Adventurous Hearts: The Temple

CHAPTER 3: The Liberation of Lucius Malfoy







Hermione waited impatiently while Lucius was out processed. She suspected that they were not used to releasing prisoners, not alive at any rate. She heard more than one employee harping on their need to get it perfect as Dr.Granger had the minister’s ear, if they only knew what an earful Kingsley was going to get when she spoke with him again. In fact, she was going to send a howler his way about the unethical treatment of the prisoners as soon as she was able.







Finally she was handed a stack of parchment two inches thick along with a box. Hermione looked inside and saw his robes, wadded up and shoved inside, along with his wallet, which she assumed had been emptied of any monies long ago.







“Yer wand and Prisoner Malfoy’s walking stick will be waiting at the door.” The clerk said.









“He is Mr. Malfoy to you now as he is no longer a prisoner here.” Hermione said as she practically jerked the box from the counter. The clerk stared at her as though she didn’t understand and Hermione grew even more irritated by the way things were being run. She frowned at the woman then reached up for the sliding window and slammed it shut; the clerk was left staring at her with her mouth open through the glass.









“Are you always so rude?” Lucius asked, more amused than he was willing to admit by the spunky witch.







“No, not always, I just do not suffer idiots or sloth well.” She said, shoving the box into his abdomen, pleased with the grunt of surprise he emitted before she let go. “Change your clothing, Lucius; I want out of this hell hole as quickly as possible.”







“I shall be but a moment.” Lucius said frowning as he stepped through the door labeled Wizards. Once inside the lavatory he nearly screamed when he caught his reflection in the mirror. He had not seen his own face in ten years and did not recognize the man staring back at him. He closed his eyes and turned away in disgust as he gladly removed his prison uniform and stepped into the wrinkled and musty scented clothing he had worn on the day he arrived.







He exited the lavatory, feeling somewhat human in his own clothing though he was well aware that he did not present himself as he would have liked. He was still filthy and the clothing that had once been perfectly tailored to him was too big and no doubt long out of fashion. He expected her to make some snide comment about his appearance, but to his surprise she simply turned and exited the office.







He followed her through receiving and nearly wept when they placed his wand, hidden within his serpent headed walking stick into his hand, somehow holding that length of elm containing the dragon heartstring made him feel whole again. He stepped out into the late summer heat and tilted his face up to the sky, feeling the warmth of the sun on his face for the first time in a decade.







Hermione watched him, somewhat amazed to see a man react so strongly to such simple things, especially a man as wealthy and spoiled as Lucius Malfoy. She supposed that had she been deprived of every luxury, and from the looks of things inside, many necessities, she too would wish to savor every moment of her freedom.









“There is no apparation from this island; we need to take the boat to the other side.” Hermione said, gesturing towards a small boat tied to a wooden dock.









“I know you will think me vain, but I really do not wish to be seen publicly like this.” He said quietly. Hermione pursed her lips thoughtfully. There was a part of her, the vindictive part that recalled the events inside the Department of Mysteries and the war clearly, that wanted to drag him through the streets and humiliate him, but it was squashed quickly. She may be jaded and somewhat hardened by time and events, but she was not cruel.









“The boat is spelled to move back and forth between land, when we are far enough out from the island and free of the wards we can disapparate to your home, the boat will continue the journey without passengers.” She said.









“Thank you.” He said, nodding politely. He stepped into the boat first, then reached up and offered her his hand to assist her. She laughed, staring at him incredulously. “Is there something amiss?” He asked.









“You.” She said through her laughter. “Such a gentlemanly gesture from the man who has shot more than one curse my way.”







“I apologize; obviously I shouldn’t expect a person of your birth to appreciate proper manners.” He said, lowering his hand and turning his back on her as he seated himself.







“There we go, that’s more like it.” She said with a smile as she stepped into the boat and sat across from him as it lurched into motion and headed out to sea.









“What are you on about now?” He asked, irritated by the witch.









“Don’t try to charm me, Lucius. You have your freedom; all I need from you is for you to assist with this project. You don’t need to be polite or charming, you are a means to an end for me, being friendly is not necessary.” She said, leaning back and crossing her legs.









“Do you have any friends?” He asked. “Because your social skills are abysmal. I know I have been incarcerated for the last decade, but surely politeness has not been eradicated in that time.”







“I only socialize when forced.” She said, shrugging. “And I have all the friends I need.”









“Ah yes, Potter and Weasley.” He said, relaxing somewhat as he breathed deeply of the clean, fresh sea air. “I find it interesting that you are unwed, Miss Granger. I should have thought one of them would have made an honest woman of you.”









“I am not interested in marriage right now. I like having the freedom to do what and who I want when I want.” She said silkily. “Harry is married to Ginerva Weasley and Ron is gay.”







“Gay?” Lucius arched one silver brow inquiringly.









“Yes, gay…you know, he prefers men to women.” She said.









“No doubt a side effect of being around a woman with so little decorum as you.” He retorted with a smile.









“Very good! We almost got married however, but we had a falling out of sorts, then he discovered he was gay.” She said laughing, anything but offended.











“Tell me, Miss Granger, are you a masochist? You seem quite pleased to be insulted by me.” Lucius watched her toy with the end of her long braid.









“Oh, I wouldn’t say I was a masochist, I just appreciate people who are real, honest and true. I can not stand artifice, liars or phonies.” She said. “Perhaps time has lessened your passion for blood politics, but you still believe very strongly in pureblood superiority and would fight for it if you believed you could win.”









“Do not pretend to know me, Miss Granger, or to understand what I may or may not believe. Time in that…place…affects a great number of things about a man’s beliefs.” He said, turning his gaze to stare out at the sea.









“Hermione.” She said, flinging her braid back over her shoulder as she stood up.









“Pardon?” Lucius looked up at her.











“Hermione, it’s my name, call me Hermione.” She said. “We are nearing the dock and free of the Island’s wards. It has been many years since I was in your home, Lucius, you will have to do a side-along, it has been awhile, can you transport us safely?”







“Of course I can! I have been apparating since before you were even a gleam in your father’s eye you impertinent little witch!” Lucius snapped, drawing himself up to his full height and towering over her. He grabbed her around the waist and pulled her against his side and without a word of warning they popped out of sight.







Hermione shoved away from him roughly when they reappeared on the wide, sweeping front steps of Malfoy Manor. She glared at him for a moment, then slapped his shoulder.







“Do not man handle me.” She growled. “Especially when you smell the way you do.”









“Then do not impugn my abilities.” He snarled back.









“I was trying to be considerate given you haven’t been able to use magic in so long, I thought maybe your skills were a bit rusty and I didn’t want to get splinched!” She said, her tone just a shade below a full out shout.









“Just because I was not wielding it does not mean I wasn’t practicing or studying it.” He said distractedly as he stood on the front porch of his home and looked out over the sea of green, finely manicured lawn that ran into the woods surrounding his property. It felt so good to be looking out over his land. He turned his attention back to the gray stone manse. Four stories, not including the sublevels, it boasted more rooms than he could count and had belonged to the Malfoy’s for generations; it was where he had once upon a time had a family. It was also where he ruined his life, his family and his reputation.









“Just get yourself cleaned up so we can get going, Lucius. You really do smell.” She said, banging on the front door so hard that it rattled. Within seconds it was pulled open and a small house elf peeked around the side.









“Welcomes to Malfoy Manor, ma’am, I is Ronan hows may I help you?” The creature asked timidly.









“I am….”









“Oh! Master! You is returned!” The little creature exclaimed as it fell to its knees, hands clasped and shivering. “Oh blessed be the Master is returned!”









“Get up, Ronan.” Lucius said, shaking his head at the elf’s dramatics. He shoved past the creature and made his way into his house, closing his eyes and breathing deeply of the familiar scent of home. “Have a bath drawn for me, Ronan, and clean clothing laid out.” Lucius got chills at the thought of finally being clean. “Will you also inform my son that I am returned.”







“Right away, Master, right away!” The elf vanished with an excited squeak and left them alone in the monstrous foyer.









“You might have said please…or even thank you to the creature, he was so excited to see you a little of the politeness you are so fond of would have been nice.” Hermione said.









“They are servants, not friends or peers.” He said loftily as he turned and walked down a long hall. Hermione followed, impressed by the lavish beauty of the Malfoy home. She followed him into a large study that was dominated by an enormous desk situated in front of a bay window. Floor to ceiling bookshelves lined the walls a small seating area with plush leather sofas was arranged in front of the fireplace. “This is my study and private library.”







“It is lovely.” She said, walking slowly as if hypnotized towards the bookcases.









“I trust you can entertain yourself while I make myself more presentable.” Lucius said. He didn’t receive a reply, not that he expected one. Draco had once told him that the girl was a bookworm of epic proportions, it seemed he was correct.







Lucius could have easily apparated into his bedchambers but he took the long way instead, pleased to be able to climb the long, curving staircase and traverse the lengthy corridors after so long away. He sighed and stared longingly at his enormous canopied bed, wishing he could climb in and roll around in the luxurious Egyptian cotton bedding.







He was sorely in need of a bath, so comfort and pleasure would have to wait, cleanliness was his first priority. He stripped out of his clothing on his way into the bathing chamber. He didn’t glance towards the large mirror above the basins; he didn’t want to look upon that ragged, filthy creature again. He stepped down into the large sunken tub, his sigh of pleasure echoing off of the tiled walls as he sank to his shoulders in hot, sandalwood scented water.







After soaking for a bit, luxuriating in the comfort of hot, clean water and soap, Lucius set about scrubbing his skin and hair until he was damn near raw. Though he felt better, he began to wonder if he would ever be able to wash the filth of Azkaban away completely.







He took his time combing out his hair, happy to see the locks clean and smooth once again. His clothing did not fit quite right, but he would set out to regain the weight he lost and return his body to its more natural, fit state. Clean and presentable, he glanced at his reflection in the mirror once more. Thankfully good genetics made certain that he did not look a day of his fifty-years, not that he was old, not even middle aged by wizarding standards, but he was a different man than he had been ten years before.







He wasn’t sure what to think about being free. He had fully expected to perish in Azkaban, either at the hands of the guards who tried often, though had yet to succeed in taking him down, or from some illness or even starvation. He never expected a mudblood witch to come waltzing in with his freedom dangling from her rather adorable fingertips.







He scowled at his reflection at his body’s traitorous reaction to thoughts of Hermione Granger.







“Just a reaction to being within breathing distance of a clean, young, sane witch after so many years. Any woman would have you reacting.” He tried to convince his reflection. Keep telling yourself that. He heard the voice in his head laugh. With a weary sigh he donned his robes and made his way back to his study and the woman to whom he owed his second chance at life, even if she gave it reluctantly.