Experience

Citten: I will try very hard, but Severliscious is just too irresistable. Anyway, here's the update... I hope you like it.

skye: Yes, I am a huge SS/HG shipper. But it is a little fun having a bit of a role reversal. I am used to creepy Malfoy to.

angel: Read on, dear friend.

lisa: A lovely lecherous Snape. I love lovely lecherous Snape. As for Harry, yep, I think that in the final book he will get one up on his cousin... it would be about time.

Lady Lynn: Grossed out by Snape? Well, okay... but I loved writing that scene... more Snape to come.

mary: Severus is going to be a little bit more open soon.

ccrawley: Yes, Dudley might be getting away with it a bit too easily but he'll get his! And, yes, Hermione is lucky having the population of Slytherin go after her.

Lyssa: Snape is cool when he's naughty. I love naughty Snape. Yay Lucius though.

ShilohDarke: ROFLMAO? Going to have to translate that one for me... anyway, yes invisible Snape is giving me ideas to. And as for Hermione moving in with Lucius, sighs... how wonderful!

Anon: More here.

marie_06: You'll find out a little bit in this chapter.

bob: Hmm, does it? I am not sure about that... Snape is more twisted than a giant corkscrew, but if you say so... anyway... hope you like this one.

Dee Dee: Thanks. Here is another update and as for BZ well, that is sorted out a little bit... and some of your other wonderings are answered here as well.

BuckyKattGirl: I see Harry as a very tough kid. I love Harry, and I think that he's a great character - but oddly I see him more as young Snape than young James. So, yeah!

Wednesday – Continued

Lucius had apparated to the front of the Ministry after shoving Dudley Dursley in the first cell they could find. He shuddered at the thought of going back there but knowing that he wasn’t the prisoner did make things a little easier on him. He was struck by a sudden admiration for Potter. Before they left the square box of a house he looked at a small cupboard and Lucius frowned. He asked the boy why he was looking at it so – spitefully.

Potter had explained that for the first ten years of his life he was cooped up in there, as they didn’t think he should have had a proper bedroom. This infuriated Lucius who, for some reason, felt that to be a great injustice. Yes, he didn’t like the boy but even he would have treated him better than that.

He had promised to pick Hermione up, as she didn’t know where his Mansion was. She was sitting on the fountain and looking absolutely beautiful in her tragedy. She smiled when she saw him and his heart quickened. Her hair had still had its shine and he noticed that her pupils had dilated when she saw him. He shook his head. He picked her up by one of her hands and she rose elegantly up on her feet and smiled shyly at him.

“If you do find me an inconvenience; then I’ll just have to put up with Ron,” she whispered.

“Nonsense,” Lucius said. He picked up all her boxes and tucked them in his pockets. She blushed slightly at the thought of her underwear in his pockets. He led her to the front doors and was almost free when Umbridge stopped them. Hermione narrowed her eyes at the woman.

“I am hearing all sorts of disturbing rumours from your department, Mr Malfoy,” she said. She ignored Hermione completely.

“Such as?” Lucius asked.

“I heard that despite our conversation concerning Werewolf Employment you are still considering the employment of a Remus Lupin,” she said the name like she was swearing. Hermione ground her teeth together. “What has happened to you, Lucius?”

“I want the right people under my employment,” Lucius said. “Remus Lupin is not stupid. I know he isn’t. He had good results from his exams and he is a hardworking human being.”

“Hem Hem? Did you say, human?” Umbridge sneered.

“Yes,” Lucius hissed. “Human. He’s a good worker. He was not that bad a teacher; and he has a good knowledge of Dark Arts.”

“He’s a waste of space, Lucius, he is not going to work for the Ministry and that is final!”

“Is it?” Hermione asked acidly. “Well, I was one of his pupils and to be perfectly honest with you woman; he was the best Defence teacher Hogwarts has ever had! I learnt from him and he works hard. If you can’t handle a Werewolf in the Ministry then you should leave! Besides its Lucius decision; not yours!”

“You have no opinion here, silly girl!” Umbridge said. Hermione turned around and looked at the Centaur in the fountain.

“I wished I was here when that fountain sprang to life; especially the Centaur, I used to hate horses but I have taken a liking to them now. Aren’t Centaurs graceful creatures?”

Umbridge turned to look at the fountain and she paled but she stood her ground. “He is NOT working here, Lucius Malfoy, and that is final!” Umbridge turned on her heel and walked away.

“Bitch!” Hermione muttered. Lucius sighed.

“How am I going to tell him?” Lucius muttered. Hermione lowered her eyes.

“Wait!” she murmured. Lucius stopped. Hermione reached under the top of her dress and bought out her wand; Lucius arched an eyebrow at that. She possessed a naughty side that he liked. She turned around and looked at the retreating back of Umbridge. She thought of what would ‘improve’ Umbridge’s appearance. She smirked as a naughty thought crossed her mind. She flicked her wand and a hazy silver light exited out of the tip, and hit Umbridge.

Umbridge fell flat on the floor. Hermione tucked her wand down the front of her dress and turned around; she ran to Lucius, and grabbed his hand. She ran off and he followed. He craned his neck around to briefly see Umbridge get up; but the effect of the spell he couldn’t see. He wondered what Hermione done to her. Whatever it was; it was pretty nasty, as he heard a piercing scream echo around the building. Hermione’s shoulders were shaking with silent laughter.

“What did you do?” Lucius asked.

“Oh nothing that didn’t need to be done,” Hermione said. Hermione looked at Lucius smirking. She giggled and shrugged her shoulders coyly.

“Tell me, Hermione.”

Hermione let go off his head and looked at him. She chewed her lip and looked at anywhere but at him.

“Don’t call me by my first name,” she whispered. “It makes me feel uncomfortable.”

“Sorry,” Lucius said. “It just slipped out.”

“That’s all right,” Hermione said. “Look, I think I should just stay for one night. I’ll find somewhere else tomorrow or just put up with Ron.”

Lucius walked closer to her. “Why are you uncomfortable with me, Miss Granger? I’ve been nothing but nice to you.”

Hermione stammered. “Um, perhaps we should talk about this when we get home, sir.”

He nodded. His jaw set in determination. He liked her. He knew that now, and she had such a lovely Christian name. Hermione rolled off the tongue more effortlessly than Miss Granger. She wasn’t Miss Granger. She was Hermione. She never could be Miss Granger to him anymore.

“When we get home,” he said. They walked in awkward silence to the nearest alleyway they could to apparate. He stroked her cheek before wrapping his arms around her waist and placing her close to him. He sniffed in her scent before they apparated.

They landed outside some gates. They were wrought iron. They were exquisitely designed. Hermione saw a Unicorn on one side and a twisting snake the other side. The scales on the snake were intricate and the unicorn had a silver eye.

He opened the gate and led her through. He was still not talking to her. She followed feeling wretched. He seemed really upset that she had told him not to call her by her first name. He tapped the front door and it opened.

“Gloop!” he called. A house elf popped up. “Gloop, this is Hermione Granger; she’ll be living with us.”

“Miss, Gloop is pleased that there is going to be a woman in the mansion.”

Hermione offered a weak smile as Lucius placed the small boxes on the floor. Hermione saw Gloop pick them all up.

“Shall I put her in the West Wing, Master?”

“Place her in the East Wing,” Lucius replied. “In the room opposite mine.”

Gloop nodded. Hermione furrowed her brow, and followed Lucius. He led her in a surprisingly comfortable sitting room. He walked silently up to the Whiskey decanter and poured them a glass each and shoved some ice in it. He walked up to her and held out the glass to her.

She accepted it but looked at it oddly. She had never drunk Whiskey before and didn’t know whether she would like it or not. Lucius pointed his wand at the fire and the blaze sprung up. He looked at the young woman and offered her a seat by the fire.

“What’s the matter, Mr Malfoy?” Hermione asked.

“Lucius,” he hissed. “You may call me Lucius.”

Hermione swirled the Whiskey glass around and gulped slightly. “Lucius, why are you being nice to me?”

“Why not? You have known only one side of me. I am trying to change. I want to repent from my actions. I want people to realise that.”

“And you always get what you want,” Hermione stated.

“Precisely,” Lucius murmured. “I lost my wife and son; two of the dearest things I had ever owned, although I had no idea how precious until they were brutally murdered.”

Hermione gasped. “You did love them!”

“Yes,” Lucius replied. “I did love them. You see, Hermione, Narcissa was the perfect woman for me. When we were first married she was sweet, believe it or not. She was charming, and elegant. She had the air of wonderment; and she enjoyed life. I ruined that the moment I made her take the Mark,” he sighed. “Even after she had taken the Mark she still retained some of her old sympathies.”

“What were they?” Hermione asked.

“She actually liked muggleborns,” Lucius said. “She acted in front of Draco for me. But when we were alone she made it quite clear what her opinions were. When it was time for Draco to go to school I was all for letting him go abroad to Durmstrang, but Cissy put her foot down and wanted her son to go the school we went to. She said Hogwarts might open his eyes to a few things. I was shocked at what it did open his eyes to.”

Hermione looked at Lucius with a whole new respect. He was being honest. “What was that?”

“He began admiring muggleborns, especially one particular one,” Lucius said. Hermione frowned. She blinked and then opened her mouth wide and raised her hand to it.

“Surely,” she began. “Surely you’re not talking about – about me?”

Lucius nodded. “Now you know why I am being nice to you.”

“Not really,” Hermione said.

Lucius rolled his eyes. “Because if Cissy had her way you might have been our daughter-in-law.”

Hermione ground her teeth together for a while. She looked down on the floor. “That doesn’t explain why you were sucking my fingers.”

“Ah! As for that; I am dreadfully sorry,” Lucius said. “It’s just that, you gave a good shoulder massage. I got carried away.”

Hermione smiled a little naughtily. The idea that she could give a good shoulder massage appealed to her greatly, if she could do that well; what else could she do? she wondered about that and began sipping at her whiskey.

“As for being placed opposite you,” Hermione said. “Don’t you think it wiser for me to be in a separate wing?”

“No,” Lucius said. “I want to make sure I can get to you if anything bad should happen. This was once a Dark House, and some of the influences still exist. You might get affected by it; I am somewhat immune.”

Hermione nodded. She sipped at the Whiskey and her eyes widened. “Wow!”

“Like it?” Lucius asked.

“I didn’t think I would,” Hermione said. “As for the first name thing, I am sorry. You can call me Hermione if you want.”

“Thank you,” Lucius said. Gloop apparated into the sitting room and turned to Hermione:

“Gloop has unpacked Mistress things,” the elf said bowing. “I hope I have satisfied Mistress?”

“Yes, Gloop,” Hermione said. “But could you please show me the way to my bedroom.”

“I’ll do that,” Lucius said. “Gloop, start setting the table for dinner. I hope you have provided enough.”

“Gloop will see, sir,” the elf said.

Lucius walked up to Hermione and offered her his hand. She accepted and they walked out of the room together. He led her up a grand staircase and Hermione sighed at the decoration. She smiled. The banisters were made of gold. The stairs were marble; but had green velvet carpet set in the centre with silver trimmings at the edges. They turned the corner that led to the East Wing.

He walked down the hallway. Hermione looked at the portraits that either ignored her or looked down on her with a snooty expression on their proud faces. She looked at them all with trepidation; she understood why they didn’t like her.
“Ignore them,” Lucius said. “Just remember they’re only paint and parchment. You’re much more special than them. Besides you’re portrait might have been hanging on these walls anyway. Whether they liked it or not.”

Hermione smiled but leant further into Lucius. He noticed her unconscious move and moved his arm across her back and held her to his body. She laid her head against his chest where she felt his heart vibrating against her ear.

Lucius reached the room and opened the door. He led her in and she looked at her surroundings. The four-poster bed was made of mahogany with velvet forest green drapes; the actual bedspread was made of silver and green silk. The pillows were big; fluffy; and covered with the same silk that the bedspread was made from. In the centre of each of them lay a shield with a unicorn one side and the snake the other.

Hermione’s eyes laid on the design. She walked up to the bed and sat on it. She sighed.

“How do you find the strength to get out of this bed in the morning?” she asked.

Lucius chuckled. “It is very difficult, Hermione.”

She picked up a pillow and stroked it. She laid it on her cheek and then laid it on her lap. “What’s this?” she asked.

Lucius walked around the bed and went down on his knees. “That is the Malfoy family crest. See, the Unicorn symbolises untouched purity and the snake symbolises eternity. Our family motto is: Eternally Pure.”

Hermione smiled. She looked down at the cushion. She stroked the unicorn and set the cushion back where she got it from. He was still on his knees. He picked up her hands and held them in his.

“What’s the matter now?” Hermione asked in a small voice.

“You wouldn’t want to know,” he said. “You wouldn’t.”

He had received a visit whilst Hermione was at lunch from Mrs Zabini. She had told Lucius some very shocking news. He did not wish to worry Hermione with it, but he knew that she must know.

“Hermione,” Lucius said. “Mrs Zabini came to me at lunch time.”

“How is he?” Hermione asked. “Tomorrow lunchtime I want to see him.”

“You can’t I’m afraid,” Lucius said. “He’s having his arm amputated and – well – his mother doesn’t like you very much. This woman has poisoned seven husbands, according to hearsay, that is. And I am not going to let her get her clutches on you. Blaise is a nice man; sometimes I wonder what the hat was thinking by placing him in Slytherin. He’s more of a Ravenclaw.”

“I was almost put in Ravenclaw,” Hermione said.

“Then it might have succeeded,” Lucius said, “but Mrs Zabini has given me the impression that she’s going to kill you if she see’s you again. She feels that it’s all your fault!”

“But it isn’t!” Hermione exclaimed. “It isn’t my fault. I would have used magic but I wasn’t sure. I mean I am eighteen but still at school; and we can both apparate but that doesn’t mean we should.”

“I know it isn’t your fault, but Mrs Zabini is there all the time, and I am sorry Hermione but she won’t let you see him.”

Hermione’s throat formed a lump and tears started to well in her eyes. “I’m not going to let her do that to me! I care for him!”

“Do you love him?” Lucius asked.

Hermione went silent. She didn’t know the answer to that question. “I – I’m not sure.”

“You don’t, do you?” Lucius asked. “You like him a lot, but most of the time with love then you would know – like I did with Narcissa. I knew I loved her the moment I saw her.”

Hermione sighed. He was probably right. Poor Blaise, Hermione sighed. “Should I tell him?”

Lucius shook his head. “He’s got the charm of any good looking Slytherin; he’ll work it out; or his mother will influence him. Either way, you don’t have to tell him.”

Hermione held her head in her hands. “I’m a bitch!”

Lucius narrowed his eyes and drew her closer to him. “You are not a bitch, Hermione. You can’t help not liking someone as much as they like you.”

“It always happens to me though,” Hermione said in a soft voice. “First there was Viktor Krum, oh breaking his heart was the worst thing I had to do and I felt so horrible. Then there was McLaggen. And then Ron, and now Blaise. What is wrong with me, Lucius? Why can’t I fall in love?”

Lucius brushed a finger along her lip and leant in and brushed his lips on hers. She widened her mouth and he slipped his tongue inside her mouth. Her tongue licked his and they got closer. His hands let go off hers and they snaked around her waist. Her hands crawled up his chest and she snaked them around the nape of his neck. He rose slightly and she leant back. His tongue explored her mouth eagerly and willingly.

She was on her back lying on the soft mattress. Her hands playing about in his hair and his hands creeping down her sides. She moaned his name and his hands froze on her hips. He stopped kissing her and tore his lips away from hers.

“Sorry, Hermione, that won’t happen again.”

Hermione touched her lips with her fingers and looked at him. No one had kissed her like that before. Her lips pulsed and she licked them taking in his taste. He stood back and glanced at her and left the room. She blinked; wondering what it was she had done wrong now. Somewhere in the room she had heard a faint chuckle.

~*~*~

Molly was fuming. She had told Ze, (as Molly liked to call her), that Hermione would no more harm her son deliberately than she would a fly. Molly had tried to defend Hermione to her friend; but Ze did not listen and had told Lucius that if he didn’t keep Hermione away from her son then she would take steps to do so herself.

Molly did not wish to lose Ze as a friend but this was ridiculous. Hermione was not a horrible young woman. She had cooked her family dinner and remained quiet.

“Does anyone know where she’s staying?” Molly asked her family.

“No,” Ron said stiffly.

“I don’t know, Mrs Weasley,” Harry said. “Although, she said she wasn’t going to be sleeping on the street.”

Arthur coughed and shuffled his feet under the table.

“Arthur?” Molly asked. “You know, don’t you?”

Arthur blushed and nodded. “Yes, Molly, I do know.”

“Who has housed her?” Molly asked.

“Lucius,” Arthur mumbled.

“WHAT?” all three people roared together.

“Don’t yell at me,” Arthur said. “And she wouldn’t be staying there at all had you not felt a serious injury in what she said, Ron.”

“Great. You know what! He’s coming off as the bloody hero! First those dresses, and then he opens a bank account and now he’s offered a home. What’s he trying to do?”

“I think he’s trying to care for her,” Harry said. “I’ve seen them in the same office together and they didn’t seem to mind being with each other. I thought I’d go into a room steaming with hatred; but they respect each other.”

“What is that supposed to mean, Harry?” Ron asked slowly.

“Its supposed to mean what it says, Ron. Hermione is a woman that needs someone intelligent, older, mature and able to care for her. I hate to admit this but there are a very few candidates for that. Snape, Malfoy, and Kingsley. I personally would prefer Kingsley, but its up to Hermione. If she likes Lucius we should be able to deal with that.”

“I thought Zabini was her boyfriend?” Ron asked. “You’re right about her mum. She is a scarlet woman.”

“No she isn’t,” Harry said. “Hermione is the type of woman that wouldn’t know how to handle true love. She hides behind those books of hers all the time and, although she’s great at solving our problems; she is not good with her own.”

“What are you saying?” Ron asked.

“I am saying, Ron, that Hermione needs someone older. And I saw Malfoy looking at Hermione with a sort of misty look in his eyes. The way that I’ve seen Arthur look at Molly when her backs turned.”

“Arthur?” Molly asked her eyes shining. “Do you look at me with a misty eyed expression?”

Arthur blushed and coughed. “Yes, I do.”

Molly preened herself with that information. The fact that her husband still yearned and lusted her after all these years and with her body not being what it was made her feel like a queen. Ron made a gagging sound at the back of his throat.

“What’s wrong with that?” Harry asked Ron. “What is wrong with your parents still being in love? I think its sweet, and I hope that Ginny feels the same about me when we’re older.”

“They can be in love without me watching them,” Ron said. He pushed back his chair and left the room. Harry stared after Ron and shook his head. What Ron needed was a LARGE dose of reality. Harry was sure that his parents would still be in love with each other were they still alive. He was about to go upstairs and leave Mr and Mrs Weasley alone when the fireplace shone a green light.

“Harry,” it was Ginny’s voice. Harry rushed to the fireplace. “Oh, Harry, is Saturday never going to come.”

“I know,” Harry said.

“So, what’s up? I really need to speak to Hermione. There’s a Potions question I’m completely stuck on.”

“She’s not here,” Harry said. “Ron and Hermione had an argument, and this time it looks like they’ll never make up. She’s now staying with Malfoy.”

“WHAT?” Ginny screamed. She turned around and said sorry to the Common Room. “Why him?”

“Because he’s the only one that offered,” Harry said. “I think that she’ll be okay. I’ve seen the way he looks at her. So, how are you?”

“Fine, what’s this about Zabini being shot?”

Harry plunged into the story, and Ginny listened attentively. She gasped in all the appropriate places and after the story was said: she chewed her lip thoughtfully.

“So, you’re saying you’re going to give Malfoy a chance?”

“He kept his temper when my Walrus of an Uncle insulted him. I need to see how Hermione is after tonight. If there’s a black eye I’m dragging her back here kicking and screaming if I have to. But if there’s a smile on her face then I’ll leave her alone. She’s my friend. I want her to be happy.”

“Well, okay, Harry.”

“Ginny,” Harry said. He looked at her parents and they both looked away. “I love you. I miss you so much.”

“I’m missing you to, Harry. I can barely concentrate,” Ginny said. “Take care Harry.”

“You to, Gin,” Harry said. They leant forward for a kiss. Ginny tasted sweet. His tongue wrapped around hers and his hands went through her hair. He had dragged her through the fireplace and he was on his back she was over him.

“Ginny,” Arthur said.

Ginny looked up and blushed. “So unfair!” she murmured.

“Don’t worry, Gin, I’ve got a plan,” Harry whispered.

She giggled. She crawled back through to the Gryffindor Common Room. She blew Harry a kiss and then turned back leaving Harry’s member quivering with excitement. He looked down at his groan and hissed. Jerry Lee Lewis thought he had great balls of fire! Harry thought bitterly.

~*~*~

Sam the taxi driver was worried. He had his mind on that young couple all day. When he got home the previous night all he could do was hug his wife and comfort her. She asked him what the problem was and he told her. He was worrying for them the whole day. He barely concentrated on his job. He got home and his stepson was sitting in the living room.

“You all right, Dean?” Sam asked.

“Fine,” Dean said. Sam ruffled his stepson’s hair. “How are you? Mum told me what happened last night. That must have been horrible, dad.”

“It was,” Sam said. “The boy was black, and good looking. The young woman was gorgeous. She was so distressed about it though and was even thinking about paying.”

“Can you tell me what they looked like?” Dean said.

“Sure, the girl had brown curly hair. It was Grecian in style. And she had wide beautiful honey coloured eyes with olive skin. Her name was Hermione, and his name was Blaise. I remember his name because it was unusual.”

“BLAISE AND HERMIONE?” Dean asked.

“Those names mean something to you?” Sam asked.

“Hermione, dad, Hermione Granger. She’s a girl in my year at Hogwarts. And, Blaise, well he’s a boy in my year. Blaise Zabini got shot with a muggle gun?”

Sam nodded. Dean hurried up and went to the phone. He punched in the numbers and Harry answered the other end.

“Hermione,” Dean said. “I need to talk to Hermione. Is she okay? I’ve just found out my dad was the one that saved them! What do you mean? I thought she was staying there? No, what? Ron is a jackass! Well, after Ginny and I split up I kind of like fell a little for Hermione but – so, where is she? Who? Is she crazy? MALFOY? LUCIUS MALFOY? Is she begging to be put in an early grave? He’s a Death Eater – what is she thinking? Okay, okay, I’ll calm down. But, you tell her from me if you’re still talking to her though, that if she’s unhappy with Lucius she can live with me! Yeah, see you back at school. Hopefully we’ll see Hermione to.”

Dean hung up. He turned to his father. “Don’t worry son. Is Malfoy the tall blonde guy that I saw hugging her with tenderness and care?”

“I don’t know what he really looks like but I suppose that could be him, as his son was blonde.”

Sam nodded his head. As he watched Malfoy hug the young lady he could see the man cared for her a great deal. He felt the young woman would be cared for with him.

~*~*~

Hermione lay back on the mattress after her really relaxing bath. She sighed, as her head hit the cool silk of the pillows. She picked up a book she was reading and started flicking the pages. Then as she turned one page it turned back. She turned it again and it turned back again. She sighed and sent a revealing hex to the side of her.

“Lucius is going to kill you!” Hermione exclaimed. She turned to her book.

“Aren’t you going to ask me why I’m next to you in a nice bed, almost naked?”

“It’s obvious,” Hermione said. “Your movements earlier made it perfectly clear what you want from me!”

“Oh, was I really that obvious?” Snape asked innocently. “I can’t believe how interesting you are to me now.”

“You know I thought you were above all that, but it appears that even you prefer a pair of breasts to a brain!”

Snape turned around and shifted closer to her. “So, Hermione, do you like me?”

“I don’t think so,” Hermione huffed. He was next to her and leant over her shoulder to see what book she was reading.

“Ah! This must be the equivalent of Potter reading a comic book,” he said. “P G Wodehouse is hardly brain expanding.”

“That’s exactly why I am reading him,” Hermione said. “Even I need to relax into something silly sometimes.”

Snape chuckled in her ear. “That kiss looked really nice.”

“HOW LONG WERE YOU HERE?” Hermione yelled.

“Long enough to see that you might be rushing headlong into another mistake,” Snape said. “Are you sure Lucius Malfoy is the one for you?”

“Look,” Hermione said. “What is your problem?”

“My problem, Hermione? Well, my problem is that I am a forty-year-old man desiring an eighteen-year-old girl. A very sexy eighteen year old girl with the right brains for me.”

Hermione rolled her eyes. “Well,” she said. “It looks like you’ll just suffer in silence then. I am not interested in you.”

“Really?” Snape murmured in her ear, as he brushed some of her hair aside. He sucked the top of her earlobe. She shrugged him away from her but he took the book out of her hands and she turned around. She reached out for it but he held it further away from her causing her to go forward. She reached out but he threw it over his shoulder and grabbed her wrist and pushed her on the mattress. “Are you sure about that?”

He leant down and ravished her mouth before she could push him off. It was nothing like Lucius kiss. Snape’s had fire and passion; she squirmed beneath him. She wasn’t sure whether she should accept his advances or not.

Suddenly She felt the weight lift from her body. “Get off her, Snape, and leave!” Lucius growled.

“Why don’t you admit you like her all ready, Lucius. She’s too pretty to hang around forever. Some of us are beginning to get hungry!”

Lucius snarled at Snape and Hermione sat back in the pile of cushions. She really needed another bath! “Leave her alone, Snape. I don’t want to tell you again.”

Snape smirked at Hermione and tilted his head to one side. “The sooner you two get yourselves laid the better!” he walked out of the room.

Hermione looked up at Lucius. “Do you?” she asked.

“Do I what?” he snapped.

“Do you like me?” Hermione asked.

“You best rest,” Lucius sighed.

Hermione creased her brow as he walked out of the room. Hermione got out of bed; slipped her feet in her slippers, and followed.

“You haven’t answered my question,” Hermione said. “Do you like me?”

Lucius stopped. He had his back turned to her. Hermione could sense that his body was stiffening.

“I am still in love with Narcissa,” he said quietly. “But yes, yes I do like you.” Hermione was about to walk up to him but he turned around. “I still love Narcissa, Hermione. Yet the past couple of days I’ve been unsure of that. I have begun to care for you a lot. I want to care for you. I like you, Hermione. You’re smart, funny, cunning, and beautiful. You’re also very – very much like Narcissa was before she received the Mark. But I can’t act on my feelings because I’m still in love with Narcissa. I still wear my wedding ring because in my heart I’m still married to her. I can’t touch you because I feel that I’ll be betraying Narcissa. Just thinking about you makes me feel like a cad. She was perfect, Hermione. I miss her! I miss her so much and you – you have that same spirit – you have that same spark. I like you, Hermione, but I can’t have you.”

Hermione blinked and looked at Lucius with tears in her eyes. “Then don’t touch me. I don’t want to step in the way between you and Narcissa. She was your soul mate and I don’t want to break that sort of bond. If anything, Lucius Malfoy, right this moment in time you are more handsome and more attractive than you ever have been. I respect you worlds more than I did before. I like you to, but I know I can’t touch you, so I won’t.”

Lucius looked deeply into her eyes. She stepped closer to him.

“You think I’m attractive?” Lucius asked. “Despite what I’ve done to you and your friends?”

“Yes,” Hermione murmured. “I do. Lucius, you made one Witch very happy and when the bereavement process is over you could make another Witch very happy to. I mean, you still have a lot to give us women.”

Lucius smirked and she smiled back. “Good night, Hermione.”

“Good night, Lucius,” she sighed.

He smiled and walked into his bedroom. She stood in the hallway stunned; she had never felt like this before. Lucius was only in the other room yet she missed his company. She shrugged her shoulders and was about to go back in the room when she heard a laugh. She swivelled her head in all sorts of directions.

“Over here,” a woman’s voice said.

“Hello,” Hermione said uncertainly. She was looking into the portrait of a very elegant beautiful woman. She recognised the woman as the one she had met in Madam Malkin’s before her sixth year.

“Hello, Hermione,” Narcissa said. “Whilst all that was very sweet when you see him tomorrow morning slap him in the face and tell him to get over it. I’m dead, and I am not coming back. He should understand that. Oh, and as for you, well – sorry, sweetie but you need to have a bit of a slap to. I know you were probably trying to think of me, but I loved Lucius and its hurting me to see him this way. Either you start fighting for him or, help him find happiness with someone else. But please, for the love of Merlin I hate seeing him miserable and depressed!”

“But -!”

“No buts young lady,” Narcissa said. “As from tomorrow you are going to make him come back to life. Got that?”

Hermione sighed. “Loud and clear, Mrs Malfoy.”

“Good!” she exclaimed. “He’s wasting valuable time as it is!”

Hermione smiled. She walked back to her room and crawled back into bed. This time she fell asleep as soon as her head hit the pillow.

Lucius heard the conversation the other side of the door. He was planning to resist ALL movements made by Hermione. He was not ready to grow a new heart for another woman. He, too, crawled into bed and sighed; sleep would be impossible tonight; he just knew it.

Plus he still didn’t know what had happened to Umbridge...

A/N - What has Hermione done to Umbridge? How will Hermione try to win Lucius over? Is Lucius being just plain stupid? And what exactly has Harry got in store for Ginny? And will the person who's borrowed my pink fluffy slippers give them back! Seriously, what did you all think?