Being a dream team, a big amount of love to Ann, my fantastic beta.
This chapter was a challenge, but let's be honest - we have nailed it.
Please be invited to the first part of 'meat' in this story. Only Hermione and Lucius dynamics.
VIII
The feeling of crossing the threshold of Malfoy Manor was one of the strangest moments of her entire life. As if she got a bit of a blow to the head or a punch to the stomach. All the memories about the place came back immediately. She felt bile rise in her throat and had it not been for the fact that she hadn't eaten anything at all, she would have vomited where she was standing.
Gathering the last of her dignity, she fought back her revulsion and walked in the direction of the voice that came from a nearby room. She stepped over the threshold and realized that Lucius had gathered the house elves and was giving them quick, firm orders. One by one, they nodded their heads and disappeared with a silent CRACK! Hermione was feeling very weak, so she just leaned against the wall and watched him through her eyelashes.
Malfoy didn't seem to notice her at first, as if he had forgotten about her existence. Only after seeing the terrified faces of the elves did he look back.
Hermione was even paler than before and he knew perfectly well that she was minutes away from falling face down on the floor, from what, he wasn't sure. So he decided to react, although being a nanny was not the pinnacle of his aspirations.
"Miss Granger," he grunted at her, and she struggled to open her eyes. "Have you eaten anything today?"
She shook her head with the rest of her strength in response and he sighed.
"Lissy, take Miss Granger to the dining room and serve breakfast. I will join her soon. "
Hermione wanted to protest, but hunger and fatigue were stronger than his displeasure. Without a word, she followed the house elf, clearly feeling how exhausted she was. Last night was terrible and she overslept as a result. She had a nightmare about Dolohov all night. The torture scene from the Battle of Hogwarts played over and over again. Several times she woke up screaming, still stuck in the snare of the dream.
In the dining room, she sat down at the table without protest and waited for the food to appear.
"Miss Granger?"
She woke up horrified to find that she had fallen asleep with her head on the table. She raised up quickly and dark spots appeared before her eyes. Hermione realized that she was not alone. Malfoy was staring at her with expectant eyes, but no sympathy.
"Rough night?" His cool tone expressed not even the faintest understanding. He was tapping his fingers on the table.
"Absolutely not, I slept like a baby." She snapped back quickly and felt an instant blush from an embarrassment.
"Of course," he shrugged and took the cutlery in his hand. "Enjoy your meal, Miss Granger."
She was very hungry and decided to swallow her pride for a moment and just eat, even though eating in his company was the last thing she wanted to do. They ate in silence, which was a blessing, and Hermione realized that she hadn't eaten such a delicious meal in a long time.
"Perhaps you should rest, Miss Granger." Lucius's voice came out of nowhere. "Lissy will take you to your chambers."
Hermione wanted to protest, but Lucius immediately crushed her with his eyes.
"You fell asleep at the table, you are an eminently hopeless companion today. If you are concerned about the rules, Miss Granger, I assure you that I am not going anywhere today. "
She swallowed hard and stared at him even harder, even though she knew that he had won this duel. Besides, she had to take care of Crookshanks.
Lucius, as if reading her mind, added: "As for your cat, he is free to walk around the property. There are wards over the Manor, so he won't run anywhere by accident."
Too proud to thank him, she stood up and hesitated. Actually, where was she supposed to go?
"Lissy is your personal house elf and I don't want to hear a word of agitation about the elves' freedom." His eyes were icy like steel, and his tone of voice was unrelenting.
So now we're setting limits, Mr. Malfoy. She gritted her teeth and started to rebut, but he had already snapped his fingers and called Lissy. The elf appeared immediately and looked expectantly at Hermione.
She was silent, annoyed, and only Malfoy's impatient hiss brought her back to the present. "Miss Granger."
He had managed to draw her name out in such a way that she felt a shiver down her spine. "I promised you there would be no room for lies. And that is still true and relevant. In spite of all my questionable opinions regarding the Ministry of Magic, I am not going to cause you any problems."
He got up from the chair and pushed it firmly away. Hermione realized she was well on her way to pushing him over the edge. She was standing on the other side of the table, but Lucius leaned towards her so that she would not miss his next words.
"But I am not going to be your nursemaid."
He turned on his heel and left the dining room, leaving Hermione standing in the same place, face red with anger. His self-confidence was unbelievable.
"Missy ..." The elf's voice made Hermione realize that she had witnessed the entire scene. Once again today she felt her stomach refuse to obey.
"Lissy, show me my chamber," she said in a choked voice and then added, "Please."
The chamber was larger than her entire London apartment. In fact, it was hard to say it was a chamber - she was given part of the wing for her own use. Bedroom, office and bathroom. She looked around in awe, with a smirk. Of course it would be bigger than my flat.
It did impress her, but then mirth turned to wrath—- she knew the price she was paying for it.
The office had a desk and a comfortable chair. Lissy had already unpacked some of her books and placed them on top of it. The bedroom had a rather large bed in an old-fashioned English style. In addition to the bed, there was also a wardrobe for her own use, soft carpeting and a fireplace. Next to her bed was her trunk and the crate with Crookshanks.
From her office and bedroom windows, she could see the garden, and it was one of the more pleasant views in this place.
She found slight satisfaction that there were no paintings or portraits on the walls. In general, her place did not contain any belongings of the owners. Everything was impersonal and… raw.
Hermione went to the crate and released the clearly disgruntled cat. He was fed up with sitting in a tight space for such a long time. She sat up on the bed and watched for a moment as Crookshanks explored the new place, still offended and proud, but curious. She sighed and got up.
She walked into the bathroom and froze. This room must have been used by a woman once. Everything bore the hallmarks of a woman's hand - from the fittings, to the attention paid to the smallest details. All of a sudden, it became quite clear.
Lucius placed her in Narcissa's old private rooms.
The next morning was one of the hardest in her life. She didn't know what to expect from Malfoy. They hadn't agreed on any rules for working together, and she knew they were going to have to hash those out. Principles were the basis of Hermione's existence. A world without rules did not exist in her mind. Although, as she recently learned, rules can exist and still not be enforced properly. Or at all.
Hermione entered the bathroom with great hesitation, as if she were afraid that Narcissa's ghost would pop into the room. Of course, nothing like that happened, but nonetheless she still felt very uncomfortable. She would have to bring it up with Malfoy later.
She was dressed casually - she assumed they wouldn't be leaving Malfoy Manor today. She also washed her hair and unpacked cosmetics in the bathroom in an attempt to create a new normal.
When she was ready, Crookshanks was meowing at the door, ready for further exploration. At least he was enjoying the new situation. Hermione let him out and decided to go straight to the dining room herself. She didn't know Malfoy's usual schedule, but she was more of an early riser herself - and it was just about eight in the morning.
She entered the room and saw Lucius Malfoy sitting at the table with a cup of coffee in his hand and a newspaper. He wore glasses and seemed engrossed in reading. Three years without free access to the press and information must have been painful. Not that she cared. Obviously.
Hermione walked silently to the table, pushed her chair back, and sat down stiffly. He didn't look up, but said to her indirectly, "Good morning, Miss Granger. I hope you slept well. " At these words, he took a sip of coffee and turned the page of his paper.
"Thank you, not too bad." She smiled crookedly, but he couldn't see it. He didn't even glance at her. "And you, Mr. Malfoy?"
He put the newspaper aside and looked at it, weighing his answer for a moment.
"After three years of sleeping on a tiny bed in Azkaban ..." He began significantly, but paused. "Thank you, quite all right."
Confused by his hesitancy, she pressed her lips together. She took the toast and smeared it with jam. It smelled great, but she found she wasn't hungry at all. She poured herself some tea and took a sip instead of eating.
The silence was especially uncomfortable for her. Malfoy finished his coffee, put the newspaper down, and stood up. Immediately Hermione stood up too, ready to accompany him.
He raised his eyebrows in surprise and said tartly, "I don't need your assistance while in the restroom. "
Once again, she felt patronized and decided to address it.
"We have to agree on some rules, Mr. Malfoy," she started aggressively. "I am not here for your pleasure, and as you have aptly pointed out, you are dependent on me," she clarified. He stopped and looked at her with interest. Hermione couldn't let his gaze disturb her. "So, at the very least, I expect to be treated with a modicum of respect." She finished the sentence in a much weaker voice than she intended. Lucius smirked, his eyes remaining as cool as ever.
"Of course, Miss Granger." If words could convey temperature, she knew she would freeze in an instant. "Speaking of being dependent, I would like you to accompany me shopping."
Touche.
Undeterred by her earlier argument, he continued: "As you know perfectly well, I do not currently have a wand. I would like to buy a new one in order to establish some independence." He was staring straight into her eyes, his words oozing barely veiled venom.
She saw how the light played in his irises, becoming larger and more intense because they were getting closer...
She belatedly realized that once again Malfoy was moving towards her smoothly, cornering her. She stood up ready to face him.
His face moved closer to hers and she could see even the tiniest wrinkles around his eyes. A network of pale blue veins that were visible under his thin skin. He smirked again and was about to say something when he howled in pain.
Hermione held her breath, shocked as she realized what she had done.
Lucius Malfoy stared at her with shock in his eyes—there was no mask of implacability on his face. Just pure amazement. His eyes widened and his pupils were big black empty circles.
She realized that her nails were still pressing into his neck and that she was probably, involuntarily, squeezing it.
Frightened, she jumped away from him and fell into the chair as it tipped over. She hissed herself in pain as she landed.
"Fuck." A curse escaped her lips, but she felt no shame about it. She heard a grunt and looked up.
Malfoy had already put on the mask he usually wore, but the mark on his neck clearly showed what had just happened. His look of amazement shifted to anger - he was breathing noticeably faster and his hands were clenched.
His eyes were no longer cold and detached. She now saw a fire that was ignited by anger. It was terrifying and yet striking at the same time.
"Perhaps fuck is indeed the correct word to be used now, Miss Granger." He hissed at her and she snorted.
She was furious and so was he.
SO. MANY. EMOTIONS.
I promised it would be a dark ride... :)