Sitting down in the dining room with their salads, Hermione felt like a weight had been lifted. Picking up her fork, she snuck a peek at Lucius, who was staring at her in awe like he couldn't take his eyes off her since finding out she was pregnant.

"So, when did you find out?" His tone was casual, but his grey eyes shone with excitement.

"I found out today."

Lucius nodded and grabbed his fork, sticking it to a piece of cucumber, and brought it to his mouth. Hermione watched as he chewed with such elegance. It had to be a pure-blood thing, she thought. Shaking her head, she focused on her food, which had barely been touched.

"What's going to happen now?" His voice was laced with concern.

"What do you mean?"

Hermione looked up at the man sitting beside her, putting his fork down beside him and reaching out, taking her small hand in his large one. Grey eyes met brown; his mouth was pulled in a straight line as if something was causing him great concern. Gently squeezing his hand, Hermione hoped to offer him comfort.

"What about your friends, and aren't you dating that Weasley boy? How is all this going to work out?" All of this just tumbled out of Lucius' mouth, and she knew he made some excellent points, but she also knew she was not going to let the Weasleys interfere with her life or the life of their child.

"I don't know. Honestly, I was surprised by your reaction. I didn't think you would want anything to do with the baby." Looking back at her plate Hermione didn't want Lucius to see the mist starting to form in her eyes; the last thing she wanted to do was cry in front of him.

"What made you think that?" Lucius' voice cracked. The sound brought back memories of that night. She remembered when his voice would crack, he was thinking of the past, and from what she understood, he had a very complicated one.

"I just thought after you lost Draco and your wife, you wouldn't want to have anything to do with me or our child, especially because I am a muggle-born." The tears started flowing freely now, and no matter what she did, they wouldn't stop. Feeling the heat on her cheeks, Hermione stood and yanked her hand out of his. Preparing to leave, she was suddenly stopped by a big hand pulling her back to her seat. Looking up, Lucius' brow was knit together, and his eyes filled with worry.

"Blood status isn't an issue for me anymore because of what happened to my family. I denounced everything Voldemort stood for the night he took them from me." His tone was just above a whisper. Hermione knew that this was a sensitive subject for him.

"We had a plan, but I don't understand why she didn't stick to it." Hermione could feel her interest peaked. No one knew the story behind Draco and Narcissa's death, but she didn't want to force him to talk about it.

Lucius opened his mouth, but something caught his eye, and he instantly stopped speaking. A blue light caught her attention as it bounced around the room, freezing in front of her, and shifted into the familiar form of a jack Russell glaring at the Patronus in front of her Hermione couldn't believe that Ron had such lousy timing and she wished to strangle him immediately.

"Hermione, where are you? Mom has to talk to you. She says it's important."

Watching as it faded into nothing, she turned her attention back to the blonde, who loosened his grip and let go of her hand. The thought of seeing Molly Weasley caused her blood to boil; she still remembered what the older woman had said just that morning. Shaking her head, she turned to Lucius, who was picking at his food with the fork, not wanting to look at her.

"I don't care; she can wait," Hermione reassured Lucius that she wasn't just going to leave when he opened up to her. Grabbing his hand, she gave it a reassuring squeeze.

"Thank you." He nodded. "I've never talked about this with anyone before." Choking up, Lucius quickly grabbed the fire whiskey in front of him and downed it. Hissing as it went down, Hermione didn't know if she wanted to hear this story anymore because of how much pain it would cause Lucius to relive it but didn't say anything. Closing his eyes, he took a deep breath before opening them and looking directly at her with his eyes welled up with tears and mouth slightly trembling. It broke her heart to see him in so much emotional pain. Isn't this how you got into this situation because you felt pity for him. Her mind reminded her. Shut up! She yelled at herself.

"We didn't approve of how the Dark Lord was causing our son so much trauma by wanting him to kill people. Draco wasn't cut out for it, but I couldn't stop that because I was in Azkaban when he was ordered to kill Dumbledore." Refilling his glass, Lucius just stared at the brown liquid and sloshed it around in the glass. "After I was broke out of Azkaban Narcissa, I began questioning everything. We only wanted what was best for our son."

Suddenly again, a blue light bounced around the room and stopped directly in front of Hermione. Sighing, she narrowed her eyes, hoping it would just vanish. It took the shape of a Jack Russell, and Ron's irritated tone came through.

"Seriously, Hermione, where are you? You need to come home now."

Aggravated that Lucius had been interrupted again, Hermione pulled out her wand and asked to be excused and stood up from her seat, walked out the door into the kitchen, and sent her own Patronus.

"Ron, stop it; I'll be home when I get there. Your mother can wait." Venom laced her words, and she hoped he got the message. Walking back inside the dining room, Hermione saw Lucius standing in the middle of the room, staring at a spot on the floor. His face was like stone.

"Right here is where it happened." Hermione's mouth hung open she couldn't believe they were in the room where his family had been murdered. Why didn't he say anything? They didn't have to eat here? She felt shaken up by the thought of eating in the room where one of her classmates had been killed.

"I was summoned by Voldemort one night, and when I arrived, Narcissa and Draco were suspended in the air. I pleaded with him to take me, but he said no. I had failed him too many times. My death would come later." Lucius' breath hitched in his throat, and he began breathing quicker and fell to his knees sobbing.

Hermione ran over to him, getting on her knees. The hardwood floor dug painfully into her skin. She quickly wrapped her arms around him. He accepted the offer and sunk his head into her shoulder. The moisture from his tears dampened her shirt. Bringing her hand up, she began to stroke his unruly hair. The smell of whiskey was strong, and she was holding back a gag. She held her breath as he crumpled even further into her embrace.

"I failed them," Lucius whispered as he hugged her tighter, almost bruising her. The only thing Hermione thought to do was continue to run her fingers through his hair, and she began to rock back and forth. His body began to shake as he began to wail. The sound broke Her heart.

Loud banging from the next room made them both jump, and they briefly made eye contact, unsure who could be knocking. Lucius was the first of the two to get to his feet, all the evidence of his emotional breakdown now gone and replaced by the mask Hermione remembered seeing when she was younger. She stood up as well.

"Stay here. I'll go see who it is." Lucius' calm voice was now back in place, hiding his previous outburst.

Hermione opened her mouth to protest, but Lucius was already out the door waiting. She walked closer to the parlor and listened closely. She couldn't make anything out before the door burst open, and Ron stormed into the room. His eyes were wild with rage as his nostrils flared and his lips curled, showing barred teeth. The sight scared Hermione more than she wanted to admit.

"What are you doing here?" He shouted at her, causing her to recoil back from him.

Ignoring him, she looked around his frame, hoping to catch a glimpse of Lucius, but the only thing she saw was the door closing behind him.

"Nothing Ron, we were just talking." She hoped he would be satisfied with her answer.

Through clenched teeth, he let out a growl and paced the floor with his hands flying wildly around him. Hermione had never seen him this angry, even when carrying the Horcrux. Stepping back, she didn't want to be in his way as he continued carelessly stomping and threw his arms out whichever way.

"YOU shouldn't even be here. Do you forget what he's done and what HE is?" Ron was now directly in front of her, screaming in her face. His alarming behavior made her take a step back. Ron got ahold of her wrist and snatched her back, his face contorted into something she had never seen before that truly frightened her.

"Get away from her." Lucius hissed at the redhead, causing a scene.

Hermione jerked her arm free and, taking a step back, saw Lucius standing about a foot away from the pair holding a crossbow. It was like one Hagrid owned; she wondered where he got it from. Ron pulled his wand out of his pocket and pointed it at the blonde. Jumping in between the pair, Hermione shouted for them to put down their weapons. Lucius waited but did as he was asked when Ron reluctantly put his wand by his side.

"Ron, how did you even find me?"

Ron, not taking his eyes off Lucius, ignored her question and pointed an accusing finger at the man behind her and yelled. "You really think that crossbow is going to protect you, Malfoy, think again, now leave Hermione alone."

Rolling her eyes, she attempted to stop him from coming any closer, grabbed him by the arm, and pushed him back with all her strength. Staggering back a few steps, Ron's eyes grew, and his mouth hung open.

"What is going on with you, Hermione? Why are you protecting him?"

"You can't hurt him, Ron." Shouting at him, she felt Lucius move closer to her. His frame brushed up against her own.

"Why not?" Spit flew out of his mouth.

"I'm pregnant." Covering her mouth with her hand Hermione wished she could suck the words back inside, but it was too late Ron's face grew red as his hair, and he raised his wand, sending a stupefy that barely missed her and hit Lucius, throwing through the air hitting the floor with a nasty thud. Hermione, with lightning-like reflexes, hit Ron with an expelliarmus, making him lay in a heap on the ground.

Making sure he was out, Hermione quickly turned around and ran to Lucius lying flat on his back, not moving. Reaching out, she gently stroked his hair and checked to ensure no damage had been done. Satisfied he wasn't hurt, she cast a Patronus to Harry.

"Please come quickly to Malfoy Manor."

Authors Note: This is the longest chapter I've written; please tell me what you think by leaving a review. Thank you to everyone who has reviewed, followed, and liked this story.