Here's your next installment, and things start to get quite interesting here.

Your kind words really keep me going, so please keep reviewing/messaging me! The more positive feedback you give me, the more encouraged I am to finish the next chapter, which is why these chapters have been coming so fast. Anyway, enjoy your next Lumione fix ;)

Chapter 7

Hermione laid in bed for long hours that night, just staring up at the ceiling. Her hand still tingled where Lucius's lips had been.

Just when she thought she was on top of things, Lucius found a new way to rip the rug out from under her. And of all the things she had expected Lucius to do, she had never in her wildest dreams imagined…that!

What in the world was he thinking? What was she thinking, for that matter? For taking this job, agreeing to live in the Manor, even wearing what she chose to dinner…

She tossed and turned all night, but no matter how hard she thought, she couldn't make sense of what was going on inside her head. Did she like it? Hate it? Like him? Hate him?

This game was dangerous…and she knew it now.

The next morning, Hermione got dressed but in a basic robe, and she left her hair in its usual frizzy curls. Lucius was right; she needed to be more careful about underestimating her opponent, and until the haze in her mind cleared, she was taking a break from the twisted game she had started.

As she nervously entered the dining room for breakfast, she couldn't help but wonder if she never wanted him to kiss her hand again or if she never wanted him not to.

Hermione approached her usual seat, and Lucius looked up from the paper spread before him. He was in his usual wealthy robes, but today his hair was tied back with a silky black ribbon. How is it a man can look so handsome and so masculine with a ponytail…it makes no sense…?

"Well, Miss Granger, the neighbors have talked."

"Huh?" Hermione asked, coming back to her senses.

Lucius folded up the paper and slid it over to her. Along the gossip column on the front page of the newspaper was an image of Hermione sorting books, taken from a great distance away through the library windows.

"Hermione Jean Granger, bookworm and longtime friend of Harry Potter, has recently been seen frequenting a new library, one belonging to an unlikely family," Hermione read aloud. "It seems that the Gryffindor sweetheart has found some more interesting reading material of a Slytherin nature, being spotted on multiple occasions in the library of Malfoy Manor. The real question is whether or not she is interested in seeing more of the Manor than just the library."

Hermione let out a gagging sound. Lucius smirked.

"Given Miss Granger's blood status and the Malfoys' reputation, it is interesting to see her frequenting the Manor, and it begs the question 'why?' We will be sure to keep you updated as this convoluted and morbidly fascinating story unravels." Hermione rolled her eyes and tossed the paper back onto the table.

"This is what you wanted, isn't it?" Lucius asked, sneering like a genie who tricked its rescuer into wasting their wishes.

"Yes but…on the front page of the Prophet…for everyone to see…?"

Before Hermione could fully register the implications of this news, a tapping at the window made the pair look up, and they found a whole flock of owls waiting expectantly.

"Can't say I'm surprised," Lucius said, rising with a groan and opening the window to let them all in. He took the two envelopes intended for him, and the other three owls hopped over to Hermione. Curious, she took her letters from the birds but watched Lucius pick up his.

One letter was addressed to "Mr. Lucius Malfoy," which she recognized was written in Draco's handwriting.

He doesn't even call him "father" anymore…Hermione thought, feeling a strange pang of emotion.

But when Lucius laid eyes on the second letter, his calm demeanor vanished as his face grew even paler than usual. The letter only had the name "Lucius" scrawled across the front in a gorgeous calligraphy.

Clearing his throat and standing, leaning heavily on his cane, Lucius said, "If you'll excuse me, Miss Granger. Please, finish your breakfast." And he hurriedly left the room to read his letters in private.

Hermione's eyes lingered on the closed door for a few moments, intrigued by Lucius's reaction. But she had her own issues to attend to, and she broke the seal on the first envelope and unfolded the letter.

Hermione Jean Granger,

I wanted to send you a howler, but I didn't want any of the gits you currently live with to be eavesdropping! What on earth is going on?! When you said you had a job and a place to stay, I never suspected…Merlin's Beard, Hermione, I told you not to do anything I wouldn't do! What on earth are you thinking?

Please write me,

Ginny

Hermione rolled her eyes. How on earth could she explain to Ginny what was actually going on?

Then, she realized that she didn't even know the answer herself.

Beginning to get a headache as she moved on to the next letter, she braced herself for its contents, since she knew she was about to get lectured.

Hermione,

Just saw the Prophet, and everyone here at the Ministry is having a right fit. What's going on? Are you okay? You were in a bad place last week, a vulnerable state, and I don't know how you ended up at the Malfoys, but nothing good can come of it. You know if you got tricked into doing something, talked into a bad deal or an unbreakable vow, I can help get you out of it. I have connections, Hermione, and we can help you.

I just want to make sure you're okay. Please write soon.

Harry

Hermione began mentally crafting her response as she tossed Harry's letter aside – imagining writing another message about her being able to take care of herself – until her eyes fell upon the final letter, and her breath caught in her throat.

With trembling fingers, she unfolded the letter. She already knew who it was from and what it would probably say, but she still had to read it…

Hermione,

Let's talk.

Ron

"Let's talk?" Hermione repeated aloud. "Let's talk? After all this time that's all you have to say? Oh, Ronald Weasley, you…ugh!"

Hermione trailed off, too angry and upset to form coherent thoughts anymore.

She heard the doors open again and moved quickly to control her breathing and blink away any tears that had formed in her eyes.

Lucius entered the room, the picture of poised perfection once again. If the letters had shaken him before, he didn't show it now.

"So, I take it your friends have seen the paper," he said, immediately deflecting Hermione's attention from him to land it on herself. That was how Lucius always stayed one step ahead, and he threw a tantrum like a spoiled child when he didn't get his way, like at dinner just days ago.

Hermione was too tired to fight him, though, and merely nodded.

"Yours?"

"I have no friends, Miss Granger, only business associates and blood relatives." Lucius sat down heavily at the head of the table, and Hermione thought she heard a genuine tone of self-loathing in his comment.

Tossing one of the letters toward her, he said, "We may have another issue that needs to be addressed, however."

Picking up the letter, she realized that the other note had not returned with Lucius; he had no doubt tucked it away somewhere. A part of her wondered if he had even read it.

But as she unfolded the note in front of her, she turned her attention to Draco's scrawling text across the parchment.

Mr. Lucius Malfoy,

Clearly I, like everyone else, have seen the ridiculous article on the front page of the Prophet. Although I have no idea what you are doing even allowing someone of such blood status into your home, I will say that whatever recreational activities you enjoy are no concern of mine.

What does concern me, however, is the fact that many suspect it is I enjoying Granger's company while she occupies the Manor, an obvious and scandalous falsehood. But I am asking you, for my own well-being and relationships, for you to set the record straight and correct whatever gossip you have enjoyed inciting, for what purpose other than sheer boredom I have no idea.

Please see that this issue is attended to promptly.

Draco Malfoy

Hermione must have outwardly cringed at the harsh phrasing of the note, because Lucius said, "Yes, sad that my son can only write me letters like we are little more than business associates," and she handed let letter back to him. "But he brings up a valid point. We need to take this one step further."

"Further? What do you mean?" Hermione asked cautiously.

"We need to eliminate all doubt that this gossip revolves around you and I, no one else."

"…what are you suggesting?" Hermione was hesitant, unsure where this was going.

Lucius read her tone and seamlessly responded, "Not a late night frolic on the Manor's front lawn, if that's what you're wondering."

Hermione cringed. "I wasn't-"

"I merely suggest a public outing of sorts…to get the media's attention and take some of the spotlight off of my son."

"The sins of the father…" Hermione muttered under her breath. Lucius quirked an eyebrow; she hadn't realized she said anything out loud. "Sorry…"

She was in way over her head. This joke had gone on long enough. Lucius had gotten some free exposure, and Ron had obviously been affected and at least reached out to her. That was what they both wanted…wasn't it?

But a part of Hermione wanted more. The game wasn't over, yet. There were still many more rounds to be played and she was curious to find out what would happen next. Lucius had a way of keeping her guessing, and the intrigue was simply too much for her to turn her back on.

Taking a deep breath, Hermione finally replied, "Yes. Agreed. If we're really going to sell this, we have to commit."

Lucius grinned like the devil himself and extended his hand, as if they were shaking on a business proposal. Hermione tentatively placed her hand in his, unsure if he was going to kiss it again and unsure if she wanted him to or not.

He shook her hand firmly and let go, but his steely eyes were laughing at her, and whether he was using legilimency or not, she knew he could read her mind.

"I was merely being a gentleman yesterday evening, Miss Granger. If you would prefer it, I can keep our interactions less formal."

Hermione couldn't say that she would prefer it and opted to say nothing, and Lucius smiled triumphantly.

"I won't hold you up from your work anymore, Miss Granger. Good day."