Lucius was on high alert. Someone had just entered his room. His first instinct was to grab his wand, but he did not sense a shift in the wards. Even with all those ancient wards still adjusting to the new blood taking residence, they would have at least informed him of intruders. Maybe it was a member of the Inutsuki-clan. They have owned this property for centuries. It is more than likely they are still recognized by the wards. But he added new and potent ones himself. Knowing the strength of his wards, and the ones Hermione layered above, he relaxed.
It was only his wife and not someone trying to murder him. Suddenly the dark wizard remembered just how impulsive his tiger was and that she did her nickname justice. Considering what he put her through, he was now more concerned than before.
"You did not come here looking for sex," he deduced, "then what do you want here?"
The witch stopped in her tracks. He didn't want her. She tried her best to remain calm and in the darkness, he couldn't see her struggling.
"Tiger?" There was no response, no sound until he heard something drop onto the tatami. It was a tear fallen from her beautiful brown eyes. "Hermione?" there was definitely something he had done wrong. "Tiger, talk to me."
She sobbed. "I thought we were a real couple, but you don't want me…"
"I fail to understand."
"Am I too disgusting to share a bed with?! Why did you go through all the trouble if you don't even give me a chance?!"
Hermione wanted to sleep next to him. What was wrong with her bed? Too tired to argue he lifted his blanket and tapped his hand onto the futon. "Fine, come. But this furry beast stays out of my room."
Hermione hesitated for a moment but joined him in bed. "I want my own pillow and blanket." The Death Eater accioed it for her slightly annoyed.
"Do you think we should pick a room in the Meiji-wing of the house, you know, with a proper bed? I have never explored most parts of the castle. I do like sleeping on the futon but if you prefer something like a four-poster bed, I wouldn't mind. I can't picture myself sleeping on the floor when we return to Britain…"
"Is that supposed to be a permanent thing?"
The young witch slapped him and grabbed her pillow and blanket ready to leave. Lucius grabbed her arm to keep her in place.
"Stay! Just tell me what you want from me!"
"Is that so hard to understand?! I just want us to be a real couple. You may be content with a political agreement but I am not!" stroking over the fresh wounds from their binding she spat with disappointment in her voice, "I thought you wanted the same, but I guess I should have known better than to trust a Malfoy."
The dark wizard leaned forward and kissed her head. "Tiger, I am trying, but you need to talk to me. I am new to all this."
"I just want us to sleep in the same bed! It is hardly unusual for a wife to share a bed with her husband!"
"Are you sure? I was not aware that this was actually a thing. Is this a normal where you come from?"
"England?"
"I thought people only shared a bed when they live in extreme poverty or when by accident both parties are too tired after sex to leave."
"And where do you think the term material-bed comes from?"
"From the ritual bedding necessary to from the marriage-bond, of course. We have already done that if you remember."
"I do, it was perfect. Well, at least as for as long as it lasted," Hermione said.
He was extremely relieved that she had not said, until I woke up next to you. "So how does this work?"
"It's quite simple. When you get tired and turn in for the night you come to my bed."
"Your bed?" he asked.
"Well, our bed. The point is I expect you to return here to sleep with me, every night."
"Every night? You know, that I often work late, will it not disturb your slumber?"
"It won't be a problem. It's good to know that there's someone there."
"You've done this whole sleeping together thing before?" he asked, still skeptical.
"During the last year I often shared a bed with Harry, I mean, we're no children anymore so that wasn't a problem," Hermione explained.
"And young Mr. Weasley?"
"That was different. I've never shared a bed with him. He was my boyfriend and sharing a bed is a really big thing. We've never made it quite that far."
Hearing this made him smile. Not only was she aware of how intimate this sleeping arrangement is but also because even though their relationship so far was close to disastrous he still had beaten the Weasley. "And I have?" Lucius teased.
"You're my husband this privilege kind of comes with the title."
"So basically, from now on I am required to sleep next to you."
"Yes, unless you've been a bad wizard and I make you sleep on the couch," Hermione said.
"This is a big castle I am sure there are other alternatives,"
"I will make you sleep on the couch."
Hermione placed her hands onto Lucius' chest and curled up to him wondering if he was really ok with her being here. She didn't dare to ask, because he might send her away and she felt so vulnerable. He just needed to get used to it, Hermione told herself.
Shirona was outside the room scratching on the door. It was testing his nerves. The older wizard was still at loss as to why living with a furry beast was considered desirable. He was having his beauty sleep disturbed. His young wife did not feel responsible for correcting this situation as she only groaned but did not wake to do something. The former Death Eater gave eventually in and allowed the small creature entry. Shirona walked straight towards him. She arrogantly and with purpose pranced over his body and decided to nap on his belly.