Chapter Four:
Baths had always relaxed her. Since a young age she had taken to taking baths whenever she was upset or anxious about things to come. They always seemed to calm her, take her into a state of blissful unawareness of the things around her, often resulting in her falling asleep. Sleep, something that had been harder and harder to come by recently as the news of such a quick wedding settled upon her.
She knew that she had to marry him but she just wished that she would have had more time. Time to get to know him, even just a little bit better. Time to accept that she was going to be a stepmother, to Draco Malfoy, of all people. Time to prepare herself for the reactions that she was to receive over the news; Mrs. Weasley still couldn't look her in the eyes….Time to stop it from happening in the first place.
Ever since the day the Minister had pushed forward the date of the wedding, she had found herself lying awake at night, thoughts of the future rushing through her head. She didn't know Lucius, she didn't know what kind of a husband he would be; she didn't even know what kind of a man he really was. She still had vivid images of him dressed as a Deatheater, and for the last few days it wasn't unusual for her to wake up with that in her mind. In fact, that was what she had woken up to this morning. Unsettling images of his black, gloved hands on her body, his cold stare locked on her own as she called out his name; she would have blushed at the thought of such a dream if it wasn't for the silver mask he had worn. He was still very much a Deatheater in her mind and she didn't know how she would ever separate him from that image.
Trying to push all thoughts of Lucius out of her mind, Hermione settled further down into the tub, inhaling the scent of lavender drifting off of the bubbles. It was barely five minutes before she fell asleep.
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Lucius walked across the ballroom, looking over the preparations for the party this evening. In the past, it had always been Narcissa looking over the house-elves work, often punishing several for small things, just to calm her nerves. However, Narcissa was no longer there and Hermione seemed to be running late, not that she would have known what to do in the first place. Despite her intelligence, she still had a lot to learn about proper pureblood etiquette. But he had plans for her, that much was certain. He may have been forced into this marriage but that didn't mean that he wouldn't use it to his own advantage.
His muggleborn bride would open a whole new world of people for him. A marriage to her would mean people slowly forgetting about his past, allowing him to regain the power he once had, if not holding more weight then he ever had before. Add that to the publicity they were already receiving, and would be, this marriage could change everything for him. Hermione Granger was a bright driven witch and with the proper training and handling he could become Minister of Magic if he wanted to, with her by his side. He would just have to get her to trust him first.
"Father?" Draco said coming into the room behind him.
"Yes, Draco?" Lucius asked turning around.
"I checked the kitchens; everything seems to be in order."
"Good."
"Is Granger here yet?" He asked, glancing around the ballroom. The first guests would be arriving in thirty minutes, and that was only if they didn't have the occasional guest who showed up early.
"No," Lucius said, "Though I expected her here already."
"That can't be good," Draco said. "Should someone go check on her?"
"No," Lucius said, immediately dismissing the idea. His son seemed a little too eager to help in this occasion. He wasn't sure what Draco's feelings were about his fiancé, but he was sure that they weren't harmless. No Malfoy was without an ulterior motive; it was just sometimes hard to figure out what that motive was. "If she doesn't arrive in another fifteen minutes, then I will go find her myself."
"Yes, Father." Draco said.
Hermione didn't arrive until ten minutes later. She was dressed in Muggle clothing and her hair was still wet, having not wasted the time to dry it even if it was just a simple spell. She had woken up in the bath with barely enough time to grab her dress for the evening; she didn't want Lucius angry with her for arriving even later.
"I'm late, I know, I'm sorry." She said as she hurried across the room, heading towards the grand staircase that led upstairs to the room Lucius had promised her until they were married. "Just give me a few minutes." She continued. She could feel Lucius and Draco's eyes on her back but she didn't stop walking. Never show weakness, that was the first rule of dealing with a Slytherin. She was already up the stairs before either of them had the chance to say anything.
"Oh, this party is going to go real well." Draco said rolling his eyes.
Lucius was inclined to agree with his son.
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Upstairs, Hermione sat at the vanity Lucius had provided her with. It was made completely of glass, delicate and more beautiful then anything she had seen like it. She was sure that it had been a gift for Narcissa at some point; it screamed of everything that she represented, and she couldn't help feel a little resentment. She was sure that this was not the only thing that she would gain that was once Narcissa's. The ring she was wearing was proof of that, even if it had been passed down in the Malfoy family. She also knew that she wouldn't be the only person comparing herself to Narcissa and her marriage to Lucius tonight.
There was a loud pop behind Hermione and she turned to see a small house-elf looking around nervously.
"Oh, hello." Hermione said, "Can I help you?" She had long ago given up on S.P.E.W, having learned the hard way that they didn't want to be freed; to most it was equal to her thoughts of their enslavements in the first place. But that didn't mean that she had stopped treating them nicely. She didn't want to think about how the Malfoys treated their house-elves.
"Help me?!" The elf squeaked, "Oh no, no, no! Master sent Pippy to help mistress. Pippy is here to help you!"
"That was very kind of him." Hermione said, smiling at the small elf. It didn't seem as if it was used too much kindness. "And yes, I think you can help me. I'm trying to figure out what to do with my hair." She said. "This is when I need Ginny."
"Mistress, Pippy is sorry. Me does not know about hair. Pippy is sorry, Mistress." She said. There was a quiver in her voice and tears shining in her large eyes.
"Oh no, Pippy, it's okay." She said quickly. She had just been trying to be nice to the elf and she had only ended upsetting her. It seemed she did that a lot around house-elves.
"I just want your opinion; there's no wrong answer." Hermione explained, "Do you think I should wear my hair up, or down?"
"The old mistress always wore her hair up…" Pippy said quietly, "But you's does not seem much like her."
"Then I'll wear my hair down." She said with a smile, "Thank you, Pippy." As she turned around to the mirror, she did not miss the large smile that appeared on Pippy's face.
She charmed her hair into soft waves and carefully applied her make-up; it wasn't a lot but it was more then she normally wore. She figured that the occasion called for it.
"How do I look, Pippy?" she asked turning around.
"Mistress looks very pretty." She said, nodding her head vigorously.
"Thank you Pippy, you're very sweet."
"Mistress is too kind."
"I'm just going to go get dressed. I'll be right back." She said, lifting her robes off the bed where she had left it earlier. Ginny had helped her pick out earlier that week, but she was still unsure about it. Ginny had assured her that it was the proper thing to wear at such an occasion and she claimed that she looked wonderful in it. But Hermione didn't feel wonderful, and when she looked in the mirror all she saw was the nervous smile of a frightened girl.
"Pippy, do these robes look alright?" she asked coming out of the bathroom, still tugging at them.
"I sent Pippy back downstairs." Her fiancé's silky voice answered her.
"Lucius." Hermione said, her head snapping up to see Lucius standing in the doorway. He was wearing a smirk and seemed perfectly content, as if the events of the night didn't rattle him at all. Thinking about it, Hermione realized they probably didn't. This wasn't his first time; it was hers.
"You look very nice Hermione." He said her name so it sounded as if he had known her for much longer then he had.
"Thank you." She said quietly.
"I brought you something." He said as he came further into the room. He was dressed in elegant robes, his hair pulled back with a silver ribbon, contrasting with his black robes. He seemed even more intimidating then normal, dressed so elegantly.
"Yes?" she asked. He had pulled a velvet box from his pockets and she was immediately reminded of the day in the Minister's office. She hadn't expected him to give her anything then either.
"Open it." He instructed her as he placed it into her hands.
She glanced at him nervously as she opened it slowly. It was a beautiful silver necklace, with an emerald pendent the shape of teardrop. It was exquisite.
"It's beautiful." She said as she lifted it from the box. She had never expected something so wonderful from Lucius. The engagement ring was required, but this was not. She heard a nagging little voice in the back of her head asking if it once had belonged to Narcissa. That successfully snapped her out of any thoughts about the possible kindheartedness of Lucius.
"Here, let me." Lucius said taking the necklace out of her hands. He took his place behind her, gently brushing the hair off her neck, his fingers caressing her, sending shivers up her spine. She could see him smirking to himself in the mirror.
"There." Came his voice in her ear. She could feel his breath on her neck and she could not stop the sharp intake of air on her part. She heard him chuckle deeply behind her, running his hands over her shoulders under the presumption that he was smoothing down her hair and dress. He loved that he could make her so uncomfortable while doing so little. She handled herself quite well in his presence, but he had noticed that she tensed when he got too close. He would be sure to exploit that fact this evening.
Hermione stepped away from Lucius and closer to the mirror fixing her necklace so it sat straight on her chest.
A silver chain with a green pendent and a black dress. She looked every bit the part of a Slytherin wife and she couldn't help but cringe at the picture. Was that really what she was going to become?
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Lucius and Hermione made their entrance fifteen minutes later. Her hand was in the crook of his arm and there was a smile plastered onto her face. Even Lucius seemed as if he was happy with the situation.
The ballroom was crowded, but Hermione could recognize only a third of the people. And even then, some of them were only by their faces. "Don't forget you are supposed to be happy." Lucius whispered in her ear. She couldn't help but blush at his close proximity, and Hermione was sure that to whoever was watching it would seem they were having a very different conversation.
"Of course" She said smiling back at him.
"Father, Hermione." Draco said coming up beside them. Hermione found it odd to hear her name come from his lips and apparently so did Pansy, who was on Draco's arm, as she screwed up her face in distaste.
"You look lovely this evening, Hermione." He said, kissing Hermione's hand. He had been instructed to make sure that he seemed perfectly okay with the arrangement, despite his actual reservations, and he would make sure he did.
"Thank you." Hermione said quickly taking back her hand, Pansy was eyeing it suspiciously. At first she thought it was because of Draco, but her eyes narrowed in on it even after it was securely back on top of Lucius arm. She glanced down to see her diamond ring glittering in the candlelight. She could tell from the look on her face that Pansy had been hoping to get her claws on it. It must sting that someone so beneath her supposed status had ended up with it.
Draco and Pansy were the last familiar people that Hermione saw for a while. After speaking briefly with them, Lucius had whisked her away to meet the many other people there to see them. It was completely and utterly unnerving meeting them.
The women seemed to have formed their opinion on her long before they had met her. They looked down upon her, dislike evident in their eyes. They seemed to have chosen to believe Rita Skeeter and that she was only after Lucius because of his money. They thought nothing of her wanting him for his intelligence, personality or good looks. Surely no one could choose their husband for those qualities, they certainly hadn't.
The men often looked her up and down, as if they were appraising her. She wasn't always sure that she had passed the test. She was sure that to them she was nothing more then Lucius' new toy. It was evident from the way they looked at her. To many of them, it was a marriage of gain. Hermione would gain the title of Mistress Malfoy, married to a powerful pureblood and in return Lucius would get a young, energetic plaything for the next few years. Very few of the purebloods there believed them actually to be in love. Hermione shuddered at how close they were to the truth.
Other guests were much more polite, offering their congratulations with no veiled hostility or disdain. Though there were several who sent her pitiful or strange looks, as if wondering how this relationship really started. Hermione found herself missing Professor Snape, who had retreated some time ago to speak with Draco; he might not be the best of company, but he was as least open with his feelings.
As the night wore on, Hermione tired of dealing with the attendants of the party, and even with Lucius himself. He was almost always the one talking. She had been warned that it was common for the man to have almost all the control in relationships in pureblood society, but it was hard for her to stay silent at times and just nod her head and agree. She had learned to keep her feelings in check, but that didn't mean she enjoyed it. Usually, people respected her enough to at least hear her out; she knew that purebloods wouldn't be so accepting. She was still a lowly mudblood in many of their eyes. If she wanted to be accepted, she would have to grin and bare it, at least this time.
Lucius had a firm grip on her arm as he led her away from the most recent couple, a young wife, like herself, and a husband almost twenty years older then Lucius. Hermione didn't think that she looked very happy, but her husband certainly did. He had mentioned several times that Lucius was lucky to be marrying so much younger. "Melinda certainly outshines my previous wives." He told them. "I couldn't ask for anything more." He seemed happy and even his wife had smiled at that.
Hermione saw Harry and Ron across the room and moved to go towards them only to be stopped by Lucius' hand. "I have some more people I would like you to meet." He told her smoothly. He had obviously seen where she was trying to go and had decided to stop it. That was about as much as she could take.
She moved closer to him, moving until she was in front of him, barely an inch between them as she leaned into whisper in his ear. "I understand that there are people here that you want to see." She hissed, "But if you lead me up to one more person, your hand gripping my arm like I'm a petulant child, I'll make a scene as if I am one."
She pulled away, grinning devilishly as if she had whispered something wicked into his ear. He narrowed his eyes in on her quickly and she knew that he was keeping his temper in check but his face never changed and she felt him drop the hold on her arm.
"Whatever you wish, my dear." He told her.
"Wonderful." She said as she began to lead them towards Harry and Ron. They were looking around the room, looking terribly out of place. She felt Lucius' wrap his hands around her waist as they moved closer. He had been alternating between that and her arm all night.
"I see the two of you are already dipping into the stock of Firewhiskey." Hermione said, coming up in front of the two. "I'm rather fond of it myself."
Ron took another large drink as he looked them over. She was standing there with him, looking for all the world like that she was where she belonged.
"It is surprisingly good." Harry said, looking warily towards Lucius. He was watching both him and Ron closely, as if expecting them to do something rash, and his hand had not moved from Hermione's waist. He could see Ron watching the hand as it rubbed small circles over the cloth. Hermione was used to it; he had been doing it for awhile and while at first it had completely unnerved her, she had been able to convince herself that it was just a part of the act. She repeated that as she felt his hand move a little lower; she could tell by the look on his fact that he was doing it because of Harry and Ron. "Do you want me to get you anything to drink, Hermione?" Harry offered, trying to break the tension.
"I already have that taken care of." Lucius said as a tray appeared, hovering nearby. He took two glasses of brandy from the tray, handing one to Hermione and keeping one for himself. "I remembered you liked it, Hermione."
Neither Harry nor Ron liked the way he said her name. It came out much too naturally, too smoothly, for a man who hated her.
"Thank you, Lucius." Hermione said, not once faltering as she said his name. Ron would have caught the look Harry had sent him if he wasn't trying so hard not to gape.
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When they all sat down for dinner, Hermione was thankful that Lucius and Draco were at the opposite table. As the future matriarch of the family, she was sitting opposite him at the end of the table, Harry and Ron on either side of her as she had arranged. Lucius wasn't fond of the idea originally, but she had pointed out that they were the closest thing she had to family now, and them being there would show their support. He had reluctantly agreed, but he had still agreed.
"You okay, Mione?" Harry asked, leaning closer so she could hear him.
"Of course, Harry." She said forcing a smile. "Why wouldn't I be?"
"I can think of a few reasons." Ron said, nodding in Lucius' direction.
"Guys, we're at my engagement party." She told them, "Can we just let this drop for tonight? Just have fun."
"You don't seem like you're having very much fun." Ron told her.
"Then you're obviously not paying enough attention." She hissed back at him. She turned her interest back to the plate in front of her, only looking up again to send a surprisingly convincing smile towards Lucius, who had been watching her throughout the meal. She didn't want to know why.
When dinner was done, the plates, along with the remains, disappeared and were replaced with wine and dessert. Chocolate drizzled in strawberry sauce, her favorite. She lost her appetite as she glanced back up at Lucius. Somehow, it seemed tainted, associated with a night of such lies.
"I'd like to make a toast." Draco said standing. Hermione hadn't expected that. "To my father and Hermione," he said raising his glass with the rest of the table, "Who I believe, are getting everything that they deserve in each other."
Hermione prayed that he was wrong.
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The guests were slow to leave, much slower then Hermione would have liked. Harry and Ron were ones of the first to go, reluctant to leave her but not wanting to stay. Others stayed longer, speaking with Lucius and herself until they suddenly realized the time. Hermione had realized the time long before the first guests began to leave.
She was tired of dealing with people. All she really wanted to do was be left alone and to get some rest. But that didn't seem like that was going to happen anytime soon because even after all the guests had left she was still on guard. A room full of Slytherins would do that to a Gryffindor.
Hermione leaned back into the couch, trying to ignore the glares that Pansy was sending towards her and the fact that despite that all of the real guests had left Lucius's hand was still on her knee.
"It's getting late." Lucius said, his thumb rubbing circles on her knee. She was doing her best to pretend that she didn't notice, but she most certainly did. So did everyone else in the room. "Perhaps you should take Pansy back home, Draco." He said, "I'm sure her parents will be wondering where she is."
"Of course, Father." Draco said standing. "Come on, Pans." He said, offering her a hand to help her up. She took it, smiling back at him before turning to Lucius and Hermione.
"Mr. Malfoy, it was a pleasure seeing you again."
"Likewise." He said stiffly as he stood up. He too stuck out his hand, a silent indicator that Hermione should stand as well. She fought the urge to roll her eyes, but did as expected, placing her own hand in Lucius' warmer one. She had noticed earlier that his hands were always warm, no matter where they were on her body. A large difference from the cold she normally felt when he was wearing his gloves. She couldn't help but hope that he wouldn't wear them during the wedding. Maybe it would make her feel like she was marrying someone else.
"And Hermione…" Pansy said with an obvious fake smile. "I'll be looking forward to seeing you again soon."
"Of course." Hermione said with a sickeningly sweet smile of her own. She wouldn't let Pansy intimidate her. No matter what she thought, she was not above her. For all intents and purposes she was to be Lucius's wife, which would mean she got all the perks, including the ability to chose who she wanted and who she didn't want in her house. "Draco's friends are always welcome at the Manor." She continued, "Just call ahead before you come. We wouldn't want you to stumble upon something you shouldn't see." Hermione could swear she heard Lucius chuckle quietly next to her.
Pansy couldn't hide the surprise or the blush as she looked over them both. It was clear what she thought Hermione was talking about. In truth, it was more likely that she would see what little interaction the two would have together but Hermione wasn't about to tell her that.
"Come on, Pans." Draco said, pulling at her hand. She was still partially gaping as she left the room.
"Not the most articulate girl, is she?" Hermione said, slipping her hand out of Lucius's grasp.
"She never has been." Severus said from the couch across from her. "Surely you remember that from your school days."
"Yes well, I try to block out most involvement with Slytherins from my schooldays." She said as she once again leaned back into the couch. She wanted to go home as well, but right now the effort that it would take to get there seemed too much to be worthwhile.
"That might make living here difficult." Lucius told her.
"Yes, well, I try to block that out as well." Hermione said. Both men raised an eyebrow at her candor, but said nothing.
"I take it Miss Parkinson doesn't know about the…arrangement involving your marriage." Severus said, shifting his attention to Lucius.
"Draco and I both thought it best that she not be aware." Lucius said, "Which, Miss Granger, means that we will have to act the ever doting couple whenever she is around."
"Hopefully, she won't be around often." Hermione said.
"She is involved with my son." He said. Hermione barely restrained herself from vocalizing her wish that he wouldn't be around often either. Instead she just closed her eyes and nodded her head.
"I should be getting back to Hogwarts." Severus said standing up.
"Of course, I'll walk you out." Lucius said, standing. Hermione started to as well, but Professor Snape motioned of her to stop.
"Miss Granger." He said nodding at her, "I look forward to seeing you soon."
Surprisingly, he seemed sincere in what he was saying; she couldn't help but believe him.
"I do as well." She said as the two men left the room together. When she was sure that they were gone, she let her shoulders droop and felt herself begin to relax. She barely even noticed when her eyes closed.
Lucius returned a few minutes later to find her asleep on the couch.
Authors Note: So there it is guys, I hope you like it. Thanks to everyone who reviewed and big thanks to my new beta Emma, who you can all thank for correcting my horrible grammar and spelling.
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