A Tale of Two Wizards

Disclaimer: Not mine! Not one of them, although, if Jo don't want Snape, she can give him to me.

All's Fair In Love

Lucius stepped back in the shadows, and apparated back to the Mansion. He left Severus talking over his plans for Miss Granger’s safety. It will be too late, Severus, far too late! Lucius smiled. He spun back in the Mansion, his cloak swishing behind him, and his step quick and furious. He wondered how on earth he could seduce Hermione Granger? What had Snape done? Not that he wanted to think of that! He shuddered with disgust at the thought of Snape with her. She might be an annoying, infuriating Mudblood, but even she did not deserve to have Snape of all people. Once he was finished with her she would forget all about Snape.

He walked into her bedchamber where she was sitting up on plumped pillows reading a book. She looked up at his entering the room and frowned in a disappointed sigh. It was not whom she wanted it to be. Lucius knew that she did not dream of him... yet! She will. She damn well will be dreaming of him by the time he's finished with her. He strode up to the bed whilst she continued reading, ignoring him completely. He cocked his head at an angle to find out what it was she was reading. He rolled his eyes, a muggle fiction story no doubt that she loved as a child. Actually, he mused, if food is love to men of less intellectual craniums then surely a way to her heart would be to read to her.

"What is it all about?" He asked.

"A group of animal friends who have their own adventures," she replied economically.

"Yes and?" He asked.

She sighed heavily, as she put the book down. She looked into his eyes, and could not decide whether he was genuine or not, as like before when he asked for information about her childhood. She decided to give him the benefit of the doubt.

"It starts of with a Mole who is fed up of spring cleaning, and so he decides to go out in the open where he meets Ratty, a water vole, and they become friends immediately, and Mole moves in with Ratty. Through his friendship with Ratty, Mole meets a grumpy wise Badger who keeps check on everyone, and an especial careful eye on the pompous rich flighty Toad of Toadhall! Now you've had the rundown can I get on with reading it? I happen to be at my favourite part."

Lucius glinted with pleasure, as he managed to get the book first. He found himself reading two pages of easy style and quite comical dialogue, and then she coughed. He glanced back up at her.

"Where exactly are you?" He asked silkily. She had to lean over to show him he helped her, of course, his hand supporting her back with a gentleness she did not expect from him. He laid the book on her lap where she pointed to the top paragraph on her right hand page. "Do you mind if I read a bit out to you?" He asked. Hermione was definitely not expecting that.

"Perhaps I should go to sleep," she said. "I am tired."

"Please, Lady, let me have the honour of reading this charming little story out for you for there is nothing more pleasurable than having a book read out for you, so I’ve been told."

Hermione despite herself, found herself laughing. He saw the glow in her delicious brown eyes at her laughter; he had made her truly happy with that remark. Oh yes, by the end of the day she would have forgotten all about Severus. He picked up the book and looked at where she was.

"Toad sat straight down in the middle of the dusty road, his legs stretched out before him, and stared fixedly in the direction of the disappearing motor car. He breathed short, his face wore a placid, satisfied expression, and at intervals he faintly murmured 'Poop-Poop! -"

Hermione sat back, and let Lucius read to her, and to her surprise he was a good reader, and his voice held that mesmerizing quality that made her listen attentively, rather like Severus’, but more charming, and aristocratic. She listened with her heart swelling to a rising tide of respect for this man whom only minutes before she hated. Snape did not offer to do this. She was beginning to wonder if that fantastic night was just a figment of her imagination. Perhaps, she mused, as Lucius enunciated every word put funny voices on for all the animals that truly raised a smile to her lips, and eyes, I have done it with the wrong Slytherin.

"No more," she murmured drowsily. "I really am tired."

Lucius set the book down gently on a bedside table and leaned forward. Their eyes locked together, in a moment of heat Hermione stroked Lucius face, and then she levered herself forward carefully, and kissed him slowly on his lips. He had made her feel so much better with what he had done and she felt that he should be rewarded for doing something like that for her, the only other man that had done that was her grandfather. He had blue eyes! And he was called Luke.

Lucius liked her sweet tongue caressing his, and he immediately leaned ever so forward, and started to feel up her sides and up her back, as she spread her legs apart; not caring whether she was in pain or not. She framed his face in her hands cupping it, as they kissed on and on, deeper and deeper. He then leant his hands on her breasts and stroked them tenderly through the silk part of the negligee. Their tongues explored each other’s mouths with a ferocity and an impatience. No longer was his tongue bullying hers but co-operating. They separated their faces shining. Lucius got up and took his cloak off and slithered into the covers on the other side of the bed, prowling and keeping eye contact with her as he did so.

He took the strings at the top of the negligee and tugged down on the ends and it came apart. He saw her skin glowing and he kissed her neck, she wrapped her hands on his head touching his long, blonde silken locks, he was so different from Severus, so much more...well...accomplished. Severus made Ron seem like a child, Lucius made Ron seem like a newborn infant. She felt her nipples hardening under him and he felt them too. He slipped down the straps of the nightdress after removing her gown, and picked her up in his arms he smiled with wicked delight, as he traced her skin with his beautiful smooth lips. He placed his hands between her legs and smirked, as he felt her and stroked her, he caused her to moan with absolute pleasure. She forgot she was in pain. She didn't care. He made a practise thrust at her for a few times whilst sucking at her breasts as she was stroking his hair. She fumbled down to his trousers and took them down wincing as she did so. He entered her and she yelled out his name!

*******************************

Severus decided to go down personally to the Weasley’s, and explain. He said a curt good bye to Nymphadora. Harry tried to stay as far away from him as was possible.

"I am not going to bite!" Snape exclaimed harshly.

"Why do you care so much what happens to my friend anyway?" Harry asked.

"Oh, come on, boy, if I were to kill her or hurt her I would have done so the same night I murdered Professor Dumbledore. Instead I made sure she was kept out of the way. If Greyback had found her then she would definitely have been a victim. Lucius isn't the only one you should worry about."

"That doesn't answer my question!"

"Why do you care about her then?" Snape asked. Turning the question around on its head.

"Because she's my friend, and I respect her a lot, which is more than you damn well do!"

Snape kept silent. He could not reveal to this impertinent brat why he cared about Hermione. It was too early. Far too early. And he had to get her out of there before Malfoy got his paws on her!

Harry walked into the Burrow where Ginny had flung her arms around his neck and kissed him warmly and passionately.

"Told you mum," one of the twins said. "It's her that you should worry about!"

"The only kiss you ever got was from a frog when you were six Fred!" Ginny exclaimed acidly.

"Oooh Handbag George!" Ginny was about to whip her wand out again when the whole kitchen went absolutely silent.

"What is he bloody doing here?" Ron asked, violently shaking with anger, he upset the table, and the chair fell to the ground in his rage! He was wand ready, but Snape deftly took it out of his hand in one quick; smooth, motion, and caught it.

"I will tell you what I am doing here, Mr Weasley," he murmured in his teacher tone. "I am here for the benefit of Miss Granger."

Arthur narrowed his eyes and Molly dropped a frying pan on the floor in utter surprise. Everyone peered round to look at Harry who looked a little ashamed. He realised that perhaps keeping this plan to himself was not a good idea after all. Even Snape looked at Potter with a sneer to his lips.

"What is this all about?" Arthur asked Harry.

"I met Snape a few weeks ago, and was going to kill him like I said, but he waved the announcement of the Daily Prophet of Tonks and Remus impending parenthood, and said he'd teach someone on our side the Wolfsbane Potion. At first I offered to learn it, but Snape said I weren't good enough for it, and then HE suggested Hermione. So, I went to tell Hermione, and Hermione agreed, and wrote to Snape to meet her somewhere. I later found out it was Hagrids hut. I was banking on your hatred of Hermione to get it over with you know!"

"Whatever gave you the idea that I hated Miss Granger?" Snape asked, as he looked directly in Potters eyes.

"You were never nice to her, you never complimented her once, and you embarrassed and humiliated her every opportunity you could because she was a muggleborn!"

"I threw such childish racism in the bin when I saw it for what it was boy! NEVER HAVE I EVER TRULY FELT THAT ABOUT ANY MUGGLEBORN DO YOU HEAR ME! NEVER!" Snape yelled out. Merlin, this boy rubbed him up the wrong way. "If you are basing your assumption on the ONE time when I did say that word to your mother then you must understand that it was the only time I have ever said it! The most important matter at the moment is Hermione's safety! And to get her out of my home before Lucius Malfoy seduces her!"

He said her first name in front of her friends. He felt himself blush as he said it. He revealed too much just then, and that was not like him at all.

"Since when has it been Hermione?" Ron asked stiffly. "Only her friends call her that!"

Her lovers call her, Mia, Weasley, Snape thought. I am MORE than her friend!

"So, can I count on you to look after Hermione, whilst I deal with Lucius Malfoy?" He asked directing his gaze at Molly.

"Of course, you needn't have asked!" Molly replied. She had put the frying pan down on the table she had considered bashing him over the head with it, but she saw what the others didn't see.

***********************

Lucius had gotten dressed and left her sleeping, oh wonderful! He had made her his. Now all he had to do was keep it that way. Severus walked into the bedroom to find Lucius in there with Hermione sleeping. He looked at her and then at him. He weren't stupid. Hermione had done something with Lucius and she was happy because of it.

"Might I have a word with you little brother?" Lucius asked. "Somewhere, where we can't disturb her. She looks so angelic when she's sleeping."

Snape had a sick feeling in the pit of his stomach knowing he was too late. Lucius had walked out of the door where Snape shut the door behind him, as they then went down to the sitting room.

"What is it Lucius?" Severus asked.

"Simply that I know what your game is Snape, and I know what you are doing. I know that you had Hermione here to teach her the Wolfsbane Potion. I know that you are working with Potter, and his friends the Weasley’s, and I know how you feel about the Longbottoms demise."

"You -!"

"I haven't finished yet, Sevvie," Lucius replied cutting Snape off with a hand gesture. "You care for that thing upstairs, so much so that you were prepared to take her back to her friends to make sure I don't do anything with her. Well, Sevvie, just thought I'd tell you that you are too late. Whatever cosy and comfortable little arrangements you made for her are worthy of naught for guess what? I have already seduced her, and now she's lying upstairs with her last memory being that of sharing the bed with me and her first thought when she wakes up will be that of wanting it again."

"YOU BASTARD!"

"My parents were well and truly married I can assure you of that. However, I cannot say the same if Hermione ever gets pregnant. I wonder whose the child would be. I say the person whose child it is, is the person who gets to marry her. Deal?"

Lucius stretched out his hand. Snape took it quickly and withdrew it in just the same manner.

"How do you know she'd be pregnant?" Severus asked through gritted teeth.

"Don't be so naive Snape, why else would our Master ask you to seduce her at this particular time?" Snape sank down heavily on a chair; his head in his hands, and he shook it morosely. What had he done? Why didn't he think? "Don't be sorry old boy," Malfoy said tapping Snape on the shoulder. "All’s fair in love and war you know!"

*************

Hermione stirred and awoke. She leaned over and winced. Bloody legs, she thought. How on earth am I ever to function as a normal human being again? She then slipped herself back on the pillow and sighed as she twisted and turned trying to get her legs moving and working again. She contorted her face with an effort, and decided that it was about time she got out, and tried to walk. She put her legs on the floor, and walked towards the bathroom clutching hold onto anything that she could to support herself. She walked into the bathroom and twisted her face in agony, as she tried to sit down on the toilet. She had to get out of here for certain now. There was no doubt what she did before she went to sleep. She and Lucius Malfoy had sex.

She knew it was sex. It could not have been anything else. Snape had described the differences quite clearly, and she knew from that little bit of information that Lucius Malfoy did not care for her; she put her head in her hands and started to sob. She could NEVER look Harry in the face again; she knew she had betrayed them all. The Order would spurn her just as they spurned Snape when he did what he did. The most painful part of it was that she knew she had nowhere else to go. She could not go back to her parents, as they had moved. She had no other relatives, and she felt alone for the first time in her life, truly alone. She heard the door slam shut, and looked up into the dark penetrating eyes of her Potions Master, or lover, or whatever, and looked down on the floor. She had also betrayed him.

"What is the matter?" He asked. "Please, what is the matter?"

He walked over to her and took both her hands in his, and he looked at her, as she was choking because of her tears. She let them fall down her face and land in drops on the mat. He waited patiently for her to stop crying before she told him.

"I've done something terrible," she said in-between sobs.

"I know what you have done Hermione," Severus said calmly and gently. "And don't worry it won't happen again. It might seem as if it is too late, but please, there is not a moment to lose. Come to the fire place I am going to take you back to your friends."

"No, they won't talk to me, not after what I've done," she sniffed. She delicately and gracefully wiped the tears from her eyes.

"Come on, I'll have to carry you to the fireplace, and get you out of here."

"What about the Wolfsbane Potion?" Hermione asked.

"That can be taught later," Severus whispered in her ear, as he picked her up and cradled her lovingly, and again, without effort.

He took her over to the fireplace in the bedroom and took a pinch of powder and stepped in the fireplace. He said The Burrow clearly and firmly.

******************************

"I don't know what his game is," Harry said, as he was picking at the bacon.

"But, surely he was lying Harry, I mean how can we be so sure about trusting him?" Ron asked.

"I don't trust him that is the point," Harry said. "But I am not sure about killing him anymore."

"What? But you seemed so adamant about it!" Ginny exclaimed. "Well, if you don't then I will."

"No one in my family is going to kill anyone!" Arthur said. "Understood! Weasley's don't work like that!"

"Malfoy should have been killed instead of the punishment he received. Talk about a slap on the wrist." Harry said.

"Would you be the one to kill him?" Arthur asked. Harry looked into Arthur's blue eyes and blushed, as he again picked at the bacon.

"Yes, Arthur," Molly agreed with her husband. The talk was disturbing her. She did not like the war first time round, and now with the memory of her brothers killed in that war, she looked down as if her head had been overweighed from the memory. "I completely agree!"

Harry was about to finally eat his piece of bacon when a cracking noise emanated from the fireplace, and out stepped Snape carrying Hermione in his arms. He didn't say anything, and neither did they. He laid her down on the sofa lovingly, and found a blanket to wrap her in, and then when he had seen to Hermione's comfort he turned around, and saw a sea of redheads staring at him.

"Mr and Mrs Weasley might I have a private word with you?" He asked. Arthur and Molly looked at each other and nodded. They went out into the hallway. "I was too late, whilst we were making plans for her safety, Lucius Malfoy was already seducing her!"

Arthur went pale and Molly gasped and clutched onto her husband.

"Is she all right?" Molly asked.

"She is feeling very delicate," Snape whispered. "Look, I have something to confess, and I would not blame you if you were to set that ghoul of yours on me for the rest of eternity."

"Out with it!" Arthur said sternly.

"I was ordered to seduce her myself," he said. "Which I did, but since then something has happened, and I cannot explain it. You-Know-Who then informed me that I was to seduce her over to the Dark Side! That I cannot do! The physical seduction was a little hard to take at first, but when I saw her I realised I didn't want to do it because HE ordered me to do it. I did it because I wanted to do it."

Arthur stared at the man before him not knowing whether to strangle him or just plain punch him in the face. Molly was shaking with anger. The second to worse case of this would be if Snape were to seduce her own daughter.

"You reptile!" Arthur exclaimed.

"I love her, Arthur, since when has loving someone been a crime?" He asked.

At that point Harry burst through the door! His eyes flashing angrily and dangerously at Snape. He was in an uncontrollable temper! He ran towards Snape, and thrust him against the wall, and whacked him without giving Snape a chance. He pummelled him to the ground punching him. Wands were useless. Harry wanted to take it out of Snape’s flesh with his fingernails.

"HARRY!" A voice yelled. He looked up and saw Hermione clutching hold onto a table wincing with agony. She used her few ounces of strength to get Harry off her lover. Harry still looked knives at Snape, and they were pointing directly at his heart.

Hermione then turned towards Snape. She nodded to Arthur who helped Snape up. The rest of the Weasley’s were crowding in a doorway.

"Now you know why I had to get you here, Mia," Snape said throwing caution to the wind. "I couldn't do that, not to you, my dearest heart!"

"Were you genuine when you were with me?" She asked him. Snape walked up to Hermione and put his arms around her waist and supporting her he kissed her right in front of everybody.

"You know I was, Mia," he said. "You know that surely you must know!"

Hermione looked into his eyes and looked down again. She smiled when she looked up.

"Severus," she breathed. She kissed him on the lips and they broke apart.

"Know you two," Snape said glowering in the direction of Harry and Ron. "If I hear of ANY insults thrown her way because of this just remember how long I can hold a grudge and what I could do about it! If she gets so much as a taunt my wrath will be visited on you believe me!"

He took Hermione back to the sofa and again laid her down on it. She took his hand and clutched onto it tightly.

"Let me just say that you are better at it than Lucius," Hermione said. "Much better at it!"

Severus smirked inwardly, but stopped when he looked into Ron’s eyes that were glowing with jealousy at Snape. He walked up to them and physically took her hand out of his and glared at Snape meaningfully! Snape knew he had nothing to worry about. After she had him - Merlin - he was beginning to turn into Lucius! He shook his head, and then went to the fireplace and took a pinch of powder.

"I love you," he said. She sighed and nodded.

***********************

Lucius was frantic. He'd dozed off after the deal had been struck and something told him there was something in his drink, he picked up the glass and sniffed it. He snarled, as he threw the glass down. He ran up to the bedroom and opened the door just in time to see Snape step out of the fireplace and to see the bed empty.

"Where is she?" Lucius asked.

"Somewhere, where you will not be able to touch her!" Snape replied. "Although I'd like to see you try!"

"What happened to your face?" Lucius smirked looking at the swollen eyes and lips and the slightly bloodied nose.

"I was born with this," Snape replied.

Lucius snorted and looked around arrogantly.

"She'll be back soon mark my words," he growled. "She's probably more stubborn than you think!"

Snape had that suspicion at the back of his head, but he let it rest for as long as he could. At least he could sleep that night knowing he had done the right thing. Even if it was at the wrong time.


A/N Lucius is a wonderful plot bunny to have! I love him... so is it living up to your expectations? Answer me, please in a review?