Hidden Meanings

Disclaimer: These aren't mine, Luscious is not mine, well... not YET!

mary: Yep, I thought you would like that.

angel: Yes, but my stories don't work like that... now work it out.

BuckyKattGirl: The wait is over.

JW: Yes, the information will start coming from him. I don't think it's creepy with Remus obsessing over Hermione, he loves her. It's my least favourite ship the RL/HG ship, but in this one it just works. I have recently fallen in love with Molly/Lucius ship... I might write one with them, got a one-shot in mind.

RipeWickedPlum12: Thanks... is this soon enough for you.

ccrawley: Thank you.

Citten: I love writing this story. It won't be as long as the encyclopedia. But, I will make it as long as possible, and no I won't skip on any detail about the pregnancy.

pinkwands: I knew you'd like that. Here's more.

Gaps of Misery: Thanks for that. Yes, as if he doesn't! I liked writing that scene, he does strike me as someone who cares about clothes... I hope you enjoy this chapter.

The Power of Love

Hermione had just about gathered her wits about her. Lucius was a very BAD Death Eater indeed. He knew some brilliant ways to distract her. He tried. He tried VERY hard, but she would not listen to him. She had to shove him in the fireplace.

“Look, Hermione, just because you’ve decided to forgive me doesn’t mean anyone else would!”

Hermione stepped in with a pinch floo powder in her hand. She smirked up at Lucius. She threw it in and stated ’12 Grimmauld Place!’ quite clearly. Lucius rolled his eyes as she held onto him tightly. She was still in the early stages of her pregnancy for crying out loud. She shouldn’t be doing this! ‘Ah yes, but she can make violent love with you, stop being so selfish Lucius. It’s time you fulfilled your part of the bargain. She’s fulfilled hers more than enough!’ Oh, go away! ‘Worried no one will like you? The most important person that should matter to you is right next to you. Who cares what they think? She loves you.’ True.

They stepped out of the fireplace, regally. Lucius came out first, and held out his graceful hand to Hermione. She accepted it, and elegantly climbed out of the grate.

“Place hasn’t changed much,” he observed, looking around with disdain. “Although the cleaning up has improved it.”

Hermione shook her head. She walked around the room, wondering why the dining room was empty. There was always SOMEONE in there.

“The thing is, Hermione, I don’t even know what they want.”

“They’ll tell you,” she replied. She walked up to a door and pressed her ear against the door. She heard Harry singing, she winced at his voice. She shook her head. “Wait here.”

Lucius nodded, he knew where that door led to, the kitchen. He grinned, as he remembered sneaking down to the kitchen as a boy, with McNair, to steal food. This place practically stank with memory. He shuddered at some of them. Like the time when he was forced to shake Sirius hand. He hated him immediately; he could sense that he was a blood traitor… ‘Oh and falling in love with a muggle born makes you any better?’ He decided to sit down and wait, he laid his silver snake topped cane across his lap, and started drumming his fingers on the arm of the sofa.

Hermione walked out of the kitchen, with a very reluctant Harry following her. He was wearing an apron, his hair was all rumpled, his hands were soapy, and there was a bit of flour on his cheeks. This was supposed to be the Wizard to destroy Voldemort? He asked himself incredulously.

“Mr Malfoy,” Harry said coldly. Lucius shivered. Hmm, perhaps not too good an idea to underestimate the boy, he thought. “The only reason why I am accepting you is because I love Hermione. I have lost a friend, and wish not to lose another. But I am warning you, don’t hurt her!”

Lucius strode up to Hermione and wrapped an arm around her waist, and dragged her closer to him.

“I have no intention of hurting her,” Lucius replied. “Well, dear, that’s done, let’s go home.”

“Oh no you don’t, Lucius. We’re staying.”

Lucius sighed. He let her go, she was going to make him meet EVERYONE in the house. Hermione smiled, and then she walked out of the room leaving Harry and Lucius in the room on their own.

“Listen, Malfoy, I’ll be as nice to you as I can stomach when she’s in the room, but I still think you’re a blonde, pure blooded prat!”

“And you are an obstinate, idiotic boy. No wonder she got me out of prison, she obviously yearned for more intellectual company.”

“Shall we add arrogant to your list of faults,” Harry said through gritted teeth.

“I rather thought that of you, Potter,” Lucius said. “But for her sake at least, let’s try to get along. I hope that one day you’d see that, as far as she is concerned, I am genuine.”

Hermione came back in the room shortly after and sat down on the sofa. She put her feet on the sofa and laid her head on a cushion. Lucius winked at Potter, and then he walked up to the sofa, and picked her feet up. He then took her shoes off and started rubbing her feet.

“Lucius!” she said in exasperation.

“What?” he asked in an innocent voice.

“You know what that generally leads to,” Hermione said.

“I just thought that your friend over there needed something a bit less subtle than ‘I love you!’ to make him satisfied with our situation.”

Hermione sighed; she picked up the cushion; and whacked it around his head. Lucius laughed. He took hold of her wrists and placed her hands down on her lap.

“Let me massage your feet,” Lucius said. He took one to his lips, and kissed the pad of her big toe. Harry turned away in disgust.

“Get a room,” he said.

“We have, you get out of it!” Lucius replied.

Hermione threw Lucius a warning look, Lucius just twinkled back, Hermione couldn’t believe that twinkle was for her. She couldn’t help but look absolutely beautiful under that twinkle. Harry noticed and his jaw dropped in astonishment. Where was THIS Hermione? Why couldn’t he have been hanging around with THIS Hermione for seven years?

He massaged further up her leg, and made her shiver. She smiled and she groaned. Harry was beginning to blush. He knew he should walk out of the room, but he couldn’t. It was actually sickeningly fascinating watching them. It was like watching a ballet by a very good well-rehearsed group of dancers. How many times have they ALREADY done it? It was only when Lucius was beginning to paw further up her robes, that Harry felt they were going too far.

“Hello, I am still here you know,” he said.

“Oh,” Hermione said, at least she had the audacity to blush. Lucius just put his hands around the back of his head and stretched his legs out. He didn’t look ashamed at all.

“You could look as if you were doing something indecent!” Harry snapped.

“What is so indecent with making my wife comfortable?” Lucius asked. “You need to find yourself a girl.”

“I have,” Harry said. “But I wouldn’t do THAT in front of other people.”

“Stop it you two,” Hermione said, she began to yawn.

“Tired?” Lucius asked.

Hermione nodded. She swung her legs off his lap and turned around. She laid her head on his lap, and he started stroking her hair. She shifted onto her side, and willed her eyes to stay open, but Lucius gentle, soothing strokes, relaxed her completely to sleep. Harry wanted to deny it, but he couldn’t. Harry knew love when he saw it, and it was nakedly apparent in Lucius eyes when he looked at the sleeping form of his wife.

Harry was having an internal battle with himself, if Remus walked in now it could just about be the final straw for the poor Werewolf. Harry decided to go back into the kitchen, whatever Hermione had done, it was obviously going to be a little while before everyone was going to come into the room. He walked back into the kitchen, and sat down on a chair in there. He just couldn’t take the fact that Lucius Malfoy could love. Let alone love Hermione.

He was just about to get up when Ginny walked into the kitchen. She was still wearing the towel, and she walked up to Harry. She put a hand through his hair, and he turned, and he placed her on his lap. He started kissing and sucking at her neck. Ginny giggled, and he sucked at the base of her throat.

“I wouldn’t go in there if I were you,” Harry said, when he noticed her eye the door.

“Why?” Ginny asked.

“Malfoy is in there with Hermione,” Harry said. He realised immediately that he said the wrong thing. She jumped off his lap and strode purposefully at the door. She yanked down the handle and was about to fume at them but was shell-shocked by what she saw.

Malfoy was completely oblivious to anything but the young woman lying in his lap sleeping peacefully. He didn’t even look up to see who had interrupted them. Malfoy was in his own little world. Ginny never thought Malfoy was the type to be fey. But here he was, fey and – Ginny frowned – good looking. She shook her head!

“Ahem,” she coughed. Malfoy looked up. He was immediately back to the sneering, smirking arrogant git he always was.

“What can I do for you?” he asked. He looked her up and down, and then looked back down at his wife. He definitely had the best fruit of the Order. Miss Weasley was bound to turn out frumpy one day. He had met Mrs Granger, she was still quite pretty, he had no illusions that Hermione would still be the same.

“An explanation might be nice? Possibly starting off with, ‘I’m sorry, Miss Weasley, for trying to kill you but…!’ and one on what you plan to do with Hermione once you have this child.”

Lucius rolled his eyes and sighed. He knew that this was the sort of reception he was going to get, still, Hermione was the most important person in his life, as long as she thought he was all right then to hell with anyone else. Mrs Weasley obviously had told everyone already.

“I’m sorry, Miss Weasley, for trying to kill you but I assure you it will never happen again. I did what I thought to be the best thing to do at the time. Now I see I was wrong. As for what I am going to do with Hermione after she has had this child? Well, I am going to make mad passionate love to her again and again, in the hopes that another child would be produced.”

“I knew it, you want to turn her into a child making machine, you married her for her age and nothing else!”

“That’s a bit rich coming from someone who happens to be the LAST of seven children,” he replied. “Also I have absolutely no intention of justifying myself to you, Miss Weasley. What Hermione and I do with our lives should be of no concern to you.”

Ginny narrowed her eyes and put her hands on her hips. She looked down at Hermione, who seemed so peaceful lying there in his lap that her retort died on her lips.

“Just don’t hurt her, Malfoy!”

“Why is everyone obsessed with the idea that I am going to hurt her? I am in love with her, child. And have been for the past four years, you can take that any way you like. But my love for her is pure love. It is the sort of love you and Mr Potter share.”

Ginny widened her eyes and blushed. “I don’t trust you, Malfoy.”

“And possibly with good reason, Mademoiselle.”

Ginny gritted her teeth, and stormed back to the kitchen. Before she turned around she saw Lucius go back to stroking Hermione’s hair and making her comfortable. He was fey and in his own world again.

Once Miss Weasley was out of the room Lucius pecked Hermione on the cheek. He sighed, and almost felt like going to sleep himself. His heart was growing within his chest, he could feel it, but he didn’t want the whole world to know exactly how vulnerable HE could be. No, he had to be strong for Hermione. She might be comfortable with letting her feelings out for everyone to see, but he wasn’t. Someone had to mask their true nature and that someone was him.

Hermione moaned something unintelligible and turned around; Lucius picked her up and held her to his body. He wanted to cry, the feelings that were growing so visibly within himself were making him want to burst. He couldn’t contain himself any longer. He was scared, confused and lonely. He needed to hear her voice; or see her eyes; he felt floundering and lost without her. He couldn’t stand being awake and alone whilst she slept oblivious to the pain he was feeling. Eventually he cracked! He squeezed her and he cried.

“Lucius?” Hermione asked. She woke up and he heard her whisper.

“Hermione, why?” He just sobbed. He held her fiercely, and his nails dug into her back. He was a scared child all over again, with no one to turn to. He was in so much pain and misery all of a sudden that she couldn’t detect what had happened.

“Why, what?” Hermione asked, as she was confused. What had happened whilst she went to sleep?

“I love you, my dearest heart, and it’s understandable to the world why I do. Yet it’s not so obvious why you love me?”

“Because you are actually wonderful, and sensitive, and handsome. I’ve seen you at your very best, and worst. I love you Lucius, because you are a beautiful richly complicated man.”

Lucius began to sob on her; he was soaking her dress with his tears. Hermione didn’t know what to do. She had never thought that Lucius Malfoy could break down in an emotional fit like this. It was almost like a panic attack.

“All those people I killed, all those people I tortured. All those times I hated and scorned people like you, I DON’T DESERVE YOU HERMIONE! THIS CHILD DESERVES A BETTER FATHER!” He was shouting by the end of this sentence.

“Lucius,” Hermione said gently, cupping his face in her hands, and spreading light feathery kisses on his eyes and brow. “Stop this okay, I love you. Just accept it.”

“BUT I’M A MONSTER!”

“No, you are not a monster, Lucius. Lord Voldemort is a monster, not you!”

“WHAT WOULD YOU DO IF MASTER WEASLEY CAME BACK FROM THE DEAD?”

“I would not leave you, Lucius, if Ron came back from the dead, I’d explain the situation to him and staunchly refuse to go back to him. I’ve fallen head over heels in love with you, Lucius Julius Malfoy, and this baby will love you.”

Lucius just clung onto her, she held him tightly to her bosom. She rocked him back and forth, murmuring for him to calm down. Harry and Ginny came out of the kitchen to actually see him cry. Harry had never told anyone of the time he caught Draco crying. But to see Lucius crying… that altered Harry’s perception of the man entirely.

He saw the desperation in the way Lucius held onto Hermione, she was truly his salvation. Harry had now all the proof he needed. Lucius was a member of the Order. He didn’t like to admit that, but this display that Lucius was showing; of regret, confusion, pain, anger, hurt – these were all the emotions Harry himself displayed almost all of his life.

Hermione continued stroking his hair and shushing him gently the way a mother would, more than a wife.

“You must think me foolish,” Lucius sniffed.

“Of course I don’t,” Hermione said. “It takes a true man to do that.”

Lucius smiled sheepishly. Hermione stroked his hair back from his face, and looked deeply into his tear filled eyes. She placed her lips on his and kissed him, she then licked the tears out of his eyes, and hugged him again.

“I’m all right now,” he said.

Hermione then let go and immediately Lucius stiffened. Potter had seen him cry. He was just about to reach for his wand when Hermione narrowed her eyes at her friend.

“I won’t tolerate you making fun of him over this, Harry.”

“I wasn’t going to,” Harry said in a meek voice. Instead he offered his hand to Lucius. “Look, we can help you. And I believe you want to help us?”

“I do, I truly regret my actions,” Lucius said. “And I do truly regret trying to kill you, Miss Weasley.”

Ginny bit her lip. She still wasn’t sure on him yet. She’d rather wait until further proof is given.

“What caused that, Lucius?” Hermione asked.

“It was seeing you sleeping; so peacefully; and calmly. You slept like an angel; and I felt like I was your demon. I began to feel that I didn’t deserve anything good, least of all you. I am afraid, dear heart, I am afraid that you will leave me. I am scared that if the Dark Lord finds out then he’ll make me choose. Hermione, I love you.” Hermione squeezed his thigh in reassurance of her love for him. “You asked me if the Dark Lord asked me to kill you would I do it? And I answered no!” Hermione nodded, a dark smile crept along her lips at the circumstances that caused that question to come into being. “Well, I can go one better than that. I’d die before I let anything happen to you.”

Hermione rolled her eyes, but she saw in his eyes that he was being serious. She’d already lost Ronald. She wasn’t going to lose Lucius.

“There won’t be any need of that, Lucius, I won’t let you die. I’ve already lost a man that I loved very much, I am not about to lose another, to that evil, selfish, megalomaniac.”

Lucius picked up her small hand. He raised it to his lips, and kissed it. Hermione’s heart began to flutter in her chest.

“I once thought that money and power is everything,” he said. He leant over and stroked her hair away from her face tenderly. “Now I realise that love indeed is a strong and wonderful emotion. It is not weak to be in love. I’ve never felt as strong as I do now.”

Harry and Ginny looked at each other, Harry was tempted to say that HE could have told Lucius THAT. But he didn’t want to ruin it. It was actually quite a momentous thing for Lucius Malfoy to say.

“No, Lucius, it isn’t.”

She sighed, and turned to look at her friends who had their jaws hanging open. She arched an eyebrow at them.

“Hadn’t Miss Weasley better get some clothes on?” Lucius asked.

Ginny looked down, and blushed furiously. The towel had dropped. She immediately picked up the towel and scampered out of the room. Harry took a few steps back, and sat down in the chair.

“I better go and find Remus,” Hermione sighed.

“That might not be a good idea,” Harry said. “It’s just that – well - you know how he felt about you, right?”

Hermione nodded. She sat back.

“How did he feel about you?” Lucius asked, a tightening to his throat indicated how jealous he was.

“He was in love with me, but I didn’t return the love.”

“You ARE a regular heart breaker, first Snape and now the Werewolf!”

“SNAPE!” Harry roared.

“Calm down, Harry, before you’re hair falls off,” Hermione muttered. “Severus and Lucius are best friends, and Severus has become friends with me, too. He’s still on our side. He got us married off, and believe me, if Lucius hurts me, Severus would hurt him back! Severus has fallen in love with me. Oh don’t do that with your mouth, Harry, it makes you look like a codfish.”

Harry immediately snapped his jaws together, and looked wild eyed at the brunette before him.

“You do know how to attract them, Hermione,” was his exasperated reply.

“I do,” Hermione agreed, winking at Lucius mischievously. “I do indeed.”

Lucius just grinned back. Harry hated to admit this, but they did actually look good together.

A/N I hope that you will enjoy this chapter. I liked writing this chapter. I liked this.