A/N: Thank you for all the favorites, follows, and reviews!

Two more weeks of this crazy schedule and I will be back to weekly posts. Thank you all so much for your understanding and patience. You readers are the best!

11

Previously:

Voldemort had barged into the room finding not only Narcissa but Snape, Hermione, and Potter. It was a dream come true. Once he had Hermione out of there and under his guardianship at Hogwarts, Voldemort celebrated his victory. It wasn't until that night when he disrobed and the vial fell out of his pocket to roll across the floor, did he remember the tiny prize he had pulled from Malfoy Manor.

**HGHG**

Hermione followed Draco silently, moving slowly as they maneuvered down the tight spiraling stone steps. She felt like they had been descending for hours, each tedious step carefully placed so as not to slip. It was a major relief when they finally hit bottom and came face to face with a curious looking wooden door.

"Where are we?" Hermione finally asked. She was bursting at the seams with curiosity. It amazed her how long she was able to endure not turning the silence into the Spanish Inquisition.

Draco looked back at her and smirked, opting to push open the door in lieu of answering her question. He stepped forward and out of the way as she looked around in awe. Sigurd Malfoy was front and center, laying in a transparent casket, looking just as he did in the last memory she had seen of him.

"You weren't kidding when you said he was in a semi-alive state," she said moving closer to the casket and ran her hands over the smooth surface with curiosity. There were no seams, no hinges. The base was uncut crystal that looked like the center of a geode. Hermione skimmed her fingers over the surface above his face, studying the intricate braiding in his hair, on his clothes, and even etched on the metal of his sword. "You mentioned that the other memory was destroyed? In the memory we saw in my room, Sigurd said he made a copy. Do you think it could have survived the blast in the prophecy room?"

"There were a few that weren't demolished. Not many though." He murmured as he began rummaging around in one of the chests that seemed to hold Occamy pelts of varying sizes.

"Good. We should wake him up."

"We should wait and wake him on our thirtieth wedding anniversary or better yet, never." He mumbled quietly to himself.

Hermione bit her lips in an effort not to laugh, "He has been waiting a long time to wake up. How would you feel if it was you in there?"

"You aren't going to leave us, are you?" Draco asked nonchalantly changing the subject, pawing through the second chest of pelts, this one of manticore.

Hermione sighed and sat down, sliding down Sigurd's enclosure. She rested her head back on it, a pained look on her face.

"I get where Lucius is coming from. I do. My problem is not that the three of you are jealous. It would be weird if none of you were jealous. It's just that I feel like the four of us need to acknowledge the problem. All of us need to be conscientious and considerate of the others and that includes me. I don't want to hurt any of you because I wasn't thinking about it or that I didn't know. Marriage is hard. I watched my parents. They were happy but they had their moments. They didn't hide the rough times from me and I got to watch how they worked out their problems. The one thing that stood out above anything else was the need to be open about feelings. Lucius and Abraxas will never do this without me making this a big deal."

"You can't change them, Granger."

"I don't want to change them. I want them to make an exception about this for me, for our potential marriage."

Draco had moved from the pelts to one of the jewelry bearing chests and picked up a long strand of medium pearls. With a charming half-smile, he cradled the pearls and walked over to Hermione, squatting in front of her.

"Do you know why pearls are so precious?"

"Why?" She knew about pearls and how to care for them. What she didn't know was where he was going with this.

"Because you have to wear them all the time to keep the luster. The more you wear them, the more beautiful they become. If you deny them your flesh, they dull and eventually flake." He put the pearls around her neck and lifted her hair so that they would sit against her throat and hang down nearly to her navel. "If you push them away to make a point, they will grow frustrated. Instead of getting angry, try being more understanding. In both of their previous marriages, they were unions of necessity and duty. There wasn't much talking or working out problems. If you want something different, give them a reason to strive for it. Both Lucius and Abraxas will shut down if you continue to use your brash Gryffindor methods."

"Weren't you jealous?"

"Yes," He snorted and smiled, looking into her eyes. "you and Abraxas sent me away for food and I come back to the both of you screwing on the library table. I was so jealous, I could barely stand it. I left the room as soon as possible. It took me a while to calm down and when I did, I came to find you." He lightly ran his fingers over her lips, his eyes darkened with need. "You gave me exactly what I needed."

"What was that?"

"You," He said simply. "and I am not just talking about the sex. Which was amazing but I needed to know that you wanted me. They need the same thing. Lucius more than Abraxas I think. Understand things from his side. When he realized what you were to our family; what you were supposed to mean to him… I can't speak for him and his feelings but imagine falling for a girl you were intended for, who was then betrothed to your son because of a mistake you made as a kid. Now he finally has a chance to be with you and he has to share you with us."

"Why are you trying so hard to get me to see Lucius' side of things?"

"Because you want open honesty, because I hope to marry you someday, because they do too. So many reasons. We all need to work together, right?"

"Yeah," she agreed as he leaned in and kissed her lips. It was sweet and unhurried. He pulled away and sat next to her, resting his own head against the casket behind them. "I'm glad I was able to bring you back, Draco. I like this side of you."

He smiled at her and wrapped one of her loose curls around his finger. He leaned in and kissed the top of her head, pulling her into the cradle of his shoulder.

"I wasted so much time being an ass to you. I refuse to waste any more time."

**HGHG**

Voldemort strode into Hogwarts, the memory weighing heavily on his mind. Who was he kidding, not watching it was never an option. Children scrambled to get out of his way, his red-eyed glare even made the teachers veer off course back the way they had come. No one wanted to be noticed by the megalomaniac while he was in this state. Or at all if they could help it.

Voldemort ignored the people that milled around him as long as they cleared out of his way. He was on a mission. Ever since Snape had defected, the Headmasters office had closed off, refusing to let anyone inside. Today was the day that was going to change. Voldemort needed the pensive that was in there, procuring his own would be a pain that he didn't currently need. It would be easier to just break through the castle's barricade.

Once he arrived at the Griffin statue that guarded the Headmasters suite, Voldemort began casting. He started with simple spells, cutting, blasting, and anything else that would normally do the trick. Once he ran out of the easier options, he delved into the Dark Arts, sending wave after wave of curses. The Griffin shuddered but held his post, the wards lighting up like neon with every spell.

Holding out against him was futile, eventually, the guardian Griffin was defeated, and the wards fell like tatters in the wind. Voldemort took the winding steps up to the office and looked around with narrowed eyes. It was mostly empty. The books and knick-knacks that had been so highly favored by Dumbledore were gone, replaced by the stark décor that Snape preferred.

Having used the pensieve before, he had no need to search for it, only breathing a sigh of relief as he opened the cabinet and the large stone basin was revealed. A cruel smile twisted his lips as thoughts of having something of Abraxas' filled his mind. Abraxas had a special place in his psychotic fantasies. Abraxas Malfoy would be the last dissenter to die and by the time Voldemort was done with him, he would scream Voldemort's superiority for all to hear. No one left his service unless they were dead, except the fucking Malfoys. A mistake that would soon be remedied.

He reached into his pocket and drew out the memory. He lightly swirled it in the vial before dumping it out into the basin and leaned forward, bringing his face to sink under the surface.

A long-haired blond man in a dark blue tunic stood in a small room where chests of incredible wealth lined the walls and paintings and charcoal drawings lined the walls. In the center was a casket, the lid sat propped against the wall nearby.

A woman with light brown hair fussed around the room, arranging pelts neatly.

"Tova, leave it."

"Why do you have to do this? You have a family here. I am your wife. You have a son. Why can't we be enough?"

"She was meant for me, Tova. I've dreamed about her for as long as I can remember. I told you when we got married that we were no love match. I love her."

"How can you love a woman who hasn't even been born yet? Let your progeny claim her."

"My progeny, who watches as she is tortured?" He angrily gestured to the painting he had recently created. Hermione's torture in Malfoy Manor. "Are you going to try and convince me that those two men are not of my lineage? I cannot deny their parentage, even if I wanted too. She needs me to protect her."

"That is just a painting Sigurd! You cannot know what happens from this one glimpse alone. And what happens if she never finds this room? What if your memories are all destroyed?"

"That is where you come in. Keep the Malfoy promise alive for our son, encourage him to tell his son, and so on and so forth. The Malfoy line can only be strengthened by a union with her. She will find me. I've seen us together."

"You ask a lot of me, Sigurd!" Her hands were fisted at her sides, unshed tears pooled her eyes. He walked over to her and put his hands gently on her arms.

"You can marry whoever you want now, Tova. I know you are in love with Frode. He remains unmarried for you. Had you had the option, I know you would have chosen him over me but your father wouldn't align with the Sørensens. As my widow, you have the freedom to marry where you will."

"And what will I tell our boy when he asks me about his father? That you abandoned us to be with a woman who won't be born for a thousand years?"

"Tell him that I love him. That I did what I had to do and I hope that he would do the same for himself and our family." He kissed the top of her head and pulled her in for a hug. "You are a good woman and a better wife, Tova. I would not leave for any less a reason than this."

"You can repay me by giving that girl what you never gave to me. Make your love for her the love of legends and make this loss worth it. The world should hear your love story and write and sing about it for another millennium after you die."

"I've never deserved you." He murmured affectionately. She sniffed.

"Obviously."

He pushed her an armlength away. "Are you ready?" She nodded.

"To wake me, the casket needs an offering. It needs to be from her. It doesn't have to be blood, it's the magical signature that I have keyed it to. I think tears and saliva would work as well." He smirked. "All she really needs to do is kiss the encasement above my lips. It's an interesting piece of magic that I learned from a small Germanic tribe. Their queen had once used it to trick her stepmother into believing her death until she was bound to a prince who could protect her and help her reclaim her rightful seat on her father's throne."

"Will that girl bind herself to you by kissing your encasement?" Her eyes narrowed. "Such trickery is unbecoming of -"

"No." he cut her off quickly, catching on to what she was implying. "I want her to choose me. Believe me, I will revel in the victory of her heart fairly won. Put a copy of this memory in the memory room after I go? I want her to be able to wake me when she finds me."

"Of course."

"I hope you have a good life, Tova."

She smiled as she watched him climb into the casket. Moving forward, she arranged his hair and clothes for him, laying his sword along his body and left the hilt near his chest. She took a step back and drew her wand out of her dress pocket, levitating the lid over the casket.

"Bottoms up." He murmured before downing a swirling purple and black potion with red flecks. His eyes closed and his breathing arrested. The blood drained from his face, turning his already fair complexion, whiter. Once the lid touched its base, a flash of gold flared from the seam, sealing Sigurd in his diamond sarcophagus. Ropes of gold runes surrounded the encasement, enacting the charms that had been triggered by the lids reunion to its base.

Voldemort pulled himself from the pensieve with a thoughtful look on his face. How very interesting. He was fairly sure that Hermione had not awakened the Viking from his tomb and smirked. This was what he had been waiting for, leverage for her cooperation. It was the beginning of another sweet victory.

After he bottled the memory and stowed it back in his pocket, he left the Headmasters suite. The halls were clear as he stalked through them, heading towards the dungeons to bargain with Hermione.

What met him was empty rooms with broken wards, not a body in sight. He walked from room to room, noticing with a keen eye the blood smear on the wall directly across from the bed. He knew that Dolohov would not test his patience by harming Hermione. He knew that it must have been her who hurt Dolohov and was impressed despite himself. Time after time she showed him how intelligent, and resourceful she was. His lips twitched as he spun on his heel, searching out Dolohov and Hermione or the first Death Eater he came across.

Macnair was the unlucky bastard who had to tell his master that neither Hermione nor Dolohov had been seen since the day before. The Death Eaters on the premises had considered sending a search party, he had said chuckling. That was three seconds before he was on the ground screaming at the feet of Voldemort, the unchecked rage burning through the spell, intensifying it exponentially. Voldemort knew without being told, without knowing how that Hermione had slipped through his fingers once again and took one of his most devoted with her.

**HGHG**

Hermione and Draco had left their seats against Sigurd's encasement and Draco resumed the search through the treasure while Hermione studied the paintings on the walls. Pictures of her as a child, in Hogwarts with Draco, and even while being tortured adorned the room. She quickly skimmed over that last one, not keen to replay that moment again in her mind.

"Sigurd must have painted these, don't you think?" Hermione asked Draco.

"Indeed, Elskede," Sigurd's painting said. Hermione whipped around in a surprise. Draco sneered but otherwise, stayed buried among the many treasures. "Every time I had a vision of you, I painted it. It was the only way I felt like I could be near you."

"Sigurd, do you know how to awaken you from the casket?" She asked curiously. Draco paused in his pawing, waiting to hear the answer.

"I wish I could. I am a magical portrait, just an animated visage of the real man. Unfortunately, I am not privy to what he knew after he completed me. He made me for his wife and one for his son so they could talk to me while he was gone. After fifteen years, she hung me down here. It was the last time she stepped foot in this room. I believe that is when she moved off of the Malfoy properties."

"Damn," Hermione muttered turning back to study the paintings. "It was worth a try."

The door slammed open, and Draco and Hermione whipped their head up in shock.

"You don't get to lay judgment on me then walk away!" Lucius said through gritted teeth. "What the hell do you want from me? To not be jealous? To lie about it? You don't get to be angry with me for feeling, Hermione!"

"You're right," Hermione set her teeth and her feet shoulder length apart, readying herself for the new battle.

"Jealousy is perfectly normal and my feelings are not your responsibility! I will handle myself and I don't need you yelling at me while I am doing that!"

"Lucius,"

"No! Now it is your turn to listen. You can't just decide that you don't like my answers and leave. You didn't even try to understand my side. You want me to be honest with you? Then don't flip out when I tell you something you don't want to hear. My feelings are not going to go away just because you want it to!" He was breathing heavily, obviously worked up.

"Then don't keep it from me! I'm not angry because you were jealous. I am angry because the three of you weren't going to tell me how bad it was. This is not some little passing issue, Lucius! I don't think it will ever go away but there are things we can do as partners, as husband and wife, as family that would make it easier!"

"I can deal with it."

"Can you? For how long? Six months? Ten years? Before you explode and can't take it anymore and leave me?"

"I am not going to leave you. For too damn long have I wanted you, and far longer than I had any right to. I would rather die than separate from you now."

His breathing was ragged as he stood to stare at Hermione. Abraxas showed up a moment later just behind Lucius and laid a hand on the other man's shoulder. Lucius shrugged it off without looking back at him. It was not Abraxas that he was fighting with.

Hermione walked closer to the door until the only thing between them was Sigurd's casket and laid her hands on the lid, leaning slightly over it. Lucius was still in the doorway, not moving, not taking his eyes off of Hermione for one second.

"Is that what you want from me? To pretend that I don't see how this is affecting you?"

"Yes. I want you to give me the dignity of dealing with this alone because there is nothing that you can do to make it easier. Because every time I see you with them, I will still feel the same way and not being with you is not an option. I would rather battle my jealousy for a hundred years than live without you."

"I don't feel right about this," Hermione said frowning.

Lucius walked to the casket and took her hands in his, bringing first one then the other to his lips to kiss. In between kisses, he mumbled, "you don't have to like it. Trust me. Leave this alone."

Hermione closed her eyes. It didn't seem like this was a win for her, in fact, it felt very much like losing but she knew that pushing anymore like this would only result in more problems. Hermione decided to let it go for the moment, forgive Lucius, and take Draco's advice. She would let Lucius have his way for now. Remembering the old adage of not succeeding at first, try, try again. She strengthened her resolve. Hermione had never been a quitter.

**HGHG**

Narcissa was laying on a cot in the rebel infirmary and pretended she was asleep. It was easier for everyone involved. Even though she had a hand in saving Hermione's life and been held captive by Voldemort, the people of the resistance still didn't like or trust her. She understood. For many years, she had built this cold aloof image that practically screamed that she was better than everyone else. The image had been assiduously cultivated so that when Voldemort returned, they would not be hunted down as Karkarof had been.

Of course, that hadn't been the only reason, that is just the one she focused on so that guilt and shame didn't eat her alive. Just being here at all was more than she expected, although she doubted anyone in the resistance would be able to say no to Harry Potter. It was a surprise to her the level of kindness that she continually received from the boy that her family had once disdained and hunted.

"I know you are not sleeping," Harry said softly, taking up her purposefully limp hand in his. Narcissa rolled her head to face him and stared into his brilliant green eyes.

"Why are you being so nice to me. I know Draco was never nice to you and I know Lucius had tried to kill you on more than one occasion. Why?"

"What the three of you did for Hermione two years ago, indebts me to you. I love her, she is my best friend and has never left me to fight on my own. I would tell you that I think of her as my sister but that isn't quite true either. We fought side by side and saved each other's life more times than either of us could count. Our bond is impossible to describe. I never told her this but when we escaped from Malfoy Manor and couldn't go back for her, I went a bit crazy. I had decided to go in through the front gate to get her, calling in every favor I had ever been owed on both sides of the war. Then my coin heated up and it was her. She grieved for the three of you. We all did, but I made a vow then, that when the war was over, I would see your family exonerated. Now you are all alive and you have suffered more than anyone could ever imagine. You have my loyalty, Narcissa."

"You don't owe me anything."

"We are going to have to agree to disagree." He said with a smile. She shook her head. She was used to dealing with stubborn men. Once they got something in their heads, there was little chance of changing their minds.

"Helena told me that you are asleep every time someone come in. Why is that?"

"I hear what they say about me. They don't like or trust me. They don't want me here."

"They are afraid of the connection you have to Tom."

Narcissa shuddered, dread like a lead weight in her stomach. She was never going to escape him and she was going to lead him to everyone that she cared about. She couldn't allow it. For too long she had endured and hoped for her family to be restored. She wouldn't be the reason they died again.

Narcissa sat up in bed, threw the blankets off of her, and grabbed the muggle clothes that had been left for her when they took the robes she had been wearing. She had no time to be picky, she had to leave.

"Narcissa, where are you going?"

"I am a danger to everyone if I stay."

"Snape will be back soon. He wants to take care of you."

"I won't be the cause of his death or capture. I am going alone and you aren't going to tell anyone."

"If you won't wait for Snape, then I will go with you."

Narcissa spun around a furious look on her lovely face.

"You are the only one that can end this. If you are with me, he can easily find you."

"Maybe it is finally time for me to go on the offensive."

"You are just a boy." She whispered, sitting heavily on the side of the bed. Already her jeans were on and buttoned under the voluminous nightgown they put her in when she arrived.

"I haven't been just a boy in a really long time," He replied bitterly. "besides, Hermione would never forgive me if something more happened to you." Harry handed her the shirt from the bottom of the bed and turned around, giving her privacy while she stripped out of the nightgown and pulled on the tee shirt she had been given.

"Okay. You can turn around." She said as she sat back on the bed, fidgeting with the hem of the shirt. It just seemed too short.

When Harry turned around, his eyes widened a bit before he looked away. She was a good-looking woman.

"You know that Snape is brewing something that will sever your connection to Tom. If you could just wait a few more days."

"It is going to take him longer than just a few days. That potion will take at least a month to brew and that is conditional on obtaining Hazia. I don't think that they will be able to get any. The best thing for everyone is if I take care of myself."

"Fine. Where are we going then?"

"You are not coming."

"Yes, I am."

"Mr. Potter,"

"Harry."

"What?"

"Call me Harry," He slid his chair closer, a determined look on his face. "because where you go, I am going. Better get used to having me around."

"I don't need you to protect me."

Harry looked mock-offended, a mischievous look in his eye. He leaned forward, damn near twinkling and said, "Who said this was about you? I need you to protect me. Where better than to hide in the last place he would expect?"

Narcissa shook her head, biting back the chuckle that threatened to escape.

"It doesn't matter what I say, does it?"

"Not really."

"You, Mr. Potter, are a pain in the arse,"

"Yes, Ma'am." He smiled and settled back into his chair. "So, when are we leaving?"

"Tonight," Narcissa muttered grudgingly. She was touched and amused despite herself.

"Don't leave without me, Narcissa. I mean it," Harry said in all seriousness.

"Alright, Mr. Potter." She capitulated, knowing firsthand the bullheadedness of the male species. If he wanted to put himself in danger, who was she to deny him? She knew that Severus would not be happy when he found them both missing.

She reached automatically for the bedside table for her wand and pulled back her hand quickly as she remembered that she no longer had a wand, and hadn't for the last two years. Without a word, Harry held out his own wand, handle first to her. Her eyes misted but she blinked it back rapidly, refusing to show him the effect of his kindness. Slowly, she wrapped her fingers around it and smiled as magic swirled around her. It was the first time in a long time that she had felt complete.

Conjuring a piece of parchment, ink, and quill, Narcissa wrote a note for Severus. She sealed it with magic so that only he could read it. She hoped he wouldn't try to find her until he made the potion. If there was any hope of succeeding, he couldn't be worried about keeping her safe. She was not some helpless woman. She was just as talented as Bellatrix, and it was about time that she stopped leaning on others to protect her as she had her entire life.

"The first thing we need to do is get you a wand and I know just the place to start," Harry said.

**HGHG**

Hermione sat in the chair on the balcony in her room. She stared at the horizon watching the sunrise turn the sky rich pinks, oranges, and purple. After Lucius had followed her into Sigurd's lair, they had come to a truce and the four of them left the sleeping Viking for another day. The search of the remaining memories turned up more disappointment as they realized the memory to restore him had either been broken or lost over the years.

Claiming a headache, Hermione left before making her way to her room, alone. She knew that Lucius watched her. She saw the restraining hand of Draco's on his shoulders from the corner of her eye and she was grateful for it. She needed time to think about things.

The beautiful bathroom was put to good use, as she soaked in the tub. Pink and yellow foam covered the surface in a thick layer of scent and skin softeners. It left her relaxed and she had fallen asleep as soon as her head hit the pillows.

She woke early with a start. Something had awoken her but she wasn't sure what. She dragged her sheet with her as she sat on the balcony. It was warm enough to go without it but it was more for comfort anyway.

A light knock sounded on the door.

"Come in."

Lucius shouldered the door open, a large tray laden with food in his hands.

"I thought we could eat breakfast together before I go."

Hermione smiled and nodded. The relief on his face was nearly comical. In moments, the food was set out on the small table next to her and Lucius took the chair opposite.

"It's not too dangerous, your trip?" She asked.

"I am leaving the country. There is always a risk because of that. I also have to meet with some of my old contacts which may report my whereabouts to the Dark Lord. If everything goes well, I will be home in a few days. You won't even have time to miss me."

Lucius reached forward and dipped a strawberry in a small bowl of clotted cream, and held the morsel to her lips. Her lips curved up slightly as she ate the fruit from his fingers, licking the sweet cream off of one of his knuckles. His lips parted as he watched her.

He stood and walked around the table, offering his hand to her, waiting, allowing her the opportunity to refuse. She didn't. Sliding her hand in his, she stood. Knowing that he was not just intending on dancing with her on the balcony. With a dip of his finger, he scooped up a small dollop of cream and spread it on her lips. She was in his arms, and he sucked off the sweetness and then his lips were devouring hers. The rest of the food completely forgotten.

He threaded his fingers in her hair, and Hermione had the feeling that only a blatant rejection would force him away now. She moved closer and her fingers explored the expanse of his muscular chest. Moaning softly at the feeling of the ridges of his body, Hermione opened her mouth at the gentle prodding of his tongue. He explored her mouth, caressing his tongue over every part of her.

Hermione unbuttoned his robes and slid her hand beneath. His skin was warm and soft, a contrast to the hard musculature beneath. Her fingers quested up his abdomen, brushing lightly over his nipples. She knew she had done something right when he sucked in a startled breath.

Lucius turned her so that her back was against the glass door and pressed her into it. His hands abandoned their position in her hair to tug her sleeping shorts off and her tank top was pushed to her waist. He cupped her breasts and leaned down to get a taste. Hermione took a shuddering breath as his tongue flicked her nipples into hardened peaks before lightly blowing on them, forcing the already stiff flesh, to harden further.

Her body was on fire, everywhere his hands smoothed and touched was a raging inferno. She needed those fingers on her, touching her, pushing her higher. He seemed to understand her whimpers and let his fingers trail over her stomach, down over her mons, and into her slit.

He was no stranger to a woman's body and found her bundle of nerves easily, moving his fingers in a circular motion. Her moans grew louder and she gripped his shoulders to keep from falling.

It wasn't long before she was close and he stopped, taking the time to shrug out of his robes and to unbutton his trousers, pushing them over his hips and down to his ankles. With his hands on the back of her thighs, Hermione was lifted, her legs were encouraged to wrap around his hips. He kissed her again as he lowered her onto his cock. Hermione rolled her hips, swallowing his groan and hers as she hit her clit against his abdomen.

Lucius pushed her up against the glass harder and thrust faster. His mouth occupied with the skin of her neck. Hermione was lost in sensation. His mouth sucking at her skin, his cock filling her deliciously, perfectly, over and over.

Hermione screamed as she came, her body clenching around him. Air hissed between his clenched teeth, the vein on his neck stood out as he picked up the pace. He was frenzied in his thrusting. It felt amazing as he swelled within her sensitive and gripping passage. Her hands wound in his hair as she pulled him back to her neck.

He stilled as he came, rolling his hips slowly as he finished. His head fell to her shoulder and his hands held her pinned to the glass. He took a deep breath and shuddered with its release.

"Lucius?" Hermione asked softly.

"mmm?"

"Are you okay?"

He laughed tiredly. "I'm fine. I just don't know how I am going to leave you now."

"You will be back so quickly that you will barely have a chance to miss me." She said saucily repeating his own words back to him.

He chuckled and lowered her legs back to the balcony floor. He redressed quickly, not having much to set to rights and donned his robes before helping her step into her shorts. He led her back to the table and they ate in a satisfied silence. Once they were finished, he rose regretfully and kissed her.

"Three days and I will be back."

"I can't wait."

He left her there, striding from the room as Hermione watched, her heart going with him.

**HGHG**

Voldemort dismissed the dementors as he walked through the damp halls of Azkaban. He stopped in front of a small cell and looked through the bars in the door. A man laid on the cot with a threadbare blanket around his shoulders. His face had sunken in, his once fit body now just a skeleton. He had been a prisoner for almost two years now.

"You are going to do something for me and because I am a merciful Lord, I will give you your freedom." Voldemort hissed through the door, watching as the man jumped from the unexpected noise that broke the maddening silence.

"What do you want?" The defeated man asked, his voice dead.

"I want you to deliver a message to Hermione Granger at Malfoy Manor."

"No,"

"Not even if it means I let Greyback have your sister if you don't?"

"Please," His voice broke.

"You will do as I ask."

"Yes," The man hung his head and stood still as Voldemort moved into his cell and thrust a wand into his hand. He lifted his scarred face to look Voldemort in the eyes.

"Instead of my freedom, I want my sister free."

"Oh, I can't do that, Weasley. I can't give Harry Potter his girlfriend back. But if you behave and do as I say, your sister won't meet the same fate as your late wife."

"Fleur," Bill whispered.

"I even have a friend for you to take with you," Voldemort said as a small blond girl stepped into the room, her hair dirty and matted. Her slight frame making her look like a fairy girl. Her wand trembling in her hand. Her eyes blazed with an inner fire so strong that it took Bill by surprise.

"What message do you want me to give to Hermione Granger?" He asked.

"Tell her to meet me in Godric's Hallow tomorrow at midnight and to leave her guards at home. I have something that I believe would be of great interest to her. Tell her I know how to wake Sigurd. If she refuses to comply, I will execute one of my prisoners every day that she does not appear."

Bill grabbed Luna's hand and put as much distance between them and Voldemort as possible, ignoring the rolling laughter that followed them out of the stone fortress. Once they were beyond the gates, Bill apparated them to the Burrow, or what was left of it and choked on his sobs. He fell to his knees and covered his face with his large scarred hands. The ruins of his childhood home, the backdrop. Luna wrapped her thin arms around him and held him while he sobbed.

"If anyone is going to fix this it will be Hermione and Harry."

"I used to believe it."

"Don't give up hope, He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named wants to talk to Hermione. It sounds like he wants to bargain. He never wants to bargain. He is afraid of something and it has to do with her. She is the key to the end of this war. I can feel it. It won't be long now." Luna wiped the tears off of his face and pulled his face to rest on her stomach. "Let's go to Malfoy Manor, the Nargle infestation here is out of control."

"Why are you here? He wants me to deliver a message, what does he want from you?"

"I have a message for Abraxas Malfoy."

"Isn't he dead?"

"He used to be."