A Ghostly Curse

Disclaimer: I do not own anything you recognize. JKR invented this world. I only like to play in it.

A/N: A note to everyone that has been so kind as to leave me reviews. You are fantastic! Your kind and wonderful words inspire me to greatness! I am humbled to read what you write in response to where my imagination and my Muse decide to take us. Please, continue to gift me with your words as they inspire my imagination to soar!

Also, I need to make mention to those of you that are loyal to the Ginny/Harry pairing. The Severus/Ginny relationship is NOT the focus here. There will be mention to it, and you might even see the couple drop in to check up on their friend, but this is a story about healing and not love lost, but the opportunity to find true love in an unexpected place. This chapter gets somewhat emotional and sappy, but bear with me as it is just for explanation as to how Hermione has gotten where she is now.

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Ch 5 - Morning Ventures


Hermione opened her eyes the next morning and stared absently at the balcony doors. She had felt embarrassed about what had transpired between herself and Lucius the night before until she realized that all he really did was act upon her own challenge. Well, of course, you stupid arse. You told him he could join you. Did you really believe he wouldn’t?

Groaning, she pulled the soft down covers over her head and wished for the earth to open up and swallow her. Why had Lucius listened to her daring offer? Severus never had. She remembered when she had first discovered his hidden feelings for one of her best friends…

“Hermione, I suggest you just overlook this and pretend it never happened.” His voice had been cold and unemotional despite the tears she cried.

“But, Severus, You just admitted to me that I’m not the one you love. I married you believing that we had fallen in love. Now, I feel like the last two years have all been a lie.” He voice broke on a sob. “Did I… Did I not ever mean anything to you?”

It was then that his own frustration at their situation came to a head. “I do care for you, Hermione. I’m just not in love with you. I… I’ve cared for Ginny since the final battle. But, she was happily married to Potter and I never believed she’d leave him.”

Hermione wiped the tears from her eyes. “She didn’t leave him, Severus. He died.” Her voice was calm as she said this.

Severus sighed. “I am well aware of this fact, Hermione. What happened to him is unfortunate. I never would have expected--”

Hermione cut in, “What? That his own life was tied to Voldemort’s? That he would slowly dwindle away and die within a year of the Dark Lord’s defeat?”

Looking uncomfortable, Severus backed away, nodding. “Yes.” His voice became distant as he spoke softly. “Perhaps if I had known sooner what was happening to him…”

Hermione watched the remorse cross his face before she asked, “Would you really have helped him? Even knowing that it would only be through his death that you would be able to have Ginny?”

Sighing, Severus turned from Hermione. Shaking his head, he answered. “I never hated the boy. I would never have wished him any true lasting harm.” Turning back to her, his eyes bore into hers. “Yes, Hermione. I would still have helped him, even at the risk of never being able to make my feelings known to Ginny. It wouldn’t have been the first time I have sacrificed my own desires for the greater good.”…

… Throwing the covers off of herself, Hermione rose from the bed and got ready for the day. It did her no good to let herself be miserable over the past. Harry was gone. Ron had refused to have anything to do with her after she had accepted Severus’ proposal. After Severus had let his feelings for Ginny be known, Hermione had agreed to a divorce.

Ginny had come to her the night before it had been final and asked her if she was truly okay with her being with her ex-husband. At which point, Hermione had smiled and told Ginny that it made no sense for her to stay and be miserable with a man that her friend could be happy with.

In the end, Hermione had told them both that there were no ill feelings and she wished them both every happiness. Then, licking her wounds, she had moved as far as she could stand to be away from the life she had known. She had fled to the Muggle world for almost two years and pretended they all didn’t exist.

But as time went by, she realize that she did herself no justice by hiding. She was throwing all her dreams away by doing so and that was just stupid. After all, she was the brightest witch of the age and she had every right to be a part of the world she so loved. So, she had to give up the man she had thought to love.

That didn’t mean she had to give up that which she wanted so dearly. She was more than just one of the surviving members of the Golden Trio. She was also a very good Potions mistress. One of the best, it would seem, with her ex-husband being the only other one in the vicinity.

As a result, the Ministry had propositioned her to do some much needed research for them. After a period of double-checking her feelings, she had agreed to their offer and begun looking into promising properties that would serve as both an enviable estate and a good place to work, since she refused to be stuffed into one of the too small potion labs that were offered there at the Ministry.

Now, she found herself the proud owner of Malfoy manor. Or at least she had been. Once she helped Lucius rejoin his body, he would probably reclaim his home and she would be left with mere days to make other arrangements.

After she dressed, she moved to the bathroom to fix her hair and apply a touch of make-up to cover the tears she had cried the night before in her confusion. She just wanted to find her place in the world. Was that too much to ask? She wanted a place that belonged to her that couldn’t be taken away on someone’s whim.

Pulling her hair up into a ponytail, she then applied a little glamour to make herself appear less stressed and more presentable. She smiled at herself as she was satisfied with her appearance. Lucius would be unable to find anything lacking in it either, even if she was not a drop dead gorgeous woman as Narcissa had been.

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Lucius sat in the kitchen, watching Mud and his mate, Glee bounce happily around preparing a breakfast fit for a king. His scowl grew with every little thing they did. He couldn’t remember the last time he had seen them so excited about preparing a meal. It certainly hadn’t been anytime before he’d been separated from his body.

Crossing his arms in front of his chest, he huffed loudly. “Look at the two of you! You don’t even know that she likes breakfast.”

Mud turned and hopped happily from one foot to the other. “Mud spoke with Dobby last night, sir. Dobby told Mud all the meals that the Mistress Hermione likes, he did. Would Master not be prouds of Mud?”

As Mud turned away, he missed Lucius mimicking his last words with an unhappy sneer before he sighed and nodded. “Yes, Mud. I am pleased that you thought of Miss Granger’s comfort.

Mud turned back to face Lucius. “Oh, she isn’t Miss Granger, sir. She’s a…” he paused, before trying to sound out the word. “She’s Di-vor-sed.” He nodded quickly, proud of his mastery of a word he really didn’t know. “Yes, that is what Dobby’s said.”

Lucius squared his shoulders. “She’s divorced?” he crinkled his brow. “Why didn’t she tell me?”

Glee turned then to look at her master, a sad look on her face. “Would master think Mistress Hermione would be happy to share such news?” She looked from him to Mud. “Is it not an admittance of a failure in a relationship between a man and his mate?” Her cheeks colored as she spoke the words.

Considering her logic, Lucius then nodded slowly. Up until a few years ago, divorces among the magical community had been strictly forbidden. Some even looked at suicide before even considering divorce even after it was made legal.

He found himself wondering who the wizard had been. Who would have been fool enough to let that delectable witch out of his grasp?

His thoughts were cut short when said witch entered the room, looking refreshed. She paused and inhaled deeply. “I smell bacon.” Her smile made both Mud and Glee beam happily.

Mud scurried closer to her. “Yes, Mistress. Mud and Glee worked hard to fix you’s a goods breakfast. There are hot cakes and syrup too, just for Mistress.”

Rolling his eyes, Lucius muttered, “Well, it isn’t as if I could eat any breakfast anyway.”

Hermione turned her eyes to Malfoy and offered him a small smile. “Perhaps you would keep me company while I eat? Then we can begin our search for your body.”

At her soft voice, Lucius found all his anger melting away. He hadn’t expected her to be pleasant toward him after he had taken advantage the night before. Curse the air around him, yes. But ask him to keep her company and then remember his desire for her assistance in locating his body? No.

Gesturing to the table, he gave her his most charming smile. “By all means, Miss Granger.” He put emphasis on her maiden name in a way that made her eyes fly to his before moving to sit in the chair across from hers.

Hermione sat and waited for the elf’s to finish serving her, then spoke quietly after they quit the room. “How did you find out?”

His eyebrow raised. “Well, Mud went to speak with Dobby about what you liked for breakfast. It was in that visit that he discovered you were no longer a Granger.” He smirked. “Pity, I never knew congratulations were in order. Oh, but apparently, Condolences are too. All I don’t know is who to give them to.”

She stared at him for a moment before answering. “My name is Granger. I changed it back during my time in Muggle London. As to who I was before…” She shrugged. “Is that really important?”

Lucius nodded slowly. “I find that I am overwhelmed with curiosity, Miss Granger. I think, especially since we will be in each other’s company for the time being, I should be privy to all such secrets you may have been keeping. Also, I think that once we do recover my body and it is known we have spent so much time together, I would rather be forewarned if there will be some half-crazed ex-husband to accuse me of anything untoward.” He tilted his head. “You do understand, don’t you? Harry Potter shouldn’t come and make a scene on my front lawn, I think.”

Hermione blanched and looked away. “Of course, you wouldn’t know, would you?” When he simply shrugged she explained. “Harry is dead, Lucius. His life, ended up being tied to Voldemort’s anyway. With the Dark Lord gone, it was only a matter of time before Harry’s own life-force was weakened beyond repair.”

Speechless, Lucius blinked for a moment before softly exclaiming, “Bugger me! Who would have ever known?” Recovering after a moment, he whispered, “I’m sorry, Miss Granger. I had no idea.”

Hermione nodded. “That’s quite alright. Actually, it was through Harry’s death that I lost the love of my husband. You see, he did care for me. But he loved Ginny more.”

Lucius drew back as if she struck him. “Surely Ron didn’t marry his sister!”

Choking on her orange juice, she covered her mouth for a moment before answering. “Lord no! Ginny had married Harry. Ron is happy with Luna.” She tilted her head for a moment, “Or so I’ve heard. He hasn’t spoken to me since I agreed to Severus’ proposal.”

It was Lucius’ turn to choke. “You married Severus Snape? You’re having me on, aren’t you? Why in heaven’s name would you marry Severus? He… I mean, well he…” His words drifted off as he sat there looking bewildered for a moment. “Did he ever tell you he loved you?”

Tears stung Hermione’s eyes. “No, but he did tell me he cared very deeply for me, and we both hoped that it would turn to love.” Her smile was sad as she pushed the half eaten food away. “We made the most of it. But, when Harry died, the truth of how he felt for Ginny came out and I…” she sniffed. “Well, I had no reason for him not to pursue her.”

Leaning toward her, Lucius spoke gently. “But, he married you. That in itself should have been enough.”

Hermione shook her head, “I didn’t really love him either. I wanted to love him. I was attracted to him. I believed he had a brilliant mind and fooled myself into thinking that love would grow.” At that point she offered him a rare smile. “Ron did love me, but I didn’t feel the same. The affection I felt for him was nothing more than sisterly. I cannot force myself to feel more than I do, after all. Can you?”

Lucius shook his head. “I fear, Miss Granger, that I understand only too well how you feel.” He watched her for a minute before asking. “So, Severus has married Ginny now, has he?”

When she nodded, he smiled. “Figures. He always had a thing for red heads. He never could quite free himself of his love of Lily.” When her eyes widened he inclined his head. “You didn’t know? His love for her and hurt at losing her before he ever gained the opportunity to win her was what drove him to join Voldemort’s masses.” He laughed. “That, and my steady hand guiding him. More fool, I.” Self-loathing filled his beautiful features and made her heart ache for him. “I have lost everything because of that blasted arse! For what? Glory that would never have been mine anyway!”

Feeling his pain, she quickly changed the subject. “I almost forgot…” When his eyes turned to her, she smiled. “Thank you. Last night you made me feel something else besides emptiness.” She blushed deeply even as she spoke. “I haven’t had that in a really long time and I do appreciate it. Even if I was embarrassed about it when it happened.”

Lucius looked at her with surprised eyes and his features softened before he purred, “You are a beautiful woman, Hermione. You deserve to feel worshipped every night.” his voice grew deeper as he added. “In my arms, you would.”

Closing her eyes and pulling away from him, she cleared her throat. “Well, I think we’ve wasted enough time, this morning. Don’t you? Why don’t we go start looking through some of your unexplored chambers?”

As she rose and fled the room, Lucius smiled wickedly. When he moved to follow her, he promised himself silently that he would give her a taste of the heaven she so desperately needed. And, if he never found his body, he’d be happy haunting her dreams each night for the rest of the witches life.

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A/N: Well, how was that? I hope it answered any questions that may have arisen after the last chapter. Okay, now I must ask that you feed my muse, my imagination and my ego by gifting me with some of those fantastic reviews! Oh, how I’m starved for them!!! Please? I promise to update as soon as I get the sustenance I need!

(sending subliminal messages through the internet airwaves… ***You can’t help the urge to leave a review! The need to leave a review is taking over…It’s making you click on the review icon even as you try to resist***)