Hermione tried to ignore the Death Eaters patrolling the holiday market, held on the streets of Hogsmeade. Their billowing capes and bizarre masks certainly did not lend themselves to the ambiance. To make shoppers nervous, one or two Death Eaters would follow one of them around for a long time, making the person think they had done something wrong or were about to be arrested -- then the Death Eater would laugh, give up, and find someone else to stalk.
Not able to shake the feeling that she herself was being followed, Hermione went from stall to stall, filling her basket with potions, herbs, and even a couple of books. She was about to go home when she came upon a stall tucked right at the end. The wizard there was selling catnip, cat toys and treats, and all kinds of things to keep felines happy.
Hermione paused, thinking of her beloved Crookshanks, who was probably snoozing away on a windowsill in the rooms she rented, oblivious to all of the political unrest.
She approached the stall, and the sleepy old wizard running it woke up and helped her select two mice toys stuffed with catnip.
Hermione thought she had just enough money. She gave the merchant several coins, and was digging around for a Knut when a gruff voice said "Here" and a person behind her held out the coin to the proprietor.
"Thank you," Hermione said, turning to the stranger. But he was already walking away. She saw him stop, lower his hood, adjust his mask, and then raise his hood and continue walking.
There was no mistaking that pale-blond hair.
It was Lucius Malfoy.
~ * ~ * ~
Hermione was hurrying through the forest that evening. The winter air smelled like snow was on the way. She was keeping warm in a fur lined cape and had cast several warming charms upon herself. If she was careful, she would be inside her home before curfew.
Life under the Death Eater regime was very strict. They highly encouraged (which meant it was mandatory) wizard and witch couples to have as many children as possible and send them off to rigid academies, where they were taught Dark Arts philosophy.
Hermione had been at a Christmas party at her friends' house, and, frightened into submission, they were certainly obeying the law -- Harry and Ginny Potter had five children and were currently expecting their sixth.
Hermione heard cackling and hollering off in the distance and jogged faster. She checked her watch and saw she had five minutes until 10 pm curfew. There was no way she could make it home in time. Maybe they wouldn't notice her. She knew she should have left the party much earlier and shouldn't have stayed for dessert.
Hogsmeade had been placed under a special kind of binding spell by the Death Eaters so no one could Apparate. The Floo system was carefully observed. There was no way to transport home magically -- Hermione was left with only one option, the old-fashioned Muggle way of walking.
The laughing crowd of men came closer. Hermione noticed that it was about half a dozen Death Eaters. And it was too late... they had spotted her.
She felt her heart rise to her throat and began running, knowing her very life depended on it. There was no telling what they might do to her when they captured her... and it was a matter of "when," not "if". As one, the Death Eaters began to give chase. Hermione didn't dare look behind her, but she heard their hooting and catcalls.
With a thud she ran into a person, who clapped a gloved hand over her mouth and dragged her behind a large tree. "Ssh!" hissed the stranger, "it's me. Keep quiet or they will find you. They're all drunk and looking for a reason to rape and kill."
In this hiding place, the two of them watched the oblivious Death Eaters gallop past and be swallowed by the darkness.
Only then did the person release her and throw his Death Eater mask to the frosty ground. Lucius Malfoy stood before her.
"Lord Malfoy!" Hermione stammered out.
He held up a hand. "Call me Lucius, please."
She nodded and quietly added, "I was so sorry to hear about Draco and Narcissa."
He bowed his head in acknowledgement. "You heard about the fire, then? It was to test my loyalty to the Death Eaters. I tried to get them out, but couldn't make it in time."
Hermione's jaw dropped in shock and sympathy.
He tipped her chin up as he looked side to side nervously. Then he cast charms over them so they couldn't be seen or heard. Looking at her straight in the eye, he whispered, "I'm part of a secret underground group that is working to overthrow the Death Eaters. We've come up with a lot of great ideas, and I think we're close to a reckoning."
"What can I do?" Hermione asked eagerly, thinking of all her friends and wanting to help.
"Come to the Three Broomsticks tomorrow night, 8:00. There's a hidden room where we hold our meetings. Tell Madam Rosmerta the password -- 'sherbet lemon' -- and she'll show you where to go."
Hermione knew Lucius was risking so much in telling her all this. Who knew what the Death Eaters would do to him if they figured out there was a spy in their midst?
She found herself captivated by his sparkling blue eyes. Raising a hand to his scruffy cheek, she said quietly, "Thank you for telling me. I'll be there." He closed his eyes and nuzzled into her hand for a second. Then she turned to go.
"Wait!" Lucius hissed, tugging her cape. "I can't let you go."
"What?" Hermione turned back around, her eyebrow rising quizzically.
"That group of Death Eaters was sent out and ordered to impregnate any witch they can find tonight. By any means necessary." Hermione's eyes widened as her mouth fell open. He continued. "I have to fuck you. If I don't, one of those assholes out there will. Do you understand what I'm saying?"
Hermione tried to swallow the enormous lump in her throat as she nodded.
Lucius clasped her wrist and carefully drew her closer, whispering, "I promise I'll be gentle. Do you trust me?"
She nodded, unable to speak. Emotions crowded through her mind, and she barely registered Lucius walking her back to the tree and backing her against it. He took her face in his hands and placed a chaste, tender kiss on her lips.
The smell of pine emanated from his heavy cloak. He tasted like coffee and whisky. Hermione found her body warming to his touch, and she responded, dipping her tongue into his mouth and pulling him close. She could barely hear him ask "May I?" as his hand drifted up to her breast and stilled. She nodded, and her head dropped back slowly of its own accord as he started slowly squeezing her breast. Hermione moaned quietly into the cold night air.
Lucius smiled in the darkness. He gently pulled her skirt up and slid her panties to the side, finding her wetness. His fingers lazily drifted through her opening, coming to play at her clit. Hermione gasped at the sensation.
He lightly bit at her earlobe. "You're ready for me, so ready for me, Hermione." She groaned in response, clinging to his neck. He held onto her tightly as his fingers strummed over her most private place. She was rising, rising ... and then suddenly tipped over the edge as an orgasm claimed her. It was the quickest she had ever came, whether by herself or with a partner. And it was wild realizing that even in these dangerous times, he could learn what her body liked and she could acknowledge it so warmly.
He wrapped his arms around her and hoisted her a bit further up the tree trunk, holding her in place. Her legs hooked around his waist, seemingly of their own volition. She brought her hands up to his face, smoothing his cheeks with her thumbs. He was looking at her as if he was a dying man and she was his only hope. "Keep me safe. Make me feel so good," she murmured. He nodded, a look of awe about him, and he let out a low growl as he unbuttoned his trousers. "You do something to me, Hermione," he said in her ear, as quiet as a prayer. "I haven't been able to stop thinking about you." He reached a finger between her legs and inserted it into her small opening. "You're even wetter than before, Merlin..." He took his cock in his hand and set it just at her entrance. "I'm going to take you now. I'll be as quick as I possibly can."
Hermione buried her face in his neck, holding on for literal dear life. She felt him enter her, felt him filling her up. "I'm here for you, Lucius. Do whatever you see fit. Use me." Her body stretched to welcome him in. Slowly, as if in gratitude, he began thrusting in and out of her, sucking at her neck. As he began moving faster, he peeled her dress down to expose a single breast. He sighed reverently, reaching out to tease her nipple.
Hermione let the pleasurable sensation wash over her like a wave. What she wouldn't give for things to be different and that they could be in a bed together, before a roaring fire, rather than up against a tree in the pitch-black night.
All of a sudden he held her in place and began thrusting faster still, spilling his seed within her. He dropped his head wearily between her breasts, and she affectionately brushed back blond strands of hair out of his eyes.
He let her down and helped her cover up again, casting a cleansing charm over her. They held hands, not wanting to leave each other, despite what they had just done and why. It seemed that Lucius couldn't tear his gaze away from her. An owl hooted very close to them, and he dropped his hands. Quickly digging in his pocket, he drew out a large pendant on a golden chain and carefully, almost lovingly, placed it around Hermione's neck. She lifted up the pendant and saw a phoenix engraved on it.
"No one will harm you while you're wearing this seal," Lucius explained. "I'll see you tomorrow night, yes?" He drew her into a protective embrace, tucking her under his chin. She seemed to fit just right. "Be safe," he whispered in her ear, so quietly she had to strain to hear it. Then he reached out and placed a hand over her belly. "I really hope we made a baby tonight, sweetheart," he confessed shyly. She squeezed his hand and turned again to leave.
"Hermione!" he called before she had taken two steps.
She turned to him.
"I love you."
She gave him a dazzling smile in return before whirling away into the dark.