Thank you to the readers who have stuck with UA so far. I want to apologize, I've been inactive for a little over a month due to a move. Now that I'm settled I'm ready to finish UA. Again, thank you a million times to the readers who have stuck with UA for this long. I hope you enjoy the rest of Lucius and Hermione's story!

Chapter 19: PORTUS!

The heat that radiated through Hermione's veins from their kiss slowly became cold as she bore witness to the terror in Lucius' eyes.

"I don't understand. Why can't I stay here? What about Maggie?" But Lucius didn't seem to hear her as he stood by a window and peeked between the blinds. She approached the window beside him until he put his arm against her chest, stopping her from getting any closer. After his eyes ran up and down the street, he grabbed Hermione's hand and led her to the blue armchairs near the front desk.

As they sat beside each other, panic surged through her and her eyes reflected wild thoughts. All the details from the night were morphing into a confusing, impossible puzzle. Lucius rubbed the bridge of his nose between his fingers and sighed, and the room around them began to feel smaller and smaller until the air in her chest felt like it could crush her.

"Lucius?" Hermione spoke gently. "What's going on?"

He ignored her. His grey eyes seemed cold and calculated as he leaned forward in his chair. "What were you doing out there tonight? And why are you wearing that?" He pointed to her cloak.

Suddenly, she felt embarrassed and underdressed in front of him. "Last night, I saw something outside the shop from my window."

"What did you see?"

"Same thing we saw tonight, a Death Eater." Chills ran up her spine as the words spilled from her lips. "Who was that? Why are they here?"

Lucius stood abruptly from the chair. "There's a lot to explain and very little time. You can't stay here."

Hermione wasn't going to take any more of this confusing mess. She stood up, broadened her shoulders, and looked up into Lucius' gorgeous grey eyes, focusing on anything but their captivating gaze.

"Lucius, I'm not going anywhere until you explain to me what's going on. And if I can't stay here, Maggie can't stay here either."

"Hermione, it's complicated. And it's growing more and more dangerous the longer you stay here. I promise, your boss will be fine." He inched closer to her and took her hands into his.

"How do you know? And what will I tell Maggie this time? She needs me here at the shop."

He gripped her hands tighter and brought them to his chest. "Hermione, you can still be here for work during the day, you just can't be here at night. We have to go now, I promise you'll be here tomorrow morning before she even knows you're gone."

She looked around the shop, the rows of blazers and pants suddenly appeared unfamiliar to her as the world around her felt like it was crumbling beneath her feet. She turned back to Lucius and searched his face, for something, anything that could help this night make more sense. Her entire life was slowly growing more and more unrecognizable, and for a moment, she wondered if she should have just boarded the train home.

What would happen to Maggie if she left? How did Lucius know Maggie would still be safe? She had so many questions, and Lucius had not answered a single one. Her gaze fell on Lucius' stunning eyes and like always her world seemed to freeze. The way his stare pierced deep down into her soul made her knees wobble, and suddenly everything that terrified her seemed small.

His gaze shifted down to her hands in his. "Hermione, I know this seems insane but I need you to trust me. I promise I'll explain everything."

"But, Maggie—

"Maggie will be safe, you have my word."

Hermione had no other choice. She had to trust Lucius. She nodded and Lucius pulled her to him and kissed her forehead.

"Now, do you have anything random? Something you and Maggie never touch or interact with?"

" Uh," Hermione narrowed her eyes and raised a single eyebrow. "Let me think." She looked around the shop but nothing came to mind. "Wait here." She said as she tiptoed up the stairs and into her bedroom. She frantically scanned her room for anything she hardly used or touched, but still returned empty-handed as she met Lucius back down in the shop.

"What about that clock?" Lucius pointed.

Hermione followed his finger to the clock that sat between two of the shop windows. "What about it?" She asked.

"Does anyone ever touch it?"

She stared at the clock and tried to remember a time when she or Maggie gave the clock more than a glance for the time. She shook her head no and Lucius pulled out his wand.

"What are you doing?" She asked.

He waved his wand and flicked the tip towards the clock. "Portus!" His tone was firm but hushed as the clock began to vibrate vigorously, emanating a captivating radiance of a sapphire blue bathed in soft luminescence that mimicked moonlight. And just as soon as the incantation had started, it was over, and once again the clock appeared plain and ordinary.

"Portus? You mean the portkey spell?" She looked between Lucius and the clock.

"Yes, now whenever you touch that clock, it will take you to my home. Once we're there I'll create one that will bring you back here in the mornings."

"What will I tell Maggie? What if she accidentally touches it?"

"You can tell her the truth."

Hermione shook her head. "But I don't even know what the truth is."

"You will." He took her hand and the two of them stood beneath the clock. "Can you reach it?"

"Yes, I know I can at least touch the rim."

"Then let's go." He reached for the clock but Hermione grabbed onto his sleeve.

"Wait! What about clothes? How long will this take?" She asked him. Everything felt like it was moving incredibly fast. While her mind reeled with questions and possibilities, she knew two things for certain: She was in danger somehow and would be spending her nights with Lucius until it was safe to return to the shop. Then suddenly it dawned on her.

'I'll be staying with Lucius.' She thought to herself. She pinched her lips together and forced the mushy thoughts to the back of her mind. This had nothing to do with getting closer to Lucius. For reasons she didn't yet understand, her life was in danger as long as she stayed here.

"There's no time. I have robes for you. Tomorrow, you can come back, explain things, to Maggie, and pack a few sets of clothes. I'm sorry, but for now, it has to wait." He held out his hand. "Are you ready?"

She put her hand in his and nodded. As they stood beneath the clock, they reached for the edge of the clock. The world around them became washed out in greys and blues as they swirled and mixed around them like clouds in a tornado. Hermione's chest became heavy as the breath was sucked from her lungs. She felt her legs flail beneath her as Lucius held on tighter to her hand. Suddenly, they landed in front of Lucius' black marble fireplace. The sudden impact caused her to stumble into Lucius, whose arms caught her at a fascinating speed.

"I'm sorry," She said as he steadied her back onto her feet, her cheeks flushing red as she sheepishly tucked a stray hair behind her ear. "I don't think I'll ever get used to that feeling."

"You will over the next couple of days." He pulled off his gloves and pulled his cloak over his head.

Hermione could hardly avert her eyes as her cheeks became hot. He wore a tailored white button-down shirt that perfectly carved out the frame of his arms and a sleek black paisley vest added a devilish charm and a matching black tie gave him a look of sophisticated elegance. He threw the cloak aside onto the velvet lavender armchair.

"You think this could go on for days?" She asked him.

He slicked his hair back with his hand. "Days, weeks, however long it takes until it's safe."

She folded her arms across her chest, watching as he held his hand out in front of the fireplace until tiny sparks snapped and popped until there was a glorious flame.

"Please, sit?" He asked as he motioned to the long lavender couch across from the fireplace. "Did you want to change out of that cloak?"

She looked down suddenly remembering she was still wearing the hideous unflattering heavy wool cloak. She pulled her arms out of the sleeves and pulled the cloak over her head, revealing her blue jeans and the black and white striped shirt she had worn while out shopping. It was hard to believe that a few hours prior her life mimicked the life of an average 22-year-old girl, shopping and enjoying her Sunday off.

She laid her cloak across the matching lavender armchair and sat next to Lucius. "We're here now," she told him. "I need you to tell me what's going on."

Lucius rested his chin on his hands and stared silently into the flames that crackled and danced in the fireplace. Hermione's skin charged with anticipation, growing more agitated with every passing second that Lucius let fill with silence.

She turned her body to face him. "Does this have anything to do with Narcissa asking you for money?"

His eyes grew wide as they shot to Hermione. She folded her hands on her lap and twiddled her thumbs, her palms suddenly feeling sweaty.

"How do you know about that?" He lifted his head from his hands. His serious tone sent shivers down her back as if she were a child who'd been caught eavesdropping.

"Maggie and I delivered services to a woman yesterday—

"Who?"

Hermione shook her head. "Does that matter?"

"Hermione, you don't understand."

Suddenly, her blood began to bubble and boil. "Then help me understand, Lucius!" She stood up from the couch. "All your answers have been vague and confusing. You keep telling me I don't understand or that it's complicated, but I'm not a child!"

Lucius watched as Hermione crossed her arms over her chest. He didn't attempt to interject as she spoke. What she said was her truth. He understood why she would feel so scared and confused and how those feelings could slowly turn into anger and frustration. She didn't deserve that.

As Hermione began to calm her nerves, she returned Lucius' gaze, and the two of them stared into each other eyes until, slowly, she returned to her spot next to him on the couch.

"I'm sorry." She said without breaking their eye contact.

"No." Lucius shook his head. "I'm sorry."

His apology could be seen in the reflection of his eyes. The way they bore into hers made her feel…sad. She was hurting for him. His circumstances seemed to stack to tower-high lengths—never finding peace.

"Lucius, please tell me."

As he let out a long sigh, his shoulders fell, but the blue veins in his arms continued to bulge and contrast against his pale skin.

"I will tell you the truth, but please promise me something." But Hermione only nodded, worried any further dialogue would cause Lucius to fall off course. His knuckles cracked as he stretched out and clenched his fists. "Promise me you won't leave once I tell you. I don't care what happens between you and me, but I wouldn't be able to live with myself if anything ever happened to you."

Hermione didn't need to think any more about it. "I promise."

Lucius closed his eyes as his head hung between his shoulders. "Three days ago, yes, Narcissa came to me."

As his words seemed to trail off, Hermione's gut wrenched at the thought of Lucius seeing Narcissa. The way his head suddenly fell between his shoulders made her legs weak as the images of Narcissa sitting in her spot tainted her mind. This feeling was bizarre. Was this what jealousy felt like?

She tried to push aside the repugnant feelings of jealousy as she waited for Lucius to continue.

"And yes, she did come to me for money."

Hermione watched as Lucius' countenance grew increasingly serious as his gaze remained fixed on the swaying and flickering flames in the fireplace.

"After refusing her, I received word she's made contact with the Death Eaters, for no other reason than to maintain her former luxury, or to watch my demise." His eyes slowly found Hermione's. "And now my past has put you in danger." He hid his face in the palms of his hands as Hermione's skin grew cold.