In Love and War

Disclaimer: I own nothing of the Harry Potter series. All characters,events and places belong to J K Rowling. I make no profit whatsoever from the writing of this fanfiction.

In Love and War

Chapter 9

Lucius was not a man who was used to surprises. Everything he did, he had planned it with exquisite detail. He left nothing to chance and was always at least six steps ahead of anyone else. But this, her, standing here with him in his home was a surprise.

He looked over at the girl, no woman, who was standing in his library. He was silent as he watched tears of happiness streak down her lovely cheeks. She was so delighted to see a former enemy of hers. A boy who had never hesitated to call her a mudblood. A boy who, like his father at one point, would have been happy to see her and her kind eradicated from the world. Her words were kind as she talked to Draco's portrait, a grin stretched across her perfect mouth.

“The Weasel?” Draco asked incredulously. “You've got to be kidding me. For being such a bright witch you were awful stupid to marry that git.”

“Well, who do you think I should have married?” Hermione asked coolly, even though a smile still touched upon her lips.

“Anyone except for him.” Draco laughed from his gilded portrait. “Even a Hufflepuff would have been better than Weaselbee, the witless wonder.”

“Draco,” Lucius admonished, but secretly agreed with the boy. “What have I told you about your manners?”

“I don't know father. You see, the great thing about being dead is you can't punish me for my manners.”

Unconsciously, Lucius grabbed at the sliver of pain that streaked through his chest.

Draco's portrait had excepted his own death relatively well, but he, still, had not. He would feel the pain of his son's death until he himself followed the boy to the grave. He would live with the knowledge that he had caused his only child's death and that it was for the woman looking up at his son's painted face with such merriment.

“Well, regardless of the state of your death, you should still listen to your father.” Hermione said in a voice that only a mother could use and it made him smile.

“I suppose you're right.” Draco drawled in a flawless imitation of his father. “But, I'm still right. You're too good for Weaselbee.”

“Draco, son, the boy does have a name and regardless of your disdain for the man Miss Granger married, you should still use it.” Lucius reminded his son with his usual manner. He looked to Hermione with his eyebrow slightly slanted in question.“His name is Fredrick isn't it?”

Her slight giggle filled his heart. “I wish Lucius, but unfortunately I married the youngest, Ron.”

Lucius decided that now might be the best time to pick up there conversation from earlier. He wanted to get her out of the room, and he definitely wanted to get her away from anything else his son might say.

He took the few steps that separated them and put his palm at base of her spine, just like he had done earlier. “Perhaps you would like to see the rest of my home.”

She beamed up at him, but looked around his great library with a slight frown on her face. “I would like that very much.”

She turned to his son, tears still glistening on her feathered lashes. “It was wonderful to see you again Draco and I look forward to the day that we can talk again.”

She looked to him as if silently asking his permission.

“Of course Miss Granger. I would enjoy it if you would continue to join me for dinner on occasions and it would please Draco to have someone else to talk to besides myself.”

“Just think Father, you can bring my portrait into the dining room and have a plate set out for me and everything.” Draco laughed, amused by his juvenile joke.

“Good evening Draco.” Lucius said, using a slight pressure with his hand to steer Hermione from the room.

“Night, night Father.” Draco snickered quietly within his frame. “Good to see you too Granger, make sure you watch out for Father's wicked ways.”

He watched her amused expression and moved her out of the room, bestowing a discreet nod to his son before closing the door.

“Thank you Lucius, for letting me speak with him.” She said quietly.

“It's no bother. Unfortunately he doesn't get enough conversation with just me and the elves around, so I'm positive he was delighted to speak with you.” He said graciously as they moved out onto the terrace and settled her onto a sprawling chaise.

“Yes, about that, thank you again for seeing me this evening.”

“I have been looking forward to seeing you again ever since our impromptu meeting last month.” Lucius said, allowing his innate charm bleed through his words.

She blushed prettily before straightening out her posture.

“So tell me, dear, what else has you here on this fine evening? Something must have prompted you to return to my home. I was confident that you would never want to step foot here again.” He didn't want to tell that he almost didn't want to come back to the manor as well, too many bad memories. But, this was his family home and he wouldn't let it go to ruin.

“Well, I.... I just....” she stammered and he knew that her home life was on the rocks, again.

“You can trust me, I'm sure we have proven that by now. What you say to me now, stays between mine and God's ears.” He said solemnly.

“Oh Lucius.” His heart jumped at the breathy way she whispered his name. “My life, well, it's not what I thought it would be. I know that it's foolish to say things like that, but it's true.”

He placed a comforting hand on her knee and said from experience. “Life generally doesn't turn out the way you think it should.”

“I know and I've pretty much let go of my childish dreams, but I can't hope but think that there should be more.” Her voice was weak and defeated, a sound that he had heard too often from her and it was almost unbecoming in contrast with her once strong personality. “My husband is cheating on me, my friends hate to be near me, I let my job go. I just feel like there isn't anything for me, that there isn't really a place that I belong.”

Lucius watched as her hand stroked over the tattoo, his mark, that he had placed on her skin. “You were never weak, even as a child. Why are you being so now?”

“What else can I do? I'm a traitor in the eyes of the public.” She muttered and he felt his chest constrict in guilt.

“You, Miss Granger, are not a traitor.” Lucius stated quite loudly. “They may perceive you as such, but you are not. What you did, we did, was essential in saving many lives.”

“I know that, but I don't understand why they feel that way. I mean, I did betray them, but I did it with their lives in mind.”

“I've learned, through many years of observing others, that people will believe only what they want. It's just like magic, there is no distinction between light and dark, it's the intent, so in reality, all of it is a gray area. The people around you see the world in black and white, they have no understanding of the in between, nor do they care to know.” He said forcefully.

“I have been trying to understand for so many years Lucius, and what you just explained to me, it makes more sense than anything I have been able to come up with.” She laughed slightly.

“Well, I haven't been successful based only on my looks. I had to learn a bit along the way.”

“Yes, I suppose you have.” She said softly, her eyes turning to his with a tender light contained within them.

Lucius called for the elf and within minutes a carafe of wine was sat between them, along with two glasses.

“Would you care for some? It's an excellent vintage” He asked, getting ready to fill a glass.

“I probably shouldn't.” She said as she bit her bottom lip between her lip.

At such a small action, Lucius felt his body tighten and was overcome with the urge to draw that sumptuous lips between his own.

“I should probably be headed home anyway. I wouldn't want to impose on your evening any longer.”

“It's no imposition at all. I've enjoyed your company.” He knew that this moment was a prime time to start to further along the seeds of doubt that had already been planted in her mind. “Besides, what will you go home to? Your husband surely isn't there waiting for you, otherwise you wouldn't be here.”

She narrowed her eyes at him shrewdly. “You know Lucius, I'm really not sure that you have changed all that much.”

“Don't forget, my darling, it's in my nature to exploit another's weakness in return for my own happiness.” He reminded her pointedly before softening his tone. “Besides, I would enjoy your company more than your lonely house would.”

“Well, I won't argue with you on that, but are you sure?” Her eyes were wide as her cheeks tinted to a brilliant pink.

“I'm positive.” He affirmed. “Now, tell me about your husband and his silly affair.”

“It's so humiliating Lucius.” She confided softly. “It's not that I care that he is with another woman, it's that he shows no discretion. Everyone knows about it. I hate the looks I receive from his family, from our friends, from people on the street. They aren't looks of pity as you would expect, not for me anyway, they are looks confirming that I am worth less than I am.”

“The only deficiency with this whole mess is him. He is lacking, not you.” He reminded her, even though at one point he would have said something different, but he had changed. Not much, but enough that he didn't think less of her than anyone else on the street.

“You may be right, but I can't help but wish that he would either break it off with her or stop posing for pictures in the Prophet with her.”

It was almost too difficult for Lucius to contain his look of glee, but he pulled it off. Having her to himself would be so much easier now that he had this tidbit of information. A few well placed tips to the editor of the Prophet, whom he was still on good terms with, and a few evenings a week to continue to sow the seeds of doubt in her mind and then she would be his, even though he wasn't sure in what context he wanted her.

“Back to what I said earlier, why do you allow it to happen?”

He watched her brow furrow in concentration before she spoke.

“I suppose that some part of me feels that I deserve it.”

“That is perhaps the most asinine thing I have ever heard escape your mouth.” He said as anger started to well up in his chest. “You don't deserve it, trust me.”

“Well, what do you suggest I do about it?” She asked sarcastically, obviously having regained her courage in thanks to the large gulp of wine she had just drank.

It was screaming in his mind for her to repay her husband back in kind, for her to start an affair with him, but that would be rushing her and he had a plan, one that was certain to end with her in his arms.

“Well, I believe the only way to show him that you are better is to better yourself.” He started. “Your daughter is at school now, is she not?”

“Yes, she started last month.” Hermione said proudly and he could relate. He had felt the same way when Draco had began his education within the walls of Hogwarts.

“Well, you have the time to go back to work now.” Lucius said, even though he was somewhat of the opinion that a woman shouldn't work. However, in her case and with that mind of hers, it seemed a waste that she shouldn't be out there, shining in the limelight. “What did you do before?”

“I was a financial lawyer for Gringotts.” She said as if it was nothing, like it equated to a job at the Leaky.

A part of him beamed with pride. With a bit more polishing, she could, quite possibly move up even further.

“Why did you leave your job?” He questioned, even though he already knew why. There was only one reason why a woman would leave a top job at the start of her career.

“Rose, and to an extent, Ron.”

“He didn't want you to work?”

“No, not particularly. I think it hurt his pride that I brought in more money than he did.” Her eyes were cast down as if she were ashamed.

Lucius nodded his head, knowing that if it was him, he would probably feel the same way. It wasn't that he was against equal opportunity in the work place, but in a marriage, a man needs to feel like a man. Unlike the Weasley boy, he would have handled the situation differently.

“I really enjoyed it though.” She whispered as her eyes slowly lit up again.

“Why don't you go back?”

“You know, I really should.” He was astounded at her brief leak of confidence. “My brother in law, Bill, works as a curse breaker for them. I should contact him and see about their openings.”

“You should. If you would like, I can also speak with Driklret if you would like. He is in charge of the bank and owes me a favor.”

She placed her hand on top of his, an electrical current leapt from her palm to his at the contact.

“Thank you Lucius, but I don't think I will have too many difficulties finding a position. Although, I won't hesitate to call on you if it proves to be too problematic.”

He nodded his head slightly in her direction and casually turned his hand to wrap his fingers around hers. She said nothing about his touch so he didn't bother to move.

“Would you care to see the rest of the house now?” He asked, standing up.

“Yes,” she said placing her glass down. “That really was an excellent wine. Thank you for sharing it with me.”

“Wine is meant to be enjoyed between friends. I was more that happy to share it with you.” Still holding her hand, he pulled her back through the imposing glass doors. “Shall we?”

Lucius showed her every room in the house. He explained in great detail all the events that occurred within the manor. He delighted when she smiled at some of the exploits of his ancestors and frowned when he told her about his recent remodeling of walls.

“I know that this is your home Lucius, but don't you regret destroying those portraits? Surely you could have donated them to museums or even have put them in storage.” She said, slightly scowling as she lectured him.

“Trust me darling, the wizarding world is better off with my ancestors portraits gone.” He said, dismissing the idea. He wouldn't let her know the real reason why he destroyed the paintings, it would only add to her already absurd guilt.

“I'm not so sure about that.” She said, concentrating on the blank walls. “They were a part of history, regardless of their ideals and much could have been learned from them, even if it was to only bolster the lines between right and wrong.”

“There is no right and wrong Miss Granger, there is only what you think it to be.”

“Please, Lucius, call me Hermione.” She said, obviously having caught on to his use of her maiden name. “Besides, it's only right that you should do so. I've used your given name without your permission. Surely there is no need for such formality between the two of us.”

The famous Malfoy grin crossed his lips. He knew it wouldn't take long for her to warm up to the idea of something, even friendship, between the two of them.

“Very well.” He drawled.

When they reached the front of the manor, the grandfather clock on the wall chimed midnight.

“My goodness Lucius. It's past twelve. I'm so sorry for taking up all of your time.” She said and he wished he had another reason to keep her here. “I should be going.”

Thinking quickly on his feet he nonverbally cast a spell to make it storm.

“Perhaps it would be in your best interest to stay here tonight. I did not realize the strength of the storm earlier, I was so caught up in our conversations.” He smiled, what he hoped was one of contrition.

“Oh, I couldn't impose.” She said, her eyes flitting between the house and the front door.

“Nonsense. You have consumed a fair amount of alcohol and probably shouldn't be apparating in this weather.” If he could have patted himself on the back without her notice, he would have.

“Are you sure? I...”

He cut her off instantly. “I insist.”

“Ok.” She said as her teeth flashed him a brilliant smile.

“Why don't you go into the library and find a book that will keep you can read for a while before you sleep, while I go speak with the elves.” He suggested and watched her body as it walked down the hall, her hips swaying deliciously from side to side.

He summoned an elf and asked him to prepare the Blue room for their guest.

Hermione came back into the room only a few minutes later, two books clutched within her hands and a feverish glint to her eyes.

Lucius pulled her into his arms and breathed in deep the intoxicating fragrance of her hair before apparating them to the suite he had selected for her.

She stumbled out of his embrace as the came into the room. He noticed that her skin was flushed and her breathing heavy.

“I hope you will be comfortable in here.”

His comment seemed to bring her out of her bemused state.

“Yes, I'm sure that I will.” She said as her eyes took in the room. “Oh, Lucius. This room is just....”

“Breathtaking, is it not?” He asked, not even looking at the room that surrounded them.

She looked up at his eyes and again turned a bright pink before agreeing with him and stepping forward to grasp his hand in hers. “Yes, it is.”


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