Childish Dreams~*

Lucius had been sitting in the smoking room talking with the other men from dinner. The conversation had ranged from politics to the ship to money.

"I say, Lucius, how is it to finely be a married man?" One of the men asked and slapped him on the shoulder. Lucius smirked.

"A lot less freeing." He said and the other men laughed heartily.

"Ah indeed, she sure is a beautiful little thing though." The other men nodded in agreement.

"Would keep an eye on her and keep her close at hand. I could see a lot of men taking a keen eye to her on this ship. There are a lot of men, especially in the lower class that aren't a gentleman in the slightest and would mean to do a fine young lady such as her harm." Lucius nodded approvingly. He had not really paid any mind to Hermione's looks but as he thought about it, she was a very attractive young woman and he guessed that a lot of men would love to get their hands on her. Of course if he suggested to her that she stay near him she would become infuriated with him and even more stubborn than she already was. He would have to do it discretely even though she would be furious if she found out. But at least while they were stuck in this time together he had to keep an eye on her to make sure nothing happened to her.

The other men continued to talk about women and their behaviors. Lucius finished his cigar and his glass of brandy and stood. Hermione would probably be arriving soon. He walked out of the smoking room and glanced around in the corridor for her. He didn't see her and walked around in search of her. He turned at the sound of her voice and entered the first class lounge. She was sitting in a chair holding a glass and chatting amiably with a steward boy who stood holding a tray of glasses. Lucius walked up to her and nodded curtly to the steward, dismissing him with a look. The steward bowed respectfully.

"I'll leave you to your evening Madame." Hermione smiled and nodded.

"Very well, thank you." He nodded and walked off and she looked up at Lucius slightly annoyed.

"I asked for you to meet me in the smoking room after you were finished conversing with the ladies at dinner."

"Am I not allowed to go elsewhere after finding the ladies conversations quite dull and rather insulting Lucius?" He sighed at her stubbornness.

"I had just expected you to be there was all. I didn't expect to find you chatting up stewards and drinking. I didn't think you drank anyway."

"The steward offered me one so I took it. By the sounds of it Lucius, I detect a hint of jealousy." He glared at her.

"Let's go back to the room Hermione. I think you've had quite enough to drink." It was her turn to glare and she stood and grabbed another glass off of a passing stewards tray and downed it in a few swallows and handed both glasses to the steward who looked at her slightly alarmed.

"Very well." She strode past him and he followed silently behind her.

Hermione opened the door to the stateroom and was greeted by the smell of roses and scented candles. A warm fire burned in the fireplace and candles illuminated the room in a soft glow.

"What's all this?" Lucius asked, walking into the room behind her. Hermione groaned rubbing a hand over her face.

"Brageeta mentioned earlier this afternoon that she would be getting the room ready for tonight…" She walked into the bedroom and blushed at the rose petals scattered on the bed. Brageeta had certainly outdone herself.

Hermione sighed and sat down on the bed. It was the perfect atmosphere, like anything she could have dreamed of. There was even a bottle of wine set on ice on the table in the sitting room. The only thing that was hardly perfect about all of it was the man. What those women had said had angered her and she wanted so badly to prove that she was good enough. She just wished that she could prove it with a different man and not with Lucius Malfoy of all people! She was conflicted and her mind reeled angrily. It was so stupid but she wasn't going to be told off by a bunch of gossipy women.

Hermione sighed and undid the clips holding her hair in place. It fell down over her shoulders in long brown waves of curls. She picked up the silver handled old fashioned brush and smiled as she remembered something her grandmother had always done. Her grandmother had a brush very similar to the one Hermione was now holding and she remembered her grandmother putting a few drops of sweet scented oil in the brush and brushing her hair. It had always made her hair gleam very elegantly and smelled good. Hermione opened the drawer of the vanity and found a small vial of oil. She sniffed it and smiled at the pleasant floral yet almost spicy aroma. She placed a few drops on the brush and brushed through her brown curls. The oil smoothed the frizz in them and when done her hair glowed with a beautiful sheen. She shut the door to the bedroom and proceeded to get out of her dress and hung it in the wardrobe. She slipped out of the petticoat easily enough and took off the drawers. She was left in her corset and chemise. She reached around her back to undo the corset laces but couldn't quite reach. She looked in the vanity mirror and realized that she would need help getting her corset off and the only other person in the room was Lucius. She sighed and thanked Merlin that undergarments in 1912 were actually very covering and modest.

Hermione opened the door to the bedroom and peaked out. Lucius was sitting on the couch reading a book. She stepped out of the room and walked over to the couch, bare feet sinking into the plush carpeting. She cleared her throat uneasily. Lucius looked up from her reading and his eyes traveled over her corset and chemise. He arched an eyebrow at her.

"Miss Granger, if you are intending on seducing me…." Hermione's face flushed red with embarrassment and she took a step away from him.

"Merlin no! I- I'm sorry!" She turned and fled back into the bedroom, slamming the door behind her. Hermione let out a breath and leaned back against the door. He thought she was trying to seduce him? God… she just needed help with her bloody corset. She walked over to the bed and sat down on it. She clenched her fists in her lap and tears began to stream steadily down her cheeks. She hiccupped and squeezed her eyes shut, trying to stop crying. Why was she even crying over this? She was being childish! A light knock sounded on the door.

"Hermione? I apologize for what I said. May I come in?" She sniffed loudly.

"Go ahead Mr. Malfoy." She said. The door opened and Lucius stepped into the room. He looked at her with surprise.

"You're crying Ms. Granger." She glared at him.

"Yes I'm crying Malfoy! God! I just came out to ask you to help me with my blasted corset! I am in no way trying to seduce you Mr. Malfoy, I have no intention of doing that what so ever." She looked down at her lap, not meeting his gaze.

"I'm truly sorry Hermione. You came out in nothing but a corset and shift and I assumed… well…" He let out a sigh. "Get up and turn around." He said sternly. Hermione looked up at him with a puzzled expression. He shook his head and made an exasperated sound.

"I'm going to undo your corset for you." He said defensively. She nodded silently and stood turning her back to him. Lucius untied the knot at the bottom of the laces and proceeded to undo the laces. His fingers moved swiftly pulling each of the laces from their grommets until Hermione could finely breath properly again. She pulled the corset away from her body and tossed it on the bed. She turned around and stepped away from him.

Lucius cleared his throat and placed a hand on the door. "Well, I'll let you finish changing." He slipped out of the bedroom and closed the door quietly and walked back over to the couch. He sat down with a harrumph and placed his head in his hands letting out a sigh. What had he been thinking when she came out? That had been extremely rude of him to say to her. Of course she wasn't planning on seducing him. Merlin… he wouldn't want her to. His mind drifted back to the conversation in the smoking room. Hermione was a very pretty girl but she deserved to marry someone her own age. Lucius shook his head. This situation was crazy.

The door to the bedroom opened once again and closed quietly. Lucius looked up and glanced at Hermione. She walked over to the settee and curled herself up against the cushions.

"Hermione…" She held up a hand to stop him.

"What's said had been said and it's in the past Mr. Malfoy. There's no taking it back. I am not a tramp Mr. Malfoy, I would never consider trying to entice you." She said bitterly. Lucius nodded.

"Very well Hermione, I won't apologize for the rude comment. But in all honesty, you really wouldn't be able to seduce me Ms. Granger. You are but a seventeen year old girl. It astounds me that they allow women to marry so young in this day and age. It's preposterous as the woman will not have even had a chance to experience the world around her." Hermione's eyes widened. Now he was insulting her just as the ladies at dinner had.

"You are despicable Malfoy!" She rose from the settee and stormed back into the bedroom, slamming the door again.

Lucius rolled his eyes and raised himself from the sofa. He glanced at the closed bedroom door and shook his head angrily. She was such a stupid girl. And so naive about the world around her. There was no way she would be able to entice him, she was only seventeen for God's sake! He left the stateroom and went out on deck. He walked to the railing and gripped it tightly, staring out into the ocean. He watched the rolling waves as the ship cut through them with ease. Lucius thought back to before all of this had happened. He was married to Narcissa Malfoy and Draco was in the same year as Hermione was at Hogwarts. Lucius shook his head. Now he was married to his son's classmate. He really needed a drink, or a couple of them.

Hermione started when the small clock beside the bed chimed. She sat up and peeled a rose petal from her cheek and glanced at the clock. It was nearly eleven o'clock at night. She got up from bed and opened the door to the bedroom. Lucius was nowhere to be seen in the room. Hermione grabbed a long fur coat from the closet and put it on over her silky nightgown. She slipped on a pair of simple flat shoes and left the room. She walked out onto the deck and glanced around. There was hardly anyone out this late. She shivered slightly and drew the fur coat more securely around her. She went past the gate leading down to the lower decks, headed towards the dining saloon. She walked down the stairs carefuly and finely reached D deck.

"You're out awful late madam." Hermione turned and looked around. A tall man in a worn tweed jacket was leaning casually against the wall. He tipped his cap to her and walked towards her. He smiled, his eyes roaming her face.

"Nathan Reever at your service my lady. And might I inquire as to you name?" Hermione shifted uncomfortably under his gaze. This man was not curious about meeting her to be friends. His eyes flitted to her hand clutching her fur coat closed. She lifted her chin indignantly.

"You may not inquire as to what my name is sir. Now if you wouldn't mind leaving me be I would be very appreciative." She turned away from him and he grabbed her coat and pulled her back.

"Now, that's no way to treat a gentleman ma'am. I simply asked for your name but since I'm not worthy enough to receive it, perhaps we'll just move on from there."

"Let go of me!" She said sternly and tried to push him away. He snatched her wrist in his hand and pulled her close.

"Now now missus. Don't you mind a wee bit. Just want to get a little taste is all." He grinned devilishly and placed a kiss on her neck. Hermione let out a scream and wrenched away from him. "Oh no you don't! It's been a long time since I've had my fun with a fine lady such as you." He shoved her back into a shadowy corner and covered her mouth with his hand. He yanked open her fur coat. His eyes brightened as he stared at her filmy nightgown.

"Well, well madam. Just looking for some fun weren't we?" He placed a hand on her stomach. Hermione whimpered against his hand and suddenly he was wrenched off of her.

"Gladly take your hands off my wife you bastard!" Lucius punched the man hard in the jaw sending him sprawling to the ground. He turned to Hermione, eyes filled with concern.

"Are you alright? I heard your voice from inside the saloon. I had just been ready to leave when I saw him grab you." Hermione's lip quivered and her eyes filled with tears. He had seen her cry once already and she didn't want him to see her cry again. She took a deep breath and nodded, not trusting herself to speak. He placed a hand on her arm and she flinched. He drew back.

"Hermione, I will not hurt you. Come on. Let's go back up to the room." Hermione nodded and let him lead her away and up the stairs, his hand lightly touching her shoulder. They reached the promenade deck and Lucius stopped a steward. He explained the situation and that the man in question was unconscious on D deck. The steward reported that it would be taken care of and that they would not be bothered further.

Lucius stole a glance at Hermione as they walked back to the room. "You haven't said a word. Are you sure you're alright Hermione?" Hermione didn't say anything but just kept walking. They reached the room and she opened the door and went inside. She sank down on the couch and burst into tears. Lucius went to her side and crouched down in front of her.

"You shouldn't have come looking for me. There are people on this ship who would do you serious harm, like that man. All men in this day and age aren't kind to women. And, Hermione you draw a lot of attention from all sorts of men." She glanced at him with watery eyes.

"I've never drawn men's attention. Why is this time any different?" She asked. Lucius smiled slightly.

"Hermione, you draw a lot of attention, you just don't realize it. I have to play the role of a good husband and protect you from others who would mean to steal you from me. You do draw a lot of attention Hermione. You… you're a very beautiful girl." He cleared his throat and glanced anywhere but at her. Hermione smiled.

"Thank you Lucius. You're very handsome yourself." Lucius looked at her startled.

"I didn't say that for you to compliment me as well Ms. Granger." She shook her head.

"I know." She smiled and shrugged off her fur coat. Lucius couldn't help but study the nightgown she wore. It was lacey and silky and looked quite good on her. He could see why the man was all over her.

Lucius stood up and smiled at her. "You probably ought to get some sleep." He said. She nodded and frowned.

"You should too. You look tiered Lucius." He nodded.

"Yes, well, I can stay up while you sleep." She gave him a puzzled look.

"Why?" He shook his head at her naiveté.

"Because Hermione, there is only one bed and I doubt extremely so that you want to sleep with me." He smiled respectfuly at her. Hermione rolled her eyes.

"Mr. Malfoy, can we just both be adults about this situation? I'm tiered you're tiered and there is only one bed. I think we can be civil enough to just put aside our differences and sleep in it." She said curtly. Lucius raised his eyebrows at her. She was surprisingly calm about it. He had figured she would gladly accept his offer as he figured she would be much too uncomfortable sleeping with him. He nodded to her.

"Very well Ms…."

"Lucius, let's stop with formalities please. Just Hermione, it's easier in the long run." He nodded again.

"Hermione, after you." He motioned towards the bedroom. Hermione smiled and stood. She walked into the bedroom and brushed the rose petals off of the bedspread. She pulled back the covers and slipped off her flats and climbed beneath them. Lucius walked in after her and began to undress. He hung his tuxedo back in the wardrobe and pulled out a long nightshirt. He took off his undershirt but left his breeches on as he slipped on the nightshirt. He walked over to the bed and slid beneath the covers beside Hermione. The bed was much smaller than he was used to and he could feel her body nearly pressed against his own. He reached out and flicked off the lamp lighting the bedroom, enveloping the room in darkness.

"Goodnight Hermione. I do hope tomorrow will be a better one." Hermione chuckled slightly.

"Perhaps we'll wake up from this and discover it was merely a dream. Ha! Wishful thinking."

"Wishful thinking can be a good thing sometimes." Lucius said quietly. Hermione sighed and turned away from him.

"Goodnight." She mumbled. Silence fell and Lucius drifted into a restless sleep listening to the whir of the engines and the slap of water in the distance.