So pleased you are enjoying this story, thank you for all of your lovely reviews, follows and favourites. My thanks to those of your playing along with Bond spotting and for your comments about this. So without further delay and with the usual apologies for any errors etc...enjoy...
Hermione hadn't planned on partaking in any outdoor pursuits or sports during her purportedly relaxing weekend, save perhaps a stroll in the gardens, which hardly come under either heading. Thus even the extension charm she had added to her small case did not include any suitable footwear for shooting, but then Hermione Granger hadn't graduated top of Minerva McGonagall's transfiguration class for nothing. A brief incantation and wave of her wand, and her smart rather expensive black suede boots became an equally smart pair of knee high country boots, teamed with jodhpur style leggings, which were always a staple in her luggage, and a black cashmere jumper. The outfit was completed with a red gilet, something she had brought along especially for the weekend and that stroll in the gardens, the tailored garment, clung stylishly to her feminine curves.
"Hmm, that'll do nicely." She said aloud, pulling her hair up into a high ponytail.
Glancing at her reflection in the long mirror in her own room, Hermione couldn't help but feel she resembled the somewhat stereotypical appearance she had envisaged her host adopting for such a pursuit, but she certainly looked the part and that was the main thing. Sport did not normally call for makeup and a squirt of perfume…but this was a very different kind of sport.
She found Lucius Malfoy alone in the lobby, presumably waiting for her. As always he cut a very striking figure, leaning on his serpent headed cane, and for once he was not clad from head to toe in black. He didn't exactly fit that hackneyed image that had flitted across her mind the day before, but it wasn't too far removed. A dark green moleskin shooting waistcoat with grey suede shoulder patches replacing the Barbour that she had pictured. How very Slytherin she thought absently, if nothing else, he certainly looked every inch the country squire come Lord of the Manor; all he was missing was a faithful gundog at his elegantly booted heels.
His lean figure crossed the lobby in a few long strides, meeting her descent from the central staircase, with an almost courtly bow. Hermione noticed that since she'd observed him from her window earlier, his signature mane of blonde hair had been caught in a strand of black ribbon at the nape of his neck, unlike her high ponytail, it hung sleekly down his back. He took her hand in his and with equal chivalry brushed the back to his lips.
Hermione felt that familiar tingle of excitement race through her body. Her eyes might have seen Lucius Malfoy with Julius Nihil, her brain might have registered the implications of the two men being together, but her body didn't seem to care in the slightest, it was still solely focussed on the pleasure he had inflicted on her.
"Good morning my dear, you look…perfect." He said, his warm breath caressing her hand.
"I trust you slept well." His grey eyes twinkled knowingly as they came to meet hers.
"I apologise for not being there when you woke up." The regret which clouded his eyes and laced his tone was sincere.
"But I had a rather important guest arriving whom I had to greet personally."
Well at least he hadn't lied about his whereabouts, Hermione mused silently, smiling sweetly at him.
"I did thank you, or perhaps I should say thanks to you."
Her eyes twinkled with the same knowing, her smile taking on a seductive air as she affected disinterest in his important guest.
"And please don't give it a second thought." She moved her hand dismissively, her voice echoing the seductiveness of her smile.
It appeared Hermione's body was in full charge, every inch of it fully aware of this man, in every way possible, and still enjoying flirting so outrageously with him.
"I am sure you will make it up to me." She heard herself saying, that mental list she'd made springing into her mind, and hoping for another addition.
He took her hand, slipping it into the crook of his arm as he escorted her outside.
"Consider me completely in your debt".
Lucius took his cue from tenor, happy to pick up where they had left off; leaving her in his bed this morning had been torturous, his body had been far from happy and truthfully neither had he. Her perfume wafted to his nostrils and went straight to his cock, he just about withheld the wolflike growl which burbled in his throat, but his smile was just as lascivious.
Hermione squeezed his arm, brushing her body against him as she stretched to his ear.
"Oh trust me Lucius" She whispered against the shell.
"I am going to make you pay... dearly."
Her body and her brain were still very much at odds over the settlement, but there was no reason why they both couldn't get what they wanted.
"I don't remember seeing that in the brochure." She said suddenly, noticing a white domed structure over his shoulder and unable to contain her natural curiosity.
Lucius didn't turn his head, his glinting eyes remained fixed on her, he was far more interested in the debt he was in and how she was going to make him pay and so dearly, than what he knew was behind him.
"That's because it isn't in the brochure, it's temporary, just for the party tonight."
"Oh." She said as nonchalantly as she could, desperately trying to contain her insatiable curiosity.
They continued to walk, Lucius steering her towards the clay pigeon shooting area, Hermione's hand was nestled in the crook of his arm, as she matched his long purposeful strides.
"I find parties can be so tedious, especially those which involve business." He explained, boredom edging his voice.
"So I decided to make it a little more interesting, it's an ice palace." His tone remained flat, as if it really was nothing special.
He noticed Hermione's step falter, and then stop, her wide eyes darting in the direction of the structure behind him, an astonished gasp parting those delicious, highly kissable, very red, irresistible lips of hers, they simply were impossible to resist. He yanked her into his arms, his mouth quickly covering hers, if only he hadn't had to leave her in his bed. Finally he took a step back, savouring the look of flushed surprise on her face.
"Would you like to come." He asked, knowing full well the connotations his words held, and despite the potentially inherent dangers, Lucius Malfoy was supremely confident he could handle the two things.
Putting the ultimate, more serious goal aside, baiting Lucius Malfoy was always going to be fun, but she hadn't realised quite how much, until now. Although not technically on a case, Hermione seldom got to enjoy herself this much, or in such a way when she was working, perhaps there was something to be said for mixing business and pleasure after all.
"Come with you?" She repeated, licking her slightly swollen lips.
He inclined his head, raising a brow.
"As opposed to you coming with me." She gave him that coy, very naughty look.
"Oh to your party." Her coquettish expression changed to one of concern.
"I'd love to Lucius, but are you sure your business associates wouldn't object to my presence?"
Her demeanour might have been playful enough, but Hermione studied his reaction intently. Yesterday she had suspected the Dark Wizard knew more about what she actually did at The Ministry than he should, if that was the case, he would hardly invite her to a party where the guests included the man currently at the top of their most wanted list, would he? His face gave nothing away, save the fact he was clearly rather amused by her question, he also seemed genuinely perplexed by it.
"Why would anyone object to a beautiful woman at a party, I certainly wouldn't."
Hermione found herself somewhat taken aback, but nonetheless flattered by his words, but she didn't allow herself to be distracted by them, labouring her point too hard could easily arouse his suspicions. She took a step closer into him, her fingers smoothing the soft material of his waistcoat.
"Well, I think you may still have an ulterior motive and are just a tad biased, your guests might not be quite so receptive to me."
Even if she did just supposedly deal with imports and exports at the Ministry of Magic, she was still Hermione Granger, and some people did not warm to that fact, some never had.
"I am not trying to get out of coming with you but… you did say was a private party, my presence might be more feather ruffling than wheel oiling."
Whilst her words were sincere, they were more out of concern for herself than him, ruffling feathers meant she wasn't going to find out anything interesting at all.
"Well as I said my dear, business parties can be very dull and boring, if having you as my guest is going to ruffle a few stuffy feathers and stir things up a bit, then so be it. I think I deserve a little fun of my own."
His words did not sound like those of someone up to no good, but then Lucius Malfoy had made an art form out of deceit and was used to hiding behind a well-crafted façade, his years as a Death Eater having honed that particular skill to a tee.
His long fingers moved to a loose strand of her hair, dislodged by the gentle breeze, he tucked it proficiently behind her ear, stroking her cheek with his thumb.
"And as you pointed out it's my party. On my galleon, as our American friends say, so I'm entitled to bring anyone I like."
Both the Unspeakable and Hermione Granger inwardly squealed with delight at the prospect. One reminding the other silently as to why they were going. Her pleasure for both reasons, reflected in the smile she flashed at him.
"Indeed you are Lucius. In which case I would be even more delighted to come with you."
Hermione emphasised his double entendre, her hand still absently stroking his waistcoat. Yesterday just the thought of having dinner with the Dark Wizard had filled Hermione Granger with dread, whilst the Unspeakable had rejoiced, today both were equally thrilled to be invited to his party, but for very different reasons. However the Unspeakable felt that Hermione Granger should be a little less excited at the prospect, neither of them knew what this man was really up to.
"You do realise that this means you are going to be stuck with me for a good part of the day don't you?" She observed, a red tipped finger now glinting in the watery sunshine, against the dark green.
Lucius stepped back from her a second time, his usually well-disciplined body had still not forgiven him for leaving her in his bed, given not even a half a chance, it would have her back there in an instant. With an elegant sweep of his hand, he gestured for her to precede him, continuing their walk to the shooting ground.
"I fear it is you who are stuck with me; however you should consider yourself very lucky." His aristocratic tone had taken on that low sexy quality.
Stopping in her tracks once more, Hermione turned to face him. It appeared she was not the only one who had come top of the class in transfiguration, they had obviously reached their desired location as he was now holding a cocked shot gun, his every present cane, now conspicuous by its absence. Her gaze flittered from the glinting silver metal to his silvery blue eyes which glinted with equal menace.
"I should?" She asked, raising her hands in surrender as he snapped the barrel shut.
"Pull." He abstractedly called to a magical machine which hurled the clay discs into the air.
Without missing a beat he quickly and skilfully raised the black and silver gun into the air, firing at the moving projectile, catching it dead centre, so it shattered it into hundreds of pieces. Calling again and repeating the action and the direct hit once more. He smiled smugly at Hermione, obviously in no hurry whatsoever to respond to her question, he slowly withdrew two fresh cartridges from one of the many pockets in his waistcoat and reloaded the rifle. With the gun pointing safely downwards and away from them, Lucius moved behind her.
"Had I not had to play the attentive host this morning, I can assure you Hermione, the only outdoors you would have seen today, would have been from my bedroom window."
Hermione's heart beat franticly in her chest at his words; had he spotted her at that very window earlier and was testing her, what had she seen, what had she heard? At their implications, that he had wanted to spend the day in bed together, and as always, at his overwhelming proximity. As his strong arms encircled her, it felt as if it was going to burst from her chest, excitement and fear rushing through her veins as he placed the transfigured weapon in her hands. Her body also assured her, had she not been holding that rifle, they would have apparated right back to his bed. A loaded gun going off during apparation! It made the thought of splinching positively appealing. It didn't however stop her from taking a step back into him, feeling his body contour perfectly to hers, frighteningly so, just as it had done the previous evening in the hot tub. Even the clothing they both now wore did little to conceal his immediate reaction to her.
This time Lucius could not contain the heavy breath which escaped his lips.
"You need to show me how to hold it." She all but purred at him.
He knew she was of course referring to the rifle, however the analogy of his weapon in her hands had previously crossed his mind, her tone and phraseology along with her soft, perfectly rounded arse against his groin sent his mind directly into the gutter.
"You seemed to be managing perfectly well last evening...oh you mean the gun."
It appeared they were once again back on the parodying train and despite now being wholly distracted by just about everything, Hermione was as sharp as ever and quick to respond to his innuendo. Enjoying both his word play and his reaction, she shifted purposefully against him.
Altering her stance as she lifted the gun slightly, he felt her shoulders straighten against him and her arse abrade against the constricting material of his trousers.
"I wouldn't want to mishandle it Lucius, it might go off too quickly in my hand."
Now there was a thought, one which played in his mind in such graphic detail, he could almost feel her warm hand wrapped around him. Merlin's teeth what this woman did to him! Struggling to maintain both his composure and his control, he spoke through almost clenched teeth.
"You just have to be careful with the trigger my dear, no itching fingers, you must squeeze rather than pull."
"I think I can manage that, squeeze not pull." She repeated slowly and suggestively after him.
Lucius could feel, rather than see her position and adjusted her arm slightly.
"Ready."
She said, making the one word statement sound more like a question, she could feel Lucius Malfoy was very ready, but for a very different kind of shooting, Hermione tried to maintain her concentration. Even in a war of smutty double entendres, the perfectionist in Hermione did not want to miss her first clay pigeon.
"Comfortable?" He asked, on the pretext that he was in anyway remotely interested in the shooting.
She wriggled making sure that everything felt okay, but knowing full well, her movements were making the Dark Wizard far from comfortable.
"Yes." She affirmed.
He took a reluctant but necessary step backwards.
"Pull." This time the single word was a rasping hiss, as he called once again to the magical machine which hurled the clay discs into the air.
Hermione aimed the rifle and fired, narrowly missing the small brown disc. The recoil on the gun sent her hurtling backwards like she'd been hit with an expelliarmus spell, straight against the tall blonde.
"You missed, Miss Granger." He said rather obviously, an amused tone to his voice as he slipped back to a more formal address.
She still held the rifle containing the remaining shell in one hand, thankfully it was safely pointing towards the ground. Her free hand had however managed to somehow become caught between then.
"Did I?"
She lifted her wickedly twinkling eyes towards him, as she flexed the fingers which were splayed across the front of his pants.
"Itching fingers Lucius? What did you say, squeeeeze, don't pull?" She did precisely that, squeezing gently.
He muttered or rather hissed something on a groaned breath.
Hermione felt her so called itching fingers tingle and itch for real, the cool metal of the rifle she had been holding, transfiguring back into the equally cold metal of the serpent head of Lucius Malfoy's cane. Her smile was more devilish than the twinkle in her eyes, as without losing contact, she turned to face him completely.
"It appears I have a wand in each hand Mister Malfoy." She too reverted back to formality, her brows lifting with her words.
"One only fractionally harder than the other too." A teasing smile curving her lips.
She thought she heard him say something under his breath, although she couldn't be sure if it wasn't simply another groan. Holding on tightly to both wands, as for the second time in less than twenty four hours Hermione felt the very familiar tug of apparation, this was a pull she was certainly able to handle and one he was only marginally ahead of her in instigating. There was no question as to where she going to find herself, Lucius Malfoy having made himself quite clear on that front. Hermione recalled her mental list…
