Disclaimer: I do not own these characters. J.K. Rowling does. Enjoy!
It has been a week. A week since the announcement Remus made about the brutal murders around town. A week since Kingsley and his team made any progress on their investigation. A week since the Harry, Hermione, Ron, and Ginny knew they couldn't do anything until further information were given. A week since… nothing.
Hermione sat on the couch with a book on her lap but not quite reading it. Her mind was somewhere else. She stared at the window thinking about the mutilated bodies. The horrible pain they must have gone through… she thought. No one deserved such a death. A thought suddenly crossed her. Why would the bodies just be left on the ground… whoever must have done it clearly wants to be found out… better yet… a warning? Was it possible? She sighed. She rubbed her temples as she felt a pounding within them. Harry and Ron walked right into the living room and noticed her face scrunched up in pain.
"What's wrong Hermione?" Harry plopped next to her.
"It's nothing. Just a small headache." She stopped rubbing them and gave them a reassuring smile, but Ron and Harry knew better.
"It's those photos isn't it? It's been bothering both of us as well." Harry sympathized with her. He was worried as well and the silence throughout the past week only made it worse.
"Why don't we head to the Three Broomsticks? It's been a long week. Besides, this can take things off your chest." Ron suggested.
"Ron, you're a genius." For once, Harry agreed with Ron. A good break should do them all good.
The trio and Ginny walked into the Three Broomsticks, clothed in warm coats and hats as the crisp, winter wind blew around them. Snow covered most of town and everywhere, everyone was preparing for the Holidays, putting up decorations and other stockings. It felt good to be out and about Hermione thought as she surveyed the town with a bright smile. The Inn greeted them with a warm and cosy atmosphere, something Hermione missed. The gang sat down and each ordered a warm glass of butterbeer. They drank in bliss when the liquids came with the drink warming up their tummies. No one mentioned the topic of the bodies as they gleefully conversed in topics of Tonk's baby, Hogwarts, and plans for the upcoming holiday.
Hermione then stood up, announcing that she was going to ask for another. She didn't noticed the person behind and bumped into them, spilling her drink onto their clothing.
Hermione gasped. "I'm terribly sorry! I-"
"Save your words mudblood."
Hermione stiffened. She recognized that voice. She'd recognized it anywhere. Images of the manor, Bellatrix torturing her, her screaming, Ron and Harry trapped in the dungeon, Dobby's death all flashed before her. Was she afraid? No, she shouldn't be. She was a war-hero. She helped defeat Voldemort. She helped destroy one of the Horcruxes. She shouldn't let herself cower in front of this foul, loathsome of a person. Yet… why did she feel fear crawling up her skin? Why did his voice make her freeze as if winter has suddenly washed over her? Why couldn't she move….
Hermione slowly lifted her eyes from his coat to meet those cold, steel grey eyes.
Standing in front of her with a scowl and eyes portraying disgust was Lucius Malfoy.
Her eyes widened slightly and almost took a step back. Almost. Merlin she nearly didn't recognize him. Gone was the Lucius Malfoy with long, platinum hair replaced with a short, cropped haircut that looked very much as Draco's. If he didn't disgust her so much she would have thought he was quite handsome. Wait handsome? Hermione you must be out of your bloody mind. This is Lucius Malfoy. The very same Death Eater that watched you while you were being tortured, the very same man who have insulted your name in disgust, the man whose son always tormented you because of your blood status. Hermione mentally shook her head from those thoughts and put on a scowl on her front, glaring at the death eater before her.
"Pardon me, Mr. Malfoy, I was not aware that you attended such lowly dining for a person as yourself."
Lucius sneered. How dare a filthy mudblood spoke to him like that.
He looked behind her and saw the other two Weasleys and the oh-so-famous Mr. Potter looking as if ready to pull their wands out any minute. He pulled out a hanker chief from his pocket and began to wipe the splash of the liquid that she had spilled onto him and leaned towards her so that his mouth was right next to her ear.
"You better be careful of what you say and to whom you are speaking to Ms. Granger… else you may wind up dead as the others…" Hermione shivered as she felt his hot breath next to her ear. Who does he think he is…
Lucius chuckled, nodded towards the other three behind her and simply walked away towards a table.
Hermione stood still where she was. His words replayed throughout her mind …. else you may wind up dead as the others…
Could it be? Could he have been the one responsible for the murders? No. It wasn't possible. A man like him wouldn't be rash enough as to just tell her… it would be unwise on his part but…
His words troubled her.
"Hermione, are you okay?" Ginny grabbed her wrist in concern. "Did he do anything to you?"
"No I'm fine. We just had a little misunderstanding…" with that Hermione turned back towards the table, looking back to where he stalked off and continued to ponder on what he had just said.
"What is he fussing over for? Reckon he can buy another new coat…" Ron nodded to where Lucius head off.
Hermione smiled and nodded absently. Harry watched her from across the table. He knew her all too well. Something was clearly troubling her and he was willing to bet it had something to do with Malfoy. He decided to put it off until they were alone.
Not far from where he was sitting, Lucius Malfoy curiously watched the mudblood. He smirked, knowing that he had an effect on her. He watched as she was absent in the conversation, putting a fake smile on her front and no one them have realized. His mind went back to when she shivered at the sensation of his breath next to her ear. He enjoyed tormenting the poor girl. He was so lost in his thoughts and he didn't realize his name being called repeatedly.
"Lucius have you heard a single word I have spoken?"
"Of course I have Severus. Now what were you saying?"
Severus sighed irritably. He fought the urge to roll his eyes. It was obvious Lucius had not been paying attention at all and knowing him, he was a terrible liar. Severus exhaled a long breath, keeping his temper leveled. For such a powerful wizard, Lucius seemed to have an attention span of a fish. Even when they were schoolboys, he always seemed to be able to be distracted by something.
"As I was saying, I do not know if you have heard, but he has escaped Azakaban." Severus looked away to the side.
"So I have heard. Has the Ministry let out word about it yet?"
"As far as I know, they are keeping quiet about it for now. For how long, I do not know. They do not want to frighten the public with the fact that he is lurking around."
Lucius was quiet. Severus watched him carefully.
"Their numbers are growing Severus."
"That was what I was afraid of. You cannot go after them alone Lucius."
"They killed Narcissa Severus! I may have married her out of duty but she was my wife nonetheless. You expect me to sit around and do absolutely nothing? You expect me to wait for the Ministry's word? For what? Permission?!" Lucius hissed in a quiet, low tone so that the people around them couldn't hear.
"I expect you to wait until we can gather more information. You are asking for death if you go after them blindly." Severus glared at his friend. He felt his fury radiating off of him but in no way in hell was he letting his own friend blindly go on a suicide mission. It was outrageous. It was dangerous. It was stupid. It was rash. He wanted to backhand his friend. Apparently he lacked a decent common sense…
Lucius left out a breath. Severus was right… as annoying as a know-it-all he can be. Both went silent after a while. Lucius took a sip of his gillywater.
His mind traveled back to a particular mudblood….