Diamond in the Rough

Sunlight spilled across her face, waking her gently. She opened one eye. Once again she was awake and in his bed. Memories of last night began to dance in her head. “Oh my Gods!” she cringed. “I’m surely losing what little mind I have left.” Pink swept across her face. He had spanked her and she had liked it. She had more than liked it; she had become unbelievably aroused because of what he had done to her. She pulled the covers over her head. She so didn’t want to face him this morning. How could she? The lascivious git.

Her squirming woke him up. He rolled to his side and found bedcovers and golden brown curls spilling across the pillows. What in Goddess name was she doing? He moved to pull the cover down and found it wouldn’t give way very easily.

“Hermione, what are you doing under the blankets?” he asked as he tried to pull the covers from her head.

“Nothing, leave the cover be.” A muffled voice answered back at him.

He sat up and looked down at his comforter-hidden wife. He grabbed a corner of the comforter and pulled hard uncovering his wife at last. She squeaked and moved the pillow so it covered her face.

She was curled on her side facing away from him. His eyes alighted on her pinkened round bottom and he moved his hand to cup her gently. “How’s your bottom this morning?” he rubbed her gently.

She tucked the pillow more closely around her with one arm and tried to push his hand off of her with the other. “I’m fine, really.”

He pulled the pillow from her face and saw her cheeks were flushed as well. Grasping immediately what her state of mind was, he grinned wickedly and pulled her close so that she was now on her tummy tucked tightly against him. He rubbed her bottom a little more firmly.

“This is a good colour for you.”

“Lucius, stop it.”

“I think not Poppet. Perhaps this is a colour we should attempt to keep you in on a daily basis?”

Hermione quickly rolled onto her back and looked up at him, scowling, “I don’t think so. Maybe it is a colour that would be better suited to you.” She said heatedly.

His eyebrow lifted, “Are you suggesting we experiment more this evening?” His hair framed his face in loose waves, his lips quirked as he looked down at her.

“I suppose you know all about experimenting.”

“Indeed I do. In fact, I would go so far as to tell you I’m well passed the experimenting stage.”

“I bet you are.” She grumbled.

“Would you like to find out what I particularly like Poppet?”

“Ehmmm….” Oh goddess, desire began to spread within her. Her cheeks flamed further. She tucked her head down.

He pushed her chin up with his finger and said softly, “Last night was wonderful, I’m rather partial to that particular activity, it led to quite extraordinary results. You have nothing to be embarrassed about Hermione. Especially given how much you enjoyed it as well?” he asked gently.

She looked at him and nodded her head slowly.

“Excellent. Let me know when you are ready to experiment further.” He leaned down and pressed his lips against hers.

The next few days passed without incident. Hermione was in book heaven, taking her time exploring the vast Malfoy library. Lucius was slightly amused as he watched Hermione curled up in his favourite chair with stacks of books surrounding her. He shook his head slightly and returned to his vast paperwork in regards to his estates and many properties at the large, dark, oak desk. They had yet to continue their discussion from the other morning, he smiled to himself, he was very curious as to what the minx would surprise him with next. Given her love of learning, he had left several of his personal favourite books in her room.


****************************************************************************************


Lucius walked into Hermione’s bedroom to see her in sage, green, silk gown that hugged her curves quite beautifully. The gown was sleeveless and bared her back. A small train cascaded to the floor in various shades of greens. Her hair was piled loosely on her head in artful disarray. She was stepping into a pair of silver, strappy, heels. Madam Malkin is truly gifted he thought. “You look lovely.” He said walking up to her.

She smiled shyly at him. “You look rather dashing as well.”

He was in a wizarding tuxedo which hugged his body to perfection. He wore a silver and sage waistcoat and his hair was pulled back from his face. No man should look so incredibly gorgeous, she thought, appreciating the way he moved as he walked towards her.

He had a black velvet box in his hand and held it out to her. The very same box she had declined to open earlier in the week. She was rather embarrassed as to how she had behaved.

“Lucius, I am sorry I hadn’t opened this earlier. It wasn’t very well done of me.” She said softly.

“No it wasn’t but I forgive you anyway, Poppet.” He pulled on a wayward curl.

She took the box and opened it to reveal a lovely diamond briolette held in place by a platinum snake wrapped delicately around the diamond on a fine platinum chain. The diamond had to be at least four carats. Hermione had never seen anything quite so lovely. He took the necklace from her and stood behind her so he could clasp the necklace around her neck. It fell right above her breasts; light from the small chandelier above caught the diamond’s facets and set off a spray of rainbows across the floor and wall.

“Oh Lucius, it’s beautiful.” She said looking down at the necklace.

“Yes, very beautiful.” He said looking at her.

They met Draco in the foyer. Draco very similar to his father in appearance looked quite handsome in his formal wizarding robes.

“Ready to celebrate your engagement Draco?” Lucius clasped his son’s shoulder.

“I believe I am quite ready.” He smiled at both his father and Hermione.

“Granger, being a Malfoy looks good on you.” He smirked as they apparated to the Fawcett’s manor.

Lucius, Hermione and Draco joined the Fawcett’s and Draco’s fiancée in the receiving line to welcome guests to the engagement celebration. Hermione was standing next to Draco. Draco seemed to be taking perverse pleasure in introducing Hermione as his stepmother. They bantered back and forth as they welcomed the guests.

“This is surreal Granger or perhaps I should say Mother.”

“How about calling me Mum, less formal.”

Both Hermione and Draco burst out laughing.

“I hope you aren’t an evil stepmother. No giving me chores or beating me Granger."

“Only if you deserve it Malfoy.”

“You are more than welcome to try Granger.”

“Oh for Goddess sake, will you two stop.” Lucius shook his head at them. Though he wasn’t too terribly annoyed, people seemed to be laughing at the teasing happening between his son and wife.

Hermione and Draco look at each other sideways then burst out laughing again.

“Afraid not Father.” Draco grinned at his father then turned and began talking quietly with his fiancée.

“Not a chance. Blondie.” Hermione said softly to her husband.

“Did you just call me Blondie?”

“Well if the broom fits.”

“You’ll find out sooner rather than later if the broom fits my dear.” He smiled wickedly at her.

“Measuring for brooms are we?” A deep, low voice asked.

“Severus. I’m quite pleased that this event was able to pull you out of your lab and dungeons for a change." Lucius clasped his old friend’s hand.

“Alas a hardship to be sure but the boy is my godson. However, I am working on fine-tuning a particularly difficult potion at the moment.”

“Of course you are.” Lucius smirked at him.

“What’s the potion?” Hermione asked, somewhat surprised at the light banter between the two men.

Severus turned and looked down at Hermione disdainfully.

“Madam Malfoy.” He inclined his head towards her.

“Call me Hermione, Severus.” She cheekily responded. Taking absurd pleasure in calling her once most dreaded professor by his first name.

He scowled at her for a moment. “If you must know, Hermione, I’m currently working to extend the potion life of the draught of living death.”

“I would assume you are using wormwood of course, however, if you are thinking of increasing the strength you might consider using hellebore mixed with valerian.”

Snape snorted, “And to think people called you the brightest witch of your generation. I would not risk blowing up my laboratory, you silly girl.”

“Not if you added two drops of phoenix tears to prevent combustion when the hellebore and valerian begin to warm together.” Hermione said sweetly.

He sneered at her, muttering under his breath, “Insufferable know it all”. Hermione watched him move down the receiving line a slight smirk on her face.

“You are a very naughty girl. You goad him on purpose.” He whispered low in her ear. His warm breath danced across her ear and neck and she shivered slightly.

“I have no idea what you are talking about.” She looked at him her eyes wide with innocence.

He’s eyes narrowed, “Poppet, are you withholding secrets from me again.” He said silkily.

Hermione’s eyes widened for real this time and desire hummed low in her body. Lucius had already demonstrated how he dealt with her withholding information from him.

“Ehmmm….” She looked away from him. He discretely moved his hand under her wrap and cupped her bottom squeezing gently.

“All right, yes I do it on purpose.”

He lifted an eyebrow at her, “Do tell.”

“He’s fun to aggravate. It’s so easy to get a reaction out of him and he can’t take points or assign detentions any longer now can he.” She said airily.

“Not very Gryffindor of you, my dear.”

“Oh Lucius, don’t lecture me.”

“Yes, lecturing doesn’t appear to work very well with you, actions, however, do.” He smiled dangerously at her.

“I recall that actions seem to work quite well with you, Husband.” She smirked back at him.

Later in the evening, Lucius watched from across the room as Hermione laughed with Harry and Ron. The trio was surrounded by admirers, they hadn’t been seen publically together in quite a few years and showing up for Draco’s engagement party was creating quite a buzz throughout the ballroom. He watched as she put her arm around the ginger haired Potter girl. She seemed to have a smile for every person that approached her.

Lucius also noted how people were responding to the fact that one of the golden trio was now a Malfoy. Several potential business associates this evening had asked to meet with Lucius. These very same men whom he previously had been having tremendous difficulty setting up time with until his marriage to Hermione Granger. All in all, people were beginning to look a little differently at the Malfoy family, precisely what he had anticipated. However, he hadn’t anticipated his wife surrounded by male admirers. That would need to be rectified, he thought scowling slightly.

“You seem unable to keep your eyes off your wife Lucius. One might think you are besotted.” Severus Snape said silkily as he stepped up to Lucius.

“Don’t be absurd. I’m merely observing.” Lucius sneered at Snape.

“She cleans up rather well.” Severus said lightly

“Once you remove her quills and dusty robes.” Lucius said just as lightly.

“Indeed.” Severus retorted with a slight quirk to his lips as he watched the golden trio as well. “I’m actually surprised that she hasn’t driven you to madness yet.” He said flicking imaginary lint off his sleeve.

“Oh, she drives me to madness but not in the way you are implying Severus.” Lucius smirked.

“Interesting.” Snape said silkily.

"I'm curious Severus, was she right in regards to your potion?"

"She might be onto something. The girl is too bright for her own good." Snape reluctantly admitted.

“You have no idea. If you’ll excuse me, I think I will dance with my wife.” Lucius stepped forward towards Hermione.

“Very interesting,” Severus thought to himself.

“Hermione, big, blonde wizard headed your way.” Ginny whispered to Hermione. Hermione looked up and watched him make his way towards her with a very determined expression on his face.

“He really is sex on a stick.” Ginny leaned into Hermione. “It’s really quite unfair that anyone should look quite so good.”

“He does look rather delicious doesn’t he?” Hermione whispered back. “The git.”

He walked up to her, grasped her hand and swept her onto the dance floor. Holding her close to ensure everyone knew she was his.

“You are attracting quite a lot of attention my dear.” He said silkily to her.

“That’s because Harry, Ron, and I haven’t been seen together in quite a while.” She retorted.

“No, you are attracting quite a bit of male attention Hermione.”

“Oh please, as if!” she laughed.

He looked down at her and realized she had absolutely no idea how very lovely she was, quite a difference from Narcissa.

“You are exceptionally beautiful tonight and that is causing the attention.” He looked pointedly down at her.

She looked up at him and asked lightly, “Jealous?”

He smirked down at her, “Not at all just singularly possessive.”

“Isn’t that the same thing?” She laughed up at him.

“Severus is right, you are a bloody know it all.” He pulled her more tightly against him.

“Speaking of which, did I tell you about several books that were left in my bedroom?” she grinned at him knowingly.

“Ahhh Poppet, ready to experiment further?” He wiggled his eyebrows at her.

She giggled she couldn’t help it, this damn arrogant, domineering man was being quite silly and she had never found him more attractive.

“Indeed, I am,” she gave him a quite naughty little grin.

He felt himself harden as he looked at her mischievous face. He began counting down how much longer they would need to stay and groaned to himself. She enjoyed teasing him, knowing he would need to be patient. The delectable, little hoyden.