CAGED

Thank you all for the reviews! Gaps of Misery... you have put the fire back in my writing with that review! many thanks particularly! I just hope I can keep delivering the goods *lol*

If you love this story than you'll love my others too! go check out PANDORA, I promise you'll like her *lol*
- Love Esme
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Lucius had gotten back from the infirmary and was in his black cell again, and as depressing as being returned to captivity can be he had a little spark of hope to get him through, he had spotted a Daily Prophet with her picture on it... she was with Harry, she was alive and for as far he could tell, safe and perhaps even... happy. He nicked the paper and gazed at her picture, remembering the planes of her face so he could conjure them up at will in the pitch blackness of his cell.

She had stirred him, she was smiling and wearing a white dress. He had managed to keep her pure, which to this day was a wonder to him. It had been so long since hope or light touched his soul that he was unable to get even aroused, yet there she was on the front page, the white dress showing off her curvy little body. He was surprised at his arousal. the blackness and degradation took ones drive away like nothing could.

He sat in the consuming darkness, thinking back of how the candle glow danced upon her supple skin. How he would pleasure her, not compromising her, but just fulfilling her need. He had never expected anything in return, he was to be the iron willed protector to her... and he played it well. He had his moments of weakness however, because soon after he freed her he began to dream of her. The night he helped her with her bath, and helped her fill the void between her thighs, she had sparked the all consuming fire that came to plague him some nights.

--- The manor ---
He retreated to his lonely bedroom, Narcissa and Draco were in a safe house in Whales, on one of Lucius's many properties. He had concealed Hermione's knickers in his pocket and brought them out, he could smell her on them and it drove him mad, they were silk and felt so cool and smooth to the skin. He found a striking similarity between the silk and her own pink folds, but instead of the coolness of the silk, she held a modest fire between her limbs that made his mind derail. He had brought himself to orgasm several times, her face playing in his mind as she moaned his name. He sat on the edge of his bed pumping his hand furiously on his thick long cock, her name on the tip of his tongue, images flashed though his brain, the swell of her breast, the way her mouth made the shape of an "O", the way the steam and bath water ran down her collar bone and between her breasts. She was under his skin, which made things more complicated... but he just couldn't close the flood gates.

He laid back on the bed, chest heaving, legs still planted to the floor. "I need to get you out of my head" he said to the ceiling. He managed to sink into the cool silk sheets, and got a good couple hours of sleep before checking on her. He quietly entered her room, she had gotten tangled in the covers due to the atrophy of her legs, and he could catch the slightest glimpse of her untouched charms as his shirt that she wore rode up her hips. He averted his eyes as best he could, and with control drew the covers over her. She made little moans in her sleep that made him want to burst, but eventually he nodded off on the stiff wooden chair.

She woke before him, and found his beautiful features in the depths of sleep. She knew she couldn't really escape him even if she could physically run, but found it odd that he would let his guard down like that... she took the rare opportunity to stare at him, he was gorgeous she thought, his fine aristocratic features, his platinum tresses, his powerful chest... he was her fallen angel. She wondered why he chose to sleep in her room, let alone on that horribly uncomfortable chair.

She was still afraid of him, but something else was stirring beneath the surface. Their minds had seemed to work off the same wavelength, maybe it was all the probing he did to her mind, they exchanged so much information magically that she thought they must have formed some form of bond. They thought of themselves at least on the same side... they were the survivors.

She could feel the burning in her legs, she knew this was a good sign... but wasn't sure. She tried to get up from the bed, and slowly but surely arose on her own volition. She leaned against the wall and tried to walk with the support of the wall. She made it almost to Lucius when she felt like her legs were going to give out again. She felt the pain sear through her legs as they wobbled underneath her. "LUCIUS!" he was torn violently from his sleep and followed her voice. She was backed against the wall, her legs were trembling. He rushed to her and held on to her as she collapsed in his arms. "my legs feel like they are on fire! he swooped her up and brought her back to the bed. Sitting on the edge of her bed, he began rubbing his hands roughly over her legs to let the muscles relax. She laid back and closed her eyes, concentrating on his strong hands that were skilled in taking her pain away.

After Hermione had calmed down a bit he pressed onward "what exactly were you trying to do anyways?" he said as he raised a golden eyebrow at her. She looked at him sheepishly "well, umm... you see". Lucius interrupted her mumblings "not trying to run away from me are you?" She gazed at him in wide eyed wonder, she was shocked she hadn't actually thought to run away... she knew deep down she didn't really want to. The world was chaos outside, but inside she was safe and he was taking such excellent care of her now days. She didn't respond, only watched as he got up from her bed and began removing things from his breast pockets.

"Because I hope you realize you need me as much as I need you" She mulled this statement around in her head... what a double edged sword he threw at her... did he mean he "needed" needed her? or was she again his pawn. "honestly... I was just trying to see how far I could walk on my own" she retorted sharply. He smirked with his back to her as she heard the strange sounds coming from the little table he was working on "you don't need to explain yourself to me anymore... here drink this"

He brought the crystal goblet over to her and she grazed his fingers with her own, his eyes locking with hers as they felt the little jolt of electricity pass between them. She sipped at the goblet and the thick liquid inside it, and was pleasantly surprised at the delicious taste it had. "mmm it tastes like bananas" he gave her the most imperceptible smile she had ever seen, his eyes were smiling and the corners of his lips were curled up just the tiniest bit. "it's all the potassium, most of it is made from bananas anyways.. its to help build your legs up",

she gave him a curious glance "but I thought you couldn't get any potions for atrophy?" "well, thats because it's not so much a potion as a drink... for your health". She nearly chocked on the delicious drink he presented her "I would have never guessed that someday Lucius Malfoy would serve me a banana milkshake for breakfast.. let alone in a crystal goblet!" the peals of laughter rang through the room, bouncing off the walls. His "secret" smile as she came to call it brightened "well I'm not your damned elf, but yes... I suppose it is a milkshake of sorts" her laughter was overcoming her. She felt so at ease with him now... and this situation was so strange for her to deal with she had to laugh. This infamously dark and powerful wizard, with money and talent to produce the most complex potions just handed her something she could order at any fast food restaurant. Lucius didn't know how to shut the girl up and just started rambling on at her "all we have is crystal anyways.. what would you prefer to drink it from my hand?"

She started to wind down her laughing but couldn't keep the grin from her face. "Thank you " she giggled slightly and went back to drinking her milkshake. "you should finish that because your going to need your energy this morning" "what do you have planned?" "were going to the ballroom, and you will be doing laps". She finished her milk shake with a big gulp "with no pants on? and a shirt that I'm swimming in?" she gave him a smirk. "I'll find you something to wear... I'm sure Draco has some Quidditch clothes around here" Hermione groaned inwardly, was he actually going to make her wear his sons clothes?
Lucius had shrunk some of Draco's clothes to be her new work out clothes.

He got Hermione dressed and for the first time crossed the threshold of their secret room, it was a wizards panic room of sorts that was heavily protected by the ancient and powerful Malfoy lineage and magic. She looked at him curiously with a slight grin on her face at leaving her pen. When he brought her to the ballroom she let out a gasp. "I opened it back up for you, this will be your new gymnasium". Hermione had never seen a more beautiful room in her life, the ballroom had huge arched windows that would let the morning sun in on the East side of the room, the walls were a dark cherry paneling and the gorgeous hard wood parquet floor had the same dark cherry glossy sheen. There were intricate designs inlaid into the walls and floor, silver sconces lined the walls proudly and matched the enormous chandeliers of silver and crystal that graced the impossibly high ceiling. Lucius led her into the middle of the ball room floor "we use to have enormous parties here when Draco was still a child... those days seem so long ago"

Hermione just stood stunned, gaping at all the luxury surrounding her. "this is so breathtaking... thank you for opening this room up for me to use.. I don't know how to thank you" He had just given her his secret smile... and she knew he was pleased with her.

Over the next couple months Lucius was dedicated to getting the strength back in her legs, it had been a constant struggle, full of pain, cursing and aguish, on both ends. He had gotten so use to handling her body, helping her dress, bathe, and even guided her body during her work outs. They rarely ever talked about the war, and made small talk and found they had a number of things in common, Lucius was an academic at heart and they would frequent his vast library. He almost hated it when she could walk without his aid, it meant she wouldn't depend on him as much as she once did.

During one particularly grueling work out session Lucius had left to get her some water and some lunch when Hermione was feeling particularly brave and had decided to push her limits, she sped up her walk to a jog... Lucius crept back into the room quietly and had set her lunch down, when he turned back she was in a full run, and she was heading straight for him. He had not anticipated this... she wasn't just walking she was sprinting...he had never been more proud or happy in years. She sprinted up to him and pounced into his arms, shrieking with joy. "I can't believe it... I just pushed myself a little more! I think I'm almost back to normal! oh thank you thank you thank you!" She had attached herself around him, her legs and arms wrapped around him. "truly amazing... but why thank me? your the one who did all the work". "Your the one who pushed me... who didn't let me give up, you deserve credit" she breathed in his heavenly scent, felt the silk of his hair and his rock hard body against hers, she felt herself start to get wet just being this close to him.

He looked up into her eyes, the sun gleaming in her hair, her face glowing and flushed from her sprinting. He didn't realize what he had said till it left his lips "Your beautiful" Hermione looked dazed in his arms, like she was absorbing into his eyes when she leaned in and ghosted a kiss on his cheek. He realized what he was doing, a married man, old enough to be her father, not to mention they had work to do and no time to spare seducing her. He gently lowered her to the ground, she felt like she was coming down from a cloud. Lucius straightened himself, trying to not give away how aroused he was at her little affections. "This calls for some celebration... I'll have the elf prepare us dinner... we will eat here in the ball room, would you like that?" Hermione was still like a moth to his flame and felt the heat he pressed against her body linger and then dissipate from her body "I would love that"

Lucius took a cold shower after leaving her to take a cat nap before dinner, he went to one of the many of Narcissa's armoires, he picked out a deep emerald green gown, he shrank it a bit, knowing the dimensions of Hermione's body by heart, she was a lot shorter than the lanky Narcissa and adjusted the gown accordingly. He made his way down to her rooms with a satisfied smirk across his devilishly handsome features.