Pain, Hurt, and…Love?

Chapter Fourteen

Unwanted visits and Surprise happenings

Disclaimer: As always…Nothing I write her belongs to me. All to J.K Rowling as it should be. She's a million times better at this then I am.

Hermione woke sometime in the middle of the night. She was restless and felt the need to go on a walk. She looked up at Draco and smiled. It's amazing. He started out as the bane of my existence and now I don't know what I would do without him! Hermione knew what she felt for him was more then just a silly crush now. She knew for a fact because the more she looked at his angelic like face the more she wanted to hold him and kiss him and tell him she loved him. She laughed lightly at her own foolishness then climbed out of bed. Gently moving away so as not to disrupt the angel that was sleeping in her bed.

Hermione walked of the room, opening and closing the door gently. She walked down the dark nearly disserted corridors occasionally tripping over something that was in her path. After a while she closed her eyes as she was walking. Suddenly she bumped into what she assumed could only be a person and gasped.
"Excuse me. I'm so sorry sir. I wasn't looking where I was going. Forgive me!" She felt and heard him gently chuckle.

"That's quite alright. I'm trying to figure out why I am here. I suppose we can walk together for a while." Hermione finally stepped back so she could get a look at this person whom she was talking with and gasped again.

"Mr. Malfoy! I-I didn't know it was you…I…" He hushed her.

"Now now. Do I know you?" Hermione looked up at him confused. What is he playing at? Of course he knows me!

"It's me sir. Hermione Granger." He looked down at her just as confused as she was. A small smile was on his face, he obviously didn't recognize her. "I go to school with your son Draco. We are in the same year. Different houses…" She trailed off. There is no point to this. He doesn't seem to recognize me at all.

All Lucius did was Smile down at her. "Do you and my Son get along? Are you friends? Perhaps more then that." He gave her a little wink and Hermione frowned.

"Well…We aren't friends anymore…We have…Uhh…More then that. Now anyways." Hermione gave him a wistful smile.

"I can tell you must care for him quite a bit judging by that Glow you have. Almost makes me feel all warm and fuzzy." Hermione's jaw dropped…Warm and Fuzzy?? Hermione laughed and Lucius looked down at her oddly.

"May I ask what is so funny?" Hermione controlled her laughter and looked up at Lucius.

"Just…I just…Never thought I would hear you say something like Warm and Fuzzy. It just doesn't suit you Mr. Malfoy." He cocked an elegant brow at her, half in bemusement, half in questionment.

"What do you mean Ms. Granger?" Hermione sat down on a chair in the corridor they were standing in and Motioned for him to do the same.

"Well you see Mr. Malfoy. The only way I remember you, is a cold Heartless man. You hated me because I was muggle born and you wanted nothing to do with my dirty blood or me. You kept threatening Draco and me and so…One day I attacked you. You were a Death Eater; you worked for the Dark Lord and went against everything that I stood for. Mostly because I am the very thing that the Dark Lord wants to kill. But really that makes no sense since he himself is a half blood shouldn't he have to kill himself?? But he thinks that he is so…" A finger being pressed to her lips cut her off.

"Hush Ms. Granger. I understand. So I'm supposed to hate you because you are Muggle born. I see…Well I don't know if this will bother you at all but I don't see why I would hate you. You seem quite bright to me," At this Hermione blushed a little, "You are a Beauty to look at, and I see why my Son may Love you." Hermione was a violent shade of red and couldn't help but giggle slightly at what Lucius had said.

"Why…Why thank you sir. I do believe that is the nicest thing you have ever said to me before. Ever. In all my six years of knowing you and your family." Lucius smiled warmly down at her.

"But I think that I know why I am here. It was your attack on me that sent me here wasn't it?" Hermione tensed a little.

"Well…Yes, it was. But I have to say that I don't regret it in the least. You are, were, a horrible man. All you cared about was your wealth and your stupid name. Excuse my rudeness sir but you weren't the nicest person I have ever had the opportunity to meet. I think the attack was good for you personally." Hermione smirked at that but didn't show it to him.

"I would have to say you are right," At this Hermione nearly fainted dead away in the chair, "From what you have told me I think that whatever happened to me was for the best. I don't know why I would hate you. Other then the fact that you do seem to be a little snottish," Hermione scowled at him and he rubbed the back of his neck and laughed, "Nothing personal. Just saying you…Put on the appearance to be a bit of a snot. But you are a kind hearted girl and I can see that." Hermione beamed at him.

"Why thank you Mr. Malfoy. But I think I should be heading back to bed. Draco may be worrying about me." Hermione stood to leave. She smiled at Lucius… "I'll see you around. Night." Hermione walked off, back the way she came and to the Room. Thinking of how odd Lucius Malfoy's behavior had been. Was he telling the Truth? Did he really not remember her or the accident? If he did, he was putting on a good show of faking. No one could act as well as he could towards a person they totally despised after something like that happened to them.

Hermione slipped back into the room the Same way she had left. Making as little noise as possible. Crawling back into bed snuggling against the strong arms that encircled her the moment she laid down. She smiled and snuggled closer ready to get a little bit more sleep.

Draco and Hermione awoke to a loud knock on the door the next morning.

"What in the bloody hell could be so important they needed to wake us up at this ungodly hour?" Hermione yawned and smiled slightly at Draco's comment.

"I don't know…But I think that we will find out." Just as Hermione said that the door flew open and in came a very happy looking Minister of Magic. Hermione and Draco looked at each other and raised an eyebrow then looked back at the Minister. "Is there something you needed Mr. Fudge?" He just beamed at Hermione.

"Might I say that you are one bloody brilliant witch Ms. Granger?" Hermione arched her brow higher not sure what he was talking about. "I think you could go far with a mind like yours. After stopping Lucius Malfoy and delivering him right to us. I can't thank you enough Ms. Granger." Hermione frowned and Draco shook his head.

"I think the man is a loon Hermione. Something is a little loose up there I think." Draco whispered in her ear. Hermione laughed and the Minister looked at them a smile still in place.

"I say an award is given to you Ms. Granger. For what you did was stop a potential threat to us all." Mr. Fudge came up and shook her hand rather vigorously then backed away.

Hermione shook her head. "I don't think you will have to worry about Mr. Malfoy Minister. Why don't you follow me and I will show you what I mean before you even ask any questions." Hermione climbed out of bed and took Draco's hand dragging him with her, the Minister following quickly behind the two.

Hermione led them down the hall to Lucius' room. And opened the door. "Mr. Malfoy are you in here?" She asked.

"Well hello there again Hermione Granger. What a pleasure. I didn't expect to see you so soon again." Hermione smiled as both Draco's and the Minister's jaws nearly dropped to the floor. "Draco! My son! How are you? I hope Ms. Granger here hasn't done you in a number like she has done to me. No worries though! I'm fine." Draco shook his head.

"Father…What has gotten into you? I thought that you hated Hermione? Now you are telling her hello and being glad to see you? Did she knock your bloody brains out!" Lucius laughed.

"I have been told all of that Draco. And no…She didn't 'knock my bloody brains out' as you put it. She just set them straight. I don't know why I would hate her. She's brilliant and a sight to look at. I can't say I can find a logical reason to hate this girl." Draco was beside himself. He didn't know weather to be happy his father didn't hate Hermione or scared that this was all some sort of ploy. But like Hermione, he doubted even his father could act that well.

Hermione smiled at Draco. "I ran into him last night. We had a little talk. I think, whatever happened to him affected his brain somehow. It's like he is a completely different person." Draco gave Hermione a small smile.

"I don't believe it. This must be a trick of some sort. Come now Mr. Malfoy. Why bother to fool with us? You now it won't work. We have you right where we want you." The highly confused look on Lucius' face made Fudge question if what Hermione said wasn't right. But why all of a sudden? I guess maybe he really doesn't know what happened, or what is going on. Cornelius Fudge angrily stormed out of the room slamming the door behind him.

"Wonder what's got into him. And what did he mean he has me right where we want you?" Hermione and Draco both snickered slightly.

"Well Mr. Malfoy you were a Death Eater as I said last night. And well…Death Eaters get sent to Azkaban. They are hated. All or most die, what ever ones don't suffer in Azkaban for the rest of their lives." Lucius' eyes widened.

"That doesn't sound like too much fun." Draco shook his head.

"It's not. It makes people go insane. The dementors, they suck all the happiness out of anything. Without the happiness, without some thread of hope to cling to most people go insane from it. Sad really." Draco shook his head some more and Hermione nodded.

"He's right sir. I have seen it myself. It's a frightening place. And those demetors don't care who you are. They will suck out your soul no matter who you are. They tried to do it to me once. It's the scariest thing you will ever have to live through." Hermione shuddered and Draco wrapped an arm around her.

Lucius threw up his arms. "Enough of this sadness. What do you say we go down and get some Breakfast? I'm starved!" Hermione laughed and Draco shook his head, a smile on his face.

So the three of them walked down to breakfast together. Draco's arm around Hermione and Luicus' arm around Draco's shoulders. For all the world he looked like a good father, and caring person. If no one had known him before they would think he is a wonderful person. But sadly for him they all knew him. And they all knew that he wasn't really that kind.

But what they didn't know was that now he was. Now he did love Draco. And he liked Hermione very much so. Even though it was a jump for him, he didn't know he had acted any differently. He didn't know anything other then way he was acting now.

Both Hermione and Draco were a little nervous about the whole thing but they weren't about to question it. They both preferred this Lucius to the old mean Lucius.

A/N: Okay…Okay…It's been ages I know!! I'm sorry!!! And I hate making excuses…People who do that irritate me. But I just haven't had the inspiration to write!!! Lack of reviews and whatnot will do that to you. I keep hearing how good this story is yet…I can't seem to get many reviews!! . So REVIEW I SAY! But if you don't want to then don't…I just won't update…no big deal…really...I mean it will give me some free time…Less time trying to figure this thing out…But meh. You decide. Do I keep going with this or not??? Choice is yours!

Luv ya!

DHL