Title: Two Paths
Rating:T
Pairing(s)/Character(s): Lucius/Hermione, Lucius/Narcissa
Warnings: Angst
Disclaimer: Don't own 'em - not making any money off 'em. Dern it.
Word Count: 626
Summary: Lucius must make a decision between the two woman in his life.

Notes:

Lucius and Hermione stared at each other from across the room. How did they get to this point?

When they had first gotten together after the war, they had been so happy. Both of them had been filled with hope for their futures. They didn't think anything could stand in their way, not even disapproving friends and family.

And for two years, having each other had been enough for them, but then things got harder. And they started to struggle underneath the weight of it all.

And now here they were. They stood on opposites sides of the room, but they might as well have been on opposite sides of the planet.

"What now?" Hermione asked quietly.

"I never meant for it to happen," he murmured. And his eyes showed it was the truth.

"I know, but it still happened. The question we have to ask now is where do we go from here?"

"Hermione, I love you. I'd do anything to make you stop hurting."

"Are you telling me that you choose me over her?"

"Narcissa..." He trailed off, unsure of what he was actually going to say.

"Narcissa is your ex-wife. You promised me that whatever you felt for her was in the past. You told me from the day I said yes that you would never look back at your past with Narcissa. You told me you chose me. Was that all a lie?"

"Hermione, when I told you all of that, I did mean it. You couldn't expect me to have nothing to do with Narcissa, though. I mean, we have a son together, and we have a grandson on the way. Surely you knew I would at least talk to her."

"Talking and kissing are two different things!" Hermione exploded.

Lucius swallowed, his gaze drawn to the floor. He hated seeing not only the anger, but also the pain, in her eyes. He promised himself that if she gave him a chance, he'd never make her regret her leap of faith. It seemed that he gave himself way too much credit.

"Just tell me it was a onetime thing. Tell me it will never happen again, and we can move on and pretend the indiscretion never happened. That's all I need. Your promise that you're mine, in mind, body, heart, and soul."

Lucius met her eyes again. "Hermione, I do love you."

She nodded and waited to hear the magical words that would make everything better.

"But I'm not sure I can make that promise. When Narcissa and I divorced, it was because we were both broken from the war. And I didn't think we'd ever be able to be together again. Then we both healed a bit, and we became friends. Something we hadn't been since the first war. And when we kissed, it felt right. It felt like it did back when we were in Hogwarts and the relationship was new and exciting. I still love Narcissa; I don't think I ever stopped. I thought I did, and I would have never led you on if I had known better."

"You told me you loved me."

"I do," Lucius earnestly replied.

Hermione took a shuddering breath. "Who do you love more: Narcissa or me? Better yet, who are you choosing?"

Lucius knew what he was about to say would destroy her, but it was time to finally be honest. "Narcissa and I have history, and I can't turn my back on all of that. I'm sorry, Hermione."

She held her head up high as she turned and fled from the Manor. He didn't know if he would ever talk to her again, but he thought he made the right decision. He just hoped he didn't come to regret it.