Daughter of Leda

“Miss Granger,” Snape said gravely. “Thank you for what you have done for me. But for now, I need your help. Lucius confided in me regarding certain things, and it has led me to believe you might be able to help him.”

“You know where he is?” Hermione asked quickly, her eyes wide and hopeful. Her breath caught as she anxiously waited for his answer.

“He’s in my chambers in the dungeon,” said Snape. “I got him away from the battle as soon as I saw an opening. He’s not responding though.”

“Take me to him,” she all but ordered, half running towards the dungeons without waiting for his reply.

-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-

“Lucius... Lucius, talk to me,” said Hermione desperately. She searched his face for any sign of recognition but could find none. Severus Snape had managed to keep Lucius from any more harm, knowing that whatever was wrong with him would need to be dealt with before the Ministry needed to know Lucius Malfoy’s location, but whatever Voldemort had done to him was not fading away. Lucius was sitting in a chair, staring mindlessly at the wall.

“He seems to be under the Imperius,” said Snape, standing beside her. “I tried what I could on him but to no avail. I don’t know what entirely was done to him, but we have to find something else to end it.”

“Why was it done, Professor?” she asked.

“The Dark Lord gave orders which Lucius refused,” he told her, somewhat reluctantly. “There was no time to waste with Crucios, nor time to find someone else for the task, so the Dark Lord put an Imperius on him to ensure his cooperation.”

“What were his orders?” asked Hermione.

“He was to find you during the battle and ensure your death. The Dark Lord feared that if you remained alive you would be a means Potter’s victory.”

“Oh no...” said Hermione, realization dawning. Snape didn’t know of her past, or the entirety of Lucius’ ties to it. He had attempted to end the Imperius without any hope of doing so, because it wasn’t the Imperius itself that caused Lucius to be in such a state. “My family have been muggles for a couple generations now,” she told Snape quickly, trying to summarize as much as possible. “But my great-great-grandmother was a highly skilled witch. Before her death she ensured that the Malfoy line was under an Unbreakable Vow to do anything I ask as a daughter of hers. He considers himself bound to protect me, and I’m afraid that the wording of the Vow and that of Voldemort’s instructions with the Imperius has caused a conflict in him. He is in a limbo of sorts, his magic unsure which way it must go.”

Snape opened his mouth to inquire further, but Hermione waved him off as she knelt down beside Lucius. “Lucius Malfoy,” she said firmly. “I, Hermione Granger and a daughter of Leda, call on your Vow to throw off the effect of the Imperius and return to your normal state. Voldemort is dead and you no longer have any duty to do as he commands.”

Lucius blinked, though for a moment his eyes remained transfixed and clouded as they had been before. Then the cloud faded, and once again Hermione was looking at the cold, calculating grey of Lucius Malfoy’s eyes. He turned towards her and his expression seemed to hold warmth, his mouth curving into a smile. “Hermione...”

“I suppose this isn’t the best time to ask what is going on?” asked Snape dryly from his spot across the room.

“Not just now, my old friend,” said Lucius without taking his eyes of Hermione, “although I will inform you of all the details at a later time. I must, however, inquire after Narcissa.”

Snape coughed, clearing his throat before he spoke. “She died in the battle, Lucius.”

Hermione’s happy expression faded at the mention of Narcissa, though she had to admit to herself that she had no right to be bothered by it. She was, after all, Lucius’ wife. Or had been.

“In that case, although I am sorry to hear about the death of my son’s mother, it means I am free to do something I very much need to do. You will have your explanations later, Severus. For now, might I use your floo?”

Snape nodded, saying nothing but studying Lucius carefully.

Lucius went took Hermione’s hand and they walked over to the fireplace. He stated their destination, and motioned for Hermione to go first. “After you, my lady.” She looked at him strangely for a moment, then complied.

He followed her through and immediately blocked the floo for any more visitors. He had brought them to one of the Malfoy vacation homes, one where he knew they would be reasonably safe to stay for several days if needed. They needed to talk, but at that moment his body’s needs seemed more pressing. Lucius pulled her to him and kissed her hungrily, his hands exploring her body in a need to know every inch of her.

Hermione relaxed into his arms, only to pull away a moment later. “Lucius, wait.”

He looked into her eyes. “Hermione, I know we need to talk. We need to figure all of this out. But I need you. I’ve needed you so long, and after all of this I need you even more.”

“I won’t deny you,” she told him. “But there is something you need to know first. Narcissa. It’s all my fault.”

“What do you mean?” he asked, tucking loose strands of hair behind her ear.

“In the battle,” she said carefully. “I was dueling Draco. I didn’t want to hurt him, and he didn’t seem to want to hurt me. We didn’t know Voldemort was watching in the distance, and when he saw Draco lower his wand... Narcissa blocked the curse meant for Draco. It’s all my fault. If he hadn’t seemed to protect me, it wouldn’t have happened. Narcissa wouldn’t be...”

“Shh...” said Lucius, holding her. “Hush, darling. It’s not your fault. If she hadn’t died that way, there is still no certainty she wouldn’t have died in the battle. Draco wouldn’t have hurt you, but he couldn’t let others know that. Draco was really the only one in her life she truly loved, and Narcissa would have wanted her death to be in protection of him. You can’t blame yourself for a curse another cast.”

“But it was cast because of me,” she said between her tears. “How can I let you kiss me when I know I’m at fault for the death of your wife?”

“Hermione, listen to me. It wasn’t your fault. Don’t make me lose the woman I love along with my son’s mother because you can’t forgive yourself.”

“What do you mean, Lucius?”

“I love you, Hermione. I didn’t refuse the Dark Lord’s orders because of the Vow. I refused because I love you and nothing would have been worth carrying out his orders. Nothing. Did you really think I was lying to you when I’ve spoke of my love for you in the past?”

“But what if...”

Lucius kissed her again, not allowing her to finish her sentence. This time she didn’t stop him, and he quickly led her to a bed so that their first time together in so long wouldn’t end up on the floor or a couch. If anything her tears only made him want her more. He wanted to erase them with pure bliss.

Normally Lucius would have taken his time with her, made her crazy with want in return. But there would be time for that later, and he needed her too badly. A quick motion with his hand and their clothes vanished, reappearing on a chair in the corner of the room. They fell onto the bed, Hermione’s hips rising against Lucius as he laid on top of her. He entered her with a finger and heard her gasp. Then two fingers worked their way in and out of her until they were soaked in her arousal.

“Now, Lucius, please...”

He didn’t take the time to tease her with questions, asking what exactly it was she wanted. He slipped his body further between her legs and slowly inched his way inside of her. She moaned, arching her hips up to take him more fully inside of her. He hissed, trying to control his own reaction to the sensation.

As he adjusted to the feeling of her, he began to thrust faster, telling himself with each thrust that she was his. That she would always be his, and he would be the only man to touch her. Her fingernails dug into his back, and eager lips assaulted his neck and shoulders at each opportunity.

When they had finished the two curled up together under the blankets, laying as close to one another as they could manage. They knew now, like they had never been sure of before, that there would be time for talking later.