deserved and she was still sucked into his web. It was unacceptable. It didn't matter how much sexual attraction that the pair of them had when it could never be anything more than a tryst.

Spritzing herself with a bit of perfume, Hermione had made up her mind. This would be the night that she would cut off any hope of a romantic relationship with Lucius. For good.