CAGED

You may never know just how much I need and crave those wonderful reviews from you :) It's not over yet loves... and I"m currently cooking up another story... one that's not so sad, but I tend to gravitate to the melancholy anyways... so look for "PANDORA" sometime soon... oh and I couldn't help but slip a particular poem into this story... I can't help it, it's my idea of a perfect love. Enough sappy babbling... "curtain rises" - Love Esme
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She was going over the lists in her head, the leads and plans she had been forming to set her love free. He was right the very first time he kidnapped her she thought as she scrunched the mousse into her curls, calming all the frizz and forming full bodied ringlets, she could very well be the key to his freedom. The case was still opened and she had interrogated Harry and Ron on a daily basis about what they heard through the Auror information loops. She was the only witness, and once the healers deemed it safe to pull her out of the induced coma, Lucius had already been sentenced and convicted.

The Ministry was on a smear campaign against Lucius, the same people he worked with had turned their backs on him. The
Minister of Magic had decided to use Lucius as an example of how far you can fall when you turn your back on the Ministry.
Rumors had let out that Lucius had killed Voldemort and Hermione was certain that the Ministry knew the truth but decided to save face by saying he was still on the loose since they could not produce the body.

The New Minister of Magic was a glutton for power and had decided that fear was the best motivator to keep
the wizarding world under his thumb. He would be the one to find Voldemort's body, and that's where a great deal of
controversy sprang from. Where was his body if he was killed in such a common way? and by one of his own death eaters no less.

In court, during Lucius's brief trial he had decided to represent himself and the judge took no pity on him, being a puppet for the ministry the judge hooked Master Malfoy and served him up to the Minister of Magic on a silver platter. Needless to say said judge's career had improved ten fold since then.


Most of the Death Eaters were being slowly tracked down and taken in, in a matter of months Draco had been taken in, while Narcissa met her fates end at the hands of Fenrir Grayback... Lucius tried to talk with Draco as much as possible when he wasn't slammed back into solitary. Draco was a shell after seeing what Fenrir did to his mother, he brutally raped and killed her. He had threatened to kill Draco but let him live as a messenger. He told Draco to tell his father that his wife was a poor substitute for the mudblood, and that she would be his next endeavor. Draco passed on the story to Lucius with a blank expression and the lights in his eyes had dulled completley.

It seemed that there were still darker times ahead and it was a literal witch hunt to persecute anyone who dealt or was in suspicion of dealing with the dark arts, would find themselves a cell in Azkaban. Hermione knew the dangers of the dark arts but also had learnt from Dumbledore himself that the delicate balance there stood between the light and dark. The two existed for each other, the duality of man : the light was defined by the darkness as the darkness was defined by the light.


She had managed to get a couple stories published in the Daily prophet that publicly announced that Lucius had killed Voldemort, her credibility was a touch tarnished after her stay in the psychiatric wing of St. Mungo's however. She needed to beat them at their own game and she was surprised to find her secret weapon walking right into her hospital room and spilling all the dirt. Hermione knew Hydra through the group therapy sessions and came to befriend her, and one night Hyrda sought out Hermione and confided her dark secret. She had been seduced by the Warden of Azkaban when she was working there as an entry level receptionist to him. He had a torrid affair with her and she had falled in love with the man. When she became pregnant with his child she was thrilled, but her excitement turned to grief as the Warden made her abort the baby. She had done it to keep her job and her lover, but the guilt consumed her and she tried to commit suicide, which landed her in St. Mungo's.
 

Hermione dug deeper in the Wardens sordid history and found a number of dirty deeds that could ruin his image with the ministry forever.He had executed an innocent man against the Ministries orders, before they could act he ordered the prisoner to receive the dementors kiss.

Hermione set to work quickly and sent an owl to Warden Phillips.She had a little voice in her head saying how wrong this was to blackmail someone into doing her bidding,but she realized what a corrupt system it was.  This was going to be tough, after all, getting somone out of Azkaban was nearly impossible.. but Sirius had proved it COULD be done.. so it was possible.

"where there is a will there is a way" she sighed. After she sent her owl, complete with incriminating copies of photos that Hydra copied for her, as well as the documents from the execution of the innocent man the Warden had ordered the Dementors kiss for. She got ready for the day, and today she was going to visit the warden.

She had been staying at the Burrow for the past couple days since she was released from the hospital. She had enjoyed the company and support of her adopted family and was relieved to be able to stay there because she still had to stay close to St. Mungo's for the therapy she was forced to undergo.

She had just buttoned up her shirt when she heard a knock at her door. "come in" she saw the tall red head enter her room. Her long time best friend, He had grown up so much...they were both still in their early 20's but time had changed their innocent faces greatly. Ron pulled her into a bone crushing hug "Hermione.. how ya feeling today?" he said awkwardly. How many times had he stared at her like that, with that lost puppy dog look, but now it was filled with pity.

He was worried sick about her and had pretty much put his life on hold for her during her hospital stay.
She knew what he was going to ask and she would give anything for him not to. He sat on her bed and and stared her down. All his boyish nervousness dissapated. He had grown into a handsome young man, with a good job as an auror, Hermione was glad he followed his dreams. "well how do I look, professional enough?" Ron gazed at her longingly "you look beautiful, as always" she gave him a soft smile. She had dressed in a modest pin stripe suit. She was the lioness again, curls bouncing and the fire back in her eyes. She was on a mission and nobody would get in her way today.

Hermione I know you told us before how Malfoy's changed, but don't you think its time you gave up on him? I mean
he's been sentenced for life... you can't wait forever. If he really loved you he would let you go and let you live your life"

Hermione steeled herself, but softed at the hug he pulled her into. She often wondered how different her life would be if she had never been kidnapped, if she was still in the Order, she would be a journalism student and she would probably already be married to Ron.

She had loved him a great deal, she thought she could even grow to be in love with him with time,she would have married him by now and would have had a job at the Daily prophet probably.. on her way to being junior editor even. Life would have been so much easier... yet she knew she would always be missing that something if she had not known Lucius.

"Hermione, I've waited for you for a long time..I'm still in love with you , why won't you see that?"

Hermione didn't want to break his heart but he had to know she was already spoken for..."Ron as hard as this may be for you, I love you too.. but like a brother. Your still my best friend but I am in love with Lucius. We are meant to be together
and I dont care how long I have to wait for him.. I'll wait for him forever if I have to"

Rom's face got as red as his hair. "someday you'll wish you hadn't  turned me away Hermione.. just think about what I said before, I can take care of you and we could start a family, I know thats what we both want someday, and soon... Malfoy not a young man anymore... you think he would want kids at his age?"

"Ron, please I dont' want to lose your friendship but my place is with Lucius.. and even if everyone thinks he is still a traitor.. I know the truth, if you want to help me - then help, but if not.. get out of my way"

She tugged herself from Ron's grip and made her way to fire place to floo the Azkaban visiting quarters.
She had waited in the cold stone waiting room, that was essentially a holding chamber before a guard came and escorted her to the Warden's office. She was being led through the large glass corridors, charmed to be unbreakable and allowed for  every movement to be monitored by the guards.

She had dropped her briefcase in the hallway, still not use to walking in the not so sensible shoes she chose. On the seemingly impossible occurance that she would acctually lay eyes on Lucius, she wanted to look her best, even if she felt like the heels weren't "her" Ginny made her wear them anyways, telling her they made her hips sway sexily.

She gathered up the papers in her briefcase with the help of the guard and when she stood up she looked up into the eyes of Lucius Malfoy. The silver shimmering in his eyes with recognition of her eyes on his.

Time stood still... as if it never existed to the pair. Two years melted away as she gazed into his beautiful face. She could remember all the lines on his face and the way his eyelashes were so dark and long. She couldn't believe how she could have forgotten how she felt when she stood in his line of vision, he had changed slightly as his face was a little more guant but his shoulders and torso seemed more muscular than ever. They both pressed themselves into the glass, as close as possible to each other through that tiny invisible barier.

She completely ignored that he was wearing the customary orange jump suit that was his prison uniform, he was breathtakingly gorgeous to her. He heart sang and ached to reach out to touch him, but he was on the other side of the glass.. she couldnt even hear his voice, she put her hands up on the glass, a mere couple of centimeters of glass between them, his blonde hair was tied back and he had a haunted look on his face that had melted away at the sight of her curls bouncing down the hall. The guard nudged him roughly in the back to keep moving, he had shackles on his wrists and ankles.

She followed him the length of the hallway that connected the glass between them. He stared at her in disbelief as she kept pace with him. He mouthed something to her that she coudn't quite make out, but it looked like he was screaming it.. behind the glass you could hear the bellowing voice of Lucius Malofy screaming "I love you!!". He knew it was fruitless and that she could not hear him... but his heart was so full he had to scream it at the top of his lungs anyway.

She finally recognized what he was mouthing to her "I love you too! she screamed into the glass. She knew she looked crazy but didnt care, the guard that was escorting her gave her an embarassed glance as he tried to hush the witch up.
"Miss.. please don't do that.. please come with me"

She ignored him completely as she saw his blonde head fade away down the other hallways away from her. but she had seen him, he was intact and he.. loved her. that was all she needed to get her nerve up to tango with the warden to set him free.
She had come to the realization that their hearts had not changed, but their love had increased it's intensity. She use to think poetry was frivolous and foolish but one poem seemed to speak the volumes she kept hidden in her heart at that moment. She had read a book of poetry of her mother's and had discovered that the muggle poet John Donne appealed to her mind and heart... He told their story, in vivid detail of everything she knew to be true... she could recite the poem by heart

" AS virtuous men pass mildly away, 
    And whisper to their souls to go, 
Whilst some of their sad friends do say,
    "Now his breath goes," and some say, "No."                     

So let us melt, and make no noise,                                      
    No tear-floods, nor sigh-tempests move ;
'Twere profanation of our joys 
    To tell the laity our love. 

Moving of th' earth brings harms and fears ;
    Men reckon what it did, and meant ;                             
But trepidation of the spheres, 
    Though greater far, is innocent. 

Dull sublunary lovers' love 
    —Whose soul is sense—cannot admit 
Of absence, 'cause it doth remove                                    
    The thing which elemented it. 

But we by a love so much refined,
    That ourselves know not what it is, 
Inter-assurèd of the mind, 
    Care less, eyes, lips and hands to miss.                          

Our two souls therefore, which are one, 
    Though I must go, endure not yet 
A breach, but an expansion, 
    Like gold to aery thinness beat. 

If they be two, they are two so                                         
    As stiff twin compasses are two ; 
Thy soul, the fix'd foot, makes no show 
    To move, but doth, if th' other do. 

And though it in the centre sit, 
    Yet, when the other far doth roam,                               
It leans, and hearkens after it, 
    And grows erect, as that comes home. 

Such wilt thou be to me, who must,
    Like th' other foot, obliquely run ;
Thy firmness makes my circle just,                                   
    And makes me end where I begun. 
 
Valediction forbidding Mourning... she knew no matter what Lucius would always be with her, he completed her... the other leg of her compass.

Lucius couldnt keep the smile from his face. She was gorgeous, more beautiful than he remembered even. Her hair bounced in ringlets as she bounded down the hall towards him.  He had spotted her first. The guard had gave him a stiff shove in the ribs with his wand but Lucius didnt care, he would probably get anohter month in solitary tacked on to his sentence but it was worth it to scream his hearts desire,for her. He couldnt control himself, it had been a good two years without seeing the light in her eyes.

He knew the Warden would not let her visit. Lucius was his favorite caged animal, his most famous inmate that gave him noteriety beyond belief and he had wanted to see him break since they put him behind bars. Lucius didn't give a fuck what the Warden did... he felt that hot little flame of hope burn inside him at the thought that she hadn't forgotten him, and she indeed.. love him too.He didn't care that she was gone from him without word, she had told him she loved him, he read it off her cherry red lips.

The guard shoved the wand further into his muscled back "she's got a sweet set of tits on her.. you think your gonna get some kind of conjugal visit here Malfoy?" the guard gave a disgusting sort of laugh, with a perverted gleem in his eye.

Lucius let out a low growl "You wouldn't know the first thing on how to pleasure a woman like her you disgusting animal".  The guard shortened his shackles and punched him hard in between his sholder blades. Lucius slumped against the glass walls. "you'll be spending a bit more time in here MASTER Malfoy" the guard said sarcastically as he threw him into the dark depths of his cell.

He didnt care.. it was worth it too see her face again.. see her bouncing down the hall, that look of determination in her eyes. He would stew in his cell but he took his punishment like a man. He knew there was something in this world they could not touch, it lived within his skin, veins and his heart, her name was Hermione and her love was keeping him alive. let alone sane.
While most of the others were barking mad within year, he had remained his cool and aloof self... because her blood ran through his veins.

He wasn't aware of it but she funneled her hopes and dreams into him, as he did her, it was part of the bond of blood, part of the protection he gave her. He hadnt been broken after all they had done to him.

When she watched his glorious blonde hair fade away, she thought of the daugher she didnt have and the man that should be her husbad...who was locked away from her. As she knocked on the wardens door she steeled her jaws, this was for Cassie.

"Come in" she heard the Warden croak grumpily. She entered the office with fire in her eyes. "Mr. Phillips, how are you this afternoon? I believe you received my owl" she gave him a curt nod before taking a seat.

"I did indeed Miss Granger, and I have to tell you.. your putting yourself in a rather dangerous situation" he said as he eyed her cautiously. "I would like to remind you Warden that I have lived in nothing but dangerous situations since I stepped foot at Hogwarts as a child, so spare me"

"what exactly is it that you want now? your driving a hard bargain.. but I might be inclined to hear you out.. if that is to say, you keep hushed about certain past interests of mine" his eyes measuring her up as an opponent.

"I obviously want his freedom, you don't have to release him free of charge.. blame it on a faulty guard..or one the dementors... just as long as he is out of these walls" She opened her brief case and held the folder in her hand, it was a backup plan in case his guilt didnt work to her liking.

She slipped a few photo's out of the folder and chucked them on his desk "I know her personally you know" she said as she glared at him. She was refering to Hyrda... her friend who he helped put in St. Mungo's.

"and who would that be?" "You know damn well WHO, Hydra Lyra Roth!"  She had sent him pictures of Hydra in his arms they were copies of pictures Hydra had given her after she told her story about the Warden taking advantage of her. Hermione pulled out all the stops and even sent him a picture of a sonogram Hyrda had. "I have quite a stockpile of the little snapshots I sent you"

They sparred like that for a little over an hour before Hermione decided to go for the jugular.
She flung the pictures and the folder on the Wardens desk of all the documents on the innocent man he ordered the dementors kiss on "you have swept people's misery under the rug and trampled over too many lives .. if you don't set Lucius free than I will spread your secrets like wildfire to the Ministry... I would take a good long look at those photo's warden, and the documents in that file..before you give me my final answer".

She knew he had to comply but she wasn't satisfied till she got her answers in writing. Before she left the room she tunred back and over her shoulder she added "oh and Draco Malfoy walks free too" She slammed the door and marched through the glass hallways of Azkaban, guard in toe.. she looked hopefully through all the glass corridors but he naturally was nowhere to be found.


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She made it back to the burrow just in time for a dinner cooked with Molly love.  Molly was like a second mom to her and though it pained her to see Hermione in the hospital for so long she knew it was better than her pining away for Lucius in Azkaban. The older witch sheltered many strays and Harry was the first and now,recently Hermione.

She mused at how Harry and Ginny were staring at each other over their plates. They were putting of getting married till
they found a place of their own  and they both were a little older. They had been engaged for a little over a year.

Hermione frequently told Ginny to just elope with Harry.. they were meant for each other and life was too short to wait for your love. She knew from personal experience. Ginny only smiled sadly at her, Hermiones turn of events had turned her more rash and braver than she had ever been before.

Harry started to come around and had apologized profusely when he had let it slip that he thought Lucius had contaminated her. He explained that he was just venting because he wanted to blame Lucius for putting her into the state she was in.

Hermione had a loong list of regrets but none as big as not making love to Lucius when she had the chance... she felt like such a cliche.. and a little trashy explaining to people that her "boyfriend" was in prison.. but she knew they didnt think of it like that.. most of them just stared at her in amazement that she had put Lucius and boyfriend in the same sentence.

Molly mothered her and as much as possible and was the key influence on the rest of the brood to start believing Hermiones story. Molly could tell that Hermione really was in love... how many times had she seen Charlie look at Fleur, or how Arthur still looked at her to this day. She knew when a witch had it bad... and she could easily see Hermione had it real bad.

At first they all had believed she had been bewitched by him, brain washed into thinking she had feelings for him
and that he had saved her. It was embarassing to explain to the entire dinner table that she was indeed still a virgin and not some sex slave for Lucius.

She remembered the night well.. Harry had been grilling her again when she was eating dinner with everyone in the hospital's cafeteria, they may not have believed her but they damn sure supported her she mused.

It was thanksgiving and the Weasley clan including Harry had attended. Molly said that if Hermione couldn't come to the burrow than the burrow would come to Hermione.

Harry had been grilling her about how exactly Lucius killed Voldemort, he himself had believed it was his own destiny to kill the Dark Lord, and she read a little bit of jealousy in his emerald eyes at being outdone by Lucius.
It was the usual kind of questioning, with questions like "He was with you in your room? where did you sleep?
did he make you sleep with him?"

Hermione's face went red with embarrassment and anger at his obtrusiveness, but Harry had clamped his hand over his mouth after he realized what he had asked.. not meaning to intend on anything that far.

"Hermione I'm sorry.."
Hermione had taken it in stride and put his fears to rest "whether you want to believe it or not. he did not make me into his sex slave as you would jump to conclude and I am still very much a virgin!" there she said it, she was 22 years old and was still a virgin, and she was not ashamed of it.

Though if she had more time she was sure Lucius would have remedied that... there love had overflowed its bounds only hours before they were atacked. She had told Ginny how gentle he had been when he took care of her, how she owed him everything, for her ability to walk again, her happiness and her life.

Molly patted her arm and quickly changed the subject "Harry dear I know your upset and we all still have a great deal of questions unanswered but I think it would be best if we stopped with this line of of questioning tonight"
She filled Hermione's plate with the canned cranberry jelly and stuffing and turkey. "Your looking a great deal better dear, not so peeked anymore" That Thanksgiving she had started to send the letters to the Warden to grant her visitation.

Hermione was slowly forgiving her friend's insensitive comments and they had started to see the truth about Lucius eventually. She stared at the ceiling in her bedroom at the Burrow... thinking about everything that happened today. She was sure the Warden was going to start seeing things her way... and she had seen him... it was brief and she could not touch or hear him... but she counted her blessings and could almost feel his arms around her. She turned her gaze outside her window, the moon was full and bright and she wondered if Lucius could see it from where he was, oddly comforted that they rested under the same glow of the full moon.

Hermione drifted off to sleep just as a pair of glowing yellow eyes emerged from the bushes that flanked the burrow. Fenrir Grayback was gazing up at the full moon... mouth watering with the realization that he had finally picked up her sweet scent.