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Chapter 9

Midnight

I wanted you to know I love the way you laugh
I wanna hold you high and steal your pain away
I keep your photograph and I know it serves me well
I wanna hold you high and steal your pain

'Cause I'm broken when I'm lonesome
And I don't feel right when you're gone away

You've gone away, you don't feel me, anymore

--Seether

"Harry, I'm going to get ready for the masquerade."

Ginny leaned over and kissed Harry on the cheek. He looked up from the Chronicle Hermione had brought him and smiled with a slight blush upon his cheeks. Once Ginny was out of site, he turned to Hermione.

"So, does this mean Lucius Malfoy is not really a Death Eater?"

It seemed too unreal, but the passage about the Dark Mark made it appear so. Hermione was shaking her head.

"No, the potion applies to anyone walking in of their own accord." She handed him an open potion book describing and explaining the potion used. "He was injured and I personally brought him into the cabin, so the cabin will let him in."

Harry handed her the Chronicle back and Hermione knew that look on his face. The "see what you've done now" look. She really didn't want to hear it right then. Lucius had been acting strange the last time she was at the cabin—as if he didn't want to leave. Now that he was cleared of all charges, he was returning to the manor.

"Well, like Ginny, I need to go get ready."

Harry nodded.

"So, who are you going with?"

Hermione stood up, taking a deep breath, and swinging her bag over her shoulder.

"Malfoy. Head Boy and Girl are required to enter together. That is as far as this goes."

Harry chuckled as Hermione left through the portrait hole.

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She haunted his thoughts. He was a free man now. It was but hours ago when he found Hermione Granger curled up in front of the fireplace reading a Dark Arts book. She tried to hide it, but Lucius was not one of her little friends. He walked up to the loft. He wanted one more look at the image of Hermione in her gown before he left. It appeared nothing was happening that could cause her to arrive in the past in the shape she was in and even if she did…they were hardly friends so by the end of the night memories would be disappearing. You can't remember what never happened. Still, it did not stop him from wanting one last look.

"What are you doing?"

Her voice was soft and unsure. He turned around and looked into her haunted eyes. She still was not sleeping…the dark circles had become even more prominent lately and she was showing up more and more at the cabin as if she were isolating herself from everyone around her. A twinge of concern turned deep down, but Lucius successfully squashed it before speaking.

"Checking something that is not your concern."

Hermione's eyes flashed to the mirror Lucius was looking in. The mirror held an image of Lucius standing behind her with his arms wrapped protectively around her. Her eyes shifted to the real Lucius…nerves jumping. She knew no one but she could see the image, but it didn't matter. The simple fact that she was standing there with the person she saw in the mirror brought about a near breakdown. Then his silky voice filled the loft.

"I will be returning to the manor shortly. I thank you for the care you afforded me."

Hermione felt stunned. He was leaving? Well, of course he was leaving. She didn't want him here anyway. Her expression sent an odd chill and confusion through Lucius. She looked around nervously before leaving.

Now Lucius stood in the loft taking one last look again. His mind kept replaying the dumbstruck look on the girl's face when he told her he would return to the manor that evening. It was almost as if she did not want him to go. The mere thought was laughable. Shaking his head, Lucius pulled the phial Severus had left out of his pocket and looked at it. He would need to take care of this, he had a feeling he knew what it was, but not until after the masquerade. With one last look around the cabin, he disappeared.

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Hermione sat in her Head Girl's room preparing in silence for the masquerade. She knew, as she got ready that Lucius was preparing his departure from the cabin. A strange hollow feeling engulfed her. Did she not want him to go? No, that was not it. She had grown accustomed to escaping to the cabin and Lucius being there. They were not friends by any means…his mere presence was what she was accustomed to. He was well again and that is what mattered. Bellatrix Lestrange did not succeed. Pride swelled up in Hermione Granger. He would never appreciate her efforts of course. After all, he didn't miss a chance to remind her that no matter what she was a Mudblood.

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Lucius sat in the drawing room of the manor. The fire crackled in the fireplace illuminating the man with a strange glow as he sat before it. In one hand, he held the Italian made brandy snifter. Observing the brandy settling in the glass, he turned his attention to the mirror in his hand. Hermione was sitting before a mirror working on her hair. She had just pinned it up, leaving tendrils of curl dropping. It was just how he remembered it. Despite how distant and sunken her face appeared, she was beautiful to Lucius. Once he admitted this was his Hermione there was no going back and denying. All he could do is hope whatever sent her back would not occur or she would still hate him so much that friendship was not an option.

The silence in the manor was palpable. The sound of the fire crackling seemed to echo around Lucius as he placed the mirror down. He wanted one last dance before his memories of the past would become altered and maybe while he was there, he could prevent whatever event would occur to send her back. It was a final effort, but one he felt in every fiber of his being that had to be done.

Standing up, he began to pace in front of the fireplace and debate whether to bother or not. Why should he go and try to get one last dance with this girl? If his memories altered after tonight it would not matter. He stopped and looked at the brandy in his glass again. Closure…it was all about closure. If he could not stop it from happening, if she still went back, and she still befriended him then he would finally have his closure after all these years. Throwing the brandy, glass and all, into the flames Lucius swept from the room in search of ending this charade.

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The Great Hall was decorated brilliantly for Halloween. Hagrid's great pumpkins hung in the air alight with candles. Each mini table was a colorful candy land of treats. What there was of the student body waited inside the Great Hall with the professors and guests. Outside, lined up with their partners, were the prefects and last in line were Draco and Hermione. Neither one looked eager to share this experience. Why couldn't they choose who to go with? But they were suppose to be setting an example. Hermione glanced at the prefects before her. Everyone had some sort of mask on…some you could still tell who they were, but others you were not quite sure.

Lucius stood in front of the head table with all the other professors and guests. His hair was pulled back in his notorious black ribbon and a black mask adorned the upper portion of his face. With his hood up, his hair could not be seen and one could wonder who this man is. He smiled at that thought as he watched the prefects file in and take their places on the dance floor. He smiled in pride as his son stepped in through the door and his breath caught at the site of Hermione on his arm.

Hermione was the pure vision of midnight. Her dress was such a deep midnight blue, coupled with the silvery threading and beading that one was given the illusion of a starry midnight sky. A wrap made of the same sheer material of the skirt portion of her gown was the only thing to cover her arms. The silver threading in the wrap made it appear that she was wrapped in the stars. Her mask did not hide her by any means, but accented her eyes beautifully. The entirety of the student body, professors, and guests watched the notorious couple enter the dance floor.

"I can't believe I have to enter with you."

She was smiling but her words were not kind.

"And I want to touch a Mudblood?"

They maintained appearances, looking like they were happy and getting along. If only they could all hear their conversation.

"Git."

They stepped onto the dance floor.

"Mudblood."

They reached the center, where they were to begin their dance.

"Ferret."

They turned to face each other.

"Shut up and dance Granger."

He grabbed her roughly, as the classical music began. Together, the Head Boy and Girl with the prefects opened the dance in the illusion of unity and friendship. Many eyes were on the Head Boy and Girl though. Their dancing became bold and aggressive, as if they were competing against each other. Their insults did not stop despite their dancing though.

"I'll need to use a cleansing spell after this."

He twirled her out and around.

"Don't be daft, Malfoy."

He pulled her back to him rather roughly.

"Filthy Mudblood."

He lifted her and turned, placing her feet back on the ground.

"Coward."

He twirled her back out and as he brought her back in brutally he smirked remembering Snape's words one year that brought tears to her eyes.

"Insufferable know-it-all," he drawled slowly.

He turned her around again and brought her back to him to end the dance. Facing each other with hate in both their eyes, she actually sneered at him.

"Death Eater," she said vehemently.

His eyes narrowed at her as the surrounding students clapped and sat back down. Draco led Hermione to the head table where they were to eat with the professors and guests. They had a seat on either side of the Headmistress. Draco pulled out Hermione's chair that sat between the Headmistress and one of the guests. As she sat down, Draco pushed the chair forcefully under her causing her to grab the table to keep in it. He leaned down between Hermione and the guest and whispered in her ear.

"Do not talk about things you know nothing about, Mudblood or your friends might stumble across your cold corpse."

The cold grey eyes of the guest turned toward Draco as he stood. Draco noticed them briefly feeling an odd feeling wash over him. He knew those eyes and that look of total disappointment. But it couldn't be, his father would be the last person invited to such an event. Hermione's laughter broke him out of his train of thought and he looked at her curious and furious. She leaned in Draco's direction slightly and spoke loud enough for him to hear the amusement and disdain in her voice.

"You couldn't even kill Dumbledore what makes you think you can kill me?"

With a smile of amusement still on her face, Hermione turned around in her seat, turning her back on Draco with an air of superiority about her. The strange guest next to hear could not stop the smile that formed in the corner of his mouth.

"Mister Malfoy, take your seat."

The Headmistress was waiting on Draco with an untrusting look on her face. Nodding curtly to the Headmistress, Draco took his seat on her other side and the feast began.

As Hermione ate, she took a sideways glance at the guest next to her. He had not said a word to anyone and she grew curious as to who this was. The black mask he wore covered the upper portion of his face and his hood up kept his hair out of site. But his lips…they looked familiar. She noticed how he kept them in such a thin line when he looked toward anyone and spoke quietly, but they were different when he wasn't. When he thought no one was looking, when he was relaxed, his lips had a slight fullness, pouty look to them.

She had seen lips just like those on an unconscious man—Lucius Malfoy. She turned her head to get a full look, positive she was wrong. The man saw her turn and turned to look back at her. The cold grey eyes that met her through the mask were all the answer she needed.

When the plates were cleared from the tables and students, professors, and guests began mingling and dancing to the music Lucius watched Hermione rise from her seat and disappear in the crowd. He knew where she was going though and he kept his eye on the table Potter and Weasley sat at. Sure enough, in just a few minutes, Hermione appeared. He watched as Ron said something to her and then left for the dance floor with Lavender. He watched as Harry said something to her and then looked over her shoulder and directly at Lucius only to nod curtly as if letting Lucius know that he knew he was there. Then, he watched Harry say something to Ginny, who nodded and then led Hermione to the dance floor.

With a slight sneer on his face, Lucius left the head table. He watched her from the shadows realizing this is what she looked like before she came to him out of nowhere. This is what she had been doing. He watched her dance with Harry, Ron, Neville, and many others Lucius did not know and had no desire to know. Part of him was totally disgusted with himself, but his was not just watching some Mudblood. It was letting go of the past.

Hermione thanked Neville for the dance and turned to leave. She stopped when she saw the masked Lucius Malfoy standing there. Neville, sensing Hermione's hesitation and curious as to who this person was remained where he was at waiting to see that all was well. Hermione and Lucius' eyes locked for what felt like an eternity, but was really no more than a few seconds. Reaching out, Lucius removed the wrap from around her arms and handed it to a very silent Neville as he pulled Hermione against him.

Neville made his way back to the table and gently placed Hermione's wrap on one of the chairs.

"Who was that," Ron asked his fellow Gryffindor.

"I don't know."

They turned to watch the couple, but Harry knew…he knew who it was and as he watched them he could not get the picture Hermione had shown him out of his head. He had a feeling the Hermione in the picture and his friend was one in the same.

Lucius said not one word as he pulled Hermione against him and twirled her around the dance floor. In Lucius' mind, this was a farewell dance. Hermione's heart pounded in excitement and fear from the moment Lucius pulled her to him. It was another one of Lucius' strange moments to her. No one seemed to recognize the man she was dancing with as she noticed briefly the looks of curiosity that followed them.

It didn't take long for everything around Hermione to fall away. As Lucius twirled her as if she were nothing more than an extension of his own body and dipped her back her chest heaved in her quick excited breath. Lucius' eyes traveled up her chest, neck…lips, as he brought her back up and locked eyes with her once again. No one else existed at that moment…for either of them.

She was enraptured in his arms. Comforting warmth traveled through her strangely reminiscent of the feeling she had in her dream. It was easy to forget this was the Lucius Malfoy. Whispers traveled around them. Most had no idea who this strange man was that was dancing with their Head Girl. A couple people did know however.

Harry watched them with a strange curiosity. He denied knowing who it was, not sure if anyone could really take the reality of the truth. For a moment he could see a shadow of the couple he saw in that picture. On the other side of the room was one Draco Malfoy. His eyes followed the Head Girl with this strangely familiar man. The way the man moved and the eyes that bore into the Head Girl's were unmistakable. Draco had not seen those eyes in a couple years, but he had a feeling he was correct. His father was dancing with Hermione Granger as if she were a part of his very soul. Draco looked across the dance floor and saw Harry watching with a look of comprehension on his face. Harry felt Draco's eyes on him. From across the dance floor green eyes met eyes of steel grey and an understanding occurred in both of them. With a nod, they knew the other knew who the masked man was.

Hermione felt suddenly cold when Lucius pulled away as the song ended. He still didn't speak, choosing only to nod his head as if to say "thanks for the dance." She stood there staring at him in slight confusion. What was going on? Then she noticed him take a sharp intake of breath as if something were suddenly causing him pain. His face, very controlled, his eyes glanced down to his left forearm as if he could see through the fabric. Hermione's eyes grew wide as he swiftly left the Great Hall.

A thousands thoughts filled Hermione's mind as she watched Lucius leave the Great Hall. She knew what the sudden pain was and the reason he ran out of the Great Hall—Lord Voldemort was calling his supporters and like a good little Death Eater Lucius ran. What she couldn't understand was the reason he danced with her in such a way. Death Eaters killed her family and he was still one no matter what. Her heart pounded heavy and hard in her chest. She looked around her. Everyone was back to minding their own business. Grabbing the skirt of her dress so as not to trod on it, Hermione ran from the Great Hall.

Lucius stood outside in the shadows of the castle hesitating to leave. He heard the doors bang open and saw the midnight vision of Hermione run out looking panicked, frantic, worried. The moonlight cast down on her as she looked around in a circle for any sign of her masked dance partner. He watched her skin glow in contrast to her dress in the moonlight. Before he placed his fingers on the Dark Mark and disappeared, he saw her turn and run back into the castle mumbling to herself.

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Hermione was not in the best of moods once the masquerade was over. The prefects didn't want to help clean up, the Head Boy had vanished, and everyone kept harassing her about the mystery man she danced with. She refused to answer any questions stating he did not as much as say one word to her. On her way back to the common room, she passed a set of windows that looked out at the forbidden forest. She wanted to go to the cabin and think. She needed to go to the cabin and think. Turning the serpent, she disappeared.

Lucius watched Hermione making her way up the path. She didn't look happy.

"Here she comes."

Lucius backed back into the shadows inside the cabin to watch her entrance. The door opened, but Hermione seemed to be having difficulty with it. She was having problems opening the door and holding her dress so as not to step on it at the same time. It resulted in an odd jerking action of the door, resulting in Hermione literally bringing the door back to her as she was coming through. The door promptly hit her with a resounding thud.

"Ow! Bloody Hell!"

She brought her hand up over the area hit right above her eye. Lucius watched with concern and dread.

She wasn't lying when she said she walked into a door.

He knew it could happen any moment and he was there to stop it. She heard him shuffle his feet and jumped looking in the corner of the room. Closing the door, she couldn't help wondering why he was skulking in the shadows as if he were Snape. She also had enough sense to know there was more to the picture she showed him than he was letting on. What else could explain that dance and his behavior?

"What the bloody hell was that all about? I want answers!"

She stepped further into the room and stopped abruptly as fear coursed through her veins. Standing next to Lucius was Severus Snape, Dumbledore's murderer. The color drained from her face as she began to back away. She knew Lucius was a Death Eater, but to bring him to her after she took care of him was just cruel.

"How could you?"

Her voice was weak and frightened as she pointed at Severus, looking at Lucius. He could see the betrayal in her eyes.

Good.

Lucius reached out and grabbed her upper arm tightly. She yelped in pain and tried to get away, but he only tightened his grip.

"You served your purpose, Mudblood."

"No," she shook her head in denial. "No!" She jerked her arm as hard as she could back. Hermione felt her world spin as she stumbled back and felt the awkward landing her foot took as it met a stack of books on the floor. Lucius watched in horror and defeat as Hermione Granger fell backward over those books, her time-turner flying up in the air, still around her neck. As she began to land just in front of the fire, barely missing falling into it, the time-turner flew sideways, crashing into the stone of the fireplace. Lucius watched it shatter. Hermione was gone.

In what was a panic for a Malfoy, he turned to Severus.

"Get out quickly, before she returns."