Chapter 25
Hermione looked outside the bedroom window, Lucius had put locking spells on the villa so she couldn't leave without him. Last night was so strange, never had she experienced anything like it and wondered if Harry would have had it in him to do that to her...probably not. Though he liked to dominate, pinning her, biting her slightly when they made love...whipping she really couldn't see him doing. He felt guilty just leaving marks on her neck, she could only imagine what kind of fit he would have for leaving red lash marks on her back. But maybe he would have grown out of that. Maybe.
She still hadn't been able to reach Eric, there was no sign of him and Hermione feared for the worst. Could Lucius have placed him into oblivion? Cut the cord and send him to the land of the dead...she wouldn't put it past him. The sun was setting and he would be home soon. Lucius had managed to retain a job working at a bank, a high position no less of 'Financial Investment Manager'. She didn't question how he got it, and was sure he aquired the right credentials the way he aquired everything else he wanted...through dark means.
Still, his presence was comforting to some extent and it was better than being alone like she was at her flat near Diagon Alley. Lucius was taking care of her, making sure she ate, making sure she got exercise and had fresh air. Maybe she was a pet...a muggleborn pet, that sounded about right. Dinner was starting to cook and it smelled delicous, the house elves making sure it was right on the table when he came home...that was the way Lucius wanted it. Lucius...she couldn't call him Eric, so they made the agreement that when they were in private she could call him by his true name, but in public, it was to be 'Eric'.
Lately she wasn't feeling well, sleeping more and taking naps during the day. It was just exhaustion, she was sure of it. Food was starting to sicken her slightly, it was just stress. Still, she had an hour before he came home...and her eyes were so heavy. Hermione crawled into their large bed, personally, she didn't even know why he needed a bed this large...but he was a spoiled pure-blood who was used to having everything bigger and better than 'normal people', she guessed.
Lucius was home and dinner was on the table, but where was Hermione? Normally she met him at the door, surely she couldn't have run away again. He went upstairs and found her sleeping, tilting his head a bit because she looked like an angel...glowing slightly.
She was glowing...?
She was tired lately.
She was avoiding eating certain foods that smelled strange to her.
She was very emotional lately and unfocused.
Hermione was pregnant...and a smile went over his face.
PREGNANT! Suddenly this panic went over him...he had struck her with a whip yesterday! He had thrown her on the ground when she attacked him! Plus she jumped out of a window!
Immediately he picked her up and she groaned slightly, "Lucius...what's the matter? I'm sorry, I'm just not very hungry."
"No, mon cher...we are going to the hospital," he said softly.
"Why?"
"To give you a checkup, you haven't seen the Healer in a while and you've been very tired."
"Oh," she nestled close to him and went back to sleep.
They apparated to the hospital and she was immediately taken to the maternity ward to see the pediatric healer. She did a simple test to verify pregnancy and she was and there was no sign of illness to the child, "congradulations, Mr. Tellini. Your wife has been pregnant for about three weeks now. It suits her, she glows like all new mothers should during pregnancy."
"Indeed," he petted Hermione. "But...should she be this tired?"
"Has there been some undue stress?"
"Well, we've just come from another country and decided to settle here for a while and bought a new home."
"Most likely that's it, too much excitement. Still, here are some health potions that will help with fatigue and make sure she takes one every day."
Hermione laid there as he told her the news...she was pregnant. How did this happen? It was obvious of course...but she had taken the contraceptive potions everyday...everyday except for one. The day she ran out on the train and couldn't find anymore...the day she had almost killed herself and made love to him. The contraceptive potions when you were pregnant stopped working and didn't harm the child if you accidently kept taking them...they were designed for that. Of course it would only take one time with him, he was a potent man...the power in him alone, much less his seed. Hermione wasn't sure how she felt, but Lucius was happy, incredibly happy.
"How do you feel?" he asked in a gentlemanly fashion.
"Health wise or emtionally?"
"Both."
"I don't know...," she started to cry. Lucius took her into his arms and laid down with her. "What about what we did last night?"
"It didn't harm the child. You will be fine as well...granted we'll have to tone it down a bit now."
"Will...will you love this child? Better than you did...with...will you love better?" Hermione's voice was so small. She wanted Lucius to not be so strict and stern as he was with Draco...even cruel sometimes.
"Yes. I know about my mistakes with Draco...and I will not repeat them," Lucius was hoping this was here excepting him.
"But who will he look like?"
That was a good question, "most likely Eric...disappointing, but I did use his seed to get you pregant, but he will carry the Malfoy genes as far as magic."
She nodded, "will you please answer me something...and please don't be angry."
"What is it?"
"What did you do with Eric..?"
Lucius kept his temper down enough where he eve suprised himself, "MUST I answer that?"
"Yes," Hermione said softly.
"You will not like the answer..."
"I understand."
"He is within this body..."
She shot him a look, "WHAT...how! Who are you...Lucius or Eric!"
"Lucius...but I have Eric held within this body, we are what is known as a 'multiple soul.' I knew you wouldn't stop contact with Eric and I couldn't risk you going against me. So I made him part of me..."
Hermione tried to get away from him but Lucius grabbed onto her, "YOU'RE LYING!"
"AM I? Would you like to see him?"
She turned to face him and nodded...then right before her eyes, everything changed, not his appearence, but his aura, his nature, everything. "HERMIONE?"
"E..ERIC?"
"HERMIONE!" he hugged her so hard she almost couldn't breath. "I'm sorry, I'm sorry I couldn't fight him, he was too strong...!"
"Eric," she kissed his face and he took her lips.
"To hold you again..." Eric looked up, "I know you're pregnant...I'm happy, it's partly mine at least."
"Yes...yes, it is."
"I don't know what to do...," he kissed her again...it became passionate and he started to try and make love to her when Lucius interferred.
"NOT...SO...FAST...OLD BOY!" Lucius hissed, he was struggling and then contained Eric.
Hermione could only watch helplessly.
"I'm afraid I won't be letting that happen any time soon."
"You're a monster," she said.
"I know I am. But this monster holds the keys, doesn't he?" Lucius sat up and held her close, wrapping his legs around her. "Believe it or not, I love you as much as he does and that is ONE thing he and I have in common. And every once in a while...I will let you see him, do you understand? If it will make you happy. If it will keep you healthy to keep the child safe..."
"Alright," was all she would say. "But let us make something quite clear, YOU...BELONG...TO ME."