Thank you all SO much for the reviews!! I appreciate all the comments so much. A few of you said not to have Lucius rape Hermione and I'd like to let you know that that isn't how the story will play out. There will however be lots of sex, seduction, and death.
Also, this chapter contains some R/Hr/H angst, but I promise you, it has a point... you'll see in the next few chapters!
~***~
"Ron, Harry!" yelled Hermione as she raced across the platform to greet her best friends. She was so caught up in greeting them that she almost failed to notice Lucius Malfoy only a few feet away eyeing her in most unsavory way as he dropped his own son off to catch the train back to school. Ron, however, seemed to be the only one to notice this but said nothing, as not to scare Hermione.
Once on the train, they found the last empty compartment and the two boys immediately began to question Hermione about what she had learned from her mother.
"Wow...." Said Ron. "I'm not sure what's more surprising... that your mother dated Lucius Malfoy or that Snape saved her life."
"I know. I'm going to ask Snape about it later," said Hermione quite matter-of-factly.
"Why?" asked Harry. "Why not just leave it in the past?"
"I don't know. I just have a strange feeling that something is up. Why would Malfoy have told me he dated my mother? And don't tell me you didn't notice the way he was looking at me."
Ron and Harry exchanged uncomfortable glances.
"See. And just today, when I was at Kings Cross I noticed him staring at me again. I'm worried that he may try to hurt my mother...or me."
"But you said that the spell prevented this." Stated Ron
"Yes, but I want to make sure that she's still safe from him after all these years. I've also been worried he may try to hurt her by hurting me." She turned her head as tears welled up in her eyes. What would she do if he did hurt her mother?
"Hermione... no ones going to hurt you... or your mother. Not as long as we're here," said Harry moving to put his arm around her.
"Harry's right Mione," said Ron moving to her other side. "If we can defeat Voldemort, I think the three of us can make sure a git like Lucius Malfoy doesn't hurt you!"
(A/N - the trio had been instrumental in defeating Voldemort during 6th year)
"You guys are the best," said Hermione, hugging them both. She wished she were as sure as they sounded, but for the moment she felt safe and protected. Her two best friends on each side, protecting her. She loved them both so much.
~***~
After arriving at Hogwarts, and after the sorting ceremony, and moving things into her new private room (one of the perks of being Head Girl), Hermione Granger made her way to the dungeons.
Knock. Knock.
"Come in."
"Professor, do you have a moment?"
"I suppose I could spare a moment. What brings you down on the first day of school? Lessons haven't even started and already you're here," said Snape in an acerbic tone, not even bothering to look up from the pile of papers he was working on at his desk.
"Its not about school." Suddenly Hermione was nervous. "Its about... its about my mother."
"What about your mother?" asked Snape, looking up, intrigued.
"Why did you save her life?"
"How do you know about that?"
"My mother told me. I know she wasn't supposed to tell anyone, but I asked her about it after Mr. Malfoy confronted me with the information."
"So you've seen Luius? What did he say?" If Hermione didn't know any better, she would have almost sensed worry in the Potion Master's voice.
"Just that he dated my mother. It was like he was torturing me with that information."
"Very odd..."
"What?"
"Nothing..." replied Snape. "So you want to know why I saved her life?"
"Yes."
"Because I could I suppose. Because she was beautiful. Because killing her would have been the damnation of Lucius's soul. Because I knew that he didn't want to kill her... that there was a part of him that loved her... a part of him that was capable of that love." He paused and looked at Hermione. "I suppose there were a lot of reasons that I did what I did that night. Why do you ask?"
"Because I'm worried. Like I said, I ran into Mr. Malfoy in Diagon Alley and he scared me. I just want to make sure that he still can't hurt my mother."
"I wish I could give you that assurance, but I cannot," replied Snape rather coldly. Hermione shuttered.
"But you placed the spell on him and..." she paused as she felt her voice quivering. She would NOT break down in front of Severus Snape.
"I did place the spell on him, but I believe his contact with you may be weakening the spell."
"How?"
"The spell I performed was placed on Lucius himself, not your mother. It is a derivative of a memory charm. It allows a person to fully remember events, yet removes or mutes any feeling associated with those events. In essence, I removed his anger and hatred toward your mother." He paused as a thin smile spread across his lips. "Very much like the spell you placed on Mr. Potter and Mr. Weasley." He stood up as he spoke, as if he had relished every one of those words.
"I don't know what you're taking about..." stammered Hermione with as much grace as she could muster after being hit with such a curveball.
"Oh my dear Miss Granger. You may be about to fool the idiot students at this school. You may even be able to fool Potter and Weasley. But do you not think that teachers notice something when one day two boys are madly in love with you and the next you're all simply buddy buddy?"
Hermione was speechless. For the first time she could remember, she had nothing to say.
"It is true, isn't it Miss Granger? You couldn't choose between them, so you simply charmed your problems away... made them fall out of love with you."
"Its not that simple," Hermione managed to stammer. "I love them both, and them with me, and I could never choose and never be happy with either of them. When I was with Ron, all I thought about was Harry, and when I was with Harry, I pined for Ron. So I fixed things so we were all happy." Suddenly she felt ashamed of what she had done. But it had been for the best, hadn't it?
"I'm not judging you Miss Granger. I was just making a comment."
"Can we please get back to the original subject Sir. I'm not sure if I'm comfortable discussing my love life with my potions professor," she said, trying to regain her dignity.
"Very well. The reason I mentioned your little spell was that you should know how it works. Usually the spell holds well, but certain things can break it. Namely an outside person."
"What do you mean?"
"I would have thought you read more carefully before performing spells," said Snape in a demeaning tone. "What I mean is, for example, if Potter or Weasley were to see you having sex with another boy, it might be enough to snap them out of the spell."
"Oh no..."
"Did that happen?" asked Snape, mildly amused.
"No!" replied Hermione, appalled that she was even having this discussion with her potions professor. "When I saw Luius, he made comments about... well... sort of sexual comments. And I look almost identical to how my mother looked at my age."
"That you do. Miss Granger, as much as I hate to say this, I have a feeling the spell may be breaking. I'm afraid that seeing you, looking like your mother as you do, may be the breaking point."
"So what do I do?"
"There is nothing you can do. For right now, the spell is holding. This spell, when performed, especially when performed to alleviate anger or hatred, creates a bond with the caster. I therefore, would know if the spell had been broken. For right now, he cannot hurt you, or your mother. If the situation changes, we will deal with it."
"Thank you very much professor," said Hermione as she headed out of the classroom.
"Oh, and Miss Granger. Your secret about the spell is safe with me. Just make me one promise."
"What is it?"
"That if you ever break the spell you'll date Potter, not Weasley. As much as I give Potter a hard time, he's at least worthy of someone of your intelligence. Weasley is a complete git."
He had said it so seriously that Hermione wasn't really sure whether to laugh or not, but she forced a chuckle and headed back into the castle and up to her room for a good nights sleep.
Sleep, though was to evade her, as she had a fitful night dreaming about Harry and Ron. She tossed and turned, for the first time unsure about what she had done. Had she made the right decision? "Yes," she told herself. There was not other choice. To not have done anything would have meant the destruction of a beautiful friendship. But she could not convince herself, and continued to toss and turn mulling the morality of what she had done just a few months earlier.
~***~
Miles away, Lucius Malfoy was having his own problems sleeping. He couldn't stop thinking about her no matter how hard he tried. Hermione Granger. The name echoed in his head and he couldn't make it stop. He thought of how it would feel is SHE were the one sleeping next to him instead of his cold, bitchy trophy wife.
He looked at Narcissa sleeping there and wondered how it had come to this. How did he wind up with a woman who he had nothing but contempt for? He often wished she would just die in her sleep, knowing that he couldn't have her die of his hand... too messy and definitely too many questions. Not that he hasn't considered it. With Draco gone back to school, Narcissa and Lucius spoke very little, each knowing the marriage was a sham. She was in it for the money, and he was in it for the social aspect. Being well respected in the wizarding community, it was good to have a wife who was from a proper pure-blood family. Not the mention that she was extremely attractive... a very good trophy wife if he did say so himself.
Sometimes he wondered if she knew about his conquests. It was true that he had signed a very damning prenuptial agreement, but did she really believe that he faithful? He always knew she wasn't the fastest snitch in the game but was she that thick? He just assumed she was... either that or she didn't want a divorce any more than he did. She also worried about social standing just as he did.
He had lost track of the number of women he had slept with, mostly muggle women he had picked up at bars and brought back to the Malfoy summer house. Most were willing... large quantities of alcohol usually did the trick. Others however required the impertus curse. Either way, Lucius considered it consensual. He had never forcibly raped a woman... he found that repugnant. What was the point? He liked his women subservient and willing.
This thought brought him back to Hermione Granger. He wanted her with every fiber of his being, but he also wanted her to want him. An evil smile spread across his face as he thought of the events he was orchestrating for the next few days. It was a marvelous plan. And the best part of the plan was that she would give herself to him willingly.
Also, this chapter contains some R/Hr/H angst, but I promise you, it has a point... you'll see in the next few chapters!
~***~
"Ron, Harry!" yelled Hermione as she raced across the platform to greet her best friends. She was so caught up in greeting them that she almost failed to notice Lucius Malfoy only a few feet away eyeing her in most unsavory way as he dropped his own son off to catch the train back to school. Ron, however, seemed to be the only one to notice this but said nothing, as not to scare Hermione.
Once on the train, they found the last empty compartment and the two boys immediately began to question Hermione about what she had learned from her mother.
"Wow...." Said Ron. "I'm not sure what's more surprising... that your mother dated Lucius Malfoy or that Snape saved her life."
"I know. I'm going to ask Snape about it later," said Hermione quite matter-of-factly.
"Why?" asked Harry. "Why not just leave it in the past?"
"I don't know. I just have a strange feeling that something is up. Why would Malfoy have told me he dated my mother? And don't tell me you didn't notice the way he was looking at me."
Ron and Harry exchanged uncomfortable glances.
"See. And just today, when I was at Kings Cross I noticed him staring at me again. I'm worried that he may try to hurt my mother...or me."
"But you said that the spell prevented this." Stated Ron
"Yes, but I want to make sure that she's still safe from him after all these years. I've also been worried he may try to hurt her by hurting me." She turned her head as tears welled up in her eyes. What would she do if he did hurt her mother?
"Hermione... no ones going to hurt you... or your mother. Not as long as we're here," said Harry moving to put his arm around her.
"Harry's right Mione," said Ron moving to her other side. "If we can defeat Voldemort, I think the three of us can make sure a git like Lucius Malfoy doesn't hurt you!"
(A/N - the trio had been instrumental in defeating Voldemort during 6th year)
"You guys are the best," said Hermione, hugging them both. She wished she were as sure as they sounded, but for the moment she felt safe and protected. Her two best friends on each side, protecting her. She loved them both so much.
~***~
After arriving at Hogwarts, and after the sorting ceremony, and moving things into her new private room (one of the perks of being Head Girl), Hermione Granger made her way to the dungeons.
Knock. Knock.
"Come in."
"Professor, do you have a moment?"
"I suppose I could spare a moment. What brings you down on the first day of school? Lessons haven't even started and already you're here," said Snape in an acerbic tone, not even bothering to look up from the pile of papers he was working on at his desk.
"Its not about school." Suddenly Hermione was nervous. "Its about... its about my mother."
"What about your mother?" asked Snape, looking up, intrigued.
"Why did you save her life?"
"How do you know about that?"
"My mother told me. I know she wasn't supposed to tell anyone, but I asked her about it after Mr. Malfoy confronted me with the information."
"So you've seen Luius? What did he say?" If Hermione didn't know any better, she would have almost sensed worry in the Potion Master's voice.
"Just that he dated my mother. It was like he was torturing me with that information."
"Very odd..."
"What?"
"Nothing..." replied Snape. "So you want to know why I saved her life?"
"Yes."
"Because I could I suppose. Because she was beautiful. Because killing her would have been the damnation of Lucius's soul. Because I knew that he didn't want to kill her... that there was a part of him that loved her... a part of him that was capable of that love." He paused and looked at Hermione. "I suppose there were a lot of reasons that I did what I did that night. Why do you ask?"
"Because I'm worried. Like I said, I ran into Mr. Malfoy in Diagon Alley and he scared me. I just want to make sure that he still can't hurt my mother."
"I wish I could give you that assurance, but I cannot," replied Snape rather coldly. Hermione shuttered.
"But you placed the spell on him and..." she paused as she felt her voice quivering. She would NOT break down in front of Severus Snape.
"I did place the spell on him, but I believe his contact with you may be weakening the spell."
"How?"
"The spell I performed was placed on Lucius himself, not your mother. It is a derivative of a memory charm. It allows a person to fully remember events, yet removes or mutes any feeling associated with those events. In essence, I removed his anger and hatred toward your mother." He paused as a thin smile spread across his lips. "Very much like the spell you placed on Mr. Potter and Mr. Weasley." He stood up as he spoke, as if he had relished every one of those words.
"I don't know what you're taking about..." stammered Hermione with as much grace as she could muster after being hit with such a curveball.
"Oh my dear Miss Granger. You may be about to fool the idiot students at this school. You may even be able to fool Potter and Weasley. But do you not think that teachers notice something when one day two boys are madly in love with you and the next you're all simply buddy buddy?"
Hermione was speechless. For the first time she could remember, she had nothing to say.
"It is true, isn't it Miss Granger? You couldn't choose between them, so you simply charmed your problems away... made them fall out of love with you."
"Its not that simple," Hermione managed to stammer. "I love them both, and them with me, and I could never choose and never be happy with either of them. When I was with Ron, all I thought about was Harry, and when I was with Harry, I pined for Ron. So I fixed things so we were all happy." Suddenly she felt ashamed of what she had done. But it had been for the best, hadn't it?
"I'm not judging you Miss Granger. I was just making a comment."
"Can we please get back to the original subject Sir. I'm not sure if I'm comfortable discussing my love life with my potions professor," she said, trying to regain her dignity.
"Very well. The reason I mentioned your little spell was that you should know how it works. Usually the spell holds well, but certain things can break it. Namely an outside person."
"What do you mean?"
"I would have thought you read more carefully before performing spells," said Snape in a demeaning tone. "What I mean is, for example, if Potter or Weasley were to see you having sex with another boy, it might be enough to snap them out of the spell."
"Oh no..."
"Did that happen?" asked Snape, mildly amused.
"No!" replied Hermione, appalled that she was even having this discussion with her potions professor. "When I saw Luius, he made comments about... well... sort of sexual comments. And I look almost identical to how my mother looked at my age."
"That you do. Miss Granger, as much as I hate to say this, I have a feeling the spell may be breaking. I'm afraid that seeing you, looking like your mother as you do, may be the breaking point."
"So what do I do?"
"There is nothing you can do. For right now, the spell is holding. This spell, when performed, especially when performed to alleviate anger or hatred, creates a bond with the caster. I therefore, would know if the spell had been broken. For right now, he cannot hurt you, or your mother. If the situation changes, we will deal with it."
"Thank you very much professor," said Hermione as she headed out of the classroom.
"Oh, and Miss Granger. Your secret about the spell is safe with me. Just make me one promise."
"What is it?"
"That if you ever break the spell you'll date Potter, not Weasley. As much as I give Potter a hard time, he's at least worthy of someone of your intelligence. Weasley is a complete git."
He had said it so seriously that Hermione wasn't really sure whether to laugh or not, but she forced a chuckle and headed back into the castle and up to her room for a good nights sleep.
Sleep, though was to evade her, as she had a fitful night dreaming about Harry and Ron. She tossed and turned, for the first time unsure about what she had done. Had she made the right decision? "Yes," she told herself. There was not other choice. To not have done anything would have meant the destruction of a beautiful friendship. But she could not convince herself, and continued to toss and turn mulling the morality of what she had done just a few months earlier.
~***~
Miles away, Lucius Malfoy was having his own problems sleeping. He couldn't stop thinking about her no matter how hard he tried. Hermione Granger. The name echoed in his head and he couldn't make it stop. He thought of how it would feel is SHE were the one sleeping next to him instead of his cold, bitchy trophy wife.
He looked at Narcissa sleeping there and wondered how it had come to this. How did he wind up with a woman who he had nothing but contempt for? He often wished she would just die in her sleep, knowing that he couldn't have her die of his hand... too messy and definitely too many questions. Not that he hasn't considered it. With Draco gone back to school, Narcissa and Lucius spoke very little, each knowing the marriage was a sham. She was in it for the money, and he was in it for the social aspect. Being well respected in the wizarding community, it was good to have a wife who was from a proper pure-blood family. Not the mention that she was extremely attractive... a very good trophy wife if he did say so himself.
Sometimes he wondered if she knew about his conquests. It was true that he had signed a very damning prenuptial agreement, but did she really believe that he faithful? He always knew she wasn't the fastest snitch in the game but was she that thick? He just assumed she was... either that or she didn't want a divorce any more than he did. She also worried about social standing just as he did.
He had lost track of the number of women he had slept with, mostly muggle women he had picked up at bars and brought back to the Malfoy summer house. Most were willing... large quantities of alcohol usually did the trick. Others however required the impertus curse. Either way, Lucius considered it consensual. He had never forcibly raped a woman... he found that repugnant. What was the point? He liked his women subservient and willing.
This thought brought him back to Hermione Granger. He wanted her with every fiber of his being, but he also wanted her to want him. An evil smile spread across his face as he thought of the events he was orchestrating for the next few days. It was a marvelous plan. And the best part of the plan was that she would give herself to him willingly.