Disclaimer: Not mine as you know…though I wouldn't mind owning Lucius or Severus for that matter….hmmmm Sirius either…oh…okay. Anyway, as I said, not mine.

A/N: I hope you like it and please oh please review! I bought my daughter (she will be 7 on the 23rd) the lego graveyard set she wanted. Well, I was looking at the box before I wrapped it and there is a little lego Lucius in his Death Eater mask. My mom and I were laughing about that one. It was quite cute! Anyway please review. I hope you like this chapter.

Chapter 13

Giving In

The room was silent. Hermione stood there transfixed on the spot she last saw her patronus. How did this happen? When did her patronus change from an otter into a serpent? Her heart pounded in her chest. She could hear the blood pulsing through her body.

"I…I…when…how…"

She couldn't get a sentence out to save her life. As she looked around, she saw they were all looking at her in dumbfounded shock. Looking up in front of her, her eyes met Lucius'. They were as unreadable as ever, if not more so. Her heart pounded harder and louder. How could this be? She understood how one's patronus was chosen. It was unconscious. It was an animal representation of what or who, in some cases, that you felt could protect you the most. Harry's was a stag because that was his father's animagus form. There was only one thing, one person Hermione could think of when she thought of a serpent—a cunning, devious, slippery serpent. Lucius Malfoy.

Lucius didn't look away. He didn't move. Lucius stood in the same place looking down at Hermione with the aristocratic arrogance he always did. The tension was mounting in the room as the silence rang through it. Finally, Remus cleared his throat.

"Why don't we go see if Molly needs help with anything?"

Remus ushered everyone out. Severus stayed, stalking in the shadows of the room, watching. As soon as the sound of the others' footsteps died away, Lucius broke eye contact to look down at the floor next to Hermione for a moment. Looking back at her, he walked toward her and passed her as he spoke.

"Severus, do find amusement elsewhere. I need to speak to Miss Granger alone."

Severus nodded his head as if to say "very well." Once he was gone, Lucius spoke again without turning around.

"Miss Granger, the Dark Lord keeps close tabs on those who are close to Potter—his enemies." He turned around to look at her. Hermione had not turned around to face him though. She was still in the same position as when he walked by her.

"When did your patronus change forms?"

Hermione's voice was barely a whisper.

"I don't know."

His silence was unnerving to Hermione. She could feel the tears welling up—tears of confusion, fear, and utter humiliation. Lucius slowly walked around to face Hermione.

"Do you believe if in danger I would protect you, save you even?"

Hermione answered immediately, though quietly again.

"No."

She felt her lip tremble. He said nothing else, just stood there looking at her. He noticed her lip tremble and a part of him really wanted to make it stop. Hermione looked around nervously. She took his silence to mean that he was done. Turning, she began to walk out the door.

"Miss Granger, you forget, the hate that existed between us was not one way." She stopped in the doorway and turned around to look at him. He noticed the tear traveling down her cheek, but continued. "I am your professor now and will treat you as such."

Hermione stood there just looking at him. What was that supposed to mean? She could not read his face at all. His eyes traveled above her again.

Bloody hell!

Why was this happening to her? She was ready to kill Ginny and her mistletoe.

"It would seem you are stuck again."

Hermione's shoulders slumped in defeat. How long would she be there this time? Her world seemed to be crashing on her as she stood under the mistletoe, trapped in an invisible prison. She didn't see Lucius move, but he was standing in front of her. Reaching out he held her face to look up at him. Her eyes were swimming in tears, but tears of what he was not sure. It disconcerted him greatly to feel this need to kiss it all away. She was trapped though and only one thing would release her. Severus' words echoed in his head. Leaning down he pressed his lip very slowly right next to her mouth where a tear was falling. When he left her still standing there, free to go, he could taste the saltiness of her tears in his mouth.

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The days prior to Christmas passed without a word from anyone regarding Hermione's patronus. Harry noticed her escaping into her world of books. Severus noticed Hermione's dive into her books and how quiet and withdrawn she seemed, as if deep in thought.

Lucius did everything he could to stay away from Hermione. Yes, on occasion, they were in the drawing room at the same time, but others were there. Hermione would deliberately sit as far away as possible. Lucius would keep his nose in his book or on his chess game. At night when the only sound in the house was the creaking sound of a settling house Lucius couldn't help but to watch her.

Almost every night, while everyone was asleep, Lucius would walk to the drawing room, unable to sleep. The first night it caught him completely off guard. It was the night her patronus took the form of the serpent. Lucius lay in his bed for hours trying to wipe all thought of the girl from his mind. He couldn't sleep. Heading down the hall to the drawing room, he fully expected it to be empty. It wasn't.

The movement is what caught his eye. Hermione was slowly walking around the room with no real purpose. Lucius remained in the shadows watching her. She slowly made her way to a chair by the fireplace. Her fingers lightly brushing everything she passed—a cupboard, the chess table, the sofa. As her fingers brushed over the chair, they stopped and lingered over something. Lucius had left his cloak draped over the chair. Hermione lifted the cloak up and held it close for a moment.

It was his cloak she knew that. Memories of the passed months being stuck with Lucius flooded her. Placing the cloak back on the chair, she walked to the window. The landscape was still covered in snow. Lucius noticed despite the snowy ground, the sky was clear and the moon was visible. The light shone through the window and seemed to illuminate Hermione's face. He saw her wipe a tear from her cheek. She couldn't deny what she was feeling and the first step to recovery was acceptance. He heard her whispering to the night she stared out into.

"I'm giving in to you Lucius Malfoy. What have you done to me and whatever that is let it pass quickly."

After that, every night Lucius found her standing before the night with the moonlight pouring in through the window illuminating her. Every night Lucius Malfoy remained in the shadows watching.

The day before Christmas, Severus was given the task of helping Hermione learn how to control her dreams of the Shadow. Severus walked into the drawing room to collect her that afternoon. He found her reading in a corner. To his surprise, Lucius was in the room reading also. Hermione looked up when he came in.

"Miss Granger, we will work on this dream situation in my room."

Nodding her head, she stood up. Lucius' eyebrows rose quite high as he watched Hermione cross the room. Severus placed his hand on her lower back to urge her out the door toward his room.

"Your private room, Severus?" Severus looked at him, waiting for him to continue. "Do you really think that is prudent? She is your student after all."

Severus sneered at his dear friend, knowing that what he was about to say would get to Lucius on so many levels.

"No, Lucius, she is your student, not mine."

In his room, Severus sat Hermione in a comfortable chair and told her to relax.

"First we are going to do a bit of 'shadow work."

Hermione nodded her head trying to will her nerves calm.

"Close your eyes, Miss Granger and take a few deep breaths."

She did so. As she breathed out, she could feel her tense muscles starting to loosen.

"Okay, now keep breathing deeply and let all thoughts drop. Do not stop to ponder this or that fleeting thought. Just let it go."

She felt like she was in a black tunnel falling though knowing she could not be harmed by the fall. It was a wonderful free feeling. She felt her remaining tense muscles loosen.

"Now, bring up the Shadow from your dreams. Only the Shadow. Imagine it standing in front of you, not harming you, just standing there."

Hermione's fall came to an abrupt halt and the Shadow stood in front of her, doing nothing.

"You are going to talk to it Miss Granger. Ask it who it is and what it wants."

Hermione was still completely relaxed in her meditative state.

'What do you want?'

It was odd. Even though the Shadow wasn't really standing there in front of her, Hermione could hear the answer. The Shadow spoke in a voice that whispered and crackled like fire.

'Everything you fear.'

Despite feeling totally relaxed, she could feel her heart start to pound again.

'Who are you?'

Her heart pounded harder and faster. She waited for an answer hoping it would come before she found herself completely out of her meditative state. She heard the whispering crackling voice at last.

'You.'

Her eyes shot open and looked at Severus. He held up his hand.

"I do not want to know. It is not necessary."

Hermione looked taken aback.

"Now that you know who it is and what it wants you will start to control it."

Hermione's mouth opened to speak, but once again, Severus cut her off.

"Lucid dreaming Miss Granger. It is all about choices. Where are you in your dreams at first?"

"My room."

Severus nodded.

"And where are you when you see the Shadow?"

"Outside."

Severus' eyes penetrated hers.

"Choices, Miss Granger. Remind yourself that you are dreaming. Once you realize you are indeed dreaming control your actions…make the choice not to go outside. You can do anything when lucid dreaming."

Hermione nodded already feeling nervous about the upcoming night.

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Hermione lay in her bed when she heard the voices calling her, taunting her to come down. She remained on the bed for a few more moments.

It is just a dream.

Sighing, she stood up out of bed and looked out the window. The Death Eaters were outside surrounding the Shadow, Voldemort and someone else. In shock, she covered her mouth with her hands. It was Lucius. He stood with his hands bound together in front of him. She couldn't hear what was being said, but she could tell he was refusing to grovel at Lord Voldemort's feet. Bellatrix stood behind him and looked up at Hermione in the window smiling maliciously. Holding out her wand, Bellatrix muttered something that caused Lucius to fall forward onto his knees. His already messy hair fell forward. Bellatrix's cackle traveled up through the window.

The moon slowly came out from behind a cloud as Lord Voldemort circled Lucius saying what Hermione did not know. The moon shone down on Lucius lighting him up like an angel. Then Lord Voldemort stopped in front of Lucius. Lucius' eyes looked up to Voldemort and then up farther to HHH Hermione in the window. She was scared.

This is just a dream…this is just a dream.

Her hands pressed on the cold pane of the glass as she began to scream.

"No! No!"

Voldemort raised his wand and a blinding green light lifted Lucius off the ground and then dropped his limp form.

Hermione ran from the window.

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Lucius couldn't sleep once again. As he made his way down the hall to the drawing room, he noticed Hermione and Ginny's door open. Peaking inside he noticed Hermione's empty bed. A small smile fought to overcome his face. She was up. Once he was outside the drawing room he edged into the shadows so as not to be seen. She wasn't there.

The fire was nothing but glowing embers of a past fire letting him know she had not been there at all. Stepping into the room, he lit the fire. He sat on the sofa staring into the bright dancing flames. How had this girl gotten to him so? He was a Malfoy and Malfoys did not allow little Mudblood girls get to them. Mudblood…the word echoed in his own mind and he felt his heart tearing in different directions. He closed his eyes for a moment. Gods, he couldn't even call her a Mudblood in his mind without feeling horribly guilty and wrong about it. The girl was brilliant and powerful in her own right. That thought made him chuckle. The whole wizarding world in awe over Harry Potter and the power he is supposed to possess, but no one ever stopped to look at hers. Potter would be history if they dueled. This made him laugh slightly aloud. But facts didn't change. She was still his son's age, not that that really mattered in the wizarding world where he could live to be over 150 years old; she was still his student and she was still everything he hated for so many years and should still hate. But Merlin she was smart. Taking a key out of his pocket, he waved his wand. A package appeared in its place.

Family preservation and survival, Lucius. That is why you are here.

Standing up, he placed the package under the tree and walked to the window he saw Hermione look out of so many times. That's when he noticed the footprints in the snow. Anxiety rose up in him and his heart pounded. Turning from the window, he grabbed his cloak and threw it over himself. Within seconds, he was out the front door and following the odd-looking footsteps in the snow. They lead around to the back of the house. An old oak tree sat in the small back yard, spreading out creating a cover over part of the yard.

His heart nearly stopped when he saw the figure laying face down in the snow halfway across the yard. She had no robe on, only her pajamas that didn't offer much for warmth. He ran to her side and turned her over slowly. Her eyes were closed and her lips were blue. Looking her up and down he noticed her fingertips had a bluish tint to them and she had no shoes on—that explained the odd footprints. Waving his wand, he discovered she had a faint pulse. He needed to get her inside and warmed up. Lifting her up into his arms he walked briskly back into the house. Her body was limp in his arms unlike the nights of nightmares when she held on to him for dear life. He found he did not like this one bit. It was disconcerting to see and feel her so limp and seemingly lifeless.

Lucius took her directly to the drawing room where he left the fire going. Gently he laid her on the sofa and looked around. With a flick of his wand, a thick green blanket traveled from his own room landing in his hand. Before he covered her, his eyes did another sweep of her body. She was soaked from the snow. How long had she been out there? She needed to be out of these wet clothes. He couldn't get her dry clothes without alerting half the house. With a deep sigh, he first covered her with the blanket and then pointed his wand at her. Her wet clothes landed with a plop next to the fireplace.

Kneeling next to her, Lucius moved her hair from her face.

"Come on…wake up."

She was still freezing to the touch. He knew there was one more thing left to do to warm her up. He rubbed his head for a moment. There was a war going on inside him. Underneath that thick green blanket was a very naked Hermione Granger…a very cold naked Hermione Granger. His eyes fell on her face and blue lips. He could hear Severus in his mind reminding him of who he was.

"Since when do you ask permission?"

He knew what he had to do. Body heat was the last ingredient for warming someone suffering from exposure. As he lifted the covers to climb in next to her he cursed himself for not sleeping in a shirt also.

Her body was freezing next to his.

This is simply measures anyone would take…this is simply to keep her alive and well…oh Merlin!

As he wrapped his arms around her to warm her, he couldn't help but to think how perfect she fit in his arms.

You are simply saving her life.

Lucius was doing fine. He could handle the feel of Hermione's bare back against his bare chest. After all, this was the process for warming someone suffering exposure. He was doing nothing wrong. After a bit, her blood started pumping a bit warmer than before. Enough so that he felt her stir slightly.

Hermione's world had been so dark and cold. She could hear Lucius as if in the distance, muffled by time and space. Then that world began to warm slightly, just enough to offer her a bit of light and the will to move. She felt warm, strong arms wrapped around her body, his heat seeping into her body. As she rolled over to face her savior, she felt his soft silky pajama bottoms brush against her lower body and she felt the soft skin-to-skin contact of their upper bodies.

Lucius sucked in a breath when he felt her moving to face him. Biting his own tongue, literally, he reminded himself why he was laying next to this naked girl. But the feel of her skin brushing gently against his own as she turned and looked at him caused him to bite down even harder.

"M…Mister M…Malfoy…"

The metallic taste of blood in his mouth gave him the will to speak.

"Miss Granger, might I suggest no more naps in the snow?"

She smiled weakly and he felt a foreign fluttery feeling causing him to take in deep breaths. Absently, to warm her, he told himself when he realized, he ran his hands up and down the length of her back. He could feel her heart beating in her chest against his own. They were nose to nose only an inch or so from their lips touching.

"Thank you, Lucius."

Her voice was soft and still so weak, though from the cold or the situation he was unsure. He could say nothing at first. He didn't trust his voice. His eyes kept traveling to the lips just waiting for him, still slightly blue. She slowly licked her own lips without thinking about it. He could feel her chest heaving up and down against his own.

"I am your professor…"

Whether he was trying to remind her or himself he was unsure, but it was the only thing that would escape his mouth. Then her voice so soft and weakened…a whispering version of how she normally spoke sounded in his ears.

"Not yet, not until we return to Hogwarts."

Merlin, he wanted to take a kiss, but he knew that if he did right then that would not be the only thing he took. She was still so young…his son's age…she still needed to go out and have her heart broken by someone her own age and that someone was not him. Taking in deep breaths, he closed his eyes to calm himself.

He felt her move slightly. Sinking down lower into the sofa, she snuggled her head into the crook of his neck. He felt her body relax completely against his as the darkness of sleep pressed upon her…seducing her into its darkness.

In the shadows by the drawing room door, a dark figure left just as silent as it arrived.