AN- i am SO SORRY! things came up in which i could not use my computer, and now, here it is!
Hermione woke up feeling as though someone had bathed her face in starch. Sunlight poured across the middle of the bed and her sprawling figure. Her alligator lay just beyond her fingertips, she smiled at it. Hermione pulled him into a loose hug, she hadn't meant to take him out of her trunk, she just needed someone who wouldn't judge her. He was her stuffed animal of preference as a baby, and she always demanded that he be somewhere near her person.
Mentally groaning, Hermione swung her legs out of bed and stumbled to the bathroom. Splashing cold water on her face, she deemed her hair clean enough to not take a shower, and went to get dressed. After staring at her trunk for a few moments, she finally tugged out a simple black long sleeved scoop neck and dark jeans. She slipped her wand into her pocket and looked one more time around the room. Where was she going to go?
Well, she was in the Malfoy Manor. And either they ate a late breakfast or she was on her own. Smiling slightly, Hermione decided that she would have received some sort of notification of breakfast, and that she wasn't hungry in any case.
Hermione poked her head out of her door, then quietly shut it. Padding down the hallway, she came to a door. Hesitating for a moment, she turned the knob. A spare room. On to the next room, another spare room. After a few more doors, she deemed that this was the guest wing, and looked for a way out.
After about five minutes, she started to open doors at random. A spare room, storage room, bath room, music room, room full of mirrors, a storage room with portraits of Narcissa (creepy!) and…a staircase!
Hermione lightly ran downstairs. A living room was behind the first door, followed by a game room it looked like. After passing a few more doors, Hermione opened a door to a small parlor, with someone in it.
The little house elf jumped off the pink silk pouf the moment the door opened.
"I'm so sorry!" Hermione exclaimed, and began to shut the door when the little creature spoke.
"No, no! It is Flopsy who is being sorry! Miss Granger, I hope I is not disturbing you!" Flopsy squeaked, wringing her hands.
"No, it's alright! Actually, Flopsy, could you tell me where Lucius and Draco are?"
"Master Draco has gone out, and Master Lucius is out today on business. Master Lucius will be home later."
"Thank you, Flopsy!" Hermione said, smiling.
Flopsy blushed, which looked very peculiar, and said "You is welcome, Miss Granger."
"Hermione."
"Miss Hermione." The blush deepened. "Would Miss Hermione like Flopsy to bring her something to eat?"
"No, Flopsy, that is alright. Thank you though."
The elf ran to the door and accompanied Hermione out. "You is sure?"
"Yes, I is sure. I mean, I am sure." Hermione wrinkled her nose. The house elf grammar was infectious.
Flopsy looked at her sideways. Hermione could tell she wanted to say something, but wasn't quite sure if it was alright. All of the sudden, the knee-high elf blurted "I is hoping you feels better, Miss Hermione!" and with a pop, disappeared.
Hermione smiled. "Thank you, Flopsy."
After a minute or so, Hermione decided to go back to the second floor, this time taking the main staircase. She knew her way around better going up that way. This time she turned to the left. After getting pretty far down the hallway, she paused.
Maybe this was a bad idea. What if the family rooms were this way? She was their guest, she shouldn't poke…
But…they weren't home. She wouldn't actually go in, and if it was a bedroom she would hardly open the door. Of course.
After awhile, she began to actually get tired from wandering around. Ridiculous, that two people should live in such a home. Even with Narcissa there, it would have still been huge. Fun to play hide and seek in, however.
Hermione sighed opening yet another door. Maybe she should just go back to her room…
She gasped. This room was amazing. Abandoning all memory of the previous wandering hours, she stepped inside the library. Bookshelves, everywhere, no sign of a wall, and then the perfect panel of windows, complete with a window seat.
Hermione knew there had to be a library somewhere in this place, she just wasn't prepared. The library was huge, considering it was a personal library, and she wanted to take it all in.
Soundlessly, she walked to the windows, passing a few leather chairs and a grandiose, worn desk and chair. Before making it to the long seat, she trailed her fingers along the titles of a shelf of books, cherishing the canvas-y feel of each and every spine. Finally, she reached the window. Oh, the view!
Landscape stretched boundlessly in front of her, woods, land, hills somewhere in the distance, some water source or another off to the side perhaps? The sun gleamed in the sky, making the green surrounding her shine.
She exhaled and fell onto the bench, pressing her forehead to the warm-yet-cool pane, and bringing her knees to her chin. This was the way he found her.
Lucius had walked into the room merely intending to unwind after a day of business. Upon opening the door, he was produced with the sight of a practically comatose Hermione Granger.
He wasn't opposed to her sitting there. It was a little odd though.
After a few moments, he began to wonder how long she had been sitting there. One hour? Two? Three maybe. Well, he hadn't moved from watching her at the door, and she hadn't so much as batted an eyelash. It couldn't be good for one to sit so long.
Lucius silently walked up a few feet behind her. "Miss Granger?"
Hermione jumped a little. "Oh! Good gracious, what time is it?" she was stiff all over, and her forehead had frostbite. "I'm sorry, I didn't mean to intrude…" she began, embarrassed, before she looked at the desk. "…This is your study, isn't it?" A sinking feeling began in the pit of her stomach. Judging from the small smile gracing his features, that was a yes. She never should have opened the first door.
"Well, as you are blushing quite profusely, I think I need not answer that question."
Damn, Hermione thought, pressing her hands to her burning cheeks after he had turned and walked to his desk.
Lucius seated himself. "Now, I am very sorry to have not been here this morning, and I know that now you are living here you have the exact right to walk around the house. But, I do have some work to do, so if you could please excuse me, I will see you at dinner." He nodded in her direction.
"Of course. Um- yes." Hermione left, hastily, looking at the ground. After getting out of that wing, she decided that her best plan of action was to go back to her room.
Feeling very exhausted, Hermione opened the door and swung inside, stopping as soon as she saw the bed. All her clothes had been neatly folded inside her trunk, and the bed had been made. Her alligator sat in the midst of the four pillows. Flopsy was sitting on the bed, next to the alligator, gently stroking his back.
Hermione walked a little farther in the room, and the elf looked up, startled, and instantly popped away.
Hermione smiled a little. Maybe Flopsy had made two friends that day. Falling backwards onto the bed, she stared at the ceiling. Every ornate carpet pattern, mirror, vase, gilded gold frame, piece of artwork, painted design, sculpture, flashed before her eyes. She felt like she had seen the Louvre all in one day. And she still had dinner to go.
AN ONCE MORE- so yeah, pretty noninvolved chapter, just her, and Flopsy, who is totally my favorite. ok, so gotta give credit where credit is due, so, even though i relpy reviews, just putting names out there, you know.
BLACKMOONSILVER- omg, your review was amazing, i am ACTUALLY RECOMMENDING other people go read it, because it made me so giddy with joy, it was soooo awesome. (it isnt everyday that LUCIUS MALFOY himself reviews a story!!!)
MARY MY LOVE- lolz! just wanna mention i love you. strawberry.
Terry- Crazy Italian- i totally agree on the feminine positions bit, and thanks for reviewing every chapter!
Sampdoria- thanks for reviewing every chapter, i did try hard on the explination!
Annie- to your "yes please", "Yes, youre welcome!"
Scoopy- it IS really weird, but i like Hermione, and Lucius has pretty hair.is totally kickass.i love him. there are some REALLY good stories out there, like theres this one, its in my favorites...im too lazy to write all of it out. lolz.
YAAAAAY okay till next chapter.