Authors note: My apologies for this one being rather shiort, but it always is with Lucius isn't it? I'm thinking of changing this to HG/SS in the characters section bit, because they have the most written about them. I orignally only put down HG/LM in order to represent the two different plotlines running, Hermione's with finding out who she really is, and her feelings for Severus, and Lucius with his aunt and Voldypants, who gets pawned by a computer, (Voldemort's Control Panel) Anyway, enough of my blathering on. I hope this update satisfys till I get the next chapter (Severus' pov) typed up. Enjoy- Bee x

Lucius could not believe it. He had to have misheard. It couldn't be true, it just couldn't be. He had barely been able to process that the Dark Lord had an obsession with his Aunt. Now he had to somehow attempt to make sense of this impossible new information he had been presented with. Wife. They were married! At the pronunciation Lucius had felt sick to his stomach and had immediately staggered out of the Ballroom, pulling himself from the protection of the Manor's magic when he was a reasonable enough distance from the ballroom to avoid being suspect. No one had known that he had been in the ballroom, that he had watched the proceedings with horror, anger and a desperate desire for vengeance. He had been relieved when they had brought the women in, Christina would be safe (Lucius had faith enough in her abilities), and the Granger girl was intelligent and adept enough to keep herself safe. So long as Potter had not been captured, all was not lost. There was still hope if Potter remained free. Lucius knew well enough what the Dark Lord's plans for Potter would be next. He would use the Granger girl to draw Potter to him. For this, she needed to be alive. From there, she would find her way to freedom. Lucius was as sure of this as he was of his own hair colour.

As he made his way along the halls of the Manor, Lucius focused on what he could do to help. Lucius was ready to think of practically anything if it would keep his mind away from the unfortunate and unavoidable truth. Unfortunately, he was not so lucky. Now that he thought on it; it all made sense, in some strange sickening way. Perhaps Christina would be able to serve as a suitable distraction for the Dark Lord, thus giving them all the time to work on defeating him. Lucius loved his family, of that there was never any doubt, but he was a Slytherin for a reason. Christina had also been a Slytherin and so Lucius knew that she would understand. He had to believe that. For once in his miserable life, Lucius' reasons were for the greater good.

"Lucius!" Lucius halted in his step and turned on his heel at the sound of her voice ringing along the hall. In the middle of the hallway, the proud and beautiful Narcissa Malfoy nee Black stood, her hands clasped together. Lucius sighed heavily, not in any mood to speak to her of their impending divorce. Then again, if he was being honest with himself, Lucius was never in the mood to discuss their divorce.

"Whatever it is Narcissa, we will speak of it later" Lucius replied, making a conscious effort to stop his tone from being so sharp. Narcissa's reply was to shake her head and cross the distance between them to stand beside Lucius. She placed one of her thin delicate hands on his arm and attempted to pat it in a way she obviously thought would be comforting.

"I heard about your Aunt. Bella is furious, you know how she feels about the Dark Lord" Narcissa paused and smiled weakly at her attempt to lighten the mood with what she thought was humour. Lucius looked at her disapprovingly. Narcissa's smile faltered and then very quickly disappeared.

"I do not appreciate your making light of the situation" He muttered sternly, feeling less than congenial to his wife at that present moment in time.

"She will come to you soon enough. This does not mean she doesn't love you" Narcissa said earnestly, trying to drive her point home in a less than subtle manner. She had absolutely no idea of exactly why Lucius was horrified and upset. From what he had gleaned in the Ballroom, Lucius had quickly assessed that his beloved Aunt was in turmoil. She did not want to love the Dark Lord, that was abundantly clear, but she did. It was obvious to everyone who bothered to look closely at her, and not keep sliding glances to the Granger girl. At the thought of her Lucius silently prayed that she was strong enough to survive through what the Death Eater's would subject her to.

Lucius could not imagine his Aunt's pain for he did want to love Narcissa, always had done since the very first day he had caught sight of her, and he did love her. That love had been strong once before, a long time ago, but now it was unrequiented and it burned within him. That after so many experiences together she could do this to him, wrench his still beating heart out of his chest and crush it under her expensive designer heels, all for her own hedonistic pleasure. When she left him, Lucius knew well enough that Draco would follow her. Narcissa was and always had been a wonderful mother. In comparison, Lucius was a horrible father. If he were in Draco's situation, he would choose Narcissa over himself, every time.

"I know that she loves me Narcissa, and I do not need your assurances on the matter. Now, I have business to attend to. I will see you in the due course" Lucius said as respectfully as he could before brushing Narcissa's hand from his arm like the hindrance it was. Under any other circumstances Lucius would be thrilled that Narcissa was trying to comfort him. The sentiment was ruined spectacularly though with him being perfectly aware that she hated him with a passion and was fighting tooth and nail for divorce.

Lucius continued walking, pointedly ignoring Narcissa's calls after him. He would not be her slave anymore. He did love her, he had only ever loved her, but, as he strode away, Lucius realized that he did not want her. This divorce would happen, sooner than Narcissa would want it to, and Lucius would be free to live his own life for once. Lucius sighed as his thoughts turned to Severus Snape. His Sev. With Narcissa removed from the picture Lucius could hold Severus as his own till they both found love in the opposite sex. Lucius somehow suspected that this would be rather soon in Severus' case. He knew his friend and lover well and, although he had not mentioned it, Lucius recognized the expression he had noted on Severus' fine features. Severus was in love, and Lucius hoped desperately that for his sake the object of his affections loved him in return, and lived to let him know it. Severus had barely managed to survive heartbreak once before. If Lucius was to be honest with himself, once more, he did not know if Severus could survive it a second time