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The Masked Lady	By : soldiersgirl0709 Category: Harry Potter > Het - Male/Female > Lucius/Hermione Views: 36030 -:- Recommendations : 1 -:- Currently Reading : 7
Disclaimer: I own nothing related to Harry Potter nor do I make any money from the publication of this fic. Only friends and smiles.-

Chapter List
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Chapter 10: Vanished�again

The Masked Lady Speaks!

Dear Citizens of Magical Britain,

It is with a heavy heart that I write to you all and announce my retirement. I know that for some of you this is a relief, your frivolous baubles and obscene wealth are safe once more. I would hope that every time you adorn yourself so ridiculously that you think of the children of our world who are starving to death and being deprived of an education that your excessive and let�s face it often ugly jewels could remedy. I took upon myself a one woman crusade to right the wrongs of this world, to seek justice and equality for those less fortunate but it didn�t make a difference. No matter how many pockets I picked or hideous pieces of jewelry I nicked it was only a temporary fix. I have come to realize that the mission is not mine alone but everyone�s. All of you should be thinking about those children and the fact that they are our future. So, I leave the limelight. No longer stealing from the rich to feed the poor. Instead I beseech you to give freely to charities set up to feed indigent families and funds set up to educate underprivileged witches and wizards. The gowns that you wore once and tossed into the back of a wardrobe can feed a family for months; the material can be used to make clothing for a child. The jewelry collecting dust in your vaults can pay for a full seven years at a magical school. What you let go to waste, what you think of as useless can change the lives of hundreds if you would only find it in your heart to donate.

Sincerely Yours,

The Masked Lady, retired

Lucius wadded the newspaper up in his hands and ground his teeth together in frustration. After a night of the most incredible and satisfying sex he had ever had he had woken up alone. The little witch had slipped out while he was in a post coital coma. Damn but it had been amazing. His body ached all over, hell, even his cock had hurt but he couldn�t find it in him to complain. She was everything he had ever wanted in a woman. She was passionate, responsive, reciprocal and she wanted him without the mask. Gods, that had been the most amazing part of it. There was no need to hold back, she didn�t want that, she didn�t need it. She could take him, all of him, the darkness and strength, it wasn�t just accepted, it was demanded and he felt free.

Could he ever bed another woman after that? The women of his past were delicate creatures, his wife, his mistresses, hell even the occasional paid companion had balked at any sign of his passions unleashed. But not Hermione. His back still bore the marks of her passion. Claw marks that had broken the skin and he had refused to use healing potion on. It was with disappointment that he watched the love bite on his hipbone fade as he took pride in seeing her marks on his body. Did she feel the same when she saw the bruising on her inner thighs and bottom from his repeated rough riding? Did she stand in front of the mirror with all that impossible hair pulled over her shoulder and stare at the line of hickeys spread across her shoulders?

The memories had kept him hard for a week and his responses weren�t waning with time. How could she leave like that? He had planned for them to spend the day talking out their circumstances once the fire had been put out. Well, perhaps it hadn�t been put out exactly but it had definitely been cooled for a time. Long enough for them to have had a decent conversation at least had she not up and vanished like the criminal she was.

Vanish was exactly what she had done, too. He had gone to her office every day for four days to find it locked and empty, then on the fifth day he had found an older woman with purple hair setting up shop. The woman, whose name he couldn�t be bothered to recall, said that Hermione had taken an indefinite leave of absence and she was the temporary replacement. He had been floored of course, he may not know her but he knew enough to think it odd that a woman so passionate about her job would leave it to someone else.

The letter in the Prophet was the final straw, her words spoke of a woman defeated, burned out from fighting so long and so hard with nothing to show for it. Where was she? Why was she hiding from him? He tossed the paper aside and strode to the hall where he gathered his cloak and his cane. He wasted little time apparating to his solicitors office. Knowing he was the man�s wealthiest client he didn�t bother to make an appointment of even acknowledge the secretary as he strode through the waiting room and through the double doors that led to the office.

�I need you to find someone�s address for me, Theo.� Lucius stated imperiously as he walked straight up to the desk. The rather rotund, beady eyed man sitting behind the desk rose immediately, his cheeks flushing as he stared up at the tall, intimidating wizard. Theo wasn�t an idiot, he knew better than to try and correct or refuse a man like Malfoy.

�Mr. Malfoy, of course, anything you need, sir.� He looked around Lucius as the young woman whose father�s will he had been reading when Lucius walked in and gave the sobbing young lady an apologetic look. �Ms. Dawson, I apologize but this is very important, if you wouldn�t mind waiting in the lobby I will continue to explain your father�s estate shortly.�

Lucius glanced behind him impatiently; not at all repentant for having interrupted the young lady�s meeting. With a simple arch of his brow and a pointed look she was out of her seat and scurrying from the room, her apprehension pouring off of her in waves. Lucius loved it that he could still have that affect on people.

�I need to know where Hermione Granger lives.� He demanded.

�But, Sir�why?� Theo asked. He couldn�t imagine why his client would want to know the home address of the muggleborn witch.

�Why, is none of your business, just get me the address, now.� Lucius drawled, tapping his fingers on the surface of the desk. The little man scurried into action, using his fireplace to floo call the ministry information center. Apparently a young man who worked in the archives owed Theo a favor and happily located Hermione�s records. Within minutes Lucius had her address clutched in his fist along with directions to her flat.

He sneered in disgust as he walked through the Leaky Cauldron, wondering why there weren�t better routes of access to London from the wizarding communities. He ignored the reactions of the various unpleasant patrons and stepped out onto the busy city street. With his head held high he strolled along the pavement, noting the way men frowned in his direction while the women simpered and smiled. Muggle idiots, like they would stand a chance. He watched one of the muggles hail a taxi on the corner and mimicked their actions, smiling when a taxi pulled up in front of him. Once inside he read the address to the driver and then tapped his wand against his pocket to convert his wizarding funds into muggle currency so he would be able to pay for the ride.

When the taxi pulled in front of a rather ramshackle building Lucius had to ask if the man was certain that he had the right place. He asked the driver to wait and made his way inside. He used a modified imperius, one that could not be traced, on the landlord who led him upstairs and into her flat. As he looked around he couldn�t believe that she lived there. Her flat, while immaculately kept, was a disgrace. The floors covered with peeling linoleum and threadbare shag carpeting in such a ghastly shade of orange Lucius couldn�t bear to look at it. Her furniture was cheap and worn and the place was so small he wondered how she could possibly breathe inside it. She hadn�t been exaggerating; she really did live sparsely in order to pad her charities with her own salary.

The landlord said that she had paid up for a couple of months and said she would be gone awhile but didn�t bother to leave an address. Lucius left even more frustrated, returning to the corner where he had hired the cab and paying the driver before heading back to the Leaky Cauldron. As he neared the rundown old pub it occurred to him that Potter would know where she was, she would never run away without telling him. With a single minded determination he marched through the pub and used the floo to access the Ministry of Magic�s main hall. A short walk and a crowded ride on the lift brought him to the young auror�s office.

�Where is she?� He asked, opening the door and entering without invitation or even knocking first. The lad looked a bit rumpled and sleep deprived as he sat back in his chair and stared at Lucius as if he had gone mad.

�If I knew that I would have her in custody, Mr. Malfoy. As it stands now we will never catch her since she announced her retirement.� Harry pushed his glasses up on his nose. �Nice manners by the way.�

�I am not inquiring after your case, Potter, where is Hermione? I know that you know where she is and I want you to tell me.� He demanded. Harry frowned and scratched his head, mussing his hair even more.

�Why on earth do you want to know where Mione is?� He was confused. As far as he knew Hermione had nothing new on the case Lucius was so interested in, if she did she would have told him.

�What is with all of the whys? My reasons are my own, damn it, now tell me where she has run off to!� He was raising his voice, something Harry hadn�t really seen in the calm older wizard before. The look on his face was a mixture of anger, concern and was that�possessiveness? Harry suddenly recalled seeing Lucius darting after Hermione at the Hogwarts gala and his eyes widened as an unlikely scenario began to formulate in his head.

�Mr. Malfoy, did you and�..� He saw the older wizard�s eyes narrow and suddenly the scene in his head didn�t seem so unlikely. An odd sound somewhere between laughter and a stunned groan burbled out of Harry. He didn�t know what to think, wasn�t sure exactly how he was supposed to react or respond to the revelation that his best friend in all the world had treated a notorious deatheater like a�what did the muggles call it�a booty call. His amusement must have shone on his face because the wizard in front of him looked irritated.

�Where is she, Potter?� Lucius asked again through gritted teeth.

�Mr. Malfoy, look�.I am really sorry if you are�.irritated�by Mione�s leaving, but she doesn�t want to be bothered and I�m not going to reveal her whereabouts to anyone.� Harry said, trying very hard to hold back his laughter.

�Irritated is putting it mildly, Potter. I need to speak with her.� He insisted.

�I�m sorry; I can�t tell you where she is.� Harry said shaking his head. �I know you have to be angry and probably somewhat embarrassed but the truth is that young men have a hard time keeping up with Mione, Mr. Malfoy, a man your age doesn�t stand a chance.�

Lucius just stared at the young man for a few minutes then he started laughing. The deep chuckle startling Harry. Lucius leaned forward and braced his hands on the desk, his eyes sparkling and his grin bordering on sinister.

�Keeping up with the witch wasn�t an issue, isn�t an issue and will never be an issue. The failures of the other men in her life don�t concern me; in fact, I don�t want to hear about them as they no longer matter. What concerns me is that the witch fled my bed at the break of dawn without a word and now she has vanished. And before you go there she did NOT leave because I couldn�t keep up or satisfy her.� He watched Harry�s face flush and felt a sense of smug satisfaction.

�All she said was she needed some time away, some time to get some perspective and figure out what she wanted from life. I promised her I wouldn�t reveal her whereabouts and I won�t break a promise, Mr. Malfoy. I�m sorry.� Harry said, more than a little shocked by the man�s revelation. The blond cursed softly and rose to his full height which was rather intimidating. Lucius wasn�t a wizard to trifle with but he suspected that Hermione was a match for him when it came to temper.

�Can you get a message to her?� He asked finally, closing his eyes and taking a deep breath when Harry nodded. �Tell her to contact me as soon as possible, if you would, Mr. Potter.�

�Of course. Mr. Malfoy�whatever is happening with the two of you, just be kind to her. She bruises more easily than you may think.� Harry said quietly.

�You have my word that I will do nothing to harm her, not deliberately anyhow.� Lucius said before letting himself out of the office and heading home to formulate a new plan.

~@~

Harry checked behind him for tails several times and diverted his path of travel a half dozen times before finally arriving at the old fishing cabin nestled deep in a wooded area near Nottinghamshire. Of course Harry didn�t realize the irony of it given those trees had once provided a home and cover for Robin Hood and his men, he just knew that Hermione had asked to use his cabin to get away and he couldn�t refuse her. The chimney was smoking as he climbed through the brush and into the small clearing that housed his cabin and a very small but well stocked pond. As he neared the door he could smell the inviting scent of food cooking and his stomach rumbled, Hermione was a brilliant cook and he was hoping she had made plenty for him too.

He knocked on the door and heard her call out for him to enter. She knew it was him, the wards surrounding the clearing wouldn�t admit anyone else. It was nice and warm inside the cabin; Hermione had obviously cleaned the place as there was not a speck of dust or cobweb to be seen. She was in the small kitchen area bent over with her hands shoved into bright red oven mitts pulling a roasting pan from the oven.

�Is that roast beef?� Harry asked, his green eyes pleading as he stared longingly at the pan she was sitting on counter. Hermione looked up and smiled, lifting the lid off of the roaster with a flourish.

�I had a feeling you�d be by tonight.� She said.

�Oh gods, I love you.� He pulled out a one of the chairs at the small table and sat down, watching her dish up two plates of food. �If it wasn�t that you scare me and the little fact that I�m in love with Gin I would have married you for the meals alone.�

�What do you mean I scare you?� Hermione frowned, slicing the meat and putting a healthy portion on the plate meant for Harry.

�You know why you scare me.� Harry groaned when she pulled a red checked cloth off of a basket containing a loaf of fresh baked bread. �I can remember Ron walking, if you want to call it that, into a training meeting like Frankenstein�s monster and when I asked him what was wrong he said you tried to kill him. For a moment I thought you two had had a fight but then he told me you were just too much for him to handle in the bedroom.�

Hermione rolled her eyes, not at all offended by the topic. Harry knew everything there was to know about her aside from her criminal activities. Hell, he knew when she got her period for Circe�s sake!

�Ron was sweet and all, and I loved him very much, still do, but he just didn�t have what I needed.� She shrugged carrying the plates to the table and setting them down.

�Did Lucius Malfoy have what you needed?� He asked, watching her expression closely.

�What do you know of Lucius?� She asked, her lips twitching into a little smirk.

�He came into my office this morning demanding to see you.� Harry said, closing his eyes at the first bite of a well cooked meal.

�Is that so? What did you tell him?� She was more than a little shocked; she didn�t figure Lucius to have any interest in her after he had gotten what he wanted. She couldn�t exactly complain about being used, she had used him as well. It had been the first completely satisfying sexual experience she had ever had. She left his bed wanting more but not needing more. That never happened, every lover she had had, not that there had been many, had left her unsatisfied. Sure, she had come for a few of them, but it hadn�t been the earth shaking orgasms she had achieved with Lucius. It made her sad to think that she might never find anyone who could make her feel that way again.

�I told him you needed a break. He didn�t like it, he yelled at me.� Harry gave her a mock pout and she chuckled. �He�s still scary you know, even though I�m grown and can throw his arse in jail he is still scary.�

�Not really.� Hermione said. �Intimidating, yes, scary, no.�

�Well, in his defense I did sort of insult him.� Harry winced slightly and shoved another forkful of food into his mouth.

�You insulted him? How?�

�I kind of insinuated that he shouldn�t feel bad that he couldn�t please you, especially at his age, I figured that was why you left him.� Harry started at Hermione�s sharp bark of laughter and looked up. Her cheeks were flushed as she laughed, shaking her head back and forth. �It�s not that funny! It was rather embarrassing when he set me straight. No one wants a death eater preaching his sexual prowess right after lunch.�

�Oh, Harry.� She sighed, still chuckling softly. �Lucius is�he�s a complicated wizard.�

�But is he what you needed?�

�Yes and then some. But there is no future there. It was wonderful, an epic experience, but it will never be more than that.� She wiped her mouth on her napkin and laid it on the table beside her plate.

�I don�t think he agrees with you.� Harry said, shoving his empty plate aside and reaching for hers which was still half full. Hermione didn�t bat an eyelash; she was used to the boys finishing off her food. �He looked�worried and possessive and �I hate to say it because I don�t want to believe that he has real feelings but he looked hurt.�

�Of course he has feelings, Harry. But I think you are mistaken. Knowing Lucius his pride was bruised because I left while he was sleeping.� She said.

�If you say so.� Harry could see she wasn�t as sure as she pretended, he could also see that she felt something more for the wizard than she would admit to anyone, even herself.

�I say so, now how about dessert.� And with that the subject of Lucius Malfoy was dropped but not forgotten. Definitely not forgotten.

And another update before I slip into my half bath and attempt to paint it�.very small space�but good for plotting�.and oh have I been plotting�.up to 3 notebooks now�.well into a new story and plotting along on the next one in the queue�..So�those lemons went down easy and it seems that everyone likes this aggressive Hermione�.better pucker up, more lemons around the corner =)

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The Masked Lady