Adventurous Hearts Part 2: Nimue's Island

Chapter 14: A Not So Good bye







It was dawn when Hermione crept from the bed and Lucius arms. She couldn’t seem to help it, when they slept she gravitated towards him and he always welcomed her, holding her close as they slumbered. She stood at the bedside and stared down at him; his beautiful, angelic visage was so deceiving, giving him the impression of being harmless when he was anything but. As much as she tried to fight it, she was his.







Severus had left the room earlier. He tried to keep from waking them, but she knew the moment he left the bed. Still wearing her nightgown, Hermione walked down the hall to the study where she found Severus sitting in a large chair near the window.







“Anything interesting?” She asked softly. Severus looked up to see her standing in the doorway in her nightgown, her long hair hanging free and mussed slightly.







“They are beginning to go back, soon we can leave.” He said. “And you will go to him.”







“How long have you known?” She asked, her voice soft as she moved across the room.







“That you are in love with him? Since the day I saw you by the lake.” He said, opening his arms so that she could curl into his lap.







“Are you angry with me?” She asked, laying her head on his shoulder.







“No, I am not angry, Minute. I will miss you though.” He said.







“You aren’t going to cut me out of your life are you?” She asked tearfully.









“No, never that. I will miss being your lover though.” He kissed the top of her head and inhaled the sweet scent of her curls. “If he makes you happy, then I am happy.”







“It isn’t easy for me to let you go. I do love you, you know that don’t you?” She whispered.







“I do know that, Minute, I never doubted it, but you are in love with him.” He said softly, holding her close while he still could. “If he ever hurts you…”







“You will be the first to know.” She said.









“Well, if things don’t work out, I am always available to satisfy your needs.” He chuckled.







“Mayhap you will fall in love yourself, marry and raise a small litter of Snapes.” She smiled.







“No, if I was ever to cross that line it would have been for you.” He said, pushing a stray curl back behind her ear. She gasped softly and stared at him with teary eyes full of surprise. “All you ever had to do was say the word and I would have married you. Never have I considered it for another.”







“Severus…” She sobbed his name, tears flowing freely as her heart broke. She felt horrible for not seeing; just assuming that he felt nothing in the way of romantic love for her.









“Don’t cry for me, tears are wasted for an old tyrant like myself.” He said, wiping the tears from her cheeks. “It’s better this way, I would make a horrible husband and probably an even worse father. Lucius has done both and despite his issues, he was rather good at it. He is better suited for it.”







“I’m not planning a wedding, Severus. Just making the choice to see where it goes.” She said. “I didn’t want to hurt you.”







“I will be fine, Minute. All I ever really wanted was your happiness, as long as he treats you well, I am happy for you.” He said. “So…from this moment on, you are my best friend and no longer my lover. So kiss that part of me goodbye.”







With tears rolling down her cheeks she pressed her lips to his, kissing him tenderly as they let that part of their friendship go.







~*@*~*@*~*@*~*@*~







Lucius leaned back against the mezzanine railing and stared through the study door as Severus cuddled Hermione in his lap. In all the years he had known Severus, he had never seen him tender with anyone, only her. The man who was cold and hard hearted to everyone he ever met, was soft, playful and warm towards the little witch who looked so perfect curled in his lap in that moment.







They had been there for each other for an eternity. Always leaning on one another, helping each other, loving each other. Her desperation the night before had nearly broken him, her pain at the thought of Severus in danger, that he might leave her alone should have been enough to seal things for him, but it was seeing her there in the pale morning light that did it.







The way she rested her head on his shoulder, so comfortable in his arms. Her face turned up to his as he smiled down at her. The man who he had never seen smile seemed to do nothing but around her. She made him happy and clearly she was more bound to him than she claimed. He saw her hand come up to rest on the side of his face, her lips lift to his and Lucius closed his eyes.







He couldn’t compete with so many years of them being together. He couldn’t begin to imagine what had been shared between them over the years. And he couldn’t bring himself to come between them.







~*@*~*@*~*@*~*@*~







Hermione noticed that Lucius didn’t say anything as they gathered their things and headed to the beach. The boat was tied at the dock and this time they were able to get to it without being blasted back to the sand by the wards. The journey back was uncomfortable, there was something different and Hermione couldn’t quite figure out what.







“I hate walking away without doing something to help the souls trapped on the island.” Hermione said, looking back at the tropical landscape.







“The curse said that it can only be broken when the line of Pendragon is upon the throne.” Severus said. “Hermione, the line of Pendragon is no more, there is no heir and I doubt the current royal family would step aside regardless.”







“There has to be a cousin…an uncle…someone somewhere that can be traced. I will find a relative, however distant. Did it say that they had to rule?”





“Well, not specifically….” He could see the wheels turning in her head and he knew better than to try and convince her otherwise. If anyone could find away to break the islands curse, it would be her.







As they cleared the mist they could see the small army of people waiting for them, cheering when they saw all three of them in the boat safe and sound.







“Dr. Granger!” Claire grabbed her and hugged her with all her strength. Hermione may have embraced her back had her arms not been pinned to her side. “I was so afraid you had died!”







“Yes, well I am just fine thanks to Severus and Lucius.” Hermione said, wriggling free. Claire stepped towards Lucius who took a step back and simply smiled.







“Hello again.” He said and Hermione nearly laughed at the disappointed look on Claire’s face.







“Thank goodness you are safe.” Harry Potter stepped from the crowd, dressed in his auror robes.







“Harry…what are you doing here?” She asked, Surprised to see the man who once upon a time had been her best friend.







“I was notified when you went missing. But I am here on official business.” He said, turning to Lucius. “Lucius Malfoy, please turn around and cross your wrists behind your back.”







“Harry!” Hermione watched, horrified as Lucius turned and assumed the position.







“Lucius Malfoy, you are under arrest for the violation of your probation and the terms of your parole.” Harry fastened the magical cuffs around his wrists with a certain amount of satisfaction.







“No! He is only in violation because he came to save me!” Hermione cried, grabbing at Harry’s arm. “Please, Harry!”









“I’m only doing my job.” He said with a shrug.







“And enjoying every bloody minute of it too.” Severus drawled, surprised to see the glint of sadistic pleasure in the young mans eyes. It was almost familiar.







“Lucius…” Hermione clutched the lapels of his cloak. “I’m so sorry.”







“You are safe, that’s all that matters to me.” He said softly. “Be happy.” He said, wincing when Harry jerked roughly on his bound wrists.







“Let her go and prepare for apparation, Malfoy.” Harry sneered.







“Where are you taking him?” Hermione asked.







“To the ministry, he’s to stand before Shacklebolt in the morning.” Harry said. “Back off of my prisoner, Mione.”







“Lucius, I will take care of this, I will contact Kingsley immediately and fix this, I promise.” She said, rising to her toes to kiss him quickly before Harry jerked him backwards and disapparated with a scowl on his face for Hermione.







Severus stepped up behind her and laid his hand on her shoulder.







“You knew this was likely, Minute.” He said softly.









“I know…I just…I haven’t gotten to talk to him and Harry…gods Severus, he was so mean!” She said, wiping away her tears.







“Potter has some issues, let’s get you home and cleaned up, then we can go see Kingsley, I’ll go with you.” Severus said.







“Alright….Claire, as of right now the Island is officially off limits. It is too dangerous for a team to excavate. I have sketches and some artifacts recovered as well as detailed notes about the island itself. Consider this project closed. I will schedule a lecture as soon as I have sorted a few things out.” She said. “Everyone else can just plan on taking the next month off. I need you to begin pulling everything you can find on the Pendragon family, lineages, geneology, family trees, whatever you can find.”







“Yes, Dr. Granger.” Claire said softly, she had never seen her boss emotional, was convinced that the Doctor had no tender feelings at all yet there she stood openly crying for Lucius Malfoy even as she tried to organize the team.









“Alright, Severus…I’m ready.” She said, laying her hand on his arm as they disapparated back to her house.







~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~







Updating tonight because I have to work early in the morning! Enjoy…1 more chappie for this one and then Merlin’s Tomb to complete the series…..