Well, Hermione is making some really big life changes, so there is a lot to cover. And more Lucius is coming soon. I try to give him time every other or every third chapter. This part of the story is a bit of an exception since there is so much going on with Hermione. Chapter 13 is all Lucius. :)

Yup, they certainly have been known to take facts out of context and come to the wrong conclusion, haven't they? And he really is being such a good boy about her marital situation despite his desires.

Thank you. Glad you enjoyed. I hope that you will enjoy the rest of them (and a new one went about about the same time you reviewed)

I think you'll find the next chapter quite enlightening. To say more... just can't do it.

I still for the life of me cannot see why JKR would pair Ron and Hermione. I know she just recently admitted that perhaps that would not have been the easiest of relationships and would likely require therapy, but honestly the only way I would see it working would be for Hermione to give up part of who she is, which I don't think she would, and hence we get this story. And I just love how wonderfully perfect Lucius is being. He's working his way into her life so carefully that she doesn't really understand what's happening, does she?

It being not Ron can lead to all sorts of fun, can't it. And I'm so glad you love her relaxing environment. I think my muses knew I needed it when they fed the idea to me and revolted when I didn't act on it, only returning once my own tropical vacation was over.

Just might be.

Just might be.

Well, whether or not it's Malfoy will be revealed in the next chapter. As to whether or not it's a surprise, that might take longer. ;)

Well, whether or not it's Malfoy will be revealed in the next chapter. As to whether or not it's a surprise, that might take longer. ;)

Friends with benefits is a really good way to describe their marriage. As for how long it will last, I think Ron is just about on her last nerve and all it would take is someone to treat her as a valued equal - to realize what Ron isn't giving her in her relationship.

Friends with benefits is a really good way to describe their marriage. As for how long it will last, I think Ron is just about on her last nerve and all it would take is someone to treat her as a valued equal - to realize what Ron isn't giving her in her relationship.

It does hurt to see Ron being considerate when you are rooting for the breakup, doesn't it? This is Ron with the emotional range of a teaspoon, so I wouldn't expect it to last. As to the last, if you are referring to certain Potions Master, I'm afraid he won't be making an appearance. Since this is mostly canon compliant, he didn't make it.

I will say I did think long and hard about having Snape in the picture, but decided to keep this as close to canon as possible.

Well, I suppose you can't have everything... I'll be interested to see this side of Lucius develop, though. He's a very interesting character, even in canon!

It does hurt to see Ron being considerate when you are rooting for the breakup, doesn't it? This is Ron with the emotional range of a teaspoon, so I wouldn't expect it to last. As to the last, if you are referring to certain Potions Master, I'm afraid he won't be making an appearance. Since this is mostly canon compliant, he didn't make it.

I will say I did think long and hard about having Snape in the picture, but decided to keep this as close to canon as possible.

Well, I suppose you can't have everything... I'll be interested to see this side of Lucius develop, though. He's a very interesting character, even in canon!

Well, I wouldn't necessarily call it altruism. ;) After all it behooves him to have the best and brightest working for him, doesn't it?

Well, I wouldn't necessarily call it altruism. ;) After all it behooves him to have the best and brightest working for him, doesn't it?

I hope you enjoy this. I just wish it hadn't taken so long to get it out in public. As it stands right now, it's over 100k, so there is plenty of story to go. :)

I hope you enjoy this. I just wish it hadn't taken so long to get it out in public. As it stands right now, it's over 100k, so there is plenty of story to go. :)

Sometimes Ron really does get it right, doesn't he? Of course being Ron that's not likely to last, is it? Would be interesting if she would bump into a certain someone, wouldn't it?

Sometimes Ron really does get it right, doesn't he? Of course being Ron that's not likely to last, is it? Would be interesting if she would bump into a certain someone, wouldn't it?

Lucius just needed a nudge to re-engage with life. Of course he know has the condundrum that the person to give him that nudge is unavailable. Stay tuned for what he does and how she reacts. Thanks for your review.

Lucius just needed a nudge to re-engage with life. Of course he know has the condundrum that the person to give him that nudge is unavailable. Stay tuned for what he does and how she reacts. Thanks for your review.

I'm glad you like the portrayal of things five years on. For Hermione I imagine the library is a huge comfort to her since at Hogwarts her first response to anything she didn't understand was to run to the library. I just loved that brief little encounter and how something so simple can cause big ripples.

I'm glad you like the portrayal of things five years on. For Hermione I imagine the library is a huge comfort to her since at Hogwarts her first response to anything she didn't understand was to run to the library. I just loved that brief little encounter and how something so simple can cause big ripples.

Well, this is fanon Lucius who can be very charming, and he's rather bored with his current existence, so we'll see how she reacts to him.

Well, this is fanon Lucius who can be very charming, and he's rather bored with his current existence, so we'll see how she reacts to him.

The poor man really is lonely and I think that simple conversation with Hermione finally made him realize how pathetic and lonely his life really is. All it took was another wounded soul to snap him out of funk.

The poor man really is lonely and I think that simple conversation with Hermione finally made him realize how pathetic and lonely his life really is. All it took was another wounded soul to snap him out of funk.

I'm glad you like the beginning. I'm not a Ron/Hermione shipper, so don't expect too much here. As for the other, you'll just have to wait and see. :)

I'm glad you like the beginning. I'm not a Ron/Hermione shipper, so don't expect too much here. As for the other, you'll just have to wait and see. :)

I'm glad you like how I've portrayed Ron. I don't dislike Ron, I just tend to think that he's all wrong for Hermione. Though honestly I'd like to take the entire Ministry to task for the cavalier way Muggleborns seem to be treated - not told until they are 11 why they are so different which just leaves them as such outsiders when they start school and probably beyond. As to the library, you'll find out. ;) Thank you for yoru review.

I'm glad you like how I've portrayed Ron. I don't dislike Ron, I just tend to think that he's all wrong for Hermione. Though honestly I'd like to take the entire Ministry to task for the cavalier way Muggleborns seem to be treated - not told until they are 11 why they are so different which just leaves them as such outsiders when they start school and probably beyond. As to the library, you'll find out. ;) Thank you for yoru review.

I'm so glad other see that. Honestly, we're expected to believe that Ron figuring out to use the basilisk fang and repeating Parseltongue he heard Harry mutter in his sleep is supposed to be the uniting catalyst between someone who is not academic and loves quidditch and someone who values knowledge and education and eschews sports? I hope you enjoy the rest of the ride and thanks for the review. :)

I'm so glad other see that. Honestly, we're expected to believe that Ron figuring out to use the basilisk fang and repeating Parseltongue he heard Harry mutter in his sleep is supposed to be the uniting catalyst between someone who is not academic and loves quidditch and someone who values knowledge and education and eschews sports? I hope you enjoy the rest of the ride and thanks for the review. :)

It really was frustrating, wasn't it? And Lucius was being such a good boy, patiently waiting for things to work out in his favor.

Gilles definitely makes Lucius realize how big the age difference between him and Hermione is and it makes him nervous to a certain extent. Of course, he's doing what he can to make sure she never sees Gilles in a romantic light. And of course now that he's pretty sure he's done that, he can be quite confident with Draco. Poor kid, he's completely off guard, isn't he? And Connor has been so much fun. Creating new characters can be difficult, but Lucius really needed a good friend and since I stuck with canon on poor Severus' death, that left a big void. But in this case, I think having a married friend has been good for Lucius.

I really loved the scene with Draco. It's one of my all time favorite scenes I've written. And he definitely does want to say more, he's just too emotional to actually be coherent. I think it's also sinking in that his father has his minid set on pursuing Hermione. Talk about that being a potentially very awkward 'meet in the inlaws dinner' LOL

Yup. Ron is Ron. He definitely didn't want to lose Hermione and now he sees someone he can't stand and doesn't trust moving in on his territory. Not a good combination.

Hopefully they will be level headed. Harry is at least willing to give her the benefit of the doubt. Hopefully Ginny and some of the other Weasleys can be convinced. I think she is just now starting to realize how small her network of friends is, not that it's entirely bad, but it is isolating when so many are connected to your ex.