The Snake and The Lioness

Adrienne popped back into Lucius' study a few minutes later. Her eyes were brimming with tears that she couldn't let fall. She would never know how to explain to Lucius why her wrist was bruised or why she was crying. She wiped her eyes and covered her wrist with her cloak.

Adrienne stepped out of the fireplace and looked around for Lucius. He was nowhere to be seen. Maybe he went to get something, she thought. She walked over his desk and grazed the rich wood with her fingertips.

Lucius popped into the doorway from out of nowhere. Adrienne almost jumped when she heard his voice, but didn't want to show her weakness and kept her feet on the ground.
"Seeing that you occupy the Black house, must mean that you live with Harry Potter."
"Yes. Him and my brother. That isn't a problem, is it not?" Adrienne asked.
"No. Not at all. I was curious. You look as if you've been crying. And I can identify a bruised wrist from a very long distance." Lucius said, coming up behind her and cradling her wrist.
"There's nothing wrong. I accidentally hurt it when I was packing, but nothing to worry about." Lucius looked at her for a moment, holding her gaze. Then he turned away.

Hours later, she found herself lying in bed. She wasn't even sleepy. She was more curious. She would go off and look around, but Lucius had put her in a room right across from him. He would hear her if she left the room, so she had looked around her room and then, eventually, just lied down and thought about what Harry and Christian said. Was her job really worth maybe being hurt, or killed?

Adrienne heard a knock on the door. Was it Lucius?, she wondered. She got over her shock and asked who it was. The answer came back. It was Lucius. She couldn't just tell him to go away. So she got up and let him in. Hopfully that wasn't the wrong choice.
"I thought you were up." Lucius said, still standing by the door.
"Yeah. I've got a lot on my mind." Adrienne sighed. "Please, sit down."
"Thank you." Lucius said, taking a seat. "Do your thoughts have to do with your wrist?"
Adrienne looked at him. "My wrist? Oh, yeah. It sort of does, but not really. It's more in line with my job. Oh, you wouldn't understand."
"I wouldn't understand? There was a lot to cry about in my past....'Job'. Not that I cried, but you get my point." Lucius chuckled.
"Yeah. I do and I'm sure there was a lot to cry about. So, did you need anything?" she asked.
"You need a reason why I am in your room at this time. Well, I wanted to ask you something." Lucius said, he actually seemed nervous. "I know we haven't known each other very long, but I was wondering....could I possibly court you. Properly, I mean. These little dates are great, but I think we could move to the next level. Don't you?"
Court me?, she thought. Yes I guess he could. "Yes. I would like that very much so."


A/N: My story is coming along well. It's a short story, so I won't be detailing every date that they have, but they do go on dates. Hopefully, I will feel well enough to have another chapter up very soon. Thanks for the reviews, even though it's only a few, but hopefully there will be more.