Chapter 2 Guess Who's Coming to Azkaban

Several lonely, dull months dragged by as Lucius rotted in prison. Honing certain magical abilities, reading, exercise and sulking only entertained so much. In a fit of bitterness, several months prior, he verbally disowned his son for standing up to him and making his own choices. Every day, he regretted that moment. That only added to his list of mistakes as far as his wife was concerned. Desperately, he longed for Narcissa. She spent several months in Spain; with whom, he jealously wondered. She returned just prior to last Christmas, spending it with their son and Hermione's family. He had no idea how to approach her, or if she even cared about him anymore. If she didn't, he couldn't blame her. Ambition had blinded him to the things that he now realized important. For most of his incarceration, Draco visited him once a month, as the prison allowed. Since their last visit months ago, his son hadn't visited, nor contacted him in any way.

After that visit, words from an old enemy from long before continually haunted him. "Avert your eyes Lucius so you know these words will ring true because of who you are. I'm not using my familial ability." Lucius dutifully looked away from Edwin's hypnotic eyes. "One day Narcissa and your future family, should she give you one, will realize the loathsome, selfish, cold-hearted wizard you are. When they do, they'll leave you. You'll end up alone." Completely alone, Lucius questioned his prior decisions.

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In June, to his surprise, the prison announced a most unexpected visitor: Hermione Granger. Sheer loneliness made him accept her visit and listen to the reprimand that surely followed.

After a light tap on the door, Hermione entered his cell. Nervously, she glanced at the slate grey stone walls enclosing a cell considered luxurious by Azkaban standards, because the Malfoy influence allowed Lucius to secure a rickety desk, mismatched furniture and a tiny window. Next to the desk sat several small stacks of newspapers and periodicals. The scent of sage permeated the air of his cell replacing the mildew smell of the prison. "Good morning, Mr. Malfoy," she said. "How are you?" He refused to reply. "I understand," she said as she took a seat. "Your wife and son are doing well. Narcissa helps Draco with some of the gubernatorial duties since he is kept busy with his position in Archives. Is there anything you wish to know about them or any messages you would like me to tell them?"

Lucius turned, slammed his fists on the desk and leaned towards her. "How much?"

"I don't understand."

"How much will it cost to make you get your claws out of my son!"

Despite her wand being removed per prison policy and despite much bigger more powerful figure looming over her in a very threatening stance, Hermione didn't budge. "My love is not for sale."

"Oh really," he countered. "How about a million galleons……five million…..ten million?" No matter how much he offered, she kept shaking her head. "I know all about you and I know my son. Don't fool yourself. Draco is cunning and devious. You won't change that about him."

"Why would I want to?" So Lucius of the quick wit, you'll appreciate this. "Draco's about thirty percent dark wizard …but not too dark. What good witch wouldn't fall for such a handsome, intelligent, charming wizard with a touch of bad?" Seeing Lucius' startled expression which then softened at a somewhat backhanded compliment made Hermione's day. If he countered that statement, he would be insulting himself since Draco took after his father quite a bit.

Now that the ball was in his court, Lucius thought a moment about his next move but one escaped him so he figured that he would get this over with and get straight to the reprimand. "Then tell me why are you here!"

"Mr. Malfoy, I came here to thank you." Lucius drew back in astonishment. "Only a wizard who truly loved his family would lie in court for them. Narcissa was in the clear but Draco was going to be formerly charged and faced a year in prison." Hermione took a seat. "The Wizangamot officials knew Draco wasn't under the Imperius Curse so you said that as the Head of the Malfoy you could exert your influence over any member of the family and make them do your bidding. You said you forced Draco to Voldemort's bidding." Thinking about how Lucius had inadvertently enabled her and Draco's relationship to happen, Hermione decided that no matter how badly he behaved, she would reform Lucius Malfoy. "You exonerated Draco and added his sentence to your own. I read the transcripts." Once she said that, he sat in his chair stared at her from across the desk. "Thank you for the sacrifice you made to ensure your family's freedom."

Lucius stared at the petite witch before him whose almond eyes showed only determination and to his surprise compassion. "How did someone so pristine come by privileged information?"

"I won't reveal my sources." Dammit, he's just like Draco, unreadable. "Why didn't you tell your family what you did for them?"

"I have my reasons." Lucius leaned back in his chair. "Tell me about what's going on with my family," he asked, "please?"

"Narcissa and Draco both miss you." She seated herself once more. "Narcissa returned from a spa in Spain last December. She looks so relaxed and beautiful. She has some admirers, but hasn't shown any interest in them."

"Has she mentioned," he hesitated, "divorce?"

"No," she answered, "at least not to me."

"And my son, has he asked about me at all?" Lucius inquired.

"I'm sorry but he hasn't. He doesn't like anyone to mention your name." She lowered her voice to almost a whisper. "He told me what happened with his last visit. You hurt him so much," she said misty eyed. "We have all been through so much pain. It needs to stop." She looked slightly guilty. "He doesn't know that I am visiting you now." The guard knocked on the door signaling their time drew to an end. "Goodbye, Mr. Malfoy. By the way, if you were to offer me the entire Malfoy fortune to stop dating your son, I wouldn't take it. You would still be selling you son short."

Momentarily, Lucius façade of indifference broke to reveal pride but only briefly. "Miss Granger, visiting day is on the seventh of next month."

Once she left, Hermione realized she had won that match. Lucius Malfoy had invited a muggle born back to visit but then again she knew that he had no other visitors and relished the company of anyone.