Adventurous Hearts: The Temple

CHAPTER 5: Curiosity Killed The Cat







Lucius was going to throttle the witch just as soon as he could get his hands on her. He covered ground quickly, familiar with the location of the temple as he stomped through the thick foliage towards the site. He was furious, not only had he not been allowed to sleep in his own, comfortable bed the previous night, but the witch couldn’t have bothered to retrieve him personally that morning.







Instead he had opened his eyes to find a pixyish looking female with fluffy blonde hair staring at him from behind the thickest pair of spectacles he had ever seen. He had damn near fallen off of the camp-bed when she blinked those hugely magnified eyes at him, looking very much like one of those bush baby creatures he had seen at the zoo once when Draco had been a child.







The annoying chit had since followed him everywhere, staring at him with what could only be called…adoration…as she chattered on incessantly, and rapidly about things he cared nothing about. He had actually had to shove her out of the lavatory so that he could tend to his personal business and get ready for the day. As if that wasn’t bad enough, she had proceeded to continue her hyperactive prattle through the door.







He had never been so grateful to be long legged and swift in his entire life as the miniscule female had trouble keeping up with him as he made his way towards Hermione, leaving the annoying twit far behind him as he enjoyed the blessed silence.







He pushed his way through the brush and stepped out into the small clearing at the base of the mountain. He looked to his right and saw her standing at the base of the temple steps. He exhaled slowly at the sight of her, all thoughts of throttling her set aside as other, more carnal thoughts began to seep in. She was wearing a pair of snug, fawn colored breeches that hugged the ripe, womanly curves of her hips and thighs. A thin, black cotton tank clung to her torso and displayed her rather bountiful breasts and trim waist. She wore black dragonhide boots that laced up to her knees and a matching belt that slung low on her hips with various pouches containing the tools of her trade.







She stood with her hands braced on her hips, her long braid trailing down the center of her back as she looked up at the temple façade. Maybe he had been too long without female company, but he couldn’t help but think she was the most stunning thing he had ever seen. He heard Claire moving through the brush and was knocked from his reverie. Frowning once more he stalked towards Hermione, nearly stumbling when she looked over at him and smiled. He needed a woman, and soon.









“Good morning, Lucius. How are you?” She asked, noting the scowl on his face.







“I have been better.” He said, closing his eyes and grinding his teeth when he heard the pesky voice pipe up behind him.







“My goodness, Mr. Malfoy, you sure move quickly.” Claire said, smiling at him brightly as she shoved her glasses up the bridge of her nose.







Hermione tried not to laugh at his harried expression while Claire began to chatter on and on about how hard it was to be so tiny and unable to keep up with her larger counterparts. The girl fancied the handsome wizard and had done nothing but talk about him since he strolled into the camp the night before. Looking at him in the early morning light Hermione could clearly see why. His long, platinum locks were tied back from his face with only a few strands falling free to frame his chiseled features. He wore a white linen button down shirt and loose, tan linen trousers over brown boots, his clothing light and comfortable for the task ahead.







She listened to Claire continue to ramble on for a few moments before finally taking pity on him.







“Enough Claire, why don’t you head back to camp and leave Lucius and me to our work.” Hermione said shortly, annoyed herself by the chatty undergrad.







“But, Dr. Granger, shouldn’t I go with you to take notes and assist?” Claire asked hopefully, looking up at Lucius longingly.







“Not this time Claire, our task is to clear the site before anyone else enters. Don’t worry, we can handle it alone.” Hermione said, detecting a bit of jealousy in the girls eyes.







“But…Mr. Malfoy may need me…” Claire watched as Lucius stepped closer to Hermione, close enough that he could smell the sweet scent of her.







“I am sure that Hermione can handle any need that may arise.” He said with a tight smile. Hermione felt a little sorry for the young woman, but it was fleeting.







“Of course, I will just go back to camp then.” She said dejectedly. “Oh, Dr. Granger, before I forget, Professor Snape owled this morning, he wanted to know if you were still meeting for your birthday on the nineteenth.”







The corner of Hermione’s mouth lifted slightly, Claire was making a point of bringing up her relationship with another in front of Lucius. So the little girl wished to play did she?







“I will let you know after I determine just how satisfied I am with Lucius’s performance. Goodbye, Claire.” Hermione said turning her back on her assistant. She heard the sounds of the woman disappearing through the brush and began to laugh softly. “She fancies you.”









“She’s annoying, like a fly…in her buzzing and her looks.” Lucius said.









“Oh come now, Lucius. It’s been a long time for you and she’s a young, single witch…a pureblood too...why she’s perfect for you.” Hermione laughed.









“I would rather shag a Weasley.” He scoffed.









“Been there…it was quite the disappointment.” Hermione said.









“So…you and Severus have a standing date for your birthday?” Lucius asked. Hermione shrugged her shoulders and continued staring at the temple.









“He generally takes me to dinner.” She said.









“From what I have been able to gather, you and he have been together a long time.” Lucius said, watching the slow smile that spread across her face with interest.









“Why do you assume he and I are together?” She asked.









“Well from what you and Draco were going on bout last night you are obviously intimate, and he takes you on dates…”









“Severus and I are not together and we never have been.” She said, laughing at his stunned expression.







“But Draco said…”







“He walked in on us having sex.” She filled in. “But we aren’t a couple and never were.”









“But you continue to see each other? I find myself confused…are you his mistress?” He asked.









“No…” Hermione laughed, the idea of being a kept woman, especially being kept by the rather tightfisted Severus Snape was comical. “I have needs, he has needs, and neither of us is interested in marriage so we have an arrangement.”







“So you aren’t emotionally involved, it’s just sex?” Lucius said, amazed. No pureblood woman of good standing would ever stand for such an arrangement.







“I care about him, he’s a great friend and he has been there for me for years…but in that respect, yes…it’s just sex.” She smiled slightly, her brows lifted. “Anything else you want to know?”









“Uh…no…I think you have cleared it up for me.” He said.







“Good, now how about you get to work and get me inside that temple.” She said. Lucius reached for his wand and stepped close to the façade until the intricate pattern of the ward revealed itself to him. He began to wave his wand, muttering the incantations required as he slowly untangled the protective ward blocking their entrance. When he was finished he shoved his wand back into the hollowed out walking stick and turned to her with a smug grin on his face.









“Usually I would allow a lady to enter ahead of me, but in this instance I think perhaps you should follow.” He said before taking the steps two at a time and using his wand to slide the stone door open. “Gods I missed using magic.” He said reverently as the door opened and he stepped into the darkened interior. “Don’t touch anything, this temple was spelled with Morgana’s magic long before the first deatheater stepped foot inside.” Lucius said as Hermione followed him into the darkness.







At their entrance, torches flickered to life along the corridor, casting the lengthy hall in an soft, golden glow. Hermione fought against that tight, sickening urge to squeal and jump up and down in excitement as she took in the beautiful carvings etched into the stone walls. She stepped closer to the wall, mesmerized by the depictions of Arthur and Merlin riding into battle side by side. She reached out and traced her finger over the outline of Merlin’s face and she felt the surge of magic beneath her fingertips.







“NO!” Lucius reached out to grab her hand but it was too late. The stone door slid shut, trapping them inside. “Alohamora!” The spell did not budge the door. “Bombarda!” Still it was ineffective. Lucius turned to see the stunned witch staring at him in confusion. “I told you not to touch anything!”









“What kind of spell did you lot place on this temple that a person can not even touch the walls?” She asked.









“That was not our magic, that was Morgana’s!” He snapped. “And now thanks to you we are trapped in here!”









“Don’t worry so much, Lucius, when we don’t show up at camp my team will come looking for us.” She said, waving him off.









“You know, for someone so bloody intelligent you are really naïve, Hermione.” Lucius said staring down at her. “Morgana was one of the most powerful beings to ever exsist, and I am certain that you know her…specialty.” Lucius said, indicating the more erotic carvings on the opposite wall. “The deatheaters stayed in one, small chamber of this temple, careful to never touch anything that might activate her magic. This temple is a maze of rooms and corridors, to seal yourself inside is foolhardy as you are now at the mercy of her whims. She will let us out, only when she feels we have made the proper sacrifices.”









“Sacrifices?” Hermione croaked. She felt like a fool, she knew better but had been drawn to the depictions of the legends like a moth to a flame. Something inside called to her to run her fingers over it, something she couldn’t resist. “What do you mean?”







“What I mean is…” The ground beneath their feet began to tremble, dust raining from the ceiling as they were knocked off balance slightly. “Fuck! Hermione…run!” Lucius grabbed her by her arm and began running down the long hall.









“What? Wait…why are we running?” She asked, having to yell over the loud rumbling. She heard the crashing sound and looked back to see stone columns the width of the corridor begin to shoot up from the floor, filling the space quickly.







“That’s why!” He said, jerking harder on her and pushing her faster as they ran. One by one the columns came firing up from the ground, quickly getting closer to them as they tried to outrun them. They moved faster, Lucius’s fingers biting into her arm as he dragged her along behind him. He stopped suddenly at the end and shoved her through another doorway, barely able to dive in after her before the last column shot up and trapped them inside.







“What in the bloody hell was that?” She asked breathlessly from where she was sprawled on the stone floor staring at the now blocked doorway. Lucius groaned and sat up, clutching his elbow where he had skinned it diving through the doorway after her.









“That was our fate being sealed.” He said. “It seems I have traded one prison for another. Welcome to Morgana’s playground, Hermione. I hope you know what you have gotten us in to.”