Adult-FanFiction.org : Harry Potter

Book One - Master Mine: A Lesson in Submission	By : Lissa & snowblind12 Category: Harry Potter AU/AR > Threesomes/Moresomes Views: 58471 -:- Recommendations : 0 -:- Currently Reading : 8
Disclaimer: I am not affiliated with JK Rowling or The Harry Potter franchise in anyway. I make no money off my stories.

Chapter List
- 19
- 20
- 21
AN: Fair warning - this chapter has a pretty intense scene that's super emotional. Honestly, though, if you've read this far, I doubt we will shock you. You should all be okay.
Chapter Twenty
"Hello, ladies!" Hermione chirped happily as she all but skipped up to the table where Ginny and Luna were sitting at the Leaky Cauldron. She was happy to spend some time with her two oldest girlfriends. Dinner with the girls was just the thing to set the stage for what she hoped would be a wonderful evening. "How are you today?"
Her friends exchanged bemused smiles before looking up at their curly haired friend with matching grins. "Have a seat, 'Mione," Ginny gestured with a wave of her hands.
Hermione looked at the redhead curiously before dropping into the seat next to Luna and tucking her purse on the floor between her feet. She was pleased to see an appetizer basket on the table and an iced glass of cola waiting for her. "I feel like I'm missing something," she deadpanned. "Don't tell me – one of you is having twins?"
Luna's face went pale and Ginny's eyes widened in horror. "Don't say something like that!" the later hissed. "Ee gads. I would wind up with black-haired Fed and Georges!"
"And I'm not sure I could survive another set, myself," Luna whispered, still ashen-faced.
Hermione looked between her friends again before letting out a mirthless chuckle. "You would both be fine, and your men would be super proud of their virility. Calm yourselves."
Ginny rolled her eyes and Luna covered Hermione's hand with her own. "You know you'll find him, right Hermione?"
Not for the first time in her life, Hermione was confused by her friend's ethereal nature. "What are you talking about, Luna?"
"Your mate, you'll find him." She squinted her startling blue eyes at Hermione. "Sometimes I see him as dark and looming, but sometimes I see him as regal and fair. There was even a week there that I saw Charlie Weasley as your match, isn't that hilarious? You two would never work. It's very confusing for me, which is unsettling."
Hermione stared, open-mouthed at the blonde. "Where did that come from?"
"Oh, come off it, HG," Ginny teased. "We so know you're ready to have a family. Poor Harry has been fretting about you for the last year. He's worried we're going to lose you."
"What?" It was an incredulous statement.
"Well – it was just a couple months ago you told him you felt like you didn't have anything in common with us anymore," Ginny sighed. "He was a wreck."
Guilt flooded Hermione and she felt her face heat with shame. "I would never distance myself from you all completely," she murmured. "You're my family. Ever since mum and dad…" She trailed off, closing her eyes. "We are on different pages in life, Ginny. That doesn't mean I don't love you all to bits and pieces. And I adore my nieces and nephews."
"We know Hermione," Luna said in her airy trill. "Ginny – in a roundabout way – is trying to ask you about the most peculiar photograph she came across in The Broom Closet. We were ever so surprised."
Hermione felt the blood drain from her face. Who the hell had she been photographed with? "W-who?"
"Oh!" Ginny's eyes lit up mischievously. "Is there more than one man you've been sneaking around with? Do tell!"
"No…?" Stated as a question left little room for doubt. Ginny started giggling uncontrollably and she pulled the gossip rag out of her bag and set it on the table. A small box in the lower right-hand corner had a picture of her and Draco at lunch the day before. It had been caught at a very opportune moment – they were both smiling sweetly at each other and Hermione had her hand over the top of his. The caption said Old Rivals Find New Love? "Oh, Merlin, Morgana, and Nimue! Are you kidding me!?"
"So, are you dating him?" Ginny looked too excited and Luna's eyes were dancing with merriment.
"He fits my regal and fair vision," the blonde hinted smugly.
"I am not dating Draco Malfoy," Hermione hissed irritably. "We would make a terrible couple!"
"What are you doing out with him, then?" Ginny crossed her arms grumpily under her chest, bummed to be denied juicy gossip.
"We're…friends," Hermione answered vaguely. "We made a recent connection and just sort of … clicked." It was a most definitely an understatement but what else was she supposed to say? Draco and I both like to be tied up and spanked until our bottoms are black and blue? He pretended to rape me, and it was some of the hottest sex of my life? His daddy ties me up and hangs me from the chandelier and I love it? She snorted, she wasn't ready to share any of this, even with these two.
"Gah," Ginny looked completely put out. "Harry said something about a Slytherin. I was so sure!"
"Harry is a gossip and I don't think I'm going to talk to him anymore!" Hermione was playfully affronted, but she had known better. Harry never kept anything from Ginny. Telling one was like telling them both. Luna on the other hand…Luna could keep a secret.
"Give me something, HG," Ginny whined. "I'm bored off my rocker at home with all these littles!"
Hermione felt a little twinge of annoyance at her friend's off-hand statement but brushed it away. She was sure that she would be bored if she was home with a bunch of little kids and no adults to talk to, as well. She hesitated for a moment, dare she tell her friends...?
"Ginny – you have to promise you won't tell Harry." Her voice was dead serious, and Ginny's pretty brown eyes grew wide with excitement.
"You are dating Malfoy, aren't you?!"
"Sh! I am not," Hermione shushed. "Just…stop for a second. I'm serious. I'm excited about this, but it's probably going to freak you two out. I want to tell the boys on my own terms. Besides that, I have no idea if it's going to go anywhere. Can you promise to try and keep it a secret, Ginny?"
Ginny straightened and nodded emphatically, and Luna giggled. "I'll help her," she swore.
"Okay," Hermione let out a long breath. She really could use some girl talk about this, she hoped she wasn't making a massive mistake by jumping the wand here. "I have a date tomorrow night."
"Who?" Ginny demanded while Luna only watched her with a faraway smile on her face.
"Severus Snape." Well, there was no point in dragging out the inevitable.
It was so quiet at the table you could have heard a pin drop. "Come again?" Ginny looked horrified while Luna's expression hadn't changed.
Hermione scowled. "Snape. Severus Snape."
"I – I'm positive I didn't hear you right," Ginny looked at Luna with searching eyes. "Did you just hear her say she's going on a date with our old Potions professor? Old being the operative word."
Hermione clicked her tongue in disgust at Ginny's pun while Luna answered. "I did," she said in a dreamy tone. "He's a very intriguing wizard, don't you think? Very intelligent. Don't we always say that our Hermione needs a smart man?"
"He…He's…" Ginny sputtered a moment before finishing, "Severus Snape? Really?" She looked Hermione up and down incredulously, like she was waiting for Hermione to yell, "Just kidding!"
Hermione nodded, her eyes on the table while she mutilated a fried mushroom between her fingers. She shouldn't have said anything. Now she felt silly and awkward.
"Okay," Ginny said grudgingly after a few minutes. "Okay, I can see it. He's super powerful and – like Luna said – insanely smart. I can see it."
Hermione's eyes met Ginny's gratefully.
"He's quite attractive as well," Luna added her unique point of view to the table. Ginny made a face, but Luna didn't notice. "Not your typical handsome, but the way he holds himself and speaks – he's very commanding and domineering. I find that attractive in a man." Hermione felt a blush heat her cheeks; Luna was too perceptive for her own good.
"And you ended up with Ron because…?" Ginny teased, Luna laughed.
"Because he's sweet," Luna said simply.
"But seriously," Ginny turned back to Hermione, her look incredulous. "Professor Snape? How in the world did that connection happen?"
Crap! Just…crap! Why hadn't she thought this far ahead? "Uh…ran into each other at the book store?" It came out as a squeaky question and Hermione wanted to kick herself. Idiot!
Her friends, bless them, pretended not to notice. "Hmm," Luna mused. "Are you excited?"
Hermione's stomach flipped, and she couldn't help the slow grin the split her face. "Yes, I'm excited…"
Arriving a little early, Hermione slipped on her mask before dashing to the loo. The two colas and glass of water she had at dinner with the girls really caught up to her quickly! Once she was out of the bathroom, she glanced around the main room. Not seeing Lucius, she headed for the bar in search of Jonathan. Hermione was grateful that Lucius amended his rules so that she was allowed to talk to a few select members if she arrived at the club early or was there when Lucius wasn't for some reason.
Jonathan was one of her permitted few. Unfortunately, he wasn't to be found. She glanced over her shoulder, noticing only a few handfuls of people conversing in clusters around the room. Wednesday night was not a particularly busy night at the club, plus it was only seven-thirty. Spotting movement to her left, she turned to see Jonathan enter the bar from a back door. Hermione could immediately tell something was wrong. There was no greeting smile matched with an exuberant hello. In fact, he didn't seem to even notice her.
She stood up and approached the end of the bar where he was unpacking a box. "Hey Jonathan, how's it going?"
His eyes met hers in surprise. "Oh, hey poppet. I didn't see you there." He looked from her to the box again, lifting his right hand to rub his eyes. It suddenly dawned on her that he looked like he had been crying and was obviously trying to conceal his tears.
She whispered softly, concerned. "Hey, you okay?"
Jonathan looked back at her. "Oh yeah, just a bad day. I'm fine" He smiled at her, but she could see it was only for show. "How are you? You seeing Master Lucius tonight?"
Respecting his change of subject, she nodded. "Yeah, I'm subbing Wednesdays and Fridays."
He nodded absently, and Hermione wondered if he had even heard her. "Jonathan, I totally understand if you don't want to talk, but I can tell something is bothering you. I'm here for you, okay? You know – if you need a friend?"
He closed his eyes and ran his hands through his hair. When he opened them, they reflected light from fresh unshed tears. He shrugged, "Clarise and I had a fight and I said some things I didn't mean. Now she won't talk to me." He pointed to the back door. "She just stopped by to remove my collar, saying she had no further need of my…services."
Hermione scrunched her face. "Ouch. Do you think she meant it? Maybe she just needs a little time? When did you fight?"
"This morning. I was at her place and an old sub of hers showed up. She invited him in and when I came out of the bedroom, she was hugging him." Jonathan looked down, shamefaced. "I kind of…lost it. I said some nasty things and made some accusations I didn't really mean or even believe. I just…I saw her with him and I saw red.
"He said he would leave and she told him to stay. She said that I was the Neanderthal and therefore I was the one who would be leaving. I was so angry I called her a couple of choice names and stormed out." He shook his head. "Merlin, Hermione, I can't believe I reacted that way. I know Clarise is so much better than what I accused her of, but my last girlfriend? She cheated on me for months before I found out. Seeing Clarise in another man's arms… It just – it brought back all that anger and frustration and I simply lost my head."
"Did you explain all this to Clarise?"
"I tried, but she was so mad she wouldn't listen. She said she had spent more than her share of time with asshole men who thought they could bully her and push her around and I was clearly just another one of them." He waved his wand, levitating a couple bottles from the box to the counter. "It was all so innocent, Hermione. He had just come by to let her know his mother had passed away early this morning. Apparently, Clarise had been close to her. The woman had been sick for a long time and had been at St. Mungo's." Jonathan shook his head despondently. "It's such a messed-up situation. I completely over reacted, and I don't blame her for dumping me."
Jonathan's expression became tense as he continued levitating bottles of liquor from the box. "It doesn't matter. It's over. I just need to try and not think about it." He glanced back at Hermione as he wiped his brow. "I'll be okay."
It was plain to see he was hurting and was trying to put up a tough front. Hermione couldn't bear it. She lifted the bar gate and stepped through, so she was with him behind the bar. Because he was so much taller than her, she hopped up on the box of bottles, so she could pull him into a huge bear hug. After a second's hesitation, he wrapped his arms around her and buried his face into her hair. She held him tight as she whispered that it would be okay. "Give her a little time, Jonathan. Once she's had a chance to calm down, you owl her and ask her if you can see her. Don't just show up, okay? Let her control the where and when. When she agrees to see you, just be honest and tell her your side of things. Tell her you were wrong and that you're sorry."
Snape watched Hermione on the monitors as she came out of the loo and sat at the bar. He knew she was meeting Lucius for her Wednesday session, she was early. He found he couldn't take his eyes off her – he was so inexplicitly drawn to her it confused him at times. Before November if anyone had asked him about Hermione Granger he would have referred to her as his most annoying student. The know-it-all swot who asked too many questions and liked to deter his course aims. Brilliant, but infuriating. Funny how times changed.
It was rare he had an opportunity to just watch her like this. He found himself cautiously optimistic their date would go well, but it was no surprise to him that he was terrified. It had been a long time since he had been on an actual date and he had never been on a date with a woman he was so incredibly drawn to.
Snape sat up slightly when he watched Hermione lift the bar gate. What is she going behind the bar for? His eyebrows shot up when she climbed on a box and threw herself at the pup. Ahh, Princess…what are you doing? He felt his hackles rise when the pup hugged her back and buried his snout into her hair. Unfortunately, Snape was in no position to march down there and pull Jonathan's grubby little paws off her.
The truth was that there was a bigger concern here, though. Snape was well aware of his best friend's rules when it came to his submissives. They shared many of the same. He felt Lucius would need to be told. The thought had barely crossed his mind when his fireplace glowed green. Speak of the devil…
Lucius brushed himself off as he stepped out of the office floo. "Good evening, Severus."
"If you say so," the enigmatic wizard responded in his typical bored fashion.
Lucius hung his cloak and walked towards his desk on the other side of the office. He draped his beloved, hand-made scarf over his chair before he picked up a stack of papers and flipped through them. "Anything of interest going on this evening?"
Severus glanced at the monitor. Hermione had returned to sit on a barstool, sipping what looked like strawberry water and continuing her conversation with Jonathan as he resumed stocking the bar. Grabbing a stack of accounts payable forms that needed his signature, Severus picked up his quill and began the odious task as he spoke. "I guess it depends on what you consider interesting. Miss Granger has been here for a while."
Lucius looked up. "She was early?"
"She arrived around seven-thirty."
Lucius simply nodded as he went back to his paperwork.
"She also seems rather…overindulgent with her affections this evening."
Lucius looked over his shoulder at the monitor. "She is simply conversing with her friend, Severus. That is hardly considered overindulgent affection." He smirked as he added, "Although, I can see why you would misinterpret conversation and the exchange of pleasantries as being overindulgent." Lucius chuckled to himself as he sat down at his desk, careful not to sit on and his scarf – he wouldn't want to damage it.
"Jest all you want, Lucius, but I am not referring to her current activities."
Lucius continued his work and sighed heavily as he asked, "Okay, Sev, I'll bite. Pray tell, what did the poor girl do to earn your obvious disapproval?"
Severus smirked internally. "It's not my displeasure, Lucius. I fear she will have earned yours."
Rubbing his temples to assuage what felt like an oncoming headache, Lucius said quietly, "Just tell me Severus. I'm not in the mood for your typical sport tonight."
Severus continued signing the forms. "Tell me, Lucius, do you no longer deny your submissives the pleasure of touching and hugging other men while in the club?"
This got Lucius' full attention. He swung his chair around to face his taciturn pain-in-the-arse friend. His tone impatient, he demanded, "Of course not. What are you talking about?"
Snape paused his writing as he stared at the parchment before him. For a second, he considered not telling Lucius. For a flash he felt guilty and then it faded as his reasoning became sound in his mind. Hermione is with Lucius for training. She wants and needs to learn, and Lucius needs to know what she did so that he can teach her and correct her. If it were any other submissive, Snape wouldn't hesitate to tell Lucius. They always had each other's backs when it came to their submissives. Snape put down his quill and turned back towards his friend. He spoke calmly and without his usual snark. "I fear you have failed to impress the significance of that rule on your submissive, my dear sir."
Lucius tilted his head, as though he didn't quite hear correctly. "What do you mean? What happened, Severus?"
Snape sighed heavily and turned back towards his parchment. He kept his description factual. "She went behind the bar, climbed on a box and threw her arms around Jonathan. She hugged him tightly for a good two minutes as she whispered into his ear." Lucius didn't say anything, so Severus continued, knowing the blond man needed to hear all of it. Snape would want the same if he were in Lucius' stead. "Not only did Jonathan hug her back, but the exchange was witnessed by several members who were congregating in the main room as well as a few staff."
A few seconds of awkward silence followed as Lucius processed what he had just been told. The blond stood and threw his quill on his desk. His voice was deadly calm as he stood and smoothed out his robes. "Thank you for telling me, Severus. I apologize in advance, but I hope you don't have plans that require a lot of sitting on your date tomorrow. Miss Granger is going to have a very sore bottom indeed."
Lucius stormed out of the office and suddenly Snape felt a touch of regret. He knew he had done the correct thing, but why did it feel so wrong? Because she's not just any submissive and you know it! As much as he fought it and tried to deny it, Hermione Granger was turning the structured cocoon of his life inside out. He had just tattled on the woman he was hoping to have a real future with. He looked at the monitor and watched her as she conversed innocently with her friend – completely unaware of the shit storm that was about to blow. You really are a fucked-up bastard, Severus Snape.
Hermione was sitting at the bar, observing a much calmer Jonathan when she noticed Lucius come out of the back where the offices and restrooms were kept. Funny. She didn't remember seeing him come in at all. She kept her eyes averted to the bar and took a small sip of her strawberry water, waiting for him to approach and give directions.
She certainly hadn't expected the firm grip that encircled her upper arm. She let out a small yip of protest when the grip tightened to a painful vice as he jerked her up and off her stool. "Master, is some –"
"Not a word, Doll," he hissed as he marched her through the bar. She kept her gaze locked on the floor as her heart sank and blood started pounding in her ears. The next thing she knew there was a rough hand on the back of her head and her nose was being pushed into the corner pillar where Etan had made Rose stand all those weeks ago. "Hands on your head," he commanded.
She complied without hesitation, placing both palms on top of her head as tears stung her eyes and tickled her nose. Her entire body started trembling as she wracked her brain, trying to figure out what she had done wrong.
"You are in trouble." Lucius' voice was cold and hard, and her tears spilled over her lower lashes at the sound of it, her breath hitching in her throat. "Stop crying," he bit out, suddenly sounding a bit reluctant. She could tell he was abruptly trying to calm her and maintain his upset at the same time. However, she was so distraught that she was pretty sure nothing would succeed.
She bit her lip and sucked a breath through her now semi-occluded nose and nodded, trying to calm her tears. "You will stand here for thirty minutes and think about what you have done," he said tightly.
She drew a breath to ask what it was she had done wrong when he snapped, "You will not speak, pet." Her jaw clicked shut and she let out another hasty nod. Anything to please him, anything to make him happy again. It would be easier to stand here if she knew why she was in trouble, but she was sure they would talk about it after. When he walked away from her, it took everything she had not to verbally protest the loss of his nearness. She was sure it was part of her punishment, but did he realize the pain it caused her? Knowing he was upset and leaving her? She drew in more steadying breaths, willing the tears away. She tried to calm herself and think it through.
Take a deep breath and remain calm, Hermione. Perhaps you didn't do anything wrong. Maybe this is part of a training scenario? Humiliation? Somehow, she doubted it. He would talk to her first, wouldn't he?
Fifteen minutes passed, and she was no longer crying, just standing in front of her own little corner while staring into the red paint. She still wasn't sure what she had done to earn her Master's ire, but the bigger problem now was that her arms were starting to tremble with the fatigue of holding them on her head. Slowly, she laced her fingers together and let them go limp while using her head and neck to support them. After five minutes, her neck started to ache. Tears sprung unbidden to her eyes once again. She felt one trickle down her cheek only to be caught by her mask. Nothing was more unbearable than the sting of disappointment in her chest. Hermione could feel Lucius' eyes on her; she wished he would return to her. Closing her eyes caused two more tears to be set free. Hermione kept them closed, however, and concentrated on her breathing. In, out. In, out. Calm. Stay calm. He will explain what you did wrong and you can make your amends.
Lucius sat at the bar, a seltzer water in hand. He would kill for it to be whiskey – anything stronger would do. His gaze never left the petite young woman in the corner. He knew the exact moment when having her hands on her head became enough of a discomfort to cause tears. He watched her with grudging admiration as she obviously gave herself an internal pep talk.
He had made her stand in the corner to calm his own fury with her. She had been told more than once that touching people at the club was not acceptable. The fact that Snape had caught her and Jonathan in each other's arms was a huge offence. Worse was the fact that she had done it in the middle of the effing bar. Lucius imagined she had what in her mind was a very good reason for this display. It did not matter, though, he would have to punish her. Part of her punishment was this public display in the corner; a public disobedience equaled a public punishment. He would not have members or staff say he was going soft – even if he did have a soft spot for her. This was going to be extraordinarily difficult, more so for her than him. Punishment was a part of Dominance he enjoyed as it helped him focus and appease that darker side of himself. That part of his sexuality that could only be sated in the realm of this world of closed doors and secrets. However, outside of the three cane strikes Snape had given her, Hermione had never experienced a full-on punishment. Certainly not one of his full-on punishments.
Lucius' wand vibrated silently in his sleeve; her time was up. He took three deep swallows of his drink to finish it, letting the carbonation sear the back of his throat. He set it on the bar with a clunk, squared his shoulders and stalked to the pillar. "You may put your arms down and follow me." He kept his voice low, but his displeasure was still evident. He saw her give a jerky nod, noting the dark spots on her mask that indicated she had been crying. He gritted his teeth and strode away at a clipped pace. He would not look over his shoulder to see that she was following him. He would not.
He made his way down the stairs and led her straight to the private rooms. Not much would be needed – a davenport for aftercare, some implements to choose from, blank wall space – that was it. His mind whirled with what he needed to do to make this right. Everything needed to be set perfectly, it was her first true punishment scene. They would talk so she understood completely what was happening and why. He had a short teaching moment in mind. Then they would commence with the punishment, aftercare, and he would take her home.
It startled him that underneath his anger and displeasure was an unfamiliar feeling of fear. He was quite certain that this would devastate her – it already had if her continued silence and traces of tears were any indication. He had an underlying concern about how deeply she would let her disappointment in herself affect her.
"Prepare yourself for me," he stated solemnly as she entered the private room directly behind him. Lucius placed himself on the arm of the davenport and watched as she gently closed the door and made her way silently to the table below the supply cabinet. She hesitated only briefly before unzipping her dress, kicking her shoes off under the table, and stripping to her knickers. She folded each item and set them carefully on the stand before removing her mask. Walking back to the door, she took two steps in and two the left before sinking into the standard kneeling position, her head down.
"I want Nadu," he said stiffly. She adjusted, spreading her legs into a V and turning her palms up on her thighs.
Silence.
More silence.
When she started sniffling, he spoke. "You will be punished tonight, Miss Granger. Tell me why."
"I don't know what I've done, Master," she said softly.
The immediacy of her response startled him as much as her words and Lucius' eyebrows shot up in surprise. She didn't know what she'd done? Ridiculous…!
Or maybe not so ridiculous. She was still very new to this world. This was only her third time at the club as his submissive. Perhaps she had just simply forgot and hadn't thought about the rules in place. If that were the case, she would never simply forget again after tonight.
"I find this hard to believe, Miss Granger." It was said in a clipped tone. "When you arrived this evening and I was not present, what did you do?"
"I was early," she whispered. "I needed the loo. When I came back from the bathroom, Jonathan had just come out of the storeroom. He was upset, and I …" Immediately she knew what she had done, what had provoked Lucius' displeasure. She had touched someone while at the club. But… her mind raced, trying to justify her actions. They were alone behind the bar. No one was paying attention to them. He was her friend, she provided comfort – how did Lucius even know?
"And you what, Miss Granger?" he knew she had caught on. They were on the same page.
"I comforted him, Master." Her voice was trembling. "But we – "
"But nothing, Miss Granger. There are no buts. You know the rules, you do not touch anyone without my permission when you are at the club!" He saw her jaw clench. She still didn't understand, Lucius realized he needed to know where her mind was at before he could address this in a way that brooked no argument.
"Speak, witch," he commanded. "Tell me why you think you are not in the wrong."
"I didn't say that, Master," Hermione protested, her voice tight with tears.
"You didn't have to say it, Miss Granger." Lucius sucked in a deep breath. He needed to maintain his control over his emotions or he would not be able to get the punishment over with tonight. It would be much harder on the her if this had to be postponed. "It's written in your body language."
She was quiet a moment, and he allowed her to collect her thoughts. "He's my friend, Master."
"I am aware."
"He was upset, we were essentially alone. I thought…well, I didn't think. I just reacted – my friend was hurting!" She was defensive, which would not do.
Lucius contemplated her words briefly. Of course, she had been comforting a friend. It was the epitome of her personality. "You could have comforted without touch."
"Master, you know me! Touch is a huge part of who I am. It was innocent. No one saw!"
"No one saw?!" He barked it and she visibly started. "That is where you are wrong, Miss Granger. No!" He slashed his hand through the air when she drew a breath to protest. "You were seen, Miss Granger. You and I both know I would know nothing about the transgression if you hadn't been seen. If you hadn't been seen, you would not be in trouble at the moment – would you?"
She shook her head, and he knew she was crying again even though her hair had fallen to cover her face. He ground his teeth, his stomach dropping. His reaction to her tears confused him. Lucius had made more submissives cry than he could remember but never had it bothered him before. Not like this.
He shook his head, dismissing his uneasiness. Now that he understood where her mind was, he had to figure out how to proceed. It was silent for many minutes, except for her soft sniffles. "I am struggling to figure out how to make you understand why this act of disobedience is such a big deal," he started softly. He was no longer angry, disappointment was his major emotion. He also felt sorry for her, he knew she had not acted intentionally against his rules. Her offense was that she hadn't stopped to think. Instead, she had gone through with her Gryffindor-like impulses.
Lucius was well aware that no one was harder on Hermione than she, herself. He knew his displeasure was causing her agony. That is where punishment came into the fold. Punishment was cleansing. It cleansed the submissive of their guilt and the Dominant of their disappointment. When it was over, the slate was clean. That didn't mean it wasn't difficult, however. For either party.
"I need you to realize that I know your disobedience was not done out of spite," he said delicately. "I know you have a soft heart and are fiercely protective of the people you care for. But Miss Granger, you step into a different world when you enter this club. Here, you belong to me. Everyone in this club knows that you are mine. It is stated boldly on that collar you wear.
"Even though Jonathan is your friend, even though he is a submissive, you willingly and without my permission put your arms around another man. You were seen. For me to have another Dom inform me that you were hugging another man, in this club, is a huge embarrassment. You know you are not to touch anyone without my permission when you are here and wearing my collar. When you do that, you make me look like a Dom who is not respected by his submissive. This reflects poorly on me and my training of you. Your behavior is a reflection of my Dominance, the respect you have for me, and the respect you have for the rules I have placed on you.
"Tonight, you have publicly disrespected me – and there is no greater offense in my mind. Whether or not your actions were intentional – and I do not believe you intentionally disrespected me, I wish to make that clear – I cannot ignore it. If I ignore this disrespect, it makes me look weak. Even worse, it makes me feel weak. And if there is one thing I am not, Miss Granger, it would be a weak Dom. Even for you.
"I need to re-establish my control over you, Miss Granger. Punishment is the tool I use, as do many other Dominants, to accomplish this task. It will not be easy, but I guarantee that you will not forget again and this lesson will be learned. This allows us both to move on from this transgression and start fresh. Do you understand now why you will be punished for this offense?"
"Yes, Master." Her small, trembling voice broke his heart. Lucius turned his face from her view and squeezed his eyes shut. His reactions to her upset were unusual for him – he was being more affected than he would care to admit. "I'm so sorry," her words were thick with sincerity.
"Apologize again, after," he murmured, not unkindly. "Look to the wall at your left, we will have a short lesson and then move forward quickly. I wish to deal with this transgression directly and put it behind us. Are you in agreement?"
"Yes, Master," she answered, and complied immediately to find simple drawings of submissive poses illuminated on the wall.
"The pose on the left is called Humble, it is the position you will take when I tell you what your transgression is and what your punishment will be. This is also the position to be used if you ever have a confession to make. If you have done something that you wish to ask my forgiveness for, this is how I expect you to present yourself to me. The position on the right is called Wall and will be the position you take when I tell you to prepare for your punishment. Understood?"
"I understand, Master."
"Humble," he directed. She pulled her knees back together and moved into a bow, she crossed her wrists, placed her palms flat to the floor, and dipped her head between her elbows. Standing over her, Lucius announced her offense and her sentence. "Miss Granger you are being punished for failure to follow a specific directive. You touched another person while at the club without my permission and were seen by another Dominant as well as staff and club members. I will warm you up with my hand, and then you will receive five swats with a large paddle. I want to warn you that I doubt you will make it through even one strike without crying. Tell me you understand." Lucius' blood was rushing heatedly through his veins in an odd combination of excitement and regret for what was to come.
There was a shaky exhale before a muffled, "I understand, Master," met his ears.
There was silence for a few moments and Hermione concentrated on her breathing. Now that she fully understood what her misconduct had meant to Lucius, she agreed that she deserved this punishment. However deserving she was, she could not dispel her nerves. She was half aroused by his commanding dominance, half terrified out of her mind. How bad was this going to hurt? She was pulled back to her Master when he started speaking again.
"I wish to remind you that your safewords are yellow and red. Move into the Wall position." Lucius did not watch her move. Instead he turned to the small rack of implements on the opposite side of the room and selected a long, flat, wooden paddle with a leather handle. Quick, swift punishment. Five to eight seconds between each swat to let her catch her breath. This is her first big offense, she does not know what to expect. Keep your cool and watch her reactions.
Fleetingly he wondered why he wasn't more eager to do this. In the past, he had always looked forward to punishment scenes. They were few and far between and it wasn't often he was able to sate these darker urges. He was a fair Dom and only truly punished a submissive for mistakes he thought were justly deserving. The punishment for not paying attention on New Year's would be a walk in the park compared to the one she had coming now. It took a significant transgression for him to do a scene like this – public disrespect was a very serious offense in his book. She deserves this, you're feeling reluctant because you have a soft spot for her. Buck up, old man.
He turned back to her and had to catch his breath. She looked stunning, her riotous curls spilled over her shoulders and upper back, ending just below her shoulder blades. She was wearing a thong, so he wouldn't have to remove her knickers, which was just as well. Her feet were hip width apart, and she was bent at the hips while supporting herself with her wrists crossed in front of her and her palms flat on the wall.
She was trembling like a leaf, and her curls were bouncing with the vibration of her body. He swallowed hard before approaching her. Lucius touched her lower back gently and her quaking stilled. It was the first time he had touched her since putting her in the corner and was all the comfort and reassurance he would allow her until the punishment was over. He gripped the paddle in his left hand and used his right to land the first spanking. A medium hit, he would turn her skin pink before using the paddle. Six smacks should be adequate. The breath she had been holding shuddered out by the time the third smack echoed in the otherwise silent room.
He stopped at six and stepped back. He would not soothe. That would be saved for the aftercare. "Prepare yourself Miss Granger. I will not ask you to count, you will most likely not be able to speak."
He heard her breath hitch. A cold sensation filled his gut, but he steeled himself and lined up the first swing.
CRACK!
It stole Hermione's breath completely. Thick, white heat lanced across her bum and she couldn't begin to think about doing anything – not breathing, not screaming, not crying. The silence in the room was shattering. After a full three seconds, a deep gasp of breath was forcibly sucked into her chest and tears sprung to her eyes. She clenched her teeth and carefully let the breath through her nose. The answer to her question was very much. It was going to hurt very much. She had no time for anything else before the next blow came.
CRACK!
A shriek left her involuntarily and the tears spilled over. She gasped on a sob desperately. Holy fuck! was the only coherent thought that left her. She had never thought it would be like this…never thought it would be this bad. It was worse than Snape's cane. He let her take one more breath.
CRACK!
This time, she broke. A deep, guttural moan left her, and she began to blubber in earnest, mucous mixing with the tears on her face. How many was that? It felt like a million.
Maybe I should safeword? The pain of the paddle was horrendous. It covered every inch of her bum and her sit bones were on fire, but she wanted to atone for her mistake. After he had explained why she was to be punished, she had certainly felt guilty. As a submissive, she deserved this punishment; as per their contract, he had every right to dole it out. No, I will not safeword. She gasped sobs out, once, twice, thrice…
CRACK!
"Ahh!" she bawled, and her knees buckled. Her body automatically tried to protect itself. She couldn't control her breath, she was suffocating on her own secretions.
"Straighten yourself immediately!" Lucius' command was harsh, and his tone was thick. She complied like a child being scolded by a parent, quickly straightening her legs. She was trembling violently. "Last one, Miss Granger." It was all the warning she got before the last, and hardest strike landed.
CRACK!
She cried out harshly, her throat raw from the tears and the exclamations. Collapsing against the wall for support, sobs wracked her body and the only thing she could think of was to desperately spew, "I'm sorry, I'm sorry. I'm so sorry!" There was a clatter and then Lucius was pulling her into his arms, wrapping her tightly into his embrace.
CRACK!
After the first hit, the silence in the room was shattering and Lucius held his breath, waiting for her reaction. After three full seconds she pulled in a sharp breath. Next will be the tears, he thought. When nothing but a slow, controlled breath left the girl after a few seconds more, immense pride filled him. She was starting strong – he had every right to be proud of her. He knew what the paddle felt like – a good Dom would never use something they, themselves, had not experienced. A burn of desire filled him. Keep moving, Luc. He pulled his arm back and swung.
CRACK!
The blow reverberated up his arm satisfyingly, flaming the lust until a shriek left her tiny body followed by a strangled sob. Instantly all inclinations of desire were doused with a bucket of cold water. He paused for a short moment in confusion before his mind raced, She's had enough time to breathe, just get this done, Luc.
CRACK!
The sound of pain that left her almost made him drop the paddle. What the hell was wrong with him? He'd heard these sounds before. This wasn't a new experience for him. Just because she was crying and in pain did not mean she wasn't just fine. She had agreed to the punishment. She had not safeworded. He listened to her gasping sobs and struggled to take his eyes off her fingers which were digging into the wall. Her knuckles were white. He shook his head…one…two…three.
CRACK!
"Ahh!" she bawled, and her knees buckled. Lucius started and pulled back, his free hand coming up to cover his mouth. Nausea flooded his stomach. Perhaps this hadn't been necessary. He should have only done three strikes. One left, Luc. Get her up. She's doing very well – even if you're having a hard time handling it.
"Straighten yourself immediately!" he commanded. It came out much more harshly than he had intended. Fuck. He needed this to be over. The fact that he didn't want to continue appalled him. What had this little slip of a girl done to him?
"Last one, Miss Granger," he choked out. Swinging back, he landed the last and hardest blow of the night.
CRACK!
Apparently knowing it had been the last strike caused Hermione's composure to crumble completely. He was horrified when she collapsed against the wall and started to sob uncontrollably. When her desperate apology spilled from her lips, broken with hiccups and gasping breaths, he dropped the paddle as if it had burned him. What on earth had he just done? Confusion and anguish clawed at him as he pulled the shaking girl into his arms.
Lucius scooped his tiny, broken submissive into his hold while he fought his own despair. He was completely sure that was the hardest thing he had ever done in his entire life. The relief and pride that flooded him when she curled into him, clutching his shirt, and sobbing into his chest was palpable. There was always that chance that a first, true punishment would push a new sub into a full rejection of the Dom who had dealt it. For all he knew, she could still change her mind. She could go home and think the whole thing through and decide this particular game was not for her.
"You did incredibly, love," he whispered into her hair as he carried her to the couch. He set her gingerly on her feet before sitting and indicating for her to straddle his lap, she would not want to put pressure on her bum. Hermione crawled into his lap, tears still punctuated by quivering gasps and choked sobs. She wrapped her arms around his shoulders and buried her face in his neck. Lucius held her tight with one arm while brushing her hair with the opposite hand, continuing to praise her bravery and acceptance. Eventually, her sobs turned to sniffles and she relaxed completely into him. The fingers of her left hand started rubbing little circles over his silk dress shirt just under his collar bone, almost as if she were trying to soothe him. When she was completely still and breathing evenly, Lucius pulled out a monogrammed handkerchief and gestured for her to take it.
Hermione sat up carefully, her bum in the space between his knees while she cleaned her face and blew her nose. Lucius used his wand to clean the handkerchief before tucking it back into his pocket. He turned his wand to her, clearing her face and running it along her nose to unplug her nasal passages before cleaning her tears from his neck and shirt. He summoned a bottle of water from the cabinet and opened it for her.
"Thank you," Hermione whispered. She drank gratefully, but never raised her eyes to meet his.
"Look at me, love," he said gently after a letting her sip her water for a while. She raised her amber eyes to his and his heart sank. They were so sad, and her lower lip started to tremble again.
"Hey now." Lucius carefully cupped her face between his hands. "It's over." His thumb smoothed away a tear that slid down her right cheek. "You were perfect."
"I'm so sorry," she whispered for what seemed like the millionth time. She leaned into his hand, nuzzling her face into his touch. "I never want to disrespect you. I have nothing but respect for you."
"I know. You are forgiven, Doll," he murmured back, drawing her in for a gentle kiss to her lips.
She kissed him back chastely and closed her eyes when he brushed gentle kisses over her cheeks and the bridge of her nose. When he pulled away to stare at her, she gave him a watery smile before curling back into him.
He held her a few moments longer, continuing to run his fingers over her hair and down her back. He could tell she was starting to get sleepy, and he needed to care for her bum and get her home before he let her sleep. "Doll, I'd like you to move and lay over my lap, I'm going to heal your bum."
She stiffened slightly before pulling back to look at him with large, incredulous eyes. "You most certainly are not." Lucius' eyebrows shot up, her words and tone shocking him. Sheepishly, she bit her lip. "That was really sassy," she said softly. "I apologize, Master. I should have said that I do not wish for my bum to be healed. I earned this punishment, and I will see it through to the end. It will heal naturally, if that is all right by you."
Lucius wasn't sure if his chest hurt from regret or pride. Her face was set with determination and her lips were pulled into a tight line. It was obvious she was completely serious. "I would not demand that of you," he told her softly. "You took your punishment admirably, and I will heal it for you. You are not required to be in pain for days for your transgression. You are forgiven; now we move on."
"And if I want this? Do I have to be healed?" Hermione's voice was soft, unsure. "Is there something wrong with me, that I don't want to be healed?
Lucius blinked at her, dumbfounded. He had never had a sub not want to be healed after a severe punishment. This would change her aftercare exponentially. "You do not have to be healed, if that's what you truly wish," he said slowly. "There is nothing wrong with you, Hermione. Many submissives enjoy the infliction of pain. Can you tell me why you do not wish for me to heal you?"
"I deserved this punishment," she said softly, her voice hitching a little bit. "I feel guilty, and I wish to heal naturally to remind myself that I have been forgiven for my disobedience."
Lucius' heart swelled and started pound erratically. He reached for her with both hands and cupped her head, bringing her forward to settle his forehead against hers before closing his eyes and brushing a light kiss to the bridge of her nose. He had so much he wanted to say to her that he couldn't. How perfect she was for him, how much he never wanted to be without her again. How he had been waiting for almost nine years to find a woman like her. No – his whole life. Even if he would have never given her a second glance in his youth because of her blood status, she was perfection personified.
He had loved Narcissa, yes. Lucius would not trade his years with Narcissa for anything, but Narcissa had not fulfilled all his needs. Now there was a witch who could be the complete and total package. Hermione was intelligent, beautiful, poised, and…submissive. The fact that he wasn't allowed to keep her was abhorrent. Devastating. Never in his life had he felt like crying as much as he did at this moment.
Finally, he spoke. "You will allow me to take you home and comfort you before putting you to bed, that will be my compromise."
"I accept your compromise, Master."
He smiled sadly as he pulled back just enough to press a kiss to the middle of her forehead. "Let's get you home."
The hot water soothed not only her skin but caused the tension of the last couple of hours to slowly seep out of her muscles.
"That's it, my dear, lay back. Try to relax." His voice was gentle, his demeanor almost apologetic.
Lucius' heart clenched as he watched her, and he had to choke back his own emotion as her soft doe eyes looked up at him, still tinted with the moisture from her tears of pain. Twice more he had attempted to convince her to allow him to heal her bum. Especially after witnessing the stiff way she was moving and the tears that seemed a permanent fixture in her eyes. The Apparition to the approved point nearest her flat had caused her extreme discomfort and the walk to her building had been painfully slow.
Hermione lived in Muggle-London, in Moorgate near Liverpool. Her building was a multistory high rise that left Lucius feeling completely out of his element. It was a cute little one bed, one bath flat that had shelves stuffed with books and walls covered with photographs. It screamed Hermione Granger to the nines.
"Master, I want to talk to Lucius. Is that possible?"
"Of course, I'm here, love. It's just you and me. Talk to me, please."
"I…I didn't like being punished."
He was rubbing the flannel over her shoulder and down her arm. He had to stifle an ironic snort of mirthless laughter. "No, I don't imagine you did."
She grabbed his hand and squeezed it, causing his eyes to shoot to hers. "No, you don't understand. I don't know if that's something I can go through again."
Lucius just watched her, the ramifications of her words slowly sinking in.
"Is that…is that something a lot of Dominants need? To punish so…harshly?" Lucius felt his heart start to race as incredible guilt flooded his senses. He was trying to wrap his head around how he felt and get his words together when she continued. "Is that something…" her voice became small "…you enjoy?"
He let out a heavy sigh, his voice very quiet. "I used to. I used to enjoy it very much. But tonight," he paused to swallow hard, "tonight it was…difficult. Hurting you in such a way. I don't know that I could do that to you again."
"Am I weak? Is that why?"
"No, Hermione. Don't ever think that! You are very strong, and you are such a natural submissive. You're perfect," he insisted. He tried to calm the trembling of his body, terrified he had pushed her away from this world with only one punishment.
"Well, clearly I'm not perfect. If I were perfect, I wouldn't have screwed up." Her tone was sardonic.
"All submissives are destined to screw up at some point…and frankly, so are Dominants. We aren't perfect either, you know," he said ironically.
"You are," she said simply.
"If I were perfect you wouldn't be doubting yourself right now." He watched her for a moment and then leaned in to kiss her forehead tenderly. "We can take such intense punishments off the table. There are other ways to…encourage or enforce behaviors. Before we do that, though, I wish to discuss what happened, tonight."
"Okay," she agreed amicably.
"I want you to realize that, for me, punishments like this are few and far between. They are something that happens for a major reason. They are used to correct disobedience and disrespectful behavior. You told me that you felt you deserved this punishment, did you mean that?"
"Yes, I did," she said quietly. "I didn't agree with you at first, but once you explained to me what my actions meant to you and what they showcased to other people, I understood. It's why I took the punishment without further protest."
"That is excellent submissive reasoning, Hermione," Lucius replied with a shaky breath. "Your instincts are so natural, love. I will urge you to continue to follow them." There was a short pause before he spoke again. "If you felt the punishment was deserved, would you submit to something like this again? Knowing what you know now – that they are only used for major transgressions, that there will always be a discussion before hand to make sure all parties are on the same page – would you consent?"
After a long deliberation, Hermione answered. "If it was necessary to please my Master, and he and I had the trust that you and I do…? Then, yes. I guess I would." She looked confused.
"Why do you look uncertain?" he questioned.
"I don't understand why I feel like this." She looked up at him, her eyes wide with her hesitation. "I didn't like it – I swear. Why would I be willing to do it again?"
"I know you didn't, love." He ran the flannel up her arms. "It's part of your submissive persona, I think. You have a need to please your Master, and if you feel your punishment is deserved you would take it no matter how much you didn't want to. It's a very natural instinct for this lifestyle. There is nothing wrong with you, Hermione."
He continued to move his fingers over her bare skin in a soothing manner.
"Lucius?" she murmured after another bought of comforting silence.
"Yes, pet?"
"I'm really am sorry. I have never not consoled a friend in need. It was just instinct. He needed to be held and I held him. He felt better, and I felt better for him."
"I know, love," Lucius reassured her. "You are forgiven, my dear. Please know that in your heart. I am not upset with you any longer."
More time passed, and she asked again, "Lucius?"
"Yes, pet."
"I can't promise that I wouldn't do the same thing all over again."
Lucius' eyes flew to hers, searching her face. Was she teasing him? After all they had gone through tonight, she would admit that she might break his rules again? Was she serious?! He took in her face, it was set – she was not kidding him.
"Why would you say that, Doll?" he couldn't help his offended tone.
"I don't wish to upset you, that is not my intention. I understand the importance of following your rules and will willingly submit to those rules. I would like to talk about the rule that led to what transpired this evening, however. Because as of tonight, I no longer agree with this rule and don't think I would be able to follow it in the future should an occasion arise where I would need to touch someone," she answered calmly. "I wish to come to a compromise, Master."
"And if I say there is no compromise?" Lucius' tone had become threatening. Apparently, they were back to being Master and Doll.
"Then I have to respectfully say that I will most likely not be able to abide by the rule if a situation were to arise that would warrant touch and you are not available to give me permission." The stormy expression that crossed Lucius' face made Hermione pause before she hastened to add, "I would submit for punishment if you deemed it necessary – which I really would not want to do." Her voice trembled with obvious nerves, it was very apparent that this idea did not excite her. Lucius found it did not thrill him, either. He let out a long-suffering sigh.
"What is your compromise, pet?" he asked gruffly. She shifted in the water and he grimaced when a flash of pain crossed her face.
"I wish to be given a short list of people that it's okay for me to touch when you are not with me. Etan, Rose, Jonathan, Draco, maybe Clarise? Of course, it would never be in a sexual or submissive nature." She paused briefly before adding, "And if there is an emergent situation where I could be of use, I don't want to have to ask permission."
Hermione watched as his face clouded over. He had been living in this world a long time and she was challenging his judgement. It was not a surprise he did not like it. He was probably not used to being second-guessed.
"I will think on this and we will talk more on Sunday," he said finally.
"Thank you, Master," she returned acceptingly. It was a more than fair statement.
"Do you have pain potion somewhere?" he asked.
"Yes, Master," she pointed, "in the cupboard above the loo. They're home brewed, blue vial."
"Can you stand?" He requested as he moved to find the aforementioned potion.
"Yes, Master." Gingerly, stiffly, she pushed herself to stand.
Lucius dug in the cupboard and found a pain potion and a calming cream. They would work perfectly.
He helped her dry herself carefully with a thick, lavender colored towel and watched her swallow the potion before he led her to her bed. "Do your journal in the morning," he directed as he assisted her in lying down on her stomach in her large bed.
"Yes, Master. Thank you." She sighed as she got comfortable.
"I found some lotion, and I would like to smooth it onto your backside," he told her gently. "Do you have any objections?"
"No, Master. That would be lovely."
Carefully he settled next to her on the bed and gathered some cream onto his finger tips before smoothing it tenderly over her now obviously bruised bum. In the past, he had always found the marks he left on his submissives stimulating. They were proof of his power over them, proof that they accepted his Dominance and that they were willing to bend to his command.
He regarded the marks he left on Hermione with an odd mixture of guilt and appreciation. He felt guilty for the anguish he caused her, but he could not deny that her acceptance of the punishment was a massive turn on for him. The marks she insisted on keeping pleased him deeply, and they were beautiful. That she was willing to suffer for days to remind herself that he had forgiven her for her mistake – there were no words. He capped the lotion after a few moments and stood to set it on her nightstand along with another vial of pain potion. "Take that when you wake in the morning, pet," he directed kindly. "Continue to take mild pain potions until you are more comfortable. If you changed your mind and decide you want to be healed, I wish to do it."
She craned her neck, so she could bestow a soft smile on him. "I will take the pain potion, Master, but I will not change my mind about wanting to be healed."
Unable to help himself, he leaned down and pressed an affectionate kiss to the top of her head. She turned onto her side and reached for him. He sat next to her with a questioning look. "Kiss me, please, Master?" she requested sweetly.
Lucius could do nothing but comply, dropping his lips to hers in a series of sweet, heart wrenching kisses. "Will you stay until I fall asleep?" she asked shyly when they had parted. "You can use my floo to go back to the Manor." They both knew this was request number three but what she didn't know is that he would refuse her nothing this night. Not after how incredible she had been.
"Of course, I will." Lucius settled carefully next to her, dropping his hand to Hermione's hair, and brushing her temple soothingly with his thumb. They spoke no more, and it was only minutes later that her breathing changed. He studied her profile: her sweet, up-turned nose, her high brow line, and the smattering of freckled across her cheeks and nose – it had all become dear to him in such a short amount of time.
Lucius moved his hand away from her, waiting to see if Hermione would stir. She didn't, and reluctantly he pushed himself up to stand. "Goodnight, love," he whispered before awkwardly turning off her bedside light. The room plunged into darkness, only the light from the lounge spilled through her cracked bedroom door, throwing her face into shadows. Without another word, he took his leave.
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Book One - Master Mine: A Lesson in Submission