A love like Tinted Glass

Disclaimer: Don't own any of it. Just the plot. ~sigh~. I'm not making any cash. Period. Not from this story, (Or in life), and I don't take ANY credit for ANYTHING. AT ALL. PLEASE DON'T SUE ME.

((A/N: You guys are amazing. You really really really are! The reviews that I've gotten have been very encouraging, and are truly helping guide me in the way this story needs to go! This is more than just a drabble from me. This is my attempt at getting that one Dramione (Plus some Lucius @_@ ) that so many of us WANT, but don't ever find. So please please please! Keep up the awesome reviews. I'll respond to a few of them right now, in fact.... Oh and also! Draco's condition WILL be revealed in one of the next few chapters, but I just hope that it lives up to your hopes! In fact, most of you will probably catch on at the end of this chapter.

Voracious Reader:Thank you very much. I do realize that Lucius has been a little OOC in the last chapter, but I promise that there is a reason to his behavior. All will be explained, and accounted for. Thank you for your wonderful review. It really helped motivate me.

Rena: I'm really glad you're enjoying the story! I promise, you won't have to be wondering for too much longer!

Devoted Reader: I promise promise promise you, I will NOT give up on this story! This is actually a REWRITE of a very old story of mine that I did nearly 6 years ago. I wasn't satisfied with it, so I've completely redone it this time around. I've put far too much time and effort into it, and I know I've got a few faithful readers that would hate me if I gave up! Stay tuned, please!

Lizzy T, Becca, Tori: Thanks so much for reading and reviewing, and sticking with me here!

Angeles: Oh my dear, devoted Angeles... I've come to truly enjoy getting your reviews with each chapter I post. I promise you, all will be answered soon enough. Please just stick with me, and I'll get to work on trying to shove Lucius into a bottle for you. He's pretty bitchy about getting his hair messy!

And anyone that I've missed, THANK YOU SO MUCH! I truly love you all!

~ Toby.


**Edited for content corrections on 12/8/2010**
Chapter 8: It's a Very Fancy Charade.

Despite Hermiones hopes for getting up and out of the Heads tower before Draco was up, and about, she ended up locking herself inside of her room for as long as she imagined that Lucius would be naked. Not that she was imagining Professor Malfoy naked... No of course not! That would be wrong.

“Bloody hell, Hermione... What's gotten into you lately? Honestly. You see a couple of bare chests, get fondled once, and now the smell of a man turns you into a trembling twit?! Seriously!” She berated herself as she got her things together, and dressed for class. She settled on performing a simple spell to clean her hair. The only downside to the spell, was that it made her curls frizz out like she was a first year again. Staring at her floor length mirror, Hermione let out a drawn out groan, and tried to tame the wild mass with her fingers, but soon gave up, in fear of the hair actually turning on her and trying to eat her hands. It already felt like that, with how it knotted around her slender digits.

In the back of her mind, the muggle born witch vaguely remembered a gift that Ginny had given her for her birthday the last time it passed. A book of spells for every young witch... Tossing her wand onto her bed, the brunette dug furiously through her normally tidy trunk, for the books that she left in there, since she didn't often read them. Crookshanks, a little displaced by the wand that had landed on him, huffed and pulled himself from her bed, and hopped down, going to wait by the door impatiently.

“No, Crookshanks. You're not getting out to wreak havoc again while I'm in class.” Hermione said in a bored tone, not sparing the animal a second glance. “AH! There you are!” She exclaimed, withdrawing the thin, rather posh looking book. It almost appeared to be a magazine at first sight. Returning her trunk back to it's former state, Hermione finally climbed back up onto her lush bed and grabbed her wand, before starting to go through the different styles. They all looked too intricate and... silly to her. For a while she considered one that would simply straighten her hair, but she figured that would look weird on her as well. Most of what she found would have looked much better on Lavender, or Parvati... Finally, she stumbled across one that she liked. A simple french braid. The spell was easy enough, and in no time, the unruly mass of hair was tamed into a tight, sleek braid, tied off at the end with a black ribbon. “There... That's not so unbearable...” She mumbled, looking over at herself in the mirror once more, before glancing at Crookshanks.

Rolling her eyes as her pet meowed angrily at her, the Headgirl set the spell book aside, grabbing her bag and tucking her wand away, before heading to the door. “No, Crookshanks. You can't go out. You have everything you need in here, and you're just going to go right back to sleep anyway.” She said, tapping her toe for a long moments as she had a staring contest with the feline creature. Finally, the orange beast gave up, meowing angrily once more, before retreating back to the bed. Finally, Hermione was free to go to breakfast.....

Or at least that's what she would have liked to have done! But the moment she reached the great hall, two very familiar hands pulled her away from the doors, and down a side hall.

“Ron! Harry! Let me go! I'm STARVING!” She exclaimed, trying to pull away from her best friends. Harry let her go, but Ron persisted. Neither of them budged otherwise.

“Hermione! Did you know about Malfoy?” Ron asked, shaking her arm a little. Stiffening a little, the head girl ceased struggling to get away from her red haired friends painful grip, to look up at him, and then Harry, sharply.

“Which Malfoy?” She asked cautiously, swallowing hard.

“BOTH OF THEM! THEY'RE BLOO-”

“Ron! Calm down!” Harry interrupted Ron's explosion, setting a hand on his friends shoulder, his firm grip obviously what shut Ron's mouth. Harry's green eyes were still concerned, though. Just as much as his best friends. And they were turned on Hermione.

“Did you know that Lucius Malfoy was going to be a professor this year? We were figuring that since you were Head Girl, that maybe you kn-” Hermione rolled her eyes, finally yanking her arm away from Rons persistent grip.

“Thought what? Thought that I was privy to information that you guys weren't? Even if I HAD been told about him, I wouldn't have been able to tell you guys, most likely. I really take this position very seriously. I've only worked my arse off to get here. But... No. I didn't know about him until this morning.” She said, deflating a little. Harry and Rons assumption that she really did know everything, and that everything she knew was open to them, had irritated her. In fact, a lot of things were irritating her lately. It was a bit odd. She decided though, that she'd just pin it on her bad run of luck, and spending too much time around Draco.

“This morning? Didn't you just come down? Hermione wait!” Ron had started to question her as she began to head off to the Great Hall, hoping she make it in time to at least grab a muffin, or something to get into her stomach before class. Grabbing hold of her arm again, to stop her from getting to far away, Ron recoiled in surprise when the young woman spun to face him, honey brown eyes alight with anger.

“I would very much appreciate it if you would keep your bloody paws off of me, Ronald! I have been manhandled ENOUGH this last month, I don't need YOU starting in on it too! Leave me alone!” She snapped at him, before turning, and retreating the rest of the way to the great hall, leaving Harry and Ron staring, mouths agape in shock.

“I think she's gone mad, Harry...” Rons mumbled finally.

“She's mad, that's for sure. But I think she's just mad at you, mate. Take it easy on her. Somethings not right.” Harry replied quietly, frowning. This year was going to be a bumpy one, he could already tell..........

One thing that Hermione was incredibly thankful for, was that she no longer had Double Potions first thing in the morning. It was one thing to wake up to a cauldron of some rank concoction simmer under your nose, and another to do it with Slytherins learning at you all around.

Instead of potions for her first period, instead, Hermione had N.E.W.T level Defense against the Dark Arts. Which she had been greatly looking forward too, until she arrived and remembered, very abruptly, just WHO would be teaching the class this year. Standing in the doorway, dumbfounded as she watched the silver haired man at the desk in the front of the room talk and socialize a bit with the students, Hermione found herself suddenly knocked aside, Pansy Parkinson shoving past her. “Watch where you're standing, Mudblood.” She sneered, as though the collision had been Hermione's fault. The Head Girl rolled here eyes.

“Ten points from Slytherin for... vulgarity.” Hermione muttered under her breath, smirking a bit. Another perk, being Head Girl. Shaking herself off from the altercation, the brunette scanned the class for a seat, feeling her heart jump into her throat when she saw the only two left were right in the front row. Even his own Slytherin's didn't want to sit too close to him... Sighing, and bracing herself for the worst, Hermione lifted her chin up indignantly, and strode to the front, center desk boldly, sitting down in a very no-nonsense fashion, and pulled out a sheet of parchment, quill, and ink pot, ready to learn from this man. If he could even teach. She wasn't entirely convinced that this whole situation wasn't a cover for something a little more... Sinister.

As the rest of the students settled into the seats, the final bell rang, signaling the start of class.

“Good morning, class. As many of you know, I am Professor Lucius Malfoy.” Swallowing hard, Hermione suddenly didn't feel as brave as she was trying to appear. He was so close, his slate silver eyes hard, and intense, as he looked at every single student in his class. It seemed, that she was the last that he focused on. The corners of his rigid mouth twitched upwards, as his gaze lingered on her for a minute. He couldn't help but reminisce, however momentarily, on their interlude that morning. The way she trembled away from him... He wanted to see her do it again. Realizing the intensity of how much he wanted to see her shrink away from him once more, Lucius brought himself back to reality, standing up from where he had leaned against his desk, walking around behind the large dark washed wooden structure. His over robes came off, draped across his chair, to reveal a prim white dress shirt, an emerald green vest, and perfect grey trousers. He was the epitome of a man, and the way the girls in the class whispered around behind her, Hermione could tell she wasn't the only one that could appreciate the way the fabric pulled over his musculature. But the difference there was, she didn't have to imagine what he would look like under the clothing, as most of her classmates were trying to do. She already knew.

“We are going to start this term, by studying dark creatures, and their powers, and how they can be used against us, as wizards. As well as what we can do to defend ourselves from them. Now... First things first... Let's populate a list of the most dangerous dark creatures to us. Humanoid. Yes, Miss Parkinson?” Lucius introduced, before calling on the smug looking pureblood girl who had raised her hand eagerly. They were well acquainted, it seemed. He took the moment to wave a hand at the black board that hung above his desk. On it, the words “Dark Creatures” wrote themselves out, in an elegant, scrawling script. No doubt the very hand writing that Lucius created with his own hands.

“Zombies, Professor?” Pansy called out in a bored voice, her hand lowering so that she could gaze at her fingertips, pushing at her cuticles with her nails.

“No, silly girl. Zombies are a muggle myth, created from the creature, Inferi. Inferi are much more dangerous, and deadly than a 'zombie' could ever be. Someone tell us what an Inferi is? Yes, you there with the blond hair...”

“Inferi are corpses that have been animated by magic to do a dark wizards bidding.” Spouted off a Ravenclaw that Hermione vaguely recognized.

“Very good. Yes. Inferi are particularly dangerous, because unlike the muggle version, and Inferi cannot be killed. They can be destroyed if the body is completely destroyed, mainly by means of fire, but it is magic that controls their bodies, so destroying their brain will not stop them. Alright, any one else! Name for me another creature. Or as many as you can think of...” Hermione was obviously astounded. Lucius was actually... Teaching. And teaching well. He didn't have a text book at hand, this was all knowledge that he had stored away. She would have never guessed...

“Vampires and Werewolves?” Piped up a voice that Hermione couldn't place.

“Yes, very good. Two of the most commonly know. Anyone else?” Finally, Hermione had gotten a hold of herself, ducking her head and clearing her throat. Finally, she lifted her hand into the air. There was a chilled silence for a minute, before a clear chuckle.

“Ahh... Finally, Miss Granger. I will be subject to witnessing your famed knowledge of... Well... Everything, from what I've heard. What else can you name for me. Please, do make it obscure, if you can. Maybe together we can teach your classmates something...” Lucius looked smug. The chalk on the board was already scrawling out the names of the creatures they'd already identified.

“Well, sir... There's been much speculation as to the categorization of these two species, because of their long history being known more specifically as demons but... Incubi and Succubi, sir.” Hermione said in a firm voice, her eyes raising to meet his in an almost defiant tone. Lucius was silent for a long moment, before he finally looked away, laughing a bit.

“Very good, Miss Granger. You are indeed correct. Incubi and Succubi should be classified under Dark Creatures, instead of grouped in with 'demon' because while we cannot prove the existence of demons, we do know for a fact that Incubi and Succubi are very real, and have been used in past wars by dark wizards, looking to distract their opponents.” The two words were quickly written onto the blackboard, and Lucius finally turned his attention away from her. A few more words were called out, most of which were turned away for not being exclusively Dark Creatures. By the time Lucius finished the questioning, only the words “Banshee” and “Poltergeist”.

Finally Lucius walked up, and grabbed the chalk, Circling only a few words.

“Who can tell me what the common attributes between these creatures are, save for their humanoid appearance?” He asked, looking out over the dead silent classroom. Hermione studied the words carefully for a moment. Vampire, Werewolf, Incubi, and Succubi.... Finally her hand raised into the air. Lucius sighed, pinching the bridge of his nose a little. “Since it seems no one else here cares to answer, yes Miss Granger. Please enlighten us.” Stopping herself from rolling her eyes at his attitude, Hermione sat up a little bit straighter.

“Well, professor, all of these creatures are created through a physical wound. Biting, scratching of some sort, or by physical reproduction as well. And their behaviors and physiology is each, in someway affected by the time of day, and time of the month. Like a werewolf changing only during the full moon, at night. Or a Vampire only being able to come out at night.” Lucius looked intently at Hermione. She really was a very bright girl. He hadn't realized that his son wasn't embellishing when he's claimed, year after year, that she simply absorbed knowledge, and held hundreds of books worth of information and words in her head. If he were a kinder man, he would have felt bad for scolding his son for so long about coming in second to the muggle born witch.

“Correct, Miss Granger. But, you did not mention how the time of the month or day effects an Incubi or Succubi.” He pointed. Out. She hesitated, color rising to her cheeks. She hated giving out information that she wasn't absolutely sure of.

“Well... Not much is known of them, sir, as they keep to themselves very well. It's speculated that a young Incubi, or Succubi, suffers from severe symptoms, and physical changes, just like a werewolf does, at a specific time each month. It isn't confirmed when, how long, and by what, though. That's why I didn't mention it.” She replied. Lucius was about to reply, unknowingly walking closer and closer to the young witch, until he could feel the edge of the wood press against his legs. Before he could speak, the bell rang, breaking him from his reverie. Sighing, he shook his head, and retreated again. “I want a one thousand word essay, due tomorrow, on one of these creatures up here. Your choice. Give it some content though, please. I will fail you immediately if I become bored while reading your paper. You're dismissed.” Before she could stop herself, Hermione shoved her things into her bag, and escaped the class room as fast as she could, booking it to her next class, her thoughts racing.