The Price of Love

Ok...tis Lucius again, but this chapter is ESSENTIAL to the plot, and those wishing for a happy ending, cross them fingers extra tight! The big question is will Lucius ever realise his feelings for Hermione? Read on to find out.....

Thank you to all my wonderful reviewers! This one is for you!

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I look at my paper and sigh, if there was one way to cut myself off from Hermione, this was certainly it!

There I am in all my Pureblood glory, smiling up at myself.

And there she is my fiancée, I sometimes feel disgusted when I think of her, but I know that if she says it’s over...then it definitely is.

Why can’t I shake this feeling? I feel like a part of me missing.

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I walk along the corridor in the lavish residence I call home, my ancestors call out friendly hellos as I move down the dark haven. I come to a stop at the end of the corridor and with ones hand on the door handle, I feel fear grip my stomach as I push the handle down. I stop and turn.

“Lucius Malfoy don’t you dare walk away from me!” a voice shouts out.

I cannot believe what I am hearing.... Her voice...but it can’t possibly be?

As I push the door open, the familiar view of the room reminds me of another time and the familiar scent of lavender fills my senses.

“Where’s that famous Malfoy nerve Lucius? Have you gone soft?”

I turn toward the voice and I see her.

My dead ex-wife.

I stare intently at Narcissa, preserved in all her glorious beauty in the portrait that hangs from the one unoccupied wall.

“Hello Cissy,”

“Hello Lucius,”

“You look well,”

Narcissa laughs.

“Of course I look well dear, I am an oil painting!”

I smile as a sense of relief floods me.

“How did you know I was outside?”

“I could sense you Lucius.”

“Sense me?”

“I could sense your turmoil Lucius, what is going on?”

“Nothing, nothing at all.”

“Lucius, you lie, I can see right through you!”

I sigh, she was right I couldn’t lie to her.

I had loved Narcissa deeply and her death had affected me more than anyone had really known.

She had suffered directly at the hands of the dark lord and I could never forgive himself for the pain and abuse she had suffered out of loyalty to me.

“Will you forgive me Cissy?”

“What for Lucius?”

“For causing you so much pain, for causing the dark lord to punish you as he did,”

“Lucius, it was not your fault my darling, please do not feel guilt for anything that happened, I do not blame you Lucius, never ever.”

My eyes start to burn and I feel a cold harsh pain pulling at my chest and fresh innocent tears flow down my face. I struggle to hide them, a Malfoy never shows emotion.

“Lucius....please tell me what the matter is?”

For some reason, I feel safe confiding in Narcissa, she seems to understand me better than anyone else.

“You’re in love aren’t you?”

A horrified expression taints my face as she utters these words.

“No I am not in love Narcissa, thank you very much!”

She laughed again.

“Do you feel anxious Lucius, do you feel as if a part of you is missing?”

“Yes but that’s not the point!”

“Not the point Lucius! You are in love, pry tell who is the lucky girl?”

I grit my teeth and I hear another giggle.

“Is she beautiful Lucius? Does she set your soul on fire?”

I come to realise the answer that lies on the edge of my tongue is yes, she makes me feel all those things.

I nod with my head bowed sadly.

“Then why aren’t you with her Lucius?”

“It would never work Cissy, you don’t know her.”

“Any woman who could inspire these feelings in you Lucius is a fine woman in my eyes, I see the change in you and I admit I like this side of you better,”

“Was I really that awful?”

She sighed.

“Sometimes you were Lucius, but then other times you could be so loving, it was them times I adored you the most.”

“I still adore you Cissy.”

She scowled.

“How can you offer yourself to this woman Lucius if a part of you believes you still love me, I want you to be happy Lucius and live your life for you!”

He knew she was right, but could he really let Narcissa go?

“Draco has told me you have spent the last 3 months moping Lucius, she’s obviously worth it if she makes you feel this way, don’t you see dear one that you are in love?”

“I know you are right Cissy, but she has made her point perfectly clear to me, that we have no future!”

“Oh Lucius, I am slightly afraid to ask this question...Is she a Pureblood?”

That is the question I was expecting from Narcissa.

“No she is not.”

“If I may be honest with you Lucius, I am glad you have fallen for someone who is completely different from yourself!”

“Narcissa you don’t understand, she is not just different, she is forbidden to me! Gods if my father could see me now, babbling on about a 25 year old mudblood!”

“Its Hermione Granger isn’t it?”

I nod.

And she smiles at me, the warmest smile I have ever seen grace her angelic features.

“You have met your match Lucius, she is no pushover, I can see already she has changed you and if I may say so for the better.”

“I've messed everything up, I thought entering into engagement with someone else would help me get over her.”

“Lucius Abraxas Malfoy, are you stupid? Why would you choose to hurt the girl like that?”

“I honestly don’t know!”

“Be happy Lucius, don’t punish yourself for things you cannot change and think about what I said about Hermione Granger, this could be it, your last chance for happiness.”

I smile and leave the room.

I join Draco and we sit, I listen to his mindless chat, but in my mind I am tell Hermione my deepest feelings and imagining her reaction.

“Father?”

I look up to see Draco waving his hand in front of my face, I glare at him.

“What!”

“Nothing I was just telling you Grangers gone on leave for a few months, she thinks im stupid I know she’s on maternity leave, the silly mudblood,”

“Never ever call her that in my presence Draco!” I hiss.

Draco’s face pales and then confusion sets in.

“You were the one who told me to take the job with her father, you know we don’t get on well; you practically pushed me into it!”

“Yes...well I see it was most foolish to believe you had actually mentally left the halls of Hogwarts, Draco!”

“Gods father, it’s not my fault the mud- muggleborn pregnant!”

I feel myself physically pale.

“She’s pregnant?”

“Yes I overheard the minister telling out head of department today!”

“For once I think your meddling skills have come in handy Draco!”

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I pace my bedroom floor, unable to make a logical decision.

My mind is telling me I am the father of a Half-Blood and I am surprised that my stomach does not turn as I expect it to.

Could I really be a father again? Can I flush my untainted line down the toilet? Is she worth it?

That question doesn’t even need and answer.

I Accio! my cloak and leave for her flat, praying to the gods she will take me back.