Sailing Away

Chapter One

When Lucius and Hermione had returned from their mission to retrieve an ancient Grimoire from a dragon's cave for Minister Kingsley, they had come back with the book and a dragon princess in tow, and also a newfound love for one another that they were dying to explore. As Kingsley brought the princess out of their library for a tour of the Ministry the two came together in a passionate exploration on top of the desk there in the Department of Grimoire Restorations, which was headed up by Lucius himself, and of which Hermione was his sole employee.

Knocking aside everything on the desk, Lucius had kissed Hermione hungrily, whispering his need upon her lips, and sliding his fingers into hidden places not yet explored. Hermione was desperate in her desire, and she clung to him most ardently, more than willing to do something more.

"Lucius, please!" she gasped when he moved away.

"Hermione, my sweet, I love you with all my heart, but I'll not make your first time on some desk in the middle of a Ministry office. The rest we'll save for later tonight," Lucius whispered against her lips. He resolutely set her on her feet after one last kiss, and as it turned out he'd done so just in time as Kingsley and the princess returned from their tour of the facilities.

"Malfoy, Granger, I have just learned of something you're going to want to know," he informed them gravely. "This mission has only just begun. You've got a lot of work left to do, and you'll need to pack your bags for this next part of it, too, because there are seven more orbs for you to find."

"The devil you say!" Lucius growled as he glanced over at Hermione meaningfully. Her face was a study in feigned disinterest, for he knew unerringly she was even more disappointed by the news than he. "What have we got to find them for?"

"Princess Amarand has told me of a Grimoire far greater than this one which lies beyond a portal, but the only way to get it out is to replace these orbs into a golden talisman to open the doorway," Kingsley explained. "The orbs, of course, have been scattered all over the world, and only she can find them using the orb in her forehead as a guide. So, it looks like the three of you have work to do."

"Well then, there it is," said Lucius mildly as he straightened his collar and stepped past Hermione to begin picking up the paperwork she had dropped earlier.

"What happened in here, anyway?" asked Kingsley as he noticed the mess. "I've never seen the place look so disorganized."

"Hermione slipped in some spilled ink," Lucius explained. "I had to rescue the poor girl and everything. It was really quite a tragedy."

Casting him an annoyed look, Hermione added, "Yes, I landed right on the desk, knocked everything right off of it. Never fallen so hard in my life. It blew the wind right out of my sails, I must say."

"Well, do be careful in future, won't you, Miss Granger?" he said. "You two get this place cleaned up first, and then go pack up for the journey. I expect it's going to take quite a while to get the job done, so make sure you bring plenty of supplies."

"Aye, aye, Captain," Hermione said with a salute, and winked over at Lucius with a cagey grin. Lucius chuckled and saluted the man as well.

"I believe we should bring along a retinue of about ten of my dragons, sir," Amarand decided. "Perhaps it would be best if they were transformed into humans for the duration of that time. Is this something that is possible in these times?"

"Certainly," Kingsley reassured her. "I'll send someone over to see to it right away. In fact, I believe each of your dragons should be given the ability to transform. It will be difficult to conceal them in the heart of twentieth century London as dragons, don't you think?"

"You must do as you feel is best, of course," she agreed. "As long as they are discouraged from scattering to the four winds once they have the ability. I would hate to return and discover I have no servants at all."

"Leave it to me, Your Highness," Kingsley said. "I'll see to it."

"Yes, I'm sure you will," she said with her most winning smile.