Lord Malfoy stared at the spot where Miss Granger had been singing. He had been truly amazed by the beauty of her voice, and from the look on his son's face, the boy was completely smitten. Severus turned around in a waft of billowing cloak and headed back into his private chambers where he poured himself a stiff shot of firewhiskey and downed it. He turned his head towards Lucius motioning towards the decanter and Lucius nodded. It would seem his friend was even more shocked at the confirmation of the girl's identity than he was.
Taking the full glass and sitting down in his usual spot, Lucius noticed Draco standing in the doorway appearing uncertain. "Come sit down Draco," admonished Lucius, "Severus and I are most interested to understand how the events of this evening caused you both to end up here."
"Of course, Father." Draco moved into the room and sat down, trying not to fidget under the scrutiny of his father and godfather. Severus poured the boy a shot of firewhiskey, figuring if anyone needed liquid courage, it was Draco.
Handing the glass to his godson, who looked at it and then nodded his thanks, Severus sat down in the chair next to Lucius, both facing Draco and watching him take a long swig of the liquor trying to hold back the grimace on his face. Soon, all three wizards settled down and Lucius gestured to his son expectantly.
Draco reiterated most of the high points that Severus had shared, while adding the more cognizant parts of how he and Granger had ended up here. Lucius had to give credit to his son, he'd managed to turn the advantage he'd gained into having Miss Granger all but admit whom she really was. He was actually quite proud of his son's resourcefulness.
"You know what this means, Severus?" Lucius stated imperiously. Severus sighed and pinched the bridge of his nose, as he was wont to do in times of stress or exasperation.
"She is his Heir, Lucius. I have allowed My Lord's heir to become ostracized from her own house and birthright. The man will kill me before he allows an explanation."
Draco paled at his godfather's words. "What about me, Uncle Severus? I am the one responsible for what Hermione's had to endure all these years." Draco stared to his father, who considered him thoughtfully.
"Perhaps not." Lucius drawled.
"Explain!" Severus drawled lowly.
"Miss Granger has been in contact with the Dark Lord's familiar as we are aware. If she had confided to the snake her treatment at the hands of Slytherin House, I have no doubt that Our Lord would have had us all killed by now. He may be hidden, but he obviously has eyes everywhere." Lucius took another sip of his whiskey gathering his thoughts. "The girl is obviously cunning and clever. Clever enough, I believe to have researched her father once she'd suspected whom he might be. If that was the case, and I am positive it is, she would know enough to not show weakness. She hasn't here at school. Since the incidents in second year, she has remained aloof and cold. I have no doubt she has known at least that long whom her father is. Narcissa mentioned, and I believe she is right, that Miss Granger has sat back and waited to use this information when the right time presented itself. She seems a pragmatic thing, and I'd magine quite patient too in her scheming. She definitely has a plan, we just need to figure out what she's after."
Draco listened to his Father's reasoning with pride. This was why his father was so good at manipulating others and why he was one of the Dark Lord's favorites. His ability to strategize and plan was legendary. It would seem he was impressed with Granger's ability to plot as well.
"Do you think Hermione knows the Dark Lord is planning on returning sooner than later?" Draco asked his father.
Lucius nodded. "Not only that Draco, but based on what you have witnessed she may be helping him plan and strategize as well. While I'd considered it doubtful that Our Lord would accept the help of one so young, she is his heir and flesh of his flesh. The fact that he has sent his snake in parts to watch and in parts to protect speaks of his regard for the witch. She is obviously much more clever than we know if the Dark Lord deems her worthy enough to acknowledge." Looking to his friend, Severus nodded in agreement.
"You are correct Lucius. The Dark Lord has never been one for sentiment, and even though she is his daughter, if Our Lord didn't see the benefit of having the girl acknowledged as his heir, he wouldn't be wasting his time on her. There is another matter I find troubling however," Severus drawled, "Lucius, you placed a silencing charm and a notice-me-not charm on the both of us, yet she knew we were watching. How is that possible, that a fourth-year witch could see through charms that even seasoned witches and wizards cannot."
All three wizards sat back in their chairs contemplating the answer when it hit Draco suddenly. He'd been obsessing over the words of the song she'd chosen, what if some of them were very literal in nature? He started whispering the words to himself, not noticing his father and godfather staring at him like he'd lost his mind.
"It's in the song..." Draco whispered in wonder, noticing his Father's puzzled look. "The answer was literally in the song!"
"What are you talking about Draco?" Lucius snapped.
"The song Father. Here in this room, he calls me softly...somewhere inside, hiding. Your Dark Mark, Father; both yours and Severus'." Lucius' eyes widened at what his son was implying and Severus paled considerably.
"She can sense the Dark Magic of the Mark. How?" Lucius whispered in wonder.
Severus looked to Lucius. "We need a pensieve Lucius. Obviously there is something we are missing, yet something tells me she left us a clue. We need to go back and look at the memories."
Lucius nodded and stood up swiftly, moving towards the floo. "I will be back momentarily Severus." Lucius called out 'Malfoy Manor' and was whisked away in a swirl of green flames.
The room fell into silence as Draco stared off sadly into the fireplace his father had just left in. Severus watched the boy with a mixture of sadness and pride. He was a smart and clever young man, and he had used his intelligence and cunning to isolate Miss Granger and gain a bit of her favor, however minuscule. Yet Lucius had no words of praise for his son.
"You have done very well, Draco." Severus commended him. "Your keen intellect and cunning is most impressive."
Draco nodded. "Thank you Uncle Severus. I just wish..." Draco left the sentiment hanging.
"Indeed." Was Severus' only reply.
After a few moments the flames in the hearth roared to life again and out stepped Lucius. Once inside the room he reached into his pocket and brought out the pensieve and enlarged it for viewing. Setting it on the table he removed his last memory and swirled it into the urn. Severus stood next to him, but Draco sat in his chair waiting. He wasn't going to assume that his father wanted his input, even though he had invited him into the conversation. Severus looked over at the boy, waiting to see what Draco would do. Lucius had noticed his friend's hesitation and gazed over to his son, who was still sitting in his chair. Lucius sighed inwardly to himself. Draco was truly a brilliant young man, and he didn't know why he had such a hard time commending the boy on his intellect.
"Come along Draco. It is always best to have several sets of eyes viewing."
Draco nodded and stood up between the two older wizards, then stared down into the swirling memory. He then looked back to his father. "Father, wouldn't it be a good idea to see my memory instead?"
Lucius raised an eyebrow at his son questioningly. "Why do you ask that Draco?"
Draco cleared his throat and took a quick glance at his godfather, who gave him the subtlest of nods. "Well, I was closest to Hermione and could see her the most clearly."
Lucius smirked at his son, impressed again by his use of logic. "Very well."
Lucius removed his memory and then instructed Draco to bring the details of the meeting to the forefront of his mind. When Draco nodded, Lucius placed his wand at his son's temple and extracted the memory, placing it into the pensieve, then the three wizards dove into the memory.
Once inside the memory, Draco was just as awed by Hermione's voice and beauty. As he moved closer to her, he immediately noticed something he had never seen before, she was wearing a strange ring on her right index finger. Draco looked behind him. At this angle his father would never have seen the ring, because it was blocked by her body from this angle to the back doorway. Draco then watched Hermione sing for a moment. Her face was the most peaceful and relaxed he'd ever seen it. She looked ethereal and otherworldly in that moment. Draco had no idea what entailed romantic love as such. He'd snogged plenty of girls and had given his virginity to a sixth year Slytherin, Therese Rowle, earlier this year. They'd shagged many times before the holidays and the witch had been most willing to teach Draco how to please her. Draco had always been a quick study and sex was no different. By the time their interlude was over, Draco had used his talents on several witches in the ensuing months. He was getting a bit of a reputation, one Ravenclaw seventh-year had even called him a 'Sex-God' when he'd managed to get her off three times orally before making her come a fourth during intercourse, but it had only ever been about achieving release. What he was feeling in his gut right now was completely different. He was enthralled, entranced and anxious. He wanted to protect Hermione from anyone who might hurt her. He wanted to see her smile at him the way she did at Krum. He wanted to escort her to Hogsmeade and shower her with gifts so that every wizard knew the witch was his. He wanted to show her pleasure and hear her scream his name in ecstasy. He wanted her to want him as much as he wanted her. Draco wasn't sure this was love he was feeling, but he was damned sure he was going to find out.
When the three wizards were pulled from the memory Lucius and Severus both looked disappointed. Draco however, had the Malfoy smirk plastered onto his face, apparently he was the only one to notice the ring.
"She's wearing a ring on the index finger of her right hand." Draco looked back up at his father. "I have never seen it before which means she's concealed it purposefully."
Lucius seemed doubtful for a moment. "How can you be so sure Draco."
Draco smirked confidently. "We are Potions partners, Father. We have been working on that project for Severus all semester. I've seen her hand plenty of times as we prepared ingredients for the Polyjuice Potion." At this Draco glared balefully at his godfather. "I also know there was a reason you gave us that potion to brew this year Uncle Severus. Hermione had a rather interesting look on her face when you first gave the assignment, almost as if she was amused by it."
Severus smiled at his godson in admiration which surprised Lucius because he'd never seen Severus look at anyone so openly. "You are correct Draco, and again I commend you for your cunning. Miss Granger is intimately familiar with Polyjuice as she successfully brewed it second year."
Lucius eyes widened in shock and Draco sputtered indelicately, "No fecking way!"
"Watch you language Draco. Your mother would hex you if she heard such things coming from your mouth." Draco looked down ashamed and whispered 'yes father.'
Looking back at his friend Lucius considered what Severus was saying. "Miss Granger successfully brewed Polyjuice Potion in her second year?" At Severus' nod, Lucius sat in his chair. "Why would she go to the trouble?" Severus sat down in his chair and watched his godson, who was pacing, his mind whirling over the events that year. Severus gestured towards Draco and watched Lucius as he noticed his son pacing and mumbling to himself. Severus gave his friend a look of amusement, hoping that Draco would be able to deduce the truth and perhaps impress his father.
After a few moments Draco suddenly stopped and stared at Severus in horror and awe. Then he started laughing in earnest much to the consternation of his father. "Sit down Draco, and stop acting like a lunatic!"
Draco sat down chuckling, shaking his head in wonder. Bloody fucking hell she was fucking brilliant. "Sorry Father. I am just stunned is all." He smiled widely at Severus. "She really is ruthlessly brilliant, isn't she?" Severus just smirked and nodded, watching Lucius' face sneer in frustration at missing the byplay of the conversation. Draco bowed his head at his father apologetically, although secretly proud he'd figured out something his old man couldn't.
"You remember me telling you Father, how Slytherin House was taunting and ridiculing Granger second year?" Lucius nodded. "Well, at one point Marcus Flint had pushed Granger down a flight of stairs." At this confession Lucius' face darkened and he glowered at Severus angrily. He hadn't known just how bad the tormenting had gotten.
"Was there proof it was Marcus, Draco?"
Draco gulped down noticeably at the anger in his Father's voice. "Not exactly. Most within Slytherin knew or suspected. I was actually there and had seen the fall, and Hermione bleeding from her head on the steps of the castle. I alerted Severus, who had her taken to the infirmary for treatment. I am sorry Severus, I lied and told you she tripped." Severus looked angry as well, disappointed in Draco, but understanding where the prejudice had come from. "After Granger got out of the infirmary there was still some taunting, but she had completely withdrawn at that point. She stopped acknowledging any of us...she probably thought we all wanted her dead." Draco dropped his head in shame, just now thinking what Hermione must have thought back then. She must have retaliated against Flint in fear for her own life if she didn't. He'd really fucked this up. Nothing he could ever do would make up for the pain and suffering he'd caused her.
Lucius cleared his throat at his son's sudden distraction of a guilty conscience. "Uhmm...well, then during our match with Hufflepuff, Marcus had that unfortunate incident. Everyone blamed Granger, but there was no proof. Dumbledore came into Slytherin and even checked her wand for prior spells but there was nothing. That is because she brewed the Polyjuice to steal someone's else's identity and wand, with the sole intent to hex Flint's broom to the point where he was almost killed. We all knew it was Granger, but no one could prove it, so we left her alone."
Lucius had a look of befuddlement and complete astonishment on his face. "How would she have gotten the ingredients for Polyjuice in the first place?"
Severus barked out a cough. "The little chit stole from my own personal stores. I didn't notice right away, and I could never prove it was her."
Lucius sat back in his chair shocked and then laughed loudly. Both Severus and Draco were shocked at his display. "No wonder she is Our Lord's daughter. I must say I am most impressed with your deductive skills, my son. Miss Granger is truly an impressive witch as well." Lucius shook his head and looked at his son knowingly watching Draco blush, while Severus smirked.
"Now about this ring Draco. You are sure you have not seen it before today?" Severus asked.
"No Uncle, in fact we were sitting at the Piano before I started playing and Hermione ran her hands over the keys. I noticed her hands, there was no ring." Lucius nodded.
"Bring up that memory son, I want to compare it to the one we've just witnessed." Draco did as his father instructed and then sat back as his father and Severus went into the pensieve to watch the memories again. When they both came back out from the memory of Hermione singing his father was pale as death and Severus looked like he was about to faint.
"Father, what is it?" Draco asked in fear.
Lucius gazed at his son, and for the first time in his life truly felt proud of his heir. He was more clever, brilliant and cunning that Lucius had ever been at the same age. "Draco...son...I am very proud of you." At this Draco's eyes widened in shock. His father had never said those words to him before. "You were right, the ring was not there from before."
"So why is Hermione hiding the ring, Father?"
Lucius caught Severus' eye and the man just sighed and nodded. It was time for Draco to become a man it would seem. "As you know Draco, back in the beginning of your second year I placed a journal in the cauldron of the Weasley girl. It was the Dark Lord's and housed a piece of his soul." Draco's eyes widened in shock. "Have you ever heard the term 'Horcrux' Draco?"
Draco shook his head. "No Father."
"That is good son. A horcrux is a nasty piece of Dark Magic. Suffice it to say that a person must split his soul to create such an object. When he does that, he houses that piece in an object. The diary was such an object. It confers immortality onto the person, but at a great cost to that persons soul."
"I am not sure I understand Father. Why would you give that to the Weasley girl? She seems just fine."
Lucius nodded. "As you know, Ginevra Weasley never took possession of the book. If she had, the piece of the soul contained within the diary would have taken possession of her body and mind, causing her to open the Chamber of Secrets that houses the monster of Salazar Slytherin. A monster that would rid the castle of all the mudbloods. Somehow, and I do not know how, Miss Granger witnessed me placing the diary in Miss Weasley's cauldron and took it for herself. She was apparently immune to its dark influence which didn't make sense to me at first, but now that I've seen the ring on her finger, I understand a little better."
"What is the ring, Father." Draco asked shakily.
"It is the ring of the House of Gaunt. It belonged to the Dark Lord, and signifies the Heir of Slytherin, as only his true heir could wear it without being mortally wounded. The fact that Miss Granger wears the ring proves beyond any shadow of a doubt that she is the Heir of Slytherin and the Dark Lord. He has given it to her not only as a means of protection, but as a sign that he intends to claim her as his rightful heir. The ring however, is more than just an heirloom, the stone itself is one of the fabled Deathly Hallows."
Draco stared at his father in confusion. "I've never heard of the Deathly Hallows."
"Yes you have, Draco. Your mother used to read to you about them every night when you were young." Draco thought about this for a moment. His mother had read from the Tales of Beedle the Bard growing up. The Tale of the Three Brothers had always been his favorite. The stories of the Wand of Destiny, the Resurrection Stone and the Invisibility Cloak were amongst his favorites. The stone...bloody fucking hell!
Lucius could tell the minute his son realized the truth of what he was telling him. He truly was a brilliant young wizard. Draco looked up at his father with wide grey eyes. "The resurrection stone?"
Lucius nodded and smiled in pride. "Yes, she is wearing the resurrection stone. Whether or not the Dark Lord knew the significance of the stone is unclear. But if I had to wager I guess, I don't believe he did, as I am convinced that ring is another horcrux." Severus and Draco both gaped at Lucius aghast.
"Do you think Miss Granger is aware of the significance of the ring?" Severus asked his oldest friend. Lucius just sat back stoically and took a fortifying sip of firewhiskey and nodded his head in resignation.
"I think she knows more than we could ever imagine. And I think with her brilliance, cunning and foresight there is no way the Dark Lord will fail this time when he returns."