A Ghostly Curse

Disclaimer: I own nothing except maybe the plot idea. Any character you recognize belongs to JKR.

A/N: Thank you to everyone that has reviewed. You guys make my day!

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

Chapter 2 - Hidden Eyes Watching


One of the things that Hermione had been hesitant to keep as it was were all the house elves that still occupied the home. She wasn’t used to having them serve her as she had been the founder of S.P.E.W. and had worked so hard to gain their freedom and rights.

Of course, that had gone over like a lead balloon. Finally, she had faced the fact that what her father had always told her was the truth. You can’t help someone unless they want the help.

Upon entering the house the first time, she discovered that the house-elves had stayed after the mansion had been deserted. She had tried to free them to go find employment elsewhere, or even new masters that would be more willing to have them serve them, but the elves had been horrified.

After speaking with them for over four hours, she gave up, knowing that it would be no use to try to free them. They just wouldn’t go. In retrospect, she realized that many of them had been born here, and in essence, had nowhere else to go and knew of no other life beyond these walls.

With a sigh she let the elf that greeted her at the door take her shrunken luggage. With a hesitant smile, he asked, “Where’s would Mistress wants it?”

She offered him her warmest smile in return. “What is your name?”

The house elf looked somewhat surprised by her polite manner. “My name’s Mud, miss.”

Hermione looked horrified. “Did Mr Malfoy give you that name?”

The elf shook his head emphatically. “Oh no, Mistress! Me mum gaves me the name, as Mud used to always play in the mud as a wee one.” His smile returned. “It was Mud’s favorite place, it was!”

She found herself laughing at that and nodded, “Well then, I suppose that’s is a name that suits you then.”

As the witch let the traitorous elf lead her away Lucius stared in horror after them. “This isn’t happening!” he swore to himself softly. “I’m dreaming! That’s it! I’m having a nightmare unequal to any catastrophic event! The impudent nerve! How dare her come into my home without so much as a by your leave!”

Following after her, he raised his voice, hoping that she might hear his disapproval. “I do daresay that you are trespassing, you ill bred bitch!” He fairly snarled as he moved faster, intent on making her hear him.

When she paid him no heed, he reached out to try and touch her, only to have his arm travel through hers. He was so unnerved by it himself that he missed the shiver that traveled through the witch as she turned suddenly gazing around her in search of the cause of her chill.

Hermione looked around, but saw nothing as she wrapped her arms around herself. When she turned back it was to see Mud looking between her and something she couldn’t see; his expression worried. Following his gaze, she thought for a second that she could make out an outline of a figure standing a few feet away, but then, it faded and she shook her head as if to clear it.

When she turned back, Mud was staring at her sadly. “You cannot see him, can you, Mistress?”

Lucius sneered down at the house-elf angrily. “Of course she can’t see me, you dolt! No one besides you useless heathens can!”

A chill ran down her spine at his words. “See who, Mud?” The elf suddenly flinched as if he’d been hit. It made Hermione’s blood run cold. She wasn’t liking this.

Bowing his head, he replied, “Master Lucius. He’s there, beside you.” He cast an injured look toward the empty space beside his new mistress.

With a roll of his eyes, Lucius tutted, “She won’t believe you. She won’t believe it if she can’t see it.”

Looking from Mud to the space he said was occupied by the previous owner of the manor, Hermione found herself chuckling in disbelief. “Really, Mud! You really had me for a second there! That just isn’t possible! If he was here as a ghost, then why can’t I see him?”

Mud shook his head, looking up at her with wide eyes. Master Lucius isn’t dead, Mistress. His soul was only pulled from his body!”

Hermione smiled patiently down at the little elf. “Well, I’m not sure I understand you then, Mud, because usually when a soul leaves a body, it is because the body dies.”

Mud nodded. “Yes, Mistress. But Lucius Malfoy’s body still lives. It was hidden from him after Miss Bellatrix killed his family.”

Hermione felt a sudden sharp pain in her heart at that. Sinking down into the nearest chair, she asked, “You know what happened, then?”

The little elf nodded. “Yes, Mistress.” He bowed his head sadly. “We all do. We were here. But we didn’t know what was happening until it was too late. She murdered Mrs. Malfoy first, then she exacted her revenge on Master for his betrayal to the Dark Lord.”

Lucius scowled at the impertinent elf angrily. “This is none of her business, Mud!” then he turned a glare in her direction. “and I certainly don’t want your pity!

He received it anyway. Hermione moaned, and bowed her head. “How awful it must have been for him. But,” she ventured, “why did those of you that know never tell anyone? It’s assumed by the whole of the Wizarding world that he murdered her. Why would you not let the truth be known?”

Lucius felt his temper begin to boil. Before he even knew what he was doing, he slammed his fist against the wall, and caused a painting to fall from it, shouting, “Because, it doesn’t serve any purpose, you idiotic, Miss Do Gooder! It doesn’t bring her back, and it sure as Merlin’s balls doesn’t free me! Now does it?”

In his ranting he hadn’t even noticed that the painting had fallen because of the force of his anger. He didn’t take heed of anyone’s response to his enraged voice filling the room until he found himself staring into cinnamon eyes that were focused totally on him.

When he realized that she was staring at him, he stopped his ranting and stared back. Then, looking around, he noticed Mud smiling up at him. “it’s good to see someone else besides just us elves see you, sir.”

His expression still dark, he turned from Mud to Hermione. “Can you? See me, that is.” he added as an after-thought.

Snapping her jaw shut, she simply nodded. Then after a moment, when she felt she could utter a sound, she whispered, “Yes, Mr Malfoy, I can see you.”

His expression turned from surprise to smug. “Then, as you can see me, I take it you can hear me as well. So you won’t misunderstand me when I tell you to take your belongings and vacate this property! You are not welcome here!”

Hermione squared her shoulders and glared back at him. “In a pigs eye. This is my property now. I just purchased it!”

He closed the distance between them. “That was before you knew that it was still occupied! Surely you know that you cannot continue to stay here now. A young Mu-- I mean, Muggleborn such as yourself, and a lonely, tormented spirit such as myself?” he feigned shock and covered his mouth with the back of his hand for a second before adding, “what would everyone say?”

Hermione chuckled at his strange logic before answering, “As I am the only witch to see you, and I seldom take guests, who do you presume is going to know?” She shrugged. “I’m used to spirits. They were all over the place in Hogwarts. You cannot be anymore annoying than the bloody baron, I assure you.”

His eyes turned to molten silver as he seemed to grow before her in his fury at her words. “You don’t seem to understand. I will not accept your presence here. You must leave!”

Determined not to be pushed away from the home she had recently decided to make her own, she met his challenge with a simple, “Make me!”

Lucius sputtered indignantly at her nerve and backed away from her, only to watch her turn and follow the traitorous house-elf up the stairs. For a moment, he just stared after her, then his scowl gave way to a slow, mischievous smirk. “Oh, rest assured, Miss Granger. I shall. As a matter of fact, I look forward to the challenge…”

Relaxing, he blew a slow breath out as he urged himself to calm. Well, one thing had been discovered tonight. His ability to make others see and hear him were tied to his emotions. If that was the case, then surely he could make Miss Granger feel his touch as well. He chuckled lightly as he felt himself once again becoming transparent. He certainly hoped that she wasn’t expecting a good nights sleep.


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

A/N: Hmmm... Hermione certainly has guts... I'm not sure I could dare a spirit to make me leave. Even if he was as delectable as Jason Isaac's Lucius. Then again, I'm kind of curious as to how he will be trying to scare her away... Any ideas? Please feel free to share. I am open to any suggestion as to what you might want to see happen.