February 6th
"My love", Lucius said simply.
He reached out to cup her heated cheek in his palm, but Hermione had a better idea. She surprised both men by grasping Lucius by the back of his neck. That seemed to be the final straw for Patrick, who - sensing that she was slipping from his grasp - yelled at her to stop. But she didn't. She pulled Lucius's face down to hers and pressed her lips against his.
The effect was immediate, in every way. Lucius's whole being seemed to come to life as he grabbed her shoulders to press her against his chest. Patrick's world, on the other hand, seemed to crumble.
"Crucio!" echoed through the Atrium - but Hermione never learned who it was directed at, because the moment the word left his mouth their baby's protective magic finally sprang to life. The curse shattered mere inches from them as a wave of powerful magic once again erupted from deep within her. Lucius's hands dug into her as he struggled to remain standing, while Patrick was sent flying across the hall and slid along the polished floor until his head finally hit the opposite wall with a low thud.
For a second, everything was quiet, until Lucius muttered: "Well, thank Salazar it wasn't me this time."
His words caused a breathless laugh to bubble forth from Hermione. The next moment, she was amazed to find that the Atrium was swarming with Aurors. They seemed to have arrived out of nowhere, and were soon busy tying up Patrick, confiscating his wand, reviving the security wizard and performing various spells to document and repair any damage that had been done to the Atrium itself.
Finally, she saw Harry rushing towards her. She'd been so busy taking everything in and recovering her bearings that it wasn't until she tried to turn around to greet him that she noticed that Lucius's grip around her was still too firm for her to move anything but her head.
"Er, Lucius?" she asked.
"No", Lucius answered sternly. "You frightened me, and I will not let you go for at least three days."
Hermione met Harry's eyes, and they shared a smile. He was breathless, seemingly from equal measures of worry and excitement, and wordlessly patted her head, prevented as he was from hugging her.
"Can I at least sit down?" Hermione asked Lucius.
He looked down at her with a concerned expression. "Are you hurt?"
Hermione took a moment to consider. "I don't think so."
"Good." Lucius released her, but only to scoop her up in his arms and carry her to a small bench near the fountain. She expected him to put her down there, but instead, he sat down and placed her on his lap.
"I told you", he said calmly. "You'll be lucky if I let you out of my grasp before the wedding."
Hermione sighed and rested her head against his shoulder. She'd deal with it later - right now she was just grateful he was there.
Looking up, Hermione recalled that Harry was still with them. He was overlooking the other Aurors' work. She hadn't had time to talk properly to Harry for a while, but judging by the look of things, he had risen in rank lately.
"You have questions?" she surmised when Harry caught her looking at him.
He shrugged. "It's my job. But we were all there to see you fight, and to witness Griffith trying to crucio you - so I think the questions can wait a few hours. I just -" He shook his head, grinning widely. "I can't believe you fought him like that! You're fantastic, you know that, right?"
"She's magnificent", Lucius said proudly.
A low moan came from their left, and turning her head, Hermione realised they had inadvertently moved closer to Patrick. He seemed to be half-unconscious still, but close to waking up. Apparently, his trip across the Atrium had knocked him up more than Hermione had supposed, because there was blood and swelling on his face.
"I can't believe he would go this far", she mumbled.
"Oh, I knew he had it in him", Lucius said gleefully. Hermione had expected him to scowl at Patrick the way he normally did, but he had a surprisingly cheerful look on his face. "I told you so", he added with a significant look at Harry who opened his mouth and turned toward her with a guilty expression.
Hermione interrupted what she was sure to be a very long apology for not protecting her better, and instead turned to Lucius: "I thought you'd want to murder him."
Lucius stiffened. "For trying to crucio me? No, he wouldn't be the first. But -" His voice and expression darkened. "I suspect it is wisest if you don't tell me everything that happened until he is out of my sight."
Hermione sighed, and just then another groan, more distinct this time, reached their ears. Patrick was waking up properly, watched by a couple of Aurors who had already bound his hands and feet.
"What will happen to him?" Hermione asked.
Harry shook his head and sat down next to her. "I don't know. I guess he'll be tried by the Wizengamot. I'm afraid you'll have to testify."
Hermione shuddered. She had hoped she would have gone through enough of trials and giving testimony and felt no desire whatsoever to return to those gloomy dungeons where the Wizengamot insisted on conducting their hearings. But - and part of her was ashamed of it - she was also concerned for Patrick. She was angry and disgusted with him, but also realised that his actions had to stem from a mental illness of some sort.
"He needs treatment", Hermione muttered. "I don't want him out among people, but neither is Azkaban the right place for him..."
"It's not up to you, Mione", Harry sighed. "But you know Kingsley's trying hard to change things, though. Improve mental health care and so on. We can still hope he gets help in the end."
Hermione nodded and looked over at Patrick again. His cheek was pressed against the floor, and he was looking at her with tears on his bruised cheeks.
"Can I talk to him?" Hermione asked.
Harry and Lucius looked at each other. "Is that necessary?"
"I think so."
Lucius sighed heavily, but stood up and wound his arm tightly around her back. When Patrick saw them coming, he struggled to sit up from his prostrate position on the floor. One of the Aurors grudgingly assisted him to sit with his back resting against the wall.
"I -" he started.
"Whatever you have to say, I don't want to hear it", Hermione interrupted.
Her voice quivered slightly, but she was pleased to find that it didn't fail her. For a moment, she simply stood there, looking at the pitiful man at her feet. Under different circumstances, they could have been friends and though she was sad, she also felt an overwhelming distaste. He would have willingly taken her life from her - not her life's breath, but everything she held dear.
"You have every right to resent Lucius for what he did to your family", Hermione began composedly, "and you're not obliged to accept the apology he has offered you. You're free to mistrust him forever, if you like. But you have no right to destroy my family. Tonight, you were the one prepared to commit crimes - and even torture." She paused. "You should ask yourself who is the bad guy here, because this time, it isn't Lucius."
Suddenly, Hermione became aware that the Atrium had gone quite silent. Patrick stared at her with wide eyes, and when she looked around, she realised that almost everyone else was looking at her too. The few who weren't had directed their gazes at Lucius, measuring him up with thoughtful expressions. With his arm firmly wrapped around her middle, Lucius himself continued to look down at Patrick with icy disdain. Hermione soon turned her attention back to Patrick as well.
"I wish you well, Patrick, but I hope I never see you again."
Hermione turned on her heel, and nodded tiredly when Lucius suggested they return home to wait for Harry to finish up here. But before they had a chance to move toward the fireplaces, a low voice called them back.
"What?" Lucius growled.
Patrick gulped, but looked past him at Hermione. "Don't let her get to you!"
Chills went down Hermione's back. "Who?"
"She's been watching you, even followed you home from work a few times", Patrick said so quietly they had to step closer to hear. He sounded genuinely worried. "And she's clever. I haven't been able to get close to her, or I would have found out who she was."
"Who is she?" Hermione asked. Her throat suddenly felt very dry.
"A witch. She's generally nicely dressed... Brown hair. I don't think I know her."
Lucius and Harry gave each other a look, full of meaning but impossible for Hermione to read.
"What age?" Harry asked, but just Patrick shrugged.
"Why didn't you tell me?" Hermione asked him.
Patrick swallowed, looking away guiltily. And Hermione knew why: he'd thought he could save her himself. With one last, pitying glance, she left him.
Lucius had not let Hermione out of her grasp for more than two minutes and fifteen seconds in the entire evening.
It had certainly not been his inclination to let her go even for that short a time, but their companions had conspired against him. Had Hermione not managed to convince Ginevra that it was absolutely necessary to visit the bathroom in privacy, and if Ginevra in her turn hadn't gotten Potter on her side, Lucius would gladly have proved true to his word and followed her there. It wasn't out of fear this time, but a way of exacting some small revenge on her for almost getting herself kidnapped.
The moment she unlocked the bathroom door, however, he took hold of her again and - disregarding her protests - carried her to the sofa, seated himself next to her and then proceeded to forcefeed her all of her favourite snacks.
Now, hours later, much had been explained. She had told them - him, Harry, Ginevra and Draco - everything that had happened at the Ministry. It was truly a horrifying tale, and Lucius didn't know whether to murder Griffith for trying to take Hermione away from him, to laugh at the idiot for underestimating her, or to admire his ability to deny that he was doing anything wrong.
What struck Lucius most, however, was not part of her tale, but something he himself had heard her say to Patrick: "I'd rather be hurt inadvertently by him than live a fake life with you".
The echo of her voice and words gave Lucius a sensation that combated the anger he ought to have felt at her exposing herself to danger by going to the Ministry alone. Those words were like cherry blossoms, spreading a rich and sweet fragrance within him, brightening his existence. He had been so afraid of hurting her again, but there she had stood, declaring that she'd rather suffer by his side than be loved by another.
He tried to maintain a displeased facade, but found himself caressing her arm and smiling softly to himself every now and then. He caught Ginevra looking knowingly at him, but if she thought he had been smelling Hermione' hair, she was very much mistaken. It had tickled his face, that was all.
"But how did you know where I was?" Hermione finally asked the dreaded question, shaking him from his thoughts.
The mood shifted immediately. Lucius's hand stilled on Hermione's arm, and Harry and Ginevra threw Draco an awkward sideways glance - causing Hermione to look his way too.
Draco had been very quiet the whole evening, and everyone but Hermione knew why. Haltingly, Harry explained how Ginevra had interrupted their pathetic excuse of a stag party. She'd only had time for a short explanation before they'd been forced to make finding Hermione their priority. Thus, they'd called almost all of their acquaintances, from the Burrow to Hogwarts castle, before deciding to split up and search for her in person. Draco and Ginevra had left for Greengrass House, while Harry and Lucius went to the Ministry.
Lucius had to give Harry credit for his quick thinking once they arrived. They'd walked right into Hermione's duel with Griffith, and before Lucius could follow his impulse to strike Griffith unconscious, Potter had stopped him. He had concealed their presence with the use of disillusionment and silencing charms, and thereby bought them time to assess the situation before barging in. Incredulous at Potter's cool nerve at first, Lucius soon appreciated that he'd been given time to understand what was going on and to set up a trap for Griffith.
The plan had been far from fool proof: walking in unarmed meant Griffith could have simply stunned him and ran away with Hermione - but it had worked. And, of course, Harry had been there for backup, calling the other aurors while Lucius succeeded in his double goal of apologizing and antagonizing Griffith.
After Harry had explained thus much, silence fell, before Hermione asked the obvious question: why had Ginevra been in such a hurry to talk to them in the first place? Everyone's eyes (except Draco's) turned to the red headed witch, who cleared her throat uncomfortably.
"I have a theory", she began, "on the identity of your attacker."
Hermione immediately sat up straighter beside Lucius. Until now, she'd thought she was completely exhausted, but Ginny's words filled her with new hope and energy. She stared expectantly at her friend, who for some reason looked more uneasy than excited.
"I went to St Mungo's today, to check up on an old quidditch-injury that's been bugging me", Ginny began, lacing her fingers on her lap. "I met Katie Bell there. She's studying to become a healer, so we talked for a bit before she showed me a short cut through one of the wards. She'd thrown a notice-me-not spell on me so we wouldn't risk getting in trouble, and when when she was stopped by one of the senior healers, I had to wait for her a few minutes."
Hermione nodded along, encouraging Ginny to continue her tale.
"And that's when I heard a voice I recognized. For some reason, the door to one of the examination room was left slightly ajar, and a woman inside was consulting a healer about an injury. I didn't mean to listen, but I was standing rather awkwardly right by that door, and there was so much people around that I couldn't move without risking detection. And... I heard her say she had a wound that wouldn't stop bleeding, which was the result of a hex she'd been hit with about a month ago."
Hermione met Harry's eyes. He looked tired and sad, but nodded at her. They were thinking the same thing: the last attack against her and Lucius had happened a month ago, and there had been blood at the site.
"I wouldn't have jumped to any conclusions from that alone", Ginny continued, "if the healer hadn't remarked that this particular hex was only supposed to be used by Aurors, and that she should report it's misuse. The witch witht the wound seemed rather alarmed by the idea, and suddenly insisted she was perfectly all right and didn't need medical treatment after all. I didn't recognize who she was until she rushed out the door I'd been standing by."
"Well - who was it?" Hermione asked impatiently.
Ginny glanced at Draco, who stared resolutely at the floor.
"Astoria Greengrass."
Hermione froze. "What?"
She glanced between Ginevra's uncomfortable, Harry's sombre and Draco's determinedly detached face.
"It can't be her", she denied before she could even think. It was ridiculous. Sweet, gentle Astoria. It couldn't be! "That's absurd. I'm sure there's a logical explanation."
Lucius shifted his seat slightly, putting his hand on top of hers. "Astoria knew about our relationship and about the pregnancy before anybody else did", he said calmly.
Draco kept his gaze on the floor, but the others looked at each other, while Hermione did her best not to remember that Astoria had beautiful chestnut hair and would fit in with Patrick's report of the witch he had seen following her around. Nicely dressed with brown hair. No, that could be anybody!
"Astoria also lacks verifiable alibis for all of the attacks", Harry added. "Draco didn't find her and her mother until after the attack at the ball - but we were too focused on Mrs Greengrass to think about Astoria. And after the attack outside Greengrass House, she gave her mother an alibi - but she might as well have been trying to cover for herself.
"But -" Hermione objected, desperately going through her mental list. Her heart sunk as she realised that Astoria also knew the address of their healer. She'd volunteered to accompany Hermione there, and could easily have returned later to check his calendar for their next appointment.
No.
Hermione turned toward Draco: "Don't tell me you believe this!"
"At least now I know why she's been avoiding me", he said darkly, speaking for the first time.
Merlin knew what was going through his mind at this moment! Hermione could see his hurt, even though he tried to hide it. He had come so far, beginning to trust Astoria, to love her, picturing a future. Hermione felt tears well up in her eyes, but when Lucius squeezed her hand in response, she pushed him away.
"I'm really sorry", Ginny said, both to her and Draco.
Draco simply shrugged, but Hermione wasn't ready to accept it.
"What about motive?" she asked. "We get along perfectly well, and Astoria wasn't even involved in the war. She could have no possible reason to attack us!"
"She's always been the black sheep of her family, always criticised for not living up to their standards", Draco said in a low voice. "Perhaps being with me was just a way to get her mother's approval. Or maybe she's worried about my sibling offering competition with regards to our inheritance. Or perhaps she's just more into the whole blood purity thing than I have her credit for." Draco's voice grew increasingly bitter. "Maybe she thought Eloise could take Hermione's place as my father's wife once she was out of the way - or maybe she planned to do that herself."
"Draco", Hermione breathed. "That's absurd!"
"We have to look at the facts", he said, his grey eyes hard and emotionless.
"We have no facts, we have circumstances", she insisted. "Not evidence."
"Nevertheless, it's enough to bring her in for questioning", Harry decided.
Hermione couldn't argue with that, and found herself nodding reluctantly.
"Sorry Draco", Harry added.
But Draco had buried his face in his hands and didn't answer.
If only Patrick had been their attacker! She hated herself for thinking so, but she couldn't help the idea that when Patrick was sentenced for what he did tonight, nobody would miss him. His actions made her angry, and his fate, whether at Azkaban or a mental asylum, made her pity him - but the thought of Astoria being the attacker pained her in a whole different way. Astoria might have one day have become been Hermione's sister-in-law - or something of the sort - but what now? Had she truly attacked Lucius and her? And why?