Another student is dead. The seventh year Muggle-borns are in even more danger now since they are the apparent targets of the attacks, and Severus is trying to keep the Muggle-borns from harm while trying to decipher who is causing such trouble around the school. Clues and riddles are still being left around Hogwarts as if mocking Severus, and he knows that Hermione's time is running out. Not to mention that Hermione had a surprise visit from Lucius Malfoy during the last Hogsmeade weekend that intrigued Severus—and irritated him.

Murder, Magic, Mayhem, and Madness

November

Severus reviewed the clues and pieces of evidence that sat before him. The riddle Hermione found is definitely referring to childhood. No surprise there. But whether it was another clue, Severus was uncertain. He'd shown it to Filius, who had immediately taken it to the Doorknocker Guardian of the Ravenclaw Tower, asking her if it was one of her riddles. The Knocker denied ever having used it, but asked permission if she could because she thought it was rather clever. Severus had told her in no uncertain terms, no, that it was a clue to the murders of two students.

Likewise, he couldn't discount the lyrics of the song either, although two lines had been altered: 'please don't go to Scarborough Faire' should have been, 'are you going to Scarborough Faire.' 'He was not a true love of mine' shouldn't have read 'He was once a true love of mine,' and should have matched the last line, but the words 'he' and 'she' clearly referred to two separate individuals. Then there were the italicized lines, clearly in reference to the Wizarding War with the Dark Lord. Unless the reference is more personal, don't go as in don't go to war… 'He was not a true love of mine'—if it is a different person from the she mentioned in the last line, the he may be an antagonist—on the opposite side—of whichever side the writer was for, and the she a parent? A relative or a guardian perhaps? It's a possibility. Considering that was one possibility of what the song meant was a reasonable conclusion, but not much to go on. It was written in the same ink and by the same person as the girl who wrote the riddle about childhood.

Then there was the writing on the walls. 'Mudbloods welcome to Hogwarts. Now go home,' was one of Draco Malfoy's infamous sayings as was, 'You'll be next Mudblood,' that had appeared in the corridor outside the Hufflepuff common room. 'Blood mud, Mudblood, wish I may, wish I might, have you gone by dawn's first light' was a taunt that Severus had to put Malfoy in detention for during his second year.Only the words, 'Child of mud beware,' was not quoted from Draco Malfoy, but rather from Vincent Crabbe the night Filch's cat was found petrified.

The variation of the spell used to produce the blood was Hemamenti, not really a big surprise since heme meant blood in every Healer's book. But the words were likely written by a sixth-year or seventh-year, since any witch or wizard younger than that would not have been at Hogwarts at the time when Crabbe and Malfoy were in their second year.

The parchment with the brief telling of the Prince of Glyndon Vale Broad was an obvious implication for Hufflepuff, both with the reference to her home and the Everbright tree. Of course, the drowning is a dead giveaway, he thought ruefully, setting the parchment aside. And the writing is similar, close, but not identical. However, the ink doesn't match. This time the letters are more slanted and tighter, no swirls and the quill tip is wider. It could be the same person… or not. He sighed in frustration.

Hermione finding the bloody knife under the book in the common room was unlikely a coincidence. The Great Wizards of the Age was a popular book as it had information on the founders. The fact that the book had been lying open to the page of Salazar Slytherin is an obvious implication, he thought with a sneer. Severus didn't know what to make of the drawing of the Gryffindor lion by Mr. Thomas—other than really bad taste or another clue. It was tacked to the notice board with a potions knife—stabbed through the heart. Most likely it was a clue—considering the boy is dead.

He picked up the picture, glaring at the repeating image. Walter McClaggin, who handled the photography club, had brought him the picture of Mr. Thomas falling from his broom. Walter had said that the original was indeed of Potter taken during that nearly fateful Quidditch game by Mr. Creevey. However, the image of Mr. Thomas was masked onto Potter's image, then the foreground superimposed over a picture of the Slytherin stands, and the rain had been painstakingly erased, still leaving the dark foreboding clouds from the original. Apparently a very complex process, involving some very advanced spellwork—again pointing to a N.E.W.T. level student of exceptional skill, patience, and time.

Then there was the incident in the prefects' bathroom. There had been no physical evidence left in the bathroom of the attacker. Only the wet shoeprints leading away from the bathroom, which Miss Weasley had dried up. The only hairs found had been Miss Wellington's, and a few from the Gryffindor boys. Severus had been annoyed that he'd wasted his store of Polyjuice Potion, intended for Kingsley, on the three Aurors and himself, especially since nothing had been gained. The three Gryffindor boys all had reasonable alias for the time frame of the drowning.

In addition, the only evidence the Aurors had found in the Entrance Hall after the death of Mr. Thomas was a set of muddy shoeprints leading to the dungeons, which vanished half way down the stairs, as if by magic. Most likely, from the student responsible either cleaning off his or her shoes, halfway down the stairs, which seems unlikely, or the culprit flew off on a broom to imply that a Slytherin had killed Mr. Thomas. No Slytherin would erase only half of their muddy shoeprints, leaving a partial trail to the dungeons. That's just preposterous! But the finger was strongly pointed at his old house.

Whomever is doing this also knows my Sectumsempra spell. That, unfortunately, narrows the possibilities down to a Death Eater's child, or a Slytherin who knew that Potter had cast it at Draco two years ago. He'd been furious to lean that Draco had learned the spell because of the incident. The boy might have taught it to his friends to show off because I know that Crabbe had used the spell on another student in the Final Battle before he was burned to death from his own Fiendfyre. The best conclusion Severus could make was that this was a very clever seventh-year, whose parents or parent fought on the Dark Lord's side, who apparently admired Draco Malfoy—but was framing Slytherin for the acts, and hated or blamed Muggle-borns for some personal grudge was responsible for the deaths. That is, if all these varied clues were all related.

Severus leaned his head on his fingertips and absently stroked his forehead with his ring finger. No matter how he worked out the clues, it pointed to Slytherin, which was exactly what the person responsible wanted him to think.

~oo0oo~

Hermione dropped her hand holding her quill and stared at the far wall, then closed her eyes as she inhaled deeply and exhaled. She still mourned the loss of her housemate and friend, in fact many people who knew Dean were still mourning him, but she found it best to bury herself in her school work and let Severus and the Aurors handle the circumstances surrounding his death. However, she kept a pack of tissues in her pocket for the little outbursts of tears that frequently came when she thought of Dean—his smile, his artistry, his… No, I can't dwell on it—I have essays to write, revision… Still, as a Gryffindor prefect, there were a several times she'd consoled someone or commiserated with a student over Dean's loss. Apparently, he'd been quite well liked and was greatly missed. Hermione closed the last book with a sigh.

She'd finished her essays for most of her classes and had her Alchemy equations to do and her Ancient Rune translations from the ancient Aramaic. It was the one language for which she didn't have her own books. Depositing the nine books she'd been using on the book trolley, she headed for the Ancient Runes section, then stopped and hurried back to get her bag. She made her way to the section of Aramaic and Old or Classical Phoenician alphabet translators. Finding only three of the books she needed.

Back at her table, she opened up her bag and retrieved the pages of script she was to translate by next Friday and noticed an odd slip of parchment between the sheets. Confused, Hermione withdrew it and examined the drawing of a dragon in color change ink with lines of runes written along the body. Translating the runes was easy enough; any third or fourth-year who took the subject could have easily translated the simple poem. When Hermione finished, she reread it and gasped. It wasn't a poem, it was a riddle.

What has six eyes,
Six arms,
Six legs,
Three heads,
And a very short life?

ANSWER

Three people about to be eaten by a dragon

Hermione looked around wondering how it had gotten into her bag. She hadn't left it unattended, except when she'd carried her books to the book trolley, but surely that wasn't enough time, and she would have noticed if someone had walked over to her bag. Still, it was curious enough to show it to Severus, since he was adamant that if she found anything unusual she was to give it to him.

Sighing, but pleased that she had a reason to go see him, Hermione opened up the book Classical and Ancient Phoenician Translations, turning to the pages of alphabet symbols. She soon became engrossed, working her way through the first sheet of her parchments. She turned the page, looking for the symbol that meant for life or of life, and found another slip of parchment jammed in like a marker. Surprised, Hermione read over the runes recognizing many of them. This time the runes were much more difficult to translate, obviously written by someone who was unfamiliar with the verb tense of some of the words. She finished the translation and sat back confused.

A white serpent swam in a silver urn
A golden bird did on its mouth abide.
The serpent drank and thus provide,

this in turn the serpent's spent,

blackened burnt soot, repent.

Thus then the gold bird starving, died.

A white snake swam… silver urn? A golden bird? The serpent drinks—what? And is burnt—spent? Then the bird dies? She shook her head. Serpent for Slytherin, maybe? In an urn… but then what is the golden bird that sits on the serpent's mouth. Hebride peckers are black and gold and live a mutuality beneficial relationship on the backs of north European dragons… No she was over thinking this. This is a riddle—it would be simple. Hermione stared at the riddle, ignoring her translations.

"Miss Granger, the library will close now for dinner," Miss Pince announced sternly. "You may return after I eat."

Hermione looked up and gaped at the time. She gathered her things and hurried to the Great Hall. Hermione immediately looked up at the Headmaster's chair, frowning when she didn't see Severus. She went to sit down, nearly toppling over a second-year. "Oh, sorry! Are you okay?" she asked, receiving a disgruntled "Yeah, sure," from the girl.

Amanda grabbed her arm and pulled her to sit down next to her. "Attacking second-years now, are we?"

"Distracted," Hermione said. "Where's Severus?"

"Severus is it, now?" Ginny teased. "I thought you were betrothed to Lucius?"

"I am, but I wanted to see him," Hermione admitted.

Her friends all looked at her with various looks of incredulity and amusement. "If I didn't know better I'd think you had a thing for the Headmaster," Margery teased her.

"I found another riddle in the library, two actually, and one I—is really puzzling." Hermione pulled out the riddle and handed it to Amanda. Ginny leaned over, and the two girls tried to reason it out.

"Let me see," Margery asked. Ginny handed her the slip of parchment. "Oh, this is good!" She hooked her fingernail on her front tooth as she tried to solve the riddle. "You know, I could show this to my brother. He's in Ravenclaw; they're really good with riddles."

"Okay, but bring it back, I have to give it to Sev-Snape as soon as possible," Hermione said, catching herself as she nearly slipped up again. Margery got up and went to talk to her brother. Severus finally walked in and took his seat, and Hermione wished she dared go up and speak to him. She caught his eye twice as he looked at the room and began to eat. At least his appetite is better these days, she thought as she tried not to stare at him. She smiled as she noticed that he still held his knife in the same manner when he ate as he did when he was brewing.

Amanda nudged her, and she realized her friend had filled her plate. "You have to eat. Margery's brother and his friends will figure it out."

Hermione nodded, still running the lines of the riddle in her head and trying to rationalize it out. Margery didn't return until after puddings had cleared away. "They they think it may be an oil lamp," she announced, handing back the parchment.

"Did you have a nice dinner with your brother?" Amanda asked, smiling.

"Yes it was fun sitting with Nathan and his friends," Margery replied, grinning back. "I'm meeting up with Marcus later."

Hermione saw Severus rise to leave. "Good, I'm glad. I'm going to go to give this to the Headmaster. I'll see you all later," she said, scrambling up to leave. She nodded at the farewells of her friends and ran to meet Severus in the corridor.

She saw him at the top of the stairs, talking with one of the Aurors. He turned to watch her as she approached. "Yes, Miss Granger?"

"I found another riddle," she said, digging out both riddles from her pockets.

Severus read them and handed them to the Auror. "Where?" he asked.

Hermione started to explain, and Severus motioned for her to follow him. Once they were all sitting in his office, she had to repeat her explanation for him and the Auror. "Show me the original pages you translated," Severus said softly. Hermione pulled out the original slips of parchment she'd found written in Runes and handed them to him.

"Are you sure you translated this right?" Mr. Gayan Greenwich asked, scrutinizing the original.

"I have no doubt that she did," Severus replied. "Thank you for bringing me these. I appreciate you translating them for us, Miss Granger."

"I will, of course, need to see the section of the library where they were found," Mr. Greenwich stated and rose to go. "I'll let you know if I find anything."

Severus nodded and turned to look at Hermione. She knew that he didn't like the fact that she was the one finding the riddles. "Why didn't you bring them to me right away?" he asked sternly.

Hermione looked up at him and felt her cheeks burn. "I wanted to translate them… I should have, I know. But I was in the library. I wasn't alone—there were others around, and I thought I could…"

He sighed, and his gaze dropped to his desk before returning to her face. "You would. Next time, bring them to me immediately. I am capable of translating them as well, or I can have Professor Babbling or her apprentice, Miss Hobkiss, do it for me." Hermione nodded, chastised. "Now, go on," he said firmly but not unkindly, yet still dismissing her. "I know you have work or revision to do."

She nodded again, and left his office quickly, deciding to return to her common room to see if Ginny was up for a game of exploding snap.

Severus watched her retreat and the subtle sway of her hips as she walked with a heavy sigh. She was too open with him, too trusting. He knew she wanted his respect and friendship but that was more than he could give her or any female at the moment. I don't want her friendship, I want her. Get a grip, she is a child—a student, not a child any more, besides she's still off limits—unattainable. Burned bridges and walled off doors. You know better.

He read the parchments over again. The first, obviously slipped into Hermione's bag that afternoon when she'd left it sitting on the table unattended, had the answer already; the second, the one hidden in the book, didn't. That one puzzled him. It was placed where anyone in advanced Ancient Runes could have found it. I'm lucky that Hermione had and not some other sixth- or seventh-year who wouldn't have recognized its possible importance. He didn't want the entire school aware of the riddles, and only a few of the prefects knew what was really going on, all of them sworn to keep quiet and report anything unusual to him or an Auror, immediately. But if there are others floating around, ones I don't have… He was going to have to include all the prefects on this.

He reasoned out the symbolism of the second one, taking into account that it was written in ancient runes, logically ignoring the house references and came to one conclusion: an oil lamp, the symbol of life in ancient times… a light to see one's way—being snuffed out. The reference to the house associations it was clear: Slytherin and Gryffindor. Whoever wrote this is clever. Quite clever. He added both to his growing collection and picked up the one Mr. Finch-Fletchley had given him just before dinner. The chorus to the song played in his head as he thought about it, one he'd liked as a teen in the seventies from the movie, The Legend of Billy Jack.

Go ahead and hate your neighbor,
Go ahead and cheat a friend.
Do it in the name of Heaven,
So you can justify it in the end.
There won't be any trumpets blowing
Come the judgment day,
On the bloody morning after...
One tin soldier rides away.

The words to the chorus had been left pinned to the tapestry across the corridor from the picture entry to the Hufflepuff common room. No, if these are clues, these riddles, then I have to have them all if I'm going to catch this miscreant. He looked up at the sleeping images of the Headmasters, wondering why he had the dubious honor of having such difficulties during his term as Headmaster. First, the Carrows' reign of terror, and now this… He picked up the riddle put in Hermione's bag to compare the writing. The runes were written with precision, but with a medium quill tip. The ink was the same as the writing found in the prefect bath. But why is she leaving so many riddles around the castle? Unless… it's to scare the Muggle-borns away. But that's doesn't make sense, I've several that were found by purebloods. Severus rested his head in hand, sitting up abruptly when the sound of the stairs moving outside his door got his attention. Mr. Greenwich is back. Great, although I doubt he has anything to add.

~oo0oo~

Hermione pulled on her shoes, gloves, and grabbed her cloak. Amanda, Margery, and Ginny were already downstairs, waiting on her. She could hardly believe that they'd have another Hogsmeade weekend so quickly. Ron, Harry, and George were going to meet them in the Three Broomsticks, and Hermione was anxious to see her friends again. She left her room quickly, nearly running all the way to the Entrance Hall. The girls waved her over, and they all trouped down the path to the gates. Ginny ran over to Harry as soon as she saw him in the street and hugged him tightly.

Hermione hurried over and gave him a hug as soon as Ginny moved to stand next to him. "Merlin, I've missed you!" she cried out.

"I've missed you too. Hey, I've loads to tell you!" he replied, hugging her and letting go, so he could wrap an arm around Ginny.

"Us too!" Ginny exclaimed. "Where are Ron and George?"

"In the shop," Harry stated, pointing to the neon sign which now replaced Zonko's old wooden one. "It's really doing well. George said he'd meet us for lunch. Ron said he was too busy today."

They headed off to Honeydukes, browsing the shelves together and buying their favorites while Harry told them all about Auror training. They left with their pockets full and reluctantly agreed to go to the bookshop with Hermione. Once inside, Margery and Amanda immediately wandered off for the magical romance section. The Hermione and Ginny told Harry about what was happening in the castle. Harry pulled the girls deeper into the Transfiguration section. "Hey, you be careful. This sounds bad," he warned them.

Hermione felt warmed by the concern in his expression and tone. "Harry, it's no more dangerous than that Basilisk in second year. We were really lucky that no one died that year and the injuries were so minor."

"And not so bad as last year with the Carrows," Ginny added, placing her hand on Harry's arm. "I know what happened to Dean was tragic, and I really miss him too, but it was an accident."

"I'm not so sure, Gin. That's not what I heard—well, there are rumors going around," Harry whispered to them. He pulled them into an empty corner away from the any other students. "Look, Dean was killed."

Both girls gasped, Ginny shaking her head as if denying Harry's claim, Hermione covering her mouth, her eyes tearing up.

"I'm not really supposed to say anything, but I care about you too much. He was in a duel. His wand was found, and he'd been casting defensive spells. Same as that girl from Hufflepuff, Wellington, there is proof she had been fighting, too. It was kept out of the Prophet, because it is still an active investigation."

"You're kidding," Ginny said as Hermione reeled backwards saying, "No! She drowned… I—no."

"But we were told Dean had crashed into the wrought-iron chandelier in the Entrance Hall on his broom and cut himself, and then fell off his broom!" Ginny exclaimed. "There was wax on the floor from the candles…"

Hermione felt like she was going to faint. "This was all supposed to be over, the killing…"

Harry gripped Hermione's elbow and made her sit down on a chair that hadn't been there a moment ago. "Listen to me. I'm only in the know because Zander Anderson is my mentor. They don't know who, but they suspect a Slytherin. The Aurors are short-staffed and there are six inside the castle at all hours." He looked around to be sure they were still alone and not being overheard. "The cuts on Dean were not made from flying into the candelabra in the Entrance Hall. Hermione, do you remember Snape's Sectumsempra Curse? Dean's cuts were just like the ones from that spell—cursed cuts—just like when Snape had cut George's ear and when I'd used the curse on Draco sixth year, remember?"

"But why—the messages," Hermione said and gasped, covering her mouth with her hand again. "They're quoting Draco Malfoy."

"I heard about them, but I've only seen notes on them. What did they say exactly?" Harry asked. Ginny and Hermione rattled off the ones they knew about. "Sounds like Malfoy, but he's in France currently."

Harry pulled Hermione to her feet. "C'mon. I think you could use a drink."

Ginny called over to the other girls and they headed to the Three Broomsticks. Harry guided them to a table against the wall under a window. Ginny cast Warming Charms and sat down. Harry ordered drinks, a Wizards-eight for himself and Hermione, then started asking questions, listening intently to each girl, and tried to piece together the puzzle. Rosmerta brought the drinks and left. "It's like a whiskey sour," Harry replied, "only it has pomegranate and lemon juice. It's good." After a while, the conversation had run its course and they were all speculating.

"Harry, we only know bits and pieces. I don't know all the riddles by heart, and I don't know if there were any other riddles that were found that I don't know about," Hermione finally said, holding her glass and watching the last ice cube roll in the bottom. "We're not going to solve this today. Let's, please, talk about anything else."

"We could talk about Quidditch!" Amanda suggested eagerly, looking up at Harry. "I heard that you were asked to fly with Puddlemere!"

Harry laughed. "No, well, yes. A few teams asked me, but I really always wanted to be an Auror. Ron and I have been to see the Chudley Cannons, and we got to fly with them a few times."

Hermione wanted to bang her head on the table. Unfortunately, now that everyone was talking animatedly about Quidditch, a few other Gryffindors were coming over to join them, including Shawna. Hermione looked out of the window and saw Luna heading for the bookstore. "Oi, guys, I see Luna. I need to ask her something," she announced as she rose to go. She gave Harry a gentle squeeze on his shoulder, making him promise to write her and left the bar. She was half way to the bookshop when someone grabbed her, pulling her between the closest shops and enveloped her in an embrace. "Lucius!"

"Merlin, I've missed you," he said, holding her tight. He let go to see her face, then leaned down and kissed her, hungrily, like a sailor returning from the sea. "Come with me?" he finally asked, coming up for air. Hermione nodded, lightheaded and breathless. He Apparated them to a cozy room with a sizable bed, two chairs and a small table next to a small bay window that overlooked the street. "I hope you don't mind, this is the room I am staying in."

"No, this is fine," she replied as she removed her cloak, letting Lucius hang it on the hook on the door. She walked over to the window and sat down, enjoying the view of the pretty town.

Lucius smiled as he followed her, enlarging the second chair into a big comfortable armchair before sitting down himself. "You look worried." Hermione opened her mouth to disagree, and he held up his hand. "Hermione, it's in your eyes, and your smile isn't as bright as I'm used to. Your letters—I'm worried for you. I don't like these messages and riddles. The vandalism is prejudicial rhetoric, the same things I used to hear the purebloods say all the time. In fact, they quote Draco. The other riddles, the writings on the parchments…" He shook his head. "I hate to admit this to you, but back in my day… We—I used to do some of it myself. Back when I believed such nonsense."

"And what changed your mind?" she asked, grinning, already knowing his answer.

"You did," he said smoothly, holding out his hand. Hermione placed her hand in his, and he pulled her sit on his lap. His one hand slid up her leg to her hip, making her slide closer to him as his other hand toyed with hers. "I would rather get you tutors, the best private instruction I can hire than have you in any danger."

She looked at their fingers, entwined with each other. "I know. I appreciate it, but I'd miss my friends. I love the castle, and Severus is making every effort for our safety."

He'd lowered his head to kiss her fingers when she'd said Severus' name. His tongue teased her fingertips, and he turned her hand over gazing at her palm. "I know. It's why I agreed to delay our wedding until December. Although, I'm finding that I'm impatient for Christmas to come. The days are so slow without you," he said silkily, then placed a sensual kiss on her wrist.

Hermione squirmed on his lap, and he smiled at her. "I have something for you."

"What?" she asked. "You don't have to keep giving me presents—or anymore flowers! I have bouquets on nearly every windowsill and on each of my dorm mates' bedside tables. I'm running out of room, not that the girls complain. Oh, Amanda loves the roses and Gerbera daisies, by the way. Margery said to properly thank you for the one with astilliums, roses, Asiatic lilies, and Demelza said I should kiss you for the bellimador, heartlace, and pristiniums."

"Then you should indeed," he said, drawing her to him. When their kiss broke he asked, "And which are by your bed?"

Hermione smiled. "The Merlin's hope and Ambrosia white roses from your garden are on my bedside table, and the last two bouquets are on my windowsill."

"You sentimental girl, those roses were the ones I placed by your bed at the manor," he said, teasingly. "Oh, I forgot." He reached into his pocket and withdrew a large pendant on a heavy chain and a bracelet with an odd charm on it. "These are for your protection." He held up the bracelet first, putting it on her left wrist. "This has a Sneakoscope on it. I modified the magic, intensified it so that it will detect only that which is truly a danger to you, not just a harmless prank. And this is a Foe-Glass." He held up what appeared to be a large locket. When he opened it, it seemed to grow, and she could see a swirly image begin to form, before he snapped it shut. She pulled up her hair so that he could put the necklace around her neck. The Foe-Glass locket fell down between her breasts. His fingers caressed the chain, stopping at the bale of the locket. "Use these to keep yourself safe."

Hermione hugged him tightly, trapping his hand between them. "I will. I promise."

"I've one more thing," he said.

She pulled away, with a look of amazement. "You'll spoil me!"

Lucius withdrew a small box from his pocket. "This is something I believe you are expecting." Hermione gasped as he opened the box and showed her an engagement ring. "There is a charm on it to make it unnoticeable, unless you show it to someone. I don't want you having trouble for wearing it." She examined the princess cut diamond with the Celtic infinity symbol on both sides, and the Celtic knot work design on the platinum band. Tiny runes were engraved inside the band. "Home, hearth, wealth, and happiness… every promise I make to you. Every promise we've made."

"Lucius, it's too much!" she said as he slipped the ring on her finger.

"Blood, body, heart, mind, and soul," he said firmly, then kissed her, pulling her to him to deepen the kiss. Hermione wrapped her hands around him and surrendered to him, feeling her heart soar.

"Have you eaten?" he finally asked. Hermione laughed as she snuggled against him, placing kisses on his neck and nibbling on his earlobe. Lucius groaned, and he pushed her away a little. "Hermione, dear, if we continue like this—I will… You have no idea how much I want to make love to you. Right now. Right here. Merlin, love, have some mercy. Let me call for food. I've been waiting to eat with you."

He snapped his fingers and a house-elf appeared with a tray. Hermione's eyes widened when she saw one of Lucius' special bottles of honeyed-mead next to the frosted glass. "I know how much you love my mead. I thought you'd prefer it to champagne."

November continues ~

~~oooo0oooo~~

Author's Notes:

So, Lucius moves the wedding plans along, Severus now suspects something is afoul, and we see our mystery character, well, sort of.

I dunno if the Entrance Hall has a chandelier, especially a wrought iron one, but I added one in.

If you don't recognize the name of the flowers, don't worry about it. I made them up.

I am not making up these riddles. The riddles for this story come from:

Some have been altered for the story.

Many thanks to my betas, Pookah, and MadBrilliant, for helping me clean up my many mistakes. I really appreciate it more than you can possibly know. I'd be ashamed to show my story to anyone without your invaluable help.