Ok people here we go with Chapter Two. Thank you all for you reviews, favourites and follows. I hope I don't disappoint you. I am a little bit nervous with this one, so I apologise for any errors grammatical or otherwise. Constructive criticism always welcome.

Lucius Malfoy regarded the young woman, one could only describe as curled up in the seat opposite him. He found himself intrigued, the notion irking him.

"I wasn't in the mood to dress for dinner." He said condescendingly accentuating his cultured tones.

He discarded his scruffy appearance with a dismissive wave of a graceful hand. The other rested on the arm of the chair, nursing a heavy glass tumbler containing a hefty tot of what she could only assume was Firewhiskey. The cuffs of his shirt were loose at his wrist, no serpent cufflinks to secure them Hermione noted.

She thought for a long moment finally raising her eyes once more to take in his dishevelled form. Should she take the softly softly approach or should she just go for the jugular? Hermione quickly came to the conclusion that if she opted for the softly softly approach, she would very quickly loose her nerve and she had the distinct feeling she would be treated to a series of smooth but dismissive and acerbic rejoinders, which whilst being polite would achieve precisely nothing.

Something deep down told her that if she was going to do this, and she had promised Draco a little voice reminded her, she needed to attack it head on and not pussy foot around. She had to poke the bear!

The idea of poking the former Death Eater in any shape or form was not something Hermione Granger was sure she was brave enough to do. "You promised Draco" that irritating little voice helpfully reminded her again.

"Perhaps Mr Malfoy" She jutted her chin determinedly as she spoke, hoping she looked more assured than she felt. "You didn't feel a Mudblood was worth dressing for."

Hermione held her breath. Whilst his appearance might not have looked anything like the man she once recalled with such fear and loathing. The derisive sneer that curled his top lip, just visible beneath the layer of growth that covered his face was clearly still very much in evidence.

"I assure you Miss Granger" He began in those noble clipped tones of his, "A beautiful woman is always worth dressing, or undressing for, whatever her breeding. I merely didn't feel like it."

Hermione was totally thrown by his response, uncertain as to whether she had just been insulted or complimented.

Lucius stretched his long legs and then crossed them once more, regarding the young woman seated in his library. She was clutching a book defensively for all she was worth. He hadn't expected to see Hermione Granger in this house again, not in his lifetime. He felt a sudden swell of warmth at her courage.

"I admire your courage Miss Granger. You must think an awful lot of my son to be here, to want to set foot in this house again."

He cast his eyes towards the fire, avoiding her gaze, swallowing hard as he recalled the last time she had been here at the Manor. It certainly wasn't his finest hour. He had allowed nothing more than a child to be tortured both mentally and physically by his late sister-in-law. The image had been indelibly etched on his brain. He could still see her small bird like frame lying trembling on the floor, Bellatrix crouched over her, tormenting her. He recalled the sobs that had wracked her body as she pleaded with the deranged witch and the piercing terrified screams that had filled the air. Watching and doing nothing as tears trickled down her face, blood down her arm, it was indefensible.

He brought his grey eyes back to once again meet her warm brown ones. "It cannot hold any pleasant memories for you." He added softly, almost shamefully.

Lucius was right of course the house had held nothing but horrible memories and when she had stood outside those few short hours ago it had filled her with an overwhelming sense of dread. But now, now it didn't feel like the same house, she didn't feel the same person. Was it because it was all a long time ago and she was finally laying her demons to rest? Had the passing of time really healed those mental and physical scars? She really didn't know. She couldn't however help the small smile that tugged at her lips. Lucius repeating the words Draco had said earlier in the evening almost verbatim. How alike they were in so many ways, she thought, even if at this moment the physical similarities were somewhat marred.

"Draco and I are very close Mr Malfoy" she affirmed noncommittally.

Lucius nodded knowingly: "My son…"

He began tentatively as if not wanting to discuss his son with her.

"My son is worried about me" The statement was matter-of-fact, blasé almost.

Lucius studied her for a few moments, watching as she avoided his eyes, her pretty face flushing slightly. Realisation dawned. "He asked you to talk to me!"

Hermione saw a flicker of amusement in his face and bristled. Angry that Lucius had seen through Draco's plan so quickly and also at the idea that he found his son's concern funny. Or perhaps it was the thought of her talking to him that amused the dark wizard.

"Yes he is." The defiance in her voice palpable. "You find his concern funny?" She clutched at the book, her knuckles whitening.

Lucius found his respect for this young woman intensifying by the second. Her courage was obvious on more than one level, he'd witnessed that first hand, as was her loyalty to his son.

He of course understood that Draco was her friend and she would want to do anything she could for him. But that she would lay aside everything that had happened in the past and put herself in this position, well quite frankly it humbled him.

"Oh on the contrary Miss Granger. I am greatly warmed by his concern for a father who doesn't merit such consideration. I am also a little in awe of your courage."

Hermione looked directly into those steely grey eyes for the first time, seeing genuine emotion and sincerity in their depths. She felt a peculiar heat flood her body, her heart hammering in her chest, at his contrition? His compliment? Or something more? She was too surprised to determine which.

She didn't however want this conversation to be about her and whilst flattered by his words she decided that having poked the bear a little, it was time to meet the bull and take him well and truly by the horns.

"Mr Malfoy, Draco cares for you a great deal and yes he is worried about you. It would appear with just cause." Finally releasing her grip on the book, Hermione gestured his appearance. "Funny" She continued quickly before she lost her nerve. "The last time I saw you, as I recall you didn't look much better!"

She had a point thought Lucius. Unexpectedly recalling the last time he had seen Hermione Granger. It had been amongst the burning rubble of Hogwarts, her bravery evident even then. The precocious 19 year old, standing up alongside her friends against the Dark Lord. He pondered reflectively for a few moments, his thoughts lost in the crackling fire.

Hermione chewed on her bottom lip watching Lucius Malfoy intently. Despite fearing his reactions, this was proving a lot easier than she imagined. Draco's "my father has changed" was beginning to look like the understatement of the century. The frightening thing about him now was just how much like Draco he actually was. A little in appearance, but with his chiselled features and sharper bone structure Lucius had the edge on looks. They had similar mannerisms and even in this very short exchange, Hermione detected that they had unbelievably similar standards, which were more than just breeding. Lucius had clearly just preferred to keep his hidden and to the outside world he simply chose to appear a bigoted, disdainful bastard.

The pin dropping silence in the room was suddenly shattered by laughter. OK not exactly the reaction she was anticipating, thrown once more but his totally unexpected response. The laughter had reached his eyes this time and they twinkled in amusement.

Lucius viewed her carefully from beneath his long lashes. "Touché Miss Granger, touché. Wisdom does not necessarily come with age. In our youth we act like petulant children, as we get older we still do. We simply feel we can hide it behind our advancing years and get away with it."

It was Hermione's turn to laugh. Lucius Malfoy might look like a vagrant from Knockturn Alley, but she would hardly have considered him in his dotage. In fact if anything, despite the tramp look he was currently sporting, Lucius was a very attractive man. His skin was flawless, he had the most amazing cheekbones and a full sensual mouth, there were a few lines about the edge and around his eyes but age suited him, it actually improved him, physically anyway.

"The last week or so." He began suddenly.

"Well in the last week or so I have I have been feeling uncharacteristically sorry for myself and have allowed myself to wallow in self-pity." He explained his expression becoming serious once more.

"Draco is about to get married. Obviously I have few friends and I will be alone. Rattling around in this mausoleum of a house. Honestly I felt that your presence here would simply compound that."

"So it's….. My fault!" Hermione interrupted him, her words slow and deliberate.

"What no, of course not." His exasperation was tangible. "What I mean is you being here simply reminds me of the reasons for that. I am not proud of many things I have done in my life Miss Granger. I suppose with my only son getting married it has made me a little reflective. Wishing I had done things differently, taken another path as it were."

He paused expecting her to say something, she didn't. Instead she sat motionless in the chair, the book still resting in her lap as she listened intently. In only the glow of firelight he could see her beautiful brown eyes tinged with sadness, lost in their depths he felt strangely compelled to continue.

"Draco was in London for a few days last week. I woke up the first morning he was away to the stark realisation that in a few months' every day would be like that. My son will have a wife of his own, hopefully a family one day and I honestly don't begrudge him any of it, I am truly happy for him. It was as if for the first time I was seeing just how excruciatingly quiet and empty both my house and my life were without his presence."

Hermione was astonished by his openness, that he would choose to share something so personal with her. She had always seen Lucius Malfoy as a cold unfeeling man, who may have cared deeply about his only child, but who as an aristocrat had little time or affection for him. She studied his distinctive profile as he looked sightlessly into the fire. His once proud arrogance supplanted by an almost reflective despondency.

Without looking at her he continued, as if he were simply talking out loud.

"It was all I could think about, no matter how I tried to shake it off. There was something to remind me at every turn. The long endless day stretched into an infinitely lonely night."

Hermione listened in stunned silence as Lucius Malfoy continued to speak, his deep baritone voice the only sound in the room, save the occasional crackle or spit from the fire. Just when she thought he had completely forgotten she was there, he turned to look at her. His grey eyes emotionless.

"Even this failed to help." He held up his glass, the liquid glowing a rich amber in the firelight.

Hermione hadn't expected Lucius to speak to her let alone practically bare his soul. She was unprepared and not entirely sure how to respond to his outpouring. She opened her mouth to speak but words eluded her.

Hermione Granger at a loss for words now that was something. Even the first time they'd met in Flourish & Botts, the gifted 12 year old had been very vocal and free with her opinion. He smiled briefly at the recollection of their initial encounter, his smile fading as he recalled his haughty and derisive put down of her and her Muggle born parents. Another transgression to add to an already long list. Lucius raised the crystal tumbler to his lips taking a substantial mouthful he regarded his young companion over the rim and continued.

"When I woke up the next morning, I hoped, despite the hangover, I would feel better. My large empty bed was just another bitter reminder that my life was devoid of any intimacy, warmth or passion and very little contact with others."

Hermione flushed deeply at his revelation and of the picture it conjured up. Not the one of a lonely man in a large empty bed but of this man enjoying intimacy, warmth and passion. Hermione Granger imagined that Lucius Malfoy was a very passionate man. Heat infused her body.

Despite the dim light in the room Lucius noticed the gentle flush on her cheeks.

"I am sorry Miss Granger I have embarrassed you."

Finally Hermione found her voice, small as it was. "No, not at all Mr Malfoy." It wasn't exactly a lie, she'd actually embarrassed herself. "I um …truthfully…."

"Always" He interjected, surprising Hermione still further.

"Truthfully, I am a little taken aback, by your honesty and frankness. Especially….especially with me."

The two of them regarded each other across the room.

"Oddly Miss Granger I find you exceptionally easy to talk to. My son is clearly a better judge of character than I was and it would appear knows his father all too well."

That first day he was away. I got up and did everything I normally did. As I sat alone reading the Daily Prophet over breakfast, I asked myself why did I bother, what was the point? So the next morning and the morning after that I didn't and so it went on.

Things might have been very different had I made…" His voice suddenly trailed off and he drained his glass placing it on the small table by the side of his chair.

"Draco wanted you to find out what was wrong, so now you know." He shrugged his broad shoulders nonchalantly.

Yes she did know, but Hermione wasn't sure she how she could share this with Draco or if she wanted to. Now she felt like she would be betraying his father's confidence.

She hadn't considered what Draco's father would do once he and Astoria were married. Why would she? Never in a million years would she have thought about him being alone at Malfoy Manor. The Lucius Malfoy of old was always surrounded by people, maybe they weren't necessarily friends, but they certainly seemed to keep him busy. There always appeared to be enough going on in his life. But she supposed that was then, this was now, things change.

Of course Draco spoke often of his father, but thinking about it now, it was only really in passing conversation. Never going into any great detail about what he did, his work or his friends. She just assumed he was Lord of the Manor and that was it, his role in life.

Lucius didn't want the pity he could see so clearly etched on her face. Her understanding, yes and maybe even her forgiveness, one day, although he certainly didn't deserve either. But he definitely didn't want her pity.

"Perhaps I have simply been feeling my age Miss Granger." He said suddenly, his tone of voice shifting, lightening.

Hermione noticed the change, perhaps it was his unspoken way of telling her he'd said all he was going to on the subject. She followed his lead, keeping her response light.

"I would hardly consider you Methuselah, Mr Malfoy. You are sti…." Hermione stopped herself short, however attractive she might find Lucius Malfoy telling him was not the wisest move to make.

She regarded him with some measured amusement before continuing, watching his grey eyes darken at her unfinished sentence.

"However, if you continue to rock the grunge look, I cannot say you won't remain alone."

Hermione bit her lip, feeling suddenly a little too comfortable in his usually formidable presence, she'd let her words run away with her just a little too freely.

"Miss Granger I don't speak Muggle," He snapped, trying to hide his delight at her discomfort, clearly having said more than she had perhaps intended. "But is this your way of telling me I need to re-evaluate my appearance?" His refined and articulate tones positively dripped sarcasm.

Unable to speak for fear her voice would come as some inaudible squeak Hermione simply nodded. Visibly relaxing when a small smile quirked his mouth, his cold grey eyes softening.

"It would appear I owe both you and Draco my deepest apologies. My son, for giving him cause to worry with such gravity that he felt the need to call in reinforcements. And you."

He rose from the chair, closing the space between them in a couple of powerful strides, he stopped. Standing directly in front of her, he took her chin between his thumb and forefinger, tilting her head back to meet his imposing height. For a few moments he remained silent, searching her face for answers to so many unspoken questions.

"And you for so many things." He said simply, his voice hoarse, faltering with emotion.

Not for the first time that evening. Hermione was at a loss for words and caught completely off guard by Lucius Malfoy's response, this time both verbally and physically. His beautiful grey eyes seemed to penetrate her very soul and to her horror Hermione found tears prick her own eyes at his heartfelt words. The feather light trace of his fingers against her skin seemed to touch and awaken every nerve in her body.

"But….." He continued more assuredly and in a lighter vein. "Starting with my lack of good manners for not correctly dressing and welcoming a guest in my house for dinner."

She couldn't help but smile at him, she was actually enjoying his company, heightening her disappointment that he had opted not to join her and Draco for dinner. She had a feeling if he wanted to Lucius Malfoy would make a very entertaining and genial host, well there was always tomorrow she thought.

"Well perhaps you could redress that tomorrow Mr Malfoy. Draco has asked me to stay until Sunday, if that is alright with you?" She heard her cheeky words voiced out loud, relieved to see a soft grin curve his lips, but something else flicker in his eyes.

Only until Sunday thought Lucius, he was already enjoying the company of the feisty and outspoken Miss Granger. She was like a breath of fresh air and he felt his house would be an even lonelier place once she departed. Chastising himself for not having made an effort to greet Draco's friend and mortified at how he had allowed himself to appear. He was now torn between wanting to stay here and enjoy her company or to make himself more presentable. The question was, how to get around combining the two without cutting short what was turning out to be a surprisingly pleasant evening?

Draco Malfoy breathed a sigh of relief at the sound of their voices. When his father had opted not to join them for dinner he had feared Hermione was right and that she didn't stand a chance of getting through to his father. A chink of light had appeared on the horizon, when a clearly agitated Raffy had apparated in his room whilst he was floo calling Astoria. Shuffling from foot to foot and pulling painfully on his large ears the house elf's eyes had widened yet further in horror as he had told the young master that.

"The new missy had gone into the library and that MASTER was in there".

It had taken a vast amount of convincing both on Draco and Astoria's part to convince the flustered elf that this was in fact ok. That he did not need to go and inflict any barbaric tortures upon himself, and that the ironing of any parts of himself were strictly not necessary.