Disclaimer- Do not own Harry Potter!

Author's note- I'm actually excited about this chapter. I wanted to make Lucius evil but not Voldemort evil. I think that most people have a good side and I believe that if Draco was always so stuck on his father, he must have loved him, so Lucius has to have some redeeming qualities. I love writing author's notes. I could be an utter prat and this would be how you could tell. OH! To Goddess of Life and Death (I love the way your name looks in italics) I do hope you did well on your test. Teachers, as great as some are, really need to learn that no one remembers anything after break. It's really such a heartless thing to do, giving a test on the Monday back! Thank you to the other people who reviewed. It was nice coming home and checking my email to see happy notes.

Chapter 8

"Is this a trick?" Lucius spat. "Is there a reason that my son is sitting at the front of the room with a mudblood? IS there a reason she is in what looks to be a wedding gown?! Draco, son, I'm so disappointed in you. What have I taught you? Was my time wasted?"

"Father." Draco stated calmly as he and Hermione stood.

"Mr. Malfoy, if you would like to join us, I am sure that we can make room at the table." Hermione stated, smiling inwardly at the gasps and groans that filled the hall. She knew that whatever Malfoy Sr. threw at her tonight she could take, everyone was on her side.

"And sit within 50 meters of you, you dirty piece of flesh? I think not."

"Well, I am sure the other tables would welcome you if you would not like to sit by me… or your son. You were once a Slytherin, no?" Draco was watching her in awe and in shock. Lucius was not a force to be reckoned with and right now Hermione was preparing herself for a fight. Lucius would be sure to kill her!

"I would not like to sit anywhere, muggle." Hermione began to glow.

"Lucius, do you realize where you are standing?"

"You are stupider then I first thought my dear. I am standing in the Great Hall at the infamous Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry."

"Where sir? I can't hear very well."

"I am standing in the great hall of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry." Hermione was shining and Lucius wasn't even beginning to back down.

"Yes, now tell me, have you ever met a muggle who could perform magic?"

"You, mudblood, are only proving to me how unworthy and dull minded you are. No, they can not."

"Then, Lucius, if I was a muggle would I be here?" Lucius glowered at her.

"You are nothing special, Mrs. Granger, you will never amount to anything." There was no mistaking Hermione's glow now. Draco was scared of her. He had never actually felt the glow until that moment. He felt the pull towards her and began to move closer.

"Say that again Lucius."

"You. Are. Nothing." Then tension in the room doubled. Hermione lifted her hand and pointed at Lucius. She dragged her hand forward and he flew towards her. His eyes never wavered but Draco knew he was beginning to get nervous. Hermione placed him in front of her.

"If I was nothing, sir, then your son would be less than nothing. You do realize I have higher grades than him." Draco inhaled sharply from the side as Lucius glared at her. Hermione turned to look at Draco and the Headmaster. Dumbledore was looking worried, yet amused, at the same time. She thought to him.

'Headmaster, what do I do?'

'Do what you feel is right. You are a smart girl and you can hold your own. This is a test.'

'Yes, sir.' While Hermione was having this brief conversation Draco watched her. He wanted to know what she was saying! None of them noticed Lucius pull his wand until he had it pointed at Hermione.

Lucius knew that his son would do anything for him, or he thought that at least. His son was a clever boy and Lucius had never given him a reason to defy. Lucius didn't beat Draco and he didn't necessarily want him to become a death eater. He just wanted him to be feared so that when the Voldemort was finished (which was inevitable, Lucius knew. The Dark Lord had lost to a baby less than two decades ago, he couldn't beat the boy now that he was grown up) he, Lucius Malfoy, could take over and Draco could be his right hand man. Plus, as much as he was loyal to Voldemort, the idea of ridding the world of Mudbloods and Muggles was preposterous. Who would his family have to blackmail and pick on if there were none left?

Hermione had watched as Lucius pointed his wand at her heart and she had mentally held a quick conversation with Draco.

'Do you feel okay?'

'Yes. Don't kill him.'

'I will not. I need you to realize that he may try to kill me and then I will have no choice but to hold him off. I will try my best not to harm him.'

'Do not hut him. Please, Hermione, please.'

'I will not. I don't think I could even if I wanted to. I will try my best not to harm him.'

'I owe you one.'

'You owe me nothing.'

Hermione was now staring Lucius in the eye, "Lay down your wand." No one was interrupting her. Dumbledore knew Hermione's power and knew that if someone interrupted her, besides Draco, when her concentration was focused on one thing, they could die. He had motioned for everyone to stay seated and he watched as Harry, Ron and most of the student body became anxious. Lucius muttered a spell. The whole room, apart from Draco, Lucius and herself, seemed frozen. "Why is no one moving Lucius?"

"This is a complex spell that, with one spell spoken aloud, could kill them all. So complex is this spell that no wandless magic could ever undo it. Everyone was going to let you fight your own battle. They all think you have such great power. I see your shine. I saw you use wandless magic. I see the gleam in your eye that makes you think you are all powerful. You are still nothing though, absolutely nothing."

"Lucius lay down your wand."

"Only for your life you useless whore. Any last words?" Hermione had had enough.

"Yes actually." She lifted her arms and focused on Harry, his eyes gave away his fear for her. Hermione knew that the spell Lucius had done was too powerful for her. She was a baby with the wandless magic, merely being able to lift and move things and people. She thought quickly. 'Draco. Say something to him; distract him for just one second. All I need is one second.'

'Yes.'

"Father, May I have the honor of killing her?"

"No. I have waited too long. Do you know the reason that I was sent to trial two years ago Draco? Do you know the reason I was almost thrown into Azkaban? It is because of her. Now, you were forced to wed her. She has lowered the Malfoy name. I will not stand to let her live. I must take her life."

"That sounds fair enough father."

Hermione seemed to just be watching them as they talked. Her arms were still raised in the air. Never moving, she called to the light. She didn't know how her body was taking control. She saw how she had glowed, still glowed, and she knew that everyone else saw that shine emitted from her. This shine, this glow, was nothing though. She wanted more light. She needed it. A silent chant was echoing from her lips as Lucius finished his speech to his son. "Come fill my body, my soul and my mind

Need and a thirst for light you will find

Fill every crevice and my every bone

With light bright enough, the sun is outshone

Come fill me now in this shadowy tomb

I need to be completed, come! There is room.

My life and other's are in the hands of the moon, stars and sun
Light fill me now. Let us become one!"

Lucius had finished his conversation with Draco and was watching Hermione carefully. "What's she saying, boy?"

"I do not know father."

"I want to kn---" He was stopped mid-sentence by the sound of shattering windows. He looked around and his eyes landed on Hermione whose head was faced upward. She was beginning to rise off the ground. A loud swoosh filled the air as light. Natural, pure, white light flew into the great hall from the windows. The night sky was almost black already and now it was so dark it looked like velvet.

Lucius gasped. No stars were visible. No moon was visible either. There was no light outside of the great hall except for the river that was flowing through the windows into Hermione.

He backed away and went to yell at his son but he caught a glimpse of him. Draco's eyes were blank. There was no iris, nor a pupil. He looked at his father and Lucius stared, shocked, but never showed his fear. Light was now pouring from the two students' bodies as they floated about the staff table.

"Father." Draco spoke, his eyes still nothing, "I would like you to meet the Keeper of the Light." Lucius gasped. That was only a myth! There was no such thing as a keeper. "Do not, father, disrespect her. She is not afraid to stand her ground nor am I. We have no control over what is happening to us or what we do. She was chosen, and she chose me. Consider this your first and only warning."

Lucius only looked ahead.

"Lucius Malfoy. You have put the lives of too many in danger because of a stereotype. I am not nothing. My name is Hermione Granger. I am a human. I am a witch. And I am the keeper of the light. Do not make me angrier or you will not live. Do you understand?"

Lucius squeaked.

"Good." Hermione lifted her hands above her head and he rose above the table. Lucius prided himself on being a strong and healthy man. The only person he was afraid of was the Dark Lord.

It was true that Dumbledore would surprise and shock him but he was not afraid of him, simply intimidated.

The minister of magic could always refuse his bribes and he could be put into Azkaban or he could die, but this wasn't plausible. The minister was a clueless man who would do anything for money. For this reason, Fudge didn't scare him, merely made Lucius extra careful which was more beneficial in the long run anyhow.

There were dementors too. They could place their icy, emotionless lips on his and he could fade away, to be remembered only by a portrait placed in strategic place. This didn't scare him, which was surprising to himself. Dementors were dark creatures and strong but they weren't skin and bones so they weren't something to back down from. No, nothing truly scared him besides Voldemort.

Except now.

This teenager, This CHILD, had more power than he ever hoped to have and he was damn near peeing in his pants he was so frightened. Of course, he didn't show it outwardly, but inwardly, he was convulsing, he was so scared.

Lucius began to move towards Hermione. His eyes were wide as her watched the glowing teenager pull him in. He felt her rub her hand across his cheek and touch his shoulder. He didn't know what she was doing but as long as she wasn't going to kill him, he would be fine. He would be fine. He kept repeating this to himself and nearly leapt into the air (though it would be hard considering he was already in the air) when Hermione spoke again.

"Lucius. I see love in your past, love and caring. In your future I see nothing and in your present human form I see fear. I smell fear. I can, quite frankly, taste your fear. What do you wish me to do?"

"I don't want to die."

"Lucius, you have killed. You have tortured. You have raped. You are evil. What do you want from me?"

"I do not want to be hurt."

"Lucius. Why do you kill?"

"I kill because I am asked to."

"Do you wonder how these people feel."

"They are beneath me. I do not care how they feel."

"And you, Lucius, are beneath me. Why do you torture and rape."

"My lord asks me to, I do as he says. They do not deserve to live. They are beneath me."

"And again, you are beneath me. With your philosophy you do not deserve to live."

"Do not kill me."

"I saw many people pleading with you for the same thing. Lucius, I swore to Draco that I would not hurt you, therefore I will not. I am saddened by you. You look strong, but I pity your cowardice." Lucius steamed! He was no coward! He had proven himself strong many a time.

"I am no coward you piece of shit teenager."

"You are strong Lucius. I will give you that. Your spinelessness still surprises me though. Will you never stick up for what you believe in? I know you don't want to rid the magical realm of mudbloods and muggles. You want them here; I see it in your eyes."

"You can't see anything. You are too blinded by what you are led by, the light. The Dark Lord is strong and he'll be great. He'll be greater than your precious Dumbledore and I will be there beside him--"

"Following his command?" Lucius was incensed. He was irate and annoyed and angry and completely put out by Hermione, who was completely twisting his words.

"No! I will—I am—I will be great!" Lucius was struggling in the air against the bonds Hermione had erected around him. He was reaching for his wand.

"I will take back my oath if you force me to. I am not afraid of death. I am not afraid of the after life."

"Aren't you so brave." Lucius mocked, feeling stronger by the second.

"Specula!" Hermione forcefully cried, pointing at him (ray of hope)

Lucius was engulfed in blue light. He cringed as his body sizzled, but he refused to scream. He didn't know what was happening, and he didn't know what this girl was doing to him. He saw a picture flash through his mind, then a few more. Eventually the pictures mashed together to form three memories that flitted across his eyelids.

He was 11 years old on the train to Hogwarts for the first time. "Hello." He said royally to another wealthy looking child, he must be pureblood! Lucius thought excitedly He looks too wealthy to be anything but! "What's your name?"
"Carter. Jonathon Anthony Carter."
"I've never heard your name before. I am Lucius Malfoy."
" Never heard yours either pal."
"Are you pureblooded?"
"Um… I don't believe so. I am, muggle-born, I think? Would you like to sit with me?"

He was 14 years old. "Merlin Carter. You'd think we were brothers. I'm not even supposed to associate with you. We're too similar. This can't be good!"
"Ha! I know, I still can't believe we're such good friends!"

It was 7 years later and Lucius was looking with hatred at a familiar looking man.
"Luciusssss" The Dark Lord Hissed. "Kill him. He'ssss a muggle born."
"Whatever you wish master." Lucius responded. Then the man on the floor spoke.
"It's been to long Lucius. I'd never have believed you would follow this path. Before you murder me though, I'd just like to thank you for befriending me in Hogwarts." Lucius stared in horror at the confident man on the floor.
"Carter?"
"Oh great. You remember. Maybe after this we could go out for crumpets?"
"Still smarmy."
"Oh yes Lucius."
"Luciussssss" The Dark Lord hissed again, "thissss man is trying to destroy ussss. He workssss with aurorsssss. Make him cry out for merssssssy. I want to hear him ssscream in pain. Do asss I wish or your time here on earth has to come to an end."
"Yes my Lord. Last words Carter?"
"Thank you for killing me. I would love to die a martyr for my cause. Especially to a friend. I will not scream. Never for you, pal, you are a coward. I would never have thought so, but you are a coward."
"Shut up you bastard! CRUCIO!" Lucius watched Jonathon Carter twitch in pain, but never once did he scream. He looked at Lucius in the eye one last time as the curse was placed on him.
"Tell my wife and daughter goodbye for me." He wheezed, the curse still being inflicted upon his limp body. Lucius stared at the man and locked eyes with him. Jonathan smiled as he died, with a blank stare his lifeless form crumpled to the floor.

Lucius awoke. He was laying on the floor his skin no longer burning. "You are a bitch. Why did you have to make me witness that?" He spat at Hermione who was still floating calmly. He was seething at having to relive his memories. 'What did I do to deserve that!?' "You will die."

"As will you." And Hermione turned to Draco and nodded.

"Leave now, father, leave now."

"I will take back my oath while Draco is standing beside me if you do not disappear from my eyesight. Lift the spell and be gone. If I come across you again I can not say I will be so patient."

"Yes. Yes." Lucius steamed. Hermione's power had been so strong he had been choking to death with the heat of her anger. A minute more under her deathly calm when angry figure and he would have blacked out.

"Lift the spell and leave." Hermione spoke once more. Lucius almost said the curse to bring down the people in the great hall. To kill them, but Draco, who had lowered to the ground spoke.

"Father, she anticipates your move. One wrong move and she will kill you. Her job is to protect and you are threatening what she, on instinct, does. You will not have time to finish your hex, you will be dead. I have given her permission to kill you. You have tested my limits. Leave. Now." Lucius sighed anxiously, the only person he took orders from was his Lord, but he could finish the job later. He had tested the waters and now he knew the risks. He had accomplished what he came for and had quite the piece of gossip for Voldemort. He removed the spell and walked sophisticatedly down the aisle (not showing the fear he still felt) and out the large doors.

Everyone was coming too and realizing that they were covered in glass shards. They noticed that Hermione was shining so brightly she could have outshone the sun and Draco was shining too. They were standing at the front of the staff table, glowing together. Neville, who had a glass shard somewhere on his back, was absently trying to remove the piece as he stared at Hermione and Draco.

He listened, as well as the rest of the great hall, as Hermione again began to chant:

"You have helped and have aided in my time of needs
Light fade away at the fastest of speeds
Thank you for shining; for no death and no doom
Light, you have saved all the lives in this room
Go back to the ends of the earth that you roam
Light leave me now! Go! Return home!"

And a deadening cheer filled the room.

Hermione, overwhelmed by everything, tired from the light transfer in and out of her body and stressed because of her wedding, dropped to the floor in front of the table. Madame Pomfrey rushed forth to the collapsed girl and was about to bend down to touch her when a low growl was sounded her way. She looked up into the eyes of one of her most annoying patients, Draco Malfoy.

"Don't touch her!" He snarled.

"Mr. Malfoy, she just collapsed, we have to help her. I'll bring her to the infirmary and we can patch her up and—"

"Do not touch her."

"Mr. Malfoy!" Madame Pomfrey exclaimed in a huff. "She may be your new wife but that does not mean that you ---"

"She'll be fine. I know she will. You won't be if you touch her. So I'll warn you one last time, do not touch her." Madame Pomfrey looked flustered by Draco's sharp words.

"Headmaster…?" Dumbledore sighed, this was a long day.

"Do as Mr. Malfoy wishes, I believe he knows exactly how Mrs. Malfoy is feeling at the moment." Poppy nodded and Draco turned to Dumbledore, his face set in a stern form.

"We'll be leaving now sir, goodnight." Draco turned to the room of students, "Goodnight." He leaned down and hoisted Hermione up, settling her in his arms, and walked away without a backward glance at the Headmaster.

A/N- Hmm… a bit corny (I said it first!) but I enjoy reading what I write. I could get down and dirty and nit picky but you should have seen this chapter before I proofread it the first time. Or even the second / third/ fourth time. I'm such a gall darn perfectionist.
Not really, I just enjoy writing. Next chapter will be out…. Friday after school or Saturday morning. I have to fix it up a bit. It's in its sucky stage right now. I just am excited about Chapter 11. Whee! Review Monkeys!
Your fantabulous savannah friend (hah),
Unspotted Giraffe
P.S. Hope you got an A!