Ginny confesses love, Lucius eavesdrops and Severus is itchy

All canon characters belong to JKR.

Thanks to June for all of her help and great suggestions.

Chapter 8 – Ginny confesses love, Lucius eavesdrops and Severus is itchy.

Ginny was able to get temporary relief for her injured hand thanks to Albus. The old wizard was the greatest wizard alive, but there was some magic even he left to the experts. When Ginny came inside from the gardens, Albus waved his hand over hers and the pain dissipated a little.

“I’m sorry, Ginny. But it looks like you have several broken bones. I think Severus will agree with me in that they should heal without the aid of potions.”

Minerva transfigured her scarf into a proper sling, and they waited for Severus and Hermione to come back from their picnic. Severus would be able to give her some pain relief potions so that she would not have too much discomfort. Neither Albus nor Minerva needed to ask Ginny what happened, as they had been in the gardens taking a mid-morning stroll together and had witnessed the entire scene.

They were happy to see Lucius pursuing the young witch. Much as they loved Harry and Neville, they knew that both wizards were still too immature for Ginny.

Upon their return, Hermione immediately sent Severus to their room, as she turned towards the dungeons to look for the balm he needed to relieve his now maddening itch. Luckily for Severus, he always made it a point to return the Count’s lab to its lab-like state whenever he was not there.

“Hermione,” called Minerva from the living room.

Hermione heard her call and went inside, where she saw Ginny with her hand wrapped up.

“What happened?”

“Ginny’s had … uh…an accident,” said Albus. “Hermione, I know you assisted Poppy in the hospital wing at Hogwarts sometimes, so perhaps there is something you can do for Ginny.” He smiled at Minerva, and the two excused themselves as they left the room.

“What on earth did you do?” asked Hermione as she carefully looked at her friend’s hand.

“I tried to punch Harry,” said Ginny.

Unbeknownst to either witch, Lucius was on his way to the study when he heard them talking. Deciding that eavesdropping would be in his best interest on this occasion, he quietly hid behind a suit of armor and listened.

Hermione laughed, “What has Harry done now?”

“Oh, he just made me so angry. It’s bad enough that both he and Neville have been driving me crazy and not allowing me a moment’s peace, but Harry spoke quite rudely about Lucius,” said Ginny, as her cheeks flushed red with anger.

“But Harry gets along well with Lucius. What was he saying?”

“He called Lucius an old man,” huffed Ginny

Lucius narrowed his eyes. ‘That little shit,’ he thought.

“You shouldn’t let Harry get to you like that, GInny. You know he’s just jealous of Lucius.”

“I know, but he just made me so angry! Especially since it was because of him I had to turn Lucius down. Hermione, Lucius wanted to spend time with me. Can you believe it? You should have seen how handsome he looked this morning. Not that he doesn’t look handsome at any hour, but oh Merlin, that hair shining in the sun, those eyes, those lips. Ugh, and Lucius was so close to kissing me when stupid Harry started calling out for me in the gardens.” Ginny was fuming by the time she finished talking, while Hermione’s jaw was practically dragging the floor.

“Wow, I’d be angry too, if I missed a chance to kiss the man I loved for the first time,” said Hermione.

“How did you know I love him?” Ginny covered her mouth quickly, as though it were Pandora’s box and all the world’s evils would come flying out.

Lucius was so surprised at Ginny's words, that he leaned forward to try to hear better and almost pushed the suit of armor over.

Hermione smiled and pointed her finger accusingly at her.

“Aha! See, I knew it. Ginny, that’s wonderful. You’ve been crazy about Lucius for so long.”

“You don’t think it’s dumb of me? I mean, I barely know him, but at the same time, when I looked into his eyes, it was as though we were meant to be together. It was as if I saw myself in his soul.”

“I don’t think it’s dumb at all. Look at Severus and me. The day I saw him at that bookstore, I knew I had to spend my life with him. Ginny, when he said my name that first time, it was as though I was listening to the most beautiful song being whispered in my ear.”

“HERMIONE! WHERE THE BLOODY HELL IS THAT BALM!?” yelled Severus from the top of the stairs.

“The balm! I totally forgot. Ginny, please just let me deal with Severus, and I promise I’ll help you with your hand.” Hermione turned and began to walk out of the living room.

“Balm? What happened to Severus?”

Hermione turned, “Believe me, you do not want to know.” With that, she exited the room. Lucius crouched down and moved himself closer to the base of the suit of armor, to keep from being seen. He waited for Hermione to walk past him before he stood again.

His opportunity had come at last.

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Hermione rushed down the stairs to the dungeons and hurriedly walked into the lab. She looked on the shelves at the bottles already there. Finding what she needed for both Severus and Ginny, she ran up to her husband as fast as she could.

“I’m here, love, I’m here,” Hermione said as she found Severus lying on his stomach with his head on his pillow. She could tell he was fighting the urge to scratch his very cute ass.

“What took you so long?” he asked as she came into the room.

“Ginny’s broken her hand. I was looking at it. I’m sorry, sweetheart. Here, let Mummy make your bum bum all better.” Hermione leaned forward and kissed her pouting husband on the forehead. Severus whimpered as she rubbed his bare bottom with a thick cooling balm.

“Oh, that feels soooooo good,” Severus was finally able to relax. He’d been fighting the urge to scratch himself for what seemed like hours, but had only been about twenty minutes. He was holding his ass so tight that if someone had shoved a lump of coal in his asshole, a diamond would have emerged.

“Why, for Merlin’s sake, would the Count import poisonous plants from America? Those plants have no use in any worthwhile potion.”

“I suppose we’re done with the picnics, then?” asked Hermione.

“My dear, unless you have planned to Obliviate me of this entire experience, I would count picnics out for a very long time.”

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Okay, I know, poor Severus just doesn't seem to catch a break does he? He's just so much fun to torment. I'll have to do something totally fantastic for him to make up for all of his trouble.

I hope you liked this chapter. Thanks for reading.