The Beauty Found Within the Beast

I humbly submit the next chapter to you. JKR Owns these characters. I only take time to play with them.

Thank you to everyone who is reviewing. You guys are great!

JTBJAB/ Don\'t worry... I don\'t mind the nagging. It just reinforcesthe fact that you like the story to me.
Michelle/I hope this next chapter answers some of your questions...
Camerilla/ I am so glad you are enjoying this!
Firewall/I am glad I got the story moved into a more fitting section as well. I am glad you founf it, and like it!
kurtcouper/ You flatter me! It is funny to me sometimes when I write. When I go back, and read it, I think, Wow... Did I write that?Although my fingers put the story to paper, it is my muse who tells the story through me. The inspiration comes, and I just have to let her write... And of course, the reviewers help inspire us to do more... But isn\'t that true of any author??? Thank you soo much!
Labdhi/Tee Hee hee! You thrill me with your reviews!
kbluesmom/Hold onto your chair... the story just more intense! At least I hope...
Sorceress Black/You are such a great reviewer... I hope you like this update!
Jose Villarosso/ The teasing just helps it become that much sweeter when the release finally comes... But not this chapter. Other things are to happen...
Alexia/ Thank you so much for such a sweet, sparkling review. I thank you!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Ghostly Visions

Hermione moved swiftly from the library. All she wanted at that moment was to distance herself from the man that quickly turned from someone that she had considered an enemy, to someone that she was beginning to care very deeply about.

These emotions scared her. She had learned a long time ago that it was never wise to let one’s emotions control them. It was probably better that they had stopped when they did. Part of her still felt like it was wrong for her to feel this way for him. She had not known him long enough to become so attached. She assured herself that it was just lust. But even as she told that to herself, she knew it to be a lie.

“Damnable man!” She swore angrily. ‘What have you done to me?”

No sooner had the words left her lips, than a feminine voice answered from behind her. “He always made me feel the exact same way.”

Eyes wide, Hermione turned to face the owner of the voice. Her mouth dropped open at the sight before her. Pale blond hair fell in soft curls past the woman’s shoulders, almost to her waist. Pale blue eyes held Hermione’s and a sad smile played across her features. “I was putty in his hands. He could always convince me that everything would work out alright.”

Hermione knew immediately who the woman before her was. Even so, it did little to calm the quiver in her voice when she asked softly, “You’re Narcissa?”

From the left side of the spirit came another voice. “Ten points to Gryffindor.” She knew the owner of the voice before she even turned. But it was devoid of any of its mockery. Draco had a welcoming, almost kind smile on his face as he moved to stand beside Narcissa. “Hermione, don’t be afraid.” he spoke softly.

He looked the same as he had in their seventh year. Hermione felt tears in her eyes at seeing him. She had heard that they had hexed his body so badly, he wasn’t even recognizable. If she didn’t know that these were spirits before her, she would have thought he was back from the grave. Healed and whole.

She shook her head. “I’m not afraid. Only perhaps a little stunned. Why are you talking to me? Wouldn’t you rather be with Lu... Mr. Malfoy?”

Narcissa looked down. “We are his past. We watch him, but he must never know that we are here.”

The younger witch’s brow furrowed. “But why? Don’t you think he needs to see you? To know that you aren’t suffering?”

Draco stepped closer to her. “But we are.” His eyes captured hers. For every moment that he cannot forgive himself we are forced to relive the last moments of our lives.”

“We almost had given up on finding any peace,” Narcissa added, “Until you came. He felt his first relief from the pain of his memory with you by his side.”

Hermione looked at the other woman. “He isn’t releasing that pain. It is still there.”

Draco smiled. “Not yet, but he will.” he reached over and took his mothers hand. “We don’t want to cause him more grief. We want to see him,” he shook his head, “but we can’t until he can let his guilt go.”

Narcissa looked from Draco to Hermione. “Help him, Hermione. Help him realize that he is forgiven. Help him see that it is ok to go on living.”

Hermione felt the tears begin to slip onto her cheeks. She drew a shaky breath. “But I don’t know how.” She whimpered. “”How can I help him? What can I possibly do to make him see he is worthy of forgiveness?”

Narcissa moved to the younger woman’s side. “Just stay consistent with him. Be who you are. He needs the attention you can give him.”

Draco nodded. “It is already helping him, Hermione. Soon, he will be ready to see us. He will be able to accept our forgiveness and let us go.” He smiled sadly. “Our souls are stuck here until then.”

Narcissa looked at Draco, then back to Hermione. “He isn’t ready to tell us good-bye yet. He won’t be until he can forgive himself. You must try, Hermione. You alone can help him move past this.” Her eyes were pleading. “Please promise me you will help him. For all of our sakes. He needs you.”

Hermione was taken back by the desperation in Narcissa’s voice. It was a pain that she could understand. It echoed the grief that she had seen in Lucius’ eyes as well. She nodded her head. “I will try, Narcissa. I promise I will try my hardest.”

Narcissa smiled, and stood back, looking Hermione over. “You were right, Draco. She is a lovely girl.”

As Narcissa’s final words were spoken the two spirits disappeared from Hermione’s view. They simply vanished. Draco’s voice lingered with her after they were gone. “Thank you, Hermione.”

Hermione moved to unlock the gate to the garden. Going inside she sank down on the closest bench and let the tears flow freely. She wanted to help Lucius. She had felt drawn to him from the first moment she had seen him. But now, she discovered that he wasn’t the only one in need.

She couldn’t imagine the kind of existence Draco and Narcissa were enduring. Suddenly, she found herself very afraid. Her fear stemmed from wondering how Lucius would react to seeing Narcissa. What if she did everything she could to help him overcome his grief and the moment he saw his first love and Draco, it all came flooding back?

What if all the affection and caring he was showing her was only because of the emptiness he felt at losing his wife? What if none of this was real? How could she know for certain that what he felt for her was enough to help him come back? After everything he had been through with his wife and son, what did she have to offer him?

Pain swelled within her, making it hard to breathe. “Gods! I must be crazy!” she swore out loud. Standing, she turned and with one last swipe at her cheeks, left the garden, locking the door behind her.

She failed to notice the Death Eater that stood in the far clearing, observing her silently with an evil gleam in his eye. He watched as she made her way back to the house. A knowing smile graced his lips. So Lucius had a very special guest? The Dark Lord would be pleased.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Lucius was on his way outside to search for her, when Hermione rounded the corner, and ran into him. His arms came around her in an effort to steady her. “Hermione, are you alright?” His face showed concern. “Dear Merlin, you look as if you’ve seen a ghost. Whatever can the matter be?”

He silently prayed that she wasn’t so upset over what had transpired between them. He couldn’t bear it if he had caused her so much pain. She was the one beam of light in his miserable existence. He wasn’t even sure what he would do when the month was over, and she left. How could he go back to being alone when she had shown him how it felt to have companionship again?

Hermione broke away from him and shook her head, refusing to look him in the eyes. “It’s nothing.” She said softly. “I just twisted my ankle on my walk. I need to go to my rooms to retrieve my wand, so I can mend it.”

Lucius recognized the lie and his brow raised in confusion. She had never before lied to him. Why would she start now? He opened his mouth to call her jest, then thought better of it. Perhaps she only wanted some time away from him. After all, he had just fairly snubbed her affections.

Nodding, he asked softly. “Will you still join me for dinner tonight?”

Hermione drew a deep breath. “Actually, I really need to dedicate a few hours this evening to research.” she answered wearily. “Perhaps tomorrow evening. If that is acceptable to you?”

Not waiting for his response, she brushed past him. She had to put some space between them. She needed time to gather her thoughts. She needed a chance to get a rein on her emotions. If she could just have some time to think about everything. Perhaps she could find a way to let him know just how much he meant to her.

It was so soon for her to be feeling this way. She had always prided herself on being someone who did not step into anything blindly. She never had. She always went into things with both eyes open and alert. But this. This very emotion had swept her up in a whirlwind that she had no control over. Suddenly, she felt like a child that was unprepared for the world around her.

In the safety of her room, she closed the door, moved to sit on the bed. Her eyes hurt from the tears she had cried. Her head ached and she felt weary from the sudden responsibility she was faced with.

An owl hooted from her balcony. Sighing, she got up and walked out onto the balcony thinking it was Hedwig. A strong hand clamped down on her from behind. Her screams were muffled as the steel arm around her reached for the Portkey. “Oh no, Precious. We mustn’t fight. That isn’t very ladylike!”

One moment, the two were struggling on the balcony. The next there was nothing there but a stirring of the air.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~