Harvest Moon

By this late stage of the game the healers at St. Mungoes had previously thought they’d seen just about everything. After all, they were the ones who tended to everything from scraped knees, to spells gone awry to hexing at family reunions and holidays. The latter of which happened often. However, nothing could have prepared them for the sight that greeted them coming into Emergency Care.



Two members of the Golden Trio walked in with Lucius Malfoy. That alone was staggering but add to it the person he was carrying happened to be recognized as an . . . ahem, Lady of interesting employ by certain members of the staff. Along with all of that was the head of the Magickal and Muggle Relations division. It all added up to what everyone presumed would be a very odd day indeed.



Lucius didn’t bother to stop and fill out forms or anything else. He went directly from Emergency Care on through double doors to the private wing of the hospital reserved for the Malfoy family’s use. Several healers scrambled after him, trying to assess the situation without really asking him anything because his expression was grim and no one in their right mind really wanted his ire turned on them.



Lucius nudged the door to a private room open with one shoulder and carefully put Taz onto the bed. His frown deepened upon getting a good look at her in the hospital light. He pale skin was even whiter than before and something in his stomach clenched when he noticed how shallow her breathing was. He stepped back away from the bed and let the healers get to work since it was glaringly obvious what was wrong with her.



Ara patted him on the shoulder, saying in a low voice that she’d go get the paperwork started as best she could. He just nodded, feeling numb for the moment while his mind scrambled for what to do with this situation. What he most wanted to do was wrap both her and Hermione up in bubble wrap and make sure nothing got near either one of them again. The other women had been bad enough, they had been people he’d played with but didn’t really know or care deeply for. What had happened to Taz and the very real threat that had been presented in his own home no less was enough to kick every protective instinct he had into high gear. He glanced over to Hermione, talking quietly to Potter. For some odd reason he didn’t like them talking with their heads bent together the way they were.



Before he could really ponder why he felt that way Ara came into the room followed by his son, Luna and Taz’s submissive Andrew. Lucius pointed to Andrew and then to the floor. The younger man was instantly on his knees, head and chest bowed forward with his forehead touching the floor and his arms behind him.



“Lucius!” Hermione said, sounding aghast. “Was that really necessary?”



It was Arabella who answered her. “It was, Hermione. He had to make certain it was really Andrew.”



“But why . . .” She paused for a moment and then frowned a little. “Because anyone else most likely wouldn’t know the non verbal commands used for submissives. Right? Particularly personal ones used by Lucius and Taz since they’d likely be similar.”



“And why would they be similar, Mine?” Lucius asked, trying to hide the faint smirk that threatened. Gods, he loved how her mind worked.



“Because you’re partners and you would have coordinated similar commands to make things easier on the people working at the house,” Hermione said simply.



Draco laughed. “If I were you, Father, I’d be terrified that she knew me so well already.”



One of the healers hesitantly approached the group, glancing nervously at the young man still on the floor. “I beg your pardon, Mr. Malfoy,” he said, addressing Lucius. “But there are entirely too many people in the room at the moment. If you would please remove most of the group so we may attend this young lady properly without distraction.”



Lucius simply nodded and the others started filing out of the room. “Andrew, stand and attend your Lady.”



The young man practically flew to a standing position, though he still kept his head down. “Yes, my Lord.”



“When this is finished, I want to know how this happened,” Lucius said, looking back at Taz on the bed.



“Of course, my Lord. I will tell you everything I am aware of concerning the matter,” he said. “Thank you, my Lord, for finding her and bringing her to the healers.”



Lucius squeezed the younger man’s shoulder. He knew all too well what it was like to be unable to protect someone you cared for. “I’m sure the aurors will want some sort of statement as well.”



Andrew nodded and made his way over to the bed as Lucius left the room.



Lucius sighed and leaned heavily against the closed door for a moment before making his way a little further down the hallway to where everyone else was waiting. He smiled a little upon hearing Hermione fire off a particular question at his son.



“Really, Draco, why would you take the time to stop off at the Gilded Lily to find Tazura’s submissive?”



“In all honesty, I was worried I wouldn’t find anything of him but his body. You, Father and Arabella seemed to have things well in hand at any rate,” Draco said. Smirking a bit as he deliberately left Harry out of that statement.



“I still don’t understand why you felt the need to bring him along?” she asked, sounding thoroughly exasperated.



“I think I can answer that question, Mine,” Lucius said, coming up behind her.



She turned around and put her hands on her hips. “Well?”



“It’s very simple, Mine. He’s her fiancé.”



Hermione stared at Lucius for what she presumed to be a full minute while her brain processed this new information. She finally shook off the shock and grumbled, “Well, that will certainly give new meaning to tying the knot.”