He looked down at Hermione and saw the troubled look on her face.
"He had an inkling something was off. I couldn't lie to him, he assured that not a word would be mentioned to the others."
Hermione nodded and asked further, "What did you tell him exactly if you don't mind me asking? He seemed very… I don't know. I wasn't used to seeing him so pleasant." She trailed off and started walking with him towards the kitchen again.
"Draco knows I am a very private man. I seldom show my emotions and am proud. He was set back when I first let you use the book to communicate with the boys and even further baffled when I told him I allowed you to keep the wand he let you find. He knows how you-know-who functions and was curious as to how you managed to stay with me after Dolohov's escape."
Hermione nodded and sat down at the small alcove by the tall window, Lucius followed and stood in front of her.
"Thank you for being hospitable with Ron and Harry. I know it was dangerous to even have them on the grounds. It was nice to see them again. And now that Draco isn't…well, a prat, it was nice to see him again too."
Her slight anecdote made Lucius chuckle. He stepped closer and allowed her to lean her head against his stomach while they both stared out the window towards a gloomy weathered day.
His hand started combing her hair with his fingers and Hermione reached her hand towards the seam of his shirt.
Her eager grab to bring him closer made him crouch down to get on her level. Hermione watched the handsome blonde man with a slight stubble come to her eye-level and take hold of her hand.
"I know you are worried. I would be lying if I said I wasn't worried too." He said.
Hermione smiled. "Thank you for the sacrifices you have made to help myself and the Order out."
"The choices I am making are only to keep you, our child, and Draco safe." She felt a sense of overpowering calmness consume her when he said that. She felt at peace at that moment despite the circumstance. It wasn't even plausible that he was playing at some game. It all felt real. The look in his eyes when he spoke to her, the gentleness of his touch every time they were close to each other, or even the way he held her while they slept.
Hermione smiled at the blonde man in front of her and leaned forward to give him a quick tender kiss.
As quickly as the kiss started, she pulled away and put a loose strand of his flawless blonde hair behind his ear. Lucius smiled at the feeling and took hold of her hand on his cheek in his. Both looked into each other's eyes and wanted the moment to last incessantly. His lips went back to hers in a loving kiss, wrapping her legs around his waist before standing up to lift them both. He placed her on the same table they sat on earlier with her friends and his son and kept her body pressed against his. Pulling back he saw the smile on her lips that caused him to feel a warmth in his chest.
"My lovely witch." He whispered unintentionally. The comment made her beam and blush, bringing him down to her again in a passionate kiss. Lucius started undoing the buttons to her robe while she fidgeted with the button to his pants. There was a sense of urgency in each of their movements. As his hands fully undid her robe Lucius wrapped one arm around her waist and another at the back of her head, deepening the kiss into something more passionate than their other embraces. Hermione let out a moan against his lips while finally getting the button to his trousers undone and pulled slightly down.
"Lucius…please." Hermione cried as his lips moved down her neck.
"Say my name again." He groaned against her skin, getting her knickers off in one quick slick movement. He positioned himself in front of her entrance and just as he pushed in, Hermione moaned his name, "oh, Lucius."
As he began to build up to a pace, Hermione repeated his name into his ear causing him to slowly speed up and every inch of skin he could get his lips on. Finally, his lips found hers again. Pulling back he looked down at the flushed woman in his arms moaning his name and a glare in her eyes that made him grow weaker by the second.
"You are beautiful, my love." He whispered. Lucius himself couldn't believe he left those words to slip from his lips but the reaction he got from Hermione reassured him that she was not afraid of what he said.
Hermione grabbed at his collar and pulled him down to her, kissing his nose before moaning against his lips. She registered what he said and could feel his arms sense the moment those words escaped his lips. Mentally she was telling herself that it was just a slip of words. Lucius looked into her eyes for any sight of withdrawal but instead was given a loving look while stroking his cheek. Before long, both reached their climax and held each other tightly. Lucius wrapped her up in his arms and held onto her thin frame while kissing her neck. The moment was all too wholesome. Hermione smiled against his shoulder while his soft kisses were placed on her skin.
There was a comfort that grew between them daily, perhaps it was due to their need for a companion in this difficult time, but Hermione knew it wasn't only that. They were both too intelligent to fall for that. Maybe it was because he has seen her at her lowest and most defenseless and she had seen his at his most vulnerable. No, it couldn't be that either. In the time they stayed in their frozen positions both could tell it was inexpressible what they felt. Lucius, although she hated to admit it, saved her. She was doubtful of his loyalty at first but his actions during her stay at Malfoy Manor confirmed that he was telling her the truth. There was too much at stake for the man to take that risk. Quite honestly that was an influencing factor on why she willingly agreed to get pregnant. The more she thought about it, the more unnecessary questions came to her mind. What would happen if Voldemort won? What would happen if he lost? What of his wife? What of her?
Hermione felt a sob take hold of her and Lucius pulled back worryingly.
"what's wrong…" Lucius whispered while pulling out of her and placing both hands to cradle her cheeks.
"I…how long will this last Lucius? I've never felt so powerless in my life and I hate it. …" Her admitted. Lucius watched the woman in his arms start to soften up and it made his stomach tighten to know she was in this type of pain.
"I will never let any harm come to you, Hermione. Do you understand me? Regardless of the outcome of this war, I am keeping you close to my side. I am certainly not letting you go. You will be safe, our child will be safe. I don't know what has developed between us but I refuse to let you out of my grasp."
Hermione's tears fell onto his hands. The fear and anguish in her eyes were heartbreaking to him. Perhaps at that moment, Lucius knew exactly what he would do but it was almost as terrifying as telling the dark lord to off himself.
Lucius kissed her rosy lips briefly and she nodded. By the afternoon they settled for tea in a large sunroom attached to the main hall. Both enjoyed the contented silence into the early evening, but the silence was soon interrupted by the sound of a loud clash across the manor. A moment after, a blue light shot across the room towards him and back towards the door. He knew exactly what that meant. Lucius shot to his feet and Hermione soon followed despite him telling her to stay put. Of course, Hermione ignored him. As they turned a corner, they could hear two men whispering loudly. Both recognized the voices instantly. Lucius looked behind him and indicated to her that she should stay behind. This time she listened in fear of seeing Antonin again.
Lucius turned to corner into the massive grant hall, spotted Antonin and Servus covered in ash, both trying to pat themselves clean. Lucius saw the longstanding fireplace in the hall spitting small green flames the floo had been used. He shot a look at Severus. He should have known that this particular floo had been purposefully charmed to alert him. Mentally he reminded himself to thank Severus for the warning.
Antonin cleared his throat and stiffened up at the sight of Lucius.
"You must get that fixed Lucius. Such a way to greet a guest, with a damaged floo."
Lucius replied, "An unsolicited guest. I thought you were a smart enough man to understand you are not welcome here. Not after your last visit."
Hermione smirked to herself around the corner, still hidden from view.
"We were sent by the Dark Lord to discuss the upcoming raids or have you forgotten?" Dolohov advanced towards the hallway and before he could get any further Lucius bought Hermione time to sneak away but distracting Antonin.
"We will be using the east wing dining hall this evening. This way." Lucius turned on his heel and led them in the opposite direction. Hermione let out a breath slowly to calm her nerves. She tried her best to stay on the carpet runner to avoid any noise. Quickly she made her way up the stairs and straight to the library. Shutting the door behind her softly, Hermione lit the fireplace with her borrowed wand.
Laying down on the couch nearest the fire, Hermione curled up against the armrest with a book she kept on the side table to keep her mind off of Dolohov being in the manor.
Slowly her mind started to drift, and her body began to relax as the firewood crackled in front of her. As quickly as she sat down to take her mind off the meeting, her eyes began to close, and she stopped fighting the drowsiness.
What felt like hours later, Hermione felt a hand pet her hair. She reached up to touch the warm hand.
"Have you had an enjoyable siesta, my dear?" Hermione's eyes snapped open and she tried to jump forward but the hand forcefully grabbed her hair to pull her back.