Love Thy Enemy

CHAPTER 7: To See and Be Seen





Lucius Malfoy cast a sideward glance at his new wife as she sucked in deep, gulping breaths. They had not been airborne long, and the car had made a soft, smooth landing at the end of a cobblestone street.





“You aren’t going to be ill are you?” He asked, scooting another few inches away from her to protect his clothing.





“No, I’ll be fine, just give me a moment. I don’t like to fly.” Hermione reached into her bag and checked her reflection in the little gold compact to reassure her self that she hadn’t turned an unattractive shade of green. “Why didn’t you tell me that the car was enchanted?”







“Do you honestly think I would own a muggle car and NOT have it altered to suit the needs of a wizard?” Lucius picked a piece of lint from his cloak and flicked it to the floor.







“Why is it so important that we make a big entrance?” Hermione asked as she stared at the crowd of people outside the theatre house. She was so excited, she had never been to the opera house before and it had long been one of the things on her life list.





“To make a point. The ministry thinks that they have found a way to control me. Marry me off to a muggleborn with stipulations and terms they are convinced will keep me in line. Well, I intend to demonstrate the contrary. I will not be kept under their thumb even with an inconvenient wife. I wish to see them squirming in their seats as they wonder if this is in fact a fitting punishment.” Lucius smiled, he did love to fly in the face of authority.





“Maybe that’s what they wanted to see, us forced to get along.” Hermione said.





“No, they were counting on our argumentative natures making it impossible to leave the house; they hope to keep us out of public and out of trouble. So, we are going to make trouble of another sort.” He smiled evilly.





“You were one of those kids who deliberately did things just because people told you not to weren’t you?” Hermione asked a slightly amused look on her face.







“Of course.” He smiled. The Rolls pulled to a stop in front of the theater and the driver, whose name Hermione didn’t catch and Lucius apparently did not know, or care to know, came around to open the door on Lucius’s side. Lucius stepped out, stopping to smile at the press before he reached his hand back inside for Hermione and guided her out. With a social smile firmly on his face he leaned in close to her ear. “Take my arm; I know you are still trying to adjust to the shoes. And smile Hermione, we don’t want them to think we have been beaten, now do we.”





Lucius was pleased to discover that her pride had been bruised as well as his with the ministry’s meddling. She was just as determined to make a point as he was.





“Why are there so many people from the papers here?” Hermione asked, smiling prettily, if not sincerely for the cameras flashing all around them.





“Its opening night for Pirates of Penzance, there is always a big write up after opening night in the theatre.” Lucius told her, nodding his head in greeting to a pureblood witch whose name escaped him at the moment. She was eyeing Hermione like a vulture, just looking for a weak place to strike. She would be in for quite the surprise. His Hermione was no shrinking violet and would attack right back. His Hermione? Where in the hell had that thought come from?







“Mr. Malfoy, is it true you were married yesterday by order of the Ministry?” A short man with orange hair asked a quill and notepad in his hands.





“It is true. Yesterday morning Hermione Granger and I were wed.” Lucius didn’t feel the need to reiterate the fact that it was by government order. He noted how everyone’s attention turned to the woman beside him who was ignoring them completely as she admired the historical theater and its gargoyle lined walls.





“Ms. Granger!” The little man shouted at her. Hermione looked up at Lucius and smirked.





“That’s Madam Malfoy now; try to remember that should you quote me.” Lucius was impressed with her answer, and the rather Slytherin delivery of it.







“Yes ma’am, how do you feel about being forced to marry a man who is not only a convicted death eater, but with whom you have had a very public feud with over the last few years?” She looked up at the man who still held her arm firmly to keep her steady and smiled.





“Well, unlike many marriages, I can say that ours will never be dull.” Lucius smiled back at her, pleased with her handling of the press.





“No more questions now, my wife is anxious to get into the theater.” Lucius said, guiding her through the large double doors. The lobby was filled with gossiping, wealthy wizarding families, and all of them were focused on Lucius and his muggleborn bride. He politely acknowledged several business associates and important members of society.





“Let me take your cloak.” He said softly. Reaching up to pull the silky ribbon at her throat and then sliding the fur cloak from her shoulders and draping it over his arm.





“You are enjoying this aren’t you Lucius? Did you perchance poke beehives with a stick when you were young, just to stir them up?” She asked as he led her to the coat check and unburdened their cloaks.







“I admit that I enjoy stirring the pot a bit.” He smiled, tucking the claim check into his pocket. “I think they imagined I would not bring you out in public, and are perhaps more than a little stunned to see you looking so lovely.” He offered her his arm again, making certain to have a good grasp on her as he led her through the lobby and up a flight of curving stairs.





“Mione?” Hermione turned at the familiar sound of her nickname to see Harry standing with Minister Shacklebolt and a few undersecretaries. “What happened to you?” He asked his eyes wide in astonishment as he perused her elegantly clad frame.





“Lucius happened to me.” She said, somewhat nervous about how Harry was going to handle the situation. She had not spoken to him since her sentencing.







“You look bloody beautiful, Mione.” He said, leaning forward to kiss her cheek. “I had no idea that this was going to be your sentencing Hermione.” He whispered.







“It’s alright Harry. I knew better than to behave as I did, and I knew we would not get by with it forever.” She glanced up at Lucius briefly, then back to Harry. “It hasn’t been too bad so far, we argue constantly, but he hasn’t harmed me, or been cruel to me, amazingly enough.”







“The terms of the sentence prevent it.” Lucius drawled, staring down his nose at Harry. His tone implied that were things different, his treatment of her may have been different as well.





“I’m warning you Malfoy, any harm befalls Mione, and I will happily take you back to Azkaban myself.” Harry growled, his eyes narrowed as he stared up at the much taller, much larger wizard.





“Don’t get your wand in a knot Potter; I couldn’t harm her if I wanted to.” Lucius drawled. “Come along Hermione, our private box is just ahead.”





Hermione smiled softly and waved goodbye to Harry as Lucius pulled her towards a gilded door with the Malfoy crest emblazoned on the front.





“Are you saying you own a private box in the theater?” She asked in amazement.







“Of course, you don’t think I am going to sit down there with the….common folk do you?” He opened the door and ushered her inside. “I let it out to friends and business associates when I’m not using it.” He may as well have not even spoken for all the attention he was being paid.





Hermione was walking slowly around the velvet settee so she could look out over the theater. Lucius watched her, fascinated by the childlike interest in the theater. He had been here so often he didn’t bother to notice the décor or the architecture anymore. He was there because it was what the wealthy did and he was expected to be seen supporting the arts.



She was leaning over the rail, looking out over the sea of people below and it struck Lucius how easy it would be for her to topple over, especially if she were pushed.



“Fuck!” He swore softly as he was yanked forward and slammed into the back of his wife.





“That wasn’t me.” Hermione said, standing upright with her back pressed tight to his chest. “Damn, Rita Skeeter is staring at us.” Hermione loathed the trashy tabloid reporter.





“She’s of no consequence.” Lucius said, pushing Hermione’s hair aside and out of his face.







“Don’t underestimate that sneaky hussy.” Hermione sneered. “I suppose we now know that we won’t always be pulled face to face. Care to tell me what triggered the spell this time?” She asked.





“I was thinking about how easy it would be to push you over the rail.” He answered. People were staring up at them oddly. Lucius decided to play to the crowd’s curiosity and lifted on hand to rest against her stomach and the other on her bare shoulder.





“What are you doing?” She stiffened when she felt his touch low on her abdomen.





“Making it appear as though I am whispering sweet nothings in your ear and not being forcibly held against your backside.” Lucius said, his lips almost brushing her ear.





“It doesn’t feel like you mind so much.” She said tightly when she felt his arousal pressed into her bottom.





“What can I say; I am a man and enjoy the many delights a plump bottom can offer.” He chuckled.





“Did you just tell me I have a fat ass?” She asked, watching how Rita tilted her head in curiosity.





“No, I said it was plump, there is a difference you know, and if I thought it entirely unattractive I wouldn’t be in this predicament now.”







“How are we supposed to get free if I’m facing the other way?” Hermione teetered on her heels a bit and Lucius steadied her by pulling her firmly back against him. Rita Skeeter ordered her photographer to take their picture. “Great Lucius, that little maneuver makes it look like we’re…..you know.” Lucius only laughed.





“If I were going to shag you in the theater box Hermione it certainly wouldn’t be while the lights were on and bent over the rail. I’d at least wait until it was dark and use the settee….or the floor….or even against the wall.”





“You are such a pig.” Hermione huffed. She wished she couldn’t see them doing just that so vividly in her head.





“Alright, I’m going to back up slowly. To everyone below it will appear as though I’m simply pulling you away for a little snog before show time. Works to our advantage as they don’t realize its not rampant desire that brings us together, but a penance.” Lucius took slow steps back, his face turned in towards Hermione’s neck. She could see how people were watching in amazement as she was pulled back into the shadows by the handsome blonde.





“So how are we to accomplish the separation?” She asked as they were firmly in the shadows. Even the people in the booths across from them would have a hard time making out their activities.





“Oh, I think we can figure out something.” He whispered, stroking his fingertips along the side of her neck.





“What are you doing?” She asked breathlessly, her skin breaking out in goose bumps. He stroked her stomach in a slow circle as he blew lightly in her ear.





“A kiss of mutual affection or desire. While there is no affection between us, I think we can manage desire.” He bit softly into the spot where shoulder and neck meet.





“Oh god.” She whimpered, her knees buckling slightly and it had nothing to do with her shoes.





“Lucius will do just fine.” He chuckled, clasping her chin and turning her head to the side so he could capture her lips with his. He couldn’t deepen the kiss at such an odd angle, but he could tease her lips with his tongue, nibble and suck softly long after the bonds broke between them. He released her only when the soft bell warning them that it was time for the show to begin interrupted his train of thought. “Time for the show.” He whispered.





“Hmm.” Hermione’s eyes opened slowly and she blinked up at him. How could his kisses make her feel so good? He smiled at her reaction, so smug that she was snapped quickly back from her dazed state.





Lucius led her to the settee and sat beside her, his arm draped along the back behind her as the lights went down and the curtain lifted.