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?

A/N: I hope everyone remembers this story. It hasn't been updated in about three months. I feel ashamed of that. Once things finally calmed down with my grandfather, I wanted to finish Anything But Mine before working on this one. I realized quickly I could only write one chapter-story at a time, if I try to write more than one I feel rushed. I have this whole story typed out and saved already, so I'll be posting a chapter every couple of days till it's done! Enjoy!

I went back and corrected all the mistakes in the first four chapters of this story, so if you want to refresh your memories on the plot, the first four chapters should all be corrected!

And if you are looking for good Lucius/Hermione stories, there are two I can recommend that you check out (after you read and review mine of course)! Try In The Rain by Dragon Fire10 and To Save A Malfoy by SnapeSeraphin.

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

Chapter 5 – Where The River Flows

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Give me a moment
Got to get this weight up off my chest
Don't feed me sorrow
Pain is a poison I digest I'll give you answers
To the questions you have yet to ask
Silence is beauty
Words they only complicate the task
Make no more wishes
All of my patience has been spent

Where The River Flows by Collective Soul

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"I wonder how long he will sleep," Hermione muttered, pushing away from the table herself.

"For awhile I imagine. He is probably exhausted," Remus replied.

"Why did you lie to him about Draco and Narcissa?" Hermione asked, spinning around.

"I don't know. It was a spur of the moment decision. I don't really know what to tell him anymore than you do," Remus replied.

"I am going to go take a bath," Hermione said, starting for the hallway. She stopped short when she heard Remus grunt in surprise. "What is it?"

"It's my watch. Tonks. She's having the baby," the grin on his face spread. "She's having the baby!"

Hermione couldn't help but smile in response. "Hurry up, you need to go to her."

As quick as the smile came, it left his handsome face. "I can't. I won't leave you here alone with Lucius Malfoy."

"I'll be fine Remus. It is more important that you be with Tonks right now."

"I refuse to leave you here with him," Remus stated again.

"Fine, I'll send Hedwig out to get Harry and Ron. But you need to go. I'll be fine for the few moments after you leave and before they get here," Hermione said, trying to reassure him.

"I'll send the note to Harry, that way I know it's done," Remus said, reaching for paper.

A few moments later Hermione watched Hedwig fly out the open window while Remus gathered his coat and hat up. "Look, Harry should be here in a matter of seconds. I feel awful leaving you here," he said, pulling Hermione in for a hug.

"You have somewhere more important to be right now. Go!" she said, hugging him back. "Tell Tonks I love her!"

Hermione sighed after the werewolf left, flopping down on the couch. She desperately wanted a bath and her headache was getting worse. As soon as Harry got back she was going to lock herself in the bathroom for at least an hour.

A sudden tapping on the window caught her attention and Hermione turned to see Pig hooting and rapping the glass. She jumped up and let the poor owl in. A small piece of parchment was attached Pig's leg, addressed to Remus.

She reached for some breadcrumbs from Hedwig's dish and gave them to the hooting owl before untying the letter.

Remus,

We got a tip on Snape. I don't know how trustworthy it is, but it's worth checking out. Ron and Ginny are going with me. Don't leave Hermione alone there with that man.

Harry

Hermione sighed; rolling the parchment back up and tossing it in the fire before flopping back down on the couch. She was sure she could handle Malfoy, but there goes the warm bath.

What kind of tip could they have gotten on Snape? She couldn't help but feel a bitter resentment creep up her spine. Harry and Ron had taken Ginny with them. Hermione had always been with them. They were the so-called Golden Trio. She knew Harry hadn't asked her because she was supervising Lucius, but it didn't stop the hot jealousy from burning her throat.

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Lucius stretched his arms out as he woke up in the small bed. He sat up slowly, looking around the room he was in for the first time. It was clear a female occupied this room, but it was not overly decorated. There were some pictures on one wall. And a wanted poster with a wild looking man pictured above the name Sirius Black hung on the other side of the room. A gold medal hung from a peg on the wall, and what looked like a certificate was over the small desk.

A light scent of roses and rain lingered on the sheets and in the room. It was a pleasant scent that warmed his body. Tossing the sheets aside, Lucius stood up and walked to where his clothes were piled on a chair. There was a long mirror on the wall, and Lucius stopped to really look at himself for the first time. He had kept his eyes closed through most of his shower earlier.

He had a very well built body. He couldn't find an inch of fat anywhere. He must work out regularly. Judging by the small lines around his eyes, Lucius estimated he was at least in his forties. He turned to the side and lifted his arms up; they were also muscular, so he knew he had upper body strength.

As his hand dropped, Lucius noticed a flash of black. Turning his arm up, he saw the tattoo on his arm for the first time. It was completely black and pictured a skull with a snake coming out of his mouth. The tattoo didn't jog any memories, but it was ugly.

Lucius gave up hope of recognizing anything and reached for his pants.

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Lucius heard her soft breathing before he saw her asleep on the couch. Her arm was hanging off the edge and her neck was bent in what looked like an uncomfortable position. He stepped over to the couch softly and lifted her arm up to rest across her chest. He pulled the quilt off the back of the couch and draped it across her small body.

Careful to be quiet, Lucius stepped into the kitchen and began to boil water to make tea with. He didn't have a wand, so he had to make the tea by hand. As the water was heating up, Lucius' mind drifted again to what he knew about himself and what he didn't know. The frustration of not knowing was growing, and he knew when the girl got up from her sleep, he was going to demand information.

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"He must have survived," Narcissa stated, sitting down on the end of the bed.

"He couldn't have survived. He was attacked to many times," Severus Snape replied, crouching down in front of her and taking her hands.

"Severus, his body was dumped almost forty-eight hours ago in a very public place. He would have been found by now unless he got up and walked away," Narcissa explained, grasping his hands hard. "He'll come after me if he knows I was in on his demise."

Severus quickly wrapped his arms around her. "I wouldn't let him hurt you. I promise."

"What about the Order? What if he tries to attack them on his own? I think it's time you went back Severus. You need to tell them what happened with Dumbledore."

"I think it is time to talk to them also Narcissa. I just have to figure out who to approach. I have to find someone who would listen to me instead of killing me on the spot."

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She was running…. running faster and faster….., gasping for air. He was gaining on her; she could feel his breath on her neck. Suddenly he was there, his arm wrapping around her neck, pulling her backwards….

Lucius heard the girl scream. Setting his cup down, he quickly ran to the living room. She was still on the couch, but she had thrown the quilt on the floor. Her face was red and sweat was pouring from her brow. Her hands were clawing at her own neck.

He quickly knelt down beside her, grabbing her arms and pulling them to her side, shaking her as he did so.

The girl sat up with a cry and she instantly threw herself into his arms as tears began pouring from her eyes. "Same dream again…" she said between sobs. "I keep reliving it…Harry it's awful. I keep feeling him grab me, I feel him rape me all over again."

Lucius didn't know what to say to the crying girl in his arms. He patted her back awkwardly and tried to help her sit up, but she wouldn't release her grip on him.

"I can feel him raping me still Harry… I just wish I could forget…" she whispered.

"Sshh… it was just a dream, calm down," Lucius said.

As quickly as she had fell into his embrace, the girl leapt away from him, a cry stuck in her throat and a look of honest terror in her eyes.

Lucius jumped up. "What? Are you okay?"

Hermione closed her eyes and took a breath, releasing it slowly. She opened her eyes again. "I am sorry. I didn't mean to startle you. I thought you were Harry."

"It is okay. You had a bad dream. Of course you were going to be upset. Are you going to be okay?" Lucius asked her with genuine concern in his voice.

Hermione nodded, but her pale face said otherwise. "Fine," she could feel the sweat on her brow. "I need to take a shower. I will only be a moment," she told him, quickly fleeing the room. Hermione stopped at the front door; the only door in the flat that lead outside. She quickly set up wards around the door to make sure Lucius couldn't leave.

Shutting the bathroom door, she quickly warded it as well. Hermione wasted no time stripping down and jumping in the shower. It wasn't a warm bath but anything would do right now. The dream was still fresh on her mind. She could still feel the hands around her neck, pulling her backwards.

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Lucius heard the water start in the bathroom. He returned to the kitchen and picked his cup up from the table, carrying it to the sink. A sudden hunger hit the man, and he realized other than the few bites of eggs earlier he probably hadn't ate in a long time. Opening the cupboard doors, Lucius began to pull out ingredients. He was pretty sure he could remember how to make something.

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Hermione had to admit she felt a lot better after the warm shower. She ran a comb through her curls before pulling them back in a simple ponytail. She quickly threw on some old jeans and a sweatshirt and took a deep breath before opening the bathroom door.

The smell of tomato sauce assaulted her senses immediately and she felt her stomach growl. She followed the smell to the kitchen, where Lucius was stirring the sauce.

The giggle escaped her mouth before she could stop it. Never in her life would she have pictured Lucius Malfoy standing in her kitchen with no shoes on, his hair hanging loose around his face, making pasta the muggle way.

"Are you feeling better?" he asked when her giggle caught his attention.

"Much better." She replied.

"I was hungry. I didn't know if I would remember how to cook anything, but once I started to find the ingredients it seemed to come back to me. Are you hungry?" he asked.

"Actually yes." Hermione admitted.

"Then dinner is served." Lucius stated, carrying two loaded plates of pasta over to the table. Hermione sat down slowly, staring at the plate in front of her. This all seemed so surreal.

"The gentleman that was here. Remus. He left?" Lucius asked.

"His wife is having a baby. She went into labor a little bit ago," Hermione told him. "But Harry will be here soon," she lied.

They ate the remainder of the pasta in silence. Once both plates were clear, Lucius pushed his back and rested his arms on the table. "I want you to talk to me now. Tell me about… me… please?"

Hermione sighed, pushing her own plate back. "To tell you about you, I need to start at the beginning I guess."