Disclaimer: not mine.

This is the inspiration for her costume: http/ Thanks everyone. Oh yea, there are two songs (not full songs) in this chapter. The first is called "Blue Monday" by Orgy—I had to…this one has a special place of anxiety in my heart as my youngest child for two years in a row in the same month each year was dancing around to this song and fell over her own feet (she was 2 and then at 3) and hit the coffee table with her head—she has two small scars from these two trips and to her delight they form 2/3 of a Harry Potter scar. Kids! The second song is "Blurry" by Puddle of Mudd.

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Chapter 7

Blue Monday

Lucius watched his son swallow an apparent lump in his throat. Lucius was transfixed. Hermione wore a beautiful cream-colored dress and a small set of cream-colored feathered wings. With a strap only on the left side, the front of the dress swooped down just enough to be revealing and not so revealing at the same time. The material clung to her not like some sort of spandex or leather, but in a very natural flowing way. Lucius' eyes traveled her body. It was simply fascinating. The material seemed so thin you could see straight through it, but the only part you actually could was her midriff. The skirt portion seemed to be in a couple layers of the same material, teasing him with what he could and couldn't see. As she walked, the skirt portion flowed back and would cling to each leg as it stepped forward giving Lucius every detail without truly showing him anything.

Hermione heard the shattering glass from where she stood with Draco. Both of them looked up at his father. He saw his father scowling at Slughorn and the way his eyes kept flicking to Hermione. That was when Draco noticed the silver chain around her neck. Reaching out he lifted it to get a look at the snowflake pendent.

"Where did you get this?"

Hermione turned her attention back to the youngest Malfoy.

"Oh, it was a birthday gift, though I do not know who from."

Draco looked at the pendent and slowly his eyebrow rose as he turned his attention from the pendent to his father. His father was standing there glaring at his son. A small smile began to form on Draco's mouth. Nodding his head, he let go of the pendent and took Hermione's hand to lead her to the dance floor. As he led her out there, Draco turned his head to his father again. With a smirk and nod of his head to his father, Draco turned to Hermione on the dance floor.

How does it feel to treat me like you do
When you've laid your hands upon me
And told me who you are
I thought I was mistaken
I thought I heard your words
Tell me
How do I feel tell me now
How do I feel

How does it feel?
How should I feel?
Tell me how does it feel?
To treat me like you do…

Lucius watched Hermione dancing with his son and felt that same twinge of something foreign urging him to punish his son and drag Hermione off the dance floor. The thought was ridiculous of course. Why would he care beyond the fact that this was a Mudblood dancing with his son? Then he noticed how the dress moved on her as she danced. So enticing…too enticing.

… Tell me now
How should I feel
Now I stand here waiting...
I thought I told you to leave me
While I walked down to the beach
Tell me how does it feel
when your heart grows cold How does it feel?
How should I feel?
Tell me how does it feel?
To treat me like you do

Lucius watched his son smirking at him as he leaned over and whispered something in Hermione's ear. She smiled. Lucius sneered. He couldn't explain it. He did not want his own son to make the girl smile like that. Luckily, for Lucius, Slughorn had disappeared into the crowds of people while Hermione was dancing. To his utter disappointment, Slughorn returned with Lupin as Draco and Hermione approached his father.

"Hermione!" Slughorn hugged her as she permitted. Draco noticed his father frowning at this little display of friendliness. "Wonderful costume! Let me guess—Nike?"

Hermione nodded her head.

"Wonderful choice! Did you know that particular goddess was the personification of beauty during the Hellenistic period?" He chuckled. "But of course you did! Beautiful."

Remus smiled at Hermione's blushing.

"Hello again Professor Lupin."

Remus smiled and kissed her chastely on the cheek in greeting. Draco watched his father take in a rather deep breath.

"Professor Slughorn," Remus began while looking at Hermione, "I am sure Hermione was more in line with Nike being the goddess of Victory when dressing."

Hermione smiled her thanks. Lucius took a sip of his wine and chuckled with obvious sarcasm.

"Yes, the goddess of Victory. How fitting for the little girl of the Golden Trio."

Slughorn laughed jovially.

"Oh, Lucius. I would hardly call Hermione a little girl! Why just look at her!"

Hermione felt the red rising on her cheeks. Why was this even happening? Lucius saw the spark of anger in her eyes, but Remus was attempting to avoid any sort of argument between the two.

"Hermione, would you like to dance?"

She smiled at Remus and accepted, glaring at Lucius as she followed Remus away from the group. Draco stood in silence watching his father and Hermione. She turned and glared once more time at Lucius as Remus pulled her toward him for the slow song playing. His father took another deep breath.

"So father, how are you?"

Lucius turned to look at his son, knowing he had an ulterior motive for this conversation.

"As well as can be expected, Draco."

Draco nodded in understanding then looked back toward Hermione. He couldn't blame his father for scowling this time. He thought Hermione and Remus were dancing a little too close also. He looked back to his father.

"She is wearing an interesting pendent, father."

Lucius turned his head toward his son and eyed him warily. Draco smiled as if knowing something no one else did and walked off.

The party carried on. Hermione danced with several friends. Lucius continued to eye her with much anxiety on the inside. Slughorn continued to go from group to group talking and reaching out in the crowd of people and pulling in someone passing by to introduce them to someone else. Hermione was enjoying herself.

It had been a while since Hermione was able to have fun. Sitting in hiding for days on end with Lucius was taking its toll. Lucius could see the relief and joy on her face. Hermione was relaxing and enjoying herself for a change. It was a relief for her not to be on guard all the time expecting an insult to be thrown her way. With a smile, she accepted Ron's query for a dance. Lucius watched the fumbling Weasley lead the girl to the dance floor. He sneered as Ron wrapped his arms around her waist pulling her closer to him. Then the voice sounded from the shadows behind him…the voice that inwardly gave Lucius a sudden strike of fear…the voice that reminded him of what he is.

"Why Lucius, I never would have taken you as the type to like little school girls."

Lucius turned his head slightly to look behind him. The man stood in a black cloak with the hood up and a Phantom of the Opera mask covering his face. Lucius knew Slughorn had not invited Severus Snape and yet here he was skulking in the shadows…watching. Lucius' eyes jerked back to Hermione. To his relief and dismay she was still in Weasley's arms—a little to close, but still. Not taking his eyes off Hermione, he responded to Snape as if it were normal for him to be there.

"Ah, she was your student, Severus, not mine."

Lucius did not have to turn around and look to know Severus was smirking behind his back. For pure precautionary sake, Lucius' eyes darted to the windows. No one seemed to be hidding around outside of them, but there was a heavy shower of rain falling. Finally, Lucius turned to face Severus.

"Why are you here? I know Slughorn did not invite you."

"Why do you think?" Severus sneered. "I'm here on orders. As I am sure you are aware why."

Lucius turned around to eye Hermione with Weasley again. When he turned back to look at Severus a chill went up his spine at the smirk. There would be only one reason the Dark Lord sent Severus to observe the girl. Without a word, Lucius swiftly turned from Severus and made his way across the room to Hermione.

Hermione was becoming quite irate with Ron when Lucius walked up.

"Mister Weasley, I believe that will do."

Hermione looked indignant. True, she did not want to be so close to Ron and it bothered her that he would not loosen up his grip, but Lucius telling them to separate was just too much. How dare he?

"Pardon me?"

As usually, Ron looked utterly confused and intimidated at the same time.

"I am telling you to remove your hands from Miss Granger this instant."

Lucius reached out and grabbed Hermione's arm. With a pull, he looked at Ron.

"I said leave…now."

Hermione was struggling against him however.

"Stop it! Let go of me!"

Hermione was fighting with all her might when Lucius jerked her so hard toward him that her body crashed into his as the next song began. She gasped at the feel. The material of her costume was so thin that she could feel every part of her against his frame. Keeping both her wrists in his hands and her body against his, he leaned down and whispered with a sense of urgency.

"Miss Granger, Severus Snape is in this very room watching you." He felt her tense. "Now stop being such an insufferable girl and dance with me…now."

She felt frozen. Lucius placed her hands on his shoulders and his hands on her waist. Lucius began to move her around the dance floor as the words of the song engulfed them.

Everything's so blurry

and everyone's so fake

everybody's empty

and everything is so messed up

preoccupied without you

I cannot live at all

my whole world surrounds you

I stumble and I crawl

& you could be my someone

you can be my scene

you know that I'll protect you

from all of the obscene

I wonder what your doing

imagine where you are

there's oceans in between us

but that's not very far

Hermione's heart was pounding in excitement at the sudden sense overload she had at being thrown up against Lucius and the anxiety and fear growing with the knowledge of who was there. Severus Snape—that was who Remus said was given orders to find her and bring her to Voldemort. And obviously he had spoken with Lucius just now. So did that mean Lucius was helping him?

Her eyes darted all around her looking for Harry or even Ron, but with no results. Her heart continued to beat in her chest as if it were about to explode. She felt the same overwhelming fear in her dreams and that was opening the gate for the tears to form in her eyes. Panicked, she looked around again and saw no one except a dark figure in a mask watching.

Oh Merlin! That's Snape.

Looking up at Lucius she hoped to see some sign of what was going through his head. His face gave nothing away. Fear took over. Sliding her hands down to rest on his chest, she braced herself. Suddenly she shoved with all her might causing Lucius to let go of her waist. As he stumbled back, she noticed how stiff Severus became as he watched and she turned and ran as fast as she could from Slughorn's office. Her only thoughts were to get away from the enemy…to get outside the gates of Hogwarts…to get to somewhere safe to apparate and fast.

Lucius saw the panic and horror on her face as she turned and ran from him. Her wings were nothing more than charmed on her to look real. Lucius saw them disappear as she ran out the door. To his horror, however, Snape was not the only disguised Death Eater lingering in the party who ran after their most recent target. Lucius was closer to the door than the others were thankfully and he immediately took off after her.

When Lucius ran out in the corridor, he saw no sign of her. True, the necklace would help to provide protection, but that only goes so far. He ran for the entrance realizing she would try to get to a point where she could apparate away. He could hear the footsteps running behind him. Speeding out the door onto the grounds, he noticed Hermione's shoes. She had taken them off to run better and as a result, she was not too far away. The rain was pelting down even harder and he could see she was already soaked through.

Lucius sprinted after the frightened girl. She turned to look behind her and he saw the fear in her eyes when she saw him so close to her.

"Miss Granger! Stop!"

She feared he was with them though. He was so close to her. The gate out of Hogwarts was right in front of her. Jets of light shot passed their heads. She squealed and ducked so one jet barely missed her. Before she could get through the gate, Lucius dove forward. His arms wrapped around her and pulled her to him and out the gate with him at the same time. With a pop, they both disappeared.

Lucius apparated them both straight to Malfoy Manor—the only place he could think of that would not send them to their safe house. He didn't speak as he took her hand and started running toward the house.

"No, please don't."

He heard her pleading, but didn't really have time to argue with her. He looked back at her.

"Unless you would like me to hand you over to the Death Eaters following us I suggest you stop protesting. Now, move."

He barely had time to register her shock as they passed into the house and heard several pops of people apparating. Lucius led her up a large black marble staircase. Her heart pounding in her chest…tears streaking her face. They ran down a corridor. Halfway down it a dark figure came from out of nowhere. The slamming of doors of rooms being searched all over the manor sounded.

Hermione thought her heart would beat right out of her chest when she barely caught the figure swiftly emerging from the shadows. It was Severus Snape. Pushing Lucius into Hermione, he shoved them both into a broom closet and slammed it shut. Yells were heard all over with each slam of a door.

"No one here either!"

She felt the tears welling up in her eyes, threatening to spill down her cheeks. Never had she been so scared. The Death Eaters were roaming the house looking for them. Footsteps approached again. This time there were several large crashing sounds as someone sent things flying through the air and crashing against walls. Hermione jumped and buried her face in Lucius' chest wondering why she was doing it—he would sooner turn her over to the Death Eaters than to help her stay hidden anyway. She shivered at the contact again and the chill from her wet clothing. She felt his arms wrap around her and for a moment, she felt warm as the fear lessened a bit.

Then, in that broom closet, Hermione heard Severus Snape yell out to the others.

"No one here either! Let's go inform the Dark Lord."

Several popping sounds followed by silence told Hermione the Death Eaters had disapparated. With a sigh of relief, she pulled as far away from him as she could. The fear still lingered around her as she waited for him to open the door to let them out. He didn't though. Instead, he leaned toward Hermione. She felt his blond hair brush gently against her cheek before she heard his soft whisper mocking her.

"Where is your Gryffindor bravery, Miss Granger?"

She refused to look at him. It was too much. The tears began to spill from her eyes. Slowly, he slipped the silver serpent of his cane under her chin. Pushing her chin up slightly he forced her to face him. He looked at her tear stained face. She refused to look at him though.

"Miss Granger, look at me."

His voice was soft, but held his usual cold tone…a tone that let everyone know it was wise to not disobey him.

Hermione's eyes slowly looked up into the steely grey eyes of Lucius Malfoy.

A/N: Oh yes! Meow-Mix 91 drew a wonderful pic from Hermione slipping the cloak off last chapter. Check it out! Thanks Meow! Its wonderful! http/i6.