Disclaimer:- I own nothing and I earn nothing from this story. JK Rowling and associates still own everything.

xXx

A/N:- When you start reading this chapter, you may become a little confused when I state that Snape is Harry's mentor, please bear with it, it is explained during the course of the chapter. The section on Auras later in this chapter is made up. I simply wanted those colours, I have not researched as I usually do, and it is not my intention to offend anyone if I'm incorrect. I hope you enjoy the chapter…

oOo

Chapter 4 – Searching For Light After The Darkness

It was still early the day after the battle when Severus arrived with Harry. They both looked exhausted. Lucius opened his creaking heart further, knowing how important it would be for his son and the witch in the bed. "Welcome, Mr. Potter."

Harry stood there stunned, even after the professor had told him the details of the situation as he understood it before they had left England. "Yes, s-sir," he managed. His two year old relationship with Draco had taught him that not all was how it appeared, but it took all his presence of mind to overcome his battle-born instinct not to hate this wizard before him and defend himself.

Knowing Draco had not dispelled any of the myths surrounding Lucius, because up until this moment he had never heard a kind word from him. Although knowing Professor Snape as he now did, it did not surprise him that things about Lucius were not as they seemed as well. Harry knew that the wizard who had become his mentor and the blond aristocrat were friends, and the fact that Snape had just breeched the wards of the last bastion of Malfoy sanctuary without incident… well, this spoke volumes for their relationship, even if it did not help him fathom Lucius any further.

Harry had learnt a lot being away from the well meaning, but totally inept Weasley family. Once Snape had been able to talk to the young wizard without past prejudges interfering and with both of them participating in the conversation with open minds. They had discovered that they had many things in common.

The professor was now like a slightly surly older brother to Harry, and it was all thanks to Hermione's bossiness and her determination that asking Snape for help was the only option they had.

Harry glanced at his sleeping love, and ached to go to him, but he decided he needed to face what had happened to Hermione first. He gingerly approached the bed, almost frightened of what he might see.

He gasped at the inky bruises and healing cuts—most of them festering—still covering the wane and pale figure of his friend. His guilt over the incident that had seen her sacrifice herself so he could get the Horcrux out stabbed at him again. He could still hear her cries of warning for him to flee when they had been discovered.

Her capture had been at such a crucial junction, and they'd all realised the cost if any of them been caught. As much as it had pained him, he hadn't been able to follow her. For one thing he didn't know where, and for another, he didn't want her sacrifice to save him so he could finish the mission to be in vein.

It was as Harry was contemplating all this that Draco woke from his drug induced sleep, and on seeing his lover he bolted up from the transfigured lounge, enveloping Harry in a fierce hug as a sob escaped him. "Oh Harry, Mum's dead!"

Severus and Lucius watched on, knowing how hard it had been for both boys.

"I know, I'm sorry, Dray," they heard Harry say as he tightened his arms around Draco and rubbed his back, he too revelling in the comfort of his love's arms.

Their relationship had started with a clandestine truce near the end of their fifth year, soon after Harry had found his erstwhile enemy bleeding to death in a dungeon corridor. It appeared that he had been trying to play one lover off against another and it had backfired on him and the two Slytherins, Parkinson and Crabbe had ganged up on him.

As usual, Harry had been out and about in the castle after curfew under his invisibility cloak. Even though he'd tried to deny it, he had a terrible crush on Draco and had taken to lurking around the Slytherin dungeons in the hope of seeing him.

Hearing angry voices then seeing the light of hexes and curses being thrown, and being a typical Gryffindor, naturally he had investigated. What he'd found had made his heart near stop, there was a bloodied Draco slumped against the stone wall. In his shock the cloak slipped away, and their eyes had met. The desperate Slytherin had grabbed at handfuls of Harry's robes as he leant over him and pleaded in a rasping whisper, "Get me to Severus… please."

Gathering his senses, Harry had levitated the wounded young man to his Head of House's office door, hammered on it loudly, he had then disappeared under his cloak again. He still remembered how his heart had thumped wildly against his ribs as the seconds ticked by before the professor had reefed the door open with a terrible scowl on his face, which turned into horror on seeing Draco.

Harry was pulled from his thoughts, as a sigh and a slight movement in the bed made them all turn.

They heard a husky and frightened whisper. "Lucius!" It became more urgent, "Lucius… where are you, I can't feel you anymore."

The blond aristocrat reached the bed in a stride and dropped to his knees beside it. "I'm sorry Hermione, I'm here. Open your eyes, angel," he was stroking her hair as he spoke.

Her voice was a soft, raw croak. "Are we dead yet, it's different but it still hurts," her eyes flickered and finally started to open, blinking against the light. "Where are we? She gazed into his face, "Is this heaven?"

He chuckled with relief, she wasn't rejecting him. "No, we're definitely not dead, and this is France."

There was a snort from the dark-haired man standing quietly by the door. Lucius turned, and his eyes narrowed.

"Was that Professor Snape? Hermione asked hoarsely, confused.

"It certainly was, and he's delivered a friend of yours. The battle's over and more importantly won." Lucius conjured a glass of water. "Here can you drink some water?"

Hermione flinched as her attendant lifted her head for her to drink. He then took extra care placing it back on the pillow, and only after that did he allow Harry to come forward. "Be careful with her, Mr. Potter," he warned as he stepped back.

Harry kissed Draco's forehead and by unspoken agreement the blond wizard allowed him to go to Hermione.

"Sis," Harry said, tentatively. "I'm really sorry, love." There were tears trickling down his cheeks. "I hated that I had to leave you."

He was now on his knees beside the bed. Hermione grimaced as she tried to move so she was facing him more. Her one good, but shaky hand came forward. "We all knew the risks. I went into the situation knowing what might happen. Don't beat yourself up over it," her voice faltered. "Go, have your well earned reunion with Draco." She tried to smile, but it fell flat.

Harry nodded, and leaned forward to kiss her cheek. "Okay, sis," he said, getting up. He looked around at Lucius, "Thank you for saving her," and he offered Lucius his hand.

Lucius gasped, he couldn't think of anything to say, and was a little taken back that forgiveness was being offered so freely.

Then Harry turned to Severus. "And thank you for believing in me, Professor."

Severus nodded and smirked slightly. "You have indeed proven yourself worthy Harry, well done," he replied, gripping the young man's shoulder momentarily. The Potions master turned to Lucius, "Now all is as it should be, and I'm going to my cottage. First I'm owling my resignation to the Board of Governors and then I intend to do exactly nothing for one week," he looked to each occupant of the room, "and anyone interrupting me had better have a bloody good reason for doing so." Severus raised an eyebrow in challenge.

Next he walked to the bed and patted Hermione's shoulder lightly. "I'm glad you're still with us. I'm expecting great things from you," he said, and started to turn to go, but Hermione caught his hand.

"Thank you, sir. What you have managed for all these years is extraordinary," she told him quietly.

Severus smirked. "I merely did what needed to be done," and then bowing his head reverently, said, "Good day to you all."

With that he turned and billowed out the door, Harry and Draco following on their way to Draco's room. Lucius watched after them, they were all part of his family. Then hearing Hermione whimper as she attempted to move again, he realised it must be time for her pain potion, and probably one of the nutrient brews Healer De la Mont had left.

Once he had her settled again, he watched her thinking, and eventually her question came. "What is happening between us?" She paused as if thinking, before adding, "I mean, I have this urge to be with you… close to you… very close." She blushed, even though it was only slight.

"To tell the truth, I'm not certain I know, I only know that I'm not content unless I'm beside you," Lucius told her, cautiously.

Hermione bit her lip and replied in half sentences. "I want it to be… but I'm not ready… not capable, after what's happened," she corrected herself, tears threatening to fall. "But I need you…" She studied him watching her, and cleared her throat. "This is all so strange, I have remembered every occasion that I've seen you," but she couldn't stop the yawn."Yet I could never fathom why I did." Hermione drew a still painful breath and yawned again.

Lucius leaned forward and stroked her arm, he wasn't exactly disappointed with her response, and he'd realised she would be afraid of intimacy, if they'd done to her what they usually did. "And I you, but you need to sleep again," he told her gently.

Her eyes suddenly went wide, and the first tear cascaded over her lashes. "I'm frightened Lucius, I d-don't…" her lip quivered, "I don't want to dream."

"I have Dreamless Sleep here for you," he offered kindly. "Healer De la Mont thought you may need it."

"B-but I don't w-want to be alone either." Another tear stole down her cheek. "Will you stay with me, you look tired also?"

"You would be comfortable with that… here in the same bed?" he gestured with his hand.

"It feels right, Lucius."

He nodded, "Yes, that it does," and sighing, he walked to the other side of the bed. After kicking off his shoes, he lay down with another sigh and turned to face her. "Friends perhaps, little angel?" he saw her face relax a little, and he smiled slightly. "Yes, we shall be friends… it is more than I hoped for," he confessed, resisting the urge to wipe her tears away.

"Why?"

After fighting a moment, he gave in and reached out to gently brush the moisture away with his thumbs, and he let out the breath he was holding when she didn't pull away. "I have to admit I thought you would run as soon as you woke."

"No Lucius, I have no compulsion to run," she admitted, tiredly. "I feel strangely safe with you."

"You are, little one," he smiled softly at her. "Now sleep." Lucius carefully leaned forward and kissed her forehead. He had never had someone he thought was this precious. Draco yes, but he was his son, it was different.

His urge to keep harm away from Hermione was not born of some misguided parental emotion. It came from deep within his very being, and was the something he had never been able to feel for Narcissa.

Despite the fact that this petite witch was more than half his age, and everything he was not. He fathomed in that moment before sleep took him that she was his opposite and equal.

Not only did Hermione sleep without the Potion that had been offered, but both Hermione and Lucius slept more soundly than they had for many years. The fact that he woke with her head on his chest, like they had been in the dungeon in no way bothered him. He merely lay there and stroked her hair softly; protecting her while she continued to sleep and more importantly, healed.

xox

Hermione and Lucius spent the next few months almost constantly in one another's company. She never moved out of his bedroom, but regardless of the fact that their relationship was deep, it was still platonic.

Lucius wondered given time, if this would become a problem, but some force he didn't understand seemed to be guiding them. He did in fact speak to Severus about it all, and his raven-haired friend listened carefully to all the details and then thought with his fingers resting under his chin.

Finally, drawing a careful breath, Severus said, "I saw Albus once use a spell on two seventh years that had been repeatedly found in flagrante, and claimed that they were drawn together and had no power to resist the pull. I believe it gave an indication of how their auras were reacting, this may shed some light on what you are experiencing."

Severus' expression closed off as he lifted his wand to speak the words. Lucius realised what he was about to do and said, "No, let's wait until Hermione is stronger, I think we should do this together."

"Oh, very well," his friend replied casually, sheathing his wand once more.

xox

No one seemed concerned that the Gryffindor witch spent all her time with a man whom everyone thought should have hated her. Her friends simply watched in wonder as the unlikely duo appeared to start healing one another.

Initially, it had been hard for Hermione, even with magical healing and a Potions master living in the cottage at the bottom of the garden, she had been so broken. Her first steps about a week after she had initially been healed were agonising.

With Harry on one side and Draco on the other, Lucius supported her from the front, offering his forearms to her hands, with Severus watching from behind. It was under these conditions that she had stoically taken her first steps before she had allowed any of them to convince her to be carried back to the bed.

That first day, six agonising steps away from the bed, and it had seemed like the bed was six miles away. But she was so euphoric that she'd managed what she had that she hadn't complained when Lucius gently lifted her back to the bed.

Every day she set herself goals, it took three days for her to walk with aid to the bathroom, and an entire month before she could shower herself. Lucius had the most senior female house elf assist her with bathing and whatever she needed for her toilette.

During this period, Draco and Harry were off enjoying their freedom. There were countless shopping trips and they were forever bringing her things back. Clothes, night wear, shoes, even makeup and hairclips. She didn't want for anything, but the best present she got, the one that cheered her recovery the most, was when Severus made his last visit to Hogwarts to officially hand over the headship to Minerva McGonagall, and he found her familiar for her.

The house elves had been looking after the half-kneazle in the kitchens. When the Potions master arrived with her cat carrier in hand and her trunk following him, Hermione had forgotten her pain and engulfed the surprised wizard in a hug. "Thank you, thank you, Severus," she had all but squealed in excitement.

Lucius had chuckled for weeks about the squeak his best friend made on finding his person being assaulted by a grateful Hermione that day.

Of course there were still times when darkness over came them all, Severus more so than anyone because he had been immersed in it deeper than Lucius. Also, Lucius had discovered his music once more, and had bought a new cello with Hermione's encouragement and he poured all his passion into the music he played to his enthusiastic audience of one.

Hermione and Harry also had their days when the nightmares seemed more real, but they had Lucius and Draco to break the clouds away and talk them round. As yet, Severus had been unable to find the witch that could do that for him.

xox

Once Severus had everything in England settled and he was finally free of all responsibilities, he warded up his cottage and left for parts unknown. He had always wanted to go on an adventure and now was his opportunity. There was nothing holding him back anymore.

He wanted to explore the potions of other places, particularly South America and Africa, and now was his opportunity. He had lived frugally all his adult life, and this coupled with his Order of Merlin money and Headmaster's pension there was no need for him to work. Although he did, he still made potions to order for selected people, and in preparation for leaving, he taught Harry and Draco how to keep that side of his business going while he was away.

He had stockpiled potions before he left, but anything he could not keep a stock of, he had either informed the relevant person that he would be unavailable to make it for a period of time, or he had organised for another Potions master to fill the order if the need was dire.

xox

Hermione's first public outing in France was Lucius escorting her to the healer's office three months after her ordeal. Healer Del La Mont was ecstatic with her progress, but it wasn't until her next visit that he gave her a clean bill of health, although it wasn't without conditions. She still had a pronounced limp that only time would heal, but the healer also told her that because of certain curses used on her, he didn't think she would ever be able to conceive a child.

Lucius had been planning to take Hermione to lunch and shopping afterwards, but once she had been told that, he had just taken her home. They made it to the sitting room before she collapsed and cried bitterly on Lucius' shoulder.

"I've always wanted a child of my own," she sobbed, nuzzling further into his neck. But with that truth she realised that she just wanted the wizard who was comforting her, even if she had always dreamed of being a mother as well.

Lucius rubbed her back and spoke softly to her. He found himself making rash promises to placate her. "We'll work it out, angel," he declared, uncertain how he'd manage it, but positive he would never deny her anything.

He knew that there really wasn't anything that he could say that would make it better, and the images of the denied possible fair curly heads with piercing grey eyes, made a rage erupt inside him for both of them, and he swore to himself that once he had secured her as his, regardless of the futility that he would move heaven and earth to provide her with what she wanted.

xox

It was now November, seven months after Hermione's ordeal. Lucius and she were now starting to dance around one another, each waiting for the other to be ready to commit. It was during this period that Hermione reluctantly moved into the adjoining suite of rooms, afraid that one night that the sexual tension would simply boil over. After all they hadn't even kissed more than an affectionate peck on the top of her head or her forehead, yet up unto this point Hermione had woken every morning wrapped safely in his arms.

When she moved, even though she was only one wall away from him in the rooms reserved for the lady of the house, she spent the first week tossing and turning unable to sleep, and the second week so exhausted from not sleeping that she took a potion to sleep.

Lucius was having similar issues, but after what had happened to her, he wanted her to make the first move. It was during the third week of sleeping apart that he finally shared this piece of information with her, because even if they were unsure of each other, they knew they were destined. Before Severus had left on his big adventure, he had performed the spell that he and Lucius had spoken about while Hermione was still recovering. What it revealed to them was astounding. Hermione and Lucius were both soul and blood bonded.

The patterns and colours produced when their auras and magic entwined were beautiful. Lucius' aura was a deep grey and blue, and Hermione was crimson and white. Where they combined there were pathways of royal purple, and the most iridescent silver where the grey and white mixed. All three present had been completely stunned by how lovely it was and how tightly link they were. The purple and silver pierced both their hearts and their magic, tying them together completely.

Soul bonding is timeless so they then knew this is why they had been so attracted to each other before the incident in the dungeons at Malfoy Manor. However, add to this that they had both been covered in their own blood at the time, a blood bond between them had obviously activated with Lucius' promise to protect her when they'd touched in that same dungeon, and they were now completely inseparable.

However, now as he lay in his cold and lonely bed feeling bereft because his mate was absent. He had the absurd urge to hug himself for comfort, and he wondered exactly which way would see them moving forward. He was burning with desire for the witch next door but still wanted to tread very carefully with her because of what had been inflicted on her. He felt old and well established hate for those now dead rising in his breast once more. Why couldn't they leave him alone? He felt he still wasn't free of their clutches, and in some respects it still felt like he was trapped in the horror that was his life, as he'd always been.

Even if logic told him life wouldn't suddenly be all hearts and roses, he had thought the heartache would have ended by now. But here he was experiencing something that in some ways was far more acute than anything he had been through to this point. Eventually he gave up trying to calm his mind, and took the Dreamless Sleep Potion Severus had left him.