A/N: Thank you so much to everyone who reviewed, favorited and followed after last chapter! I know all of you are like "Hermione! Be Careful!". As you can probably guess, there will be a lot of ups and downs in the next ten chapters, but I hope you don't mind it too much. She is learning so much about herself, and it will just take time for her to figure things out. This chapter has quite the passage of time. We are six months to the first chapter of this story at the end of the chapter. Alright, you can follow me on tumblr (nauticalparamour) where I post sneak peeks and the like.
Please let me know what you thought of chapter fifteen and be on the lookout for chapter sixteen!
October, 1999
Her relationship with Harry had begun again slowly, with the raven haired boy realizing how much his silence had truly hurt her. Hermione had initially felt guilty about her secret relationship with Lucius and had only accepted his initial tea invitation out of that guilt, but she was glad she did, as things were slowly thawing.
He did constantly apologize for Ron's behavior during her blind date, but Hermione was firm to remind him that he couldn't apologize for someone else. Apparently, Ron and Romilda had made quite the scene at Harry and Ginny's engagement party, when he was caught kissing someone else. Even so, the couple was still together.
Hermione still hadn't mended things with Ginny yet, as the younger girl had yet to apologize for her behavior, something that Harry was constantly bringing up. "You know, Gin and I would really love to have you around for dinner sometime."
She winced, thinking that would probably include Ron and Romilda, but seeing her hesitance, Harry cut her off before she could decline. "I mean, just you, we can get rid of Ron for one evening. You can even bring Warrington if you want."
The mention of Cassius brought a bright pink blush to her cheeks as she was decidedly not in any romantic entanglement with the dashing Quidditch player, but rather, with her tall and handsome boss. She'd met up with Cassius one other time, but it was purely platonic, and they spent most of their time discussing his move back to Ireland.
Deciding it was far too complicated to discuss her non relationship with Cassius, Hermione deflected from the conversation. "I don't know, Harry. Cassius is quite busy with Quidditch having started their season recently. And, we don't have that kind of a relationship."
"Are you sure? I thought I saw flowers in your flat during our last fire call." Harry said. That boy was far too observant for his own good.
Hermione took a long drink of tea to compose herself. "No, those weren't from Cassius. Honestly, Harry, a girl can buy herself flowers to make her flat seem less gloomy every now and again." Of course, Hermione knew, the flowers were a gift from Lucius.
His green gaze implied that he didn't believe her at all, but that he wouldn't press the issue. "Whatever you say."
"I don't know, Harry...things are still a bit tense with Ginny." Hermione said. "You know the Weasley women have always picked their family's side over the truth...I mean, you remember the whole business with the Triwizards Tournament." It was difficult to bring this up to the boy who was clearly in love with Ginny, but it was reality for Hermione.
"I know, Hermione, but Ginny does feel really badly about it all, and she just doesn't know how to go about apologizing." Harry said, rubbing his hand along the back of his neck. "Just promise me you'll think about it?"
Hermione decided that it wouldn't hurt. It had been weeks since she'd seen Ginny, and she hadn't really given the redhead a chance to apologize. "Alright, I will think about it. Now, I've got to get back to work." She stood from the table she shared with Harry.
He gave her a smile. "You are such a hard worker, Hermione. Promise me you'll let me know if Malfoy gives you any trouble?"
Harry had learned about Malfoy being her boss, only to suggest that he'd planned the trip to France so that Hermione couldn't have any fun with her friends. If only he knew the truth. "I think I can handle Lu-Malfoy on my own, Harry." She was embarrassed at her slip up, but Harry didn't seem to notice with her arms wrapped around his in a hug.
October 31, 1999
The Ministry's annual Samhain Ball was such an exclusive event that even Harry Potter hadn't gotten an invite. It was reserved for Division Heads and other high ups in the Ministry, but Hermione had gotten an invitation on the arm of one Lucius Malfoy.
Really, she was lucky that a lot of people at the Ministry found it too old-fashioned or too old ways to participate. Hermione couldn't imagine running into Arthur and Molly Weasley while she was all tarted up and laughing with Lucius.
She wore a tight fitting orange and gold dress that Daphne had helped her to pick out, suspicious all the while, because Hermione wouldn't tell her what it was for. Hermione couldn't pinpoint why she wouldn't tell Daphne about her relationship with Lucius, but she thought it probably had something to do with how disappointed Daphne would be with her if she knew.
It was exciting for Hermione to be asked by her lover, as she was surprised he would be willing to take someone other than his wife to a party where he'd been seen by so many important people. She figured that the divorce proceedings must be going well, since he wasn't worried about being seen with her. It made her feel as though they had a real relationship for once.
Hermione loved the way that her appearance had excited him obviously. His grin was absolutely predatory when he'd picked her up from her flat, his eyes traveling up and down her curves. "I can't wait to show you off." He'd offered her kisses and his arm, before they were transported to the Ministry of Magic for the party.
While there, he hadn't let her stray more than an arm's length from him the whole night, his hand always touching her in some way, reassured that she was close. The heat from his hand on her lower back, slipping to cup her arse when no one could see him, had her positively dripping in excitement.
Normally, she'd be annoyed with such a macho move, but for some reason, she couldn't think of anything better than to be possessed by Lucius.
She wasn't even sure how she was able to maintain her concentration to talk to the revolving door of important wizards that stopped by to discuss this and that with Lucius. Though he was a known Death Eater, it seemed his business acumen was still widely respected in the wizarding world.
Finally, it was time to leave the party, and Lucius was whispering in her ear, his lips pressed against the shell of her ear, causing tingles to form in her appendages. "I am so proud of you, Hermione. You hold yourself so well and it makes me so hard to know I have such an intelligent witch. I can't wait to get you home."
The pull of side-along apparition had Hermione's stomach flip flopping with nerves at the possibility of going to Malfoy Manor, only to be deposited in her flat. She'd long ago keyed him into the wards. His lips fiercely pressed against hers had her forgetting all her previous concern.
Wrapping her legs against his body, Lucius carried her into her bedroom, only to set her down next to the bed. Walking around her, he ran his fingers up and down the exposed skin on her back, before pushing the straps down and letting the fabric pool against the floor, leaving her completely nude. "No knickers? If I'd known before the party, we never would have made it out the door."
Hermione turned to face him, her cheeks slightly red. "The dress was too tight to wear them." She said, sheepishly.
Unwilling to be the only nude one, Hermione got to work removing his formal robes, all the while facing a barrage of not so innocent touching by his hands. Pulling him back against her bed, Hermione crawled on top of him for an exceedingly comfortable evening.
November, 1999
Hermione had hoped that the Samhain Ball would be a movement to a more public relationship with Lucius, but he seemed content to court her in secret. She supposed that was for the best, though, with the divorce still pending. She wouldn't want to do anything that would put Lucius in jeopardy.
Still, he was very generous, often sending her flowers or even on one occassion, jewelry. She knew how immensely he enjoyed seeing her wearing the tiny diamond studs at work, though it wasn't entirely conducive to work. He was liable to pull her into his office and silence the room. If anyone else in the office that noticed, no one said anything.
He would take her out to dinner or drinks a few times a week. Daphne had noticed that Hermione's social calendar was significantly more busy than when she'd first started to work at the Ministry, but so far had kept her mouth shut about it, though Hermione got the sense that she was more an more suspicious.
Really, Hermione thought, they were exceptionally lucky that no one at the Prophet had caught wind of their relationship, but she supposed all the places that he'd take her out were too exclusive to let in photographers or too small to be of note.
Afterwards, he would take her home to her flat, for a tumble in the sheets or in the shower or in her living room, or there was even one time on her kitchen table, completely interrupting her from making them breakfast. She felt a bit oversexed with just how much they got around, but she found it suited her.
Lucius was never put off by the way that she took what she wanted when it came to sex, after she'd gotten over her initial hesitancies. He was an incredibly considerate lover and Hermione knew that he wouldn't judge her for her needs or wants, and she knew just how hard it got him when she begged for just one more orgasm.
It was going incredibly well, though Hermione was beginning to long for a time when they could be public with their relationship. It was true that she'd enjoyed having a secret lover, but she was falling for the older man, and she wanted to be able to tell her friends. She wasn't going to take out an ad in the Daily Prophet, but it would be nice to stroll through Diagon Alley, holding hands, letting all the other women know that Lucius Malfoy was her wizard.
December, 1999
Hermione was getting ready for a date with Lucius when she received the owl from the Australian Ministry. When she'd contacted them for assistance in finding her parents and then reversing the memory charm that she'd performed on them, the Australian mind healer had been cautious, but optimistic.
He'd told her that it could take months, even years, but it was likely that the damage was reversible.
Eagerly tearing into the letter, Hermione's mind was already spinning with plans to go pick up her family over the holidays. Maybe Lucius would even consent to go and retrieve them with her, and then she could introduce him to her parents.
The words of the letter quickly became too blurry to read through her tears, but certain words thrust like a knife into her heart. "Sorry...irreversible...cannot be restored...extensive damage...happy here." She sank into her couch, tears streaming down her cheeks.
That was how Lucius found her when he apparated in to pick her up for their date. "Hermione, what is it?" He asked, immediately slipping onto the couch next to her. Finding that she was unable to speak, without great hiccupping sobs, Hermione handed him the parchment. She used the moment to try and anchor her emotions by watching his own.
When he was finished, he was quiet for a moment before looking at her. "Let me make you some tea." Once Hermione had a steaming cup of tea in her hands, Lucius decided to broach the topic. "Your parents...the memory damage..."
"It's all my fault. I thought that they might be a target to the Death Eaters-" As if suddenly remembering who she was talking to, Hermione sucked in a breath, horrified. Of course, Lucius was a Death Eater, and this was a bit of their relationship that they'd always skirted around it. "I'm sorry." She blurted out.
Lucius looked pained, but shook his head. "No, don't apologize. They certainly were a target to the Death Eaters. As you know, you were quite high on the list of wanted fugitives."
"I obliviated them. I just wanted to keep them safe." Hermione gushed, tears once again in her eyes. "But now, they are gone forever. The mind healer was so hopeful, but..."
Lucius wrapped her up tightly in a hug. "I am so sorry my sweetheart. But I can tell you that this is definitely a better life than what they would have had if you hadn't spirited them away."
"You don't know that." Hermione insisted.
"Yes I do." Lucius said pointedly, and he felt her stiffen in his arms, obviously upset at his insinuation.
"I don't want to talk about that." Hermione said quietly, but relaxing in his arms.
"We have to talk about it sometime, Hermione." Lucius said sternly. "We've been avoiding the fact that I was a Death Eater and that you were on the other side, and that I let you be tortured in my own home, and I stood by and did nothing."
Hermione felt tears in her eyes again. "I...it wasn't your fault. I never blamed you. Just Bellatrix." She said quietly, rubbing at the mark that still marred her arm.
"But still, I...I should have done something. What good am I as a man if I can't even protect an innocent child from being crucioed in front of my very own eyes? Your screams haunted me for weeks." Lucius revealed, all in a rush, and Hermione figured that he probably didn't want to tell her all of that.
Hermione was a bit put out because she was sure that Lucius had performed that very curse multiple times, but then again, she'd done terrible things during the war as well. Instead of trying to argue with him that desperate times call for desperate measures, she stayed silent.
"I'm so sorry, Hermione. I hate that I ever got involved with that group. It seemed so...normal at first, but then things just got out of control and I...but, I didn't have the strength to let go. It destroyed my family, and I even offered him my own son." He whispered into her hair.
Lucius had done many terrible things in the past, but Hermione didn't want to focus on the war any longer. If she could absolve him of his transgressions against her, perhaps she could someday earn the same from her parents, even if she knew that they would never actually be able to give it. "It's okay, Lucius. I forgive you." She said meekly, before resting her head on his shoulder.
She wasn't sure how long she'd sat there, her head fuzzy with sleep, but eventually she wanted to be more comfortable. Standing, Hermione held her hand out to his. "Come, I won't be able to sleep tonight if you aren't holding me."
He followed her into the bedroom, and they both stripped down, but they didn't look to carnal pleasures for satisfaction, instead cuddling into one another's warmth, spooned around one another, looking for absolution.