AN – I own nothing!

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Chapter 3

"Albus, how is this possible?" Minerva asked softly so that she, Albus, Severus and Remus were the only ones to hear her question.

The four of them stood across the room as they watched Lucius comfort the crying witch. He had his arms wrapped around her small frame, while she was curled up against him on his lap. Her cries had yet to stop, but they had somewhat subsided.

"I do not know Minerva. I am just as clueless as you are," he replied.

"So he was never loyal to Voldemort? And Hermione's a princess?" Remus asked them. Or perhaps it was more towards himself. He was having a hard time grasping what they had just discovered, as were his other companions.

"Apparently," Severus answered. His face was masked with worry and shock. It never registered in his head to hide his emotions. His mind reeled too many questions at the moment. Everything that he knew and believed about his enemy Lucius had all gone out the window. Lucius Malfoy. Good. Light. He was trying to make the words make sense all at the same time. And with King Richard, and Hermione being a princess? It just made things all the more confusing. How did it all make sense?

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"Lucius..." Hermione sobbed into the crook of his neck, as her arms were tightly wrapped around him.

"Hush Hermione, hush," he said ever so softly into her ear. "I'm here now. Everything's going to be okay I promise." In reality, he did hope that everything would be okay. Depending on the roads ahead, he didn't know exactly what would happen next. Still he promised, and he would do everything in his power to make things okay. It wasn't an option.

"They're dead, they're dead," she repeated a few times over.

Lucius then moved a bit and cupped Hermione's face in his hands right in front of him. He then wiped away her tears with his thumbs. He knew he couldn't change what had just happened. "You knew it was going to happen Hermione," he said to her softly. Still the other four heard it and were shocked.

How in the world did she know?

"You knew. I knew..."

"It still hurts," she cried out loud. "Why not me? Why them?" she cried out louder. Her hands clenched into fists and from out of nowhere, she started hitting Lucius. "Why?!" she screamed.

"Hermione!" Lucius gasped, grabbing a hold of her fists, just hard enough so that she couldn't hit him anymore. "Hermione!" he said loudly the second time around as the witch started to struggle against him, and fought against him with all her might.

"It should have been me!"

Lucius then used his weight, letting Hermione fall back on the couch, with his body over hers. He used his hips to pin her legs and his hands held her fists firmly at her sides. He then snapped his head towards the other four. "Sleeping draught now!" he commanded.

Severus knew that Lucius's command was addressed to him. Immediately, without question, he jumped into the fireplace and flooed to his personal chambers. The other three just approached closer, they wanted to help, but they didn't know how to. They were also all too surprised to see Hermione react in such an outbreak.

"Let me go!" Hermione screamed.

"Don't do this Hermione, don't do this," Lucius said.

Within less than a minute, Severus arrived back, and ran towards the couch. He quickly showed the vile to Lucius, and uncorked it.

"You do it," Lucius told him.

Even though his mind hesitated for a moment, his hand didn't. It firmly gently cupped Hermione's chin. Right after, he slowly urged her to face him. "Drink," he simply said, placing the vial right next to her lips. He then saw her eyes widen, with fear.

"No!" Hermione snapped her head away and turned to face Lucius. "He's going to say no. He's going to say no," she repeated over and over like a mantra as she shook her head.

"Shit!" Lucius muttered to himself. He let go of one of her wrists and cupped her face. He made her look at him, allowing her to focus on him. "Stop-"

"Snape's going to say no," she said with more tears flowing down her eyes.

For the briefest moment, Lucius saw the questioning look on Severus's face. "He's not going to say no Hermione."

Hermione shook her head, not believing him.

Lucius didn't want to continue talking any further. He had no potion though but to try to calm Hermione down. "He won't say no Hermione. I won't let him. Everything's going to be alright I promise."

"And if he does?" she sobbed.

Lucius sighed, and shook his head. He then turned to Severus and looked at the very confused man in front of him. His eyes pleaded him to say something to Hermione.

"Hermione," Severus said with more gentleness than expected. It was the first time he had called her by her first name. For some odd reason, her name tasted sweet at the tip of his tongue.

Slowly Hermione turned her head and looked at the man kneeling down next to her. Even though her eyes were flooding with tears, for the first time, she saw sincerity and trust in his now soft dark eyes.

"Everything will turn out for the better," he said, even though he really didn't know what exactly everything meant. Once again, he placed the vial against her lips, telling her to drink it.

"Don't say no," she pleaded, after a hiccup or two. Her eyes were filled with sadness, fear and desperation.

"My answer is yes then," Severus then said, giving her a firm nod. His mind boggled as to what he just said yes to. At that certain moment, he knew he had to give the poor witch some reassurance.

Hermione then nodded, and some relief sweep through her. She then allowed Severus to pour the potion into her mouth. In mere moments, her eyes closed, and she was sound asleep.

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AN – Again another twist or mystery for you guys to think about. Don't be mad. Now I am starving for reviews.