Part two- Wonderland
Lucius viewed the witch before him and wondered how fully she was willing to listen to him; after all she was very correct in the fact that for the better part of seven years his son had gone out of his way to make her life unbearable.
For the first two years it wasn't an act; in fact he was sure that Draco had enjoyed it but that of course led both him and his wife to confirm what they had suspect upon his birth. The very reason he chose to defy his old dark lord.
"You must understand something Miss Granger both myself and wife were brought up with the firm beliefs of blood status. Myself following the idea that any witch or wizard must have the purest of blood to wield magic and those who were not born of magical parents were freaks and thieves" Lucius felt the shame that had been his families bigoted views, that shame he had carried for seventeen years since they had made their choice.
Hermione for her part listen with grace despite her dirty and bloody appearance; the image it self cause Lucius to call Voldermort's plans into question again. Voldermort the half blood wizard was more powerful than most and Hermione was just as powerful. Neither claiming pure blood.
"My wife on the other hand believed that any witch or wizard born to muggle parents didn't belong in the muggle world and were magical creatures that should be shielded against those who were not. Including their own parents and family" Lucius smirked at the young woman's surprise look. Narcissa had grumbled when Lucius had told her of his plans to pledge his loyalty to the dark wizard; had demanded that she hear everything and then grumbled more when she understood that this dark wizard wanted to rid the magical world of those he determined below them.
But in the end she agreed to aid him, never once pledging her loyalty to anyone beside Lucius. The pair had been married under the blessing of Voldermort. Lucius nearly laughed at that thought because in the end no force could have stopped himself and Narcissa from marrying.
"After Hogwarts we learned to bend our beliefs to those of-" he furrowed his brow and Hermione swallowed knowing what name he wanted to utter "him, to embrace his orders without a question to the idea of hurting or even killing innocent people" he flexed his fingers at the dark idea, his eyes narrowing and his brow furrowed at the dark memories.
"We learned to do so until Draco was born; my marriage isn't just a bond that was forged by our families... at least not completely. My love for my wife is more than a bond of the magical world; as is my love for my son" Lucius took some amusement from the discomfort his son was showing at hearing such heartfelt words from his father and Hermione seemed just as amused in his discomfort.
"He would be protected by him because he is pureblooded" Hermione pointed out as Draco glowered at being spoken about as though he was not there and Lucius took note that once more his son was openly staring at the witch. Only two people in the world could entice this reaction from the younger man; Harry Potter and Hermione Granger.
With Potter it was an act; something he was forced to learn years ago while with Hermione it was something that was natural, it wasn't hate but something more funny but Lucius would collect more evidence before he was sure.
"Yes and no Miss Granger; Draco's station within the magical world ensured that he would demand loyalty but would not once fault if he believed either myself, my wife or Draco were not aligned with his beliefs. A creature like that held no belief in those who surrounded him but demanded their belief with no questions asked. The day Draco was born we both knew that he would be forced to knee and very probably ordered to die before this dark creature" Lucius felt the emotions tumble around inside and he hated the bastard who had evaded his life so many years ago.
"But all the things you did? All those cruel words and actions" Hermione muttered as those memories no doubt were running wildly across her mind. Draco for his part simply ducked his head, his usual pale cheeks flaring slightly with a little colour.
"The night Draco was born and placed in my wife's arms she demanded of me something more powerful than any dark wizard could demand. She demanded my love for our family to ensure that no matter what Draco would never bow to any who would demand such blind following. She wanted a promise that Draco would chose his path without any darkness threatening his future" Lucius smiled at the memory of his wife, sweaty and tired looking so fierce with her son in her arms.
What more could he do but agree; appease her that their son would have a childhood they never had. He would have his own mind. At least that was until Dumbledore pleaded just as much.
"You deflected to the light side?" Lucius chuckled at the look on Hermione's face and again when he saw his son's small smile her voice. Yes Miss Granger was some one who could get a lot of reaction from Draco.
Lucius smiled fondly thinking of how his wife would react to this piece of information.
"Yes in a way; I was already marked however my wife was not and so while on an errand she went to Dumbledore. We knew that the search for the Potters and Longbottoms were under way, the only reason we were not apart of it was because of our new family. But I was expected to rejoin and I was fearful that my intentions to defy him would be easily read" Lucius pursed his lips as the younger woman took in this information, assessing it and storing it away.
"Dumbledore offered us safety but only if we in turn gave him information from within our ranks; I will not lie for a moment I considered taking my family and leaving England; bollocks to it all" Lucius smirked both Draco's and Hermione's shock at his use of curse words.
"But despite all we had done; for what we had believed my wife once more demanded that if we could not be the heroes for the wizarding world then we would be for Draco" Lucius smiled at his sons half smirk and knew no matter what he held his son's pride.
"We knew that there had been a spy amongst the Order; sadly we were too late to stop the Potters and Longbottom's demise. Dumbledore knew that no matter what the prophecy would come to completion and that it would ask of the sacrifice of so many lives. He also knew that it wasn't over that night and he offered us the chance to leave everything after that night; but we knew that if we ran we would have to tell Draco the truth and we could not allow the disappointment to find him at knowing his parents ran" Lucius voice grew softy and almost reverence over the tale, he chose to ignore the pain on Hermione's face at the memory of her best friends most painful memory.
"with our choice to remain also came unfortunate choice to involve Draco; for twelve years he was raised to believe that witches very much like your self were nothing more than-" he eyes saw the red words and his jaw clenched for the pure hate that had been behind the act to etch them on her skin "inferior to magical like our selves. I admit it had been easy to slip the mask on and belittle all muggle born's for behind closed doors because he had never shown us anything to conflict with his ideals. Before Hogwarts our worlds never really mixed and it was easy for us to teach Draco to hate your kind" Lucius wanted to apologise but he doubted that Hermione would accept and the truth was nothing he could say in way of an apology would heal those wounds.
"Then Draco was at Hogwarts and it was very clear that the dark wizard was not gone and we had a far harder mission now because neither wizards victory was assured; for every act for the dark lord we carried out either my self or Narcissa would counter it with an act against him" Lucius explained as Hermione furrowed her brow trying to remember anything that connect to what he had said.
"The Diary... Dobby" Lucius offered as Hermione shot her eyebrows nearly off her face before she drew them back in confusion.
"The page in the library?" her voice was a lot softer now and Lucius smiled despite himself, however he shook his head at his son's proud smirk cast at Hermione.
"Draco's own mission" Lucius admitted as Hermione glanced to Draco who raised an eyebrow at her, that smirk growing a little more.
"Thought it would be funny to watch the book worm know it all fume over a ripped page from a textbook" Draco lied and Lucius simply shook his head, he was losing a bet with Narcissa quicker then he had fallen in love with her.
"Ferret" Hermione muttered with indignation and Lucius cleared his throat when he son bloomed red in anger. Hermione smirked as Draco turned away, whispering things that Lucius was sure he didn't want to hear from his son lips ever, at his raised eyebrow at least Hermione had the grace to blush and dart her eyes away.
After a few moments Hermione's lower lip disappeared between her teeth and Lucius grimaced remembering watching the blood trickle from her mouth after she had bit against the flesh so hard. He feared she would nibble a hole now, Draco was watching her as well and Lucius bit back a groan, thinking what it was to be a teenage boy again.
"He never suspected... you were sent to azkaban?" Hermione pointed out and winched when she saw Lucius shuddered.
"It was unavoidable; to not go would play his paranoia up to the point that my family would be in danger. No I went safe in the knowledge that my family was protected" Lucius admitted smiling even when Draco paled at the memory, it was a fast rule that as a family they would not mention his time spent away from them.
"How am I meant to believe you? How am I meant to know that this isn't some new form of torture?! What if you build up my hope only to have me lead you to harry or have you kill me before him?!" her voice took that hysterical tone again and Lucius sighed.
Bella was always so good at her little games, he had only wished that they had gotten to Hermione before Bella was this far gone with her.
"You can't Granger" Draco's voice cut through Lucius in a manner he had never felt before, snapping his eyes to his son Lucius looked on in amazement as he finally saw the man his son had become. It wasn't the hurt nor the pressure of the war that had shaped him, it was the courage to do what was right when all those around him told him it was wrong.
They had become his heroes by defying the dark lord but Draco had become their hero but proving to them he had his own mind.
"There is not one thing in our history that should make you think for one moment that we will not harm you" Draco's eyes focused completely and only for Hermione's eyes and for a moment Lucius felt dirty for having to intrude on something so intimate.
"But" Draco allowed a muscle to tick in his jaw as he saw the hardening gleam threaten Hermione's eyes.
"But in all that history there is not one thing that proves we would willingly heal and give you a wand back. I won't lie when I called you a mudblood I meant it from the very depths of my bones. I wanted to hurt you Granger in the first two years of Hogwarts because" Draco bit his lip and wanted to stop but the encouraging curiosity of Hermione's expression had him taking a deep breath.
"Because you were better than me in every way. You weren't meant to because you are muggle born; a freak and it hurt that you were better than me" Draco admitted and lowered his eyes, after second year and the truth being told him Lucius had warned Draco to always hold his feelings in, never express them in fear that he would give something dangerous away.
"But after my parents told me the truth, I knew that what ever that bastard told us it could never be right because if it was then you should never have been able to better than me, and I hated him but could never show it so in stead I transferred it to you" a dark laugh tumbled from Draco and his pain filled eyes shot to Hermione who gasped silently as Lucius felt that dirty shame flick to life within his chest.
"we could have been friends" Draco mused and a small smile flickered across Hermione's lips but was quickly suppressed.
"Will you let me go?" Hermione questioned Lucius who lifted his chin and smiled slightly at the young witch, her strong will shining through the darkness and for a moment Lucius allows the twinge of pain to twist his insides at knowing in some other world he had almost allowed that light to be snuffed out.
"Yes; once we safety leave the wards of the manor. Draco will return to the ball room and await further instructions. I will return after and tell the dark lord that I was lured away in a trap by your friends to rescue you. Bella will have her memory charmed into believe that Narcissa and Draco fought with her to defend against you and your friends" Lucius explained as tears gathered in Hermione's eyes and for her part she simply brushed them away and nodded.
Ever the Lioness Princess.
Draco hid his smile but Lucius did not. Hermione quickly went about piecing together a new plan before her face paled and she looked at the two men before her.
"It ends tonight doesn't it?" it was a half hopeful half fearful question and it was clear as to why she would have mixed emotions, there was no true outcome for who would win tonight only that one side would.
"Yes- yes Miss Granger it will finally end tonight" Lucius told her calmly and almost emotionless but inside he was a cauldron of emotions, each one demanding his attention.
"Will you- I mean of course" Her lip disappeared again and Lucius raised any eyebrow in question at her.
"When it comes to the final battle will you go against him then?" she asked sheepishly causing Lucius to tilt his head and pondered her question. It wasn't asked in lightness so he would offer nothing but the truth.
"I feel that it will be unavoidable really" Lucius admitted, knowing it was already a foregone notion that the truth would be out no matter who won.
"Regardless of whom is winning?" and there it was, she may not believe it on some conscious level but deep within her mind she believed them and she assuring her self that her friends would be safe. With a smile Lucius nodded in assurance.
"Even if Potter looks to be losing we shall fight for him" Lucius assured smiling as the witch blew out the breath she was holding over the implied thought that Harry would win.
"Thank you" the shock was almost tangible in the air and Lucius quickly snap his jaw shut after his shock at hearing those words from the young witches mouth. He hadn't dreamed that he would be allowed to hear such things for her because of the pain inflicted for so many years even if it was an act.
"Miss Granger please know that you are never to thank us" Lucius ordered feeling unsettled now that she was looking at him with unhidden gratitude, gratitude he did not feel was deserved.
They sat in silence for a moment in respect of all that had been spoken and a past that had been broken.
Lucius glanced between the two younger people and noticed that despite not wanting to look at each other they sought each other out. It would be hard but soon Lucius could hope that the past would be brushed aside and a much brighter future would emerge for his son and this young witch.
"It is time to leave, Draco return to your mother and prepare yourself, neither your aunt nor her master will be pleased by this evening's events" Lucius did not explain further knowing Draco knew full well how Voldermort dealt with mistakes even those made by his loyalist followers. A curt nod from Draco assured Lucius that his son would be strong.
Standing Draco made a show of brushing off the dirt, delaying the moment a little longer. Lucius could only guess that Draco was convincing himself he was delaying seeing Voldermort but Lucius knew that Draco was struggling with leaving Hermione's side.
"Father" his sharp look meant he was back to the emotionless creature that would do Voldermort's bidding and Lucius nodded in acceptance.
Draco didn't look or even acknowledge Hermione as he went to turn but the witch called him and scrabbled to her feet causing Draco to glare at her.
"Look me in the eyes and tell me..." that lip disappeared again and Lucius frowned knowing that he would get his wife to speak to the younger woman on that habit. Draco however seemed to find that habit a comfort for his express eased and soften and he didn't look away from the girl's eyes.
"Dumbledore" the air almost crackled with every implication of that name, for everything that was both asked and not asked with that one name.
"Snape... I couldn't even though he was dying and it would help Potter... I couldn't" he seemed to pour everything he could into those words and Lucius watched Hermione as she processed this information for a few seconds before a look of relief stole across her face and she nodded.
"Good" and with a nod she held her hand to Draco who frowned down at it as though it would reach out and bite him. Considering what that hand had done to him in third Lucius smirked knowing that his son might have some right to fear it.
But when Hermione refused to retract it Draco slowly and tentatively took it, shaking it firmly.
"Be careful Malfoy" Hermione ordered as Draco smirked but nodded back to her.
"You as well Granger" Draco held her hand a fraction of a second longer than needed before dropping it by his self and clenching his fingers inwards towards his palm. With another he turned and walked towards the arch way, disappearing into the darkness.
"Don't fret; Draco has done this for far too long" Lucius mused as he climbed to his feet, hiding his smile when Hermione jumped, remembering his presence.
Narcissa would be impossible to live with after this whole thing was over.
"Do you regret it?" Hermione questioned and for the first time Lucius was stumped by her. Did he regret it? Placing his family in the way of danger? Yes of course but could he avoid it? No he couldn't, because it had been in his make up since before he was born.
"A Malfoy is a proud being Miss Granger; to regret something would mean that a Malfoy may not have taken the right path" Lucius pointed out, amused by the smirk that lit up Hermione's face.
"Whose path was right then? Those who taught you believe in pureblood lines or those who taught you that every one deserved the same rights" Hermione challenged and Lucius narrowed his eyes at the sly witch. Slytherin had lost a very talented witch.
With a snort Lucius lifted his nose and headed away from the arch way Draco took and smirked when Hermione followed him.
"A Malfoy believes everyone else is a fool; including other Malfoy's" Lucius snipped, smiling to himself when Hermione let out a small chuckle. They moved deeper into the cave, Lucius lighting the way until they could smell fresh air and flowers.
A storm was coming and would no doubt cleanse the ground after the final curse was cast. Lucius felt Hermione tense beside him and he knew that nothing could ease the girl this close to returning to her friends. She might accept what he had told her but that didn't mean she couldn't have her doubts.
"Once through the wards you will go straight to your friends, understood?" he was firm and turned when they found the moon peeking through the opening. The cave system was small and an creation of Lucius, it ran deep beneath the manor and he had made sure it exited far enough beyond the wards.
"Yes" Hermione agreed, that same strength was back and was brighter than he had seen since her arrival at the manor. She would be fine, given time she would not be the broken girl Bella had attempted to create but she would not be the girl she once was.
She was the moulded warrior and she would make all those who knew her proud.
"Then until we meet again Miss Granger may you be watched over and guarded" Lucius offered in parting, bowing from the waist to the girl. Upon standing he saw her lip between her teeth again and he frowned at the action.
Before he was forced to order her to stop she seemed to collect her self and stared him dead in the eyes.
"Why would you agree to such a demand from your wife? Even with a magical bonding you would not have to willingly make any type of agreement. If your beliefs were so strongly rooted within you" Hermione questioned and Lucius laughed.
Maybe Gryffindor and Slytherin were wrong for this girl because he could see Ravenclaw within this girl as well.
"There is only really one bond in all the magical world that would ever force me to reconsider what I was taught to believe Miss Granger and that is a story for another time" Lucius ordered and he saw the fight bubble up within the girl but he held his hand up and smiled.
"Survive this war and I will tell that story" Lucius promised causing the girl to be torn between asking more and knowing her place was no longer here.
"Hopefully by then you will have learnt everything you can" Lucius added smirking knowing that he was just adding fuel to the fire but he was going to have fun with this even if Narcissa had won the bet.
"About what" Hermione demanded before Lucius ushered her through the exit and stopped from exiting with her.
"About a Veela and their mate" Lucius offered as Hermione stared at him dumbly in shock, the smirk on his lips the proudest a Malfoy could ever hold.
"Good bye Miss Granger" and with that he was gone and she returned to her friends.
Harry Potter would go on to win of course; the Malfoy's helping once more and knowing that even though not everyone would believe them the right people did.
The Golden Trio would accept that the Malfoy's had helped out and they would accept Draco with a shy friendship; more so after Hermione explained that her unlikely heroes kept her safe in a damp cave.
and many months after the war ended Lucius would finally tell Hermione the tale of why he agreed to his wife's demands; he would make it very clear to her that even a half Veela was not someone you said no to.
To Be Continued... in 'A Mates Promise'.
A/N: Hi All,
There will be a follow up to this piece explaining in more detail about all the implied reasons for Draco's interest in Hermione and what the bet was. Also I wish to note that I tried hard to stay close to character as was possible with all three of them.
enjoy
