Hidden Meanings

Pittwitch: Glad you like, here's more.

Chavela: I'm afraid Draco is a bit more imbecilic in this chapter, unfortunately... but hey, he's great however he's portrayed.

Ophelia Immortal: I certainly wouldn't want to walk in on my parents... It made me laugh though. I just pictured the shocked look on his face. Hermione is most certainly very lucky.

mary: Well, he would wouldn't he? The arrogant sexy idiot that he is.

angel: She should shouldn't she...

cateye: Yes way to go Lily... as for Hermione and Ginny having things in common with Lily I've always thought that, which is why I like the SS/HG ship so much. AS for Remus well Tonks is dead in this story... so he has to have someone and Narcissa proved to be it... besides I think they're a cool couple... I love Remus/Tonks too. Draco is a wimp isn't he. The Dark Lord is already mentioned, so it's not him.

Lisa: Ginny doesn't want Lucius it was just a slip of the tongue because Hermione calls him Luscious a lot... (no scene with her saying that to Ginny, but imagine the behind the scenes hey!) Narcissa is a bit of a bad mummy by not telling Draco herself but she was scared to.

Megan: Here's more.

BuckyKattGirl: Hmm, not really into threesomes so you can have the sandwich okay. I am more of a pizza girl. Yeah, I adore petulant sulky Draco too.

Atrumnex: I got an idea for a HP/Belgariad crossover I'm not sure if I should post it though... I've got so many others on the go. I am glad you are liking this story.

Criosdan: You want an update? Here's one.

Citten: Alas, and alack, this story has to come to an end soon, and I did a chapter planner and realised that there is only four more to write. Sorry if that disappoints and upsets you but I can't write this thing forever... that's why I started a new one. Besides this story has reached nearly 220 pages the length of Philosphers/Sorcerors Stone

RipeWickedPlum12: Hey, well, shucks, I'm evil garsh!!! Way off the mark I'm afraid with your guess.

Kasutaishi: No, not a little bit. Your kinda warm with Snape but very chilly with the DEAD teacher and the dead Headmaster... but it IS NOT Snape.

WARNING: THIS CHAPTER CONTAINS HURTING A PREGNANT WOMAN... IF YOU'RE SQUICKED BY THAT THEN DON'T READ.

PART THREE

KIDNAPPED

Lucius did not know what he had done wrong. He had been suffering Harry’s hostile looks long enough. As far as Lucius was concerned he had done what he had promised to do. He had given information and he even took him to regions that he had suspicions of being places where Horcruxes were hidden. He had shown kindness to all the Weasley’s and he had been especially kind to Ginny. Yet, Lucius felt as if he had done something wrong. He had never felt guilty before in his life; yes he had repented of his previous acts but his acts as a Death Eater didn’t keep him awake at night.

Lucius decided he had to confront the young man. Harry was leaning over a map and looking at the next potential site. Lucius let Harry know he was in the room by a discrete cough. Harry looked up and he nodded perfunctorily to the older man.

“Harry,” he said. He thought that the use of his first name might bring Harry back to his senses. It didn’t. “Might I ask what I have done wrong?”

“Nothing,” Harry replied stiffly.

“It’s clear I have,” Lucius said. “The past month you’ve been acting like I don’t exist.”

“Well,” Harry said coldly. “Maybe that’s how I would prefer it.”

Lucius walked up to the desk and took the map off the desk and hid it behind his back.

“Talk to me, Potter,” Lucius snarled.

Harry looked up. His green eyes sparkled with hatred and malice.

“You want to talk,” he said. “Fine, we’ll talk. Tell me, are you content with Hermione?”

“Supremely, Potter,” Lucius answered smirking.

“Then why are you flirting with Ginny? Do you want to have a harem of Gryffindor females or something?”

“I love Hermione, Potter, and I am not flirting with your girlfriend. Miss Ginny Weasley does not like me.”

“Oh doesn’t she?” Harry growled. “How come I hear her say your name in her sleep?”

Lucius was shocked. He knew he could make any girl like him if he wanted to, but young Miss Weasley? He couldn’t help but feel slightly proud at the thought that he could still attract the youth of the fairer sex. He almost laughed at the possessive nature of Harry Potter; he should have been put in Slytherin.

“Right,” Lucius sighed. “For a start if someone is talking in their sleep its subconsciously done, and therefore in no ones control; they don’t even know they are doing it, and would probably feel embarrassed and stupid if they did.

Secondly, the girl loves you! I see the way she looks at you, you’re her hero. She thinks the ground you walk on turns to gold. You are the man of her dreams and NO ONE has the right to ruin that.

Thirdly, I am ever so sorry if you feel that I have stepped over a boundary. But I love Hermione and even if Miss Weasley were to seduce me I would be impervious to her advances.

Have you actually spoken to her about this?”

“No,” Harry growled. “I was hoping you would answer differently so that I could tell you to back off. She’s MINE!”

“Hmm,” Lucius said suppressing a chuckle. “Aren’t you acting a little too much like a Slytherin?”

The door opened and both looked at the intruder. It turned out to be Draco. Both Draco and Lucius did not know how to act around each other now. Lucius had actually tried softening Draco’s attitude and tried to get them to become friends but Draco never spoke to him. Lucius lamented that fact. Lucius also noticed Draco eyeing up his wife. It’s me who should be telling someone to back off, Lucius growled to himself.

“Great,” Harry mumbled. “TWO of them.”

“Oh, Potter, haven’t you been listening the past few months; it turns out I am not a Malfoy at all, but the son of a blood traitor!”

“Sirius was my godfather,” Harry growled. “And a decent man.”

“That makes us sort of cousins wouldn’t you say?” Draco said smoothly.

Lucius smiled. He had done the boy some good after all.

“Yes, I suppose so. How do I get landed with crummy cousins? Both of them are blonde prats!”

Draco rolled his eyes. He had tried to get on Harry’s good side. But Harry, like Lucius, had noticed him eyeing up Hermione. Harry felt truly sorry for his friend. It seems that apart from Ron or Remus she attracts the dregs of society.

He pitied Lily Thompson if she had been waiting for twenty years for a greasy git. He pitied Ginny for being eyed up by Lucius... he didn’t believe the man. Lucius Malfoy was an attention-seeking idiot. His heart went out to Hermione at having to feel like she had to bribe a Death Eater to marry her.

He liked Lily Thompson. Severus had introduced her to the group a week ago a soppy smile plastered on his face. Harry almost threw up at the sight of Snape smiling like a lust-induced teenager. He gagged at the sight of a seemingly intelligent woman looking up at Snape like he was some sort of a God.

Harry was looking between the two men. The tension between the two of them was palpable. Harry remembered the meeting between the two of them the night after he and Ginny had first truly made love. He felt the air fizz and cackle with anger, hurt, and pride. He almost had to leave the room.

“Well, Malfoy, if that’s ALL?” Harry asked.

Lucius sighed and handed Harry the map back to the boy. Harry laid it flat on the desk and wrote notes as if nothing had happened. Draco looked at Harry bending down and being studious. Surely if he’s still stuck on this then if Hermione wasn’t going to be unfaithful to the bastard that had lied to him all his life, then maybe Ginny might be unfaithful to the bastard that had stolen his limelight once to often.

Lucius noted a glint in Draco’s eyes. Lucius knew all to well what the glint meant. He stepped up to the young man and steered him out of the room with his cane. Once the two were out of the room Lucius swung round on Draco and slammed the youth against the wall.

“I don’t take kindly to other people looking at my wife!” Lucius growled.

“You should be damn well used to it by now, father! Other people eyed up your first wife long enough.” Draco sneered. “I’ve been eyeing up Granger longer than you have.”

“Wanna bet?” Lucius snarled. “And I will speak for Potter when I say that I doubt he’ll appreciate you trying to get Ginny as well!”

“Since when has Lucius Malfoy given a damn about anyone?”

“Since I realised that there are people out there worthy enough to give a damn about, son!”

Draco scoffed and pushed the older wizard out of the way.

“You know,” Draco mused. “I might just be the hero in Hermione’s eyes. What if I tell the Dark Lord about your change of heart and he kills you... I could be the one with the supporting arm. She lost her fiancée didn’t she? She could be careless enough to lose a husband.”

“You bastard!”

“You raised me, daddy!”

Draco sauntered off and Lucius watched him walk down the hall. He groaned as his felt his heart shatter into tiny pieces. A cold fear gripped him. Something had happened to his Hermione!

~*~*~

Hermione was out with Ginny shopping in Diagon Alley. It was an idea that Lucius had approved off. He told her it would be good for her to go out with a girl her own age and have some fun. Hermione and Ginny were strolling arm in arm until Hermione suddenly stopped outside Flourish and Blotts.

“Oh, I have been waiting for this to come out since it was rumoured in The Daily Prophet.”

Ginny looked at the books title. “Love and Magic: A Guide To Keeping Magic Alive In Marriage,” she turned to her friend. “All you need to keep a marriage alive is lots of great sex and less talk!”

Hermione laughed. “Actually talk is good in a marriage.”

“Can’t we stop, Hermione, I need a coffee.”

Hermione sighed. She was dragged away from the window by Ginny. They were grateful that there was a table free outside Florean Fortescue’s. He had been found thanks to Lucius Malfoy. Ginny ordered coffee for the two of them and Hermione ordered a Chelsea bun each.

Hermione had to talk to Ginny about the voices in her dreams. She looked at Ginny wondering if the tiny redhead would keep this a secret.

“Ginny,” she said. “I need to talk to you.”

“There’s something I need to tell you as well,” Ginny said.

“You first,” Hermione said. Grateful for the opportunity to stall her confession.

“Harry’s wonderful at night; we rut like rabbits. He’s absolutely great and attentive. Sometimes he even gets a little rough, which is fine by me. But,” Ginny paused. “When we wake up in the morning he acts like he doesn’t know me, and shakes of any effort to have his morning erection serviced.”

Hermione knew the answer to this. Harry had confided to her his fears that Ginny and Lucius might be having an affair. It was a suggestion that made Hermione laugh. Ginny would not touch her husband with a barge pole. She told Harry to stop being such a baby. He then told her that he had heard Ginny mention his name in her sleep. Hermione rolled her eyes and shook her head. She told him that she sometimes mentions Remus name in her sleep; Lucius understands that its just the subconscious and doesn’t mean a thing. Harry still looked sceptical.

“He hears you mention Lucius name in your sleep, Ginny,” Hermione said.

Ginny paled considerably at this revelation. “Surely Harry doesn’t think I fancy Lucius Malfoy?”

“Yes,” Hermione replied. “He thinks that you and Lucius are having an affair.”

Ginny’s brown eyes widened at this. She would NEVER betray her hero. She loved Harry with her whole being. She connected to Harry and didn’t think she could connect to anyone else as long as they both lived.

“I love Harry, Hermione, you must know that I would never sleep with another man now that I have had Harry.”

Hermione chuckled. “I know.”

“So, you’re not jealous?”

“Not of you, no.”

Ginny breathed a huge sigh of relief. Hermione was like a sister to her. She did not want to lose that.

Florean had come back holding the coffee and buns. He laid them down nicely. Hermione brought out her purse and slipped a galleon in the pocket of his apron without him knowing. Hermione stirred the coffee with a spoon and took a sip of it.

“Now, your turn,” Ginny said. “What’s on your mind?”

“I have been having some nightmares,” Hermione began twirling a napkin between her fingers and thumb; she hadn’t felt this wretched since she had to confess to Arthur that she was engaged to Lucius. “I keep hearing some voices. One of them is definitely the Dark Lord.”

Ginny gasped and raised a hand to her mouth. “The Dark Lord?”

“Yes,” she said, “but the other one has his back turned around and I can’t help but think that he should be familiar.”

“Could it be Pettigrew?” Ginny asked.

“No,” Hermione said. “It’s not Pettigrew. The voice is too confident and the shoulders are a little too broad.”

“Have you seen anything else that might help the situation?”

“A peek of hair, but I cannot distinguish the colour,” Hermione replied glumly.

“And what about Lucius? What does he have to say about it?”

“I haven’t told him,” Hermione said. “I can’t.”

“Hermione, you got to tell him!” Ginny exclaimed.

“I know,” Hermione sighed.

“Before it’s too late.”

Hermione sighed. She would tell Lucius as soon as she could. She then decided to bring up another problem that had been plaguing her for the past three weeks.

“Have you noticed how Draco keeps looking at me?” Hermione asked.

“He’s always looked at you, Hermione,” Ginny said.

“WHAT?” Hermione yelled.

“Yes,” Ginny said casually. “You should have seen his face at the Yule Ball. He’s fancied you for ages a lot of his teasing was a way of mocking himself for his feelings. Now you’re married to the man he probably hates the most.”

Hermione grimaced. “So, do you think HE could be the other guy in the dream? I mean the Dark Lord keeps saying that he would get what he wants.”

“Hmm,” Ginny mused. “Whoever the guy in the dream is I don’t think its wise to keep it from Lucius. He loves you, Hermione, he actually loves you.”

“I know!” Hermione exclaimed smugly.

They had finished their coffee and polished off the bun. Hermione got up off the chair and Ginny followed suit. They walked into Flourish and Blotts where Hermione picked up the book and took it to the counter.

“Mrs Malfoy,” the storeowner greeted her with. He looked at her pregnant belly. “So, when’s the happy event?”

“In four months,” Hermione said.

“Sweet, I remember when my first kid was born.”

“These are twins,” Hermione said. “I can’t wait.”

Ginny smiled at her friend. She could not believe how beautiful Hermione was. Pregnancy suited her. The glow on her cheeks, and shine of her eyes made her extremely gorgeous. Men were eyeing her up and down; ignoring the fact that she was pregnant. She had gained a confidence and Ginny felt warm at the thought of being Aunty Ginny. She couldn’t wait to play on the floor with the two children; she hoped that they would have cute little blonde curls.

Hermione picked up the bag and she gasped. She stroked her belly and then she turned around:

“They kicked!” Hermione exclaimed.

Ginny ran to her friend’s side and wrapped an arm around her shoulders and put her hand on the belly.

“WOW!” Ginny exclaimed. “This is so cool.”

Hermione and Ginny were so happy by this latest development that they didn’t hear the bell ring. The storeowner saw the two people come into the shop. One of them was holding a sack and the other one was brandishing his wand. The storeowner grabbed his wand and leapt in front of the two women who swivelled their heads around noticing the tall, robed and masked people.

The one with wand pointed it at the storeowner and a green light shot out of it. Ginny leapt in front of Hermione holding her wand and pointed it at the murderer. Hermione felt her hand go to her belly and she stepped back. She would try and dodge these two and escape holding Ginny’s hand.

The murderer of the storekeeper had fired a quick stupefy at the young girl and Ginny fell limply to the floor. Hermione screamed. She levitated books off the shelves and flew them at the strangers. She managed to knock one out by aiming a book straight at the middle. The way the Death Eater clutched the area Hermione surmised that it was a he. She ran out of the shop where there were two more at the entrance. One of them wrapped his arm around her belly and placed a cloth to her nose. Hermione sniffed in some sleeping draught. His companion drew the bag over her head.

~*~*~

“Wake up pretty girl,” Ginny mumbled something and opened her eyes. Her vision was blurry but once the shifting images collided together she realised she was staring into the face of Florean. He held a glass to her lips and Ginny drank the water that was in there. Florean wrapped his hand around the back of her head and helped her up.

“Where’s Hermione?” she asked groggily.

“Gorgeous girl?” Florean asked. Ginny nodded. “I tried to stop ‘em little girl but they took her!”

Ginny shot straight to her feet. She groaned. She looked at the dead storeowner.

“I’ve got to get home,” she said.

~*~*~

Lucius had leant against the wall feeling deflated and poor. He knew that something terrible had happened to his Hermione. He was about to go back into the room when he felt the wards shake on the house. He heard the door bursting open.

“HELP!” Ginny screamed. “HELP ME!”

Lucius ran to the distraught girl and put his hands on the upper of her arms.

“What’s happened?” Lucius asked as gently as he could.

“Hermione,” Ginny began sobbing. “She – she – got – got!” she was hiccoughing between words. Lucius drew the sobbing, shaking young woman into his arms and held her close to him. He shushed her and smoothed down her hair. “She got kidnapped, Lucius, I tried! I tried but I was hit with a stupefy. The storeowner got killed.”

Ginny wrapped her arms around Lucius and he held her the way he would a distressed daughter. Harry had walked out of the room and saw them in that position.

“Get your hands off my girlfriend!” Harry snarled.

“Harry,” Ginny sniffed. “Lucius Malfoy and I are NOT having an affair all right. Stop being so bloody paranoid. Hermione’s the one you should be worrying about. A cohort of Death Eaters has kidnapped her after the storeowner of Flourish and Blotts got murdered trying to protect us. I got stupefied and you’re paranoid about Lucius and me. I LOVE YOU HARRY POTTER!”

“IF YOU LOVE ME, MARRY ME!”

“MAYBE I WILL!”

“FINE!” Harry yelled.

Ginny hiccoughed and Lucius let her go, keeping her steady until Harry caught her.

“Mistreat this girl, Potter, and I’ll be after you with a branding iron,” Lucius whispered.

He made a step towards the front door.

“Where are you going?” Harry asked.

“To find my wife,” Lucius growled.

“Stay here, Lucius,” Harry said. “There’s only one way to find Hermione.”

Lucius looked at the young couple. He saw Harry take hold of Ginny’s hand and smiled. At least something good had come out of the day. He tried to laugh at the proposal but his heart was too heavy. How? He asked himself... why?

A/N Okay, settle down girls. Now, next chapter the 'Slippery Friend' is revealed to be.... (hanging you lot in here.) I loved writing the proposal scene between Harry and Ginny, I thought that it would be great for Harry to propose in the midst of tragedy... Gryffindorian men always gets their timing wrong... anyway, please review!