Hermione sat in a Muggle cafe in downtown London to enjoy a nice, non-magical lunch. She loved being in the Magical world, and especially spending time with Lucius. However, the last few days have been a bit... crazy for her.

When Hermione had returned home from her date with Lucius, Ginny had come immediately to her flat and began interrogating her. Hermione loved Ginny as much as she would her own sister, if she had one, but she had to admit the girl could be a bit overbearing at times. When Hermione felt overwhelmed, she found solace in the Muggle world. It just made things easier for her and allowed her to think in peace.

Tucking her legs under her chair, she opened the latest book she had been reading. Pureblood Society fascinated her, even if they were a bit backwards in thinking. She had already decided that she would never force her children into an arranged marriage, for example. She also wasn't too pleased at the idea of Lucius controlling all of the finances. Sure, he was the patriarch, and he had been doing so for years, but still. Was he even teaching Draco?

And that was the other thing. As the wife of the patriarch, Hermione would need to host parties, banquets, and galas, among other things. But the moment Lucius died, that role would belong to Astoria, for Hermione would no longer be married to the patriarch. Of course, as his father's widow, Draco will be practically obligated to continue to allow Hermione to live in the Manor, especially, if she had any children.

Lucius had told her that he had set up an account for her and any children they had at Gringotts. Once they marry, she would be granted access to this account, in addition to funds set aside for their children. Though she was happy that the children would be provided for, she neither wanted nor needed any money from him. That wasn't why she was marrying him. She just… loved him. It was simple as that and all she wanted was to be with him for as long as she could.

Sighing, she took a sip of her coffee and began reading the book. She honestly didn't know how long Lucius was going to live and she hated thinking about his death. But, she was practical and did not live in the fantasy of immortality. While he was alive, she would need to learn how to do the things a proper wife of a patriarch was supposed to do.

Out of the corner of her eye, she saw a flash of white blond hair pass by her. Thinking it was Lucius, she smiled brightly and watched a woman walk into the cafe. Her smile fell. A Muggle with white blonde hair? Well, it wasn't completely unheard of, but quite rare, particularly that shade. In fact, the only people Hermione had ever seen with that color hair were the Malfoys.

She watched the woman through the glass. She was petite with long, wavy white blonde hair and dark sunglasses. The woman wore a jean jacket and black leggings, though it was late July. That hue of hair color, though… there was no flaw in it.

Curiosity getting the best of her, Hermione tucked her book back into her beaded bag. Setting a few pounds on the table, she grabbed her bag and walked into the coffee shop. Her mind immediately went to Lucius and his long lost sister. She had to fit the description.

Approaching the woman cautiously, Hermione took a deep breath and asked, "Excuse me?"

The woman turned to look at her and took her sunglasses off. Blue eyes, though that didn't mean much of anything. "May I help you?" the woman questioned, raising an eyebrow disdainfully.

"Sorry, only, you look similar to someone I know," Hermione explained apologetically. "Your name wouldn't happen to be Helen, would it?"

The woman frowned and she tilted her chin up haughtily. "No," she answered simply and turned back to the counter where she waited for her meal.

Hermione's eyes widened slightly. The woman had given her the same conceited look both Lucius and Draco often sported when asked questions they disliked. "Oh," she said, bowing her head a little. "Pardon me, then. Only my fiance had a sister by that name and I thought…"

"Apparently you were wrong," the woman snapped. "Carry on, little girl."

Hermione wasn't sure about Helen's age, but this woman looked to be in her forties. She could have easily been Helen. Knowing she wouldn't get anything more from her, Hermione gave her a soft smile. "Right. Sorry again," she said as she turned and walked away.

She went back to her table to see a couple of pigeons picking at her sandwich. Sighing, she sat at the table, effectively shooing the birds away. She didn't even bother touching her drink. She still had some time left. Taking her book back out, she returned to her reading.

"Are you a Pureblood, girl?" came the posh voice of the woman a few minutes later.

Startled, Hermione glanced up. "Pardon?"

The woman waved her hand to indicate the book. "Need I repeat myself?"

Hermione smiled. "No, I am not. I'm Muggleborn," she answered truthfully.

This woman was Helen! Had to be. Her next words confirmed Hermione's suspicions. "As if Lucius would ever sully himself or the family name," she sniffed.

Hermione was careful to keep her smirk to a minimum. "Well, maybe at one time," she agreed. "But a lot has happened. He's changed."

Helen scoffed. "Father must be dead then," she commented, mostly to herself. "He'd never allow Luke to marry a Muggleborn."

Without invitation, Helen sat at the table across from Hermione. They stared at one another until Helen asked, "So, who are you?"

Sitting up straight, Hermione closed her book and offered her hand. "I'm Hermione Granger," she said.

Helen looked at her hand for a moment. Sighing, she shook hands with Hermione. "You look a bit young to be marrying my brother. How old are you?" she questioned.

"I don't know why that would matter," the witch stated, feeling suddenly defensive. "I don't know how much you know of the current state of affairs in the Wizarding world, but…"

"Sweetheart, Wizarding world, Muggle world, they're all the same," Helen drawled. "While an older man marrying a younger woman won't raise too many eyebrows, unless my father has squandered the family fortune, the Malfoys are quite possibly the richest, oldest Pureblood family in Great Britain, which means that Luke marrying a Muggleborn is a big fucking deal."

"Lucius is the patriarch now," Hermione informed her.

Helen pressed her lips together and closed her eyes. "So, Father is dead," she whispered softly. She wiped a tear from her eyes and opened them to look at Hermione. "Do you know when it happened?"

Hermione opened her mouth to answer, then closed it again, thinking. "I don't know, to be honest. Draco told me it was sometime during our second year at Hogwarts, but…"

"Draco?"

Hermione's lips twitched. "Lucius's son. Lucius was married to Narcissa Black right out of Hogwarts," she explained.

"No he wasn't," Helen argued. "Narcissa was still too young. They would've married two years after he graduated."

"Either way, they married," Hermione replied. "And a few years later they had Draco."

"Only Draco?" Helen questioned and Hermione nodded. "You said during your second year at Hogwarts, so you and Draco were schoolmates?"

Hermione nodded again as she watched Helen chuckle. "Why am I not surprised? Luke always had to have the newest, prettiest things. I'll bet there is a smart brain in that head of yours as well." The woman was, undoubtedly, beautiful with full lips and a petite nose. She looked like the painting of her mother, only with Lucius's blond locks. Silently, Hermione was rejoicing. She couldn't believe her luck!

"Do you know how my father died?" Helen asked as she sobered and stared at the witch.

Hermione shook her head sadly. "I didn't ask," she admitted. She looked at Helen hopefully, "But, if you like, we could go to the Manor. I'm sure Lucius could tell you and I know he'd like to…"

Helen stood up and turned away and Hermione could tell she was leaving. "Helen?" the Muggleborn pleaded softly. When the woman stopped, Hermione said, "He really does miss you."

"I know he does," the woman responded. She glanced back at Hermione. "I miss him, too, but I'm not ready to see him yet. I…" Helen bit her bottom lip. "You wouldn't happen to have a mobile?"

Hermione nodded eagerly. "I do."

(II)(II)

Lucius frowned at the parchment. He was off by twenty-five Knuts. Though it didn't really matter in the big picture, it still threw off his account. He sighed as he leaned back and took a sip of his brandy. He would have to do the whole damn thing all over again.

He felt the wards shift and knew Hermione had entered the Manor. Glancing at the clock on the mantle, he pinched his lips and wondered if she had a meeting with Astoria. It would make sense as they often met up, but such meetings usually took place after Hermione ended her shift at work. So, why…?

He could almost feel the pounding of her feet as Hermione ran through the halls. The sounds of her heels clapping on his perfectly polish wooden floors grated on his nerves. Narrowing his eyes, the patriarch stood. He hated when people ran in the Manor.

"Lucius! Lucius!" he heard her voice echoing down the hall towards his office.

Instead of meeting her right away, he went to his bar and refilled his drink. He didn't bother glancing up when she knocked on the door. "Enter," he said calmly.

His head shot up when she threw the door open and rush into the room. "Lucius, I have so much to tell you!" she said excitedly as she hurried across the room and threw her arms around his neck.

He held his glass up and away to keep from spilling his drink. "Hermione," he grunted. He didn't know what had her so excited and it did cause some concern to creep into his mind, dampening the anger he felt. "Tell me, darling, are we under attack?"

She giggled as she released her hold on him. "No," she replied.

He frowned. "Is it Astoria or Draco?" he asked, his voice on edge, though his brow wrinkled.

It was her turn to look confused. "Of course not. Why would you think that?"

Lucius lowered his glass and smoothed the front of his shirt. "Because those are the only reasons I can think of as to why you would be running inside the Manor," he drawled, looking perturbed.

She took a deep breath and Lucius watched her physically calm down for a fraction of a second it seemed. "I'm sorry. I'm just so excited!"

He glanced at the paperwork on his desk and sighed. "Very well," he commented and indicated the chairs by the fireplace. "Let's talk."

Her smile was wide as she led Lucius to the chairs and sat on the edge of one of them. Lucius glanced to the door to see Draco and Astoria standing there, looking curiously. The patriarch raised his glass to them as he moved to sit in his own chair.

"Did you manage to free a bunch of house elves, Granger?" Draco commented as he walked to the bar to pour his own drink.

"No," Hermione admitted, "though I am working on some new legislation that will hold accountable those wizards and witches that abuse their elves. No. Lucius, you will never guess who I ran into during my lunch break today!"

Lucius raised an eyebrow and took a sip of his drink. "I can't imagine anyone would be more important than your work, love," he said.

Hermione grinned. "Not even Helen Malfoy?" she asked, her smile widening, if possible, even more.

Lucius stopped, holding his glass right below his mouth. "What?" he questioned as he stared at her.

She nodded her affirmation. "I was at Raison d'Etre when she walked by me. I asked her if she was Helen, I mean, she looked like what I would imagine with the white blonde hair. You Malfoys are possibly the only people I know with that shade of hair. Well, first she denied it but before I knew it, we were sitting at the table talking! She kept asking about your father and you as well. Kept calling you Luke, too, which I found fascinating. I wasn't aware anyone called you anything but Lucius. She looks so much like your mother, too, though she's got your hair. We exchanged digits as well and she told me that she would ring me when she was ready and I invited her to our wedding. She was so surprised to know you were getting married to a Muggleborn and I think she was sad about your father's passing, though I don't know why since he had abandoned her. I really should have asked her about that…"

"Hermione," Lucius interrupted, effectively putting a stop to her rambling. She had spoken so quickly that he barely understood a word of what she said.

Both Draco and Astoria stared at her. Hermione took another deep breath. "I found Helen," she told him, still smiling.

Lucius lowered his glass and just stared at her. "In London?" he asked.

She nodded. "At Raison d'Etre," she confirmed.

Draco frowned. "I thought she was living in Surrey?" he wondered aloud as he joined his stunned wife on the small couch between Lucius and Hermione.

"People can move," Hermione reasoned. "Especially after so many years."

Draco rolled his eyes. "Naturally, Granger. I wonder why I didn't think of that," he snarked.

"So what did she say?" Astoria asked. "You said you invited her to the wedding. Shall we expect her?"

Hermione shrugged. "I don't know yet," she admitted. "She wants to see Lucius again but said she wasn't quite ready."

Astoria pinched her lips thoughtfully. "I don't know that a wedding would be the best venue for a reunion anyway," she said. "Do you have a way of contacting her?"

"I do," Hermione told her. "Though she did ask me to allow her to contact me first."

"Do you think she will?" Astoria asked, looking to Lucius.

Lucius frowned at that. The last time he had seen his sister she was but a little girl. "You're certain it was her?" he asked his fiancée dubiously.

"She called you Luke," Hermione told him. "When I saw her, I approached her and mentioned her name. Told her that my fiance had a sister by that name who looked just like her. Then I let her be. Not even five minutes later, she came to me and asked if I was a Pureblood and claimed she couldn't imagine your father allowing a marriage between us to occur…" Lines of doubt drew upon her forehead as Lucius continued to gaze at her in amazement. "I've never heard anyone call you Luke."

"Because they don't," he said, vaguely. "Helen had trouble saying my name as a child so would often resort to calling me Luke, though she knew I didn't care for the name. She was - is - the only one who ever calls me that."

"I think it's sweet," Astoria commented as she smoothed her skirt. "She must've really loved you, Father."

"She is my sister, after all," he croaked as he took another sip of his drink. Taking a deep breath, he stood. "If you will excuse me."

Hermione and the others watched him as he quickly exited the room.

(III)(III)

Lucius's mind was reeling. Hermione found Helen. His soon-to-be wife had found his long-lost sister. For years he had thought her lost forever. Though he had loved her as any brother should, his parents had consistently preached about how a Squib, such as Helen, had no place in his life. His playmate was about as useful as a Muggle.

Memories of them playing together flitted through Lucius's mind as he continued down the passageway, not really paying attention to where he was going.

Closing his eyes, he fought against the heavy weight of his heart as it constricted and pounded in his chest. Resting his hand against the doorframe of a room, he opened his eyes and realized he had gone to the Hall of his Ancestors. He didn't even remember climbing the stairs.

Images of a small little girl prancing around the different pedestals of busts and goading him to catch her echoed in his mind. The jingle of childish laughter reverberated against the stone.

He stumbled into the room, leaning heavily on his cane as he approached the portrait of his father. Red-rimmed eyes glanced up at the foreboding figure and a feeling of hatred welled up inside Lucius. "You lied to me, old man," he accused the portrait.

The portrait said nothing. It couldn't say anything due to the spell Lucius had cast upon it months ago. But that Malfoy, condescending smirk was plastered upon the portrait's face. "You lied!" Lucius snarled, his voice echoing through the room. He punched the wall next to the portrait and could feel himself begin to crumble.

"Lucius?"

Lucius closed his eyes. She will know. Maybe she already knew? He wondered how much

Helen had told her. He wondered how much even Helen had known.

"He told me she was dead," he admitted.

Looking up at those grey eyes that matched his own, he tried to seek answers there. "There had been a fire, years ago. Or so he told me," he said. He felt her hand touch his shoulder.

Reaching up, he grasped the hand and turned to meet his future wife. "That day when you had stumbled upon this room. I came here and demanded to know what had happened to her, to Helen. He… He told me about a fire and how the home he had purchased for her had been burned to the ground. He even provided an address for me, in case I wanted to investigate."

He glanced up hatefully at the portrait. "So, I went. I had to know," he told her. "The house was there, but… according to the newspaper articles there had, indeed, been a fire. Once the house was rebuilt, it was sold, and I thought…"

He looked at her and cupped her jaw. "I didn't want to lose you," he said. "Our relationship was blossoming so well, I feared that if I said anything, you would back off, or turn away. So… I kept it to myself."

"You've been holding onto this secret this entire time?" she asked, her eyes filling with unshed tears.

"I was fifteen when she was sent away," he confessed. "I honestly never thought I would see her again. When this fucking portrait told me she had died in the fire…"

He closed his eyes and knelt down. "She was my sister," he whispered, unable to push past the hurt he felt in his heart.

Hermione wrapped her arms around him, cradling his head against her chest. For a while, they said nothing as she held him and gently stroked his hair. She looked up at the portrait, tears rolling unchecked down her cheeks. Lucius was her intended, her wizard, and his pain was like a knife through her heart. She had never known Lucius to cry, for he was always so strong. Her eyes narrowed at the smug look the portrait wore. God, how she wanted to rip it down.

"Should we go back?" Hermione asked after a while. "I'm sure Draco and Astoria are waiting for us, and we still have much to discuss."

With her help, he stood and straightened his robes. He pulled a handkerchief from his robes and wiped his face. He sniffed. "You're right," he said as he pulled her into his embrace.

She had found her. The woman he was going to marry found the sister he long thought lost. A sister that Lucius hadn't cared to know. After all, she had been out of his life for so long… But now, now that he knew there was a possibility that she could be in his life again? Did he want that? To accept a Squib back into the family? To drive his family's name even further into the mud?

Knowing Hermione, he didn't think he had much choice. And he realized, looking down at their joined hands, that he actually did miss Helen much more than he had originally thought he would.

Lucius didn't know what he had done to deserve Hermione. She was changing him in more ways than one, but he intended on keeping this slip of a woman he held in his arms. He silently thanked whatever gods were watching over him and his family as Hermione led him out of the room.

(IV)(IV)

As they reentered his study, Lucius let go of Hermione and went back to the wetbar to pour himself another glass of brandy. He didn't even know what had happened to his previous glass. Pity.

As he rejoined his family by the fireplace, he glanced at Hermione and asked, "You said you have a way of contacting her, darling?"

Hermione nodded. "Though I promised I wouldn't contact her until she rings me first."

"Rings?" Draco asked.

"On the mobile," Hermione said. Seeing Draco's befuddlement, the witch chuckled. "Oh, I'm sorry. I forgot that you wouldn't know what that is. A mobile is a device Muggles use to communicate. Sort of like the Floo Network, but with a little box that you hold in your hand and is used without a fireplace. When you wish to speak to someone, you dial their number, or if it's programmed into your mobile already, you go to their contact information and hit send. Then her mobile will ring and when she answers, the two of you are connected and can speak as easily and as freely as I'm speaking to you."

"Fascinating," Draco drawled, looking as interested in mobiles as he would a flobberworm.

Astoria, however, looked at Hermione with eagerness. "It does sound fascinating. Will you show us how they work? Do you have one?"

Hermione nodded. "Though I don't know how well it would work here in the Manor. Electronics and magic don't really mix well," she said.

"Do you have it with you?" Lucius asked, raising a brow.

"Oh! Yes, I do!" Hermione said as she opened her purse and dug around inside it. "I have it off right now because, like I said, magic interferes with it and I didn't want it to get ruined," she explained as she pulled out a handheld flip phone.

She handed it to Astoria, who was closest to her. "How do you - Oh!" the young witch exclaimed as she opened the phone. She looked at Hermione apologetically. "I think I broke it."

Hermione chuckled. "No. You have to open it in order to ring someone," she said. "When it's on, the screen here lights up and you can select the contact list, then scroll down to the correct contact. Then you press the send button and it rings them."

"Muggles really are innovative," Astoria observed, intrigued.

"They are," Hermione agreed with a smile. "But then, when you don't have magic, you have to figure out other ways to get by. Mobile phones aren't even the most innovative thing they've created."

"There are cars, aeroplanes, cinemas, and tanks," Lucius commented. "I believe the Muggles even managed to send someone to the moon and back."

It was Hermione's turn to look shocked as she stared at her husband-to-be. "How do you know that?"

Lucius smirked. "I'm about to marry a Muggleborn, Hermione. It only makes sense that I learn a bit about the culture she grew up in, does it not?"

He mentally prepared himself for her launching herself into his lap. Thankfully, she didn't. However, she had tears in her eyes as she stared at him in wonder and awe.

"Father, I think you broke Granger," Draco said when Hermione remained quiet.

"I just…" she breathed, still staring at Lucius. "You really did that?"

"Are you surprised, my love?" Lucius questioned, tilting his head curiously.

Inside he was rejoicing. He knew ordering those books from Flourish & Blotts would pay off. At that moment he realized he had her hook, line, and sinker.

"Honestly?" she replied. "A bit. They are Muggle things and I assume such things wouldn't interest you."

He watched her and could see her struggling with her thoughts. "Because of my past views on blood purity," he finished for her mercifully.

She grimaced. "Maybe? I mean, it is only logical, so surely you understand?" she questioned.

He nodded. "It is logical," he admitted. "What isn't logical is a Pureblood patriarch from, quite possibly, the oldest surviving bloodline in Great Britain marrying a Muggleborn. Yet, here we are."

She looked at him. "Yet, here we are," she echoed. He could see the doubt in her eyes as she continued, "Though I will say that Helen seemed surprised that you were marrying me, especially after I told her I was Muggleborn. She said that she simply could not see you going against your father's wishes."

Draco groaned as he leaned back on the couch. "Now you've done it, Father. She's going to analyze your entire relationship until she comes to some ridiculous conclusion that this whole relationship between you two is some sort of farce or Death Eater trap," he snarked, rolling his eyes.

"That's a mean thing to say," Astoria commented staring at her husband.

He gave her a droll look. "She does it all the time," he pointed out.

"When have I ever done that?" Hermione asked, frowning.

Draco leaned forward. "Tell me you're not thinking about it now," he challenged.

"Draco, you're the one who is being ridiculous," Lucius said, irritated.

"Well?" the younger wizard pressed, staring at the brunette. "Father's been doing all sorts of things for you. He donates to your causes, takes you to all these restaurants, proposes to you, and is even learning about Muggle culture. For you. He even coerced Astoria and me into going to some Muggle sporting event with your parents for no other reason than to impress you. Still questioning it? What about the fact that he's trying to reconnect with his Squib sister? A woman who, up until now, he's hardly thought about, and has never even bothered to mention to his own son. A woman who, for all intents and purposes, my grandfather did everything he could to erase her from my father's thoughts and almost succeeded until you came along."

Hermione straightened up in her chair and tilted her head up. "I don't need to analyze my relationship with your father," she said primly. "Because I already know. Your father and I love one another, and at the end of the day, that is all that matters."

"You already know?" Draco repeated in mock disbelief.

"I've been reading, Draco," the brunette explained. "Did you know that when I was Sorted the Hat almost put me in Ravenclaw?"

"Not surprised."

"No, I didn't expect you would be," Hermione agreed. "Fact is, I know Lucius's marriage to me will be far more advantageous to him than me. Yes, I will gain access to wealth and power. My husband is the patriarch of one of the oldest families in all of Britain, if not the oldest."

"So how exactly does he gain more than you do?" Draco asked, his eyes narrowing.

Hermione didn't look fazed at his intimidating stare, and for that Lucius was glad. However, he, too, was curious as to her reasoning, and so, remained quiet. "It's simple, really," the girl replied. "I'm the brains of the so-called Golden Trio. If not for me, we all know Harry never would have survived during the war. Marriage to me means that there is a possibility that Lucius can regain some prestige within the Ministry, maybe even a seat in the Wizengamot. Production and sales are going to skyrocket within Malfoy Industries the moment we both say, 'I do.' They're already climbing at an alarming speed since we've announced our engagement."

"I'm not marrying you because of any of those things," Lucius argued, feeling the need to say something. He glared at his son.

Hermione looked at him. "I know," she assured him. She sighed. "Trust me. I know. Neither are you marrying me for my looks or blood status. As I said, I've been reading and I walked the halls of this Manor. I've seen the portraits of your ancestors and have met Helen. I could never compete in beauty with any Malfoy."

"Again, I feel as though we will have to agree to disagree, darling," Lucius countered. "You are beautiful. You may not have blonde hair, but that doesn't matter. You're still as beautiful as the autumn."

She smiled at him. "Thank you for that, but you know I could never compete with anyone in your bloodline."

"That's because you're better than them," Astoria piped. "Better than us even."

The older witch looked at the blonde and wrinkled her nose. "No -."

Astoria nodded. "You are. Your bravery, intelligence, and compassion makes you more beautiful than us, Hermione. You're humble, too… when you need to be. And you exhibit the finest traits of any Slytherin. You're clever, cunning, and resourceful. Determined, ambitious. You have every trait a Malfoy seeks in a bride and more. You're better than we are. You helped Harry Potter defeat the Dark Lord simply because you knew we were wrong. Really, the only thing you lack is 'Purebloodedness', and that is neither your fault nor something you can overcome," she said.

"Because of you, two former Death Eaters are learning about Muggles," Lucius added, staring at his future wife. "You've made me smile and laugh more just in the past few months than I have in a long, long time. I wasn't even interested in marriage again until I saw you in that pagoda, with your hair plastered to your face and cheeks bright pink from the chill. I knew in that moment, while reciting Shakespeare with you, that I had to have you. I didn't want to be without you." It wasn't completely true, not by a long shot, but he knew that she would appreciate the memory.

"Is that so?" Hermione wondered. "And here I thought you had just wanted to get into my knickers because you noticed my shirt was see-through and wet."

He was momentarily surprised by how close her comment had hit the mark. He raised an eyebrow and smirked. "I won't deny that much, however, you are worth far more than a quick shag, which is something I realized when we had supper that evening," he admitted.

Draco glared at Hermione. "So, you aren't worried about a Death Eater trap?" he asked skeptically.

Lucius turned to his son and frowned. "Why are you so persistent that there's some sort of trap?" he growled.

Hermione shook her head and answered, "I'm not. At least, not from your father, Draco. Or even from you."

"Why not from me?"

"Because your father and Astoria would never forgive you," the Muggleborn was quick to answer.

The younger witch nodded in agreement. "She's right, Draco."

He rolled his eyes and sat back. "So you aren't worried. Fine. But what's in it for you?" he asked. "And don't tell me that it's because you're marrying 'the love of your life.'"

Lucius watched the witch. He thought it would be interesting to learn her reasoning, and he wasn't disappointed.

"Why does it have to be more than love?" she asked. "Love is the most powerful form of magic, after all. Finding love, and falling in love is the sweetest, most lovely thing in all the world."

"You also have the added benefit of his wealth and the power behind the name Malfoy," Draco pressed.

She shook her head. "Those things don't matter to me," she told him. "I mean, having them is nice, but what does having the name Malfoy really mean these days? If anything, it's connected to blood supremacy and dark magic. Having a Muggleborn suddenly become a part of the family will dramatically change those things. That doesn't help me. That helps you."

Astoria giggled. "Oh, Hermione, you really should have been a Slytherin," she commented.

They looked at the girl with wide eyes. She just shrugged. "Do none of you see it?"

Draco huffed to his wife. "She's a Muggleborn, love. She couldn't be a Slytherin even if she wanted."

"And, trust me, I wouldn't want to be either," Hermione said. "Some of my best years were at Hogwarts in the Gryffindor tower and I wouldn't change it for the world."

Lucius sighed and straightened up in his seat. "Well, now that that's settled, when do you expect my sister to contact you, darling?" he asked, changing the subject. He really hated getting into Hogwarts House debates.

Hermione shrugged. "I mean, I did invite her to the wedding, so I assume it will be sometime between now and then? If she wants to go, that is," she replied. "I'm just happy I found her."

"Yes, what a coincidence," Draco mused as he took a sip of his drink.

Hermione frowned at this and looked from one Malfoy to the other. "None of you had anything to do with this… did you?" she questioned suspiciously.

Lucius shot his son a glare. Draco knew Lucius had been speaking to his father's portrait. He also knew that the portrait divulged nothing. Sure, it had given Lucius an address… to a property that had been sold years ago. Lucius had even gone to a few of Surrey's multiple Muggle libraries to look at lists of citizen names only to come up empty handed. For all he had known, Helen was a ghost, and he had no idea how Hermione had ended up running into her.

"I tried looking for her," Lucius answered, looking at his future wife. "While you were at work, I traveled to Surrey and scoured the towns. I found nothing. The home my father had purchased for her had been sold and there is no record of a Helen Malfoy anywhere. So, unless Draco or Astoria had found something…"

Astoria shook her head, bemused by the idea, while Draco simply raised an eyebrow. "We weren't the ones looking for her, Father. This whole pet project is between you and Granger," he stated.

"So why would you suggest it was a coincidence?" Hermione asked.

Draco tilted his head slightly. "Isn't that what you were thinking?"

"Draco, stop," Lucius growled, sneering at his son.

Hermione held her chin up. "You know, I don't know what's gotten into you lately, Draco, but you're becoming quite belligerent. Ever since we announced our engagement you've done nothing but be ill-mannered and argumentative. You constantly question my motives and those of your father for no reason other than to attempt to stir up discourse between the two of us. And I don't understand it," she said.

"If I may, Hermione, I think I know what it is," Astoria responded. "See, once you and Father marry, there will be no chance of him remarrying Draco's mother."

"There was never a chance of my remarrying her," Lucius said, looking at his son. "Is that what all of this has been about? You do realize that she is engaged to that Spaniard, right?"

Draco rolled his eyes. "Only because she can't be with you," he grumbled. "Not that it matters, but that isn't what this is about."

The younger man stood then.

"Draco?" Hermione called, concerned.

He glared at her. "And you! If you think fancy words and dresses are going to make you a part of this family, you're wrong. All the studying in the world will never make you, a Muggleborn swot, one of us. Got it? So, go ahead and study all the books in the world. Let Astoria teach you how to dance and throw balls. When Father dies, you won't be the matron of this family, Astoria will be, so you can hang it all."

With that, he stormed out. Astoria had covered her mouth, appalled and shocked by what he had said. Tears filled her eyes as she looked to Hermione. "I am so, so sorry," she said as she stood and rushed out of the room after her husband.

Lucius had watched as his son departed, anger filling him at the boy's words. He glanced at the brunette witch and saw tears falling, unchecked and silent. Taking a deep breath, Lucius set his glass on the table next to him and stood. Walking around the coffee table, he offered her his hand and pulled her into his arms.

He held her as her body shook with her sobs. Soothingly, he ran his hand over her hair. "It won't be as he said," he told her. "Not for a long time."

She sniffed and looked up at him. "I don't understand, Lucius. Just a few months ago, he was flirting with me and begging me to go out with him. And now he's just become so hateful. I just…"

"It's my fault," came a small voice at the door.

They turned to see Astoria standing there, her head bowed. Hermione shook her head. "No, Astoria, it isn't. You've been nothing but kind -."

"I don't mean to be argumentative, but I must disagree," she interrupted. "As you know, I haven't really been… feeling well, and… I went to St. Mungo's and…"

Lucius looked at the young witch, his eyes widening. Could she be? He dared not smile. Was she about to tell him he was going to be a grandfather?

Author's Note: Endless thanks to my wonderful betas, Elle Morgan-Black and cowgalnina. You ladies wrock! And thank you to all my lovely reviewers and followers. It means the world to me to read your responses.