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: The two Deatheater names I used in this story are entirely fake.

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

Chapter 7 – Crushing Me

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I'm feeling the weight of the world
And it's crushing me
I'm feeling the weight of everyday life
And it's crushing me
How much more will it take?
How much more until it breaks me?
This world...is crushing me

Crushing Me by Stabbing Westward

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Lucius tossed the covers off and crawled out of the bed. He was tired of laying there tossing and turning waiting for sleep that wasn't going to come. A glance at the bedside clock told him it was only three in the morning. He reached again for his pants and slipped them on. The moonlight was streaming in the small window, and Lucius could see there were stars twinkling.

Thinking the fresh air would do him some good; Lucius grabbed his shirt and left the bedroom, making his way down the dark hallway to the front door. As he reached for the knob, a blue light sparked and before he knew what was happening he flew across the living room and smacked the wall.

Within seconds Lucius heard the sound of a door opening down the hallway. "What happened?" he heard Hermione say as she entered the living room, her wand out and pointed.

"I don't know. I wanted to get some fresh air, but when I touched the door something attacked me," Lucius said, turning to look at her.

"I put wards up on the doors, to keep people from getting near them," Hermione explained, setting her wand down on the small table and tightening the belt on her blue robe. "Are you okay?"

Lucius nodded and stood up. "Just surprised is all."

"I'm sorry. I didn't realize the wards were so powerful," she responded.

"I'm sorry if I woke you," Lucius said.

"You didn't," she replied, looking down at the floor. "I couldn't sleep."

"I couldn't sleep either. Why don't we make some tea?" he suggested, flipping the switch to the kitchen light.

"Okay." Hermione said, pocketing her wand and following him into the smaller room.

Lucius set about boiling the water for tea as Hermione got down two cups. Once the tea was ready, they sat down at the kitchen table. "Seems like we were just here," Hermione mumbled.

"After everything I learned I couldn't sleep. I just sat up thinking about this Voldemort and everything you and your friends must have gone through." Lucius said.

Hermione looked up from her cup. Hermione noticed for the first time that Lucius had cut his head. Without thinking, Hermione started to reach up to wipe it off. Realizing what she was about to do, she stopped and grabbed his napkin. She slowly handed it to him. "You are bleeding."

Lucius reached up and wiped his forehead with the napkin, studying Hermione as he did so. "Thank you."

She smiled in response, but kept her eyes on her cup again.

"I know why you are so nervous around me, and I know why you don't trust me, but I hope you know I wouldn't hurt you," he said in a gentle voice. "I meant what I said earlier, I want to help."

Hermione sighed and looked up at him again. "We are going to have to get you some clothes. I mended what you had on as well as I could, but you still need something else to wear."

Lucius decided not to mention her quick change of topic. "I don't know if I have any money to buy anything."

Hermione smiled a genuine smile at this. "Trust me, you have plenty of money."

"So I am rich?" Lucius asked.

"Very," she nodded.

"The first good news I have learned about myself," he replied, a cheerful sparkle in his eye.

Hermione suddenly looked up at the clock above the fireplace. "It's almost four!" she said.

Lucius looked up at the clock and yawned as he noticed the time himself. "It will be dawn before we know it."

"No! It's not that! I haven't heard from Harry yet. Even if they went to the Burrow he would have sent me a note by now. I hope nothing has happened." Hermione said.

"Was something supposed to happen?" Lucius asked her.

"He got a tip on where to find another of Voldemort's followers and decided to follow it. He didn't go alone, but I am still getting worried," she responded.

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"Foolish brats! Nothing has changed! Just rushing into things without thinking them through!" Severus Snape barked, storming into the small bedroom.

"Severus, is that you?" Narcissa mumbled, reaching for the bedside lamp. "What's wrong?"

"He caught them," Severus said, opening his wardrobe and tossing a clean robe on the bed.

Narcissa looked at the clock. "You have been away this long?"

"Didn't you hear me?" Severus snarled, turning towards her.

"What happened?" she asked, jumping out of bed. "What is going on?"

"Voldemort. He caught them. He caught the two Weasleys and Potter," Severus said, slipping his clean robe on. "He sent a fake tip to them about me and they believed it. Knight and Tyler were waiting to ambush them."

"Where are they?" she said, reaching for her own robes with a shaky hand.

"He's holding them at Malfoy manor, in Lucius' dungeon rooms. Wormtail and Knight are guarding them now."

"We have to get them Severus. It's only a matter of time before he kills Potter. I am surprised he hasn't already." Narcissa said.

"I believe he is waiting, I don't think he can kill Potter yet. He's growing weaker every time a Horcrux is destroyed. I think an unforgivable curse would drain him of all his power right now and he knows it," Severus reached for a tie to pull his hair back.

"So how do we get Harry out?" Narcissa asked, tying her own hair up in a ponytail.

"We don't," he said. "We can't afford to let Voldemort know we are traitors, not yet."

"So what are you going to do?" Narcissa asked.

"I am going to have to go to the Order sooner than I thought," Severus tucked his wand into his pocket. "Wait here for me."

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"You are still bleeding." Hermione said, wanting to break the silence that had filled the kitchen as they watched the clock.

Lucius reached up and touched his forehead. "So I am," he said. He glanced at the clock again. "Maybe I will take another shower."

She nodded. "Go ahead. I'm going to go send Hedwig out, maybe Harry is at the Burrow."

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Hermione watched Hedwig fly out the window and into the night. She bit her lip, something didn't feel right. She just knew Harry was in trouble. She started to turn from the window, but a movement outside caught her eye. She reached in her pocket and pulled her wand out, holding it down to her side.

As she squinted to make out the shadow, the clouds parted from the moon, giving her a clear view of who was standing there.

A shot of panic ran up her spine, and she found herself wishing Lucius wasn't in the shower. Gripping her wand harder in one hand, she reached the other one up to shut the window.

"I wouldn't do that yet Miss. Granger," the familiar, silky voice of her old potions professor said.

"What are you doing here?" she hissed.

"Helping you," he replied, stepping closer to the window.

Hermione whipped her wand up, pointing it at him. "I'm warning you."

Severus saw the honest fear in the girl's eyes. She was here alone and didn't know he wasn't a murderer.

He looked her in the eyes and let his wand fall from his hand and hit the soft grass in her yard. "I'm not going to hurt you Hermione."

"What do you want?" she asked.

"As I said, I'm here to help you. Let me in, we need to talk."

"NO!" she cried. "I would never let you in here."

"Hermione, listen to me," he pleaded, his voice soft. "I will leave my wand out here, I promise I won't hurt you. Harry is in trouble Hermione. So are Ginny and Ron."

Hermione bit her lip as she studied him. "Where are they?" she asked.

"He caught them Hermione," Severus said. "I never betrayed you or the Order, I swear. Dumbledore knew what he was doing when he asked me to kill him."

"He would have never….." she hissed.

"He did!" Severus interrupted her. "He knew it had to happen Hermione. You must believe me."

Hermione noticed a light flicker on in the flat across the street and a shadow appear in the window.

She knew she couldn't continue to talk to him while he was outside or the neighbors would hear, but she didn't want him to know Lucius was here, in case he was lying about being on their side.

The water was still running in the bathroom. She tapped her wand against her leg before waving it at the door, disarming the wards. "Speak fast," she snapped.

Severus picked his wand up.

"You said you wouldn't bring it in here!" she demanded.

"I can't leave it laying in your front yard either," he explained. "I'll set it right here on your porch."

Once his wand was out of the way, Severus stepped into the living room. Hermione raised her wand quickly, pointing it at his chest. "Tell me where Harry is, now!"

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Lucius stepped out of the shower, slowly drying off. The cut on his head had stopped bleeding, and he inspected it in the mirror. It was a small cut; he doubted there would be a scar.

Slipping into the same clothes again, Lucius hoped he would be able to get some new pants today. He picked up a small pink comb and began running it through his hair. As he was tying his hair back, the sound of raised voices caught his attention.

Assuming Harry was back, Lucius finished fixing his hair and started down the hallway. He stopped in the doorway when he noticed the man standing in the living room with Hermione was not Harry or Remus. This man was tall and dark. They seemed to be arguing, and Hermione had her wand pointed at the man.

Thinking about the Deatheaters and Harry's recent disappearance, Lucius realized Hermione was probably in danger. Cursing because he didn't have a wand, Lucius looked around for a weapon he could use if he had to. He grabbed the vase from the small table and ducked back into the shadow of the hallway, waiting for a good moment to run for the man.

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"How do I know this isn't a trick to get me to Malfoy manor? How do I know Harry is really there?" Hermione shouted at Severus Snape.

"You have to trust me!" Severus yelled back, losing his patience. He had thought Hermione Granger would be the one person who would give him a chance.

"TRUST YOU?" she shouted. "You are a DEATHEATER!" her voice was shrill.

"I am a spy! Nothing has changed!" Severus repeated. "You are wasting time."

Hermione faltered, if Harry was held captive at Malfoy manor she needed to go to him, but what if this was a trap?

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"You are a DEATHEATER!" Lucius heard Hermione cry out. He raised the vase and moved to the other side of the hallway, his suspicions confirmed.

"I am a spy! Nothing has changed!" the Deatheater replied. "You are wasting time."

"Why should I trust you? How do I know you are still on our side?" Lucius heard Hermione demand.

He inched closer to the doorway as they spoke.

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"Why should I trust you? How do I know you are still on our side?" Hermione demanded, looking Severus in the eyes.

"Because I am the one who saved you the night Lucius Malfoy raped you!" he thundered.