If Hermione thought that Lucius had taken a long time to pick out a robe for Italy, she would have to find a new word to describe the length of time he was taking to pick one out for the anniversary ball. He said that as his first appearance at a formal social event since his release it was imperative that he give off the right impression, whilst of course looking as good as he possibly could.

Hermione had had her outfit picked for weeks but she'd never quite believed she would actually go through with wearing it. She had opted for a muggle dress rather than robes as she always found they suited her far better. The dress was daring for her, white and floor-length with a deep vee neck that ended an inch or so below her chest. Something about being with Lucius gave her the confidence to wear it though. How could she feel foolish or shy in it when one of the most handsome men in the Wizarding world would be at her side?

Lucius had decided to go to the ball as himself and that, if Hermione wanted to, they would be going together. She had agreed enthusiastically if somewhat apprehensively. People would talk, of course they would, Hermione Granger on the arm of an ex-death eater was something one wouldn't exactly ignore, but it was the reaction of her friends she was worried about.

Harry was happy for her but he was a very understanding and supportive person, perhaps the others wouldn't react in the same way. The Weasleys, of course, were bound to be a problem, not that she cared all that much about them since the incidents with both Ron and now Ginny. Although, the more Hermione thought about it, the more confident she felt that her friends would be able to accept this. Luna would perhaps be puzzled but most likely say something profound with a smile and move on, and Neville might struggle a little more, but she expected his rational thought would win out. She had new friends now too, like Blaise, who she knew didn't think anything of her relationship with Lucius, he had moved forward from the past just as the Malfoys had.

Lucius still looked like he would be taking an eon to decide on what to wear so Hermione decided to go and get herself ready. She took a long bath, painted her nails, played around with some different ways to put her hair, applied some simple makeup and put on her dress, hoping to return to Lucius' room next door and find him ready.

How wrong she had been. He stood in his underwear in front of the mirror surrounded by at least ten robes which were levitating around him.

"I really can't deci-" Lucius started but stopped abruptly when his eyes finally landed on her.

"You look utterly ravishing." He said whilst unabashedly dropping his gaze slowly along her body. "As beautiful as that dress is I won't be able to stop thinking about taking it off you all night."

"Oh Lucius." She said whilst playfully rolling her eyes. "Why do you think I picked it in the first place." She added with a laugh.

"You minx, here's me trying to work out how to make the best impression but all anyone will think of me is that I'm a sex crazed maniac if you carry on like that."

The way Lucius was looking at her was driving her crazy, she knew that she wouldn't be able to think of anything other than fucking him all through the ball if she didn't do it now, besides, given how his outfit picking was going she was sure she'd have enough time to make herself presentable again before the ball.

Hermione walked slowly up to him with a sultry smile on her lips, his eyes turning dark with lust as she approached. She ran her hands along his muscular bare chest, looking up at him through her eyelashes. "Well, maybe, we could get it out of your system." She suggested, turning around and pressing herself against his boxers, eliciting a low growl from the Malfoy patriarch.

Moving her hair from the back of her neck she turned to lock eyes with him as she ground back into him.

"Now, help me with my zipper."

They arrived fashionably late to the ball. The only reason you could describe it as fashionably was because of what the pair were wearing.

Hermione looked stunning, her second round of getting ready had turned out even better than the first, Lucius insisting that it must be because of the three blissful orgasms he'd managed to give her.

Lucius looked exquisite, what he had finally chosen to wear was well worth the wait. He had wanted to show his change of heart, that he'd thrown his past prejudices away, but also wanted to still wear the best that money could buy, to keep his status and show his loyalty to his family.

After seeing Hermione's dress, he had at last been able to decide on what to wear.

Lucius wore a muggle suit of the finest quality and class, a dark grey, jacket and waistcoat, with a subtle green and silver tie and a pocket square displaying the Malfoy crest to match. He had it in his wardrobe for the occasional times that he did business with muggles, deciding that if he was going to wear muggles clothes, he was going to wear the best. His hair flowed free down his back, every strand somehow looking perfectly placed yet natural at the same time. He wanted it to somehow demonstrate his freedom, no longer wishing to tie it back with a black ribbon as he usually did, and Hermione thought that it looked breath-taking.

She had broken into the widest smile when he walked out of his wardrobe, telling him he looked perfect which he undoubtedly did. What better way could he show how much he had changed by wearing the clothes of the people he had once despised?

"Perhaps I'll start a new trend." He said quietly in Hermione's ear as they made their way towards the Ministry atrium where the ball was being held. "It appears to be catching everyone's eye." He added jokingly.

"Yes Lucius." She indulged him. "It most definitely has nothing to do with the two of us walking arm in arm together.

"Most certainly not." He agreed, failing to hold back a smile. "I don't see what would be remotely interesting about that at all."

It was true though, it was as if she and Lucius were fireworks on a silent night the way people were turning their heads to look at them. Many raised their eyebrows in surprise, others whispered with cynical glances, but here and there Hermione would see someone smile. Someone who truly understood the pointlessness of holding onto the prejudices of the past.

The atrium had been transformed for the ball and looked amazing, the ceiling enchanted to show a starry night and the fountain flowing in all different colours of water.

They spotted Blaise as they walked through the entrance and gave him a wave. He had to work security for the night but looked happy none the less, enthusiastically waving back at them, seeming to enjoy his work as he always did. Rumour had it that he was due for a promotion on account of his part in Ginny's arrest and Hermione couldn't be happier for him.

As they entered they immediately spotted friendly faces and made their way over to Narcissa and Severus who were talking animatedly together. Severus wore long black robes, what a surprise, but in his defence, they did look far smarter than usual. Narcissa wore a deep purple dress that beautifully contrasted her complexion and hair. She always looked incredible but this was even more impressive than usual, not that Hermione would have expected anything less from the fashion queen of the Wizarding world.

"Ah, Hermione, Lucius." Greeted Severus as they approached. "We were just talking about the two of you."

"Indeed we were." Interjected Narcissa with a playful smile.

"Oh really?" Said Lucius, raising a perfectly shaped eyebrow in intrigue.

"We were discussing which one of you could outsmart the other." Explained Severus.

"Naturally I thought it would be Hermione." Said Narcissa. "Sorry Lucius." She added jokingly.

"And I thought the same." Said Snape. "So it really wasn't much of a discussion at all."

"You two are hilarious." Lucius said dryly, Hermione unable to stop herself from laughing.

"Narcissa, you look wonderful." Said Hermione, kissing her on each cheek.

"As do you my dear, I shall have to get my tailor to make a dress like that one day, it is simply marvellous."

"Thank you." Said Hermione, sure she was blushing at her kind words.

"Ah Draco." Greeted Lucius as his son came over and joined them, Harry following close behind. "You just missed your mother and godfather mocking me mercilessly."

"I would expect nothing less." He said cheekily.

"Harry." Hermione smiled as he came to stand next to her, embracing him in a hug. "Ready for your speech?"

"Just about, think I might need to borrow those glasses from Luna that make people look like different types of fruit though." He joked.

Harry was really starting to move on from what had happened with Ginny. He had decided that, although he had once loved her, he couldn't stay with after what she'd done to Hermione, it was unforgivable. Once he had made that decision it was a lot easier for him to carry on with his life. He was happier now more often than he was sad, he was making new friends, surprisingly enough even with Draco, their shared love of quidditch bringing them together, and Hermione was so glad that he was getting through this.

At that moment Kingsley appeared and started to speak, the noise of the room subsiding. He welcomed everyone and made a short speech where he congratulated and thanked Hermione and Ezra for creating a book that documented the war that went above and beyond his high expectations, a book that would undoubtedly become an important part of history. As he began to finish up one of his assistants came and gestured to Harry to come to the stage.

"Right, that's my cue to go up I think." Said Harry as he made his way towards the podium, Hermione giving him another hug and all of them wishing him good luck as he went.

Everyone clapped and cheered as Harry went up, all falling silent when he started to speak.

"At the end of the war good triumphed over evil. We fought for freedom, for what was right, to end the prejudices of our world. Yet, as we all know, those who are prejudiced are still among us."

Hermione could feel eyes on them, eyes which were full of hatred. It made her uncomfortable but she stood strong, feeling safe with Lucius' hand in her own.

"But it is important to realise that it is not only those who fought for Voldemort who are prejudiced. Even those of us who were on the side of the light can be, many of us still are. Recently, somebody very close to me could not get over the prejudices of the past, they could not accept or forgive, they could not move forward, and it was their undoing. So I ask you, on this day where we remember those who died for us, where we remember what we were fighting for, that you cast aside your hatred, that you accept old foes who have moved forward with their lives, or surely we have failed to uphold what we fought so hard for, what we all paid such a high price for."

The atrium was perfectly silent for a few seconds before erupting into a tremendous applause, those who had been staring at Lucius and Hermione turning their heads away in shame at Harry's words.

Hermione had a tear running down her cheek and a slightly trembling smile on her lips. What Harry had said meant so much to her but the pain that had caused them couldn't help but make her heart ache for him.

"Now, I would like to invite my oldest and closest friend to have the honour of starting the dancing, and her partner, a new friend for a new world."

Hermione froze, cursing Harry for making her dance when he knew she hated it, the Yule Ball with Viktor having been more than she could handle. Lucius took control for her, squeezing her hand reassuringly as he led her onto the dance floor, her nerves calming almost instantly.

The room again fell silent as they walked out into the empty space, not a whisper to be heard, everyone either too surprised or ashamed from Harry's speech to say anything about Hermione and Lucius.

Music began and they started to dance, a traditional wizarding song that Lucius clearly knew well. He took the lead and they moved elegantly around the room. Their eyes were only for each other and Hermione forgot where she was, forgot that she was being watched by hundreds of people, her whole world right now was Lucius and the magical way they moved together.

The day she had been paired up with Lucius had been a lucky one, Hermione sure she wouldn't have found someone she loved as much as she loved him if they had not. He matched her intelligence, pushed her to be more confident, was there for her when she needed him most and she knew he would never let her down. He was no longer the coward he had been in his past, he was brave and loyal, he was capable of so much love. She felt proud to be by his side, he was magnificent, a rarity among men, to be loved by him felt like a great privilege and she knew that, even if this all fell apart, that she would treasure the part of her life that she spent with him forever.

"Are you all right Hermione?" Lucius asked softly as they continued to dance, concern in his eyes. "You're crying…"

Hermione was surprised, laughing as she noticed the tear falling down her cheek. "Yes Lucius, I'm ok, I was just thinking about how lucky I am to love you…it makes me very happy."

Lucius lowered his head and kissed her, it was quick and elegant but perfect none the less, Hermione breaking into a smile and pulling him closer.

"If we were not being watched by half of wizarding Britain I would show you just how much I love you." Lucius said in a gravelly whisper.

"I'll be holding you to that Mr Malfoy."

"Then I shall endeavour not to let you down Miss Granger." He said in the most deliciously devilish tone.

"Oh I really doubt you ever could." Hermione replied, resisting the urge to drag him home from the ball right then.

Severus and Narcissa were the first to join them in the dance, everyone else seemed to be a little apprehensive to do so. Draco took his mothers cue and asked a girl Hermione believed to be Astoria Greengrass to dance, soon followed by Luna and Neville and even Pansy and her new boyfriend, it not being long until the dance floor was full of people. Harry didn't dance, it was to soon for him after Ginny, but he looked to be having a very animated chat with Blaise none the less, Hermione happy that he wasn't by himself.

Hermione danced the night away with Lucius, occasionally taking turns to dance with Draco and Severus too, even managing to get Harry out for one of them.

Not a single person had given Lucius and she any trouble all night, apart from Ron who looked as if he wanted to but was restrained by his mother who batted him around the ear, much to Hermione's amusement, and she was sure it was because of Harry's speech. Although Ginny hadn't exactly been in her right mind at the time, her actions and thoughts were influenced by her inability to accept those who had been on the side of darkness, even though they themselves had changed their ways. If her way of thinking carried on more hatred would fester, another war could start, and perhaps what Harry had said today would help to prevent that from happening, to help people to let go of their bitterness and hatred, just like Hermione's friendship with Draco had helped her to do.

Far too soon the ball came to an end and the room slowly started to empty, Lucius and Hermione deciding it was time to head home too. They wished goodbye to all of their friends, old and new, Hermione so relieved that her fears of rejection by them had not come to fruition. People she barely knew had even been approaching her to compliment and thank her for her work on the book, wishing her and Lucius happiness and hoped that they too would be able to follow the example that the pair had set.

Eventually, after their surprisingly large number of goodbyes were done, Hermione giving Harry at least four hugs (she was determined to hug him back to happiness), the two of them left arm in arm back to Malfoy Manor, to the rest of their lives together, and to bed, where Hermione sincerely hoped that she wouldn't be doing much sleeping at all.

Lucius had a promise he had to keep after all.

Five Years Later

Malfoy Manor was decorated beautifully for the wedding, Lucius having picked out everything himself and overseen the execution, making sure that all was exactly where it should be. They were lucky with the weather, although you couldn't really call it luck when Hermione had cast a special charm above the estate to ensure a lovely cloudless day.

Picking a date had been a nightmare. Lucius and Hermione were very busy with their joint running of the Ministry Research Department where they were affectionately known as the 'Detective Duo' due to their solving of even the most complex mysteries. On weekends they were busy too. Lucius was still in the process of handing Malfoy Industries over to Draco and Hermione was now a doctor of potions, spending her free time trying to improve existing potions and invent new ones. Severus had even once suggested that when he retired, which would likely be never, that the position of Hogwarts Potions Master would undoubtedly be hers. It was most likely the biggest compliment he had ever given to anyone.

There were a large number of guests at the manor for the wedding, their friends having increased dramatically in number and quality since Lucius' release from his house arrest, something he was sure had a lot to do with Hermione.

The wedding was held outside in the rose garden, so many of the flowers in bloom that they didn't need to buy any others at all.

Their closest friends and family were in the front row. Narcissa and Severus naturally sat together, what with being married now and all, and Harry and Blaise were there too. They had both been promoted to lead a special team of aurors and had become the best of friends, their shared love of hunting down dark wizards and quidditch bringing them together.

Harry had tried to keep in touch with the Weasleys and he visited Ginny sometimes but it was never the same again. He could not forgive her and she made no effort to change. It was sad but that was the way it was, Harry was happy though, and he was loved, by so many and so much.

The time came for the wedding to begin, the music starting to play, and Lucius stood at the altar next to his son, happiness and pride on his face. Hermione looked beautiful as she walked up the aisle, arm in arm with Astoria as her own mother had passed away, her soon to be mother-in-law making a most welcome substitution.

Hermione kissed Astoria on each cheek and went to stand next to Lucius as the ceremony began.

"It's almost as nice as ours was." Lucius whispered in her ear, watching his son say his marriage vows.

"Yes, almost." Hermione agreed with a smile, slipping her arm through his. "Now be quiet, today is Draco's day."

Lucius pulled her closer and placed a soft kiss on her cheek.

"Whatever you say, Mrs Malfoy."

FIN

Well there it is, the last chapter. I couldn't stop myself from trying to put in a little twist at the end there ^^

I hope you enjoyed it – I can't help but do fluffy endings, sorry!

Thank you to all of those who stuck with this story from the beginning (and that big gap when I stopped writing it – sorry again about that).

I think that this will be the last lengthy story from me, but look out for some Lucius/Hermione one shots as I already have several ideas brewing.

DragonHeartStringCore X

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