Chapter 25

Hermione wasn't sure why she'd said yes to going away with Lucius. She regretted it instantly. She knew that this relationship should not go to the next level, but on the other hand, she was feeling like she was losing grip on this world. And he was kind of the centre of it. Although she didn't want this to progress, she still didn't want to lose him.

Say what you will about him, he was the first person she ever fallen in love with. And somehow, not having him around would hurt. She had already lost Harry, she felt like she was losing everyone else and he would be the only person who would object if she quietly slipped away.

As it had been since the moment she met him, he left her utterly confused. Although all seemed pretty clear when he touched her. Hermione was slightly embarrassed about that, but it was true.

So she packed a change of clothes and some toiletries into her shrinkable bag and agreed to meet him at the International Portkey Department. She was very conscious about being seen in public with him in case someone would see her. Although the only people who would really care would be Ron and Ginny. Others might raise an eyebrow, but her part in the war, since she had missed much of it, was largely forgotten.

The porting was long and just as uncomfortable as the last time, although Lucius held onto her which avoided the slam to the ground.

Everything was different in Austria, the sun was brighter, the air was lighter, the buildings were brighter and it just had a different feel.

Lucius led her down a street. This was obviously the wizarding part of Vienna, a part she had never seen on postcards or TV. It was quite different from wizarding Britain. The buildings were mostly stone and stone washed as opposed to the UK's wooden buildings.

He finally turned into a large structure with a magnificent large space inside. It must be the hotel. The hotel staff showed them straight through to an elevator. Then down a corridor into a large room before discreetly disappearing. The hotel seemed to be decorated in forest green and gold throughout.

A large white bed with gold trimming occupied the centre of the room. Hermione felt uncomfortable. She wondered what the staff thought of her, actually she had a pretty good idea what they thought. And she hated it.

"Have you been here before?" She asked.

"Once or twice." He said looking out the window, while Hermione wondered if this is where he brought women. She felt sick.

"I do business here sometimes." He said. "Here is a significant financial industry here. Some of which I must meet shortly. I will be a couple of hours, then when I return, we will go to dinner at a restaurant nearby. Magnificant restaurant, you will like it."

"Will I?" She said, a little absently.

"So in the meantime, settle in, have a bath or a nap and I will be back shortly." He said with a smile then left.

Hermione still felt uncomfortable in this room. It must have been awfully expensive. All the furniture looked antique. She didn't want a bath or a nap. After looking out the window at the street below, she decided to read. She had taken an interest in the witch trials lately. Some of it was awful with innocent girls being murdered. Most had no actual witch involvement, but there were some witches who enjoyed baiting witch hunters; baiting men who wanted them dead.

Once she started reading, Lucius seemed to be back before she knew it.

"You always read, don't you?" He said.

"Yes."

"Must you know everything?"

"Not everything."

"What topics don't interest you?" He asked leaning against the door.

"Hurting people." She said.

"The Dark Arts." He said. "Then how can you defend yourself if someone tries to practice it on you."

"Why would anyone want to?"

He smiled. "People do all sorts of things for all sorts of reasons."

"Why are you interested in the Dark Arts?"

"Several reasons. Defence. Family tradition."

"Manipulation?"

"Sometimes." He said. "We've had this discussion before." He said, which was true, they had when he was younger.

"Just wanted to see if your perspective has changed."

"I don't think so." He said. "Now it is time to go to dinner. I am afraid that it is somewhat more formal."

"I didn't bring anything more formal." Hermione said.

"We can fix that." He said and pulled out his wand. "If you would allow me."

Hermione felt uncomfortable with him having his wand on her, part fear, part thrill. She did trust him, she knew that. But he was so capable of other things. And there was the undeniable fact that she couldn't take him in a straight duel. Not by a longshot.

He transformed her robes into a more formal one, more feminine. It was dark, with shimmer, and hugged her curves.

"There is something very satisfying about dressing a woman." He said. It sounded like a realisation. "Now the shoes."

He didn't do any outer robes for her so she felt the chill when they stepped outside.

"You are cold." He said. "You will have to share my robes." He said and lifted his outer robes up and around her shoulder.

"You did this on purpose." She said as she had to revert to snuggling in.

"I might have." He said and led her down the street. "Deviousness has its rewards."

They reached the restaurant shortly. Again opulent with a dark glow. Well designed in the way that lets you forget that there were other patrons there.

"Do you like seafood?" He asked.

"Yes."

"Then I will order the bass for you." He said and proceeded when she didn't object.

She wasn't used to men ordering for her.

"Do you always order for women?" She asked once the waiter was dispatched.

"It is the etiquette."

"Here."

"In the UK too."

"Amongst your set?" She said. "I have never come across it before."

"Well you have been thoroughly abused."

That made her laugh.

"We are so very different." She said. An acknowledgement that there were worlds between them.

"Not so different." He said. "On some levels, I think we are very much alike."

Hermione didn't believe him. Sure they both really like sex with each other, but that did not make two people alike.

"You belong to another world."

"And you belong to none." He said. It stung. The wellspring of his prejudice. They've had this discussion before too. It was very close to hitting something very raw. It left her quiet for a while.

"But you are more authentic." He said after a while. "You do not follow the well trodden path with rules of expectations. Everything is new to you."

She didn't know what he meant, but got the feeling that it was a compliment.

"In fact you break all the rules." He continued with a smile.

"Do I?" She said. "I hadn't noticed."

"That is the point. You do not know the rules. And I dare say, you don't care. I suppose that is the prerogative of someone in your position."

"I can do what I want?"

"Yes."

Hermione hadn't exactly looked at it that way.

"It must be quite liberating to not have any expectations or duties." He said. "What are your parents' expectations of you?"

"To be happy." She said.

"See, not really an issue on concern in my society." He said. "In fact, it is the first thing sacrificed."

Hermione knew he was telling her something important here. But it was disrupted by the arrival of the meal. And it really was exquisite. The fish just melted in her mouth and the creamy sauce was almost sinful.

"Did you like it?" He asked, when she'd finished.

"It was the best fish I have ever had." She said honestly. Well it was on par with that one in a street restaurant in Thailand once, but that did not need to be mentioned.

"Well, we make up with our shortcomings with exquisite food." He said. "That is why so many of us have indulged more than we should have."

He obviously wasn't talking about himself because there were no signs of indulgence on him. Then again, she couldn't really recall a time when he'd indulging himself with food or even drink.

"Dessert?" He asked.

"I don't think I could if I tried."

He nodded and suggested they go for a walk. The strategy of under dressing her now seemed to have its benefits again as she had to snuggle in under his arm and robe to be sufficiently warm.

It was dark outside and along with a full stomach, it made her much more relaxed. She was enjoying having him next to her. Walking the dark streets of a foreign city with the night ahead of her. She knew full well how this night would end and there was no rush in getting to the inevitable but awaited conclusion.

"Let me show you something." He said and steered her towards a building. Again an opulent building.

"Are all buildings this nice here?" She asked.

"It is the style for this area." He said. "Most of the buildings here are almost three hundred years old. There was a major reconstruction after the 1731 war. So many of the buildings are of that era." He said as they walked up a set of stairs.

He took her into a large room. A gallery of some sort. Full of art on the wall. Art that wasn't moving.

"These are muggle paintings." She said. Not sure what this was. She looked that them for a while. They were good. They were really good.

She saw one in particular.

"This looks like a Van Gogh." She said looking at a painting she had never seen before. What was this?

"It is a Van Gogh."

"No, it can't be. This is an unknown painting." She said to her amazement.

"Well, it is well known in some circles." He said.

Hermione moved onto the other painting and they were all really good. Classical paintings that should have been in a museum.

"But the world must know about these." Hermione said.

"No, they are our paintings, our history."

"But they are muggle."

"They were all painted as part of the magical community."

"Are you saying Van Gogh was a part of the magical community?" She said incredulously.

"For a short while." He said. "I particularly like this one. This was painted by a nun in by the name of Sister Maria."

"I don't think I have heard of her."

"No, I think not." He said. "She was quite an artist and she was known for a little while in the muggle world, but all of her paintings were retrieved by a wizard by the name of Malthus Becktisher, along with her."

"Retrieved?" Hermione repeated trying to understand what he was saying.

"Wizardkind have always coveted the genius found in the muggle world." He said. "Sometimes the paintings as in the case of Van Gogh, but more often than not it is the artist itself. In the case of Sister Maria, Malthus took her and kept her."

"Took her?" She said. "Do you mean he kidnapped her?"

"He eventually seduced her." He said. "They lived together for almost 70 years. Not all of them end such. Some were held against their will."

Hermione looked around at the scores of paintings.

"And this is a gallery of muggle artists that were 'taken'?"

"No, it is a homage to the genius of the muggle world and how that genius is irresistible to the wizard world." He said. "The muggle and the wizard world have a long history."

"Why are you showing me this?" Hermione said, not sure what his point was.

"All of these wizards were severely censured for their deeds, but there is a strong precedence of obsession with muggles." He said. "Not that its discussed or ever condoned, but it is part of our history."

Hermione still didn't understand.

"Not something that is shown to children, but some of these wizards, witches as well sometimes, gave up everything for the pursuit of their muggles. At a loss of their standing, their families and their prospects." He said. "It is not so uncommon now. Marriages between wizards and muggles are quite common, almost accepted, but back then, it was absolutely unacceptable. But they would still do it. I never understood why they would injure themselves such."

Hermione let him talk. She was a bit shocked by what she was seeming, but he was trying to make a point.

"I never understood that drive." He continued, talking more to himself. "To give up everything." He finished quietly.

"It is not an uncommon story anywhere." She said. "People have sacrificed for love since the beginning of time."

"Is that what it is?" He asked. "Love?"

"What else would it be?" She said. "Can we go?"

This place was creeping her out. She wasn't sure why. Old stories of obsession and misdeed. Why had he shown this to her? Is this how he explained their pairing, a muggle obsession?