Sailing Stormy Waters~*

After they had seen the entire ship it was nearing dinner time. The captain and Mr. Andrews excused themselves to attend to other matters on the ship and Hermione and Lucius retired to their room to change.

"So how was dog walking?" He asked while they changed into evening attire.

"It was fine. Will you help me with my corset?" She turned her back to him. He unlaced her and noted that she did not elaborate any further on her afternoon.

"Did something happen?" He inquired. She let out a breath as the corset released its hold on her ribcage.

"No. I just realized how poorly they treat the third class passengers on the ship. They don't clean up after the dogs when they… do their business on deck."

"Well it's honestly better that they do their business down there than up on our deck." He said matter-of-factly. Hermione rolled her eyes and laid the corset on the bed. She pulled out a deep scarlet dress adorned with black beading on the bodice and slipped it on over her chemise. She sat down at the vanity and ran a brush with oil through her hair to give it that lovely glossy sheen.

"I absolutely love the jewelry from this time." She commented as she picked up two ruby teardrop earrings and fastened them in her ears. Lucius chuckled and reached around her for his bottle of cologne.

Lucius dabbed some on his neck and collar and the room filled with its warm musky scent. Hermione's head began to spin and her mouth watered slightly. He smelled heavenly. She let out a breath and it came out a little louder than she had intended. She was trying to work the clasp of the ruby necklace she wanted to wear and it wasn't working. She suddenly felt her hair lift away from her neck and she gasped in surprise.

"You looked like you were having some trouble." He said quietly.

"Thank you." She murmured and clasped the necklace easily.

Lucius was surprised at how soft her curls were in his fingers as he pulled her hair back. She finished clasping the necklace and he let her curls fall to her shoulders. She turned and smiled at him over her shoulder through a curtain of those soft locks. His heart skipped a beat and his mouth went dry. Those warm dark brown eyes were so unfamiliar and so different from his wife's calculating blue ones. Lucius found himself at a loss of what to do or even what to think. His body leaned forward and her smile broke as her lips parted slightly. Lucius averted his eyes quickly and he gently cleared his throat. What was mere seconds of time seemed like an eternity.

"Are you ready then?" He asked and was annoyed when his voice sounded huskier than usual. If Hermione noticed she made no indication of it. She rose from the vanity and left the bedroom without a word. Lucius inhaled and exhaled slowly. What had come over him? This was ridiculous! He set his jaw and strode out of the bedroom and into the foyer where Hermione was waiting.

He smiled tightly and opened the door for her. "Shall we?" She smiled slightly and nodded. They left the room and made their way towards the grand staircase and dining salon.

"I wonder what they're serving tonight." Hermione wondered aloud.

"Something exquisite that you wouldn't find in most restaurants in the London we know, I presume." Lucius said with a slight smirk. Hermione chuckled lightly.

"It makes me wonder if the first class people eat like this all the time in their own homes."

"Who knows? Hopefully we'll be gone before that happens." He stopped at the top of the stairs near the large clock and turned to her.

"Tonight we need to use the time turner again. If it can take us backward, it can take us forward."

"But we have no idea how many times Draco spun the dial. We can't just mess with time, Lucius." She whispered urgently.

"You think I don't know that Ms. Granger? This is very dangerous and the longer we stay here, the more risk we put ourselves in. We will try to use it tonight." He glanced around as an elderly couple passed by at the bottom of the stairs. "We'll finish this discussion after dinner." He took her arm in the crook of his elbow and led her down the staircase.

The dining salon was filled with people chatting and milling about. The sound of laughter and the clinking of glasses gave the atmosphere a cheery and elegant feel.

"Let's find Molly. She should be expecting us to join her." Hermione said.

"Are you sure you want to sit with them tonight? You certainly seemed upset with how the women talked last night."

"Well, considering we really don't know anybody else on this ship, I think it's our only choice. Molly, hello!" Hermione beamed as she spotted Molly at a nearby table. Molly smiled kindly at them and motioned to two seats still open at the table.

"Hello Hermione, Lucius. Have a seat. Good to see ya both."

"Thank you Molly." Lucius said and pulled out a chair for Hermione. Once they were seated waiters served the beginning hors d'oeuvres and conversation ensued.

"So Hermione, how was your tour of the ship with the captain this afternoon?" One of the ladies asked. Hermione finished chewing her cucumber Hors Doeuvre and cleared her throat.

"It was very intellectual and quite fascinating really." She admitted truthfully.

"Tell me, what school did you study at?" The woman asked. "Because they should hardly be teaching young women about auto-mechanics. Why at all do you find it that fascinating? That is a man's world. You should be more concerned with being a proper wife for your husband. And you, Lucius, should be worried as well and get more of a hold on her. Next thing you know she'll want to work in a man's job!" Hermione flushed crimson as she wiped her mouth.

"I just find it interesting is all." She said quietly and stared down at her plate in embarrassment.

"I am also rather curious Hermione. What school did you study at? You couldn't have picked up such an interest just through your husbands business." Hermione floundered for what to say. She obviously couldn't say Hogwarts as they wouldn't have a clue about the magical world. She thought back to the muggle schools her mother had talked about that were in London.

"Well, I was presently studying at Kelmscott institute."

"Kelmscott? Hm, they have a good headmistress and a fairly substantial curriculum. I disagree with the new mixed gender policy however. Girls and boys should not be allowed to study together. It provides too much of a distraction when most girls are already betrothed to another." Hermione sighed inwardly as the women began to bicker over other things and didn't question her further.

Molly leaned over to her. "Kelmscott's a good school. Don't pay any attention to the stuff they blather on about. Most of these old codgers didn't get a real education like you." She patted Hermione hand and went back to eating.

"This ship is so luxurious. It's even grander than Mauretania! My husband and I sailed from New York to Germany on her third voyage two years ago over Christmas. But this ship surpasses the grandeur by miles! Why, I hear even the third class passengers have separate quarters with four to a cabin. I overheard a steward say that they even have their own water closets."

"What a waste of water." Mrs. Astor said shrewdly. "If you ask me, they shouldn't even be allowed on a ship so grand." Hermione tried to bite her tongue with no success.

"How are they any different from us? Just because we have more money than they do doesn't make it right to not allow them the opportunity to sail on this ship."

"Well, I'm just glad they have different decks. I wouldn't think of socializing with those kinds of people, even if they are on the ship. No matter how much money they spent to get a ticket." She said.

"Well, maybe if you didn't spend so much time drinking tea and gossiping about what the other women are talking about and you took the time to get to know the other people aboard, third class or first, you might think differently. Just because they're third class passengers doesn't mean they're inhuman." Hermione snapped angrily. Mrs. Astor stared at her open-mouthed.

"Why I never! They should've taught you some manners at Kelmscott young lady! Goodness knows education has gone to the dogs!"

"You might also be happy to know that your dog mingles quite well with third class passengers. Kitty is certainly sweeter than you are Mrs. Astor."

"You impertinent little girl! How dare you say such things to me!"

"Hermione." Lucius looked over at her incredulously. She eyed him evenly and tossed her napkin on the table and stood.

"I'll see you in the room Lucius. I've lost my appetite." She walked away from the table without another word and could feel every person's eyes on her retreating form.

Hermione was disgusted with these people and the way they treated others. They talked as though they were the most important people in the world. Mr. Astor and his wife were the richest couple aboard the ship and they flaunted their wealth and position. Lucius would surely be angry with her but she didn't care. She wasn't going to just stay silent while Mrs. Astor bashed the third class passengers so openly.

Two stewards kindly opened the doors for her and she nodded her thanks curtly.

"Will you be returning to the dining hall this evening ma'am?"

"No, thank you." She said courteously. The steward nodded and she walked away. Hermione looked up at the grand staircase and sighed. She really didn't feel like going back up to the room just yet. She walked away from the dining salon and found a couch to sit on. She let out another irritated sigh as she sat down and kneaded her temples with her fingers. They needed to find a way out of this mess, but how? Messing with time was dangerous and if they tried using the time-turner again, things could turn out even worse than they already were. Normal time-turners only took you back a few hours and it was simple to wait the time-lapse. Going back years, however, was an entirely different story. The time-turner had taken them back nearly eighty-five years into the past. If they were to still age they would be dead before they made it back to their own time. How could they possibly wait eighty-five years living together? Bloody hell, neither of them had even been born yet in the year nineteen twelve! Hermione laid her head back against the sofa and closed her eyes.

She could hear the stewards open the dining salon doors and address someone. The laughter and chatter of voices faded as the doors were closed.

"Did you happen to see a young woman leave not too long ago gentleman?"

"Yes sir, with long brown curly hair?"

"Yes that's her."

"Yes sir, she went that way."

"Thank you." Hermione heard footsteps approaching her and she let out a sigh.

"What do you want Lucius?" She groaned; her eyes still closed.

"I just finished smoothing out the mess you made. Mrs. Astor was hysterical and furious. You should've just kept your mouth shut."

"I have as much right as she does to speak my mind Lucius Malfoy. What she said was rude and uncaring. She should spend some of that money of hers to see a bloody psychiatrist and learn some blasted people skills."

"Hermione! Listen to yourself! This is nineteen twelve. You can't go around talking like that. You're a young woman and should carry yourself better than that. Especially in this era." Hermione's eyes snapped open and she glared at him.

"What say do you have in how I should carry myself? I'm not going to just stand by while that woman insults other people! Get off my case!"

"So you take care of it by comparing her to her dog? Hermione that's just bloody rude! People are entitled to their opinions and people don't have rights like they do in our time. Classes are divided for a reason. You have to respect that. You are a first class lady."

"It wasn't my fault we got into this huge mess Malfoy!" She stood up from the sofa and began to walk away. Lucius grabbed her arm tightly.

"Enough of this! You are being immature and childish. Stop it and get it through your head that you are a first class lady in nineteen twelve. We are stuck here and until we figure out how to get back we need to fit in. Making enemies with one of richest passengers aboard this vessel is not helping."

"Let go of me." She said defiantly.

"No. Not until you agree to stop acting so childish and take control of this situation we are in. We have to be smart about this. You are acting like an ignorant child about all of this."

"Piss off Malfoy!" She hissed and yanked against his grip.

"For God's sake Hermione! You're going to draw unwanted attention to us. Now just come with me back to the room. Now." He ordered firmly.

"Stop ordering me around like I'm a child Malfoy!"

"I'll tell you what to do like any adult would to a child because that's how you're acting! Now come on Hermione."

"I am not a child! Let go."

"No. And I will keep treating you like a child until you show me otherwise!" Lucius hissed and yanked her wrist towards him.

"Fine!" She stepped towards him, pressing her restrained hand to his chest and kissed him full on the lips. He released her wrist instantly and his hand rose to her shoulder. He grasped her other hand hanging by her side and broke the kiss. Without a word he pulled her down the corridor and up the grand staircase.

Hermione followed silently behind him, her mind still trying to register what had just happened. They stopped at the door to their room and Lucius opened it, still holding onto her hand. She slipped her fingers from his and stared at him, not moving. His shoulders were tense as he turned back towards her.

"Go into the room, now." He said in barely audible whisper.

"Lucius… I."

"Now Hermione. Please." She moved past him into the foyer and he followed and shut the door. The tension was palpable between them.

"What the bloody hell was that?" He asked quietly. He stared at her and waited, his arms folded over his chest. Hermione flushed crimson.

"I… I'm sorry. You called me a child. I was angry. Th-the women at dinner last night said I hadn't… hadn't flowered yet. Th-that I couldn't… entice a man. They said I was just a trophy wife. Everything was just running through my head. About what you said and what you think of me, that I couldn't entice you. I… I-I didn't think. I'm so sorry Lucius. I really wasn't thinking. What with our age…"

"Ms. Granger, shut up." Hermione stared at him and closed her mouth. Lucius sighed and shook his head. "We are stuck on a ship about to sink in four days' time and you are worrying about not being able to entice me? For God's sake, why? Why is that even crossing your mind right now?" Hermione bit her lip and blinked back the tears that threatened.

"I don't know. I did it to defend myself. I am trying to fit in here as best I can. I know practically nothing about this era. I am doing the best I can Mr. Malfoy." She whispered. Lucius groaned and ran a hang through his long hair.

"Look, I was angry because of your behavior at dinner and to be honest you have been acting childish. But when I said for you to show me otherwise I did not mean for you to kiss me." He said bluntly.

"I know that now! At the time I couldn't think of anything else to do." She said defensively. Lucius opened his mouth and shut it again. His mind was racing and he wanted to do nothing more than escape to the bar and drink. If only to get away and have time to process everything that just happened. She was being utterly foolish!

"Hermione. You need to get rid of these thoughts of… of romance. We need to focus and come up with a plan to get out of here. We need to try and use the time turner again. No matter the consequences. This situation has gone on for long enough." He strode past her into the bedroom. Hermione followed at his heels.

"Lucius, what if something terrible happens? What if we get sent back even further? This isn't smart." He spun the dial on the safe and opened it and pulled out the silver time-turner. He turned to her and held both chains in his hand.

"We will never know unless we try." Hermione shook her head.

"Lucius, you're angry about what happened and you haven't thought this through. There are so many things that could go wrong. You said yourself that this is a very rare magical artifact! We shouldn't mess with it!"

"Hermione, how else do you propose we get out of this mess if we don't use it? What other choice do we have?" He demanded angrily.

"Look, we just need to stop and think. We need to plan this out step by step. First we need to blend in as best we can. In four days we will be prepared for when the ship is going to sink and we will make sure to get on a lifeboat and get to New York safely. We have a house there and we could contact the Magical Congress of America. I'm sure that incidents such as this have happened before. They could help us. Please, just don't use the time-turner." Lucius stared at her sternly, considering her words.

"Hermione, reading about a tragic event and experiencing it are two entirely different things. There's no guarantee we would even survive the ship sinking. Not to mention the Magical Congress of America is ridiculous! There is a reason our Minister only meets with the President of the Magical Congress once every five years. It's just too risky to stay here. We need to try and leave and the time-turner is our only option."

"No it is not our only option and it's just too risky to try and leave!" She argued earnestly.

Lucius ground his teeth in frustration and tossed the time-turner angrily on the bed. "Why do you have to be so bloody difficult?! We need to get out of here Hermione! Don't you get that?"

"Yes, Lucius, I do, but you do not need to start yelling at me again!" She said angrily. "We can't just jump into this. We have to consider everything that could go wrong. Please. Just, help me try and get through this."

"And how do you bloody suppose we do that when you keep mouthing off to passengers all the damn time! You said yourself that you know nothing of this era! So why bother staying?!"

"Because we might be able to learn something to help us! The Magical Congress is going to be our best bet right now. And if we could actually work together and maybe start acting like a couple should, I wouldn't be pissing people off all the time!"

"Oh, now you're putting the blame on me for your immaturity?! You are nothing but an impertinent child and you know nothing about how to get us out of this situation!"

"I know just as much as you do about how the hell we can get out of this situation Lucius Malfoy! And maybe if you would act like a proper husband and help me keep in line I wouldn't be putting the blame on you!"

"I would act like a proper husband to you if I even knew how to bloody do that to begin with Narcissa!" Hermione was stunned to silence. A vein in Lucius's neck pulsed and he immediately went pale. He left the bedroom and the last Hermione heard the door to the suit open and shut with a quiet click.