A/N: Thank you all so much for your reviews, favorites and follows! Consensus seems to be that you enjoy getting the reviewer replies, so I am going to keep doing it for now! Maybe on future stories, though, I will just respond to questions. You can follow me on tumblr (nauticalparamour) where I post sneak peeks, story updates and answer questions.

Please let me know what you thought of chapter twenty and be on the lookout for chapter twenty-one soon!

1977

It turns out that Lucius Malfoy did not share his brother-in-law's penchant for advertising his affairs. He made it exceedingly clear that he did not want it getting back to Narcissa, even though he didn't seem to care for her as much as it appeared from the outside looking in. When he met Hermione for that first drink post kiss, it was done in an old establishment pub, not one of the trendy lounges that witches longed to go to and would ensure that they were seen together.

He seemed surprised when Hermione was content with just a beer, her fingers playing with the rim of her pint when she whispered and told him about how Theo hadn't been appreciating her much lately, how she didn't feel cherished, and how she missed intimacy. His hands found her clothed knees under the table when she shyly told him that she felt that old spark with Lucius. Earnestly, she told him that she hoped he felt it, too.

It was that same night that Lucius was pulling her into a back room, pressing her up against the wall among the brooms and mops, kissing her so hard that even she couldn't deny the sudden rush of desire she felt for him. She preened with the knowledge that he wanted her so badly. It was nice to know that someone wanted her, even if he wasn't the someone that she wanted.

But, she wasn't going to give it up that easy.

Even if they were starting something as torrid as an affair, Hermione certainly wasn't going to go further than a few rushed songs in a broom closet. If he wanted her, he was going to have to work a little harder to get under her skirts.

They made plans to meet again.

He was susceptible to a few flattering words and having her whisper in his ear about how much she wanted him had him eating out of the palm of her hand. Hermione couldn't bring herself to tell Theo how right he had been about how easy Lucius would be to manipulate. She had zero desire to tell her husband how things were going with her operation, especially considering that he was the one who had practically pushed her into it. His callous treatment of her still had her seething and more than a little heartbroken.

Even worse, she couldn't let herself think about who Lucius was for too long. It was too odd to know that she was seducing Draco's father, especially considering that she knew him when he was an older man. Although it was hard to admit, Lucius Malfoy had always frightened her when she was at school. But now...now she could squint her eyes and see him for what he truly was — a spoiled, rich man who was more than a little bit handsome.

From their initial meeting in the pub, their meetings had only increased in frequency and intensity. Lucius was always pressing for more, but Hermione always was holding back. More often than not, they spent time in his personal study, as it was strictly off limits for Narcissa, though there was always the risk that Abraxas might stop in.

It was easy for Hermione to get swept up in the romance of their meetings, but she always tried to get some information about Voldemort out of it.

One afternoon, when they lay next to each other on the settee in Lucius's office, each fully sated despite still not having slept with each other, Hermione found herself trying to stroke Lucius's ego once again when the topic inevitably landed on her husband. "I just find myself wishing that Theo had the same sort of drive as you. That he was as committed to the Dark Lord's cause as you are," she whispered, twisting in his arms so that she could look at his face.

"People seem pretty pleased with him, Hermione," Lucius countered, his hand tangling in her hair once again. "Theo has made all the right sort of friends."

Hermione couldn't stop herself from snorting, making her disdain for Theo's friends known. "You mean Dolohov. He hates me for some reason," she said, rolling her eyes.

It was true that Dolohov did not seem to like her one bit, and he didn't bother trying to hide it either. What was worse was that it didn't seem to bother Theo one bit, as he continued to spend increasing time with the Russian, even though he knew what Dolohov had done to her. Even though he knew Dolohov didn't like the witch who was his wife. Hermione often wondered if purebloods had some kind of honor code, because it certainly didn't seem like it.

"He hates everyone," Lucius answered.

"Except Theo it seems," she argued, shrugging her shoulders, trying not to seem too put out. "But it's not as if they do anything useful. Whenever Theo goes out with Antonin, the only thing I can guarantee is that he will stumble into bed smelling like stale vodka."

Lucius laughed at that, a pleasant sort of rumble that began deep in his chest. "I don't know what Bellatrix has been telling you about the Death Eaters but it isn't all mayhem and murder."

"Of course not," Hermione agreed, her fingers playing with the Dark Mark on Lucius's arm. "But it's not as if Theo is doing anything important. The Dark Lord hasn't asked him to do anything yet. Not like your family. I'm sure he's asked you and your father to do all sorts of stuff."

"You think so?" Lucius asked, his fingers tracing up and down the column of her spine, enjoying the way she shivered.

"Yes, of course. Everyone knows how loyal you have been," she whispered, before burying her face into the crook of his neck. "The Dark Lord trusts you and so he must have asked things of you he wouldn't have asked of anyone else. I hope you don't find me terribly boorish, but...I find it incredibly sexy."

Lucius tipped back his head to look her in the eye. "What, me being a little errand boy?"

She smirked, before shaking her head. "No... the power you so clearly have."

He was still for a moment before sitting up, pulling her up with him. Hermione sucked in a breath, hoping that she hadn't overstepped. "Can I show you something?" he asked after a few beats of silence.

Hermione hesitated, before nodding slowly. She stood up when Lucius did, following him to his desk. She willingly dropped to his lap when he pulled her into the chair. With bated breath she watched as he opened a drawer and pulled out a slim black book for her to hold.

"What is it?" she asked, even as her breath caught in her throat. She knew what this was, even if she hadn't seen it for years. Tom Riddle's diary. There was no mistaking it.

"I don't know, but the Dark Lord has entrusted it to me," Lucius said, kissing her on the back of the neck.

Hermione didn't try to bite back the moan that escaped her throat at the feel of his lips on her skin. She paged through the journal, cataloguing all of its details. "It's completely blank," she observed, wondering just how she was going to get access to it once again.

She could feel Lucius shrug behind her. "It's not my job to ask the Dark Lord what it is...just to do as he asks," he explained.

Hermione set the horcrux down on the desk, thrilled that she had been able to confirm that Lucius did have possession of it, even as early as it was. She turned in his lap, straddling his lap with her dress robes pulled up high, showing off the creamy skin of her legs. "Of course, Lucius. That's why he never doubts your loyalty," she said, bringing her mouth to his for a searing kiss.

Truthfully, she could have spent the whole afternoon kissing him, but before long he was pulling back to look her in the eyes, pupils blown wide in desire. "Narcissa will be leaving the country next month," he said suddenly. "She is visiting relatives in France."

"That will be nice for her I'm sure," Hermione, responded, playing dumb.

"It would be nice if you could come spend the weekend with me. We could spend the whole time languishing in bed," he explained. "No one would be the wiser."

Hermione bit her lower lip, as though she were truly thinking it over. "That sounds amazing," she whispered. "I want to, but...I have to make sure Arthur would be looked after."

Lucius nodded as though he understood where she was coming from. "I see," he answered, his disappointment evident.

"I'm not saying no." Hermione reassured him. "I just need to make sure everything is taken care of at home. But I'll owl you as soon as I decide," she promised, knowing that she would do whatever it took to get her hands on that Diary once again.

Even if it meant spending a romantic weekend with Lucius Malfoy.

Hermione was sure it was Ursula's idea to invite her and Theo to a dinner party at the Notts' house. There was no doubting that she felt the same pressure that Alfred did from their presence in the Wizarding world. It was probably a case of keeping your enemies closer.

Theo wanted to plan a trip out of the country just to avoid what was sure to be an awkward evening, but Hermione put her foot down and told him that they had to go. He nervously revealed that it would be the first time in his home in nearly five years. She squeezed his hand in support, but it didn't seem to give him any comfort.

They brought a bottle of expensive elf wine when they showed up, Hermione dressed in a fashionable set of cream colored robes. When they flooed over, Hermione was pleased to find their fireplace well kept, and she didn't have any ash staining her outfit when she stepped out, holding onto Theo's arm.

Ursula wrapped them both up in big hugs when they arrived, giving each of them a kiss on the cheek. "Welcome, welcome," she slurred, before waving them towards the dining room. "Cygnus and Druella are already here."

Theo gave her a tight smile, before guiding Hermione towards the luxurious room that could easily hold a party of thirty, though it was currently only set for six. "I think she is drunk," he whispered into Hermione's ear.

Hermione thought the same, based on the unstable gait Ursula was currently using, and unease began to pool in her belly. There was something off about this dinner, and she didn't like it. It was such an odd grouping of people, and Hermione hadn't spent much time with either of the Blacks. They were the youngest couple by far and the mismatch had her feeling off balance.

Alfred was already in deep conversation with Cygnus, but Druella sat by herself looking bored out of her mind. She perked up when she saw them arrive, perhaps looking for better conversation than Ursula was able to provide.

"Ah, Madame Nott, I don't believe we've formally met," Druella said, locking eyes with Hermione. "But I can't say it's for lack of wanting to. Bella does talk about you ever so much."

"Please, call me Hermione," she answered with a grin. "I am so pleased that Bellatrix has become such a good friend to me. When we first moved back to London I was worried that I would never be able to make friends."

"How could you not?" Druella crooned. "You are so sweet and charming. Everyone says so."

Hermione resisted a snort, finding it so odd to have made so many friends in the past when she'd been nearly incapable of the task in her real life. She had struggled even before Hogwarts and likely wouldn't have had any if it weren't for Harry and Ron. Was playing this silhouette of herself making her more likeable, she wondered?

She didn't think that Druella would find her so charming if she knew that she was having an affair with her favorite daughter's husband.

She didn't have time to come up with some sort of humble response because the house elves were bringing out the first course of dinner next, and then Druella was off onto her next topic of conversation. "I wish your...maternal nature could rub off on Bellatrix," she lamented. "How old is your little one now?"

"Arthur just turned two," Hermione said with a smile. Having a child was much more fulfilling than she ever could have imagined. Of course she had always wanted children, but now that she was actually able to see him learn and grow...her heart was filled with such unconditional love. Even if things weren't going perfectly with Theo, she could appreciate the gift that was Arthur. "He's just the best. So inquisitive and sweet," she gushed on, even though she knew that it wasn't typical for a pureblood witch to be so involved with her children.

"And how lucky to have a son on the first try," Druella cooed. "Your husband and his family must be so pleased that there will be someone to continue the family line."

That statement sent the table into silence, catching both Alfred and Ursula's attention. Ursula in particular had a very dark look on her face, being reminded of the potential threat to her family.

"Some women get all the luck, don't they Druella?" Ursula asked, unable to disguise her sneer. "How is it that you had three children and all of them ended up as girls?" She couldn't even manage to veil her insult, maybe from a combination of anger and her drunkenness.

"Shut your mouth woman," Alfred warned, severely, realizing the offense his wife had just committed against his guests. "Or I will shut it for you."

"No, it's fine," Druella answered, showing off her flawless manners. "I don't see my daughters as bad luck. On the contrary, they were highly sought after and have made excellent matches for themselves."

"Except for Andromeda," Ursula quipped, before taking another drink of her wine.

"That's enough," Alfred commanded, growing more irate with her unruly behavior by the minute.

"What? Are we just going to pretend like she didn't run off with a mudblood?" Ursula snorted, laughing at her own snipe, not realizing that no one else was.

Wanting to defuse the situation, Hermione's eyes dropped to the opal around Ursula's neck. "That's a very pretty necklace, Ursula," she said, hoping that having a little attention on herself would snap the other witch out of her bitterness. "Where did you get it?"

"A man named Constantin," she said with a dreamy look in her eyes. "We met in Diagon Alley and he sent it to me."

Hermione swallowed and felt her eyes dart to Theo's from across the table. She hadn't realized...she hadn't meant to stoke the fires.

"Excuse me?" Alfred roared, standing up from the table, drawing his wand and pointing it at his wife. "Who is it from?"

"My lover," Ursula said with a nasty grin on her face, laughing at Alfred's anger. He walked towards her menacingly, with fury in his eyes. "Oh what are you going to do, rough me up? It's nothing that I haven't endured before, while you'll have to endure the fact that your wife has been stepping out on you, right underneath your —"

"Avada Kedavra!"

Hermione gasped as Ursula slumped forward in her chair, struck dead by a killing curse that she certainly didn't expect. She never would have expected Alfred to kill her in front of so many witnesses.

Druella was hysterical when she realized what had happened, shrieking in between taking great gasps of air. Hermione was up out of her seat then, rushing to the other woman's side. "I'll get her a calming draught," she said, taking command of the situation.

She went off in search of a house elf and was able to procure the potion rather quickly before returning to the dining room and giving it to Druella. She let her hands rub big circles on the other witch's back while the potion took effect.

Theo was talking to Alfred and Cygnus, before instructing Cygnus to take his wife home. "We can handle things here," he promised the pair. "Just pretend like you were never here, okay?"

Cygnus did not need to be told twice and they were gone quickly. Alfred was sitting in his chair, staring down at his wand. "I had to do it," he said, his voice monotone and even. "She was disgracing the family name."

She watched as Theo nodded in agreement. "We could never fault you for that," he said. After all, getting Ursula out of the picture had always been their endgame. Of course, they hoped that it wouldn't come to murder, but ...

"Are you sure you can trust them? The Blacks I mean?" Theo asked Alfred, who was too calm by half. Hermione knew this wasn't the first time he'd killed someone. "They wouldn't go to the aurors?" Theo asked again.

"No, no," Alfred assured them. "I've know too many of the skeletons in Cyg's closet."

"Then, we will just pretend that the dinner was just us four. We'll give her some Draught of Peace. With how drunk she was tonight, it will be seen as an overdose," he said. "Hermione, run home and grab one. I'll have the house elves clear two sets of plates. Then we will call the aurors, alright?"

Alfred looked at the pair of them with some surprise in his eyes, like he couldn't understand why they were helping him with Ursula. "Thank you," he said, as though the words were completely foreign to him.

She watched as Theo gave a tight nod, his expression unreadable, before she turned and left the room, off to get the draught. They hadn't set out to get Alfred on their side, but she thought that his opinion on his cousin might be beginning to change.