A Tale of Two Wizards

Disclaimer: Not mine, but Jo's I want them all. I'll let her keep Sirius and Ron though!

Pinkwands: Ideas simmering already in my cauldron of trouble for TR/HG... oh, and thank you for your lovely reviews.

beeky63: HE HE! That's the primary purpose of my fics, to smoke peoples computers!

angel: Yes, what will Lucius do to Hermione? You'll find out now!

me: Love your username!

After this one there is only two more chapters to go!

Heartbreak and Revelations

Hermione was scared. She’d never been more scared of anyone in her life, as she was now of Lucius Malfoy. She didn’t know what to do; as soon as she woke up she saw his face peering at her. No warmth in his eyes. No compassion. But, there was hurt there, she also saw anger, and pain. Nothing to make Hermione feel any easier about her situation, he was even quiet, and controlled. His anger kept within him, as he coolly appraised her.

“Say something,” she murmured.

He was pacing up and down the room, and then he stood with his back turned towards her, he began knocking a fingernail on the mantelpiece. It made a reassuring tap-tap sound, and it only served to make Hermione feel worse. He swept his cloak behind him. He knew that the only way he could secure her was to be kind, and understanding. It would not be the first time that his chosen mate had betrayed him. Narcissa had betrayed him on a few occasions, and he knew that she, and Snape had, had sex with each other. But, then he had betrayed Narcissa, so it weren’t as if the situation was one-sided. She got up off the sofa and walked up to him, placing a trembling hand on his back. He shrugged her off and then paced the room carefully.

“Why?” he whispered.

Hermione was confused and she looked away.

“Why, what?” she asked back.

Lucius rounded on her.

“Why go running back to him?” He asked, as coolly as his temper would allow. Hermione felt her heart in her throat, as he strode up to her. He kept his gaze on her. “Why go back to Snape?”

“I didn’t know he was there,” she whispered lowering her eyes.

“But you were pleased that he was,” he sneered.

“It’s not like you care about me!” She retorted.

Lucius’ eyes blazed with fury at her assumption. Care? He’d never cared for anyone more than himself in his entire life, than he did about this seemingly ungrateful Mud, er, Muggleborn. He didn’t know how or when, but she had got to him… she had succeeded in some ways where Narcissa had failed. This little brat had made him care. And he’d be damned if he would let some greasy no good for nothing TRAITOR have her.

“I do care,” he said.

“Only about yourself, your Mansion, your Money, is that why you’re doing this? So that you can get your dignity back?”

Lucius stopped. How did she work it out? She was clever to be sure, but he made sure he did everything he could to make out that he cared about her, and now that he genuinely did she didn’t believe him.

“It’s not like that Hermione,” he said. “Look, we’re adults, so lets be civil about this.”

“As for this ring I tried to take it off but it won’t come off!”

“Because in the Wizarding World you can’t break off an engagement, it’s a solemn vow almost as sacred as Marriage. It doesn’t mean you’ll die if you betray your partner, but it’s not advised. Of course, people like Arthur and Molly wear unenchanted Muggle rings, so that they do have a choice afterwards. I don’t need to have another choice, I love you Hermione.”

Hermione was stunned, and she knew he’d say the words. The very same words that Severus said in exactly the same tones, and with the exactly the same look in his eyes. Was Lucius sincere then in his affections for her? Did it start off with the Mansion, and the Money, and then it turning into something more?

“Oh, Lucius, I tried to explain this to Severus. I can’t do this anymore! My heart can’t take it anymore. I love you both, and I am not certain whom it is I love more.”

Lucius walked up to her and wrapped an arm around her shoulder and brought her further in a hug and then he kissed her forehead, he stroked her hair tenderly and smiled. She shivered against him. She decided to test him.

“Lucius if you love me,” she began, as she played about with the length of his hair. “Please, let Ginny go.”

Lucius looked down at Hermione gazing into her warm brown eyes, the pools of melted milk chocolate were quite sincere.

“If I let Miss Weasley go will you stay with me and never go back to Snape – ever?”

Hermione gulped. She knew she backed herself in this corner, and she had to acquiesce otherwise she might not get Ginny’s freedom.

“Yes, Lucius,” she murmured. “If you let Ginny go then I will never go back to Snape – again – I promise.”

He nodded and was about to open the door when he was hexed by a very good stupefy. Hermione went out of the door and Snape stepped out of the shadows.

“Come on, Hermione,” Severus said stretching out his hand. “Come on, take my hand and run! Get out of here!”

Hermione was unsure.

“I – I can’t Severus!” She exclaimed. “I promised him that I’d love him if he freed Ginny.”

“Ginny’s free, Harry’s taken her back home. Come on, go this isn’t going to be pretty!”

Hermione stayed and looked deeply into Severus’ eyes.

“You’re not going to kill him are you?” She gasped.

“What of it? I killed a much better man than him, and you still let me make love to you again, and again. Step aside and let me kill him!”

“No,” Hermione said. “No don’t, Severus, you can’t kill him.”

“Stand aside you silly girl and let me do what I must to make sure that you are mine.”

“Is that what I am to you? A possession? Something that can be owned?”

“Of course not, but please, don’t be obstinate. Go! Go back to the Burrow.”

Hermione stood her ground. She stood over the body of Lucius Malfoy and pointed her wand at Snape.

“I’m doing this for your own good, Severus!” She exclaimed, as she cast a petrificus totalus on her lover. She then picked up a piece of parchment and turned it into a portkey. She placed it in Snape’s hand and he disappeared.

Lucius groaned. She bent over him and turned him over and wiped his hair from his face. He woke up, and then awkwardly levered himself up with Hermione helping him.

“What happened?” he asked.

“You were stunned,” Hermione answered. “Don’t worry I got rid of the person.”

He smiled and she wiped some more of his hair away from his face. He kissed her on the lips. She opened her mouth and he deepened the kiss.

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

Severus got back to the Burrow. What was the girl thinking? He asked himself angrily. One bloody Avada Kedavra and that would be it! No more Lucius. No more problem. She could take that ring off and have HIS put in its place. She could have easily stepped aside. Instead what did she do? She defended Lucius and made him leave. He was angry! He was NOT going to lose her to THAT primped up spoilt narcissistic…

“BASTARD!” He yelled.

Ginny jumped. She looked at Harry.

“Where’s Hermione?” Harry asked.

“She decided to stay with Malfoy,” Snape said. “I would have killed him and then the problem would be sorted.”

“I told you that duelling isn’t always the answer, Severus, you just have to let her sort it out for herself,” Molly said.

Snape rounded on Molly.

“Why her? Why is the Dark Lord so bloody interested in making sure Hermione and Lucius are together? What’s in it for the Dark Lord? He told ME to seduce her, and I did, but I fell in love with her. He told Lucius to seduce her AND to marry her!”

Molly shrugged her shoulders and Harry nibbled his lip in thought. Ron crossed his arms and scowled at Snape. Ginny muttered something under her breath.

“We can’t let that blonde idiot have her,” Harry said. “Did she say why she would not come back?”

“She said that Lucius had agreed to free Ginny, as long as she didn’t go back to me, he was obviously prepared to fulfil his end of the bargain.”

Severus sat down on the sofa, despair washing all over him again. Why was it that the moment, that sweet, blessed moment when he found happiness someone takes it away from him?

“What did she do?”

“She cast a body bind on me, and then turned a scrap of parchment into a portkey. She said she was doing it for my own good.”

“And she’s right,” Molly said still knitting.

“What?” Snape asked sharply.

“She has done the best thing that would keep you out of Azkaban, Snape. It’s amazing you’re not in there at the moment!”

“I feel like it though!” He exclaimed. “I feel trapped already and I can honestly say the only person that can free me is Hermione, and she’s trapped herself.”

“We have to get her out of there,” Ron said.

“We can’t, boy, she won’t listen,” Snape said. “If only I had taught her that bloody potion in the first place then NONE of this would have ever happened.”

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

Lucius licked her lips with the tip of his tongue and she allowed him to go in further, he kissed her deeply, and passionately. Not the cold kisses of a seducer but the warm kisses of a lover. They stopped and panted. He looked at her, and then he decided to make an effort to stand up, and she stood up to.

“Anyway,” he said smoothly. “Let’s see to Miss Weasley shall we.”

“She’s been rescued,” Hermione replied.

Lucius laughed. “Potter saving the day again.”

“Something like that,” she said.

“All right then,” he said moving his hair behind his ear. “We better get to the Dark Lord, as he has some news that he thinks you would like to hear.”

Hermione nodded. She took his hand, and he led her to the Dark Lord’s lair. She gulped remembering the last time she was with him. The way he raped her, pervaded her mind; and she was trembling. She didn’t think that he’d had the equipment to do that. She smiled nervously and looked at him as Lucius opened the door.

“Master,” he said, as he bowed down and kissed the robes. “She has returned.”

Hermione turned to look at who else was in the room. She looked at Draco who was clutching at his groin, his face screwed up in pain. Bravo Ginny, Hermione thought.

“And did you enjoy your sojourn,” the Dark Lord whispered sibilantly. “I heard that you were energetically engaged.”

Hermione blushed.

“I hear you have some news for me,” she replied.

“Ah, yes,” the Dark Lord said as he glided over to a table. “If you would care to join me.”

Hermione walked up to the table, and the Dark Lord unrolled a scroll and to her surprise it was her family tree, with her name on the bottom of it in gold lettering, and she turned to look at him.

“But, why did you go to this trouble?” she asked.

“I do think things through you know,” he answered smoothly. Remembering what a sheath she was for him. “I am an ask questions first then hex later type of person… like you I suppose.”

Hermione blushed, and then traced her finger across her name, and further up the tree and finding out that she has got… she looked at the top – no! She could not possibly go that far back. She could not possibly be a – a – descendant of, no that was impossible.

“Merlin,” she breathed, as she traced his name across the top of the tree. “No, I can’t possibly be Merlins and Nimue’s last descendant. They didn’t have children.”

“So the books say,” Lord Voldemort sneered. “Tell me child, do you believe EVERYTHING you read?”

Hermione looked at the tree.

“B- but rumour had it that he’d adopted Godric Gryffindor because of his childless state.”

“He adopted Godric Gryffindor only when Gryffindor’s parents died. Remember Wizards live a long life. I believe there are some that are over three hundred today.”

Hermione felt like she needed a stiff drink, and a sit down, of all the things that had happened to her she’d never expected that she be related to Merlin. She looked at the tree more closely and saw in Gold letters the last name she’d expected to see on HER family tree.

“Dumbledore?” She asked. “I can’t be!”

“Only very distantly,” Lord Voldemort purred. “Remember my speech to you on our last encounter?”

“Some are born great, some achieve greatness and some have greatness thrust upon them,” she recited. “Shakespeare wrote that in Twelfth Night.”

“It seems,” Lord Voldemort said, as he brushed aside her hair, so that he could examine her profile, “that you, like me, are of GREAT ancestry, in fact we’re equal in birth.”

Hermione did not like his closeness.

“But, I am just the daughter of a muggle dentist, my parents are humble muggles that – that never even heard of Hogwarts. How can I be Merlins bloody descendant?”

“This tree should explain that. I understand your reaction Miss Granger - I felt the same when I discovered that I was Slytherin’s heir. I was angry believe it or not. I was furious, but then, as time progressed, I became proud of my newfound family and heritage. It’s about time that you, my dear, join us in MY fight!”

Hermione looked at the tree wanting it to be a Weasley Wizard Wheezes product, she longed for it to be some sort of late – or early – April Fools Day prank. She slid down on the sofa, and put a hand to her throbbing forehead, as Lord Voldemort nodded for his followers to get out of the room. Lucius reluctantly left the room.

“I, too, shall depart and leave you to think it over and let it sink in shall I?” Lord Voldemort offered.

“No,” she said. “Oh my, I – I was happy being a Muggleborn. Somehow, I liked that I had a ladder to climb.”

“Ambition! I like that in you,” Lord Voldemort murmured.

She looked down into her lap.

“So, that means that I – I have to get married doesn’t it?”

“One thing,” Lord Voldemort purred. “I am good at ascertaining whether a woman is pregnant or not,” he said. “May I check to see if you are with child?”

Hermione nodded. She laid back and Lord Voldemort placed his hands around her womb area and then he gently pushed his fingers around her belly. He felt it. Life! Hermione was indeed pregnant.

“Well?” She asked.

“My dear,” he purred as he levered himself on top of her and stroked her legs. “We can safely say that Merlins blood will stay intact. Now, about your marriage, it’s up to you of course. I know you care for two completely different men, who’d you choose to be the father of the baby?”

“Whichever is the baby’s father,” she replied.

“You don’t know?” Lord Voldemort hissed.

“No,” she said.

Lord Voldemort’s red eyes glowed.

“What if the baby was mine?” he asked.

Hermione closed her eyes in frustration, but she knew her heart could never let her love this monster. She felt his hand underneath her knickers feeling her vagina. She gasped.

“Is it?” She asked.

Lord Voldemort smirked, and then shook his head, and he continued rubbing her vagina. He placed another hand under her back. She could not help but arch into his hand.

“You need not worry about me being the father,” he whispered in her ear. “With these changes it has made me unable to produce children, but doesn’t stop me from being sexual, as you felt!”

She was about to urge his hand to go further when a commotion was heard out of the door, and then Bellatrix stormed into the room.

Lord Voldemort rolled his eyes and stopped his gentle seduction and turned around.

“My Lord,” she said. “Rabastan has just returned, and he has some interesting developments on the Faun situation in Greece.”

He hissed, as he righted himself, and gave Hermione a strange look, and then he swept past Bellatrix.

“Look after her, and make sure she goes nowhere Bella,” Lord Voldemort ordered.

He went out of the room and Hermione sat up, and looked into the older woman’s dark eyes.

“Oh, I’ll look after you all right, you little chit,” Bella snarled.

Hermione rolled her eyes and looked back at her.

“Believe me you can have him,” she said. “Where’s Lucius?”

“Why?”

“I’ve got some news that might interest him,” Hermione said. And Snape, she thought. She promised to marry whoever would turn out to be the father. She could not help but wish that Snape would be the father… it would be good to see his name on the bottom of the tree, next to hers with their sons name – she couldn’t envision herself having a daughter. She always loved the character of Jo in Little Women who ended up having all boys.

She tested the names in her head of her two lovers, and the two prospective fathers, relieved that Lord Voldemort could not breed… she supposed even HE had limits on cruelty. Merlin Albus Snape. Merlin Albus Malfoy. M A S. M A M. Hermione Jane Snape… Hermione Jane Malfoy. She sighed, both sounded good. Although, the Snape seemed to roll of the tongue easier than the Malfoy did. Merlin Albus Dumbledore Snape. M A D S. Much better! And she felt she was mad!

“Yes, Hermione,” Lucius said when he came in after Bella had found him.

“I have some news that could only complicate the issue further,” she said. “The thing is I am pregnant, and I am not sure who the father is. You or Snape.”

Lucius frowned. He knew that the primary object was to carry on Snape’s line, but he’d lost his son to his late wife’s sister. And now he’d found out that she weren’t a mudblood, but a pure born that was purer than him, he wanted her more. Besides the fact that he did love her!

“Why is that an issue?” Lucius asked.

“The Dark Lord said I could marry the man whom the child belongs to.”

Lucius swore. He also knew that common decency was also to apprise Snape of the situation. He looked at Hermione and then nodded silently.

“So be it,” he said.

Hermione didn’t like the tone. She knew he’d do anything to make sure that child is his – even if it isn’t.

A/N OK! So what d'ya think? Plot bunnies hopping all over the place!

Oh shameless plugging here, but I have an original fic called Whispers of the Past, and I really would love some of you to see what you think I can do OUTSIDE the HP universe! I am so desperate for a review!