Chapter 2

When Hermione woke up, the bluebell flames had died away once she fell asleep, the spell canceled out. She sat up and noticed immediately she was alone. Hermione did not know what to make of this. She looked around her and saw no note, no nothing to indicated that he had even been there.

I cannot be angry; we agreed it would be a onetime thing, right. He left it is probably for the best. I got what I wanted, and he got to say he deflowered the Gryffindor golden girl. I am sure Rita Skeeter will love that. I can see the headlines now.

Golden girl gives it up too, Notorious Death Eater Lucius Malfoy!

Won't she just love that? Hermione scolded herself mentally. It had been so good at the time, and Lucius, nay Malfoy, had been so sweet, gentle, and caring. Something she could never have imagined a year ago or hell even yesterday.

Hermione sighed while picking up her lingerie and coat, throwing them back on hastily. When she reached the door, she paused in shock as a powerful spell hummed against her magic. She tried the door, and it opened quickly. The spell did not seem to be keeping her in, that is for sure, but she could not figure out what it could be used for otherwise. Shaking her head, she figured it would be best to forget it and move on.

"He will never seek me out anyway, so I should not worry. He is Lucius Malfoy, a wizard that could have any witch in the known world. What would he need with a know it all like me anyways?" She grumbled to herself, sourly.

Heading up to her room that all the returning students for the eighth year had received upon admittance. She climbed the stairs warily, ready to get some real rest for the remainder of the evening. She thanked the deities once more that she did not have to share a room, or she would have had a barrage of questions upon entering.

Hermione moved to her bed that she shared with Crookshanks, her cat, who seemed to be out getting up to something somewhere too. Hermione dropped her coat, too tired to put it away before flopping on her bed and drifting back off to sleep for the remainder of the night.

Meanwhile, Lucius arrived at his manor hours before and now sat in the study in his favorite chair and a glass of fire whiskey in his pale, long-fingered hands. He stared down into the glass absent-mindedly, not sure how to process what had happened tonight. He knew he should be up in his king-sized bed sleeping, but he just could not.

The image of Hermione spread out, screaming under him kept replaying in his mind over and over again. She had been so wanton and delicious, but all so innocent as well.

"I corrupted her." He could not help lamenting as he placed his head in his hands, his long silver strands spilling over his shoulder, blocking everything from view. Lucius was so deep in his misery and berating of himself that he missed someone else coming into the study at that moment. He was cursing his fate.

"Why did I have to give in to temptation, why her of all people."

"Why who?" Came an inquiring voice out of no were, which caused Lucius to leap out of his chair in fear. His wand automatically pointed in the direction of the person.

Draco's eyes nearly popped out of his head when his father's wand became pointed in his direction. He had never seen his father have such a look of fear and startlement before. The man always seemed poised and in control, even when Voldemort had taken over their home. He had maintained his appearance of aloofness.

"Merlin Draco makes some noise, would you?" His father his at him in anger while dropping his wand. "I did not hear you come in. I could have shot first and asked questions later." Lucius then turned back to his chair and unceremoniously plopped down in it.

Now Draco really became concerned because his father did not plop, plunk, or slouch in or on anything, ever! "Father, are you quite, alright? You do not seem your self-tonight. Are you well?"

Lucius laughed so derisively at his son's questions. How do you tell your son and only heir that you have just finished sleeping with one of his classmates and someone you claimed you used to hate not a few hours ago.

"I am fine, son. I just had a rough night, think nothing of it. I will be most likely to right by tomorrow. You should head to bed, though." Lucius did not look over at Draco for fear that he would see the lies hidden in his eyes.

I am the lowest cad of all. I shagged her, and then I left like a coward while she slept rather than face her. He sat there, continuing to drink his liquor and wallow in self-pity. Draco left him to it, not saying anything else before departing. Whatever bothered his father, he knew Lord Malfoy would never open to him. They were not talking about your feelings kind of family.

Once Draco had departed, Lucius knocked back his drink, continuing to stare in the flames of the fire for some time before feeling the need to find his bed. Nothing would be fixed, and he could not take back his mistake, and the damage had been done. Hermione had wanted to lose her virginity tonight, and she had. Lucius gave her what she wanted and, hopefully, a good memory of him after so many years of evil.

Getting up from the chair, he shook his melancholy off like one would shake off the water then as regally as every, he strolled towards his bed to seek some sleep for the night. Lucius knew tomorrow would look better, and mayhap he could try to forget what had occurred with the delectable Ms. Hermione Granger. After all, no one knew of their affair except for them, and he certainly would not be telling tales.

The next morning dawned bright and sunny for both people, but both woke up in very different moods. Hermione woke sore but stated and smiling. She felt if everything were looking up for her. Now that she did not have that pesky virginity in the way, she felt sexy, sure, and as if men were not a waste of time after all. All thanks to Lucius Malfoy, of course.

Stretching and yawning while getting up. She gave Crookshanks a scratch behind the ear as she walked towards her own bathroom, ready for a nice hot soak. Thankfully, it is the weekend she had no homework or much to do, so she figured she would relax because she earned it. Humming to herself as she stepped into the bathtub, Hermione could not help wondering what Malfoy might be doing at this moment in time. Does he think about me the way I am of him?

Meanwhile, in a mansion at that very moment, Lucius Malfoy had just cracked open an eye; seeing the rays of the sun, he groaned loudly. Then burring his head back under his expensive pillow, not in any way ready to face the day.

What if I just lie here and people hopefully forget I exist. Lucius knew he would not be that lucky, for once cursing his lot in life to be rich and good looking.

Why did I have to go along with it? Why did it have to be her to walk into the room and blow me away? If it had been anyone else, I could have shagged her and gone on my merry way, thinking nothing of it. She is so sweet and responsive.

"Fuck, who am I kidding? She had been the best shag of my life. Hell, and damnation, what am I to do, and how am I to get over it because I want her again."

Lucius could feel himself getting hard just thinking of the little witch again. The thought of her soft curves and the smell of her skin. The way her walls had gripped him so wonderfully tight while he took her again and again.

"Ugh!" Lucius buried his head back under the covers for the second time that morning, after a few more minutes, though, he gave himself a mental kick in the pants.

Get a grip, old man, and get over it. She probably has. I am sure you were nothing but a good time for her, anyways. The last hurrah before the year ended isn't that what she said. It is not like she forced you. You volunteered too. Pick your self up by the bootstraps, so to speak, and move on.

With that pep talk, Lucius felt better, making himself roll out of bed to get ready for the day. He had business to attend to after all, and he needed to see his solicitor as well. With those things to focus on, he went to wash and preen, making himself as stylish as he could.

Once finished with his morning ablutions, he headed down to breakfast. When he came into the dining area, Draco had already broken his fast and now sipped a cup of black tea with a splash of honey. How he always too his favorite drink to wake him up. Seeing him walk into the room, Draco seemed to sag with relief.

"Good morning, father. I see you are feeling much better after last night?"

"Good morning Draco, yes I am quite thank you." Lucius sat down at the head of the table. An elf appeared and handed him the morning paper and a platter of food filled with kippers, hash, and toast, with a side of mixed fruit. The elf winked out than appeared again with a steaming cup of black coffee for him with a splash of milk and spun full of sugar just how he liked.

"Thank you, Triffy, that will be all."

An inhale, and a sputtering gasp could be heard a few chairs down were his son sat. Draco seemed to be turning different colors and looked to be choking on the tea he had inhaled by mistake.

"Triffy." Lucius bellowed, and the elf appeared immediately. Lucius instructed him to attend Draco because he could not seem to digest his food correctly this morning. Triffy did as his master requested, rushing over to pat the younger master on the back.

Lucius went back to his paper, perusing the articles while offhandedly commenting on Draco's lack of manners. "My word Draco I believe you have been spending to much time around bad company if you cannot even learn to drink your tea properly." He quirked an eyebrow at him mockingly.

Draco glared at his father while trying to clear his airway from the hot tea he had sucked down the wrong tube when hearing him thank a house-elf nicely no less.

"It seems to me, father, that you have been spending to much time in Hermione Grangers company. because now you are pleasant to house elf's and even thanking them." Draco dapped his napkin against his pale lips, so he did not notice his father's eyes go wide for a few moments, then his mask of aloofness fell back into place just as quickly.

Lucius tried to pretend to be indifferent to his son's words, as he mentioned Hermione. If you only knew, boy. I have spent more time with her in the last twenty-four hours doing all sorts of unspeakable things that would land you on a psychiatrist's couch if you found out.

Instead, Lucius shrugged indifferently to his son's words. "I showed appreciation to Triffy for bringing me some fruit. I do not see what the harm is for saying so. I am not the same man I was before the war, Draco. It would not behoove you to show a little gratitude as well. Potter and Granger showed me what loyalty's a house-elf can give if having the right attitude towards them. I learned my lesson with Dobby."

The elf's name still left a bitter taste on the elder Malfoys tongue when spoken about, but he did not lie to his son. His words were true. Dobby had given his life to Harry Potter because Harry freed him and cared about him. Lucius wishes to have that kind of loyalty from his own house elf's. He needed to learn to treat them better. It was just a fact.

Draco sulked slightly upon hearing his father's slight reprimand of the house-elf treatment. He knew his father had a point, but he did not have to like it. They were elves and there to do their bidding. If Malfoy senior could do it though, then he supposed he could give it a try as well.

It's not like I have to be buddy, buddy with them. I suppose a thank you here and there could not hurt too much. Draco resolved to do better. Tomorrow, I will start tomorrow, but right now, I have to get to my dueling lesson. Looking at his watch, Draco cursed to see he would be late if he did not leave now.

Lucius watched his son out of the corner of his eyes as he drained his cup than ran out of the room, getting ready for whatever side lesson he had for the day.

Draco had opted out of going back to Hogwarts for the final year. He did not blame him too much. It would have been hard for him to face the place where he had almost become a murderer. He and Draco still had a long way to go in repairing their relationship as father and son.

When Cissy asked for a divorce right after the war, Lucius gave it to her, no questions asked. He knew he could never atone for the mistakes he made or putting them all in danger because of those same mistakes. He gave her what she wanted and two of the houses and a large sum of money that would last her a lifetime and beyond in the divorce.

He had thought Draco would have opted in living with Narcissa once all had been said and done, but Cissy ran off with a wizard twice her age shortly after the papers were signed. Draco did not wish to live around that, so he remained here with his father instead. Lucius did not mind, though, because it gave him the chance to make things right between him and his son.

Other than last night, Lucius had not even gone on a date, let alone taken a lover. He felt no need or desire to bring someone into his bed as well as his life in this present time. Lucius instead began to focus on business and Draco more than anything. He had tried to help heal the wounds that festered in Draco from the war. In any way, he could, whether it had been seeing a mental healer—or taking lessons that would help him defend one's self better. Lucius did not care what it took as long as Draco smiled again, and the night terrors abated.

Lucius stood up, heading to the floo he had much to do today. I may stop off and visit a friend who will listen to my troubles. He has always been good at that. Right now, I could use a listening ear, anyways. Lucius sighed as he left the mansion, heading to his solicitor first to see how his investments were coming. He then stopped at Flourish and Blots for the books he ordered. They owled him yesterday, but he had not been able to get there until now.

Walking in, he went to the counter to request from the clerk his order. He perused the books but felt there is nothing he wanted all that much. When the attendant came back to hand him the books, he thanked the person then exited Flourish and Blots.

After running a few more errands, he than headed to the place that he knew he could find his friend always. Lucius apparated to the spot. Walking over to the site, he sat down than began to talk.

"I believe I did something idiotic recently. I know what you are going to say. Malfoy's claim they never make mistakes, but I fear I made one this time that I must own up too." His words were only met with silence.

"I have to admit that it felt like a pleasant mistake, and I do not regret so much the fact that of who it was with. Rather the fact that it happened the way it did, and I wish it had been under different circumstances. You are probably wondering who it was with?" Lucius looked over to his where his friend was and, meeting stony silence. He pressed on.

"It was Hermione Granger. It has been so long since I have been with anyone, and she was so determined to lose her innocents last night. I caved and volunteered myself. I admit it was not my finest moment." Lucius hung his head slightly, taking a deep breath, he finished his tale.

"She was beautiful in her red lingerie. I know you would hate it because it was Gryffindor red, and you hate anything Gryffindorish, but I thought she could not have been more lovely. I have to move on, though. You are right; I cannot dwell on what happened. We are too different from her and me. It would never amount to anything anyways. She needs to grow up, and I need to take care of Draco and myself." Nodding to himself, Lucius stood up from his seat. Walking over, he laid a hand on his friend. "Thank you for listening to me as always, old friend."

The gravestone said nothing as he walked away. The only response was the rustle of leaves that blew off the tombstone to float away in the wind.

"Goodbye, Severus. I will come to visit you very soon, as always."

With that, Lucius apparated away once more, feeling much better about current events now that he had talked things out. He knew that he need to let her have her life and forget about being a part of it. Lucius was, after all, a Malfoy, and she a young inspiring student that had the world at her feet. He needed to let grown-up and have that. Maybe someday they could be more, but that day was not today.