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Hermione and Lucius entered the parlor where Harry was waiting holding hands and smiling. Lucius walked her a little in front of him as he said, "Here she is, Potter, all in one piece and looking as beautiful as ever. Is that not so, my darling?"
"Yes, Harry," she said with a little blush. "I am quite well, as you can see."
"Hermione!" said Harry, surging up from his seat on the sofa to hug her to him. Lucius's grip on her hand tightened possessively, and she gave his hand a little squeeze in return. "Why didn't you tell me you were leaving? You had me worried sick! We looked everywhere we could think of for you. We even went to see if you'd gone back to the Weasleys house."
"I'm sorry, Harry, but I didn't know I'd be gone so long when I left, and you and Ginny seemed to be busy, so--well, I didn't," Hermione explained. "I could not possibly have known what Lucius wanted to discuss at the time. He took me quite by surprise."
"How the heck did you wind up here, Hermione? How could you ever have accepted any sort of proposal from Lucius when everyone knows you two are total enemies?" he wanted to know. "This is the last place I would look for you."
"Well, from now on it will be the first, since I shall soon be Hermione Malfoy. I for one am willing to forget our prior relationship and move on to a better one," she said with an ironic chuckle.
Lucius was standing right behind her now, leaning slightly against her back. It was a most distracting sensation, even more so because she wanted to lean back into him as well. She couldn't stand the fact he had that effect on her now that she knew his kisses tasted so nice, and she couldn't stand the fact she'd even had that thought just now either.
"Mr. Malfoy, would it be all right if I spoke with Hermione alone?" Harry asked after a moment of uncomfortable silence.
"Certainly, Harry. I'm sure I can trust you to treat my fiancée nicely, and not try to badger her into changing her mind," said Lucius, his face a study in feigned compliance. "I'll be waiting for you, my darling. Don't take too long, our dinner should be along shortly."
"I won't be long," said Hermione with a smile meant to appear as though she couldn't wait to see him again. Lucius smiled back at her in the same manner, then turned and left the room. Of course, Hermione was certain that he would not go far, not that she was concerned. She would say the same thing to her friend whether he could hear her or not.
When Harry was convinced that Lucius was gone, he rounded on Hermione in full force. "Have you completely taken leave of your senses, Hermione? You can't be seriously considering marriage to a Muggle-hating Death Eater who has only ever been cruel to you, and who has even attempted to kill you on more than one occasion."
"The war is over now, Harry," she said. "Things change, you know."
"But why, Hermione?" he insisted as he grabbed both her hands in his and gave her a little shake.
"I--I--He needs me, Harry," she said helplessly as she looked into his eyes. She dropped her eyes to her feet when she added, "Almost as much as I'm beginning to think I need him."
Harry could do nothing but stare at his friend. Though he never would have believed she wanted to marry Lucius Malfoy in a million years, he could tell that she was being completely honest now. He nodded his head, and grasped her shoulder. "Then, I suppose I wish you happy," he said.
"Thank you, Harry," said Hermione. "I guess I should head in for dinner. Thank you for coming."
Hermione left Harry standing in the middle of the parlor and headed out into the hall. Lucius was standing just outside the door, and he reclaimed her hand as she stepped out.
"An excellent performance, Hermione," he commented as he drew her into his arms. "If I didn't know better, even I would have believed you."
"Interesting choice of reading material you gave me today," she mentioned sweetly as she smiled up at him.
Lucius chuckled, and his lips came down to graze hers. He had meant only to give her a playful peck, but as soon as he tasted her, he knew he could not stop at that. His tongue claimed her mouth as its own, and Hermione melted right into him, lost in his arms.
Harry stepped out of the parlor to the sight of the pair locked in their passionate embrace. His first reaction was complete disgust, but the next was a sense of wonder. He had never seen such a look of raw emotion on Hermione's face before. He didn't know if the two had been intimate yet, but he was completely certain that they would be soon--if not within the next ten minutes, by the look of them.
He crept past them and headed for the front door, not certain if he should feel happy for Hermione, or if he should pity her. After all, the man was still Lucius Malfoy, that would never change no matter what else did. A more moody, opinionated man had never been born, and with her fiery temper and independent nature, the two would most certainly have ups and downs.
When Lucius finally let Hermione go and led her to the dining room, Corgan was already putting food onto their plates. "Ah, sir, I'm glad to see you. I was not certain in which chair you wanted your lady to be seated?"
"Beside me, Corgan," he said as he set Hermione into the chair in question. "When it is just us, she will always be by my side--where she
belongs."
Hermione blushed at this pronouncement, and she wondered if he had guessed at the fact that when she told Harry she needed him, she hadn't been pretending at all. It was crazy, and unexpected, and certainly ill-advised, but the fact remained.
As they ate their meal, she felt Lucius's foot seek out hers beneath the table, and the simple touch made her blush. She couldn't look him in the eyes, and heat
swelled within her womanhood. Their food was forgotten when Lucius turned her face up so she had to look at him again, and his mouth came down on hers.
"Little witch," he growled against her lips. "How do you always know just what words will affect me the most?"
"What do you mean?" she breathed, pulling back so she could see his face.
"It's been a long time since anyone has needed me," he said. "My marriage was arranged, you know. Narcissa and I tolerated each other, and did out duty in making Draco, but once he was born she had no more need for me whatsoever. You see, there was someone else she loved, someone she would never have been allowed to be with. No matter what I would have done, I could never have replaced another woman in her heart."
"Oh, my," Hermione gasped, taking in that piece of information with widened eyes.
"Yes," he said. "Can you imagine what it's been like around here for me? I have so longed for a more natural relationship, my dear. I hope that you and I will be able to have one, Hermione. I know that in the past we had our differences, but I find myself looking forward to the life we will forge together with some degree of excitement. Can you at least admit to me that you, too, hope for this?"
Blushing deeply, Hermione laid her cheek against his chest, and she could hear the rapid beating of his heart. His arms wrapped around her and held her there, and Hermione realized in that moment that she'd never been so excited in all her life.
"I feel it too, Lucius," she admitted softly. "I may not be pleased that you had to kidnap me to get me here, but I think--I think I am looking forward to it, too."
Lucius kissed the top of her head in reply.
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