Characters are property of J.K. Rowling and the Harry Potter Universe. Thankfully, she allows me to borrow them for a bit of fun.


Chapter Four
Soliciting Mister Malfoy

Severus stood in the corridor outside the Great Hall. He had elected to have his evening meal in the privacy of his own rooms. Truthfully, he needed the peace and quiet because after years of living as a recluse, stepping back into the spotlight was a bit of a change he wasn't entirely ready for. That very same evening, most of the staff had returned to the castle for their annual dinner to kick off the unofficial start of the new term; Severus wanted to be as far away from the other professors as he could manage.

Now, he found himself waiting and growing all the more impatient. He had made plans to meet Hermione outside the Great Hall once the evening's events were finished. By the sound of the frivolous nattering and storytelling going on behind the massive wooden doors, it appeared he would be waiting a bit longer than he had originally anticipated. His quiet recital of the ingredients necessary for brewing Wolfsbane Potion eventually gave way to pacing; the pacing was followed by the close inspection of the area of the window he had stationed himself by. Severus stepped up to the window, running his long finger across the surface. The condensation that had formed on the stained-glass pane came off on his finger, but that did little to clear the seemingly ceaseless fog that had settled over the grounds. If Hermione decided to wait any longer, they would have to postpone their trip to Malfoy Manor for another day. Severus turned around with a sigh, seating himself on the window's ledge. No sooner than he had settled himself down for the long wait, the doors leading into the Great Hall opened with a groan, allowing Hermione through.

"I'm sorry," she said, pulling her shoulder bag more securely around her. "I tried to get away. As I'm sure you're aware, the professors tend to be a talkative bunch, especially at feasts."

"Well, I'm sure you found yourself quite at home," Severus replied unsympathetically. "You have never shied away from the sound of your own voice. Would it be possible to dispense with any further chitchat and get going? We're late enough as it is." Severus opened the front door and began walking toward the gate so that the two could Apparate to Malfoy Manor.

Hermione rolled her eyes and followed closely behind him. "Whatever you say, Professor." The two walked in silence the rest of the way. Within a few minutes, they had reached their destination. Severus stopped and turned sharply, extending his hand. Hermione grabbed it and immediately felt the familiar pull of an Apparation form in her stomach.

The Apparation took only a few seconds, but Hermione was glad to finally feel solid ground under her shoes. Hermione opened her eyes to see the Manor looming darkly in the foreground. Severus dropped her hand and started toward the front door, unaware of Hermione absently rubbing the area on her forearm where Bellatrix Lestrange had carved a ghastly gift into her skin nearly fourteen years prior. Even though she knew she was perfectly safe, her nerves were supercharged as she followed him to the front steps.

Severus knocked on the door, stepped back next to Hermione and waited. "Let me do the talking. I would expect seeing you will be quite a surprise for Lucius and Narcissa." Hermione nodded in agreement, moving to stand behind Snape. They waited a few moments before a tiny house-elf opened the heavy wooden door wide enough to poke its bald, wrinkled head through.

"Master Snape!" the little creature squealed, its bat-like ears flopping wildly in excitement. "Cappie is so sorry, Sirs for keeping you in the colds! Come in, come in! Cappie will fetch Mistress Malfoy." The door swung wide opening, allowing Snape and Hermione entrance into the Manor. The House-elf scampered off down the foyer, apologizing every step for keeping the guests waiting.

Severus entered the house with Hermione trailing closely behind. Hermione peered around Snape, noting a much warmer atmosphere than she remembered. Gone was the chill and dread she had secretly feared. Instead, it was as if the Manor had received an entirely new look. The once cold, stone walls were lined with large tapestries and warm hued paintings. The hard granite floors were covered by neutral plush carpets. Hermione was shocked to see that the Manor resembled a home and not the gruesome pit she remembered from her youth.

"All part of the Ministry reform," Severus said as he watched Hermione scan her surroundings.

Hermione looked up at him, slightly confused. "I beg your pardon?"

Severus leaned closer to her trying to keep their conversation strictly between them. "Do keep up, Miss Granger," Snape chastised. "What you see before you was all part of the Malfoy family reformation. As you know, the Ministry conducted several raids of Malfoy Manor after the fall of the Dark Lord. Those in charge of their… restructuring insisted the family look the part of a reformed Pureblood family. No more grisly Pureblood relics, but rather Ministry-approved artifacts," he offered sarcastically.

"I knew they received consultation, I had no idea they were told how to live."

Snape looked passively toward the end of the hall as the sound of heels clicking on stone grew louder. "The Ministry has a way of making people do what they want," he said softly. "Turns out, the way to handle a Malfoy is to threaten a lengthy sentence to Azkaban for lack of willing participation."

"They were forced to comply with Ministry demands," Hermione whispered.

"Precisely. Which is why the subject still sits rather sorely with Narcissa. Mentioning it would not bode well for decent conversation."

Before Hermione could respond, Narcissa Malfoy turned the corner with a smile on her face. Hermione was surprised to see that Narcissa had changed nearly as much as her house. She wore slim fitting long-sleeved dress robes that touched the floor. The dress was low-cut, but someone as sophisticated as Narcissa Malfoy was able to make the ensemble regal. Hermione noticed that when the older witch walked, the tips of her emerald green heels peeked beneath the fabric. Her long blonde hair was swept up, with ringlets framing her face here and there. She looked every bit the part of a Pureblood housewife, but something about her demeanor was off. It did not match her appearance at all. "Severus! It is so wonderful to see you. Cappie was nearly beside herself." Narcissa looked past Severus to spot Hermione. The older witch studied her carefully, her smile giving way to an anxious expression. "Tell me, who is this lovely lady?"

"Introductions are not necessary, Narcissa. This is none other than Professor Hermione Granger. Surely you remember her?"

"I thought so, though I didn't want to sound foolish and claim her to be someone she wasn't." Narcissa extended a hand in Hermione's direction and smiled. "It is nice to have you at Malfoy Manor, Professor Granger."

Hermione returned the gesture with an uneasy smile of her own. "Thank you for the warm welcome, Madame Malfoy."

"No need for formalities. Call me Narcissa, dear."

"Now," the blonde witch said, turning to go down the hall, "If you'll follow me, Cappie has made tea in the drawing room."

The mention of the drawing room caused all of the color to drain from Hermione's face. Severus noticed the sudden change in her demeanor. "That is very generous of you, Narcissa. We would be more than happy to oblige."

Hermione swallowed hard and looked up at Severus. The moment their eyes met, Hermione could hear his voice in her head. "What on earth is the matter with you? You are acting like a buffoon. Pull yourself together before you embarrass me any further."

'Excuse me, Hermione thought, her tone sour. 'I am sorry if coming back to this house makes me a bit nervous.'

Severus scowled at his companion. 'It is a house and Narcissa is as harmless as a fly.'

' That does little to remove the memories that haunt me from my time in this place,'Hermione thought as she nervously lifted up her shirt sleeve. 'Compliments of Bellatrix Lestrange in the very room we're about to have tea.'

Severus looked down at the exposed skin of her arm, noticing the faint traces of the word "Mudblood" that had been cut into her skin. He nodded stiffly in her direction and pulled the sleeve back down over her arm. 'Do not show that while we are here again, do you understand? It will only make the two of you more uncomfortable. No harm will come to you while we are here.'

Hermione sighed nervously, but she knew Severus was right. What happened in Malfoy Manor fourteen years ago could not be undone. It was obvious Narcissa was equally uncomfortable with the idea of having a Muggle-born over for tea, much less one whom her own flesh and blood had violently tortured. They would simply have to make the best of it and go on.

The trip to the drawing room was shorter than Hermione remembered, but she was quite certain her previous memory was a bit skewed. The group was greeted by an overly large, ornate fireplace. The fire in the grate filled the room with warmth and a relaxed glow. As with the rest of the house, the floor was covered with a plush carpet. Comfortable seating was centered around a bulky round tea table. Seeing the room in such a state seemed to calm Hermione almost instantly.

Narcissa encouraged her guests to sit and got straight to business. "If I would have known you were going to pay a visit I would have insisted Lucius stay in this evening." she said, casually stirring a few drops of honey in her teacup. "He will be in a cross mood when he learns he missed you."

Severus leaned back on the settee, his long legs stretched out in front of him. "I suspected Lucius was out at the moment."

Narcissa rolled her eyes. "The man is always out. He is in France tonight. It was London this past week."

Severus looked to Hermione, noticing a frown starting to form on her face. "What business does he have in France, if you don't mind the intrusion?"

"It is hardly an intrusion," the witch laughed. "He's at a pub. He has been going on about some sort of scotch he discovered at some obscure Muggle pub in Paris. I sent him off to get some so he would keep quiet about it."

Severus nearly choked on his tea. "Lucius Malfoy is at a Muggle pub?"

"Yes, as ridiculous as that sounds! He Apparated there not even an hour ago. The silly man has access to some of the finest Firewhiskey ever brewed and he prefers Muggle scotch." Narcissa shook her head, her lips pursed. "A very odd fellow, my husband."

"I could have told you that thirty years ago, Narcissa." Severus quipped.

"And saved me a lot of trouble in the meantime," she said to Hermione with a grin. "But enough about Lucius. What brings the two of you to the Manor this evening?"

Severus sat his teacup on the table as he straightened up his posture. "We were actually hoping to speak to Lucius about a few family heirlooms he keeps hidden away for safe keeping."

Narcissa's arched a finely trimmed eyebrow. "You'll have to speak to him about that, Severus. I can't speak on Lucius's behalf about what you are seeking." Narcissa glanced quickly to Hermione, then back to Snape. "I'm sure you understand my meaning. I can tell Lucius of your request when he returns later tonight if you'd like."

Severus stood abruptly. Both women followed suit quickly. "I am afraid we can't wait that long. Can you tell me where Lucius is? It is most urgent that we speak to him"

"Absolutely. He is at Le Crocodile right off Rue Royer-Collard in Paris. It is a tiny speck of a place, so be careful not to miss it. The Muggle standing watch at the door is a bit of a prat, according to Lucius. Pester him and he'll let you right in. Then, there is also a well-placed Imperius Curse if he's too much trouble."

"Thank you, Narcissa, for your help. It was nice to see you."

Narcissa beamed. "Next time the two of you must stay longer. We very rarely have decent company. Seeing you would do Lucius some good."

"We shall see how much good it will do him. With any luck, Narcissa, I should be back shortly, your husband in tow." Severus turned to Hermione, his hand extending down to hers. "Have you ever been to France, Miss Granger?"

Hermione looked at him nervously. "Not for a very long time."

Severus grabbed her hand, a raised brow the only thing disputing his calm demeanor. "Let us hope you don't Splinch." Without a single word, Severus and Hermione Disapparated, leaving Narcissa standing alone in her drawing room.

Apparating to France was significantly more challenging considering Hermione had never been to the country and it had been ages for Severus. The long distance was difficult enough, but just using an approximate address added even more stress. By the third unsuccessful try all they were able to find was the beginnings of an Apparation-induced headache and a right bit of nausea. Severus eventually gave in to Hermione's complaints, deciding instead to ask a Muggle passerby for directions.

After wandering the streets for a few minutes, they finally found the place they were looking for. The bar looked positively ordinary, even by Muggle standards. There was no ornate decoration, but simply a set of green doors and shutters with the name of the bar spelled out in plain lettering overhead. Despite its mundane appearance, a throng of people spilled out of Le Crocodile's doors into the street.

"Finding Lucius may prove a bit more challenging than I expected," Severus observed. "Perhaps we would be more successful if we split up to look for him."

"If we get separated, we might not find each other again in this mess," Hermione objected.

"Oh, Miss Granger," Severus responded, "I highly doubt I should be that lucky."

Hermione eyes narrowed in annoyance, but Severus cut her off before she could form a reply. "If you should come across Lucius first, come find me before you speak to him," Severus cautioned. "We can't have you mucking things up before we even get started. He will be much more receptive to me, given… your history."

Hermione nodded before turning in the opposite direction. "I'll let you know if I spot him."

The two of them split up, hoping to cover more distance in the crowded Muggle bar. Severus took to perusing the seating toward the front door. Hermione took off on her own, heading straight toward the bar. Much like the outside of the establishment, the inside was nothing spectacular or flashy. It was dimly lit and filled to the brim with the most eclectic bunch of people she had ever seen. She couldn't picture Lucius Malfoy stepping foot in a place like this bar, but then she had seen stranger things in her life. After a few minutes of battling the rambunctious crowd, she was able to spot the long blond hair belonging to Lucius Malfoy.

From the back of him, he looked to be wearing Muggle clothing—something that struck Hermione as completely out of character for the Pureblood wizard. His dark denims had been paired with a plain grey shirt and dark green jacket. His hair, though it wasn't as long as she remembered, was tied back with a simple black band. She watched him from afar as he toyed with the napkin protecting the wooden bar from the condensation of his half-empty glass. He didn't seem to be in much of a hurry, but Hermione did not want to take the chance of losing him when she left to find Snape. Hermione approached the counter coming to stand just a few feet behind the wizard.

"Mister Malfoy?"

Lucius turned around at the mention of his name, but upon seeing his bookish inquisitor, his hopeful demeanor quickly turned sour. "I am sorry, but I'm not interested. Might I suggest you find another gentleman, perhaps one with a mind-numbing predilection?"

Severus, having made his way inward in the bar, was standing within earshot of Lucius and Hermione, but the bloke at the other end of the bar could have heard Lucius's insult. He watched as Hermione stepped back, pulling her jumper around her protectively. She was obviously horrified at what Lucius was insinuating. "I beg your pardon! Do you honestly take me for a… a slattern?"

Lucius eyed Hermione from top to bottom, and then took a sip of his liquor. "Not a very expensive one, not to mention a bit uptight for my liking."

Hermione's face flushed bright red. "Don't flatter yourself, sir. I am as interested in you as I am in receiving the Cruciatus Curse. I'm only here to speak to you."

"Again, I am not interested." Without another word, Lucius turned in his seat and continued to play with this napkin.

Hermione's extended finger started for his shoulder, but never reached its destination. Severus's sarcastic voice cut through her thoughts. "You were supposed to come find me when you spotted him. Walk away, Miss Granger, before you embarrass yourself any further."

Hermione spun around to see Severus gliding over to where they were. 'I had it under control, professor,'she thought.

'I highly doubt that. Go. Find a table and wait for me. Let me handle Lucius.'

"Playing nice for the Ministry eyes, Lucius?" Severus began, having finally decided to give his companion some aid, "Narcissa said you were slumming. However, I would have never expected this."

Ignoring Hermione completely, Lucius stood from his stool, meeting Snape's strong handshake. "Severus, what a splendid surprise! I must say I wasn't expecting to see you, old friend. Have a seat, have a seat. Let me buy you a drink!"

Severus shot a glance at the irate woman standing behind him, nodding in the direction of an empty table behind her. Hermione took the hint and Severus sat down beside the other wizard. "Muggle France, Lucius?"

"I find the atmosphere…engaging," the blond offered causally as he motioned for the barkeep. "I like the appeal."

Severus raised an eyebrow. "The appeal? Fifteen years ago, you would have rather been flogged than step foot in a place such as this. What's this really about?"

"Who says it has to be about anything?" Lucius said with a sneer. "Enough about me, Severus. Tell me, what brings you to such a ramshackle hole-in-the-wall?"

Severus watched as the young barman placed a small glass of amber colored liquor in front of him. He eyed the glass for a moment before finally taking a sip. "My God, Lucius," Snape said with a grimace. "That is vile."

Lucius shrugged as he swirled the shot glass in his hand. "It tastes like piss, but it's the effects I'm after."

"What reason do you have to go sloshing through the remainder of your life? You have a loving wife, your fortune, your health."

Lucius turned up the last of his drink, taking the contents in single gulp. "Severus, in all the years that you've known me, have you ever known of me being content with any of that tripe? My wife is home alone. My fortune is useless when I have no desire to use it. My health?" he said, motioning for the barkeep yet again. "This will be my fifth drink of the night. My liver is floundering in puddle of scotch and gin."

"Ah," Severus said, his thin finger tracing the outline of his mouth to hide his smirk, "riding the train to the township of self-pity, are we?"

Lucius shook his head with a laugh. "I see you're still a massive arse, Snape. But for your information, no, I am not riding any such train. I have grown tired of the monotony of it all."

Severus recognized his opportunity to present Lucius with a proposition, a proposition Severus knew he would not refuse. "If that is the case, Lucius, then I may have just the thing to provide you cheer. You undoubtedly noticed Hermione Granger earlier?"

"Of course. It's hard not to notice the little swot, isn't it?" he asked with a mischievous grin. "You're not trying to get into her knickers are you, old friend?"

Severus's expression was void of any hint of laughter. "Hardly, but she is the reason I'm here. You see, we went to the Manor hoping to speak with you. Narcissa was kind enough to point us in your direction."

Lucius turned to look at the younger woman who had seated herself at a nearby table. Hermione was busy examining the wood grain in her table, unaware of the intense gaze of the two men some feet away. "What does she want?"

"She has asked me to help her find what could cause disruptions in magic. As you know, such a thing doesn't just happen. Miss Granger tends to think there is a far more sinister act at hand. After seeing these disruptions for myself, I tend to believe her."

Lucius looked a bit surprised. "She's losing her magic?"

"No, she isn't, but someone close to her is. That person wishes to remain anonymous and I am inclined to agree. This type of information should not be publicized. I'm sure you understand. We wouldn't want to start an unnecessary panic, would we?"

"I fail to see what this has to do with me, Severus."

"I need access to your library, Lucius. I know you did not hand over the Darker varieties of your collection in the reformation. Some of those tomes you have stashed away will mostly likely contain the information I need."

Lucius took another swig before his expression went smug. "Damn right I didn't. Those books have been in the family for hundreds of years and I intend to keep it that way. If the Ministry were to discover I had not truly 'reformed', they'll have me carted off to Azkaban."

"What you do in your home is not privy to the Ministry. You know I will not speak a word of it to anyone." Severus paused a moment when he saw a conflicted look on Lucius's face. "Have you ever known of me to betray you? You should know you can trust my word by now."

Lucius sat his drink down on the bar before digging several slips of Muggle money from his jacket pocket. "It's not you I mistrust, it's your companion. Miss Nosey Parker over there would go running straight for Harry Potter if she saw what I have kept hidden under the rug after all of these years. I apologize, Severus, but I can't help you."

"I have it on very good authority that I will not go running to Harry Potter or any other twit in the Auror's office, Mister Malfoy." The two wizards turned to see Hermione Granger standing behind them, a look of repugnance on her face. "I can assure your guileful, cryptic secrets are safe with me."

Severus's lips pressed into a thin line. The woman was going to ruin it before they had even gotten started. "Miss Granger—"

"Now, now, Severus. Let's hear what she has to say."

"I've said everything I intend to say. What happens from this point forward is entirely up to you."

"As I said, Miss Granger, I don't trust you. You may have pulled the wool over Severus's eyes, but I won't be fooled so easily. You say you won't divulge any information to Potter, but why should I believe that? You have no reason not to betray me and every reason to do so."

Hermione was incredulous. "It's true that I have no warm and fuzzy feelings for you, but in this case, I do have a reason not to betray you. I need information to help someone I care about and I need you to get that information." Before Lucius could respond, she erupted again in a fit of frustration. "Perhaps you forget, Mister Malfoy, that Professor Snape is one of the most skilled Leglimens in the world. Don't you imagine that he could probe my brain and determine my true intentions? Don't you think he already has? I assure you, if I were trying to deceive him, he would know. So if you trust him, you can trust me."

Lucius sat in silence, boring into Hermione with an icy gaze. A slight smile began to form at the corner of his lips as he averted his gaze to Severus. "She's quite the feisty one, isn't she Severus?" Severus made no acknowledgement of his friend's remark. "What is your opinion, then, my friend? Can she be trusted?"

Severus gave a curt nod before elaborating. "Miss Granger may be many things, including annoying, abrasive, and highly insufferable, but I do not believe her to be dishonest. I believe that obtaining this information is what is important to her and do not suspect any ulterior motives."

Lucius downed the last drops of liquid from his glass. "Well then, if you say so, she can come along." Without saying another word, Lucius stood and vanished on the spot with a muffled crack.

Several of the bar's patrons looked around confused, having just noticed the sudden absence of one of their fellow regulars. "Idiot man," Hermione hissed. "Apparating in a room full of Muggles."

Severus started toward the exit of the bar, trying to avert as much of the unwanted attention away from himself and Hermione. "Lucius was never one to play by the rules. Not that it would matter, of course, as most of these Muggles are inebriated beyond reasonable coherency."

"Still," Hermione said, trailing after Snape, "he should know better than to blatantly perform a magical act in front of a few dozen people."

Severus reached the door, holding it open long enough for Hermione to pass through. He stepped out behind her, pulling his own jacket around him to block out the unseasonal chill. The horde of people buzzed around them, completely unaware of the foreigners. "Brace yourself, Miss Granger," he said as he took her hand in his. She looked up at him, noticing the calm expression on his face. He was obviously concentrating very hard on envisioning his destination. His features were bathed in the soft glow of the lamplight. Hermione stood there, captivated by his serene look. The man was an enigma—truly fascinating, but frightening at the same time. Hermione would have been lying if she said she wasn't a bit relieved to have a bit of her past in her tumultuous, uncertain present. In the short time Severus Snape had walked back into her life, Hermione felt a certain pull to him that she didn't quite understand or fully welcome. He was a hard man to tolerate, but she could not deny that she was grateful for his help or presence.

In the precise moment of Hermione's appraisal, Severus opened his eyes to spot her staring at him with a befuddled look on her face. "Miss Granger, you are gaping like a trout. It is most unbecoming for a lady."

Hermione closed her eyes immediately, inwardly cursing herself for such a careless, impolite act. She was lucky he didn't flay her open for the world to see. Trying to mask her embarrassment, she tightened her grip on Snape's hand as she felt the uncomfortable tug behind her navel. Suddenly, she could sense the world around her beginning to spin and collapse, the tell-tale sign they were well on their way to Malfoy Manor. They left behind the crowded street with a crack.

The ground appeared suddenly beneath Hermione's feet. She let go of Severus's hand as soon as her surroundings stopped spinning. Lucius was waiting for them outside the gate to Malfoy Manor. "Welcome," he said with a smile, "I trust your trip was pleasant?" Severus rolled his eyes and walked ahead of Lucius without responding. "Tough crowd," Lucius mused as he waved his wand to open the gate.

Malfoy Manor was even more impressive at night. The windows were lit magnificently and stood out against the black sky. It was definitely not the menacing sight Hermione remembered. In fact, it looked quite beautiful and almost welcoming. Lucius held the door for Severus and Hermione. Narcissa was standing in the foyer. "Well, that didn't take long."

"Severus has become quite the lightweight with his liquor it seems," Lucius responded, shooting a smirk at his friend. "Narcissa, I will require your assistance in showing our guests to the library if you don't mind."

"Not at all," Narcissa replied with a smile as she turned and led them down the hallway toward the drawing room.

The Malfoys traveled the length of the hall, coming to stop at the archway leading to the drawing room. Lucius stepped forward, drawing his wand. He moved his wand along the arch and recited an unfamiliar incantation. Suddenly, blackness started to fill the void left by the archway. Within seconds, the space was covered by darkness that shimmered as if it were moving water. Hermione was taken aback at the sight that was at the same time both beautiful and ominous. "Narcissa," Lucius said, turning to his wife, "close the passage when we are through. Open it again in three hours' time. We should be finished by then. "

Narcissa smiled, removing her wand from her dress pocket. "Of course, dear. I'll send Cappie down in a bit to check on you."

"See you in a bit." Lucius kissed Narcissa on the cheek before turning to Snape and Hermione. "Well, let's get on with this, shall we?"

"Where does that go?" Hermione asked.

"To the Malfoy library, Professor Granger." Lucius said as he spun around, taking long strides down the darkened tunnel. Once the three of them were safely inside, they looked back to see Narcissa waving her wand over the entrance. A loud, grating noise, similar to that of stone rubbing against stone, filled the cramped cavern. The light from the adjoining hall dwindled steadily before finally disappearing entirely.

Hermione raised her hand in front of her face, wiggling her fingers. She couldn't see the slightest trace of them. She waved her hand a bit harder, trying to make out anything. Before she had time to realize what she was doing, light suddenly flooded the darkened space. She looked up, her hand still wiggling in front of her face, to see Lucius smirking and Snape shaking his head. "Something wrong, Professor?" Lucius asked, the humor seeping through his tone.

Hermione's hand fell to her side as blushed. "Not at all. I was only testing a theory."

"And what theory is that?" Severus asked, his voice skeptical.

"The complete absence of light and outside sound. This library is part of the house, so it surprises me that I see no hint of light or hear the slightest sound. It's just darkness, it's much too still."

"Astute as ever, Granger. I'm thrilled you have surmised that it is in fact dark in here. However, it is a little disconcerting that you had to wave your fingers in front of your face to figure that out."

"Hold on now, Severus," Lucius chuckled as he walked. "I'd like to see how smart she really is. Tell me, Miss Granger, what is your theory?"

Hermione fell into place beside Lucius. "As I was saying, I believe this passage is essentially a void. It is part of the Manor, yet it is its own separate entity. What comes into it can't leave until the portal is opened. The same goes with what's on the outside. The concept is brilliant, but it is even more impressive that you were actually able to create a portal."

Lucius looked to Severus with a surprised look on his face. "She knows everything, doesn't she?"

Severus's wand erupted with light as he sulked forward ahead of his companions. "That is what she believes, yes."

"You are correct about the portal. However, the spells used to create this place are different than you would expect. Just because you know it exists, doesn't necessarily mean you know where to find it. This house could be stripped to its foundation and no trace of the library would be found. "

By the look on her face, it was clear Hermione was concentrating especially hard on the information she was being told. "That's how you kept the artifacts hidden all those times the Ministry officials come to call, wasn't it? You created a world within a world to hide your secrets!"

Lucius poked Severus on the back with the tip of his wand. "And here you are denying her mental capabilities. If I didn't know any better, I'd say you were jealous, old boy. How long did it take you to figure it out? Almost fifteen minutes if I remember correctly. This one got it in less than five!"

Severus signed heavily, obviously tired of the conversation. "Lucius," he said, a frown evident in his tone, "do shut up."

Hermione ignored their verbal scuffle as she was completely enthralled with this new information. "How did you manage something like that?"

"I'd rather not tell you," Lucius admitted. "Furthermore, I'm not sure you would want to know, considering having access to such information could send you straight to Azkaban."

Hermione took the hint and refrained from asking anymore questions. The trio walked for a few more moments before a blinding light appeared some distance in front of them. As she and her companions got closer to it, Hermione realized that they were approaching something exactly like the black portal they had passed through in Malfoy Manor, only this one was made of light instead of darkness. Lucius and Severus passed through without a second thought, but Hermione hesitated for a moment, enthralled by the magic and beauty that she was witnessing. "Come along, Miss Granger, before Narcissa closes the portal. You don't want to get stuck inside." Hermione hurried through just in time to see the portal vanish behind her.

Hermione found the library nearly as impressive as the portal that led to it. There were shelves of books that towered the same as those in the Hogwarts library. It was smaller than the library at the castle, but was bigger than anything she expected to see in a private residence. In addition to the books, there were several artifacts on the shelves and tables. Hermione surmised that the majority of these relics dealt with the Dark Arts and thus had been hidden here to escape the Ministry's prying eyes.

Hermione's thoughts were interrupted by Lucius's voice. "Take care not to touch anything, the books in particular. There are age-old enchantments on them to prevent them from being stolen. I'm afraid touching one would leave you with a rather nasty mark… or you might find yourself short a finger if you decide to touch the wrong book."

Hermione shoved her hands in her jumper pocket as she followed Severus and Lucius past several shelves to a small seating area in the center of the room. "Please sit," Lucius said, extending an arm to the two chairs across from him. "I must admit I am a bit puzzled about the nature of the books you are seeking, Severus. What sort of Dark magic do you find yourself leaning toward with regards to your secret problem?"

"Do you have anything concerning Fendrel Rowntree by chance," Hermione asked before Severus could get a word in edgewise. "Through my research, I have come to find he is the only other known wizard to have his magic leave him for no apparent reason .He experienced the same symptoms as my associate," Hermione went on, digging a few sheets of parchment from her shoulder bag. "First, there is the extreme fatigue and severe headaches that come with completing the simplest of spells. Then, of course, there is the temporary memory loss and the confusion of time and place. Those are just the physical side effects. When magic is performed it is dangerous for others to be in close proximity. We discovered that earlier today when we were nearly blown up as a result of our friend trying to light the fireplace. Any mention of him in a Dark Arts tome should point us in the correct direction. The research I've brought—"

Severus held up his hand to stop her speech. "I doubt there would be any useful information about a fourteenth century wizard, unless of course, Lucius has managed acquire his biography. As I fear that is not the case, we will have to start over with our search. As you can tell, Lucius, Miss Granger is unable to think of the much larger picture when it comes to the Dark Arts. That is why I am here… to show her how to conduct proper research that yields results."

Hermione glared venomously at her former professor. "My research is just fine," she bit back. "I just didn't have access to what I needed, is all."

"Nor the mindset to turn what you managed to find into something useful." Severus added matter-of-factly. "Face it, you have blundered through your so-called investigation and all you have to show for it is regurgitated nonsense that does not lead to anything substantial. If you want me to assist you, we will do this my way and there will be no questions about it."

Hermione tossed the sheets of parchment onto the table between the three of them. "Well, Professor Snape, since you know exactly what needs to be done, lead the way."

Severus stood and started to walk toward the nearest row of book shelves. He examined the names etched into the spines, careful not to breech the enchantments Lucius had erected to protect them. "Lucius," he said after a few moments, "if I may?" The blond wizard nodded his approval, waving his wand lazily toward the shelf Severus had selected. The invisible barrier over each book grew opaque before dissipating entirely.

Severus plucked a large book with deep purple binding from the middle of the case. The cracked silver lettering on the cover read Maleficium: Malevolent Sorcery and Evildoings through the Medieval Ages. He extended the book to Hermione who grabbed hold of it carefully so as to not damage the brittle pages. "Start reading," he ordered in a dour voice. "Record any information you deem useful, including the page numbers and any support texts that are referenced. I will review your notes when we are finished."

Severus turned to Lucius who had propped his feet up on the table. He was leaning back in his chair with his eyes closed as if deep in thought. Severus knew a fierce hangover was lurking precariously in his friend's future. As he passed by, Severus nudged the chair with his foot causing Lucius to jerk forward in an effort to keep from falling flat on his back. The front legs of the chair scraped across the stone floor as they connected. "Time to wake up, you twit. If you think you are just going to sit on your laurels and watch, you had better reevaluate your notions."

Lucius grimaced, running a hand across his temple. "Is this the way you torture a friend? I let you down here, isn't that enough?"

Severus turned around sharply the, corners of his mouth threatening to give way to a smirk. "Think of it this way, Lucius. The sooner we find something useful, the sooner we will be out of your hair and on our way. I know how much you value your bed after a night of frivolity and too much scotch. It would be such a shame for you to have to endure such madness without your blanket and pillow."

"How touching of you to care for my well-being," the other wizard replied sarcastically. "Hand me a damned book if you can manage that."

Reluctantly, Lucius joined Severus and Hermione in their search for information. The three of them poured over volumes of text for hours until they were each too exhausted to make any sense of the words they were reading. Four fresh pots of tea and several sheets of scribble ridden parchment later, the portal opened for the final time that night, allowing the three of them to walk through it. Narcissa stood barefoot at the other side, her hair pulled back and clad in her dressing gown. She was obviously tired, but striving to maintain an air of pleasantness. "Did you find what you were looking for?" she asked, stifling a yawn.

"Unfortunately, no," Severus said without any attempt at politeness.

"That's a shame," she answered. "But please feel free to return at any time if we can be of further assistance."

Lucius hooked an arm around Narcissa's shoulders. "Don't worry, Severus as selected a number of books to peruse for a later date. They'll be back."

Severus feigned a smile. "Your tone is absolutely charming, Lucius. I can tell you can hardly contain your excitement."

"Don't misconstrue my meaning, Severus. You know very well what I meant," the tired wizard replied mockingly. "You should really get him home, Miss Granger. He gets rather poignant when he's tired."

Hermione extended a hand toward Lucius as she offered a sleepy smile. "I can't thank you enough for your help, Mister Malfoy. I'm sure we'll find something of relevance, given the impressiveness of your personal collection."

Lucius regarded her hand a moment before a wide grin spread across his face. He reached out, grasping her hand in a firm shake. "You are most welcome and I trust this little secret will remain amongst the four of us?"

"Of course, sir. Those books, though some are of questionable nature, do not deserve the treatment the ministry would most certainly give them. It would be a terrible waste to destroy any piece of written history."

Narcissa stepped up beside her husband and their guest. "Well said, Professor. Well said. You and Severus, should you find yourself in need of anything, are welcome at Malfoy Manor any time. Please don't hesitate to call on Lucius or me. Any friend of Severus's is a friend of ours. "

As Hermione and Narcissa exchanged pleasantries, Lucius leaned in closer to Severus, who had his arms crossed over the front of his chest, watching lazily. "I can't understand why you aren't fond of that woman, Severus. She's right up your alley—bossy, opinionated, with just the proper amount of swot."

Severus looked at the two women, really only seeing one. The other, though she had changed in appearance, still reminded a buck-toothed menace in his eyes. That part of Hermione, Severus was sure, would forever remain with her for as long as he knew her. Though the bushy, childish, righteous mane of hair had been replaced and she certainly carried herself like a woman, Severus could not see her as anything but, Hermione Granger, the unendurable, know-it-all friend of Harry Potter. "How very observant of you, Lucius," Severus hissed. "Those are precisely the qualities I look for in a potential partner. How could I have failed to notice that Hermione Granger is the quintessence, the very incarnation, of a love interest?"

"Make excuses all you want," Lucius whispered through his teeth. "I know something when I see it."

"Then it should be quite obvious to you that I have no desire to continue this ridiculous conversation." Severus stepped toward Hermione, extending his hand in her direction. She took it without hesitation and waited as Severus said his final goodbyes. "Narcissa, it was nice to see you, and best of luck with that one," Severus offered, nodding toward Lucius. Lucius opened his mouth to with a retort of his own, but was met with the ringing crack of his guests' successful Apparation.

Several hundred miles away, Severus and Hermione appeared out of thin air to the gates of Hogwarts. The crisp autumn morning air surrounding the castle was shocking, but given the way the sun was just beginning to peek over the horizon, it was easy to tell the day was going to be one of those autumnal days that the truly imaginative mind could create. The trees of the Forbidden Forest had already started to lose their summer freshness, instead showing signs of their annual decay. As the two of them made their silent trek back to the castle, Hermione could occasionally spot a single, fiery colored leaf on a canvas of deep green. To some, it would have been a sign of impending beauty, but to Hermione it was more the start of a countdown of sorts.

With each passing day, Minerva's condition slipped more and more. Their search at Malfoy Manor had uncovered some interesting bits of information, but nothing of real consequence. In short, Hermione had written it off as a complete waste of time. Time, in Minerva's case, was something much too precious to waste, considering the amount she had left was unknown.

"Well, that was disappointing," Hermione finally said aloud as they walked along the worn dirt path. Severus merely shrugged but offered no reply. He was obviously not in the mood for conversation, Hermione decided. "I thought we would find something of relevance considering the extensiveness of the Malfoy collection. It's a shame he wouldn't let them out of the house. It feels improper to impose each time we need to refer to a reference."

"Does it?" Severus asked with calm composure. "Strange that fact apparently did not to deter you when you decided it was a splendid idea to show up unannounced on my doorstep."

Hermione's mouth snapped shut as she glared daggers at the caustic man walking beside her. Severus noticed her vengeful stare, but paid it no mind as they crossed the threshold into the castle. The only thing on his mind was retreating to the privacy of his own room. Hermione managed to remain silent until the two of them came to Snape's room, one of several unused classrooms on the ground floor.

The door leading to his chambers was concealed by a very large and equally dark painting of the Forbidden Forest. Snape touched a colossal boulder that sat moss-covered toward the left of the painting. The large rock began to shrink and protrude from the painting, looking more and more like a smooth-polished door handle with each passing second. When the newly-formed door handle stopped moving, Severus gripped it tightly, pushing the door inward.

"Wait," Hermione blurted out before he should close the door. "What are we going to do now?"

Severus stepped inside his rooms wearily. "We are not going to do anything. I am going to sleep and you are going to leave me be." He seized the door once more to close it, but Hermione moved in its path just before Severus could successfully block her intrusion.

"You know very well what I meant, Professor," she bit back, obviously not amused with his attitude. "What is the plan for moving forward?"

Severus pinched the bridge of his nose, trying but failing miserably to block the pressure of his newest literal and figurative headache, "I should think it would be obvious, Miss Granger. We keep looking."

Hermione opened her mouth to bombard him with more questions, but Severus, having had his fill of his former student, flicked his wand toward before she could utter the first word. Hermione released a surprised yelp as she was yanked backwards out of the way. Incensed, she took a step toward Severus's room, only to be greeted by the slam of a heavy wooden door. For a moment, she contemplated unleashing a bevy of knocks and curses upon the door, but decided that such a frivolous endeavor was not worth expending the last bit of her energy. Instead, she simply shot an angry look toward the door and headed toward her chambers, desperately seeking the sleep that had eluded her for far too long.


Author's Notes: Okay, I lied. I said I would stretch this out seven weeks, but I can't help myself. I've got an itchy clicky finger. Moving on! First and foremost, a very special thank you to my betas, Meladara and Desigrl. This story was made readable by those lovely ladies! Of course, there are all of you, my readers and reviewers. I write for you, and I feel incredibly privileged to have the chance to share my nonsense with each of you. As always, your reviews are welcomed and greatly appreciated!