The Beauty Found Within the Beast

Of course, the characters are NOT mine. JKR claims them. I make no money form this, but I soo love tyo play with them!

Special thanks to all my reviewers. You guys are all great! I hope this next chapter will please you!

*** I wanted to take a moment to offer up a prayer for the people that are affected by Hurricane Katrina. My God protect and bless them in the hard days that follow. May he guide them to safety and watch over them as they find their ways. ***
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Reporting of Traitors

Hermione watched as the owl flew away from the Manor. She did not know who would come, but she knew that soon Lucius would have company besides just herself. Her chest tightened and she had to take a deep breath to chase away the disturbing thought.

In the back of her mind were a million questions. What would their reaction be to finding out who had threatened her life. Would Albus demand she return to the Order and abandon her research? Would Harry and Ron both come when they discovered what had taken place? And the question that troubled her most. How would they react when they discovered her feelings for Lucius?

Thoughts of how they would react troubled her. That morning, she had been so sick to her stomach she had bowed out of breakfast. She didn’t think she could keep it down. She was afraid of what her friends would say. They wouldn’t understand. But she wasn’t going to give Lucius up.

Lucius moved to stand behind her. For a moment, he just stood there before moving to wrap his arms around her. He could sense her dismay.

Hermione leaned back against him, closing her eyes. “I love you, Lucius,” she said softly. She smiled when she felt his arms tighten around her.

“Everything will work itself out, Hermione. I assure you.” His voice was soft and sent a flutter of sensation through her.

Turning, she pulled him closer and kissed him. “I know you are right.” Her eyes held his for a moment before he pulled her closer to deepen the kiss they had just shared.

Her skin tingled beneath his touch. His fingers traced a path from the middle of her back, to her shoulder, then moved to frame her face.

Their kiss turned into a passion that engulfed them both. When they finally broke apart, Lucius took her hand in his and led her back into the bedroom they had shared since the first night their mutual desire had finally been admitted.

Leading her to the bed, he turned and upon releasing her hand, slowly disrobed and sat on the bed before her. Hermione felt a moment of power as she realized Lucius was giving her the upper hand in how far their lovemaking went.

His hands moved slowly over her arms then to the opening of her robe. Gingerly, he opened the material and let it slip from her shoulders to the floor. Hermione moaned when he leaned forward and captured one of her nipples within his mouth. His hands moved to her hips and urged her to move closer, standing between his parted legs.

Her hand reached out and found the tip of his aroused flesh. Stroking it gently, she allowed her head to fall back as his hands urged her closer still. One hand rested against her hip as the other moved to stroke the breast that his tongue worked over.

Hermione wrapped one arm loosely around his neck cradling his head to her breast as her other hand closed around him, stroking him until he too was moaning and urging her closer.

Lying back on the bed, he guided her to above him. Every inch of their bodies touching as she moved to straddle him. The fingers of his hand found and carressed the nub of skin hidden within the folds of her sensitive flesh.

Gasping, she slid herself down onto his engorged heat. He moaned louder as his hands moved to her hips to urge her on. Slowly she moved over him, moaning, and crying out hjis name when he thrust upwards and deeper into her.

“Hermione,” he whispered softly as she began to move in time with him.

“Oh...” she moaned as his pace picked up and she felt herself being carried away by the power of each thrust that passed between them. “Lucius, I...” her voice faded as she began to feel the waves of orgasm building from deep within her.

Reaching out to her, Lucius sat up and gripped Hermione in his arms as he leaned in to kiss her neck. Running his tongue across her sensitive skin, he smiled when she shuddered under his masterful touches.

Together, they rode out the waves of ecstasy until they lay upon the bed, spent and satisfied. Hermione held tightly to Lucius as he used his fingers to comb lovingly through her hair. Both knew that they should prepare for the company that would be arriving shortly. But both were reluctant to interrupt the bond that was quickly forming between them.

Finally, Lucius sighed. “They’ll be here shortly. We should ready ourselves.” He chuckled, in good humor, “not to mention, dress ourselves!”

Hermione smiled and moved to stretch before raising up. “You are right, I know. It just feels so good to lie beside you.”

Lucius sat up and reached out, taking her chin in his grasp to face him. “You will lie beside me every night from now on.” His voice betrayed the emotion he felt. “I’ll have it no other way!”

Hermione nodded. It was what she wanted too. If it had not have been, she would have been angered by his matter of fact attitude. Instead, she found herself relieved by his desire to keep her beside him. Leaning close to him, she placed a gentle kiss on his lips. “I suppose we should get ready.”

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Harry and Ron both stood haughtily beside the fireplace they had just Floo’d in at. Severus sat on the sofa watching them warily. Both of them seemed almost furious to be here. Then why, he wondered, had they come?

Albus had come as well. He stood at the bookcase, studying the names on Lucius private selection of books. It was truly an impressive collection.

Until now, Severus and Albus had been the only one’s to know about the private Floo entrance to Lucius’ estate. If Hermione’s missive had not suggested that whoever came use that entrance, it would have stayed a secret.

When the door to the private library opened, Lucius and Hermione both stepped inside. Lucius held the door for her to enter and closed it behind them before he turned to see who had decided to come in answer to their letter.

Immediately, his eye met Harry’s furious ones. “Did you plan it?” the younger wizard asked hotly. “Was Kingsley under the Imperius curse? Did you force him to it?”

As Harry began to advance on Lucius, Hermione stepped into his path. “Harry! How dare you! Lucius is not on some kind of trial here! He came after me after I had been taken!”

Harry sneered towards the older wizard. “Yes, I can just imagine how noble he was in saving you from something he probably masterminded.” He leaned around Hermione for a final cut. “I bet killing him was just an added bonus, huh Malfoy?

Severus came to his feet. “I’m afraid I must agree with Hermione, Harry. Lucius has done nothing wrong. It is wrong to come here and be so blatantly abusive when we have no proof of his disloyalty.” he had moved to the enraged mans’ side, and pulled him away, gently, but firmly.

Hermione stayed her ground in front of her lover protectively. Ron watched as Snape pulled Harry away from the two of them. He also didn’t miss it when Lucius stepped forward and touched Hermione in a gentle, attentive way. His eyes widened and he moved away from the fireplace to sit on the sofa, digesting the information he had just picked up on.

Harry hadn’t noticed yet. He was too busy being angry. But Ron knew that the look that had passed between the two had been one of affection. A shared affection. He could tell that Hermione was not the only one feeling it.

Once Severus had harry calmed and away from them, Ron looked at them again. “How long?” he asked softly.

Both of them turned to look at the redhead. “What?” Hermione asked cautiously.

Ron’s eyes searched hers and she felt a moment of pain at the knowledge that she had hurt him. “When did the two of you become lovers?” he queried in a soft voice.

Lucius raised an eyebrow as he looked from Hermione, to Ron. Severus, Harry and Albus had turned from each other to look at the two lovers. Understanding dawned in each of their eyes.

While they had agreed that they were better off as friends, Ron had never hid the fact that his feelings for her ran deeply still. He accepted that she didn’t feel the same way. But that did not change the fact that it hurt very deeply for him to admit she had finally found someone that she did feel that way for.

Hermione moved to sit beside Ron. “You know, I will always love you, Ron. I’m just not...”

Her words drifted into silence when Ron placed a finger over her lips. “It’s ok, Hermione. I’ve always known this day would come.” He looked from her to Lucius. “I just never thought it would be with, him.”

Lucius stood in the middle of the room, waiting for the onslaught of furious questions. None came. Instead, the room was thrown into silence as each of them simply looked between him and Hermione.

Severus was the first to find his voice. “That is rather disgusting. If you want to know what I think.

Lucius smiled at his old friend. “No.” He answered softly. “I don’t imagine I would want to know what you, of all people, thought.”

Harry recovered himself. Looking at Hermione, he made a terrible face. “Why?” he asked in a voice barely above a whisper. “Have you gone daft?”

Hermione sighed and turned to face Harry. A look of mild impatience crossed her features. “Although I don’t care if you know I am now in a relationship with Lucius, I didn’t call you all here to discuss who I happen to have decided to shag!” her eyes looked over each of them as if she was daring them to try to continue the subject.

When no one spoke, she took a deep breath and began to tell them of her encounter with Kingsley. All were silent as she related to them what had transpired. When she finished, Harry was the first to speak. “I never would have thought that he had a thirst for power.”

Lucius moved to sit down beside Ron and gave the younger man a passing glance. “Neither had I. But then again, I have learned many lessons over the last couple of years that show that people don’t always do as you expect.”

Ron shifted uncomfortably before looking from Lucius to Harry. “I can imagine that enough power would corrupt anyone.” He paused and sighed. “Just like certain events would make a person change sides.”

Harry looked from Ron, to Hermione, then back to Lucius. Lowering his voice, he made eye contact with the older wizard. “I’m not sure I would ever be able to trust you.”

The blond man shrugged. “Yes, well I don’t imagine I will be very thrilled with the prospect of trusting you with my daughter when the time comes, either.” All eyes displayed confusion, except for those of Albus Dumbledore. His twinkled merrily.

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Once Harry and Ron were sent with Serenity to see the rooms they would be staying in, Albus had excused himself to travel back to Hogwarts and alert the Order of the news of the spy that had been expertly placed among them.

Severus moved to sit across from Lucius. His eyes studied his friend suspiciously. For what seemed an eternity they sat in silence.

Finally finding his voice, he criticized Lucius judgement. “She will never be Narcissa.” He admonished.

Lucius smiled, but stared for long moments into the fire. “You are right, Severus. She will never be Narcissa.” He turned to face his friend. “No one will. But Hermione is special by her own rights.” His face seemed to soften at the mention of her name. “She has helped me be able to move on where I thought I never could.”

Severus sighed, “How do you know you are not just using her? You have been with no one since Narcissa’s death. What if you are only on the... What is the word? Rebound?”

Lucius reached out to grasp his cane. “I have never felt like this before, old friend. If it a rebound I am feeling, then it is more powerful than any love I have ever felt before it.”

The two regarded each other in silence. Light mingled with dark in the battle of their eyes before Lucius stood and made his way gracefully from the room.

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A/N: just a personal note to some of my reviewers...

Geekgoddess- Thank you for welcoming me onto the Lucius/Hermione site. I am thrilled to be able to be a part of it. Don\'t be too upset about updates... I try to do them fairly frequently.. (-:

Sorceress Black- Hmmm... I guess only time will tell if daughter is like mother... Of course, thaty would be... Another story! (Evil chuckle)

Lizski- I really enjoyed your latest update as well! Hope this one I just did meets with your approval!

Alexia- I love how thrilled you get! It makes me smile! Hope you enjoyed this update!

JTBJAB- She has finally reported what happened. Of course now Rona and harry are guests at the Manor, so we will have to wait and see where that leads to.

And everyone else that has taken the time to review! A Million thank you\'s! PLease keep them coming as they help me decide where to go next!