I would highly recommend listening to Lana Del Rey's 'Noir' whilst reading the second section of this - especially since that was what I was listening to on repeat when I wrote it!

Enjoy.

Hermione rationalised with herself, there were many completely plausible and possible ways that someone could have broken into the Auror Department and stolen the polyjuice, the only way wasn't with that invisibility cloak.

Then why wouldn't the idea leave her head? Every line of thought seemed to pull her back to it and she couldn't stand it.

She tried to distract herself for hours, time ticking away, until she realised that all the lights were out in the Ministry, most likely she was one of the last left, deciding in defeat that she should probably go home.

Well, back to Malfoy Manor that is.

It was almost completely dark by the time she apparated into her room, the only light coming from the fireplace fiercely burning away. It seemed wrong and yet right, the flames reflecting her own current feelings.

Ferocious. Unpredictable. Uncontainable.

She needed something to channel her energy into, anything but the thoughts flying through her head, the ones she so desperately wanted to escape, the ones she didn't want to be true.

Hermione froze.

A shadow moved out of the corner of her eye.

She was not alone. An instant and regrettably familiar fear running through her veins.

A voice spoke out through the silence sending shivers up her spine.

"I've been waiting for you, Hermione."

Her eyes closed slowly, revelling at how perfect Lucius' timing was, how he could terrify her even though she knew he would not hurt her, right now she wasn't even sure if she would care if he did.

"Come here."

It was an order, she knew it was, and she didn't care, she was sure she would do anything he asked of her.

It was in that moment that Hermione had the most serene revelation.

She loved this man, she knew that already, but this was beyond love, it was indescribable, it was the realisation that were she to lose him, her life would never be the same, it would be empty.

Dropping everything she was holding without a second thought she made her way towards his voice, kicking off her shoes as she went.

She rounded the large chair that stood in front of the blazing fire, Lucius slowly coming into view.

The flames danced across his body, his platinum hair glowing, his grey eyes like molten silver. He was spread out, fire whiskey in hand, Hermione sure she had never seen someone who looked so relaxed yet in control.

The Malfoy patriarch let his eyes roam over her, taking his time, the corner of his lips lifting up into the smallest smile. Hermione didn't feel embarrassed or shy, she loved every second of it, basking in the knowledge that he wanted her.

Lucius blinked slowly, his face shifting into the business man and aristocrat that most people who saw him only ever would.

"Miss Granger, you can imagine my disappointment when I woke this morning, free from my drug induced haze, to find that you were gone." He paused, taking a long sip of his whiskey. "And I have been waiting, for what has felt as long as those five years I was trapped in here, for you to return."

Hermione swallowed, but not out of fear, her body was on fire and it had nothing to do with the one burning behind her.

It was dark but she could see it. His knuckles slightly white from restraint, his robes strained below his waist, the animalistic look in his eyes.

Hermione took a single purposeful step towards him, now mere inches from his fingers.

She took the glass of firewhiskey gently from his hands, placing it on the side table next to where he sat. "I'm sorry to have disappointed you Lucius." She paused, locking her eyes with his. "I shall have to make it up to you."

She climbed slowly onto his lap, the excitement and anticipation building in her as she heard his grip tighten on the arms of the chair, trying to contain a gasp as she brushed against his manhood, revelling in the hiss that came from him. It was not just anyone who could make Lucius Malfoy lose control after all.

Her lips lingered over his, her heart beating so fast she was sure he could hear it.

"Lucius." She whispered, the word ghosting over his lips.

His restraint seemed to crack and suddenly his hands were on her, his grip bruising but she didn't care, she loved it, this time unable to contain a moan as he ground up into her core.

Hermione's hands came up to hold Lucius' face, his eyes closing in bliss. She used to hate this man, as he no doubt hated her, and yet now he was everything to her, someone she surely could never be without.

"Lucius." She said so quietly she wasn't sure she had, her only confirmation the grey eyes that opened and looked into her own, filled with lust and power, the longing of a desperate man.

"I love you."

Hermione awoke, unsurprisingly, in Lucius' bed. She let out a small yawn as she stretched, the most delightful ache from her night with the god like man sleeping next to her spreading over her body.

She lay back down with a light thud, smiling to herself.

Sex with Lucius was beyond words, it made her feel alive, his body moving perfectly within her own something she wished she could feel always. It was dangerous, and rough, but so full of love it made her feel as though her chest might explode.

His eyes slowly opened as Hermione reached out and lightly brushed a lock of his hair behind his ear, glowing in the morning sun. Lucius looked so at peace Hermione daren't move in case she broke this serene moment, sure she had never seen him look so calm.

Lucius' wrapped his own hand around Hermione's which was still lingering ever so lightly against his cheek, bringing it to his lips and kissing it softly, his silver eyes shifting from calm to lust in an instant.

It seemed her lover was rather insatiable.

"Uh Uh." She said mischievously, slipping her hand gently from his and climbing from the bed, the cool air hitting her skin. "You know I have important plans for today."

Lucius' expression turned darker and it sent shivers of excitement through Hermione. She loved when he looked like that, some twisted part of her enjoying how dangerous he could be.

"And you know you can't stop me from coming with you." He said matter of factly, shooting her a look that told her he was not to be argued with, not that she wanted to all that much anyway.

"I wouldn't dream of it Mister Malfoy." She said with a false coyness, unable to stop a small smirk from coming to her face.

Lucius made his way towards the bathroom looking satisfied, Hermione unable to take her eyes off his naked body, the muscles moving beneath his skin as he walked. "Good. When do we leave?"

"You have one hour."

Hermione had decided that she needed to put her mind to rest, she would be able to focus on nothing else in her investigation until she could rule out that Harry's invisibility cloak had been used to steal the polyjuice.

The only way she could think of doing so at the present time was to go and talk to Astrid Tarth herself and find out if she had come into contact with anyone who may have had access to the cloak and who may also have taken something from her to use in the polyjuice.

In theory Hermione was sure she could narrow down her questioning to a specific time which should increase the likelihood of Astrid recalling anyone suspicious or specific. If Lucius' assailants motives were what Hermione suspected them to be, it was very likely that what had triggered the attack was Lucius' first appearance back out in public after his house arrest, so Saturday. Late on Saturday afternoon was when the Department of Records was breeched by the suspected impersonator of Astrid, again backing up Hermione's idea that the sighting of Lucius was the start point. The incident itself had happened on Sunday, which would suggest that if her hunch was correct, the planning and execution of it was rushed, as was indicated to an extent by the failed attempt and the perpetrators apparent lack of understanding of the curse they had used.

It was a long shot, she knew it was, the person most likely hadn't spoken to Astrid at all, it was easy enough to get a hair if you needed one after all. Hermione had to have hope though, after all Astrid was on holiday, currently in Tuscany if her secretary was correct, so someone she'd have recognised would most likely have caught her attention.

Of course Hermione was worried about Lucius leaving the mansion, how couldn't she be? But she tried to put her mind at ease. At this point, although she didn't have any hard evidence, only conjecture, she was fairly convinced that the target was Ezra and not Lucius, meaning that as long as he stayed as himself whilst they were investigating they hopefully wouldn't have a problem.

Hermione was surprised she hadn't caught onto it sooner, but this would be the first time that Lucius and she would be out in public together as each other. Perhaps she should be cautious, in theory word could get back to England about it, but she found herself excited instead. She would be proud to be seen with Lucius, the magnificent and magnanimous man that he was to her, and if gossip were to spread she supposed she wouldn't care, it didn't matter to her what others thought.

That said, she did worry about Draco, and Harry too. Harry would most likely be shocked, maybe angry even, but she knew in the end that their friendship was the most important thing to both of them and that they would find a way to work around it, she was sure of it.

Draco on the other hand might be trickier. It was possible he already had an inkling of what was going on between her and his father, but even if he did, that didn't mean he was going to be happy about it.

He could see it perhaps as an attempt by his father to regain some of his standing in society, to prove what a changed man he was, that he was using Hermione. She shook her head at the thought, Draco had grown up a lot since the end of the war in many ways and she doubted he would think that way at all these days. He may resent her perhaps though anyway, taking the place his mother once had, for falling for his father when their own friendship was so strong, for spending more time with Lucius than he had in the last five years…

It troubled her, and she chastised herself for not thinking of him and his feelings sooner. She thought perhaps she would tell him about it, after consulting with Lucius first, he deserved probably a bigger say in this than her anyway, and decided that they must do it before they left for Tuscany, her friends feelings taking priority over her investigation.

After dressing and packing a small bag for their trip Hermione made her way to Lucius' room, knocking on the door which opened smoothly after the second rap on the hard wood.

"Ah, Hermione." Lucius practically purred, a deliciously salacious look in his eyes. "Couldn't stay away from me?" He joked with a cocked eyebrow and a mischievous smile.

She made her way over to one of the large black chairs near the window opposite where Lucius sat reading the paper and slumped into it ungracefully, inciting a light chuckle from the Malfoy patriarch who watched her with amusement.

"Something on your mind?"

She knew this might be an uncomfortable and potentially awkward conversation so she was reluctant to have it, but with a sigh she pressed forwards, looking out into the beautiful ground of the Manor as she did.

"Well, before we go, and word potentially gets out about the two of us seen together, I was thinking that maybe we should tell Draco about us…"

Lucius was silent, and it unnerved Hermione somewhat. Suddenly she doubted what they had between each other, worried that he wanted to hide their relationship from his son, despising herself for her insecurity but feeling it none the less.

He almost instantaneously caught onto the shift in her emotions, no doubt could see the nervousness and pain building in her eyes, quickly leaning forward and taking her hands in his own.

"Don't worry." He smiled softly, his thumbs rubbing slow soothing circles on her hands. "I was just thinking of the best way to do it, to tell him how much I love you."

Hermione couldn't help but break into a wide smile, feeling foolish for ever having doubted him, even if only for a moment.

"Then it's decided." She beamed, not registering the slight creak of the floorboards coming from the corridor. "We're going to tell Draco."

"Tell me what?" Asked the tall, platinum haired man standing in the doorway.

Sorry for the evil cliffhanger! And for what I think is a slightly disjointed chapter.