Lucius Malfoy had wondered if she would come. The manor held no happy memories for her, but one should never deign to understand the mind of a lion or lioness to be more exacting. As a group they were fairly predictable, but as individuals they were worshippers of chaos.

She stood at the window, looking out on the front lawn. Her dress was made sheer by the unusually bright sunlight flooding the room. He paused and admired the casual beauty of the moment before clearing his throat.

"The elf told me to wait." She turned and he saw the perfect awareness of her situation there in her eyes. "I hope you aren't displeased, Lord Malfoy."

"Only that I was unavoidably detained, Miss Granger." He inclined his head and closed the doors behind him. "I hope it was only a small inconvenience."

"It was no inconvenience." She waved her hand and turned her head to glance out the window again. Apparently, this lioness liked to play. "The scenery is quite pleasing."

"It is. I quite enjoy the aspect that window provides." Lucius allowed a slight quirk of his lips. She turned back to him and smiled. It was warm and genuine. She was utterly terrifying.

"I'm not here to discuss the funding of my next expedition." She retreated from the window and stalked through the room. "Am I?"

"I have concerns." Lucius indicated a chair for her to sit in and moved to sit behind his desk.

"Let me put your fears to rest. I am not after Draco. I am not involved with Draco. I will never be involved with him despite what a certain reporter might see fit to print." She glanced at the chair and stood tall. "I hope you enjoyed the show. It's the last one to which you will be privy."

"I'm not concerned about the seduction of my son. I would have preferred you to the bit of frippery he has chosen, but you are already off the market. More's the pity." Lucius gestured toward the chair again. "Shall we try this again?"

He watched her settle before taking his own seat. Her posture was perfect. She folded her hands in her lap and crossed her legs at the ankles, a perfect lady.

"You know." She looked at him carefully. "You've known all along. That's why you funded my expeditions."

"You have a quick mind." He leaned back against his chair.

"That's an evasion not a confirmation." She frowned. "I am not here to play games."

"Severus told me you had saved him. He did not say how." Lucius shook his head. "How is he off, finding himself?"

"Is that any of your business?" She closed her eyes for a moment. "Why do you care?"

"Most methods for raising the dead are dark arts at best and necromancy at worst. I had to protect Severus from any repercussions." Lucius frowned at her understanding nod. Where was her indignation? Lucius straightened his blotter. "The spell you used is the only one that isn't linked to darkness."

"I'm well aware of all of the ramifications of the spell." She sighed. "I didn't go into this without doing the proper research."

"Draco assured me that you are always very thorough in your work, but bringing someone back from the beyond is an act of emotion. It is a driven thing." Lucius tilted his head. "What drove you?"

"I don't owe you an explanation." She crossed her arms over her breasts. Perhaps if he was a bit more open with her, he could get her talking.

"You don't owe me a thing." Lucius took a deep breath. "My family owes you a great deal in point of fact. Several times over. Severus is my best friend. He protected my son despite the danger. I need to know that he is safe. You are in a unique position to hurt him."

"I freed him of the bond. I used a Norse ritual to give him the the freedom. I carry the burden. It was my magic and my responsibility." The young with blushed beautifully and dropped her gaze to her lap. "If you tell him, he'll feel obligated to come back and help me. Please, let him be free."

"You bound yourself to him and took the burden of his bond as well?" Lucius blinked. The strength of this witch shouldn't surprise him, but to give up so much with no return... He couldn't imagine it.

"He doesn't need to know." She leaned forward and stared at him. There was something tragic in her choices. "He gave up twenty years and his life. Let him be free."

"I have no desire to harm him." Lucius paused. This young woman confused him. Her motivation was obscured and complicated. His grandfather had married a Gryffindor when his wife died in childbirth. She hadn't lasted long, but in his journal he had bemoaned her obsessive need for honesty. "I am far more worried that you will."

He saw the indignation flare in her eyes. She straightened her spine and leveled a glare at him that would flay his skin from his body if she had the intention. He fought the urge to smile at this sweet lioness. She was a war veteran and probably quite capable of fighting him.

"You have combined the ancient magic of two very different societies." Lucius frowned and took a deep breath. "Are you quite sure that there will be no adverse repercussions?"

"There's a stone. I made it into a necklace. He has to keep the stone on, but he's compelled to by the spell. As long as he has the stone, he's free of the bindings." She blushed again. He sighed. She was truly a comely witch.

"But, you are not?" Lucius watched the blush intensify. "You can't marry anyone, can't have children, can't even be intimate with another."

"I am aware." She looked down at her hands and sighed. "I will live an intellectual life."

"He's free to do as he pleases." Lucius steepled his fingers and pressed his lips against them.

"It's the right thing." The witch met his gaze once more. "You don't need to send Draco to mind me at work."

"After the incident in Peru, he has been most insistent." Lucius smiled. "He has no fondness for the other members of the golden trio. I believe he has come to view you as a friend."

"He's a good man." Hermione shrugged. "He can still drive me mental with no effort at all, but I enjoy his company."

"You planned this next adventure to coincide with his wedding." He didn't need to see her squirm, but it was amusing.

"The rumors Ron started were unfortunate. I didn't want to embarrass Draco or Astoria with the gossip mongers' speculations." She straightened her skirt primly.

"Let us enjoy their slings and arrows. Come to the engagement ball. Narcissa would love to take you shopping. I believe her sister will be along for the hunt. Gowns are apparently very elusive prey." Lucius chuckled. "I will insist on a waltz as will Draco."

The witch blinked rapidly. He enjoyed watching her reactions. She was so very open.

"Won't Severus be there?" She bit her lower lip.

"He will attend the wedding, but he is in Amsterdam working on some obscure potion with another master and unable to travel for something as frivolous as a mere ball."

"I'd be happy to attend in that case." She stood. Choosing to end their interview on her own terms, most likely. "Lady Malfoy doesn't have to take me shopping. I would hate to intrude on the time she spends with Andromeda."

"I will pass on your misgivings and allow my wife the pleasure of disabusing you of them." Lucius stood and walked around his desk. "She isn't likely to take no for an answer."

"Thank you for keeping my secrets." She held out her hand in the muggle way. She was adorable. He took her hand and turned it before bowing over her delicate fingers.

He straightened and observed that delicious pinkening of her cheeks. Pulling her hand free of his, she was gone in a swirl of skirts and the quiet click of the door.

He stood still for a few moments. She smelled of exotic spices and sunlight, and those blushes... He took a deep breath.

"Are you satisfied?" Draco pushed the door open. "I told you she was no threat to Uncle Sev."

"She is enchanting and has no bad intentions. I imagine she will eventually prove quite a threat to my old friend's equilibrium." Lucius smiled at his son. "It's a shame that she bound herself to Severus. She'd have made a delightful wife for you."

"Astoria suits me." Draco shook his head. "She wants the things I want. Granger would be far and away too much work."