Disclaimer: We all know this is not mine.

A/N: Thank you for the wonderful reviews and keep them coming! Something exciting and hopefully unexpected is coming up in the next chapter! Hehehehe….My mother reads this and I won't even tell her what I have planned….wait…no, I did tell her about this! So, she is the only one! Lol….please review and let me know you are reading!

Chapter 16

Discovered

Through the hourglass I saw you
In time you slipped away
When the mirror crashed I called you
And turned to hear you say
If only for today
I am unafraid

Take my breath away

--Berlin

Hermione felt as if her world was spinning out of control. Her heart beat so hard against her chest she was sure Lucius could feel it. As his lips hovered slightly over the place he just had them, she felt his breath as he inhaled deeply and exhaled slowly as if trying to control the very urge running through his veins.

Lucius felt her quivering. In that instant he realized she was not shaking in fear of him…no, she was unafraid at that moment. The wind swept down from the estate and circled around them carrying a voice with it.

"Hermione?"

The sound of Remus calling for her snapped Lucius back to reality. He swiftly stepped back from her. Hermione stood immobile as his eyes, colder than ever, locked on hers. The ice pierced her soul and sent shivers down her spine. Instinctively, she wrapped her arms around herself as if she were suddenly freezing. Remus was making his way across the grounds toward them. Hermione looked away from Lucius.

"Coming," she said and walked passed Lucius trying with everything in her to determine how and why that had happened. In Lucius' past, in her short time there, he and Hermione were best friends, but he never did anything quite like that. Lucius stood there watching the girl walk toward Remus with a small smile.

As she walked out of site and disappeared into the house, Lucius stood there. Looking around him, he found his mind wandering to all directions. One direction, of course, was the past. When he was seventeen, he never gave any indication of being enamored with her…never. So, what possessed him to kiss her in such an intimate fashion tonight? The more he stood in the night thinking about it the more it became clear. He kissed her like that for one reason: at seventeen he knew she would return and he wanted just one night…one night when he could send her back to her time after telling her how he felt…one night when she wasn't just a friend. Too much separated them even then.

His gaze turned back to the house. He could imagine the Dark Mark rising above the house and could barely fathom the horror Hermione had felt running for her life. Bellatrix had been there, that much he knew. Another thought came to him, hitting him with the force of a hippogriff, reminding him of who he is. If he had not been in a cell in Azkaban, Lucius would have been here that night…he would have been with Bellatrix murdering Hermione's family; he would have been with Bellatrix chasing Hermione through the woods, taunting her. If he was there that night and he did catch her would he have been able to kill her? He hadn't seen the girl in a couple years and had no idea this was his Hermione. Once he cornered her, he would have recognized her. Could he have killed the thing he longed to find all these years? With those thoughts hanging in the night air, Lucius wandered back toward the house in hopes of good nights sleep before the return trip tomorrow.

000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000

The sound echoed down the hallway. It was a strange clapping sound followed by a thumping noise coming from the library. Lucius followed the sound. As Lucius approached the library, he stood in the doorway surveying the scene within. Remus sat in a soft sofa with a book in hand. He would look up toward Hermione every now and then and shake his head at her before returning to his book. Hermione stood on a latter glancing over the books on the shelves. On occasion, she would flick her wand and several books would fly off the shelves, run into each other and fall with a thud into a box.

Hermione stood on the latter, looking behind her. She saw Lucius standing there in his typical black with his hair tied back in a black ribbon. Everything about his presence demanded your attention and submission. Sending a set of books into a box, she hopped down off the latter. She walked toward one of the boxes in order to close it. Lucius stepped further into the room and approached the box Hermione was currently observing the contents as if having second thoughts on taking the books. Lucius picked up one of the books.

"Ah…I see you are taking the rarer and harder to find books of the collection."

Hermione simply nodded her head. She really didn't know what to say or how to say it let alone how to act around him after what he did down by the lake. If he had suddenly started acting like "Lucius best friend from the past" she could have handled that. But he didn't act just as a best friend and that piqued her curiosity to the reality of the past and sent a chill of fear down her spine. He sat the book back in the box.

"You are well within your right to do so," Lucius said as if he knew the doubts she was having about doing so. She looked up at him. Lucius looked at the books and boxes around them. "Jane always kept an extensive library."

Hermione followed his eyes around the room.

"I heard Malfoy Manor has the largest personal library in all of England."

Slowly his eyes turned toward Hermione and looked her up and down. He knew she had read that in a book. It was the typical Hermione he knew in his seventh year and the one he heard complaint about from his son.

"Yes…yes it is. Perhaps one day you will be afforded the opportunity to peruse it."

Lucius didn't seem to notice, but at those words everything in the room seemed to stop moving or breathing—including Remus. His eyes moved out of his book and moved back and forth between Lucius and Hermione. Hermione stood frozen to the spot. Was she just invited to Malfoy Manor by the Death Eater? That thought struck a chord in her memory as Lucius left the room to pack his things. She walked over and sat next to Remus. Remus watched her move across the room toward him and sit and simply waited for her to speak.

"Remus, why did McGonagall send a known Death Eater to 'guard' me? Wouldn't it have been wiser to send an Order member?"

Remus closed his book and sat it aside.

"Hermione, I'm sure she had her reasons. He is a professor at Hogwarts now and can be afforded a little bit of trust with students."

To Remus' surprise, Hermione snorted with a laugh. He looked at her with a mixture of shock and curiosity.

"Yea," Hermione intimated. "So was Snape and look where that got us."

Remus looked Hermione up and down observing the way her body grew stiff at the name and the hate that bounced in her eyes…not as intense as what was witnessed in Harry, but similar. Hermione's held a bit of fear and Remus understood why. She was always talking about the wards around Hogwarts and how safe it was…there was no place safer. Her world that was so safe to her crumbled when Death Eaters swept through the halls, harming those she cared for and killing one. He placed his arm around her shoulders pulling her toward him to comfort her.

"Yes, Hermione. And when given the assignment to protect you at all costs Snape did so. If I'm not mistaken, he sent you and Luna into his office to care for Flitwick rather than back up into the madness of curses flying around the floor above?"

He felt Hermione nod her head.

"Yes, but he still killed Dumbledore."

"Oh Hermione," He kissed the top of her head. "Have you ever asked yourself why? People are not always what they seem."

He felt her lips turn up in a smile against his chest.

"I've heard that one before," she whispered.

Remus chuckled.

"Yes, at some point Dumbledore has said that to us all."

000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000

Hermione said goodbye to the Dagworth Estate and its remaining wait staff. It was evident to Lucius that Hermione was most well liked by the staff by the teary goodbyes she received. There was one set of goodbyes given by Joseph and Janet that stirred the pot of emotions in Lucius and put him on edge about his own behavior. First, apparently, Joseph and Janet were husband and wife. Janet gave Hermione a motherly hug followed by Joseph giving her a fatherly hug.

"You have grown so much Miss Hermione….Hermione," Joseph said. Lucius watched and knew these people had known Hermione since she was a baby and now they had to relinquish the only remaining parental grip on this orphan of a child and let her go out into the wizarding world alone. During all this, Hermione stood in the middle of Remus and Lucius.

Joseph's eyes, which had been so warm toward Hermione, turned cold upon Lucius. As they shook hands, Joseph's eyes never left Lucius'. Suddenly his eyes softened as he cut his eyes quickly toward Hermione and then back to Lucius. The coldness gone.

"I implore you, Mister Malfoy. Take care of her. You'll never find anyone better."

Lucius felt heat rise throughout his body. An uncomfortable realization spread over Lucius. Jane was something of an oddity in the wizarding world, insisting all her help was taught Occlumancy and Legilimancy. She felt family secrets should remain in the house and those who questioned her staff would not receive information through other means. That and it kept Hermione out of too much trouble.

The smile on Remus' face could not be hid as he watched Lucius turn a shade paler. They climbed into the car and Joseph drove them to Kings Cross in silence.

000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000

As they entered the train compartment, Remus rushed over to one seat and propped his feet up spreading out, preventing anyone from sitting next to him. Hermione watched him feeling rather vexed by his behavior. It was like watching the Marauder in him come out. Having no other choice, Lucius and Hermione sat next to each other across from Remus.

The train ride proceeded in silence. About every thirty minutes, Remus or Lucius would rise and leave the compartment to patrol the corridors for anything suspicious. It was so much a part of their routine while traveling like this that Hermione didn't even look up from her book when one of them left the compartment.

It was between patrolling times while they were all in the compartment when the thud of a book hitting the ground drew Lucius and Remus' attention toward their charge in the compartment. Hermione was asleep. No one said anything initially. Remus bent down from his seat and picked up Hermione's book. As he did so, Hermione shifted in her seat and proceeded to lay herself down. Her legs curled up to her and her head landed gently into Lucius' lap. Lucius felt sudden panic surge through him. What in the name of Merlin was she doing? He was no longer seventeen years old…this was the present day…he only acted as her guard on this trip because of his duty as her professor. She was still a Mudblood.

Remus looked from Lucius' stiff form to Hermione and then out the window.

"You know I remember her too."

Slowly Remus moved his eyes back in front of him where they met Lucius'.

"Pardon me," Lucius said as calmly as humanly possible.

Remus smiled slightly and looked down at her sleeping form again.

"I remember Hermione being there…in Slytherin, in my first year." There was silence so Remus continued. "I also remember how close you two appeared to be. It really was no secret how you felt Lucius."

"Mister Lupin I really do not know what you are referring to. Yes, her little trip to the past was a most unfortunate event, but nothing more than that."

Remus shook his head.

"I was only eleven Lucius and I could see it. And I dare say I was not the only one who could see it. You never told her before she returned did you?"

The cold grey eyes of Lucius Malfoy penetrated Remus, but he seemed not to notice.

"Mister Lupin an entire lifetime has separated us since then coupled with a couple very well placed lies. I hardly think the foolish inconsistencies of a young heart matter at this point."

"Inconsistencies? Really Lucius? You seemed rather consistent if I recall."

The acrid look upon Lucius' face told Remus the conversation was over. Rising, Remus excused himself to patrol the corridor once more.

Left alone in the compartment with Hermione sleeping on his lap, Lucius couldn't help but to let a bit of the walls around him down. No one was there to see. He set his serpent cane against the wall next to him. His posture relaxed only a tad. Looking down at the girl he gently moved the hair over her shoulder so he could see her face. She looked peaceful and relaxed, just as he remembered her looking when she would fall asleep next to him…afraid to be in her room. He didn't understand what struck fear deep in her back then, but now he understood. She couldn't sleep in the same room as her parents' murderer. However, he had to wonder how she could possibly look at him back then without feeling the contempt for him that was rightfully earned. The more he pondered this the more he came to realize she tried everything she could to keep her distance from him at first. She did try to keep her distance, knowing what he would grow to be and knowing what she was. Taking a deep breath, as if something had stolen it away, Lucius looked away from her face and out at the passing landscape.

Darkness was falling.

000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000

Harry and Ron paced around the corridor waiting for Hermione to step into the castle safely back from her trip. Outside the gates of Hogwarts Remus had stepped out of the carriage and now helped Hermione out. Lucius followed her out. All three had their cloaks on and hoods up as they traveled swiftly from the gates to the doors of the castle. Hermione's heart thudded with each step, anxious to get back to normal and yet, fearing it. Once she walked through those doors Lucius was her professor again. Not her friend from the past…her enemy and her professor. Swallowing any and all sorrow for the loss of a "friend," they stepped into the castle.

As soon as her body registered the dryness around her, she lowered her hood only to be tackled by two rather tall boys. Lucius felt the snarl form on his face as he watched this cornucopia of love between Hermione and these boys. The boys were trying to talk to her at the same time, each with their own story to tell her not noticing the other was speaking at the same time. Her laughter rang out as she held her hands up indicating them to hush up.

"Just a moment."

She turned around and thanked Lucius, he simply nodded curtly as if it were a painful charge he had. Remus she hugged and her thank you sounded much more heart felt. Lucius stood there, sneer in place, as he watched the trio with their arms around each other make their way merrily up to Gryffindor tower talking all at once again.

Later that night, Ron had gone to bed leaving Hermione and Harry alone in the common room. Hermione looked around nervously and decided he was her best bet. She stood up and threw herself on the sofa next to him.

"Can I talk to you Harry?"

He turned his gaze from the fire, quite curious and slightly worried and nodded his head. She took a deep breath and then told him all about Lucius down by the lake, though she left out any details alluding to an actual estate. When she finished the short tale, Harry was staring into the fire shaking his head.

"What is it Harry?"

Harry slowly turned his head toward Hermione and she could see the small smile playing at the corner of his mouth.

"Hermione you are a brilliant witch. You have a knack for seeing the obvious in other's relationships, but when it comes to your own you are oblivious to the obvious."

Her forehead crinkled up in confusion as she looked at Harry waiting for a response. He held out his hand.

"Let me see any of those past pictures you found."

Very curious as to what Harry was on about, Hermione bent down into her bag and pulled out three pictures. Harry took them and glanced over each one before handing them back to her. His smile was gone. The playfulness was gone. His eyes stared into hers and the fire warmed the air around them.

"Look at these pictures again, Hermione. Look at the way this Lucius looked at you…even when you weren't aware of it."

Feeling worried and anxious at what Harry meant she flipped through the three pictures. It was like seeing the pictures through different eyes. Beyond the now intimate knowledge of the events in the pictures, she now saw little things she paid no attention to before…little things Harry had noticed. The warmness in Lucius' eyes when he looked at her, the way his eyes would linger longingly on her after she had returned to whatever work she was doing…the way his hand would reach out for her, but then pull away.

"Oh Merlin," she whispered.

Harry smiled slightly and reached over to a table where an envelope sat.

"Not to make matters worse or anything, but Collin took this picture at the masquerade." As he handed it to her, she looked at him curiously and slowly opened it. It was a picture of her and Lucius dancing…he was holding her up close to him and their eyes were locked. In the picture, Lucius twirled her out and then brought her back close to him…never letting his eyes drift from her.

Harry could see the questions running through her mind.

"Don't worry, Collin doesn't know who he was. Neither does most of the school for that matter, but it has become quite the topic of discussion as you know."

She looked up at him hopefully.

"So no one knows?"

Harry shrugged.

"I figured out who he was and I think Draco did, but no one else."

Hermione nodded her head and looked back down at the pictures. She wanted to get up and run to Lucius and ask him if what Harry was seeing was true. She couldn't do that though. He would scorn her for being a stupid Mudblood and send her on her way. He would laugh at her gullibility. She shoved the pictures back in her bag, shaking her head.

"I don't know Harry. I just wish I could forget."

She stood up, shouldering her bag.

"Goodnight, Harry."

"Goodnight."

000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000

A few days later found Lucius observing Hermione at breakfast again. She was the first of the trio to arrive for breakfast. At first, she took a couple of bites and then proceeded simply to move the food around on her plate. Before the boys entered the Great Hall, Hermione pushed her food completely away and pulled the book she was reading closer to her.

Hermione looked up and smiled at the boys as they sat down and began piling their plates with food. As the morning post flew in, Hermione paid the owl for the Daily Prophet. Another owl flew over Harry's head and as it flew over it dropped something that fell delicately into Harry's hand. The chain snaked out of his hand, draping over his fingers. He slowly opened his hand to look at it. Hermione had been watching and now slowly lowered that paper. Leaning closer to Harry, she whispered to him.

"Is that what I think it is?"

Her eyes were wide with wonder, amazement, and excitement. Harry couldn't even speak. He simply nodded his head as a smile formed on his face and then faltered at how much damage this necklace had caused. A serious pensive look formed on Harry's face as he pocketed the locket. His eyes met Hermione's.

"We have about a week before Christmas Holiday. We destroy it the night before we leave."

Hermione nodded. Standing up they all headed toward their first class. Above them the magical ceiling reflecting the soft white pure flakes of snow that began to drift to the ground outside.