Three

Many thanks to my lovely betas Anogete and Dacian Goddess.

JKR's, not mine.

~*~

Apparently, most of wizarding Britain had chosen this Saturday to do their Christmas shopping, Hermione thought as she was trying to find her way through the jostling crowds in Diagon Alley. It was every bit as bad as the Christmas shopping in the Muggle shops she had tackled the previous Saturday. She watched a little girl throwing a tantrum that sent a nearby stack of cauldrons flying before they blew up into smithereens. No, this was worse; at least Muggle children didn't cause literal explosions.

Hermione's train of thought was arrested by the beautiful window display of Scribbulus Everchanging Inks. The luxurious eagle quills were really magnificent. She looked at a black one, imagining how it would feel to hold it in her hand and to run her finger along the soft feathery material. Though that one would really look best in the hands of a sophisticated male wizard. In her mind, she saw an image of an elegant hand holding one of those quills, stroking her neck, slowly progressing lower down her body and up again. She sighed wistfully as she contemplated the quills for a while longer but couldn't think of any of her friends who would appreciate a present like that.

After another quick check of her list, she was sure that she had everything she needed. A quick look at her watch confirmed that she had enough time left to pop into Flourish and Blotts before she'd meet Harry for drinks at the Leaky Cauldron. She turned to cross the street to the bookshop when someone bumped into her. 'Ouch. Oh, hi, Neville.'

'Hi, Hermione; sorry about that.'

Hermione turned to the young man. 'No problem, it's mad here today. Haven't seen you in while. How are you?'

Neville grinned back. 'Yeah, it's bedlam. I'm fine, that is, I will be after I've found a present for Alice.'

Hermione smiled. The way Neville spoiled his little daughter rotten, she found it highly doubtful that he would end up with just one present. 'I am sure you'll find something exciting for her.'

'I'll try. Are you coming to the Leaky later on? I'm sure Hannah would love to see you.'

Hermione nodded. 'I'm meeting Harry for drinks there in half an hour.'

Neville beamed. 'Oh good, it'll be nearly all the old gang.' Seeing Hermione's crestfallen face, he quickly added, 'Well, almost; those who matter, anyway.'

'Right. I'll see you then.'

Hermione watched Neville's back disappear among the other shoppers. "The old gang" ... that seemed such a long time ago. Ron and Ginny still refused to talk to either Harry or her. She had hoped that they all could eventually be friends again, but at the moment it didn't look like it.

~*~

Hermione tried to avoid bumping into anyone as she made her way through the noisy crowd over to the quiet corner where Harry was already sitting. When she finally reached the table, she felt fairly exhausted. Flopping down into a chair, she said, 'Why do they all choose the same day to go shopping?'

Harry grinned. 'Never figured that one out, must have something to do with Christmas.'

'Probably. This year it feels weird though.'

Harry's grin disappeared. 'Yeah, I know. It's the first time for years that we won't be at the Burrow. I'll miss it. Do you ever wish...you know?'

Hermione considered this for a moment. 'No. I mean I'll be sorry to miss out on the Christmas dinner, of course, but no. It still feels like I did the right thing. If I hadn't been travelling around so much, I probably would have realised much sooner that Ron and I would never work out. I am only sorry I left to drag it on for so long.'

'You make it sound so easy. I miss them; it felt so much like they were my family.'

It must be so much harder for Harry. At least she still had parents, even if they had chosen to remain in Australia. Hermione quickly squeezed his hand. 'I know, it isn't easy. Actually, I think Ron is a prat for not talking to you. I mean, you two have been friends for so long, and me breaking up with him has nothing to do with that or you and Ginny splitting up.'

Their gloomy mood was interrupted by Neville. He put a mug of tea in front of Hermione before he sat down. From the way he fidgeted around on his chair, it was obvious that he had at least heard part of their conversation. 'Erm, I had planned on asking you anyway, why don't you two have Christmas Dinner with us? Hannah and I would love to have you. Dean and Luna are coming, too. It should be fun.'

Hermione was glad about the invitation. Judging by the look of relief on his face, so was Harry. It sounded a lot better than Christmas dinner with Kreacher and Crookshanks.

'Hermione, haven't seen you in a bit. I heard from Minerva that you managed to wheedle some research time out of the Ministry,' Neville said.

Hermione nodded. 'Yes, I'm using the library at Malfoy Manor. It's really really good. A lot of the things I need are there. It's amazing. Just yesterday, I came across these manuscripts where the writer details all the effects curses have, depending on slight variations they can have very different results, and he is very specific about the alterations and their effects, and then I found...' She stopped when she noticed Neville and Harry were looking at her oddly.

'Erm, Hermione, don't take this the wrong way, but don't you think you might be getting a bit too much into all this Dark Arts stuff?' Harry asked carefully.

The look Hermione gave him would have withered a plant had there been any in the vicinity. 'And why exactly do you think that is?'

'Because it's all you ever talk about. You almost sound like Snape.'

'And what's wrong with that? In case you've forgotten, Snape is a war hero and all that. You of all people should have some respect for him.' Hermione stabbed her finger into Harry's direction.

'I do. You know that I do. I think he is really brave and everything. And I don't hate him anymore, but that still doesn't mean I have to like him all that much,' Harry said.

'I suppose not. But it's actually very nice to work with him. He knows so much not only about the Dark Arts or potions, about other things, too. He's really really brilliant.'

'Don't you think it's odd, though? Him hanging around the manor all the time?' Neville piped up.

'Why? He's using the library, just as I do.' Hermione, a bit calmer now, took a sip of her tea.

'But isn't he living there as well?' Harry asked.

Hermione shrugged. 'You know his house burnt down, and he hasn't been back that long. Besides, he and Lucius Malfoy are friends.'

'Honestly, who would want to be friends with Lucius Malfoy. I mean the man was a Death Eater. He should be rotting in Azkaban if you ask me,' Neville said.

'I know, it's a shame. Hermione, couldn't you dig up some dirt on him while you're there?' Harry's face suddenly lit up.

Hermione stared at her friend. 'Really, Harry, you can't be serious. He has willingly opened his house and his library, and you expect me to go snooping around? Even if I'd do it, and even if I'd find something, you couldn't use it as evidence anyway. Besides, he has been perfectly nice to me.' Hermione couldn't believe that she was coming close to defending Lucius Malfoy, but it was true. So far, he had indeed been amiable towards her.

Harry raised his hands in mock defeat. 'Right, I give up. But Neville is right; it is strange that Snape is there all the time.'

'I told you they're friends.'

They didn't touch on the subject of Snape and Malfoy or Hermione's possible love affair with the Dark Arts again, and a pleasant afternoon was had by all.

~*~

With a frustrated sigh, Hermione put down the manuscript she had been holding. She had been trying to decipher the code for hours now and hadn't even come close to making sense out of a single line. She looked at Severus, who was trying the same with a different manuscript. He was bent over it in concentration; his prominent nose nearly touched the paper while his black hair obscured most of his face. She loved to watch him when he was working. He always gave the task at hand his full attention, shutting out everything else. Sometimes she had the impression she could almost see the way his brilliant mind worked as he came to a conclusion.

With only a few days to go, she started to wonder what Christmas at the manor would be like. Would Lucius invite important people to a sumptuous dinner to celebrate in style? Or would it be a smaller affair, or just the two of them? Would Draco be there, or would he prefer to be with his own friends? Did Christmas mean all that much to Lucius now that his son was grown up and his wife had remarried? And Snape? Did he care at all, or would he prefer a quiet day with a good book? Hermione suddenly remembered a Muggle tale from her childhood and pictured Snape saying 'bah, humbug' at the mention of Christmas. The image made her giggle.

'And what exactly is so funny, Miss Granger?' Hermione found Severus watching her intently.

'Nothing, I just remembered something.'

Severus merely raised an eyebrow.

'I can't make heads or tails out of these. I have been at it since this morning, and it still doesn't make sense. It feels like it is all there, and I just don't see it,' Hermione said.

'Given that these are coded documents, it is, indeed, all there as you put it, but the point in using a code is that one is not meant to "see" it unless one knows the required key,' Severus observed.

'Yes, thank you, the definition of what a code is will certainly help us a great deal,' Hermione answered quickly.

'I was merely pointing out that the inability to decipher these is not necessarily your shortcoming,' Severus said.

Had he just complimented her? Hermione smiled. 'So what it comes down to is that we need to find the key to these.'

'Indeed, and then we must hope that the other codes work in a similar fashion.'

Hermione looked at the manuscript again; she suddenly realised how tired she was and said, 'I think, I'll call it a day. Good night, Sev... Mr Snape.'

Hermione left quickly before he could reply with a sarcastic comment on her nearly using his given name. Working with him had become so agreeable that she had started to refer to him as "Severus" in her mind. She would have to make sure not to slip again.

~*~

Sitting at the small desk that was tucked into a corner of her living room, Hermione rifled through the stack of parchments before her. Where was the damn thing? She got up and searched through her bag again; still, the sheet with the notes she had made that day was nowhere to be found. She must have left it in the library, which meant she couldn't do much before the holidays were over.

Unless she went back to fetch it. But it was late and Christmas Eve. Wouldn't Lucius think that an intrusion into his privacy? She glanced at the little Muggle clock that was sitting precariously on the edge of a shelf overflowing with books. It wasn't really that late. Still...

On the other hand she hated to be forced to inactivity until after Christmas. Hermione chewed on her bottom lip as she was trying to make up her mind. After a few more moments of indecision, she glanced at the clock again. She would quickly Apparate to the manor, go quietly to the library and fetch her notes. Nobody would even realise that she had been there. Quickly slipping on a pair of comfortable shoes and the robes she had worn during the day, she left again for the Malfoy home.

~*~

The usual elf appeared out of nowhere to greet Hermione despite the late hour. 'Good evening, miss. Can Tinky get miss anything?'

'No, thank you, I just forgot something. I'll be quick.' The elf scurried away. Hermione looked after her. It was nearly unbearable how nervous they always were. Something really needed to be done about this, though she hadn't actually seen Lucius mistreat any of the elves. But that was probably only because he wanted her good opinion to be passed on to the Ministry.

Hermione was deep in thought about the plight of the house-elves before she noticed that this was the first time she was in the house at night. She paused for a moment. It wasn't half as scary as she had thought. So far, her whole experience at the manor hadn't been bad. On the contrary, the library was marvellous, her host was pleasant, and sharing her workspace with Severus was surprisingly enjoyable. The house looked different than she remembered it. She couldn't pinpoint it, but somehow it seemed a bit warmer despite its appearance that was clearly designed to impress visitors, not to make them feel at home.

Hermione stood in the corridor that led to the library and then abruptly turned around in the direction of the drawing room. Outside the door, she paused. Did she really want to do this? She took a deep breath and slowly, very slowly pushed the door open. She paused again. One step, another, and then she was inside the very room that had haunted her for so long. At her entrance, a number of candles had flared to light. Other than that, nothing happened.

Hermione stood very still until suddenly the memories came flooding back to her. She heard again the leering words of Fenrir and felt the nameless terror they had inspired in her. She saw Draco turn away in disgust at what was happening, and Lucius retreating to the back of the room, his face blank. She heard again the mad, cackling laughter of Bellatrix Lestrange while her body convulsed under the excruciating pain of the Cruciatus Curse. She wasn't aware that tears were streaming down her face, then someone screamed.

'Miss Granger?' A voice from somewhere beyond the haze of pain and fear.

'Miss Granger, are you all right?'

She jumped when a hand lightly touched her arm. Coming back to the present, she found Lucius Malfoy standing in front of her, a look of concern on his face.

'No, I am bloody well not all right, thanks to you and your... your cronies. You just stood there and let it all happen. Did you enjoy watching? Would you have let her kill me? Would you have enjoyed turning me over to your werewolf friend? You just... You...' The accusations she hurled at him turned into helpless anguished sobs. It seemed, now that she had started, she couldn't stop crying.

Lucius didn't say or do anything. He just stood there, waiting until Hermione had finished. When her desperate crying had turned into little dry heaves, he Conjured a glass of brandy, took a handkerchief out of his robes and handed her both without saying a word.

Hermione's hand was shaking, but she took a sip of the dark liquid. Its fiery warmth ran down her throat into her stomach, making her feel calmer. She took another sip and drew a few deep breaths. Lucius still hadn't said a word.

'I am sorry. I shouldn't be snooping around. I'll go.' She just wanted to be home, curled up in her warm bed.

Lucius didn't move, still watching her, his eyes holding an expression she could not discern. 'Would you do me the favour to share a glass of wine with me, Miss Granger?' His tone was carefully neutral.

'Are you trying to get me drunk?' Hermione asked.

'I was merely offering conversation... and company.' Still the same guarded voice.

'Here?'

'No, my study is more comfortable.' A little bit of warmth had infused both his voice and his eyes.

Hermione nodded. She didn't trust him, but she didn't really want to be alone. It didn't occur to her that she had just agreed to be alone with Lucius Malfoy.

He led the way to his study. As she settled into the leather sofa, she thought that the study was indeed cosy; it was a striking difference to the rest of the house.

Lucius handed her a glass of dark, red wine. He remained standing, leaning comfortably against the edge of the desk and silently raised his glass to her. Hermione had to admit that the wine was excellent. Her parents had made sure that she was able to distinguish a good vintage from cheap vinegar, but she rarely had had occasion to benefit from that knowledge in recent years.

'How is your research coming along, Miss Granger?'

Grateful for his choice of topic, Hermione answered, 'Very well, thank you. The books you have are a great help. They contain descriptions of curses I have never come across before. We've started on the manuscripts, but a lot of them are written in code, and unless we either manage to decipher it or find a key, we won't be able to do anything with them. It's great though, that all this was written down.'

'Yes, it seems in earlier times people were very meticulous about making records about the spells they invented. Actually, Severus still does that.'

So he had retained that habit, Hermione thought, remembering his old Potions book. 'I know, we came across one of his old school books back at Hogwarts. It's amazing he still does that.'

'Hm, yes, Severus is very thorough in every thing he does, very inventive, too.' Lucius smiled, pouring them another glass of the fine wine.

The study felt warm and safe as they drank quietly. Mesmerised, Hermione watched Lucius circle the rim of his wineglass with his finger. Her eyes followed the slow motion wishing his finger would slip into the red liquid. Someone would have to lick it off, then. Around her the room started to fade slowly.

Smiling, Lucius looked at her before he said softly, 'Contrary to what you may think, Miss Granger, I do not enjoy violence. It is crude and uncivilised.'

That was the last thing she heard before she drifted into nothingness.