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RedRosette: I am sorry that the OOCness of the story bothers you. The idea of the story is rather sweet (which we all know is not very Slytherinesque) and it wouldn't leave me alone so I had to write it. I do hope you'll stick it out, perhaps there will be a part you like, if not I very much appreciate the honesty of your review (and I do mean that sincerely).

insert usual disclaimer here

STEALING THE PRIZE

CHAPTER THREE

Lucius knew that Hermione's room was the last suite at the end of the hall. There was no where for him to hide between the stairwell and the door to her room. He thought about casting a Disillusionment Charm on himself but quickly shoved the idea aside. Lucius squared his shoulders, arrogance in place as though he had every right to be there, and pushed open the stairwell door. The door creaked as it was opened and Lucius winced at the sound. He waited a moment or two than proceeded to walk down the elegantly decorated hallway. With each step his confidence grew that no one would come between him and Hermione's door.

"Wotcher, Malfoy!" The voice behind him caused him to jump and turn on his heel. Standing next to him was none other than the animagus, Nymphadora Tonks. 'Great,' he thought, 'bloody aurors have impeccable timing.'

"Got past Harry and Ron, then? Kind of curious how you got by Hermione's boys. One would think Ron might have drawn his wand immediately at the sight of you. Still he was Hermione's first boyfriend so of course he'd be overprotective."

Lucius growled low in his throat at the mention of Ron's name. He had been Hermione's first boyfriend and lover. She had spent only a few months after the war with Ron. It became too much when Molly began to pressure her to marry her 'Ronniekins.' That was something she was not yet ready for, and try as she did to convince Ron and Molly of that, the only way to get through to the both of them was to break up with Ron.

"That boy was never good enough for her. She needs a real man."

"And so you think you're it, then?"

"There will never be another for her."

"She deserves better."

"There is no better."

"Prove it," challenged Tonks.

With a long suffering sigh Lucius replied, "I'm standing here, am I not?"

"Not to me, Malfoy, to her," and so saying, Tonks lifted her hand and pointed just over Lucius' shoulder. "Wotcher, Hermione!" Lucius stiffened and turned around. What he saw hurt his chest and constricted his breathing. Briefly he wondered if this is what a broken heart might feel like.

She was a mess. Her face was red. Her eyes were swollen from crying and her hair, well, he had never seen her hair in such disarray. She was wearing a simple white cotton sleep shirt that fell to just above her knees. Her feet were bare and her hands were clasped tightly in front of her.

"Want me to make him leave?" Tonks asked. She did not use her 'auror' tone as she believed Hermione and Lucius needed to be alone to work through their issues.

Hermione shook her head in response and quietly said, "Come in, Lucius, we need to talk."

"Damn right we do," he said in tight voice that she knew to mean he was very upset with her. Lucius stalked straight up to Hermione's doorway and stopped in front of her. He reached out to tuck a stray tendril of hair behind her ear and then spoke again quietly, "Tell the watch dog she can leave. I'll not be raising hand nor wand against you, no matter how tempted I am to do so." He continued the rest of the way into her suite and went directly to the bar to pour himself a snifter of brandy. He heard her dismiss the auror and close the door.

His back was still to her when she began to speak. Walking through the sitting room, which had been decorated in ivory damask and silk with cherry wood furniture, she came to a halt directly behind him.

"I was wrong to leave the way I did…I..."

"Wrong? Wrong is not the word, Hermione. I left that morning for my business meeting with the scent of you still on me and the promise of having you again when I returned. When I came home it was to Mipsy beside herself because Miss Hermione was gone. If you were so unhappy with me and the things I gave you then you should at least have the common courtesy of leaving a note." Even as he spoke, Lucius refused to look at her. She thought it was because he was so angry he couldn't even look at her. He knew it was because if he looked he would have to touch and he could never stop when it came to her.

"Lucius…." She began, only to have him interrupt her once more.

"I bought you, jewelry, art, clothes, books, damn it, witch, what else do you need? I satisfy every fucking itch your body has. You crave my touch, my body. Me." Finally, he turned to look at her.

"It's not about the things, Lucius. It was never about the material things." As much as she wanted to just bury her head against his chest and beg to go home with him, she knew it wouldn't solve anything. So lifting her chin up her raised her eyes to him. Brown met grey and held as she continued to speak. "I did not leave because of what you bought me; I left in spite of it. There are…" Yet again, she was interrupted by him.

"Hermione, if you don't want them then perhaps I'll find a witch who will." If his aim was to push her to her limits, than he was definitely on target. With a small cry, she balled her hand into a fist. The sound of skin hitting skin followed and Lucius' head snapped to the side. "You bastard," she screamed and attempted to slap him, but this time he caught her wrist before she made contact.

"That first hit was a freebie, my dear. Do it again and I shall be forced to retaliate."

"You wouldn't dare."

"Try me."

Hermione yanked her arm from his grasp and stumbled to the other side of the room. "This is not getting us anywhere. Please, I need you to listen to me. There is something I have to tell you. I am…"

"Hermione!" The door to her suite burst open and Ron rushed inside. Taking in her disheveled state he turned to Lucius. "What did you do to her? Damn it, this is how you treat the mother of your child?"

Lucius' eyes snapped back towards Hermione. He spoke in a low, menacing voice, never once taking his eyes off of her. "Weasley. Get. Out."

"I'm not leaving her to the likes of you. She's..."

"Ronald! I am fine. Just go, now." Hermione did not raise her voice but her tone did not invite argument. Ron eyed her for a few moments. "Shout if you need me then." With a final glare at the elder Malfoy, Ron left the room.

Hermione looked into Lucius' eyes. In them she saw a myriad of emotion. There was pride, hope, fear, surprise, and could it be…..love. She didn't know but she knew she had to explain her actions.

"Is it true?" At her nod he continued to talk, "Did you know when you left? Did you deliberately try to keep this from me?" he demanded. As he spoke he walked until he was right in front of her.

"No, Lucius, I only found out this morning. Harry found me vomiting after breakfast and threatened to take me to a Healer if I didn't get better. When I started to vomit again he brought me to St. Mungo's."

Hermione reached out and grabbed his hand. It was time to lay it all out on the line. She was hoping that her risk would pay off as she really couldn't picture her life without this man. Linking her fingers with his, she quietly spoke, "There are two priceless gifts you could give me. One you've already given to me." She placed his hand on her stomach and watched his eyes widen slightly at the knowledge that somewhere just below his hand was the beginning of a life they had created.

He slowly released a breath at the realization that he was being given a second chance to do things right. His marriage to Narcissa was a bitter, cold one. Narcissa was a cool, vindictive bitch and he shuddered slightly at the memory. He knew Hermione would never be like that, knew in that instant that all he wanted but would never admit to was standing just in front of him. He loved her. He. Loved. Her.

Hermione gazed up at his face and watched as he stared intently at his hand on her abdomen. Although she couldn't tell what he was thinking it soon became obvious when he met her gaze. There was so much tenderness in them and love. Her breath caught in her throat at the depth of emotion she saw there.

"The words, Lucius, please," she whispered, "I've been telling you for a while now how much I love you. That's the second priceless gift you can give me….saying the words."

Lucius placed both hands on her waist and pulled her closer. Leaning down he rested his forehead against hers. "Once I say them, there is no going back. You're mine, only mine. We will be married." She nodded and ran her hands up his chest to grasp his shoulders. His nearness was driving her crazy but before she pounced on him she needed to hear those three simple words.

He placed a chaste kiss on her lips than tilted her face up so he could look directly in to her eyes.

"I love you, Hermione Granger."