Disclaimer: JK Rowling created Harry Potter, and I gain nothing from it except some rather lovely reviews and endless entertainment.

Chapter Twenty-six

Hermione and Abraxas returned to the manor and entered the family living room to see Lucius and Adeline playing cards.

"We are back," Abraxas announced, walking toward his chair.

Lucius looked at Hera skeptically as he set his cards down on the table and stood up. He walked to her and gave her a chaste kiss. "How was it?" he asked. His tone made Abraxas clear his thoat, drawing their attention to the older man.

"Lucius, you act as if you expected me to cut her up for ingredients. We warded her home and ate together. It was fine."

"Was it?" Adeline said, looking at him suspiciously.

Hermione laughed. "Yes, it was fine. Abraxas and I enjoyed getting to know each other a bit better." Adeline and Lucius both looked surprised but dropped the subject. She wondered what had been said between the two while they had been away.

It was after dinner that night that Adeline cornered Hermione on the way to her room. "Hera! I am so sorry. He said he wanted me to stay here so that he could get to know you better. Was he rude?"

Hermione smiled, putting a hand on Adeline's shoulder. "He was fine, really. We discussed my relationship with Lucius and a bit about his… friend. He said he would take my concerns seriously, but he isn't in the clear, yet."

"But he's making progress?"

"I think so." Adeline's smile was beautiful, and the relief if her eyes was clear. Abraxas Malfoy might have a chance at not making some very poor decisions.

Three nights later, Hermione opened her bedroom door to see Lucius dressed in a beautiful set of black dress robes with green piping. Underneath was a shimmery dark grey dress shirt. "You look beautiful tonight- the perfect Slytherin princess," he said, bowing slightly.

Hermione smiled at him, curtsying in her coordinating dark, shimmering green dress. It was strapless with a straight bust line and fitted bodice before flaring dramatically at the hips in the silhouette of a traditional ball gown. Dense black lace gloves covered her arms, and the same black lace lined the hem of the gown. She also wore the pendant he had gotten her for her birthday. "Thank you. I was expecting your mother, though. She said she wanted me to wear a pair of her earrings."

Lucius nodded, reaching into his pocket and pulling out the box. Round diamond studs were inside, and Hermione looked at them. "Wow. Those are beautiful." They were large, about the size of her pinky fingernail, and looked flawless.

"Yes, they are some of her favorites. Are you wearing your bracelet?"

"Of course," Hermione said, leaning up to kiss him lightly on the lips. "Is there a reason your parents want me in the receiving line this year?"

"Nothing other than the fact that they are expecting that you will be a part of the family now and are close enough to warrant introducing as my intended," he said, winking at her. He seemed very pleased with the news.

"I thought we were still several years off from all of that, though," Hermione said.

He shrugged, and she fought off a giggle. Imagining the Lucius of her own time shrugging was a bit ridiculous, but it was becoming rather commonplace with her own. When he was alone with her, at least. "I think so, but I am not going to tell them I don't want you there. Father certainly seems to have warmed up to you. Why is that?"

She shrugged in return, and he grimaced at the gesture. Did he even realize he did it, too? "I'm not sure if he has warmed up to me as much as I think he has realized I am most likely here to stay. He's making peace with it."

Lucius took her arm and started to lead her down the corridor to the stairs. "Yes, well, my father is not known for making peace with things he doesn't want. I think he is actually… accepting of you. As strange as that is. That could change though. Your gloves are lovely." He reached with his other hand, stroking her left arm.

"Thank you. They had to be charmed to stay in place, though." He nodded at the information, letting go of the worry if people saw the scar on her arm.

They arrived in the entrance hall to see Abraxas and Adeline waiting for them. "You were almost late," Abraxas said, looking at the large clock on the pendulum clock above the stairs. It struck six, and two house elves opened the doors as Lucius pulled her to line up next to him with his parents. Just a moment later, pops and cracks signaled the arrival of the first bunch of guests, and Hermione watched as they made their way down the driveway toward the house.

The first guests were a couple. They both seemed a bit ill at ease as they stepped over the threshold. "Minister Jenkins, Mr. Jenkins. Thank you for coming."

They both shook hands with the host couple before moving on to Lucius and Hermione to do the same. "It is our pleasure, Lord Malfoy. I was most upset to not receive an invitation last year, but I understand considering the ill feelings toward the ministry regarding the Squib Rights Marches."

"Yes, Minister. We do have a few guests that greatly disapproved of how harshly you came down on the rioters. I hope you will have a good time this evening though."

The minister, who looked slightly like Professor Sprout, smiled. "I am sure I will. Now, Lucius… I remember you. Who is this beautiful young lady you are escorting though? Are you engaged?"

Hermione reached out her hand and shook the woman's as Lucius replied. "Minister Jenkins, this is my intended, Hera Elias. She is studying to be a healer and also teaches…"

"Dueling at Hogwarts! I have heard of you, my dear. You are certainly making waves! The ministry is all abuzz, and I have heard glowing compliments from parents regarding the changes to curriculum."

Hermione smiled. "While I am thankful for the kind words, I cannot speak to any other changes in curriculum. I do agree that dueling classes were much overdue at Hogwarts, and I am thankful that the headmaster approached me to teach."

"And a future healer and Malfoy as well! You do have your hand in many cauldrons, don't you? Well, dear, it is wonderful to meet you. Lucius has found a gem, it seems."

"Thank you, minister," Lucius said, nodding to the woman who walked off with her silent, anxious looking husband.

The line progressed with very few notable stops. The Malfoy family had a lot of friends, or at least they had a lot of business partners. Hermione was pleased when the Dolohov's arrived. Antonin gave her a hug and shook Lucius's hand before reintroducing her to his parents. "Mother, Father, I am sure you remember my friend, Hera?"

Eliyona smiled, reaching out a hand to warmly grasp Hermione's. "Oh, dear, I am so pleased to see your year at Hogwarts went so well. Also, thank you for encouraging Antonin to go to the muggle cinema."

Hermione smiled, slightly confused before Antonin cut in. "I am taking her to lunch and a movie at least every week. Being out of Hogwarts has been nice in that respect." Antonin and Eliyona smiled at each other, and Hermione felt a pang for the loss of her own mother. She would never see Helen Granger's face smile at her like that ever again.

"I'm glad he is getting to see a bit more of you. He stays quite busy with Mr. Ledweth," Lucius said, politely.

"Yes," Vaughn Dolohov interjected. "He does stay quite busy. How are you, Miss Elias?"

"Quite well, thank you."

"And you, Lucius?"

"I am doing fine. Thank you, Mr. Dolohov."

The Dolohov's excused themselves to enter into the party, though Antonin promised he would catch up with them later.

The next familiar face was that of one of her second year students and his family. Sirius Black looked absolutely miserable as he and his brother trailed after their parents. They, of course, stopped at the Malfoys to greet their hosts.

"Abraxas. Thank you for your invitation," a much older and colder version of Sirius said. "I am sorry I missed it last year. Business kept me away and Walburga wasn't up to celebrating."

Abraxas gave a false smile before nodding. "Yes, Orion, you were certainly missed. Your sons are much older than the last time I saw them, I believe."

Walburga reached behind her, pulling Regulus to the front, roughly. "Yes, I believe Regulus was only six or seven at the time. He's a first year now."

"I am sure he will do Slytherin proud. Hera, is Regulus here a good student?"

Hermione looked at Abraxas when addressed. "From what I hear, he is. Unfortunately, I won't have the opportunity to teach him until next year. Sirius is a remarkable dueling student, though. I am sure you must be very proud of him, Mrs. Black."

Walburga looked at Hermione as if she was smelling something distinctly unpleasant. "Yes, well, Sirius was sorted into Gryffindor unfortunately, so he should know that his performance will have to be impeccable to make up for it. It is even more surprising he didn't make the cut…. But then, I hear Slytherin is letting in all sorts now."

Hera forced a smile at the insult. "Well, madam, it is a pleasure teaching your son. He is very creative and a fast learner." Sirius smiled at her from behind his parents while Regulus looked straight forward, into Abraxas's chest.

"I was quite surprised to hear that Dumbledore hired a new graduate to teach a dueling class. Isn't the charms professor a master duelist?" Orion asked Abraxas.

Abraxas nodded. "He is. I believe he made a vow of pacifism after the last war, though. I can assure you that your sons are in capable hands though. Miss Elias is very talented."

"Well, she must be very good at curses if you will let her join your family," Walburga said.

Adeline glared at the woman. "She is quite good at curses, as most members of the Malfoy family are. Of course, we are happy with the prospect of her joining our family. I am sure other families might turn their head from talent and search within their own bloodline for spouses, though."

Sirius and Regulus both blushed red, and Hermione felt slightly sorry for the boys. They weren't responsible for their family's choices after all. Abraxas broke up what seemed to be turning into a nasty conversation if Walburga's expression was anything to go by.

"Well, we have more guests to greet. Please do enjoy yourselves. There is a fantastic elvish red going around; make sure you get a glass."

Orion nodded, throwing an angry look at Adeline as he escorted his family into the party.

"My dear, don't bait the inbreds," Abraxas said, deadpan, as they waited for the next guests to approach.

"I can't believe you considered marrying Lucius into that family."

"Well, it wasn't that branch at least," Abraxas defended.

"No. It was Cygnus. Walburga might be an idiot, but Cygnus is worse."

"That is a difference in opinion, I think. The only good Walburga will ever do is if people can laugh at her head stuck to a wall next to all of those disgusting mounted elves."

"Father," Lucius cautioned, nodding as Cygnus and his family approached.

Narcissa threw them a slight smile while Cygnus and Bellatrix glared.

"Cygnus! Is Druella ill again?" Adeline greeted.

"Unfortunately, she is. I see that you invited the Minister, Abraxas?" Cygnus glared toward the woman in the room with hatred Hermione hadn't even seen directed at her. The minister was certainly not making friends.

Abraxas raised an eyebrow. "Of course. Making enemies is never a good thing, Cygnus."

Cygnus glanced at Hermione before looking back at his friend. "I think that people might start questioning if you are becoming a bleeding heart, Abraxas. First, you allow the ending of a very advantageous marriage contract to my family, so that he can sully himself with some… orphan. Now, you are rubbing elbows with a Squib lover."

"Oh, please, Cygnus. Choose your battles. Squibs are no threat to us. So let property pass to them and let them hold jobs if they are offered. It isn't like the old families keep them in their family anyway. It's a moot point. If you let them think they have won, they'll fade into the background."

"So pragmatic and eloquent, Abraxas… Perhaps I should hire you as a speech writer," a new voice said.

The Malfoys and Hera turned their attention to see that Lord Voldemort had walked into the receiving line. He skipped in front of a few people to stand next to Cygnus, a hand coming to rest on Bellatrix's shoulder. Hermione shuddered to see Bellatrix preen at the contact, looking up to the man with a look of hero worship clear on her face.

"Lord Voldemort," Adeline greeted. "It's a pleasure."

"Indeed," Voldemort responded, glancing at Hera and Lucius. His eyes paused on them for a moment before moving back to the hosts. "I rather think that the minister needs to get on your page, Abraxas. She needs to just let them burn themselves out rather than trying to appease them. Perhaps she could use some encouragement."

Cygnus looked at Abraxas with a smirk before glancing back at Voldemort. Bellatrix was still looking up at him with obvious hero worship, and Narcissa was looking at her feet.

"What kind of encouragement?" Cygnus questioned.

Voldemort rolled his eyes and glanced back at the receiving line. "Oh, Cygnus, let's not discuss politics and hold up the line. Here, let's go have a drink. Thank you for your invitation, Abraxas. We will speak more later, yes?"

Abraxas nodded, and Voldemort walked with the Black family a few steps. At the last moment, he looked back at Hermione.

"Miss Elias, you look beautiful tonight. I hope your escort will spare you a dance with me."

Hermione could practically feel Lucius stiffen next to her, but she forced a smile. "Of course. Please do seek me out." Perhaps he would forget or decide against it.

"I most certainly will." A shiver ran down her spine as Voldemort walked by them and into the party. She glanced at Abraxas to see him looking at her with a strange expression on his face, but he quickly removed it in favor of greeting the next guests. Hermione tried to contain the contents of her stomach. She could only hope he would decide not to find her.

An hour and a half later, Hermione was dancing with Antonin when a deep voice interrupted them from behind. "Perhaps you wouldn't mind sparing one of the most beautiful witches in the room for a dance, Mr. Dolohov?" Antonin glanced at her in confusion as he felt her entire body stiffen, but she controlled her expression.

She turned to face Lord Voldemort, who was looking at her with a small smirk on his handsome, if evil, face. Was it just her or did his eyes seem slightly different in shape? His nose seemed a bit different, too, somehow.

"Of course, Lord Voldemort," he said, politely. Antonin bowed to both of them lightly before leaving Hermione to have her waist and a hand grasped by the most evil wizard of modern times. Curse Lucius for leaving her to speak with his father and Master Kuzmina.

As they started to dance, she tried to calm herself and build her occlumency shields up a bit more before looking at him. After a few moments, she did. The same expression was on his face, and she felt a slight tingle in her head. She quickly put forward a picture of Lucius in her head, trying to not look as if she was trying to push him out. Unfortunately, he raised an eyebrow at her in a way that made her thing she was found out.

She glanced to the side, hoping to spot Lucius. No luck.

"Miss Elias, not only are you beautiful, but apparently more accomplished than I had believed. The headmaster himself gave you a job at Hogwarts just after graduating? That is quite an honor."

"I am grateful for the opportunity," she said, doing a scan for Abraxas next. No luck.

"You seem as if you would like to end our dance. Is that so?" his voice had a slightly dangerous tone to it, and she forced her revulsion and nervousness down.

"Not at all. You are a very good dancer," she lied.

"You are, as well. A good dancer, a good duelist, from what your resident healer at St. Mungo's has told me, you are quite the upcoming healer as well." Hermione felt her heart stop for a second as she realized that he had been checking in on her. "You also seem to be a devoted partner to Lucius. He is a lucky young man."

Hermione nodded, lightly. "He is good for me."

"Miss Elias, I have to say that I have not met many witches from backgrounds such as your own that are as talented as you are. With the proper connections, I believe you could go much farther than you have previously imagined. Being a simple house wife would not be satisfying, would it?"

She cleared her throat. "Lucius and I have agreed that we both wish to have careers, and he is supportive of my goal to be a healer."

"Is that the route you are going? Surely Dumbledore would be willing to allow you to become a fulltime teacher with time," he asked, somewhat eagerly.

"That might be possible, but I have not had any intentions of doing so."

"You know, I sought a job at Hogwarts… twice. Strange that I did not get offered a position. The second is really no surprise as Professor Dumbledore and I do not really see eye to eye on things. The first, though… the argument was that I was too young, and Dumbledore actually put that thought into Dippet's head. Yet, you are hired on before you even graduated to teach the following school year. A new class at that! The headmaster must really like you."

"We have good rapport," Hermione said, trying to be diplomatic and not delve too much into herself.

"I find that having the ear, even with intermediaries, of Professor Dumbledore could be a good thing. You should come join me and some of my… acquaintances for dinner sometime."

"Sir, I do not think your acquaintances care for me very much."

"Cygnus and his daughter? They are tools. Useful ones, but tools. They know when to hold their tongue. And if they don't, they will learn it." His tone at the end was dangerous sounding indeed. She was quite certain she was not the only one being slightly threatened. She knew one thing though… she had intentions to ever share a meal with Lord Voldemort.

The song ended, and Hermione glanced to the side to see, with great relief, that Lucius was approaching her. Lucius bowed slightly to them both. "Lord Voldemort. Good evening."

"Lucius. Your intended is quite the dancer."

Lucius smiled, looking perfectly at ease. "Yes, she is. Unfortunately, I haven't had the opportunity to experience a dance with her tonight due to my duties as a host. Fortunately, I think I am able to relax a bit now."

Voldemort nodded, "Yes. I will leave the two of you. Miss Elias, I do hope to see a lot more of you in the future."

Hera forced another smile, feeling as if she might break a tooth with how tightly her jaw was clenched. "Thank you, sir."

Hermione watched as Voldemort walked away, and Lucius took her into his arms. "Still get a bad feeling about him?"

She looked at her boyfriend seriously. "Yes. You don't?"

He frowned as they took the first few steps into a slow waltz. "I didn't feel it too much to begin with, but… there is something Dark about him. Much more than anyone else I have ever met. He somehow remind me of some of the artifacts I have been helping Master Kuzmina with… We should keep our distance."

"I agree," Hermione said, stepping slightly closer as she watched Voldemort be pulled into a conversation by the minister and a few others. "Unfortunately, he seems a bit too interested in me."

Author's note: A bit of a shorter chapter, but I hope it was enjoyed regardless. I am sure many of you are missing out on Bellatrix a bit, but she is going to be in the background for a little while. No worries, she'll be back. I am happy everyone liked the characterization of Abraxas. You all wrote very kind reviews, and I am very thankful. Coming up is some more Abraxas/Hermione interaction as well as a bit with the headmaster! Oh, and I have decided to split the story. The last chapter of this one will be #30. Thank you for reading!