Deliciously So... (Editing)

Disclaimers and thanks: I do not (unfortunately) own any of these characters, except Pisky, Blinky and an army of other minor people.

I thank Persphone who betaed my chapter beautifully as usual. Arigatou!

I also thank Twilight Lady who helped me with the menu. I have some culinary experience, but had no idea what to serve on a normal lunch time in a rich "nobleman's" house. Thanks, dear!

Thank you all for reading my story and special thanks to those who review as it gives me an insight on what you think about it.


Author's Note: Just want to apologize for the tardiness of my update, mainly because I've been freezing in Russia for 10 days and also my beta reader has been on a well deserved vacation. Hope it was worth waiting for.


Angelnomiko: Hope you like this. ^.^

La Bibliographe: Lucius should have sold tickets! I mean I do feel sorry for Draco and all, but I kind of enjoyed torturing him. I honestly do not understand anyone who doesn't succumb to the cold charm of Mr. Malfoy,with just a look I'd probably be drooling on the floor...god how sad...
Keep up the good work for The Wedding. And apologize for a not so speedy update.

999: Lol, I know so funny. Anyway if I manage to shape up the sketches and get my scanner going I'll post my visions of Malfoy Manor, plus maybe some scenes if I can get them decent enough (am extremely sceptical)

Maria Elena: Grazie tante, tesoro. Anch'io.

Hilda Malfoy: I know, poor Draco...sigh

Zairaphel: Lovely name by the way¡Kangels¡Kwell first thanks a ton for your compliments, second I do try my best to keep everything in shape. And third, well my imagination can get pretty wild and I mean it. If I manage to get through this busy period at school will be posting other fics as well and they're a bit...erm...you get the picture ^.^

Gaps of Misery: As usual your reviews are spiffing! Always make me laugh. Was a bit worried about the sims part though¡K and would have to argue a bit on the blondes part, being one myself...sigh...although sometimes I prove the point, like running arounf for three days having lost my motorbike licence for it then to pop out of a draw I'd been through like 20 times. And also Lucius is considered be many as their own, and I'm afraid it's a long queue

Die Hexe: Love sexy bastards...muhahahah...look Draco, for once I had to torture, or better I needed to torture someone and I picked the most amusing combination...as for the bet...wait and see, my sweet wait and see...

Awkward Appetites.

While he knew he should have his mind on the accounting, he couldn't help but let it drift to more pleasant thoughts. Indeed he wasn't at all surprised that an hour of working had produced nothing but a single line of figures.

The way she reacted with complete abandon, he mused. Well, given that she had been...persuaded to do so with a bit of Lust potion, and he had to begrudgingly admit that Severus had brewed a remarkably powerful batch. If he could convince his clever friend to let him sell it, he could bolster his already massive fortune.

Now that he actually thought about it, why why did Severus have vials of Lust Potion lying around anyway? He smirked. Obviously, dear Severus doesn't know how to get a lady in bed without one.

He didn't at all feel guilty about what he had done. On the contrary, he was pleased that it went so unbelievably well. He had never, even in his most licentious fantasizing, imagined that Granger the Gryffindor Prude could act like such a shameless whore. Or play the part so well. If he hadn't known better, he would have mistakenly thought that she had already had considerable experience. What delighted him above all, however, was that the Lust Potion only let loose her instinctive desires. Pushed enough she should be able to show a similar performance even without the potion. I can't wait...

And for once his irritating friend could not say he had not thought of the consequences of his actions; indeed he had given them a great deal of thought. He had given the girl such pleasures she could not even dream of and since she wouldn't know she'd been influenced in any way, she would have to blame herself for her condemnable actions. She would agonize over all the things she had said and done, contemplate how she had begged him for more. Just a few more days and she would be completely his. His personal plaything...and then once she had served her purpose he could simply dispose of her. It was just perfect.

Deciding he had better do something before his lunch, he put his mind on the figures, smirking only every now and again when her pleading voice swam into his head.

At a quarter past one, there was a knock at his study door, and as it opened at his command Severus Snape walked in, an unusually satisfied look on his face and a bottle in his hand.

"Come now, Lucius. You've been working too long. Let's have an appetiser before we dine."

"And to what do I owe this unexpected good mood of yours?" he asked suspiciously.

"If you must know, I've had quite the success on a little project I have been working on. I just happened to notice it was nearing lunch time, so I decided to celebrate with some brandy to work up an appetite. I had then decided that as you have been up to some very strenous activities lately, you may desire a glass too. But if I am mistaken..."

"Come, come. You are usually in such a terrible mood, that seeing you practically beaming with satisfaction is quite disturbing." He smiled and waved his friend to seat himself in front of his desk. Making two glasses appear in front of them he waved his wand again to levitate the bottle and to pour its contents.

"Now what is this project you've been working on? Something for our Dark Lord?"

"No. For once it is something that will benefit me alone."

"Oh. Care to share about this mysterious project?"

"Believe me, Lucius you will know about it sooner than you think." During Lunch I should expect.

"I can't wait," the blond wizard said in mock impatience.

Neither can I... His friend thought as a malicious smile curved his thin lips.


After having finished their drink and small talk they got up and apparated to the dining room. Neither man's mind had been on the conversation though. Lucius was replaying in his head his last rendezvous with Miss Granger; Severus on the other hand was looking forward to finding out what her next move could be. He knew his friend would force her to come down, even if she refused to come to eat.

Draco was waiting outside the door. He was looking extremely nervous and if Severus wasn't mistaken, quite flustered as well; it almost seemed as if he were nauseous.

"Are you alright, Draco?" Lucius inquired with just a hint of concern. He too had noticed his son's peculiar state.

"Yes, Father," he answered, not looking up from the floor, as if trying to avoid his father's gaze.

"And where is Miss Granger?" he asked. He wondered if she was still sleeping. I must have really worn her out

And as the blond wizard became lost in his lustful thoughts, Snape noticed that at the mention of Hermione's name, the young boy had both shuddered visibly and a faint blush colored his pale cheeks.

Well, well...Draco appears to have witnessed something completely disturbing...could it be? Oh, that is too sweet. His malevolent smile spread even more, revealing his teeth. Now all we need is the guest of honour.

They all walked into the dining room and took a seat at the long wooden table; the Lord of the Manor at the head of the table, his son two seats down on his left, his friend on his right side. Pisky was nearby, awaiting orders.

"S-shall Pisky serve Master?" it asked.

"Not yet. One of us is missing it would be impolite to start without her," he drawled. Though as time went by, his resolve and patience were quickly waning in the face of his rising anger. Looking at the grandfather clock, he saw ten minutes had passed. Where is she? he thought viciously. She will come down if I have to drag her by her hair. But it was then the door opened and she walked in. Not looking up at the table or its occupants she sat herself several seats down from Snape, so that there was at least ten feet between her and the rest of them.

"How kind of you to see it fit to honour us with your presence, Miss Granger," Lucius said sarcastically. "If you are requested to be present at a certain time I advise you to be punctual; making other people wait for you, it is most inconsiderate"

She looked up at him, defiance in her eyes, and stated simply, "If I didn't have to walk all the way through your absurdly large Manor, I could be more punctual."

He looked at her and was momentarily confused by what he saw. There was no longer the glimmer of fear he so loved to see dancing in her eyes, only the fire of pure loathing. Draco, who was pointedly avoiding looking at her or his father, was shocked she had actually answered him back. No one has ever done that before without paying for it dearly. How can she dare to do it? Snape was observing her with an amused look in his dark eyes.

"Be that as it may, Miss Granger," he answered, immediately regaining his sense of control, "After someone has waited for you, you should have the manners to thank them."

"Oh, forgive me. Obviously Mudbloods do not know anything about manners."

One silvery eyebrow rose incredulously. He had imagined she would still be afraid to be in the same room with him, embarrassed about their little activities in the Library, ashamed of how she had reacted. Not this insulting defiance.

"Well, now that that is sorted we can start our meal." Pisky, at its master's words, snapped its fingers and made the starters appear. Coquilles Saint Jacques materialized before them. The two men started eating with poise but with obvious hunger; Neither Draco nor Hermione touched their food.

Draco was feeling exceedingly nervous and embarrassed. He couldn't even bear the thought of eating and kept nervously glancing at his father and then at Granger, who was glaring at Lucius with nothing short of violent hatred gleaming in her brown eyes. She had her arms crossed and was doing nothing but stare at his Father who was apparently either ignoring her or had not noticed her impertinence.

When the two men had finished, Lucius waved his hand to the waiting Elf who was about to clear the plates when he glanced around the table.

"I i-is sor-rry Master. Master Draco and Miss are not finished. Does Pisky clear their plates as well?"

"Are you not feeling well, Draco?" he asked coldly.

"I'm sorry, Father. I must have an upset stomach; the idea of eating seafood didn't appeal to me," he said nervously, avoiding his father's eye by once again addressing the flat surface beneath him.

"Very well. Severus, kindly give something to Draco after lunch." He then turned to Hermione. "And you, Miss Granger?"

"I didn't really fancy eating it, Mr. Malfoy," she answered, still glaring at them.

"Serve the first course then," he told the Elf without so much as a glance in its direction.

"Y-yes M-master,"it squeaked and snapped its fingers. The plated disappeared to be replaced with four steaming bowls of watercress soup, fresh bread rolls and platters of butter near their sides.

Sighing Draco started sipping his soup. He would have to force his stomach if he didn't want to displease his Father any further. Severus and Lucius followed suit but Hermione kept her arms crossed and eyes fixed on the eating wizards.

Placing his silver spoon on the side of his plate, Lucius looked back at the witch and noticed she had not yet moved.

"Do you not fancy eating this either?" he enquired.

"I can't say I do,"was her short reply.

"Are you going to try it?"

"I would prefer not."

"You can't say you don't like something unless you've tried it."

"Mr. Malfoy, it appears you did not hear me. I am not eating this."

"What did you say?" he hissed.

"As I thought, you had not heard me. I said I will not eat this."

Snape had been observing the whole thing with a keen interest, eyes flitting from one to the other. Draco was simply staring at her, completely shocked.

"Then what will you eat? Pray tell why did you come down if you have no intention of eating anything at all?"

"If I hadn't come down you would have forced me." She shrugged.

"Well, are you going to eat something or will you just starve?"

"I would rather starve than eat anything that you give me."

"Oh?" He had no idea where this was going but he didn't like it.

Her eyes narrowed and with venom in her voice she spat, "Yes, I can never be sure you haven't put anything in it."

"Miss Granger you have a fervid imagination. What would I put in your food?"

"What about a Lust Potion?" she hissed.

"A Lust Potion?" he repeated slowly. "As I said before, Miss Granger, you have a fervid imagination."

"Oh?" Pulling the neck of her jumper down till almost the outline of her bra was visible she said fiercely, "This real enough for you?"

Lucius looked at her incredulously for a while; Severus smirked at the boldness of the girl; Draco, who had been sipping his soup started choking after eyeing the marks on her neck and chest.

"Can you two please leave us? The rest of your meal will be served in your rooms."

Draco stood up at once and practically fled the room, but the dark haired wizard continued eating as if nothing had happened.

"Severus, would you kindly allow me to speak with Miss Granger alone?"

"Absolutely not, Lucius. I have no intention of moving before I have finished my meal." Turning to the confused House Elf, he said firmly "I'd like my second course." His eyes went over the girl to his left and then to his friend at his right. "I'm sure you can finish your debate with me present."

The poor creature turned from one to the other not knowing who to listen to. Eyes gleaming, the blonde wizard said quietly, "Severus, I shall ask you again to go now."

"And I, Lucius, will say yet again that I will not move until I have finished. Serve me my second course."

"I-I," the poor creature stammered.

"Do not anger me, Severus."

"I think the same thing applies to you. Let me finish eating in peace before I lose my patience." His cold eyes bore into the other¡¦s with a fierceness that drew him into their dark depths, showing him with no uncertain means that he was determined to stand by his decision.

Bloody Severus! I bet he has something to do with this. He must have told her something. As soon as I get my hands on him- I will not remain here to be ridiculed by both him and the girl! But as he will not leave until he has eaten, I will have to move to some other location.

Standing up from his seat and walking away he said calmly "Very well, Severus. I would not want to disrupt your lunch any further. Come, Miss Granger if you wish to continue your impertinence at least have the decency to do it somewhere more private."

She sprung to her feet, her eyes aflame, "How dare you lecture me about decency?!" she shrieked "You-" but before she had chance to say another word Lucius reached out and took hold of her arm, disapparating on the spot. Severus laughed out loud and, looking down at his lamb crown, ordered the Elf to bring him some more wine and continued his meal heartily.


"You Pompous bastard!" she screamed as soon as she felt firm ground beneath her feet. Pulling away from him she looked around the surrounding environment. She appeared to be in a study of sorts. There was a large wooden desk with a bookcase behind it. She was about to storm out the door when it shut with an ominous bang and if her ears did not deceive her, she heard the click of a lock.

"Open the door," she hissed.

Sitting down behind his desk, he took a few breaths to calm himself, though mainly his temper, before he addressed the girl before him.

"You may be very proud of yourself for that little display, but in actuality the only person you ridiculed was yourself. You do realise that, don't you?" he said softly.

"I beg to differ," she said as she turned to face him. "Otherwise you would not have requested to speak with me alone. Am I not right? You felt the control you had over your son, and the respect you commanded from Professor Snape falter. And who was the cause of that? A teenager witch who happens to be a Mudblood as well."

"Really, Miss. Granger. This is uncalled for."

"You think? Maybe if you had been raped you would think differently."

"If I recall well enough this morning you did not exactly push me away did you?" he enquired smiling maliciously. "In fact, you did the exact opposite." He was trying to make her feel bad, to make her feel weak. She was showing some extraordinary strength of mind and character that he did not think she still possessed. But it was time for her to revert to her old cowering self; she should remember her place beneath him.

"I do not deny it," she stated coldly. "But I was not really guided by my feelings, was I?" Her eyes turned to his and he could see the fire burning beneath. "Although superficially you could say that I was not rejecting you. It was not really me. It was passions forced out by you. You covertly administered a potion to me that would take away my consciousness. In that way it was rape."

He was taken aback by the coldness with which she talked; with the total lack of feeling she stated these facts, that appeared to be so simple in her mind. No, it wasn't entirely true. There was one emotion burning in her soul, and that was hatred.

"As that is the reason for my being here, I have had to accept it. I am nothing more than a pleasure object to you. Once I have fulfilled my purpose I will be disposed of. That I can deal with." She slowly walked to his desk, with just that piece of exquisite furniture dividing them. She placed her hands on the polished wood surface. "But what I cannot conceive, is that you also use me so that you create feelings that do not exist! It is just a phantom of reality. If you want to have a woman pleading for your attentions, get a whore. I don't care if I starve. I will not eat in your company again!"

White-hot anger shot through him, forcing him to his feet, "Why, you insolent Mudblood bitch! How dare you talk to me like this?! How dare you!" he snarled, closing in on her.

"What's the matter? Can't face the truth?!" She screamed.

Pulling out his wand, he pointed it at her, "You will apologize. Now!"

"I have nothing to apologize for!"

As though with perfect timing Snape apparated in the room. Looking from one dark face to the other, he stood in silence waiting for something to happen.

"Open the door!" she hissed, but the Lord of the Manor did not move, he simply looked at her seething.

No one has ever spoken to me like that! No one had dared to do it!

"Professor Snape, could you kindly open the door?" she enquired coldly.

Smirking, he took hold of the girl's arm and disapparated, leaving his friend's rage to either cool or erupt. In any case, he did not want to be present when it happened.

She found herself in front of her room. She was about to open the door when he spoke.

"Come with me" he said as he walked away. Unsure of what to do, she faltered a bit, but since he hadn't turned to see if she was behind him or not, she sighed and started to follow him. They walked through the long corridor in silence. They then turned a couple of times until she found herself on marble steps that reminded her greatly of Hogwarts. After walking down them, they appeared to be in what seemed to be the Entrance Hall. He turned yet again and they walked into a narrow stone passageway lit by torches. It led to a dead end: a wall where there hung a large painting.

She didn't see this however, as the semidarkness along with his black robes, hid the painting from her view. Seconds later, it opened and she walked into a large old-fashioned kitchen.

She stepped in after him and was greeted at once by ten House-elves. Among them were Pisky and Blinky, who she managed to recognize fairly easily, especially the latter as he was still wearing bandages over his face.

"Good day, Master Snape and Miss," they squeaked in unison.

"Miss Granger, will you allow any of these Elves to prepare your meals or would you prefer to come down and do it yourself under their supervision?" the dark wizard asked her.

"Erm...well I wouldn't want them to go to any trouble. I'll do it myself. And I'll wash up whatever I dirty."

He nodded and turning to the grovelling servants, said firmly, "This girl is going to come down here every day, and prepare her own meals. She is to be allowed complete freedom in what she does, and only if she asks you for help do you interfere. Understand?"

They nodded.

"Also, this is an order from me. You must not let Lucius know. Never tell him. If he finds, out so be it, but he is not to be told."

They all looked at each other worriedly, but Pisky, having found himself in a similar situation earlier that day, spoke up.

"Yes, Master Snape." At once, the other elves followed suit, until another nine voices had squeaked their approval.

"There, that should keep you alive, while you insist on not eating in Lucius' presence. To get in you must say the password."

"And what is the password?"

He smirked. "The forbidden fruit. Anyway, you may do as you wish now. Pisky," he called.

"Yes, Master Snape?"

"I would like a coffee."

"Yes, Master Snape," and sped off to do its duty.

Hermione walked around the enormous kitchen wondering where everything was, and noticing that Blinky was following her around, she asked him softly.

"Blinky, could you help me find some bread, butter and something else to put in a sandwich please?"

"Yes, Miss. Miss, can sit down near counter," and pointed to a high stool near one of the working surfaces.

Sitting down she was presented immediately with a plate that had some white bread, cheddar cheese, ham, and butter. "Thank you. That will do nicely." She then proceeded to prepare her sandwich and eat it.

Having finished her small meal she got up and thanked all the elves, before exiting the room.

She found Snape waiting for her outside the passageway.

She glared at him coldly before asking, "Why?"

"Why what, Miss Granger? You seemed to have no problems in specifying what you wanted to know in school. Pray use that ability, so I do not have to waste time in guessing games."

"Why did you inform me about the potion? And why did you show me the kitchens?"

"The answer is the same for both. I find this whole situation inanely entertaining. I would rather it lasted as long as possible, and I'm not sure that would happen were you to die of starvation. Seeing Lucius in struggle a bit is a pleasant sight, and the startling fact that the cause of his discomfort is you, the bookworm of the golden trio, just adds to the fun. I am not and will not take sides as it will not bring any benefit to me. I will just make sure that it lasts as long as it can. Occasionally giving assistance to either party when I see the odds are too mismatched. That is all."

"So this is just a game?!"

"Yes, just a game, where I am the sole spectator. I think after so many years it is time I had some fun."

As she stared at him completely lost he turned around and said quietly, "Good day, Miss Granger," Before disapparating, leaving her to find her way back to her room.


Author's Note: Me again, well thanks for reading and hoped you liked it. Just wanted to point out one tiny thing. My idea of a Lust Potion is that of an extremely powerful aphrodisiac, so it brings out all your inner desires as your reason is quite inhibited...I'm not actually sure it would show any desires for people you are not aware of being attracted to, but I doubt it. It's just plain and simple Lust.

Love Ophelia