The next morning, Lucius and Hermione sat quietly in the study after breakfast enjoying each other's company. Hermione decided to read the unenchanted version of the book that Draco sent about the history of Muggle London and Lucius was half paying attention to the newspaper in his lap. Curled up into his side, Hermione enjoyed the warmth he was giving off and a part of her mind travel back to last night. She didn't expect to enjoy it as much as she did but something about the blonde man made her forget about the situation, they were in. Another part of her kept thinking back to Harry, Draco, and Ron searching for the rest of the horcruxes. Where they safe? Was there any way that she could help them beyond sitting around all day waiting for the book to vibrate? She shook her head and closed the book shut, placing it on the side table next to the couch. There was no point in her thinking she could change her circumstance right now. If she somehow managed to leave the manor, the dark lord would most likely kill Lucius and if she returned to the Order, she would be sitting around doing absolutely nothing just waiting for the three boys to return. The best Hermione could do right now was sit and wait for Draco to write for help.
She stopped herself from thinking too deeply about the topic and refocused on her current situation, sitting next to a man that was beyond her expectations. Hermione took a breath and got into his lap, straddling him. She took the newspaper gentle from his hand knowing he wasn't paying too much attention to it anyway and leaned forward to embrace him in a comfortable hug. Lucius chuckled and asked, "Are you bored, my dear?"
Hermione lifted her head off his shoulder and nodded.
"I'm not used to being so useless. Usually I'm off doing something or helping Harry and Ron. I just feel slightly guilty that I can't help them more."
Lucius stroked her cheek with his hand, "You have helped them the best you can and will continue to help them when they contact us in a safe location. In the meanwhile, you will spend your days with a dreadful death eater trying to seduce you." Hermione smiled at his joke and let herself loosen up.
"And what a wonderful job you are doing." She replied. Lucius moved his hand to the back of her neck and pulled her closer for a kiss. Her arms wrapped around his neck and she brought herself closer to him, making sure to move her hips against his hardening erection.
Hermione moaned when his hand free hand traveled to her center and stroked her gently through her trousers. Before they could proceed further, there was a vibration on the end table making Hermione leap off of Lucius and towards the book. She quickly whispered the password to the book and opened it while sitting down next to Lucius.
Inside was the familiar handwriting of Draco quickly scribbling
Father and Hermione,
Over the next few weeks, it will be difficult for me to contact you since we will be on a constant move, hunting down the rest of the horcruxes. We can't tell you where we will be or when we will be able to contact you next. Until we are able to contact you, stay safe. Harry said that he can feel You-Know-Who getting more desperate by the day and is consistently trying to enter his mind to find where we are or what we are doing.
Since the Dark Lord is getting more frantic, we want you both to consider seeking refuge with the Order. If you ever decide to proceed with that decision, Snape will help you.
Until next time…Draco.
Lucius closed the book and laid it on his lap. Hermione didn't say and work and they both sat silently for a few minutes thinking about their next move.
"If it ever gets to a point where you are put in danger, Severus will escort you to the Order."
Hermione turned her head and gave him a confused glare.
"Absolutely not. If you-know-who finds out I am gone he will kill you."
"This is not up for discussion" He replied firmly.
Hermione jumped to her feet and stood in front of him, "Like hell it's not! I am not going away unless you are coming along. Like I said, if he notices me gone, he will kill you."
Lucius sighed and stood to put the book on his desk.
"As far as he is considered, you are an obedient and loyal follower of his. He has no reason to suspect anything at the moment. The same goes for Severus. Both of you play your roles well and if all works out, you will gain enough information to help the order gain their strategic plans for any future attacks." Hermione continued. Lucius knew what she was saying was rational but having her around was still a danger, a risk he didn't want to take.
Hermione paused and added, "When he comes, and I am around I will play along to the best of my abilities to make this as convincing as possible. This is the only way I can help Harry and the Order. The only possible risk right now is Dolohov which shouldn't be a problem if.."
She didn't need to finish to get her point across. Lucius knew what she meant and agreed with everything Hermione had to say. There was no point in prolonging the conversation.
He leaned against his desk and reached out his hand for her to come closer to him. Hermione obeyed, settling into his arms that enclosed her close to his frame.
"You have to understand that I am not trying to push you away. I wish to protect you from all the possible dangers that comes along with being around this."
"I understand but my place right now is here with you…helping the Order in any way we can. We will take each day as it comes."
Lucius seceded from his argument.
"Your place will always be with me, Hermione. I hope that once this war is over you will choose to remain here with me. Letting you go would be much too difficult" He whispered against her hair. Hermione pulled back to look him in the eyes and smiled warmly.
"I would like that very much, Lucius." She replied.
He moved his hand down the small of her back and down her rump. Carefully his other hand reaches down to lift her, letting her legs wrap around his waist and onto the desk he was previously leaning on.
"In the meantime, why don't we resume where we left off" He suggested. Hermione giggled and sank into the kiss he captured her lips in.
A week later, Severus stood at the property line of the Black Mansion waiting for the other death eaters to arrive for the mission to release Dolohov. He was getting admittedly anxious about releasing Dolohov, hoping that his rescue proved his forged loyalty to the Dark Lord and that Dolohov himself wouldn't act as volatile as he remembered.
Once all the required death eaters arrived, Snape made sure to lead the charge. He knew exactly where to go, and they did not find any problems until reaching the staircase to the cellar. Sirius Black and Arthur Weasley stood with wands drawn, defending the entrance to the stairs. Both Arthur and Sirius knew of Snape's cooperation with the Order and they reluctantly understood the steps that needed to be taken in order for both Snape to remain loyal to the dark lord and to give the added illusion of weakness. Snape brought his want up towards the two men and gave them both a sympathetic glare before suptifying both of them and then levitating their bodies to the broom closet sitting open.
Before long, Dolohov was released and reclaimed his wand given by one of the death eaters. He began to spin off into a tyrannical hysteria while destroying any piece of furniture and window that he came across. Snape made sure to keep them all on task and lead them all outside to a safe apparition point near the property.
Dolohov approached Snape and placed a firm hand on his shoulder.
"You always knew how to prepare a flawless raid. Thank you for salvaging me" He said with his yellowed teeth bared.
Snape acknowledged him with a nod and replied, "We were given strict instructions to return to Malfoy Manor after your rescue"
Dolohov followed Snape and before long, they were apperating in troves to their destination.
Hermione knew the day was coming but it didn't hit her until today. Today would be the day Dolohov would be rescued and released to the Dark Lord. She spent the morning pacing back and forth in the bathroom and spending breakfast in silence. She didn't have much to think about but something in her mind stopped her from thinking rationally about it. Hermione was almost certain she wouldn't be required to go down to the meeting, just like for the last few held at the manor throughout the week, but having him under the same roof gave her a troubled feeling.
Lucius noticed her silence throughout the entire day and decided to approach her about the topic. While standing near the fireplace seeking warmth in the master bedroom, Hermione stared off into the fire until Lucius approached her.
"Something is bothering you, Hermione"
Hermione looked at him and sighed.
"I know the likelihood of me having to see him again is slim but just having him in this house makes my skin crawl."
Lucius couldn't agree more. Having that man under his roof did leave an extremely sour taste in his mouth, especially with his demented past and inclination towards unpredictable behavior.
Hermione continued, "It's like I have a bit in my stomach the second I started thinking about it."
A minute later, Lucius suggested, "I know this may not be the best timing, but I think it would be an imperative time to use the detection spell."
She glared at him before realizing what he was talking about. Would a spell pick up any signs this early? It's only been a week since they've been attempting but then again, the potion that Severus sent was among the strongest dose given. Perhaps it would be possible to tell at this stage.
Hermione nodded and Lucius took his sleek wand out of his coat pocket. She took a deep breath to calm her nerves and she noticed Lucius do the same.
"Severus told me that you might feel a chill, but it should be painless. Purple represents positive"
His wand went down to her stomach and he mumbled the spell under his breath. A white light engulfed her abdomen before evaporating into her like a mist. Both waited in deafening silence until the mist started to resurface again.