Adventurous Hearts: The Temple

CHAPTER 2: Rattling Malfoy’s Cage









Lucius Malfoy looked up from his book when he heard the keys rattling in the door to his cell. Curious, he set the book aside and watched as the door opened and two guards stepped inside.







“Prisoner Malfoy, you have a visitor, assume the position for transfer.” The bigger of the two said gruffly.







“You must be mistaken.” Lucius said, turning his back on the guards and crossing his wrists at the small of his back. He winced when he felt the charmed manacles snap around his wrists. “My son came to visit me yesterday and he is the only person who comes to see me.”







“This is a special visitor come to see you with special permission from the Minister of Magic himself.” The smaller, younger guard said as he grasped she short chain between the manacles and began to direct Lucius from the cell. “She’s a right pretty little piece too.” The bigger one said with a leer.







“Who is she?” Lucius asked, his nose curling in disgust when he thought about having to sit down with a woman in his current state of filth. He was gentleman and he believed in chivalry and decorum, both aspects of his personality balked at subjecting a lady to his…less than pristine and rather odoriferous condition.







“I have no idea, Mister Malfoy. We were just told that you had a special visitor and we were to bring you right away.” The younger man said as they reached the visitation room. The bigger guard opened the heavy door and Lucius stepped into one of the only clean rooms in Azkaban prison.







She was standing in the corner staring through a small arrow slit in the wall at the raging sea. Whoever she was, she wasn’t very tall, the top of her head would barely reach his shoulder. Her dark, mahogany colored hair was pulled into a thick braid that hung down the center of her back to her hips. She had shed her outer robes which were draped over the back of a chair and her rather shapely curves were being skimmed by a knee length black, short sleeved dress.









Lucius tilted his head to the side and wondered who she was, she did not seem familiar to him at all and he was certain he would have remembered such a sweetly shaped female. He let his gaze travel over the tiny waist, the rounded hips and down to tiny feet shod in black, dragonhide pumps, taking a moment to smile at the little silver anklet of twined serpents encircling her right ankle.









“Ma’am, prisoner Malfoy is here to see you.” The young guard said smiling when the woman turned from the window and faced them. Lucius furrowed his brow, she was familiar yet he could not place her. She was young, probably Draco’s age, with big tawny eyes and a heart shaped face. Her skin was sun kissed and her lips were pink and pillowy and seemed to form a natural pout.







Hermione was stunned to see Lucius Malfoy in such condition. His skin was paler than could be considered natural; his long blond hair was greasy, matted and dark with filth. He wore a striped jumpsuit that looked as though it had not seen a washing since the day he donned it, and she couldn’t be certain of her memory, but she could have sworn he had not been quite so thin when she saw him last.









“Uncuff him and leave us please.” She said her eyes narrowing as her indignation at his physical condition began to build.







“But ma’am, he’s a dangerous criminal!” The bigger guard blustered, staring at her as though she had gone soft in the head.







“He has no wand, the wards on the prison prevent him from using wandless magic and he looks to be underweight and malnourished, he hardly seems all that dangerous from my standpoint.” She put one hand on her hip and pointed at them with the other one. “Uncuff him now, and then I want you to send for a tray of food to be brought to him. NOW.”









“But ma’am!” The younger one flushed when she cocked an eyebrow at him.







“Should I send for Minister Shacklebolt?” She asked. “I am well aware you were told to give me anything I wanted when I arrived…should I tell him you refused me?”









“N-no ma’am.” He stammered, releasing Lucius’s cuffs and shoving the bigger, frowning guard through the door. “We are right outside if you need us.” He said before closing the door and leaving the two of them alone.









“Forgive me, Madame, but do I know you?” He asked as he rubbed his wrists and continued to stand near the door.









“You don’t remember me?” A wry smile lifted the corners of her mouth as she leaned against the wall and folded her arms. “Well, it has been over ten years since we saw each other last.” She said. “Hermione Granger at your service, Mr. Malfoy.” She smirked.







“So it isn’t to be a pleasant visit.” He said, pulling out the chair tucked beneath the table and taking a seat. “Why are you here?”







Hermione laughed softly and moved from her spot on the wall to sit in the chair opposite him. She folded her hands on the table in front of her and stared boldly at the wizard across from her. It was rather sad to see the handsome blond reduced to this filthy creature before her. He may have been an elitist prick who had tried on more than one occasion to kill her and her friends, but he had looked damn fine while doing it.









“Why I am here to proposition you, Mr. Malfoy.” She smiled. She watched the muscles in his jaw twitch when he began to grind his teeth. She also noticed how hard he was trying not to look at her breasts showcased in the low cut bodice of her dress.







“I beg your pardon?” He asked tightly. Surely he had misheard the young woman.









“I need something from you, Mr. Malfoy, and I am prepared to offer you something in return, something I think you want very badly.” She said, sitting back in her chair and crossing her legs. Lucius shifted uncomfortably in his seat, it had been over ten years since he had been in a room alone with a woman and his body was making him very aware that it had indeed noticed her.









“What could you possibly need from me?” He asked, watching the way her plump, round breasts would rise and fall with every breath.







“Let me start by explaining that I am now Doctor Hermione Granger, I am an occasional Professor at Merlin University and currently head the Ministry Archaeology team.” She said, noting how his eyes sparked with interest. “Recently, Morgana’s temple was located in The Cheviots on the Scotland border. You can imagine my surprise to arrive at the site and discover that it had been used not all that long ago.”









“It was used as a safe house of sorts.” Lucius replied, wondering just what the old temple had to do with him.









“I recognize the magical signatures as being of the death eaters, the temple reeks of Dark Magic, intricate and specialized dark magic. I brought in every expert I could find and no one can break the wards.” She said, watching his reactions and seeing the smug gleam in his eye. “Seems that I need a death eater to get me inside.”









“Why call on me for help, why not seek out Severus?” He asked. “I am sure he would be more than happy to assist a fellow Order of the Phoenix member.”









“The new school year just began and he is busy with his headmaster duties.” She said simply, shrugging her shoulders. “Kingsley seems to think you are my best bet.”









“What is in it for me if I help you?” He asked, feeling as if he held the upper hand for a change.









“The ministry is willing to parole you in exchange for your assistance.” She said, reaching into her robes for a piece of parchment that she slid across the table to Lucius. His face reflected his disbelief at her words as he gingerly lifted the parchment and began to read the terms.







Based in part on his exemplary behavior and the overcrowding of Azkaban prison he would be paroled and placed on probation for the remainder of his twenty year sentence providing he assisted Dr. Granger with her current excavation efforts on Morgana’s temple. His wand, wealth and liberty would be restored providing he successfully gained her entrance to the site and assisted her in disarming all protective spells and traps.









“Is this a jest?” He asked, looking up at her over the parchment.









“Unfortunately, no.” She said.







“Why me? Surely there are others here who could assist you.” He said, lowering the document to the table.







“Well, it seems that all the big bad death eaters have had a little trouble holding on to their mental faculties. Greyback is the only other death eater here powerful enough to help me who has retained his sanity and let’s face it that is pushing it in my opinion as I really don’t think he was all that sane to begin with. Besides, he isn’t allowed human contact, he tends to bite.” She said. “What’s the matter, Lucius, can’t abide helping a mudblood, even if it gets you out of here?”









“Blood purity has lost its value over the years and I wasn’t aware that I gave you leave to call me by my given name.” He said staring at her through narrowed eyes. “This offer seems too good too be true.”









“It came directly from Kingsley. Personally, I just wanted a meeting with you, perhaps a furlough for you to help me, it was his idea to offer you parole. If it were up to me you would remain here.” She said.







“You do not mince words do you, Ms. Granger?” Lucius asked.









“I don’t see a point in it. You can expect nothing but brutal honesty from me, Lucius, I don’t like you enough to lie to you to spare your feelings.” She said. They were interrupted briefly when a house elf appeared with a tray of meats, bread and cheese along with a mug of mead that was placed before Lucius.









“Then you will not be offended if I extend you the same courtesy.” He said politely as he slipped a napkin from beneath his flatware and spread it over his lap. Regardless of his inhumane treatment within the walls of the prison he retained his proper manners.









“I would have to care about your opinion to be offended.” She said, watching as he ate slowly, politely even though she knew he had to be starving for something more palatable than his usual daily fare. She said nothing more for the duration of his meal, he clearly needed the nourishment. She fully intended to have a discussion with Kingsley regarding the living conditions and care of the prisoners.









When he was finished he dabbed his mouth with the napkin and laid it alongside his now empty tray. His hunger satisfied for the first time in ages, he actually smiled at the bold witch across from him.







“So tell me, what must I do if I agree to this proposal?” He asked.









“You unravel the wards preventing me from entering the temple. You remain by my side until the site is completely cleared of all danger to my excavation team. When it is complete you will be released to resume your life in your home, with your family.” She said.







“There is only my son.” He said quietly.









“I heard.” She didn’t mention Narcissa, as much as she didn’t like him, she just couldn’t kick him when he was down, at least not hard. “I haven’t seen Draco in nearly eight years.” She said softly.







“He has been running everything, all of my businesses, the estate. It would be nice to take it off his hands and let him live his own life.” He said thoughtfully.









“Your freedom is within reach, all you have to do is sign that document and help me clear the temple.” Hermione said, withdrawing a pen and setting it in front of him.









Lucius thought about her offer for several minutes, he reached for the pen and noted the sad state of his fingernails with a shudder.









“You have yourself a deal, Doctor Granger.” With a flourished slash of hand, Lucius signed his name to the bottom of the document and watched as his name glowed gold briefly to magically seal the contract. “When do I leave?”