Part Three: Then

A/N: Thank you, Clairvoyant, for your patience and for all of your help, again and again!

oOoOoOo

Then...

"Do you truly believe that Muggles are our equals?" The cool grey eyes of the blond wizard glinted, suppressing something volatile, wild and hateful.

"I believe Muggles are our natural balance," stated the interviewee.

There was a murmur around the table. The Hogwarts' Board of Governors were surprised by the witch's blunt response.

"Miss Charity Burbage, surely you cannot deny what history has proven time and time again. Muggles are dangerous."

"Ignorance is dangerous, Governor Malfoy. Wizards must accept that Muggles have their own particular, useful knowledge; our wizard history lacks the inclusion of their contribution to society as we know it..."

"Wizarding society, as we know it, has no need of the study of Muggles, but a need for our young to be fully aware of the theft of our powers and persecution of wizardkind by..."

"Sir, my background and views of Muggles..."

"That is exactly why a Hogwarts' board meeting was convened: so that all governors have a chance to meet you, Miss Burbage, and be presented with your... peculiar ideas. I am here today for you to satisfy my curiosity."

Lucius held Charity's gaze. It had been years since he had last seen the young witch, years ago since he had uttered very similar words to her, wishing her to satisfy him as well as he satisfy her curiosity.

She's not letting on how she's known me in the past in front of them... Good girl...

Of course, it had been under very different circumstances; she'd turned seventeen and been made-up like a doll for looking, not touching, all satin and lace... but he had touched her, touched her hard and deeply...

But look at her now, not a brush of rouge anywhere, so natural and fired up with zest and zeal for her futile cause... What a waste of passion...

An irritating voice brought Lucius out of his reflection about the witch before him.

"Her unique qualifications, I believe, would be more accurate, Lucius," corrected Dumbledore, peering over his half-moon glasses at the seemingly miffed governor. The Headmaster of Hogwarts pressed his point. "If our students are to gain as thorough an education from a professor as possible in Muggle Studies, short of bringing in an actual Muggle, Miss Burbage is then quite qualified."

Wheels within wheels turning inside his head, Lucius sniffed and glanced down at the parchment before him. "Yesss...," he softly hissed, glancing over her curriculum vitae. He studied it for several seconds and then stated, "Miss Burbage, I know your father well, and you are a pureblood." His jaw muscles clenched, irked by another aspect of this entire ordeal. Muggle Studies professorship? She became a Muggle lover... How is this possible: the Weasleys, Longbottoms and now the Burbages? This blood traitor behaviour must be annihilated before we're all made extinct by their traitorous ways to wizardkind!

"Yes, Mr Malfoy, our families know each other well, but more importantly," the young blonde witch pointed out on the parchment, "I've been working undercover for the Ministry for two years, living with and being educated by Muggles. From my experience and observations, I've documented and analysed for all to study. It's fascinating what we can learn from Muggles; my observations are invaluable to Muggle Studies as we know it..."

"So you say," Lucius cut her off sharply.

Around the table, the other governors held their breath; they could override Malfoy's decision if he rejected the applicant completely, but a unanimous agreement for the hiring of a new professor was preferable...if only for tradition's sake. And if not merely for tradition's sake, the thought of having to be in conflict with Lucius Malfoy did not appeal to any of them, as he was known to hold grudges indefinitely.

However, Lucius was distracted by other thoughts, having nothing to do with the hiring of the applicant before him for a teaching position. He was remembering how easy a conquest this very witch had been for him at her coming-out party her family had given her for coming of age. Along with several other families whose daughters had turned of age, the celebration had been a gawdy, garish get-together overall. But Charity had stood out from all the rest in Lucius' eyes, and so naturally, he had seduced and enjoyed being the young witch's first.

But now it's as if she's someone completely different. His eyelids fluttered as he heard her droning on about Muggles further, and he couldn't get over her marked confidence and sense of purpose. She's so natural now, so much lovelier; then she was as made up as a cheap tart in Knockturn Alley, too much make-up... I could taste it in my mouth for days, but now I bet if I licked her, it would be her own natural essence... yes, much more appetising...

Snapping back to the present moment, Lucius realized he needed to uphold his supremacist ways and illustrate to all what was truly dangerous about Muggle lovers such as Dumbledore and his increasing amount of followers. Addressing a particular topic, which highly amused him as well as riled, he dug up one of the touchy topics regarding Muggle loving. Wishing the entire governors' panel to witness and be clear on her views, he cut her off and asked bluntly, "One particular question so that the panel may get a better picture of the 'whole' you, Miss Burbage: how do you view the dwindling of our stock...how do you foresee the future of wizardkind's dwindling numbers with the onslaught of Muggles abound?"

"The natural order of things clearly indicates that we must intermarry with Muggles to survive; the future of our kind must–"

"Breed with them?" dictated Lucius, his voice reflecting the ludicrousness of it even as he uttered the words. Smirking, he offered, "I propose an alternative to you, Miss Burbage."

"You, Mr Malfoy? You've got my utmost attention...please, tell."

"We could breed with each other, Miss Burbage, pureblood to pureblood." He gave her a look which he was pleased she responded to with a blush as nervous and uncomfortable sounds and titters sounded forth from around the table from the other governors.

All were unsure of whether the duplicitous Malfoy was making a joke or in earnest; either way, it was inappropriate, but no one would dare call him on it.

Except Dumbledore. Albus neutrally pointed out, "I believe, Lucius, the subject of breeding is irrelevant to the position for professor of Muggle Studies."

"Am I so repulsive to you, Miss Burbage?" pressed the blond wizard coyly, ignoring the Headmaster completely to demand that Charity give him some sign or word that she remembered him as much as he remembered her.

The witch blushed deeply, giving Lucius the unspoken answer he needed.

Feigning a modest disposition to relieve any tension in the air that he'd been in earnest, he jested, "I see, gentlemen, we'll just have to become Muggles if one wishes to receive Miss Burbage's attentions."

At the preposterousness of Malfoy's words, Charity let out a mirthful laughter, as clear as sparkling crystal, and Lucius felt a keen tightening and stirring in his groin. So, the bright, little know-it-all still has a playful side; perhaps, there is a way to persuade her back to the proper side with just the right approach rather than being one of Albus' puppets... Yes, I must report back to the Dark Lord that all is not lost, that I can remedy this situation for our cause...

He smiled at Charity, and this time she returned the smile but with an empowered, challenging confidence that he was not used to being given by a witch, nor did he like it one bit.

No, my dear, you will not win... I will take you and your radical ideas, my sweet and once naïve witch, and I will break you... break you and remold you in the way a pureblood witch should be.

With a serious, neutral air, Lucius turned sharply away from Charity's challenging look and proposed to other governors, "I move that the final decision be postponed for two weeks to give adequate time for the study of these parchments and for my thorough consideration of Miss Burbage for the position.

"I must have full satisfaction of her... qualifications."

But Dumbledore rejected this immediately and informed, "There is no need, Lucius, for a postponement. Miss Burbage has all of the qualifications I require."

Of course, Dumbledore's say and selection as Headmaster would be final. Lucius knew this and resented it.

Conceding to the Headmaster for the time being, Lucius declared, "Gentlemen, I believe we've heard all that we need to hear. Albus, the decision, at the end, is indeed in your hands." You meddlesome old Muggle-loving blood traitor; you'll get your comeuppance sooner than later, just you wait...

The meeting was adjourned.

oOoOoOo

The Hogwarts' Board of Governor's solstice party was boring Lucius to tears. Only the subversive recruiting of potential supporters for the Dark Lord kept him from getting thoroughly soused and, of course, the subject of the current witch being discussed.

"Mr Burbage, I do grieve for you, truly I do," offered Lucius, unable to produce crocodile tears but hoping for his pretence to cajole the distressed father.

"No, Mr Malfoy. Thank Merlin you'll never have to be in my predicament. Charity's always been too clever for her own good. And now I've lost her. She came back, after this cursed Ministry's assignment, irreverent to our ways and wild. I barely recognise her anymore! The entire Ministry has gone down the drain if you ask me. We're losing a whole generation to this Muggle-loving propaganda, and now my own daughter, my daughter, Lucius! The disgrace!" the elder Burbage rasped and became quite choked up, resorting to brooding in his glass of Firewhisky.

Having a predator's true sense of preying on the vulnerable, Lucius offered, "My invitation is still open. There will be a meeting later this evening, in fact, for fellow believers and supporters of the new Dark Lord who wishes to reinstall wizards' power as they were naturally meant to be. Muggle loving shall become a thing of the past again," informed Malfoy sympathetically. "You have my word on that."

"Count me in! I'll be there. Maybe there's still a chance to bring my daughter back into the fold," Burbage gave a dark glower towards the Headmaster of Hogwarts, "instead of a hopeless follower of that Muggle loving Dumbledore. The hypocrisy and ludicrousness of it all, Lucius! It breaks an old wizard's heart, it does."

Burbage's eyes lit up spotting someone. "Ah, here comes my daughter now."

Lucius turned to where the old wizard was focused and literally bumped shoulders with the Hogwarts' Headmaster.

"Albus," acknowledged the disgruntled Malfoy, unable to control the dislike in his voice.

"Lucius," Dumbledore replied coolly, also noticing Burbage, and was curious. "You aren't perhaps still upset by my choice?"

"Not your choice of witch, Albus, although I'm surprised you didn't choose the young wizard applying, knowing wizards to be your preference... in all things. " The blond wizard leered a second too long at Charity, and catching himself, he explained further, "But the subject matter itself is... hmm, what is the word? Distasteful, yes, that's it, 'distasteful' to me... Unlike our newest addition to the Hogwart's staff." He sighed dramatically. "What a waste of a witch, Albus, on Muggle Studies...I'm sure your father, Percival Dumbledore, would've agreed."

Ignoring Lucius, Dumbledore enquired, "Miss Burbage's probationary interim comes to an end; on my part, she'll be given the position permanently. I shall assume that there shall be no future arbitrary opposition from you then?"

Malfoy gave a tart, empty smile to Albus and didn't answer him. Not hiding his disdain, he arrogantly brushed on by him to intervene with the witch who'd entered the ballroom on the arms of Severus Snape.

"Ah, Severus, you came. Do I have your lovely colleague here to thank for this?" He swooped up Charity's hand to his lips.

"Mr Malfoy!" Charity gave a glance to Severus, who had turned away slightly being greeted and engaged by some other governor's wife.

Taking matters swiftly into his own hands, Lucius spoke in a low voice, "Please understand, Miss Burbage, I'm so very honoured. Severus accepted the invitation this year; he always declines it. Surely, it was because of you?"

"We both received invitations and decided to come together. We're good friends."

"A 'friend' friend? Or," he paused, "an intimate friend?"

Charity blushed. "He's my colleague and friend."

"Ah, a colleague friend," purred Lucius. "Well, one can't have too many of those, Miss Burbage. So, where does that put us?"

She raised an eyebrow in curiosity. "Us?"

"As a governor of the school and you being my subordinate," he smirked, "I own you, Professor Burbage. Didn't Severus tell you?"

By now, Severus had turned back to them, only catching Lucius' last comment.

"Professor Burbage and I have other matters to discuss, Lucius, rather than the misconceived, wayward goings-on of the Board of Governors."

Neither was Charity in the least amused. "I don't belong to anyone, Mr Malfoy. Not you, nor father, nor anyone. I'm my own person. I think for myself."

"Ah, I see," replied the blond wizard. "Has becoming a professor taken away your ability to know when someone is joking, my dear? Or, perhaps, living among Muggles has." Lucius forced a broad smile and looked her up and down slowly in her elegant midnight-blue gown. "So serious, and yet such an open spirit you have, my dear. You know, you've quite aroused... my curiosity, as ever, especially when you spoke of Muggles and breeding at your interview." He gave her an odd leer. "I was sincerely curious as to why you have an aversion to your own kind."

"My own kind, Mr Malfoy?" huffed Charity, remembering Malfoy's tenacious, overbearing tendencies all too well.

"Lucius, please, like old times. I would so much like to be on first name basis with you again and call you Charity. Such a lovely name...meaning benevolence, giving to one in need, does it not?" Lucius smiled, maddeningly smug.

Charity gazed at the blond wizard and couldn't help but give him a small smile. "Very well, Lucius."

"Severus, may I steal Charity away from you? I haven't had the pleasure of her company alone," since she was seventeen... "and must insist on a few minutes of discussing the business regarding her final probationary review for the Board... When I'm finished with her, I'll release her back to you for further pleasurable activities this evening."

Snape frowned, his thin lips frozen in suspicion at the thought of his colleague being alone with Malfoy, regardless of the reason. But he would not interfere with Lucius' request, as it appeared Malfoy and Charity had past history. As he glanced at Charity to check her reaction, she seemed comfortable and open to Lucius' proposal and, like too many other witches, more than a bit influenced by his charm. "Very well. I shall be here if either of you need me."

Severus gave a consenting nod, releasing Charity's arm over to Lucius who, without any preamble, whisked her away briskly to a secluded corner of the manor's ballroom with a private balcony leading out from it. For any enquiring minds and ears taking note of the couple's manoeuvering, Lucius lied blandly for no one in particular to overhear, "The Board has left it to me for the final decision of your place on the Hogwarts staff, as your probationary period is coming to an end. I just have a few more questions to be answered to my satisfaction, if you would be obliging, my dear?"

Once reaching outside the French doors, the balcony curved around, connecting to a dimly lit, private salon, which Lucius led them both into. Once inside, he turned and gazed intently at her. "I wish to thank you for being so discreet during your interview and beyond it; indeed, one would think that no one knows of...how shall I put it...our little indiscretion years ago."

Charity blushed and mumbled, "What's past, is past. Moreover, I'm not that person that I was. That you knew and took advantage of. None of it matters. I'm beyond it all now. The past is dead to me." She raised her chin slightly. "As well as you."

So the past is dead for you? I, as well? We'll see about that! One thing Lucius did not take well was flat-out rejection.

"Well, you are passionate, Charity. You always have been and always will be...that has not changed." A dark thought formed in the crevasses of his mind as Lucius' eyes flicked over her features, and the forced smile on his face froze, seemingly pleased. "Quite a charisma for your subject of interest; I'm sure your students find your classes most stimulating."

"Most are very keen to be enlightened about Muggles."

"Enlightened about Muggles?" Lucius huffed, full of disdain, and decisively turned the subject to his more pressing interests and needs. He dropped all façade and said in a husky voice, "I would very much like to kiss you again, Charity."

"I'm not that kind of witch anymore, Mr Malfoy, and even if I were, I'm definitely not your type."

"Definitely not my type?" Lucius repeated mockingly. "What kind are you then? You were my type when you turned sweet seventeen, weren't you? And I remember that just as if it were yesterday, my dear."

The witch's cheeks burned red, and she became so very flustered, unable to respond momentarily, before she could muster up her concentration and comment, "You wished to discuss my permanent position in Hogwarts, so let's discuss that and return to the ball."

"Perhaps, a kiss would seal the deal for you? One kiss. Is that so much to ask for my utmost support for you for the prestigious position?" Lucius smiled at her lovely brown eyes growing wider. Then abruptly, he cajoled her, "Do you truly have such an aversion to me now? No pity for a poor wizard still enamoured by you, my dear?"

Not believing him, but unable to control herself, Charity blushed. "I'm not the naïve, silly chit that I was years ago when you seduced me..."

"One kiss, Charity."

She moved her face away as he lowered his to kiss her.

"So suspicious? Is there nothing I can do to show you my... sincerity? I wish you only the best." Suddenly, his lips were on the nape of her neck, gently nibbling upward on her silken skin, pausing at her earlobe, only to then lightly flicker his tongue in her ear. He hotly whispered, "You've come into your own; you've become such an independent, strong-willed witch with your unique passion and natural beauty for all to bask in your glow. How can I resist you, my dear? 'Power is a natural attractor', remember? You said that to me so many years ago, but then you wanted my kisses, very much so..."

"I have changed. I no longer view power in the same way." Charity pushed his chest gently away and gave him a triumphant smile as his piercing grey eyes met hers. She bluntly said, "Sexual power between a witch and wizard is to be shared, enjoyed equally, not one taking utterly from the other."

"Ah, I see," commented Lucius, amused to no end. "Still as naïve and mistaken as you always were. Charming, my dear. Have your experiences still remained so unfulfilling? So disillusioned? Well, lucky for you, I'm still at your service, Miss Burbage. Your wish is my command."

Charity could not help herself and laughed at his bold arrogance. "Some things have remained the same: your arrogance and cocky assuredness of your love-making skills, Mr Malfoy."

"Yesss," he softly hissed, pleased that she was softening, playful. "Some things are absolutisms. If my memory serves me correctly, and it always does, you had no complaints and were quite willing and thankful that we were not equals...that I was so much more experienced than you, my dear."

Charity became tongue-tied, unable to dispute the truth.

Lucius seized the moment to catch her mouth with his. Feeling her respond back to him, he indulged in kissing her for several seconds before he murmured in her ear, "I do need to be clear on all of your views, though."

Charity waited, panting softly, knowing that his slippery tactics could reveal anything.

"Your father is very upset about your fervour and your lack of adhering to the old pureblood ways...Does your heritage mean nothing to you?"

Relieved that there was nothing more than the same old pureblood diatribe being attempted, Charity relaxed fully. "So, father wishes you to lecture me about the error of my ways? You poor man," she teasingly consoled him.

"Ah, you pity me, Miss Burbage?" He fluttered his eyelashes. "I'm flattered."

"Pity you, Mr Malfoy? That would be a waste of emotion."

"Ah, so cruel. You speak as if you think I have no heart." He smiled lasciviously at her and took her hand, pressing his lips to her palm. "I have a heart, my sweet Charity. Where there's one heart met by another open heart, there is always the possibility for pity. Such a useful emotion. Another useful emotion is mercy." Lucius clasped her tightly around the waist to him.

At his touch, just as years ago, Charity began to reciprocate slowly, her hands feeling the contours of his sculpted form underneath his robes. A soft expression appeared on her features: warm and inviting, just as he remembered her. Vulnerable.

"Please, let's not speak of hearts," she replied wistfully in a small voice. Lucius felt her melting and knew she would give in to him fully if he just pressed her a bit further.

"Have mercy on me, Charity," he heatedly whispered, guiding her gently into a shadowed corner in the sconced lighting. "I don't wish to banter about, each with our esoteric principles. I want to taste you, my sweet; I want you to let me pleasure you as I did all those years ago. To be, once again, your clandestine lover... You hold all the power, this time, my dear."

They had barely reached the corner's walls when Charity felt Lucius' hot mouth press into her neck ardently while pressing his hardness against her; the feel of his erection caused shivers down her spine. "I... I don't know... I don't think we should..."

Her words were stopped by his hungry mouth upon hers again.

After several seconds of grinding into each other, he whispered fiercely, "Do you truly wish me stop?" He began to murmur sweet nothings, nipping her silky neck, eliciting gasps from her as his fingertips feather-lightly felt and pinched her hardening nipples through her satin dress. "No one else need ever know, my dear. Just like before. Our little secret."

"Oh," gasped Charity, breathing heavily, barely able to coherently form words, "Please, Lucius, don't. We're not the same people we were." But her eyes were shut tight, and her lips opened, needy and wanting more.

Arching an eyebrow at her mixed signals, but sensing her body's readiness for him, regardless of what she was saying, he decided, Yes, I think I will fuck her. Now. Lucius slowly gathered her skirt upwards, slipping an experienced hand up and pulling aside the crotch of her skimpy laced knickers. Heatedly, he whispered as he slipped one finger and then another into her wetness, "Don't do this?" His thumb searched for and felt her swollen clit between her vaginal lip folds.

As he pressed circularly, Charity moaned out beyond her control and clutched his back, thrusting her hips upward to welcome him in deeper, and he felt a rush of pleasure surge and burn throughout his muscles as she clasped him to her, encouraging him to continue further and further...

Not wasting any time, Lucius released his painful erection from his trousers and slid into her wetness, digging his fingers into the softness of her round arse, hoisting her upwards against the wall and holding her in place as he thrust into her cunt, hard and urgent, inward and upwards deeper and deeper. "Your leg," he groaned, "raise it!"

Lucius helped her to drape one leg over his supporting arm, only to then ram harder into her, quickening his pace, until his balls were slapping against her cheeks in thrusting rhythm. He could pound her relentlessly at her favourite angle which he remembered so well, and by her cries of joy, he knew that she remembered too.

Charity's trembling and clawing at Lucius to continue fucking her shot a searing bolt through him, and he found himself grinding and screwing her cunt into the wall until she cried out his name in orgasm; his balls tightened in rapid pain, and he spent himself deep inside her, feeling triumphant that he had reclaimed what he felt he'd lost.

Charity was his, once again.

oOoOoOo

"You have not been straightforward with me, Lucius. Look at me."

Lucius' nose began to bleed heavier the further the Dark Lord probed him.

"This Muggle loving pureblood witch... Burbage. You are attracted by her blasphemous teachings?"

"No, my Lord..."

"Don't lie to me."

As the Dark Lord scraped around the weak Malfoy's mind, Voldemort saw Lucius' smooth seduction of the blood traitor Burbage and felt vicariously Lucius' sexual pleasure, his orgasm and satiated sense of power over the witch. The feeling of a satisfied conquest. He released the blond wizard to collapse before his feet.

"She would have us breed with them?"

"She strikes me as very impressionable, my lord, naïve, almost romantic...Dumbledore's influence, no doubt."

"Romantic, Lucius?" The Dark Lord leered, ominous and cold blooded, at Lucius' prostrated figure. "You weak fool!"

The electrical bolt of pain hitting Lucius, excruciating and numbing, was the last thing he remembered before blacking out.

oOoOoOo

"Lucius, I believe you know the current Muggle Studies professor? Know her quite well, in fact?" The Dark Lord's eyes gleamed. "Quite intimately."

"Show us, Lucius, show us what blood traitors are good for."

The Dark Lord's red eyes glinted dangerously in the moonlight of the Forbidden Forest.

The silver-masked follower turned from his master to look down upon the victim held in place upon a turfed mound by fellow Death Eaters.

"You! You...you're truly one of them," whimpered Charity.

Voldemort's tone dripped with ominous finality. "Lucius?"

His minion acquiesced and lowered himself to half-lay on the female.

"Yes...," hissed Lucius softly. Abruptly, he grabbed her chin tightly, jerking it, forcing her to look him in the eyes, and raised his wand to Burbage's throat.

"Do you know what you represent? All that is foul and diseased within the pureblood society. You filthy Muggle loving..."

"Don't!" she pleaded.

The grey eyes glinted through the mask malevolently.

"Don't kill me!" she begged, delirious from the blood loss and beating of her captors.

"She must be returned to Dumbledore alive for the time being," instructed his master coldly. "Lucius, I require something more intimate for this evening's entertainment." The Dark Lord gave him a knowing look. His face drawn back in a threatening leer, Voldemort licked his lips with his snake-like tongue. "Do it!"

With a forced bravado, Charity heard her once clandestine lover's voice taunt, "And why would I do a despicable thing like that, Burbage? Spill pureblood blood?"

From behind the mask, his heavy-lidded eyes fell lower to between her legs.

Quietly, he shared, "The Dark Lord let's me play with my catch in other ways. No, my stupid, deluded witch..." He raised her skirt and with one quick brutal movement, placed himself between her legs. Jerking the crotch of her knickers aside, he spoke not a word as he undid his trousers, releasing his hardened cock, placing it at her entrance.

"It's been amusing... "

Watching the stunned, immobilised witch, amidst the grotesque grunts and taunts of the other Death Eaters holding the victim down, with detached efficiency, he rammed his cock inside her, fucking until he came in a base, perfunctory way.

The deed done, he quickly withdrew out of her and raised himself off of her immobilised body and dressed again. Raising his wand, he callously announced, "That is all blood traitors are good for..."

His voiced trailed off as his mind was reeling to keep his concentration and carry through with what needed to be done further.

"And now, I'm going to Obliviate your memory of this little encounter. You won't remember it, but we, on the other hand," announced Lucius cruelly for all of his inner circle to hear, "shall cherish it always."

Wand raised, he sent the spell, erasing her abduction, torture and rape.

"That's more like it," jibed the Dark Lord, lecherously leering at the blond wizard and not surprised at how accommodating his slippery servant had been. "Good boy, Lucius."

oOoOoOoOo