Shoutouts to:

notwritten: Thank you so much for reviewing! this is for you. enjoy :D Cheers!

MissesE: Yes, we finally know Severus' feelings. :) I'm glad you like the previous chapter lol XD I hope you enjoy this one as well. cheers!

A/N: Heyya readers! there's something I would like to stress out about this chapter before you read it. so PLEASE READ. This event in this chapter has already happened. however, since i am not so good grammatically, so some of you might get confused with the many 'had' I'd put in the story. Please forgive my weakness, I am trying so hard to deal with it. And also, just to inform yo uthis chapter is PG13. Nothing too graphical but it might be disturbing for some of you... Read at your own risk.

Enjoy! :)

Chapter 9: Please

THE red-bricked window, a gateway to St. Mungo's Hospital for Magical Maladies and Injuries, opened as a black haired man rushed into the door. The heavy outer layers of his robe trailing passed the doorway as he rushed to the Reception area.

"Lucius Malfoy. Which room floor is he?" Baritone voice hissed impatiently at the Welcome Witch.

"Mr. Malfoy is in Third Floor, Mr. Snape." The Welcome Witch answered.

"I understood a young Muggle was brought in along with him. Where is she now?"

The Welcome Witch checked her note board before she nodded. "Ah yes. Miss Claire Rollins. She should be at the Fifth Floor, Mister Snape."

Severus left the Receptionist with a quick 'thank you' and in hurry.

Claire Rollins stood in front of a see-through glass door. There was a big sign of 'No Visitors Allowed' at the door. She looked at the patient laying on the bed - Lucius Malfoy. He was dressed in the hospital gown. He was sleeping peacefully. He had a small bruise on his face and cut on his lips. For the first time since she met with the man, Claire was not seeing him in anything in tailored suits, but a simple 'cheap' hospital robe.

It broke her heart to see him looking like this despite what had almost happened between them few hours ago.

Claire herself wasn't looking her best either.

Her skin was paled and white as the snow. Her hair was in great mess. She had few bruises on her face; her right cheek were red from being slapped earlier. A cut at her bottom lips, her left wrist was bandaged and there were an ugly black-blue bruises on her right knuckles－despite already being treated by a Healer earlier.

The night gown she wore had been torn apart, especially on the shoulders, where a red spot mark was visible on her left neck. It was hidden by the big robe a kind Witch that had offered to her before they apparate her to the Hospital.

How could this have happened?

Her whole body started to tremble. Shivering, Claire hugged herself and shut her eyes tightly as she slowly got down on her knees. Memories of what had happened to her hours ago replayed in her mind like a broken recorder.

She was about to let out a scream, but held back when a huge shadow was standing in front of her.

"Claire." Severus panted heavily. Having to apparate all the way from the Minister's office to come here took a great troll on him.

Claire's eyes widened as got up to her feet again, very slowly. Her watery eyes looked at the older man before she threw herself desperately into his arms.

Severus was greatly shocked by her reaction, he had to take a step backward from the force. Claire held onto him so tightly and refused to let go. She screamed loudly into his shoulders, and cried her eyes out while Severus held her strongly in his arms and whispered comfort words to her.

His black eyes stared at the patient's door－at Lucius.

How could this happened?

TWO peaceful days had passed by after Claire's mad outburst due to her unusual menstrual cycle, and the unexpected meeting with Golden Trio, plus one Miss Weasley who had come to the Malfoy's manor for an emergency visit.

When Monday had finally come in the following week, Claire, having fully recovered, had started her first day as Lucius Malfoy's Personal Assistant-At-Home, where she handled all the documents, files and anything that related to Project DEATH.

Claire didn't mind doing all of the paperworks, of course. After all, how could she refused a big, fat generous amount of cheque worth of £300,000 weekly?

Working with Lucius had given Claire a new sense of experience. While the older Malfoy had been acting like the perfect and classic Gentleman toward her, it amazed Claire that his persona changed completely while he was in the 'Mode'.

Lucius Malfoy had been a strict, perfectionist and non-nonsense Boss. He would not accept any mistakes or errors from no one. He was the type of Boss everyone feared. The one they hated and loved at the same time.

Claire was no exception. On her first day of working as his P.A on Monday, she had him yelled at her on the phone left, right, front and back at the errors that she'd made, even the slightest mistakes.

Over time though, Claire had managed to get used of the work and the procedures. The yelling gotten lessened and she had even received encouragement words and praises from the Malfoy's Patriarch.

While Claire had not been pleased at the crude words Lucius had used at her whenever he pointed out her mistakes, she knew that if she could handle him as her Boss and being his PA, it would be a good resume for her should she decided to pursuit another job soon. Imagine being recommended by the great Lucius Malfoy to any Executive Directors of her own choice! She would be set for life without the needs to feel worry about anything else, especially paying her rent ever again!

Time passed by and before Claire knew it, next Friday had arrived shortly after she'd became his PA.

On that Friday morning, Claire had been informed by Lucius that today was the day he would be going on a mission for the Project DEATH. He'd told her he would be gone for the night gathering informations on the Death Eaters whereabouts based on the lead and informations she had gathered for him.

Lucius had also informed her to not wait up for him and reminded her he would be out of contact for the rest of the day.

"Don't worry, Lucius! Just because Severus isn't here with me that doesn't mean I'm helpless and defenceless!" Claire had giggled and shaken her head at his worries of leaving her alone in the manor. "I'm no damsel in distress. I can take care of myself just fine."

"I have no doubt about that, my dear. However, I must stress out that you do not possess a wand nor do you know how to cast any spells. This manor is your only protection against anything that's magical. Do not go out of the manor for any reasons whatsoever. Should something bad were to happen, contact Severus immediately. He will be joining me for our little venture, but he will be a lot closer to you compare to where I will be heading. If the worse should happened, and Severus couldn't be reached, then by all means, call Miss Granger. She'd left you her phone number, didn't she?"

Claire had nodded.

Lucius had put down the spoon he was holding. He'd reached out and grasped her hand, much to Claire's surprise.

"I will never forgive myself if something bad happens to you while you are in my care." He said in a soft, intimate tone and never left his gaze on her.

Claire had to look away. She'd been doing that lately－ gazing away from him and flush flooding on her face.

Lucius smirked proudly at his small achievement, before slowly he'd pulled away his hand from hers. Knowing that at the very least, he had that kind of effect on her made him very happy.

Looking at how quiet and bashfully she'd suddenly become, Lucius suddenly had an urge to do nothing more but to kiss her there and then. He'd longed to feel her lips on his but decided to wait.

One good thing that came out from his confession to Severus Snape about the Muggle woman was that Lucius no longer felt like he should be ashamed of his feelings toward her.

Lucius knew what he felt toward Claire Rollins was more than just infuriation. He was obviously attracted to her. Very attracted to her. But he held back. He'd gotten this far to finally admitted to himself of his feelings for her.

There was no way he would jeopardize their budding relationship by doing something regretful that would chase her away.

No. Lucius would be a gentleman about it. He would court her properly. Lucius would take his time and made it as enjoyable as possible for the two of them.

Some time later after in the evening, Claire had finished all the works that needed to be done on that day. She had an early dinner and gotten herself washed up and dressed into a night gown with a matching robe.

She'd decided to wear a sleeveless long cotton plain nightgown seeing as she would be all alone in the Manor with Mimi. There was no way in seven hells would she wear such gown in the presence of those two men!

Shrugging, Claire had been on her way to the silence hallway that lead to the Malfoy's library. She had grown a habit of reading old texts and books in the library while staying at the Manor.

Lucius had been the one who had firstly invited her to join him for a reading in the library after she'd been well enough to move from being bedridden for a day.

As her soft footsteps had brought her to the front door of the library, Claire suddenly halted. She'd listened intensively to the sound of something moving faintly inside the library.

Who could that possibly be? Lucius had made it very clear to her that no one beside herself and Mimi were the only ones in the manor. The manor itself had been heavily protected by magic so that it was nearly impossible for an outsider to enter...

Very slowly, Claire had taken a few steps back without making any noise. She'd wanted to run. Oh hell, she'd wanted to sprint to her room and locked the door shut before summoning Mimi!

Creeak.

Her had left foot stepped on the cranky polished wooden floors. Widened eyes, Claire looked up. To her horror, she could no longer heard the faintly sound. Decided not to waste her time to find out what it was, Claire broke into a dash.

She raced across the hallway, passed the narrowed corridors, and had nearly reached to her destination when she felt something grabbed her from behind. A strong arm wrapped snug around her waist while a hand held tightly on her mouth. Before Claire could began to think what was happening, she felt herself being pushed into a secret door on the wall to her left.

Claire had to struggle in order to break free. She'd kicked and elbowed the kidnapper on the stomach and worn out from their strong arms. Once freed, Claire immediately drank into her surroundings－it was a small room filled with aromatic candles-lit. What caught her obvious attention was the King's bed at the centre of the room.

Claire's eyes couldn't grow even bigger the moment she'd spotted the bed. Panic rose within her. When the sound of heavy booths approached her, Claire had turned around swiftly in a defence posture.

She had tried so hard to control her heavy breathing and tried to maintain a strong façade to face whoever the hell the bastard who kidnapped her... Imagine how shocked she had been when the kidnapper turned out to be none other than Lucius Malfoy himself!

"Lucius?" Claire asked hesitatingly. "W-What are you doing in here?"

Lucius didn't move nor did he'd said anything back at her. He'd simply just stared at her. He looked nothing like the man she'd seen earlier; his face was paled and sickly. But there had been something unusual and very uneasy in his stare.

He looked at her as if he'd wanted to devour her.

Claire had backed herself against the wall on the opposite side while keeping her eyes at him. Internally, she prayed hard she'd fallen asleep and this was just a bad dream.

A very bad dream.

SEVERUS Snape had arrived at the corridors of the Minister for Magic's office in haste. The heavy layers of his robe swung from left to right as he'd practically ran his way to the Level 2 - Department of Magical Law Enforcement, the Auror Headquarters, where he had expected to meet with Minister Kingsley Shacklebolt and the members of Project DEATH.

Something urgent had come up while he had been on a mission. One, Severus had gotten a message from his trusted source that someone had planned a move against not only them, but also the rest of the A.D members and the Orders of the Phoenix. Who it was, Severus hadn't got the time to find out when he'd received another important message stated that his partner in crime, Lucius Malfoy had gone missing.

Arriving at the room, Severus quickly came face to face with the Golden Trio seated at the round table and Kingsley Shacklebolt himself at the head table.

"Severus Snape, welcome. Please, take a seat."

Snape sat down immediately, taking a long deep breath from running too much at his ripe age. While Severus had been busy catching his breath, it was Harry Potter whose voice echoed at the otherwise empty room.

"We've informed the others about the news. Most of the D.A and the Orders have already gone for a hiding. Only the three of us are left."

"Except for Ginny." Said Ron, quickly, "And George."

Severus rolled his eyes and groaned loudly. "Why didn't your siblings followed the rest of your family and went out for a hiding, Mr. Weasley?"

"Because they wanted to help, ." Ron retorted soundly.

Hermione who had seated beside him, quickly mentioned, "They'd promised to keep low-profiles, Sir. Moreover, the more people the merry, right? We need all the helps as we can to catch that someone after all. Isn't it?"

Snape had let out a deep sighed and scratched his itchy scalp. "Fine! Do what you will. But if I have to save any one of you, then so help me, Merlin, I will not hesitate to hex you!"

"Now that we're all settled down, we should be focusing on what's most importance." A deep, reassuring voice belonged to Kingsley Shacklebolt broke the tension. " , I believe you have another urgent news to tell us about?"

Snape had looked tensely at each one of them.

Clearing his throat, he'd said, "Lucius Malfoy has gone missing. He was last seen with his 'client' gathering information about the leftover Death-Eaters. Also," Severus took out a test tube from his pocket. "I've found this at the crime scene, where Lucius was last seen."

He had then opened the cork of the distinctive Mother-of-pearl sheen and Spiralling steam came out from test tube, and let they all had inhaled the most seductive scent they have ever smelt.

"Amortentia." Hermione Granger deeply exhaled.

"Correct, Miss Granger. Amortentia was used on Lucius Malfoy. The question now is to whom?"

Ron had snorted. "Who could possibly be an interest for an old meanie like Malfoy except maybe his late wife?"

"Honestly... Ron, focus!" Hermione had scolded him.

He always acted immature especially when Snape was around. The grudge that he had against their ex-potion Master was clearly visible even though the rest of the Orders have already forgiven him.

Harry proceeded and cleared his throat. "I'm confused. Why would anyone wanted to used Amortentia on Malfoy in the first place? Was it a personal grudge?"

"Don't look at me, Potter. It's not like I keep a track what he does with his personal life." Not that Severus would ever admitted that he did keep on track on his friend's private life, but only when Miss Rollins was concerned.

Honestly. Even Severus felt he was like an overprotective father. Shaking his thoughts from the said Muggle when something began to click in his head.

Amortentia－the most powerful Love Potion in existence. It causes a powerful infatuation or obsession from the drinker. Considered to be a powerful and highly dangerous potion.

Amortentia doesn't create actual love; it's impossible to manufacture or imitate love. The person under the effect of the potion will only hold a obsession for the person who administered it.

Of course, that was the General Knowledge of Amortentia. What most people were not aware of and did not know, was Amortentia was highly dangerous not only because of the powerful infatuation, but it could also be used to manipulated the drinker's mind as long as the drinker have feelings for the others, beside the one who had administered the potion.

The administer controlled the drinker by whispering the deep thought into their mind in order for them to act on their feelings. Once the spell was broken, the drinker had absolutely no recall whatsoever of what he was doing to the victim.

Back in his Death Eaters days, the Dark Lord often used this method to the hesitated Death Eaters who had initially refused to do those horrible and inhumane acts on the women they'd captured.

Shaking his mind from his deep thoughts, Severus had then proceeded to tell them the extra information about Amortentia, hoping together, they could figured something out.

Claire had been standing still at her same spot for what seemed to be for hours when it had just been merely ten minutes. She had never left her eyes off him. There was definitely something 'un-Lucius' glint in his eyes that she couldn't figure out what.

Gathering her courage, Claire spoke up with a slightly trembled voice. "What are you doing here, Lucius? Didn't you say you'd be out for the night? What happened to the mission?"

A smirk had graced upon Lucius' handsomely face. He'd moved forward toward her very slowly.

"I've done my mission, my dear."

Claire had instinctively took a few steps back until her back kissed the wall. Lucius won't stopped staring, and his tone－very mild, quiet. It had felt like a caressing tongue in her ears.

Claire had been obviously shaken inside and out. Gripping her fists to control her fears of him. Bravely she spoke, "Oh. You've must be tired from your mission. Get some good rest. Goodnight then."

Claire had given him an awkward smile before she passed beside him to get to the entrance door when she'd felt a strong grip on her left wrist.

"Now where do you think you're going, pet?"

"Sleep, on my own bed, obviously. Let go of me."

Lucius chuckled deeply. "Now why would I do something like that?"

There it was. The thing that'd made her feared him the moment she looked at him. It was an obvious sign; the lust glinted in his dark grey eyes.

Lucius made his moves.

Before Claire could fully grasped the situation on hands, she had then found herself being pinned against the wall, trapped by both his arms on the each sides of her head.

Claire gasped sharply. Big frightened brown eyes met darkened grey eyes. Their faces were merely a few inches apart.

Her instinct had told her to shove him away and broke into sprint.

This wasn't the same Lucius she knew, her mind had argued. What are you waiting for? Shove him!

Her hands had automatically moved and shoved the Elder Malfoy away before she broke into a sprint out of the room.

"MIMI!"

Not even caring if the whole manor heard her yelling like a madwoman as Claire had run blindly outside of the manor in the cold dark night, into the garden.

Where was the House-Elf when she needed her the most?!

Claire had been beyond scared at the moment. She had found a place to hide behind the many bush of roses in the spiral maze like garden, and prayed hard that Lucius won't find her there...

"There you are,Pet."

Before Claire knew what happened, she had gotten herself pinned on the ground, faced up, with Lucius on top of her.

"Get off me! SOMEONE HELP! MIMI!" she had struggled to break free. Her left hand was pushing his face away and her left hand kept on hitting whichever part of him within her grip.

Lucius had chuckled darkly at her. He brought her left hand up above her head, and he had leaned closer to her ear.

"There's no one in the manor, love. I've emptied the manor for the two of us. So that you may scream as much as your heart desired when you scream out my name..."

Claire had struggled even harder. She had pushed his face away as he leant even closer to her face.

"Lucius, please stop! You're scaring me! You really really scaring me! This is not who you really are! Stop! Please!" Claire begged him desperately.

Tears were already running down her eyes.

Lucius had caught her other hand and pinned it above her head. He stared right into her soul.

"What have you done to me? I feel like I have to have you. No, I must have you. I need you, Claire. Otherwise I feel like I'm losing my very mind. So please, let me have you tonight..." He had leaned down and softly kissed and nibbled her neck.

Claire gasped sharply. Her face was bright red. "Lucius, please! Please, please stop! I'm begging you, please!"

She tried to move her hands but he had them locked on the ground.

"Please, Lucius..." She begged him again.

Abruptly, Lucius lifted his head and stared at her angrily. "Why? Why do you keep on resisting me when all I'd wanted is you?!"

"Lucius I'm not-"

"Don't tell me..." He'd snarled at her. "Are you in love with Severus Snape? Is that why you always be with him? Are you in love with him?!"

Claire stopped sobbing. He'd been like a lovestruck a while ago and now he was pissed? Maybe, just maybe she could get away from him if she continuously denied and provokes him... It's a risk, a big and possibly dangerous to take, but she'll do it anyway if it means she could escape from him!

"Yes..." She'd looked straight into his eyes. "Yes, I-I'm in love with Severus...even when I knew his heart belonged to someone else, I couldn't help to feel-"

PAK!

Claire had felt sharp pain hit on her right cheek. She shut her eyes tightly, trying not to think of the pain or shown any weaknesses in front of him.

"You do not and will never belong with him!"

When Claire looked up at him, Lucius immediately crushed his lips into hers.

Claire had struggled. She'd refused to open her mouth even when he bit on her lower lips, and drew a bit of blood. She tried to use her legs and kicked him, but he had his own legs wrapped around her thighs.

Tears had rolled down her cheeks like falling waterfalls through her long eyelashes as she'd kept her eyes shut tight. Claire kept on praying, hoping for a miracle to happen. That he stopped what he was doing to her.

When she felt his hand moved to her thigh and his rough calloused fingers reached to her pants, Claire snapped her eyes opened.

He pulled his lips away, few inches away from her to catch his own breath.

"Please, Lucius... Don't do it. Please.." she begged him for the last time.

For a moment, she had seen a unfamiliar glint in his lust-filled eyes; a sense of guilt before it disappeared, and Lucius leaned in forward once again-

"STUPEFY!"

A spell was cast on Lucius, caused him to be stunned and get off away from Claire.

From her view, Claire had seen two people stood behind them, both had been holding their wands. One of them, she had remembered seeing before and the other one was a complete stranger to her.

Ginny Weasley had approached Claire with steady steps before she'd bended down on her knees. "Merlin's Beard! Are you all right, Miss Rollins?" She then helped supporting Claire on her feet.

Claire didn't even nodded immediately she wrapped her arms around Ginny's neck and had refused to let go. Her face was pale as a white sheet. Her whole body had trembled with fear and relief.

"Gin, is she all right?" Called one George Weasley. He had looked down at the stunned and unconscious Malfoy on the ground before looking back at his only sister.

"Wow. That was one mean stupefy, Ginny. He's lucky I'd held back or else who knows what could have happened."

"The bastard deserves each and every amount of it!" Ginny spat, still holding onto the older woman. "You seen it yourself what he'd done to her, George!"

George had nodded gravely. "In any case, let's get these two to St. Mungo. I know you wanted nothing more than to stay here and hex him to hell and back, Ginny, but remember what we are here for. Plus, I think your friend there might need to get herself check in as well."

Ginny, still eyeing the older Malfoy with such hatred in her eyes but nevertheless, had nodded her head. Gently, she'd released Claire from her tight embrace and apparate her from the manor. Her brother had done the same with Malfoy, except he'd used levitate spell instead to carry him through apparate.

AFTER Claire had told Severus Snape what'd happened to her, she'd fallen asleep with her head on his shoulders, while he held her in one arm. They were both sitting on a long bench outside of Lucius' patient room.

Severus sighed deeply. Regrets filled in his mind. Why didn't he thought of it sooner? The obvious victim would of course, be Miss Rollins! Lucius had confessed to him before that he felt attraction toward her!

Severus felt like a terrible fool for not be able to protect her like he should have.

Many questions ran through his mind. Why would that someone targeted Lucius with the Amortentia of all the people? Was it a personal grudge? Or his company's rivals targeted him to bring his business down?

Before Severus could came out with the answer himself, the quick heavy steps approached them. He looked up and saw one very miserable, worn out looking young man with messy hair and dark obvious bags under his eyes.

"Draco."