Disclosure Hp belongs to JKR. The storyline, new character development, new events, and new characters are my intellectual property. Glorioux

a/n THANKS for the reviews. To be honest, they are the key to my wanting to write.

Proposal?

"Err, hmm, ok, yes, sure, depends, which, for what?" Hermione made an awful face.

"Is that a yes or a no?" Lucius asked rather amused at her blushing and stammering. She was a wondrous sight.

"Father, I think it is yes; for Draco, for all I may wish to do; as for you, well, it depends." Draco smile would rival the Cheshire's cat. Lucius moved forward and wacked him on the head.

"Son, be serious, behave for once, how old are you?" He wanted her answer to calm his heart, which had started a disorderly and discomforting beat. He was afraid he was going to faint. For such a dark wizard, able to do such wicked deeds, feeling so anxious, was

"Yes father, I am sorry, sorry Granger, I am rather stressed because this is very important to me." Draco smiled sheepishly, obviously in distress.

Hermione looked at him and saw him chewing his cheek. Ah, for all Draco's bravado and silliness, he was as stressed as she was, that made her feel better.

"So let's see," Lucius continued getting his chair closer to the witch, to pet Camellia who sat near her feet, "You like us both and might consider a love relation depending on the terms, is that what you mean?"

She nodded her head eagerly, her heart doing a boom-boom. Draco smiled and kissed her little toe, then licked the big toe, and she giggled; Lucius raised his eyebrow, rolled his eyes, and shook his head slightly, "Monkeys," he murmured.

At this Draco, just laid his head on top of her foot and rubbed her ankle, he was more relaxed, and Lucius breathed easier. Maybe the lad will quiet down, with the little toe treat; who wouldn't.

"Second, would you agree than during the battle and even before, too many lives were lost, and many would give everything they have to bring their loved ones back; as long as the ones returning didn't suffer some negative change during the transition. Would you agree?" Lucius fixed his eyes on her to gauge her reaction.

"Yes, of course, who wouldn't. That said, I'm not willing to do something heinous to achieve that result. Even though, I must add, I've been looking into how to bring Sirius Black back." Hermione answered emphatically as new energy ran thru her.

"Are you a virgin?" Draco asked out the blue.

Revelations and are you willing?

Hermione looked at Lucius first, she wanted to know if this was one of Draco's goofy comments. But Lucius nodded and signed with his hand waiting for her answer.

"I don't see how this question is relevant—," Lucius interrupted her, "It is relevant, please believe us, it isn't a question on your character, please answer."

"Are you per chance planning to perform a dark ritual to raise the dead, and you need to sacrifice a virgin?" She was getting scared, were they going to bring Voldie back? and, and, and… Stop it Hermione, she told herself.

She heard both laughing, it was a joyful guffaw, and then both appraised her as if she were a silly child.

"Granger, why do that, be real. Do you think we are that dark?" Draco asked.

"Well yes, I do, now that you mentioned it," she stopped saying more, looking at their long faces.

''Okay, maybe not; never mind, the answer is yes, to the V question. And so you know, I am answering perhaps incorrectly, just in the interest of saving time. If you want to think less of me because I still have that little piece of skin, so be it, but it is none of your business," and concluded her statement, by sticking her chin up in the air and crossing her arms, prats, who do they think they are?

Still feeling their eyes upon her, Hermione fixed her eyes on Camellia, avoiding all eye contact with the two wizards. A feeling of despair was overcoming her, she was a loser. One who had waited for her boys for ages, and after the ordeal she had avoided involvements. Maybe, it was too soon.

They probably thought nobody wanted her; but in reality that wasn't true, she had a series of proposals, albeit none had appealed to her.

"Fantastic," both blonds talked in unison and shook hands. Hermione didn't even ask. Now, both of their eyes were fixed on her, reverently, as if she was a Holy Grail, or royalty, or, whatever.

Draco laid his head next to her feet, and let out a happy sound, which Lucius matched by taking her hand and giving her a small little kiss, on her wrist. Hermione was flabbergasted, this is too weird, I am dreaming a vivid dream, I will wake up any second.

But no, she heard Lucius, loud and clear, "So with that out the way, let's recall the auspicious events that precipitated this call. Yesterday morning, less than 24 hours ago, an old part of the Manor suffered considerable damage, some walls crumbled and parts of the old roof caved in. Undercurrents of magic shook the house earlier, no telling why; it happens once in while."

"Is it safe now?" Hermione seemed to be ready to bolt out.

"Of course, no need to worry, a small tremor is usually the norm. Back to the event, the area affected is located at an abandoned wing. This place has over 400 rooms without counting the dungeons, and the food and wine cellars, and heaven knows about hidden rooms, crawl spaces, attics, stables, and other smaller rooms. There were many areas abandoned over the years in favor of newly constructed living areas with windows, running water and such. They have been used over the years for a variety of reasons."

He took a break to drink the wine. Draco fed a piece of cheese to Hermione, but first took a small bite; Lucius had already decided to ignore Draco as much as he could. Draco was getting on his nerves, nothing new.

"Such as hiding dark objects, certain masks, ahem, forbidden scrolls, convicts, bootie, contraband, and so on," Hermione guilelessly remarked, after she swallowed the cheese, and earned a twisted, unrepentant smirk from both blond wizards. She didn't back up; she knew their dark nature.

"Amongst others, you are right, always so smart. No sense denying it. Ahem, so Draco and I were working with some of the Manor's employees, not all house-elves; you will meet them later on when the opportunity arises, you have never seen their like." She eyed Draco, who shrugged his shoulders.

"The point is that we didn't want outsiders for private reasons. The inhabited sections are bound to hide surprises, there are of all kind of old things, and some might be either valuable or dark, or both. Now think about it, with all the restrictions I will live with for the next ten years, it makes it imperative to avoid any reason that might trigger an inquiry from the Ministry. Are you with us thus far?" Lucius questioned her.

The concern in his face, and his intent to proceed with caution, were evident. He wanted her approval, and made an effort to include her; this was a good feeling altogether. Granted, the entire situation was unreal at the very least. Just a few hours ago, she had finished baking and packing the biscuits and breads to bring to the Holiday parties.

She had seen Lucius but a couple of times, since Draco started to work at her office, Lucius was always polite and formal. As for Draco, he had changed a lot; however, this came out the blue as far as she was concerned.

"Miss Granger, I know it is late and you are tired, but did you hear my question, do you agree with my statement about the Ministry?" Lucius' concern was marring his features.

"Yes, I understand your reluctance to get the Ministry involved, furthermore, I agree with your position. Everyone at the Ministry has turned into a petty bureaucrat with their own agenda, and Galleons exchange hands under the table."

Hermione was hooked; she liked where this was going, a mystery with something on the side, and she was interested, very much so. Her adventurous spirit, and her inner penchant for trouble hungered for a challenge. Just what she needed, an adventure, a magical mystery, danger, darkness, and two yummy snakes.

"The walls had collapsed in one side of the room, and there were different things that were taken out to later catalog them and checked them more carefully. But there was more; Draco noticed what appeared to be a trap door, under one of the pieces of furniture removed."

Draco coughed, Lucius took the hint, "Son, why don't you take it from here."

"We first thought it as a way into the dungeons, but quickly realized there were no dungeons under, and possibly not even a crawl space. The floors had been laid on hard stone slabs. However, just out curiosity we lifted it, and it seemed it was the entrance into a small room right under the room we were in. We shone light inside and observed." Draco stopped at Hermione's hand raising.

"Ah, a hiding place, a priest's room? They were common during the middle ages and into the reformation." Hermione, Ms. Know-it-all, observed.

"No, that couldn't be it, just listen. Amazingly, it was built out of metal, not a mouse, or vermin we could detect. I would imagine very little air had entered the place, so we waited a while before going inside, and performed air cleansing charms. There was a frame with a door in the far end of the room. A frame with a door not connected to the wall, just stood there."

"May I see the room?" Hermione asked really intrigued.

"Not at night, the lighting is deficient, and the structure is not stable; though we will see it in the morning. But let me continue," Lucius voice was firm and she nodded in agreement.

"Before we proceeded, we checked the room for old magic and any present danger. All appeared to be in order. When we went into the room we looked around. In the room there is a long table, a large flat stone, as big as a bed, a thick leather satchel with books, and one with some silver and gold chalices, a small paring knife, and a large key." He paused for effect, mostly to please his dramatic self.

"There were also other tools; we didn't know what they were. On the floor there was a large chain, made out of brass, gold and silver. It must weight around forty pounds; it has smaller chains hanging from it, resembling handles."

He looked at her again, seeing she was dying to ask a question, she didn't disappoint him, she was smart.

"Wow," she exclaimed," what do you think the chain was used for?"

"I don't think, I know." Lucius answered.

"More wine, witch of mine? asked Draco.

"Sure, please, and the door was in the middle of the room but why a door going nowhere?" Her face was alive with curiosity.

"Nobody said that, just be patient," Draco remarked as he kissed her ankle with open lips, which felt as if fire ran through her leg.

Lucius stood up and moved Draco's hand away from her feet and legs. "Draco, could you be an adult for a little longer, what are you going to do, be so stirred up that we cannot make preparations, could you at least try?

"No, I cannot, nor do I want to," and he took her foot again and caressed it.

Hermione shrugged her shoulders, and Lucius smiled. It was Draco who continued, "I looked around the frame, and from the side, you could not see the door, it was as if the frame and the door weren't there. Now, if I tried to walk to where the door should be from behind, you hit an invisible wall. You couldn't keep going."

Her face showed her mounting excitement.

"Draco is it something like the veil?" She had to cut in.

Draco looked at Lucius, and they both rolled their eyes.

"You need to wait to ask questions, quit thinking and listen, we want to go to bed soon right?" Draco asked her waggling his eyebrows, and she looked towards Lucius.

"Son would you please continue or I will." Lucius was losing his cool.

"Oh, well, so, this is when I decided to use the key, we were all excited, but we took precautions, and I just wanted to see if the key would open the door. When I approached the door, I was overcome with fear, it was very cold all of a sudden and something was pulling me towards the door, wanting me to open it. I looked at the door again, and it was fading in and out and the door appeared to be flapping as a sheet in a windy day. " He looked at her.

The veil and what it implies

"The veil of death, is that what it is? That is the feeling you get around it. It is an artifact, am I correct? " She was at full troth.

"Isn't she the smartest of all, I told you father." Draco was proud of her and much more.

A short pause for a drink and to observe Draco, he liked this version of his son, a little annoying, but the sadness and heaviness was gone. The witch wouldn't have been his choice but something had changed the day of the battle; she had cared about them, in their hour of need, and it had been a lesson. She even fought with Harry for them; he wasn't so sure he would have done the same.

"Excuse me, as I was saying, they just stay over in a place of waiting. That is what Harry saw in the waiting station; they all had died a result from a magical curse. However, you have to been a magical being to be there, dying by magic when you are a Muggle does not qualify, or that was implied." Lucius continued.

Hermione wondered how Lucius knew, maybe thru Narcissa. Harry had only told a handful of people, hmm.

"Yes, the passage back might turn them into an Inferi, which isn't a very good prospect to look forward to." Draco answered.

"Can you bring those who died as a result of magic, are you sure?" Hermione was a skeptical but wishing it was true.

"Yes, but there are conditions to be met, the wizard or witch to be rescued must have died as direct result of a magical curse, or had fallen through a portal,'' Lucius moved to sit on the edge of her divan, it was wide. Not giving a thought she moved over, in order to free space by her left side, and he sat by her. Draco took a cue and sat on the other side.

She was so wrapped in the conversation that it didn't register. She was deep in thought, trying to figure out who would qualify.

"Sirius," she whispered.

"Amongst some, of course, he was the first we thought about. Miss Granger you must believe me that I was upset that evening. I was mad at you nosy children, and could have hurt you myself; however, Bella was a monster, who else would kill her own cousin, one she grew up with. Narcissa started disliking me that very night. She loved Sirius after all." His mien changed, a little sad.

Hermione dried the tears coming down, she loved Sirius as one loves an uncle, a mentor, and he was everything to Harry. Harry fell apart after his passing.

Draco pulled out a handkerchief out of his tunic pocket and dried her eyes; Lucius held her hand tenderly; and Draco put his arm around her. And for once in months, maybe in years, she felt protected and wanted.

"So, as I was saying the witch or wizard, under consideration, must have been there less than thirty years, and has to be younger than seventy at the time of passing. Not everyone is allowed to pass. It depends on what kind of person they were in life, and thus, not everyone can come back." He stopped and drank wine, thinking all the particulars.

"There are other rules gathered from experiences, but it is all speculation. It would seem different variations have been tried and then recorded. The texts are over three hundred years old, and who knows how much is accurate. There are exceptions, if the one being rescued is 20 years of age or less doesn't matter what they have done and they can be retrieved. I would say all the Hogwarts children qualify."

"Vince," said Draco, his eyes gleaming, full of hope.

"Yes, son, Vince, but that isn't all, if it was that easy we would have done it by now." Lucius remarked.

"To get somebody out you need to have personal ties with each one of them, otherwise how can they know you are there? Knowing is not enough, you have to care for each one, there cannot be animosity at the very least, and there is a limit of how many can come out. It is determined by how many are in the rescue party, which is the bottleneck. A portal can only be used every ten years, and so on. Don't look disappointed you two, if we can get just one person out, I will be happy." Lucius wanted to be clear.

The witch had soft skin, and her fragrance was soothing and just delightful. What a pretty tiny witch, Lucius thought. Just what I need.

"And who can rescue the ones there." Hermione wanted to know.

"Ah, you asked the right question. We didn't know until tonight; we have been reading all day long. We found other conditions, and one of them is that the rite must start tonight, no right now but the coming evening, on Yuletide. The way to open the door, and that is where you come in; it requires a ritual. Please listen without passing any judgment, you can read it yourself." Lucius held her hand, wanting to calm her down and continued his tale.

"The ritual requires a virgin, not her life but her virginal blood, spilled after her maidenhead is taken by her spouse, once the bonding ritual is done. Specifically, the union must be sealed over the stone, then the stone will reveal a keyhole, I will explain the rest later. One minute," with his wand he conjured a scroll and a quill and wrote numbers as he spoke.

Hermione bit her lip, starting to understand where this was going. She was the one bonding with the Malfoy. Her head was spinning. She wanted to hear more.

a/n I will try to publish often until done. It is all written.