Hermione reacted quickly. The war had made her like that. Calm, logical, efficient. It was what she had needed to stay alive and it had stuck.

Her first thought was panic attack, it would make sense considering Lucius had just seen something that had no doubt caused him unimaginable pain over the years, and yet, it didn't quite add up.

Lucius was stronger now.

At least Hermione thought he was…

His body continued to twitch and shake, it wasn't what she would expect, and her huncht was one she hoped was wrong.

Lucius had been cursed.

She didn't know how, or perhaps not even when, but she needed to resolve it as soon as possible.

The archivist had run over to them in the few seconds Hermione had come to her conclusion.

"Can we apparate from within here?" Hermione asked seriously. They had no time to waste getting him some medical attention. The question was where to take him.

"I can dispel the restrictions temporarily." She confirmed. "You take him to St Mungos and I'll follow in a minute once I've secured the vaults."

"Okay." Hermione nodded. "I need to take this." She added, reaching for Voldemort's wand. "We need to work out if this is what caused it."

The archivist flinched as Hermione picked it up, but nothing happened, just as Hermione suspected. If the wand truly was cursed, it was most likely only focused on certain people. Perhaps those whose loyalties had changed, those who had betrayed their master.

"You can take it, but be careful." She agreed as Hermione went over to carefully take Lucius' limp body in her arms.

"I will."

And with that she was gone.

Hermione appeared at the doors of St Mungos with a barely audible pop and within seconds there were medi-witches and wizards levitating Lucius away.

"What has happened to him?" The head medi-witch asked.

"I'm not sure, a curse perhaps." Hermione explained curtly. "I need to get someone who might know, I'll be back shortly."


Severus Snape was halfway through brewing a complex potion with a few of his favourite seventh year pupils, as one does on their weekend off, when he was disturbed by someone flooing straight into his classroom, Voldemort's wand in hand, and a look in her eyes that would have scared a lesser man.

"I need your help." Hermione said, the urgency evident in her eyes.

"Class dismissed." He ordered the shocked group of students without hesitation or question. "Finish the potion safely and make sure you lock up the labs." He added as he was marching towards the door with Hermione.

"What is it? What's happened to Lucius?" Snape asked as soon as they were out of earshot, Hermione unsure how he knew Lucius was involved.

"Cursed I think." She explained hastily. "And it might have something to do with-"

Hermione recoiled suddenly. How could she have been so stupid?

Surely if the curse had something to do with people who had betrayed Voldemort, then Severus would be at risk too. She shouldn't have come here.

Then again, he was standing right next to the wand, he had seen it, and nothing had happened. But surely something had cursed Lucius. Hermione couldn't believe that he had simply passed out.

"We need to go to St Mungos. I thought this wand might be the cause but now I'm not sure. You need to see him Severus, you're the only one who can help him." She pleaded.

"Yes." He said seriously, taking her arm and leading her quickly back to the floo where they disappeared in a puff of smoke.


Hermione had been gone five minutes at most but when she and Severus ran into the ward Lucius was in there was already a big team of people working on him.

Severus marched through them, everyone moving aside for him, none questioning his presence.

Severus Snape was not a man to be reckoned with when he was on a mission.

He immediately started performing diagnostic spells on Lucius, completely un-phased that he still looked like Ezra.

"What do you know?" He asked to anyone who could hear as he continued to work.

"It looks like a curse with a delayed response." Explained the archivist who appeared from between two nurses. "We can't work out the effects, but it looks to me like it was cast incorrectly."

"Yes." Snape muttered. "We're lucky whoever did this got it wrong…I need boom berries. Now!" He ordered as he took various other medicines from inside his robe. "Hermione, I need you to cast all of the counter curses you know, one of them should help us."

Hermione leapt straight into action, never happier that Severus had insisted they cover antidotes and counter curses these last few weeks.

They worked quickly. The nurses helping to keep Lucius as stable as possible, the archivist scanning several rare books on curses she had brought from the museum vaults for anything that might help, Severus concocting a potion which should negate the effects and Hermione casting every spell she knew.

"I've found something!" The archivist almost shouted as she sprung up from her seat. "It might be a spell called the Izanami Curse. It causes any weaknesses in the body or mind to be magnified, sometimes resulting in death if the victim has something wrong with them, like a weak heart. It's often called the 'invitation to death' as it doesn't quite kill directly." She explained quickly.

"Is there a counter curse?" Hermione asked, trying to hide any desperation from her voice.

"Yes, the Izanagi spell." She said as she handed Hermione the old book. "The incantation is here but it's in runes so you'll have to decipher it."

"I can do it." Hermione said confidently, grateful that she was an expert in runes.

She worked as fast as she could, very aware of the fact that Lucius' condition seemed to be getting worse, and had the spell ready within minutes.

"Merlin I hope this works." She whispered to herself, surprised when Severus lightly took her hand in his own.

"I have faith in you." He encouraged her quietly.

Hermione took a deep breath and said the words, the room falling silent.

Lucius stilled almost immediately, his chest only moving so slightly that Hermione wasn't sure whether or not she was just imagining it.

Severus was immediately back to casting diagnostic spells, visibly relaxing once he was done.

"He appears to be stabilising." He announced. "Although I anticipate that he'll be out cold for quite a few hours and very weak for at least a day or two.

"Don't worry." Assured one of the medi-witches. "We'll be able to take good care of him from here. Thank you all for your help."

"Yes." Agreed Hermione. "Thank you, both of you." She said to Severus and the archivist, whose name she really must find out at some point.

"You're welcome." She smiled. "I just hate to think that something at the museum might have done this. We're always so careful…"

"You needn't worry." Interjected Snape. "You were right, it had a delayed response, most likely because it is a spell intended to kill and make it look natural, the killer wanting to distance themselves from the crime. It is likely it was cast on him sometime earlier today."

"That's a relief." She said with a sigh. "Although I think I'm going to thoroughly re-check a couple of things when I get back anyway. Speaking of, I should probably go back now. We've got some new items coming in this afternoon from Gringotts, owner left a lot to the museum in her will, and those goblins don't like to be kept waiting."

"Of course." Said Hermione. "Thank you for all of your help today, I don't know how we'll ever repay you."

"Oh don't worry about it, it sure beat doing all the paperwork I was going to do today. Anyway, I'm off." She said as she collected the books and the wand. "Alright if I take these back? We're not really supposed to allow them to leave the premises but as long as I get them back soon no one will notice, especially since I'm the one in charge for inventory in those rooms."

"Sure, thanks for letting us take them." Said Hermione.

"I hate to think what might have happened if we had not had them here…" Mumbled Snape behind her.

The archivist bid her farewell and most of the nurses left, only the head medi-witch left behind.

"So, who exactly is this man?" She asked. "We need it for the records."

"Ezra Godtro." Hermione informed her, knowing she could not reveal Lucius' true identity.

"And how are you connected with him?"

"Oh, he's my partner." She explained, not realising the double meaning of her words before it was too late.

"I see." Said the medi-witch, her eyebrows rising slightly in surprise, Hermione sure she heard Severus let out a nearly silent snicker at her side. "Well, you'll be able to stay later if you like, family only after five."

Hermione decided it was best not to correct the witch that they were only work partners as there was something she knew she needed to stay here and do, preferably alone, despite the rumours that no doubt would be spread about her and Ezra all over the Ministry tomorrow.

Ever since they got here Hermione had been worried that Lucius' polyjuice would wear off, his real identity revealed. She rationalised with herself, she knew the brew could last up to twelve hours and that he had taken it no more than half an hour before the incident, but it was the night that concerned her. He would need to take it as late that evening as she could stay for in order for the effects to last until the morning, and that meant she had to be with him to, well, force it down his throat.

The medi-witch left soon after and Hermione was at last left alone with Severus and Lucius. They had some important things that they needed to discuss.

"So this curse…" Started Hermione. "It's worrying."

"Indeed." Agreed Severus. "Of course, there are many possibilities."

"Yes. Does someone know that it's really Lucius? And what's their motive for cursing him if they do? Or perhaps they know about Ezra helping in all the trials, his name is known in the Ministry after all, and this is the first time they've had a body to put a name to, to hurt." Hermione listed off in one breath.

"We can't be sure" Said Severus, clearly troubled by the matter. "But whatever the case, I'm fairly sure your polyjuice saved his life."

"Really? How?"

"Well, this curse, it affects the weak parts of a person, but in this case, the outside and inside of Lucius when he is like this are different, the body and mind separate, so I suspect that it caused the spell to malfunction."

"I see…So have you heard of this curse before?" Hermione asked, trying not to think about what might have happened to Lucius if he hadn't been Ezra at the time of the casting.

"Yes, but only in theory. It's not commonly used due to the fact that death isn't guaranteed, nor is pain. Few of the death eaters ever used it, and if they did, it was rare. The fact that it was used on Lucius, even though he appeared to be Ezra, a man who by all appearances is in excellent health, shows that the caster was inexperienced." Severus explained. "It is likely their knowledge of the curse was gathered solely from books, a limited number of books, and their understanding of it was nowhere near complete."

"I'm glad that they didn't do their research properly, something I never thought I'd say, but it doesn't help us work out who it might be." Pondered Hermione. "But I suppose we can narrow down the list to people who might have a grudge against Ezra or Lucius."

"Unfortunately, the list for the latter is probably still very long." Said Severus dispiritedly. "Although, it is possible that they were targeting Ezra, not Lucius, as I think even someone inexperienced with the spell would be wary about using it if they knew their target was under the effects of polyjuice." He pondered. "But, for now, he should be safe. I doubt word of his hospitalisation will spread too fast, no one here knew who Ezra was after all, so that should give him some time."

"True, but his absence from work tomorrow may not go unnoticed by whoever is the perpetrator."

"Well, we have the polyjuice to fix that. I'm sure we could find someone to impersonate him tomorrow and have them spread it about that Ezra will be leaving the country for a while on urgent business." Suggested Severus. "And" He added as he sensed Hermione was about to protest. "We will tell them about the possible danger and offer them appropriate protection.

"Yes." Hermione grumbled. "Good idea. If whoever did this thinks that Ezra, or Lucius, is still alive but away, they are unlikely to get in the way for a while."

"Indeed." Agreed Severus. "And I doubt they will do anything tomorrow. From this attack I doubt they have the ability to come up with a plan on the spot, especially if we stay in crowded places, and if they use the same curse as today we will be able to rectify it immediately with the counter curse."

"Then we're agreed, we'll find someone to play the part, the question is who…?" Wondered Hermione.

"I have an idea." Said Severus. "I'll get on it as soon as I leave. Speaking of polyjuice, I'm assuming you have some with you?"

"Yes." Confirmed Hermione. "He has a flask that seems to be almost full in his coat pocket. I'll put some in a vial for you to give to whoever you're going to ask."

With that, Severus left to get on with his business, Hermione not noticing the small smile that graced his lips as he walked from the room.


Hermione sat at Lucius bedside for the rest of the afternoon, her hand clasped lightly in his, not that she remembered putting it there.

It hadn't been until he looked about to die right before her eyes that Hermione realised just how much she cared about Lucius.

Perhaps she should be afraid to feel what she did, to try to supress it, but instead she had accepted it, she had accepted him.

There was no doubt in her mind that Luicus had once hated her, that he had probably killed many like her, that he had perhaps even enjoyed doing so, and she in turn hated him for that, but she knew, Hermione knew that this man was the only one for her.

She did not fully understand him yet, not even partially in truth, and it was possible she never would, but that didn't matter to her. What she did understand she adored.

Lucius was capable of so much love, she had seen it so clearly during the battle of Hogwarts, had been captivated by him even then. He was intelligent, strategically minded, inquisitive and committed. His presence was all consuming, when he entered a room it was hard for you to notice anyone else, just like that first day when she met Ezra, she was captivated by him.

Hermione knew that, whatever may happen in the future, she would value this short time they had spent together, knew she would never forget it.

As the afternoon turned to evening and darkness fell, Hermione thought back to what had happened at the museum. The curse was supposed to affect the weakness of mind as well as the body, so was it seeing Voldemort's wand that had triggered the spell to activate? Whatever feelings Lucius associated with it cracking his seemingly constant composure and allowing the curse its opportunity to strike.

She was jostled from her thoughts when Lucius groaned, his hand tightening in her own as he seemed to twitch.

Her breath hitched when suddenly she thought that the curse had returned but she quickly realised that he was still asleep.

A nightmare.

Hermione had nightmares from the war that caused her to wake up screaming, she knew how terrifying they could be, but had no doubt that Lucius' mind had a far greater bank of terrible memories to choose from to torment him with while he slept.

His groans became louder and more intense, he almost seemed to be in physical pain, and Hermione knew she had to do something. It hurt her to see him suffer like this.

She gently sat down on the bed and put her hands softly on either side of his face.

"Lucius." She called gently. "Lucius, you need to wake up."

His eyes snapped open and he looked ready to attack, his warriors instinct kicking in.

"It's me Lucius, it's Hermione." She whispered calmly, despite her heart beating fast in her chest. "It was just a nightmare, it isn't real, it can't hurt you, your safe Lucius."

Lucius blinked a few times, visibly relaxing, his eyes scanning the room and coming to settle on her face.

"What happened to me?" He asked quietly, and edge of vulnerability to his voice that Hermione had never heard before.

"You were cursed, but you're alright now, I will tell you about it in the morning, you need to rest now." She told him as she could see his blinks getting slower, sleep beckoning him again.

She moved to get up but his hand around her wrist stopped her.

"Stay with me Hermione." He said, forcing his eyes to stay open. "Please don't leave me." He whispered so quietly she barely heard.

"I'll stay."

Lucius smiled, a weak, tired smile, and as Hermione settled down on the bed beside him, his eyes once again fell shut.


Hermione lay awake beside him not really thinking of anything for once, simply enjoying their proximity, the calm she felt.

It was not until she felt a lock of hair fall onto her shoulder that she moved, turning to face the now beautiful man at her side.

Lucius truly was beautiful, hauntingly so, and to be able to observe his face so closely seemed to be a privelidge.

The sharp angles of his jaw and cheekbones, his straight nose, the lips that she knew could turn into the most enticing devilish smile, and his eyes, oh how she wished she could see those eyes, the silver ocean, grey clouds, which swam within their depths.

She lay next to him for as long as she dared, memorising his face, all it's lines, all of its scars, until her own eyes started to flutter, sleep coming for her too.

With a sigh, Hermione pushed herself up from the bed, careful to not wake Lucius who had been sleeping like a stone since his nightmare, and got the polyjuice ready. It was almost eleven, there would be no risk of him waking up as Lucius if he took the potion now.

She gently opened his mouth and poured in the potion, tilting his chin to get him to swallow. Hiding the flask, she settled back down beside him, not wanting to leave in case he had another nightmare.

Hermione let sleep take her before Lucius changed back into Ezra, wanting his face, his true face, to be the last thing she saw that day.

The face of the man she had no doubt she had fallen in love with.


I realise it may be moving a little fast for some of you, but, again, it just felt right to me.

I decided not to give the archivist a name (or to describe her appearance). I'm not the biggest fan of OCs and I thought that giving her a name might make her a little too close to one for my liking. It may be bit odd but that's how it is – Ezra was almost a step too far for me and he IS Lucius.

Izanami is a Japanese goddess of death (and creation), her name meaning 'she who invites'. Izanagi was her husband who went to search for her in the land of death when she died. Their story gets really dark after that, suffice to say that she is VERY dead when he gets there and she swears revenge, but I used it as inspiration for the naming of the curse and counter-curse anyway.