Rules and Regulations
Exit Stage Left
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Hermione rushed towards her rooms pausing to let out a jaw-cracking yawn. The last several weeks had been mind opening to say the least. She had spent every night in either Lucius’ bed or he’d come to hers. He continued to awaken the most erotic and dark passions within her long into the wee hours of the night, defining then pushing that fine line between pleasure and pain until her body ached for release.
Last night had been another awakening. He’d given her an exquisite strand of pearls but there had been no clasps to close the ends of the strand.
Hermione looked up in confusion and he said in a velvety, soft low voice, “These pearls are not meant to be worn on the outside.”
Hermione’s eyes widened and her mouth formed a soft, “O”.
Lucius chuckled softly, crooked his finger at her and whispered, “Come here, pet. Bring your new present to me.” His eyes flashed silver as she walked towards him.
As she approached her door she squeezed her thighs together trying to assuage the sudden flash of desire last night’s memories sparked. She shook her head, all her waking thoughts seemed to center on one Lucius Malfoy. He was fast becoming an addiction. Hermione opened the door, she was sure she had left her clipboard on her desk but for the life of her, she couldn’t find it. She was more than a little frustrated with her most recent bout of forgetfulness, it seemed she was more often than not misplacing paperwork, quills, parchment. She approached her desk and began to rifle through the drawers on the off chance she might have filed it. As she began looking through her lateral files an old folded piece of parchment caught her eye. She had completely forgotten about the marauder’s map. When she had gotten her student teaching position at Hogwarts, Harry gave her the map before he left to begin auror training. “You’ll definitely get more use out of this than I will, ‘Mione.” He told her. She’d been quite touched that he had given it to her because it was one of the few remnants Harry had left of his father and the father figures he’d loved so well.
Hermione pulled out the map and ran her hand over the surface. She shook her head a little, as memories of third and fourth year swirled through her head. She sighed as she unfolded then spread the map out on the top of her desk. She tapped the map and whispered softly, “I solemnly swear that I am up to no good." Within seconds, the map began drawing the entire castle and grounds of Hogwarts. Hermione smiled when she saw that Minerva McGonagall was in her rose atrium, not many people knew that the headmistress had a penchant for roses. She kept a small hot house right off her private rooms. More than a little curious she began looking for Lucius Malfoy finding him in the office off his classroom. He was more than likely grading papers, she recalled him telling her about a pop quiz he’d given several days prior. Hermione was just about to close the map when she saw Aurora Sinistra making her way towards Lucius’ office. “That woman,” Hermione growled, thinking of her glossy ebony hair and exotic beauty. The high-heeled footsteps stopped outside of Lucius’ door then went into his office. Immediately irritated, Hermione wondered what could she possibly have to talk to Lucius about, it wasn’t as if there was an overlap of class content between astronomy and defense against the dark arts. The thought of finding her clipboard completely flew out the window as Hermione watched the map, more specifically she watched Lucius and Aurora. A frown began to play across her brow.
Over the course of the next few weeks, the map became as constant a companion as her ever-present clipboard. Hermione noted that Lucius Malfoy and Aurora Sinistra would inevitably meet several times during the week in either his office or her office at approximately four o’clock in the afternoon. To say she was more than a little curious, suspicious, and irritated but certainly not jealous was putting it mildly. Hermione envisioned a number of reasons why the two would need to meet so frequently none of them being good reasons and she began to stew. She wanted some answers from him but she would be damned if she would embarrass herself by asking him for them. He would immediately assume she was jealous. 'Ridiculous,' she thought, she wasn’t jealous, she was concerned, yes, that was it concerned. Hermione snorted, oh who was she kidding, she was incredibly jealous and furious with both herself and him. He was a despicable, contemptible death eater, a villain, she’d been expecting him to show his true colors and if this map was anything to go by, the other shoe had finally dropped. She snorted again, he had told her he was interested in only her, the damned liar, only interested in her indeed. Unfortunately, the map didn’t show her what was going on; she needed to catch him in the act. How dare he see other women. Not that she actually had proof that he was “seeing” other women but he was certainly meeting with Aurora Sinistra on a fairly regular basis for no reason Hermione could discern. She needed to catch him in the act, giving her solid proof of whatever they were doing. She needed plan.
The staff meeting on Thursday afternoon ran a little long; Professor Slughorn was quite determined to voice new procedures he wanted to institute when faculty used some of his potions stores. Some of his more time-consuming ingredients were almost completely out of stock. Noting the staff getting a little restless, a few even rolling their eyes, Hermione offered to create a thorough inventory of all his ingredients and volunteered to help him organize such an endeavor. Delighted with Hermione's plan to help him the professor sat back down and the headmistress once again very pleased with her mentee ended the meeting with a satisfied smile upon her face. “Well done, my dear.” Professor McGonagall patted Hermione’s shoulder. Hermione nodded and turned to pick up her parchments and clipboard from her chair. She stood up just as Aurora Sinistra was walking by and bumped right into her, dropping her clipboard back onto her chair.
“Oh Professor, I apologize, I didn’t see you there.” Hermione clutched at the ruby rich robes of the lovely older woman in front of her for balance. “No worries, my dear,” Aurora Sinistra smiled helping Hermione to gain her footing then turned and made her way out of the faculty room.
Catching her eye from across the room, Lucius looked over at Hermione and gave her a small wink as he walked out of the staff room with Professor Flitwick. She nodded to him with a small smile which turned into a full grin as she reached down for her clipboard. She pulled out a small white envelope and placed three long ebony strands of hair into it. She had everything she needed to begin brewing, timing would now be key.
As part of her responsibilities, Hermione kept track of the faculty calendar. She knew when teachers were taking time off for either personal or professional reasons and it allowed her to schedule substitute teachers in advance. Aurora Sinistra would be attending the Dynamics and Alignment of Discs and Planets Conference in Cambridge in several weeks time and intended to take the Friday before the conference off in preparation. Thank the gods Horace Slughorn prepared some of the more time-consuming ingredients in advance. The perfect window of opportunity had finally arisen.
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She stood outside his office and briskly knocked on the door then smoothed down her emerald green robes with damp palms. ‘Showtime,’ she thought.
“Enter, “called out a smooth masculine voice.
“Lucius.” She said as she entered his office.
“Aurora? I’m surprised to see you here; I thought you left this morning from the Hogsmead disapparation point. Is there anything amiss at the manor?” Lucius Malfoy stood up as Aurora Sinistra entered the room.
“Oh, I did but I forgot a few things and came back to pick them up. I thought I’d swing by to tell you I was off again.” She smiled and waited, she had him now, she was sure of it, why else would Aurora Sinistra be going to Malfoy manor. He was sure to give himself away now.
“I imagine Severus will be more irritable than usual if you are running late, Aurora. You know how particular Severus gets in regards to time-tables. Your upcoming nuptials has him more prickly than ever.” Lucius gently reminded her.
Hermione was gob smacked; Aurora Sinistra was seeing Severus Snape? No, not just seeing, they were getting married? Hermione opened then closed her mouth.
“Exactly.” Lucius smiled as he misinterpreted her expression.
“I guess I better get going then.” Hermione began to back out of his office.
“Would you like me to accompany you to Hogsmead?” Lucius asked.
“No, not necessary, I don’t want to be a bother. I’ll just be off.” Feeling like a complete idiot, Hermione was anxious to get back to her rooms and let the potion wear off.
It’s no bother, let me just get my cane and I’ll walk you to the disapparation point.”
“This really isn’t necessary, Lucius.” Hermione huffed as she and Lucius walked into town.
“I don’t mind at all, it gives me an opportunity to stretch my legs. Ahhh, here we are, be sure to give my regards to Severus won’t you?” Lucius smiled down at her. Severus and Aurora had finally made time in their busy schedules to finalize their wedding plans. As a favor, Lucius suggested they marry at the manor. Aurora had been meeting with Lucius to finalize logistics, this weekend would be the final walkthrough before the wedding ceremony next month.
“Absolutely.” And with that Aurora Sinistra disapparated.
Lucius got back to the castle, deciding to spend some time with his little witch, perhaps they could begin an early weekend. He smiled as he made his way to her rooms. He took the stairs two at a time anxious to see the little minx. After knocking and getting no answer he decided to try her classroom and office. Not a curly hair of her in sight. She’d been quite distracted and a little distant of late, it was probably time to have another little talk with her, for as bright as she was, she was also remarkably insecure. It surprised him how poorly she perceived herself. It seemed that every time he thought he’d made headway with her she seemed to take several steps back from him. He opened her office door to find it empty as well, perhaps she was in the small private lab off her office. He supposed the next place he could look for her would be the library. He looked around her office and noted it was a little more disorganized than usual. Perhaps she’d left out her calendar and he peered down at her desk to find himself looking down at a remarkable piece of parchment. It appeared to be a map of Hogwarts and he could see everyone who was on the castle grounds and within the castle. What a remarkable piece of magic. Scanning the map he quickly found Hermione Granger walking up the path towards Hagrid’s hut. He peered out her office window to see if he could catch a glimpse of her and was astounded to see Aurora Sinistra striding up the walkway. “What the bloody hell?” he murmured. Surprised he looked back at the map and read Hermione Granger’s name on the walkway by Hagrid’s hut. Puzzle pieces began to click together, Horace Slughorn’s potions stores dwindling… Lucius quickly walked into her lab and not surprisingly found the remains of polyjuice potion in a small cauldron. Why on earth would she want to be Aurora Sinistra? Did she have designs on Severus Snape? What the bloody hell was going on? Temper rising, Lucius picked up the small cauldron from her lab then picked up the map as he made his way out of her office. A serious heart to heart discussion was in order with one devious little miss a discussion where she wouldn’t be sitting down comfortably anytime soon.
Good Gaia, she didn’t think she’d make it back to her rooms in time; damn him for insisting he walk her down to Hogsmead. She closed her door quickly and leaned against it. She could begin to feel the effects of the polyjuice potion begin to wear off when the lights suddenly went on in her room. There sitting on a chair with his legs stretched out before him was one very angry Lucius Malfoy holding his wand in one hand and the marauder’s map in the other. Their eyes locked while the last of the potion wore off. She looked like a child caught in a very naughty act—, which was close to being true—only she wasn't a child.
“Green becomes you, my dear. Though I must say those robes seem a little long for you.”
Hermione gulped. Her eyes widened in surprise. Oh shite, this wasn’t a scenario she’d envisioned.
He said coolly, "I believe you have some explaining to do." He leaned forward, tossed the map onto the ottoman in front of him and picked the small cauldron up from the floor. He leaned back in the chair and waited.
"Lucius—" What could she possibly say so she opted to say nothing.
"An explanation now."
Her cheeks flushed at his acerbic order. She couldn’t believe she’d been foolish enough to leave both the map and the used cauldron out. How the hell was she going to explain her actions? Trying for nonchalance, she quipped, "I.. .was… investigating… “
“Investigating? Do tell.” Sarcasm dripped off his every word.
Hermione frowned beginning to feel a wee bit defensive, she folded her arms across her chest. “I don’t need to give you an explanation for anything.”
Lucius’ eyes sparkled dangerously, he re-crossed his long legs at the ankles, "I like to think of myself as a patient man, Hermione and I believe I’ve been remarkably patient and tolerant of your little idiosyncrasies but I believe I’ve lost what little tolerance I have given your most recent activities. What the bloody hell do you think you are doing?” he growled.
Now annoyed with him she snapped, “You spend quite a bit of time with Aurora Sinistra. I might ask you the same thing.”
Lucius’ eyebrows rose in surprise and he asked incredulously, “So you polyjuiced yourself into the woman because?”
Cursing herself for losing her temper, she tried to backtrack, “no reason.”
Understanding dawned across his face quickly followed by disapproval, “You thought to discover some kind of illicit activity occuring between the professor and myself.”
Hermione found it remarkably difficult to meet his hard gaze. What she wouldn’t give to be anywhere but here in front of him feeling like some recalcitrant school girl. He was not happy with her and she felt remarkably similar to when she’d been discovered hiding under his desk.
“I believe you are due a reminder, little girl.”
Nope, she wasn’t particularly keen on reliving what had happened after she came out from under his desk. Now would be a good time to make a hasty departure.
“Come here, Hermione,” his voice low.
Hermione shook her head slowly and began to back towards the door.
“Now,” he growled.
Energy pulsed between them then they moved at exactly the same time. Lucius stood up and Hermione’s hand was on the doorknob, she gave a small wave with her other hand and accio’d the map, she pulled open the door as soon as the parchment was in her hand then she was off running for all she was worth down the hallway. Eyes glinting, palms itching Lucius quickly gave chase.
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Coipje: I'm so glad you are enjoing the story! I think more people should read it and review too!
Scary Bear Hair: You were such a great help for this chapter, Scary, thank you, thank you! I see Lucius as bossy, dictating, domineering, HAWT, heh, heh... Yeah, she really needs to bop him upside the head when he gets too bossy somehow he always manages to distract her.
alecto: This is probably my favorite pairing. I think they go remarkably well together. Thank you for reviewing.
mariteri I'm glad you enjoyed the last chapter, their relationship is definitely beginning to evolve beyond just sex.
Voracious Reader: Whew, good thing you didn't drown your keyboard, it be hard to write and review!!!! Thank you for reading and reviewing.
katiekrm: Hi Katie, she does need to work on her self image and he's just the man to help her with that.
leValkyrie: No kidding, he can wake me up like that anytime he likes! She's not ready to give him too much control yet but they'll get there.
Megan: I'm glad you like the story, I'm working on the chapters, this was originally written as a short three chapter story. I've been adding to it since chapter three...sigh.... not my intent but the story keeps growing.
LaBibliographe: You are sooo good with your input! Hermione is really good at getting herself into impossible situations, normally I think she would have the ability to get herself out of trouble quickly but he's just as wiley as she is and so much more experienced. Your critiques are invaluable and appreciated!
Serin Blackmoon: Oh thank you so much! Thank you so much for reading and reviewing. I don't know if Ron and Harry will enter into the picture, this story is kind of taking a life of it's own! We'll see what happens!