Adult-FanFiction.org : Harry Potter

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
- 16
- 17
- 18
Chapter 17: The Seeds of a Plan

Harry arrived just after dinner to question Draco. He wanted to give the other wizard a chance to recover and catch his breath before he began grilling him about what happened. When he entered the room Draco was sitting up in his bed and Hermione was seated cross legged at the foot, a rolling bed table between them with a backgammon board set up. They were arguing, Hermione accusing Draco of using magic when he rolled the dice and Draco daring her to prove it. Lucius was on the sofa looking through a ledger of some sort with a pencil tucked behind his ear, oblivious of the two squabbling on the bed.

�I don�t mean to interrupt.� Harry said as he walked in on the oddly domestic scene.

�No worries, Potter, I was just beating Granger, again, at a game of backgammon.� Draco seemed in decent spirits, all things considered.

�He�s cheating, not winning.� Hermione snorted. Draco kicked her beneath the blanket and Harry saw Hermione slap his foot. It was a bit disconcerting to see them actually getting along and teasing each other after so many years of animosity between them.

�I was hoping you would feel up to talking.� Harry said as he pulled a chair up to Draco�s bedside and sat down.

�Sure, what do you want to know?� Draco folded his hands over his abdomen and stared at Harry.

�How about you start at the beginning and tell me everything you remember, even if it seems trivial.�

�Alright, I was at the restaurant. I had a few drinks with Zabini and Theo Nott, played a few hands of poker and smoked a cigar in the back. I left a bit early because I had another engagement. I was heading to the public apparation point when I felt the spell hit me in the back. The first one wasn�t strong at all, it was just�annoying. I turned around to face my assailant and was shocked to see The Masked Lady�only�� His brow furrowed and he shook his head.

�Only what?� Harry pressed, noting for the first time that Lucius had moved from the sofa and now stood beside Hermione, listening intently to the testimony.

�I met The Masked Lady before, remember? I filed a report about it. This woman, she looked like her but there was something off.� He said, confusion in his eyes.

�Something off how?� Harry cast a glance at Hermione and saw Lucius reach out to lay a hand on her shoulder.

�With the other woman�even though she slapped me�I didn�t mind giving her what I had because there was something about her that made me calm, comfortable. I knew that she had no desire to cause me harm, there was a twinkle in her eye and she had a naughty little grin that was playful and somewhat�.well, endearing.� Harry nearly smirked at the description wondering what Draco would do if he knew he was talking about Hermione. �This woman�her eyes were cold and there was no smile at all, she was sneering at me like she hated me. She didn�t even blink when she threw the curse again only this time she held it and she put a lot of power behind it because I went down within seconds. The doctors tell me I was hit repeatedly even after I lost consciousness.�

�Yes, she is now wanted for assault and attempted murder. Can you recall anything else? Did she say anything?� Draco furrowed his brow and searched his brain.

�I vaguely recall hearing her cast the spell but other than that no, I don�t remember anything else, I am sorry.� He said.

�No, don�t be sorry, you have given me plenty.� Harry said softly. He looked over at Hermione and Lucius and he could see that look in her eye, that guilty look that told him she was taking the weight of the blame onto her shoulders.

�Draco�.you�re right, the woman who did this to you isn�t the same woman who took your galleons and watch.� Hermione said softly. Lucius squeezed her shoulder and Harry stood in front of the door to make certain that no one else came in.

�How do you know that?� He asked, his eyes narrowing suspiciously.

�Because I stole your galleons and watch.� She said.

�You�oh my gods! That�s why you were so obsessed with this story! You dirty old pervert!� Draco�s comments were directed at Lucius who glared at his son as Draco burst into fits of laughter. �She robbed you didn�t she? She robbed you and you got off on it!�

�I would suggest you calm down before I forget that you are recovering.� Lucius snapped.

�My gods you are depraved.� Draco said shaking his head. �And you�you slapped me!� He pointed at Hermione in accusation.

�You invited me to polish your wand.� She said in her defense. �You have no right to call Lucius a pervert when you were just as excited.�

�I won�t deny it.� Draco sighed. �You looked hot in all that leather, Granger. You should dress like that all the time.�

�I have retired my leathers.� She felt her pulse pound with relief that he was taking the news so well. She knew she had to tell him but feared his reaction. She leaned forward and whispered conspiratorially to Draco, �Well, they are retired from public but your father likes them so much they make an occasional private appearance.� Draco�s eyes widened for a moment then the laughter came again.

�More than my poor brain can handle in regards to my father and sex.� He said through his laughter.

�Who said sex was involved? Maybe he just likes for me to wear them and steal his goodies?� She teased. She looked back over her shoulder at a clearly uncomfortable and blushing Lucius and then joined Draco in his laughter.

�So you knew about this, Potter? Why didn�t you arrest her?� Draco didn�t actually want Hermione in prison, she made his father happy so he wanted her with him and besides, she didn�t keep the money or fund terrorism or anything, she fed the poor.

�I should have, but I couldn�t, maybe if she had been violent or greedy but she wasn�t, she stole from the rich to feed the poor. It was quite noble.� Harry shrugged. �Besides, your father implied he would go all death eater on me if I dared to touch her.�

Draco looked at the people in the room and thought about the situation. He should be insulted, angry and shocked, but he wasn�t. He couldn�t be. Granger was Granger, she would always rally on behalf of the downtrodden and he had to admit, he was impressed that she would dance on the shady side for a cause she believed in. Even more was his father�s feelings that he, if no one else, could read so clearly on the older man�s face. He cared for her deeply, enough that he was willing to essentially threaten an auror to protect her. Granger, once his nemesis, had managed to burrow her way into his life and his family. He liked her.

�You owe me a watch, Granger.� He said, leaning back into his pillows.

�I�ll get right on that.� She smiled. �Thank you, Draco.�

�Yeah, yeah�whatever.� He rolled his eyes. �Don�t get all sappy on me, Granger, I can�t handle it. I�m seriously injured you know. You should get me some pudding.�

�I don�t think so; I don�t fetch pudding for any man.� She laughed.

�Not true, I saw you feeding my father pudding when I was pretending to nap.� His naughty grin took up his entire face.

�He�s the exception you dirty little voyeur. What is with you Malfoys and your perverted tendencies?� She asked, looking over her shoulder and Lucius who simply arched his brow.

�I hate to break this up but someone is trying to come inside so let�s drop the conversation to something less incriminating and something that doesn�t induce images of nakedness?� Harry said, holding the door closed despite the determined individual on the other side trying to come in. When the others schooled their features back to normal he stepped aside and the door burst open and Astoria Malfoy stumbled inside.

�Oh�the door was stuck.� She said airily looking over her shoulder at the door. �Oh, hello, Mr. Potter.� She said, smoothing her clothes.

�Mrs. Malfoy.� Harry found Astoria Malfoy to be an odd bird. She never seemed to know quite what was going on, not quite as far gone as Luna, but pretty far gone.

�So, you are awake.� She seemed almost disappointed, Harry thought.

�Yes, I have been since early this morning. But you knew that, Hermione sent you an owl, I watched her pen the note.� Draco eyed his wife with a mixture of annoyance and curiosity. She ran her hand over her sleek hair and licked her glossy lips, her eyes darting around the room from person to person.

�I didn�t receive it until later�I wasn�t feeling quite myself this morning�.I didn�t sleep well being so distraught over your injuries and all.� She said nervously.

�I will assume that your visit to the hair stylist help with your distress, along with the fresh manicure and the new outfit?� Draco inquired. He could tell she was uncomfortable with the truth of it. And the truth was that his wife could care less and had probably hoped he was still unconscious.

�Um�what are the doctors saying?� She immediately changed the subject.

�I will be fine; I can go home in the morning.� He said, watching the flash of disappointment in her eyes.

�That�s wonderful, Draco.� She said insincerely. �I should go home and make preparations for your homecoming then. I will have the staff make your favorite foods and ready your room.

�Yes, you do that.� He said, watching her fuss with her appearance a little more before she leaned in and kissed his cheek then said goodbye, leaving as quickly as she came.

�Draco, your wife is strange�no offense.� Harry said, watching her leave.

�I am well aware, Potter, no offense taken.� Draco chuckled. �It is what it is and what it is is business.� Draco sighed and looked at Harry. �Speaking of business, what are you planning to do about this menace pretending to be The Masked Lady?�

�Well�I was sort of hoping Hermione might be willing to help me with that.� Harry turned towards the door and cast a locking and silencing spell to protect them from anyone eavesdropping outside.

�Help you how?� She asked.

�By telling me how you determined what venues to hit and who to mark.� He said settling back into his chair.

�In the beginning I would simply read the society pages and figure out where the wealthiest people would be. The wealthy like to be seen and they like to flaunt their wealth so private clubs, theaters and galas were always good. Towards the end of my run I will confess that my interest became more about where Lucius would be.� She grinned. �I even broke into his house�.twice.�

�You broke into the manor?� Draco was shocked, his father had gotten paranoid about security after the war, and it wasn�t easy to get through his wards.

�Twice.� She said again through her smile.

�Why?� Harry asked. Hermione looked over at him and the slight change in her grin along with Lucius�s smug expression told him everything he needed to know. �Never mind. Would you be willing to help out?�

�You just want me to tell you where I would hit, were I still masquerading?� She asked.

�Well, there is that. But how did you get away so quickly? You didn�t use magic at all yet you were gone from sight in a blink and moved undetected through very public venues. How?� Harry had been curious about her methods since her confession.

�Well, I�ve been taking yoga and martial arts for years, you know that, in recent years I have added gymnastics and dance to that. I am limber and light on my feet, I can fit myself into small spaces, move through tiny niches and passages and I can do it quickly and silently.� She answered Harry truthfully.

�How limber are you, Granger?� Draco grinned. �I mean�can you put your ankles behind your head?�

�Wouldn�t you like to know?� She laughed.

�Hell, I�d like to know.� Lucius murmured behind her. She looked up at him and gave him a saucy wink.

�Maybe when we get home.� She said.

�Okay, off the subject again.� Harry said, wondering if they could ever stay on topic. �Would you be willing to help me? Would you be willing to set yourself up to bait the copycat?�

�Absolutely not!� Lucius nearly shouted in protest. �You ask too much, Potter. I will not allow her to put herself in danger for this case. Look at what happened to my son! No, she won�t do it.� His vehement protest shocked them all. No one quite expected it.

�I don�t want her in danger either, Lucius, but Hermione knows how to defend herself and she knows the mentality of someone perpetrating such a crime. Plus, she is the new girlfriend of the wealthiest wizard in England; one might expect her to be on his arm dripping in jewels.� Harry said hopefully. Lucius snorted and rolled his eyes.

�Anyone who knows her would know she wouldn�t be tempted by such things. I would get further with her by donating to one of her infernal charities than I would buying her a diamond.� Lucius accio�d a chair from across the room and settled into it before pulling Hermione by the hand into his lap.

�They don�t have to be real�.� Harry was stopped by Lucius�s raised hand.

�If I buy her jewelry it will certainly NOT be fake.� He looked offended that Harry would even suggest such a thing.

�But this would be something to catch the eye of a thief, not an actual gift.� Harry said.

�I didn�t go for the flashier pieces. I preferred the smaller, more understated items; they were the ones most likely to have higher value. Diamond earrings, shirt studs, cufflinks, belt buckles, wrist watches, rings, bracelets�.small, easy to pawn and easy to get away with.� She said.

�But our copycat doesn�t, she goes for the flash.� Harry said. Lucius wrapped his arms tightly around her and rested his chin on her shoulder.

�And I seriously doubt her collection process is as interesting as yours.� He said huskily.

�Only you got special treatment, Love. Everyone else was just ordered to hand it over.� She turned her head and kissed his cheek, loving the feel of his arms around her.

�It�s a damned good thing too, Id hate to have to kill them all.� He said.

�Again, can you two stop with the lovey dovey stuff and concentrate?� Harry tried to sound stern and official but the truth was that he was amused by her and by the wizard so clearly smitten with her. �There is a ball coming up, the ministry�s annual spring soiree. The two of you should go and Hermione should look like someone might expect your girlfriend to look.�

�No one would expect my�girlfriend, gods I hate that term�to be a muggleborn witch and certainly not Hermione, so maybe you should tell me what you expect my�girlfriend�to look like, Potter.� Lucius said the word �girlfriend� through clenched teeth, it grated on his nerves and he found it juvenile. Surely there was a better word to describe what she meant to him?

�Well�you know, glamorous, dressed to the nines and weighed down with baubles.� Harry shrugged.

�You make me sound like a Christmas tree.� Hermione laughed. �How about a nice dress and maybe some earrings or a pretty necklace? I�m sure we can find some costume jewelry�.�

�No, no costume jewelry.� Lucius interrupted.

�Lucius, it�s meant to entice a thief, we don�t need to waste money and perfectly good jewelry as bait.� She said.

�There are jewels in the vault that belonged to my mother and grandmother and who knows what other ancestor, you can choose something from there. Believe me when I say that pureblood witches will spot a fake, even a good one, a mile away.� Lucius said. �I don�t want you to do this, Hermione, you could get hurt.�

�I�ll be fine, Lucius.� She laid her hand on his cheek and looked into his eyes, her stomach knotting as a myriad of emotions coursed through her. �You won�t leave my side the entire evening, no one would ever hurt me with you there, you wouldn�t let them.�

�Damn right I wouldn�t.� He kissed her lips briefly then looked over at Harry. �You had better hope like hell she doesn�t get hurt, Potter, because if she does I will hold you responsible.�

Harry shuddered slightly, certain that he wouldn�t like any retribution Lucius might seek out for harm to Hermione.

�Fair enough. So then I suppose we should work out a more detailed plan�.�

�Later, there are still a few weeks before the soiree, plenty of time. Right now I want to go home with my�with Hermione and sleep in our bed now that Draco is awake and so obviously going to recover.� Lucius�s tone left no room for discussion.

�Right�sleep�.sure, Father, whatever you say.� Draco teased, his eyes growing a little heavy as the most recent dose of pain and sleep potion began to take effect. �I�m tired anyhow, you just run on home to�sleep. You too, Potter, tell Red I said hello.�

�Fine, goodnight, Draco, I�ll tell Ginny you said hi. Mione, I�ll come by Saturday and the three of us can come up with something more concrete. Draco, I don�t think I need to tell you that this needs to remain quiet, not even your wife can know.� Harry said seriously.

�Like I would tell her.� Draco snorted as he lowered the head of his bed and rolled onto his side. �Sleepy�.leave.�

�Goodnight, everyone.� Harry said as he removed himself from the room.

�We are going, Draco. I will return in the morning. If being at your house is too much you are welcome at the manor to recover, your rooms are always open to you.� Lucius said quietly, fisting his hand to keep from reaching out to touch his son. Sometimes it felt like it was too little too late.

�I know, Father. Enjoy your evening with, Hermione.� Draco looked up at his father and smiled sleepily. �I like her, she�s a good woman, always was even though I treated her like shit. She�s good for you.�

�I think so too.� Lucius laid his hand on his shoulder for a moment then pulled the blanket up over him the way he had when Draco was very small and would kick the covers off in his sleep. He loved his son more than anything, even if he had been poor at showing it. �Goodnight, Son.�

AN: Sorry guys, have been laid up with the flu for almost a week�today is the first day I have been able to sit up without dizzy spells. So�here is the very late update =)

16

17

18

You need to be logged in to leave a review for this story.You need to be logged in to leave a review for this story.
Report Story

The Masked Lady