Mastering Temptation

CHAPTER Twenty-four: The Angel and The Kissing Bandits











Draco Malfoy nearly choked on his champagne when he recognized the man lurking in the shadows along the outskirts of the party. He had only seen Severus at their New Years parties perhaps twice in the last ten years and he had not bothered to wear a costume either time. Yet there he was dressed as a highwayman in black breeches and boots, black shirt, silk kerchief covering his hair and a black half mask shielding most of his face.





With a sly smile, Draco made his way over to Lucius who was standing at the front of the assemblage observing their guests.





“We have a surprise guest.” Draco said quietly to his father. “The highwayman in the corner.”



Lucius glanced into the corner and smiled slightly. While his costume hid his identity well, there was no mistaking the way he moved.





“I didn’t figure he would be able to stay away. Severus is a very possessive man; he wouldn’t take too kindly to someone else kissing his lady love at midnight.” Lucius drawled.





“Care to see just how much he’s able to tolerate?” Draco asked, smiling wickedly.





“Could be dangerous you know, he was Tom’s favorite for a reason.” Lucius said, smiling as he sipped his champagne. “Oh, why the hell not, a little excitement is in order, this lot sure isn’t going to provide any.”





“Excellent! So here is what I propose…..”





~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~





Severus stood in a darkened corner of the room and observed the crowd covertly. He had gone back to his rooms at the castle and paced like a caged animal for hours. Her face had haunted him, the disappointment and hurt in her eyes making him feel like a first rate arse for not escorting her to the party. The longer he thought about it, the more difficult it became for him to actually focus on anything other than making her happy once more. He had made the decision to dress up, concealing his identity as best he could, and attend the festivities.







He found the Malfoys easily enough, Draco was dressed as a pirate, black breeches, knee high boots, a frilly white shirt and a red scarf tied around his hair. He wore a black mask over his eyes and a sword strapped to his hip. Lucius stood at the front of the room wearing black robes over a black shirt and trousers. Small horns protruded from his forehead above his black mask.





Severus watched the two men converse briefly before Lucius excused himself and made his way through the crowd. It was then that Severus spotted her, standing by the double glass doors that led outside onto the stone terrace. She was wearing a silver floor length gown that bared her shoulders and hugged her torso before flaring into a wide, full skirt. From her back sprouted small, white feathered wings that matched the feathered mask covering her eyes. Her curls were piled high atop her head with several tendrils escaping to curl about her forehead and brush her shoulders.





Her face lit up when Lucius extended his hand and she threw her head back as she laughed at something he said. Severus felt the sharp stab of jealousy that she would be enjoying herself so much without him.







~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~





Lucius set his champagne flute on a nearby table and made his way across the room to where Hermione stood near the door. She had spent most of the evening looking out the windows with a longing expression on her sweet young face. He knew that she was disappointed that Severus had not accompanied her, not that Lucius expected that his old friend would. Severus wasn’t a social man and the truth was that unless it was a private dinner, he rarely attended any sort of gathering that Lucius held. This was a shame really when one considered that Severus was his only true friend. All the other wizards and witches attended only because Lucius was in fact the wealthiest wizard in Britain, and it never hurt to be social with someone so important.







Lucius smiled when he snuck up on the contemplative witch dressed as an angel, fully aware of the dark eyes that were watching his every movement.





“Wishing on stars?” He asked softly near her ear. Hermione startled and turned around to face Lucius, smiling when she realized it was him.





“It wouldn’t do me any good.” She said.





“Care to dance with the devil in the pale moonlight?” He asked, extending his hand. Hermione threw her head back and laughed hysterically.





“Lucius Malfoy, have you been watching muggle movies again?” She asked, taking his hand as he led her to the dance floor.





“Once I figured out how to operate your television I couldn’t help it.” He said, smiling at her as they stepped out into the crowd of people and the song faded from a waltz into a slow rumba.





“Are you certain you want to dance a rumba with me, Lucius?” Hermione asked, her eyes twinkling with residual amusement from his foray into movie quotes. “It’s a very provocative dance and people already speculate that you and I have carnal knowledge of one another.”





“Then let us give them a little more to speculate on shall we?” He asked, taking her hand and jerking her hard against him and into position as the music began. To Hermione’s amazement he led them into the dance expertly, the slow roll of hips and suggestive placement of hands causing more than one set of eyes to widen as they watched.





“You like being the center of attention, don’t you? Is that why you dressed up as the Christian’s Lucifer?” She asked, barely holding back a squeal of surprise when Lucius dipped her low and slid his hand along her side.





“Lucifer, Lucius…to these people it is basically the same thing.” He said, pulling her slowly upright. “Might as well give them the beast they expect.”





“So we can be either the angel and the fallen angel, or beauty and the beast?” She asked, smiling up at him, a little befuddled by his behavior.





“Nonsense, I would avada anyone who dared call you a beast.” He said with a slight smirk before leading them into a slow turn across the dance floor.





“You are in rare form tonight, Lucius. Why am I the lucky girl on the receiving end of your charm?” She asked.





“Perhaps I am identifying with the character I am portraying and merely wish to corrupt the innocent angel staring up at the moon with such sad eyes.” He whispered near her ear, his eyes darting into the shadows where a certain dark wizard stood tense and glaring daggers his way.





“My goodness, Lucius, aren’t you a sweet talker tonight. How much champagne have you had?” She asked, chuckling softly.





“Not nearly as much as you might think, my dear.” He said, smiling down at her with genuine affection. “And if anyone deserves to have sweet words whispered in their ear, then it is you.”





“Thank you.” She said softly, laying her hands on his cheeks.







“You aren’t going to understand, but trust me, later you will thank me for what I’m about to do.” He said, smiling at her confused expression.







“What are you going to…..mfph!” Hermione’s eyes widened when Lucius bent his head and pressed his lips to hers gently for several moments. When he pulled back she was blinking rapidly, her mouth opening and closing as she struggled for something to say.





“Happy New Year, my dear.” He said softly as he walked away, leaving her in the middle of the dance floor completely stunned.







~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~







Severus frowned when the music changed and he saw Lucius pull Hermione sharply to him. Pressed together with no space between them, he led her through the slow, seductive steps of the rumba, hips rolling and hands caressing.





Severus wanted to draw his wand when he saw Lucius dip her backwards over his arm and slide his hand along the curve of her waist and hip. The tall blonde was clearly flirting with her and Hermione was responding with sweet smiles and soft laughter. He didn’t like what he was seeing, his witch in the arms of his friend. He felt his ire begin to rise as Lucius whispered in her ear. His entire body tensed and he stood complete astonishment as Lucius kissed her right there for all the world to see, then walk away and leave her standing in the middle of the dance floor completely dazed.







~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~





Hermione walked slowly back to her spot by the veranda doors and shook her head. Lucius must be deep in his cups to have kissed her like that, he had never given her more than the chastest of embraces or peck on the cheek. Perhaps it was pity that led him to flirt so outrageously with her. She knew he didn’t harbor any feelings for her, she could even feel it in the gentle press of his kiss. No, there was no desire behind the kiss, so why had he done it?





“Champagne, darling?” Draco stepped up from behind her and passed a flute of sparkling amber into her hand.





“Thank you.” She said, taking a small sip of the sweet drink. “How much has your father had to drink?”





“I have no idea, why do you ask?” Draco covered his smile by lifting his own glass to his lips.





“He’s just behaving oddly is all. Are you having a good time tonight, lord pirate?” Hermione asked, flicking the ruffle on his shirt with a smile.





“I am, how about you my sad angel?” Draco asked, reaching out to stroke her feathered wings.





“The party is lovely.” She said softly, turning her eyes back to the moon shining outside.





“I didn’t ask about the party, I wanted to know if you are having a good time. I can see that you are not.” He said. “It’s almost midnight, darling. Come dance with me.”





Draco pulled her from the window and into his arms for a quick spin around the dance floor. They fell into step with the other couples who were dancing the fox trot.



“I sometimes wonder just how these stuffy old people would react were we to have a DJ playing muggle club music.” Draco said.





“Given that most everyone in this room is a pureblood and a large majority of them despise muggles, I would say that the party would quickly empty.” Hermione said, laughing.





“It’s good to hear you laughing, darling. I hate seeing you so unhappy.” Draco said, stopping them in the shadows near to where he knew Severus watched from behind a potted plant.





“I’m not unhappy, Draco, just a little disappointed. I’m sure it will not be the last time in my life that things do not go my way.” She said.





“Things should always go your way, and the man in your life should do whatever it takes to make sure that it does. I know I would, were you mine.” Draco could see her recoiling in confusion so he took that opportunity to kiss her. He kept his lips closed and his tongue to himself. Despite the demon inside him that encouraged him to put on a bigger show for the wizard fuming in the corner, he would not behave so offensively towards his friend.





“Draco….what in the world has gotten into you Malfoys tonight?” Hermione asked, holding him at arms length. The rascal winked at her and took her hand, tugging her back towards the front of the room where Lucius stood.





“You’ll understand soon enough, it’s almost midnight.” Draco stood to one side of her and Lucius at the other when the clock sounded and the guests began to count down the seconds to the New Year. When the clock chimed twelve brightly colored confetti and streamers magically poured from the ceiling as Auld Lang Syne began to play.





“Happy New Year, darling.” Draco said.





“Happy New Year, my dear.” Lucius said simultaneously as the two blondes leaned in to kiss her cheeks while she laughed between them. Suddenly both of them were yanked backwards by their collars and she found herself swept into the arms of a highwayman.





She was ready to scream until she met his eyes and realized who it was who held her.





“Happy New Year, a mhuirnin.” He whispered before his lips met hers. Hermione clutched his shoulders, stunned and elated at the same time that he had come to kiss her at midnight.





“Severus what are you doing here?” She whispered, staring at him in amazement when he pulled away.





“I couldn’t disappoint you.” He said gently, his heart stuttering in his chest at her slow smile.





“Good of you to finally join the party, Severus.” Lucius said, smiling smugly.





“Thought you were going to stand in the corner all night, mate.” Draco said, slapping him on the back.







“You know?” He asked, looking at the two of them.





“We have known for some time now, Severus. It wasn’t difficult to figure out.” Lucius said, tilting back his glass to finish off his champagne.





“You knew and yet both of you decided to kiss her?” Severus glared.





“Well, she is quite kissable, don’t you think?” Draco asked, laughing.





“Get your own witch, this one is mine.” To the surprise of all of them Severus bent down pressed his shoulder into her abdomen and tossed her over his shoulder. “Happy New year.” Was all he said as he made his way through the crowd, Hermione smiling happily as she waved at Lucius and Draco from her inverted position over his shoulder.











**** **** **** **** **** **** **** **** **** **** *



Hope this wasn’t too difficult to read since it sort of bounced between POVs….still haven’t figured out how to get things in italics when I post….if anyone can offer that little bit of info I would love you for it.







Anyhow…..so she got her kiss…..more than one LOL…..and she got a somewhat public declaration, even if it was only for the Malfoys ears.





Cant imagine a better way to bring in the New Year than to be kissed by 3 gorgeous men…..my Hermione is a lucky girl.







Mariteri - Happy New year!