CAGED

your reviews were all AMAZING!!! and have helped shape my writing SO MUCH! what would I do without my muses? probably be getting some sleep before work at horrible in the A.M... but seriously... it helps me really think of what I should be including that I might not have thought of... I'm on a writing streak, writers block was setting in a little... but that's been cured! THANKS AGAIN FOR THE POSITIVE REVIEWS!!!!! - Love Esme
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---St. Mungo's-- present day----------
Hermione woke up alone, she had the typical dream about him again, like she had every night since she was conscious. She crept out of her small bed and sat at her desk, she composed another couple letters to send to the Warden of Azkaban asking permission to visit Lucius. Hell she even started requesting to visit Draco to see if she could even step foot inside. He was in solitary and wasn't permitted visitors. Even though she knew she wasn't permitted to leave the hospital she still wrote the letters faithfully since she was conscious. Two years had passed her by and she was determined to set the record straight. She looked lovingly at all the cards and flowers her family and friends sent her... but she was still heartbroken at how they had treated her like she was a headcase... Harry had actually used the word contaminated, how could she be contaminated by the man she loved? She was tired of the Ministry demonizing innocent people, today she was being released from the hospital completely .. after almost two years of experiments, potion induced coma's and every inch of skin being poked and prodded. Today was the day she would make sure people would listen, she gathered her thoughts and thought back to the day the Dark Lord fell...


----Malfoy Manor-----
Hermione saw Voldemort crumble to the floor, blood soaking down the front of his robes and onto the floor, from her cage she could see his eyes glaze over in his final moments she knew she saw raw fear as he was gripping the dagger that was sunken deep into his chest. She couldn't of cared less at that moment whether Voldemort was alive or dead, but she saw Lucius near him on the floor, eyes closed she had seen that silver shimmer leaving his body... was it part of the curse? He had just sacrificed his life for hers... she quickly unlocked the cage and sprang to Lucius side. She kicked Voldemorts dead corpse away from the door and grabbed Lucius by the shoulders to pull him back into the room, she closed the door and put the wards up as best she could, knowing other Death Eater's would soon be following.

She checked his pulse, nothing, he wasn't breathing... she could feel her whole body shaking as she rested his golden head in her lap. She was rocking him back and forth, he was completely limp in her arms. "no... no..nononono!, you can't leave me... you CAN'T!!!" she wailed in agony. She was sobbing uncontrollably, her tears clouding her eyes and falling onto his face.

Her tears were pouring like rain and she was clinging to him in desperation. "I love you" she whispered into his hair as she stroked his beautiful face. She placed a soft kiss on his still lips, she could still taste her blood on his lips as she nuzzled her face into his neck and trembled uncontrollably. She couldn't see it, but Voldemort's wand lay just mere inches from where Lucius was laying on the floor. At the moment she said those three words... a lone silver shimmer crept out of the wand, expanding and taking form it settled into Luciu's body. He could feel her hands on his and his eyes fluttered open, he felt a strange electricity running through him. Hermione was gripping his shoulders and hiding her face into his neck. She suddenly felt a strong warm hand clamp over hers, she gasped in shock as Lucius turned to look at her, a dazed look on his features.

"Oh God, DON"T EVER DO THAT AGAIN!! I can't take it!" she was embracing him so hard he couldn't move or sit up properly, he gave up and let her paw at him a little longer. "We did it Hermione... he's gone" the pair stared intently at the still and bloody form of the Dark Lord where Hermione had kicked aside his putrid flesh. "you saved me Hermione... I'm sure I"ll never know exactly how, but you did... it was your love that brought me back... I could hear your voice". Hermione stared at him with a knowing look "ancient magic my love". The two just stared into each others eyes, amazed at how much they had survived that night... but there fight was not over yet.

Above them a war was waging, Hermione had managed to beckon Harry and a number of Aurors to the Manor. Lucius knew that there would be more Death Eaters to come after them, hunt him down as a traitor and probably keep Hermione as a sex slave till they eventually would kill her. He knew for certain that Fenrir Greyback had lusted after her... even when she was but a child, it had sickened him just thinking back on the comments he made about her, and could not bear the thought of the werewolf using Hermione's delicate body. He also knew it was only a matter of time before he could smell her within these walls. The man was a literal animal and would stop at nothing to rape and murder, and had a vendetta against him for being the "chosen one" of the Death Eaters. Fenrir would joke suggestively that the Dark Lord had a hard on for him... what else could he mean by "slippery friend"?

A sudden number of horrors made their presence known in Lucius's mind. Being a Malfoy he had a unique bond with the house of his ancestors and knew something was amiss. He could smell the scent of smoke distinctly filling the room and heard sniffing and scratching at the rooms door. He grabbed Hermione by the waist and pulled her close to him. "they've set the manor on fire... and Greyback is at the door... we have to get out of here right now!" Lucius grabbed Hermione to him and apparated out of the Manor as far as his mind could take him. Which was near the edge of the forest flanking the Manor. A number of Death Eaters were already on their tail, Lucius had the upper hand in that he knew where he was going, making his way through the dense forest.

He took just a glimpse back, the Manor was engulfed in flames... the bastards were burning his ancestors home to the ground. He couldn't think about it now... but felt it was just another mar on his name. He spotted the familiar jaunt of Greyback, they locked eyes before he had apparated further into the forest. Lucius was practically dragging Hermione behind him, a hard cold rain was coming down in sheets and her body never adjusted to the temperature, he had wrapped her in his jacket but she would not stop shivering.

He knew if he didn't move quickly she could very well die of hypothermia if they didn't seek shelter soon.
Hermione was running as fast as her legs could take her, Lucius dragging her along, they were apparating through the forest and at times running by foot to throw the death eaters of their trail. She couldnt run in her kitten heals and was breaking down from all the preassure and horrible things she just experienced. He was hurting her hand he gripped it so tightly and she
just wanted to stop running , her fear melting over into breakdown.

She tugged on his arm and planted her feet  "STOP!" she screamed. It was pouring down rain and she felt like she was going to pass out, she felt intense hot and cold all over her body. Her small frame held no resistance for his powerful body as she stumbled forward. She couldnt see straight she was so dizzy and the rain was freezing her to the bone. Her feet here muddy and riped apart from the rocks and branches on the ground. He heard her scream and halted instantly, the rain in his eyes and she could see his breath in the air. his hair was soaked through . He was catching his breath and looked at her with mad fury mingled with shock on his features.

"What's wrong?" "I have to stop.. I can't go on.. I feel sick...I need to stop" she was panting and her face was ghostly pale.
"we need to get you to a healer, I'll carry you the rest of the way... but we have to keep moving! I know Greyback can smell you for miles..." She recoiled from him "NO! where are we going? you arent telling me anything!! why are they still after us?! I thought once he was dead this would stop" she was screaming herself hoarse and her tears mixed with the rain down her face.

Lucius gave her a pained an stunned look, his impatience on the brink, he needed her to keep moving or else they would track them down soon. "we need to go NOW Hermione! I don't have time to explain" She struggled against him even more "NO! not before you tell me where we are going and whats going on!!" "we are going to find a Healer once were out of reach now MOVE!" He gripped her forearm hard and yanked her to him roughly. Her mind was getting fuzzier by the minute and she was on the brink of hysteria from all the death she had witnessed. "Your hurting me! stop.. don't touch me! get your hands off me...
am I nothing to you but something you drag in the dirt? and to keep locked in a cage? when will it be over? Lucius? WHEN?!

His heart ached with what he had done to her but could not form the words to explain his guilt or pain, she could see the hurt in his eyes when she said for him not to touch her. He grabbed her up and she beat her hands against his chest, tired of running and hiding for so long she hurt. "NO!.. Im tired of running..when are we going to be free of this? I love you! please... stop hurting me like this!" she screamed against him.

He grabbed the back of her hair roughly and tilted her head back and crushed his lips against her mouth. She fought against him and beat her arms on his chest, but gave up when he deepened the kiss. His lips felt like they were searing into her skin, it was rough and desperate and full of fire. She had never expected him to kiss her like this, she had never imagined their first real kiss would be in the middle of a thunderstorm, in the middle of a fight when they were on the run. She wrapped her arms around his ceck as he grappled with her tongue. She melted into his mouth and his toungue sought entrance to her mouth roughly... she gasped into his mouth and her knees weakened as he explored her mouth. She felt like she was being
possessed by him, he had never kissed her before, nor had he EVER lost control over his body, only giving her gentle but sexually and emotionally removed touches.

THIS kiss... that made her knees give out, was him in all his glory.. His powerful body smashed against hers, his mouth claiming hers in a searing kiss that took her breath away. Their tongues battling for dominance, his always winning.
He released her mouth, both panting, rain pouring over them in cold sheets. He had kissed her as if it were his first and last and had to absorb as much of her as he could.

Her chest was rising and falling rapidly and she was stunned and dazed, clinging to him for support. He scooped her up in his arms and kissed her again, more gently than before, this time he was kissing away the brutality and bruises of the last kiss, the first kiss that let her know who she belonged to forever...

He apparated them both way while her lips were still on his, she rested in his arms as they travelled through the rain and
when she fell asleep in his arms she had flashes of her future with Lucius.. were they premonisions? She had already fallen in love with the child in her dreams... her Cassiopeia. She was blacking out completely in spots and it hadn't worried her too greatly. However Lucius knew better and furrowed his brow when he saw the beads of sweat on her forehead and how limp she was in his arms. She was just coming out of a dream when she woke up to find herself lying on a warm bed, Lucius arm draped over her, hugging her close to him.

She woke up feeling like she was on fire but shivering at the same time. She caressed his arm and kissed his fingers, relishing the taste of him. She tried to wake him but was too weak to move from under his arm. She tugged on his arm furiously until his long eyelashes flashed open. He sat up with a jolt. "Hermione... how are you feeling?" She could read the concern written across his face. "Where are we?" "We are at a friends house... they owed me a favor, it was the only safe place we could run to, were in a muggle cottage on the outskirts of the forest" She was going to ask her cursory million questions but only nodded.

Her eyes couldn't focus properly and her head seemed like it would never clear. She searched for his face and cupped her hand on the side of his face "we have a daughter...her name is" "Cassiopeia?" Lucius said over her words. Hermione smiled as broadly as her energy allowed "how did you know?" "you were calling out her name... you've been saying it in your sleep, as well as my name" he said tentatively. "do you like it? Cassiopeia Malfoy, she looks just like you love". Lucius felt the stinging tears behind his eyes, if she wasn't going to make... he didn't want to live anymore. "it's as beautiful as you are". He could tell she was becoming delirious and stroked her hair back off her face. "Lucius... I'm so tired, I can barely see you"

"just try to get some more sleep for me love... were going to find you a Healer soon" She gripped the collar of his shirt suddenly "Don't ever leave me... ever again" she said as she slipped back into a deep sleep. Lucius knew he had to get her to St. Mungo's as soon as possible... she had a fever, but the aftershocks of Voldemort's curse had lowered her energy greatly.
Lucius did not get much sleep that night... holding Hermione in his arms felt so right, he couldn't ever let go. He knew what he had to do... he knew it would hurt her, but it would save her. He trailed kisses down her neck and wiped the sweat from her brow, watching her toss and turn in her sleep... calling out his name. He held her to him when she trembled and moaned. A single tear streaked down his cheek and landed onto hers, he gently kissed it away.

Before dawn broke Lucius took her in his arms and concentrated all his energy into apparating to St. Mungo's. He burst through the emergency room doors with her in his arms and it seemed like time stood still. Every patient, doctor and nurse stopped in their tracks to stare at the most shocking scene : Lucius Malfoy, Voldemort's second in command, allegedly dead was holding Hermione Granger, of the golden trio, who had gone missing years earlier, was in his arms, she was obviously in need of help but everyone was afraid of getting hexed by Lucius. Lucius stormed to the closest doctor he could find and barked orders at him, the young doctor looked like he would pass out from fright "get this witch looked after and quick!" He placed Hermione on a gurney and followed the young doctor and a team of nurses into an emergency room. A brave veteran nurse placed a comforting hand on Lucius's arm. "Mr. Malfoy, I'll have to ask you to wait out in our lobby till we look after her... come with me"

Lucius complied, knowing what was coming next, it would only be a matter of minutes before the Aurors would be pouncing on him and shipping him off to Azkaban. He had been a wanted man long before taking Hermione, and knew that getting Hermione to St. Mungo's was basically turning himself in... but if it could only save her.. it would be worth it. He wouldn't care if nobody knew he actually had vanquished the Dark Lord... as long as she would live.

The nurse offered him some tea, but he politely declined. "do you need to see a doctor too Mr. Malfoy? your looking a bit peeked" the older nurse asked him. "I'll be fine, thank you for your hospitality". The nurse took her leave of him and made her way back to the front desk. "Erma... is that REALLY Lucius Malfoy?" asked a young and nosey nurse. "It is indeed Anna" she said as she gazed over the disheveled yet still frightfully attractive Lucius. The young nurse's shoes squeaked as she scurried over to the phone. "Anna... what do you think your doing?" "I'm calling the auror station... he's a wanted criminal Erma!" "Anna mind your business... the man is obviously trying to help that poor girl" Anna ignored her completely and finished her call "a squad will be down in a matter of minutes" Anna informed the older nurse.

"an entire squad! Anna... do you realize what chaos that will put our ER in?!" Anna clapped her hands in nervous excitement "I'm just doing my job as a concerned citizen!" Erma gave her a piercing glance "someday Anna your going to get yours, and I hope that day is soon!" she said as she gave Lucius a pitiful glance.

In a whirl wind of sirens and uniformed wizards, an entire auror squad was unleashed upon St. Mungo's and Lucius quietly walked out of the hospital, going peacefully as Kingsly Shackbolt bound him and put him in the squad car. That was the last time Lucius set eyes on Hermione.

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I wanted to title this "kiss the rain" remember that song?! *lol* I usually title them something thats on my itunes... if you want smut... hold tight... that's all I can say... but I think this is a different kind of story. I wanted this one to actually have some depth to it, unlike my caviar wishes, or what about blaise or my one shot (maybe soon to be shots) those were the stories I was cutting my teeth on anyways but I love them nonetheless hehe. btw : LOVE MY REVIEWERS!!!!!!!!!!