It's been ages, I know, and I'm very sorry. RL just took over and my motivation was low to continue writing.

So here is an extremely late next chapter! Hope it isn't awful, it's been a while.

It may be slow (but nowhere near as slow as before!) but I will finish this!


Severus had to bid Hermione and the Malfoys farewell far too soon as he had a class to teach, but insisted that his two former students help Lucius to get home as he wasn't sure how safely he could do it in his current state.

"Oh wait, Severus." Called Draco as he quickly followed the Professor up the stairs, his voice fading into the distance "I forgot to ask you about…"

It was not until Hermione heard an appreciative sounding growl that she remembered that she was now alone with the Malfoy Patriarch, whose inhibitions seemed to be quickly melting away.

"At last." He practically purred as Hermione turned to face him. "I have you all to myself."

"Yes, we haven't exactly had any time to ourselves to talk about…well, um, what happened the other day." She said a little awkwardly, willing the blush she could feel on her cheeks to go away.

Lucius let out a deep chuckle. "It was not exactly the talking that I've been wanting to get you alone for."

He tried to stand but it seemed as though his tongue wasn't the only thing that was a little too relaxed, his legs almost falling out from under him.

Hermione let out a small giggle, seeing the great Lucius Malfoy in this state was really rather funny.

He gracefully collapsed back into the large chair with a sigh. "It would appear that something has amused you, Miss Granger." He drawled, seeming incapable of maintaining the arrogant expression that usually accompanied it and ended up smiling instead.

"Oh really, Mr Malfoy" She said innocently as she slowly made her way towards him, her inhibitions seeming to dissipate just as quickly as Lucius' had. "Surely it would be, inappropriate, for me to be amused at a time like this." She added with a smirk as she stopped just far away enough from him that he couldn't touch her. "What with someone trying to kill you and all."

Lucius' fingers twitched on the arm of the chair, his eyes seeming to darken as they wandered down her body, his own looking ready to pounce. "Right now it is you who is going to be the death of me."

Hermione took a step forward, now only inches from Lucius' large hands. "Well, we can't have you going back to hospital again, now can we." She said in a throaty whisper, bracing herself on the arms of the chair and leaning towards him, never letting her eyes stray from his. "If only I knew how to help."

Suddenly there was a strong grip on her hips and, with surprising fluidity considering his state, Lucius pulled her onto his lap. "I can think of a multitude of ways you can help me."

His voice sent a shiver down her spine and she couldn't help herself from lowering her lips to hover just over his.

It was then that they heard steps coming back down the stairs towards the open door of Severus' rooms, Hermione snapping back to her senses and attempting to escape from Lucius' hold.

Lucius on the other hand seemed completely un-phased, lazily waving his hand and the door closed and locked itself.

"Lucius what are you doing?" Hermione asked, still trying to get free from Lucius' grip. "Draco is coming back, he's going to wonder why the doors locked!"

Hermione didn't get the explanation she was hoping for and instead found Lucius' lips on hers, all thoughts of Draco on the other side of the door quickly disappearing.

The kiss consumed her, she'd been waiting to do this again ever since she'd stopped back in Flourish and Blotts. His lips were firm and hungry yet not forceful, it was almost perfect, Hermione wondering what a kiss from Lucius would be like when it wasn't rushed, or for that matter when he wasn't in a drug induced state, and the thought sent a shiver up her spine.

She barely registered the banging on the other side of the door, but when Draco called out Hermione snapped back to her senses.

Lucius too seemed to concede that they should probably unlock the door, lightly scraping his teeth along Hermione's lips as they parted, his hands relinquishing their vice like hold on her.

Hermione quickly straightened her clothes as Lucius begrudgingly unlocked the door.

Draco entered looking alarmed but seemed to relax once he saw that everyone was fine.

"Why did you lock the door?" He asked with a slightly raised eyebrow, quite resembling his father.

"I thought it wouldn't look so good if someone were to come in here looking for Severus only to find Hermione Granger and Lucius Malfoy." Hermione said with a light laugh.

"It would probably raise many unwanted questions." Added Lucius seriously.

"Good point." Agreed Draco "Anyway, sorry I took so long." He apologised, seemingly oblivious to the near murderous looks his father was giving him. "I just had to ask the professor a quick question."

"No worries." Said Hermione with a smile, hoping she didn't look too flustered.

Lucius seemed to almost growl, Draco paying it no attention, probably assuming it was just a side-effect of the potion.

"Right then father, let's get you home." Suggested Draco as he went to help Lucius up, struggling somewhat with his father's large frame.

"Here, let me give you a hand." Offered Hermione, coming to Lucius' side where a strong, firm arm was slung over her shoulders.

Together she and Draco managed to get Lucius to his feet, Hermione struggling a little to maintain her composure with his body being so close to hers.

"I've organised so that the protections at the manner will let you pass Hermione." Draco informed her. "I imagine that you'll be coming and going quite a bit now so it makes sense."

"Thank you." She smiled. "I'm sure that will come in very handy."

Especially if I want to sneak in undetected to see Lucius…Hermione thought to herself.

"OK, is everybody ready to disapparate?" Draco asked, the trio disappearing with a crack moments later.


They appeared in what was without a doubt Lucius' room and quickly deposited the Malfoy patriarch into his bed, well, as quickly as one could deposit a tall muscular man anywhere.

The room was a soft dark grey that, despite what one may think, made the room feel light and open with the sun shining onto it. A large bookshelf lined one of the walls, Hermione suspecting that it held many wonders, and various old artefacts and heirlooms dotted about the room.

A large portrait of Lucius and Draco as a child hung above an intricate fireplace, adorned with beautiful serpents. They both looked so happy in it, Hermione having no doubt that it was because of Voldemort's absence at the time, and it wasn't until she heard Draco call her name for what sounded like at least the second time that she realised she had been staring at it.

"Hermione?"

"Mmm yes." She said pulling her full attention back to her friend, not being able to stop herself from noticing that Lucius looked as though he was half way to falling back to sleep already now that he was back in bed.

"I have a favour to ask of you."

"Sure, anything."

Draco looked like he was a little nervous to ask whatever it was that he wanted to but Hermione could see the Malfoy that had been drilled into him over the years showing through and he pushed forwards with barely flawed confidence.

"I would like you to stay here tonight if you could." He looked into her eyes but Hermione could tell that he's rather be looking anywhere else. "I have to cover some meetings for father abroad and I know that the wards at the Manor are full proof, and that all of the elves are here….but I'd really feel better knowing that someone as experienced and talented as you were here too were something…someone, to get in here."

Hermione could tell that Draco was deadly serious and no matter how much distain he may have had for his father all of these years that he clearly cared for him and his safety very dearly.

She nodded vehemently. "Of course Draco, anything."

He let out a small sigh of what could only have be relief. "Thank you Hermione, you're a good friend."

At that moment, as if on que, the old house elf which had appeared at the Manors gates before cracked into the room.

"Shall I organise for Miss Grangers possessions to be brought to guest room Master Draco." He asked formally.

Draco seemed completely unsurprised at the elf's efficiency. "Yes, thank you Raxel. Hermione would you like to go home and get some things together and they can be brought over here shortly."

"Yes, thank you Draco, I'll go now."

Hermione gave the now sleeping Lucius one last glance before disapparating back to her house, content to know that he was safe for now.


She packed the basics quickly but then began to think what in particular she might need in order to begin her investigation into the attack on Lucius.

The first things on her list were the various library catalogues she had in the house, as any book enthusiast should surely own. She needed to work out where the assailant had found out about the Izanami curse. It sounded like a difficult spell to find out about so would only be found in specific books and therefore specific libraries, the catalogues would hopefully give her a few places to start looking.

Then there was her private collection of polyjuice, she always kept a little for herself just in case she wanted to do any under the radar investigating. It might come in handy for this as she didn't want anyone to find out that she was investigating the case, especially if the perpetrator worked at the Ministry.

Hermione thought that all of her and Lucius' research on the war so far could come in handy, it was possible they might be able to identify particular people who might have a grudge on Ezra or Lucius.

Lastly was Leku and Crookshanks who she decided she would bring with her. Leku probably knew the Manor well and there was undoubtedly an owlery there, and she was sure she would manage to contain Crookshanks in one room or another and keep any damage he was sure to cause to a minimum.

Giving her room one last sweep she decided she was ready to go and apparated back to the Manor.

Hermione hadn't been sure exactly where she would appear in the large house but it seemed her mind had been thinking of the Malfoy patriarch as she unsurprisingly ended up back in Lucius bedroom.

He was still asleep, fortunately Hermione had apparated so much that she now did so almost silently, and yet again she couldn't help but notice how beautiful he was. Looking at the portrait above the fireplace she could see the difference between how he was now and then. He hadn't aged all that much, the powerful wizards tended not to, but you could see he had been through hell and back, the light in his eyes not so bright.

She wanted to go and lie next to him again, just like she had in the hospital, but knew she couldn't, Raxel would most likely appear at any moment.

Hermione quietly made her way out of the room, gently shutting the large wooden doors behind her. Raxel was out there waiting for her, it was as if he intuitively knew this was where she would return to.

"This way Miss Granger." He said as he began to lead her. "You will be in the room next door to Master Lucius so that you're nearby should something happen."

She nodded absentmindedly as she followed the particularly stout elf the short distance down the corridor. Being so close to Lucius would be distracting to say the least, but for now she would have to focus on coming up with a plan for her investigation.

It was exciting to have something like this to do again, just like when she was back in Hogwarts, but the fact that Lucius life was potentially in danger took all of the excitement out of it. In a way she supposed that reminded her of Hogwarts too, always having to worry for her friends lives…