Lights of Questionable Faith

Lovely Reviewers:

Fyrefly - I am glad. Keep Reviewing!

Citten - Yes, Lucius was married. He had to and to produce a male child to carry on the Malfoy name. Draco is a June 5, 1980 angel. He is so CUTE! Poor Lucius...he is sensitive...(psychotic)

Voracious Reader - IT is an acquired skill. I hope to perfect it in the furture chapters.

LadyVoldemort87 - YAY! YOU'RE BACK! That is exciting! Check out the other sequel and tell me what you think if you have a moment and want to...I fear that I am becoming more and more partial to this one. It is harder to write...but I like it! I am playing with two different aspects of Lucius' layers. He is layered...like a cake...everybody likes CAKE!

wudelfin - He is a bit convoluted, isn't he? *witchy cackle*

Linneh - Curious is good.

HermioneMalfoyFan - Don't reserve a herse yet! Everything must occur in its own time without rushing. He isn't sorry in teh least for killing his father; the geezer still would have messed up his trying to marry Hermione, and he still TRIED to kill her. That is enough in Lucius' world to punish the man for.

firefaerie - I hope that you will review as long as I continue to update!

Lauriurix - YAY!

catysmom - I generally am quick with updates.

maddie50 - With any luck the differences will soon be made more distinct. 9 years...actually only five weeks or so, but everything is sinking in from her experiences in the war as much as the time travel...

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As always, thanks to those who leave me reviews for both stories.

I need a good long RANT! NOT THAT any of you will read it! My roommate must be the most idiotic human being on the planet! Apparently I do not do anything...well guess what, we don't have house elves! The leaves on the kitchen floor and downstairs area don't magically disappear on the weekends. I vacuum and sweep! And the countertops in the kitchen aren't magically stickiness free. I wipe them off. And I don't take out HER trash...guess I'm a bad roommate! I keep my garbage separate from hers. I take mine out! Why do I have to put a clean bag in her bin? I can't wait for the weekend when the STUPID BITCH GOES home! I wish she would stay there!

I must tell y'all that I am searching for a neurologist at the present time because of my wrists and hands. Yesterday is some of the worst pain I've ever felt in them. I thought they would fall off, I could not lift a stinkin' pencil. I couldn't close my fingers. It was awful! They are hurtin' now too. But I already had this typed up, so I figured it would be cruel to keep you waitin' too horribly long.

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“I apologize for being late, Minister,” Hermione said. She was still pale from the memories she’d witnessed, Lucius’ father dying by his hand, and his seeming anger at her for being from the future and not telling him the truth. Though the latter was understandable to her; he'd trusted her. She broke that trust.

“You will be mine.”

The words played in her mind again.

“No need to stand on decorum here, Miss Granger. We fought side by side in the same organization; do call me Kingsley.”

“Then I insist that you call me Hermione, Min—Kingsley,” Hermione said before inclining her head to him. “What was so urgent that you called me for?”

“I would like to wait to discuss that when the rest of the guests arrive,” Kingsley said, leaning back in the desk chair and frowning.

“Who else is expected?” Hermione asked.

“I’ve summoned Arthur Weasley, Harry, and Ron,” he replied, turning about in the office chair nervously. “There is one more who will be joining us, but they asked that it be a surprise. I do not like the idea of it, but I am going to respect the request.”

Moments later there was more knocking at the door.

“Come in,” Kingsley said, folding his arms and leaning forward at the desk.

Harry, Ron, and Mr. Weasley walked through the door single file.

“What is going on, Kingsley?” Arthur asked as he noticed Hermione was already seated. Ron and Harry both moved to take positions at her sides.

She took Ron’s hand in hers and smiled up at him before taking Harry’s hand as well.

“What’s up, Hermione? Why are we here? War’s over,” Ron said.

Harry grinned.

“We did it,” Harry said. He hadn’t stopped grinning since Voldemort’s demise, and Hermione could only imagine how he felt. No longer was there a mad man after his life. No longer did he have to always be looking over his shoulder. No longer did he have to hide his love for Ginny Weasley. He was a free man now, free to do whatever he wanted.

“You did it, Harry,” Hermione said. “In the end, it was all up to you; Neville, Ron, and I just helped out a bit with the horcruxes.”

Harry grinned.

TAT. TAT.

Hermione turned to look at the door. The sound was like metal striking wood.

The door opened, and Hermione felt her heart jump like a doe.

Lucius and Draco Malfoy strode into the room. Lucius looked resplendent in grey silk robes with a black velvet cloak. His hair was pulled back with a plain black ribbon, and his snake head cane was held gently in his left hand. Beautiful black gloves were on his hands, and his shoes were without a fleck of dust. He took a seat calmly and left Draco to stand at his right hand.

“What’s HE doing here?” Ron demanded, pointing his wand at the blonde.

“He is here at my request,” Kingsley said.

“Do put your wand away,” Lucius said calmly in a low voice. “Wanting to play with the big boys again so soon?”

“Enough, we didn’t come here to duel dark wizards,” Arthur said, glaring at Lucius as he spoke making his position clear.

“I was acquitted. I am no dark wizard. Nor is Draco,” Lucius said, and his lip curled up on one side as he looked at the balding idiot who’d hated him from the moment he entered Hogwarts four years under him. “The ministry ruled in the matter. And you seem to forget so soon that Narcissa aided you by lying about Potter’s ‘death’, don’t you Weasley?”

Draco was quiet as he watched his surroundings. He nodded to Harry in respectful acknowledgement but didn’t speak to him.

“What did you need to discuss with us, Minister?” Hermione said, taking in the looks from both of the men. She could see Arthur’s hand in his jacket pocket closed around what was probably his wand.

Lucius’ lips quirked upward to form a smirk. He’d been proud of this idea.

“Hermione—”

Lucius frowned at this show of familiarity of the minister. The man ought to refer to her as Miss Granger. In the future he would definitely address her properly!

“Are you familiar with The Witch Act of 1211?” Kingsley asked calmly.

Hermione shook her head in confusion.

Draco turned and looked at his father for a moment. Lucius stopped his son from interrupting with the slightest squinting of his eyes.

“That is not unusual. It is not something we want our children being taught,” Kingsley said, leaning back. “It is not something easily researched.”

Hermione looked at Ron and Arthur who both looked confused as well. Then she looked at Lucius.

“It is a law that essentially allows the subjugation of muggleborn witches by pureblood wizards. It was utilized by only three wizards in the past and then forgotten. It allows the pureblood wizard to force the witch to marry him and serve him in whatever capacity he may see fit in regard to the marriage. It is rather more complicated than that, really.”

Hermione looked appalled. She turned and looked at Lucius.

Lucius winked and mouthed at her, “I told you, you will be mine.”

“That’s terrible,” Hermione said, turning to look at the minister. “What does it have to do with me?”

“Thought you were smart, Granger,” Draco taunted unable to help himself.

“Be polite, Draco,” Lucius snapped.

Draco’s jaw dropped. Lucius reached out and pulled Draco down to whisper in his ear. Draco seemed satisfied with the answer if not wholly pleased with it.

“Minister,” Hermione said, staring at the tall black man who was dressed in a solemn blue.

“Well, being that the law was forgotten by nearly all and was barely utilized in the first place, the ministry never repealed it. It is still quite legal for a pureblood to “apply” in essence for a muggleborn witch.”

“Repeal it, then,” Hermione said voice rising at the beginning of a panicky feeling of pixies in her stomach as she looked at Lucius who was grinning like the half-kneazle who ate the snidget.

“It will be repealed,” Kingsley said softly. “However, you were petitioned for while the law is legal. There is no way to fight it.”

“Who has petitioned for Hermione, Kingsley?” Arthur asked, glaring at Lucius who sat with a straight back.

Lucius’ right hand stroked the silver snake head at the top of his cane and stared at the Weasleys with a semblance of apathy though it was clear he was waiting for any provocation to attack.

Kingsley’s shoulders slumped, and he gestured to the Malfoys.

“Lucius,” the man answered in a tired voice.

Hermione slumped back in the chair allowing her hands to fall from the boys’ hands. They began to wildly shout and advance toward Kingsley’s desk. Hermione just turned and stared at Lucius.

Lucius winked at her.

“YOU AREN’T SERIOUS! ARE YOU?” Ron said, slamming a hand down on the desk before the minister and upsetting one of the picture frames.

“Nothing can be done,” Kingsley said, turning to face away from them.

“Throw him in Azkaban,” Harry said, pounding a fist into his hand before adding, “for life. He used unforgivables. And he is obviously completely immoral.”

“He went to court for those offenses and was found not guilty because they were performed under duress,” Kingsley said, and he didn’t turn to face them. He hated that he had to see this happen to Hermione. “And since being acquitted, he has been the model of good behavior.”

“I’ll apply for Hermione, and she can pick me,” Ron said, kneeling and wrapping his arms around Hermione.

Hermione leaned into the embrace in time to see Lucius smirk in delight that he would have her though his eyes were dark in anger at the sight of the Weasley gnome touching his female.

“It doesn’t matter what Hermione wants, Ron,” Kingsley said in a soft voice.

“What do you mean?” Arthur asked, shifting to glare at the rich blonde.

“The law states if two purebloods apply for the same muggleborn, then the one best able to provide for the witch will be granted the petition. The law is fool-proof. There are no loop holes. There is no escape.”

Ron whipped his wand out and pointed it at Lucius, “I’ll get you for this Malfoy. You slimy, foul death eater git! S—”

But that was all the more he got out before slumping to the floor.

“What did you do to my son?” Arthur yelled, dropping to the floor and touching Ron’s forehead.

“I stunned him, which is a far sight kinder than what he was planning to do to me,” Lucius said, rising to his full height. It wasn’t like Arthur didn’t have replacements for the boy even if he had wanted to kill the upstart.

Draco shifted next to his father and brushed a hand over his chest across the light scar that was the remnant of the year he spent attempting to kill his cousin.

Hermione looked at Lucius who smirked back at her and winked.

Ron came around a few minutes later.

Lucius had his wand still drawn and had placed himself between Draco and the Weasleys. Draco also had a wand out ready to blast if the need arose for it, but he remained behind his father.

“Are you okay, Ron?” Arthur asked, helping Ron sit up.

“Why?” Ron asked, glaring at Lucius.

“You cast a spell at me, I disarmed you,” Lucius said, smirking as he purposely chose not to answer the dolt’s question.

“Malfoy is married,” Harry said, shaking his head as he finally found the way for Hermione to escape the other wizard.

Draco choked a bit and a few tears pooled in his eyes.

“My mother is dead,” Draco barked out before he turned away.

Lucius sneered at Harry.

“I am a widower. Narcissa was killed at the end of the battle at Hogwarts,” Lucius said. His hand twitched a bit, but he sheathed the wand in his cane and turned to Draco.

He whispered to Draco for a few minutes to comfort him. Draco jerked away from his father and left the office with the crack of apparition.

Hermione looked at them.

Lucius turned to them with a stony look on his face.

“Your wife died a month ago, and you already want to get another one?” Harry asked, looking repulsed at the lack of grieving.

“Harry,” Arthur whispered. “That is pretty standard tradition for wizard widowers.”

“Why Hermione?” Harry asked, glaring at him. “You hate people of non pure background.”

Lucius lifted his chin and looked down his nose at Harry and the Weasleys.

“Why not?” Lucius said.

“Did you love your wife at all?” Ron asked also repulsed.

“Ronald,” Arthur said, pinching his youngest son’s arm.

“What? You wouldn’t get remarried like that if mum died,” Ron said. "And he is tearing me and Hermione apart."

“Since you seem so interested in Narcissa’s and my marriage, I will be glad to leave you in the dark about it,” Lucius said, stalking forward so he was looking down at the Weasleys who were at his feet within kicking distance.

Hermione stood quickly when she realized what Lucius seemed to be thinking about doing.

“Mr. Malfoy,” Hermione spoke quietly.

Lucius turned to her. She hadn’t spoken to him since he arrived. He felt his expression soften to his annoyance, and he quickly hid the response from her. She didn’t need to see that, didn't need to know what she did to him.

She just looked at him and shook her head before walking out of the room.

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Well, I hope that this is good. I hope you drop me a review. I always love them.

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