The Hunt

Ginny had written to Lucius two days after the girls night. She was looking to do something with her settlement, and he was the foremost master on good investment opportunities.



He agreed to meet with her for tea, to discuss what she might want to do. Ginny was nervous. She had no idea how to approach Lucius regarding anything intimate. What if he laughed in her face and kicked her out? She could handle a lot, she didn’t know about that.



She entered Malfoy manor with her head held high. “Mrs. Petrov, good afternoon.” Lucius said, holding out a hand. She took it and allowed a moment to feel the soft skin.



“Mrs. Weasley, I’ve gone back to my maiden name, but please call me Ginny.” She took the seat he offered. “I appreciate your seeing me Mr. Malfoy.”



“Lucius.” He had tea ready and offered her a cup. “So how much were you thinking of investing?” He asked.



“Well, my settlement gave me fifteen million galleons, I was thinking of investing three or four, that way if it goes all to cock I’m not forced to move back home.”



He smiled and gave a chuckle. “Yes, there is nothing more degrading then having to move back home.” She smiled at him. “Well I have a few ideas, you could always invest in the ministry, but if you do, you’ll be paying for things like meeting room chairs and banquets. However it is steady, just slow.”



She nodded. “I was hoping for something different. No offense to the ministry, but I think I’d like to stay out of it. The mistakes they make would keep me up at night all to often.”



He nodded. “Then there is always private enterprise. Things like Miss Grangers potions distribution. But then again private owners don’t like to take on investors, because they have to share profit.” She nodded. “There is also the option of going into mass distribution. Things like publishing, or entertainment. I have several deals in nightclubs and bars, and I make a good increase from them. I’m also involved in publishing company.”



“Publishing?” She asked.



“How many books does Miss Granger purchase on a regular basis?” Ginny smiled in answer. “And how many young ladies had romance novels in your Hogwarts years?”



Ginny giggled. “My mother still buys them.” He gave her a knowing look.



“I know Flourish and Blotts is looking for someone to help them expand the store. It will take more then they thought for the ideas they have in mind. To implement them it will take an outside funder.”



“I will look into that. If you hear of anything else you would also consider, will you owl me?” She asked.



“Yes of course. On a separate note, I was sad to hear that your marriage failed.” Ginny set her tea down. “I hope you are doing well now.”



“Yes well, things sometimes end up that way. There is nothing we can do but move on. I’m fine now.”



“I’m glad to hear that.” He said with a smile, setting down his own tea.



“I think the loneliness is the hardest to deal with,” Ginny admitted, “I’m used to having someone there and all of a sudden that someone is gone. It’s hard to be alone. How did you deal with it, if its not to intrusive of me to ask.”



“To be honest I’m still dealing with it.” He had a slight faraway look in his eyes.



“You know Lucius, we could help each other.” She said, deciding to go for the goal. After what she had gone through in life she didn’t believe in playing games.



“What do you mean?” He asked her.



“We are both lonely people. I’m not looking for anything serious, I doubt you are either. There’s no reason why we cant help alleviate the solitude that we feel.” She spoke calmly and got right to the point.



Lucius’s eyes widened slightly then narrowed. “Mrs. Weasley, are you suggesting what I think you are?” He asked quietly.



“Yes, I am.” Ginny gave him a gentle smile. Lucius looked around his room and then back at her. Ginny saw the confusion in his eyes. “Lucius,” she said standing, “I know what I have done is a little forward, but it does make sense if you think about it.” Fastening her cloak she faced him as he stood. “You think on it and owl me, when you feel comfortable.” Lucius still had not said anything.



Before she left Ginny stood on her toes and kissed his cheek. She was delighted to find him lowering his head so she could reach. When she left, he stood still for several minutes, wondering what to do.







At Spinners end the next day, Hermione paid a visit to one of her neighbors. Severus lived on the opposite end of the street, and several times to two had met for lunch or drinks. Hermione stopping by for a consult was not uncommon. Tonight however she would be a bit more daring.



With parchments in hand she knocked on his door. “Hermione, good evening.” Severus said stepping aside. Since her graduation from Hogwarts and obtaining her potions mastery she and Severus had met several times at conventions, potions events and parties. It gave her a chance to meet others in her field and communicate the latest news. She was also a member of several clubs and groups that he was involved with. They had long developed a healthy respect for each other and as a result of the years gone by, often consulted each other on projects. It was even Severus who mentioned the house on spinners end that had gone up for sale.



“Hello Severus.” She leaned in and kissed his cheek. It took a few years for him to become comfortable with that closeness, but he eventually he had.



“To what do I owe the honor?”



“I was wondering if I could get your opinion on something I’m starting. I think an accomplished occulumensist would be valuable.”



Severus raised his eyes. “Potionry and occlumency together? You have my attention.” He closed the door while she moved to the all too familiar table neck to his desk. Severus always had parchments or books on it that wouldn’t fit on his desk. It was cleared off tonight, so she spread out the parchments she was carrying. “Vodka?” He asked, pouring a drink.



“Yes, please.” She said. He poured another and walked over to her. She sipped her drink as Severus glanced over her paperwork. He looked and her and furled his brow. She merely smiled and drank. Severus shuffled the parchments around.



“This is going to be a challenge. If I’m not mistaken, you are creating a potion to link minds.”



“In a way, yes.” She confirmed, sitting next him and setting her glass down.



“In what way then?” He said facing her. It was common body language for Severus to give his full attention to something he was interested in. He was watching her intently waiting for her response.



“I’m trying to focus on intimate situations.” She said. He raised an eyebrow.



“Intimate situations?” He was wondering at this point if she was joking or serious.



“Yes, you see Severus, women can be a bit withdrawn when it comes to sexual situations. They don’t outright ask for what they want or say when they aren’t satisfied.” Severus nodded, he knew about that well enough. “That problem can be intensified when a woman is particularly shy or has had emotional issues with prior partners.”



“Of course.” He said, wanting her to get to the point.



“A woman wishes for certain things, but maybe she was brought up to think she shouldn’t say sexual things or maybe she was with a man before who made her feel like a whore or maybe she’s a virgin and is nervous. For any number of things, this lack of communication always makes for unsatisfying sex.”



“So you are creating a potion to help couples? Legitimacy during sex can do that.”



“Yes but you have to stop and cast the spell and stay focused. He nodded not understanding. Sex sometimes can be uninhibited and letting your body take over. When you are focusing on certain things, you can block out feelings and reactions. Not to mention having to guard certain thoughts or memories from your partner. It would be horrible to be intimate with someone while trying to block out that bedwetting episode from your childhood.”



Severus rubbed his eyes. “Yes I see the point. So this potion is aimed at what?”



“I plan to brew it to be taken in pairs. When taken it will allow each partner to feel the emotions and desires of the other. Reactions of the body and the longing felt by each other. There won’t be images or memories to guard or hide. They wont have to focus or concentrate, they would only have to feel and respond.”



“So if a man is doing something, he will be able to feel whether or not his lady is enjoying it or if she is disgusted by it.”



“In theory yes. It will also let him feel her longing, if she’s desiring a certain need he will feel it. She will be able to feel what he wants and needs as well. They will feel the desire of their partner and will be able to satisfy each other without the awkwardness of having to ask. With this they might be able to have some enlightening pillow talk.” She said with a wink.



“Interesting.” He said. “There are many ingredients that can be used with regards to occulmency.” He ventured.



“Yes, I thought maybe you might be convinced to help me formulate it, and of course brew it.”



“Of course, this is a unique prospect.”



“And eventually test it.” She added as he looked down at the parchments again. Severus froze and looked at her beside him.



“I beg your pardon?” He said softly.



“It will need to be tested you know. If we cannot find a suitable couple to test something this intimate then it goes without saying that we would have to test it ourselves.” She said.



Her logic was founded. He had to test several potions himself when he could find subjects. Lab animals wouldn’t work in this case and they would have to find a couple. A couple who would be telling them what they were thinking and feeling and of course Severus and Hermione had to be there to observe and ask questions. Not too many couples were wiling to go to those lengths even if they would be paid.



“Yes, I again see your point.” He faced her and crossed his arms over his chest. “Surely you would wish to test this with someone else. I can always take the notes.”



“Yes, but someone as gifted in both potionry and occulmency would be able to understand just what this potion should be doing.” She said, taking a step forward.



What was she doing? “And having sex with your former teacher doesn’t bother you?” He asked.



She took another step forward. “No Severus, it doesn’t,” she smiled up at him, “and for the record you are no longer my teacher.



Severus looked around the room. He had experienced women coming on to him before, but they were usually his own age and had heard about his talents. They usually desired a one nighter which he had no problems with. But Hermione was twenty six or, was she twenty seven now? Either way, he was twice her age he had taught her at one point. This was new.



“Severus, I can see this might be something you would think about.” He looked down at her and just stared. “These,” she said gesturing to the parchments, “are copies so I will leave them with you to look at with more detail. If you wish to work with me in this let me know.”



He could do nothing but nod after a moment. She stepped back and moved to the door. When he opened it and stepped out she turned and he lowered his face thinking she would give him her traditional kiss on the cheek. Instead she kissed him full on the mouth. Nothing deep or heated, he was too shocked for that.



With a smile she left him wide eyed and standing in his door as she went home. Hermione was certain he would owl her or come by her house. Aside from uncomplicated sex, it was a chance to take part in the formulation of a new potion that focused on a mental link.



Severus himself was thinking along those lines. This potion had the makings to do very well. Couples having communications problems admitted to being able to talk more easily when the most intimate parts of their relationship worked. If they could communicate well during sex, then they could communicate well during other situations. While sex wasn’t everything, bad sex caused a lot of troubles.



He was unsure though, of having sex with a former student. Hermione was much younger then any woman he’d been with. Severus downed his vodka feeling the burn down his throat. They would simply have to find a couple. If anything, Severus would go to a brothel and pay a woman and man to be subjects. They were not shy about sharing the effects of the potion.



Severus spent the rest of the evening reading her notes, then went to bed. For the first time in years had to wank off to fall asleep.