CHAPTER 15.  Only if you really want it.

- Albus, I highly doubt that Potter should know about it. The boy won't be able to behave as usual.

Severus himself hardly managed to control his emotions when he saw Hermione with Victoria's eyes. (maybe his  *habit* of contacting with Voldemort taught him something). His daughter pretended to be the unbearable Granger, and she was definitely not doing it under the Imperious curse – Severus knew his girl far too well. If she could be still called * his girl*.  He smirked mentally and continued:

- Besides, if our guesses are correct and Victoria is working for Voldemort, she must get in touch with him somehow. And if the Dark Lord suspects anything wrong who knows what he'll do to Miss Granger.

Snape looked at Dumbledore, but the man was  crunching  some candied fruit, being deep in his thoughts. Finally, the old wizard quietly muttered several words. It seemed to Snape that Dumbledore's voice sounded too weak, as if he was dying.

~*~*~*

Hermione wanted to faint so much. Just faint, without any efforts. Her parents would have said  – "magically". But Hermione knew that this *magic* was the most dangerous threat for her. Lucius was capable of doing everything he desired. A paralyzed enemy - girl – what could be a better gift? But still, the impossibly long minutes went by and by, and nothing happened.

Hermione's eyes could catch the sight of Lucius's lower part of the body. Basically, if she tried hard, she would manage to cope with the stress and look up, at Malfoy's face. But such stupid gazing seemed most humiliating to her.  That's why she kept staring at the silver buckle of his boot. Hmm, it will be probably pretty painful if he hits her with his leg. Or maybe she won't feel anything at all?

At this moment Hermione didn't feel like a  "knows- it- all". Well, she had certainly come across a number of scientific articles on paralyzed people, but generally they told about some famous wizards- heroes, who became the victims of the war against Evil. Ironically enough, she was one of such wizards at the moment. And she still didn't know what was happening to her. Hermione doubted that the paralysis, caused by an unknown hex had any similarities with the muggle form of this illness. It had too many forms and variations.

Besides, Hermione didn't know why Lucius considered her to be Victoria. If she had exchanged bodies with Harry's sister (at the very moment she was absolutely sure about it, 'cause she could see not only Lucius's, but *her* = Victoria's legs as well), then Lucius should know who was in Victoria's body. But if he really didn't have a point on that, then there was only one explanation – the Dark Lord decided to keep his affair a secret from Malfoy. This gave Hermione some kind of an advantage. But she could use it…

- Only if you really want it.

Lucius noticed that Hermione hadn't heard anything he said. He repeated with the same blank expression on his face:

- You will recover only if you really want it.

End of chapter 15.

I know it's such a tiny little chapter, but I couldn't combine it with next one. When you read it – you'll understand.

And I want to thank Airy for translation – THANK YOU!!! :)

By the way – reviews, flames, comments, suggestions, questions, candy, money, HP toys and stickers are always welcome :)