Disclaimer: All Harry Potter related characters, places and themes belong to J.K. Rowling, Bloomsbury and Scholastic.

A Simple Course of Action
Chapter 5: An Unexpected Source of Help

"Everyone comfortable?" Lucius said, as everyone settled into their seats.

Hermione curled up on a sofa, her back facing Draco. He eased his arm around her shoulder to lend her support. Ron sighed his disapprovement of Hermione's proximity to the ferret boy as he sat across the room from them in a overstuffed club chair. Harry paced a little before finally taking his place on the other side of Hermione.

They nodded in accord.

Lucius looked once around the room at his audience, "Are you sure you all don't want to, oh I don't know, drop a charm or two? Wouldn't you feel more comfortable in your own skin as it were?"

Harry immediately tensed. Harry and Ron started to ready their wands, waiting for the inevitable that didn't come.

"Mr. Potter... would you please relax? I would think that we had gotten over this when Narcissa saved you," Lucius asked as he dismissed their defensive behavior.

"How did you know?" Hermione said quietly.

"Well, I am observant, my dear. First my son mentioned earlier he was going to break up a wedding. The only wedding of importance today was Hermione Granger's to Oliver Wood.
When I walked into the library I noticed Mr. Weasley, with another man and you. With your disposition it was clear that while yes, you are certainly Artemisia Yaxley, your assumed identity is that of Hermione Granger."

Hermione lowered her head and nodded. Draco gently touched her shoulder to reassure her that she was safe.

"What I don't know is why the charade. Why would your mother pretend you were a Muggle all these years?" asked Lucius in disbelief. Seeing that he really wasn't going to do anything to threaten them, the boys lowered their defenses a little.

(A/N: Well, after all, this was Lucius Malfoy. Did you expect them to drop their defenses completely?)

Hermione, oblivious to anything but the conversation at hand, looked at Lucius and pointedly asked, "What do you know about my mother?"

"Let me see, where do I begin..." started Lucius.

"I met your mother years ago at her formal introduction to society. She was lovely, she was a few years younger. I admit I was complete taken with her the moment I saw her descend the staircase. She appeared like an angel falling from heaven. She handled herself well, managing to exchange pleasantries with the women and handle the advances of the most unscrupulous of rogues."

"After her ball, I found excuses to conveniently drop by the Yaxley estate. Whether it be stopping by to study with her brother or deliver her mother a potion from my mother, I found a number of pretenses to be close to her."

"I remember one day, I had come to visit your uncle. When I walked into the library I was stunned to see her. She was studying something so intently, she did not see me walk in. I am afraid I startled her. When she looked up, I held her gaze long enough to read her thoughts. There was a family curse and she was intent on breaking it. When she noticed me standing beside her, she shut off her mind to me. I begged her to trust me and made a vow to help her break her curse. I told her I would keep her secret from anyone who didn't know it already."

"She had a strong mind and wit, one could see she had been trained in Occumelency. Even though at the time I was a gifted Legilimens, I could never see what she was hiding from me."

"We had spent as much time as I could spare in this library or hers, researching all we could about the Fey. I overheard her father's concern about her safety one day. It seemed that there was a new development, Lord Ryuu was threatening to capture your mother. I knew I had to protect her, so I interned with Lord Ryuu. I wanted to know what he knew, what his plans were so I could thwart him. "

"I won't bore you with all the details of my studies with the old dragon master, but I will tell you that there were many things I learned from him. He was, and still, is a talented and cunning wizard. He had uncovered your family's identity generations ago and had become obsessed with obtaining your power. He had attempted to seduce your grandmother, your mother and you. It appeared that the only way to resolve the situation, was to go beyond the veil. But therein laid the problem. You could go through the veil, but you had to have some kind of tether to bring you back to this realm."

"Lord Voldemort was wrong when he though that the Deathly Hollows were the only way to be able to return through the veil. I would never advise my Lord of her identity. I made a promise to your mother to protect her...a promise is a promise. Unfortunately, your uncle did not make this kind of promise. He was trying to advance himself in the ranks by proving his loyalty. He thought if he could find his niece and force her to wed the dark lord, he would be able to master death. He was trying to discern your identity from your grandparents when they died. Isn't it ironic that you were there all along?"

Hermione curled up on a sofa, her back facing Draco. He eased his arm around her shoulder to reassure her.

"Mr. Malfoy?" Hermione asked weakly, her weary eyes filled with tears.

"Yes, my child," Lucius answered knowing in his heart he had wished she really had been his child. At that moment, he became even more determined to see Draco secure her as his daughter-in-law.

"We spoke with Lord Ryuu."

"That would explain it."

"Explain what?"

"The gift that was left for you. Just moments before Draco entered my study, the sword Kusanagi was delivered to the manor in your name.

"He said he would make sure we had the sword."

"And what else, pray tell, did he tell you?"

"He gave us a riddle."

"May I hear this riddle?"

Hermione reluctantly looked over to Harry. He nodded his ascent.

Hermione started to recite the riddle, "A remedy to seek... Four elements unite."

"Water, Earth, Fire, Air,... Four corners convene. Ah yes. I see he is working with the same counter spell. What else did he say?"

"He said we needed to collect 4 sources of magic of 4 elements from the 4 corners of the world. He offered the sword saying that it would represent the east. What bothers me is that he said we would have to procure various artifacts belonging to sun gods throughout the world before the summer solstice."

"And what do you think of this?"

Hermione sighed, "It doesn't make any sense. I mean none of this makes sense. Frankly, I think there must be another solution. This one is far too complicated. I mean why on earth would Vivienne do something like this. This is simply not the way women think. The answer just has to be something simpler?"

Lucius nodded in agreement, "After years of studying every written text known to man on the Fey, I would have to agree with you."

Ron stood up and answered huffily, "We are going to attempt this though, we can't just give up. We only have 3 weeks. We have to at least try, Hermione. I mean after the summer solstice, if it doesn't work we'll know and you will still have a few months left."

Draco nodded in agreement, "Ron is right."

Harry looked at Draco oddly. "Did I actually just hear you say..."

Draco looked back over at Harry with a smirk, "Amazing right? I couldn't believe it myself. We need to at least try his plan. We have to leave as soon as possible if we are going to do this in three weeks. We can't risk Hermione losing her magic because she missed her deadline."

Harry and Ron had gotten up and moved over to a oak table. They had continued their discussion about where they were going, making a plan of attack you might say. At some point, Draco had excused himself from Hermione to put in his two cents worth.

Hermione sighed. She looked over at Lucius who gazed at her knowingly. She knew in her heart this was wrong, but if there was even a chance they were right, she had to try.

"We should set out immediately." Ron announced.

"Absolutely not," Lucius stood up and walked toward Ron. "Do you have any idea where you are headed? I absolutely insist that you each get a good nights sleep at the very least. Then you should prepare for this trip. You should say goodbye to your family and friends as well, just in case. It will be a perilous journey." Ron, Harry and Lucius stood around the table and argued over where the most likely places would be, what types of objects they would need.

Draco returned to Hermione.

"Nothing is ever easy, is it?" Hermione asked Draco.

"Nothing worth having ever is," answered Draco.

He returned to his place on the couch and put his arms around her again. Exhausted from the day, she lay the back of her head against his chest and started to fall asleep.

Maybe it was warmth and gentle glow of the fire...

Maybe it was her deep breathing...

Maybe it was the peaceful feeling he had when he had her in his arms...

Whatever it was, Draco found himself nodding off as well.

Lucius looked back and noticed that Hermione had fallen asleep. "Boys, maybe we should take this to my study."

Harry and Ron looked up and noticed the two on the couch. Ron felt a pang of jealousy but agreed, she needed her rest. They picked up the materials they had been working with and reluctantly followed Lucius into his study.

Lucius laughed a little at their demeanor, "Mr. Potter. Mr. Weasley. The war is over. Voldemort is gone. You were worthy adversaries but now it is time for us to work together for something far more significant."

Harry nodded, "Sorry, Mr. Malfoy."

"It's Lucius, Mr. Potter."

"Harry."

"Well now that that moment is over, shall we continue charting the course? I believe there is a note with the sword. It may just be the clue we need to begin this quest."

Lucius opened the door to his study as the boys followed him in. There was a riddle. They spent a better half of the night and far into the morning, deciphering the riddle and developing the plan for their adventure.

Little did they know that in the other room, Hermione and Draco were already having a little adventure of their own... in their dreams.

A/N: Thanks to my lovely betas and to everyone for continuing to read and add this story to their alerts. Please continue to review! Especially if you haven't already done so. It's so nice to hear from you. It makes me want to update sooner knowing people are wanting to read. It makes writing fun.

This was written for spikekat who reviewed and asked that Lucius helped. I hope you liked it.

Before I get hate-mail for Lucius:

For those of you who don't like my Lucius. Let me explain how I see him. Lucius can be a self righteous, harsh snob; however, he can be generous to those he loves. He has lost much and is broken. He spends most of his time alone in his study. Maybe he has realized it's time to turn over a new leaf? Things that make you go hmmm...

Preview:

"We've heard from our judges," Dean turned and looked at the audience behind Draco and Hermione. "Now its time for the Applause-meter. Audience, should this couple make it to the next level?"

Hermione turned around to see an "Applause Meter" in front of her.

"By applause, all those in favor of Draco Malfoy and Hermione Granger..."

"Stop!" Hermione said. "I don't need to be here. I don't need your approval. I don't need any of your approval. I have chosen my partner."