What I've become

A/N
The chapter named as so because while I was reading it, I found similarities¡K. Could just be me though

Chapter 17- Beauty and the Beast

The sound of crunching and tinkering glass awoke Hermione the following morning; her arm was dangling off the bed, her finger tips just brushing to carpet.
Raising herself up she wondered why she was in a different room, she remembered wine¡Ka lot of wine.

She remembered Lucius striking her upon each cheek and she instinctively raised both her hands to her cheeks and winced in pain.

She then remembered why Lucius had struck her, the things he told her, voices in her head and finally the room exploding at her will¡K.after that she had trouble remembering the rest.

Studying the room her eyes fell on the chair beside her ¡§Lucius was sat there,¡¨ her mind told her, she then remembered him holding her hand and rubbing her face gently, then begging him not to leave her alone, Hermione blushed at the memory.
The sound of tinkling and crunching glass continued, Hermione swung her legs out of bed and climbed to her feet, walking to the door and stumbling slightly as she did so.

Entering the hallway she made her way over to the only other open door using the wall for support, standing in the doorway she spied Lucius with his back to her twirling his wand artistically so that various items fixed themselves and zoomed back to their proper place.

After fixing the bed Lucius turned and spotted Hermione in the mouth of the door.
¡§Good morning¡¨ Lucius said brightly, Hermione blushed again, deeper this time.
¡§Good morning,¡¨ she mumbled back, and then suddenly feeling dizzy she grabbed the doorframe for support.

¡§Are you ok?¡¨ Lucius asked his face furrowed with worry as he went to her side.
¡§I just feel weak,¡¨ Hermione admitted, Lucius took her arm and guided her to the newly restored bed.

¡§Would you prefer breakfast here rather than downstairs?¡¨ Lucius asked as he moved the covers over Hermione.

¡§Sure,¡¨ Hermione mumbled shyly.

¡§Grubbs!¡¨ Lucius shouted and the elf appeared instantly baring not one but two trays of food.

Lucius relived the elf of his burden and dismissed him; he placed a tray across Hermione¡¦s legs before taking a seat at the end of her bed.
Hermione picked up a slice of buttered toast and nibbled at it, silence fell as they ate, Hermione¡¦s eyes darting to Lucius every now and again sure as she did that he had been looking at her a split second before.

Hermione¡¦s plate was clean before Lucius¡¦ and she sat patiently for him to finish nerves about what he was going to say about the night before.
Once his plate was clear Lucius got to his feet and removed Hermione¡¦s tray and called Grubbs to take them away.

Alone again Lucius turned to Hermione and noticed her nerves temperament, her hand twisting the bed covers and her teeth scraping her lower lip every few minutes.
¡§We need to talk about last night,¡¨ Lucius said softly as he took his place at the end of the bed.

¡§What about it?¡¨ Hermione mumbled her cheeks flushing with colour, Lucius noticing this hurried on.

¡§Last night you said you believed me about your powers,¡¨ Lucius explained noting the relieved expression wash over Hermione¡¦s face.
¡§Oh!¡¨ Hermione exclaimed.

¡§You do remember don¡¦t you?¡¨ Lucius asked his blond eyebrows knitting together.
¡§I admit it¡¦s a bit hazy but I remember enough,¡¨ Hermione replied happy enough that the conversation had steered clear of her behaviour the night before.

¡§So you believe me?¡¨ Lucius asked again his voice serious, Hermione raised her eyes to his and looked at him hopelessly.

¡§I don¡¦t like to admit it, but after what I did¡K¡¨ Hermione said her eyes drifting to the newly restored windows, remember them exploding at her will, ¡§I have no choice¡¨ she finished with a sigh, Lucius smiled broadly.

¡§But I don¡¦t know what you expect me to do about it,¡¨ Hermione said making Lucius smile waver.

¡§I¡¦m a good person and a good witch and I have spent years serving the order trying to bring you-know-who down and I don¡¦t intend to change that,¡¨ Hermione said her eyes on Lucius her voice soft and almost plea-full, Lucius held her gaze seeing the plea in her eyes also.

¡§You are a good person Hermione, too good perhaps to realize that you¡¦re fighting a loosing battle,¡¨ Lucius said bluntly making Hermione¡¦s face drop into a scowl.
¡§There¡¦s No need to get angry I¡¦m merely saying the truth as I see it,¡¨ Lucius said with an uncharacteristic chuckle.

¡§You say you have served the order for years, where has it gotten you?¡¨ Lucius asked Hermione who opened her moth but with out waiting for her answer Lucius went on.
¡§And what ever they asked you to do¡Kdo they thank you for it, do they appreciate your help?¡¨ Lucius asked, Hermione still had her mouth open looking slightly sheepish.

¡§All I am saying is you should do something¡Kfor you, you should open up and embrace your own destiny instead of helping everyone achieve theirs,¡¨ Lucius said his voice adopting a softer tone. Hermione licked her dry lips her words failing her.
¡§Just think about it,¡¨ Lucius said softly, Hermione merely nodded her eyes on her hands.

¡§If it helps you may read the legacy yourself,¡¨ Lucius suggested and before Hermione could answer Lucius called Grubbs to his side.

¡§There¡¦s a book on the desk in the library bring it to Miss Granger at once,¡¨ Lucius ordered and the elf bowed and left in an instant.

¡§Perhaps it would help for you to know everything,¡¨ Lucius said Hermione merely nodded, her eyes still on her hands, Lucius opened his mouth to say more but a popping sound interrupted him.

Turning he is surprised to see Axel rather than the returning Grubbs.
¡§What is it Axel?¡¨ Lucius snapped.

¡§Its mistress Narcissa sir, she is waking up,¡¨ the elf squeaked as he bows, Lucius let out an irritable groan.

¡§Very well¡KI will be along shortly,¡¨ Lucius said dismissing the elf with a wave of his hand.

Lucius turned to Hermione again to find her now looking at him with an alarmed expression.

¡§My wife has been ill.¡¨ He explained, Hermione lowered her eyes again,
¡§I must go, I will come to see you later.¡¨

¡§Will you be locking the door again?¡¨ Hermione asked quietly.
¡§I must,¡¨ Is all Lucius says before leaving and sealing the door behind him.

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2

When Lucius arrived at Narcissa¡¦a room she was already sat up in her bed being served by Axel, ¡§Glad to see you¡¦re awake¡¨ Lucius said when Narcissa had spotted him the doorway.

¡§What happened?¡¨ Narcissa asked her voice weak and croaky, ¡§we don¡¦t know¡¨ Lucius replied casting a dark glance at Axel.

¡§We found you on the Library floor with enough fire whiskey in you to drown a hippogriff,¡¨ Lucius said moving further into the room, Narcissa raised her eyebrows at her husbands attempt at humour.

¡§Why are you so happy?¡¨ Narcissa asked sitting up a little straighter in bed, Lucius cleared his throat and gave a shrug in response.
¡§You should remain in bed for a few day to let your strength return,¡¨ Lucius hurried on before Narcissa could continue.

Narcissa¡¦s eyes fell to her chest as she mumbled, ¡§But I was hoping that you and I could have dinner together tonight?¡¨ Narcissa said with a hopeful tone.
¡§I¡KI believe you would do well to for awhile before you push yourself too much,¡¨ Lucius said making Narcissa¡¦s eyes snap up angrily.

¡§Its just dinner Lucius, what harm could it do!¡¨ Narcissa snapped, Lucius sighed in patiently and closed his eyes.

¡§Don¡¦t just sigh at me Lucius, all I am asking is for one simple dinner with my husband,¡¨ Narcissa said her voice now calm but tears forming in her eyes.
¡§I¡¦m not in the mood for this right now,¡¨ Lucius growled rubbing the bridge of his nose.

¡§Lucius¡K¡¨ Narcissa whispered trying to hold back her tears.
¡§I will come see you later¡KAxel will bring you dinner,¡¨ Lucius said coldly turning his back on Narcissa and striding from the room Leaving Narcissa to sub come to tears.

3

After Lucius had left Grubbs had returned with the book Lucius had requested hand handed it to Hermione then with short bow departed with a pop.

Once she had opened the book and started reading she found it imposable to put it down, she had read Sahar¡¦s Legacy first and found it interesting but it was all the same stuff that Lucius had told her the night before.

She then started to read other legacy¡¦s and old prophesy and found them fascinating to say the least, she had just finished reading a rather interesting story about the four founders of Hogwarts and the wonders they could do with there magic, she was surprised that she found the acts of Salazar amazed her more than the others.

She was just about to turn to the next page when Lucius knocked lightly and entered; Hermione lifted her face from the book and smiled at him unwillingly but was almost shy when Lucius returned the smile warmly.

¡§Finding the book interesting?¡¨ Lucius asked eyeing Hermione¡¦s obvious comfort, as she was sat with her back against the headrest, her legs crossed and the book rest in-between them. Her hair fanned out along her shoulders and some strands hanging loosely over the book.

¡§Yes it is very interesting¡¨ Hermione replied with a nod as she closed the book and brushed her hair back with her free hand.

¡§I knew you would enjoy it.¡¨ Lucius chuckled taking his spot at the end of the bed.
¡§I have an open mind when it comes to books,¡¨ Hermione said with a warm smile making Lucius¡¦s face feel hot.

¡§Do¡K.hmm, do you remember anything else about last night,¡¨ Lucius asked clumsily breaking his gaze away from Hermione¡¦s smile, Hermione¡¦s heart leaped into her throat.

¡§¡KYes.¡¨ Hermione whispered shyly.

¡§You remember me staying the night with you?¡¨ Lucius asked, Hermione blushed but nodded her head, her sparkling green eyes remaining firmly on Lucius¡¦s grey ones. ¡§I must admit something to you Hermione¡¨ Lucius said breaking eye contact his voice low with a hint of shyness.

¡§When I first saw the prophesy, it plagued me. I spent years in that prison cell dwelling on it¡Kthen I was free to do what ever I wanted again,¡¨ Lucius said his eyes drifting back up to Hermione¡¦s.

¡§But that prophesy haunted me still, So I made a plan to follow and observe you, In the beginning I wanted to use you for my own personal gain, but after only a mere few days after watching you I found myself doing it because I wanted to.

So I got you a job at the governors board and started to get to know you¡¨ Lucius paused and looked at Hermione to see how she had reacted to his words, but her face remained unchanged.

¡§Then I discovered your Birthmark and my curiosity increases¡Kthen I brought you here and spent time with you and¡K¡¨ Lucius voice died on his lips, his eyes scanning Hermione¡¦s face.

¡§I started to have feelings for you.¡¨ Lucius finished, Hermione¡¦s eye swivelled back and forth across Lucius¡¦s as if trying to see a lie there.

¡§I did too,¡¨ Hermione whispered shyly her heart beating fast, their eyes remained upon each other for a long tender moment.

¡§But this is crazy,¡¨ Lucius said loudly as he got to his feet, ¡§I¡¦m married and I¡¦m old enough to be your father too¡¨ Lucius said, Hermione¡¦s eyes fell.

¡§I thought you were going to say it was because I¡¦m a Mudblood,¡¨ Hermione said with amusement, but Lucius heard the disappointment behind it.

¡§Well there¡¦s that too¡¨ Lucius replied sarcastically making Hermione smile weakly her gaze returning once more to him, and silence fell between them again as they gazed deeply at each other both knowing that there feelings should be wrong.

Without breaking the silence Hermione slid her legs out of the bed and stood up, Lucius opened his arms slightly for her and she gladly walked into them her head resting on his shoulder as he held her to him.

A couple of minutes passed while they hugged in silence until Lucius sighed sadly and placed his lips softly on Hermione¡¦s forehead, breaking the kiss he began to pull away but Hermione, standing on her tiptoes pushed her lips to his in a deep kiss.

Lucius relaxed and drew her close to him once again his fingers going to her hair, Hermione¡¦s tongue glided over Lucius¡¦s lower lip making him shudder and kiss her more fiercely until a soft moan escaped her lips.

Lucius suddenly hissed and broke away from the kiss, a hand gripping his wand arm where the dark mark lay hidden.

¡§He would have to call me now!¡¨ Lucius thought moodily.

¡§I¡¦m sorry!¡¨ Hermione gasped wiping her mouth with the back of her hand, believing that Lucius had just rejected her.

¡§It¡¦s not you, it¡¦s¡K¡¨ Lucius said rubbing his arm, Hermione frowned before a look of realization crossed her face ad she mouthed a silent O.
¡§I must go,¡¨ Lucius said breathing deeply his mind in over-drive, Hermione stood with her hand across her still racing heart.

¡§I understand,¡¨ Hermione replied and smiled shyly, Lucius gazed at her for a long moment until he had made his mind up.

¡§You may go home,¡¨ Lucius whispered.

¡§What?¡¨ Hermione gasped.

¡§I¡¦m letting you¡Kwhen I leave, I won¡¦t lock the door, your free to go¡Khere is your wand¡¨ Lucius said removing it from within his cloak and handing it to her.

¡§But you were right about me,¡¨ Hermione said moving forward and taking her wand from him.

¡§I know¡Kbut you said yourself, you don¡¦t want anything to do with it, so you may leave, I want bother you with it again,¡¨ Lucius explained, Hermione gazed at him in wonder.

¡§I must go,¡¨ Lucius said as the burning increased, heading for the door and without looking back he left the room leaving the door open and a dumfounded Hermione.

A/N¡K¡K.
I really didn¡¦t Like the beginning of this chapter but try as I might I could not make it better, so I hope you like it.
I found the end of this chapter very hard to write as I never normally do much romance in my fics¡K.so love it or hate¡K.let me know¡Khint, hint¡K..Please review ƒº
Oh and from here on out the chapters are going to get a little darker and¡K¡Ksteamier lol
Love RoxieRose