"It would."

Hermione replied gently. She didn't know how she'd be comfortable in Malfoy Manor but she hoped maybe, one day, she would get somewhere close.

Not only had she been tortured there but from what she had seen the place was so big and vast that to have only three people live in it must make the place seem very cold and empty. She didn't know how she could make such a place her home but she knew she would have to try. If she was going to have a happy life with a working marriage and lovely children then she would somehow make Malfoy Manor a cosy home.

Taking a deep breath, Hermione took hold of his hand and gathered her resolve.

"I do apologise if its a little bumpy."

Then, with that, she turned and disapparated the pair of them to her small home in Hogsmeade.

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Merlin, had it been nine months already? It didn't seem that long. The deadline was fast approaching and Lucius and Hermione hadn't even so much as consummated their marriage yet. Hermione wanted to wait until she was ready, and Lucius was more than okay with that. But he knew if they didn't start trying soon, the ministry would step in and force things to go their way in a rather unsavory manner.

He'd tried to romance her a few times before, but it was rather hard when she was oblivious to any type of romance that didn't come from those "movies" of hers, and especially so when he felt no real feelings for her.

It wasn't that he disliked her company – he'd actually grown quite fond of her during her months at Malfoy Manor – he just didn't quite love her. She deserved love, and he knew it painfully well, he just couldn't give it to her. His body and his magic belonged to her, but his heart belonged elsewhere.

And it wasn't as though he could just talk to her about what they would have to do here soon. It was the white elephant in the room, and he didn't want to address it.

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Hermione was in love with Lucius. She'd fallen for him in these past few months and she was pretty sure the feeling was mutual. After all she'd watched how Draco behaved with Astoria, and then watched Lucius and they seemed to do the same thing. Whilst most would put it down to heriditary behaviour Hermione was sure it was love. After all she knew Draco loved Astoria, and so Lucius must love her, right? Of course he'd never said and so never had she but sometimes you didn't words. Right?

Only... Hermione would really like the words. However she wasn't going to push it. The words would come in time. For now she was quite happy to settle with his company and those lovely, toe curling kisses that often left her feeling like was drugged up.

Everything, as far as Hermione could tell, was moving at just the right place. They had a little bit more time before they needed to consumate their marriage so they still had a little bit more time before the words would be said and they'd spend the night together.

Little did she know just how wrong she was.

"Lucius?"

Hermione called happily as she made her way through the Manor.

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Lucius glanced up as he was shaken from his thoughts and shook his head lightly. Nine months and he still hadn't gotten used to another presence in the house after Narcissa left. But then, him and Narcissa had been together intimately, despite their ultimate . . . incompatibility.

Moving from his place in the library, Lucius caught sight of Hermione in the halls and smiled.

"Hello, my dear."

He murmured, pressing a kiss to her forehead. It may have felt wrong leading her on – despite his inner Slytherin reminding him of his own personal gains through the arrangement – but he continued to remind himself that it was wrong for the ministry to force them together in the first place.

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Hermione found herself humming quietly and happily as she felt the kiss to the forehead. She'd seen Draco do this all the time to Astoria and although Lucius had done this before he fell in love with her (in her opinion) it felt different now. It felt more affectionate. It felt as if it was a kiss from someone who loved her. Right?

It had to.

She would not be the victim of unrequited love again - not after Ron. Not again.

"What are you up to today?"

She asked happily, smiling up at him with the unmistakeable love in her eyes.

Yes, life was perfect.

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Lucius smiled gently as he circled his arms around her waist to hold her against him. He had to admit that it felt nice having Hermione in his arms like this.

"Business as usual, mostly. I've been working on a new proposal within the Ministry."

He explained with a small shrug, not entirely sure she'd be interested in such matters. It had been quite some time since someone – other than Draco who was starting to follow in his path – took an interest in his work.

"What about you, sweetheart? How's your day been going?"

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"Oh? What is it about?"

Hermione asked, genuinely curious. It wasn't that often she got Lucius to open up but considering Severus and Draco had been the same, Hermione had put it down to something Slytherins did. After all if no one knew your personal secrets whether work related or not then they couldn't take advantage of you or ruin you in any way. She understood that but she really wanted to know everything about the man she was quickly falling in love with.

"Its fine, not very interesting."

She replied, lieing somewhat. She was not about to confess that whilst doing some left over paperwork from work that she'd ended up doodling their names in pink hearts like some teenager, that was for sure. Hermione had thought herself above that kind of thing but clearly she wasn't. She was just quite a few years late.

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Lucius smiled softly as Hermione inquiries about his business. Such a curious one, it was actually refreshing from the typical, detached attitudes of most pure bloods. With a small chuckle, he pressed a tender kiss to her lips.

"Actually, it's a movement to instill a new compulsory course in the European wizarding school that will teach muggle borns – and if they wish to take it as an elective, half bloods as well – about ancient cultures and pure blooded ways."

He answered, gazing at her with what he tried to make a hopeful expression. While he was in fact backing this movement, it was more or less for her, to convince her that he cared about her, and other wizards and witches like her – meaning muggle borns.

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"Oh Lucius!"

Hermione half gasped and half sobbed before throwing herself at him. Her arms went around his neck as she held him tightly, face buried in his chest as she basked in his loving gesture. Oh yes, he had to love her to do such a thing and it would help the world so much! She was so happy infact that all control over her mouth completely vanished...

"I love you! So so much... You are so sweet. I can't believe you'd do that with me in mind... Its just amazing! Oh, if only I could take the course. Thankyou! Thankyou so so much."

She gushed, happy tears trickling down her cheeks. In a moment of brash, Gryffindor impulsiveness she threw herself at him again, having to jump a little, to press her lips to his lips and then pepper kisses all over his face. Her heart was so full to bursting, so sure of the requited love, that it instinctively went to the best way she could show him how much she loved and appreciated him.

Pulling away a little she smiled up at him with all the happiness and love in the world, completely open and trusting.

"Lets go to bed."

She'd always dreamed she'd loose her innocence to her one true love, with he in love with her too, and it turned out she was going to get her dream after all. Hermione had never been happier. She felt like the luckiest woman in the whole world. Nothing could spoil this moment. Absolutely nothing.

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'Don't you dare, you lying snake. It is going to crush her when she finds out you don't feel the same way.'

Despite popular belief, Lucius Malfoy did have a conscience, and right now it was currently berating him, harshly. Merlin, how could he do this to her? Marriage laws had quite away of shaping someone.

"I love you too, Hermione."

He murmured. Her kisses were sweet at first, but began to sting when he remembered what was going to happen. They had to do this, but somehow he though it would be easier if both wear indifferent to each other. Sadly, that was not going to be the case.

As she mentioned heading to bed, he flashed her a mildly seductive, sultry smile, pulling her against his chest. His show was not over.

"Hmm . . . yes, let's."

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He said he loved her and Hermione smiled brilliantly in response. She knew it. She knew it, she knew it, she knew it. He did love her. She was right and that tiny nagging fear in the back of her mind disappeared with a glittery poof. She had nothing to worry about. Of course she didn't it. Lucius Malfoy was in love with her like Harry was in love with Ginny and Draco was in love with Astoria.

A part of her had been worried she was seeing things that weren't there but his words only confirmed she was right. He did love her. It was said so sincerely and no one could fake that could they? No they couldn't. She was safe, loved, valued, and married. All by and to the same man. Life just couldn't get any better.

With an over-the-moon smile Hermione followed Lucius up to his room unaware of the betrayal that would be revealed to her. After all nothing ever stays secret.

"I was so scared I'd never find love when this marriage law came out but here I am, with you, and I love you, and you love me. True love. I... its amazing and I can't wait to feel like this every day for the rest of our lives."

She told him happily once she'd come to a halt beside his large, dominating bed.

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It wasn't until the following morning that Lucius's conscience decided to nag him again. He woke up before Hermione, allowing him to simply watch her as she peacefully slept. She'd given him such a precious gift, of her own will, and he'd completely lied to her face.

She deserved so much more of him than he was giving her. How could he do this to her? She was going to find out eventually, though perhaps he could deal with it all before then.

Lucius shifted closer to his wife, curling around her smaller frame. One arm wrapped around her waist, while the other moved to gently rub her back as he tenderly pressed kisses along her hair line.

"Hermione . . . wake up darling."

He murmured, pressing closer to her.

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"Mmm... lets stay here all day."

Hermione murmurred, smiling happily under Lucius' kisses. Her eyes fluttered open, heart racing at the sight of her beautiful husband. How had she gotten so lucky?

"You could show me more of how much you love me."

She added playfully, her voice still a bit husky from her sleep. She now knew how Ginny and Harry as well as Astoria and Draco felt. Hermione knew she was a very lucky woman. Not everyone got to choose who was their first, and not everyone managed to choose to do it with someone who did really love them and they loved back. The fact she'd managed to do so was one of those rare, lucky moments.

Sighing happily, she nuzzled Lucius affectionately as she closed her eyes once more. She'd never felt so perfectly content before. Nothing could go wrong.

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"Hmm... All day, all night, however long you want, sweetheart. However, food is a necessity, and one I'd rather not try going without. All this takes a lot of energy which requires a decent meal."

Lucius murmured, pressing a soft kiss to Hermione's lips. Such a beautiful girl . . . he didn't want to break her heart.

"Stay here and relax, sweetheart. I'll get us some breakfast, okay?"

Without waiting for an answer, Lucius gave his wife a final kiss before untangling his arms from her, getting out of bed, and leaving the room.

He had barely reached the end of the hallway when a grey and white Northern Hawk Owl landed on the railing of the stairs before him. He'd recognize Draco's "pet" anywhere.

"And just what are you doing here, Archimedes?"

He questioned, holding his arm out to the owl. Once Archimedes flew over to him, Lucius took the envelope tied around his leg. After being freed from the package, the owl flew away to find a house elf to receive a treat from before he headed home. The bird had obviously been at Malfoy Manor enough times.

There was only one thing within the envelope: a picture of Draco playing with little Scorpius, obviously taken and sent by Astoria. Lucius couldn't help but smile as he altered his course to instead enter the library.

Wandering through the stacks of shelves, he found himself within a comparatively smaller part of the library, where all records of the Malfoy family since the very beginning of the line were kept. The books stored there were obviously well taken care of and preserved over so many years, though still worn with use and age.

Lucius pulled out a more recent book, and album filled with photos dating as far back as his grandparents' younger years. Placing the picture he'd received in the first available place near the end of the album, Lucius began to look through the book fondly. However, turning one page in particular, his smile fades, and the Malfoy Patriarch sighed. He slowly dragged his fingers over the edge of the picture as he watched the two wizards staring back at him.

At first glance it seemed like it was just him – a much younger him, but him nonetheless – but upon closer inspection one could see a figure within the shadows. After several moments, the figure – obviously a female – moved, running up behind Lucius to jump onto his back, wrapping her legs around his waist and her arms around his neck. Picture-Lucius had to take a few steps forward to keep from loosing his balance, but otherwise kept a cool mask of an expression with his arms crossed over his chest.

Of course, this wasn't for long, as he was soon smiling as the girl kissed his cheek, her black hair falling over her shoulders and her amber eyes sparkling.

"Oh Amelia . . . I just don't know what to do anymore."

Lucius sighed, slowly flipping through more pictures of his late first wife as time slipped away from him.

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Hermione hummed happily, stretching out on the bed as Lucius left the room. However when he took longer then she thought was normal to come back she ended up furrowing her brows as she got out of bed. She picked up Lucius' dressing gown, slipping it on and doing up the belt before leaving the room.

She eventually found him in the living room but upon seeing him she didn't make a sound. She could see Lucius' face and the photo album on his lap. It was as she looked at the picture and Lucius' face that she realised he was in love. She also realised that he'd never looked at her like that. Not once. Dread crept up her spine. If that look meant he was in love and he never looked at her that way then that had to mean... he didn't love her. He'd touched her, he'd lied to her face, and he'd faked it all. He'd taken the only thing she had to give under false pretences.

She felt sick. He must have thought her such a fool. A stupid, little Mudblood desperate for affection and love. He'd probably laughed at her in his head the whole time.

Of course she noticed Lucius looked sad (and in love) at the moment but the maternal instinct to comfort was overwhelmed in that moment by the sick feeling of betrayal and being used.

"You lied to me."

Hermione croaked, one hand pressed between her breasts and throat.

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