Author's Notes: I blame World of Warcraft wholly for the inexcusable delay of this chapter. Smut lies ahead. You've been warned. Enjoy!

They had spent a short while in the library at Hogwarts, collecting themselves and ensuring their appearances were immaculate before separately making their exit to the grounds where they could apparate freely to the Manor. That had been hours ago, a fogged memory now as they lay entangled together under the thin silver satin sheets of his enormous bed.

His fingertip traced the lines of her palm, slowly dragging along the long curved line spanning from the bottom all the way up to the base of her index finger before moving over to the next crease. Hermione squirmed her hand away with a soft giggle. "That tickles."

"How can that tickle?" He asked with a smirk, pulling her hand back and gently scratching his fingertips spontaneously at the palm.

"No, not like that. Here, give me yours." Hermione grabbed his hand at the wrist and flipped it palm-side up. Careful not to apply too much pressure to any one specific spot, she softly brushed her fingers against his palm, tracing the lines as he had done with hers before veering off to the smoother patches in between. Her eyes flickered between his hand and his eyes, waiting for the same giddy response she had given him. Her fingers continued to move, caressing over the sensitive skin, teasing at the edges before swinging back to the center for another swirl. As her index finger approached its third time around his palm, she smiled, defeated, and pushed his hand back towards his chest. "Your hands are all callous, but trust me, it tickles." She reached for his other hand. "Let me try this one."

Lucius held out his hand, watching her intently as she applied the same treatment, slowly trying to tantalize him through the palm. He smiled. She seemed so focused, so fully absorbed, even with something as simple as trying to tickle his hand. She was sweet and kind, everything he had tried so hard to distance himself from for years. Now, as she eyed him with a determined little look on her face while her fingers kept moving over his palm, he wished that distance would never return. Spotting his smile, she grinned triumphantly and asked, "Feel anything?"

His eyes fell on hers, loving the way they creased at the corners when she smiled a genuine smile, no matter how hard she tried to hide it. Silently, he gave a small nod and felt her fingers stall against the firm skin of his palm. Freeing it from her grasp, Lucius cupped the side of her face, and drew her into a kiss wordlessly. His fingers tickled at her cheek, trailing down to her jawline to trace the softness of her skin down to her neck, knowing the sensation would grant him a deeper taste than that of a simple peck. The more he felt her in his arms and tasted her on his lips, the longer he wanted to keep her there.

As if fighting against his own movements, his brows furled as he pulled away from her kiss, the feeling of her still lingering on his lips like sugar. Her expression paused, eyes examining his until she was satisfied with the teasing sample of him and dropped her head down to rest her cheek against the firmness of his chest. His hand reached for her hair, brushing it away from her face and following the long auburn locks over her shoulder and down the length of her arm before beginning over again from the top. "Stay with me," he presented quietly, his voice soft as if whispering a secret, or perhaps confessing to one. "We can raise the wards around the Manor, strengthen them. Lock ourselves away." His chin lowered, bringing his lips against the top of her head as he offered with a timid anticipation, "You don't need to leave."

She would need to return to the burrow in a matter of hours for the private ceremony. Her beautiful bridesmaid's dress lay in a crumbled mess on the floor beside the bed, along with his fresh new dress robes. A simple charm would release the setting wrinkles easily enough, easier than it would be for her to leave him once the night grew to early morning. She couldn't bear to ruin what they had developed, laying in each others arms for hours with not a care in the world except that they were together. Hermione buried the side of her face further against his chest and closed her eyes. "Go to sleep, Lucius," she cooed softly, tightening her arms around his torso.

As she returned to the burrow early the following morning, Hermione noticed she wasn't the only one yawning and falling asleep at the kitchen table. Mrs. Weasley looked slightly less chipper than usual but the younger Weasley family members had obviously been awake for most of the night. The party at Hogwarts had been planned to end no later than midnight, but seeing as it had started around five in the afternoon, that meant a solid seven hours at least of shaking hands, accepting congratulations and entertaining the entire wizarding world as they came to pay their respects to the bride and the groom.

Harry made his way down the stairs and entered the kitchen, looking disheveled and exhausted. "Harry, dear. Come get something warm in your belly before the guests start to arrive."

"Guests?" Harry asked. "Already? What time is it?" He yawned, rubbing at his tired eyes and gave Ginny a loving peck on the cheek as he took a seat at the table.

Mrs. Weasley passed him a plate, filled to the brim with an assorted collection of eggs, toast, and breakfast meats. "It's nearly half past ten. We have until noon to get everything ready."

"I don't know what we were thinking, doing all this in one weekend." Ginny shook her head and took a bite from her toast. Her stomach was in knots, a bundle of nerves as she thought of what the rest of the day held for them. At least by the end of the late afternoon, she and Harry could finally escape away to their newly acquired flat in London and relax, free to enjoy their honeymoon in whatever way they saw fit. Perhaps they would sleep. Hermione smiled at the thought and imaged them passing out from exhaustion before even reaching their marital bed.

By quarter past two, the Weasley's garden had been transformed into a beautifully arranged venue. The guests had arrived, a modest showing of no more than fifty or so people ranging from members of the Order to friends both Harry and Ginny had acquired over the years. Mrs. Weasley's hard work laboring over the many dishes for the evening had finally come to completion as the guests headed straight for her delicious cobbler and cream above all else.

Hermione helped Ginny into her dress, a delicate white design stitched together with a gorgeously sophisticated trim. All the subtle odes to Gryffindor's colors that had been on her dress the previous night had been left out of the wedding gown, leaving only her with her fiery red hair and the soft sprinkle of freckles that spread over her nose and dripped down to her shoulders and chest. Her makeup was simple, pure and clean with just enough of a spark to lighten her eyes and give her an alluring glow.

"You look beautiful, Ginny, really." Hermione grinned excitedly at her, fixing a stray bit of hair that had somehow escaped through the side of Ginny's veil.

"Thanks, Hermione." They hugged, careful not to tear or wrinkle the delicate fabrics of the dress.

"Ok, girls! Places!" Mrs. Weasley called to them as she entered the room, beaming with pride and an uncontrollable sense of overjoy that only a mother could claim. Her only daughter had finally grown up, survived the sea of wild brothers around her, as well as the untimely war that had interrupted her childhood. But as she stood in her wedding gown, ready to take her vows and begin a family of her own, Mrs. Weasley couldn't help but feel the tears begin to form. "Oh dear, take your places, girls." She covered the lower half of her face as her words of encouragement and guidance shrunk away to make room for the lump that had locked itself deep in her throat.

Hermione smiled and took Mrs. Weasley's place by the door, ready to guide Ginny's dress train clear through the path to the gardens. "Come along, Mrs. Potter. Your wedding awaits." She teased as she escorted Ginny through the doorway.

The vows were almost as spectacular as the entire ceremony. Harry had promised to always love Ginny and protect her no matter what obstacles came their way, and in return, Ginny had vowed to stay by his side, supporting him in his all his future endeavors, through thick and thin. They exchanged rings and embraced with a passion-filled, loving kiss that made the entire audience awe in unison. Harry blushed and Ginny bit at her bottom lip nervously as they walked back down the aisle together. Rose pedals had been charmed to fall down from the sky just as they stepped on the path leading out of the gardens.

The cheers and joyous cries rang out all around them, bidding them farewell and a happy honeymoon as they waved goodbye to their friends and family. With their arms intertwined and one last kiss, they disappeared with a familiar pop, apparing from the Weasley's garden to the beautiful life that lay ahead of them. Hermione felt a tear collect along the edge of her eyeline and spill over to roll down the curve of her cheek. 'They deserve to be happy,' she thought privately as one particular blonde wizard came to her mind. She wished he was there.

Escaping the after party an hour and a half later, Hermione found herself at Malfoy's door. The heavy silver door knocker resembled the sleek curving shape of a snake; deep emerald gems placed carefully in tiny little sockets made up the eyes with just enough detail to express its obvious worth to anyone who happened to get past the enormous iron gates surrounding the whole estate. Hermione grabbed the snake by its long neck and struck the door with it.

A moment or two passed before she heard the door's wards and enchantments release. Lucius stood in the threshold as the door opened. He stepped back a few paces and pulled the door further away, allowing her entrance. "I wasn't expecting to see you again this weekend. Come in." Hermione thanked him and walked in. She was still wearing the dress she had worn to the private ceremony. It was modest, for which Hermione had been thankful. There were no doubt many weddings where the bridesmaids' dresses were beyond horrendous, if only to make the bride appear even more spectacular than she would otherwise seem. Luckily, Ginny had enough confidence to shield her wedding party from such embarrassment. Lucius's eyes trailed down the length of her dress before meeting again with her face. "You look beautiful, but surely the party can't be over already?"

"It's not," Hermione agreed. "I left early. I think we should talk about tomorrow."

Lucius nodded and guided her into the sitting room further down the corridor. When they were seated and settled, he began. "What are you thinking?"

"Well," Hermione paused. She had been thinking a lot since she learned of his plans to expose himself to Kingsley and Harry on Monday. She was concerned, she was curious, but most of all, she was uneasy with it. "How sure are you that you want to do this?"

Malfoy chuckled. "You're bringing this up now? The meeting is tomorrow afternoon. I'd say I'm fairly certain at this point." She was making him nervous. The sudden doubt in her tone was throwing him off and he couldn't place where it was coming from.

"I just mean, how certain are you that this is the best option at the moment? What exactly are the other options that we're left with?" Hermione asked. She was beating around the bush and it was frustrating him.

"Hermione, what are you trying to say? You've been pushing me for months to make this decision and now you're questioning it." He shook his head and looked away, his composure slowly slipping as doubt began to rattle his confidence.

The way his brows pinched together as he tried to make sense of what she was telling him made her regret saying anything at all, but she needed to try. "You said at the worst, they would sent you back to Azkaban for lying to them. The more I think about it, the less certain I am that I can help change their mind in your favor. I mean, Harry might listen to me, but the Minister has no reason to hear me out." She shook her head and rubbed at her temple nervously. "I'm afraid I won't be able to do as much as you think I can." She was concerned, but as he heard what had her so worried, he breathed a sign of relief.

"You can do plenty. You're just getting cold feet. That's all." Lucius tried to comfort her. He reached for her hand and brought it up to his lips. "It'll be fine." He kissed the back of her hand and let it drop back down between them, still held comfortably against his palm.

"I don't know how you can be so calm, Lucius." She spoke softly with a shake of her head. "What are you going to do if they decide to send you to Azkaban?"

Lucius paused. A small smile spread over his lips as he answered confidently, "My participation in any illicit activities with the V.R.S. has been minimal at best. I don't plan on throwing it all in and confessing to every wrong that I've done, but I will admit to them that I've lied about my current standings and that I've been approached by high ranking members for recruitment. I'll say that I mulled my options over and after a stint of several alcohol-fueled nights, I made the mistake of agreeing to join them." Lucius shrugged and leaned back against the sofa, satisfied with his trained response. "You know them better than I do. Does that sound like enough reason to lock me away for the rest of my life?"

The more she thought about it in truth, the less she had to argue with. The majority of the nights when attacks or V.R.S.-related assaults took place, Lucius had been with her. She was his alibi for nearly everything they could possibly try to pin on him. Though he had made the mistake of agreeing to join them in the first place, knowing that it would violate his probationary restrictions, unless he specifically committed any of the crimes, they had nothing to hold him for. "No, you're right. It'll be fine." She repeated his words and tried think positive. If he wasn't concerned, obviously she was fretting over nothing. "I just worry about you." She added in her own defense.

Lucius laughed and kissed the back of her hand sweetly. "I'm a survivor. I've lived through two wars, soon to be three, with my relative freedom intact and a beautiful witch by my side." The warmth of his smile spread over his face and lightened his eyes as he watched her blush. "I appreciate your vigilance over me, darling, but keep your worries for someone who needs it."

Hermione smirked, cocking an eyebrow upwards dramatically, "Okay, tough guy, but I hope you know that I'm on to you."

"How so?" Lucius played along, lifting his chin and stretching his arms out to rest on the back of the sofa. "I have nothing to hide."

"You might put on for everyone else, acting all tough and pristine," the witch shifted to face him, drawing her bent leg up onto the sofa partially so as to square off with him. "Untouchable, superior," She continued. He watched her suspiciously and gave a subtle nod in agreement with each word. Her hands fell to his thighs, slowly working their way up against the fabric of his trousers until her fingers found the dense metal buckle to his belt. She stopped, drawing his eyes up to hers as she toyed with the buckle innocently. It was silver, shining bright against the dark shades of his clothes. "You might be tough, Lucius, but I know how to make you melt." The thick black length of the belt stretched and strained as she tugged lightly at the end, feeding it out of the buckle's grip with the delicious clang of loose leather against heavy metal.

He let out a suppressed groan, as if he had been holding his breath all along. She didn't doubt that he may have been doing exactly that. Her hands stilled as she leaned towards him and claimed his mouth with a fire that threatened to devour them both. His arms dropped down from the back of the sofa to grab at her hips, pulling her closer towards him until she was in his lap. Her legs straddled his waist and as their kiss deepened, she could feel his thickness beneath her, trapped against the damned fabrics that separated them. The cold silver of his belt met with the inner most section of her thigh, supple and delicate against the harsh, unforgiving nature of the metal.

The short blonde stubble that surrounded his mouth tickled roughly at her lips as he hungrily matched her pace, fighting for control as she rose up on her knees above his lap. His neck arched back against the sofa, unwilling to give up the taste of her for even a moment. She was too sweet and as she shifted her lips away from his, suckling and nipping at the rough stubble of his throat, his patience for teasing and seductions had reached its limit. "Lie back." She felt the words against her lips as she kissed her way back up his neck slowly.

Ignoring his command entirely, Hermione reached down between them and felt for the fastenings of his trousers. He was firm, throbbing and ready from the pressure of her weight against his lap and the taste of her kiss still lingering on his tongue. Her hand wrapped around him, gripping at the thickness of his shaft before gently sliding her fingers up the length. He let out another groan and went for her throat. The rough, manly feel of his face was sure to leave her neck pink from the contact alone, but the heat of his mouth would soothe the tender flesh to perfection.

His hands on her waist were pulling her again as he positioned her womanhood over him. The bridesmaid's dress had been lifted up slightly as her undergarments shifted out of place, leaving her exposed and dripping. Abandoning her neck, he returned to her lips, drawing her back to him as she sunk down to completion. He swallowed down her sweet little sounds as the heated, hardened flesh filled her. The initial stretch at the sheer size of him left her panting, steadying herself above his lap as their joined movements began to fall into place. While on top, she had the flexibility to control their pace and intensity. Though his hands stayed at her hips, he left her free to orchestrate their rhythm as if it were solely her own.

The angle was different, unfamiliar as gravity took over and brought her down onto his length with little effort. Her arms reached up to rest on his shoulders as she began to settle into a promising beat. The slight swivel of her pelvis as she lifted herself off of him then crashed back down again, was driving him mad. He felt her beginning to tighten and knew her release would send him into his own soon enough. His eyes closed as his head fell back against the sofa. If she was trying to turn him to putty, she had succeeded and then some. Her pace quickened. He couldn't help but thrust upwards with her as she lowered down onto him, meeting in the middle with a hungry desire for more.

"Keep going, don't stop." Lucius groaned, but her peak was closing in quicker than either of them expected. "Don't stop," He warned again, a desperation laced into his words as his fingers dug into her hips. He began to feel her muscles spasm and shutter around him, but he wasn't there yet. She cried out as the sensation surged through her, traveling over her body and releasing the waves of endorphins as it reached her head. It was overwhelming but as the euphoria settled in, all she could feel were the tingles spreading back down her body and the throbbing of his movements still inside her.

She was slowing down as her release began to subside, leaving his trousers stained with the evidence of her pleasure. "Not yet, witch." Lucius urged her on. His hands slid up her back as he braced her front against him and shifted her off of his lap. Her back fell flat against the sofa as he positioned himself on top of her. The base of his manhood pressed flush against her opening as he bottomed out inside of her.

"Oh gods, Lucius," The feel of his waist settled snugly between her legs, and the sense of heightened arousal still radiating from her slick folds coaxed her hips to buck against him. She was slick from her own pleasure and felt like a velvet sheath around him, drawing the seed out of him like it had belonged to her all along. He was hers and she was his, and as his climax finally shuttered through him, he felt her second and final release explode around his manhood.

With the last of his strength and his member still buried inside of her, Lucius apparated them away from the sofa in the sitting room, and into the familiar warmth of his bed. His arm wrapped around her as he reached for her hand.

"I should go–," she began to say weakly, her eyes heavy with sleep and her mind already clouded with the promise of sweet dreams.

"Not tonight. Stay with me." Lucius stated simply. His voice held no inflection to suggest a question had been asked, but he knew the fear of her refusal was always looming.

A pregnant pause interrupted them as he held her against him, hoping she wouldn't stir, leaving the space beside him bare for yet another night. With a soft yawn, Hermione pulled the bed covers up around her shoulders and hugged his arm around her middle. "Good night, love." She answered quietly.

Lucius smiled, half-asleep, and kissed the tiny sliver of neck that her hair and the blankets hadn't already covered from sight. "Good night, darling."

He felt like home.

ANs: Finally, a happy, sweet, everything-is-so-darn-perfect chapter! I honestly wasn't sure we'd ever get to this point. But we've made it! They can finally be happy together because, as Hermione said, 'They deserve to be happy' :)

Next chapter will hopefully not be so badly delayed. Fingers crossed.

xoxo WildBubblesRoam