A Broken Man

By the Hand and by the Heart

To all those who knew her in whatever capacity, Hermione Granger had always been the most sensible of girls. Even through the worrying years of battling Voldemort at the side of Harry Potter she had never lost sight of what was important, gathering as much knowledge as possible, planning for every eventuality that might occur and having the courage to follow through with whatever was necessary to achieve her goal. The change that had come over her this week had been noticed only by the closest of observers, those who felt it was their job to watch for these subtle changes and offer assistance or a friendly ear; whether from devotion for one of the saviours of the Wizarding World or interest in furthering their own career. What exactly had changed couldn't be discerned only that a change in her demeanour had been perceived. It was nothing out of the ordinary, but a flutter of her hands when passing parchments and documents to the Minister, stumbling over her morning orders for the junior staff and once mid-week actually arriving for a meeting with the Muggle Papal representatives without the required sheaf of documents.

It had been 6 nights since she had shared Lucius' nightmares in his bed, 5 nights since he tucked her up alone in Charlie's room at The Burrow and headed off to spend the night in what had been the twins room...alone. When he'd come to wake her the next morning, She had spent far too long wondering what delights were hidden beneath the rather fetching nightdress he had transfigured himself. After nearly a week of further distractions, Hermione realised that this situation with Lucius needed to be resolved, soon. It was beginning to interfere with her work and that was something she could never allow!

Lucius for his part had been understanding of her reticence regarding these vows, accepting that their existence had come as a surprise to her. He has suggested she seek guidance from those of her friends who were brought up in the wizarding world. She thought this unusual as he surely had as much knowledge on these important traditions as anyone but when she questioned him he told her he had 'concerns about being perceived as having too much influence over her.' The man could be exasperatingly paranoid at times, a product no doubt of his life as a Death Eater and his close companionship with 00Snape who would give even Alastor Moody a run for his money in the Paranoia stakes!

She'd settled for asking Harry, Although he'd had as little experience of Wizarding Society as she had before Hogwarts he'd married into a family of Purebloods so was bound to know about this sort of thing. She thought maybe the ceremony was conducted in private as he'd never mentioned it to her. He was looking over some urgent parchments that came screeching in just as she entered his private office. She was unaccountably nervous. It was ridiculous for her to feel so nervous, waiting to see her best friend. Nevertheless she glanced around her apprehensively. Harry was at home here she felt, he looked comfortable, she idly wondered how Ginny felt about all the hours he spent here. She had had to put her Quidditch career on hold while she brought up the babies, but they always appeared happy enough together. Ginny was after all, married to the love of her life, she had hero worshipped him since she was 11 and waited patiently for him to notice her as anything other than his best mates little sister! Harry had certainly lived up to not only Ginny's expectations, but those of the wider Wizarding Worlds too. He could probably get away with a lot more than most husbands. He was however very attentive to her. Nobody could miss the little looks and fleeting touches that continually passed between them. They were still as much in love as the day Harry first kissed her in the Gryffindor common room.

"Thank you Harry, for making time to see me." She kissed his cheek and sat in one of the comfy chairs in front of the fire, as he quickly flicked through the parchments. "Anything interesting?" she questioned.

"No. Not really, the usual Dark Magic dabblers but there hasn't been anything out of the ordinary for weeks, that rumour of a dark wizard training camp turned out to be a hoax of Weasley proportions, but you probably had the memo about that. Still no sign of Thaddeus Selwyn or Jeptha Franks, but in all honesty, if they haven't surfaced yet they are probably dead. I've scaled the search down but won't close it completely, they may be the last known Death Eaters on the loose but it doesn't do to be complacent. We are picking up some of the older more complex cases from M.L.E., just for something for my lot to do really. There's no point having a team of highly trained Aurors sitting around doing nothing. Most cases that get passed on to us are easily dealt with at the moment. Until we get through this unusually quiet period, Arthur suggested we visit some of the petty repeat offenders. He thought it might make them think twice about stealing a few brooms etc if they had to face a team of Aurors rather than the usual M.L.E. Investigators! It might be overkill. We also thought of partnering an Auror with an Investigator in the future, or teaming an Auror with existing M.L.E. partnerships...but that's something we'll have to discuss with everyone concerned and then run it through your office before any changes can be made." He stacked the parchments neatly on his desk, touched the stack with the tip of his wand and they disappeared to be filed in the M.L.E. Archives. "Who would have thought there would be so much paperwork in law enforcement. I'd never have managed if you hadn't brow beaten some organisational skills into me at school!"

He rose from his desk and bent to give her a quick peck on the cheek before sinking into the chair opposite her. "Anyway, It's no trouble to make time to see your best friend, you know that. So what can I do for you? There are no problems within your staff are there?"

"No!" she said, "Nothing like that. It's not an official visit, it's a...well it's more of a personal matter." She just didn't know where to start or how to broach the subject with him, or what his reaction would be.

"Hermione! It's me, Harry! You can tell me anything. If this isn't Ministry business then you certainly can tell me anything!" he laughed. He wondered why she was so nervous, he'd seen that face countless times over the years, usually while sucking on a sugar quill, pondering her essays.

"It's best if I tell you straight out and maybe you can soften the news with Ron, you know what he gets like.."

"Hermione! I don't need my Auror training to see there is something bothering you." He was exasperated already.

She took a deep breath, "It's Lucius...he.."

Harry was on his feet, wand at the ready, "Merlin's Beard, is everything alright with him, I thought you said it wasn't Ministry business."

She knew this wasn't going to be easy. Speaking to Harry privately had seemed like a good idea when she'd discussed it with Lucius last night, but at this moment she was finding it difficult to speak in coherent sentences.

"Harry! Sit down. Lucius is fine. You aren't losing your poster Wizard, there's plenty of years in him yet." Just get it over with, she thought, that's probably the best way. "I had dinner with him."

"Well, there is nothing new in that, you see the man almost everyday of your life, why...Oh!" He sat heavily back in his chair. "I see. Where did you have dinner with him?"

"At the Manor."

"And?"

"And it was nice, comfortable, I didn't want to leave actually." She smiled recalling just how comfortable she had been with him, there was no need to go into details about Lucius' nightmare and the fact that she had spent the night with him too. Harry would only get the wrong idea!

"So.... Will you be leaving Grimmauld Place to Kreacher now then?"

"Harry! No it's not like that... Not yet. He asked my permission to court me. I laughed, I had no idea such things were still in existence. How could I? He's deadly serious though, he gave me an etiquette book, it's quite old but it's really interesting. There are formal responses and ceremonies to do with courtship and betrothal, even marriage. I've learnt them of course, but...It's just I don't know anything about it, is it still relevant? I thought with Ginny being, you know, from a pureblood family, she might have... told you a little about it."

The words had all come out as a flood, unable to hold back she had started to babble, a nervous habit along with chewing her lip, she usually had them both firmly under control.

Harry stared at her for what seemed like hours but was probably only a few seconds. He knew all to well what was involved in these courtship ceremonies, Ginny had wanted a lot of these 'old' traditions to feature in their relationship too.

"Did you give him any answer? I mean, not that it matters to me whether you did, but it is binding you know, to a point, once you enter into it."

"I kissed him, Does that count? Just once, I didn't speak the responses, well I didn't know what the responses were then, so I couldn't really could I?"

"You're babbling again, take a deep breath, calm down and stop chewing your lip. How about some tea?"

Tea, the great cure-all of both the Wizarding and Muggle worlds. Actually, tea would be wonderful she thought but just nodded her assent for fear of opening the floodgates again. She knew Harry would listen and even understand, she deserved some happiness now didn't she? After all both Harry and Ron were happily married she was the only one not to have found that special someone.

He flicked his wand and the tea tray appeared, She smiled, Ginny had certainly domesticated him.

"Why are you so worked up about all this?" He set about arranging cups, lemon and biscuits.

"I don't know," She breathed, "the ceremony, the code and not least, it is Lucius Malfoy. Harry, he did try to kill us once upon a time."

"That is all in the past, he's changed, a great deal and he obviously doesn't want to kill you now! He is your Minister for Magic, you put him in the position, so you must trust the man." He poured her some tea added a slice of lemon and handed her the cup. "Well! Are you scared when you are alone with him?"

"No, of course not. I feel safe and happy with him, very happy even. We spent most of the weekend together. Oh Harry! He is 25 years older than me. I can just imagine what my parents would have said."

"That's nothing in the wizarding world Hermione and you know it," He was surprised at the mention of her parents without the customary accompanying twist of grief across her face. She had laid their ghosts to rest since last speaking with him. "I don't think you should worry about it. Yes, we have a lot of history with him, but you above all people know he is not the same person as he was then."

"But you know how Ron is, he will not speak to me for weeks." she sighed.

"Ron will be Ron, he'll huff and puff, make a scene, sulk for a few weeks and come round to our point of view eventually! Perhaps he'll be too busy making babies with Lavender to be bothered anyway." They both made faces and laughed. "We aren't children anymore Hermione and you are old enough to make your own decisions. If you want to pursue a relationship with Lucius Malfoy it is entirely up to you. For what it's worth, Ginny and I don't see a problem with it. You two have been dancing around each other since he was at Grimmauld Place. It was bound to happen eventually!"

"So you two sit at home discussing my love life...or lack of it do you?" she laughed.

"No actually, but if we did we wouldn't be the only ones. You know how Ginny is with these things, she can be as bad as her matchmaking Mother at times...and yes, Molly did floo us to let us know you'd both been there at the weekend. Be grateful I managed to persuade Ginny out of inviting the two of you for a 'surprise' dinner." He reached forward and grasped her hand, " What are you worrying about? You work together well, you took care of him for what? A whole year? So you know you can live with him."

"Harry," She admonished him, "The fact that he lived at my house is still a closely guarded secret, no one outside The Order knows where he was hiding before re-emerging into wizarding society."

"You have worked together for two years that's enough time to figure out whether you can stand to go on a few dates, that's all this courtship amounts to a few old fashioned chaperoned dates. If you don't get along you can dissolve it, it's not a permanent binding."

She sat back in her chair, sipping her tea and thought about what it would mean to enter into this formal courtship, she knew if she spoke the responses to him it was binding to a point, a pre pre-marital contract but unlike a betrothal could be broken if the couple were unsuited. That much she had gleaned from the etiquette book and now Harry had just confirmed that it did indeed work that way. She did not like being unprepared, under researched and not knowing what she was getting herself into under any circumstance. Affairs of the heart included. As a Muggleborn she obviously had no experience of Wizarding/Pureblood courtship, she could have asked Luna & Neville but Luna was so ....Luna! She wouldn't get a straight answer. Oh why must she be like this. She should be more spontaneous.

"I am scared of not knowing how to proceed," she confided, "I am scared of the ceremony and what it all means. I depend on my research and planning but this isn't something I can plan. I know I care deeply for him, he has been through so much and he is still making such progress. I hope to help him complete his recovery, at his side. My...experience is limited as you know, but I have never felt this way before and when he looks at me I..."

"Enough!" he stopped her, "Urgh! I don't want to know, talk to Ginny about that fluffy stuff, you should floo over to Godric's Hollow, she'd be so pleased to see you and would be able to tell you more about...about the courtship thing."

Shaking her head she sighed, "That won't be necessary Harry. You've made me see reason. This is something that will make Lucius happy, I know. Or I'll end my days as the shrivelfig the gossips say I've already become," she laughed. "Though a few hours with Ginny away from the Ministry would be welcome. How is she, and her bump?"

"Well! I've some news to tell you there. We're having another set of twins!! Molly is ecstatic, Ginny not quite as, but, hey! you know, two for the price of one so to speak." He grinned madly at her, "She's getting her fair share of the Weasley twin genes though, but she did want a large family of her own!"

Ginny had always been surrounded by noise and siblings, she'd obviously want the same for her own children. They sat in companionable silence and meditated on their own thoughts, Harry; from the wistful look in his eyes thought of Ginny and his bourgeoning family. Hermione however thought of Lucius, all she thought of was Lucius, it was time to make those vows with him before she turned obsessive. They settled easily into quiet conversation that turned from the Weasley's latest escapades to Ministry comings and goings. Harry seemed to get to know everything that went on in the Ministry whether it was who was doing what with who to which night time cleaner had just been caught pilfering contraband from the M.L.E.


A brisk knock at the door startled them from their thoughts.

"Enter," called Harry, business like once more.

Hermione's heart gave a slight leap as Lucius strode in purposefully. He gave her a formal little bow and smiled warmly then made to shake Harry's hand.

"Pardon my intrusion, I did not realise you would still be here Hermione, I had hoped for a quiet word with Harry?"

"It is time I was going anyway," Rising she began to gather her things, "I'll meet you back in your office though Lucius, there is something we should discuss," eyes sparkling, she smiled up at him.

"In that case, there will be no need for you to leave." Lucius turned to Harry, "I have a small favour to ask. I was hoping you would agree to witness our courtship vows. You are Hermione's closest friend and she is, as I am, without family therefore you are the perfect choice."

"I would be honoured, Minister." He ruffled his hair, it had been some time since Hermione had seen that nervous gesture from him.

"I also thought if the vows were made here, in the office of the head Auror no-one would suspect I had placed Hermione under the Imperious curse to further my political agenda!" he stated.

"Lucius!" Hermione scolded, "No-one would think such a thing of you now, besides, you are Minister for Magic already, how much further do you think 'they' can suspect you of going?"

"Old habits die hard, my love" She gasped at the sight of the old, familiar blaze in his eyes. "Do you remember the words? As we are all here...There's no time like the present! Isn't that one of your favourite sayings?"

"An Excellent Idea Lucius." Harry said and motioned for them to move in front of the fire place. Hermione flashed them both a look, narrowing her eyes slightly as she wondered if this had been a carefully planned conspiracy. Neither of them were above such underhanded means.

"I Harry James Potter, acknowledge Lucius Abraxas Malfoy's courtship request on behalf of Hermione Jean Granger." Harry's tone was powerful and commanding, his Aurors in training must quiver under such an address.

"As you are both of one mind, please turn to face one other, raise your right hands and clasp your left hands together."

Harry stood in front of them, watching as they obeyed his instructions then touched his wand tip to their hands.

"Please recite the vows."

As one, Lucius and Hermione spoke the words that would bind them in courtship, Hermione's heart hammered in her chest while Lucius had only a peaceful sense of belonging.

"Your blood to my blood,

Your hand in my hand,

Our souls inspired,

Our hearts in bliss,

So the courtship begins."

Ribbons of magic burst from Harry's wand, binding their hands, twisting and turning, surrounding their bodies, bathing them in a golden light, till they burst in a shower of stars that rained confetti like over them settling on their clasped hands.

"You must seal the vow with a kiss." he spoke gently, the commanding tone now forgotten.

Lucius pulled Hermione to him, she wrapped her free arm round his neck, once again she could feel his still firm body beneath the ministerial robes. A shiver of desire ran down her spine. As she tilted her head up to him he lowered his own and captured her mouth. Lucius tasted the life she had to offer and wanted only to immerse himself in it. Their kiss was deep, filled with need and longing and probably highly inappropriate for this kind of ceremony.

Even as the kiss broke, they could not tear their eyes from one another, or even break their tight embrace.

Harry chuckled, this would not be a long courtship. If that display was anything to go by, she'd be Madame Malfoy and pregnant by this time next year. Even if they do follow that damn code to the letter.

"You are now Promise-Bound. Congratulations to both of you, may your courtship be a happy one."

Removing his wand, Harry ended the ceremony and rushed to hug his friend tightly, swept up with the emotion of the occasion he hugged Lucius too. They stepped away from each other laughing and he was surprised to see genuine warmth in the older mans face. 'Hermione has been good for you,' he thought, 'You will be good for her too.'

Hermione; flushed with pleasure, lips swollen from Lucius' assault on her mouth, looked radiant. She clasped Lucius' hands in excitement, "We must celebrate, Oh! Is this something we should celebrate?"

Lucius raised her hands to his lips and placed a gentle kiss on each one, "Absolutely my love, in my time the vows would have been made in front of a large gathering of family and friends as part of the celebration. Now the young people prefer that the Ceremony takes place in private. I understand Harry had only his now wife and her parents in attendance." Harry nodded his agreement at Lucius' words. "We can celebrate in any manner you desire my love. Name it and it shall be yours."

Hermione laughed at his grandiose speech. "Well, lunch at the Leaky Cauldron is all we can fit in today. Lucius you and I have quite a tight schedule already and we've just made it a little more punishing with our sojourn here!"

"How about we all come over to Grimmauld Place this evening," Harry suggested, "I'll round up everyone that's available and I'm sure Kreacher will be pleased with the extra guests!"

Lucius looked thoughtful, "Hmm...We should probably invite some of the 'right' people too, I can take care of that... and make some kind of announcement, maybe we should delay for a few days or at least until tomorrow night?"

"Do you think you could get the Press Office to make the announcement," Harry asked. "That way they can field all the journalists and neither of you will have to bother with that damnable Skeeter woman?"

"An Excellent idea, Harry," Lucius mimicked, "Tomorrow night it is." As they laughed and joked together Hermione's heart swelled to see her oldest friend laughing with her....her what? Boyfriend? He was a little old for that title... Intended? Well they didn't know that yet did they? She would have to ask Lucius, there would be some horrendous title like Formal Courtship Partner. Wizards didn't seem to do anything succinctly. Shaking her head to clear her thoughts she briefly kissed Lucius on the cheek, gathered her belongings and headed for the door.

"I'll have to leave you two boys to bond over the guest list, I have a floo call scheduled with Severus in 15 minutes and I'd like to go through my notes one last time first. As fond as I am of him, he can still be quite scary at times. I'd hate to disappoint him by being ill prepared."

"Hermione," Lucius called. "In between cajoling Severus into taking part in your lecture series and trying to persuade him to head up Experimental Research, can you check that he has kept Sunday afternoon free?" At her confused look he explained, "To visit your parents properties on the Muggle side. We are meeting with my property manager and Severus has more recent experience with the Muggle property market than either of us."

She nodded her head distractedly as she left them to their party planning, she didn't recall them having discussed that particular meeting at all. Now that she had taken the vows perhaps she would finally start to focus on the Ministry again.


Authors note; Thaddeus Selwyn and Jeptha Franks are not canon but my own invention.

Although I created the format of the courtship ceremony I drew on many different sources but mainly medieval and 17th century betrothal and marriage ceremonies. The oath 'stance' is adapted from the very famous 'Arnolfini Portrait' by van Eyck.

The oath itself is created from an old English folk saying, Ancient Egyptian verse and an idea or two of my own. I hope it appears ancient and authentic!!