A/N - Hello everyone! Just a heads up, I'm dealing with some health issues right now (not COVID or anything life-threatening). This may affect my ability to continue posting weekly as I have. Right now, the next chapter is about half written so I hope I will be able to get it up next week as planned. After that though, there might be a delay. When I'm stressed, I have a hard time concentrating on writing so it will just depend how things go. Thanks for understanding and I hope you enjoy this chapter!

Chapter 38

Love

"A soul binding?" Draco asked incredulously as the four of them sat in the kitchen. After speaking with Cecilia for a good portion of the night, Hermione and Lucius had woken Draco and Severus early the next morning to discuss the new information they had been given. Liddy was currently preparing breakfast.

"That is what Cecilia said, yes," Lucius replied, sipping his tea.

"What does that mean exactly?" Draco questioned.

"Through some ritual or other, the Dark Lord bound his soul to Yaxley's," Lucius said. "That is why Yaxley has been able to take on some of his characteristics and talents, as well as his power."

"But why would he do that?" Draco asked. "And with Yaxley of all people?"

"I suspect he did it because he was dying," Severus said. "With all of his Horcruxes destroyed the bit of his soul that remained would be highly unstable. We saw some of the results of that when you were cursed, Draco."

"As for why Yaxley, I assume that things had reached a critical point and the Dark Lord did not have much choice. The host has to be willing, that much Cecilia knew. Yaxley has always wanted more of everything. More power, more money, more prestige. I am sure that is what motivated his agreement," Lucius said.

"What does this mean for destroying him?" Draco asked.

"More research," Hermione said. Draco rolled his eyes.

"Like we have time for that, Granger."

"This time we actually have the books we need," Hermione said. "When Cecilia asked Julian to move her portrait here, she also had him remove some books from the Malfoy library on bonds. They are stored here as well."

Plates and bowl began to make their way to the table as Liddy served breakfast. Conversation stopped in favor of filling their plates and beginning to eat. Hermione felt a hand on her thigh and looked at Lucius and smiled. While the thought of what would happen if they failed to destroy Voldemort was horrifying, Hermione hadn't felt this optimistic since she was first brought to the Manor. Of course, she was sure that had something to do with their declarations to one another the night before.

While Lucius may have begun motivated by revenge, knowing that it was now Hermione and her ability to live freely in their society that was driving him to continue was a rather heady thing. After Cecilia had finished telling them everything, Hermione and Lucius had retired back to their rooms. They had not slept, however, but continued to talk until the wee hours of the morning.

Although she did not agree with him, she understood his concern about Muggle-borns joining the magical world. There was a definite possibility that some families would share more information than they should and it could reach the wrong people. Cecilia had been right when she said that non-magicals had weapons more than capable of destroying the magical world that witches and wizards would have no defense against. Hermione didn't think there was a ward strong enough to protect from a missile fired from a fighter jet. Prejudice and fear existed everywhere.

However, barring Muggle-borns from the magical world and not teaching them how to control their magic was not the answer. Nor was removing Muggle-born children from their families as soon as they showed signs of magic and Obliviating their parents. Hermione wasn't sure what the answer was, exactly, but there had to be some middle ground somewhere. And that was a problem for another day.

Lucius wasn't going to change overnight, Hermione knew that. He had believed the same things for too many years for that to happen. But the fact that he was willing was enough for now.

Lucius squeezed her thigh and Hermione looked at him. He raised a brow, questioning look on his face. She realized she had stopped eating and was staring off at nothing.

"I'm fine," she said with a smile. "Just thinking." He nodded and returned to his breakfast. Hermione watched him for a moment before going back to her own food.

They spent the rest of the day reading the books that Cecilia had directed them to and discussing theories. There were spells, as well as potions, that could break a variety of bonds. The problem was they were not exactly sure what Yaxley and the Dark Lord had done. There were a few different rituals to bond souls but they were all related to marriage bonds and did not involve moving a soul from one body to another. And the means of breaking them were all different dependent on the ritual.

Draco threw the book he was reading onto the table and sighed. Lucius looked up from his own book.

"Problem?"

"Yes, I have a fucking problem," Draco snapped. "We know what they did and yet we're no closer to figuring out a way to reverse it."

"We'll figure it out," Hermione said.

"How, Granger?" Draco demanded. "We don't know which of these rituals they used or if they even used any of these. Even as extensive as the Malfoy library is, we don't own every book in existence."

"Draco," Lucius began.

"No, Father! This is ridiculous! What are we supposed to do cast every spell and throw every potion at him that we find? We could do that and still not be successful." Lucius could not argue with his logic. Knowing what they did and how they did it were two different things.

"One of these counter spells has got to be the missing variable so I'll just have to run the equations until I find the right one," Hermione said.

"We don't have time for that," Draco said in exasperation.

"It won't take me that long," Hermione countered. "There are quite a few of these that I think we can rule out. It's not likely that they used anything related to House Elf bonds, for example."

"Unless the Dark Lord used it to enslave Yaxley's soul in his own body," Draco retorted. Hermione opened her mouth to reply, then closed it again, brow furrowing as she obviously contemplated that possibility.

"I think we can safely rule that out," Severus said. "The fact is that it was likely Yaxley that cast the binding. The Dark Lord would not have been able to complete such a ritual once his soul was separated from his own body."

"Of course," Hermione said, eyes alight. "Whatever they did would have to be able to be cast by one person. You-Know-Who might have been able to start the ritual but he wouldn't have been able to finish it." She went back to the book she was reading and began flipping through the pages. "That narrows it down considerably, even if we take into account all of the different types of bonds."

Draco stared at her and then shook his head in exasperation. Lucius, however, had a smile playing about his lips. He loved watching her mind work.

"If everyone could mark the counter spells or potions that fit those criteria in the books you have, that would be helpful," she said without looking up from the parchment she was taking notes on. Draco rolled his eyes and sullenly picked up the book he had discarded. Lucius chuckled under his breath and Draco glared at him.

They worked until Liddy called them to supper. Afterwards, Hermione began to run the equations while they waited for Theo to arrive. Lucius was beginning to get concerned when there was finally a knock at the door. Draco stood to answer it.

When Theo walked into the room, he looked exhausted. He handed a bag to Severus which contained the ingredients he had asked for. Then Theo sat down tiredly in an armchair. His hands were twitching and Severus rose to retrieve a Cruciatus potion.

"Is everything all right?" Draco asked. Severus returned with the potion and Theo drank it gratefully.

"Just a long day," Theo said. "Yaxley sent me to France." He looked up at Lucius. "I'm afraid that you're probably not going to be welcome by the French branch of your family anytime soon."

"They are not," Lucius began but Theo shook his head.

"They're all fine," he said. "Even Yaxley isn't stupid enough to kill French citizens on French soil. But they're not too happy with us and our search. The French Ministry is none too pleased either."

Lucius had not spoken to any of his distant relatives in France for years and they had not had much of a relationship before that. But he did not want to see any of them dead because of him either.

"Do you think they'll get involved?" Hermione asked. "The French Ministry I mean."

"The liaison to France is smoothing it over," Theo said. "Under the Imperius, of course. But I honestly don't think that the French Ministry is keen to get involved in our 'little dispute'."

"So, he hasn't finished searching then?" Draco asked.

"All the properties have been searched," Theo said. "He's furious that he can't find you through the Mark." Lucius and Severus exchanged glances. A furious Dark Lord was an unstable Dark Lord.

"Has he shared what he plans to do next?" Lucius asked.

"No," Theo replied. "We all got another round of the Cruciatus, although it was quick this time. Then we got to listen to him rant about how incompetent we all were for about an hour. Then another torture session and then he told us to get out of his sight. He kept what's left of the inner circle there, for what I don't know."

"I am sure it is to discuss possible hiding places," Lucius said. "Those in the inner circle that might actually know, however, are either dead or with me." He glanced at Severus.

"Fortunate for us," Theo said.

"Indeed," Lucius replied.

"Any progress on your end?" Theo asked.

"Yes," Hermione said. "We haven't solved everything yet, but we are on our way." Theo nodded.

"Do you think I should move Luna?" he asked.

"Let us see what we find this evening," Lucius said.

"All right," Theo said, once more not asking any questions about what exactly they were researching. Lucius was not sure that they deserved this level of trust but he was grateful for it all the same.

"I'm sorry you're having to deal with all this on your own, mate," Draco said.

"Doesn't matter," Theo said. "As long as we get rid of him, I'll do whatever I have to."

"Thank you, Theo," Hermione said with a smile. He nodded to her and stood from his chair with a sigh.

"I've got to meet with the Resistance," he said. "I've been giving them daily updates."

"Please tell them that we're working as fast as we can," Hermione said. Theo nodded again and Draco walked him out.

Hermione glanced around at all the books scattered on the table.

"I'm going to need more parchment."

She blew a curl out of her face and sighed. Hermione had spent the entire evening running equations and still had not found the correct ritual. She was beginning to think that Draco was right and they would never find what they were looking for. Of course, Voldemort also could have modified one of the rituals and they would have no way of knowing that.

"Come to bed," Lucius said. Hermione looked up and realized that Draco and Severus had already left.

"What time is it?" she asked.

"After midnight," Lucius said. "You can finish this in the morning."

"I'm almost done," Hermione said, pulling another book in front of her.

"Hermione," he said.

"Just a bit longer," she said. Lucius closed the book she had been looking at and then plucked the quill from her fingers. She glared up at him.

"You need sleep," he said.

"Lucius, I need to finish," she protested.

"And so you shall," he replied. "In the morning." She huffed in frustration but he simply stared at her, eyebrow raised in challenge.

"Fine," she said petulantly. He held out a hand to her and pulled her to her feet.

"Pouting does not become you," he said with a smirk. She scowled and he chuckled. "Nor does that." He wrapped his arms around her and pulled her to him, kissing her temple. Although she was still a bit annoyed, Hermione let herself relax against him with a sigh.

"Come," he said, taking her hand and leading her to the stairs. With one last look at the books on the table, she followed.

Hermione listened to Lucius' deep breathing. She had honestly tried to fall asleep, but her mind was still on the equations downstairs. Knowing, she likely wouldn't sleep unless she finished, she quietly slid out of bed. Slipping her robes around her shoulders to keep out the chill, Hermione silently made her way back down the stairs. She lit a solitary candle and placed it on the table, sitting on the floor and pulling parchment and quill towards her once again.

Nearly an hour had passed before Hermione blew out a breath in frustration. It wasn't any of the rituals they had found. She had even run the numbers on a few of the ones they had discarded, just to be sure, and had come up with nothing. She didn't understand it.

"You are looking in the wrong place," a voice said and Hermione jumped, looking around the room. "Up here." Hermione picked up the candle and walked towards the fireplace and the painting above it.

"Cecilia," Hermione said. Cecilia smiled at her. "What do you mean I'm looking in the wrong place? Is it in another book?"

"Finding the proper ritual will not change your equations," Cecilia said.

"You know what the missing variable is?" Hermione asked. "Why didn't you tell us?"

"Because you already know," Cecilia said with a smile. Hermione's brow furrowed in confusion.

"I don't understand."

"It is something you already possess," Cecilia said. Hermione looked back at the table. "And you cannot find it in a book." Hermione still didn't understand. What else could it possibly be?

"Think of the prophecy," Cecilia said as she began to walk from the frame she was in. Just before she reached the edge, she looked back at Hermione. "Both of them." And then she disappeared.

Hermione's brow furrowed. Both of them? What had Cecilia meant by both of them? Hermione didn't think that what Cecilia Saw counted as a prophecy. Not technically anyway. She was seeing the future, or a possible one in Voldemort's case. And Professor Trelawney had only made the one.

Unless…wait. Professor Trelawney had only made one prophecy about Hermione and Lucius. But it wasn't the only prophecy she had made. Hermione quickly ran through her recollection of the prophecy the Divination professor had made about Harry. She grabbed a piece of parchment and wrote the two prophecies out as best she could remember them.

They were completely different. Harry's prophecy had focused on him alone. The prophecy about Lucius and Hermione was about both of them. Harry had been the one that was supposed to kill Voldemort while Hermione and Lucius had to work together to do it.

Her brow furrowed. Harry's prophecy had said specifically that he could defeat the Dark Lord. The second prophecy had mentioned Voldemort's defeat as well, but it also emphasized 'defeating the darkness'. It said that twice as a matter of fact. Hermione had assumed that it meant Voldemort, but what if it meant something else? What if by defeating Voldemort, they also defeated whatever this 'darkness' was referring to?

Biting her lip, Hermione tapped her quill against the parchment. Hermione's prophecy talked about two becoming as one. She and Lucius has assumed that had meant they had to sleep together. But the prophecy had also said that all would be revealed when 'two became as one'. That hadn't actually happened. She'd done the original Arithmancy before they'd slept together and nothing she had tried since had made a difference in the outcome.

So, when had something changed? Not until they had come to the lodge and met Cecilia. And what had they done before that? Comprehension dawned. Hermione had told Lucius she loved him and he had said the same. But surely it couldn't be that? Could it?

Hermione turned back to Harry's prophecy. Harry had told her that Dumbledore thought that the 'power he knows not' was love. Lily's love for Harry that had protected him from being killed that Halloween. Harry's love for Sirius had prevented Voldemort from being able to possess Harry after the Department of Mysteries. The love for his family and friends had given Harry the courage to go into the Forbidden Forest that night to confront Voldemort.

Love. Could it really be that simple? Well, not simple, love rarely was. Except, that it was, in a way. Hermione stared at the parchment with the two prophecies. It was Narcissa's love for her son that had made her choose to say Harry was dead in her quest to get to Draco. It was Lucius' love for his wife that had set him on the path to seek revenge. Draco's love for his mother that had driven him to pass information to the Resistance. Hermione's love for her friends that had caused her to agree to work with the Malfoys. Theo's love for Luna that convinced him to hide the Resistance. Plus a myriad of other examples. Love.

Heart pounding, Hermione pulled a fresh sheet of parchment towards her. She wrote down her base equation and then used love as the missing variable. Hand shaking, she worked her way through it and stared at the result. One hundred percent.

"Oh my god," she whispered bringing a hand to her mouth. She closed her eyes for a moment and then opened them, looking at the result again. It had not changed. As the tears began to run down her cheeks, she threw down her quill, blew out the candle and nearly flew up the stairs.

Someone was shaking his shoulder. Lucius slowly rose to consciousness, opening his eyes into the darkness of the room.

"Hermione?" he said as the woman in front of him came into focus. He could barely make her out with as dark as it was. She said nothing and Lucius' brow furrowed in confusion.

"Hermione," he said again, reaching for her hand. She let him take it and then he heard what sounded like a sob. Worried now, he sat up, pulling her towards him. "What is it? Are you well?" She nodded and sat down on the edge of the bed, then threw her arms around him, crying into his shoulder.

"Was it a nightmare?" he asked, rubbing her back. She shook her head. "What then?"

"I found it," she managed to choke out.

"Found what?" Lucius replied. She did not reply but clung to him tighter. He waved his hand and lit the candle on his bedside table. He pushed her back from him and looked at her face. She was crying but it looked as if she were smiling as well. Lucius looked at her, perplexed.

"What did you find?" he asked again. He cupped her face in his hands, wiping away her tears with his thumbs. "And why has it caused you such distress?"

"Not distress," she said, laughing while she was still crying. "The missing variable."

"You found the missing variable?" he asked. She nodded enthusiastically. "What is it?"

"Love," she said with a smile even as the tears continued to flow.

"Love," he repeated and she nodded again. "This is why I wanted you to sleep. You are not making sense."

"But it does make sense," Hermione said. "Don't you see?"

"I am afraid I do not," he replied. "Now come to bed. We can discuss this in the morning."

"No, Lucius, listen," she said, pulling away from him. Hermione proceeded to tell him what Cecilia had said and Hermione's subsequent examining of both prophecies.

"It's always been about love," she said excitedly. "I can't believe I didn't see it before." Lucius was having a hard time reconciling what she was saying. He agreed that the timing made sense, but love? That was it?

"Are we supposed to hug the Dark Lord to death?" he asked dryly.

"Of course not," she said in exasperation. "After the Department of Mysteries, You-Know-Who dove into Harry's mind. He tried to possess him. It was extremely painful for Harry, but once he started thinking about Sirius and how much he loved him, You-Know-Who couldn't take it anymore and he had to leave. It was literally hurting him to experience those emotions that Harry was remembering."

"The Dark Lord has been in my head many times," Lucius said. "I have always loved Draco and Narcissa and it never seemed to affect him."

"Yes, but were you actively thinking about your love for them when he was using Legilimency?" Hermione asked. "Likely not, you were probably attempting to hide them from him to protect them."

"What are you saying?" Lucius asked. "That we request he attempt Legilimency and then bombard him with loving images?"

"I haven't really worked it all out yet, but Lucius," she said, looking at him with eyes shining, "when I put love in as the missing variable, the odds changed."

"To what?" he asked.

"One hundred percent." He stared at her.

"It cannot be," he said. "One hundred?" She nodded with a wide grin. "You are certain?"

"Positive," she said. After another few seconds of staring, he grabbed her and hauled her towards him, kissing her. When they pulled apart, he rested his forehead against hers.

"We can end this?"

"We can end this," she replied, kissing him again. Lucius wrapped his arms around her and rolled her beneath him, looking down at her.

"I love you," he said and then proceeded to show her just exactly how much.

"Are we telling Draco and Severus?" Hermione said that morning when they had awoken. Her chin was propped on Lucius' chest as she looked up at him. He ran his fingers up and down her back.

"Do you wish to tell them?" he asked.

"I think that should be up to you," Hermione replied. "Draco knows that we're involved but I don't know how he would take this revelation."

Truly, Lucius did not know how he would take it either. Narcissa had not yet been gone a year and Draco's acceptance of Lucius' relationship with Hermione was grudging at best. While things had been improving between both he and Draco, as well as Draco and Hermione, Lucius was hesitant to upset things again.

"We don't have to," she said. "We haven't even determined how this will affect the method of destroying You-Know-Who. So, we might not have to tell them anything." Lucius looked down at her.

"Do you really believe that?" She sighed.

"I don't know," she said. "From what the prophecy says, it seems like it will be you and I that defeats You-Know-Who, so that may mean they don't need to know."

"But," he prodded, knowing that there was something else.

"But what if we need Draco and Severus to help us? Or what if everyone that's there has to be involved?"

"The Resistance?" he questioned and she nodded. "How do you feel about that?"

"Considering none of them, save Luna, who won't be there, even know that the two of us are together, it would be quite a shock." He smirked, not able to help thinking of Weasley's reaction.

"Indeed," he replied. She rolled her eyes at him, likely knowing what he was thinking.

"You don't have to enjoy the thought of Ron's reaction quite so much," she said. Lucius chuckled and tucked a curl behind her ear. He sobered then and looked down at her.

"Severus will likely not be surprised," Lucius said. "I do not know how Draco will react, however."

"I don't want to cause more problems between the two of you."

"Our problems are long-standing ones," Lucius said. "You are definitely not the root."

"I know but it seems as if the two of you have been closer in the last few weeks. He was terrified when you were hurt." Lucius put his arm behind her head and rolled them to the side.

"You are not responsible for my relationship with my son," he said. "I have made far too many mistakes where he is concerned."

"Yes, but I don't want to be another one," she said quietly. Lucius cursed himself in his head because he knew that her feelings about this were partly his fault. He had told her that they should not be together, had tried to push her away. In order to spare her, yes, but he had pushed her away all the same. He leaned down and kissed her.

"You are not a mistake," Lucius said. "Completely unexpected, yes. But not a mistake." She kissed him again and they lost themselves in one another for a few minutes.

"How about if we continue to try and work out how we're going to do this," Hermione said. "We'll keep the love bit between us for now unless it looks as if we have to tell everyone. That gives us more time to figure out how we'll tell people."

"That sounds acceptable," Lucius said. Hermione smiled and unable to help himself, he kissed her once more. When they parted, she began to move away from him.

"Where do you think you are going?" he asked attempting to pull her back towards him.

"The loo," she said. "And then breakfast."

"The loo and then back to bed," he countered. She laughed and shook her head at him.

"We have far too much to do," she said, managing to extricate herself from his grasp. "I want to look back at a few of those rituals now that we know what we know."

"I can think of much more enjoyable pursuits than research," he said.

"You do know who you are talking to, don't you?" she returned, mischievous look in her eye. "Research is my pleasurable pursuit." He growled and managed to grasp her wrist pulling her back into the bed. She came willingly and he rolled over the top of her.

"I think, Miss Granger, that I must not have been doing my job properly if you consider research a pleasurable pursuit." Hermione grinned at him.

"Oh really?" she said. "I guess you'll just have to try harder." He dipped his head and kissed her deeply, then smirked at the look on her face when he pulled back.

"Indeed," he replied and then kissed her again, thoroughly convincing her that research could wait.

Hermione flipped open one of the books on marriage bonds. There had been something in this one that she thought they might be able to use. After reading over it again, however, she realized it wasn't what she thought. Sighing, she set the book aside and rubbed at her forehead with her fingertips.

"If we can find whatever ritual they used and reverse it, what then?" Draco asked, tossing the book he had been reading onto the table.

"What do you mean?" Hermione asked.

"I mean if they bound their souls together somehow and we unbind them, what happens? Do both souls just float around in Yaxley's body? Or does the Dark Lord's escape? Because I don't know about you, Granger, but I don't want him trying to take up residence in me or anyone else, for that matter."

Hermione's brow furrowed. She wasn't sure, actually. She assumed that Voldemort's body had died after he bound his soul to Yaxley's, given Voldemort only would have done it if his own body were failing. Which meant there wouldn't be anywhere for his soul to go back to.

"Something amiss?" Lucius said as he and Severus stepped back into the room. Draco reiterated his concerns. Both men seemed to ponder the problem.

"It is possible that they will both just die after the bond is broken, the Dark Lord especially," Severus said. "There was so little of his soul left, that it would be extremely difficult for him to survive without a body. It is likely he was dying anyway."

"Still, it would likely be prudent if we had a receptacle with us, in case," Lucius said.

"Like a Horcrux?" Hermione asked in distaste.

"Not a Horcrux per se," Lucius said. Then he stopped and pondered for a moment. "I wonder if using one of the methods to destroy a Horcrux would work, however."

"As far as I'm aware, we don't have any Basilisk venom lying around," Hermione said. "The only other option is Fiendfyre."

"The Horcrux that was in Potter was destroyed by the Killing Curse," Lucius countered.

"Yes, but it came from You-Know-Who," Hermione replied. "He killed his own soul fragment. What if that was the key? Harry wasn't a true Horcrux either. You-Know-You didn't use the ritual on him."

"Yaxley isn't a true Horcrux either," Draco said. "At least according to Cecilia."

"Yes, but their souls are bound," Hermione said. "We don't know if killing him would kill both of them or just separate their souls, only killing one of them. I'm not saying it won't work, but if it doesn't, we've lost any advantage that we might have." Severus nodded in agreement.

"You know as well as the rest of us, Draco, that as soon as any kind of curse is cast, the rest of the Death Eaters will not hesitate to join in. Or that Yaxley will not turn around and kill us, if it is the Dark Lord's bit of soul that dies," Severus said. "It is a risk that we cannot take unless we are certain." Draco made a noise of frustration and scrubbed a hand down his face. Hermione looked back at Lucius and Severus.

"As far as Fiendfyre, can either of you cast it proficiently?" Hermione didn't include Draco in that question. After Crabbe's failure in the Room of Requirement, Hermione was sure that was one spell Draco had no desire to attempt. A quick glance at him proved her suspicions correct. He looked extremely uncomfortable.

"No, but with practice," Lucius began.

"And where are you going to practice?" Hermione interrupted. "In order to learn to control it, you need a heavily warded room which we do not have. Nor do we have the time to research how to set one up. Not to mention the abundance of magic it would take to do such wards."

"There is also Gryffindor's sword," she continued. "But I have no idea what happened to it after Neville used it to cut off Nagini's head. There is a possibility it would appear to me, but there's no guarantee. And I don't think we should plan our strategy on a maybe."

"No," Severus agreed.

"Then figuring out how to break the bond seems to be our only option," Hermione replied with a sigh.

"If we break the bond and the Dark Lord's soul does escape and we trap it in whatever receptacle we decide on, what then?" Draco said. "Do we destroy it like we would a Horcrux?"

"If we can bind it to the container somehow, we have time to figure out a method of destruction," Hermione said. "We had one of his Horcruxes for months before we figured out how to destroy it."

"Great, more research," Draco said with a sigh, pulling another book towards him.

When Theo arrived after supper, he looked worse than he had the day before. Severus had immediately pressed a vial of the Cruciatus potion into his hand but even after drinking it, Theo's hands still twitched.

"What happened?" Draco asked. Lucius could see the concern on his face for his friend.

"Yaxley," Theo said tiredly. "He's incensed that he can't find you or the Resistance." He sighed. "Goyle's, well, not dead, but as good as."

"Junior or Senior?" Severus asked.

"Senior," Theo said. "He was off already from previous punishments, confused, disoriented. Greg had to help him find the loo one afternoon. This last session was the last straw, I guess." They were all silent for a few moments.

"I don't want to rush you, but do you have any idea how much longer it's going to be?" Theo said. He looked down at his hands, then back up at them. "I almost lost my shields today."

Hermione sucked in a breath and Draco's face paled. Lucius swore in his head. If Theo's shields failed the Resistance would be doomed. The Fidelius would still protect the lodge, but little good it would do them if they did not have the Resistance's help. They could not take on the Dark Lord and the rest of the Death Eaters on their own.

Lucius exchanged a glance with Severus. They had to end this now, no matter if they were completely ready or not. They could not risk losing the Resistance, nor was Lucius about to let Theo be sacrificed for their plan.

"We are close," Lucius said. Hermione immediately turned to look at him in surprise. "What are Yaxley's plans currently?"

"We're to report back in the morning for orders," Theo said.

"Orders or torture?" Draco asked.

"Should be orders," Theo said. "Normally, he saves the torture for the end of the day when we've all failed." The attempt at humor fell flat.

"Have you eaten?" Lucius asked. Theo shook his head.

"Came straight here from there."

"Liddy," Lucius said. The elf walked into the room. Lucius had requested that she not Apparate within the lodge, given they were trying to use magic as little as possible. The lodge was not that big, so it was not difficult for Liddy to simply walk from room to room.

"Yes, Master Lucius?"

"Please bring Theo something to eat and some tea." Liddy looked at Theo appraisingly and nodded.

"Of course, Master Lucius," she said and then left the room.

The five of them discussed what Yaxley had had the Death Eaters doing today. Mostly, it had been searching in various places that they thought the Malfoys and Severus might have gone.

"Your house has been searched," Theo said to Severus as Liddy came back into the room levitating a tray with a thick soup, bread and all the accoutrements for tea. She set it in front of Theo, then settled another tray with desserts and bottles of brandy and sherry in front of Lucius.

"Thank you, Liddy," Lucius said. The elf looked shocked at his thanks. Even Draco looked at his father in surprise. Hermione hid a smile behind her hand.

"And did Severus' home receive the same treatment as our London flat?" Lucius asked, ignoring everyone's reaction to him thanking Liddy.

"It would have if it were not for the wards on the books and his lab," Theo said. Severus smirked and Theo smiled.

'What about your wards?" Draco asked.

"Do you remember what happened to you when you were seven?" Severus asked. Draco grimaced.

"What happened?" Hermione asked curiously. Lucius hid a smile by taking a sip of his brandy.

"Draco was visiting and I had made it clear that my lab was off limits," Severus said. "Of course, given how spoiled he was, Draco did not think that anywhere was off limits to him." At this, Severus glared at Lucius.

"That was entirely his mother's doing," Lucius said with a sniff. Severus snorted.

"Of course, it was."

Hermione laughed and Lucius scowled at her.

"And Draco got a stinging hex to the backside when he ignored my directions," Severus said. Hermione clapped a hand over her mouth as another laugh escaped and Draco glared at her.

"Imagine that stinging hex magnified ten-fold," Severus continued.

"Apparently, Amycus was completely knocked out for a few minutes," Theo said with a grin. Lucius was glad to see that the tremors had mostly subsided and there was a bit of color in Theo's cheeks. Draco and Hermione laughed and Severus smirked again.

"Yes, well, it is just a shame that his sister did not suffer the same," Severus said. Theo nodded in agreement as he finished his supper.

"Is there anything else you need?" Theo asked. Draco passed him another letter and Theo tucked it into his robes.

"Sorry, mate, nothing for you this time. I didn't have time to go home," Theo said.

"It's all right," Draco replied. Lucius could see a bit of color in his son's cheeks, but wisely, no one commented.

"We also need a few books," Severus said, handing Theo a list of the wards they would need to cast on the receptacle the were preparing. "Perhaps Liddy could return with you and bring these back tonight?"

"Of course," Theo said.

"How soon can you move Miss Lovegood?" Lucius asked. Theo froze and looked at Lucius cautiously.

"How soon should she be moved?" he asked.

"The sooner the better," Lucius said. He could feel everyone's eyes on him, but he did not acknowledge them.

"I can have her moved by tomorrow," Theo said.

"Very well," Lucius replied. "You should return here as soon as you are finished with Yaxley, once Miss Lovegood has been moved."

"All right," Theo said. Lucius knew Theo had questions but thankfully, he did not ask any of them. "Good night, then."

Everyone murmured their good-byes as Draco walked with Theo to the door. When he returned, he stared at his father.

"What the fuck is going on?"

"We are taking out the Dark Lord," Lucius said.

"Tomorrow?" Draco questioned.

"Likely not tomorrow, hopefully the day after that."

"And just how are we going to accomplish this?" Severus asked.

"Leave that to Hermione and myself," Lucius said. "You and Draco need to find an appropriate receptacle to house whichever soul departs Yaxley's body, if one does, as well as the spell to keep it bound there."

"Are you sure about this, Father?" Draco asked. "Last I checked, we still weren't sure how to reverse the binding."

"It must be done, Draco," Lucius said. "You heard Theo. He nearly lost his shields today. If that happens, all of this is for naught."

"Yes, but," Draco began.

"As I said, let Hermione and I worry about Yaxley." Draco stared at him for a few more minutes, not looking convinced in the least. Still, they had little choice.

"Fine," Draco finally said with a sigh. He turned to Severus who was looking through one of the books on the table.

Lucius turned to Hermione. She raised her brows in question but he shook his head and stood, taking her hand and leading her from the room. Lucius could feel his son's eyes on him, but Severus said something and directed Draco's focus back to the task at hand.

"What's going on?" Hermione asked once they were alone in their sitting room.

"Exactly what I said," Lucius replied.

"But we don't know how to reverse the binding."

"Tell me again about the Dark Lord's attempt to possess Potter after the Department of Mysteries," Lucius said. Hermione's brow furrowed at the change in topic.

"Why?"

"Indulge me," Lucius said.

"After she killed Sirius, Harry chased Bellatrix into the Atrium. You-Know-Who showed up and tried to kill Harry, but Dumbledore blocked the curse. They dueled. And then You-Know-Who used his connection with Harry to possess him. You-Know-Who told Dumbledore that if he really wanted to kill him, Dumbledore would have to kill Harry. And then he was forced out of Harry and he Disapparated," she said.

"And how was he forced from Potter's mind?"

"Harry said he was thinking about Sirius and how much he loved him. How he would get to see Sirius again if Dumbledore killed him. And he was glad about it," she said quietly. Lucius reached out and took her hand, giving it a squeeze. "Dumbledore told Harry later that it was because he was so filled with love that You-Know-Who couldn't stand to be in his mind." Lucius nodded.

"I am aware that I mentioned Legilimency flippantly last night, but what if I could do something similar by allowing the Dark Lord to look into my mind?" Lucius said.

"You want to bombard him with feelings of love when he's in your mind?" Hermione clarified.

"Yes," Lucius replied.

"But wouldn't he just pull out of your mind when it got to be painful for him?" she asked. "That's what he did with Harry."

"Not if we can keep him there," Lucius said.

"How?"

"Do not worry about that for now," Lucius said. "But if I could, it is possible the need to get away from those feelings could force their souls apart. Or even kill the Dark Lord's." Hermione bit her lip in thought.

"It's possible, I suppose," she said. "But I still don't know how you're going to keep him in your head."

"As I said, do not worry about that for now."

"Lucius," Hermione said, crossing her arms over her chest. "Explain." He stared at her for a moment before he sighed.

"There is a curse," he said. "It can trap someone within their own mind. It has similarities to the Imperius in that you can make someone view whatever memories you wish them to." Hermione made a noise of disgust. "It did not start out as a curse. It was initially developed to attempt to help those that had suffered extensive Cruciatus damage. It was thought that giving someone pleasant memories to focus on was kinder than allowing them to live as little more than a shell. However, the spell was quickly corrupted and used to torture instead."

"How do you know about this?" Hermione asked. Lucius remained silent and simply looked at her. Hermione's stomach rolled. Surely, he hadn't.

"Did you," she began, but she couldn't finish her question.

"I have seen it used," he replied. She looked at him for a few moments, then away. "You are aware of my past." When she looked at him again his jaw was tightly set, his face wearing the mask that she hadn't seen for days.

"I know," she said, maintaining eye contact with him. She reached for his hand and he allowed her to take it. He relaxed slightly. Her brow furrowed as she thought about what he'd said. "But if the curse is to keep someone trapped in their own mind, how are you going to trap him in yours?"

"I believe it can be modified," he said.

"By tomorrow?" she asked.

"With Severus' assistance, I hope so," he replied.

"All right, so you keep him in your mind and then bombard him with images and feelings. Then what?"

"The Dark Lord's soul will try to escape and hopefully that will rend it from Yaxley's soul," Lucius said. "Then Draco and Severus can trap it and I can end the curse and release Yaxley from my mind."

"What if it doesn't?" Hermione said.

"What if they do not split?"

"No, what if they split and the Dark Lord's soul stays trapped in your mind?"

"Then I will expel it and Draco and Severus can trap it," Lucius said smoothly.

"Are you sure you can do that?" Hermione asked.

"Yes," Lucius replied. She studied his face, searching for any hint of deception but could find none.

"I don't like it," she said with a sigh. "It feels like too many things could go wrong."

"One hundred percent, Hermione," Lucius said. He brushed a curl away from her face and then pulled her to him.

"One hundred percent," she agreed, resting her cheek against his chest.

Lucius held her for a few minutes, hoping that he had convinced her. For while the missing variable had given them a one hundred percent chance of success in destroying the Dark Lord, it said nothing of whether they would all survive while they did it. And Lucius was not about to lose Hermione or his son.