Disclaimer: duh…not mine.
A/N: Okay…there are DH spoilers, but I changed a few things like the length of time it took Harry to defeat Voldie (it took part of his sixth year and part of the summer), the fact that Narcissa died earlier on so that Lucius is the one that lied about Harry being dead, and I didn't have the heart to leave Teddy totally parentless…you'll realize this stuff as you read. Also, someone requested that Forgetful Love on youtube create a trailer for my story "In The Rain." Go to youtube type in the words "Lucius Hermione In the Rain" and you will see it. Don't forget to leave a comment for the wonderful creater of that trailer!
Iris
And I'd give up forever to touch you
Cuz I know that you feel me somehow
You're the closest to heaven that I'll ever be
And I don't want to go home right now
And all I can taste is this moment
And all I can breathe is your life
Cuz sooner or later it's over
I just don't want to miss you tonight
And I don't want the world to see me
Cuz I don't think that they'd understand
When everything's made to be broken
I just want you to know who I am
And you can't fight the tears that ain't coming
Or the moment of truth in your lies
When everything feels like the movies
Yeah, you'd bleed just to know you're alive
And I don't want the world to see me
Cuz I don't think that they'd understand
When everything's made to be broken
I just want you to know who I am
--Goo Goo Dolls
Chapter One
Cruel Summer
The summer was cruel and harsh…it took no prisoners. It started with death. A lifetime of events crammed themselves into only a few weeks time after Dumbledore's death. A lifetime of events that included, but were not limited to deaths on both sides of the war, people switching sides, and true loyalties coming into light. Harry, Ron, and Hermione quickly learned there was no black and white in conjunction with the players of this war, but there were shades of grey on both sides.
Lucius would never forget the fear that surged through him when his son did not return from Hogwarts with the other Slytherins. Fear that Draco had finally made his decision and despite the mark upon his arm would not return to Voldemort, no matter what that meant for his father. Lucius would never forget the sight of his son standing across the mess of fighting in the Great Hall, unharmed.
The first time Lucius saw the mark upon his son he was still in Azkaban. He sat quietly in his cell as Draco and Severus told Lucius of the events involving Dumbledore's death and Draco's involvement. He was still silent when Severus informed him of his wife's death. Lucius' initial reaction was to reach out and grab his son's arm forcing his sleeve up. The Dark Mark stared back at him. That was when Lucius felt the surge of hate for the half-blood bastard calling himself Voldemort. This was his son, his own flesh and blood and that half-blood had marked him like cattle in hopes of the boy's death…just to teach Lucius a lesson. That was when the life sparked back in his grey dead eyes…that was when Lucius became nothing more than a prisoner of Voldemort's while he used Lucius' home as his own.
Draco found himself still within the walls of Hogwarts as the Golden Trio battled. The three of them stood before Voldemort…each having lost something due to the monster in front of them. Harry quite obviously lost not only his parents, but his mentor to the Dark Lord. Hermione like the other two members of their trio had lost her childhood to the man and most recently her father. Ron had lost Fred less than an hour prior and no one else…per say. Looking back Ron would say the signs were there in Ron's fifth year when he received a letter from Percy spouting pureblood philosophy and warning Ron to join the winning side. They all should have seen then that Percy was a Death Eater. Just the thought was laughable: a Weasley a Death Eater? It sounded impossible, even improbable, but in reality Percy made his choice and that was what it all came down to…not what family you were raised in, but what choices you make.
His son had lost his innocence and his mother to this maniac and Lucius felt no remorse for the fallen wizard when he lay there dead. As he and his son sat amidst the celebratory party at Hogwarts afterwards, Lucius felt he didn't really belong there. The Death Eaters had run, but he and Draco remained behind. Their fate would not be discussed until later…after the celebration…after Hermione Granger ran from the Great Hall only to return thirty minutes later with a very frail, pale, and yet very alive Severus Snape. It was after all of this, that Lucius found him and his son were not to be sent to Azkaban…it was Lucius' lie that allowed Potter to trick the Dark Lord. Yes, Lucius may have appeared to have switched sides before the end of the war, but that was purely self preservation and revenge for his family. Some things remained black and white for Lucius. Purebloods were still superior to half-bloods and mudbloods. A pureblood wizard society was preferable over anything else.
Now, a mere week later, Lucius stood in the kitchen of Order Headquarters staring at its occupants as if they had all lost their bloody minds. A myriad of expressions surrounded the table ranging from nervousness and fear to pure amusement. It was the amusement on Snape's face that made Lucius want to punch it. Calmly Lucius looked across the table at Arthur Weasley.
"Surely, Weasley, you do not approve of this?"
Arthur inhaled nervously. Everyone at the table, Lucius included, knew that Arthur was not comfortable with this.
"It is not up to me, Malfoy," Arthur spat out at him.
There was never any questioning their animosity toward each other. Remus cleared his throat bringing Lucius' attention back to himself.
"Lucius, please."
Lucius turned his eyes on Remus.
"Remus, simply place your little Gryffindor Princess with Potter or Weasley. Whoever is watching them can watch her."
Remus sighed in exasperation. He was tired of debating this with Lucius. The sound of Severus' laughter caused a collective shiver to run down everyone's spine. Severus Snape was the infamously feared Potions Master, or was at any rate, the sound of him actually laughing was fear inducing. Straightening up, Severus looked upon Lucius in disbelief.
"Really, Lucius. Surely you can understand why we cannot do that. You made an oath…a condition of your freedom from Azkaban. Now you must follow through."
Severus took a file that was splayed open in front of him and closed up its contents. He tossed it down and across the table in front of Lucius. The file slid to a halt in front of Lucius…a few pictures spread out of it revealing a wizard picture of the girl in question reading before a fire. Lucius looked down at the picture peeking out of the file.
Severus stood up. The sound of his chair scraping across the floor was ear-splitting.
"Your arrival is expected by this evening…before the sun sets. And yes, Draco may accompany you."
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It would take time…plenty of time before those memories would slowly fade to hazy remembrances, if ever at all. When Voldemort fell Hermione, the Gryffindor Know-It-All was naïve enough to think even for a moment that it was all over, everything would go back to the way it was. How wrong she was.
She would never forget the night her, Ron, and Harry were told they would be separated. The three of them stood in the drawing room of Grimmauld Place, holding hands. They looked at Remus as if they had just been slapped.
"Separate us," Hermione asked in a quavering voice.
Remus nodded and looked down as if he felt horrible for doing this. In truth, he did, but the idea was to keep them safe and alive.
"Hermione, you have to understand. If we place the three of you in hiding together it would be too easy for them to find you."
She nodded her head understanding what Remus was saying but not liking it any better. In defeat and sadness, her head rested upon Harry's shoulder.
Hermione was soaking wet. The rumbling overhead had her looking up nervously. She didn't want to get stuck out in the storm. Not that it mattered. She was already wet. She grabbed the light colored wrap that came with her bathing suit from her bag and quickly tied it loosely around her waist. The only good thing about this isolation was where she was at. She hadn't been to the beach house in so many years and had missed it terribly. Shoving the book she left on the chair at the beach in the bag, she swung the bag over her shoulder. Someone from the Order was due in her house any minute…her personal guard. With a final look at the darkening sky as the rumbling sound of thunder echoed its threat of rain, Hermione turned toward the house.
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Lucius and Draco both read the scrap of parchment before it burst into magical blue flames. They watched as what once was an empty lot suddenly grew a house…quite literally. The house that was under protection seemed to emerge from the grassy patch of land blocking the sandy beach and the watery view that now lay behind it. Ivy crawled up the white façade of the house. The landscape of the front of the house was well manicured…whether by magic or muggle, Lucius couldn't be sure.
With a quick glance at each other, they slowly made their way up the straight walk toward the front door. Lucius pulled a key, a stupid muggle key, out of his pocket. Draco looked at his father curiously with a raised eyebrow.
"A muggle key, father?"
Lucius set his son with a look that clearly got the message across.
"Sorry, father."
Draco looked around as Lucius put the key in the lock and turned. The clicking sound let him know he had succeeded in unlocking the house and together he stepped into the house with his son. Walking through the house they quickly discovered the back portion of the house was nearly nothing but windows allowing the house to really have no need for electric light or candles for that matter. It also gave a magnificent view of a gorgeous beach and the rolling waves of the water. The back portion of the property was enclosed by a low lying stone fence, a winding path leading you out its gate to the beach.
Lucius stood there in what appeared to be the main room of the house, staring out at the beach and the figure on the beach. He said nothing, but noted when his son's scan of the room stopped with the vision of the female on the beach as well. They both observed this young woman as she appeared to gather her belongings. Her hair was tied to the side so that it hung over one of her slightly olive shoulders, exposing her neck on the other side. Their eyes scanned her scantily clad body…obviously she had been sun bathing. As she tossed the bag over her bared shoulder, they watched the way she moved as she walked and for a moment father and son both thought maybe it wouldn't be so bad looking after the mudblood…especially when you had such a view out the window.
A strange noise suddenly emitted from Draco's throat. Lucius couldn't be sure what it was.
"Bloody hell! That's Granger," Draco exclaimed sounding disgusted with himself.
Lucius made no response, instead choosing to watch the young woman curious if his son was correct. It hadn't been that long since they had last seen the Gryffindor...of course she had been fully clothed then. Had she always looked like this? His eyes landed on her face. Yes, it was indeed the girl he was charged…no forced to protect. Despite her hair being tied and hanging over one shoulder one could still see the potential for frizzy bushiness in every wave dangling. Her eyes still held the spark of intelligence and superiority they always had, but now were clouded with a darkness that only comes from those who have crossed the path of the Dark Lord and lived to tell the tale.
Hermione stepped into the house through the back door that sat in between the main room and the dining room. She saw the two Malfoys standing there in the main room as if they were supposed to be there. Her eyes grew wide as she looked between the two men. Is this who the Order sent? It can't be true!
"You look like a fish, Granger," Draco said with a slight smirk on his pale features.
Hermione closed her mouth and looked from father to son. She tossed her bag by the back door and crossed her arms over her chest.
"They sent Death Eaters to be my guard?"
Lucius could see the near pout on her lips.
"No, they sent me," Lucius explained in a tone one would use with a kindergartener.
"Draco is my son and I was told I could bring him along as well."
Hermione snorted…she couldn't help it. What were they a team now? Killing muggle-borns in their sleep? She was looking out the large window as these thoughts drifted through her head. She didn't see Lucius step forward, but she felt the serpent handle of his cane…the cane that hid his wand. He slipped the serpent head under her chin and with a turn he forced her to face him, pushing beneath her chin so that she had no choice but to look up into his cold grey eyes.
"Don't be mistaken, Miss Granger. I have no desire to be here…"
Lucius was interrupted. A woman around Hermione's height with blond hair tied up in a bun scurried into the room clearly heading toward the stairs that led to the upper portion of the house. Her arms were laden with fresh towels.
"Oh! Miss Hermione, your guard has arrived!"
Lucius stepped back and nodded politely to the woman who was obviously a servant of some sort.
"Yes, Vanessa. This is Mr. Lucius Malfoy and his son Draco," Hermione said with a slight hand movement toward the two men.
Vanessa nodded her head slightly.
"If you follow me, I will show you both your rooms before dinner."
With a narrowed look at Hermione, Lucius and Draco both followed the woman up the stairs.
Hermione was beyond furious as she stormed up the stairs to shower before dinner. How could the Order send Lucius Malfoy? Surely there was someone else who was able to do the job? Right? The more she thought about it the more she realized there probably was no one else to send. The upheaval in the wizarding world had so many of the Order running around. How much danger could she be in though? Honestly! Sure Death Eaters were still running amuck, case in point right across the hall in another room. How powerful were they without a leader?
"I assure you, Miss Granger, you are in plenty of danger," Lucius informed her as they sat around the dining room table eating the wonderful meal Vanessa had prepared.
Hermione pushed her food around her plate, still not happy. Lucius watched her silently. He knew next to nothing about the girl. Was this her normal behavior? Across the table, Draco took a sip of his juice.
"Hey, Granger? Are you trying to wither away into nothing? Try actually eating your food," Draco said before turning back to his own food.
Hermione really didn't have time to ponder on Draco's almost concern…that was something to be filed away for later. She was busy looking at Lucius. There was something strange when he had told her she was in danger…something in his eyes. There was a sincerity in those hissed words of warning and they sent a chill down Hermione's spine. What was it?
She slowly turned back to look at Lucius.
"So, some Death Eater has it in for me because I'm a Mudblood?"
Draco stilled at Hermione's use of the word. Lucius' cold eyes turned toward her. His cold laughter chilled her to the bone.
"Can you think of nothing you have done to anger any faithful Death Eater? You, with your Gryffindor foolishness rushed to the rescue of Severus Snape. The Dark Lord killed him…or so he thought…of course there are faithful Death Eaters after you."
Hermione's own eyes narrowed at Lucius' tone.
"And I take it you know the little bastard that's after me?"
Lucius rolled his eyes as if this conversation were truly beneath him.
"Yes, Miss Granger I know him."
"Of course," she sneered. "All you bastards know each other."
She picked up her fork with as much anger as possible, ignoring the now choking Draco who had unfortunately been taking a drink as Hermione spoke. Her eyes turned toward the wall that seemed to be nothing but a giant window. The sun had long set and darkness had fallen. The lights that lit up the dining room were reflecting on the surface of the window pulling the blackness of the night into more contrast with the light of the indoors. She stared into that blackness that seemed to go on forever and wondered what it held…what was out there waiting for her?
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He could hear them coming…he knew they would.
Death Eaters.
Somewhere in the cave water dripped into a small puddle, the sound echoing throughout. He sat in the darkness, legs pulled up to his chest, long arms wrapped around his long legs, rocking back and forth mumbling the same phrase over and over.
He knew they would be coming.
Even in his secluded cave, hidden from the light, he knew the Dark Lord had been destroyed…he knew it was his turn. Voldemort had only informed a few key Death Eaters of his existence…of his place amongst them if the worse should actually come to pass. No one else could know about him…what would happen if his second was killed as well? Who would take over?
That was how the three Death Eaters found him…crouched on the floor, rocking back and forth, mumbling the same phrase over and over again. They stopped behind him, staring in awe, and also wary of his moves…wary of frightening this vampire.
In front of him the cave wall was plastered with pictures. Some were clippings from wizarding magazine and newspaper articles, wizard and muggle snapshots, all of the same girl. She was plastered over the cave wall. His voice grew louder as he stared at these pictures. He heard them stop and heard the intake of shocked breath and for a moment he stopped rocking.
Slowly his head turned to look over his shoulder at the three fearful Death Eaters. His black hair fell forward covering his currently dirty face. His dark eyes danced with intensity…with desire…with power as they peered from behind his hair. His words were loud, fierce, and in Japanese as the fire danced in his eyes. At the astounded look upon the Death Eaters faces mingled with confusion, he laughed before suddenly stopping again at the tentative sound of Rabastan Lestrange's voice.
"Monogatari Kuro?"
The vampire stood suddenly causing the three Death Eaters to step back. He was a tall one. In the dim light of their wand lights and the murmurings of a foreign language they could see that he wasn't from around here. His head was bowed slightly as his eyes looked up at the three creating a deeper fear in the three Death Eaters. If looks could kill…
Then he smiled a most menacing smile before he finally spoke in a tongue they could understand.
"My Mudblood…my pet."
A/N: "All you bastards know each other" is a direct quote from the movie "French Kiss." I just loved that phrase. Okay…the vampire is a Japanese vampire…I do have someone specific in my mind…first about the name: in Japanese culture what is seen as our last name (the family name) is always spoken first. Monogatari means legend; Kuro means dark.
Okay…for those who want to know who I'm picturing e-mail me and I will send you a link to the movie trailer Crows-Zero. The guy I envision most closely resembles how Oguri Shun seems to be portraying his character (in looks and passion) in that movie. The trailer (the one that is one min. and 34 sec) can be found on youtube, but the quality is not as good as going to the official site, so if you want to see e-mail me and I will e-mail you the link.