Disclaimer: Not her, not paid, not even very good. Everything you recognize belongs to JKR.
My thanks to Sempra for making me fix my errors so that you can actually make sense of it.
Her Gifts
Chapter 37
Their plan went off without a hitch. They spent the next two weeks testing the antidotes they had made with the venom. The results were disheartening. The venom seemed to make the antidotes unstable at best and completely unusable at worst. Not for the first time Hermione worried they might have hurt Severus by administering their experimental potions, before having given any thought to what Nagini's venom in his system might do even now. The whole situation seemed hopeless.
It was time to come up with a totally new theory. They dug out texts from the Malfoy library, investigating every possible lead, double-checking and cross-referencing anything that might help. Even Lucius joined in to lend a hand. He was at first astounded at the frenzy that was Hermione 'On A Research Mission' until Draco just smirked and shook his head. "This is what she was like all through Hogwarts. Now you can see why I never stood a chance against her. She's out of control when she's like this. She forgets to eat or sleep. Madam Pomfrey had to lock her in the infirmary a few days one year."
Hermione stuck her tongue out at him. "How charming," he drawled, "I shall have to remember to tell Mother." Hermione threw a pillow at him with a glare. Lucius chuckled at her antics.
Later that evening, Lucius spoke to Draco out of Hermione's hearing. "She's certainly a spirited little bookworm, isn't she? I can understand Severus's attraction now."
"You don't know the half of it. And it's entirely mutual, I can assure you," Draco divulged. "The problem is that when she wakes him up, they're both so proud and bullheaded, they'll implode before they ever get it worked out."
"That's why they have Malfoys for friends, Draco. You handle her, I'll handle him. And what do you mean 'when she wakes him up'?"
"She's read Great Aunt Hildegaard's grimore," he paused, then let the bomb drop, "and she's a virgin." Lucius's eyebrows nearly disappeared into his hairline.
"You're certain?" Draco nodded, glancing over to where Hermione was entering the room. "Well, well, this could get highly entertaining, don't you agree?" Draco smirked.
The next day, Hermione's premonition of doom came to fruition. She received notice from the Ministry that the veracity of her betrothal claim on Severus Snape was being contested. The letter was passed around the breakfast table as everyone read it. "Please tell me what I'm missing," Lucius demanded.
"The betrothal claim was to keep him out of the hands of someone else who might harm him," Hermione started.
Draco cut in, "But Dumbledore recruited Hermione for the job. As it turns out, she and Uncle Severus had indulged in a little slap and tickle session once, admitting their mutual attraction. She was the best chance he had to escape retaliation from disgruntled former students..."
"And Death Eaters," Lucius finished. "I see. So was there any mention during your flirtation with Severus of a future exploration of a relationship?" Hermione was pink to her forehead. She shook her head. "Not to worry, my dear. We'll get this sorted out in no time."
So Lucius spent his day locked up in his office, doing Merlin knows what, as Hermione paced, biting the side of her thumb.
"I don't want to show anyone the memory, Draco. It's rather embarrassing and not to mention private," she whined for the fourth time.
"Would you consider showing it to me?" He asked. "Maybe you could only show certain parts of it to prove your claim. I might be able to help you with that." Hermione considered it for an hour, or maybe it was only thirty seconds, but it felt longer to Draco.
"Promise you won't make fun? And you won't tell anyone what you're about to see?" she demanded. Draco promised, then went to retrieve the Pensieve from his father's office.
"What do you want that for?" Lucius asked suspiciously. Draco informed him. "Fill me in later," Lucius said.
"Can't. She extracted a promise that I wouldn't. Maybe I'll be able to convince her to let you view it after," he offered instead.
Hermione deposited the memory into the bowl with shaking hands. Draco dove in before she could change her mind. When he exited the memory, he was quiet for a few minutes.
"Well, it was hot, that's for sure," he commented.
Hermione clenched her hands into fists. "You promised you wouldn't tease!"
"Who's teasing? That's a good thing. I certainly got the impression he wanted to see you again. I doubt anyone else has a memory as promising." Hermione calmed down considerably. "I really think my father should see this. He's an expert at manipulation. He'll know exactly what we need to do."
In the end, Hermione reluctantly agreed to let Lucius see the memory, too. She left the room, though, not wanting to witness their probable comments afterwards.
An hour later, Lucius sought her out in the library. "Regrettably, I can't see any way you can edit the memory without losing the overall feeling of a blossoming relationship, Hermione. We'll see what can be done about keeping the viewers to a minimum and securing a vow of secrecy." He watched her carefully for her reaction. It was a toss up between dejected and resigned. She nodded.
"On the bright side, I have found a letter Severus wrote me years ago about Lily Evans. It never mentions her explicitly, only that she's Muggleborn. If I spell the date off, it could easily pass as being about you."
"No, but thank you, Lucius. I don't want to do anything dishonest. It could end up backfiring on me and making things even worse," she sighed. "If he'd only wake up, none of this would be necessary."
"Draco told me you have the means of curing him," he hedged.
Hermione blinked, then turned away. "That option comes with its own complications, though," she protested quietly.
"Yes, Draco told me of your conflicting battle with your Gryffindor honor. I can't tell you what to do, Hermione. Only, consider what Severus would do," he finished. He left her alone with her thoughts.