Okay, it's official. Cordyangel has no life. Yes, this is another post, 'cos I've got nothing to do. I just finished watching I Am David, an extra sad movie, so I can't sleep. Don't get used to this extra often posting though, 'cos I hafta write to catchup to my posting.

Disclaimer: If I owned Harry, Draco, Severus or any of the other hotties created by J.K Rowling, do you really think I'd be writing at 10:45 at night?

Chapter 23: Love Stinks!

"The spark. The missing, the piece that fit. That made me fit because you didn't want- I can't. Not with you looking. I dreamed of killing you. I think they were dreams. So weak. Did you make me weak? Thinking of you? Hauling myself, spilling buckets of useless salt over your-ending. Angel, he should've warned me. Makes a good show, to watch it. It's here. In me. All the time. The spark. I wanted to give you what you deserved. And I got it. They put the spark in me and all it does, is burn."

Spike Buffy

But Hermione was wrong; Draco had been trying to reach her. The last few days had been hell. Every moment he wasn't trying to reach her, he'd been contemplating what horrors she must be going through.

He hadn't seen his father since the day Hermione had been arrested. Stupid as it was, he was leaving this in his father's hands. He was hoping Lucius would be able to get her out alive, and relatively unharmed. Lucius promised he would, but Draco would have to be patient. And Draco was being patient; he was sitting on his couch, getting drunk and being patient. And it was killing him.

He understood why he wasn't supposed to see her; he was already under too much suspicion as it was. All he needed to do now was attempt to see the 'spy' that he allegedly planted. The fact that he had planted her made everything a good deal more complicated. That and the fact that he was pretty sure he was in love with her.

Yes, he'd admitted it. The truth was, before Hermione he'd spent hours thinking about Beth, and how things could've turned out differently. But the last two months she'd barely crossed his mind, except during his training sessions. And even then it was only a passing or stray thought.

Elizabeth who had been full of light and life. She'd had more goodness in her than Draco had hoped to find in the whole world. Elizabeth who he'd planned on marrying. Elizabeth who he'd planned on marrying. Elizabeth who'd been killed before her 21st birthday. Because of him.

He drained the champagne bottle.

Unfortunately, falling in love didn't get easier the second time around.

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Lucius was mildly in shock. He hadn't expected Kylie to give in so easily. He hadn't expected Kylie to give in so easily. Not that he wasn't happy, he didn't know what he'd of done if she'd said no. But he was surprised.

No matter, he had to tell the Dark Lord what had come to pass.

"It is done my lord. She agreed to out terms." And to a few of my own private terms, Lucius silently added.

"So soon? I was prepared to let her rot there a bit longer."

Lucius shrugged. "Three days of the Imperious and the Crustacious can change one's mind rather quickly, my lord."

"True, true," Voldemort chuckled. "And you're sure she's sincere?"

"Yes my lord, she didn't seem to have the strength to lie."

"Did we glean any information out of her?"

"Only that she worked for a third party individual. She has also infiltrated the Order of the Phoenix."

"Do you think she knows anything about their plans?"

"Perhaps."

"What about your son?" Voldemort seemed truly interested.

"He said he had nothing to do with it."

"Do you believe him?"

"I did not at first but after hearing that Kylie has done this before has led me to change my mind."

"How so?"

"Well, at the moment we don't have any agents in the Phoenix she could latch on to and it's highly unlikely Kylie would depend on an inside man. She probably hooked onto Draco upon learning who he was and manipulated him into bringing her here."

Voldemort slowly nodded. "Sounds plausible. But we shouldn't give her any opportunities to plot against us. Returning her to Draco is out of the question."

"I agree with you my lord, it's much too risky."

"You seem in an awful hurry to remove your son's ex-plaything from his presence." Voldemort said conversationally. "Ah, but I forgot you're in lust. By the by, did you realize that for over a month and a half this girl has been screwing your son for money while getting paid for going undercover? What a job."

Lucius just nodded. He didn't particularly want the sight of Kylie and Draco doing anything in his mind, he'd already heard the soundtrack. "But we must find a place for her to stay a bit more comfortable than the dungeons."

Voldemort raised an eyebrow. "I suppose you're offering your own room then?"

"If there are no other options…"

Voldemort chuckled. "By the gods Lucius, you never cease to amaze me. Yes, if you wish, and I know you do, she can move in with you." Then he added conspiratorially. "Who knows what would happen. And you know how I love playing matchmaker."

Lucius' smile broke through but his voice remained calm. "Thank you my lord."

"If you don't mind me asking, what are you going to do with her? She's no longer a whore."

Chapter 24:Sitting, Waiting, Wishing

"Better to kill a witch tree times than to lock her up once"

Cate Tiernan Sweep: Eclipse

Hermione was waiting, again. It had been two days since Lucius had made his offer. Two days of torture and one cracked rib later and he still hadn't come. She admitted that the torture sessions were a bit shorter than before his visit, but she wasn't sure if that was his influence or management slacking. But as time passed she began to think Lucius had just been baiting her.

But he did come back.

"Sorry I took so long. There was a lot of red tape to go through. But it's all done, you're being released."

Hermione gaped at him for a moment. "Really?" She asked as a guard unlocked her cell.

Hermione swore that she could see a tad of compassion in his face. "Really."

Hermione made to stand but couldn't, her legs gave out. In an instant, Lucius was by her side and with surprising ease; he scooped her up and carried her up the dungeon steps.

Hermione was asleep before they reached the ground floor.

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Lucius was surprised but rather pleased by Kylie's reaction. She'd seemed to accept the strange state of affairs rather quickly. And now she was napping on his shoulder.

When he reached their rooms, Lucius carried Kylie to her room and sat down on her bed. He was aware of the fact that she would probably be more comfortable if he were not on the bed, but Lucius couldn't bring himself to leave. So he stayed there with Kylie's head underneath his own and gently stroked her hair.

Lucius took this time to examine her body. She was wearing only a thin tank top and a short skirt, so most of her body was visible. She had bruises ranging in color from a dark purple to yellowish brown. She was unbearably thin from days of little less than starvation and she had several bruises and cuts on her neck he supposed were from Antonin. As he looked at her other wounds, he couldn't help but feel a bit ashamed. All of this she'd suffered partly because of him. He hadn't wanted that to happen, which was probably the reason he hadn't told anyone about what he'd seen during their mind meld. He made a mental note to mention that to her and see what she said.

But Kylie's sleep soon grew fitful and she began mumbling, fighting off invisible assailants. Lucius pinned her arms to her side when she began thrashing them violently.

"Kylie!" He began to shake her. "Kylie!"

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"Kylie! Kylie!" A familiar voice filled with worry pierced the fabric of the nightmare Hermione had been suffering. Her eyes flung open and locked onto a pair of icy gray eyes.

Draco? Hermione's heart leapt in spite of herself.

"Lucius." She said, her brain knew better. At once she realized what had happened.

"Oh god, I'm sorry, I didn't mean to fall asleep." Hermione had been coherent for less than three minutes and she was already panicking.

"It's alright," Lucius said in an astonishing soothing voice.

What the hell was going on?

"Where are we?" Hermione realized she didn't recognize their surroundings.

"Your room." Lucius slid out from underneath Hermione.

"My room?" Hermione was relieved but, at the same time pleasantly surprised.

A brief smile graced his expression. "I told you, I'm not trying to trick you. My room is next to yours."

"Thank you…" though Hermione had addressed Lucius previously by his first name, she wasn't all together sure if that was okay.

"Lucius is fine."

Hermione nodded. "Thank you Lucius."

"You're welcome. Now, I really must go." He made for the door. Hermione leaned on her elbows. "Rest," Lucius ordered gently and then he was gone.

Hermione reclined again. Was she in some alternate universe? Had Lucius gotten a personality transplant? Whatever she'd expected from her deal with the devil, she had not gotten. Not that she was complaining, of course. It was just unexpected.

And if there was one thing Hermione had learned to fear atThe Headquarters,it was the unexpected.

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Please review. Please. This is so sad. I'm begging you. Please.