A/N: Two chapters in two days! Woot! I probably won't be updating the rest of the week until Saturday because it's the holidays and I think I'm going to take a little break and do a one shot for Thanksgiving. Also, I usually update this at work and I'm training a new girl starting today. If I can update, I will. Thanks to all my readers and reviewers.

Chapter Seven- Granger and Malfoy spend the night alone

Hermione Granger was seen Apparating away from the gravesite, leaving an unconscious Ronald Weasley with the Minister. Hot on her heels was Lucius Malfoy, who is still magically handcuffed to Miss Granger. It seems that the two will be spending the night alone in the house Miss Granger used to share with Ronald Weasley. As Rita Skeeter reported, Miss Granger kicked the youngest Weasley out of his own home in a rage for him standing up to her about her indiscretions. A reliable source also confirms that Miss Granger will be moving in with her longtime boy-toy, who is none other than Lucius Malfoy's own son, Draco. No word yet on how the other feels about her playing them against each other. Are we finally able to see why the son isn't visiting his father in prison? See Rita Skeeter's exclusive interview with Pansy Parkinson, minimal security prisoner in Azkaban and privy to untold details about Hermione Granger's dark secret.

He was standing in the bathroom, waiting for Hermione to change out of her funeral outfit. Staring at his reflection in the mirror, he wondered if she found the way his cheeks had sunk in and how pale and washed out he seemed unattractive. He certainly felt unattractive. Prison had worn him down and although he still looked mostly the same, he could see the defeat written on his feature. Certainly being a criminal did not help his case in these matters. Although for the life of him, he could not understand why he wanted Hermione to think he was attractive. She was his lawyer, his only hope of escaping that hellhole and retaining some kind of life. But she was also brilliant, sassy, attractive, and defiantly knew how to dress. He remembered when his son had written him that Hermione had agreed to take the case. His letter had one warning and requested one promise, be careful, she's easy to love and please promise you won't touch her. He had thought that his son was dating the young lawyer then, or at least had feelings for him. His suspension grew as he noticed her attire, her love for expensive shoes, and the briefcase she had acquired two weeks after their first meeting. But it seemed that Draco and Hermione were only friends, which meant that the brunette was available and Lucius could turn his charms on her. He just wished he knew why he wanted to seduce the witch. "Lucius, would you like me to transfigure you some lounge clothes?"

Her voice travelled through the door and he knew she must be ready now. "No, that's alright Miss… Hermione." He wanted to keep the expensive robes on until the last second, until he was forced back into the prison robes.

The door knob turned and she opened the door slowly. He smirked down at her, dressed in her little white shorts and blue tank top. She was barefoot and he had a brief flash of that slim foot arched up delicately in those sky high heels. "I'm not wearing shoes, what's your excuse now?"

"I like feet," he said with a shrug. He stepped out of the bathroom and closed the door behind him. "You look…" he struggled with the word before whispering, "young."

Hermione laughed as they walked into the living room. She sat down on the couch and he took a seat on the chair he occupied earlier. "I haven't felt young in a long time," she said. "Would you like me to make some tea?"

He shook his head, staring into the empty fire. "Once, not so long ago, if you would have told me that I was sitting in Hermione Granger's apartment, I would have cursed you."

Hermione nodded. "Indeed, if anyone had told me I would have attended Narcissa's funeral, I would have called them insane."

"Will he be ok?"

Hermione knew that he was worried about his son, that he wished he could be more of a comfort to him. "I'll go see him after I take you back tomorrow. It's a good bet that Harry's currently asleep on Draco's couch as we speak."

"There's another thing, Draco being friends with Potter. I remember when Draco used to come home from school, complaining about the heroic things Potter did and the obvious favoritisms of Dumbledore." Lucius smirked, "I used to tell him Malfoys did not get envious, we got revenge."

"War changes people," Hermione said softly. "Do you know that your son, Harry, and I were the only people at Severus' funeral? Draco had to help me get Harry home. I think that in a way, Draco finally understood some of Harry's pain. Harry had already lost his godfather and in Severus he saw a wasted opportunity to connect to a man he had been deeply wrong about."

"Severus would have hated it," Lucius said. "Potter was still James' brat… he was only half of Lily."

Hermione nodded. Harry knew that had Severus lived, he wouldn't have liked the young Gryffindor anymore that he had in school. Perhaps they could have had a working relationship, but a personal one seemed likely to happen. "I do miss Severus sometimes," she said softly. "I had a bit of a crush on him during school."

Lucius laughed a deep and throaty laugh that Hermione found herself wanting to hear more often. "I believe he will be turning over in his grave as we speak"

Hermione giggled and reached over her shoulder to grab that blanket there. "Indeed," she said. "Regardless, we were all terribly wrong about Severus."

"It's often easy to make assumptions and even easier to make the wrong ones," Lucius said. "Severus didn't make it easy for people to see the good side of him."

"Neither did you," she pointed out.

"Showing the good side of me would have resulted in my death," Lucius stated, his eyes looking at the floor. "Severus has a cover; he could have been nice and blamed the kindness on playing to Dumbledore's sentiments. I was to show no one anything other than what I had been told, what I had been taught."

"If you wish to make amends, you should start with Harry." Hermione had covered herself with the blanket and curled her legs up into herself. "Mostly, you need to seek forgiveness for yourself. If you truly didn't mean the things you did, if you truly wished your life had been different, if you are truly sorry; you need to start with apologizing to the people you hurt."

Lucius looked up at her and she could see the thoughts plaguing him. "Did I hurt you?"

Hermione had to consider if Lucius' actions ever did hurt her. Most of what she faced was Draco, who technically was taught the things he hurt her with from Lucius. "I wouldn't say directly," she said softly. "Most of the taunting and hurt I suffered came from Draco."

"Yet you forgave him?" Lucius was tapping the chair with his finger.

"Not overnight," Hermione said. "It took a fair amount of apologizing and conversation before I believed that Draco truly wanted to become friends. I was the first person to openly accept Draco as a friend. Harry didn't warm up until after Severus' funeral."

Lucius averted his eyes from her and went back to staring at the floor. "My son's actions were my fault."

Years of being involved in wars made Lucius keenly aware that Hermione had moved from her position on the couch. When he looked up, the young girl was sitting on the edge of the coffee table in front of him. "Perhaps," she agreed. "Draco admitted that a fair bit of what he did and said was imitation. But then, can the same not be said for you?"

"My weakness does not excuse my actions," he said. "I am sorry, for what it matters, that my son and I were responsible for causing you pain."

"I had already forgiven you," Hermione said, "when I took your case."

Lucius leaned forward slightly in his chair, making the distance between them that much smaller. "When you took the case, did you believe me to be guilty of all the crimes they charged me with?"

"I knew that terrorism and treason against the Ministry were legitimate charges. The charges of murder, rape, violence against children, torture, and psychological warfare were tacked on to keep you in jail; there was no evidence of any of those crimes." Hermione looked at the mantel over the fire, which held her favorite picture of her and Ron. "I don't think anyone expected me to try so hard to get you out."

Lucius followed her gaze to the picture. "If you drop this case, you might be able to get him back."

Hermione shook her head and tore her gaze away from the picture. "Even if I did drop the case, I don't think I'd want Ronald back. Truth be told, I knew months before I started your case that the two of us wouldn't work out. And besides, if Pansy stays true to her word…"

"What about Mrs. Parkinson?" Lucius smirked, "Am I about to find out what upset you so much at the prison?"

Hermione stood up and walked over to the fire. "I might as well tell you, before you have to read it in the paper." She turned around, her back to the fire, and looked at him. "Pansy found me in a compromising position in school during my sixth year."

"Many sixth years are found in similar positions," Lucius pointed out.

Hermione nodded, "but unlike most students, it's not every day that the Gryffindor Golden Girl is found with a Slytherin." Lucius raised one eyebrow at that statement, obviously thinking it was his son she was found with. "It wasn't Draco," Hermione said. "It was Blaise Zambini," she said softly. "We had a class together that I didn't share with the boys, Ancient Ruins, and we partnered together frequently. It just ended up that I was hurt over Ron and Blaise had been harboring feelings for me. And one night, after studying late in the library, we ended up in an unused classroom near the dungeons. We were lucky, I think Severus had been called away that night or he would have found us. Instead, Pansy found us together. She threatened me that if I didn't get her out, she'd tell the world she found me with a marked Death Eater back in school. I won't bend to her will and I think she knows my threats are hallow since I can't touch her in prison. I'm almost sure she will go to the press."

"I didn't think anyone knew that Zambini was marked," Lucius said. "Even Draco wasn't informed."

"It's hard to hide the mark when you are naked," Hermione said. "But he told me about it way before I slept with him. He regretted it, he said that the reason no one even knew he was marked was because Voldemort wanted him to be a spy at the school."

Lucius nodded, "Was that the article my son brought you?"

"Oh no," Hermione said. "Even Draco doesn't know about this. That article was the first from Rita Skeeter about Ron's inner pain. During fourth year, I discovered that Rita was an unregistered Animagus and blackmailed her. It was meant to keep her from writing anything more about Harry really, but it benefitted me as well. Up until now, she's stayed out of the slander the Prophet has been writing."

"And will this new information affect your relationship with my son or Potter?"

Hermione shook her head. "Harry knows, of course I told him once I Blaise had died. And Draco has no romantic interest in me, so I don't think he will be upset. But Ron..." Hermione paused and turned back to the picture on her mantel. "It will just reaffirm that Ron should believe the rumors that I'm a Death Eater whore."

She didn't know when she had started crying, she didn't know when Lucius had left his chair, but a few minutes later she felt tentative hands on her arms. "Weasley has always been, and will always be, a fool. And you are no whore," he said the last part softly.

She turned in his arms slowly, looking up into his gray eyes. "Aren't I," she asked? "Doesn't sleeping with Blaise and being attracted to you make me exactly what the papers say?"

"Being attracted to someone does not make you a whore," Lucius said. "Nor does a teenage girl falling into someone's arms after being publicly rejected make you one either. And the papers state that you are shagging both my son and I, which is hardly true. And even if they were, who is the Prophet to judge others on their actions? That paper has become nothing but a gossip rag."

She noticed how he skated over her admittance to an attraction to him. "But it does prove Ron's point… this case stopped being just a case a while ago."

"How long ago," he asked?

"Week ago," she said softly. "Back when you were telling me about the torture you endured in his service. I might have known earlier, but I was blind. I was still pretending that I was in a happy relationship with Ron. I'm not blind anymore and I'm done pretending," she said.

Lucius let the girl go and took a step back. "I promised my son I wouldn't touch you," he said harshly.

"I made the same promise," she said. "It's funny that Draco seemed to realize we would be compatible even before all this started."

Lucius smirked, "My son has good instincts. But he is right, nothing romantic can happen while you are still my lawyer and I still remain in jail."

"Romantic," she said with a glint of amusement in her eyes. "And hot shagging, can that happen while you are still a prisoner and I'm your lawyer?"

A growl emitted from Lucius' lips and he took a step towards her. It didn't close the distance that his large step back had caused before, but he was close enough to reach out and grab her if he wanted. In fact, it looked as if the man was struggling not to do that very action. "Be careful Hermione," he said in a rough whisper.

"I always am, Mr. Malfoy." She stood her ground, staring into his eyes.

Promises be damned, Lucius grabbed her arms and pulled her to him. Looking down at the woman in his arms, he wondered if this would change everything. "Say my name," he whispered.

"Lucius," she said in a breathy moan. His eyes sparked with something resembling fire, and she pressed her body against him. "If you don't step away from me," she whispered, "I won't be held responsible for what happens."

As it was, he didn't need to step away from her. In that moment, Harry and Draco arrived with a pop, successfully causing the two to jump away from each other. "We have another problem," Harry said.

"More than just one I think," Draco said softly. "I thought I told you…"

"Now is not the time for this, son. What is the problem, Mister Potter?" Lucius sat down in the chair he had previously occupied and Hermione sat in the chair beside him. The effect of this choice was not lost on either man, who looked at the two suspiciously.

"Did we interrupt something?" Harry tried to keep his voice flat and emotionless.

Draco sat down on the couch, barely noticing when Harry sat beside him. "Indeed, I think we did."

Lucius sat up, if possible, straighter and linked his fingers together. "Must we discuss this?"

"I agree; anything that happens between me and Lucius is our business." Hermione turned to Harry. "What's the problem?"

"Rita," he said. "Pansy talked to her and the Prophet sent out a special night issue."

"Let me see it," she said. Draco pulled the paper out from his cloak and tossed it to her.

Hermione Granger: Traitor for Years

Underneath this headline were three pictures; the picture of Hermione and Draco shopping, the picture of Hermione and Lucius at the funeral, and the old picture of Hermione and Viktor at the Yule Ball.

It came as no shock to me that I received a letter yesterday from a prisoner in Azkaban asking me to come quickly. She sweetened the plot by informing me that she had information, and proof, of Hermione Granger's affiliation with Death Eaters long before the war ended. In an exclusive interview with Miss Pansy Parkinson, I have unveiled more about the truth of Hermione Granger's wickedness and further proof that she has been a heartbreaking harlot for years.

Miss Parkinson is brought into the interview room looking far worse than one would expect. The remarkably good looks of her youth have been wasted away from the year she has spent in prison. Her crimes are the same as Draco Malfoy, following her parents' footsteps into a life she never expected. "I was always taught that I would uphold the title of a pureblood, that meant following and helping the Dark Lord's cause." Of course, this reporter wonders if she should be in prison at all, if Draco Malfoy is allowed to be free. "I'm very glad that Draco isn't in this hellhole, but he has done things that are far worse than what I am accused of. But that's neither here nor there, I'm not trying to plead my case but show light on a subject that has only been speculation at this point." Of course, Miss Parkinson's selfness moved me but she was quite insistent that we speak no more of her own charges. "I've already spoken against Miss Granger, back in our fourth year. Back then she had a thing for Quidditch players and fame; she was linked to Harry Potter and Viktor Krum that year. She was also linked to Cormac McLaggen in our sixth year. But what people don't know is that sixth year was also the year that Hermione Granger also had a thing for Death Eaters."

Of course, this comes as no surprise to the readers of the Prophet. Photographic evidence of a relationship with both Malfoys has made headings in the past few weeks. "Before the Malfoys even came along," Miss Parkinson said, "I caught Hermione Granger in a comprising position with another Hogwarts student." We were told back when the younger Malfoy fled the school, that he was the only marked Death Eater student. "It's true that the only marked Death Eater that was known to Harry Potter was Draco Malfoy, but this is only because Hermione Granger was keeping a deep secret." Intrigued as I was, it only made sense to make sure that Miss Parkinson had proof. "Oh I have proof, but that comes later."

Miss Parkinson leaned back against the seat and a troubled look crossed her delicate features. "I was patrolling the dungeons one night when I heard sounds coming from an empty classroom. When I walked in, I found Hermione Granger and Blaise Zambini in an intimate position. Of course, one cannot hide the Dark Mark while naked. I had wondered, Blaise had been acting odd for weeks and I now knew why. Hermione left after dressing and Blaise made me swear not to tell anyone what I had seen. It would have meant his death if anyone found out he was touching a Muggleborn, so I kept quiet. I kept expecting for Hermione to tell Harry about the mark, but it seemed that Miss Granger cared more for her secrets then she did her war." And the proof, I wanted to know more about the proof of this as well. "When Blaise died in the war, I found out that he had registered a will with the Ministry before the Dark Lord's take over. In it, Blaise gave all of his homes, possessions, and funds to Hermione Jean Granger."

Miss Parkinson couldn't tell us more about the Malfoy's, other than she had seen Miss Granger drag Lucius Malfoy out of the jail yesterday morning. A quick trip to the Ministry confirmed that Miss Parkinson was correct, the will of Blaise Zambini did exist and he had left everything he owned to Miss Granger. It is clear that Miss Granger had begun turning her back to Harry Potter's cause long before the war ended, and continues to be laughing in the face of all those who think her to be the Golden Girl in the Golden Trio.

-Rita Skeeter

Hermione threw the paper down on the table and laughed. "My, my… do you feel betrayed Harry?"

"Why is this funny?" Draco turned to look at Harry. "You knew?"

"Of course I knew" Harry said. "Do you think I would be so calm about all this if I hadn't? Hermione told me right after the will went through."

Lucius, who had been silent thus far, turned to Hermione. "When you were explaining how you could afford to buy all those expensive shoes, you failed to mention you were given the fortune of one of the largest pureblood families in Italy."

"Blaise's death isn't something I talk about," she said softly. "And all the things he left me, they are just things. I trade them all back to have Blaise living again."

"Hermione thinks that it's her fault Blaise is dead." Harry leaned back against the couch.

Draco turned to look at her and could see that this was not a conversation she wanted to have. "He wanted to fight in that battle Hermione."

"I don't want to talk about this," she said quickly. "Whatever went on with Blaise and I ended long ago. I assume, Harry, that the problem has something to do with Ron."

"He's downstairs, trying to break through the wards on this place." Harry turned to Draco. "We were in Draco's hotel room, drinking and talking, when the alarms on this place sounded. About the time we went to leave, the paper came in. We tried to talk some sense into Ron, but he took one look at Draco and lost all reason. We think you should take Malfoy back to the prison."

Hermione looked over at him. "I'm still magically handcuffed to him," she added.

"We know," Draco said, "but the prison is safer than this house. It's technically Ron's anyways; it's only a matter of time before he breaks the wards."

"She can't stay in the prison," Lucius said. "They'll take her wand and force her into that cell with me."

"She doesn't really have a choice," Harry said. "If you stay here, there is going to be a fight. You don't have a wand and attacking Ron, even in self-defense, will result in dismissal of your case."

"He's right," Hermione said. "If Ron breaks through, he'll want to hurt you. We have a good shot of winning this case; I don't want it thrown out because Ron is a child."

"Get dressed," Harry said, "and we will escort you to the prison."

A/N: I need to add a little warning for future chapters. I know that this chapter makes it seem like Hermione and Lucius are about to jump into bed together, but his trial will be starting soon and someone else is about to enter the picture. Also, Harry and Draco's relationship will become more intimate, but nothing in any detail…. At least not at the moment.