INSATIABLE

Love the reviews :) and I'm glad you are all warming up to Oberon. I should have the next chapter up soon... I've been sick all weekend so I'm house bound :( nothing better to do than update :). ps: pandora should be updated pretty soon btw - Love Esme
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That night Lucius left the Ministry alone, instead of floo’ing straight back to the Manor. He needed to clear his head; he needed to talk to Hermione about the threats he had been receiving and how they could involve her own safety. He knew she was furious with him and it was weighing on his mind all night, he knew he couldn’t just floo her apartment so he decided to look up her address through the ministries files and arrive the muggle way.

He always had a car waiting for him at the Ministry and slid into his sleek black Aston Martin. His mind was too focused on how to smooth everything over with Hermione and worry for her safety that he had essentially forgotten about his own well being. He hadn’t realized that he was being trailed all the way from the Ministry to Hermione’s apartment.

Lucius parked his car and as he shut the door, he felt a searing pain in his back. The assailant was silent and swift as he pierced through Lucius’s back with a poisoned blade. Lucius blacked out and slid down to the pavement instantly as Oberon descended upon the unknown assailant. Oberon stopped the man’s heart with a simple wave of his hand over the man’s chest and had apparated both Lucius and his attacker to St. Mungo’s.

As Hermione watched Lucius sleep, listening to his shallow breathing, she realized that if he died, a great part of her would die with him. His room in St. Mungo’s was exquisite, yet all the finery could never fully disguise the sterile and cold atmosphere of the hospital room.

She had lost her place in her book a long time ago, contenting herself on just watching his eye lids flutter occasionally, wishing she could see those beautiful storm cloud eyes of his. Draco would be back soon with tea, he had become a great comfort to her these past couple days, even helping her out at work, as she was now the fill in Minister of Magic.

The logical part of her brain could understand why Lucius wanted her to marry Draco; he could appoint her as the next Minister of Magic easily if she were family. She knew it was a patriarchal chain of succession, and the wizarding world held on to it’s traditions for dear life, though he would be breaking a great deal of traditions if he did appoint her.

“You’re beautiful when you’re lost in your thoughts ma chère.” It was Oberon’s smooth and luxurious voice coming from the side of Lucius’s bed. To Hermione he virtually materialized into the room, though she didn’t hear the loud ‘crack’ of someone apparating. She knew Oberon had a natural stealth from being such an ancient magical being. “You scared me… come to visit?” she said breathlessly. Oberon simply nodded his glorious head to confirm, a sad but beautiful smile across his Cupid’s bow lips as he looked down at Lucius.

“Truly beautiful is he not?” he asked her quietly. She watched as Oberon looked over Lucius lovingly, he looked like his guardian angel, and for all she knew he practically was if he had not followed his instincts that Lucius was in trouble. “How long have you known Lucius, if I may ask” she said as she studied his emerald eyes. “You may ask me anything your heart desires, I have known Lucius his entire life,” he said simply.

“I’ve never been this scared in my entire life, if he doesn’t survive…” she trailed on but Oberon quieted her with a wave of his hand. “ He is a fighter this one, but you are scared for one reason in particular, but I wonder if you even know what it is” he drawled in his light French accent.

She was unnerved at the way she felt he was looking right through her. “I can’t take over for him… I’m not experienced enough” she faltered. “Hermione, you don’t have to hide it from me, I can see it plainly… you will make a beautiful mère” he said with a knowing smile. “What?” she said as her eyebrows furrowed in confusion. “Mother, you’re going to be a mother Hermione.” She had been feeling strange lately, morning sickness and more tired than usual, but she had just thought it was just the stress from Lucius’s attack. She stared at him in shock and disbelief, unable to articulate a rebuttal.

“You have that special sparkle in your eyes, a shine… all mothers have it you know. It is his, is it not? Naturally it is,” he said with a determined sparkle in his stunning green eyes. “I don’t know what you are talking about Oberon, I assure you I am NOT pregnant,” she said shakily.

“You are ma chère, you will see… you must know he loves you more than anything Hermione,” he said in a sweet whisper. She stood by the side of his bed and watched his eyelids flutter. She felt like crying and the tears were stinging her eyes already. “Adieu ma chère” he whispered to her and swiftly left the room. She looked up from Lucius’s bed and saw she was alone.

She rested her hand on her stomach, how could she be pregnant? She took her birth control potions regularly and they were far more effective than muggle birth control. She somehow knew Oberon was right. She knew this would change everything in her world.

Her brain could understand the complicated man before her easily, yet her heart remained stubbornly ignorant to his wishes. If he loved her, why would he want her to marry his own son? She couldn’t stand the idea of Lucius just being out of reach of her fingertips, always visible yet never attainable. She knew he came from a different breed than she, marrying for love was a beautiful ideal to the muggle world, yet the pureblood realm he hailed from married for almost every reason but love. Could they be happy like that? Constantly wanting, always insatiable for each other?

The young girl inside of her swooned at how romantic and tragic it would be to sacrifice everything for love, even if it meant to never fully embrace him as her own. She shook these thoughts from her head as she watched Draco’s lanky form enter the room. He looked so much like Lucius it was uncanny, with his platinum hair and silver eyes shining.

They sat in silence for a short while until Draco broke the silence. “Hermione, I’m not going to pretend my father didn’t mention his designs to arrange a marriage between us” he cleared his throat as Hermione stared back at him. “I know you must be thinking the same things I thought, but I’ve given it some real consideration and I just want you to know I would be honored to be your husband if you will have me… we needn’t speak on this anymore if it makes you uncomfortable, I just thought you should know” he said simply.

She sipped her tea and stared at Lucius’s chest rising and falling. How long would she punish herself for loving the heart that beat inside of that chest? And if she accepted Draco, would she feel entitled to love him again?

“Draco, in no way am I asking for you to put your life on hold for me, if you love another you should be with her. I’m so confused anymore, I just wish I could get a little guidance, I’m surprised I’m saying this, I just wish I could talk to him again” she said as her eyes rested back on Lucius. Draco gave her a knowing nod and the pair sank back into a comfortable silence. Hermione continued to stay by his side as much as she could, most of the time Draco was with her and Oberon on occasion, but tonight she had him to herself once Draco left for the evening. She watched Draco’s sleek blonde hair fall down his back as he left his father’s hospital room. She suddenly realized she needed to find a father for the baby growing inside of her.

She stood by the side of Lucius’s bed and stroked his silken hair as she stared down at him. “Still giving me the silent treatment then?” she asked his unconscious form. She gave him a sad smile and fought the urge to kiss him and slap him at the same time; she blamed herself for luring him to her apartment and all the horrible things that had happened since.

She caressed his cheek with the back of her hand and sighed heavily. “I wish I had my time turner back Lucius… I wish I never said those horrible things to you before I left” she trailed on. She kicked off her shoes and slowly crawled up onto the hospital bed with him. She curled into his side and rested her head on his chest.

“I won’t make it without you, I need your help… with everything. I can’t take this job on my own… Draco has been so helpful, I actually consider him one of my closest friends now. I know… laugh at me for it” she said into his chest. She felt the tears sting her eyes and desperately needed to hear his voice. “You can’t leave me Lucius, it’s all my fault you were attacked in the first place, I’m sorry for being so stubborn and not taking your lead… I’m so lonely without you,” she said with tears streaming down her face.

“I’ll marry him Lucius, I’ll do anything for you to just come back to me… I love you.” She was crying hard into his chest and hadn’t seen when his eyes flashed open, but she let out a gasp when she felt his hand snake onto her shoulder. “I love you more,” he rasped out.