Amorem Consentit

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Chapter 20 - Wife and Wench

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Draco sighed as he turned to the side. He could feel a hand sliding through his hair.

“Oh, Hermione,” he mumbled.

"My sweet husband," Hermione whispered back pressing her lips to his forehead just at the start of his hairline.

Hermione whimpered as she felt a hand cup her breast.

Hermione's hand was cupping a taut arse.

"Fiancée," Lucius whispered as he pushed his face between her shoulder-blades.

Hermione felt warm and safe. She was cocooned in comfort.

Draco's eyes opened at the word fiancée. No one was affianced in this room. They were married.

"What is THAT doing in here?" Draco asked pointing to his father.

Hermione was still lost in dreams.

“Shush, son, let her sleep for a moment.”

"Get out of our bed," Draco said, pushing his father out of contact with his wife.

"MY WENCH!" Lucius shouted the moment he wasn't touching Hermione. He snatched her up and pushed Draco to the floor.

“Boys, please. Can't we all share? The bed is big enough!”

"He started it," Lucius said, pointing at Draco accusatorily. He settled his cheek on her shoulder.

"What about our agreement?" Draco said, putting a hand to his head.

“She's mine too! Merlin said we share!”

"Merlin is a barmy old codger! Hermione," Draco said, giving Hermione a pout. "He pushed me out of the bed."

“Be friends!”

"That's what I say," Lucius said, tugging Hermione away from Draco. "Do I get a good-morning kiss from my bride-to-be?"

Lucius leaned in and kissed her soundly.

Hermione shoved him back a moment later.

"He's going to be locked up!" Draco roared, and he punched Lucius across the face.

“Draco!”

Hermione immediately went to look after Lucius. His nose was bleeding and it seemed to be broken as well.

"Hermione, we have an agreement," Draco said, pulling her close. "I will not allow you to be molested in my presence. You are my witch."

"Draco, Love, your father doesn't know our agreement, and we can't impose rules without his being aware of them. It's not fair," Hermione said, and she pressed her lips to Draco's and opened her lips the moment Draco's tongue licked her lips.

“My wench!” Lucius said and pulled her away from Draco. “Now, kiss me!”

Hermione pulled Lucius down and kissed his forehead gently.

She stilled his protests by putting a finger against his lips.

“I need you,” he whimpered. “Shall we start to plan our wedding?”

“She's mine!” Draco roared.

Hermione wiggled about and reached over to take Draco's hand.

“Sylvus is sorry to interrupt, but there's an urgent owl waiting for Master Draco.”

Draco screamed and stomped his foot before he went to get the owl's message.

“Dammit!” he cursed when he read the missive. “I'm late for work!”

He came back into the room and grabbed his everyday auror's uniform and stalked into the bathroom.

"Let go of me, Lucius," Hermione said, wiggling free. "I am going to spend almost the whole day with only you. I am going to spend what little time Draco is here this morning with him. I'll be right back."

“Idiot Potter! Why can't I come in an hour later?” Draco cursed under his breath as he shed last night's greasy clothes. “He is incompetent.”

Hermione slipped out of her nightshirt as Draco turned the shower on. She slipped in behind Draco without him noticing.

"Draco," she whispered kissing his back as she wrapped her arms around him.

Draco groaned.

“You know that I’m a very jealous man.”

"I do," Hermione whispered. "I will make everything clear to your father today. I'm yours." She turned Draco to face her.

Draco still looked sad.

"You're my wizard," Hermione whispered, leaning up and kissing his chin. "I need you."

“But you need him, too.”

"Draco, I told you: I'm not going to knowingly do something to hurt you," she whispered, wrapping her fingers around Draco. "You are my husband. Lucius requires my attention though, just as work requires yours."

“I know that everything will go wrong at some point.”

“Draco, I love you. I love Lucius too, he's our family.”

"I know. I just don't want him taking liberties with you. I don't want him to hurt you. I don't want to share your kisses and your body."

“Oh Draco,” she murmured and pressed her naked body into his.

Draco turned her so he was holding her against the wall. He nuzzled her neck gently as she lifted a leg to wrap around him.

She felt his hot and hard erection press against her.

“I want you. I want to be sure you're mine. That you want me to take you every night!”

"I want you to take me sometimes during the day too," Hermione said, and she whimpered when he rubbed himself between her legs.

“You can come to the office any time. I'll get you a permanent entry pass today.”

Hermione giggled happily, "I need you now, Draco."

He entered her with a fierce thrust, sheathing himself fully into her.

Hermione moaned and let her head fall to his shoulder.

"Draco," she whispered as he thrust again.

“Mine,” he groaned as he thrust hard again, feeling her stretch over his thickness.

Hermione's eyes rolled up as she clung to him.

"I love you," she whispered to Draco.

“I love you too,” he declared, feeling himself close to completion.

She captured Draco's lips and his groans as he came in her.

“I love you, Wife.”

Hermione smiled.

“You can't shower till I return. You're marked,” he groaned.

"Draco, you've been bathing me for the past several weeks. I think I may have forgotten the skill," Hermione said with a giggle. "You will be careful today?"

“I will be careful, only if you promise to let me know if father misbehaves.”

"I don't want us to have any secrets, Draco," Hermione said, looking up at him with big eyes. "I don't want you worrying about me and getting hurt though. You have a dangerous job."

“It's not that dangerous,” he said and wrapped a towel around her.

"You could get hurt, Draco," Hermione said. "I've seen what happened to Harry after one of your raids."

"But you didn't see me in the hospital, did you?" Draco asked.

“No, but I'd be very upset if anything happened to you!”

"I'll be careful, Angel. I don't want to leave you alone and pregnant," Draco said, wrapping her up tight. "I have a reason to live, Hermione."

“I’m not pregnant yet,” Hermione pouted.

"But you will be soon if I have anything to do about it," Draco said, and he kissed her lips lightly.

“I love you, my gorgeous auror.” She watched as Draco put on his daily uniform. It was very form fitting, and she could see the outline of his abs through the tight t-shirt.

"Hermione! You said you would be right back, Wench," Lucius shouted and he was pounding on the door. "You didn't leave me again?"

“Goodness, can't the old man be quiet for a moment?”

"Draco, it's been fifteen minutes, and I told him that I would be right back. I am sure he is worried."

“He can worry for another moment,” Draco said and pulled her into a kiss.

Hermione looked about dazedly as she pulled on a knee length white dress with sunflowers on it.

“No knickers!” Draco told her.

"The dress has a built in bra," Hermione responded, "and I came to join you too quickly. I didn't grab a pair of knickers."

“I forbid you to wear knickers at home!”

"But I am going to be here with your father all day, Love," Hermione said, and she swatted his bum.

“He has to see evidence that you're mine,” Draco said with a haughty smirk.

"I will wear knickers, Draco. I don't want him to think that I am a woman of little virtue."

“I want him to know what I did to you!”

"HERMIONE! YOU WENCH! YOU'VE LEFT ME! WHY?" Lucius shouted pounding on the door more loudly.

“I should go and calm down Lucius, or he will relapse.”

"Very well, we will discuss the issue of knickers later," Draco said, raiding his eyebrow at her.

Hermione opened the door.

Lucius snatched her up.

"My wench," he said, petting her hair.

"There, there, Sugar. I didn't leave you."

“I thought you did! Why does my wench smell of sex?” Lucius asked, absolutely distraught.

"Because her husband had his way with her," Draco said with a smirk. He had his wand in one hand and was using the other to brush his teeth.

“Thief!” Lucius cried as he held her close. “Sullying my bride!”

"I've sullied nothing," Draco said, after he spit in the sink loudly.

“My bride! We should begin to plan the wedding, Love,” Lucius murmured as he pleated her hair.

"We have other more pressing issues to deal with first," Hermione said, and she petted Lucius' hair.

“No, we need to plan wedding! We must buy you another dress!”

"Lucius, I'm worried about you calling Draco a thief. And I do not approve of being called a 'wench' either."

“You are a wench because you left me!”

"You will not speak to me that way," Hermione said, pushing him into a chair. She shook a finger in his face.

Lucius whimpered and began to cry.

Hermione quickly slipped onto his lap and held him tightly.

"There is a proper way to speak to a lady, and you will not disrespect me, Love. I will not disrespect you either."

“I need you so much. I know I don't want to hurt Draco, but I feel that I need to be married to you. I feel constant pain when you're not near me.”

"I will not have either of you disrespecting the other," Hermione kissed Lucius' brow and looked at Draco sharply as he pulled on his outer robe.

“But will you consider marrying me? I will be a good second husband.”

"We have to work through your issues first," Hermione said. "I want to marry you when you are healthy and happy."

“I am healthy!” Lucius pleaded.

"You aren't, my dear," Hermione said, stroking his hair. "But we shall get you healthy."

"I'm heading to work, Love," Draco said, approaching Hermione.

“I am fine,” Lucius sulked.

“Have fun at work, Love,” Hermione said and kissed Draco passionately.

Lucius gasped and shoved Draco.

"THIEF! BANDIT!" Lucius said, and he began to nuzzle Hermione.

“I have to go. If he's much trouble, call Harold.”

"Be careful, my brave husband," Hermione said.

Draco smiled and disapparated.

"I have you all to myself," Lucius said, and he had the grin of a child in a candy shop as he cuddled Hermione.

Hermione sighed. Would Lucius ever get better?

"Shall we get you bathed, my dear?" Hermione asked, stroking the lovely hair.

“Yes, but only if you bathe with me.”

"I can't do that, but I can bathe you," Hermione said, kissing his forehead some more.

Lucius pouted.

“But after that I will show you my house in Chelsea. You will like it!”

"Of course, Sweetness," Hermione said.

Lucius smiled and dragged her tot he bathroom.

Hermione turned on the taps to fill the tub.

Lucius shed his pajamas quickly. He was not ashamed of his erection jutting out proudly.

Hermione took his hand and helped him into the tub.

"He likes you," Lucius said, pointing at his lap.

Hermione smirked but ignored Lucius' childish invitation.

"Hermione, please join me," Lucius pleaded, taking her hand and putting it on him.

“Lucius, what would Draco say?”

"What about me?" Lucius asked, splashing a little.

“You will be fine. Your erection will go down naturally.”

"You pleasured Draco this morning. Gave him a lot more than me," Lucius crossed his arms and pouted as Hermione washed his back and chest gently.

“He's my husband.”

"I'm your fiancé," Lucius said, putting his cheek on her arm.

“You're not,” Hermione said defiantly and didn't look at his face.

“I am!” Lucius shouted and magic crackled around him.

"Don't do that," Hermione said, staring at the magic. "Please, control yourself."

“If you don't want me, I won't listen to you!”

"I do want you, my Lord," Hermione said, and Lucius' eyes caught on the necklace sparkling at her throat.

"You're still wearing my present," Lucius said happily, and he pointed a soapy finger at the necklace.

“Yes, my Lord, I like it very much!”

Lucius smiled and rubbed his cheek on her arm.

"You do love me," Lucius said.

“I do, Sweet,” she murmured as she washed the luxurious hair.

Lucius relaxed and was docile as a kitten as she rubbed his scalp.

“My woman,” Lucius purred. “When we marry, I will give you many babies.”

"I want lots of babies," Hermione said, giggling as she blocked Lucius' eyes so she could rinse his hair without risking soap getting in them.

“Will you give me a little girl? We could name her after my sister.”

"That was actually what Draco wanted to do with his first daughter of ours. I was hoping you and I would name a daughter of yours after you, Lucia."

“That's very sweet of you, Love. You can have as many babies you want. We will give them all a lovely home and they will never miss anything.”

"Yes," Hermione said, helping Lucius to stand.

“You still didn't take care of my throbbing need,” Lucius said and pointed at his very hard and twitching cock.

"You have claimed to be a man of honor, my Lord," Hermione said, not looking into his eyes. "Should I be touching you before our marriage let alone a formal engagement is announced?"

Lucius pouted and looked at her pleadingly.

"You are so adorable," Hermione said, touching his face. "I can give you a deflating draught, Lucius."

“You don't like my bit?”

"You are a man of honor," Hermione said. "And I don't want you to think I am a woman who is easily taken in by a gorgeous man with a perfect body," Hermione trailed a hand over his chest as she spoke.

Lucius still pouted.

Hermione giggled and continued to dry him off giving his bit a good squeeze as she did so.

Some pre-come leaked from it. “You are a tease, Witch.”

"I'm drying you off," Hermione answered, blushing at the growl in the man's voice.

“But I am still leaking.”

"I'm sorry, Sweet."

Lucius huffed and turned away.

"Don't be so pouty," Hermione said, sliding a hand up into his hair.

“You don't like my body. Narcissa told me my bit was ugly.”

"It most certainly is not," Hermione whispered. "Your body is easily in the most handsome of all wizards."

“More handsome than Draco's?”

"I couldn't possibly choose between the two of you," Hermione said.

Lucius huffed.

"You are equally handsome. But your bit is a little bigger," Hermione said, and she pinched his bottom to try to cheer him.

“You like it then?” he asked hopefully.

"What's not to like?" Hermione said, rubbing his back gently to try to sooth him.

“Play with me?” he begged.

"Lucius, I need to tell you about the deal that Draco and I have made. You need to understand how much this troubles him," Hermione said as she led him back into the bedroom.

“What is it?” Lucius asked as he sat down on the bed.

"Draco and I have decided that I will take care of you for a month and that if we can't see improvement then we will need to have you put in a special ward."

“What? What kind of ward? I am not ill!”

"A ward for people with spell damage," Hermione said, wrapping her arms around him. "I don't want you to get worse because of my inability to properly care for you. I love you enough to know that I might have to let you go."

Lucius was outraged! They wanted to put him into the loony bin!

He disentangled himself from the witch and disapparated with a thunder clap.

Hermione gasped, "Lucius!"

Where did the man go? Why was she always losing her men?

Lucius had Apparated back to the manor. Did she really hate him so much to want him in the loony bin?

"Sylvus," Hermione called.

“Yes, Mistress?”

"Where is Lucius?"

"I am not knowing, Mistress."

"How quickly can you find out?"

“It is not within my powers, Mistress, as I serve Master Draco and you. I cannot sense Master Lucius.”

"Would the elves of the other Malfoy houses speak with you?"

“Of course, Mistress.”

"Please go and find out for me. He is not well. I need to be with him."

Hermione felt dizzy. She put a hand to her head and sat back on the bed. Pain racked her body.

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Lucius writhed on the entry hall floor screaming.

“Master, what happened?” an elf asked.

"WICKED FEMALE! Wants me dead," Lucius sobbed as he curled himself in a ball.

The elf levitated Lucius gently to his bed.

"Why does she want to lock me up? She hates me," Lucius moaned pitifully.

Every fiber of him hurt. He couldn't move his limbs without mind-numbing pain.

"Mori!" the elf spoke out.

Mori appeared.

"Fetch Mistress," the elder elf commanded. "Foolish witch and wizard."

Hermione was writhing in pain on her bed when she felt a little bony hand grab her arm and the whirl of Apparition made her head spin.

As soon as she was in the room with Lucius, she was alert.

"LUCIUS!" Hermione cried, and she threw herself upon his chest.

"Hates me. She hates me."

The pain torturing her eased.

Lucius writhed about in pain.

"Be calm, my handsome wizard," Hermione whispered.

He only calmed when she kissed his lips.

"He likes you," Lucius mumbled as Hermione caressed his face and peppered his cheeks and neck with kisses.

“Who?” Hermione asked in confusion.

Lucius placed her hand on his bit and smiled sloppily as his eyes opened a bit as she continued kissing him.

Suddenly, they both were lifted from the bed and levitated away. When they tried to stand up or escape the magic moving them.

The door to the library opened and they were gently laid down on the sofa there.

Hermione continued to pet Lucius even though he was only wearing a towel.

“Now you two, how stupid are you?” Merlin boomed.

"Stuff it!" Hermione barked. "He doesn't need your crap right now. He is ill!"

“He's ill because of you, Wench.”

"It's the Ministry's fault. They are the ones with all the compulsion magic."

“Poppycock. Ministry's magic is tiny. It's just so that he is civil. MY magic is making the prophecy come true!”

"YOU BASTARD!" Hermione shouted, standing up.

“The prophecy was made to save my line!”

"You have caused all this! For nothing! You are torturing him! How can you do this?"

“It's you who is torturing him. Marry him and shag him and he will be fine.”

"No, he won't. He will hate himself forever for what he does to Draco! He'll never be the same if he does that!"

“Draco is an immature prat. He needs to learn to share,” Merlin mumbled.

"He is a jealous man. He loves me very much," Hermione said, and she kissed on Lucius and rubbed his chest.

“Now you two, why don't you fondle each other or something?” Merlin asked.

"Not in front of you, you voyeur!" Hermione said, even as she snuggled Lucius and kissed his cheeks.

“And get the boy here too. When you all are bonded, you will be fine!”

"Draco is at work," Hermione said, continuing to nuzzle Lucius. "You're going to be okay, Lucius."

“You two should get an official and bind yourselves. Then he will be fine,” Merlin instructed, and suddenly Hermione's clothes vanished.

Hermione didn't notice that her clothes were missing as she continued to sooth Lucius as he mumbled.

"Wench wants to lock me up. I'm not crazy. She is!"

“Isn't she pretty, hmm?” Merlin asked.

"So pretty," Lucius said, "I want you, Hermione."

“I want you too, Lucius,” she murmured and cupped him.

Lucius groaned and tried to kiss her.

"You wanted to lock me up? I'm not mental!"

“I don't want to lock you up.”

"You said you would though!" Lucius said. "I just need my witch!"

“Do something more, you two!” Merlin urged them.

"No, we must marry first," Lucius said, lifting Hermione up on his chest.

That was when Hermione realized she was not wearing clothes anymore.

“When you're married come back and consummate it here! I want to be sure you're trying to conceive my heirs right!”

"Shut up you nasty old painting," Lucius said. "I will not have sex while you wank in the background."

“Me? Wanking? Never! I will just medically supervise you!”

"We need no such advice," Lucius said, and he shook a fist at the painting.

Lucius summoned a robe to cover Hermione up.

"You're so good to me, Lucius," Hermione said. "Will you show me your home in Chelsea?"

“Of course, my sweet witch. Shall we get dressed?”

"Yes," Hermione whispered trying to ignore how delicious Lucius' erection felt between her legs.

Lucius disapparated them to her chambers. It would be no good to stay in the library any longer.

Hermione whimpered and hugged his neck.

"Feels so right," she said, sniffing his neck.

“Sweetheart, I will go dress now. I shall be back within twenty minutes.”

“But I want you,” she whimpered, pressing her hand to him. Suddenly, she kneeled and tore Lucius' towel away.

Lucius breathed out heavily as she kissed his inner thigh and sucked on it.

She couldn't resist him any longer. In a fast movement, she took his length into her mouth.

Lucius fell back and grabbed the bed railing.

She sucked on him eagerly. She needed to please him.

Lucius slid his hand into her hair.

“Witch, you should've not...” his reprimand was lost in the pleasure of her mouth on him.

Hermione moaned around him and slid her hands up to cup his arse.

She let his length pop out of her mouth so she could suck on his balls.

"Hermione," Lucius moaned, gripping her hair.

She moaned. It was so good to have two men.

Lucius groaned as he came.

"Witch, you shouldn't have done that," he whispered as she pulled back kissing his organ as it softened.

“But I wanted to! Such a beautiful cock all hard and waiting for me. How can I resist?”

"What will Draco say when he finds out what you've done?"

“He won't find out,” Hermione said with a cheeky grin. “We should dress and then we should figure out how we can make all three of us happy.”

Lucius backed away from her.

"Hermione, there is no happiness for the three of us."

“Yes, there is! As Merlin told me!” She pouted and stomped to her dressing room, slamming the door.

Lucius sat on the bed. He put his head in his hands.

He wanted her. Badly so. And it was apparent that she wanted him, too. The pain and madness he had felt had all gone away now, after she had pleasured him.

But she was Draco's. He made sure that Draco could have her. He wouldn't be the one to see Draco's heartbroken look. He had seen it when he refused him a candy when he was a child and had just gotten over a stomach ache. He had vowed never to see the look again, and he had seen it too much in the last several days.

Hermione cried. Why couldn't she have both men? It just wasn't fair!

She put on a black silk lingerie set and contemplated on which dress to choose from the vast selection Draco had given her. Without long pondering she chose a green satin mini dress. Lucius should see what he is missing!

He deserved punishing for denying her desires.

She brushed her hair but let it down as it was a nicely styled mass of flowing curls.

She walked quietly back into the room where Lucius was.

He was still seated on the bed naked with his head held in his hands.

She walked past him and sat down at her vanity.

Lucius didn't look up but he saw her long legs as she strode before him.

He didn't dare to look at the way the high heels emphasized her legs.

She should be thrown on the bed and ravished while she squealed. She should be had in every position and taught her place was in her man's bed.

“Aren't you going to get dressed?” she asked instead.

Lucius stood and walked over to her where she sat.

"My dear," he said.

“What do you want?” she asked, still pouting.

Lucius sneered. He ought to put her in her place right now. Uppity wench.

“I could always go and visit Draco in the office. Being at home is so bland.”

"You said you would spend the day with me," Lucius said, and he touched her hair. "I would like to show you something."

“What?” she asked, still pouting.

"Please don't pout," Lucius said, and he pushed his lips to her forehead. "And it is a surprise."

“What surprise can a naked man have?”

Lucius smiled at her. "I'm Lucius Malfoy, my Dear. You will find that I am full of surprises."

They disapparated with a clap of thunder.

“I just remembered that all of my Muggle attire is here,” Lucius said and grinned.

Hermione gasped as she looked around the fine old home.

“Do feel at home, Witch,” Lucius said as he turned to enter one of the doors to the side.

Hermione wandered through the home and looked at the paintings.

"Hello! Hello!" a voice called from a closet.

“Who's there?” Hermione asked, wondering if Lucius had caged a Muggle.

"I've been in here a long time," the voice called. "Please let me out!"

Hermione didn't move.

"I can't hurt you! I've been in here a long time," the voice called.

Hermione cautiously moved closer to the door behind which she heard the voice. Slowly she pulled the door open.

"Where are you?”

"I'm under this damn tarp!"

Hermione reached in grabbing the deerskin that covered something rectangular.

Where was Lucius? She felt oddly curious about the thing she had found, yet was it right to snoop in Lucius' house.

She gasped as she saw an extremely handsome face with Malfoy-like eyes but his hair was black and he was dressed in a stunning Muggle military uniform.

"Thank you! Thank you!" the man in the painting said. "I've been in here for years. That's what our family does when you are born a squib!"

“The Malfoys had squibs in their line? I would've never thought...”

"I'm a cousin of the Malfoys. I'm sure you heard that Merlin had two children. I was the end of the magic of the line of the other. And my cousins as you can see, ma'am, have no respect for me."

“Aww, you poor thing.”

"One little mistake and you're branded for life," he said, crossing his arms. "I behaved poorly in my life. Partly acting out as my parents disowned me. I don't know if you will have heard of me."

“I don't think I have heard of you. What did you do to get disowned?”

"My surname is Tarleton. I was disinherited for being a squib, and disowned for 'conduct unbefitting of a gentleman.' I'm not proud of what I did. But I did it, and would do it again. It was a bloody war!"

“Goodness, Hermione, I should've warned you that you should not go near that closet,' Lucius said as he came to stand behind her.

"Let me outta here, you dirty tosser!"

“I must excuse my late relative's poor behavior. He is such a foul mouth,' Lucius purred.

"Late, I've been dead almost 170 years, you filthy mangy cad!"

“Was that my surprise?” Hermione asked, putting the painting down.

"Hardly, and he's staying in the closet!" Lucius said, picking the painting up and preparing to toss it into the closet.

"My dear sweet Lady, I've been in that closet for more than a century," Tarleton said, "You won't let him lock me up for being a squib, will you?

“Not for being a squib, but for being a foul mouth and a black sheep.”

"It's for being a squib, and you know it, you ponce!"

"Lucius have a heart," Hermione said, taking the frame. "He is your family."

"Hermione, he has no honor. He is a black sheep."

“What dishonorable thing did he do?” Hermione asked.

"He murdered children and raped women. Massacred good soldiers after they surrendered. He is not a gentleman." Lucius shook his finger at the painting.

"It was a war! Damn colonists!"

“Horrible!” Hermione said and dropped the painting.

"I was acting out! My family hated me!" Tarleton said, giving Hermione big innocent eyes.

“But they didn't make you do those horrible things!”

"If I had been shown more love, I would have been a better person," Tarleton said. "Even in my death, my family hates me."

Tarleton began to weep and he dabbed his eyes with a handkerchief.

“Well, I couldn't burn the damn portrait. No destruction charms worked either. When he was in the Manor's attic he was causing such ruckus that the elves begged me to move him. But he can only be in a Malfoy property-or he'd return to the Manor.”

"Merlin was a womanizer who started the plague of magical syphilis, but he hangs above the fireplace in the library. But Circe knows, a squib can't hang in the Manor," Tarleton said, tucking the handkerchief into his pocket.

“Because when you were hanging in the attic you were singing off key all the time. The elves were driven to craze as you caused them to lose sleep.”

"I'm family! I should not be hanging in the attic! I should be hung in my proper place!"

"Lucius, can't he at least be hung up somewhere where he can get some sunlight and have some company?" Hermione asked.

“No, last time it was tried, around fifty years ago, the other portraits were plotting a turpentine demise for him.”

"Well, can he hang up here?" Hermione asked, tugging the painting close.

"You never tried to hang me up! You came, teased me and said that I was a loser!"

“He is so loud, I would never have peace here.”

Hermione pulled him back and looked at Tarleton.

"Would you behave yourself and not be a nuisance if you were hung up in this house?" Hermione asked, looking into the grey eyes.

"I give you my word as a gentleman!" Tarleton quickly chirped. "If I am hung in a nice spot."

“Can we hang him in the cupboard under the stairs?” Lucius whispered, kissing her neck gently.

"Lucius, have a heart," Hermione said. "I think he should hang in the living room. There is a lovely fireplace in there with no painting hung above it."

"Hopefully, he would fall in," Lucius said, smirking at the painting.

“I'm fireproof!”

"Too bad," Lucius said.

"Thank you Lucius," Hermione said, happily lifting the painting, not paying any mind to how the face of the man in it was being pressed to her breasts as she carried it.

The painting moaned.

"What is it?" Hermione asked as she hung him up carefully arranging him so he hung straight.

“Just…light and fresh air!”

"No one shall lock you up as long as I live," Hermione said. "You are such a handsome man."

"Thank you, my Lady," the painting said with a blush.

Lucius growled.

"I believe that your husband is jealous," Tarleton said, pointing to Lucius.

“Oh, I am very much so.”

"Well, grow up, I'm dead. I'm not stealing a witch from you. You are lucky to have her. You better take good care of her."

“I will. Hermione, my love, let me show you the surprise I had in mind.”

Hermione giggled as she took Lucius' hand. With a clap of thunder, they disapparated.

She gasped as they landed on a wood dock. She was staring at the most beautiful yacht she had ever seen.

“As you can see, I have a liking for the finer Muggle things.”

"A yacht," Hermione asked, and she raced forward and got on board.

"I thought I might take you somewhere," Lucius said, striding up onto the boat as well.

Hermione adored the way Lucius' arse looked in the tight dark blue jeans.

She couldn't resist, and she reached out and cupped it.

“Hermione!”

Hermione pulled her hand back and smacked his bum.

“You look very nice, Lucius!”

Lucius blushed, "As do you, my Lady."

“How come you've became fond of Muggle things?” Hermione asked as she sat down on the leather sofa on the deck.

"Sometimes, it is nice to just escape the wizarding world for a while. An afternoon on the yacht is a pleasant way to de-stress.”

“It's still so...who would've thought that a pureblood wizard would like Muggle things?”

"Apparently, you wouldn't have," Lucius said, steering the boat carefully till they were through all the others to get them onto the sea.

“But you were so anti-Muggle!”

"We all have our faces, Hermione," Lucius said, increasing the speed of the vessel.

“But I thought you were so...I was scared to death when I got the match.”

"Well, I wanted you to be frightened of us. I certainly did not want the Dark Lord believing that I was friendly with Muggleborns. It would have ended with my son's head on a platter. You must understand, when I joined, it sounded like a political movement."

“I have read all about it. How the initial political feel was diminished when Riddle was crazed by Dark magic.

"I wasn't about to let any harm come to Draco, and if it meant making a few Muggleborns cry and pee their pants, then that was what I would do," Lucius said as he gradually eased off the speed of the boat.

Hermione huffed.

"It was a matter of keeping most of them alive as well, Hermione. You understand that if they ran when they saw me, I would not have to risk being ordered to hurt them, which I would have done to protect Draco. Draco is my world," Lucius said, and the boat came to a gently stop.

“I understand. But you still have a bad image.”

"Well, I'm working on clearing that up," Lucius said, tucking her hand on his arm. "Now, on to the surprise."

“Another surprise?”

Just then a soft noise filled the air and rang through the hull of the boat. Hermione gasped as she watched a light purple scaled fin breech the surface.

"The hippocampi all give birth today," Lucius said, and he gestured to the pod of the creatures surrounding them. "Most humans don't witness it. I thought you might enjoy it. I always come to watch them."

“That's amazing, Lucius. I didn't know you had such a soft side to you.”

"I like baby animals," Lucius said, pointing to where a mother was holding her baby at the surface so he could breath.

The baby chirped as a large male swam around the female.

"That is Stormy," Lucius said, pointing to the large silver head. "He was a runt when he was born. His mother abandoned him. I brought him to our home and raised him. He is now the biggest and strongest out there. He won his girl."

Hermione hugged Lucius.

Lucius held her in his arms as the animals swam around the boat singing soft songs.

“Do you still think I am mad, my sweet?”

Hermione shook her head as she held him.

“I love you, Hermione. I just don't dare to break Draco's heart. I can’t lose my son.”

"I don't want to hurt Draco either. He is a sweet man. He is sensitive I think, though, he is a bit of a brat still. You see it every now and then."

Lucius closed his eyes.

"You know I love you both," Hermione said, listening to Lucius' heartbeat speed up.

“We need to enlist a Compulsion magic expert. That will shed light onto this situation.”

"Compulsion magic is dark magic, right?" Hermione asked, looking up at him.

“It often is, that's why I think my dear friend Severus will be just the right person to find out.”

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This one has been a long time coming. Apologies. Love you all. Please leave a review. Will try not to let the next chapter take so long. No promises! Sorry. *huggles*

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