Title: When Peacocks Fall

Pairings: Hermione/Lucius

Summary: Lucius finds an injured peacock in his garden, not realizing it is Hermione Granger in her Animgaus form. What happens when Hermione reveals herself to him and feelings appear on the surface? Takes place after the war.

"Hermione!" Harry said with relief as he ran to hug his friend. "Where the hell have you been? We have been worried sick after what we heard from Ron,"

"Stupid git got what he deserved from me," Ginny said who was feeding Teddy Lupin who was now nearly a year old. "I can't believe my brother did that to you Hermione," Hermione smiled weakly at them. To be honest, during her week as a peacock she hasn't thought much of Ron. "I've been fine really," She reassured her two best friends. "I just went and took a little holiday, you know to clear my mind of things," She lied.

Ginny put her hands on her hips and looked sternly at her, looking frighteningly like Molly Weasley. She truly did take after her mother. "Hermione, you are a terrible liar," Ginny said. "Me and Harry looked around your house for clues to see where you went and you haven't took anything with you. Not even money or clothes. So sit," Ginny made her sit in one of the kitchen chairs. "And spill the beans miss,"

Hermione gave a sheepish grin. "I guess I'm not allowed to go until I explained everything then am I?"

Ginny grinned. "Nope. Harry make us both a cup of coffee will you?" Harry chuckled.

"Okay. But don't start until I have come back," They waited for him, both girls taking in turns to coo over Teddy as they did so.

Once Harry was back,he was levitating three cups of coffees. "Right, now spill," He demanded, sitting next to Ginny with his arm resting around her shoulder.

Hermione told them everything. From where she found Ron with another woman in their bed,"Fame has gone into his head," Ginny muttered to now.

Harry shook his head. "So let me get this straight, you were trapped in your animagus form and under the care of Lucius Malfoy and the said person, offered you to stay at his house?"

Hermione nodded. "Well, I didn't really leave him with much choice of me staying there, I sort of demanded it," She blushed. "But somehow after spending two weeks in animagus form with this man, I trust Lucius Malfoy with my life," She said seriously.

Harry sighed and looked at Ginny with a worried expression on his face.

"Hermione, you know we both care for you a great deal-"

"I know you do Harry," She said, smiling softly.

"But we want you to tread carefully. The war has changed us all, maybe not always in the way we hoped. Be careful with who you give your heart too Hermione, you given it to Ron and he's broken it, I don't want it broken for a second time," Harry pleaded.

Was Harry implying the fact that she was in love with Lucius Malfoy? Hermione eyes widened. She didn't even know her feelings for him at the moment, not yet anyway. Yes, she certainly felt an strong attraction towards him, but would he ever feel the same way about her?

Hermione gave a brave smile. "I'll promise I will be careful. I don't know my true feelings for Lucius yet," She said. "But I promise you I won't let it be broken for a second time,"

Once packed and locked up from her own house, she apparated back to Malfoy Manor. She had Mickey take her things and show her to her new bedroom and had a sudden urge to go to the library.

She was down a long corridor, filled with the past generations of Malfoys, all whispering about her and eyeing her, wondering what a mudblood was doing in their home. She ignored them when she bumped into him.

"I see you have returned," Lucius drawled, yet not quite looking at her. "i would of thought you would of not."

She smiled slyly. "Well, I didn't really leave you with much choice did I?"

"That you didn't," Lucius still couldn't believe he allowed her to stay. It shocked him more than he could of imagined by agreeing with her. But somehow, he had noted that Hermione Granger was indeed beautiful, even with all those scars across her flesh. "Where are you off to anyway?" He asked.

"I'm looking for the library. I believe you have quite the collection,"

"That I do. I was heading out to the library as well. Care to join me?"

Hermione smiled. "I would love too,"

"Follow me," He demanded. The portraits began to whisper in shock at what they have just seen and some even pointed their fingers angrily at her, shouting to get out but Lucius just ignored them and carried on walking and she did the same.

When they arrived, Hermione let out a gasp of surprise. The entire library had at least two floors, hundreds of books stood on sleek, mahogany wooden bookshelves, stacked up neatly. A fire place near the door and a couch, a table and some chairs were nearby. For Hermione, after not reading for two weeks, she was in heaven.

"You truly do have the collection," She smirked.

"I do indeed. Most books are simply there for the display," Lucius took out a piece of parchment and handed it to her. "Here is a list of books which are very dangerous," He said seriously. "I don't want to heal you for the second timeover some book,"

"Why Lucius, I never thought you cared about my well-being," She teased. "But Thank you. I really appreciate the effort you have gone into this list," She didn't need to ask how dangerous the books were, when Sirius was alive and they were staying at Grimmauld Place, Sirius told her all about the curses and Jinxes that the Black Family have put on some of the books to prevent anyone who was not Pureblood from reading them.

She went off and explored the library, getting the books that she needed before sitting on the couch near the fireplace. During her two weeks off, she has missed a lot of important work and research but her boss has allowed her to work at home, so long she handed in the reports on time. Lucius came and sat opposite her after a while and both sat in silence.

Every now and then, Hermione took quick glances at him, studying him before hiding behind her book, not wanting to be caught. She couldn't help it. Something was attracting her to this man, a once death eater and something was pulling her towards him.

Once she has done her work, she sat back and stared at the fire.

"Are you free tonight?" She asked, suddenly.

Lucius turned to face her. "I am indeed. Why?"

"I was wondering, if you want to go out to dinner with me. To repay you for your kindness and for healing me,"

There was a pause as Lucius thought about it and Hermione mentally smacked herself for being stupid. "I would gladly accept your offer, Miss Granger," He said , nodding his head.

Hermione smiled widely.

"Great! We shall leave at 7," She said, and she smiled to herself smugly.

Somehow, she seemed really excited by the fact that she was inviting Lucius Malfoy out, on a date.