Disclaimer: As you all know: this is not mine.

A/N: please oh please review! Well, if you want more chapters then review! How else do I know you are reading? Hmmm? OH and one more thing: these chapters will not come out as fast as they did for In the Rain—I am taking more time with these and hope you appreciate it. But don't worry it will not take months or even weeks to update. Don't forget to review.

Chapter 6

Hideaway

I tear my heart open, I sow myself shut
My weakness is that I care too much
My scars remind me that the past is real
I tear my heart open just to feel

--Papa Roach

Lucius continued to read as the sun began to slowly set. His eyes glanced up to the loft area. Hermione went up there at least an hour ago. When he finally heard her feet shuffling down the stairs he glanced at her over the top of his book. She looked shaken and pale. She stopped as she stepped off the bottom step and stood there, eyes locked with Lucius'. Hermione thought about out right asking Lucius about the picture, but knew she would only be answered with a sneer and a derogatory remark. Breaking the connection, she walked over to the sofa grabbing her bag.

Lucius said nothing…only watched her go wondering what the old man left in the loft. He looked at the boxes she had neatly stacked along the wall. Despite the book in front of him, he had been paying attention to each picture Hermione pulled out. There were no pictures of his old friend. He knew why…she had told him; she just didn't tell him everything. Sighing in frustration, he ran his hand through his hair.

It is not the Mudblood. Just a coincidence.

Standing up, Lucius made his way to the bed.

Hermione was sleeping. She felt warm…safe. Her eyes fluttered open. She was in a common room she did not recognize. It held no windows and seemed dark even by day. A fire danced in the fireplace and she felt gentle hands stroking her hair. Shifting, she began to sit up.

"I do wish I knew what frightens you so in your dorm room."

Hermione sat up and turned smiling as if apologizing for not telling. She looked into the face of a young seventeen-year-old Lucius Malfoy. He shrugged as if accepting the fact that she was not ready to tell.

"Come up to my Head Boy room with me. You can sleep there." He held up his hand as Hermione looked to protest. "I don't mean it as anything beyond helping a friend. You need sleep as do I."

The young Lucius stood and held out his hand for Hermione to take. She looked at his hand and then looked around the common room. Smiling nervously, she took his hand and whispered, "thank you, Lucius."

Lucius led her across the common room and up the stairs.

Hermione sat up abruptly. She was breathing as if she had just run a marathon. As her mind reminded her of the dream, she shook her head as if she could get rid of it. It seemed so strange…so real, like a memory. Deciding not to think about it at that moment, she got ready for classes quickly.

Hermione entered the Great Hall. Harry and Ron were already sitting at the table inhaling a hardy breakfast. Ron still wasn't talking to her…or she wasn't really talking to him. She needed to talk to someone about the cabin and the pictures. As she sat down at the table and began filling her plate, she looked across from her.

Harry.

Since they had gotten older, Harry tended not to take sides in her and Ron's arguments. She was staring. She realized this when Harry looked up at her with a worried expression.

"Hermione you okay?"

She leaned over the table, her eyes scanning to make sure no one was listening. Harry leaned over to hear her.

"I need to tell you something."

Harry nodded for her to continue.

"The letter Dumbledore left for me was well…he bequeathed a cabin to me."

Harry smiled to Hermione's surprise. He nodded his head.

"So that is where you have been disappearing to. I got a cabin too. So did Ron."

Hermione's mouth fell open slightly. She knew the wards that came with the cabin protecting it keeping everyone out but her or who she invited. Why would Dumbledore leave one to each of them? Hermione licked her lips nervously.

"I found this in a box there."

She handed Harry the snapshot picture, folded. Taking it curiously, he began to unfold it as he took a big swig of pumpkin juice. Bad idea. The moment he unfolded the picture and saw the image of the younger Lucius and Hermione's look-a-like pumpkin juice sprayed from his mouth and he began to choke on what he had started to swallow. Several Gryffindor's registered their complaint with the pumpkin juice shower as Harry slowly calmed down.

As Harry stared at the picture with his mouth hanging open, Hermione noticed the writing on the back. Snatching it out of his hands, she flipped it over to look at it. It was Dumbledore's handwriting. It read:

Lucius and Hermione 1971

She handed it back to Harry to read. Hermione watched his eyes grow larger than a house elf's. She reached back out for the picture and he handed it over. Quickly putting it away, she turned back to Harry.

"Hermione, you sure you don't have any family that went here? An aunt or something?"

She shook her head.

"I already looked into that." She shook her head. "It just doesn't make any sense."

Harry noticed the light in her eyes. The light had been gone since her parents' death, but when facing a mysterious challenge she looked to come alive for a moment. Just as quickly, it was gone.

Harry and Ron both waited at the bottom of the steps for Hermione.

"Let's just go ahead to lunch. She'll catch up," Ron whined.

Harry looked at him in a way that made Ron look away ashamed at his behavior. A slight commotion could be heard coming from one of the corridors. Several students in the corridor near Harry and Ron had turned to see what it was, stopping what they were doing. Hermione was rushing down the corridor, bag over her shoulder, parchment clutched tightly in her hand. Behind her followed Draco and several Slytherins laughing and taunting her.

Harry and Ron both stepped forward defensively as Hermione approached. Harry could see there were tears in her eyes. Both boys had their wands in hand, glaring at Malfoy with already formed accusations in mind.

"What happened," Harry asked.

Hermione shrugged as if trying to dismiss it all.

"In Ancient Runes Malfoy charmed my quill to write for me."

Harry looked at her wondering what was so bad about that until he took the parchment she had in her hand. Written over and over across the parchment in Hermione's own handwriting were the words: I am a filthy Mudblood.

Intense anger surged through both Harry and Ron as Draco found two wands pointing directly at him.

"Mister Potter, Mister Weasley, Mister Malfoy. What is going on here?"

All three boys turned to see the Headmistress looking at them sternly, waiting for an answer. Harry shoved the parchment he held so tightly toward McGonagall. Her eyes scanned the parchment, recognizing the handwriting. She looked back up at Harry.

"And how does Mister Malfoy work into this?"

Harry pointed at Draco.

"He charmed Hermione's quill to write that."

McGonagall turned toward Hermione, who appeared to be trying to disappear in the shadows of the crowd that had drawn around them.

"Is this true Miss Granger?"

Hermione nodded.

"You three," McGonagall pointed to the boys. "Follow me."

Hermione watched her friends follow the Headmistress with her worst enemy. Before anyone could stop and stare at her, she turned and ran to the bathroom. Slamming the bathroom stall shut, she slid down the side, sitting and letting the tears fall.

Lucius relaxed on the bed as he held the mirror Hermione had given him. He briefly thought about calling her simply to see if she would run to him…just like a good little servant. That thought was soon lost when he picked up the mirror. He knew Hermione had cast a variation of the protean charm on it and wondered if she realized it would not only allow her to check up on him, but he could check up on her.

He held the mirror and watched Hermione run to the girls' room and cry her heart out. He recognized the bathroom—it was Moaning Myrtle's. No one would go in there and so when she screamed out, "I hate you Malfoy," it reverberated off the walls, echoing around her.

Harry sat in between Hermione and Ron in DADA. Professor Lupin walked in looking more solemn than usual. The class waited as the professor looked around and then sadly began.

"You will begin doing an independent study of DADA until a replacement for me can be found."

There was an immediate uproar of protest from the students. Harry and Hermione both stared at Remus stunned that this was the first they were hearing of it. Remus held up his hand to silent the class.

"I am sorry, but…something has come up that I need to take care of and I am afraid it will take most of my time."

Harry and Hermione exchanged looks. That meant only one thing—Fenrir Greyback is what came up.

Lucius sat by the fire of the cabin watching in the mirror. His breath caught when he saw Hermione. She was preparing for one of the Slug Club's little dinner parties. He had fond memories of those and one in particular with his Hermione. However, he could not take his eyes off the mirror showing him the Mudblood. She walked with Potter through the corridors. Her cocktail dress was black, long-sleeved, off the shoulder with an asymmetrical hem to show just a tad of leg on one side.

Hermione sat at the table Slughorn had set up in his enlarged office. Harry sat next to her and on the other side of Harry was Ginny. The tension existing between Ginny and Harry could be felt all around the table. Blaise sat across from Ginny eyeing her with interest.

Conversation around the table was pleasant, but as usually largely run by Slughorn himself who sat at the head of the table like a king. Hermione picked at her food, trying to give the impression she was indeed eating. Harry leaned over and whispered in her ear.

"I know you are not eating."

Hermione shot him a "don't you dare" look before taking an exaggerated bite to show Harry that she was indeed eating. He chuckled and rolled his eyes. Hermione had been quiet most of the dinner and Slughorn took notice of this. Watching his top student, he leaned slightly over from the head of the table.

"Hermione, are you sure you are of no relation to Hector Dagworth-Granger?"

All eyes were on her. She looked around the table and sighed.

"I am positive professor."

He smiled with his eyes twinkling. As plates were disappearing from the table Hermione felt a warm sensation flow through her alerting her that Lucius was calling her. Harry looked at her curiously at her sudden startled expression. Her eyes wide, she exclaimed she had to go and was sorry. Harry watched her rush out the door.

Lucius watched the young witch rush into the cabin and look around wide-eyed as if she thought he was mortally injured. His eyebrow arched as his mouth slid into his usual smirk. Noticing Lucius sitting by the fire, unharmed, she threw her cloak off and onto the chair as she stormed across the room.

"What the bloody hell is the meaning of this?"

Lucius remained calm, watching the young witch's cheeks flush in anger.

The most color she's had since I woke up in the wretched cabin.

His eyes traveled up her body again causing her to fidget uncomfortably.

"I was at a Slug Club dinner you know."

Lucius nodded his head as if answering a question. As he stood up Hermione held her breath. Even in nothing but pajama bottoms, the man was an intimidating presence. Lucius took a couple steps closer to her, but Hermione refused to back away…to show fear.

"I want to see my son."

Hermione's mouth opened and then closed.

"Pardon," she said looking up at Lucius in utter confusion.

Lucius began circling her, looking over every inch of her he could as he spoke, reveling in how uncomfortable he was making her.

"I said I want to see my son. You are supposed to be a smart Mudblood. You will find a way or I will take you down with me."

He stopped circling and stood in front of her. Leaning over to be eye level he told her exactly what to do.

"I am to follow you to school, hidden, and I will not speak a word to anyone. My goal is simply to see my son."

Hermione was shaking her head no.

"No…no way. It's too dangerous…you would be caught…"

"No, Miss Granger. I will not be caught. You will arrange this and it will go smoothly or I take you down with me, as I said."

"No," she argued.

"Yes, Miss Granger. Remember…you alone know where I am. That could make you an accomplice when it comes down to it."

Hermione frantically paced around the room ranting on and on to herself. Finally, she roughly snatched her cloak from the sofa and yelled.

"Fine! Fine! I will do it! Happy!"

She began swiftly stomping toward the door and opened her mouth to yell at him again, but was stopped.

Lucius heard something. Footsteps and whispers. Both of which did not belong to the ranting Mudblood in front of him. The shadow of movement outside caught his attention and before Hermione could let another syllable out, Lucius crossed the room. He clamped his hand over Hermione's mouth to shut her up and wrapped his other arm around her pulling her back against him.

She felt panic rush through her veins. What was Malfoy doing? She fought but he tightened his grip and leaned over in her ear.

"Stop it this instant," he hissed.

He had pulled her toward the window, where they would be hidden, but he could still see out. He knew when Hermione saw the witch outside looking around on the porch. He knew because he felt her small body against his begin to tremble in fear. Terror gripped her heart at the sight of Bellatrix roaming around within reach. As her whole body trembled in terror, Lucius tightened his grip on her, but removed his hand from her mouth. She seemed unable to speak.

The moonlight shining through the window gave the only light beyond the fireplace. Bellatrix walked along the front porch peering in windows. The hand that was holding Hermione's mouth shut now held her arm as his arm cross over her chest. He could feel her heart pounding at an unusual rate—considering Bellatrix was at the Department of Mysteries too. When Bellatrix's face appeared in the window they stood next too, Lucius thought for sure Hermione was going to scream. Her mouth opened, but no sound escaped—as if she had lost the function of her voice all together. He held tighter getting the feeling that if not for his arms around her she would fall to the ground. He could feel every ounce of her shaking.

"Severus, I don't see anyone."

A couple seconds later the sound of two people apparating could be heard. Lucius quickly let go of the girl and watched as she fell. The moonlight shone through the window onto her form illuminating her skin in contrast to her black dress. The tears fell uncontrollably as her body shook in grief and terror.