Clearing the air in the Library

Breakfast was a silent affair, with the only sounds being made were the chinks of cutlery against the china. The silence however was not a comfortable one; I was anxious over what Lucius felt towards me while Lucius was preparing himself to tell me that he loved me. An entirely un- Slytherin like thing to do he thought but it had to be done to prevent further misunderstandings. I looked up from my plate to reach out for the pumpkin juice and he caught my eye. He was not doing anything in particular, but I watched him nonetheless, the way his arm muscles rippled when he stretched across the table to reach for the eggs; the way a few strands of his platinum blond hair, came loose from its tie and swayed across his face; the way the sun that streamed in from the ivory windows in the dining area, contrasted to the cold grey of his enthralling eyes, which at that moment decided to snap up and catch me staring at him with my face resting on the palms of my hands while my elbows leaned on the table. My breakfast cold and long forgotten as I continued staring at his face, not even registering the curiously amused smirk he was sending my way,

"Is there something you like, Blair?" he smirked arrogantly, now watching me intently from across the table.

I bit my lip and closed my eyes in embarrassment but responded nevertheless,

"Should there be?" I asked mock innocently.

"I would say so."

"Well then yes there is." I replied shortly, returning my attention to my cold breakfast.

He smiled at my down turned head for a moment before also returning to his breakfast.

The mid-afternoon sun poured through the heavy drapes in the library and lit up the dusty copy of "Transference of Power: A Guide to Everlasting Supremacy" by Wilfred Judson which I picked up where I had left off so many months ago. I was immersed in the book for hours not hearing when Lucius walked into the room and leant against the door frame watching me with a determined look on his face. He nodded his head as if to reassure himself of what he was about to do and begin to make his way over to where I was siting at the far end of the library. I heard him before I saw him his pointed boots connecting loudly with the stone floor.

"Good afternoon, Lucius." I called out, without removing my gaze from the book.

"Good afternoon, Blair." He responded. There was something in his voice however than made me put down my book and stand up giving him my full attention. He sounded somewhat nervous, a trait I had yet to see in Lucius and was certain it never existed.

"Blair, there is something I have been meaning to tell you." He paused as if it was difficult to find the words to express what he felt. My eyes widened in horror, this was exactly what I thought would happen; he was here to tell me that he could not be involved with me any longer. I wasn't going to give him the chance to break my heart.

"You are not going to hurt me!" I snapped before running out of the library, my emerald robes whipping out the door just as Lucius realised what I thought and ran out after me. I made it to the hall before I felt a strong hand on my shoulder stop and turn me around; I was met with his intense grey eyes, which never ceased to catch my breath whenever I looked into them. Lucius used my silence as a chance to start speaking.

"Blair, my darling, hear me out. I am not going to hurt you at all. Just listen for a moment then you can say what ever you like." He took a deep breath and placed one hand on my cheek and the other he gently ran though my hair,

"I just wanted to let you know that The Dark Lord is not the only reason we have to create a child." He looked deep into my eyes as he continued stroking my hair.

"You mean-" I began incredulously

"Yes Blair, if he never requested this of you at all, I would still want to have a child with you." He smiled softly at me.

"I thought you hated the idea!" I blurted out, "I thought it was because you did not love me enough!" I placed my hands on his shoulders for balance for I was liable to collapse from shock.

"That is just it! You mean the world to me Blair. When the thought crossed my mind that there was the possibility that your feelings and actions were fake I snapped. I was so worried I would lose you to the Dark Lord's plans." he cupped both hands on my face as he spoke.

I smiled happily, something I had not done in quite a while,

"I never told you about his plan as I was afraid that you would leave me or want to have a child only to earn your grace from the Dark Lord."

"Oh, no… Blair." He mumbled reverently as he ran both hands though my velvety black hair once more then leaned in and captured my lips in a passionate kiss. I cupped his face and deepened the kiss, pouring all my emotion and worry from the past few days into that kiss. We broke apart reluctantly owing to the need to breath. My heart was filled with such a relief like it had never known; it even rivalled my relief at finding out Tom was not leaving me after we had graduated. I quickly pressed my lips to his once more and briefly squeezed his hand,

"Let us return to the library, I want to finish that book which I was reading until I was interrupted." I stared pointedly at him before laughing and running back towards the library before Lucius caught me and lifted me into a bone-crushing hug. He lifted me up into his arms forcing me to place my hands around his neck. He carried me over the threshold of the library before gently placing me down in my previous chair. He leaned over me seductively, his hair sweeping across his face creating a platinum frame for his eyes.

"Are you sure you want to read?" he whispered huskily, his lips brushing slightly against mine. It took all my self-control to answer.

"Yes, I am sure." I replied, not sounding so sure of myself after all.

"Oh well then I will leave you and the book together." Sounding mock disappointed, he slowly stood up letting his hand trail lightly down my body, eliciting a small moan of delight from me. As he made his way to the door, I called out,

"Lucius, you don't have to go! The book can wait!" he turned around and replied

"Oh no, I will not be the cause of you missing out on your reading time Blair." He waved a dismissive hand as he continued out the door, "I will see you later."

"Lucius!" I called vainly in the hopes he would decide to return but my call was met with a laugh that resounded down the hall, I could not help but join in laughing. He manipulated me into believing he wanted to spend further time with me and then left me high and dry. I laughed at the irony of the situation; I now know that he felt like this every time I left him abruptly. I shook my head and resignedly reached down for the book which I had discarded on the floor. It was clear now, I thought, I could now plan to have a child because Lucius wants to not just for the Dark Lord's plans. I smiled serenely as I started the next chapter: Transferring Power to Others, knowing it would be quite practical should the need arise for it.