Thursday, October 29th 1994

He started feeling his woman's anxiety spike when he spoke to Narcissa about getting a divorce, the woman had the cheek to ask HIM why all of a sudden now, after the handful of lovers she'd had over the years. Something she said, had him thinking twice, as she ranted and clearly he'd caught her off guard, letting slip her little secret so obviously. Hell, if it wasn't for the bloodline and Hermione, he'd still be secretly unhappy and lonely. Unlike Narcissa, he'd only had lovers prior to their marriage as he didn't want the drama of accidentally impregnating the wrong witch. He held up his hand and frowned, as he felt Hermione's fear spike. He sent her concern through the bond and she sent him need. Before he left he needed to ask the ranting witch one final question before he left. He rose and grabbed his cane, causing the witch to flinch, though he didn't know why. He had never used it on her or pulled his wand on her.

"Is Draco mine? I have wondered at times, why he can't feel the magic of the Manor and something you said in your rant has me questioning it yet again, Narcissia. You are also aware the Malfoy family is different and have never been told why. The bloodline runs through me, and you deserve to know that, yes I have met a woman who is my true other half. My stubborn witch will not be with me fully until I have left you." He sent Hermione caution and calm, as panic added into the mix. Surprise clearly showed on Narcissa's face and she stared at him for a moment.

"Will Draco still get his inheritance?" He raised an eyebrow at this and narrowed his eyes.

"Is that all you care about, Narcissa? Answer the blood question! I have somewhere I need to be," he moved from around his desk and grabbed his wizard robe-coat. Narcissa backed further away from him towards the door and when Hermione's fear rose, his fingers gripped the snake head that held his wand in place in his cane.

"I have been honest with you, it's only fair you return it, Narcissa. I could have easily just sent you the divorce papers and had no contact."

"I'm sorry," she whispered and left before he had time to react. His own anger and pain flared up inside him for a minute but he squashed it and pictured Hermione in his mind, and surprise-filled him when he landed in the Headmaster's office at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry.

They all looked at him in surprise seeing him suddenly arrive, as he took in the scene before him. Minerva McGonagall looked like a lost puppy, torn on what to do. Severus had a hold of Hermione's jaw, his fingers in her mouth and other holding her head back, so her mouth was wide open, as she gripped the armrest of her chair and Dumbledore looked like he was in the middle of trying to get a stiff potion bottle undone. His eyes locked with Hermione's briefly and relief flooded the bond as he removed his wand from its cane holder. It pleased him seeing Severus flinch when Hermione suddenly bit down on his fingers, feeling a bit more confident now he was here. The words that flew out his mouth weren't so pretty and Dumbledore has since then risen to his full height, a head shorter than himself.

"Lucius, what a pleasant but unexpected surprise! Are you here to see Draco?" He had to stop himself from reacting outwardly.

"If I was, I would have gone through the proper system, Dumbledore..." he had since moved over to Hermione and checked her pretty face for any sign of damage, and thankfully for Severus, there was none. They communicated silently through their empathy bond and eyes, whilst he ran some spells over her with his wand just in case, the old fool had dared to even try. He wouldn't put it past him, to get the answers he clearly wanted. He then helped her up and caught her as she stumbled, and he narrowed his eyes at the two men in the room, as he now stood protectively in front of her with his wand drawn, even though he didn't need to use it... the only people in this room that knew that is Severus and Hermione.

He enjoyed the confused looks on all three faces as they stared at them. Hermione had her forehead resting on his back, as his arm kept her behind him, even though she could easily move if she wanted to. He imagined she had her eyes closed, whilst she collected her thoughts and brought herself back together.

"Well, this is new..." Dumbledore recovered first as they all stood still staring at them. He chose not to speak just yet.

"What are you doing here, Lucius if you aren't here to see young Draco?" He asked him.

"None of your business, but I might indulge you if you tell me why I find my woman, being basically held against her will?" They stared at him in shock, as he said this, and he smirked.

"Your woman? You are a married man, Mr Malfoy... and if it wasn't for Miss Granger's timer turner usage, she'd still be fifteen." Professor McGonagall said in shock. Finally! Someone addressed him properly, so he decided to answer her.

"As you addressed me properly, Professor McGonagall, I feel a bit more inclined to speak. I will be coming back in the next week or two, with or without Narcissa, to talk to Draco about some changes happening within the Malfoy family. There have been some... I guess you could say, revelations tonight, that will change a lot for everyone! And regarding myself and Hermione, she is my mine, just as much as I am hers. Narcissa is also aware I'm with a woman, and that is all you need to know. Now do tell me why my woman was being held forcibly against her will?"

When none of them answered, he turned Dumbledore's beard Slytherin green, making his mate, let slip an uncontrollable giggle as Dumbledore stared at his beard and Professor McGonagall looked at him in shock. Severus' lips twitched and remained leaning against the far wall, away from them all, silently observing.

"Well?" He demanded again, as he felt Hermione move his arm from around her and lace her fingers through his, he didn't outwardly react as she wrapped her free arm around the hand whose arm she is holding, but he did squeeze her fingers gently. Enjoying the look of shock on each of their faces as his lover did this move.

"Do I need to change your hair to maroon red, Severus?" His friend's black eyes widened.

"You wouldn't dare..." he hissed.

"Try me! Someone had better start talking. I could so easily go to the ministry with what I have witnessed this evening..." that got them talking and gained their attention.

"We weren't expecting company, Lucius. This clearly isn't a new thing between the two of you," irritation filled him as the old fool continued to address him by his first name.

"It's fine, Lucius," Hermione spoke quietly for the first time. "The headmaster had noticed my name had changed to Hermione Jean. He had questioned me yesterday morning at breakfast, but I refused to say anything when he had pulled me aside with Professor McGonagall. They all know I'm now eighteen instead of fifteen, which is something I'm rather thankful for, as it's given us more time. I never expected this kind of treatment though, when I refused to answer for my own reasons. I never expected them to do what you saw." He could feel the truth of her words.

"Before you start, I already know Hermione's name has changed. She asked for my help, and I gave her a spell after searching through the Manors library, for one to help her with what she wanted to do. We didn't realise how in-depth the spell would be and didn't realise it wasn't reversible, it was one an ancestor I'm assuming made and left no name for its creator. We have also burned it and I searched for anything similar in the Manor, to go on the fire we lit on her birthday and removed it from our memories, to go into the same flames, so we don't have it. Yes, she was with me at our own home, not with her parents," he told them all when Professor McGonagall went to open her mouth, and shut it, thankfully.

"Your own home? None of this makes any sense," Severus said, his eyes looking backwards and forwards between them.

"It doesn't need to make sense Severus. You know I've felt different more than most, and I've found answers over the last four years, as to why! And now I have Hermione, it's simple. All that matters is the correct people know and we've done nothing wrong."

"So cryptic and mysterious, Lucius. How did you know where she would be?" Dumbledore asked him with genuine curiosity.

"None of your business. But I will know if she is ever in any danger, and that is all the warning you need. I won't be as nice as I have been if there is a next time. I could so easily go to the Ministry with what I have witnessed tonight, Dumbledore. As it is, I've said enough, about my private life and business. I will be taking Hermione back to our home tonight and she will be back in time for the welcoming feast. I don't particularly trust any of you with her at the moment, so unless you want me to go to the ministry Dumbledore, you won't argue this:" Before he could respond they left.

All three stared at the spot they had apparated from and remained silent for a long time, each lost within their own thoughts until Professor Minerva McGonagall spoke breaking the silence that had fallen between them.

"Am I dreaming?"

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