Love Thy Enemy

CHAPTER 17: A Good Day







Normally, Lucius would be at his best sitting at the front of the boardroom as he listened to the many ways he could be of assistance to the various departments within the Ministry of Magic. It was bloody fantastic being so disgustingly wealthy and to have pockets large enough for so many important people to fit within. However, at this moment, much to his annoyance, his mind was elsewhere, specifically at home with the witch who had so recently come apart in his arms.





He wasn’t sorry when the meeting finally closed. He had placed himself advantageously as a supporter of the issues that would benefit him the most, as well as raise appropriate amounts of money to fund the projects that would make him, and his other business interests the most money. He was on his way out when Shacklebolt caught sight of him and called him into his office for a private chat.





“Have a seat, Lucius. Can I get you a drink?” The minister asked politely. Lucius refused the drink as he sat stiffly in front of the Minister’s desk.





“How can I be of service to you Minister?” Lucius asked, not really interested in discussing ministry business anymore this day.





“I was just wondering how things are going at home.” Kingsley asked, reclining back in his chair and crossing his ankles on top of his desk. Lucius grinned slightly; he figured that he would become curious.





“Far better than I could ever have imagined.” Lucius answered, amazed at how much truth actually lay within that answer.





“I have to say, I barely recognized her at the theater.” Kingsley reached for the paper sitting at the corner of his desk. “And of course I had not expected to see this gracing the front of the society pages.”





“Oh yes, we were not very pleased at having such a private moment plastered about in the press, but what can you do.” Lucius smiled, relaxing back into his chair as came to the realization that he did in fact have the upper hand.





“The two of you came to common ground rather quickly. How is it that it took you two years of public displays and visits to my court to find this truce?” Kingsley asked, suspiciously.





“As you said, our exchanges occurred when we would come across one another in public. Turns out that in private we discovered that our rather…explosive…emotions regarding the other were easily redirected to more pleasant ways of spending our time.” Lucius had a rather smug smile on his face. Kingsley’s eyes widened and he cleared his throat.





“Very good, as long as you are no longer battling in public. I received the invitation to your wedding ball, please inform Hermione that my wife and I will be attending.” Kingsley seemed a little on edge and that bolstered Lucius’s ego a little more.





“She will be thrilled, as it is Minister, I must get home. It upsets her when I am late for dinner.” Lucius smiled as he stood. Kingsley nodded and said farewell, watching Lucius exit his office and close the door softly behind him.





Kingsley sat back, a little confused and a little vindicated as well. It appeared that not only was the sentence effectively preventing them from their public displays, but it was uniting two wizards who may have never seen the truth otherwise.















Lucius was actually whistling a tune when he apparated into his home a short time later. It had all gone better than he imagined, not only had he successfully negotiated his business dealings, but he had been able to verify the minister’s curiosity over he and Hermione’s seemingly perfect marriage. He found this to be one of the most enjoyable days he had spent in a very long time.





He found Hermione in the dining room, already halfway through her dinner. She nearly jumped out of her chair when he leaned down and kissed her cheek.



“Sorry I am late.” He smiled, propping his cane against the table leg. “Shacklebolt wanted to speak with me privately after the meeting.”



Hermione was staring at him in utter confusion. Who was this rather chipper wizard and what had he done with her ornery spouse?



“Things went well I take it?” She asked as a house-elf appeared to remove her plate and another to set Lucius’s in front of him. He noticed how all of his servants smiled at her when they saw her.





“You haven’t freed my servants have you?” He asked. “They seem awfully fond of you.” Milly herself appeared to serve Hermione a large dish of chocolate mouse topped with freshly whipped cream. “You have the kitchen head serving you personally?”





“I eat my lunch in the kitchens when at home, Lucius. If you were nicer to them then they would treat you much the same.” She said.





“I don’t see the point in socializing with the servants, they are here to do a job, not be friendly.” He said, eagerly settling into his food.





“You never answered me about your meeting. Did it go well with Kingsley?” She knew that discussing humane treatment of his servants was an act in futility, so she didn’t even bother trying. She would oversee them, and make certain that they were all healthy and happy.





“He was very curious about how things were going at home, and of course about the photo in the paper.” He was smiling as he ate, lost in his thoughts of flouting the ministry. Hermione however was saddened somewhat at the thought that his tender treatment of her stemmed only from his desire to prove that he could not be leashed.





“I’m glad you had a productive afternoon, Lucius.” She said quietly, reaching for her spoon so that she could medicate he wounded pride with chocolate. Lucius noted the doleful tone in her voice and turned his attention to her. He started to inquire after her wellbeing but was spellbound by the site of her sliding the spoon from between her lips. The tip of her tongue darted out to catch a dab of whipped cream from the corner of her mouth before she brought another spoonful to her lips.





“Can I have a taste?” He asked as she pulled the spoon from her lips again. She furrowed her brow, slightly amazed that the man who wouldn’t even touch a public door handle would want to taste her desert. She dipped the spoon back into the chocolate and offered him a bite. Lucius shook his head and took the spoon from her hand and pulled her into his lap. “I said I wanted a taste, not a bite.” He pressed the spoon against her lips and watched her pretty pink lips wrap around the silver as he withdrew it. He immediately covered her lips with his, forcing her mouth open so he could slide his tongue inside, savoring her own sweet flavor combined with the chocolate that lingered on her lips and tongue





It was the most decadent thing Hermione had ever experienced in her life. Everything the man did was sensual, a lesson in eroticism that stole her ability to think clearly.





“Far more delicious than merely having a bite.” He whispered against her lips. His mind began to picture her spread out on the table while he sampled the confection from various other erogenous zones on her body and he felt his arousal begin to stir.





“Lucius….” The breathy way she said his name caused the hair on the back of his neck to rise.





“Don’t say anything.” He nudged her gently from his lap, smiling slightly. She stood beside him and stared for a moment.





“It’s been a long day, I think I’ll have a shower and turn in early.” She whispered.





“I will be up later, sweet dreams Hermione.” Lucius looked back to is food, his stomach almost hurt as he fought against the tender feelings towards the young woman leaving the room. Was he coming down with something?