If You Go Down To The Woods Today

Pittwitch – I was sure somebody would love the stasis spell, me to, actually.



Angel: I have read this so many times, and I got hot... I’m the writer... not supposed to get hot by your own writing, it’s like a comedian laughing at his own jokes, thanks anyway.



Lisa: Isn’t he though, yep, he certainly could take me on a broomstick, moonlit ride.



Dee Dee: Nope, you’re right, it never is. Finally, I have realised that this couldn’t be a one-shot and have started a full on plot for this, I hope you like it.



FairlightMuse: Yep, it was rather fun writing it. So, liked it then? Thanks for liking the detail. Here’s an update.



ShilohDarke: I was until yesterday when my Lucimuse struck and took a sexy turn. Anyway, I hope the continuing chapter is worth the wait.



La Bibliographe: Ooh, next story. I have write what is inside me at the time. That’s why I have so many stories on the go, it all depends on the muses, and mine are very naughty at times.



Avanell: Thanks, here’s more.



BuckyKattGirl: Really? Well, here’s another Luscious chapter. I hope you like him in this one.



Mistress Malfoy: I know what you mean.



Anon: You got your wish.



Criosdan: Thanks; I hope this is just as good.



cateye: I certainly wouldn’t mind... I almost had a first time with a Severus type. Anyway, here’s what happened after.



DB: Hint taken and obeyed... here’s more for you anyway.



An Unpleasant Revelation



Hermione woke up the next morning with a huge smile on her face. She knew she should not feel the way that she does feel but she couldn’t help it. She had the Legendary Lucius Malfoy as her first (and if she had anything to do with it, only one!) Though she knew she had been deluding herself with that fact. She couldn’t tame Lucius Malfoy, just like she couldn’t tame a dragon.



She sighed as she flung the sheets aside and got out of her bed. She smiled when she stepped up to the mirror. She picked up her brush and ran it through her hair. She then sat on the stool and started to put make up on. She hardly ever bothered but she thought light, neutral, tones would be fit for school; she shuddered at the thought of the amount of make up Lavender Brown had put on. She couldn’t believe that of all people to turn Goth it had to be Lavender... just because it was fashionable. Hermione rolled her eyes; FASHIONABLE? She sneered.



May she rot in the all seven floors of hell before she turned fashionable! Hermione thought. She had just finished applying the make up and was about to get dressed when there was a knock on the door. Ginny burst into the room and looked at her friend. She was glowing.



“Harry and I did it last night!” she squealed.



“Wow,” Hermione breathed. She was about to say that she got some last night to but didn’t when she remembered the past history between Lucius Malfoy and Ginny Weasley.



“I can’t wait to meet our new Defence teacher,” Ginny breathed loudly. “I wonder who it’s going to be!”



“I can’t believe the last one only lasted a few weeks,” Hermione snorted. “Probably heard who had it before and scarpered. Oh, well, we’ll find out at breakfast, won’t we? I hope he’s gorgeous!”



“Hermione?” Ginny gasped. “What’s happened to you? You seem – different.”



Hermione was almost exploding with the urge to tell her friend but there was no way Ginny would understand.



“Well, we haven’t really had a decent teacher to have a crush on!”



Ginny sighed. “All right, I’ll give you that one.”



Hermione smiled to herself. She went to her wardrobe and pulled out a clean set of school uniforms. She got herself dressed whilst Ginny watched. Hermione was humming a song; something about a teddy bears picnic. Ginny giggled.



“Stop humming, Hermione.”



“Oh, was I humming?” Hermione asked. “I only do that when I’m truly happy.”



“Wow, someone has made you truly happy?”



“No, I’m happy for lots of reasons, being alive and well is one of them.”



Ginny looked at her friend, a sceptical smile slipped along her face as she observed Hermione. There was something different about her, and she wanted to know what it was. Hermione sighed as she placed her feet in a pair of shoes and checked her schedule and packed her bag accordingly. She wished others would follow her example; she was sure the teachers would prefer it if you brought your books down with you rather than making a mad rush to the common rooms to pick up the books and dash to the classrooms; only to be late anyway.



Hermione opened the door to the way out of her rooms and Ginny followed her out. Hermione was still humming, and she had a light step as she walked down the hallways. Whoever it was that had done this, Ginny thought, did a very good job it seems.



The two girls walked into the Great Hall and Hermione’s cheerfulness was noticed straight away by anyone who bothered to look. Ginny bit her lower lip as she noticed the boys stare at her with their mouths wide open. Something had happened to her, they were thinking; something that now we wouldn’t mind doing to her.



She was certainly glowing and her smile could light up the torches in the farthest corners of the Great Hall. Ron looked up and his jaw fell onto the table as he looked at Hermione. He wished he hadn’t dumped her now. Lavender looked up and she narrowed her eyes. She looked more beautiful now than she did at the ball. Her heavily made up eyes glared hatefully at the brunette before her. She turned to Ron and coughed. Ron slowly turned his head back round to Lavender.

“Hello,” she said. “Remember me, I’m your fiancée.”



Ron’s ears turned pink as he looked at his future wife. A girl he was forced to marry because he didn’t wear a condom. Wizard Law stated that if a girl got pregnant before marriage the Witch had to marry the father of the child... it saved confusion. Hermione tried to explain about shows like Oprah, and Tricia to Ron in an effort to get him to understand that in the long run the Wizards way was better than the Muggle way. She explained how many children grew up not knowing who their real father is and having to go through all sorts of tests before they found out who they really were. Ron got fed up by being nagged at by Hermione; his mother, and his sister and eventually asked Lavender to marry him to shut everybody up. It didn’t work, as now Lavender was the one nagging him to set a date; the amount she talked about wedding dresses was insane.



“Lavender,” Hermione said. “Do you have any max factor neutral lipstick? I’ve run out of mine.”



“Not into neutral anymore,” Lavender sighed. “Purple lipstick is all I have, and it wouldn’t suit you.”



Hermione nodded. “Thanks, I was just wondering.”



Lavender nodded and turned back to Ron and squeezed his knee under the table. She could see why it didn’t work between them even if Ron couldn’t. They’d only been going out for two weeks before they had an almighty row and they decided that they were going to take a break... that was until they had come back to school and Ron started dating Lavender again. Lavender got pregnant shortly after. Hermione couldn’t help but wonder whether Lavender had planned it actually; as a way to make sure Ron never went near her again.



Hermione didn’t mind then; and she definitely didn’t mind now.



“I wonder exactly who will take over,” Neville said. He had grown stronger the past few months, more determined somehow, Hermione couldn’t help but think that Snape not being here might have something to do with it. “I mean it’s a bit weird, we’ve been here less than two months and the last guy just walks out. I didn’t even get a chance to remember his name.”



That end of the table laughed. Neville’s forgetfulness was almost as legendary as Harry’s scar now. He was almost as famous for it anyhow.



“It is weird,” Hermione said.



“It’s not that, that bothers me,” Ginny said sliding inbetween her brother and Harry who had kept awfully silent throughout this conversation. “What really bothers me is this; Lucius Malfoy’s escape. I mean, why haven’t they found him? Surely the Ministry must have learnt SOMETHING from the Sirius Black episode.”



“Huh,” Harry grunted. “You expect the Ministry to learn something, Ginny? Wow, you certainly are giving them credit.”



“Steady on,” Ginny said. “The Ministry did learn to give my dad a promotion - at last.”



“Is that what they call it?” a voice said from behind them. The Gryffindors thought that with Draco gone they’d be kept at peace from the Slytherins; there was no chance of that ever happening. Blaise Zabini had taken over as head prat of the house.



He looked at Hermione and smirked in her direction. “What do you want, Zabini?” Hermione asked in a testy voice.



“How are you, Mia? We’ve got to do some more work on Slughorn’s essay today when the school hours have finished.”



“I know, Zabini, I haven’t forgotten.”



Slughorn, she fumed. Why he had to partner her up with this idiot was beyond her! At least Snape didn’t do things like that; he’d have partnered her up with Pansy.



“Good, I can’t wait, Mia.”



“I wish you wouldn’t call me that!” she said grinding her teeth together, harshly. Something about Zabini irritated her. Draco was irritating but at least she could just slap him; and she did more than once. But she had a strange feeling that if she had slapped Blaise he’d like it, which served to annoy her further. She had to be satisfied with clenching her fists in her lap as he walked to the Slytherin table. She looked up only to catch him winking at her impertinently, and smirking at her, his dark brown eyes glinted with pure mischievousness. She was almost breathing fire.



“He fancies you,” Ginny said.



“What?” Hermione asked sharply, burning to the roots of her hair.



“He fancies you, that’s why he’s teasing you so much. Fred did to, that’s why he pulled your hair all the time!”



“Don’t be silly, Ginny,” Hermione said. “Rumour has it that it was you he fancied.”



“He does, does he?” Harry asked. He narrowed his eyes when he heard this piece of gossip. He turned around and glared hard at the Slytherin table. Ginny rolled her eyes and sighed. She dug her elbow in Harry’s ribs.



“Calm down, Harry, it’s not like I’m interested in that weed anyway. I’ve got you!” she said huskily planting a sound kiss on his lips. His eyes widened momentarily at her soft lips on his and then he relaxed into his girlfriend’s kiss. He wrapped his arms around her protectively and brought her closer to him. He would have sat her on his lap before being kicked on the shin by Hermione. He broke the kiss to turn around only to see McGonnagall standing behind them frowning in disapproval.



“Mr Potter, Miss Weasley, this is neither the time nor the place for such affections to be made public. In my office after school,” she said.



“Yes, ma’am,” they answered. McGonnagall then looked at Hermione.



“How are you, dear?”



“I am well, Professor,” she replied, stunned a little by the question.



“You look well,” she said. “I just wanted to know if you felt well.”



It was a well-known fact that Hermione was McGonnagall’s favourite. That hadn’t changed since Dumbledore’s death, if anything she seemed to be more watchful of Hermione than previously. It was rather irksome. When she complained about it, Harry just smiled and said... ‘Now you know what it feels like, Miss Interference!’ It didn’t help.



“Thank you, Professor,” Hermione said. She sighed and rolled her eyes.



Professor McGonnagall, Headmistress by default, walked towards the table where the teachers sat to keep watch over the students. She walked around and sighed, she had no nice way of telling the students who their new Defence teacher was going to be, she was certain only a few students would welcome the news with great delight but this was the only thing to do. The only, right, thing to do. Sometimes she wished the Headmasters were painted muggle way. Albus, and not surprisingly, Nigellus convinced her to make a positive decision.



Hermione shook her head. “What was that about?” Lavender asked as she shovelled food into her mouth.



“I don’t know,” Hermione said. She smirked a little at what Lavender was eating. “I thought you didn’t like pork.”



“I don’t,” Lavender said.



“So, why are you eating bacon and pork sausages, rounded up with sliced ham?” Hermione asked casually.



Lavender paled; which was hard to do underneath all that make up she was wearing. “What? I’m shovelling pig’s guts into my mouth?”



Hermione nodded. Lavender groaned. “I don’t believe it! This baby is definitely a Weasley all right,” Lavender muttered. Hermione giggled.



“If that’s what you crave, that’s what you crave,” Hermione said. “My mother craved stuff like spinach and cabbage overcooked! at that, when she was pregnant with me.”



“Gross!” Ginny said making a face.



“She didn’t like it, there was obviously something in those things that I needed to grow from a foetus to a baby,” Hermione said. She craned her neck around to look at Professor McGonnagall. “She doesn’t look happy, does she?”



“No,” Harry said. “No, she doesn’t. But then a first year as a proper headmaster with a teacher handing in his resignation in the first two months wouldn’t make me happy either.”



Hermione nodded. She cut up a sausage rather daintily and popped a bit in her mouth after dipping it in the egg yolk. She felt eyes burning into her and she looked up again. Blaise was staring at her that continual smirk plastered on his face. She rolled her eyes and ate the rest of her breakfast in silence. She poured herself a cup of coffee (served only to the older students), and sat back sipping at the black liquid, breathing in its wonderful aroma.



“Students,” McGonnagall’s voice rang out in the Great Hall, all the students stopped their jabbering. “As you’re all well aware Professor Neuralgus had to quit because the position frightened him somewhat. Over the past weekend someone turned up offering to teach the subject. I consulted various people and put him through some vigorous tests and I am satisfied, so should you all be,” the last few words were directed particularly at the Gryffindors. “Everyone, we have a new Defence Against the Dark Arts teacher.”



Hermione looked up eagerly awaiting a new teacher to have to impress. She loved to impress teachers. It was sort of one of the reasons why she didn’t mind at least one position being unstable; it challenged her at least! The second reason was that it meant you got to find out who your enemies were, the only one who couldn’t be considered an enemy was Lupin, and even he had a dark element about him.



The students all looked up eagerly awaiting the arrival of the second teacher that year. Harry especially, Defence had become his favourite subject. A lot of the teachers had helped him, albeit unknowingly. He even had to concede that Snape had helped him occasionally.



They expected the teacher to walk in through the side door; no one appeared between the doors. They turned to the one behind the table where the first years before they got sorted, no one came through that door either. There was only one other entrance and all the students turned around and looked at the entrance to the Great Hall. The students gasped. Hermione went pale.



Standing in the middle of the entrance in his black silk and velvet robes; flowing blond locks; holding his snake’s cane stroking its silver head with his black leather gloves stood Lucius Malfoy in all his sexy glory!



Harry stood up; he was shaking with anger and his green eyes blazed at the headmistress. “Him?” he asked pointing a shaking finger towards one of his top ten most wanted dead men.



“As I said, Mr Potter, I am satisfied, so must you be,” Professor McGonnagall said thin lipped with a heavy glint of determination riding through her eyes.



Harry narrowed his eyes at his headmistress and turned on his heel. He picked up his bag, and grabbed Ginny’s hand.



“You coming, Hermione?” Harry asked. Hermione was still looking at Lucius. She bowed her head finally and picked up her bag.



“Miss Granger,” Professor McGonnagall said. “It’s been a while since Professor Malfoy has been here, kindly show him around. You’re excused Transfiguration.”



“But -!” Hermione was about to object. She knew it was futile to argue. She wondered if Hogwarts held a spell on its Headmasters and Headmistresses to act completely and utterly unreasonably. She swung her legs around the other side of the bench and stood up strapping the bag on her shoulder by placing the strap across her chest. She gathered her hair up and freed it from the trap of the bag handle. She walked up to Professor Malfoy and chewed the inside of her cheek.



“Well, sir, you had better follow me,” she said. Hermione walked past him and he raised an eyebrow to the other students. Even the Slytherins were stunned and not exactly happy about this news. The only person who seemed to like it was Pansy Parkinson. She had heard he was available; and having failed with the son she thought she might try and seduce the father now. He turned on his well-tuned heel and followed the young woman.



They stopped outside the library. “This library has had a change round since I’ve been here, Sir, I am sure that you need to -!”



“Last night was amazing, by the way, Miss Granger,” Lucius purred interrupting her.



“If I had known you were going to be a teacher I wouldn’t have touched you,” Hermione said.



Lucius chuckled. “Oh, you will,” he murmured.



Hermione leant over and opened the door. “Aside from Madame Pince I am possibly the only person who knows the ins and outs of this library totally. So, we’ll begin with the tour here.”



She stepped into the Library and Lucius sighed. “Yes, I suppose so.”



He followed her with a smirk on his face. She indicated where all the best Defence books were to be found. She also picked up the brand new book.



“I doubt you’ve read this,” Hermione said handing him the newest book. Lucius looked at the book. He shook his head. Hermione smiled smugly and he held onto the book. She walked him along the Potions aisle. She picked up a few titles from those shelves to. He sighed as he accepted them. “Or those,” she said.



He smiled. “You’d be surprised what I have and haven’t read, Miss Granger.”



“I’m sure I wouldn’t be,” Hermione said sternly. She walked past him and opened a door. “This is where prefects can come and study nowadays. I doubt this was here in your day.”



Lucius chuckled again. “No, that facility wasn’t available to us, my dear.”



“I am definitely NOT your dear,” she replied as controlled as she could. “Especially now.”



She was about to walk past him but he blocked her way. “Do you study in there?”



“I wouldn’t tell you the answer to that,” Hermione said.



Lucius shook his head and laid his snake cane on top of the shoulder that contained the strap. “Be nice, it was a perfectly civilised question.”



“Probably with a uncivilised intention of asking it,” Hermione replied.



“You haven’t changed much have you?”



“It’s been one night,” Hermione said.



“I meant this is reminding me of the way we met in the bookshop.”



“Hmm,” she said. She was about to walk forward but he stepped forward and brushed aside some of her hair and looked deeply into her eyes.



“I meant what I said last night, Miss Granger, you’re beautiful.”



“Time to show you around the rest of the school, Professor Malfoy.”



His grin grew wider as she stared at him with no fear showing in her brown eyes.



“Treasure, that’s what you are,” he whispered. He then stepped aside as she shown him around the rest of the school; he followed and listened but he remained closer to her than she would have liked. The tour stopped at around lunchtime.



“Do you study at lunch time?” Lucius asked.



“No,” Hermione said, her lips curled into a satisfied smile.



“So does that mean I have to spend time with the rest of the teachers?”



“Seems so,” Hermione replied. “Excuse me, but I have friends to be with.”



Lucius smirked as he watched her make her way back to the Great Hall ready to eat lunch.



Detention, Miss Granger, and you don’t have to wear anything, he thought as he watched her walk. He couldn’t believe McGonnagall and Dumbledore were convinced by his reasons. Some of them were genuine, but others weren’t. And if either of them knew that his reason was to look for a new wife then both would have been totally shocked. He had found a wife. Now all he had to do was reel his little fish in. He stared at the pile of books in his arms; and he knew exactly what bait was to be used.



“’Ello,” a gruff voice said from behind him. It was Slughorn. He eyed the blond suspiciously. He had seen the way the other man’s eyes lit up when he looked at the young woman. “I am sure you realise that students are off limits,” he said.



Lucius turned around to look into the face of the man that he hated as a child, and loathed now.



“I know that, Slughorn. But is it my fault that Miss Granger shines above all others?”



He sloped off into the Great Hall leaving a rather flabbergasted fat bald Potions professor.



~*~*~



Hermione walked into the Great Hall thankful that there was quite a crowd in there already. Although, none of them were anyone she could feel safe with. She sat on the bench at the upper end of the Gryffindor table and sighed.



This morning was a shock to her system that was for damn sure. After having a promise of being his lover last night why, oh why did he have to spoil the dream by becoming a bloody teacher for crying out loud? Oh, she knew that there were occasions where the Ministry closed their eyes to the situation and decided to be deaf to. But this was Lucius – oh no – she sneered to herself, Professor Malfoy. She wanted to scream! How could she concentrate in lessons now she was being taught by – well, her lover? It wasn’t fair.



Hermione was just about to get up and take a walk outside when Neville showed up; he looked awfully pale as he was checking his schedule. He walked up to the bench and sat opposite his friend and smiled sheepishly at her.



“I’m not looking forward to the next lesson one bit!” Neville exclaimed.



Hermione snatched the schedule out of Neville’s fingers and looked at it... oh no! No, this can’t be happening.



“Double D A D A?” she asked Neville. He nodded.



Hermione groaned. How can a day get worse?



A/N – I hope you all liked that. I love the Professor Malfoy stories and wanted to write one for a long time, so here it is!