Lustful Intentions

By: Le Noir de Adhara

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.L.u.S.t.

Hauteur was the one word, if none of the others in the English language worked, to describe Draco Malfoy, Hermione decided one rainy day in November as she watched him saunter into the pub. The Leaky Cauldron had been chosen because it was ideally placed in front of Diagon Alley, but even so, Hermione wished they could have gone to a Muggle place. It seemed to put them on equal footing, something which Hermione desperately wished they were on.

During the two-and-a-half weeks in which Draco was away on "business" (or so he called it), she had done a lot of soul-searching and came to the conclusion that she was helplessly in love with Draco. Now actually wanting to be in love with him was another story.

Ginny was so concerned for her, and if she was being honest to herself, Hermione was concerned for her person too. It was destructive, in a way, to feel anything for him. But that was the way the world turned, and Hermione didn't feel the need to fight. Life was too short not to go along the path. Then again, her logical side screamed at her to forget the Malfoy heir and move far, far away from Britain; preferably to Pluto.

Hermione caught a glimpse of his eyes. They were narrowed and a stormy gray. Uh oh, run for cover because the Dragon was on a rampage!

"Who screwed you over?" asked Hermione when Draco was near enough to hear her.

Draco's look turned instantly from silent anger to active confusion. "I beg your pardon?"

"Well, you look like someone who had their milked spilt is all. So, I ask again; who screwed you over?"

Draco stared at Hermione for moments before answering, "Work deal. You wouldn't understand. Hell, I don't even understand it yet." Which was the truth . . . sort of.

"Well, when you do understand it, my ears will be ready to listen." Hermione laughed softly, while Draco only slightly smiled. He had arrived feeling talkative for a change (albeit a mystifying one), only to suddenly become laconic in her presence. It must have been Madame Jerrica's influence. Ever since his visit to her earlier in the morning, he'd been taking a long, hard look at all that was happening to him.

She placed her hand upon his much paler one. She smiled knowingly, looking deep into his eyes.

"What is troubling you so?" she asked. Draco suddenly felt a sense of foreboding, but dismissed it as quickly as it came.

"It's about the prophecy you predicted," he replied.

"Ah, yes, I can handle all your questions. Come, look into my crystal ball."

Draco shook the memory off. That one had no bearing on the situation at hand. All that mattered was getting his revenge on Hermione. Nothing else meant more to him.

He proceeded to start a conversation, momentarily forgetting all about what had happened.

December First

Hermione came out wiping sweat and grime for her forehead. She cautiously approached Ron.

"Could you owl Draco Malfoy for me? Tell him that I won't be able to make it to dinner tonight because I'm working late."

Ron nodded in response. He watched as Hermione started to walk back into the examination room. "Hey, Hermione?" he called to her before she walked through he threshold. "How's Ginny doing?"

Hermione stared at him for a moment, glanced at Harry's direction, and slightly shook her head. Ron drooped down. Things were not looking good. Hermione entered the other room, and Ron decided to do as she asked.

Paris, France

Jerrica was so pleased at the rate things were going. To be more specific, she was pleased at Draco and Hermione's relationship. She knew he was falling more and more deeply in love with her than anyone could imagine, and it was only a matter of time before he "decided" to exact his "revenge."

The most amazing thing about the situation was there never was a prophecy. Jerrica had always been fascinated at how the human mind could be manipulated, and this was one of her many experiments. Looking back over the span of just one decade, she had tricked many a couple that they were meant to be. Those marriages caused by her lies were still going strong.

Jerrica was excited; it was almost time for that grand finale. It would be like one never before seen. She could feel it!

Yes, Jerrica did have better things to do than match make. But that didn't mean she had to do them.

London, England

What felt like hours (but was really only minutes) later, the ordeal was done. Hermione did what she could to help Harry and Ginny, but once you suffered a miscarriage, there wasn't much to do or say. Draco stayed back in the shadows, not saying much to the Weasleys.

He noticed Hermione had a cold, distant, disbelieving look in her eyes. He watched her go through the motions and finally offer her condolences to Harry and Ginny. Only when he was sure that Hermione was close to the breaking point did Draco apparate him and Hermione back to her cottage.

He allowed her space to change into flannel pajama pants and a loose t-shirt. Afterwards, he pulled her to her backyard. Once he had gotten both of them comfortable on the swing, she cried.

Moments after, the tears ceased and Hermione was quiet. Draco lay under her rubbing her arm to try to cosset.

"I don't understand what went wrong."

The admission came out of nowhere, but Draco wasn't surprised.

"We were so careful. Ginny and Harry were careful. There isn't an explanation."

"Maybe there is," Draco replied after a fashion. "Maybe it was one of those things that you couldn't control."

"They're devastated."

"Well, Hermione, I'd consider them heartless if they weren't."

"I don't know what to say," Hermione's voice quivered.

"They understand what you mean. They know you care." Draco kissed the woman on her forehead. Hermione glanced up and watched him lean closer. She closed the gap between their lips. His hand slid up her body and curled into her hair as he deepened the kiss.

"We shouldn't do this, Hermione," Draco muttered as he ended the kiss.

"Because you have to work in the morning?"

"No, because you're hurt and grieving. It'll come, but not until you want me, and not just the physical comfort."

"But I do want you Draco."

Draco shook his head. "Wait. Get over this hurdle first. Besides, I haven't gotten a ring on you finger yet," he teased.

Hermione softly smiled. She got up reluctantly and stretched. Draco was slower to rise. Together, they both walked back into the house. Draco left a lingering kiss on Hermione's lips and Disapparated quickly. Hermione watched the spot Draco had just occupied for several seconds before she climbed into bed.

Meanwhile, Draco was far from sleep. He was at a crossroads. Should he carry out his plan, or forget he ever thought of it? He growled. "I can't do it Blaise!" On a whim, he picked up his grandmother's favorite vase (she had obtained it from some smelly thief off the side of the road for seven knuts; it was really worth a fortune) and chunked it at a mirror across from him, successfully breaking both.

Blaise watched the proceedings with indifference, "That's seven years' bad luck."

Draco sighed, raking a hand through his already disheveled hair. "It doesn't get any worse than this, does it? I think I'm pretty safe for now."

"I don't see why you shouldn't take your revenge. She's nothing but a mudblood anyway."

Draco ignored him, "What am I going to do?"

Blaise rolled his eyes. "Get a ring on her finger. Stay with her a few months; get her out of your system. Divorce her faster than you can say Quidditch."

"I can't do that either!"

"Oh, sure Draco, because you've been motivated by far more than lustful intentions from the very beginning."

Draco sighed. "You're right; what am I thinking? I should have ended this long ago. I'll do it soon."

Blaise inclined his head in understanding and then left the Floo network. Draco shook his head. Whatever else he told Blaise, he knew he wasn't going to be getting much sleep. To put it mildly, the mudblood had gotten too far under his skin, and Draco doubted she'd ever be fully extracted.

.L.u.S.t.

Well, guys, only a few more chapters left to go. In case you're wondering, Ginny became pregnant at the beginning-middle of August. I have a feeling I'll be going through and editing the earlier chapters before I post the last one. Anyway, the story should be done by the end of this week. Maddy: Here you go! Hope you have fun! P.S. What do you think?

Le Noir de Adhara