Lights of Questionable Faith

Lovely Reviewers:

Linneh - I know poor baby.

catysmom - It's finally updated!

Voracious Reader - The whole poison robes thing has nothing to do with Medea. HOw could Hermione feed Lucius to Aragog? Argog is dead, though I know what you mean. You will find that when magic is powerful enough that she will be swayed to a degree. Don't worry, it's temporary. Lucius is a senstive, gentle man...he is just a little bit obsessed.

winters - Poor sensitive Lucius...Have you read A Muddy Secret? That is the first part of this whole thing...you could see how they feel for each other. Let me know if this chapter better expresses Hermione's feelings. Thank you for the constructive criticism. I always like it when it is that way as opposed to a flame. Mostly because flames, when I've received them, have generally been directed at the couple that I am writing...honestly, I say who the couple is at the start...it's in that section...why are you looking at them if they bother you?

Avanell - Lucius is too possessive of her at the moment to consider letting her go.

Hilda Malfoy - He is not a sod. He's a sensitive, easy crier. Joking! Well, Hermione will get a good dose of Lucius' powers of sexual persuasion here.
Your plot bunny waited to hear from me, now I must wait and moan and beg for an update. I'm crazy about your DRAMIONE! LOVE IT LOVE IT LOVE IT!

HermioneMalfoyFan - It would be embarassing...why do you think Hermione is so upset...well Lucius is going to show her how potent bindings can be...

There is no way that he would miss his friend's wedding...especially when she has no choice but to marry the old bas...sexy man! I just can't insult Lucius. He's far too sexy!

Lucius suffers from deep obsession with Hermione and deep distrust of her...it's not a good thing.

Something like that is the reason that it's okay for Draco...

I loved Latin. It helps me with English vocabulary. I had a wonderful teacher. German is helpful in and of itself...ENGLISH IS GERMANIC! *happy dance* My great grandmother was German! She was a nice lady! She made me a blankie!

Morgana - Draco, being that he is a member of the bridegroom's family, is allowed though it still would be bad if his daddy saw it.

meankitty69 - Yes, and here we are, my friends who live in my head and me, to present Chapter VII. Hope it is good as well

Heidi191976 - You say that always, and you always wait.

maddie50 - Oh yes, it would really make a person want to jump over a cliff.

Lauriurix - I think that Draco and his father must just be incredibly close...all the "my father" comments that spew from his mouth.

Pam - Just keep reviewing, and I'll keep updating!

Citten - you are reviewing now; that is what really counts. Lucius is darker and a bit madder in this version. I will be at the Doctor soon to get checked out...*frowns*

sinbad - You couldn't review the first one...*cries*...I'm over it! You are reviewing now. Hope to hear more from you. I will try to do decent lemons. They are definitely going to be in this part! Not necessarily this chapter, though. I do love the marriage law challenge. It is another one that I never get tired of! LIKE Draco being a male veela!

mibella - HOPE you are still there and haven't perished...you said you couldn't wait...I hope the situation wasn't too dire. This is the longest I've ever gone without updating. It's a little scary..

shadowama - Well, be disappointed in how I left my story, and I shall be disappointed in your not reviewing it...which is not as much jesting as one might think. I love reviews. Keep at them, and I keep at the updates!

vamp_grl23 - Well excuse me, someone is a touch on the bossy side. Only Time is exceptionally cute, and getting a little bit cuter with each and every idea that pops into my head.

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Apologies for taking so long, this was a difficult chapter to write. I wasn't sure how much I wanted to do. I wasn't sure what would be best...I hope y'all like it. As I've said in the past, if I take more than a week between updates. Spam the hell out of me!

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“Lucius, it’s time,” Severus said, pulling the black hood of his cloak up to enshroud his face.

Lucius fiddled with his hair for another moment frowning at his reflection.

“You look resplendent, Father,” Draco said, taking his father’s hands to end his ceaseless and needless preening. “Take the ring.”

Lucius smiled then as he responded, “I do, don’t I?”

“Every inch the wealthy Malfoy,” Severus said, observing the almost ostentatiously dressed man.

“My Hermione deserves the best,” Lucius said, rising to his feet. “My future bride awaits me, gentlemen. I look forward to being wedded again.”

“Yes, Father,” Draco said, draping the cloak made of ebony nundu fur over the white robes his father wore.

“By this time next year, Draco, you will have a sibling on the way if not born,” Lucius said, patting his son’s arm as Draco pulled his black hood up.

“I look forward to it, Father,” Draco said, following his father from the tent and being followed by Severus and two women who also had cloaks hiding their faces.

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Hermione stared at herself in the mirror. She shook her head.

Lucius certainly had spared no expense. White tiger fur cloak, a silver tiara embedded with opals and pearls made by goblins, buttons made of flawless one karat diamonds, a dress made of satin and silk with silver flower designs inlaid, a shimmering gauzy veil that was three layered.

“You look beautiful, Hermione,” Ron said, leering at her up and down.

Hermione stared at his reflection. It moved toward her before his arm was caught by Andromeda.

Yes, Lucius just had to show off all the money that he had. He couldn’t let the dress be simple as she had wanted. Molly and Ginny and Andromeda had also insisted that, with his bank account paying for it, she spend all the galleons her heart desired on the dress. Honestly, if she had had her way about how she wanted to dress, she would have shown up for this sham in muggle attire and Mardi gras beaded necklaces just to piss him off. Molly and Andromeda merely told her that arranged marriages weren’t unusual in the wizarding world.

“I want to hug my friend before she is forced to marry Mr. Mental!” Ron barked, struggling.

“Mr. Malfoy is a possessive man,” Andromeda said. “He won’t accept your touching her without permission. I bet he would barely tolerate his own son touching her.”

“I am my own woman,” Hermione said, turning to glare at Andromeda and Ginny. “I don’t need the chauvinistic, pompous, contemptible man to tell me whom I may and may not display affection for or receive it from.”

“After today, Hermione,” Ginny began quietly, “you do. I have no doubt that he will insist that he be in charge of you. That is how marriages in our world work. My parents are an exception. My mother has an extremely forceful personality, and my father kowtows to her demands. Mr. Malfoy will not be so generous with you. He controls whether you can have a job outside his home. He controls whether you have children. He controls how many. He controls your very life under this law.”

Hermione flung the cloak off and slipped to the bench, and she began to cry and hit her fist on the table.

“Why did this happen?”

“Malfoy is psychotic,” Ron said, reaching out to try to put a hand around Hermione.

Andromeda caught him and flung him back putting her body between his and Hermione’s.

“I’m sorry that you have to go through this, Hermione,” Harry said, walking over to stand close to her.

“Most things in life aren’t fair, but we learn to live with it,” Hermione said, or make hell for those that are putting us through it.

“You want to learn to live with Malfoy?” Harry asked, and his jaw dropped.

“No, but I knew him a long time ago.”

“It’s only been a couple of months.”

“For him, it's been more than two and a half decades.”

“Did you love him?”

Hermione didn’t answer. She stood up and picked up the cloak and hauled the heavy material up over her shoulders.

“Hermione, it’s time,” Andromeda said, taking her hand after flipping the veil into place.

Ginny moved to her other side handing her a bouquet of golden rayed lilies and lavender.

They walked out of the tent arm in arm. Harry and Ron followed several feet behind.

Lucius was already standing just outside the bonding circle on the opposite bank of the stream. His eyes darkened with pleasure when he saw her walking arm in arm with the ladies.

The released Hermione as they arrived at the edge of the binding circle which was lined with milky quartz wands stuck in the earth at even intervals.

Lucius was standing just outside the circle on his side which was likewise lined with quartz wands stuck in the earth at even intervals, only the quartz on his side was smoky.

Hermione crinkled her nose at him under the layers of gauze and glared. He couldn’t see her, so what did it matter? Forceful jerk. Couldn’t even make an effort to court her! At least as a boy, while he was still arrogant and boastful, he had treated her like a being with feelings and thoughts. He treated her with love instead of as a possession.

And he thought he was a gentleman? What happened to him? He used to be so sweet and fun. So doting while still making his thoughts and feelings known while accepting that she likewise had feelings worth being respected.

She looked behind him at who was there to support him. Two women and two men. The men had their faces hidden under hoods and stood on either side of the circle in much the same way Ginny and Andromeda flanked her.

Hermione gasped when the men lowered their hoods. Severus Snape stood to Lucius’ left and Draco to his right. She couldn’t help the smile when she saw him. If he wasn’t on the other side of a six-foot across stream, she would have thrown her arms around him. She couldn’t help seeing the little twelve-year-old, self-conscious boy that had sat next to her so many mornings in the great hall. She heard a choked sound behind her and knew that it was Harry. She held back a laugh at the, now perfected, sneer on Severus’ visage and saw his hand twitch at his side, but neither spoke.

Andromeda and Severus both stepped forward.

“Why are you here?” Severus asked, looking down at Andromeda.

“I am here to present Miss Hermione Jean Granger to be wed as stiplated by the contract instituted by Mr. Lucius Abraxas Malfoy. Why are you here?”

“I am here to support Mr. Lucius Abraxas Malfoy in the contract instituted by him for the hand of Miss Hermione Jean Granger.”

Draco and Ginny stepped forward.

“Why are you here?” Draco asked.

“To support my friend because of him,” Ginny said, tilting her head toward Lucius and not looking at him. “Why are you here?”

“To support my beloved father as he marries Miss Hermione Jean Granger.”

Lucius reached out and placed a hand on his son’s shoulder. Draco looked into his father’s eyes and nodded softly.

Severus and Andromeda both stepped forward.

“Step into the circle, Lucius,” Severus said, holding a hand out gesturing to the half ring of smoky quartz, “if you are here to bind your heart to Miss Hermione Jean Granger for all your life and beyond.”

Lucius stepped forward into the circle that was on his side.

“Step into the circle, Hermione,” Andromeda said, holding a hand out gesturing to the half ring of milky quartz, “if you are here to obey the ministry decree by binding your heart to Mr. Lucius Abraxas Malfoy.”

Lucius turned and gave Draco a pouty look that told him to speak up for his father.

“For all her life and beyond,” Draco said, holding a hand up to tell Hermione not to enter the circle. “And she is not just obeying the ministry decree; she loves my father.”

“For all your life and beyond,” Andromeda said, glaring at the blonde in the circle.

Hermione almost took a step back at the angry flush of Lucius’ cheeks, the way he lifted his chin making himself look just a little bit taller, and the way his hands were clenching the snake head cane. She was glad that the veil hid her expression from his eyes.

Hermione shot a look at Andromeda. Her attempt to pull a fast one had been negated by Lucius.

Andromeda frowned and pulled her lips together as she motioned to the circle.

Hermione tried to catch Lucius’ eyes, but he couldn’t see her face behind the veil. She stepped forward into the circle of milky quartz wands.

“Lucius, hold your wand out,” Severus said, motioning to the gently flowing stream.

Lucius unsheathed a new wand made of ebony with dragon heartstring core. He held it out over the water. Coal colored smoke oozed out the tip of the wand.

“Hermione hold out your wand,” Andromeda said.

Hermione held the flowers tightly in her hot hand as she removed her own wand. She looked back at Harry and Ron and heard an angry foot stomp from the other side of the stream.

She turned to look at Lucius who stared back at her with wide pleading eyes and sternly pinched lips. He motioned with his free hand and turned his head. The tiny strands of loose hair fell across his face.

Hermione stepped up to the edge of the stream and held her wand out so the tips touched. A feint white smoke somewhat reminiscent Remus Lupin’s patronus charm on the Hogwarts Express her third year leaked out the tip to mingle with the smoke coming from Lucius’ wand.

Suddenly the quartz crystals around the began to twist and grow and intertwine pushing Lucius and Hermione forward as a bridge was formed that spanned the stream till they were chest to chest in the center of the stream on a bridge made of the intertwined crystals.

“Lucius, you may present Hermione with the ring that you designed for her and her alone,” Severus said, “Place it upon her finger.”

Lucius took Hermione’s left hand and drew it up to his lips to kiss the top of her ring finger as he stared into her eyes. He slid a platinum band on the finger with a two karat, marquise cut diamond in the center with simple emeralds on either side of the diamond, and two black opals on either side of each of the emeralds.

“Hermione, you may present Lucius with the ring that you designed for him and him alone,” Andromeda said, “Place it upon his finger.”

Hermione almost didn’t hear the words that were spoken to her. She stared at the ring on her finger in shock. What did this mean?

Lucius frowned a little and slid his left hand into hers.

Hermione shook her head and held his hand softly after removing the glove. She blushed as she looked up into his silver eyes.

Lucius moved his right hand out and slid it onto her neck.

Hermione flushed darker as she slid the band onto his finger.

Lucius cocked his head, and his eyes widened as he saw the design of the ring. The stones and metal matched the order of his choice for hers perfectly. The only difference was that the diamond in the center was emerald cut.

“Lucius, what do you vow to Miss Hermione Jean Granger?” Andromeda asked, staring into him with hard eyes.

“Hermione, I vow to you to be your eternal partner, to give you my whole heart, to be your faithful husband, to give you all that you deserve that is within my power, wealth, and desire to give you, to give you my time, to be a good father to our children. May we be blessed with many.”

“Hermione, what do you vow to Mr. Lucius Abraxas Malfoy?”

“I vow to be your faithful wife, to do what I can to ease whatever pain I’ve caused you, to be a good mother to our children,” Hermione said, staring into his silver eyes that looked down at her so hopefully.

Mr. Malfoy squeezed her hand tightly as his eyes hardened letting her know his expectations.

“To give you the affection that I can,” Hermione winced a bit as Lucius’ grip tightened. “To be your eternal partner come what may.”

Lucius’ grip loosened as the smoky magic swirled about them, the coal grey seeping into Hermione and the white smoke seeping into Lucius’ body.

“You may kiss your bonded.”

“You may accept a kiss from your bonded.”

Lucius flipped the veil over her head and drew her closer.

Lucius leaned down close to her lips, “Do you remember our first?”

Hermione nodded, and the magic made her eyes cross a little as she looked at Lucius’ lips imagining them on hers.

Lucius pressed his lips to hers gently before tilting her head up and pulling her close to tease her lips with his tongue.

Hermione whimpered a little and moved her hands gently to his chest to clutch the material covering it.

As soon as her mouth was open, Lucius slipped his tongue in. He allowed his hands to slowly drift down to find her bottom. He cupped both sides and pulled her forward against his groin while nipping at her lips. He lifted her gently and slid his hands down to caress her thighs through the thick dress.

Hermione moved her hands up to cup his face not wholly aware of what she was doing as she mewled in his arms and tried to get closer to him. She slid her hands around his neck to cling to him. As soon as she found the ribbon tying his hair back, she tugged it out dropping it on the bridge their bonding created and slid her fingers into the luxurious tresses to pull at it to try to get him closer.

The sound of a clearing throat behind Hermione finally shook her from the magic induced stupor.

She broke free from the kiss to look into tempestuous grey eyes. It was only then that she realized her legs were wrapped around his waist and something quite stiff and delicious feeling was pressing close to her body.

“Let’s leave, and have each other now,” Lucius whispered, pressing his lips to her ear. “Please, I promise to make you feel good.”

Lucius thrust his hips against her.

Hermione shook her head but whimpered at the closeness wishing their clothes were gone.

“The magic will force us if we do not come together in two hours. If the magic makes us, you won’t remember anything of your first time,” Lucius said, slowly lowering her.

Hermione shook her head, but she wouldn’t remove her arms from his neck. She whimpered and tried to get closer to him.

“We need to at least go to the manor,” Lucius said, looking down at her as she nestled her face in his robes. “Have the bridge moved to my gardens outside the ballroom for the reception.”

Severus nodded at Lucius before he disapparated with Hermione who was clutching him as if a permanent sticking charm had been applied.

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I hope that that was worth the wait. Bear in mind that the binding magic is heady stuff. Hermione is going to get past this initial lust.

Please drop a review, and I will try not to keep y'all waitin' so long for the next one. I'm certain that I have a friend visitin' this weekend, so don't expect me to update until maybe Sunday evening. I might be able to swing one for tomorrow. It's not like my friend will be here until late at night.

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