Chapter Six:
August twelfth was a beautiful day. The sun could be seen high up in the sky, the weather was comfortably warm, there wasn't a cloud in the sky, and no threat of rain as Hermione had hoped there would be. Hermione crying at the altar because of her ruined wedding day, was easier to explain than the truth. But it seemed the heavens were against her as much as the rest of the world. The day was perfect for a wedding, especially one of such caliber.
It was perfect. Her dress was perfect. Her make-up was perfect. Even her damn shoes were perfect. Everything was perfect except for the man. Hermione felt the urge to laugh at the injustice of it all. The one day England decided against rain was the day she wanted to do nothing more then cry herself. She was wearing the most beautiful dress she had ever seen, but she couldn't bring herself to care. She was the image of the perfect bride, and she couldn't be more disgusted with herself because of it.
She had allowed this to happen. She had allowed herself to be talked into marrying a man who looked down on her. She had allowed herself to be condemned to a fate that she had never wanted. She had allowed this to happen and she despised herself for that.
"You look beautiful." A voice said from the doorway. She turned around to see Harry leaning against the doorway, giving her the best attempt of a smile he could. He didn't understand why she was doing this; she didn't think he ever would, but he was doing his best to be supportive, just like any good friend should.
"Thank you," Hermione said with a shaky smile. "You don't look too bad yourself."
"Are you okay?" he asked.
"Of course I am," She said. "Why wouldn't I be?"
"Because you're about to walk down the aisle to your doom." He said.
"Don't be overly dramatic, Harry." She said, moving over to the vanity that Ginny had done her make-up at what seemed like hours ago.
"I don't think I'm being dramatic; I think I'm being truthful," He said. "Hermione, we all know what he's capable of."
"He's not Voldemort, Harry." She said defensively.
"But he's no saint either. His wife left him because she almost died, Hermione. Do you really want the same thing to happen to you?"
"That was different and you know it." She said, "That was a different time. Things have changed since then, you know that."
"All I know is that the Hermione Granger I know would fight this. She would not walk down that aisle willingly, no matter what the cost." Harry exclaimed.
"Don't, don't do it, Harry." She said, "If you give me a chance to back out then I'll want to take it. And I'll curse myself for not taking it every time the marriage becomes too hard handle. So don't, Harry. Just don't."
"Hermione…"
"The wedding's going to start soon," She told him, "You should go take your seat." She turned back to the mirror, pretending to smooth out folds that both knew weren't there.
She heard him pause in the doorway and she knew that he was watching her, trying to think of something, anything, to keep her from doing this but a moment later she heard his footsteps continue. She waited until she could no longer hear his footsteps before she let the first teardrop fall.
Lucius was silent as he checked his appearance in the mirror one last time. His black dressrobes were trimmed with green and small amounts of gold could be seen, a symbol of the union of two rival houses. While the wedding was dominated by emerald greens, he had agreed to small amounts of gold as well when Hermione had refused to have both Slytherin colors at her wedding.
He sneered at the gold ribbon in his hands before using it to tie back his hair with more force than was necessary. Right now he wished for nothing more than a dozen vases to shatter. That at least would leave him with a feeling of fulfillment, a sense that he had control over what was about to happen, what was happening.
The weight of what this day meant for him seemed to be crashing down upon him. This day would change everything, for Draco, for Hermione, for the Malfoy name, for himself…. It had taken him longer than he cared to admit to get over Narcissa's unexpected departure from his life. It had hurt his pride, his name, and worst of all, himself. He had never claimed to be the perfect husband, to have always made the best decisions, but he had always put his family first, held them above everything else, but that had never mattered to Narcissa. Very little, other than herself, had ever matter to Narcissa. She like to play the victim, but she had been just as involved, just as willing, when it came to the Dark Lord. Her attack was just the reason that she had used to leave. If it had not happened, she would have found another reason to go.
It had taken time to regain fully what had been lost when she left, to live down the whispers and wild rumors. He hated to think what the same people would say six years from now when his second wife, a lowly mudblood that he had brought into their presence, left him as well. Her background did have its advantages in the political world, but it had its downfalls as well. His mind never allowed him to forget that. And his son would remind him, if he ever did start to forget.
There was a knock on the door and Lucius turned to see Severus in the doorway. "You know, it's not too late to flee the country." He told him, "I'm sure Miss Granger would not mind. She might even send you a gift in thanks."
"But where is the fun in fleeing?" Lucius asked with a smirk. "I think we both know I can create much more havoc by staying than I ever could by leaving."
"Yes, it does seem that way," Severus said quietly. "I was instructed by the Minister to tell you its time for you to come outside. Normally, I would have just ignored him, but I thought it might be better if I came then if he sent Draco."
"Most likely," Lucius told him. "Draco has been under the false impression for some time now that Narcissa is coming back. I believe that it why he objects so vehemently to this wedding."
"He does have his share number of reasons, too." Severus said.
"So does Hermione, but you don't see her throwing things." He said.
"No, that would be you wouldn't it?" Severus asked with a raised eyebrow. Lucius fought the urge to hex him and sneered instead.
"I find myself rather happy that it is Draco serving as my best man at this wedding instead of you." Lucius said removing invisible lint from his robes. "Perhaps it was your presence at my last wedding that should have foretold its ending."
"Perhaps," Severus said, "However, my presence at this one will not affect your marriage. We both know how this one will end."
"Let us go." Lucius said quickly striding towards the door.
His last marriage had been arranged as well, however that time the woman he was marrying wanted to marry him. Neither of them had been distraught over the idea. Narcissa may have been his only option, but she was more then happy to have him and he her. They had known each other for years and it came to no surprise to either of them when that fateful day had come. But Hermione Granger was someone entirely different. He had heard her name since Draco had started school, heard about the girl doing better than his son in every subject, the girl who helped save the Boy-who-lived again and again, the girl the Dark Lord had grown to hate for what she had represented, but he had never known her. He had seen her at the Order meetings, had sneered at her and her friends' naïve and foolish ways, but had never deemed her worthy of talking too. They had met many times after their engagement was forced upon them; he enjoyed watching her squirm in his presence, making her react by just being within three feet of her, but that was not enough to base a marriage around; that was not enough to base anything around.
He had learned to love Narcissa just like she had learned to love him, but this marriage would be very different from his last. There would be no trust. There would be no shared beliefs that would make it easier. Instead there would be long silences. There would be arguments. There would be moments that they wished nothing more than they had just let the Minister do whatever he wanted to them. There would be no peace.
As he made his way out of the castle, towards the grounds where the wedding would be held, there was a large part of him wishing that she would have the courage that he lacked and that she would not meet him there.
Hermione willed herself to stop crying as another sob escaped her lips. This wasn't supposed to be happening. She was supposed to get her fairy tale ending after the war. She was supposed to find her white knight, not be forced into marrying the evil prince.
"Five minutes, Mione." She heard Ginny's voice come from the doorway.
"Thanks, Gin." She said, her voice shaking only slightly.
"Do you need any help with your veil?" She asked.
"No, I'll be fine." Hermione said, still not looking at her. She did not want to hear the comforting words she was sure she would say. Nor did she want to hear how this was not her only option. She was well aware of that, however the consequences of what would happen if she didn't go through with this somehow seemed to outweigh everything else. The minister himself may be one, but the contract he had forced them to sign was no joke.
She looked up to see her tear streaked face reflected in the mirror; it was not the face of someone ready to get married.
She wiped the last of her tears away with her manicured fingertips and reached for her wand, erasing any trace they were ever there. Once again she looked the part of the perfect bride that everyone would expect Lucius Malfoy to marry. And she hated them both for it.
She slowly stood reaching for her veil, carefully pinning it into place before attaching the wreath of white roses. A medieval symbol, for a medieval practice.
From where she was standing she could see Lucius through the window, standing in the distance under the golden archway Dumbledore had supplied them with. Everything glistened in the sunlight as the guests, dressed in their finest, took their seats. She could see Dumbledore's bright and flamboyant robes, the many Weasleys' bright hair, and green and gold vines magically wrapped around the guest chairs. Everything was beautiful. Everything was perfect.
She felt the familiar urge to cry followed by the also well known urge to flee. If only she were that brave.
Ginny sent Hermione a fleeting smile before she made her way down the aisle. Her short emerald green dress swaying as she went. She appeared confident and strong, like she wanted to be there. Hermione hoped she looked the same.
Every eye was on her as she slowly made her way down the aisle. She could see them all, smiling, staring, scowling, their emotions and opinions worn on their faces for her to see. She wanted to listen to Harry, she wanted to fight with everything she had and just pick up her train and run, but she quickly suppressed the idea and focused on walking. She told herself that it would be okay once she made it down the aisle. It was a lie and she knew it. But her steps never faltered and her smile never dropped as she concentrated on getting to the end of the green carpet, to where Lucius was waiting for her.
As she reached the golden archway she handed Ginny her bouquet of roses before reaching for Lucius's hand. It wasn't until he took her hand in his own that she even realized that she was shaking.
The Minister was speaking but Hermione was unable to register any of the words. A haze had come over her as she repeated the words that the minister said. It was as if for once in her life her brain had stopped working, if she had stopped thinking about anything at all. Somewhere between her dressing room and the walk to the alter, she had resigned to her fate of being Mrs. Lucius Malfoy.
"Do you Hermione Jean, take Lucius Abraxas to be your lawfully wedded husband? To love him, to comfort him, honor and keep him, forsaking all others, so long as you both shall live?"
Her eyes met Harry's briefly and she could see the answer that he wanted her to give on his lips but she didn't say them. Instead she turned back to Lucius and said 'I do' the smile on her face making it seem as if that was really the answer that she wanted to give. She had always been good at pretending, why should her wedding day be any different?
"And do you Lucius Abraxas, take Hermione Jean to be your lawfully wedded wife? To love her, to comfort her, honor and keep her, forsaking all other, so long as you both shall live?"
"I do." Lucius voice was strong and confident, as he smiled down at her. Hermione realized that it was the first time she had ever seen him smile, even if it was a false one and she absently wondered if she would ever see him smile again before Minister Trimble's voice broke through.
"I declare you bonded for life. You may now kiss the bride." Hermione barely registered the Minister's words before she found Lucius' lips on hers. The kiss wasn't harsh or cold as she had expected. Instead his kiss was soft and chaste, everything that a first kiss should be. And in that moment the haze was lifted and she realized once again just exactly what she was doing, what this one decision had cost her, and it took every once of strength not to break down right there. Only one tear escape and Lucius wiped it away, as any loving husband should and she knew that to everyone else it would appear to be tears of happiness. If only they were.
"We can only imagine the happiness the two of them will find in each other, the eternal love they will share, and the beautiful future they will have that I'm sure will change the world in ways we can never imagine." Minister Trimble's voice echoed of the Great Hall's walls as he grinned down at the two of them, knowing he had gotten what he wanted.
Hermione's nails dug into Lucius's hands as the Minister continued to speak. It was bad enough to force them into this, but to rub their faces in it, that was low, even for him.
"Isn't there something we can do about him?" Hermione whispered, leaning closer to Lucius.
"What would you suggest, dearest?" he asked glancing over at her. He could see the pendant necklace that he had given to her resting on her chest and grinned inwardly.
"At the moment, a few unforgivables" She mumbled. "But give me time, I'll think of something else." She leaned back in her seat, finally releasing the strong hold she had on his hand as she moved to raise her champagne glass.
Lucius smirked at his young wife as he lifted his own glass, they did at least share one thing in common; a strong desire to give the Minister what was coming to him.
"To Lucius and Hermione, and many years to come." The Minister said.
"To Lucius and Hermione." The guests chanted. Hermione smiled before downing her own glass. It would be the only glass she allowed herself tonight, wanting to be in complete control at all times. Too many glasses and she was sure what she would do.
"Now," Minister Trimble said, he still had not taken his seat. "I believe it is time for your first dance."
Hermione looked slightly surprised and glanced over at Lucius. They had never discussed dancing. She supposed it had just been assumed that they would, all couples did, but somehow she had not been expecting it. She hadn't thought much about what would happen after the wedding, and the little she had she had tried to suppress from her mind.
"Of course," Lucius said, picking up Hermione's hand as he stood. She stared at him for a moment before realizing that she too was supposed to stand. "Come along, Hermione." He told her.
She followed him onto the dance floor that she hadn't realized was there before. She could feel hundreds of eyes on her and tried not to shrink away from the scrutiny, reminding herself that they had all been at the ceremony and their presence had not upset her then, nor should it now. However, at the wedding she had been much more distracted.
Lucius stopped in the middle of the floor, raising their intertwined fingers and moving his other hand to the small of her bare back. She closed her eyes, refusing to look at him, as his touch caused her to shiver. He pulled her slightly closer as the music began to play softly and they began to dance.
She had never realized just how graceful he was. He was a commanding presence always, but he did not force the dance as she had expected. Instead, they blended well together, elegantly sliding over the dance floor, stepping in perfect rhythm with the music and each other. As husband and wife should.
She didn't enjoy dancing with Draco, nor did she enjoy the bruising grip he had on her arm and waist. But she kept the smile on her face for everyone watching. After all, somewhere after she and his father had begun courting, they were supposed to have put their childhood grudges behind them.
"So I guess you finally got what you always wanted." He told her.
Hermione sighed deeply and looked past him to Lucius, dancing with Ginny. If the two of them could dance with each other, then she could handle Draco. She had put up with him for seven years during school; she could handle less then seven minutes with him now.
"What do you mean Mal—Draco?"
"Just that." He told her. "Malfoy. You finally got a name that means something in the wizarding world."
"I never—"
"One that people wouldn't look down on."
"I'm a war hero." Hermione interjected.
"One that people wouldn't pass over when they saw it. But then you always have surrounded yourself with well-known wizarding names," he said looking down at her. "Potter, Krum, even Wood."
"We both know I wouldn't be here if it wasn't for that damn contract." Hermione told him forcefully.
"And how quickly did you sign that?" He asked leaning closer to her. "I suppose there's some Slytherin in you after all."
"I didn't—"
"Welcome to the family." He whispered into her ear. She stiffened in his arms, before he took a step back from her. "I look forward to getting to spend more time with you after yours and father's honeymoon."
"As do I." Hermione managed, noticing the people around them watching.
"Do you mind if I take over?" A familiar baritone voice came from behind her.
Before she even had the chance to respond, Draco had nodded and she was swept out of his arms and into the feared potion master's. She tried her best to appear unsurprised by his unexpected graceful movements, but the surprise of it all left her practically gaping. What was it about Slytherin men and dancing? Was it a requisite to get into the house?
"Do close your mouth, Miss Granger before people begin to wonder why you aren't."
Hermione snapped her mouth shut at his tone, one she recognized from her own days as a student, before she remembered where she was, whom she had just married. If she had the courage, or stupidity, to marry Lucius Malfoy, surely she had the ability not to shrink under Snape's presence. "I think they may be too distracted by your ability to dance, and choice to show it so publicly, to even notice that I'm dancing with you.:
"Do not make me regret my decision to save you from Mr. Malfoy." He told her.
"If you ever have the ability to save me from Mr. Malfoy, I can assure you that you will not regret it." Hermione told him. He didn't have to see her face to know which Malfoy she was speaking about. It certainly wasn't the most recent one to cause her distress.
"Miss G—Hermione." Professor Snape began, "I can assure you, while Lucius may not be the most righteous of men, he will never hurt you. Not by his hand, nor by his wand."
"And by his words?" Hermione asked softly.
"I cannot assure you that." He told her. "Lucius Malfoy is by no means a nice man, but he takes pride in his family. Today you became a part of that family, and he will make sure that no harm comes to you, from anyone." He pulled away from her, so that there was another foot between them, and Hermione was forced to look away from his shoulder and into his face. A place she had been determinedly not looking. Looking made what he said that much more real.
"Thank you for the dance, Mrs. Malfoy." He said nodding deeply, before turning and walking back to his place beside Dumbledore. She felt like somehow in the process of marrying into the Malfoy family she had become an honorary member of the Slytherin house. Making Professor Snape part of her dysfunctional family as well.
Hermione hurried off the dance floor and into her seat as quickly as she could without actually running. Her feet ached and her back was sore from all the standing and dancing that she had to do. As the bride she was the most requested dance partner, and even people she had never met before had asked her for the privilege. The one advantage of that was that she spent less time with Lucius, having to pretend as if they were in love, but at times she would have preferred to dance with him. He at least didn't step on her feet. He at least didn't let his hands wander. He at least didn't talk to her like she was an idiot. The same couldn't be said about most of her dance partners.
Hermione pulled off her shoes, with a groan, rubbing her feet. She had decided she hated dancing.
"Would you like to dance?" A hand was extended in front of her and she felt the urge to hit it. But she looked up and saw Ron standing there, a crooked smile on his face, and dismissed the idea.
"Where were you two hours ago when the first guest I didn't recognize asked me that same question?" she asked him.
"Probably at the food table." Ron said, pulling out the chair next to her.
"Yes, probably." She said with a laugh.
"You know I would have been there, if I could have been." He told her, suddenly looking very serious.
"I know you would have saved me if you had known," Hermione told him with a smile, "It's fine."
"That's not what I meant." He said.
"Then what?" She asked turning to get a better look at her friend.
"Before the wedding, to talk to you." Ron said, "The only reason I didn't go with Harry is because I wouldn't have been able to stop myself. I would have thrown you over my shoulder to get you out of there. But I didn't think you'd be too happy with that so I stayed outside. I figured if anyone could convince you, it would be Harry, but I doubted even he could."
"I'll be fine," Hermione said reaching her hand across the table to lay on his. "I'll find a way to make it work. You know I love a challenge."
"Lucius Malfoy certainly is a challenge." He snorted.
"Don't worry so much." Hermione said forcing a smile. "You know I can handle myself. You've been on the receiving end of my anger enough times to know that."
"I still flinch when you point your wand at me." He said with a laugh.
"You knew when you started dating me that I tended to hex when angry." She said.
"Someone should warn Mr. Malfoy of that."
"Oh, I think he might discover that on his own." She told him with a smile.
Lucius watched his new bride from across the room, she was laughing at something the Weasley boy had said. She seemed happy with him, but of course she had appeared happy when she had danced with Draco as well. Something he was sure that she was not.
She really was brilliant, able to keep up the mask with perfection in front of everyone. He himself would have believed the façade if he didn't know better.
"Excuse me gentlemen," he said nodding at the men gathered around him. "I believe it's about time that my wife and I attire to the manor."
"Of course, we've kept you far too long, in your own opinion I'm sure." Charles Baddock said with a smirk. The men around him chuckled in understanding, believing him to want to hurry off to his honeymoon with his beautiful bride.
Lucius smirked back at them, but said nothing else, cutting across the dance floor to Hermione's table.
"Mr. Weasley." He said nodding at the young man as he approached the table. He nodded back, his eyes narrowing, but said nothing. "Hermione," he said turning to her, "I think its best if we leave now."
"Leave?" Hermione repeated, standing up. "Leave, why?"
"It is getting late," Lucius reminded her, "And you seemed tired—"
"Well maybe, but—"
"And we have a busy night ahead of us; I thought you might like to return to the Manor early."
"But I haven't even had a chance to dance with Ron yet—"
"You will see him again; you'll have plenty of opportunity to dance with him another time. If you'd like, we could hold a ball for that particular reason."
"But I haven't thrown the bouquet yet or had any of the cake—"
"Throwing the bouquet is a muggle tradition that most of the people here wouldn't understand, let alone participate in." He told, "The house elves will make sure that the cake is returned home, you'll have plenty of time to enjoy it later."
"At least give me a chance to say goodbye to my friends." Hermione said quietly. "Then we can go."
"Of course." Lucius said, "I should say goodbye to Draco as well. I'll be back in a few minutes to collect you."
"Collect you?" Ron repeated as soon as he was sure that Lucius was out of earshot. "How old is he?"
"Don't start Ron." Hermione said shaking her head. "Let's just find Harry and Ginny."
Hermione crossed the dance floor, Harry and Ron were seated across the room, as far away as Lucius could get them; Ginny had been sat at their table as she was part of the wedding party but she hadn't stayed there long. Hermione couldn't blame her, she had been sit between Draco and Professor Snape, she could only imagine how uncomfortable that had made her.
"Hey guys." She said stopping in front of them.
"Hey Hermione." Ginny said smiling up at her. "You sure do know how to throw one good party."
"I didn't have much to do with it actually." Hermione said, "Lucius did most of the planning, I just made sure it wasn't all too Slytherin and picked out our dresses. I don't think he trusted me to do anything else."
"Still, it's nothing that's going to be forgotten soon." Ginny said.
"I think that's the point." Harry said.
"The Minister certainly wouldn't have settled for less." Hermione said nodding her head in agreement. "But onto more happy notes," she said faking a smile, "I finally get to leave. No more dancing with strangers for me."
"You're leaving?" Harry asked standing up.
"You didn't expect me to stay forever did you?" Hermione asked. "The party has to end sometime."
"But—"
"Harry, don't." Ginny said noticing Hermione's already frazzled nature. She placed a comforting hand on his arm, before stepping forward and embracing her friend. "Remember that your flat's always open." She told Hermione quietly. "If you need to leave or if you just want to be alone."
"Thanks Gin." Hermione said.
"And I'll be there whenever you need me as well." Ginny said, before pulling away. She smiled encouragingly before stepping back and allowing Ron to step forward and wrap his arms around her.
"I wish I could help Mione." He said, his hands tightening around her waist.
"I don't need help." Hermione said, resting her head on his shoulder. "I just need support."
"I'll see you soon." He said pulling away.
Harry didn't step forward as Ron or Ginny had, so instead Hermione came to him wrapping her arms around his waist. A minute later she felt him wrap his arms around her as well.
"I'll be fine." She told him, "I promise I can take care of myself and I won't let him get to me. Remember he's trapped in this marriage as much as I am."
"Just don't forget about us." Harry said, she could feel him breath tickling her neck. "Remember that if you need anything, need us, that we'll come. Wards or no wards we'll find a way in."
"I won't need you to come." She assured him, "But I promise I won't hesitate if I ever do. You're still my family Harry, this doesn't change that." Hermione pulled away and smiled up at him. "I'll be fine." She repeated, disentangling her arms from his. "Don't worry so much, you'll ruin your pretty face."
They both laughed, but if you looked closely you could tell none of there hearts were in it. It was an old joke of theirs, one they always found funny, but in this situation it somehow didn't seem amusing.
"Hermione," Lucius's voice came from behind her. "It's time to go."
She nodded in agreement, turning back to her friends. "I'll see you all in two weeks. We'll have you over for dinner."
"Of course." Ginny said smiling encouragingly at her friend. She knew how much Hermione feared this marriage would mean loosing her friends. "We'll see you then."
Hermione turned, walking back to Lucius who was holding out a white pillow to her. "It's a portkey," he said when she looked up at him in confusion. "To take us back to the manor."
"Of course." Hermione said reaching out for the pillow. She paused right before her hand touched the pillow. Was she really ready for this? She didn't have a chance to answer before Lucius wrapped his arm around her waist, pulling her towards him and her hand down upon the pillow. As soon as both of their hands touched the pillow, a white light engulfed them briefly before they disappeared.
Hermione's feet touched the ground and only Lucius's arm supporting her stopped the rest of her from continuing down. She opened her eyes a moment later, once she was sure that the dizziness was gone, and found herself in the one room she hated most in the manor. The room she would be spending nights in for the next six years.
She had purposefully avoided this room up until now. She hated to think of all the time she would spending there now. With whom she would be spending it. Unconsciously she took a step back from the bed, as if distancing herself from it would solve all her problems. Lucius remained silent, but smirked at her actions. It was fun to see her unsure and uncertain after the display she had put on today. It was nice to know his presence still flustered her.
"Excuse me for a moment." He said walking around the bed and entering the bathroom. She didn't know whether to thank him or hate him for leaving her alone.
She sunk down on the bed, fighting the urge to flee. She had deliberately spent no time thinking about the wedding night so that she wouldn't be able to agonize over it, but now she wished she had better prepared herself. What she would have done she didn't know, but surely there was something. This wouldn't be the first time she had ever done this, that ship had sailed many years ago, but it was the first time she would do it without being in love.
She heard the door click open and she stood up quickly, turning to see him come out. He had removed his outer robes, leaving him in a black shirt and slacks. She suddenly felt overdressed in her wedding gown, but certainly didn't want to take it off either. He stood in the doorway for a moment before coming walking slowly over to her side of the bed, stopping before her. He cupped her face in his hand, lifting her chin until she was looking him directly in the eye. It was the first time she could ever remember seeing real emotion in his eyes. He looked almost sympathetic.
"This is a requirement of all Wizarding wedding contracts." He told her, she could feel grip tighten slightly as he moved his thumb to gently caress her chin. "I will not force you, but if nothing happens today's festivities will have been for nothing."
"I know," Hermione said, closing her eyes. If she closed her eyes he could be anyone. If she closed her eyes she could pretend that this day wasn't happening. She could pretend that this was just a horribly vivid dream. "I'm just a little anxious. I'll get over it." She said leaning farther into his touch. His hand was so wonderfully cool against her hot skin.
She couldn't see it, as she still had her eyes closed, but he could feel him smirking down at her, most likely pleased with her reaction to him. She knew that there was a part of him reveling in this. He would never force her, wouldn't make her do anything she didn't want to, but that was the enjoyable part for him. She was going into this willingly. She was giving herself to him willingly. Somehow that made it better for him, she knew that.
She felt him slowly remove his hand, bring it down to her waist to pull her closer, before lifting the other hand and brushing her lips with his fingertips. Her eyes flew open at the contact and she was startled to see him so close to her now; she could feel his breath intermingling with her own. And then his lips were on her own, brushing gently but firmly and for a moment she forget everything and allowed herself to get caught up in the feelings he was creating with in her. And then it all came crashing back down.
She pulled away, her head spinning. Her mind was shouting at her, screaming that this was Lucius Malfoy in front of her. Another voice reminded her that he was her husband, that they were married and that this was required of them or else everything that she went through that day, these past months was worth nothing. And then there was another voice, one much quieter, whispering in her ear that she had enjoyed his lips on hers, that they were married and that there wasn't anything wrong with what they were doing. She didn't know what voice to listen to; she just wanted time to think. Time she didn't have.
She felt the first teardrops and she felt ridiculous for getting so emotional, angry with herself for allowing him to see her weak and confused, something she had promised herself she would never do. But the teardrops still fell. She felt like she was lying to herself, like she was betraying herself somehow, but she didn't know how to stop it. Didn't know what to do to make it better.
And then in a moment of tenderness she would never have imagined from him, he brushed her stray tears away, cupping her cheek. "Would it help if I was to lie to you?"
And for a moment she considered telling him yes. To give into temptation and allow herself to believe that he really did love her and that this marriage was more then it really was. But she was too strong to allow that. She wouldn't do that to herself and she wouldn't allow him to hold that over her in the future, no matter how much it would comfort her in the present. She softly whispered "no" before bringing her lips up to meet his in a kiss. If she stopped thinking about it and just allowed herself to feel, she could do this.
And that's what she did. For once in her life Hermione Granger stopped thinking and allowed her body to take control. It would not have been the night she would have chosen and he would never be Prince Charming in her eyes. But she had learned from an early age that she was no fairy princess in need of rescuing. And that night, as they joined as one, a connection, as unwilling as it may or may not be, was made.
A/N: Okay, let the heavy objects fly! I'm really really sorry that this chapter took so long to get out. But I finally have a semi-valid excuse. Or at least I do in my own opinion.
My computer died, in a non repairable way and I lost pretty much everything on it. And then I had to wait until I could get a new one, something that takes time because I'm not rich. I'm not even comfortly poor. Add that to the fact that I lost everything that I had saved on my computer for this and my other stories, that made it more difficult. All I had to base this on was my stuff in my notebooks scattered about and that really wasn't always that helpful. But I am really super sorry about not getting this out sooner. I've felt incredibly guilty about it, if that helps at all.
Big Huge thanks to my beta Emma, who's amazing and puts up with me and my horrible grammar and my ability to become easily confused!!
I hope everyone liked the chapter! I have had a few questions about if the rating is going to go up, and its not. I don't do mature fics, or at least not in that sense, so I'm sorry if that's what your looking for. Besides I don't think you'd really want me to attempt to, it probably wouldn't turn out very well.
Thank you so much to everyone who reviewed. Your all amazing and I love you guys and I'm so glad that you like the story.
To Fortuneteller, I'd be willing to consider it. Can you PM about it?
PLEASE Review!! Ideas, suggestions, and nicely put corrections are always welcome.