Chapter 3

Disclaimer: See Chapter One please.

Thanks to my betas whose names are being held until the reveal.

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Hermione approached the bed cautiously. It was as if she expected him to wake up and grab her. She decided to do what always made her feel better: talk.

"Hello, Professor," she said, taking a seat in the chair next to his bed. "I wanted to come down here to talk to you before, but I was a bit silly and didn't have the courage. Some Gryffindor, eh? I expect you'd take points from me for that if you could."

Feeling bold, she leaned closer and peered down at his face. He hadn't even been forty-years-old when he'd been killed. Most of those years he'd lived doing all he could for someone he hadn't even liked.

"No," she said softly. "It wasn't for Harry, was it? It was for his mum." She smiled sadly. "Even in death you aren't with her. I'm so sorry for you, sir." Harry had told her that his mother and father were always together the times he'd seen them. She doubted that Harry's father would want Snape around in the afterlife...or that Snape would want to be around him.

"You deserved so much better than what you got. What would you have done with your freedom after Voldemort died? Would you have kept your job as headmaster?"

She brought a hand up and slowly extended it towards his face, unable to resist touching him. His flesh was cold and quite firm beneath her fingertips. It reminded her of her grandmother's funeral and when she'd clasped the woman's hand affectionately in goodbye. Death did so much to the body. Would his body be the same if he returned to the living? Surely it would return back to normal.

Her hand fell away from his face as she sat back in her chair. It was all so complicated. What did the tome want them to do? Were they to follow the steps in Lucius' inherited book? What if his grandfather was right and it asked them for something they couldn't give? Hermione's eyes found Snape's face again. Why wouldn't he deserve a chance to live again? After all, Harry might not have had the chance to defeat the Dark Lord if Snape hadn't done all that he had in his life. In fact, if Snape hadn't kept his word to Dumbledore, things would have been much worse, and Harry wouldn't have found out the key to victory...or more about his mother's past.

"I swear I will do all that I can to help you, Professor. Just like you asked me in my dream." She shivered slightly, both from the cold room and from the memory of her dream. "That was you, wasn't it? You said that you wanted me to help you."

Wanting to move about to bring some warmth back into her body, she stood and began to pace next to his bed. "Do you think that you could send a message some other way? Those dreams are very disturbing, you know." She laughed. "I feel stupid right now, talking to you as if you can hear me." Then she paused. "Er... can you? How would I know? Could you send me a sign? If you truly want my help and possibly a new chance at things, let me know somehow. I'll talk to Lucius."

She stopped and looked at him again. "He's been very helpful and seems to genuinely miss you. That's a start, isn't it? At least you'll have one friend ready to welcome you back, and I'm sure his wife and Draco will be happy also." Resuming her pacing, she added, "Maybe even we could be friends. I would like that."

"I think he would like that, too, Hermione," Lucius said from the doorway, causing her to startle.

Spinning to face him, she asked, "Do you think so? I don't believe he's ever really liked me." She frowned. "In fact, I know he didn't...not when I was a student." A chuckle escaped her. "He thought me a pesky know-it-all and didn't mind letting me know it either."

"Well, people change with age. I am certain you aren't the same woman now as the girl he knew." He arched an eyebrow. "Am I right?"

"Yes," she agreed. "Oh, and when Phineas called me a Mudblood, he told him not to call me that. That's defending me, isn't it?"

"It is." Lucius seemed to shiver slightly. "Come. Let's go up and talk where it's not so cold."

"All right." She looked back at Snape's body once more before following Lucius out. He seemed so peaceful. Was she making the right decision in interfering? As she placed a hand on the door to close it behind her, the fain scent of absinthe wafted towards her. The person in her dream...Snape...had the scent clinging to him. Was this the sign she'd earlier asked for? She decided to remain silent and go up to Lucius' study with him.

"I'll get right to the point," he said the moment she entered. "My answer is yes. Whatever needs doing, I will do it."

"I had decided to go through with things, too," she said. "Why shouldn't he have a second chance at life after all he's done for everyone."

"Exactly."

"And by doing this, we might possibly have a break through...there might be a way around death!" she said excitedly. "I never thought I would be involved in something this big, this important after what we've done so far."

He opened his mouth, closed it, and cocked his head to the side. "I thought you understood that what we do here is to be between us."

"Yes, this is. I'm aware of that. However, I never said that I wouldn't use my knowledge for anything further once this is all said and done. There are ways around oaths, depending on how it's worded." She smiled. "Please trust me. All right?"

"I suppose I haven't any choice," he said, losing the smile on his face.

"Listen," she said, extending a hand to him, "we're in this together. You've proved to me that you can be trusted. Nothing you tell me will come back to haunt you."

Lucius took her hand in both of his, caressing her wrist with his fingers momentarily before lifting it to his lips to place a kiss on her palm. "I thank you for that. Your trust, it means a great deal to me." He kissed her palm again, adding, "If the friend of Harry Potter can accept that I've changed, maybe others will start to see it, too."

Feeling a little uncomfortable, yet mesmerized, she pulled her hand back, glancing at her palm for a second. "Shall we go over your grandfather's information now?" she asked, proud that her voice didn't waver. The man was certainly fascinating.

The rest of the day passed with them working very closely together, learning all they could. Hermione found herself enjoying his company, and she truly marveled at his intelligence, which shone through in all of his suggestions. If anyone had ever told her that she'd become friends with Draco's father, she'd have asked who'd Confunded them. By the time he forced her to have dinner with him, they'd worked through many of the pages and discovered three charms that would be necessary during the process. Most of the ingredients had been easy to figure out; however, the pages mostly had the text in some sort of code, giving them riddles to finding out answers.

"Why didn't I see it before?" she said tiredly.

"We're both exhausted. This hasn't been the easiest day." He rubbed his eyes and blinked. "Now, what is it you see?"

"Absinthe."

"Well, what would be the point of that?"

"No, it makes perfect sense." She pointed to the second paragraph. "I read in a Muggle library once that if it's burned with Sandalwood as an incense, then you can communicate with the dead." Without thinking, she placed a hand on his shoulder. "In my dream, there was an overpowering smell, almost to the point of suffocation."

"Absinthe!"

"Right in one." When he noticed her hand, she quickly withdrew it. "And earlier, there was a whiff of it down there as well."

"And Muggles know about this?" he asked incredulously.

She shook her head. "It's an old myth mostly. I doubt there are many who actually still practice these rituals. When I learned I was to go to Hogwarts, I checked out everything I could about magic, myths, herbs... you name it. This just came to me. I knew there was something I couldn't pinpoint. This has to be it. See how it fits perfectly?"

"But how did they even hear of this?"

"Small circles. Someone in a pub spilling our secrets. Who knows? But think of it. There are many things the Muggles have in literature that we know to be fact while they think it to be fiction or simply the practices of long ago people."

"Well, that explains it," he said with a nod.

"How so?"

"It explains how you got better marks than Draco at Hogwarts. He's never read any of this Muggle information."

She laughed. "No, I expect he hasn't."

"I shall have to look into their libraries and see if anything interests me."

"Yes, do that! I could even help you...er, if you'd like, that is."

"Certainly." He placed the parchment on top of the stack on the nearby table and looked at her intently. "Are we done with this for tonight?"

His voice had changed slightly, was somehow deeper, and warning bells went off in her mind. She rose. "Yes, I'm afraid I can't stay up any longer." She faked a quick yawn. "I'll bid you good night."

As if sensing her panic, he smiled in amusement. "I suppose a night cap is out then?"

"Yes, sorry. I'll see you in the morning."

"Until then."

Once in her room, she closed the door and leaned against it, breathing deeply. What the hell had got into her? What sort of spell was he weaving? She couldn't help but to be attracted to him, as he was a very handsome man. However, she had a boyfriend who loved and trusted her, who'd been waiting patiently for her. Letting this man kiss her hand and say such things, make innuendos, was wrong. Tomorrow, things would be different, she vowed. I'm going to make certain he maintains his distance. He's just lonely, maybe hungry for approval, and I simply happen to be here.

"Bozzy is here for you, miss," said the house-elf immediately after he popped into her room. "He has put clothes for you on the bed. Is you needing anything else, miss?"

"No, thank you though. I appreciate it."

He smiled, nodded, and popped away again. "Poor Dobby hated it here and seemed to have been mistreated, yet Bozzy... he seems happy." That alone warmed her heart and proved something to her. She went about her evening ritual of readying for bed and was able to fall into a deep slumber...until nearly morning when the dream came for her again.

A chilly breeze swept through the room, turning the pages of the book so fast that she couldn't make out anything, and just as quickly as it had started, the ghostly winds stopped, leaving the book open at the halfway mark, its bloody text running along the page a little.

Your virgin blood. You are chosen, Hermione Granger.

"No!" she said out loud. "I will not be a sacrifice!"

"You needn't die," said a voice from the dark corridor...his voice.

"Professor? I know it's you," she said, trying to sound brave, though her heart was pounding so loudly, she could barely hear her own thoughts.

Thump. Thump.

Thump. Thump.

And then he was there, filling the doorway with his presence, the candlelight casting an eerie glow about his face, his lank hair falling over his features, covering his gaze from her detection.

"Hermione..."

"What is it you want from me?"

"You, just you."

"Stop it!" He'd stepped closer and fear clutched her insides.

"You need no signs to tell you what to do, Hermione. My word is good enough. Give me life."

"But how?"

He lifted a pale hand and pointed a long finger towards the tome on the desk. As he moved closer the scent of absinthe became stronger. However, this time she could also detect a minute amount of sandalwood, which made it less suffocating and overpowering.

"Please stop, Professor. I'm afraid." And she was.

His mouth curved into a malicious sneer, and his head lifted ever so slightly, giving her the first direct view of his eyes...black as night, yet glinting menacingly. His steps brought him closer, one hand reaching for her."

"NOOOOOOOOOOOO!"

"Hermione! Are you all right?"

She sat up in bed and scooted as far away from the silhouette and its grasping hands as she could.

"Leave me alone!"

"I mean you no harm," Lucius said. "I heard you screaming. I thought to help you."

"The dream," she said finally. "Much worse this time." Her hands shook terribly, and her hairline around her face was dampened with sweat. "Look at me. I'm a mess."

"Bozzy!" he called.

Pop! "Bozzy is here, sir."

"Bring the potion labeled Sleeping Draught from my bedside," Lucius commanded. With a nod, the elf popped away. "No more terrible dreams will haunt you this night, Hermione."

"I shouldn't take anything. It never comes twice in the same night."

"Because, as you told me before, you usually don't go back to sleep after. I must insist you take this draught. There's no shame in it. I, too, have to use it at times."

She nodded and allowed one of his hands to clasp hers tightly in reassurance. When Bozzy popped back in and handed the phial to his master, she said nothing, only accepting it gratefully when Lucius then handed it to her. With a single deep gulp, she already felt calm and drowsy.

"Thank you, Lucius."

"I will sit here until you are asleep."

"There's no need. I'll... be... fine." Her eyes drifted closed for a moment. When she opened them again, Bozzy was gone, and Lucius was closer, gazing down at her intently.

"Sleep, my dear. May your dreams be more pleasant."

Hermione smiled and watched as he moved to lie next to her, propped up on his elbow to keep a watch over her, and she fell into slumber, welcoming the dark peace awaiting her.

And he was right. The next dreams she had were much 'more pleasant' indeed.

A bare-chested Lucius slowly unfastened the buttons on her nightgown to reveal her breasts. "Full, yet perky," he said with a smile as he lowered his head to take an erect nipple into his mouth.

Hermione sucked in a breath and arched up towards his mouth and kneading fingers...oh, the pleasure his swirling tongue and lips were giving her. Her fingers clawed at the bed sheet while she writhed. Ron had never made her feel like this, but if he had, she would have....

"Oh, yes," she uttered as she felt his teeth lightly nick her. Lucius Malfoy, who would have thought he could make her feel this way, would want to make her feel this way.

Everything was foggy, and she knew it to be a dream, but it all felt so real to her. One of his hands slid down, cleverly delving beneath her knickers to fondle her, a finger sliding along her labia. "You're so hot for me, aren't you?" he asked, his voice a low purr.

"T-touch me," she begged, pressing against his hand.

His head moved down to her stomach, tongue laving a trail along her flesh. She lifted her head to watch and enjoyed the way his long, platinum locks slid over her skin. When his lips finally found his fingers and his tongue began to explore her intimately, she moaned in delight.

Fingers. Mouth. Tongue. Emotions. So quick, so practiced, so good.

"Don't stop!" she pleaded as culmination came for her.

And then it was over, the explosion leaving her boneless, mind wandering and drifting towards darkness. The last thing she saw was him sitting up and wiping off his mouth with dainty fingers, a feral grin on his face.

When her eyes closed, she heard him speak. "Now, now, Severus. I know she's yours, but one must be allowed a little amusement."

Though she fought to open her eyes, they wouldn't obey. Instead she knew nothing else until hours later.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

"You've been avoiding me all day, Hermione. I demand to know what's going on!" Lucius said, finally cornering her in her room.

"Just been busy, is all."

"I don't believe it." He crossed his arms over his chest. "Have I offended you in some way?"

Shaking her head, she said, "No, I just..."

"Tell me about your dream then if that's what it is."

Her eyes narrowed. "And just how do you know about it?" She'd had her suspicions upon awaking and finding her nightgown misbuttoned, but she'd been so tired that it could have honestly been her error. However, the sexual dream of him left her feeling very unsettled.

"I heard you crying out and went to wake you if you'll remember!" he said indignantly. "How do you think you had the Sleeping Draught? Bozzy brought it to you on my order!"

"Oh, I thought..." She shook her head in embarrassment.

"Yes?"

"Nothing. There was another dream...after that one." She could feel her cheeks reddening. "I don't mean to be edgy, but I can't help it."

"Would you like to talk about it?" he asked after a moment.

"The second dream? No."

"Perhaps I should have requested Dreamless Sleep for you," he said thoughtfully. "I apologize. Was it Severus again?"

"When you came to me, it was, yes. I could see him. He looked frightening and almost... sinister."

"This is nothing new." He chuckled lightly.

"But he's never really looked this way to me. Anyway, he said that I needn't die, and he also said that he wants me." She bit her lip. "He pointed to the book, and its page read that my virgin blood was needed."

"Yours in particular?"

"Yes. What are we going to do? The ingredient list for the potion has virgin blood on it."

"We'll just cut your finger and be done with it."

"No," she said with a shake of her head. "It has to be from... intercourse."

"That does pose a problem then." He frowned. "I know a spell that would sort of Apparate any blood spilled into a nearby phial. It should work the same way. Your beau needn't even know what you are about."

"My beau?"

"Are you not one of a couple?"

"Oh, yes, but..."

"The row you had the other day, would that interfere with this?" he asked curiously.

Knowing she needed to be honest, she said, "Yes, we'd nearly done this the night before, but I just couldn't bring myself to do it for some reason. He and I argued about it."

Lucius nodded, eyes alight. "The tome! It must have influenced you, knowing you shouldn't waste your... ah..."

She smiled. "I've been wondering about that, too, and will have to agree with you.

"That was days ago anyway. I'm certain a little 'making up' is in order," Lucius said with a knowing smile. "Surely you've talked since then?"

"He'll probably be home in a couple of days. His letter didn't sound angry."

"Are you up to it?"

Hermione felt uncomfortable for a moment. It was strange to be talking to him about this. "I mean... I don't know. I suppose I'll have to, but I just thought that our first time would be something special, the place and reason left up to us when we both felt right." She sighed. "This seems too contrived."

"I am certain that he, as any other male, will quite appreciate it regardless."

"But will I?"

"You'll have many years to make up for it," he said, an edge in his voice. "This is obviously a very important step in the potion's process. You agreed that you would see to it..."

"And I will," she snapped, suddenly angry. "Have you read anything new?" she asked in hopes of lightening the mood.

He drew himself up to his full height and towered over her. "I did, yes, and if you'll be so kind as to stop avoiding me, you can find me in my study...where I have the information ready for you."

"I didn't mean to..." But she was speaking to an empty room. He'd left as he spoke. Hermione took in a few deep, calming breaths, deciding to push the vivid dream of Lucius out of her mind. It wouldn't do to dwell on something that wasn't his fault, ruining their comradeship.

When she found him in the study, he was sipping on something from a tumbler. "I apologize," she said plainly.

He nodded and indicated the chair next to him. "There are two things we must do. First, we have to make a crown to place on Severus' head...one made of henbane."

"Like the dead who used to walk beside the River Styx! I've read about this, too."

"Good. Then you will know how to fashion one," he said curtly.

"I can certainly try. It's very poisonous though."

"There is something else here... Where is it?" He sifted through his notes. "Ah, here we are. We'll need three phials of black cat oil and have aloe soaking in it...for nine days total."

Her brow furrowed. "What's this for?"

"Oh my! Something you did not learn in your vast reading of Muggle myths and literature?"

"Apparently not."

"We're to anoint our foreheads with this, as well as Severus'.

"What's it do?"

"It, ah, will help us to summon him and will give us protection against him."

"Protection against him? Why would we need that? Won't he be pleased to see us, to know what we've done?"

"Hermione, don't you remember anything about what was said yesterday? He won't be himself at first. He'll have hungers that must be sated." Lucius arched an eyebrow. "You don't think I plan to be a meal, do you?"

She laughed as the image flitted through her mind. "I am sure that's not what it meant. We'll just set some food out for him, though you'd think he'd have other things on his mind once he comes back."

"Perhaps we need to read more on that and find out exactly what it means," he said thoughtfully. "Has the tome revealed anything new today?"

"Not yet." She looked around. "Where is your family owl? I would like to use it to send a letter to Ron. I never did reply to him."

"Come. I'll show you. After that, I must leave for a while, but you can use that time to search more about this hunger thing."

"Oh, will you be late?"

"I am not certain. Why?"

"Harry, he's going to be home tonight, and I won't be able to stay here. He'll think... you know... something."

"I understand. You are welcome to stay as long as you'd like, but you are still free to come and go as you see fit. This way."

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

"Kreacher, is Harry home?" Hermione asked.

"Master is staying away from home again. He is sending us news that he is going to be home tomorrow instead."

"Oh, all right," she said. "Thank you."

"Is miss staying away, too?"

"I might," she said with a smile. "There is some reading that I need to continue with."

"With the book miss asked about?"

She nodded. "Yes, that's what I've been reading. Do you know anything about the book?"

He shook his head, his bat-like ears flapping about. "I just knows it's a bad book. Master Regulus said it was," he said decidedly.

"It does have its troubles," she agreed. "Hopefully, though, I'm handling it all right so far." She flashed him a smile. "Have you been all right?"

The elf nodded, turned away, and busied himself with dusting. She watched him for a moment and appreciated that he'd had a full conversation with her. It was a very rare occurrence. She ventured up to her room and wondered when Ron would be writing back to her. She supposed it would take a while, considering he was in France.

After a long, hot shower, she decided that she would brave staying the night alone, as she'd done it many times before in her life...but not lately and not often, she added to herself. Once in bed, however, she changed her mind. She packed clothes for the next day, took out her Portkey, and quickly found herself in her small workroom at Malfoy Manor.

She hadn't seen Lucius for the rest of the day, and she hadn't made much progress in the book while he'd been gone either, so she was uncertain if he'd returned yet or that she should venture out to look since she had no news for him. Instead, she picked up the tome and went up to the room that was now "her" bedroom while staying at the Manor.

As she placed the tome on the bed, a breeze swept around her...not unlike the one in her dreams...causing her to look around, half expecting to see him there. Instead, she was alone with her room well lit. The tome opened in the gust, however, and pages were flipping of their own volition. When the breeze vanished, the book remained open.

Hermione instinctively knew this to be a sign. She crossed the room and began reading:

When the dead return to the world, there are three hungers that they will seek out in order to complete their transition back to the world of the living. These hungers must be sated before anything else can happen, or else you unleash the wrath of the undead upon the earth.

The first hunger comes in the form of thirst. Be sure to have a selection of drinks on hand so that the body may quench its longing for the most important need it has to survive. Water would be the logical choice, but it has been noted that some have acquired a taste for something else.

The second hunger comes in the form of appetite. Be sure to have an array of foods ready for the body to consume, as sustenance will be required in order to gain back strength and will. Something light would be the logical choice, as it's been without food for so long, but that varies from person to person.

The third hunger comes in the form of the flesh. Be certain that a worthy and willing person is available for the sating of lust. To find sexual release is the final stage of the return, and once it is completed, slumber shall settle in while the body and mind heal completely.

"Oh my God," she said aloud, realizing what her dreams had meant. It meant that the book wanted her to be the one to help him sate his lust. Why else would he have said he wanted her in those dreams? Why else would it have requested this of her? She was to make this ultimate sacrifice of her mind and body so that he could again find life.

But was it worth it?

Could she do it?

She leaned back against the headboard of the bed and drew her knees up to her chest, lost in thought. It was in this position that Lucius found her hours later.

"Hermione?" He knocked on the door and opened it. "Are you all right?"

Shaking her head numbly, she said, "I don't know."

He had a parchment and an envelope with him. "Should I return later?" he asked.

"No, I've got something to show you."

"Very well." He closed the door and moved towards her. "Potter knows you're here?"

"No, he's not home tonight."

"Ah, I see." He sat down and looked at her expectantly. She simply pushed the book to him, which was still opened to the page she'd read. "Good Lord."

"Exactly."

"What have you found out?"

"We're to start the potion tomorrow," he said, nodding towards the moon and pointing towards the parchment. "It's a new moon, and that's when it should be started. However, that would mean that we would have to have the, ah, contribution from you within three days. I have it all outlined right here."

She nodded. "I owled Ron earlier and told him how I was looking forward to his return home." Her words were laced with bitterness, and her puffy, red eyes met his finally. "I don't know if I can go through with this," she said calmly. "I wish that Professor Snape could return, but this is a very high price to pay, isn't it?"

"Do you remember my warning about the book?" he asked quietly.

"Yes, but..." Her voice cracked, and she trailed away.

"I will leave the decision in your hands, my dear, but please remember that I am not responsible for anything that happens if you chose not to do as it bids."

"Don't worry. You're still safe," she said sarcastically. "I need to sleep on it. Do you have... Dreamless Draught?"

"I do indeed. I'll have Bozzy bring it to you straightaway." He stood and placed the envelope before her. "From Weasley, I presume. Good night."

"Night."

Still partially shocked at what she'd learned, she opened the envelope to see what Ron's reply was.

Hermione,

I've been doing a lot of soul searching while here, and I don't know that I should come home until that's done. There's just been so much going on between us...like what happened before I left. I've tried to get past that, and I will eventually. It's just hard for me right now. George and I are on the verge of the biggest deal of our lives, and I have us clouding my mind.

The people are great here, and there are many places I'd like to visit while I have the chance. I think I'm going to take another couple of weeks to myself here. I hope you can understand that. You should use this time away from me to think about what you want as well. Maybe it's just not meant to be, you know? Maybe we're just comfortable with each other on a more friendly level, or at least you are, and it's why the next step never gets taken.

I do love you. Always have. You know that. I'm just confused.

Ron

She crumpled the letter and threw it across the room. This was the tome's fault! It had wrecked her relationship and was now asking too much of her. Tears began sliding down her cheeks. How could Ron do this to her at a time like this? Didn't he understand that it wasn't her fault?

"Here, miss," Bozzy said politely, obviously pitying her. "Miss will feel much better."

She sniffled and took the phial from him. "Th-thanks, Bozz-y."

No dreams found her this night.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Unfortunately for her, she remained in bed and fast asleep until nearly noon the next day. She'd wanted to rise earlier and figure out a plan or to try to find a way around what the tome requested. She wondered if Lucius had tried to wake her for breakfast. If he had, he probably assumed she needed the rest more than anything.

And then it hit her: Ron's letter. He sounded as though he'd been rethinking things where she was concerned. She vowed to not let any more tears fall and pushed those thoughts out of her mind until later. Fighting against the urge to visit Snape's body again, she went down to her workroom.

Just as she sat down, however, the door burst open and slammed against the wall forcefully. In walked Draco Malfoy. "So it's true!" he said in disbelief. "I had to see it for myself."

"Er... Hello, Malfoy."

"Granger, you shouldn't be here. Take your things and get out."

"I'm afraid that I can't do that."

"You can and you will. What's yours? I'll help you get it together," he said, moving towards her handbag.

"Leave off!"

"No, I'm warning you, Granger, get out of here."

"Draco!" Lucius yelled from the doorway. "How dare you come here and accost my guest!"

"Guest?" His voice held a note of incredulousness to match his face. "She might have been taken in by that rubbish, but I..."

"Calm yourself, boy!"

"Father..."

"You don't understand what's at stake here," Lucius said, coming into the room to grab Draco's arm. "Leave and return to your mother... immediately."

Draco looked back at Hermione and shook his head. She noticed that there was no malice in his eyes; it was actually more near a pleading look.

"Nothing untoward is going on. I promise you," she said, thinking he feared she was trying to move into his mother's spot in Lucius' bed.

"It's not that. You have..."

"Come here," Lucius said in an angry, gruff voice. She'd never seen the man look so mutinous. Even when he'd been her adversary, he'd always maintained a degree of coolness.

She watched as he pulled his son away from the room and heard nothing else from either of them after. "Likely put on a Silencing Charm or something," she mused aloud.

If Draco's purpose had served anything, it had given her a headache. She rubbed her temples. Perhaps this could be construed as a sign, too. Maybe she should heed his warning and get out before she got in too deep. Harry would be home, and he would have questions as well. What could she possibly tell him?

When Lucius returned, he looked like himself again. "I apologize for that," he said.

"How did he know I was here?"

"I went to see him yesterday, and it slipped out."

"You were in France?"

"Yes."

"Why didn't you tell me?"

"I was unaware that I had to report my activities to you," he said coolly.

"No, but it's so far away. It seemed like it would be worth mentioning."

"Not so far by Portkey and Apparition points," he said. "Have you come to a decision?"

She sighed. "I'm leaning towards no."

He nodded, and she could see his eyes narrow slightly. "And have you told the book this?"

At this, she laughed. "I didn't know I had to."

"It will warn you of something that you might lose. Will you be prepared for that?"

"I'm not prepared for much of anything," she said in annoyance. "I thought I might have to devote a large amount of my time, knowledge, and even money to this project. I had no idea it would be asking for something so personal."

"You were warned."

"Yes, I know all right."

"I believe your anger is misdirected. You've no one to blame but yourself."

She had to bite her lip to keep hateful words from spilling out of her mouth. "How would you like it if you were in this situation?"

"Who's to say I haven't been?" he retorted.

"Have you?"

"Similar."

"And you went through with it?"

"Look," he said to avoid answering. "What will you have me do? Severus does not like men in that way. It has to be a woman, and since out of the two of us, you are the woman..."

He let the rest hang between them. "Well, pity he doesn't like both!" she said with a growl. "Maybe we can get someone else here. Someone willing. I'm sure you can pay someone."

"But would she still be worthy, Hermione? That's what the book said, did it not? So far the only women I know of that the book thinks to be worthy are... Well, one is right here in front of me...the other one is long dead."

"It's all confusing! I mean, why me, of all the people out there?"

"I don't know," he said softly, stepping closer, "but there must be something about you that it deems worthy. It's an honor."

"Ron, he's not coming home," she blurted.

"Why ever not?"

"His letter said that he wants to take some time to see the sights there and to think about us. He suggests that I do the same."

"More the fool then."

"This bloody tome is coming between us!" she said bitterly. "Everything is just going out of control, isn't it?"

"Hermione, you'll have to go to him to convince him otherwise."

"I don't even know where he's going!"

"Owl him and ask him. Tell him you want to go to him."

"Why do you care?"

"Honestly?"

"Yes."

"I don't. If he never returns, it will not matter to me, but I know that he is the one whom you'd choose to couple with, and you will have to do it soon for the potion."

"Sod the potion!" she said, hitting the arm of her chair in anger.

"Severus needs us!"

"I just can't."

"And what if the tome decides to kill off Weasley or Potter as punishment? Can you take that? Because it just might do it, you know."

"Don't try to use my fears against me like this!"

"I'm not joking or trying to cajole you. I assure you this is very real. You must choose between what you want and what's for the best."

She closed her eyes and willed herself to calm down. Different images flitted through her mind: Snape gliding down the halls of Hogwarts, Snape on his broom refereeing a Quidditch match, Snape smiling at Professor McGonagall at the high table, and Snape hovering over her in the hospital wing with a worried expression on his face. And then she saw Harry laughing happily with Ginny and saw Ron playing chess, a thoughtful expression on his face.

"Have you started the base for the potion already?"

"Yes, when I woke this morning," he said hopefully. "Is this a yes?"

She swallowed thickly. "It is."

"I will work out a Portkey for you and give you a map of Apparition points."

"For what?"

"Aren't you going to go to Mr. Weasley?"

"I don't know if he'd welcome me."

"Very well. What of Potter?"

"Harry's more like a brother to me."

"But a life is at stake here."

"Want me to explain this to Harry then?"

"Well... no."

"There you have it," she said sourly. "And anyway, he and Ginny are in love. I couldn't ask that of him."

"Anyone else?"

"I will think about it. I have three days left."

"Two and a half."

She nodded. "Are you going to be all right with what's left of the potion for today?"

"It's nothing but simmering for today."

"I'm going to go home then. I've too much on my mind to be of any good. I'll have a talk with Harry when he gets home and tell him what I can about this." At his worried look, she held up a hand. "Stop right there. You know what I mean."

"Very well. I shall see you early tomorrow then?"

"Yes. Can I have a copy of the potion's outline to look over?"

"Certainly. Here."

"Thanks."

"Again, I'm very sorry about Draco. I'm sure his unkind words haven't helped the stressful situation you're in at the moment."

"I appreciate that, Lucius." She caught herself stepping closer to hug him and held out a hand for a shake instead. A small moment from the heated dream she'd had about him flitted through her mind. What if she had no choice but to approach him? Absolutely not! she said to herself, mortified.

"I bid you good day."

Hermione gathered her things, activated her Portkey, and left Malfoy Manor, much on her mind.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

"Hiya, Hermione," Ginny said brightly. "Where've you been? We got back hours ago."

"I told you," Harry said, saving Hermione from answering, "she told Kreacher she had to go to do some research for that secret project she's doing. Now don't badger her about it. You know she can't tell us."

Hermione smiled. "Harry's right. I'm sorry about that."

Ginny's smile, however, faded. "What's wrong?"

"Nothing."

"You've been crying, and you look terribly upset."

Harry's stormy expression joined Ginny's worried one as he asked, "Something you want to talk about?"

Knowing she couldn't tell Harry much anyway, especially not with Ginny there, she bypassed the subject of Malfoy all together. "It's Ron," she said sadly, letting the tears come back, unleashing the wretchedness from within. "He wrote to me, said he wants to stay in France for a couple of weeks to think things over...maybe deciding to end things between us."

She cried in earnest then and allowed herself to be taken into Ginny's arms. "But why?" Ginny asked, rocking her as she did so.

"We had a row before he left, and I guess... he must still be hurt over it."

Harry squatted down and patted her shoulder awkwardly. "Are you sure? George said he was supposed to be coming back in a couple of days? Maybe he's changed his mind."

Hermione wiped at her eyes and looked up. "You think so?"

"Want I should owl him?"

"Please, Harry."

"I'll do that now." He smiled at Ginny and left them.

"Let's get Kreacher to make us some tea, all right?"

"Sounds like a good idea to me."

"I guess this is as good a time as any to tell you, but I'll be staying here with you lot for a while."

Hermione's eyebrows arched. "Your mother is allowing this?"

"Well," Ginny said with a sly smirk, "I don't expect she had much of a choice." She held up her hand and showed Hermione the lovely ring on her finger. "Harry proposed! It's official."

"Congratulations! I'm so happy for you. Really."

"I only hope," Ginny said seriously, "that you and Ron will follow suit soon." She shook her head. "He'd better get his head out of his arse and quickly!"

Hermione said nothing to that and hoped that Ginny was right. There was so much she couldn't explain to her friends or to Ron, but she would try to make it up to them later...after the whole Snape mess was done with. This would teach her to get involved in things without knowing all of the particulars again.

---

A/N: Yes, let's hope she's learned her lesson. She's in a terrible mess.