Hermione was busy after her graduation. She had to write a letter of application, it took her days until it was perfect. Lucius had read over it for her. And there was also the release date of her book approaching. She had to sign copies at Flourish and Bott's. It was dreadful but everyone talked about house-elves.

She got a job at the Ministry in the Department for the Regulation and Control of Magical Creatures. The first few weeks at work were hard. The new environment, new regulations, and new colleagues, wore her out. She was so exhausted after work that she didn't get to socialize. Ginny was similarly busy and she only saw Draco at the Ministry.

She wanted to do her job well, but as a newbie, it took her much longer to do it than the others. She spent a couple of nights at her parents' and the rest of the week at the Manor. It was frustrating that she was surrounded by so many great books but didn't have the energy to read them.

Hermione arrived at her parent's house with a bag full of take-away. Her parents had just come home from their surgery. Sitting at the table she complained about her annoying colleagues.

Mr. Miller had taken ages to send a simple note, Lisa kept complaining about her ex-boyfriend and her boss kept pestering her about her report. Her mom was busy looking for the documents for their tax-advisor while her dad fell asleep on the sofa.

Hermione threw on an old t-shirt and crawled to bed. She turned around a few times before sleep claimed her.

She found herself in the maze leading to Malfoy Manor. Following the white peacock deeper and deeper into the darkness, Hermione found herself in the Tudor style drawing room. It reeked of blood and Bellatrix's perfume invaded her nostrils. She was lying on the floor.

"Crucio!"

Pain went through her entire body. Bellatrix repeated the motion again and again. Hermione was screaming, cold sweat was running down her face, and her entire body was shaking. She grabbed her wand and disapparated.

Still shaking and pale she found herself in the entrance hall of Malfoy Manor. With big eyes and her wand still raised she stared aimlessly at the distance.

"Hermione?"

She heard a familiar drawl and ran to Lucius. Her arms swung around him and she hugged him tightly. Holding onto him with all her strength, she dropped her wand. She felt his strong hands around her waist as he placed tender kisses on her head.

"Shh, everything is alright."

Hermione took a deep breath inhaling his musky scent. His rich aroma and embrace soothed her. Still frightened but somewhat able to think clearly again, she became very aware of the fact that she was standing here in her old, oversized t-shirt with her braless breast pressed against his body.

"Better?"

She nodded.

"Do you wish for a hot chocolate or something?"

"Just bring me to bed, I don't want to be alone right now."

"I see."

Taking her hand he lead her to his bedroom. He hesitated. Standing in the doorway, he watched her. Hermione crawled into his fourposter bed. She quickly disappeared beneath the blanket.

She looked at him with her big brown eyes. "Don't you want to join me?"

He chuckled. Slowly walking to his bed, he was watched by her. He looked stunning in his grey pajamas. Even barefooted and with his long hair falling freely over his shoulders, he oozed confidence and sex appeal.

Hermione cuddled up to him. His long elegant fingers played with her bushy hair.

"Do you want to tell me what happened?"

Hermione sighed. "I, I had a nightmare, a bad one."

There was a long moment of silence.

"I see… Do you suffer from them often?" His voice was thick with concern and… guilt?

"I haven't had a bad one in a while. Usually, I fall back asleep quickly."

There was another long moment of silence. Lucius never stopped stroking over her back or kissing her hand.

"Do you have nightmares as well?"

"They are tolerable, mostly."

Hermione placed a kiss on his chest. Tired as she was she placed her head on her chest. She felt it rise and fall with every breath he took. His eyelids shut. Arms and legs wrapped around each other they fell asleep.

Turning around Hermione quickly closed the gap between them. Enjoying his proximity, she felt truly at ease. As she slowly woke up, her small hand wandered over his upper body. Opening her eyes she was met with a sleepy Lucius. His eyes were still closed but he smirked at her.

She put her hand on his cheek and placed a featherlight kiss on his lips. His strong arms swung around her and she kissed him again. He looked at her. His blue eyes were full of admiration. She smiled at him, blushing slightly. Leaning forward she kissed him again.

Lucius' big hands found their way into her untameable hair. He kissed her back; the need was evident. His hand wandered over her back lower and lower. Their kiss became more heated. She opened her mouth to grant him excess. His tongue massaged hers. Hermione melted into his touch. Instinctively she pressed herself against him. He pulled back as his hand rested dangerously close to her butt. Their eyes met.

His hand played with the hem of her t-shirt. "Are you sure?"

Her cheeks were glowing as she felt his hot erection pressed against her. Hermione swallowed hard. She had been putting off this moment for so long and she was a little scared. But after almost a year she had to ask herself, what was she waiting for?

Lucius was the one, she was running to when she was terrified. Despite the fact that it had been in this house where she had been tortured. It had been this house where she was always thrown back to in her nightmares. And yet, it was this house where her unconsciousness sent her when she was looking for protection. The truth was that she was already deeply invested in the older wizard.

"I trust you."

The words that nobody else had ever said to him before, impacted him greatly. He captured her lips and kissed her with earnest. Her small hands opened the buttons of his pajamas. He grabbed the hem of her t-shirt with both his hands and freed her from it, turning her on her back in the same motion. She fumbled with his pajamas but Lucius stopped her.

"Shh, slowly, love."

"It's fine. It's not like, it's my first time."

"Let me take care of you," Lucius said looking deep into her brown eyes.

He shed his clothes before returning his attention to the young witch beneath him. He kissed her. Their tongues met. He took his time ravishing her mouth. Lucius nibbled on her neck. Hermione giggled. Her small hands held onto his strong back. She felt his big nose and his breathing against her sensitive skin.

Her hands reached into his platinum blond hair. It was soft and silky. He trailed kisses down her arm. Hermione wanted more. She wriggled her legs against each other, as he took his time mapping every inch of her body.

Finally, he turned his attention to her womanly breasts. He cupped them with his big hands, teasing her nipples with his thumb. Hermione got anxious as he kept staring at her mounds. Did they look weird? Was she too big? Maybe they were hanging too much.

"You are beautiful," he breathed into her ear before he lowered his head to her breasts.

Burring his face between her perfectly shaped orbs he inhaled her sweet scent. He kissed her tender flesh. His mouth captured her pink nipple. He gently suckled on it weighing her other breast with his hand.

Hermione's lips parted. She took deep breathes. Never had she thought that she would enjoy them receiving attention, sending a tingling through her entire body. Her small hands caressed his skull.

Lucius kissed her mouth. His hand roamed to her lower lips. He teased her through the thin fabric of her knickers. Her wetness seeped through it and coated his long, elegant fingers. A small moan left Hermione's lush lips. His thumb found the sensitive button at the top of her lips.

Her breathing was elevated. She shuddered as he teased her nub. Hermione's hands clenched on the cotton bed sheet beneath her and her legs rubbed against each other looking for more friction.

They hadn't even undressed completely yet she already felt like she was going insane. "Lucius please, stop teasing me."

He slowly removed his skilled fingers from her lips and kissed her lower belly. Hermione lifted her legs and brought them up to his waist. Her feet traced his side until she found his pants. With her big toes, she reached into them. With a smirk on her face, she dragged them down.

He trailed kisses down her belly. His perfect white teeth tugged playfully on the little bow that adorned her lace knickers. She was glad that she had bought nice underwear and threw all of her childish once away.

His index fingers hooked into the hem of her underwear and dragged them down. His hands came into contact with her bare lips. Hermione stopped breathing for a moment. Her face was burning hot. Her hand twitched because she instinctively wanted to cover herself. Lucius caught her hand. He placed a kiss on her palm and laid her hand next to his body.

"You are beautiful," he said, caressing her nether lips.

Hermione moaned. She melted into his touch as he parted her lips. His thumb played with her sensitive button as two of his fingers entered her wet cavern. They moved in and out, stretching her, teasing her, and preparing her. As the speed of his movement increased, she started whimpering.

"Lucius please."

She didn't know how much longer she could take it anymore. He hadn't even entered her yet, but this was already the best sex she had ever had, by a long shot. It was also the longest it had ever lasted.

He smirked, seeing the little witch, a whimpering mess beneath him. He took his time trailing kisses up her body, teasing her. He never stopped touching her. Placing a peck on her lips, he positioned himself at her entrance.

Hermione's arm swung around him, holding onto the older wizard tightly. Their eyes met. She swallowed hard. This was what she had wanted for such a long time.

He shushed her. His blue eyes never left hers as he sank into her depths. Hermione drew out a loud moan. His size stretched her apart, filling her perfectly. Once he was fully sunken in, he let out a breath. His big hands petted her head. Leaning forward he kissed her. Ravishing her mouth, he became desperate. Their mouths separated to gasp for air. Lucius looked at her.

"Please, move," she begged him.

He raised his hips, slowly withdrawing until only his tip remained his inside. Her walls clenched around him, holding desperately onto the big wizard. Watching the young witch closely, he pushed himself back into her. Breathing through his mouth he repeated the motion. Soon it became impossible to remain silent. Hermione moaned loudly.

He buried his face in the nape of her neck inhaling her scent. His breaths tickled her skin. She dug her nails into his back and legs wrapped around him. Lucius picked up the pace. He thrusted into her with more force drawing delicious squeals from her. Hitting the right spot, it wasn't long until she began shivering.

Electric shocks wandered through her entire body. Every muscle in her body was contracting. This was too much for her. She wanted to beg him to stop before she was going to break but her mind was unable to form a coherent thought. Not a single word left her lush lips as he pushed into her.

Their breathing was labored. Lucius was grunting as her tight wall constricted around him, milking him. She felt every vain of his hot length as he stimulated her most sensitive areas. He was throbbing inside of her. Her back arched as she came. Her orgasm sent powerful waves through her entire being. She cried loudly. Never stopping to pushing into her, he was grunting into her eat. Even as her inner walls gripped onto him with all her strength, he didn't stop his powerful thrusts. Letting her ride out her orgasm, he didn't pay attention to her nails breaking his skin.

"Lucius!" she cried, holding onto him as if she was afraid of falling into a deep black hole.

He let out a loud growl as he spilled himself into her tight little witch. Completely drained, he fell onto her petite frame. Lucius placed a quick kiss on her temple before rolling to the side in order to not crush her. They were both panting. Her small hands held onto his upper arms. He was covered with scratch marks. He turned onto his back taking Hermione with him. She was lying on his chest, rising and falling with every breath he took.

"Wow, this was amazing," she said breathlessly.

His big hands stroked over her hair and back. He placed a kiss on her head and inhaled her scent. She smelled even batter after sex. Her own scent overpowered the fruity shampoo she used.

After a moment he said, "It is different with the one you love."

Hermione jumped up. Facing him with teary eyes, she pressed her lips onto his with all the force she could muster. Only letting go of him seconds before suffocating.

Her arms swung around him hugging him tightly. "I love you too."

The lied there next to each other, holding each other, cuddling, and exchanging kisses. Hermione's feelings were all over the place. She felt so vulnerable; stripped completely bare. And she was frightened. The smallest action, one wrong word could completely destroy her. She had not only surrendered her body but also her heart and soul to the older wizard.

At the same time, she felt strong and powerful. She felt confident. This was a big thing for her. She felt like she had always imagined she would feel after her first time. Pressing herself against him she felt like she understood for the first time the difference between loving a friend and loving a wizard.

There was something liberating about lying in the arms of the man she loved and trusted. Hermione slept wonderfully in his strong arms. Not only felt she safe and protected but also excited about this new chapter of her life, away from wars and fighting evil.