Disclaimer: Happy 20th appearance Ms J.K.ROWLING!!
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A/N: Okay my peoples... This is probably the second last episode of my story. I would like to thank EVERYONE who has read it, EVERYONE who has reviewed it and gave me advice and all. THANK YOU!! If you wish to read some more of my story, I have a new one called 'Hide and Seek'. Have a go at it! Thanks again!!
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Chapter 20 : The Explaination
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(Back at Grimmauld Place)
Everyone was getting ready to apparate to Malfoy Manor. When they found out that Hermione was at the Manor, they panicked. Severus was sure that something bad was about to happen and Dumbledore had a hard time trying to calm them down. When he did, they went on with a plan to get Hermione out safely. They agreed to go in groups. Even though they were going to Malfoy Manor just to get Hermione, it never hurts to be safe. Who knows whether Death Eaters might be around?
Molly, Ginny, Bill and his wife, Fleur, Charlie and his wife, Diane and Dumbledore would stay back while the rest will go off. Moody, Harry, Ron, Remus and Tonks were in one group whereas Sirius, Kingsley, Minerva and Severus were in another. They planned out to meet just outside the skirts of the Manor before going in.
Just as Severus was about to sweep out of the room, Dumbledore called him back. Everyone turn to him and watch as he walk up to the frowning man and pat his back.
"Hermione will be well, Severus. She has too much to do and tell you." he said.
"What is it? What has she not told me?" Severus asked.
"It would be better if Hermione was the one to tell you that, Severus. Now, go my boy... Before it's too late."
With those words, Severus felt as if a bucket of cold water was thrown over him.
Before it's too late...
Seeing his distress, Minerva ordered everyone out of the house to apparate. Sirius grabs Severus's shoulder and gave it a pat of reassurance.
"Don't worry, we will find her and get her back. Let's go now. You can't apparate alone, remember..." Sirius gave a grim smile.
Severus nodded and walk out of the house together. Sirius once again, not wanting to have a repeat telecast of before, took him by the shoulder and they both dissapeared.
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(Back at Malfoy Manor)
Hermione felt a tug and she fell back into reality with Lucius. She saw him look at her with desperation in his eyes. Hermione felt that something was wrong with him.
"Why are you doing this? Why are you helping me?" She asked, backing up slowly as Lucius approach her.
"Helping you to help me out. I need you to help me." He said.
"Help you with what? What is going to happen? Voldermorts dead... that means my child is safe! Right? Lucius?" Hermione was starting to feel that something was terribly wrong.
"Voldermort told us before we went to war, that he wanted to be rebirth again if anything was to happen to him. It was as if he knew his death was coming..." Lucius look out the window, his eyes twinkling with ... was that fear, Hermione noticed, in his eyes. "... He wanted to be rebirth... borne by magic and nurtured as one. He wished to use The One as his body..." Lucius look at Hermione as he spat out these few words, "... He wished to be borne by you. He wants Your Child."
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It was dark and the air was cold around them. Severus heard someone near him step on a tree branch.
"Be quiet, will you. We might never know what is it that resides in this forest!" He hissed.
"Oh please, this is no forest... It's a garden. Lucius Malfoy has a garden around his house..." Sirius growled.
Sirius was right, it didn't look like a forest... it was more like a garden filled with different types of trees and flowers and such.
"Well, then be careful. We might never know what type of flowers he has here..." Severus swept on slowly through the trees and flowers with Sirius behind him.
"Is it me... or is it starting to rain?" Kingsley looks up and Minerva did the same.
"Its just you now come on before we are too late!!" Severus hissed.
"One thing is for sure... Memory or No Memory about yourself, you still are an asshole." Sirius said causing both Kingsley and Minerva to stifle a chuckle.
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Hermione was trying to calm herself as her mind reeled with Lucius's words, dark clouds began to form outside and patters could be seen, the raindrops on the windowsill.
Voldermort wants to use her child to be rebirth. Voldermort wants to use her child to do evil. Voldermort wants to be her child.
She tried to compose herself as Lucius shook his head.
"How does he intend to do it? Is that where you come in? Are you here to take my child away from me?!" She screamed.
Lucius merely smirk at her.
"Miss Granger, how many times do I have to tell you...? I am not here to hurt you. I am here to help you. In return, I need your help..."
"With what?"
Lucius turn to the portrait of his family on the wall and smile. The rain now thickens as thunder and lightning roll in the sky.
"Bellatrix has this thing for The Dark Lord. She will try to please him in any ways possible. And she felt that she should take over the job of reincarnating The Dark Lord. She was the one who told me to look over you both, to make sure nothing would hinder your process of... having a child." He sat down on an armchair and sigh.
"She told you that? But you tried to kill me and Severus! You cast the Dark Memory Spell on Severus! You made him lose his memory of who he is!" Hermione was confused with the whole fact she was taking in that she fell onto the floor, trying to compose herself once more. She heard Lucius chuckle and she felt anger boil up in her.
"Can't you see what I was trying to do? I had to separate you two! I didn't want The Dark Lord to come back! I knew the moment The Dark Lord fell to his death, I had to stop the prophecy from happening. I had to separate you both!" Lucius got up from his chair and approach Hermione slowly, with anger in his face, twisted... "You don't know what that mistake cost me. The mistake that neither one of you died. The mistake that I had to wipe off by casting the Dark Memory Spell... The price I had to pay for casting it..." Lightning strikes and a few seconds later, loud thunder could be heard.
Hermione was backing up on her back; tears were streaming down her eyes now, trying to breathe and to calm herself down while the man in front of her kept his pace.
"Bellatrix was furious when she found out what I did. She knew what I was trying to do and she punished me. Punished me, knowing that she will have the upper hand by now. She gave me a new set of instruction. She knew that after you have given birth, you and Severus will be none too happy to be taken away from your child... so Bella instructed me to get rid of you and Severus after you have given birth..." Lucius smirk.
"But... But I'm just a few months along! Why now! What are you going to do to me?" Hermione screamed. She tried backing up again but she found a wall behind her and she panicked.
"I'm telling you that I need your help! I realized that nothing can stop the Prophecy from happening. You both are too in love with each other than nothing can stop the inevitable. That is why I need your help... I will help you, while you will help me." Lucius knelt down in front of her, his face softening a little.
"Help y-... you with... with what..." Hermione stuttered, new tears replace her dried ones, trying to save herself, defend herself and her baby from Lucius. Hermione saw Lucius look down on the floor, his jaw tighten and loosen as he tries to form the words.
"When Bellatrix found out what I've done, she went furious. She tried to punish me the only way possible..." Lucius look up at Hermione with tears in his eyes,"...Bellatrix has Draco. She has Draco captured and she will have him until the Prophecy and her set of instruction is done, then will she let Draco go... But knowing Bella too well, I know she will never let Draco free. I've seen what she did to Draco and I can't bear it... I need your help to save Draco..."
The tears somehow stopped but Hermione was still breathing hard. Lucius Malfoy wants her help to save Draco from Bellatrix... Why does she feel that she has to believe him? Is it because of the fact she has never seen Draco at all after the fall of Voldermort? She saw how enthusiastic he was in helping bring Voldermort down and how happy he looked after the fall. She didn't see him at all after that.
Hermione saw the sad look on Lucius face, illuminated by the rays from the lightning and the shadows of the rain on the window and she had this jolt of feeling that she should believe him. It's either that what he says is true... or he is just one actor that needs an award.
Hermione nods her head slowly and saw Lucius smile.
"I'll help you out..."
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The four of them were drenched and stuck in a hole of a large tree, covered with charms to stop the rain from coming in.
"Told you it was going to rain..." Kingsley said, casting drying and warming spell on all three except for Severus. Severus saw this and glared at Kingsley.
"Hello..." Severus said.
"What? You can do it yourself..." Kingsley shrugs.
"I have yet to learn that spell or in case you haven't notice I have yet to remember the spell since I have forgotten who I am or have you forgotten that I have yet to recall memories about me, myself and I? Now if you will excuse me, I haven't forgotten that I am here to save Hermione who is in danger or have you forgotten about that also?" Severus said sarcastically. He turns to the entrance of the hole and look out in the darkness.
Kingsley, Minerva and Sirius were taken aback by Snape's response that they turn to each other giving each other a questioning look. Kingsley raised his wand at Severus and cast the two spells on him. Severus felt it and he turn to them.
"Thanks..." he muttered and turns back to the entrance. He thought about Hermione, what were to happen to her now.
Hold on, Hermione. I need you with me. Don't leave me, Hermione...
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Lucius help Hermione up onto her feet and on the chair, Hermione feeling weary at all times. Lucius gave her a genuine smile.
"Relax... I will never do anything to you." He said.
"How can I be sure? I mean... you've tried to kill us before." Hermione muttered. Lucius chuckle.
"That was before our discussion. I won't kill you now... trust me on this." Lucius looked pretty sincere for Hermione. She gave him a faint smile.
Lucius turn around and summon for his elf. A while later, Mips appeared in front of him.
"Master is calling Mips?" it bowed down.
"My guest is expecting with a child, go get a cooling drink for her... to calm her down." Lucius said, making a glass of scotch for himself.
"Mips will do that, Master." It dissapeared with a pop.
Hermione raise her eyebrow at him.
"Cooling drink to calm me down?"
"For the past fifteen minutes you've been screaming at me. I wonder how Severus keeps up with it." Lucius shook his head and took a seat opposite of Hermione, crossed his legs and sip his drink.
"He has been keeping up with me very well... thanks." Hermione fumed.
"You know... I see that Severus is getting much healthier lately." Lucius said, swirling his drink...
"He is slowly dying day by day... thanks to your Curse." Hermione said.
"I know... I'm sorry about that." Lucius look at his drink, still swirling it, "... But I mean something else... He is looking much more healthier being with you... I remember he used to look that way before..." Lucius said.
"Before?..." Hermione frowned.
"He didn't tell you?" Lucius said.
"Well I'm sorry, we've only known each other for five months before you came and blew his memory out of his mind..." Hermione smile sarcastically at him. Lucius snorted.
"You know in some way you do sound like him... Like I said, before... He used to be with a muggleborn too... before he got involved with the Dark Lord." Lucius said.
"A Muggleborn? Before he got involved being a Death Eater?" Hermione repeated.
"Yes... You do know that he is half blood right?" Lucius asked. Hermione nodded in response. "... He used to be involved with a muggle born... you might know her. Her name was Lily Evans." Lucius sip his drink, his eyes watching Hermione.
Hermione's eyes widen at his words. Lily Evans?
"Lily Evans? You mean... Harry's mother??" Hermione gasped as Lucius nodded.
"Yes... Before she was involved with Potter, she was with Severus. They were childhood friends from the same neighborhood. Severus was pretty upset that she went into Gryffindor and not Slytherin but I got him some company..." Lucius tilted his head and smile at the thought.
Hermione grimaced to think of just what type of company Lucius brought for Severus. A pop was heard and Mips stood in front of Hermione, handing her drink on a tray.
"You drink, Madam..." Mips bowed but the tray remains unmoved. Hermione took her drink, which was grape juice, and thanked her, Mips leaving with another pop. Hermione sniff her drink, tracing something in her juice. Lucius saw and he smirk.
"Its a calming draught, don't worry... To calm you down. Nothing serious." Lucius put one hand up to gesture surrender.
"Fine... I trust you. Don't break it." Hermione nodded and took a small sip. Lucius smirk.
"As I was saying... Severus and Lily used to be together. They were friends at first but Severus always had this thing for her, that's why Potter treats him badly. Potter always teased him whenever Severus came to give Lily some roses or lilies. It was during their fourth year did they have a relationship."
"They did???" Hermione went wide eyed again.
"Yes... Potter and the gang knew and they made his life a living hell... they have never showed public affections but they didn't do anything serious until their fifth year. I don't know how but Severus managed to sleep with her..." Lucius said. Hermione grimaced at the way Lucius said it as if they were talking about the market. Lucius got up and refilled his drink. "I remember what happened after that... Potter decided to do a trick on him. He used a charm Severus made for his self defense and turn it against him. He hung Severus upside down by the ankle and the whole school saw it. They just laugh at what he did... Severus hated James and the Marauders since then..."
Lucius sat down on his chair, looking at his drink. Hermione was feeling a little sad hearing Severus's tale from Lucius. She didn't know what Harry's father did before but she knew now. And she knew why Severus hated the Marauders so much.
"I don't why I'm telling you all this... Might be the drink. Oh well... where was I? Oh yes... Lily tried to save Severus from Potter but due to his anger and hatred for James, he told her not to try and save him or anything... He called her... I'm sorry but He called her a Mudblood." Lucius quickly sip a drink and grimaced as it burns down his throat. "... Severus tried to ask for her forgiveness after that but Lily didn't even give him a second chance. She broke up with him... A few weeks later, Severus tried to take her back but he saw her snogging James one day and he broke down. I remember he was crying at the room of requirement... There were scattered petals around him and he was crying his heart out. I took him to the common room and introduced him to The Dark Lord..." Lucius eyes lost the twinkle when he said the last three words...
"You were the one who made Severus become a Death Eater..." It wasn't a question.
"Yes... My parents were avid fans of him. They loved the idea of having a world ruled by only Purebloods. They instilled those rules to me and I was exposed to The Dark Lord when I was only Fourteen. It was exciting at first and I tried to get as many friends in as possible. I told Severus that he could have all the women he wants... those who are pure and not tainted like Lily... I told him about The Dark Lord. I told him we could have everything that we ever wanted in a blink of an eye... I didn't tell him that all those were half truths and half lies..."
"Then what did you do..."
"I introduced him to The Dark Lord a few months later and he agreed to take him in, even though he was a half blood. Severus took his Dark Mark later during his seventh year. That is when everything changed for him."
Lucius stood up again to look out the window, it was drizzling by then.
"I've always taken Severus as a younger brother I never had. I look out for him... knowing the dangers and the traps. I tried giving him all the happiness... But it seems that I was giving myself the hope of it. Severus was never happy after that... But now... I saw that familiar glint in his eyes when he talks to you. I saw that fire of hope... The only true feelings of Love... Proof for the whole world to know that he really is in love with you..." Lucius turn to Hermione and smile, "... I thank you for that. For making him happy... I see the love you have for him... and it's a good feeling to know that somebody else loves him."
"Well, I only wished that people would see what you see between us..." Hermione rolled her eyes, "... It wasn't all that smooth the first time when people found out about us..." Lucius chuckled.
"I know what it's like... Nobody believed that I love my wife and son so much that I would do anything for them..."
"I know what you mean..." Hermione said, thinking of her Second year when Draco got his whole Quidditch team a new set of change.
Suddenly, Lucius whirled around to look at the front door, fear evident on his face.
"What is it?" Hermione asked.
"They are here..."
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