As Hermione turned to walk away, Virgo rested a hand on her son's shoulder and gently pushed him towards his bride. Like it or not, he was bound to Hermione, and he needed to work something out with her before her family began to get suspicious. Besides, she liked Hermione, the girl reminded her of her first daughter-in-law.

Lucius sighed silently as he moved a few steps towards Hermione. He really didn't want to do this, however one glance over his shoulder told him his mother didn't care what he did or did not want to do, and was already walking away.

Chewing on his inner lip for a few moments, he followed Hermione through the house, reaching out before she could disappear into the powder room.

"Hermione," he gently stroked her arm, not grabbing it, but sliding his hand down until it met hers, "I'm sorry, don't hide yourself away."

This was it, in the isolation of the hallway, the sounds of the reception distant, where true colors could be shown.

"This is your day, and I . . . I don't want to ruin it for you. The grandeur may be lost on me, but it's still there for you to enjoy every second of, and you should."

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Hermione stopped in her tracks as she heard and felt Lucius behind her. Her head turned a little as she watched his hand make its way down her arm and to her hand. After a little encouragement by his fingers she did, with slight reluctance, allow their fingers to become entwined.

She couldn't help but sigh, a long and deep sigh, after Lucius had spoken as a lone tear rolled down her cheek. She knew if she couldn't be truthful here, where there was privacy and it was their wedding day, then she knew she probably never could. This may not be the wedding day or marriage she'd dreamed of but she wanted it so desperately to work out. She wanted them to be at least civil if nothing else although the inner romantic in her couldn't help but want them to fall in mad, passionate, everlasting love for each other.

She slowly turned around to face Lucius, completely vunerable as she looked upon the ex-Death Eater.

"I've dreamt of this day so much. I was stupid and niave to think if I planned enough and tried to have enough imagination that it would still happen after the law was passed. Its not the same. I always thought that I would be in love with the groom and he in love with me. I mean look at Astoria and Draco - they look like newlyweds. They're so in love, so intimate with each other, and so wrapped up in each other that even in public you wouldn't want to disturb their beautiful bubble. You're here but there is a huge gap, maybe not literally but I feel it, we're not touching unless we have to, and any normal married couple would be excited for their wedding night and the honeymoon shortly after yet I'm planning to watch movies and eat pizza for my wedding night whilst there is no honeymoon planned in any way. I'll probably spend it moving into whatever room you've decided is mine in Malfoy Manor. I can't enjoy this. Its just not the same. All I can do now is to make my parents believe this lie I've created because at least then they'll be happy."

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Lucius sighed as he listened to Hermione, his thumb gently running over the back of her hand as he thought. He didn't know what to say, how to sooth her hurt, and he knew if he didn't it would be all his fault for decades to come.

He didn't want another marriage, didn't want more children to raise, didn't want another promise of a "lifetime" being bound to someone. He didn't have any way to empathise with her, to make her feel any different than she did.

"I'm sorry, Hermione. I can't give you what you're wanting, whether I want to or not. Our magics may be bound but . . . "

You never forget your first love, or at least that's what everyone said. Lucius could certainly attest to that. He wanted this to be over just as much as she did, but he also wanted to help her at the very least convince her family that they loved each other, even though they didn't.

"I can't make this day any closer to your dreams. The only thing I can do is help convince your parents of everything you've told them."

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Hermione was pretty sure she felt something break, maybe her heart or hope or both or more, at Lucius' words. She was also pretty sure she flinched. She turned her head away, nose scrunched up and eyebrows furrowed as she yanked her hand out of Lucius' grasp.

After everything she had been through, every fight, the word 'Mudblood' in large letters carved into her arm and fighting men twice her age and far more experienced, she found it hard to believe she was destined to be in a loveless, childless marriage. She wasn't the type to cheat either, even if she had her husband's blessing whomever he could be or could have been, and so to top it off she'd probably end up dieing physically innocent to boot.

She wasn't sure why she was hoping for him to say something else to her when he stopped her. Maybe it was a last drop of the old romantic in her hoping something better would happen. Well, he'd definitely crushed that into smithereens.

Sometimes a girl needed to hear the right words, whether they were true or not, and she needed to believe them. Almost cradling the hand Lucius had touched to her chest she knew they were never going to come whether it be lies or truth.

"Go home. Just go home Lucius."

She replied quietly, her voice eerily still, before she walked away and up the stairs to head for the perceived safety of her childhood bedroom.

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Lucius, for not the first time, felt completely lost. His normally silver tongue failed him, his talent for knowing just the right words disappearing. There was one thing he did know; he wasn't going down without a fight.

As he followed after Hermione, his jaw set in determination, he let himself move with the moment, his actions flowing without thought. Without a word, he placed a hand on her shoulder, spun her around, and pressed his lips against hers in a deep and powerful kiss. Of she wanted real, he would give her as real as he could.

"I've lived almost thirty years without hope, don't you dare go down the same path."

He murmured, his lips still against hers as he held her tight against his chest.

"A hopeless existence isn't living. I won't let you end up like me; you have far too much potential to loose your hope. Whatever is in my power to give, believe me when I say it's yours. The world and more, anything, I will give to you or die trying.

"Don't do this, Hermione. Don't hide. Not today, of all days."

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Hermione was pretty sure she felt her heart in her throat, beating wildly, as one Lucius Malfoy kissed her as if his life depended on it. There was very little if any thought going on in her brain as her eyes fluttered closed and her hands, as if on their own accord, timidly moved up to cup either side of his neck so her fingers could run through the long, soft - oh how soft! - blonde hair there.

She felt the kiss all the way to her tingling toes. Even after he'd ended the kiss and she'd opened her eyes in a wide eyed expression as a small part of thought came back to life within her otherwise very lost feeling brain. She barely registered that her hands were in his hair along with the words he was speaking.

Fortunately at time passed on, even though they were mere minutes, her brain came back to life more and more. She tried to calm her racing heart but it didn't seem to be listening any time soon.

"I want... I want l-love..."

Hermione began, cringing slightly at the word love since she felt it was far too soon to talk about any of this but she had to be honest. Taking a deep breath she tried again:

"I want love Lucius, and children which I refuse to have without love. I want what Harry and Ginny have, what Draco and Astoria have... and you just told me you cannot give me either. What else is there to talk about? I won't cheat Lucius. I'm not that kind of gir- woman. I'm not that kind of woman."

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Lucius sighed as he listened to Hermione, pressing another, more gentle kiss to her lips. There were so many things that he could tell her, that he wanted to tell her, but for once he didn't know how to.

"All relationships take time. All the love I have, I promise, it's yours. Time will go on, and that love will only grow. Hermione . . . please, if love is what you want, then I will give it to you. You're my wife now, I want to make you happy."

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Hermione's body sagged in relief, her eyes fluttering closed, at his promise. Her hands had a firm, but not bruising, grip on his jacket as she took in the fact she may end up having love after all. Of course she knew it couldn't be forced, no feelings could, but just knowing there was a chance was more then enough for her.

"Thankyou."

She whispered softly before letting her forehead rest against his impressive pectorals.

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Lucius remained silent as his arms slid tightly around Hermione's waist. He really didn't know what he was doing, what he was saying, but there was no turning back now. Besides, they'd already been up there long enough.

"Best get back down to our guests. No doubt they're already making assumptions on where we are and what we're doing."

He sighed gently as he pulled back about, though keeping an arm around Hermione to keep her against his side. Was she alright to continue faking it through the night, with the promise of better love over time? Hopefully she was, for it wasn't something they could afford to reveal to her parents.

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"Of course."

Hermione mumbled in agreement, trying her best to ignore the fact she was blushing because Lucius seemed determined to keep her close and she liked it. Despite the amount of knowledge and magical power she had Hermione still felt like a little girl compared to her new husband. He overwhelmed her in practically every way.

Even amongst the crowd in her parents' back garden she still found it hard to focus on anything but a certain Lucius Malfoy.

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"Everything alright, dear?"

Lucius asked as the night started drawing to a close. After their talk in the house, Hermione seemed unable to focus on anything but him. Of course, this only worked in their favor, but still. Couldn't ignore it and have people start to wonder.

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"Hm? ... Oh! Yes, yes I'm fine."

Hermione murmurred after they had said the last of their goodbyes. She found herself staring at her childhood home's front door a little longer before she turned to Lucius properly. Now was their wedding night and she had no idea what Lucius had planned - if anything.

"Lucius... this is about as far as I have planned. Well thats not exactly true... I did think you'd expect me to move into your home, Malfoy Manor, at this point and so I'd planned on moving my things into a spare bedroom there, maybe have a pizza and watch a movie. I didn't think you'd have anything planned but now we've... sort of decided to date - or court - well I wasn't sure if you wanted to do something... together since we're also now married. As well as dating."

That really sounded wierd.

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Lucius sighed gently and lifted his shoulders in a shrug. He'd nothing really planned either. A child didn't even have to be conceived for several more months, so it wasn't like there were exactly pressed for time as far as that was concerned.

Though he couldn't deny the stirring of certain hormones while they were kissing that marked signs of arousal. However he really didn't think Hermione would find herself up to such things, and he wasn't sure he was really up to them either.

"I didn't really plan anything, Hermione. You can do as you wish once you've settled in, and if you would like me to join you, then I will. However I will not push you past your comfort zone at this point in our relationship."

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"It feels... strange... to know nothing'll happen on my wedding night."

Hermione murmurred before realising what it sounded like.

"Oh! Its not that I'm ready for going all the way like that its just... knowing nothing will happen. That this night that is supposed to be a milestone in a woman's life is just going to feel like just another day."

Shaking her head to clear her mind off those thoughts, she turned into an alley so they could disapparate.

"I don't know how to get into Malfoy Manor, so do you want to come with me to get my things so you can then side-along me to your home?"

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"If that would make you more comfortable, then sure."

Lucius nodded as she suggested he come with her to get her things. He supposed it couldn't hurt, and it wasn't like it would change anything about the night, so why not?

"To your house, then?"

He asked, looking down at his new wife.

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