Redemption

Chapter 9

Lucius stared at the letter she had written, as he did most days. He had not expected anything like that from her. It was a very short letter, but he could tell that she truly did have feelings for him.

Realizing he was once again being sentimental, he shoved the letter back in the desk drawer. He hated showing emotional weakness. She was nothing more than his way to regain his place in society. Now that she was gone, he no longer had to live that act. He could continue working on earning the trust of the adults.

When he entered the drawing room, he saw Lupin sitting by the fire. "Lupin," he said politely.

"Malfoy," Remus replied in an equally polite voice.

The two of them had gotten along reasonably well since Lucius' arrival. He had gained the impression that Lupin was more forgiving than some of the others. Naturally, this worked to his advantage. "If I might disturb you, I wonder if you play chess?"

"I'm passable," Remus replied as he closed his book. "And you?"

"I used to be fairly decent. Would you fancy a match?"

Remus rose and moved toward the table. "Sure." He noticed that Lucius had already palmed two of the pawns. He chose the right hand and saw he would play the light pieces.

****

The first half of the match was played in relative silence as they two men gauged each other's playing styles. "So, you've really renounced You-Know-Who?" Remus finally asked.

"I have. I made a mistake many years ago. It cost me dearly to learn the error of my ways." He took Lupin's rook with his knight.

Lupin furrowed his brow as he studied the board. "Hermione mentioned how helpful you were. She seems to believe you have repented." He moved a pawn, placing Malfoy's queen in danger.

Malfoy frowned. His queen had been in a very commanding position, and now he was forced to move her to a more restrictive place on the board. "She is a very bright young woman. It was a pleasure working with someone as mature as she is."

Remus sat back, forgetting about the game. "The others don't seem to trust you."

"They have every right not to. I have done many despicable things." He had learned this was the best way to gain trust, be almost overly honest.

"You aren't bitter about this? I mean, are you happy with the current situation?"

"You've never been to Azkaban, have you? I have a hard time imagining anything worse than that. In my time in prison, I have learned that I don't want to go back. I will be an upstanding citizen so that I never have to experience that again. If it involves cleaning toilets, so be it. I have a warm bed, hot bath, and hot meals. More than I had during my incarceration."

Remus mulled the reply for several seconds. "That's an interesting outlook you've adopted. What are you plans for the future?"

"Do you know your plans for the future?" retorted Lucius.

"We aren't talking about me," replied Remus defensively.

"True. But I somehow doubt you know what you are going to do when this is all over. It is much the same for me. If our side prevails, I hope that the aid I have given will convince those in power that I have atoned for my sins and earned my freedom. If the Dark Lord wins... I somehow doubt I will survive. There isn't anything to drink around here, is there?" In the month since he had left his manor, he hadn't had a drink, and he was in a mood where he could really use one. The chess game had been partially successful in diverting his thoughts from Hermione, but Lupin had just brought them to the forefront again.

"There might be something. That's the sort of thing Molly doesn't approve of, but I have to believe someone has snuck something in. Probably in the dining room. No one goes in there."

After a few minutes exploration of the dining room, Remus turned up a rather dusty bottle of Scotch. "Well, looks like it's been around a while, but it should be good."

Lucius took a look at the label. He didn't recognize it and assumed it was probably something inferior, but at this point, he didn't care.

*****

Half a bottle of Scotch later, Lucius said, "You know, this isn't half bad once you've had several glasses."

"I've never been much of a Scotch man myself, so I'll take your word on it." Remus' words were starting to slur. "What possessed you to join up with Vol - hic - Vol - ol' what's his name, in the firs' place?"

Lucius downed what was left in his glass and poured himself another serving. "Didn't have a choice. As the heir, it was expected." He leaned forward and whispered, "Do you realize I have had very few choices in my life?"

Remus looked at him in disbelief. "No!"

Lucius leaned back and sipped at his drink. "It's true. My job, my friends, my wife: all chosen for me. Including becoming a Death Eater. I was taught what to think and not to question it. Changing sides marks the first real choice I've made in my life."

"Surely, you could have said no to being a Death Eater?"

"I would have lost everything. My father would have disinherited me."

"What happened to him?" asked Remus.

"Old bastard finally died five years ago." Lucius raised his glass in a toast. "One of the happiest days of my life." His father had been a tyrant. He tried not to think of the old man. Lucius' mother had been his father's second wife. He strongly suspected his father had poisoned his first wife when it became clear she would not give him a son. Because his father had been nearly ninety when he was born, the two of them were never close. All his life, he had been drilled about his responsibilities and duties, and what it meant to be a Malfoy. Here's to you, father. I'm going to marry a Mudblood, he mentally toasted before throwing back his drink. He chuckled at the thought of the reaction his father would have had to that news.

"Wha's so funny?" asked Remus as he refilled both glasses.

"Just thinking of how ignorant my father was. I like the idea he was wrong."

Remus proposed a toast, "To ignorant purebloods, may the light find them as it has you."

"Here, here," replied Lucius. "Now, while I can still make it upstairs, I think I should go to bed." He tried to stand and found the alcohol was affecting him more than he had thought, and he fell back in his seat.

Remus laughed. "Are you sure 'bout that?"

"Apparently not. Perhaps I shall stay down here?" He tried to stand again, more slowly this time, and shuffled across the room, reaching out for the doorframe, not sure he could tell which was the real frame and which the double. He turned when he heard Remus fall to the floor.

"I think perhaps I'll crawl. Standing seems to be too much work." He crawled past Lucius and half-crawled, half-walked up the stairs since his room was only one floor up.

Lucius looked at the stairs, debating whether he thought he could make it. Deciding he wasn't up to climbing three flights, he elected to stay in the room across the hall. Falling into what had been Hermione's bed, he swore it still had traces of her scent, and he was soon asleep.

*****

The search was going slowly. Ron had been correct; there were miles of corridors and searching them all was going to take a long time. They recruited Luna and Neville, though Neville was not able to master the spell.

When Hermione wasn't searching the castle for hidden chambers, she was helping Harry in his research to find the last two Horcruxes. The diary, ring, locket, and cup had already been destroyed. She was going through the clues they had been gathering, and she had maps and books strewn across one of the tables in the common room. Everything indicated they had enough information on the Ravenclaw artifact. Apparently, it was a silver dagger with a raven hilt. The raven's eye was a sapphire.

That still left the mystery of the sixth Horcrux. As yet, they had no firm information on what it might be. Logic dictated it would be something of Gryffindor's, but the only two Gryffindor artifacts had been safe at Hogwarts for decades. She and Harry both doubted it was the snake.

"Figure it out, yet?" Harry asked as he plopped into the seat across from her.

She stretched and yawned before replying, "Nearly." While it was late, it wasn't so late that she should be so tired. Sliding a note across the table, she said, "I don't think this is relative to the Ravenclaw Horcrux. I'll look at it later for locating the last one."

"Will you be ready by tomorrow?" he asked impatiently, only giving the note a cursory glance.

She shot him an irritated glance. "If you quit pestering me."

He realized what he was doing and mumbled an apology before moving to his favorite chair by the fire.

It was Friday night and she really wanted to solve this riddle so she could head upstairs. Tonight was the night she could open her next note.

Realizing her mind was drifting, she forced thoughts of Lucius out of her mind and concentrated on the clues for finding the Ravenclaw dagger.

After an hour, she announced, "This is the best I can do. I think that once we get there, we should be able to follow the rest of the clues."

"This is great, Hermione." He took the parchment from her hand and read through it. "I think I can do this on my own."

She gave him an exasperated look. "Harry, it has required two people to recover all the other Horcruxes. Why do you think this one will be different?"

"You and Ron have done enough. Staying back would let you continue the search for the magic in the castle."

"Ron and Luna have control of that. You need me on this one. Besides, you have to take me."

"No, I don't. You gave me the parchment." He waved it at her.

She smiled triumphantly. "Where are you going?"

He frowned when he realized she had tricked him. "This isn't funny, Hermione."

"No, it's not. I'll meet you early at breakfast, and we can leave after we eat. Good night, Harry," she said glibly before heading upstairs.

Harry wanted to follow her, but she made it to the stairs before he could catch her.

*****

Once safely in her bed, she pulled out the note. She was still amazed by how much she looked forward to Fridays so she could read the next one. With trembling hands, she opened the note.

My dearest Hermione,

Do not despair at our forced separation. And do not despair if you find your mind occupied with other affairs. I do not begrudge you this. I know that you are working hard to preserve our way of life. What you and the others are doing is incredibly important, and it should be your primary focus. I am not egotistical enough to think that you will think about me constantly. Well, not anymore, anyway.

I, on the other hand, have little else to do besides think of you. Rest assured, that when we finally get some time alone, it will be incredibly memorable. I have thought of a thousand places I would like to kiss you.

I will start with your fingertips and move up your arm. That little spot on your neck will receive some special attention before I tease your nipples to hardness and lave first one and then the other. I can almost hear your moans of pleasure. I felt horrid asking you to keep quiet during our last night together, but it was really for the best. Next time, we will have to ensure that no one can hear us, and you can be as vocal as you please.

Yours faithfully,

Lucius

She squirmed as she imagined once again being with Lucius. I wonder if I can slip away this weekend? she wondered. But she knew that headquarters was a busy place, and she wasn't likely to be able to sneak in and out of the house.

Given all the research she had been doing on Horcruxes, she could easily find an excuse to have to return to the manor. All she had to do was ensure that Ron and Harry were otherwise occupied so she didn't have to suffer one of them as her chaperone. Easter holidays were a little less than a month away; she could wait that long.

It didn't take long for her to drift off to sleep and dream of Lucius.

*****

After breakfast, Harry and Hermione left Hogwarts. The early morning air was frigid, and they could hear the grass crunching beneath their feet. Once they were outside the gates, Harry asked, "Are you going to tell me where we are going now?"

She pulled out a map and pointed at a location south of where they were. "Here. That will be our starting point. Hopefully, the landmarks haven't changed too much. And before you think of stunning me, I have information that's not on the page I gave you."

He tried to look like that thought had not been crossing his mind and drew his wand. "Ready?"

"Ready," she replied, also drawing her wand.

*****

They arrived on a deserted moor, and Harry looked around cautiously. He didn't like being in such an exposed location. "Which way?"

Hermione looked to the horizon and found the rising sun. After consulting the map and comparing landmarks, she pointed to the west. "That way."

He couldn't really see anything that made that area any more special than any other part of the moor. "Are you sure?"

"That small rise should be the ruins of a castle. That's where we'll find the dagger." Putting the map back in her pocket, she headed in the direction she had indicated. She pulled her cloak tight to ward against the chill.

It took them about half an hour to cover the distance. "Hermione, there's nothing here," Harry said, clearly dismayed.

"Shhh," she said as she pulled her wand out.

Harry watched as she closed her eyes and began moving her wand in a complex pattern. He thought he could hear her muttering something, but he couldn't recognize the words. Sensing movement, he aimed his wand, looking for danger. Instead, he could see the shimmering outlines of the ruins of a castle appearing on the plateau. "Hermione," he whispered as the ruins solidified. When she didn't answer, he looked over and saw that she had collapsed to her knees. He quickly moved to her side. "Are you all right?"

She grabbed hold of him and pulled herself to her feet. "I'll be fine. That was a difficult spell."

He led her into the ruins. "Let's see if we can find a way into the dungeons. That's where it's hidden, right?"

She nodded. "That's what my research indicated." As they walked into the ruins, she tried not to let Harry see how exhausted she was.

It took Harry fifteen minutes to find stairs to the dungeons. "Hermione! Over here!" he called.

By the time she arrived, he was at the bottom of the stairs. Rather than use her wand for light, she created a ball of fire she could hold in her hand, leaving her wand available for defense.

"I keep forgetting about that," Harry said when he saw her fire provided enough light to see. They followed the corridor for more than a hundred yards before it ended in a tee. "Which way now?"

They looked down both corridors. Hermione pulled out her parchment and read through her notes. "I'm not sure. Which way do you think?" She knew he was more adept at detecting magic.

He walked a few paces down each corridor. "This way," he said, choosing the left corridor. After fifty feet, he held his arm out to stop her. Facing the blank wall, he began feeling along the surface. "There's a concealed entrance here." He cast the spell that revealed secret chambers. They could see the outline of a door, but it quickly faded.

"What now?" she asked. The few chambers they had found at Hogwarts had not disappeared so quickly.

He used his wand to create a cut on the palm of his hand and smeared the blood where the doorknob had been. The bricks shifted to allow them entrance. Blood spells seemed to be Voldemort's favorite.

"Is it safe to enter?" she asked.

Harry moved cautiously into the room. "It appears so."

Examining the room, Hermione thought it was empty. She cast seeking spells and turned up nothing. "Harry, I think this might be a dead end."

"It has to be here. I can feel the magic. Just...keep looking."

She sighed and continued walking around the room. As she was walking, she thought she heard something odd. "Hang on," she said and stamped on the floor. Underneath one stone, it sounded hollow. "Harry, I think I've found it."

He rushed over to her side and stomped on the stone. "Yeah. I think this is it. Stand back," he ordered and then levitated the stone out of the way.

Hermione coughed at a combination of dust and stale air. Creating a second fireball, she dropped it into the opening. All they could see were stairs and an empty corridor. "Shall we?" she asked.

"I think you should wait here," he said.

"Not on your life. We're staying together." As they descended into the darkness, she pulled her cloak tight. There was a cool malice in the air. She stood close to Harry for the sense of security.

*****

Lucius heard the door slam and the ensuing mayhem caused by Mrs. Black's portrait becoming uncovered. Normally, he would have ignored the ruckus, but he heard Potter shouting for help and slipped closer to the stairs in an attempt to hear what they were saying after he thought he heard 'Hermione' mentioned.

He could feel the medallion burning against his skin. When he pulled it out, he saw the words: "Granger, come quickly." It felt as though a hand was squeezing his chest, and he could barely breathe. He leaned against the wall for support and closed his eyes to fight off the dizziness. Potter was hysterical because the Death Eaters had Hermione. He flipped the medallion over, but that was all that was on it. There was no location. He had no idea where to go to find her.

Suddenly, he gripped his forearm as he felt the burning on his arm. The Dark Lord was summoning the faithful, and giving him a beacon to use to find Hermione. Noticing that the commotion had quieted, he realized the Order members must be in the kitchen, strategizing a recovery plan. He knew they would need his help and he rushed downstairs.