Disclaimer: only being paid through the efforts of my reviewers ;-)

AN: I love you guys sooooo much! If I'd have known you would respond this well to me begging you to leave me lots of reviews, I'd have done it ages ago! And then I'm not even commenting on what you all wrote! You are all so exceptionally nice. I was smiling like crazy all week and have been bugging all of my friends with the wonderful reviews I have gotten! :-)

I can't resist updating already, even though I am now merely one chapter ahead of you and normally I have more material prepared, before I upload new chapters. And there is this thing I have to do for uni before tomorrow. It's not a great deal of work, but it needs to be done nevertheless. It's all your fault ;-)

About the answers you posted to the what-do-you-see-happening-in-this-story-question: I find kindred spirits in you all. If you strategically puzzle all of your answers together, you get an amazingly accurate picture of the storyline I had in mind. At first I was a bit miffed about this and considered throwing the entire storyline out and creating a new one, for the sake of being original. But then I figured, that I didn't want to do that, since I care about my plotline a lot and besides, it is actually great to have readers who are on a similar wavelength :-) And to answer the question once and for all: yes, this is a HG/LM. Well spotted wacoramaco87!

Also, the generous praise of my work miraculously healed the bout of writer's block I was suffering from and I have been writing like crazy. Honestly, your reviews were the best reward for the chapters already uploaded and the best incentive for working on the ones I am currently writing. Thank you all so much!

Shyngr8: I like your idea about showing Lucius' POV on a couple of things and it will certainly be in the story… at some point ;-) thank you for your lovely review, as always. And yes, I'm evil, for leaving it at that… Lucius is rubbing off on me ;-)

Athena Linborn: haha, another reviewer who thinks I am cruel! In this case, I'll take that as a compliment and hope you won't hold it against me. Your 'rambling' as you put it, is certainly helpful. Thank you for the input and the flattering review. Btw, this chapter is a bit longer than my chapters usually are ;-) Hope you like!

CharmedLeoLvr: well, I can say you most certainly will get your wish concerning Lucius and Hermione falling in love. I like your compliment on the Lucius/impostor-Lucius meeting. I thought Lucius is not the kind of man to charge into a room cursing and shouting and I am glad you seem to agree. Your comments on the story in general leave me blushing with pleasure. Thanx!

Inell13: I am glad you like the story so well. I am a HG/LM and HG/DM shipper myself, so I don't think that's contradictory at all. After all, both Malfoy men are gorgeous: why should we have to choose? Thanks for reviewing.

Mary: thank you for your review. The impostor will be revealed in due time - which translates roughly as: not just yet! Yes, I'm dragging it out; yes, I'm evil, but I think it works well for the story. ;-)

Jo: again, I am flattered you like the story. I rather like the previous chapter as well, even if I do say so myself. There is most certainly going to be Lucius/Hermione romance; it should start developing in the next couple of chapters.

HoVis: I am sorry, but I can't remedy the unfairness of having to do algebra, but I can do my best to make this story as good as possible, so that you may have something nice to look forward to when you're finished with your homework. Btw, my cold is much better! Thank you for reviewing!

Shadowwarriorsangel: I have heard before that the plotline is apparently unique, but it is very nice to get that compliment again. (checks… nope, still not fed up with it ;-)) I am glad you understand the stress of university life, although I do have two weeks off in two weeks time! Thank you for reviewing and I hope you enjoy further chapters.

Star-Angel23: I am so glad everybody's slightly miffed about the cliffie… it kinda hints at the fact that all of you are eager to know what will happen next! Thank you for reviewing :-)

Webweaver: wow. I am impressed with the amount of thought you have put in trying to unravel who the fake Lucius could be… I must say: I can't find fault with your reasoning anywhere! Thank you.

Dedanaan: your review really floored me, because I have a couple of HG/LM stories I like very well, even though in general there are relatively few. It's an honour you think my story is the best you've read so far. I thank you.

Wackoramaco87: I am getting very fond of your reviews, haha. I'm glad you like chapter ten so well: trust me it cost me some effort… I believe this was the third or fourth attempt ;-) Lots of HG/LM? Hm…yes, I think I can arrange that ;-) thanks for reviewing.

Jaid Ziaen: well, that was a certainly an eloquent review (note: I am NOT trying to be sarcastic here) I really love the fact you feel so strongly about our dear Lucius. And, since I am in charge of his universe for now, I can safely promise that 'the evil twin' will suffer. Greatly. ;-) Thank you for your lovely review!

Sarcastic22: you are so sweet! I hope I didn't keep you waiting too long for the next chapter. Btw; why sarcastic22 and not e.g. 23? (just curious, since 22 is my favourite number) Thanx for reviewing!

Artemis Moonclaw: you must be a great writer yourself, because with only five words, you have my heart fluttering with joy. Thank you so much for that and yes, I will continue this story: it's too much fun getting all these lovely reviews for me to give it up! :-)

The Mad Madame: now there's an interesting plot-idea. I must return the compliment I have gotten a couple of times, namely that this is a most original idea! I don't think anyone else has come up with that. Thank you.

Sexy-jess: wow, your review is so extensive, I don't even know how to begin to thank you for it. It's great you like the story so much, and that chapter seven made another victim ;-) The input for the story line is well thought-out as well and I thank you for putting in so much thought. Hope you like the next chapter.

Aurelione: you're the first person ever to compare my story to music and since I love music that in itself is a compliment. I don't think I am familiar with the song you are referring to, but I will make it a point to see if I can download it somewhere. Thank you for reviewing.

So…. the next chapter. This again is the umpteenth attempt…. Nowadays, when I start to write a chapter, I name the file something along the lines of: chapter x. 1st attempt, because it happens regularly that I am not happy with what I have written and start all over, thus creating the file chapter x. 2nd attempt and keeping the first attempt for reference, lol. I am simply unable to post a chapter I am not satisfied with myself.

Furthermore, since grovelling for reviews worked so well the last time, I would like to remind you that reading your reviews really motivated me to write new chapters ;-) Which means, if you leave me lots of reviews, you'll get a speedy update! ;-) Seriously though; reviews are greatly appreciated.

Now, lets get on with chapter eleven, in which the situation is explained to the Ministry and Lucius gets to give his counterpart a piece of his mind.

Enjoy.

To save a Malfoy

Ch. 11 Meeting

Whatever the impostor got wrong when pretending to be Lucius Malfoy, it certainly wasn't the way he carried himself, thought Hermione as she looked at the genuine article sitting a little way over to her right. Amelia Bones had very sensibly suggested that the discussion that had started in Courtroom Ten with Lucius' entrance, to be continued in one of the Ministry's more private conference rooms. That's how the delegation from Hogwarts found themselves in precisely one of those, in the company of Cornelius Fudge, the other Lucius, closely guarded by two Aurors and of course the Head of the Department of Magical Law Enforcement herself. Almost all of the Wizengamot members were sent home for the time being, since there was new evidence to be considered. Or so it seemed.

In the middle of the room was a large table, the short sides of which were straight, the long sides with a gentle outward curve to it. At the head of the table sat Amelia Bones, with Cornelius Fudge to her left and Albus Dumbledore to her right. The right side of the table was taken up entirely by the Hogwarts students and their Professor: Snape sat near the head of the table, next to Dumbledore, then Harry, Ron and Hermione. Directly opposite Hermione, on the left side of the table sat the impostor-Lucius, with two Aurors, leaning against the wall behind his chair, keeping vigilant eyes on the captive.

But it was not with either of them that Hermione's attention rested. Her gaze was fixed on Lucius Malfoy. She could not but admire him, as composed and confident as he managed to look, not the slightest hint of insecurity in either his behaviour or his countenance, even though this whole experience must be incredibly trying.

And yet, at the same time there was this unsettled feeling starting to make itself known at the pit of her stomach. For the man she was looking at now, was not the man she had come to know in the weeks she had treated his injuries. He looked more like the impostor than ever; his face was more unreadable than she had ever seen it, there was not a hint of warmth in his icy silver eyes. He was elegant, the deep red robes colouring perfectly with his pale skin and yet the most important thing was missing. And only now that it was no longer there, did she realise it had been there in the first place…his emotions had always been clearly visible to her. Even though he had been getting more distanced lately and tried to hide his emotions more, she mostly knew what he was feeling.

But not now. And it made her realise just how little she actually knew of this man. In the beginning it had been hard not to confuse him with the impostor, not to automatically see the old Lucius Malfoy; the one she had hated. Later she had all but forgotten about how she had thought about that man first. Because the name no longer belonged to the heartless man she had despised for years; the man that had caused so much grief and trouble for her and her friends. No, the name now belonged to the handsome and highly intelligent man that had been her patient; the one that could tease professor Snape and get away with it; the one whose love for his son was exuding from his every pore when the two of them were in the same room together.

But what did she actually know of him, the real Lucius Malfoy? Sitting here, looking at that expressionless face, she couldn't help but wonder.

Harry and Ron had just testified on how they had discovered Lucius after the Final battle. Looking at Lucius for the entire time, Hermione had only seen the tiniest hints of what his emotions were from time to time. The superior, almost arrogant confidence her former patient had managed to shroud himself in ever since they got ready to floo to the Ministry that morning, never faltered visibly. His features appeared stern this way, the lines that run from his nose to his jaw that would normally give him that certain aristocratic je-ne-sais-quoi now giving him a forbidding appearance.

Yet the young Gryffindor could not but admire his courage, as he sat at a mere couple of feet from the man who had made his own life pure torture for the past two decades and on top of that had deprived his son of a loving father when growing up. And he managed to listen to Ron's and Harry's testimony as if it concerned someone other than him.

Hermione had been studying Lucius so intently, she almost missed her cue, when she was asked to inform the Ministry officials of the details of the condition he had been in when being placed under her care.

Under the table, her hands were trembling where they lay on her thighs as she started her narrative.

"When Harry and Ron brought him to me, Mr. Malfoy was…"

"Excuse me, Miss Granger," interrupted Fudge, "but it still remains to be proven this man actually is Lucius Malfoy."

Hermione felt her anger flare up at the remark. Bloody typical he would doubt Dumbledore's word rather than give him a little leeway to allow him to prove his point. Hadn't the man learned anything from his previous experiences?

She turned to face him, fighting to keep the contempt she felt from showing on her face. "I see your point, Minister," she managed to say flatly, "what would you suggest I call him then?" At this she managed to plaster an interested look on her face, as if she expected a sensible answer.

"Well… he…" Fudge started, before reaching the conclusion it was wiser to keep one's mouth shut when one had nothing to say. Unfortunately for him, this was exactly what Hermione had counted on.

"Since you realize that it is rather difficult to find an alternative and Professor Dumbledore, Professor Snape and I believe we will be able to sufficiently prove that this man is indeed the real Lucius Malfoy, would you kindly permit me to call him Mr. Malfoy for the time being?" she asked, a false sense of servitude to her question.

Fudge was smart enough to acquiesce with a nod of his head.

"As I was saying: when Harry and Ron brought him to me, Mr. Malfoy was in such bad shape, the Healers deemed him a loss of their time. He was severely underweight, had numerous broken bones, cuts and bruises, plus he was suffering from the effects of a rather serious pneumonia…."

As she got into her story more, Hermione relaxed and her hands moved graciously to stress certain points in her narrative. Most of those present listened intently to what she told, with the exception of Lucius, who sat there staring straight ahead stoically, and the impostor who looked like he was suppressing the urge to roll his eyes.

The young woman explained how they began to suspect the identity of her patient and what evidence there was to support this theory, with the exception of the Marauders' Map.

There was silence as she finished.

Amelia Bones turned to the Chief Warlock of the Wizengamot, sitting on her right.

"These are rather shocking new facts, Albus. If this is true, then the implications are very great indeed," she said matter-of-factly, "You do understand the Ministry will have to confirm the research you have already done."

"But of course," agreed the Headmaster graciously.

"Surely you cannot be serious!" said the man sitting opposite from Hermione, "you don't mean to accept this preposterous accusations on the flimsy evidence that that bunch – he gestured in the general direction of the Gryffindors and Snape – have just presented you with? It is highly circumstantial at best!"

Hermione felt her temper flare up again at the man's indignant tone of voice. The sheer nerve! But perhaps, seeing what this man had done already, it should not surprise her he attempted to deny what they were trying to prove.

Apparently she was not the only one feeling that way, for Professor Snape spoke up for the first time.

"I think the highly circumstantial evidence, as you put it, is enough to warrant further investigation at the very least. Nobody has said anything was officially proven," he commented acidly, fixing the man with one of his most intimidating glares.

The arrogant man sitting on the other side of the table laughed derisively at his comment.

"Oh Severus, how ironic you of all people should say those words. It really doesn't suit you, you know; pretending to be a good little wizard," he said condescendingly.

"Do you really think it is wise to insult a member of the Order of the Phoenix?" asked Dumbledore, with disapproval in his voice.

"Am I the only one who sees how ludicrous this theory is?" the prisoner asked slightly annoyed. "Even if it were true, who's to say which one of us is the victim and which one is not?"

"Well for one, there's no Dark Mark on father's arm," Draco interjected icily.

"How sickeningly sweet…the brat's already calling you 'father' then?" For the first time, the fake Lucius addressed his counterpart.

As Lucius turned his icy glare on the man in the grey prisoner's robes, the similarity between the two men was more astounding than ever.

"Do not dare speak of my son," he threatened the other man, his voice low and deadly.

"Already one happy family reunion is it now?" the prisoner mocked, "Too bad you missed seeing him grow up." At this Hermione saw Lucius clench his fists at his sides, the first sign she had gotten all day that anything was getting to him.

"Don't you wonder if he had turned out differently if you had been the one raising him?" the loathsome character continued, creasing his brow as if he genuinely wondered about it. "The difference between the two of us might not be as vast as you think. I mean, I have spent more time with your family than you have." His tone had a sharp edge to it now. A small muscle in Lucius' jaw was twitching at the comment.

"Then again, maybe you would have coddled him." The man sounded decidedly bored as he continued: "I daresay you would have healed his leg right away when he broke it falling off his broom when he was eight."

Before anyone could react or even see what happened, Lucius had gotten up from his chair, reached over the table to grab the other man by his robes and yanked him from his seat. Their faces were only inches apart and his grey eyes were colder than Hermione had ever seen them, boring into the other man.

"Bask in you arrogance all you want," he said in that low, menacing voice, "but make no mistake: I'll find out just who you are and I. will see to it that you receive the punishment you rightly deserve. And if you ever dare speak of my son in that manner again, I will make sure there is not enough left of you for the Dementors to kiss."

With that he threw the man back in his chair with force and sat back down again, his hands visibly shaking with the rage that was coursing through his veins. The other Lucius looked shocked and maybe even a little frightened for a moment, but he collected himself soon enough and managed to look as superior as ever.

Hermione was stunned at the sheer strength and danger exuding from the real Lucius; his smooth and lightning fast movement had surprised her. After all, as his medi-witch she knew he had had little time to train his body: she was baffled as to where he got the strength and the lethally fast reflexes to do what he just did. The only thing she could think was that his anger at finding out how his son had been mistreated and his protective instincts as a father were one hell of an incentive.

Looking around she saw the respect in Harry and Ron's eyes and Fudge was regarding Lucius in the same way as one might a puma; with something akin to awe, but knowing the creature in question was very, very dangerous. Amelia Bones was actually the one who had signalled the Aurors not to jump in as soon as they saw what happened. Hermione couldn't exactly identify what she saw in the older witch's shrewd eyes, but she had a sneaking suspicion that she was rather more accepting of the idea of 'their' Lucius really being Lucius Malfoy, than she had been ten minutes ago.

"Much as I hate to admit it," the grey-haired witch began, "he does have a point. Up till now I haven't heard much of the evidence you have to support your theory."

"Right you are, Amelia," said Dumbledore placidly. "But might I suggest we ask Narcissa Malfoy to join us? I think it is high time she was informed of the situation and she might be able to shed some more light onto the matter."

Hermione couldn't help but look at Lucius again: this was what he feared most about this day. His face still didn't betray any emotions to a casual observer, but Hermione saw the tightness in his features, giving away his inner turmoil. To her astonishment, she felt a nauseating feeling start in her own stomach and rise up to the back of her throat, on his behalf. Empathy was a quality to be praised in a medi-witch to be sure, but this was taking things a little too far, she thought with wry humour.

Amelia Bones nodded her assent and Fudge summoned a clerk to go and fetch Narcissa Malfoy. It was one of those strange experiences where time and sound seemed to be distorted into a strange parody of reality; bent like objects in a picture by Dali.

The silence in the room in anticipation of the upcoming events was leaden and the occasional rustle of a robe when someone shifted in his or her chair disproportionately loud. The only thing missing to help add the tension, at least to Hermione's Muggle mind, was a clock slowly and audibly ticking away the seconds. She mused at the strangeness of the moment. In a few minutes Lucius' wife would be stepping through that door, his biggest fear and greatest desire combined in one terrible moment. Now all was still tranquil, a deceiving silence before the storm was to burst out in all its fierce power. Now was a moment of possibilities; the outcome was still open. There was opportunity for great tragedy or great romance. And to be honest, Hermione didn't know which of the two to expect. It would probably be somewhere in between: life was rarely black and white. No, what was about to happen was going to be an interesting shade of grey; in-between of the extremes. But after that… it would all be over and done. And whether for good or bad, what had happened would have happened, no way to turn it back, no opportunity to go back to this moment of almost limitless possibilities.

The door opened.

"Do you have a minute?"

Hermione looked up from her hunched position to see Harry's tousled black hair sticking around the door.

"Sure," she said wearily, returning to the task of tying her laces.

Harry took that as an invitation and stepped into the room, plopping down in a chair next to her.

"I was going to ask you how you were doing, but I think I already have my answer."

He gestured towards her attire. "You still go running when you're upset?" he asked.

She got up and tied her hair together in a ponytail.

"What gives you the idea I'm upset?" she asked.

"For one, you are trying to evade the question," Harry replied, his bright green eyes watching her intently. "Come on Hermione, we've known each other too long to be beating around the bush. You have been in a pensive mood ever since we left the Ministry."

"Pensive doesn't equal upset."

"No, running clothes equals upset."

'Damn,' Hermione thought, 'when did Harry get so observant?'

She studied him, her long-time friend. Like Draco, Harry and Ron grew up to be quite handsome young men. Harry's frame was more muscular than Draco's, although he was not as tall as the Slytherin. His black hair still was, and probably always would be messy; the potion to tame that hair still had to be invented. But the most attractive thing about Harry Potter by far was his emerald eyes. Even behind his glasses they sparkled with colour and fire.

"Harry, listen, I really don't want to talk about it right now. I wouldn't even know how to begin answer your question."

"You know you can talk to me anytime."

"I know Harry. And thank you. But right now I only want to go for a run," she looked him over, considering.

"Want to join me?"

Harry looked up, surprised. "What, you want me to go running with you?"

"Sure, why not? Keep me company," Hermione grinned half-heartedly.

"I thought you would want to be alone to brood while you run."

Hermione snatched a small pillow from a chair and threw it at her friend's head. He plucked it out of the air easily before it could even get near him.

"What? I am trying to be understanding!" Harry's eyes twinkled mischievously.

"If I wanted to be alone, I would not have asked you to come, now would I?"

Harry was looking at her as if she were a puzzle he was trying to solve. She had to suppress the urge to fidget under his considering stare.

"Just keep me company, okay?" she said softly.

"Let me change then," he said and drew his wand from his sleeve. An incantation later and Hermione was faced with a sight many women would love to see: Harry Potter in shorts. She supposed that he had nice legs, if one could say that of a man. They were well proportioned, slightly tanned and muscular. Much like the rest of him. The shirt hanging loosely from his shoulders did little to hide his broad chest and flat abdomen.

Yep, old Harry Potter was quite a catch. Sometimes it was almost too bad she could only think of him as the brother she never had, Hermione thought.

The two of them left the castle and after a quick stretch started to run along the path that led to the lake. It was a rather cold night, but the air was clear and actually quite pleasant for running.

They didn't talk, the only sound accompanying them the regular thudding of their shoes on the path. Slowly, as her body adjusted to the exercise, Hermione felt the tension starting to drain away. The jumbled thoughts that had been going through her head ever since that afternoon, disappeared to the background, seemingly unimportant for now. The only thing that mattered was running. Just putting one foot in front of the other, the rhythm of her movements, her heartbeat, her breathing.

Beside her, Harry could keep up easily. He had always been in excellent shape and he had made it a point ever since he started Auror training, to keep up his physical fitness as well as train his magical skills. Hermione glanced over at him. The most powerful wizard of the world and he was one of her best friends. On moments like these she realised just how special he was. Harry caught her eye and just smiled. He was so much more relaxed now that Voldemort had been defeated. Everyone around him had noticed the gradual change that was taking place in him. He had always been so very serious, almost forgetting how to have fun ever since Sirius had died. And who could blame him? The responsibility resting on his shoulders as a teen was more than enough to cause most grown-ups to crack. But somehow he had borne it all and now, with the prophecy fulfilled at long last, Harry Potter could finally relax. It became him.

"So, have you decided what you want to do yet?" asked Hermione, when they were about halfway around the lake.

Harry shrugged; an awkward sight when done during a run.

"I haven't decided yet. The only thing I know is that I don't want to be an Auror."

The female Gryffindor nodded. The training had only been because of Voldemort, the prophecy hanging over his head for half his life; she could well imagine, now that he was free of all that, he didn't want to have anything to do with fighting dark wizards.

"I have gotten some offers to do a try-out for Quidditch. And the Ministry offered me some fancy job as a foreign relations wizard. Fudge probably wants to show off the saviour of the wizarding world."

This last statement was delivered with a healthy amount of sarcasm, directed at everybody's favourite Minster of Magic. Hermione glanced sideways and flashed a grin.

"Ooh, tempting," she mocked.

"Oh, and the twins also offered me a job, only on the understanding of course that I would be very badly paid and mistreated, seeing I am going to be a guinea pig to test their newest products on," Harry grinned.

Hermione started laughing in spite of herself.

"Harry, that is horrible!"

"Actually, I thought it was quite a nice gesture. I am seriously considering it. Of course it is nothing compared to Fudge's compelling offer, but it comes in a nice second."

"Fudge is an incompetent fool," Hermione commented, the strain audible in her voice. The-boy-who-lived-yet-again knew her well enough to know when to keep silent.

For a moment there was once again only the sound of their feet thudding on the fallen leaves.

"I just can't believe how he behaved today! Looking all smug and self-righteous and interrupting all the time. If he weren't the Minister of Magic, I would give him a piece of my mind. In fact, when this is all over and done with, I might do just that!"

She fumed for a couple of minutes, before continuing: "As if it weren't already hard enough on Lucius, without him second-guessing everything we told him. As if Dumbledore would interrupt the hearing of the most notorious Death Eater of the past decades based on some unfounded suspicions!"

"Like you said, Hermione, the man is incompetent. I think second-guessing everybody else is an attempt to cover up his own failures. There's little doubt in my mind he realises he closed his eyes to the truth for too long."

"Why does Lucius have to be the victim of that? Do you know how nervous he was about seeing Narcissa again? And then the scene we caused when we entered the Atrium. I realised people would be pretty mad, but I never thought they would make that so abundantly clear with Dumbledore there. Rather naïve, huh?"

Without realising it, she slowed down.

'Narcissa Malfoy really is a beautiful woman,' Hermione thought as she looked at the stately blonde that had just stepped into the conference room.

Like Lucius, she had an undeniable gift to exude confidence, although with her it seemed more of an acquired skill, while with Lucius it appeared to be a quality he had had since birth.

Nevertheless, as she realised how stunning Narcissa looked in pale lilac robes –in spite of the disdainful look on her face- she felt a strange pang in her stomach.

"Minister Fudge, could you please explain why the proceedings are delayed?" she asked, politely, but with a hint of annoyance in her voice. Of course she would address the Minister. Nobody else in the room was worthy of the notice of the wife of Lucius Malfoy.

"There have been some unexpected... eh… developments," said Fudge and he gestured to the other end of the table, where the two Luciuses sat. Time froze.

And then, she turned around.

"You really care about him, don't you?" Harry's voice abruptly broke through her train of thoughts.

"Who?" she asked absent-mindedly, focusing on his emerald eyes with difficulty in the darkness.

"Your patient."

Hermione was going to deny it to the extent that she cared for all her patients in much the same way and that Lucius was no different, but the words got stuck in her throat. Probably without realising it, Harry had made her see that Lucius was not just another patient to her. Maybe it was because of the anger she had felt, when Harry and Ron had told her the Healers didn't even want to give him a chance or maybe because of the mystery that had been surrounding him from the very start. Or the fact that he proved to her that she knew nothing of the real Lucius Malfoy and instead of hating the man –as she had done his counterpart- she actually liked him very much.

"Hermione?" Harry called and she realised she had been silent for too long.

Quickly she glanced at him, a faint blush covering her cheeks, mercifully hidden by the dark night.

"It is just that he has been through so much already. I think he has earned it to be happy for once," she said quietly, having stopped walking altogether without noticing it herself.

Her friend had come to a halt next to her and once again his green eyes were boring into hers.

"Of course, all of us do," he acknowledged, "but I just can't shake the feeling that there is more to it…"

Hermione was saved from having to answer by someone running down the sloping lawns leading up to the castle, shouting her name urgently.

In unison, she and Harry broke into a run to meet the black-robed figure halfway, only to discover it was Draco Malfoy. Hermione frowned. He had accompanied his father and mother back to the Manor: what was he doing back here, late at night and making such racket at that?

"Hermione…" he panted, trying to catch his breath, "come…" He grabbed her hand and started pulling her back in the direction of the castle. "You must hurry: my father…."