Chapter 23

Chapter 23

"Darling, you must do this," he urged gently.

She looked at the child bound to the table. "She's just a child."

"We both know that isn't true. Remember what she did in Liverpool." He could see the look of indecision on her face. He placed his arm around her shoulder. "There will be other children," he reassured her.

That seemed to stiffen her resolve, and she finally put the goblet to her lips and drank the foul liquid. Once again, Lucius felt the chill running through his body. Looking over at the child, he could tell that she was finally realizing what they were doing. When he approached her, she struggled against the magical bonds, trying to escape. Standing by her head, he looked into her cold grey eyes. "I wish it had never come to this. Your birth should have been a cause for celebration."

Placing his hand under her jaw, he used his fingers to pry her mouth open. "Hermione," he urged.

"I know. It's just..."

"Don't look at her eyes. Don't let her get to you. Remember all the death and destruction she has caused, what she will cause if not stopped. This is our final option."

Slowly, Hermione poured the potion into the girl's mouth. Tears streamed down her cheek.

Once the potion was poured, Lucius closed the girl's mouth and pinched her nose, forcing her to swallow. After she swallowed, he released her and moved closer to Hermione, wanting to comfort her.

For the first few seconds, nothing happened. Without warning, they both went rigid. Lucius thought it felt as though someone were trying to rip his soul from his body, and he began to wonder how much more abuse his soul could take. He jerked as the mysterious force tugged at him. It pulled and pulled until he could hardly stand it. Finally, it felt as though a rubber band snapped and the pain went away. He found himself thrown backwards into the wall.

The next thing he noticed was Hermione at his side. "Are you all right?" she asked.

Somehow, he had managed to keep his feet. "I think so. And you?" He placed his hand on her arm.

"Fine." She glanced over that worktable. Seeing the motionless form, she slowly moved toward the table.

Lucius held her arm, trying to stop her. "Hermione. Don't."

She tried to shrug off his grip. "I have to...make sure," she finished in a whisper.

He decided to let her go and took his place behind her.

Placing her hand on the child's cheek, Hermione could no longer control her emotions. She collapsed on the still body of her child, a child forced to be evil.

Lucius rubbed her back, trying to comfort her the only way he could. He knew that words would not help. After a short while, he realized that he would have to tell the others what had happened. If he waited too long, they would come. "I'll be right back," he whispered before gently kissing the side of her face.

After closing the door, he took a few deep breaths as he tried to determine how he would present the news to the others. He would stick with the basic facts. As he ascended the stairs, he found the others waiting for him.

"Where's Hermione?" demanded Harry.

"She is well. She just needs some time. The potion succeeded. The child is no longer a threat."

"What does that mean?"

"It means she's dead. Does that make you happy, Mr. Potter?" Lucius snapped. He instantly regretted it. He had always prided himself on being able to maintain his calm.

"Is there anything we need to do?" McGonagall asked.

"After we leave, I would like the child's body taken to my manor for interment. No matter what, she was a Malfoy, and I will show her the respect she is due." He shot Potter and Weasley venomous looks, daring them to talk back to him.

She replied, "I'll see to it. Is there anything else?"

"No. That will be all for the night. I would prefer you not wait up. I will see that she gets rest." He knew that Hermione would not want to be alone and would want to spend the night with him. Before they could say anything else, he returned to the dungeon.

He found Hermione still crying over their lost child.

"It's so unfair," she wailed as she collapsed into his arms. "She was so young."

"I know, darling." This was one of those situations where the less he said, the better it would be. When he felt her sobbing subside, he suggested, "I think you should get some rest."

"I don't want to be alone," she whispered.

"Come to my room." He gently led her away from the body. "She will be taken home and treated with respect."

"Really?"

He wrapped his arm around her shoulder. "She is family, and family is very important to me. You are very important to me." He was glad that the castle was quiet, that everyone was abed. They saw no one as they made their way to his room. Once there, he led her to bed and held her in his arms until she was asleep.

*************

Over the next several days, Hermione spent most of her spare time with Lucius. They didn't talk about what had happened. It just felt good for her to be around him. All effects of the spell were gone. Most of the time, she just sat in his room, doing research or homework, gaining comfort and drawing strength from his presence.

One evening she was sitting on the sofa with him, leaning against him, enjoying his embrace. "Why her?"

"The opportunity presented itself," he replied simply. "First and foremost he is an opportunist."

"If I hadn't been... What would he have done to me?"

He squeezed her tightly and kissed the top of her head. "You don't want to know."

"I do."

"It's not important."

"To you, no, but it is to me. You have saved my life several times. And I need to know if this was another of those times."

"I have no doubt he would have used you as some sort of bait to draw Potter to him. Or more appropriately, to a position where the other Death Eaters could have dealt with him. Please, I don't wish to discuss this. It's quite morbid."

"So they've done that with other children? I wasn't a special case?" She wasn't sure if this made her feel better or worse. To know others had gone through, and would go through, what she did nauseated her.

"No. You were not. You've seen some of the horrible Dark Magic out there. Can we please discuss something more pleasant? Perhaps discuss the guest list for our wedding?"

"Wedding?" She found this change of topic quite abrupt.

"Well, you did agree to marry me," he replied playfully as he leaned down and gave her several kisses on the forehead and cheek. "Or have you changed your mind?"

She started giggling. "No. I haven't changed my mind. But surely the wedding is some time off."

"I had thought that once the war is over would be a good time, and as you know, the end is coming very soon. The Horcruxes are destroyed." He caressed her arm.

"I know. It's just that there is so much to think about." A wedding was actually the furthest thing from her mind.

"If you would agree to it, you could wear my mother's gown. It would suit you perfectly. The house-elves will take care of the food and decoration as the ceremony would be held at the manor."

Playfully, she shoved him away and straddled him. "You would plan my wedding, take away my fun?"

"You have not struck me as the type to be concerned about social affairs, but if you wish to take a more active role... That would of course mean delaying our nuptials," he replied as he nuzzled playfully against her neck.

"Are you afraid I'll change my mind?" she asked as she rubbed against him.

"Not at all. It's just that the thought of living without you is unbearable."

"Would you marry me right now? Without the big ceremony or making it a social event?" She figured this was the best way to make sure he was sincere and silence Harry and Ron once and for all.

"Whatever you desire for our wedding is what you shall have. That is why I wanted to discuss the guest list."

"And if I said I wanted a small wedding, who would you invite?"

"Remus, obviously. Tonks and her family as they are just about my only remaining family." He thought a few seconds. "My mother and my sister."

"Hold on. Your mother is still alive and you have a sister?"

"My mother has been living in France for the last twenty years or so. And I have a half sister. My father disowned her for the same reason Andromeda was disowned."

"You haven't seen your mother for twenty years?"

He shrugged. "She didn't agree with my father's decision to support the Dark Lord. Now, who would you invite?"

"Why are you changing the subject?" she prodded.

"There is nothing more to discuss. I come from a very dysfunctional family, and I don't wish to dwell on it. I cannot change the past."

"I guess I'd invite a lot more people than you would. And if we had a big wedding?"

He chuckled softly. "I daresay that would be quite an interesting guest list. Anyone respectable in the business world would be invited, as would senior Ministry officials, and my family, of course. And then whomever you decided to invite. I think many would come just to see if I had been disgraced and if it was a sham. I would delight in lavishing you with affection." He pulled her close. "I would leave no doubt in anyone's mind that I do love you."

She returned the kiss for a few seconds before pulling away. "My parents!"

He tried to hold her to him, but she pulled away and began pacing. "What of them?"

"What are they going to say about this? You're about the same age as my mum."

He rose and wrapped his arms around her waist. "How could they disapprove of their daughter being in love?" He had forgotten that Muggles placed such importance on age.

"With someone who is something of a criminal."

"Reformed." He continued to lavish her with kisses.

She pulled away again. "Lucius, I'm serious. They don't really understand the wizarding world, and I'm sure Harry and Ron will explain things in a way that won't make you look good."

"Don't worry about your parents. I can sufficiently charm them so that they are assured of your well-being. And failing that, I have found that grandchildren are a wonderful unifying force."

"You wouldn't really charm my parents, would you?"

He realized she thought he was referring to magic. Chuckling softly, he replied, "Not the magical charm."

She sounded relieved, "Oh, okay. Grandchildren? More than one?"

"If you wish." He hoped that she did. Narcissa had only been able to bear Draco, and he knew that having a single heir was a great vulnerability.

After several seconds she replied, "I want to have more than one. I don't want our child being an only child. It's too lonely."

He started nibbling at her neck. "As many as you want, my dear."

"Even if I want a big family like the Weasleys?"

"Of course." He wouldn't mind a big family anymore. That way it would be Malfoys rebuilding the wizarding world.

She enjoyed his embrace for several seconds in silence. When she finally looked up, she asked, "What do you think will happen next?"

"What do you mean?"

"What will Voldemort do now? He has to know what we are doing."

"He will come here. He has been interested in this castle since he was a student. Have you investigated the Chamber of Secrets?"

"Of course we have. That was one of the first places we went."

"Do you think I might have a look around?"

"Why?"

"Well, I know that I see things differently than you do. You think very honestly and openly. No offense, but Gryffindors are not the best choice for finding concealed locations."

"I'll talk to Harry about it. He won't be happy, but I'll convince him you have a valid point."

*************

Reluctantly, Harry led Lucius and Hermione to the Chamber of Secrets. "I don't think you are going to find anything down here. We've been through every nook and cranny."

"Humor me, Mr. Potter. If your time is too precious, you don't have to remain." Lucius knew that there was no way Potter would leave him alone here with Hermione, especially after that comment. But that was according to his plan. Knowing that both Potter and the Dark Lord were Parselmouths, it was likely to be vital that Potter remain.

After half an hour, he could hear Potter getting restless, but he wanted to be thorough in his search. There was something in this castle that interested the Dark Lord, and Lucius was determined to figure out what it was.

At the end of the first hour, he could hear Harry and Hermione arguing in whispers. As he examined part of the wall, he thought he saw something and cast a cleansing charm, which revealed a carved serpent. "Mr. Potter, a moment of your time, if you please."

"What do you want?" Harry asked angrily.

Lucius pointed his wand at the carved serpent. "Have you seen this before?"

Leaning forward to examine the wall, Harry replied, "No. This wasn't here before. What did you do?"

"I merely cleaned the grime off the wall." Lucius stood back, letting Potter get a good look at the symbol on the wall. As Hermione moved next to him, he wrapped his arms around her and pulled her in front of him. They waited for Potter to speak Parseltongue and determine if there was a hidden door there.

After several seconds Harry spoke the words, and they watched part of the wall slide away. Since he was standing closest to the door, Harry choked from the dust that was disturbed as the door opened.

All three of them entered the revealed chamber, wands at the ready.

"I believe it is safe to assume from the dust here that the Dark Lord never found this chamber," said Lucius.

"Oh, really? And it was just luck that you happened to find it when he didn't?"

"Harry! That's enough. I'm sick of your childishness. People change. You just have to trust that he's telling the truth. I think that Lucius has done more than enough to earn everyone's trust." She started looking through the dusty and seemingly empty chamber.

Out of the corner of his eye, Lucius could see Potter glowering at him. "Thank you for your assistance in opening the door, Mr. Potter." He was pleased to see that seemed to incense Potter even more.

After five minutes, none of them had turned up anything. "Is it possible that someone took whatever was here long ago?" asked Hermione.

"It's possible that there was nothing here. Slytherin may have planned to use it for something, but left the castle before then. Of course, there might have been someone else that came down here in ages past. While Parseltongue is a rare gift, there are always three or four a generation."

"So this was a waste of time," lamented Harry.

"We found a previously undiscovered chamber. I do not consider that a waste of time. If there had been something here, you would not declare it so," chided Lucius.

"And if there had been something here, how do we know it would help us? It was probably some sort of Dark Magic," spat Harry.

"Contrary to popular belief, Salazar Slytherin was not a Dark Wizard. Yes, he was an advocate for complete separation of the Muggle and wizarding worlds, but he was not a supporter of Dark Magic." He thought about adding in a snide comment that Potter might have learned that had he paid attention in class, but decided that might not be wise.

Before he could say anything else, he felt a tugging and looked up towards the main castle.

"Do you feel it?" Hermione asked.

"Yes," he replied

"Feel what?" Harry asked.

"We have to get up to the others. The castle is under attack," answered Hermione.

"How do you know that?"

"We are Protectors. We are being drawn to protect the castle. We have to hurry." Hermione and Lucius ran out of the chamber, leaving Harry to follow.

When they emerged from the Chamber, they quickly found Luna and Ernie.

"It's time, isn't it?" asked Ernie.

"Yes," replied Hermione.

"Where do we go? Is it Voldemort?" asked Harry.

"It is," said Lucius. "As for where do we go, you need to stay with us. We can protect you."

"I don't need your protection," Harry replied defiantly.

"Harry, please, listen to him. Something happened to us when we were named Protectors. You need to be kept safe in order to defeat Voldemort. Stay with us, and we'll get you to him. Did you raise the alarm?" Hermione asked Ernie and Luna.

"We told as many as we saw and told them to spread the word," said Ernie.

The five of them hurried toward the main entrance. McGonagall met them along the way. Lucius stopped her. "You need to get the younger students away from the castle. It won't be safe for them."

"What do you mean?"

"The castle is under attack. The Dark Lord would not do that if he wasn't sure he could get through the protections. The children are the future and must be protected. Use the Floos as long as the network is open. Send them anywhere else."

"Surely not!"

"Minerva, please. He has been planning on taking the castle since his return. He believes there is powerful magic secreted here that will help him rule the world. He will stop at nothing. You must hurry. We will do what we can to protect the castle, allow them to escape. And you must send for the Order if you have not done so. Call in the Aurors. We will need anyone that will fight. He has many supporters."

An explosion in the distance caused the castle to shake. This seemed to spur everyone to action. Minerva summoned the ghosts to round up the children and professors. As the Protectors ran outside, they could see her sending a Patronus for help.

A/N: I once again want to thank Mimy for her help as a beta reader. As you can tell, this story is coming to a crescendo. Many thanks to those who have stuck with the story as it twisted and turned away from a straight romance and into something much more complex than I initially envisioned.