CHAPTER NINE

The walk back to the Slytherin common room was a quiet one. A few times, they had to duck into an alcove or behind a few suits of armor in order to avoid being found out by a Prefect or a wandering professor. When they finally returned to the confines of Slytherin House, Hermione was immediately swarmed by Andromeda, Liz, and the other witches in her year, while Lucius was beckoned over to the sixth and seventh year boys who had taken up a nightly residence in one of the corners of the common room.

'Having a bit of fun with Lucius, Hermione?' teased Andromeda. 'You look well and truly snogged!'

Hermione immediately went on the defensive, trying to deny any insinuations that she and Lucius had done anything more than kiss, while attempting to downplay even that. She rambled on for almost a full thirty seconds before she realized her friends were simply having a go. Then she turned bright red and laughed with the group. Conversation quickly turned to the notice that appeared on the announcement board that day. There would be another Hogsmeade visit a week before Christmas hols. The girls stayed up for another half hour or so planning out their visit before deciding it was a discussion that could wait until breakfast the next morning.

After changing into her night clothes, Hermione laid in her bed thinking about the time spent with Lucius Malfoy alone in the Room of Requirement. She knew that it was against her better judgment to allow him to be alone with her, but nothing untoward had occurred before tonight. If she were being honest with herself, his actions weren't exactly unwelcome. She could have stopped him if she'd wanted to. He'd given her plenty of opportunity to pull away, to end his attentions, but she'd been enjoying it. Now she would just have to come to terms with her attraction to him…

When had it started, she wondered. Sure, even before when she was younger and he was an adult there was no denying he was an attractive man. He was a fit man, his robes only serving to accentuate his toned form. He cut an impressive figure no matter where he went. When Lucius Malfoy entered a room, all eyes focused on him. His own eyes were cold and grey, but they were like molten pools of silver that always seemed to be hiding a great secret that only he knew. The few times she'd met his eyes in her past, it had always felt…

Was it possible? Could he have been remembering her from his youth, even when she was not yet as old as he would have remembered her to be? She'd always presumed that the knowing and angry look in his eyes was due to Draco's derogatory comments about her while he was home. After all, she did best him in every class. Her. A lowly Mudblood. Could it really be that he recognized her from his youth? From now?

She'd made too much of an impression on him. The realization struck her like a bludger to the gut and the breath flew from her lungs. Hermione knew a moment of shame when she thought about her friends back home and what they would think if they not only knew of her being placed in Slytherin, but most especially of her kiss with Malfoy's father. Her lips tingled at the memory, causing her to heave a resigned sigh. There was nothing she could do about the kiss. It happened, it was done, and strangely enough, she didn't feel any regret. Pulling her pillow out from under her head, Hermione brought it down over her face and groaned into it. Then she replaced the pillow to its proper location, pulled the blankets up, and closed her eyes.

~*~*~*LMHG*~*~*~

Her heart was racing when she woke up. Images of the Department of Mysteries had haunted her dreams as hooded figures in masks chased after her. The darkness in her room did nothing to calm her frazzled nerves, so she grabbed her current-for-the-time copy of Hogwarts: A History, drew the curtains around her four poster, and read with the assistance of a Lumos charm. It was interesting to her to read little pieces of information that were no longer considered important enough to remain in the book in her time. There was mention of classrooms no longer used, staircases that no longer existed, and Hermione drifted back off to sleep pondering the structural changes of the castle.

When she woke again, there were only thirty minutes left of breakfast time. She bounded out of bed, dropping her book onto the floor, and raced to dress and be presentable in front of people. After brushing her teeth and hair, she ran from the dungeons and made it up to the Great Hall with ten minutes to spare. She felt Lucius' eyes on her as she scurried to a space by Andromeda and fell forcefully onto the bench. She then mumbled apologies as she transferred some toast and eggs onto her plate and proceeded to devour them. It was convenient, really, because hastily eating breakfast allowed her to avoid the probing questions and knowing looks coming from her female housemates.

Unfortunately for her, she didn't have any excuse during the walk from breakfast, or any other time one of the girls would catch her outside of class. It was all she could do to stop her friends taking the mickey.

~*~*~*LMHG*~*~*~

The final full week of classes before Christmas was upon them. The castle was abuzz, and the students and staff alike seemed to be enjoying the excitement that built up just prior to a break from school. There were still classes to attend, exams to take, and revision to do, but that didn't stop the general merriment that could be felt wherever you went. Hermione and Lucius, sharing an almost identical schedule, were forced together constantly…not that she really minded much. For all her self-flagellation in regards to the blond in question, she couldn't deny the way he made her feel, both mentally and physically. She just wasn't ready to admit it verbally…to anyone, not even herself.

Everyone knew. Hermione knew they did. She could tell by the knowing looks from Serendipity, the way Rabastan was extra flirtatious only when Lucius was around, and from Liz's not-so-subtle comments about how perfect of a match she and Lucius were. It was a shame, Liz would say, that he was already bound to the blonde Black sister. Therefore, it was of no surprise to anyone when Lucius and Hermione were found exploring Hogsmeade together. The pair was seen in Tomes and Scrolls, Scrivenshaft's, and Honeydukes before heading over to Three Broomsticks for a spot of lunch. They walked closely down the street, their hands often touching, but not actually holding each other's hand. When they sat to eat, they sat next to each other rather than across from one another. During the meal, they discussed the year so far, but when the pudding came, Lucius asked the question that Hermione knew had been eating at him all day.

'So what are your plans for the Christmas Hols?' Lucius asked her.

Hermione took a deep drink from her butterbeer and answered. 'I'm heading back to France to visit my mum,' she lied. She saw his face fall ever so slightly and suddenly felt shame at her deception.

'That makes sense. When will you return?'

She frowned slightly. 'Not until the day before classes resume. Why do you ask? What will you do over break?'

'I have a lot of familial obligations to attend to, but I was really hoping to see you at some point. The Manor hosts a large Yule gala, and I understand if you can't attend, but perhaps Boxing Day?'

Hermione smiled sadly at him. He appeared so earnest and she hated to see him hurt. Despite who he was in his future, her past had no bearing on who he was now…and she really rather fancied the man she was getting to know better and better with each passing day. She let him down as nicely as she could and the two finished their afters with light conversation.

While they'd been eating, a heavy snow had begun to fall and accumulate, making the walk back to Hogwarts appear as more of a winter wonderland rather than a simple path between the village and the school. Even the castle itself looked even more magical in the distance, dusted as it was with the falling flakes. There were also no coy hand brushes; Lucius took her hand to help her up from their table in Hogsmeade and didn't let go once on the trek back. As they drew closer to the castle gates, they slowed their pace, trying to prolong their time together. Conversation between them had completely ceased in favor of quick glances and shy smiles. Knowing their time was limited, Lucius pulled Hermione along the walled perimeter of the grounds and behind a copse of tall bushes. He backed her up against the cold stone wall and leaned in close.

'I'm going to miss you.'

'Strangely enough, I'm going to miss you, too,' she replied.

'"Strangely enough?" Why do you say that?'

She hadn't been thinking when she spoke, only feeling, and she decided to speak the truth. 'It is strange. I didn't expect to meet anyone here. I thought I'd just keep to myself and get through. Never once did it cross my mind that I'd…' She paused and then met his eyes and spoke again. 'You've taken me completely by surprise, Lucius Malfoy.'

Feeling rather than thinking, she raised her face to his and met his lips with her own. This time, she knew exactly who she was kissing and had resolved to live in the moment and follow her feelings. She would deal with the repercussions later. Her lips were tentative, as were his, but after only a moment, she felt the tip of his tongue at the seam of her mouth. Throwing caution to the wind, she brought her arms up to pull him close and parted her lips to allow his tongue entrance. He wrapped his arms around her, pulling her tight against his chest as he deepened the kiss. They were locked in their embrace for what felt like an eternity, but were too soon brought out of their haze by the sound of passing students. After a few lingering pecks, they parted and shared a secret smile. Then they left their sanctuary and resumed their journey back to the castle.

~*~*~*LMHG*~*~*~

'Cockroach Clusters.'

Hermione spoke the password to the headmaster's office and waited as the stone gargoyle moved aside to reveal the spiral staircase that would lead her up to her meeting. She had been sitting at the breakfast table in the Great Hall when Professor Dumbledore had asked to see her in his office as soon as she was finished eating. It was the day before students were to return to Hogwarts and she was happy to be roaming the castle freely. To preserve the illusion that she had left the country, Hermione had been essentially quarantined in an unused professor's quarters in the castle. She was to remain there as much as possible, taking all of her meals in her rooms and only exiting under a Disillusionment charm that Dumbledore himself had cast. They were taking no chances.

'Ah! Miss Granger, how was your breakfast?'

'Amazing! It was great to eat with other people again.'

'Yes,' Dumbledore agreed. 'I'd imagine someone of your age is unaccustomed to dining alone. But I didn't summon you here to discuss your social habits. I have an update on your situation and thought perhaps we could discuss it over a nice cup of tea.'

She followed her headmaster into a small alcove that was already set up with a tea service for two. Though she had just finished breakfast not twenty minutes before, she graciously accepted the drink and biscuits. Almost as soon as he'd finished preparing his tea, Dumbledore spoke.

'There is no easy way of saying this, so I shall be blunt. The Ministry has been seeking out ways to bring you forward to your own time and –'

'Pardon my interruption, Professor, but why can't I just use a Time Turner to go forward? I've been thinking about it, since that's how I found myself here in the first place. Why don't they just give me one to send me home? This all could have been avoided if –'

'Miss Granger, if that were at all possible, don't you think they would have just done that in the first place, rather than to call me in and make arrangements for you?' He paused long enough to see that she understood, and then continued. 'All attempts in the past to bring someone more than an hour into the future have resulted in grave peril for the traveler. Therefore, as I've said, the wizards and witches in the Department of Mysteries have been searching new magic in order to solve your problem.'

She didn't need him to continue to know where he was headed with his speech. 'They've been unsuccessful, right? That's what you're trying to tell me?'

After his confirmation of her thoughts, the two discussed their own ideas on how to rectify her situation, all while enjoying their tea and biscuits. They sat together for almost a full hour before Dumbledore excused her.

'Just remember, Miss Granger. There's always a choice. You seem to have made yourself at home here. Would it really be so bad to stay with your new friends? Your new love?'

He refused to hear any more comments from her, saying that he had many important things to do before the beginning of the new term. So Hermione left his office and made her way back to the dungeons, albeit slowly. While their conversation had been a stimulating one, the only part that replayed over and over in her mind was his parting shot to her. Had she really made a home for herself here? The new friends weren't to be denied, and she almost couldn't imagine returning to a place where they weren't. Sure, she had Harry, Ron, Ginny, Luna, and others, but it wasn't the same. They weren't the same. As much as she hated to admit it to herself, it was much harder to be herself around her old friends. It didn't stop her from being herself, but with her new crowd, they wouldn't take the mickey if she became all intellectual or decided she would rather study than play Exploding Snap.

Without realizing it, her feet had carried her down to the Slytherin common room. This, too, was a sign that showed maybe Dumbledore was right and she was becoming comfortable here. Even as recently as a few weeks ago, her idle wanderings would carry her to Gryffindor Tower rather than down to the dungeons. The green hue of the common room felt as welcoming to her as her parents' house. The thought was a bit jolting, but it was swiftly driven from her mind by the gaggle of voices that assaulted her ears upon returning to Slytherin house. Seeing her friends again, her new friends, brought a smile to her face. She happily went to sit with Serendipity and Liz. While Serendipity was regaling the girls with tales of various Christmas gatherings, Margie and Andromeda found their way back into the common room and immediately joined in the conversation. Fortunately for Hermione, none of the girls were all that interested in what she had done over the holiday, but she knew that wouldn't last. Eventually they would ask and she would be forced to come up with some new lies. Just as her mind began contemplating all her options, the common room door opened once again and admitted the one person she'd been most longing to see. The one Dumbledore had alluded to.

Her love. Lucius Malfoy.