Adventurous Hearts: The Temple

CHAPTER 9: A Forest







Lucius, unable to fight his chivalrous nature, insisted on going through the door first, frowning over his shoulder when Hermione slammed into his back as she followed him through. Instantly the door behind them was gone. They were in complete darkness for several moments, Hermione clinging to the back of Lucius’s shirt. The darkness began to lift slowly and they became aware of the heavy, humid air around them and the cloying scent of decaying foliage.







Gradually the sounds of nature began to ring in their ears as the environment became clear and they realized they were in the forest. The trees were thick, the canopy above them impenetrable, though the ceiling above them gave the illusion of being outdoors they were well aware that it was just another spell.









“Well…this is interesting.” Lucius said, using his cane to hack through the dense foliage and clear a path for them.









“I wonder what she expects us to do in a forest.” Hermione said.









“Nothing that involves caning or animals I hope.” Lucius muttered, swatting at the insects buzzing over his head.









“Oh gods, if that’s the case we will be stuck here forever.” She said, staying close behind him. “Well, the bestiality thing at any rate, I can handle the caning if you are gentle.” She said, staring at a tall chute of bamboo growing out of the ground.







Lucius stopped suddenly and she plowed into his back. He turned and looked down at her with the strangest look on his face.

“Do you enjoy being beaten?” He asked.









“Beaten? No…but I can tolerate being spanked as long as it isn’t too rough.” She said. Lucius wasn’t quite sure what to say, didn’t think he could find words anyhow as he began to envision the witch bent over, her pert bottom bare and blushing prettily beneath the gentle swats of his hand.







He cleared his throat and shook his head, turning abruptly and continuing on through the brush until they came to a clearing. A sandy shoreline greeted them, the illusion of the sun shining off of the water. There was a blanket and a picnic hamper beside a circle of stones for making a fire when night fell.







“It seems we are to spend some time on the beach.” Lucius said running his hands over the back of his neck and wiping away the sweat. “It is hot as hell here.”







“It’s all that hair. Come over here and sit down, let me braid it for you.” She said, walking over to the blanket and kneeling. She patted the checked fabric in front of her and Lucius sat down, presenting her with his back.









“Don’t pull too hard.” He said, nervous about allowing her to plait his hair.









“Don’t worry, Lucius, I braid this mess of mine every day.” She said, reaching into one of the pouches on her belt for a comb and an elastic band.









“If it is such a hassle, why do you wear it so long? It is rare to see women these days wearing their hair to their hips.” He said, fighting chills as she ran the comb gently through his silky locks.









“I don’t know, it makes me feel feminine I suppose. My field is dominated by men, when I am not at work I almost always wear a dress and go out of my way to look like a woman.” She said, gently untangling the platinum locks before separating and weaving them together in a single plait.









“You certainly look like a woman, Hermione, though your lack of propriety can ruin the effect.” He said, wincing when she tugged on his braid.









“Don’t be a jerk, Lucius.” She said. “I can behave very much like the proper lady when I am with people I respect and whose opinions I care about.”









“Apparently you neither respect me nor do you care for my opinion.” He said, reaching up to undo the buttons on his shirt. The heat was sweltering.









“I would be lying to you if I said I did, and you would know it.” She said. “But I do not dislike you, and that surprises me.”









“Why? I am quite likable. I had a great number of friends and was always very social.” He said haughtily. “I think you might find that I am a highly intelligent and well read wizard if you give me the chance.”









“You intelligence was never in question, Lucius. I always knew you were exceedingly intelligent, your son as well. It has always been your character that was found to be faulty. You followed a madman willingly at the cost of thousands and you put your family at risk. You tried to kill me, to exterminate all those like me simply because I was different, because my blood was not pure.” She said, scooting up so that she was sitting beside him.







“You won’t understand, but I believed I was doing the right thing at the time. I had begun to see the changes being wrought in our world, our culture becoming corrupted as more and more muggleborns entered and began moving up in the ranks. It seemed as though the muggle world was encroaching at a rapid pace and I feared that soon there would be nothing left of the world, the culture that meant so much to me.” He explained softly. “When the Dark Lord came into my life and began preaching of blood superiority, stopping the ruination of the magical world…well, it seemed like the answer to my fears, a way to prevent them from coming to fruition. I did not expect it to lead to my worst nightmare.”







He looked over at her, but she wasn’t looking at him, she was staring out over the lagoon.









“You don’t believe me.” He said softly, wondering what made him try to explain himself to her, no one cared that he believed he had been doing the right thing.









“I believe you, Lucius. It is just the first time I have ever heard any of the death eaters give a rational reason for what they did. For most of them it was all about power.” She said.









“That was a perk. But I soon learned that not all power is good.” He said. “Besides, in the end all my money, all my power didn’t mean a damned thing, I still ended up in prison, divorced and separated from my child.”









“Did you learn from it?” She asked.









“I learned that change is inevitable. That love is not always enough and that nothing is as important as your children.” He said.









“Good lessons.” She said softly. “It is a shame that not everyone has learned from their mistakes.”









“Too little, too late.” He said, rolling his shoulders as sweat trickled down the center of his back and caused him to itch. “I can’t believe how hot it is!” He said.









“Take off your shirt.” She said.









“That would be inappropriate in mixed company.” He said.









“Lucius, I stood bare arsed naked in front of you last night and you wanked in the bed beside me this morning, I think we passed inappropriate a while back. Take your damned shirt off and cool down.” She said on a laugh.









“I see your point.” He conceded as he opened the remaining buttons and shrugged out of his shirt, folding it neatly as setting it aside.









“Oh gods, not you too.” She whispered, her hand reaching out to run her fingers lightly over the scarred expanse of his back.







“Reminders of my folly.” He said. “Though others had it far worse than I.”









“Severus is covered with them…from shoulders to thighs, sometimes they get so tight he can barely move, he has to work out daily to keep from stiffening up.” She said, tracing the long, narrow stripes over his back.









“He always got it the worst; I sometimes wondered why he continued to serve under such treatment.” Lucius said. “Now I understand. I was…gifted…with those when I first left Azkaban, before the battle at Hogwarts.”









“I am sorry for your pain.” She said quietly, letting her hand fall back to her lap.









“Are you really?” He asked, meeting her gaze.









“Regardless of what your crimes were, Lucius, I wish pain on no one.” She said.









“You walked away with your own scars, didn’t you?” He asked.









“Courtesy of your sister-in-law.” Hermione said. “Though they are mostly faded and barely noticeable now.”









“Ex sister-in-law. Bella was always a little…off.” He said.









“A little off? That is putting it kindly.” Hermione snorted. “The woman was insane, I am stunned you even acknowledged her as family.”









“I didn’t, actually. We had no contact with Bella until the Dark Lord freed her.” He said, watching as she unlaced the tall, dragon-hide boots. “Hermione…what is with those hideous boots?”









Hermione chuckled and continued to unlace the knee high boots she always wore when she was exploring.









“Early in my career I was in Egypt.” She began, still tugging at the laces. “I was in the Valley of the Kings where a wizard’s tomb had been located; he had been a priest to Pharaoh Akhenaton. Back then I wore simple hiking boots that came just to my ankle and shorts when it was hot.” She pulled one tall boot from her foot and set it aside before she started in on the laces of the other one. “I was lowered into this tomb and as soon as my feet touched the ground I felt the sharp pain in my calf. I pulled my wand and cast the lumos charm and came face to face with an asp.”









“They are venomous!” He said.









“Believe me, I know, it is said to be the snake that killed Cleopatra.” She said, removing her other boot and setting it aside as she rolled down the thick socks. “I have to admit to you that I am deathly afraid of snakes…and flying. Voldemort had a lot to do with the fear of snakes though. Anyhow, I was petrified and did the only thing I could think of in that moment, I screamed for Severus.”









“He was with you?” Lucius asked.









“He has been known to accompany me on short ventures in the summer months. Not so much in recent years though. He was at my side within moments, the asp in his hands with its neck swiftly broken. He immediately began to suck the venom from my leg, spitting it into a phial in his pocket to test later. When he was satisfied that I would not die there in his arms he took me back to the castle and fed me gallons of his foul tasting potions.” She pulled the snug fitting buckskin trousers up over her calf and showed him the twin scars of the snake bite marring her smooth skin. “For my birthday that year he bought me those ugly boots.” She lifted her foot and rotated her ankle, the tiny silver ankle chain glittering in the sunlight. “And apparently he thought he was being funny when he bought me this.”









“A rather expensive joke.” Lucius said, noting that her toenails were painted lavender. “I think perhaps you underestimate his feelings for you.”









“I told you, he and I are friends, in recent years he has become my best friend.” She said.









“Potter and Weasley?” He queried, watching her curl her toes in the sand.







“Harry is married to Ginny Weasley and Ron lives with his lover in Bulgaria.” She said, “We have so little in common anymore.”







“Do you not long for a family of your own?” He asked.









“I don’t know. I tried with Ron, I really did. But it never felt right, I just couldn’t….of course now I know why, but then…I believed him when he said I was frigid, that there was something wrong with me. I’m not like other women. I don’t cry at weddings and I don’t get all gooey over babies…I don’t know if I am cut out to be a wife or mother.” She said, turning to look at him sitting so properly beside her. “Lucius, relax.”









“I’m burning up. I missed the sun, the warmth of summer but this is ridiculous, why aren’t you stifled by it?” He grouched.









“I suppose I have built up a tolerance to it, I spend a lot of time in various climates. Take off your shoes.” She said.









“No, it is rude enough that I am sitting with you bare-chested.” He said. She rolled her eyes and shifted so that she was on her knees in front of him.







“You need to get over it, Lucius, there is very little you can do to offend me that is worse than what you have done in the past.” She reached for his foot and shoved his linen trousers up. “Oh my goodness, these are Norwegian Ridgeback!” She exclaimed as she examined the leather.







“They are old; I didn’t have time to purchase a new wardrobe before you made me come with you.” He said, wondering just how outdated his clothing actually was.









“They are beautiful and probably worth more than I make in a month.” She said, running her fingers over the thick hide and up to the inside of his ankle to lower the zipper. She removed his boot, and then laughed when she saw that his socks were made of silk. “You really do have nice feet.” She said, removing his other boot and sock and then cuffing his trouser legs to mid-calf. “There now, that is better isn’t it?” She asked, smiling.







“Somewhat.” He said reluctantly as he felt the warm sand beneath his feet. “It is still hot as hell.”









“We could go for a swim.” She offered.









“Alas, no bathers, and I am not of a mind to go skinny dipping.” He said. “Despite my nearly nude state.”









“Lucius, you have your wand back, transfigure your boxers.” She said with a slight chuckle. He blushed slightly.









Hermione stood and dropped her belt, then reached into her back pocket for her wand and ran it over her torso. She tossed it onto the blanket and watched as Lucius followed suit, running his wand over the lower half of his body. He really was a mighty fine looking man. It was obvious he had tried to keep fit while imprisoned; his arms were taut with ropey muscle, his torso lean and his stomach flat with just a hint of definition. He was, however, too thin, his ribcage showing clearly.







He removed the linen trousers to reveal a pair of black, rather snug bathing trunks that rode low on his hips. She was grateful he didn’t go for the bikini suits seen on a lot of European men; she didn’t think she would be able to hold the laughter back. She tilted her head to the side and watched as the sun glinted off of the thin trail of silky blonde hair that ran from just below his navel to disappear into the waistband of his trunks.







She bit her lip and grinned as she contemplated what might lie at the end of that happy trail. She shook off her erotic mental meanderings and began to remove her own clothing.







“I thought you transfigured yourself a bathing costume!” Lucius said his eyes wide as he stared at her. Hermione glanced down at her bathing suit and then back at him, a look of confusion on her face.







“I did.” She said.









“That looks like…underwear.” He frowned. “I think you cast the spell incorrectly.”









“I certainly did not!” She said, hands on her hips. She had in fact successfully transfigured her undergarments into a rather cute black bikini with boy short bottoms and strapless top. “This is a bathing suit, a bikini; surely you’ve seen one before.”







“Actually, no.” He said unable to look away from the plump curves of her breasts encased in black lycra.







“What did your ex-wife wear to swim?” She asked.







“A proper bathing costume, it covered her, all of her. Though she didn’t swim, she sat on the beach beneath an umbrella while I played with the boy.” He said distractedly.







“Oh…well this is what I wear and I actually like to be in the water.” She said. “Lucius, I’m up here.” She said, nudging his chin up so that he was looking at her face. “Let’s go for a swim, shall we?”





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I envisioned Lucius in bathers similar to what Daniel Craig wore in Casino Royale, only all black:



http://www.blogher.com/node/13129







Now, in reference to Narcissa’s proper bathing costume, this is what I figured the pureblood witch would have been more likely to wear:



http://www.fashion-era.com/early_swimwear.htm







So, now you will understand why Lucius thought Mione looked like she was just wearing underwear LOL