As ever my continued thanks for lovely reviews, follows and favourites, it really does give a girl heart to write and to carry on with the story. I hope that in these uncertain times it gives you the same enjoyable distraction to read as it gives me to write.

The usual housekeeping, apologies for any errors whatever form they might take and I hope you continue to enjoy ...

"Part of me is hoping that your question means you have defected to the darker side, as I fear the alternative and what you are actually thinking is far more dangerous."

Hermione wrinkled her nose at him, reaching for another rasher of the delicious crispy bacon, her mind being back well and truly in Unspeakable mode was making her even more hungry.

"We should let the plan go ahead, to a point anyway."

Her mouth munched away in time with her racing brain, trying to avoid to shocked look on her companion's face she went on…

"Let Julius think everything is fine that way we catch them…you all red handed. Julius has ensured that every wizard has their part to play you included, so they will all be there on the day and we can just round everyone up."

"WE?" said Lucius.

Hermione smiled. "Yes Lucius WE!"

Her words were almost dismissive as if they were a forgone conclusion.

"I am sure that hosting the party for all the key players wasn't your only part in his masterplan."

"As it happens no it wasn't. I or shall I say Firefly is also playing host to the final fun through of Operation Grand Slam the day before the summit."

"Did Julius tell you how he plans to administer the Deltanovem potion."

"No, he is keeping that a secret until the final meeting."

"Then we need to substitute the Deltanovem for something else. I assume that Vesper Drax will be at the meeting."

Lucius nodded; he could see now why RM considered Hermione Granger his best Unspeakable, she was now clearly and intently focused on the job in hand.

"She's bound to have the potion with her." Hermione surmised aloud.

"We just need to figure out how to swap it over and what with. How much were you told about Deltanovem Lucius, enough that you could suggest what we use instead?"

"Neither Julius nor Vesper told us much about the potion itself only what I have already told you. That it is a weaponised form of the Imperius Curse and its effects."

Lucius could almost see Hermione's brain whirring into action.

"Well actually thinking about it, it really doesn't matter what we use."

"How so? If we want Julius to think he has achieved his goal then surely we need something that resembles the effects of Deltanovem."

Hermione thought for a moment, explaining her line of thinking to Lucius as she went.

"Yes but achieving his goal initially, is getting into the summit and dispersing the potion right?"

Lucius concurred.

"You said he wants all of 29 NAWTO heads in his power, but it doesn't appear that he is planning on using that power straight away. It's not like he is going to attempt to steal anything there and then. Once he thinks he has exacted the potion on them we can send the aurors in, he doesn't actually have to have done anything more, a crime has already been committed."

"Aha I see what you mean."

It was very easy to see why this young woman had once been called the brightest witch of her age, nothing much had changed. Even back in the old days despite his prejudices he'd always admired her skill and her spark, wishing his own son had been more like her. Remembering that she had been at school with Draco and was indeed young enough to be his daughter caused the dark wizard to shift a little uncomfortably. He brought his mind and his body sharply back to the discussion at hand.

"Do you suppose it is possible to turn the normal Imperious Curse into a potion?"

Lucius posed the question as if he were asking Hermione if she'd like more tea, the somewhat astounded look on her face made him realise just how outrageous the question must have sounded when voiced aloud.

"You are seriously suggesting we allow The Ministry of Magic's most wanted Dark Wizard to Imperio the whole of NAWTO?"

Well when she put it like that it did sound quite shocking, but Lucius wasn't to be deterred.

"It might be one of the Unforgivable Curses, but in this instance, it's use is surely for the greater good and a much lesser of two evils. The effects of our Imperius will wear off or can be removed, whereas the Deltanovem cannot."

Lucius saw those cogs begin to turn once more, clearly she was contemplating up his suggestion.

"You do have a point Lucius, as for your initial question I truly have no idea if as you call it, a normal Imperius Curse can be transformed into a potion. I would however hazard a guess that as Vesper Drax has basically done exactly that but with a much more lethal version, it can be."

"Yes but unfortunately Vesper Drax has been working on her potion for years, we have less than eight weeks."

Lucius made another very good point, but Hermione wasn't about to be put off, never say never.

"Also very true Lucius. Julius Nihil might have the best criminal mind working for him when it comes to Dark Magical Potions, but we have The Ministry of Magic, I am sure SIDD can come up with something or certainly knows someone who can. If Professor Snape had been alive, I think this would have been something he could have done."

"Oh, of that my dear I have no doubt, Severus was quite simply a master of magic all around, the dark arts very much included, however I too have your faith. There will be someone at the Ministry who can come up with what we need. At least this is one part of your plan that we don't have to actually work on ourselves."

Hermione's nose wrinkled again.

"I need to get back to the Ministry Lucius, it is too dangerous to send an owl to RM."

Hermione was brought sharply back to the awful reality of how this morning might have gone, had Lucius Malfoy not also been working for Ralph Messervy and the Ministry of Magic.

She studied the man seated next to her; he'd obviously performed a cleansing charm whilst she'd been enjoying the benefits of his bathroom. His rumpled hair had been returned to its sleek normality and he'd slipped on his trousers and shirt from the previous evening, his pale feet were bare and ridiculously sexy. She drew her eyes back to his face, focussing her mind on what had to be done now.

"Lucius if you hadn't been working for the Ministry and Julius had instructed you to deal with me, what…"

"Hermione I…"

She saw Lucius' grey blue eyes darken as he tried to stop her, but she needed to know, ironically not actually for herself.

"No this is important." She brushed aside his obvious discomfort.

Lucius put his china teacup back into its saucer, one clattering against the other. Thankfully, he hadn't had to think about that, let alone go down the road and now here she was asking him. Despite the tea, his mouth was dry, his hand a little clammy.

Hermione put her hand on his knee reassuringly.

"it's not about me Lucius or you, we have to get this right for the sake of everyone. What would he have expected you to do?"

The former Death Eater realised what she was asking him and why. Again he was reminded why RM regarded her so highly.

"Julius would have expected and accepted nothing less than a permanent solution."

Lucius couldn't bring himself to say the words aloud, once upon a time he wouldn't have thought twice about it, now bile rose in his throat at the idea.

"That's what I thought." Of course it was what she thought, it didn't stop the reality making her feel a little sick, but her brain quickly moved on to another reality.

"There is no way that he can find out that you haven't done as you were instructed, so we must be very very careful. Only those most trusted can see me, we cannot take any chances."

As she said the words Hermione's brain was racing, she really did have to be extremely careful who saw her, who knew that Lucius had not carried out his instructions to have dealt with her in the most final of ways.

"You have to maintain your cover too, for your safety and for the new mission to succeed."

Lucius took his lead from her, moving his thoughts quickly on from the what might have been.

"I just have to carry on as before then."

It really was that simple and that calculatingly cold.

"I think I can safely tell Julius I dealt with Hermione Granger, that's truth enough, just not in the way that he wanted." His face and tone were icy cold, but his eyes twinkled mischievously.

Hermione smiled, thanking her lucky stars that Lucius Malfoy was on her side, a little wave of heat coursing through her body at his inference. She had almost forgotten just how devious this man could be, how easy it was for him to lie and present a false façade to those around him.

"I just have to figure out how to get to the Ministry and RM without being seen.

A smug smile lifted Lucius lips and that mischievous twinkle in his eyes increased.

"The same way as I do my dear."

He rose from the sofa, moving to the large fireplace across the room with catlike grace.

"For obvious reasons, other than RM, the super-efficient Miss Bliss and now you no one knows I have any connection whatsoever to the Ministry of Magic. Thus it was made possible for me to floo directly to RM's office, the fireplaces on my network are the only ones connected to it for security reasons of course."

Hermione was seriously impressed with this latest revelation of Lucius'. Not only that he had such unrestricted access to the head of the Unspeakables section, but that Ralph Messervy himself would have so much faith and trust in him of all people to allow it. Hermione was tempted to wind Lucius up a little about it but glancing at the clock on the mantel behind Lucius, she realised that time was moving on. He had a breakfast meeting to attend with Julius Nihil and she needed to meet with their boss. In a way she wanted Lucius to come with her, suggesting they Imperio the whole of the NAWTO Alliance, might sound better coming from him than it would her, but as Lucius had pointed out it was a lot better than the alternative.

"So shall I meet you back here later? Report back on how our relevant meetings went."

"Definitely." Said Lucius.

"Are you going to SIDD whilst you are there? I think we need to get them working on the Imperio Potion as quickly as we can."

"Definitely." Said Hermione, smiling broadly as they once again returned to mimicking each other's responses.

"There is just one thing though before you rush off to see RM."

Hermione quirked a questioning brow at the tall blonde standing in front of the fireplace. Wondering what she could have forgotten, as an amused look now donned his handsome features.

"You might want to think about changing your clothes."

His expressive eyes took on a lusty glint as they drifted over her attired only in his shirt.

Hermione would like to have said of course she had every intention of changing her clothes, like she would be stupid enough to floo into her boss's office wearing only Lucius Malfoy's shirt. She would like to have said that, but she couldn't. In all honesty she hadn't even given her clothes a second thought and clearly Lucius was well aware of that fact, judging by the look on his face.

Changing her clothes was however easier said than done, her small evening bag did not have the usual extension charm on it full of useful things Hermione might need.

"I think Draco and Narcissa might have left one or two things behind, when they were here last, you could transfigure something. You cannot go back to your room."

"You mean you could transfigure; I am unable to use magic remember."

Hermione hid her embarrassment at not thinking about her attire behind a little dig at him. He was however certainly right about the last part she couldn't return to her own room, but the thought of wearing clothing which belonged to his son or his ex-wife, was more than a little disconcerting, even if they had been transfigured. Lucius was obviously quite serious though as he magically opened a door in the wardrobe to reveal the items in question, and with a swift flick of his hand returned her wand to her.

Transfiguring either of the two robes left by Narcissa Malfoy would be as difficult as transfiguring her own evening dress. Draco had however left a pair of jeans, some trainers and a rather nice cashmere sweater. The dark denim trousers were a little too long, the trainer's a few sizes too big, nothing a quick flourish of her wand couldn't alter, but the sweater fitted surprisingly well without any adjustments, even over the shirt which Hermione refused to take off, much to Lucius amusement and unspoken pleasure.

"Lucky I have another one." He quipped. "But I think it actually looks better on you."

"But of course it does." She said smoothing down Draco's jumper. "I have to admit it is a tad weird wearing fer..Draco's clothing."

Hermione bit her lip, she hadn't seen the younger Malfoy in years and to her he would always be ferret, imparting his school nickname to his ever doting father might not be such a good idea, well not right now anyway.

"You would never know they weren't made for you."

"I don't think I've ever dressed so casually for a meeting with RM, not sure he's going to be impressed, he's not fond of women in trousers, let alone jeans."

"Hermione when you tell RM what is afoot, and what we have in mind, I really don't think he is going to be bothered with what you are wearing, do you?"

"Don't remind me. Perhaps I should have just worn the shirt after all."

Despite the seriousness of the situation and of their respective meetings, they both had to laugh out loud. It wasn't difficult for either of them to envisage the shock on Ralph Messervy's face at Hermione turning up in his office in Lucius' shirt.

"Right let's do this."

Hermione moved towards the fireplace, finding her path blocked by Lucius imposing frame. He pulled her into his arms and kissed her hard on the mouth, she slumped into his embrace, savouring everything about him even more than before. There had always been that element of doubt, mistrust as to what he was up to, whether she could really trust him or his motives. She had also had her own motives, but those elements had all been removed and whatever else was going on, there was just the man himself to enjoy and there was an awful lot of him to enjoy.

Hermione kissed him back just as hard before her hands finally came up to his chest and she pushed him gently backwards.

"Let's continue this later, right now we both need to focus. You more than ever Lucius please be careful."

She moved away from the blonde man and grabbing a handful of floo powder stepped into the fireplace. Hermione knew that Lucius Malfoy was more than capable of looking after himself, but he was dealing with wizards much darker than he ever was, he was not only deceiving them but he had also disobeyed one of them, a little tremor of fear danced along her spine as she flooed to the Ministry of Magic and to Ralph Messervy's office.