The Masked Lady

Chapter 4: Seeking Answers











Hermione looked over yet another underfunded project and felt her blood pressure rise. She was beginning to think that the stress of her job was going to kill her one day. She set her files aside and reached for the next stack of disappointment waiting for her attention. Guilt assailed her as she added yet more files to the pile that would be receiving letters of regret. She heard footsteps outside her office but didn’t bother to look up.







“I don’t have time for tea today, Harry, I have hearts to break and lives to ruin further.” She said.







“Sounds like a delightful way to spend your afternoon, Ms. Granger.” Lucius said as he leaned against her doorframe. She looked up, a quill sticking out of her messy curls. She was clearly surprised to see him though he was a little disappointed not to see the flicker of fear in her eyes that he got from Potter.







“Did you have an appointment?” She asked. She knew she was being rude and didn’t really care, it was Malfoy.







“Seems to me that you can fit me in.” He said, entering her office as though he owned the place. He dusted off her chair with his glove and sat across from her despite not being invited to do so.









“I am busy as you can see so unless you are here to make a donation make an appointment to come back.” She returned her attention to the document on her desk.







“Rumor has it I have made a few unwilling donations recently.” He said, crossing his legs and watching her as she laid the quill and file aside and slowly raised her head to look at him.







“I see you still have your paid eyes and ears all over.” She leaned back in her chair and stared him down. “What do you want, Malfoy? A refund? If that’s it I apologize because all donated funds are immediately dispersed to needy charities. I can give you a receipt for tax purposes if you like.”









Lucius smiled at her sniping, she was a prickly little thing wasn’t she?







“Is such hostility really necessary, Ms. Granger? After all, I haven’t even stated my business.” He drawled.







“This is the Department of Charities, the only business you could possibly have with me would involve a donation. If you wish to make a monetary gift to a worthy cause then by all means, I am at your service, otherwise I don’t have time for chit chat as there are families starving and I have to try and find a way to feed them.” She said.







“Help me and I may just be inclined to help you.” Lucius reached into his robes and withdrew his checkbook. He laid it on her desk and reached forward to pluck the quill from her curls sending them tumbling down around her shoulders. He wrote out a check for several hundred galleons, ripped it out and then waved it in front of her.







“What do you want?” She asked, her pride set to the back burner. She needed his donation and she would put the needs of others before her ego any day.







“I want to know about the donations from the Masked Lady.” He said.









“Why? I didn’t see your name on the list of complaints filed.” She said.







“That would be because I didn’t file any. Now tell me about the donations and this check is yours to do with as you please.” He laid the check in the center of her desk and leaned back in his chair.







“This sounds a lot like bribery.”







“Call it what you will, but you do have hungry families to feed and I am a very wealthy man who needs a little bit of information. We are each in a position to help the other.” His grin was wicked, a predator who knew when he had his prey cornered.







“There isn’t much to tell really.” She said, opening her desk drawer and withdrawing a stack of envelopes. “They are delivered over night, I find them slid beneath the door. There is no postmark or return address, just a note telling me how the funds are to be used.”





Lucius reached for the stack and slowly shuffled through the plain white envelopes. There was nothing distinguishing about any of them. It was a common envelope that could be purchased at any stationary store in wizarding or muggle England. The parchment was equally plain and the handwriting was block print with no special characteristics that made it stand out.







“Does she favor any particular charity?” He asked, tossing the papers back onto her desk.







“Not that I can see.” She said, gathering them back up and putting them into her desk.









“Does she contact you other than to make the donations?” He asked. “Is there anyone else who works in this department with you?”







“No, she doesn’t and the only other person is Nina, the secretary. She’s 140 and has cataracts so badly that she cant type worth a damn and tends to put salt in my tea instead of sugar but I can’t let her go because I doubt they would give me funds to hire anyone new. I doubt she is your masked lady.” Hermione’s lips twitched as she watched frustration settle over him. “Why are you so interested in this woman? One would almost think you smitten.”







“My reasons are of no concern to you. Thank you for your time, Ms. Granger, I hope those funds do some good.” He said as he rose from his seat.







“I’m sorry I couldn’t be of more help. Feel free to stop by again with your checkbook when you need some more useless information.” She grinned. He drew back his shoulders and arched a brow at her cheek.







“Good day to you, Ms. Granger.” He said. Hermione watched him turn to leave and she couldn’t help but smile.







“Goodbye, Mr. Malfoy.” She said softly. Lucius looked back over his shoulder, the back of his neck prickling slightly before he finally exited her office.

















~@~











There was one hell of a storm brewing outside as Lucius was jostled about within his carriage. The raging storm matched his mood. He had gone to the concert hall in hopes that the mysterious Masked Lady would show up but she hadn’t and he had wasted an evening on bad music and annoying company. Now he was enduring a rather uncomfortable ride home in his carriage. Sure, he could have floo’d home or even apparated but one didn’t need to use magic for everything, besides, it was a display of his wealth and station to travel in style. He had the finest carriage in England, the Queen herself didn’t own anything quite so fine, nor did she have rare, black unicorns with silver horns pulling it.









He knocked on the front of the cabin hard with the head of his cane when his driver drove through yet another deep rut. His body lurched forward, slamming him into the empty bench across from him as the carriage pulled to an abrupt halt.







“God damn it, Clive, what in the bloody hell are you doing?” He shouted as he pushed himself upright and resettled onto his seat. “Why are we stopped?” When he received no reply he lifted the window shade and peered out but he could see nothing but sheets of rain and sleet coming down. The carriage jolted again, rocking him back onto the bench just as the door swung open and a figure clad in black leather leapt inside, the wind slamming the door behind them.







“Hello, Mr. Malfoy.” She purred as she pushed her hood back and grinned. “Miss me tonight?”







“So you are a highway-woman as well as a pickpocket?” Lucius tried to still the excited tremble in his voice at the sight of her. He felt instantly alive with her appearance and his body vibrated with anticipation.







“You don’t look upset to see me, Mr. Malfoy.” She slid the leather cloak off of her shoulders and let it fall to the carriage floor.







“Would you have me shaking in fear?” His eyes drifted from her face to the plump swells of her breasts above the corset. “Where is my driver?”





“Petrified, I’ll release the spell when I finish with you.” She cooed, sliding her wand from between her breasts.







“When you finish with me? What are you planning to do to me?” He asked, his insides quivering at the thought.







“Are you enjoying this?” She asked. “You haven’t even tried to go for your wand.”







“Do I need it?” He asked, watching her carefully.







“No, I have no desire to harm you.” She smirked.







“Then just what do you desire of me?” He was flirting back with her shamelessly. She smiled then trained her wand on him. With a whispered incantation and a sexy twist of her lips his arms were jerked upwards and secured by invisible chains that seemed to come from the corners on either side of the carriage. “What the….witch, what in the hell are you playing at?”







She tossed her wand onto the floor atop her cloak and then slowly straddled him on the padded bench seat, settling her bottom on his knees and resting her hands on her thighs.







“You’ve been investigating me, Mr. Malfoy. Why?” She asked.







“You’ve robbed me more than once and you assaulted my son, why shouldn’t I investigate you?” He didn’t fight his confinement, not when it brought her into his lap and gave him the perfect view of those luscious breasts. He should probably be annoyed, somewhat frightened but he couldn’t seem to think about anything other than the steady swelling in his trousers.







“You want revenge for a few galleons and a bauble or two?” She slid her hips forward until they were nestled groin to groin, her elbows resting on his shoulders. “And your arrogant spawn deserved more than a slap. He made me an offer that was very easy to refuse.”







“What makes you think I want revenge?” He narrowed his eyes and his tongue ran over his lips involuntarily. He wanted a taste of her, it didn’t much matter to him in that moment if it was a taste of those berry red lips or the soft creamy skin, he just wanted her flavor on his tongue. “Maybe I just want you.”







“Is that so?” She purred, leaning closer and deliberately pressing her pelvis against him. “You really are happy to see me aren’t you?”







“Release me and I will show you just how happy.” His voice was pitched low and his tone seductive.







“Now where is the fun in that?” She purred, nudging his nose with hers. Her lips were so close he could smell the fruity lip gloss she was wearing. Would her lips taste as sweet as they smelled? “I think that you are a very bad wizard, Mr. Malfoy, and someone needs to take you in hand.” She pushed his robes open and smiled when she saw the tiny diamond studs on the front of his shirt. “Well look at what we have here, a gift. You really do go out of your way to impress a witch, don’t you?” She whispered, her lips nudging his ear as her fingers began plucking the studs from his shirt.







“Release me and I will impress you all night, witch.” He growled when she blew in his ear.







“I believe you. However, I’m not here for that.” She said softly. “I didn’t really come here for this either, but you take the opportunities when they arise.” She held out her palm filled with the diamond studs.









“Then why DID you stop my carriage?” He asked, sensing that she would be withdrawing from him soon.







“I came to tell you to stop asking questions, Mr. Malfoy.” She tucked the studs into her pocket and then slid her gloved fingers into his hair and tugging his head back.







“Why are you so worried?” He fisted his hands, the desire to grab her and hold her in place coursing strongly through him.







“I’m not worried, I cover my tracks well, I just don’t want more publicity and if word gets out that Lucius Malfoy is obsessed with me….well you know how the press will love that.” She said, disappointing him further as she slid backwards.







“Who said I was obsessed with you?” His eyes narrowed further as he watched her move away from him.







“Your actions said it all, Mr. Malfoy. If you aren’t obsessed with me then why would you seek out an auror and the head of charities? Why would you get all dressed up and adorn yourself with diamonds hoping to catch my attention?” She gave him that slightly crooked grin and slid her fingers into his now open shirt. She could feel the heat of his skin through her gloves and she had the urge to press against him. “What I don’t understand is why? Do you want to capture me? Do you want to see me arrested?” She leaned in once more, her lips a hairsbreadth from his. “Or do you want to fuck me?” Her tongue flicked his lips and he groaned, pulling on the invisible bonds holding him. “I guess I have my answer.”







“You are a cock tease.” He snapped. She chuckled and slid her hands down his chest. To his surprise and delight she kept going, her hand curling around his cock through his trousers.







“I like you, Mr. Malfoy, but I don’t trust you.” She said, stroking and squeezing his length. “But I will make a deal with you…..catch me and you can have me, any way you want me.” She bit into his bottom lip, laughing at his surprised “ouch”. “Until then….” She slid from his lap and donned her cloak, tucking her wand back between her breasts. With a little wave of her fingers and a grin on her lips she pulled up her hood and left the carriage, disappearing into the night. As soon as she was gone the spell binding his hands released and Lucius lunged from the carriage only to find him self standing in the freezing rain staring into the empty night.













AN: Hi! Thanks! You rock! I decided to update tonight instead of tomorrow since Ive got a long day ahead of me….next update Ill reply to reviews!!!!!! So…enjoy!