Disclaimer: Not mine. The song is not mine either. The song is "I'll Be" by Edwin McCain.

A/N: Please review. In the next chapter you find out why Lucius does what he does in this chapter. Hehehehe…please let me know what you think.

Chapter 22

I'll Be

Hermione stood in the back of the line arm in arm with Draco. She was nervous. She really didn't like being the center of attention to such a large amount of people. It was her duty though. The prefects were all lined up in front of her and Draco with their dates. The prefects would enter one couple at a time at such a pace that Colin Creevey could announce the prefect's name, house, date and what couple they were portraying. The prefects would enter the dance floor and take their places. Hermione and Draco, the Head Boy and Head Girl, would enter last and take the front and center most position of the dance floor. Then, together, they would all start the ball together. After, this first dance, everyone else could join. Draco felt her fidget.

"Granger, stop."

She stopped fidgeting.

"Sorry," she whispered.

The line started moving and the announcements followed by applause could be heard. Hermione whimpered slightly. Draco chuckled slightly. In front of her, Ginny turned around and smiled at her.

"Don't worry, Hermione. You are gorgeous," she whispered before her and Harry took their walk through the door. Hermione could hear the announcement.

"Harry Potter and Gryffindor prefect Ginny Weasley. May I present Tristan and Isolde."

Hermione heard the applause and Draco felt her stiffen slightly before they stepped forward. Draco was amazed at the way Hermione seemed to be falling apart just outside the door, but once they walked through the door, she immediately became the model Head Girl with complete confidence. There was silence in the room as everyone looked at the Head Boy and Girl. Looking straight ahead, on the other side of the dance floor, Hermione could see the professor standing in a line. Lucius was among them.

"Slytherin Head Boy Draco Malfoy and Gryffindor Head Girl Hermione Granger. May I present Rosalind and Orlando."

Massive applause erupted in the room as they made their way to the front center position. Turning toward each other, they waited only a couple seconds before the music began and together they twirled around the dance floor.

Lucius watched his son enter with Hermione. He knew what she would be wearing, he bought it after all, but it didn't prepare him for how she would look. The gown was an antique pink Italian silk. The corset style top of the gown did exactly what it was meant to do and every male at the ball seemed to notice. She was by no means flaunting what she had or showing too much. The sleeves, though off the shoulder, were long, coming to a point on the back of her hand. The skirt was not overly large so that it still flowed with her movements. The stitching and beadwork would tell anyone that only one of noble blood wore such a dress. And Hermione was ravishing in it. She wore her hair up with only tendrils of curls falling around. And around her neck was the snowflake necklace, the one Lucius gave her. He watched her gracefully move around the dance floor with Draco.

Severus watched Lucius, but said nothing. Lucius watched Hermione through the night when he was not in conversation with someone and even then, he seemed a bit distracted. He watched her dance with several people, talk to even more, and then Ron Weasley asked her to dance. He felt the disgust flowing into his sneer as Hermione and Ron took the dance floor.

Hermione was uncomfortable dancing with Ron. He had been acting very strange toward her as of late which resulted in her not telling him everything that happened with Bellatrix—like the fact that she was the one to kill her. As they danced, she could sense something was wrong, his ears were slightly red and he had not spoken since asking her to dance.

"Ron are you alright?"

Ron seemed distracted looking off the dance floor. He turned his head to look at Hermione and she saw something akin to anger in his eyes.

"I think Malfoy is up to something and I think it involves you…"

Hermione's hands dropped from his shoulder as she shook her head at Ron. Before he could continue or Hermione could protest, Severus Snape walked up. He stood there looking down his nose at Ron with a look of disgust on his face.

"Weasley, I believe Miss Granger owes me a dance."

Ron's mouth opened to protest, but nothing came out as Severus took Hermione by the waist and twirled her away from Ron. Severus heard her squeal in surprise of the sudden movement and then laugh.

"He is so angry with you now," Hermione laughed.

Severus looked at the red Ron and down to Hermione.

"What a shame," he said in his usual sarcasm.

Hermione shook her head.

"Must you look down on everyone you know?"

Severus danced her across the dance floor and then leaned down and whispered in her ear.

"Your dear sweet love does also."

He twirled her out a bit and brought her back.

"Lucius wishes to see you in the gardens at the Greek style gazebo."

He kissed her hand and thanked her for the "lovely" dance. From across the room Ron watched Hermione gather her gown up in her hands to prevent it dragging too terribly on the ground and begin walking out the door. Knowing where she was going most likely, Ron made his way for the Astronomy tower with Harry running after him. Someone had to be there for Ron, because he had to see. The denial had to stop somewhere.

Hermione stepped up onto the magnificent marble Greek style gazebo. The columns were intertwined with light pink roses and white clematis vines filling the air with such a sweet scent. She stood alone for a moment admiring the flowers and the clear sky.

"Miss Granger."

She turned to see Lucius slightly bowing his head in greeting to her. He stood back up so that he was looking down his nose at her again.

"As I hear it, Miss Granger, you believe me and Severus to both 'look down' on others?"

Obviously, Severus told Lucius more than the simple fact that she would be waiting for him as requested. Hermione laughed.

"Yes, you and Severus both share an arrogance that abounds you both."

She turned away from him to observe a flower as he stepped farther into the gazebo.

"So, you believe Severus and me to be identical? How drab."

Hermione chuckled and turned around again to look at Lucius.

"Oh on the contrary." Lucius' eyebrow rose showing his total interest in what she was saying. "You are both arrogant arses, I'll give you that. But it is where this arrogance comes from that differs."

Lucius reached his hand out in front of him as if inviting someone through a door.

"Please, do continue. This is truly fascinating."

Hermione chuckled. She highly doubted he was truly fascinated.

"Alright. Severus' arrogance is a defense. You know where he is from—he referred to himself as halfblood for a reason. He was tormented by Harry's father and as a halfblood he joined the ranks of those who prized pureblood among anything else. His arrogance is merely a façade hiding who he really is. And this shows in his social interactions as well. He does not join celebrations, but skulks in the shadows watching others, not wanting to be noticed." Lucius nodded as if in agreement. Hermione had been walking in circles and suddenly stopped and looked Lucius right in the eyes. "You on the other hand, are arrogant because you believe it is your right to be so." She turned around, reached out, and touched one of the flowers. "You look down on everyone around you because you believe they are beneath you and rightly so because of one thing only…"

She looked down. She had pricked her finger on a thorn. Turning around, she held up her pricked finger with the slightest drop of blood forming on it.

"…blood." She placed the finger in her mouth stopping the blood. "And let's face it; you do not hide at social gatherings."

Lucius stood there staring into the eyes of this young woman who just stood there and told him absolutely without flinching who he was. No one had ever come out and said such things to him and yet this chit of a girl was. They could hear the music flowing from the Great Hall. Lucius just stared into her eyes. He should be mad that she said such things about him to him, but he wasn't. For some reason it just pulled him even further to her. He cleared his throat.

"Miss Granger, I wanted to speak with you about…us."

"Us," she asked with a tinge of hopefulness in her voice.

"Yes. I will admit that I have noticed us growing closer since…well, since the incident with Bellatrix. But this," he pointed between them. "Cannot happen."

Hermione nodded her head, looked down at the ground, and spoke in a soft voice.

"Can't or won't?"

Lucius took a deep steadying breath. She was so beautiful in the moonlight.

"Won't," he responded. A rolling thunder sounded overhead as clouds circled the moon. She looked up at him as he spoke. "Miss Granger, you are my son's age. You deserve to have what all young women your age have or will have. You deserve to live your life…to go out in the world and have your heart broken by a young man your own age…"

"You've already done that," she whispered. They were silent for a moment before Hermione nervously licked her lips and spoke again in nearly a whisper. "I'll accept this, but all I ask is you grant me one night…one dance…just this one moment."

As he looked into her eyes, he realized how different they were. Less than a year ago, they held absolute innocence and naivety. Now, the depth of her eyes portrayed a maturity she already held, but now went much deeper into an abyss others may never know. He felt his heart pounding in his chest as he reached out and brushed a stray curl from her face. His eyes were lost in hers.

The strands in your eyes that color them wonderful
Stop me and steal my breath
Emeralds from mountains thrust toward the sky
Never revealing their depth…

He couldn't take his eyes off hers as every ounce of depth of hers seemed to plead with his.

Tell me that we belong together
Dress it up with the trappings of love
I'll be captivated
I'll hang from your lips
Instead of the gallows of heartache that hang from above

Her eyes seemed to hold a promise…a promise he couldn't understand how or why they held it and didn't want to understand. He reached out and wiped a tear away. Slowly his hands slid down her arms until he grabbed one of her hands and pulled her up against him as his other arms wrapped around her waist. Despite his efforts, he knew it felt right to hold her. Deep down he knew he wanted this all along. Her tears were silent and bittersweet as the moonlight shone between the clouds through the gazebo giving them their very own spotlight…giving Hermione the moment she asked Lucius for…the moment she hoped would prove her feelings wrong, but didn't. She knew…she knew. Whether it was now or twenty years from now, Lucius was the only one that could see her for who she was, Lucius was the one that could comfort her, it would always be Lucius.

I'll be your crying shoulder
I'll be love suicide
I'll be better when I'm older
I'll be the greatest fan of your life

As Lucius held her, he felt every ounce of feeling for her fill him and a war broke out within him. How can he let her go…how? It was for her own good he told himself. It didn't matter how much he wanted to be with her or her with him, the simple truth was she was better off without him, without a Death Eater. He twirled her out and as he brought her back against him, he held her face, leaning his forehead against hers. The rain broke from the clouds surrounding them, rolling off the marble roof above them creating a waterfall effect around them. Lucius took a deep breath as he held her in that position.

Rain falls angry on the tin roof
As we lie awake in my bed
You're my survival, you're my living proof
My love is alive not dead
Tell me that we belong together
Dress it up with the trappings of love
I'll be captivated I'll hang from your lips
Instead of the gallows of heartache, that hang from above

He kept his forehead leaning against hers as he used both his hands to push any strands of hair out of her face.

"Hermione," he whispered. He felt her take a deep breath as if to keep herself calm and composed. He closed his eyes and just relished the feel of her. It didn't help him though. He had to do it…just this one last time. Gently, his lips pressed against hers. He could feel the tears falling from her eyes, smearing onto his own face.

I'll be your crying shoulder
I'll be love suicide
I'll be better when I'm older
I'll be the greatest fan of your life

I've been dropped out, burned up, fought my way back from the dead
Tuned in, turned on, Remembered the things that you said

Lucius said nothing when he slowly pulled away from Hermione. He simply wiped her tears, turned and walked through the waterfall now falling around them back to the castle.

On top of the Astronomy tower, Harry and Ron sat their omnioculars down and pulled up the extendable ears. Ron hadn't said anything yet and Harry was waiting for it. Harry looked warily at Ron as he leaned against the tower wall sighing.

"I'm not sure I like it either Ron, but I think it is time you face the truth mate."

Ron looked at Harry.

"How could he leave her like that?"

Harry shrugged and looked around nervously. After all, he left Ginny for pretty much the same reasons. A little bit of respect for Lucius grew in Harry realizing Lucius put Hermione's safety as a first priority.

"Maybe, Ron, maybe he did it because he knows he could not possibly give her what she needs right now. If word got out about them, that would only be another target on Hermione's head. Maybe she is safer this way."

Ron sighed again and nodded his head.

"Yea, I'll give him that. It was the right thing to do…"

"THAT IS HOGWASH!"

Both boys turned quickly to find Ginny standing there with her hands on her hips. When she spoke, her eyes were on Harry, though she spoke to both boys, Harry knew there was double meaning in her words.

"If you love someone you do not just lie down and play dead out of fear. You stand up and you take it. You don't let anything stand in your way…not even Voldemort."

Ron and Harry exchanged looks. Ron straightened up his posture as if in agreement with whatever Harry was thinking. They began to walk toward Ginny to leave. Harry stopped in front of her while Ron waited at the door.

"Wait for me? I think we need to talk."

She nodded her head and he left with Ron to see what they could do with the pieces that were left behind.

Heading out to the gazebo, they ran across Lucius, just inside the castle. He had his hands flat against the wall and his forehead leaning against the wall with his eyes closed. Ron just stopped and stared with his mouth open. Harry elbowed him to keep his mouth shut. When Ron looked at Harry, he could see the utter shock and disbelief in Ron's eyes at seeing Lucius in such a way.

Severus stepped out of the Great Hall to the scene by the doors. His eyes caught Harry's and Ron's.

"Misters Weasley and Potter, I do believe you need to be in your common room now."

Without a word in protest, the boys turned and ran up the stairs. Lucius straightened up and turned around. Severus walked closer to him shaking his head.

"She will never let you do it, Lucius."

Lucius said nothing, but looked ready to hex Severus in many ways possibly never heard of before. He turned and stormed down the corridor toward the Great Hall. Severus turned and walked out in the rain to the gazebo. As he stepped through the waterfall, he found Hermione surrounded by the sweet scent of the flowers and the falling water, on the floor with her head in her arms on the marble bench crying.

She felt a strong hand on her bare shoulders and gasp slightly as she looked around. Severus stood there. He didn't sneer at her, but actually looked a bit sympathetic.

"Miss Granger, I believe there is something you need to see."