*Disclaimer: All characters and canon situations belong to J.K. Rowling. I make no profit by writing and posting this story.
Hermione sighed deeply and wrapped her arms around Lucius's neck, snuggling closer to him. They have managed to extract themselves from her desk chair long enough to move to a more comfortable position on the bed.
"This weekend is going to be interminable without you," she said.
He gently ran his hand down her back, setting off a cascade of shivers through her body. "I'll be thinking of you the whole time."
"We can't do anything next week unless it's before Thursday, because that's when I leave for a conference in Riga. It's through the weekend." She tried not to sound petulant.
Lucius's grey eyes glimmered at her. "A conference? That's putting it rather modestly. You're the keynote speaker, Miss Granger. And what makes you think I'm not interested in coming along?"
She smiled into his shoulder. "You really want to? We probably won't see much of each other during the day."
"I can entertain myself. I haven't been to Riga since '88. It'll be great to see how the city changed since then."
Hermione basked with pleasure. "I'd love it if you could come. It's my first time going, so you'll have to show me around. What brought you to the city in '88?"
Lucius leaned over her, bracing himself with his elbow. "That. Is. A secret."
"Tell me. Please?" she insisted. "It's not anything sinister, is it?"
"Extremely," he said with a grave expression, then laughed. "No, not really. Unless you find Quidditch European Cup sinister, which they do in some circles."
She playfully swatted him. "You're too much, you know that?"
"It's true. During that competition, a certain former Minister of Magic met the witch for whom he left his long-time girlfriend. It was quite the scandal."
Hermione put on a mock-fierce face. "I hope you're not planning to follow his example."
He cupped her jaw in his hand and gazed deeply into her eyes. "I'm very much happily taken."
She brushed her fingertip over his lips. "I am happy too. Happiest I've been in a really long time. Of course, it means our match-makers did something right and we have to get them one hell of a Christmas present."
Lucius chuckled softly, sending more tingles down her spine. His lips descended to hers, teasing her softly, then boldly slipping his tongue inside as his passion increased. Their kiss went on and on. A million of emotions swirled around in her heart. Something very special was happening between them. It felt as though she and Lucius were sealing an unspoken promise to each other.
His hands dove under her skirt, pulling down her knickers. He teased her by sliding one finger inside her, then two. He stroked her firmly, bringing her to the brink of orgasm before pulling back again. Lucius did this as many times as it took for her to beg him for release. And then he granted it to her.
"You're so beautiful when you come for me. I love hearing you scream my name," he said, smiling slyly. He continued to lightly stroke her, calming her body.
Hermione reached for him, pulling him on top of her. "Please, Lucius. I want you so much," she crooned in his ear, her hands urgently stroking him over his clothes. "Haven't we've been slow enough?"
"We have indeed," he agreed. "But I'm afraid I am woefully unprepared."
She summoned a box from her bedside table and handed a package to him, thanking her foresight when she went shopping last week.
"Please, Lucius. I need to feel you inside me."
Not bothering with removing the rest of his clothes, Lucius pulled down his trousers and obliged Hermione without further delay, pushing deep inside. Hermione moaned in delight and wrapped her legs around him.
He moaned in response. "I'm going to keep fucking you until you beg me to stop."
"You feel so perfect, I don't think I'll want you to stop," she replied.
Taking it as a challenge, he drove into her, over and over. At first, he drew out each stroke, prolonging each thrust. Then his movements quickened. Hermione urged him on, begging for more. Her words, so different from her timidity during their first encounter, seemed to spur him on until he pounded into her with wild frenzy.
"Come for me," he demanded.
His authoritarian tone triggered her second orgasm of the night. Uninhibited, she screamed out her release, clutching fistfuls of his shirt tails. Lucius thrust into her several more times, before groaning out her name. Despite their use of contraception, Hermione thought she could still feel something warm trickle inside her.
She nearly laughed out loud at her overactive imagination. Even if their birth control method should fail, she was religiously taking her pregnancy prevention potion, so they were doubly protected on that front.
Careful not to crush her under his body, Lucius rolled off her and quickly disposed of the condom before returning to her side and stretching out beside her. He propped his head on his hand and studied her. Hermione wanted to tell him so much, but words seemed inadequate.
"It is a great compliment to me to have you express your passion so vocally," he said at last.
Her hand flew to her mouth. "Oh, my Gosh, Ginny's home! I didn't use any silencing charms! Do you think she heard us?"
"Every dirty detail," he joked and ducked to dodge her swatting arm.
Lucius drew her into his arms and kissed her again.
When the kiss ended, he reluctantly sat up. "I should go."
Hermione frowned. "Must you really? You can stay the night here, you know." She reached for him again.
He turned to her. "Believe me, there's nothing I want more, but I don't think your roommate would appreciate an impromptu guest."
"You're right," she groaned out. "It's not fair."
"We have Riga to look forward to. There, we'll have night after night all to ourselves." He winked at her, adjusting his clothing. "You can be as loud as you want then."
She threw a pillow at him before setting her own clothes into their proper place and walked him out.
For the rest of the weekend, Hermione glowed. New romance raged in her. Her cheeks were rosier, and even in her laughter and conversation there was something new and daring. All this time she was a rosebud, but now she finally felt herself blossom into a full-fledged womanhood. She was transported into another world; a world of completeness and magic. It seemed to her that she gained an understanding of something previously unknown to her. It was an atmosphere of lightness and giddiness.
Was it possible? Was she falling in love so soon?
"Guess who's The Spectator's latest scoop?" Ginny said in a sing-song voice as she waved the glossy magazine at Hermione during their Sunday brunch in one of their favorite restaurants.
The Spectator was one step above being a trashy tabloid, so Hermione hardly ever bothered reading it. She didn't like how they continued to intrude into private lives of others. Both Harry and Draco have repeatedly found themselves on the cover with various speculations about their respective romances. It was hardly ever accurate. Ginny herself had shown contempt for the publication, so why was she excited about it now?
Hermione took the magazine. On the cover was a Quidditch player with a very attractive witch beside him. The story boldly announced their betrothal and details over upcoming nuptials.
"Ginny, why do you have this?" she asked. "Who are they and why are we supporting this muck?"
Her roommate made a face. "I normally wouldn't have bothered, but Draco's publicist showed it to him and he urged me to give you a heads up."
Despite Ginny's explanation, Hermione was still puzzled. "What does that have to do with us though? And more importantly, Draco has a publicist?" She giggled at the thought.
"His grandmother hired one for the whole family because of all the press constantly harassing them and publishing rubbish … it's a long story … Anyway, it has nothing to do with us, but everything to do with you," Ginny announced with a dramatic finger twirl in Hermione's direction.
Hermione scanned the cover again, but failed to find anything of relevance to her. "How?"
Ginny opened the magazine and flipped through the pages, then tapped at the article.
SPOTTED: LUCIUS MALFOY PLAYING THE FIELD!
One thing is certain about Malfoy men is that they don't stay single for long. Newly divorced, Lucius Malfoy may soon join his playboy son on the list of Britain's Most Eligible Bachelors. Released from Azkaban this past January, Mr. Malfoy was spotted playing tennis with a mysterious brunette last month. According to our source at Wiltshire Country Club, the couple spent several hours cavorting on the courts before wandering off to a private luncheon. While Mr. Malfoy refused to comment about the new witch in his life, a close family friend confirmed that he is indeed dating again. There is some speculation that the mystery witch could be the former mistress for whom Mr. Malfoy left his wife, but our source insists that this latest conquest is too young to fit that theory.
Whoever she is, she is not the only witch in Lucius Malfoy's life. At his mother's dinner party last night, it didn't escape notice of several guests that the controversial wizard paid special attention to the stunning Lady Violet Parkinson-Knatchbull. The two were widely reputed to be sweethearts during their time in Hogwarts. There were even reports of Mr. Malfoy proposing to her the summer after their graduation. Lady Parkinson-Knatchbull, however, spurned his advances and went on to have several high-profile romances before settling down with Nicholas Knatchbull, Viscount of Athlone. But with the old Viscount dead and Mr. Malfoy newly single, perhaps it's time to fan the old flames.
Hermione's stomach turned. Bile rose in her throat. Her appetite fled completely. Her euphoria of Friday night seemed a distant memory. That explained Lucius's sudden cancellation for Saturday … for the entire weekend. He was spending it with Violet Parkinson. Alone?
But how could he? He was the one who brought up exclusivity by saying he didn't want to see other people. Had he changed his mind after one dinner party?
"I don't feel well. I should go," she lamely excused herself and rushed out of the restaurant.
"Hermione! Wait up!" Ginny called after her.
She paid her no attention and dismally walked back to their flat, feeling a great deal more tired than the time of day allowed.
When she walked through her door, she was shocked to find Draco casually reclining on the couch in the living room.
"How did you get in here?" she asked in lieu of greeting.
"Ginny let me. She came here looking for you, but you weren't back, so she freaked and texted me." He held up his mobile. "She had to go to the rehearsal for the charity thing her Quidditch team's doing, so sadly she won't be chasing you through London today. That is my happy task."
"Draco, go away, please. I'm not in the mood for you today."
He gave her an arrogant smirk. It didn't have the same charm on his face as it did on his father's. "You have to hear this out, so you're going to have to get in the mood. And sit down. I hate talking to people when they're standing over me."
With a sigh, she sat down next to him.
Draco sat up. "Listen, you can't lose your mind over these things. Part of being with a Malfoy is dealing with this sort of scrutiny and attention. They always print rubbish about him and me. You're friends with Potter, you've seen first hand what it's like. You can't stop it or control it. You can only fight back or ignore it. And since you're not in the position to fight back now, I suggest you ignore it."
She tried to compose herself. "I know, but it was just … jarring. You try reading about yourself as though you're just another notch on someone's bedpost."
Draco cringed. "Do refrain from mentioning anything bed related in reference to my father. And yes, it's typical of the stuff they print. My mother had to deal with it all through her marriage. It's how it is. When you're the girlfriend, they speculate about your marriage. When you're married, they look for pregnancy at every turn. When you're married with children, then the divorce rumors start. It's what sells. Our publicist plants stories and publishes statements only to counteract the most damaging gossip; he's adamant about not addressing every silly rumor. It's defensive and ineffective. It applies to you as well. If you're going to be with him, you can't blanch every time an article comes out speculating about his love life."
"You're right." Hermione knew he was making sense, but it still hurt.
"Look, until you get used to the idea, you'd better keep this thing with him quiet," Draco suggested. "It'll get worse when they find out you're the mysterious witch. They'll go mad for the real story."
"How we're supposed to keep it quiet?" she asked him. "We haven't really been trying to. It's only by sheer luck that they don't know it's really me."
"Well, Ginny says you travel a lot for work, right?"
"Right. Not as much anymore, but I still do. So what?"
"So see each other when you travel. You'll have more privacy to go out abroad. When you're home, just Floo to each other's places and stay in for your domestic dates," Draco said as though it was the most obvious solution in the world.
"That … that sounds like a really good idea, actually," Hermione agreed.
He rolled his eyes. "Of course, it is. I came up with it. You can even attend things together here, just be sure to arrive and leave separately." He paused, then looked uneasy. "The thing is, you won't be able to keep it up forever, Granger. Don't get me wrong, this can last years but eventually people will find out. If you're this stressed out about one lousy article, then what are you going to do when they're printing something more vile? Imagine them getting a photo of you with a male friend, hugging or something. Know what they'll say? They'll say you're cheating, flirting, and everything else. It will affect more than you is what I'm saying. Understand?"
The reality of the situation sank into her.
Draco went on, "Ginny always said you were mature for your age. This is your first test of it. If you can't handle this, you'd best end it now. It won't get easier from this point on. My mother had to deal with it all her life. It never stopped. It's what comes with his position as the Earl of Wiltshire. Gossip and publicity will always follow us. It's up to you to decide if you want that in your life as well."
"I've seen them hound Harry. If Lucius has to deal with that, I am sorry for him," she said.
"Then don't take everything they print personally. He had a good time with a friend, suddenly it's love." He snorted at the notion. "It's ludicrous, right?"
Hermione nodded. "I didn't mean to make Ginny worry. It was just … unexpected. I'm fine now, really. I think it's rather insightful of you to suggest keeping things private for now. If I'm not ready to read about myself as the 'mysterious brunette', then I'm definitely not ready to have my name and picture splashed all over these things. Can you just … not tell Lucius about this."
Draco rolled his eyes, but agreed. "I'm not a tea-bagger, Granger. Besides, I have better things to do than discuss every little thing that happens to me all day."
He stood up to leave. "Just do me a favor in return, get me two more front row tickets to Ginny's fashion show. Couple of my friends want to stop by and support the witches of Quidditch."
It was Hermione's turn to roll her eyes. "It's for charity, to raise money, not to hand out like party favors to your friends."
He paused at the doorway. "Come now, Granger. Don't you think you owe me a little reward for all this girl-talk?"
"Okay, okay, I'll your tickets."
With a mocking bow, he left, leaving Hermione alone with her turbulent emotions and new insecurities.
Did she really want her life to become a media circus?
Hermione gets her first downside of dating a Malfoy, but things are too good to let this little snag get in their way.
Thank you all for reading and reviewing. To the dear guest reviewer, who requested a D/G side-pairing, you'll get your wish!
Hope everybody had a fun weekend :)
Lana