As The World Falls Down

Disclaimer: I do not own any of the characters in this story. I did not write any of the lyrics at the beginning of the chapter. This story is for entertainment purposes only.

MAJOR HALF-BLOOD PRINCE SPOILERS

Summary: Lucius Malfoy has lost everything. He only has the young witch who comes to his aid, but will happen when he remembers who he is, and more importantly, who she is?

ONE MORE WARNING: MAJOR HALF-BLOOD PRINCE SPOILERS. DO NOT READ UNLESS YOU HAVE READ HALF-BLOOD PRINCE

Chapter 2 – Strangers When We Meet

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Steely resolve
Is falling from me
My poor soul
All bruised passivity
All your regrets
Ride rough-shod over me
I'm so glad
That we're strangers when we meet
I'm so thankful
That we're strangers when we meet

Strangers When We Meet by David Bowie

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Hermione turned her face up to the sun, enjoying the burning heat on her skin. There had been so many days of rain lately that the sun was becoming a rarity. She slowed her pace down as she walked.

Reaching into her pocket, Hermione pulled out her neatly arranged list of supplies she had to purchase today. Stuck to the back of it was Harry's sloppy list. She smiled as she tried to read his scratchy writing.

She winced suddenly as the pain in her arm flared up again. She had been hit last night during the duel at the Three Broomsticks, and Poppy had done the best she could to heal her arm. It couldn't be completely healed, because nobody was sure what curse Lucius Malfoy had used on her.

She tucked the list back in her pocket and rubbed her arm, trying to work the pain out. She thought about going back and letting Ginny do the shopping, but she was enjoying be alone for awhile.

Hermione, Ron, and Harry had been sharing a flat since they graduated Hogwarts last month. It had by far been their hardest year at Hogwarts, without Dumbledore there. Many of the teachers hadn't returned, and those who did seemed different. The laughter, smiles, and fun had died along with Dumbledore.

Harry hadn't planned on returning for their final year, but decided to do so after Remus and Molly had talked to him and convinced him to finish school so he could become an Auror. Now that they were out of school, the three of them, especially Harry, had worked nonstop to find Voldemort and Snape.

Hermione sighed and noticed a bench in front of the Three Broomsticks. She sat down, holding her arm to her chest. She looked around to see if there was any evidence of their battle last night.

It was Dean Thomas' birthday yesterday. They had all planned on attending his party at The Three Broomsticks. It would be one more chance to catch up with Neville, Seamus, and their other friends before everything changed.

Hermione still didn't know who had tipped them off. Harry had received a note attached to an unknown owl yesterday morning, advising them that Lucius Malfoy would be attacking the party on orders from Voldemort. They had taken the warning seriously, and Lupin and Mad-Eye Moody had attended the party.

Hermione had got caught up in the party, and when she noticed it was almost ten o'clock, she began to wonder if the warning hadn't been a practical joke. She could tell Ron and Harry were beginning to wonder the same thing.

It wasn't until almost everyone had left that the attack came. But they were ready, and Lucius Malfoy couldn't fight that many of them at once. He had gotten a few good shots off, including the curse that hit her arm.

They were shocked when Snape had entered, helping Lucius escape. Harry chased after him, but lost them in the storm. When he came back, the anger and failure was bright in his eyes.

Sighing now, Hermione closed her eyes. It had been a long night, and one she wouldn't soon forget. They now had the daunting task of finding out who had tipped them off. The only thing they had to go on was the note. The script was flowery, and the parchment smelled of light perfume, leaving Hermione to believe a woman had sent the warning.

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The man panicked. He quickly ran his hands up his face, feeling his nose, his chin, and his lips. He felt his hair, it was tangled and covered in mud and dried blood. Again he wondered what had happened to him.

Looking down, he saw his clothes were also covered in dried blood. His hands were muddy, his skin torn at the knuckles.

He looked around him on the ground, but there were no clues as to who he was, or why he was in the middle of an alley.

Ignoring the throbbing in his chest, legs and arms, he stepped towards the cobbled street. Maybe someone would be there, someone who could help him.

There was a woman sitting on a bench, she had her back to him, and hadn't noticed him yet. He staggered towards her, his legs feeling weaker as he went. "Help!" he choked out, before his legs gave out completely and he fell to the ground.

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Hermione spun around in her seat, sending brown curls flying behind her. Her mouth dropped and her hand went for her wand as she watched Lucius Malfoy fall to the ground behind her.

His hair was tangled, and he was covered in blood. There was an expression of complete helplessness on his face, and it made her falter for a moment as she raised her wand.

"Stay away from me." She said sternly.

Lucius raised his empty hands up. "Please. I won't hurt you. I need help." He said, his voice weak.

"I'm warning you. Stay where you are. Don't come near me." She repeated.

"Please. I won't hurt you." He repeated, staying on the ground.

Hermione noticed his voice seemed uncertain. "Shut up." She snapped. What was he playing at? "The Aurors will be here any minute. Just stay where you are."

"Auror?" he spoke. "I'm sorry if I scared you Miss, I didn't mean to. I need help."

Hermione felt her hand falter again. Lucius Malfoy called her Miss? Something wasn't right. She had to send her Patronus to Harry because she needed help. "I am going to lower my wand for only a moment, if you move, I will kill you." She stated, her voice clear.

"Please, I just needed your help. I don't know where I am. I just woke up back there." He pointed to the alley he had just come from.

"Likely story Malfoy. I mean it, don't move." Hermione snapped, tired of his little game now.

"Malfoy? Is that my name?" he asked, looking at her with blazing honesty.

"What?" she said.

"You called me Malfoy, is that my name?" he asked eagerly. "Do you know me?"

Hermione studied the man for a moment. He was in awful shape, his clothing torn and covered in blood. He hadn't moved since she had pointed her wand at him. The expression on his face, and the confusion in his voice seemed real.

"You don't know your name?" She asked, uncertain.

"I just woke up back there. I don't know who I am. I only wanted help, I didn't mean to scare you." Lucius said, his voice gentle.

Hermione knew that acting or not, Lucius Malfoy would never speak to her with a gentle voice. He wouldn't be able to hide his sneer. He must be telling the truth.

"Lucius Malfoy. Your name is Lucius Malfoy." She stated, careful to keep her wand up.

"Lucius Malfoy." He mumbled to himself. "That doesn't mean anything to me. I don't remember anything."

"I am going to lower my wand, can I trust you to stay where you are?" she asked.

"I promise, I won't move." He said. "I don't think I could even if I wanted to. My legs, something happened to them."

She lowered her wand, conjuring her Patronus. She whispered a message to the large dog, which bounded off.

"Can you stand up?" she asked, tapping her wand against her leg. Lucius Malfoy terrified her, and she couldn't guarantee that this wasn't a trick, although she didn't believe it was.

"I.. I don't think so. I can't feel my legs." He said.

Hermione bit her lip for a moment, before tucking her wand in her back pocket. "Let me help you up. You can sit on that bench."

Lucius took her offered hands, pulling himself up using her as a brace. She helped him over to the bench, where he sat down.

"Thank you." He said, smiling at her.

Hermione knew her mouth was hanging open. Lucius Malfoy saying thank you?

"Are you okay?" he asked.

"Yeah." She replied. She pulled her wand back out. "I am going to check your legs, maybe I can find out what is wrong."

"What's your name?" he asked as she began to wave her wand over his legs.

"I'm sorry?" she said, blowing a stray curl out of her face as she looked up at him.

"Your name. I don't know who you are." He repeated.

"Hermione." She said.

"Hermione. That is a different name." He said.

"You were hit with the Cruciatus curse multiple times." She explained.

"Cruciatus?" Lucius said. "That sounds familiar."

"It is a unforgivable curse, a form of torture." She explained. She looked up at him, wondering what had happened.

Hermione began to put the pieces together. Lucius had been attacked and tortured, probably by Voldemort. He had been left behind the Three Broomsticks, probably to die. Instead he had survived, but lost his memory.

"Hermione! Are you okay!" Harry cried, running up to her, wand out. He noticed Lucius Malfoy, and spun on him, wand up. "Cr…"

"NO!" Hermione yelled, jumping in front of Lucius before Harry could finish.

"What are you doing?" Harry cried out.

"He lost his memory Harry. He doesn't know who he is!" she explained quickly.

"How can you be sure this isn't a trap?" Harry demanded.

"I don't know for sure. He touched me, and he is talking to me pleasantly. I don't think he is lying Harry." She explained.

Harry studied the blonde wizard, who was holding his leg, and staring at the two of them.

"What is wrong with him?" Harry asked.

"I did a spell, he has been hit with the Cruciatus Curse numerous times. I think he was left to die out here, but lost his memory instead." Hermione said.

"We aren't going to help him Hermione. Did you forget who this man is? He is evil. Did you forget what he has done to you? We've got him trapped and defenseless, we need to return him to Azkaban now." Harry turned to Lucius. "Or maybe I will finish what Voldemort started. You would deserve it."

"Harry, wait!" Hermione cried, grabbing his arm. "This man may be Lucius Malfoy, but he has no idea what we are talking about. Harry, I hate him as much as you do, but think about it. He doesn't know who he is."

"What did I do?" Lucius asked from the bench.

Harry looked at him, startled. "You…"

"No!" Hermione snapped. "Not now Harry. He needs help. You can help me or you can leave, and I'll take care of him myself."

"Why would you help him Hermione? You of all people should want him dead!" Harry cried out.

"I am helping him because…" She pointed at Lucius. "This Lucius Malfoy is innocent. He doesn't even know his own name. Besides Harry, he is still one of the most powerful wizards of all time, we could use someone like him on our side."

"Do you think he won't ever regain his memory?" Harry asked, shaking his head. "He will, and he won't care that you took care of him, he'll kill you in a heartbeat."

Lucius was still listening to them. "Why are you talking about me as if I was evil?"

"BECAUSE YOU…." Harry started.

"STOP IT!" Hermione interrupted him. "I said not now Harry! Just help me get him back to the flat, I need to try and heal his legs."

Harry looked into his best friends eyes. "You are dead set on helping him, aren't you?"

"Yes." Hermione replied. "Think about what this could do for the Order."

"Fine." Harry said, sighing. "Let's get him back to the flat then."

Hermione smiled warmly at Harry as they both lifted Lucius up, supporting him between them.

"Where are we going?" Lucius asked.

"Where I can help you." Hermione replied, as Harry apparated them out of the street.