Not All that Glitters is Gold

A/N: This is really not my favorite chapter...at all. It seems really rushed for some reason but it helps move the story along. So, please be gentle!

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Hermione woke alone the next day. Her back ached by the way she slept but she noticed that she had been covered with a bed spread. Still clad in Lucius' dress shirt, Hermione sat up and yawned. She felt, oddly enough, refreshed. Stretching every limb of her body, Hermione pulled her hair over her shoulder and blinked. Her eyes scanned the empty room and it looked cheerful.

The curtains were drawn up and the sun shone inside the room, lighting it up. It no longer looked gawdy or overly decorated. The colors even looked more subtle. It was eerie in a way. She turned when she heard the door open and pulled the bed spread over herself. Lucius pushed the door open with his back and swung around, holding onto a tray of food.

He wore his hair tied back, was cloakless and clad in a pitch black button up business shirt. It formed against his body perfectly, emphasizing his broad shoulders. His sleeves were rolled up to his elbow, showing off his muscled forearms. He brought the tray to his desk and set it down. Leaning against the desk, Hermione noticed how he seemed to appear a tad younger, when his hair wasn't falling in front of his face.

"Good morning," he said calmly, holding a hand out for Hermione.

She moved from the bed and walked cautiously to him, her hand resting lightly on his. It only took a second before her attention was on the tray, filled with fruits and different kinds of bread. Lucius brushed her hair from her neck and placed a small kiss at the base of her neck, snaking his arms around her waist.

What was he up to? Hermione was not a stupid girl. She knew something was up. He had never been this affectionate. Let alone made himself appear in such a manner. Then again, she hadn't noticed little things like that. It was as if Lucius had opened up a new page in his life and was seriously considering using her for something more than just a slave.

He said she was nothing to him but with all of this, she knew he was lying. He knew she was playing the game as well, but she had more tricks up her sleeves than she was willing to let on. She wasn't good friends with Fred and George for nothing. They were prankster gods and had shown her ways around difficult situations.

She purposely leaned against him, inhaling the sweet smell of his cologne. Draco never wore any but he had a naturally good smelling scent to him - as much as she'd hate to admit. Lucius smelled...well...really really good. His hands traced up her hips, moving to unbutton and rebutton the shirt she was wearing. She hadn't noticed that she missed several buttons, revealing her small navel.

"Why are you being so...so..." Hermione breathed, frowning slightly when his hands stopped.

"Nice?" Lucius replied, running his hands to her shoulders as he spun her around.

His icy blue eyes looked down into her warm brown doe eyes. He leaned down and brushed his lips against hers, a tender small show of affection. Hermione cocked a mental eyebrow but melted into the kiss none the less. He was searching for some sign of affection, but was also on his guard. They left small pecks between them, nothing overly passionate - not like her kisses with Draco.

"Yes." She said after breaking the kiss, "I have no authority...no reason for you to be so nice to me. I'm nothing..."

She hated saying that but she knew, some how, that he wanted to hear that. He wanted the opportunity to teach her, show her that she was wrong. He seemed to enjoy that kind of relationship. He seemed to be very in control of himself, his life, and everything he owned. It must've been hard for him not to be in control when it came to her. She could only smirk mentally.

She was right. Lucius lifted her chin to him and stared into her eyes. "You're everything." He seemed to catch what she was trying to do and laughed, "I'm not Draco, Ms. Granger. Your poor attempts at trying to get me to admit my love for you is not going to happen."

"But, you already did." Hermione noted, grinning at him. Lucius' eyes widened and he stepped back. She had caught him off guard and he wasn't sure what had happened.

He laughed at that moment and shook his head, small strands of hair coming to fall like a beautiful frame around his face. He was suddenly quiet and held a cold firm face. Hermione tested him, once more. Her hands ran up his chest, feeling him become frigid.

"There isn't anything wrong with that," she attempted to plead to him, using her most innocent voice. "Nice...is good."

Lucius raised an eyebrow and brought his hands to hers, holding them still against his chest. "Hm. So, it is." He moved his hand from hers and tucked her hair behind her ear. "What would you say if...I took you somewhere...only us?"

Hermione looked down at that moment. He was ruining her plans! She tried to think quickly. Think Hermione! THINK! Her silence seemed to get under Lucius' skin, causing him to retract his offer by releasing her hands and stuffing them into his pocket.

She looked up at him and smiled, forcing a very small polite smile for him. "What...what about Draco? He said..."

"Draco can do without you for a little while." Lucius' confidence was restored at that moment and Hermione could feel his ego inflating like a balloon.

Hermione brought her hands to the nape of his neck and stood on her toes. Lucius leaned down only slightly, making her make her move. She pressed her lips against his, parted slightly. Lucius inhaled and pulled her to him, capturing her mouth.

"Ahem."

Lucius and Hermione broke from one another as Draco strolled into the room, carrying what looked like a bag with him. He raised his eyebrow and watched Hermione's eyes dart straight to the ground. She could feel the tension in the room as Draco stared his father down.

"What is it, Draco?" Lucius asked, running his hand along Hermione's side. She knew he was doing it purposely and Draco was fuming.

"Granger. Here. Now." Draco ordered, watching Hermione hesitate.

She did it on purpose and was mentally smirking. Lucius' fingers clung onto part of the shirt she was wearing but he let go when she took a few steps to Draco. Draco moved quickly and grabbed her by her arm, pulling her hashly to him.

"You and I need to have a chat. Tell the girl to go to your room." Lucius said with a serious voice. Hermione felt his eyes bore into her back but she didn't move until Draco gave her a little push out of the room.

"Wait outside and don't think about moving," he told her before he kicked the door shut.

She heard arguing and what sounded like something crash against the floor. She tried to over hear what was going on but it came to her that one of them must have put a silencing charm on the door. As she brought her hand to the mahogany door, it opened suddenly.

Draco stood over her with dark eyes. He grasped onto her arm and pulled her away. Lucius walked to the door, staring at her. Hermione glanced innocently at him, watching as he gripped onto the door knob and slammed the door shut. Draco pushed her into his room and closed the door.

"Do you enjoy it, Granger?" He suddenly burst out with an angry tirade, marching up to Hermione. "Do you enjoy what he does to you? How he fucks you?"

"Draco...what?" Hermione whispered quietly, staring up at him with wide eyes.

His hands gripped onto her throat, but not tight enough to hurt. In one fail swoop, he ripped her father's shirt from her and tossed it to the ground. "He told me everything. You're trying to play me against him. As if I would feel ANYTHING for you."

Hermione covered herself but her actions only seemed to cause Draco to scoff loudly. "I've already seen everything, no need to be shy. Unless you're ashamed you bloody slag."

"You've forgotten that a slag is what she is because she wishes to be. I have no desire what so ever to be in this position. Do you think I enjoy my life?" Hermione snapped back at him, lowering her arms. She poked Draco in the chest.

"Do you know what it feels like to be man handled every day for the past two months?" She lowered her voice at her next words, "How it..feels to have to force a smile just to keep..."

Line. Hook. Sinker. Draco moved to her and brought his hands to her shoulder, "What? What are you talking about?"

"He...he told me..." She forced a fake sob and leaned into Draco, "I can't do this anymore. I can't be this person!"

Draco ran his hand through her hair, his eyes darting around the room. "What did my father tell you?"

"He wants to take me away..." Hermione began to draw tears into her story, sobbing into his chest, "Away from you."

"H-Hermione." Draco pulled Hermione from him and looked into her tearful eyes, "Do...do you want me over him? Even after I..."

She nodded and pulled him to her by his robes. Her lips searched for his and he eagerly accepted. Draco wrapped his arms around her and lifted her up to meet the kiss. His hands were everywhere. In her hair, on her skin, touching her with feather light touches.

He pulled away from her and moved around his room, pulling out a large trunk. Things began to fly from around his room, folding neatly into his trunk. Hermione ducked just as a pair of shiny black shoes lifted off from te ground.

"Draco, what are you doing?" She asked, watching as Draco pulled out a spare cloak and robes, handing it to her.

"We're leaving." He said quickly, groaning as she stood there with his robes. He quickly pulled them on her and flattened her hair, holding onto her face. "I'm taking you away from him. From all of this."

"W-why?" She asked, seriously interested in his reasoning. She half hoped he would take his father's advice, as it was true. She also knew Draco's need, his want to separate himself from his father's name.

He said nothing as he finished packing his trunk. Draco turned to Hermione and held his hand out. She didn't know what she was doing at this point, but she moved to him. Draco was close to disappearing when the door was thrown open and a voice shouted, "CRUCIO!" Hermione closed her eyes as she felt Draco's body writhe and fall to the ground.

Her eyes widened and she dropped to the knees, resting her hands on Draco's chest. She felt some one's hands reach out for her and grab her, pulling her away from him. A warm minty breath blushed over her. Lucius.

"He could never handle the Cruciatis curse." Lucius growled, pointing his wand at Draco, about to mutter another curse.

Draco's eyes snapped open and he pulled his wand out, firing a counter curse at him. Lucius was blown backward, hitting the hallway wall. Hermione felt his body rip away from her and watched shocked as Draco rose from the ground. He spat and licked his lips, pointing his wand at Lucius.

"I'm tired of this, father!" He shouted, grabbing Hermione and throwing her behind him. "I'm tired of you taking EVERYTHING from me. The one thing I want, more than anything and you just have to take it."

"Stop being a child, Draco." Lucius said, rising from the ground with his own wand in his hand. "Don't you see what she's doing to you? To us? She's putting you against me."

"No. She loves me!" Lucius growled and shot another spell at Draco, who blocked it effortlessly.

"You fool!" He lunged and Draco attacked as well. Father and son hit each other with a thundering sound, firing spells at one another. "You think she would care for you after you force yourself onto her? Treat her like an animal!"

"Like she would choose and old man like you! I bet you have to take potions to get it up!" Draco shouted back, motioning for Hermione to move to him.

She was rooted in her spot, her eyes wide. What was happening? She didn't expect this...not at all.