Disclaimer: I had a fic with copyright, EIEIO. This right did not belong to
me EIEIO with a JK here and a Rowling here, here a Harry there a Potter...
Last time on LGG:
He kissed her, long and deep.
"Just because I'm cold, doesn't mean I shouldn't get my kiss, does it?" Hermione smiled and Draco placed a hand on her back, leading her to the front doors. She let her arm snake around his waist, walking beside him with her head on his shoulder, still drunk with sleepiness. The moment they stepped silently inside, however, Draco stopped cold. The entry room was completely dark, only a few dim candles still lit... but one bright red light stood like a beacon above the MP3000.
"Draco, what's wrong?" Hermione asked, feeling him tense, and Draco swallowed.
"The red light is on..."
~*~*~*~
CHAPTER THIRTY THREE: The Red Light
"The red light? What's the red light?" Hermione asked, confused, but Draco didn't explain; he took her hand and stepped toward the big brass door.
"Hermione, I want you to go to your room and lock your door. Don't open it unless you're sure of who's out there, and lord, don't open it for Lucius," Draco instructed, sounding as if it were vital that she do so. This only made Hermione more worried. "22D."
"Draco, what's going on?" He shook his head as he pushed her into the room.
"Don't worry, I'll take care of it. Please, just don't leave your room, okay? Please." Hermione ignored the part of her that wanted to ease his worry and simply agree.
"I'm not staying anywhere or doing anything until you tell me what the bloody hell is going on." Draco sighed. He knew he'd have no luck keeping it secret and keeping her safe at the same time.
"It's Lucius," he said, looking toward the ground. "The red light means he's violent and missing... there's no telling what he could do. I know how to handle him, Mya, but I don't want you anywhere unsafe. Please, just do this for me, alright?" Hermione, frowning, nodded. She couldn't deny that she felt a bit scared at the thought of Lucius on a rampage...
"Okay," she said softly. "But be careful." Draco smiled as she removed her foot from the threshold and the doors began to close.
"Lock the door," he called just before she disappeared, and Hermione frowned at the wooden door. The second it clicked, signaling the completion of the portal process, she wretched it back open. Of course, there was no Draco behind it. She looked both ways down the hall and saw no one. Not a pleasant realization. It was never good to have the person you loved disappear right before your eyes. Hermione sighed and closed the door. She turned the lock, making a hollow click, but paused before removing her hand. She couldn't just stay there, knowing Lucius was somewhere all alone; Hermione still felt a maternal bond toward him... and be damned if she would let her surrogate son lie all alone somewhere, scared and violent.
Immediately, Hermione turned the lock again and made sure her wand was in her pocket. As she stepped back through the doorway, she whispered below her breath.
"I'm sorry, Draco."
~*~
"Mum?" Draco asked as the portal opened upon the hallway that contained Lucius' chamber. Narcissa was sitting in a wooden chair near the door of the padded room, looking worn out and worried. She turned her head up sharply at the sound of Draco's voice, and seemed relieved for a brief moment.
"Draco? Where's Hermione?"
"Her room... what happened?" Narcissa ignored his question.
"You left her alone? Draco, what where you thinking, didn't you see the light? Go back over there right now!"
"Mum, it's alright... I told her what's going on, she's not stupid enough to open the door." Narcissa sighed, shaking her head. "What happened?" Draco repeated and she closed her eyes.
"He's been like this since you left. Almost directly after you left, as a matter of fact... I don't know what happened. We locked him in his room..." she said softly, looking up toward the iron door. "But he got out tonight at dinner. He's been gone since seven... no one's seen him at all... I'm worried, Draco. He's never disappeared for this long before." Draco frowned and embraced his mother softly.
"It's okay, Mum... but I really don't think you should sit here all alone. Why don't you go stay with Hermione?" Narcissa shook her head.
"No... I'm staying here. He won't come here; there'd be too great a chance of being locked up again." Draco frowned.
"Alright Mum... but if you see him, call someone alright? I'm going to help look." Narcissa agreed and hugged her son tightly.
"Be careful, baby," she whispered and Draco nodded, then started off down the hall.
~*~
Thinking smartly, Hermione went directly to the closest MP3000 and teleported to level E. She knew the padded room was on the third floor, so she decided it wouldn't be wise to snoop around there.
"Now," she thought as she stood in front of the brass doors once again, staring at her marred reflection. "If I were Lucius, where would I hide?" She thought for a few moments, then a smile crossed her lips and she spoke to the door. "Hall outside room 15E."
She stepped through the door and into the hallway, face to face with Draco's library. He'd said it was originally a closet, and held within it little literature. It was a perfect place for hide and go seek... As Hermione stepped up to the door, she heard soft muttering and smiled. Most definitely Lucius. Without another thought, she opened the door.
"Hi, Lu-" she started sweetly, with a smile on her lips, but was cut off as Lucius Malfoy burst out of the closet and slammed her against the wall across the way. She gave a pained squeal, but kept her voice soft. When Hermione opened her eyes, fear struck her heart. There was the old Lucius; livid and breathing hard, eyes bulging. He looked fit to kill. "L- Lucius..." she started, speaking softly. "What are you doing?" Ignoring her obvious fear, Lucius pulled her away from the wall and roughly pushed her to the ground. Hermione stared up at him with wide eyes. She never should have disobeyed Draco... he'd kill her when he found out... providing Lucius didn't do so first.
The tall blonde towered over her, slowly advancing, and Hermione backed up against the wall, staring up at him fearfully. Suddenly, Lucius fell to his knees, face an inch from hers, and Hermione gasped, breathing shallowly.
"Lucius..." He slapped her, hard across the face. Hermione's head snapped to the side and she closed her eyes, but didn't so much as make a peep.
"Don't speak unless you're spoken to, Mudblood," he spat, but it made Hermione turn to face him. He was the old Lucius on the outside... but he still held that innocence in his voice, which belong to the five-year-old, loveable playmate Lucius. Hermione knew then that this wasn't him... HER Lucius was in there somewhere.
"Lucius..." she began, and he looked livid.
"Mudblood, I told you..."
"Lucius, don't do this. You know you don't want to... this isn't you," she said, but he slapped her again, on the same side, intensifying the already throbbing pain. Hermione wouldn't dare call out.
"You don't know me," he hissed, so odd coupled with his childlike lisp.
"I thought I did..." she said, "But now I'm not so sure." Lucius seemed angrier, if at all possible, but... he didn't hit her again. "Lucius... is this about what happened Saturday morning?" Hermione asked weekly and the man above her gave a low growl.
"I'm gonna tell Draco what you did... he'll be so mad..." Hermione couldn't help but smile. He was sounding more and more like her Lucius every minute.
"Draco already knows," she whispered, taking Lucius off guard. His face traded anger for surprise.
"Huh?" Hermione nodded.
"I told him."
"He doesn't hate you?" She dared give a soft laugh.
"Of course not. It was an accident... and he loves me too much to get mad over an accident... even one so serious." Lucius frowned.
"He... he said that? He said he loved you?" Hermione seemed a little scared; she wasn't sure what he would do, should her answer be yes. He somehow knew she was a muggle-born... what if he killed her for seducing his son?
"Y-Yes... he did." As opposed to being furious, Lucius simply looked heartbroken. He pulled away and sat on the floor beside her, head bowed and lips frowned.
"But..." he said softly, "What if..." Hermione looked curiously at him.
"What, Lucius?" she asked, taking his hand in hers. "You can tell me." He looked up, eyes innocent and wide. Hermione couldn't help but to smile. He was back.
"What if I love you?" he asked, voice soft and barely audible. Hermione's smile disappeared.
"Lucius..." she spoke softly, not sure of what to say. Lucius turned back to the floor, looking devastated. "Lucius, I love you too..." At this, his head popped back up. "Just not like I love Draco." He seemed confused. "I love you like a son, more than anything," Hermione admitted and Lucius nodded, sadly. She smiled, reaching across with her free hand to gently brush the hair from his face. "I almost had a son, you know." He looked up, but didn't smile. "But he died... you remind me so much of him." Lucius now looked sad... because Hermione did. If she were in pain, he was in pain... now that he was back to sound mind.
"Really?" She nodded, smiling. "Was Draco his daddy?" Hermione gave a short laugh.
"No... this was a long time ago. Before I really even met Draco." Lucius nodded, not sure if he should be disappointed or relieved. It was hard to think of Draco as his son... since he'd become Little Lucy... he'd been more like a brother. A big brother. It was always fun when your big brother had a baby.
"I'm sorry I hit you," Lucius said out of the blue, frowning at his hand as if it had betrayed him. Hermione laughed and leaned forward, trapping him in a hug. She giggled again when he hugged back; so much rougher than an embrace with his son. When they broke apart, Hermione let him lean his head on her chest, brushing his hair softly with her fingertips.
"Why were you so mad, Lucius?" she asked softly, realizing she really didn't know. Hermione had a feeling there was more to it than the kiss.
"You didn't say bye to me," he said and Hermione laughed.
"I'm sorry. I thought you'd be upset with me," she said, resting her cheek on his head. Lucius sighed.
"I'm just so lonely... you're the only friend I've got... and you left without a g' bye." Hermione frowned.
"Lucius, you've got lots of friends. What about Draco? And Jasper? Narcissa loves you more than anything..." Lucius sat up straight and shook his head.
"No she doesn't. The only time I ever get ta see her is at dinner and when we go to bed... she never plays with me or talks to me or anything." Hermione sighed.
"She does love you, Lucius, she does. You have to understand that this is hard for her... you used to be a completely different person... and, if I may, not a very good person... and you've suddenly become something so different, it's difficult and confusing. She still loves you; you just have to help her adjust. When was the last time you... you slept together?" Lucius scratched his head.
"I don't remember." Hermione laughed.
"Well, there's the problem. She doesn't think you love her." Lucius looked appalled.
"Of course I love her... even more than you... but I thought..." Hermione shook her head.
"Lucius, here's what you do. Go upstairs to your chamber, let them give you your medicine, and then... sleep with Narcissa. I promise you she'll be better after that. She might not play games with you quite yet... but she needs to know you love her. Alright? Can you do that?" Lucius nodded childishly.
"Do you think it'll work?" Hermione smiled.
"Yes, I do." Lucius gave a decisive nod.
"Okay," he agreed and stood up, clomping down the hall rather loudly. Hermione laughed softly to herself and leaned back against the wall, placing her fingertips softly on her cheek. She pulled her knees closer to her chest and sighed. That boy sure packed a punch. She hadn't been alone for more than five minutes before slow footsteps were heard again. Thinking it might be Lucius, she immediately wiped the pained expression from her face and pulled herself from the ground. She couldn't help but to wince slightly; she hurt everywhere. Eyes still closed, Hermione sighed and waited for the tenseness to leave her.
"Hermione?" asked a voice which most definitely didn't belong to Lucius. Hermione's eyes popped open with a gasp, allowing her to view a leering Osric, who was in fact also on the lookout for his uncle. When he saw her, however, he looked as if he'd won the lottery, and a smirk crawled across his lips. "Hermione..." he said again, but this time with a debonair drawl. Hermione felt herself breathing shallowly as she backed into the wall behind her. "Why, isn't this a surprise?"
"Osric," she whispered, making his name sound like a curse. He gave a hearty chuckle and advanced on her. In mere moments, Hermione was pressed against the wall, mere inches from the blonde.
"Well, well, well... doesn't this seem... familiar?" he asked, hinting toward his plan of action. Hermione attempted to glare him down, although she felt quite vulnerable.
"What is it about me you find so damn appealing?" she hissed, teeth gritted closed as if his lips might descend at any moment. Osric tilted his head back slightly and laughed. As Hermione waited for his answer, she slipped her fingers into her wand pocket... as she expected, it was missing. Damn, he was good. If she were on better terms with the man, she might have asked him to teach her that little trick.
"I find nothing about you appealing, Mudblood. I find each and every aspect quite disgusting, as a matter of fact."
"Then why do you do this?"
"Why?" he chuckled, bringing his face considerably closer. Hermione made a small peep of fear, but continued to restrain herself from calling out. She still feared what Draco would say when he discovered she'd run off. "What I can accomplish from you, my dear mudblood, goes far beyond attraction. Trust me, there is none. There is only one thing I see in my benefit from this... is that's harming poor little Drakey. I'll make you mine, mudblood. Over and over... as many times as it takes have you in my control, and then, just like that bitch Celia, you'll yearn for me... so much Draco won't matter to you in the least. You'll forget he even existed... but he won't forget you," Osric said, combined with an evil laugh. "Oh, no... he'll never forget you. It will eat away at him until one day he gives up all hope." Hermione glared her coldest, most piercing glare.
"You monster." Again, Osric chortled maliciously.
"Why, thank you. I do try."
"What did Draco ever do to you in the first place?" Surprisingly, the evil smirk on Osric's face dropped and he looked as if in deep thought.
"You know..." he said, "I don't quite remember... it was a long, long, time ago. Nonetheless, I've dedicated my life to his torment... taken every girl he's ever wanted... except of course that Parkinson slut. She gave me a little dirt on Cee and I spared her... although it was a good trade, as keeping her around seems to make him more miserable than disposal would have." To this, Hermione had no response. She couldn't believe all she was hearing; it was overwhelming. "Oh, but my dear mudblood... the hour is late, and the dawn is fast coming. We should begin at once," he stated in what seemed a logical tone, before silencing whatever protest Hermione might have given with his cold, bruising lips. Now, she screamed... and, although muffled by his mouth, her sobs were evidently heard. No more than a minute after she began initially struggling, Osric was thrown from her with such force she nearly lost her bottom lip.
This was followed by a spell of light dizziness, and when her head cleared, Hermione could make out the candlelit figure of a tall burly man, beating the living hell out of her attacker. She clamped her hands to her mouth, his taste driving her insane as she watched the brawl. It took a few minutes to regain herself enough to stop her savior from literally killing Draco's cousin.
"Lucius, stop," she pleaded, pulling him back, and he surprisingly complied, leaving Osric beaten to unconsciousness on the floor. When Lucius pulled his narrowed eyes away from the bloodied blonde, they turned a considerable amount softer and grazed over Hermione.
"Are you okay?" he asked, sounding entirely like her Lucius, and Hermione gave him a soft smile.
"Yes, I'm fine. You shouldn't have done that... they'll give you time out," she told him, running her fingers down the side of his face. Lucius shrugged.
"Is okay. Anythin for you, Mynee," he said, grinning widely, and Hermione slowly shook her head.
"Why did you come back?"
"I forgots to say goodnight," he said, and Hermione laughed softly, stepping in to embrace him; Lucius was happy to hug her back. "It's past yer bedtime," he stated once she pulled away and Hermione laughed.
"MY bedtime? What about you?" Lucius straightened.
"I'm a grownzup, I don't gots a bedtime." Hermione shook her head at him, smiling.
"Goodnight, Lucius, and thank you," she said and left him with a kiss on the cheek.
~*~*~*~
Hermione reached her bedroom with a smile on her face, moving gracefully to open the door. It seemed everything would turn out for the better... Lucius and Narcissa were going to both be much happier tomorrow... Osric would probably be sent to the nearest ICU... and Draco... well, what he didn't know wouldn't hurt him.
"What are you doing?" demanded a voice, which sounded slightly angered.
But what Draco did know clipped the string holding back the guillotine's chopping blade.
Hermione spun around and swallowed, unsure of why she was scared. Perhaps it was her recent incidents with the two other Malfoy men... but she hadn't really been scared of Lucius. Of Osric, yes, once she found herself wandless, but... Draco advanced on her, causing Hermione to tense.
"I-I... I'm sorry..." she sputtered.
"You lied to me... you promised, Hermione..." he accused, narrowed eyes boring into her. She closed her eyes and turned toward the floor.
"I know... I know, Draco, but I..."
"But what, Hermione? Did you think I didn't mean it? Did you think I didn't know what I was talking about? You could've been..." Draco said, bringing a hand gently to her cheek, lifting her eyes up to his. He was cut off by a pained gasp and tore his hand away as if she were on fire. All at once, his anger disappeared; he'd hurt her. "I'm sorry..." She shook her head.
"No..." It took Draco only a moment to realize what had to have happened and his eyes narrowed again.
"Did you find him?" Hermione squinted her eyes shut and nodded. She could feel the anger radiate off him like heat.
"Draco... please. I couldn't just stay there if I knew he wasn't okay... I was worried about him... can't you understand that?" she asked, trying to sound defiant, but her voice lacked both volume and determination.
"Yes... and I was worried about you, can't YOU understand THAT?" Hermione folded her arms over her chest self-consciously and Draco looked suspicious. "Are you afraid of me?" Hermione wanted to deny it... wanted to assure him that she knew he'd never hurt her... and she did know that, but for some reason...
"Yes," she said, so soft he could barely hear her. Draco's face lost all emotion and a frown rested on his lips.
"Why?" he asked, sounding desperate, and Hermione shook her head.
"I... I don't know," she admitted and Draco gave a soft sigh. Thinking only to comfort her, he stepped forward and took her arms, gently pulling her from the wall. Hermione buried her head in his neck, careful of her left cheek, and remained silent. When she had relaxed in his arms and was letting him hold her, Draco kissed the top of her head.
"What happened?" he asked softly and Hermione didn't move an inch as she spoke.
"I found him in the closet... we talked... and worked it out. He's going back to his room," she said, and Draco looked surprised, although she didn't see it.
"What do you mean you worked it out?"
"We calmly sat down and had a conversation. I found out what was wrong and talked him out of his mood."
"Really?" Hermione pulled back, looking up at him. He sounded amazed.
"Yes..."
"No one's ever been able to do that..." Hermione frowned.
"I'd imagine it's easier when you are the source of the problem." She'd have known without looking that he didn't have a clue what she was talking about. "He was upset because I didn't say goodbye before we left... I apologized and he forgave me."
"You're leaving out something. Something important." Hermione looked up at him.
"Well..." she began, "I told you about the kiss..." Draco visible flinched, but didn't say a thing. "He said he loved me... and I told him I didn't think of him that way, and he admitted that he loved your mother more, but he didn't think Narcissa loved him anymore." Draco didn't think and lashed out.
"But she does!" Hermione, although startled by his sudden increase in volume, didn't seem at all afraid anymore and nodded.
"I know."
"What did you tell him?" Draco asked, sounding desperately curious. Hermione let a smirk crawl across her face.
"I wouldn't go near your parents' bedroom tonight." It took Draco a moment, but he then he realized what she meant and looked appalled, groaning in disgust. Hermione laughed softly. "I don't think you'll have to worry about fatherly flirting anymore."
"Hermione?" he asked after a moment of deep consideration.
"Hm?"
"Am I supposed to thank you or..." She laughed and trapped his words in a kiss. Draco kissed back and, without thinking, ran a hand up the length of her body and over her neck to hold her head in his hand and lace his fingers in her hair. However, as he did this, his thumb came into contact with the stinging and inflamed skin of Hermione's cheek and she gasped. Again, he pulled his hand away, and this time his lips as well. There was silence for a moment as Hermione looked to the floor in shame. "He hit you..." Draco said. It was a statement, not a question. Hermione nodded softly, but spoke up quickly.
"But it was before we talked... he apologized... please, Draco... he didn't mean anything; he was mad and wasn't thinking clearly..." Draco sighed and pulled her into another embrace.
"As always when you plead with me, I can't possibly say no to you." Hermione smiled and leaned into his embrace, glad for his closeness. She sighed softly after a moment.
"Does that mean that when I tell you what Osric did, you won't go beat the hell out of him?" she asked softly. Draco's eyes popped open and he held her at arm's length.
"What?" Hermione, again, looked to the ground. "He... no." She nodded.
"He attacked me... again..." Hermione's voice was so soft, Draco had to strain his ears to hear her. The second he registered her words, he reached around to turn the doorknob.
"Stay here. Promise me." Hermione looked up, slightly scared.
"What are you going to do?" Draco didn't answer, just gently pushed her into the room. He stood expectantly, and Hermione sighed. "I promise. I really do this time; I won't leave." Draco gave her half a smile and a soft kiss on the corner of her mouth before dashing off in a billow of robes. As promised, Hermione closed the door and stayed inside, but didn't bother to lock it. Lucius was no longer a threat and Osric was nowhere near a match anymore... there was no reason to.
~*~
Hermione was asleep by the time Draco made it back to her room and he simply smiled at his girlfriend in her slumber. He adjusted the bedcovers and kissed her forehead, surprised when she moaned softly. He'd thought she was a heavy sleeper.
"Draco." He smiled, but didn't answer, thinking it would only wake her more. Hermione, however, was less asleep than one might think. She cracked open one eye, watching as he crept from her room. "What happened?" she called after him, propping herself up on one arm. Draco stopped in his tracks and turned back with a lopsided smile.
"Nothing. I alerted Jasper to Osric's 'condition'... he's on his way to the nearest ward. If I may, however... what happened to you?" he asked as he sat down on the edge of the bed and Hermione smiled into her pillow.
"Lucius." Draco lifted an eyebrow and she laughed. "He saw me... caught him... beat him to hell... then went to bed." Draco smiled softly and kissed her lips.
"Thought it might have been something like that," he agreed before standing up once more.
"Where are you going?"
"To bed, where else? To see my mother?" he asked and Hermione smirked.
"Why Draco, I never knew..." he shook his head slowly and she laughed. Then, Hermione puffed out her bottom lip. "Stay with me?" she asked. "Please? I don't feel like another nightmare tonight..." Draco sighed, but ultimately agreed. He had promised, after all. Draco crept toward the bed and made to get in beside her, but Hermione stopped him once more. "Wait... Draco?"
"Yes?" he said, slightly mockingly, and Hermione looked pleading.
"Will you find Eglamour for me?"
A/N: I revamped this chapter, that's why it took so long; I wrote it, then I was reading back a couple of chapters, then I was like OMG! I FORGOT OSRIC! So I added him in there... didn't even notice, did ya? Lol. Well, of course you noticed Oz, but... lol. I'm not doing PRF's, cause I want to get this out asap. It's been a really long time. I had to babysit three days this week, and my sister's an arse and takes over the downstairs computer, so I can't do crap... ::sigh:: but next week is my last week, meaning no more Ian, and much more Guilly! (And FLYt... and PS :oD)
Last time on LGG:
He kissed her, long and deep.
"Just because I'm cold, doesn't mean I shouldn't get my kiss, does it?" Hermione smiled and Draco placed a hand on her back, leading her to the front doors. She let her arm snake around his waist, walking beside him with her head on his shoulder, still drunk with sleepiness. The moment they stepped silently inside, however, Draco stopped cold. The entry room was completely dark, only a few dim candles still lit... but one bright red light stood like a beacon above the MP3000.
"Draco, what's wrong?" Hermione asked, feeling him tense, and Draco swallowed.
"The red light is on..."
~*~*~*~
CHAPTER THIRTY THREE: The Red Light
"The red light? What's the red light?" Hermione asked, confused, but Draco didn't explain; he took her hand and stepped toward the big brass door.
"Hermione, I want you to go to your room and lock your door. Don't open it unless you're sure of who's out there, and lord, don't open it for Lucius," Draco instructed, sounding as if it were vital that she do so. This only made Hermione more worried. "22D."
"Draco, what's going on?" He shook his head as he pushed her into the room.
"Don't worry, I'll take care of it. Please, just don't leave your room, okay? Please." Hermione ignored the part of her that wanted to ease his worry and simply agree.
"I'm not staying anywhere or doing anything until you tell me what the bloody hell is going on." Draco sighed. He knew he'd have no luck keeping it secret and keeping her safe at the same time.
"It's Lucius," he said, looking toward the ground. "The red light means he's violent and missing... there's no telling what he could do. I know how to handle him, Mya, but I don't want you anywhere unsafe. Please, just do this for me, alright?" Hermione, frowning, nodded. She couldn't deny that she felt a bit scared at the thought of Lucius on a rampage...
"Okay," she said softly. "But be careful." Draco smiled as she removed her foot from the threshold and the doors began to close.
"Lock the door," he called just before she disappeared, and Hermione frowned at the wooden door. The second it clicked, signaling the completion of the portal process, she wretched it back open. Of course, there was no Draco behind it. She looked both ways down the hall and saw no one. Not a pleasant realization. It was never good to have the person you loved disappear right before your eyes. Hermione sighed and closed the door. She turned the lock, making a hollow click, but paused before removing her hand. She couldn't just stay there, knowing Lucius was somewhere all alone; Hermione still felt a maternal bond toward him... and be damned if she would let her surrogate son lie all alone somewhere, scared and violent.
Immediately, Hermione turned the lock again and made sure her wand was in her pocket. As she stepped back through the doorway, she whispered below her breath.
"I'm sorry, Draco."
~*~
"Mum?" Draco asked as the portal opened upon the hallway that contained Lucius' chamber. Narcissa was sitting in a wooden chair near the door of the padded room, looking worn out and worried. She turned her head up sharply at the sound of Draco's voice, and seemed relieved for a brief moment.
"Draco? Where's Hermione?"
"Her room... what happened?" Narcissa ignored his question.
"You left her alone? Draco, what where you thinking, didn't you see the light? Go back over there right now!"
"Mum, it's alright... I told her what's going on, she's not stupid enough to open the door." Narcissa sighed, shaking her head. "What happened?" Draco repeated and she closed her eyes.
"He's been like this since you left. Almost directly after you left, as a matter of fact... I don't know what happened. We locked him in his room..." she said softly, looking up toward the iron door. "But he got out tonight at dinner. He's been gone since seven... no one's seen him at all... I'm worried, Draco. He's never disappeared for this long before." Draco frowned and embraced his mother softly.
"It's okay, Mum... but I really don't think you should sit here all alone. Why don't you go stay with Hermione?" Narcissa shook her head.
"No... I'm staying here. He won't come here; there'd be too great a chance of being locked up again." Draco frowned.
"Alright Mum... but if you see him, call someone alright? I'm going to help look." Narcissa agreed and hugged her son tightly.
"Be careful, baby," she whispered and Draco nodded, then started off down the hall.
~*~
Thinking smartly, Hermione went directly to the closest MP3000 and teleported to level E. She knew the padded room was on the third floor, so she decided it wouldn't be wise to snoop around there.
"Now," she thought as she stood in front of the brass doors once again, staring at her marred reflection. "If I were Lucius, where would I hide?" She thought for a few moments, then a smile crossed her lips and she spoke to the door. "Hall outside room 15E."
She stepped through the door and into the hallway, face to face with Draco's library. He'd said it was originally a closet, and held within it little literature. It was a perfect place for hide and go seek... As Hermione stepped up to the door, she heard soft muttering and smiled. Most definitely Lucius. Without another thought, she opened the door.
"Hi, Lu-" she started sweetly, with a smile on her lips, but was cut off as Lucius Malfoy burst out of the closet and slammed her against the wall across the way. She gave a pained squeal, but kept her voice soft. When Hermione opened her eyes, fear struck her heart. There was the old Lucius; livid and breathing hard, eyes bulging. He looked fit to kill. "L- Lucius..." she started, speaking softly. "What are you doing?" Ignoring her obvious fear, Lucius pulled her away from the wall and roughly pushed her to the ground. Hermione stared up at him with wide eyes. She never should have disobeyed Draco... he'd kill her when he found out... providing Lucius didn't do so first.
The tall blonde towered over her, slowly advancing, and Hermione backed up against the wall, staring up at him fearfully. Suddenly, Lucius fell to his knees, face an inch from hers, and Hermione gasped, breathing shallowly.
"Lucius..." He slapped her, hard across the face. Hermione's head snapped to the side and she closed her eyes, but didn't so much as make a peep.
"Don't speak unless you're spoken to, Mudblood," he spat, but it made Hermione turn to face him. He was the old Lucius on the outside... but he still held that innocence in his voice, which belong to the five-year-old, loveable playmate Lucius. Hermione knew then that this wasn't him... HER Lucius was in there somewhere.
"Lucius..." she began, and he looked livid.
"Mudblood, I told you..."
"Lucius, don't do this. You know you don't want to... this isn't you," she said, but he slapped her again, on the same side, intensifying the already throbbing pain. Hermione wouldn't dare call out.
"You don't know me," he hissed, so odd coupled with his childlike lisp.
"I thought I did..." she said, "But now I'm not so sure." Lucius seemed angrier, if at all possible, but... he didn't hit her again. "Lucius... is this about what happened Saturday morning?" Hermione asked weekly and the man above her gave a low growl.
"I'm gonna tell Draco what you did... he'll be so mad..." Hermione couldn't help but smile. He was sounding more and more like her Lucius every minute.
"Draco already knows," she whispered, taking Lucius off guard. His face traded anger for surprise.
"Huh?" Hermione nodded.
"I told him."
"He doesn't hate you?" She dared give a soft laugh.
"Of course not. It was an accident... and he loves me too much to get mad over an accident... even one so serious." Lucius frowned.
"He... he said that? He said he loved you?" Hermione seemed a little scared; she wasn't sure what he would do, should her answer be yes. He somehow knew she was a muggle-born... what if he killed her for seducing his son?
"Y-Yes... he did." As opposed to being furious, Lucius simply looked heartbroken. He pulled away and sat on the floor beside her, head bowed and lips frowned.
"But..." he said softly, "What if..." Hermione looked curiously at him.
"What, Lucius?" she asked, taking his hand in hers. "You can tell me." He looked up, eyes innocent and wide. Hermione couldn't help but to smile. He was back.
"What if I love you?" he asked, voice soft and barely audible. Hermione's smile disappeared.
"Lucius..." she spoke softly, not sure of what to say. Lucius turned back to the floor, looking devastated. "Lucius, I love you too..." At this, his head popped back up. "Just not like I love Draco." He seemed confused. "I love you like a son, more than anything," Hermione admitted and Lucius nodded, sadly. She smiled, reaching across with her free hand to gently brush the hair from his face. "I almost had a son, you know." He looked up, but didn't smile. "But he died... you remind me so much of him." Lucius now looked sad... because Hermione did. If she were in pain, he was in pain... now that he was back to sound mind.
"Really?" She nodded, smiling. "Was Draco his daddy?" Hermione gave a short laugh.
"No... this was a long time ago. Before I really even met Draco." Lucius nodded, not sure if he should be disappointed or relieved. It was hard to think of Draco as his son... since he'd become Little Lucy... he'd been more like a brother. A big brother. It was always fun when your big brother had a baby.
"I'm sorry I hit you," Lucius said out of the blue, frowning at his hand as if it had betrayed him. Hermione laughed and leaned forward, trapping him in a hug. She giggled again when he hugged back; so much rougher than an embrace with his son. When they broke apart, Hermione let him lean his head on her chest, brushing his hair softly with her fingertips.
"Why were you so mad, Lucius?" she asked softly, realizing she really didn't know. Hermione had a feeling there was more to it than the kiss.
"You didn't say bye to me," he said and Hermione laughed.
"I'm sorry. I thought you'd be upset with me," she said, resting her cheek on his head. Lucius sighed.
"I'm just so lonely... you're the only friend I've got... and you left without a g' bye." Hermione frowned.
"Lucius, you've got lots of friends. What about Draco? And Jasper? Narcissa loves you more than anything..." Lucius sat up straight and shook his head.
"No she doesn't. The only time I ever get ta see her is at dinner and when we go to bed... she never plays with me or talks to me or anything." Hermione sighed.
"She does love you, Lucius, she does. You have to understand that this is hard for her... you used to be a completely different person... and, if I may, not a very good person... and you've suddenly become something so different, it's difficult and confusing. She still loves you; you just have to help her adjust. When was the last time you... you slept together?" Lucius scratched his head.
"I don't remember." Hermione laughed.
"Well, there's the problem. She doesn't think you love her." Lucius looked appalled.
"Of course I love her... even more than you... but I thought..." Hermione shook her head.
"Lucius, here's what you do. Go upstairs to your chamber, let them give you your medicine, and then... sleep with Narcissa. I promise you she'll be better after that. She might not play games with you quite yet... but she needs to know you love her. Alright? Can you do that?" Lucius nodded childishly.
"Do you think it'll work?" Hermione smiled.
"Yes, I do." Lucius gave a decisive nod.
"Okay," he agreed and stood up, clomping down the hall rather loudly. Hermione laughed softly to herself and leaned back against the wall, placing her fingertips softly on her cheek. She pulled her knees closer to her chest and sighed. That boy sure packed a punch. She hadn't been alone for more than five minutes before slow footsteps were heard again. Thinking it might be Lucius, she immediately wiped the pained expression from her face and pulled herself from the ground. She couldn't help but to wince slightly; she hurt everywhere. Eyes still closed, Hermione sighed and waited for the tenseness to leave her.
"Hermione?" asked a voice which most definitely didn't belong to Lucius. Hermione's eyes popped open with a gasp, allowing her to view a leering Osric, who was in fact also on the lookout for his uncle. When he saw her, however, he looked as if he'd won the lottery, and a smirk crawled across his lips. "Hermione..." he said again, but this time with a debonair drawl. Hermione felt herself breathing shallowly as she backed into the wall behind her. "Why, isn't this a surprise?"
"Osric," she whispered, making his name sound like a curse. He gave a hearty chuckle and advanced on her. In mere moments, Hermione was pressed against the wall, mere inches from the blonde.
"Well, well, well... doesn't this seem... familiar?" he asked, hinting toward his plan of action. Hermione attempted to glare him down, although she felt quite vulnerable.
"What is it about me you find so damn appealing?" she hissed, teeth gritted closed as if his lips might descend at any moment. Osric tilted his head back slightly and laughed. As Hermione waited for his answer, she slipped her fingers into her wand pocket... as she expected, it was missing. Damn, he was good. If she were on better terms with the man, she might have asked him to teach her that little trick.
"I find nothing about you appealing, Mudblood. I find each and every aspect quite disgusting, as a matter of fact."
"Then why do you do this?"
"Why?" he chuckled, bringing his face considerably closer. Hermione made a small peep of fear, but continued to restrain herself from calling out. She still feared what Draco would say when he discovered she'd run off. "What I can accomplish from you, my dear mudblood, goes far beyond attraction. Trust me, there is none. There is only one thing I see in my benefit from this... is that's harming poor little Drakey. I'll make you mine, mudblood. Over and over... as many times as it takes have you in my control, and then, just like that bitch Celia, you'll yearn for me... so much Draco won't matter to you in the least. You'll forget he even existed... but he won't forget you," Osric said, combined with an evil laugh. "Oh, no... he'll never forget you. It will eat away at him until one day he gives up all hope." Hermione glared her coldest, most piercing glare.
"You monster." Again, Osric chortled maliciously.
"Why, thank you. I do try."
"What did Draco ever do to you in the first place?" Surprisingly, the evil smirk on Osric's face dropped and he looked as if in deep thought.
"You know..." he said, "I don't quite remember... it was a long, long, time ago. Nonetheless, I've dedicated my life to his torment... taken every girl he's ever wanted... except of course that Parkinson slut. She gave me a little dirt on Cee and I spared her... although it was a good trade, as keeping her around seems to make him more miserable than disposal would have." To this, Hermione had no response. She couldn't believe all she was hearing; it was overwhelming. "Oh, but my dear mudblood... the hour is late, and the dawn is fast coming. We should begin at once," he stated in what seemed a logical tone, before silencing whatever protest Hermione might have given with his cold, bruising lips. Now, she screamed... and, although muffled by his mouth, her sobs were evidently heard. No more than a minute after she began initially struggling, Osric was thrown from her with such force she nearly lost her bottom lip.
This was followed by a spell of light dizziness, and when her head cleared, Hermione could make out the candlelit figure of a tall burly man, beating the living hell out of her attacker. She clamped her hands to her mouth, his taste driving her insane as she watched the brawl. It took a few minutes to regain herself enough to stop her savior from literally killing Draco's cousin.
"Lucius, stop," she pleaded, pulling him back, and he surprisingly complied, leaving Osric beaten to unconsciousness on the floor. When Lucius pulled his narrowed eyes away from the bloodied blonde, they turned a considerable amount softer and grazed over Hermione.
"Are you okay?" he asked, sounding entirely like her Lucius, and Hermione gave him a soft smile.
"Yes, I'm fine. You shouldn't have done that... they'll give you time out," she told him, running her fingers down the side of his face. Lucius shrugged.
"Is okay. Anythin for you, Mynee," he said, grinning widely, and Hermione slowly shook her head.
"Why did you come back?"
"I forgots to say goodnight," he said, and Hermione laughed softly, stepping in to embrace him; Lucius was happy to hug her back. "It's past yer bedtime," he stated once she pulled away and Hermione laughed.
"MY bedtime? What about you?" Lucius straightened.
"I'm a grownzup, I don't gots a bedtime." Hermione shook her head at him, smiling.
"Goodnight, Lucius, and thank you," she said and left him with a kiss on the cheek.
~*~*~*~
Hermione reached her bedroom with a smile on her face, moving gracefully to open the door. It seemed everything would turn out for the better... Lucius and Narcissa were going to both be much happier tomorrow... Osric would probably be sent to the nearest ICU... and Draco... well, what he didn't know wouldn't hurt him.
"What are you doing?" demanded a voice, which sounded slightly angered.
But what Draco did know clipped the string holding back the guillotine's chopping blade.
Hermione spun around and swallowed, unsure of why she was scared. Perhaps it was her recent incidents with the two other Malfoy men... but she hadn't really been scared of Lucius. Of Osric, yes, once she found herself wandless, but... Draco advanced on her, causing Hermione to tense.
"I-I... I'm sorry..." she sputtered.
"You lied to me... you promised, Hermione..." he accused, narrowed eyes boring into her. She closed her eyes and turned toward the floor.
"I know... I know, Draco, but I..."
"But what, Hermione? Did you think I didn't mean it? Did you think I didn't know what I was talking about? You could've been..." Draco said, bringing a hand gently to her cheek, lifting her eyes up to his. He was cut off by a pained gasp and tore his hand away as if she were on fire. All at once, his anger disappeared; he'd hurt her. "I'm sorry..." She shook her head.
"No..." It took Draco only a moment to realize what had to have happened and his eyes narrowed again.
"Did you find him?" Hermione squinted her eyes shut and nodded. She could feel the anger radiate off him like heat.
"Draco... please. I couldn't just stay there if I knew he wasn't okay... I was worried about him... can't you understand that?" she asked, trying to sound defiant, but her voice lacked both volume and determination.
"Yes... and I was worried about you, can't YOU understand THAT?" Hermione folded her arms over her chest self-consciously and Draco looked suspicious. "Are you afraid of me?" Hermione wanted to deny it... wanted to assure him that she knew he'd never hurt her... and she did know that, but for some reason...
"Yes," she said, so soft he could barely hear her. Draco's face lost all emotion and a frown rested on his lips.
"Why?" he asked, sounding desperate, and Hermione shook her head.
"I... I don't know," she admitted and Draco gave a soft sigh. Thinking only to comfort her, he stepped forward and took her arms, gently pulling her from the wall. Hermione buried her head in his neck, careful of her left cheek, and remained silent. When she had relaxed in his arms and was letting him hold her, Draco kissed the top of her head.
"What happened?" he asked softly and Hermione didn't move an inch as she spoke.
"I found him in the closet... we talked... and worked it out. He's going back to his room," she said, and Draco looked surprised, although she didn't see it.
"What do you mean you worked it out?"
"We calmly sat down and had a conversation. I found out what was wrong and talked him out of his mood."
"Really?" Hermione pulled back, looking up at him. He sounded amazed.
"Yes..."
"No one's ever been able to do that..." Hermione frowned.
"I'd imagine it's easier when you are the source of the problem." She'd have known without looking that he didn't have a clue what she was talking about. "He was upset because I didn't say goodbye before we left... I apologized and he forgave me."
"You're leaving out something. Something important." Hermione looked up at him.
"Well..." she began, "I told you about the kiss..." Draco visible flinched, but didn't say a thing. "He said he loved me... and I told him I didn't think of him that way, and he admitted that he loved your mother more, but he didn't think Narcissa loved him anymore." Draco didn't think and lashed out.
"But she does!" Hermione, although startled by his sudden increase in volume, didn't seem at all afraid anymore and nodded.
"I know."
"What did you tell him?" Draco asked, sounding desperately curious. Hermione let a smirk crawl across her face.
"I wouldn't go near your parents' bedroom tonight." It took Draco a moment, but he then he realized what she meant and looked appalled, groaning in disgust. Hermione laughed softly. "I don't think you'll have to worry about fatherly flirting anymore."
"Hermione?" he asked after a moment of deep consideration.
"Hm?"
"Am I supposed to thank you or..." She laughed and trapped his words in a kiss. Draco kissed back and, without thinking, ran a hand up the length of her body and over her neck to hold her head in his hand and lace his fingers in her hair. However, as he did this, his thumb came into contact with the stinging and inflamed skin of Hermione's cheek and she gasped. Again, he pulled his hand away, and this time his lips as well. There was silence for a moment as Hermione looked to the floor in shame. "He hit you..." Draco said. It was a statement, not a question. Hermione nodded softly, but spoke up quickly.
"But it was before we talked... he apologized... please, Draco... he didn't mean anything; he was mad and wasn't thinking clearly..." Draco sighed and pulled her into another embrace.
"As always when you plead with me, I can't possibly say no to you." Hermione smiled and leaned into his embrace, glad for his closeness. She sighed softly after a moment.
"Does that mean that when I tell you what Osric did, you won't go beat the hell out of him?" she asked softly. Draco's eyes popped open and he held her at arm's length.
"What?" Hermione, again, looked to the ground. "He... no." She nodded.
"He attacked me... again..." Hermione's voice was so soft, Draco had to strain his ears to hear her. The second he registered her words, he reached around to turn the doorknob.
"Stay here. Promise me." Hermione looked up, slightly scared.
"What are you going to do?" Draco didn't answer, just gently pushed her into the room. He stood expectantly, and Hermione sighed. "I promise. I really do this time; I won't leave." Draco gave her half a smile and a soft kiss on the corner of her mouth before dashing off in a billow of robes. As promised, Hermione closed the door and stayed inside, but didn't bother to lock it. Lucius was no longer a threat and Osric was nowhere near a match anymore... there was no reason to.
~*~
Hermione was asleep by the time Draco made it back to her room and he simply smiled at his girlfriend in her slumber. He adjusted the bedcovers and kissed her forehead, surprised when she moaned softly. He'd thought she was a heavy sleeper.
"Draco." He smiled, but didn't answer, thinking it would only wake her more. Hermione, however, was less asleep than one might think. She cracked open one eye, watching as he crept from her room. "What happened?" she called after him, propping herself up on one arm. Draco stopped in his tracks and turned back with a lopsided smile.
"Nothing. I alerted Jasper to Osric's 'condition'... he's on his way to the nearest ward. If I may, however... what happened to you?" he asked as he sat down on the edge of the bed and Hermione smiled into her pillow.
"Lucius." Draco lifted an eyebrow and she laughed. "He saw me... caught him... beat him to hell... then went to bed." Draco smiled softly and kissed her lips.
"Thought it might have been something like that," he agreed before standing up once more.
"Where are you going?"
"To bed, where else? To see my mother?" he asked and Hermione smirked.
"Why Draco, I never knew..." he shook his head slowly and she laughed. Then, Hermione puffed out her bottom lip. "Stay with me?" she asked. "Please? I don't feel like another nightmare tonight..." Draco sighed, but ultimately agreed. He had promised, after all. Draco crept toward the bed and made to get in beside her, but Hermione stopped him once more. "Wait... Draco?"
"Yes?" he said, slightly mockingly, and Hermione looked pleading.
"Will you find Eglamour for me?"
A/N: I revamped this chapter, that's why it took so long; I wrote it, then I was reading back a couple of chapters, then I was like OMG! I FORGOT OSRIC! So I added him in there... didn't even notice, did ya? Lol. Well, of course you noticed Oz, but... lol. I'm not doing PRF's, cause I want to get this out asap. It's been a really long time. I had to babysit three days this week, and my sister's an arse and takes over the downstairs computer, so I can't do crap... ::sigh:: but next week is my last week, meaning no more Ian, and much more Guilly! (And FLYt... and PS :oD)