Chapter 6

Lucius couldn't get her out of his mind. He had only known her for a couple of hours, but she already intrigued him. She was definitely intelligent, a fighter as well. The way her hair fell in perfect curls, but still looked a bit untamed. Her determined eyes that would lighten when she smiled. Lucius was definitely looking forward to seeing her again.

However, he was unsure about her real name, because Penelope didn't quite fit her. Lucius kept running names through his mind that described her, but none really were right for her. Lucius eventually decided that Penny is what he'd call her. It definitely seemed less formal than calling her 'Penelope' but that's how he liked it.

Lucius couldn't fall asleep that night, no matter how comfortable his bed was. Aside from Penny, he had his own problems to worry about. His father was planning on completely taking over the Wizarding World, he wanted to become Minister of Magic. The campaigns made Lucius look away, he didn't want to be known as being related to 'The Mr. Malfoy'. He was hoping that since Penny had come from a faraway place, she wouldn't know about his family, but she had. She knew exactly who he was. Lucius liked working in the Department of Mysteries, but if his father was Minister, Lucius would be his upfront man.

The ads were everywhere, Lucius couldn't even walk down Diagon Alley without seeing a poster with his father's face. Lucius was glad that there was little resemblance between his father and himself, things would've been much harder if he had looked like his father. The man was extremely tall, and had a thin and long face, with a fake smile. He had a wispy beard that he liked to stroke when thinking. He had a hooked nose, a crooked brow- which almost covered his black eyes, and white hair parted down the middle. He only wore black suits, from the most esteemed designers, and he had the same boots as Lucius.

Lucius looked much more like his mother, who had the same gray eyes and sharp features as him. Or so he's seen in photographs.

After hours of lying awake in bed, Lucius got out of bed and made his way to the balcony accompanied by his wand light. He pushed open the glass doors and stepped into the cool night air.

"Nox," he whispered, putting his wand in his robe's pocket. Lucius leaned against the railing looking into the night. A slight breeze brushed his hair and made the hairs on his arms stand up.

Lucius looked up in the sky and tried counting all the stars. They filled every inch of the dark sky. Lucius seated himself on a lawn chair that was placed on the balcony, he crossed his legs and rested his head on his arms. He slowly closed his eyes and fell into a light sleep.

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Hermione's dream started with a wave of platinum blonde hair. The owner of the hair was running away from Hermione and without knowing why, Hermione chased after it. There was something she had to tell the owner of the platinum blonde hair, but she couldn't remember what. Hermione rounded a corner of the Ministry and headed after the hair towards the Department of Mysteries. She pulled out her wand, and shouted a spell to immobilize the person with the hair. They stopped in their tracks and Hermione went around to face them. Her eyes met cold gray eyes that pierced into her own like ice. She opened her mouth to say something but nothing came out. Then she finally remembered what she was going to tell him.

Hermione woke up to bright rays of sunlight peeking in through her window. Hermione didn't ponder much about her dream because 1. She didn't remember most of it and 2. She wasn't like Harry where her dreams actually mattered. Hermione chose to believe in the scientific side of dreaming. Plus, she only knew a handful of people with platinum blonde hair and one of those people she was going to track down this morning.

Hermione had already overstayed her welcome in 1978, and she was getting anxious for information on the Black family curse. She changed into her other set of clothes from her beaded purse and went down to the pub, which was full of activity.

Hermione ordered a butterbeer and a treacle tart, which reminded her of Harry. This brief memory made her miss her friend's company, even though the last time she saw Harry things didn't go so well. She must track down Lucius today so he would give her the information he had promised.

While in her thoughts she didn't realize a man sat in the seat in front of her. He looked as if he were already balding though he looked barely 30 years old. Hermione had a feeling she recognized him from somewhere, but couldn't quite pin it. She looked at him warily and started to collect her things. His pale eyes bore deep into her and Hermione suddenly felt very uncomfortable.

"Are you going to clean that up?" The man said to her, gesturing to a small spot of butterbeer on the counter.

Hermione was a bit confused at first but saw the small spill she must've made while eating. Hermione was a bit embarrassed and flushed pink while grabbing a napkin to wipe up the spill. In response to her action, the man gave a toothy grin, and Hermione saw how yellowed and crooked his teeth were.

Hermione hesitantly smiled back, "Thank you for letting me know about the spill."

"It's alright darling, I sort of think it's my job to let people know to clean up their messes," He responded in a slow Southern drawl.

Hermione looked at him as if he were crazy. Did he just call me darling? Hermione thought. I don't know why I thought I knew this man. At that moment it hit Hermione who this man was, and she almost gagged thinking about it. He was Argus Filch, Hogwarts' caretaker. The only thing he was missing from his appearance, now that Hermione thought about it, was his cat, Mrs. Norris.

The man saw the disgust written on her face and scowled. He just mumbled something and left his seat with such force that the seat toppled over behind him.

Hermione was honestly glad he left, she didn't want to interfere any more with the past than she already had.

She left her seat as well, after paying for her breakfast. As soon as she was about to walk out the door, Lucius came in, they practically slammed into each other, knocking Hermione to the ground.

Lucius offered Hermione a hand, and she took it. He pulled her up and sat her on a seat. "You should look where you are going, Miss Clearwater."

Hermione blinked hard. Her head hurt intensely from being bumped on the hardwood floor. Hermione was about to say something when Lucius interrupted.

"Were you about to come and find me?"

"You're my only lead," Hermione responded weakly, head still throbbing from the fall.

"Ah, I am. That's rather interesting," Lucius said, adjusting his staff. "Just me, huh?"

Did he think that his staff was cool? Hermione thought. It's the only reason she could think of for donning the absurd accessory.

"Are you judging me?" Lucius inquired while raising an eyebrow. Hermione flushed pink, she's been known to have her emotions shine through on her face. Harry and Ron were always too dense to notice though. Lucius was calling her out on it, much like...Draco. She had thought since Lucius and Draco were so different now that they wouldn't be this similar.

"I assume that is a yes?" Lucius suggested but he looked unbothered by the idea of her judging him. "Now I also assume that you were coming to see me about the prophecy?"

Hermione merely nodded, because she was unsure of what she would say if she responded.

"Great," Lucius offered Hermione help out of her seat, "we better be going then."

With a small side look to Hermione and a smile, Lucius apparated with his hand on her shoulder.