Disclaimer: Not mine…none of it…not even (sniff ) Lucius or (sniff) Severus.
A/N: please oh please review. You are all so wonderful. The next chapter is the ball and surprise that Lucius has planned….hehehehehehehe
Chapter 21
Valentine's Day
Hermione took a couple deep breaths to prevent herself from hyperventilating as she slowly sat up.
"Thank you," she said quietly.
Lucius remained sitting and looked at her. He brushed her hair over her shoulder and then gently wiped away a tear. Lucius froze, just looking at her. Her eyes were still swimming in her tears. He wanted to kiss her. Slowly, Lucius took a deep calming breath.
"Severus is awaiting our return."
Hermione nodded her head.
Harry watched as Lucius stood up and then held his hand out for Hermione. She took it with a small, shy smile at the man and followed him down the dark corridor passing Harry.
Severus looked up when Hermione walked back in to Lucius' chambers with Lucius. She stopped in the middle of the room and looked down at her feet as if ashamed by her behavior.
"I am sorry for running out Professor."
Severus stood.
"Apologies are not necessary, Miss Granger."
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Harry walked into the common room and looked around. He spotted Ron sitting near the fire trying to finish some homework. Ginny sat near him reading a book. She looked up when Harry stepped into the common room. The fire from the fireplace seemed to cause her already red hair to glow. She looked up and smiled. His own heart seemed to flutter for a moment and then plummet.
It had been about a year ago that he finally just gave in to his feelings for the youngest Weasley and hoped Ron would be accepting. He was. It was a rather short-lived experience though. That was Harry's choice and Ginny understood why and was even expecting it. She never ceased to amaze him. Still, just a smile from her sent his body full of memories…memories that he would carry with him to face Lord Voldemort.
The image of Hermione and Lucius in the corridor snuck upon those memories followed by another memory.
Harry was walking passed Hermione and Ginny's room at Grimmauld Place. They had been there about a month already. Ginny had received a few owls from a couple boys from school who heard of her and Harry's split up, but Ginny showed no interest. Harry stopped when he heard Ginny and Hermione talking.
"Ginny is it because of Harry?"
There was silence from Ginny. She obviously didn't really want to answer. He heard Hermione sigh.
"We talked about this before. You can't just wait around for him, Gin."
He heard a slight chuckle from Ginny before she finally spoke.
"I know, Hermione. It's just different this time. I'm not the same little kid with a crush on her big brother's friend."
Harry leaned in slightly to hear better.
"What do you mean," Hermione asked.
"Its true what they say, Hermione. When you find 'the one' you know it. When you do, he is the one that can look at you and see straight through your façade, he's the one that will just know what you need, and he'll know what buttons to push. When you find him, he is the one that will drop down into the dirt to comfort you if it will make you feel better. When you find him, nothing can stand in your way—not even Voldemort..."
"Oh Gin!"
Harry could hear the movement and knew the girls were hugging. Silently he tiptoed away.
Harry stood in the common room as that thought filled his mind, overlapping with the image of Lucius and Hermione. Rubbing his head, he walked toward Ron. This was not going to be easy.
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It was only a couple days before the Valentine's Day ball. Hermione had Head Girl rounds and Lucius sat in his chambers listening to Severus.
"I just spoke with the Headmistress, Lucius."
Lucius raised an eyebrow at his friend waiting for him to continue.
"The Minister of Magic will be here with some aurors the day after the ball."
"Oh?"
Lucius felt his heart begin pounding in anxiety.
"They naturally know that Bellatrix was killed by an unforgivable and will be here to continue their investigation." There was a long silent pause before Severus continued. "They are planning on questioning you and Miss Granger."
Lucius' head snapped up and eyes narrowed at Severus as he spoke.
"There will be no need to question Miss Granger."
Severus watched Lucius turn and swiftly leave the room. He had a bad feeling about this.
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The rain pattered the windows as she walked through the castle. Rounds seemed to be the only time she was left alone enough to think. She slowed to a window and just stood there watching the rain drops hit. As memories flooded her, she felt tears streaming down her cheeks. It only frustrated her. When would this stop? The window was large enough for two or three people to sit in. Slowly she sat down in the window and leaned against the side. Pulling her knees up to her, she watched the rainfall.
She heard his footsteps. He always seemed to know when she needed him.
Lucius watched her standing in front of the window watching the rain. He watched her curl up in the window and tears fall. He walked toward her. Her whisper didn't even catch him off guard this time. She didn't turn around to look at him at first, she just spoke in a whisper.
"How do you always know?"
Her head turned around to look up at him and he could see the depth of her eyes again. He said nothing as he sat down by her feet. Looking at her, he reached over wiping tears away again. Hermione sat up straighter, pulling her feet back toward her in order to turn around. Without thinking about it, or second-guessing herself, she lowered her head into his lap and just laid there in the window. He gently began stroking her hair, easing her tears away, and lulling her into sleep.
In a dark corner, Ron turned away and looked at Harry.
"How could she?"
Harry couldn't tell if Ron was hurt because this was not him or angry. Probably both.
"But you see it," Harry asked him.
They grew silent as they saw Lucius walk passed heading toward the Heads' rooms holding a sleeping Hermione.
Ron looked at Harry.
"Yea, I see Malfoy is up to something as usual."
Harry sighed in exasperation and followed Ron back to the common room.
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Hermione woke up, sort of, when Lucius laid her on her bed. She grabbed his hand.
"Please, don't leave. I…I see her every night…it happens all over again."
Lucius said nothing, but sat next to Hermione with his legs stretched out on the bed. Hermione removed her outer robe to reveal the skirt and shirt of her uniform underneath. Within seconds, she was sound asleep.
It was extremely late when Lucius returned to his quarters. Severus waited for him. When he walked in Severus looked up at him with one corner of his mouth turned up. He knew where Lucius had been.
"So, when are you going to tell her Lucius?"
Lucius stood there just looking down his nose at Severus.
"I do not know what you mean."
"Lucius, do not insult my intelligence. Potter is even aware of your feelings toward the girl. Have you not noticed him skulking in shadows watching?"
Lucius looked at him as if calculating something in his head.
"And you would be aware of Potter skulking in shadows because you were skulking in shadows."
Severus chuckled nodding his head.
"My point, Lucius, is that the boy has seen the same thing I have seen."
Lucius turned toward Severus.
"Severus, I was married once and had a child. As you know, choices I made destroyed them both."
Severus shook his head.
"Marriage out of duty is not the same as marriage out of love and as for Draco, well, he really didn't turn out all that bad now did he? But we are not talking about marriage, Lucius, not yet anyway."
Lucius looked Severus up and down in utter disdain.
"Don't you have a dungeon to go to?"
With a curt nod, Severus left the blonde man alone to his thoughts.
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"Wow, Hermione."
Ginny sat on Hermione's bed looking the Head Girl up and down in her costume.
"I don't know Ginny," Hermione said playing with the upper corset top of her gown. "Is it suppose to push me up like this? I fear what will happen if I bend over!"
Ginny laughed and stood up turning Hermione toward the mirror.
"Yes, it fits you perfectly." Ginny looked at Hermione in the mirror. "And you said Professor Malfoy bought you this?"
Hermione nodded.
"He asked Draco what the Head Boy and Girl were going as so he could get Draco's costume of course, but he got mine also."
Ginny started giggling. Hermione turned around to look at her friend.
"What is so funny?"
"Well, I know you and Draco have to go together as part of your duties. Wouldn't it have been more appropriate to go as Romeo and Juliet instead of Rosalind and Orlando?"
Hermione started to laugh, easing her nerves a bit. Draco didn't help with the nerves though. When Hermione left her room to meet Draco in their common room, his mouth fell open at first. Then he smirked, not evilly, but more in a cocky manner as he held his arm out for her.
"No wonder father is so taken with you."
"Pardon," Hermione asked as she turned to look at Draco.
"Nothing," he mumbled as they left the Heads' common room to open the ball.
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Ron looked up as the portrait of the Fat Lady opened and seemingly no one entered. Suddenly, Harry threw off the invisibility cloak.
"Well," Ron asked.
"I put a set of extendible ears in the astronomy tower—the end facing the gardens that have been erected for the ball, but Ron I really don't think…"
"No," Ron interrupted. "You'll see Harry. Malfoy is up to something and I guarantee you he will take Hermione out to that garden tonight. Just make sure you have your wand ready though. You'll see Harry."
Ron turned and went up the stairs to the boys' dormitory to get his costume on. Harry watched him go. When Ron was gone, Harry shook his head.
"No, Ron," he whispered. "I am afraid you will see."