Disclaimer: Not mine.
A/N: thank you for the wonderful reviews—it keeps me writing.
Chapter 1
The Beginning
It was raining. Clouds hovered all day casting the day into shadows until the rain finally broke free. It poured from the sky. A rumbling thunder sounded in the distance…a storm was coming. Rain pattered the window he looked out of. Outside on the patch of grass now sodden from rain a storm was thrashing all on its own. If Hermione would look up to the drawing room window, she would see the pale face watching. She was too busy arguing with Ron.
The man continued to watch them. It was rather entertaining. They were both soaked to the bone. Ron reached for her arm, but she jerked it away. A second younger pale face appeared in the window.
"Father?"
Lucius turned away from the window.
"Yes, Draco?"
They had just returned from Narcissa's funeral only hours ago. Draco said nothing. His eyes darted around as if searching for something to tell him what to say. Lucius knew his son well enough to realize the guilt the boy was feeling.
"She wanted out too, Draco. The Dark Lord killed her before she could leave…that is not your fault."
Draco merely nodded and left for his own room. Lucius walked across the room to a chair that sat near the fire. His book waited for him there. With the warmth of the fire tickling his senses, Lucius immersed himself into his book.
"I said NO, Ronald!"
The girl herself followed the sound of Hermione's angry exasperated voice. Lucius glanced up from his book in time to see the soaking wet girl storm into the drawing room with Ron on her heels. Her hair hung down in stretched out curls and some strands were plastered to her face.
"Hermione! Come on! This is ridiculous!"
She whipped around to face him. Even from where Lucius sat, he could see the anger in her eyes.
"What is ridiculous Ron are your listening skills!"
Ron looked at her incredulously.
"Alright fine, Miss Perfect, what is so wrong with me that we cannot date any longer?"
Hermione looked at him in disbelief of the opening he just offered her. Crossing her arms over her chest, she smirked at him in a way Lucius didn't know she was capable of.
"Fine, you asked for it. One: I've already mentioned your lack of listening skills. Two: when it comes to our schoolwork you are lazy and pathetic—I will not do your homework for you any longer. Three…"
"Alright! I get it loud and clear, Hermione!"
Ron turned and left the room. Growling in frustration, Hermione picked up the nearest object, her bag, and tossed it across the room. It hit the wall next to the fireplace sending objects flying out of the bag.
Wonderful, Hermione, just wonderful.
Picking up her bag, she began shoving her belongings back into it. She was so angry when she entered the drawing room and when she threw her own bag that she did not notice Lucius sitting in the chair watching. He watched the Gryffindor crawling around on the floor gathering her stuff. One of her books landed by his feet. He leaned down to pick it up at the same time she noticed it.
She saw the pale hand reach out and take the book. A shiver ran through her body as she looked up into the face of Lucius Malfoy. He held the book out to her. Hermione reached for the book as she began to lift herself off the floor. The second she pulled to take the book Lucius pulled her forward, grabbing her arm to keep her from letting go. She fell back full to her knees and forward into his lap. She blushed fully at the realization that he still had a hold of her, keeping her in his lap, while her other hand landing on the side of him in the chair.
"Miss Granger, you are dripping water all over Mister Potter's floor and soaking everything you touch." He shoved her back. Snatching the book out of his hand, she headed for the door. Harry appeared in the doorway before she could leave. He knew her and Ron had a row earlier, but the tension in the room was so thick he instinctively looked to Lucius and then Hermione.
"When will the Order have a safe house for him?"
Harry smiled reassuringly at her.
"They are working on it Hermione. It takes a while you know. We'll be back at Hogwarts soon anyway."
Their previous year had ended in the belief that if Hogwarts remained open the trio would not be there. However, when Harry told the Order of the events that night and they began working on placing the Malfoys in hiding Lucius made it clear his son will finish his final year. The Order gave the trio the assignment of returning to school in order to watch over the Slytherin. Secretly Hermione and Harry both figured it was Remus' way of keeping them in school. Deep down Hermione was relieved to be returning.
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Hermione lay awake in bed. The rain continued to beat the windows and the thunder over shadowed the sound of Ginny's soft snoring in the other bed. Realizing sleep was nowhere near her, Hermione got out of bed. Throwing a robe on, she silently left the room.
The hall was darker than it was during the day. No shadows played in the corner, just pure blackness surrounded her. She found the drawing room door slightly ajar. An amber glow emanated from it. Her pace slowed as she stepped in. Lucius sat in a chair by the fire. The glow of the fire lit the room in shades of a glowing reds and oranges, dancing light across Lucius' face. Looking up from his book, he seemed to look her up and down. Hermione turned a bright shade of red as she realized her robe was open revealing her rather thin PJs. Wrapping her robe around herself, she walked over to the table where her holiday homework sat.
Hermione finished one of her essays while trying to ignore the grey eyes she felt wonder to her. She shifted uncomfortably in her chair. Grabbing her History of Magic text, she walked over to the sofa that sat in front of the fireplace. Lucius did not speak. Lucius stood and replaced the book he was reading. Taking another off the shelf, he walked over to the sofa and sat down. Instinctively, Hermione scooted farther away. Lucius looked over at her.
"Do you fear me, Miss Granger? We are on the same side now."
Hermione looked over at him. There was that sneer she associated with Malfoys.
"No, I do not fear you. And for the record, you did not choose to be on this side. You are here simply because your son was not the killer you tried to raise him to be."
"I would watch the accusations you make, Miss Granger."
Lucius turned back to his book. Hermione thought about leaving, but then thought better of it. Wouldn't that be just proving his point? No, she stayed and read until the warmth from the fire and the words on the page lulled her to sleep.
Lucius heard the dull thud of a book hitting the floor. Looking over at the girl, he discovered her curled up in a ball sound asleep. Looking around he saw no blankets of any sort in the drawing room. He grabbed his cloak off the back of the chair and draped it over her sleeping form before leaving for his own room.
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Her back hit the wall in the drawing room. It was rapid and hungry, like a volcano erupting after so long. She could understand it—she was soaking wet as she had been earlier when she was caught in the rain with Ron, but she wore her pjs with her robe open and off one shoulder. Something was disturbing her, but she just cast it away. His hair tickled her cheek. As his hand reached up to grasp her behind her neck she noticed it—the Dark Mark that was burnt into his arm seemed to mock her. He pinned her to the wall, as his mouth trailed down to her neck. Then she could hear his raspy voice.
"Hermione…Mudblood…"
"Hey! Mudblood! Get up!"
Hermione jumped in realization that she was still asleep on the sofa in the drawing room. Looking up groggily, she saw Draco standing there looking rather peeved himself.
"Get up, Mudblood! Mrs. Weasley asked that I wake you for breakfast."
Nodding her head, she sat up. Draco left satisfied that the girl was up and therefore he would not receive any sort of tongue lashing from Mrs. Weasley. Hermione sat there for a moment though. With her head in her hands, she wondered why she was having such a dream about Lucius of all people.
Bloody hell, I am losing it.
Looking down at her History of Magic text, she finally decided it must have been due to something she read in the text and the fact that his face was the last thing she actually saw before sleep took her over. Satisfied with her self-analysis, she got up to shower before breakfast.
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Breakfast was rather uncomfortable at first. When she entered, she could feel Lucius' scrutinizing eyes on her and it made her uncomfortable—even more so after that dream. Unfortunately, the only seat available was right across from the elder Malfoy. Sitting down she looked down the table at Ron. He turned away from her. Hermione sighed in irritation as Ginny placed an arm around her.
"Don't worry, Hermione. You know how my brother is. He'll get over it."
Hermione smiled at her friend and then dug into breakfast.
After breakfast, Hermione sat in the drawing room reading the rest of her History of Magic. Harry and Ron sat in a corner playing chess while Ginny lay sprawled out on the carpet in front of the fireplace working on an essay. Lucius sat on the sofa reading again—a large gaping space between himself and Hermione.
They heard the footsteps on the steps. Nobody looked up too wrapped up in what was in front of them. Suddenly the soft voice of Remus Lupin filled the room.
"Is this the greeting I receive?"
Everyone looked up. Harry's face lit up a bit—something it rarely did. Ron smiled widely as did Ginny. No one had really seen Remus all summer due to his work for the Order. Hermione jumped up and ran over to hug him. He lifted her slightly and swirled her around a moment.
"My, Mr. Lupin, they just keep getting younger and younger."
Remus put Hermione down and looked over at Lucius. Lucius smirked in the utmost Malfoy way. No one said anything for a moment.
"Good afternoon, Lucius."
Lucius simply nodded his head as Remus proceeded to pick Ginny up in the same fashion. Lucius said nothing that time. A comment was there, hanging in the air waiting to be said, but for some inexplicable reason Lucius didn't take it. He could care less what Remus did to the younger Weasley. This caused him to shift slightly—why had he said anything when Hermione hugged him? Easy—to torment both Hermione and Remus. He listened, watching their interactions through the corner of his eye as Remus told them there would be an Order meeting that afternoon, but Hermione could not attend this one.
Hermione did not take that news very well. She looked at Remus in shock. The tears were evident in her eyes. Remus knew this had hurt her. Placing an arm on her shoulder reassuringly, he told her, "not to worry, Hermione. You will be filled in and you will understand when you are filled in."
She nodded her head and looked away. Her teary eyes met those of Lucius'. She felt trapped, as if he was reading her mind. Looking away, she went back to her reading trying to convince herself it would be just fine. It was not easy however, when the feeling of being outcaste from the meeting haunted her.
Hermione paced back and forth in front of the fire in the drawing room as the meeting went on down in the kitchen. Lucius looked up from his reading to the girl. She was acting as an animal trapped in a cage. Lucius could not stand it anymore.
"Miss Granger, do sit down it would be a shame if anything…happened to you while they were all preoccupied with deciding your fate."
Sitting down she looked at the blond man.
"What do you mean 'deciding my fate?"
He closed his book and looked her up and down for a moment. Hermione shifted in her seat.
"Draco told me you were actually very smart. Your obtuse behavior contradicts such beliefs."
He opened his book before stating one last thing.
"Why else would you not be allowed to the meeting?"
Rolling her eyes, she picked up her book in an attempt to read while she waited.
Thirty minutes seemed like hours, but it was only thirty minutes later that Remus Lupin stepped back into the drawing room. Hermione stood up and looked around behind him.
"Where are Harry, Ron, and Ginny?"
Remus looked down at his feet, smiling slightly and then back up to Hermione.
"Harry and Ron did not want to be in the same room when I tell you what the meeting was about and decided on. Ginny is berating them for acting so cowardly."
Hermione waited, wondering what this was all about. Why couldn't she have been part of this obviously important discussion? She didn't have to wait long.
"Hermione, the Order has received some very disturbing news involving…you."
Hermione looked at him completely perplexed. Lucius' head popped up out of the book to listen.
"Me?"
Remus nodded his head yes. He ran his hand through his hair like he usually did when nervous.
"Hermione, Voldemort is sending a group of Death Eaters to retrieve you on your way to the Hogwarts Express."
"WHAT? Why?"
Hermione felt her heart rate quicken. She began pacing frantically.
"Hermione, please remain calm."
She stopped pacing, wide eyed.
"Calm? I didn't just tell you there was a plan to kidnap you!"
"Okay, you are in your right to be anything but calm, but as it stands we do not yet know his reasoning. All we know is the Death Eater in charge of your abduction."
Hermione looked at him waiting for him to tell her. Remus took a deep breath.
"Severus Snape has been put in charge." Hermione felt the blood run cold in her veins. "And Hermione, as he was your Professor in the past six years he knows you more than any other Death Eater. He knows your habits of study and he knows you will go wherever your friends go so we have to do something completely unexpected to keep you safe."
Hermione looked at him unsure whether she wanted to know what the 'unexpected' act to keep her safe was.
"You will not return to Hogwarts until we know you will be safe, Hermione." He held his hand up to silence her as she started to protest her lack of education due to this. "I will bring you all your assignments."
She nodded her head.
"Okay, so where will I be?"
Remus became nervous again. He looked over at Lucius who inclined his head to urge Remus to get on with it.
"Tomorrow the others return to Hogwarts while you and…Lucius will go to the safe house."
Lucius' eyes narrowed at the werewolf. Hermione looked as if she were about to hyperventilate.
"HE'S A DEATH EATER!"
"Hermione, please! It's the last thing Snape would think we would do."
"HE WILL HAND ME OVER!"
Lucius was quite amused at what a temper the girl had.
"Hermione! Listen to me. Lucius is about Lucius. To hand you over also means facing his master who would love nothing more than to kill him and his son. He won't take the risk."
"FINE!"
With a deep regretful sigh, Remus left the room. Hermione continued to pace around the room feeling quite agitated. One look from Lucius and she stormed from the room.
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Hermione lay in bed wide-awake again. She had everything packed and ready to leave for the safe house. Her mind ached from the mere thought of living with Lucius for who knew how long. Giving up her hope of sleep, she followed her usual path to the drawing room. It was empty.
She lit the fireplace casting the room in a warm glow. It was so opposite from how she felt. She was cold, empty, betrayed. With her face in her hands, she felt the warm tears break out. How could Harry have agreed to let her stay in a safe house alone with a man that hated anyone like her?
"Tsk…tsk…Miss Granger. Up so soon?"
The sound of the cold emotionless voice caused Hermione to jump to her feet. Lucius watched as she jumped up and looked around at him with wide eyes brimming with tears. The look of distress and ultimately fear angered him. He couldn't explain why, it just did. Hermione began to back up as Lucius rapidly approached her. Before she realized what was going on she felt the cold wall behind her. She had no where else to go.
Realizing there was enough space between them for Hermione to remove herself from the wall and step away she made the attempt. It didn't work. Lucius held his cane out in front of her, the serpent handle stopping her and keeping her on the wall.
"Miss Granger, do not even think for a moment that I will enjoy being your babysitter for Merlin knows how long."
His eyes penetrated hers in a way that made her want to run from the room and hide. She felt so…naked. Slowly, Lucius moved the serpent handle of his cane to her open robe. Pushing the robe front back a bit he looked at her without shame. Hermione felt her face turn red from the heat rising in them. With an eyebrow quirked begging her to say something, he nodded his head once and swiftly left the room.