Revelations

This chapter has actually ended up being just a bit LONGER than the others. It has an evil cliffy, but, it will be worth it. I promise!

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Revelation

Hermione struggled against the strong hands that held her captive. But it was no use. He was too strong. A black hood had been thrown over her head, keeping her from seeing his face. The voice was familiar. If she didn't know any better.... but that was just crazy. He would never join the ranks of Death Eater. He hated them as much as the rest of the Order did.

She gave up struggling against her bonds when it became apparent that she was not going to be freed. After she had been still for a moment, she again heard her captor's deep voice. "Oh, there's a good girl." She heard him move to her side and breathed a sigh of relief as she felt the hood being pulled from her head.

Closing her eyes, she took a steadying breath, before opening them. A gasp escaped her at the face she saw before her. It couldn't be. There was no way that he... "Kingsley? But, why?"

His stern dark face stared back at her for a moment. Finally, when he smiled, it was an expression that made her blood run cold. "The Dark Lord will repay me handsomely for such a prize as you."

At a loss for words, she simply stared back at him. Kingsley Shacklebolt was a Death Eater? When? Why? How could he be?

He tilted his head, as if listening to her thoughts. Alarm coursed through her at the idea that he might know Legilimency. "I want the power the Dark Lord can give me." He shook his head. "Dumbledore, Snape and Harry are all fools!"

Hermione shook her head, shocked. "You think Voldemort would give you power?"

Before she could react, Kingsley had sprung forward, striking her roughly across the cheek. "Don't ever dare to speak his name!" the wizard spat at her cruelly.

It felt as if her cheek had exploded. Hermione sat with her head lowered. She did not dare to glance back in his direction.

For a moment, he simply stared hard at her, waiting for her to brave another remark. When none came, he turned and stalked from the room, slamming the door behind him.

When Hermione heard the click of the lock, she knew that Kingsley would not be back for a while. Swallowing hard, she turned her attention to the ropes that bound her hands. She had not practiced wandless magic in some time, but she knew the basics. Surely she could get the ropes to loosen.

Staring hard at the knot of the ropes, she spoke forcefully, yet softly. "Release!" Nothing happened. She whimpered for a moment before biting her bottom lip and trying again. "Manumit!" This time, she saw the rope begin to move. She breathed a sigh of relief.

Suddenly, the bonds did just the opposite of what she had hoped. Instead of releasing, they tightened. Hermione cried out in pain as the rope cut into her wrists, drawing blood. The rope had been warded to counter attempts to free its captive by focusing immense pain to them.

Her cheek burning, her wrists bleeding, Hermione sagged against the pole she was tied to and cried. Lucius would never know she was gone until it was too late. She'd never see him again. Draco and Narcissa would never know peace. Harry and Ron would find out what happened to her only if the Dark Lord felt like gloating. It was hopeless.

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Lucius sat inside the large library, pretending to look through the ancient texts his guest had been going over the previous day. Hermione was sadly mistaken if she thought their discussion was over just because she had research to do. He would make a pretense of wanting to help her with her research. He would write down the bloody gospel of Dark Magic if it meant he could stay by her side.

After what seemed an eternity, he began to feel worried when she still did not put in an appearance. Waving his hand across the floor he commanded, "Show me Hermione!" The floor stayed as it was. Unchanged and unmoving. Tilting his head, he considered this. The only way his manor would not reveal his guests' whereabouts to him, was if they were no longer within the walls.

With a second sweep of his hand, he enjoined, "Show me Hermione's last movements within these walls!"

The floor began to swirl, and suddenly, he saw her moving out to the balcony. Next, he saw a struggle of shadows against the drapes. Eyes widening, he lurched from his chair and Apparated to Hermione's room.

Standing in the entryway to the balcony, he looked around. She was gone. A deep-seated fear took root in his heart and began to grow. Images of Hermione being raped as Narcissa had been made it difficult for him to breathe.

With a determined glare, he moved onto the balcony and swished his wand in the direction where he had seen the shadows struggling. "Reveal!"

Instantly, he saw Kingsley Shacklebolt holding Hermione's struggling form close as he Apparated away from the manor. With a smirk of disgust, Lucius stood outside Kingsley's home. With an anger he had never known an equal to, he blasted the other wizard's home with lightning force, disabling every ward that had been carefully constructed.

Using his wand, he waved it towards each door, breaking them off of their hinges. When he came to the door that was between him and Hermione, he knew instinctively that he would not be able to blast through this door. It was warded with a magic tied to its castor. The only way to rid it of the bond was to kill its host.

"So be it!" he whispered in acknowledgment. "Kingsley?" He called out mockingly, knowing that the other wizard was close by and knew he had arrived. "It isn't nice to steal other Death Eater's playthings... Didn't you know that?"

A flash of light came from behind him, followed by an angry voice. "You were a sad excuse for a Death Eater, Malfoy!" His voice was tinged with malice. "Don't insult my intelligence! I know as well as any other that you are now a sworn enemy of the Dark Lord."

Lucius' gaze darkened, and a strange smile curled on his lips. "Do you know why I was the Dark Lord's right hand man for so long, Shacklebolt?" he asked softly.

Kingsley shrugged nonchalantly. "Because of momentary insanity?"

Lucius' smile grew, and electricity seemed to arc between his fingers as he held them out for the wizard's inspection. "Because I am a descendant of one of the greatest wizards to ever live. I have power you will never know."

Shacklebolt's eyes widened momentarily before he recovered himself, scowling. "You don't scare me, Malfoy!"

"Oh, but you should be afraid!" Like lightning striking, Lucius let the electricity stream from his hands, flying through the air and striking Kingsley dead in an instant. His body wiggled for several minutes as Lucius watched, an expression of detachment on his face. When the younger wizards' body finally quit jerking, Lucius whispered, "be very afraid."

As if by invisible hands, the door that was bound to the life of the spy came open. Lucius moved to the door and scanned the room until his eyes fell on Hermione. The breath he had not realized he was holding escaped him in a rush.

Her eyes held his. The rope that bound her had fallen away to reveal huge gashes that bled freely. Lucius' brow creased with concern. When he stepped closer and knelt down beside her he saw the quickly darkening bruise that decorated her cheek. A murderous look crossed his features. But when he reached out to touch it, his hand was gentle, his palm cool against her inflamed skin.

Gathering her into his arms, he quickly Apparated back home. Hermione held onto him as if her very life depended on her contact with him. When he laid her down on her bed and began to pull away, she cried out. "No! Don't leave me! Please, I..."

Sitting down beside her, he gathered her back into his arms. "I have no intention of leaving your side tonight, Hermione." He rocked her gently as she relaxed against him. "Nothing will ever harm you again," he whispered. "I forbid it."

Hermione broke away from him and moved over in the bed so that he might lay down beside her.

For a moment, he simply looked at her lying on the bed before he moved to lay down beside her. He remained fully clothed. He would not take advantage of her while she was so shaken. Wrapping his arm around her, he watched her until she fell asleep.

Once her breathing was even, he raised his hand and caressed her cheek with a feather-gentle touch, erasing the bruise from her face. Rage flooded him anew at the thought of how close he had come to losing her this day.

For a moment, he told himself he should leave her now. She was resting comfortably and would probably wake in the morning shocked to be in the same bed with him. But, as he lay there watching her sleep, he couldn't bring himself to leave her. It had been so long since there had been a willing body so close to him. His decision made, he quickly placed strong wards on her room, letting himself relax, allowing sleep to come.

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Hermione awoke to the pleasant feeling of someone spooned up behind her. An arm was wrapped around her protectively. Fingers twined between hers. He had stayed. He promised her that he wouldn't leave her and he hadn't.

Carefully, she turned to observe his sleeping form. He lay beside her with his eyes closed, breathing peacefully. A strand of blond hair had fallen across his face. Gently, she reached out and pushed the hair away from his face.

She realized that Lucius had risked everything the night before to come to her. She remembered overhearing Snape talking to McGonagall one day about his friend. "He never leaves his home anymore. The man is a virtual prisoner of the scars Voldemort has left him with. He will never be the same again."

The voice played over and over in Hermione's head. Severus was right. Lucius would never be the same man he once was. His scars could never be healed by any magical or medical means. But he was a far more amazing man to her now. The man that had sworn never to leave the safety of his home had come to her aid, alone. He had come for her, a Muggle-born.

Tears filled her eyes as she considered how difficult that must have been for him. Reaching out, she traced the outline of his perfect jaw. "I love you, Lucius," she whispered before placing her lips to his in a soft kiss.

Lucius awoke with her arms wrapped around him. Her lips touched his softly. With his good eye, he observed her face when she pulled away. Her eyes met his. "Thank you," she said simply.

He found himself locking his arms around her to prevent her from pulling any further away. "I did what any honorable wizard would do, Hermione."

She smiled and a light showed in her eyes when she whispered, "You did more than anyone else would have done." She shook her head. "Harry would not have even gone there alone."

Lucius looked away, feeling flushed with embarrassment. It had been incredibly stupid to go there by himself. What if it had been an ambush? He could have gotten them both killed.

Clearing his throat, he released her, and rolled to get up from the bed. "I... uhm... I should go now."

Before he could take a step, she was beside him, grabbing his hand. "Don't," she said in a whisper. "Don't run away from what I know we are both feeling."

Stepping back from him and releasing a shaky breath, she took hold of the hem of her shirt and pulled it over her head. He looked down at her pale, perfectly formed breasts. His throat tightened and a moan escaped him before he could quell it.

Reaching out, she took his hand in hers and brought it up to her chest. She watched his face as she pushed her breast into his hand. "I belong to you," she said softly. "Take me, please?

Lucius took deep breaths to try to calm his pounding heart. He should turn away. He should summon Severus and make him take Hermione away from here before she could get truly hurt. He would hurt her. He knew he would. He hurt anyone that was really important to him. He never meant to, but he always did.

"Hermione, don't do this. I'm not worth..." The words died on his lips when she stepped closer and claimed them with her own. All argument went from his thoughts as she pressed herself up against him.

Her hands went to his shirt, and before he could think to argue, it was pushed down his arms, falling away from him. Passion made his blood boil as she pressed herself against him. Her nipples grazed his chest, making it hard for him to think.

He did want her. He wanted her so badly it took his very breath away for her to stand so close. Tears welled in his eyes when she ran her hands over the scars on his chest. Leaning down, her lips followed where her hands had just touched. She placed gentle kisses across his skin, driving any and all argument from him.

"Hermione." He spoke her name as if in prayer. His hands moved up her arms until he gripped her shoulders. Then he leaned towards her, capturing her lips with his own with such a sweep of passion that it stole her breath.

Returning his kiss, she stroked the lines of his torso with her thumbs. He moaned against her mouth when she found his own hardened nipples.

Breaking the kiss, he looked deeply into her eyes. His hands found the fastening of her jeans and pulled it open. Sliding his fingers inside her waistband, he slid the pants down her thighs. Hermione trembled as he went down on one knee to inspect the part of her he was laying bare.

Using his shoulder to support herself, she stepped out of the pants that had pooled around her ankles. She watched Lucius, who was taking note of the flimsy g-string she wore as underwear. His fingers curled around the material, and in a moment, it also fell to the ground.

Turning his attention to the spot that had been hidden from his view just a second before, he leaned forward and pressed his cheek against the soft, curly thatch of hair that was there. He breathed in her scent as he held her.

Hermione giggled as he rubbed his nose across her nether regions. Her hand flew to her mouth to stifle it, but it was too late. His laughter joined her own. "Your scent is that of forbidden fruit, Hermione. And I crave it."

Suddenly, he was there before her, lifting her into his arms. He turned and placed her gently on the bed. Using his hands, he urged her to part her thighs for him, so he could pay closer attention to that sweet part of her he was beginning to crave.

She couldn't stop the tremble that ran through her when he reached down and ran a finger across the folds of her flesh. In response, he climbed onto the bed between her legs, and leaned down to press a kiss against the exposed flesh.

A moan escaped her as he let his tongue trace the nub that lay between her folds. His fingers held her clit open as he let his other hand move to explore the sensitive flesh. She raised her hips when he slid a finger inside her depths.

Smiling at her reaction, he leaned down to lick the tiny nub he knew was the core of her pleasure. His finger moved slowly within her as his mouth closed over the pith and began to suckle it gently.

Hermione cried out and her hands cradled his head to her. "Lucius! Oh my... Please," she gasped as a second finger invaded her depths. She pulled at him frantically, wanting him closer to her.

He answered her pulls by sliding up the length of her body. She raised her lips to his, kissing him. His hand still worked over her. Now his thumb rubbed the heart of her core as the two fingers played inside of her.

This was like nothing she had ever felt. No man had ever touched her in such a way. Her own hands ran over his chest and down to his waist where his pants were still on. Tucking her hands into the elastic of the waistband, she tugged until his pants were down past his hips.

"I want you," she whispered against his lips. "May I taste you, too?" Her eyes searched his for a moment before he lay back on the bed, and raised his hips for her when she moved to pull the pants from him.

Hermione moved over him. Her hands ran over his chest. She leaned down to place a kiss to his lips one more time before she let her lips trail down his body. She hovered over a nipple, swirling her tongue in circles around it before continuing her journey to his groin. Her hand curled around his erection. It was thick, long, and had a beautiful pinkish tint to it.

Leaning down, Hermione ran her tongue along its length. A moan escaped him when he felt her lips curl around his tip.

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A/N: Tee Hee Hee... I'm evil! I do not normally leave such cliffies in the middle of a love scene... But Hey! If it gets you guys to leave a review, why not? There will be an update soon... I promise!