Only Time

Lovely Reviewers:

Jade - Hope is all that remains in Pandora's box. Who knows when our hopes will be met?

HermioneMalfoyFan - You're fine! I love reviews though. *pouts*

Draco is a very good boy! He is cute and cuddly! It is indeed a girl! Draco is straight. I would give him hugs.

Lucius was heartbroken before because he didn't get to say goodbye or explain anything. Nothing is ever easy. Lucius is going to freak out.

Mia - Poor Lucius...he needs hugs. Who knows when our hopes will be met?

Hilda Malfoy - I love secrets! They make me feel good. I hope Flyff is feeling better.
The angel perception might be ending.


Voracious Reader - He was already rejected by her. He assumes it will happen again. Who knows when his misery will end?

happybunny - It was. No, I don't believe you are blanking. That is a fabulous idea. I might have to include that in later chapters...having the boys pecked by peacocks.

Lauriurix - Lucius is a sugar-angel pie, isn't he? Who can say if Hermione will awaken?

andarte - I can believe that I left you there. Now, you dearie, I'm waiting for an update...*pouts* Just wait till you see where this leaves off.

Ashley - We should have a secret club!
NO! It's not bad. I'm glad that you liked it so much. You will see what happens. You were reading my mind for a moment. I was toying with Draco doing that.

Heidi191976 - Who knows what will happen to our lovers? I love that you wait patiently.

Apple - It made my sweet tooth hurt as well. Who knows when Hermione will be kissed?

Linneh - Don' be worrin' your perty self 'bout tha' now. All in good time.

cherripepsiisgod - Me too!

Citten - Draco is a sweetie poo. He needs to be sexed up! I want to sex him up! MAY I? I suppose you shall know part of the future soon as well.

VampireSeductress - UPDATE IS HERE!

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I hope y'all like this. I had fun with it. Hope y'all will forgive me for it. Medical problems are the same as always...*groans*

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Lucius sat in his study all day after Severus’ acquittal was announced. He should have been looking over his investments, but what Draco had said to him earlier that day had been nagging in the back of his brain.

He couldn’t keep Hermione this way forever. It wasn’t fair; it wasn’t right. He didn’t want to lose her, but when she had no choice, he had no idea whether she would stay. She had no choice but to stay.

“Nelly,” Lucius called.

A small pop, and Nelly appeared holding a silver tray with a crystal decanter of Scotch with a matching glass with several ice cubes in it.

“You know me so well, Nelly,” Lucius said as Nelly poured him a glass of the rich amber liquor.

“Drinking spirits not helping you, Master,” Nelly said, handing him the glass with a stern look.

Lucius didn’t respond. She was correct; there was no point to argue.

“You needs to kiss you sweetheart. She stay with you.”

Lucius took a gulp of the Scotch and groaned in pleasure at the burning it elicited in his throat and stomach. He turned around and stared out the large windows behind the desk.

The moon had risen, and it cast long beams of light through the windows. Lucius closed his eyes and enjoyed the sensation. He loved the eerie glow it cast on the walls.

AWOOO!

Lucius glared when he realized it was the night of the full moon. It was the forth since Hermione’s accident. He hated werewolves. Ever since he’d housed Fenrir Greyback in his home for almost a year, he’d really grown to despise the filthy, mangy flea-bags.

AWOOO!

“She be loving you, Master.”

Lucius waved a hand in dismissal.

Even the house-elves were encouraging him to kiss her. He knew he should have done so long ago. He’d just not been ready to part with her. He’d fought the litigation battles against the Potter and Weasley twits to keep her here at Malfoy Manor. Little wankers thinking they could outwit him. He was Lucius Malfoy, the many times great grandson of the Lady of the Lake. They were no match for his wit and guile.

Lucius closed his eyes and downed the rest of the glass. He placed the glass back on the silver tray which promptly vanished.

He should go to her and at least attempt it. He sighed and left his study locking the door behind him.

“Go to bed, Draco,” Lucius said as he heard the sound of footsteps following him.

“Will you try?” Draco demanded, stepping into the light of his father’s lit wand.

Lucius glared at his child.

“Don’t give me that,” Draco said, rolling his eyes. “If you look that way again, I’ll smack you. Our roles have reversed, father.”

Lucius growled and stalked around his progeny.

Draco watched his father walk off. He didn’t want to make his father kiss her. But he could perform the Imperius curse if he had to in order to get the job done. But who knew if an imperiused person was capable of breaking the spell?

Lucius slammed the door and warded it powerfully. His son was a Slytherin. No reason to take chances. Draco might force him to do it. He, at the very least, wanted to feel that he had the option open to make the decision in his own time. Though, he could admit, his time was being taken slowly.

Lucius looked at Hermione on the bed, with her hands laced together on top of the sheets and her relaxed expression.

“It’s a beautiful night, Angel. The full moon is out, and the werewolves are hunting. I hate the werewolves. Being around Fenrir Greyback for long enough would make anyone hate them.”

Lucius moved to sit next to her. He ran his hands over the silver clasps on his robes and shifted so he wasn’t sitting on his cloak, which was black velvet with snakes embroidered on it in a shiny thread with real silver in it.

Lucius took her hand as he knelt beside the bed.

“I’ve been selfish, haven’t I?” he asked, placing his cheek in the palm of her hand. “I’ve kept you here asleep. I’ve not even tried.”

He slid her hand into his hair.

“Thirteen weeks, five days, fourteen hours, twenty-seven minutes, and thirty-two seconds since Bellatrix cast the spell on you. I’ve had all that time to wake you. And selfish, iniquitous coward that I am, I’ve kept you here asleep. Why? Because you left me twenty-six years ago. How much of a child can I be? Afraid to lose something, I never really had. You didn't love me, not the way I did you.

“You saved me from a fate that would have been worse than death, or so that vile bitch said. You’d have been proud of the research Severus and I did; we found the answer within a few days. And how do I repay you? I leave you under the spell. Granted, that I have no guarantee that I can wake you, but I wouldn’t even try. I’m to blame for your condition. Really, I am. I didn’t cast the spell, but I’ve done my best to allow it to remain in place. I locked you away here hidden by two fidelius charms and endless other incantations just so I could have you.

“But the truth is that I no more have you now than I ever did. Physically you are here, but your heart, your mind aren’t mine. I’m yours. Always remember that."

Lucius was quiet then for a while just staring at her as she lay with the motion of her chest as the only indication that she was living.

“I really have changed. I owe many of those changes to you, and I owe many to my son. I wanted him to have better than I had. I wanted, whenever I found you, to be a man that you would at least be willing to be friends with. You don’t know how I wept in private every time I had to say something cruel to you.

“I could be happy with you just living in this house with me the rest of my life. We could talk as we used to. You could see the library. I remember your keenness to see it. You could do your best to read all the books and add to the collection.

“I need to try to let you live. If you live with me or not. You deserve that. I remember reading in one of the books in the library a long time ago. I remember an author saying: ‘You can keep a snidget in a cage to sing for you its entire life, and you will always hear its sweet song and see its beauty. But you’ll know that it’s there for your happiness alone, for what happiness can exist in being in a cage. To know what he feels, you must carry him to your open window in your hand and open it. If he flies away to never return, then you gave him happiness. If he flies away to return, then you’ll know he wants you happy too.’

“I know I ramble a bit now my dear. Perhaps, it is to avoid what I know I must do. Anyway, my point was, as long as I cage you here in your slumber, I can never know what you feel. I need to know what you feel. I deny us both what we could have. I want you to be happy. But I rob you of happiness by keeping you here with me without your consent. I have to let you go, you see. If you come back—if you come back, it would be wonderful. I can not imagine being happier. But if not, I’m always here if you need me.

“You made me mad. You know that. I don’t think any man could not be moved by you. You are. You just are. I wish I knew how to complete that better.”

Lucius blinked back tears as he gracefully stood and moved up on the bed. He pressed his forehead to hers and stroked her cheeks as his eyes drank her in.

He might be letting her run to never return. She might not wake up.

“Please wake up,” Lucius whispered before he pressed his lips to Hermione’s.

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I hope that was good for y'all. I hope y'all drop me a review. It makes me feel all fluffy and warm inside when you do. Hope y'all aren't too upset 'bout the ending there.

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