Only Time

Lovely Reviewers:

Voracious Reader - The most severe spells that he were a matter of her survival, he set to transfer. But being that the protection spell 'knew' that Hermione would be able to come out of Bella's spell, it protected her without going through the transfer, plus because the reversal of Bella's spell has to do with love, and the spell Lucius performed was out of love...I am now ready.

Citten - The doctor's visit included a day trip to the hospital so the bloodsuckers could steal blood for tests. Hope this chapter doesn't make people angry.

meankitty69 - I couldn't get the idea of Sleeping Beauty Spell out of my mind, and I knkew it had to be in German, though it is originally a French tale. The Brothers Grimm tend to do everything a little bit better as far as faerie tales are concerned. Hopefully, this update wil not be disappointing!

Heidi191976 - Hope you feel the same way at the end of this chapter.

vamp_grl23 - Hope you enjoy Chapter IX as well!

Ashley - YAY! ANOTHER UPDATE!

cherripepsiisgod - I finally got around to it, late last night!

Hilda Malfoy - You speak Russian? That's cool. Likewise, if you need help with Japanese or Latin. I did send the Dramione bunny an email...he didn't email back...*turns around and cries (loudly)*

Lauriurix - I think his insecurities are understandable too, and they will become a bit more apparent in this chapter. Hope people don't get angry with me for it. Lucius needs DESSERTS!

HermioneMalfoyFan - YAY FOR NEW LAPTOPS! *does a jig*

Why thank you for You're really mean, you know that? You're making me feel special inside. I have a general plan for what I want to happen. Of course, Severus wouldn't do that to Lucius. Maybe she will leave him. Maybe she won't. I couldn't possibly spill all my secrets, now can I?

Huzzah~

It was created to kill women. Not men. I'm not sure if I will bring any more about that into the story, but to satisfy your curiosity about it. (I know much more about the stories that I am writing than I should at times.) The witch was casting the spell so she could have him in particular; so she was trying to get rid of competition. She didn't count on his noble streak saving the girl and ruining her chances.

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Some apologies should be made to y'all, I got the most fabulous idea for my next story from two separate sources, a suggestion in a review and remembering a song I heard. I'm excited for it! But of course, at least one of the sequels, and probably both, will need to be completed before I do more than the preliminary work on it. Preliminary meaning planning!

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“What are those?” Lucius asked, pointing at the strawberry blossoms in Ron’s arms.

“Flowers for Hermione,” Ron said.

“She’s allergic to strawberry products and strawberry flowers,” Lucius said, pushing Ron away so he wouldn’t get to where Hermione would be able to inhale the fragrance.

“She is not!” Ron said, “I would know if she was.”

“Apparently not,” Lucius said, sneering and looking down his nose at the Weasley.

“How do you know that she is allergic to strawberry stuff?” Harry asked, crossing his arms over his chest.

He stepped in it this time.

“I told him,” Severus quickly supplied as he walked into the room, “due to the fact that she will be staying here. Lucius needs to be informed of what types of nutritional supplements Miss Granger will not be able to enjoy. Though, she will not taste any of it anyway.”

“How do you know Hermione’s allergies?” Ron said, moving toward the black haired man with clenched fists.

Lucius walked over to the bed and sat on the edge.

“I was Hogwarts’ Potions Master, Mr. Weasley. Do you think that I am not aware of every allergy that every student has. Including your own to doing work without Miss Granger breathing down your neck. Contrary to popular belief, I do not want to see my students perish; Mr. Longbottom almost caused serious injury on innumerable occasions. I consider it lucky that the Filibuster firework one of the two of you tossed into a cauldron in your second year wasn’t tossed into anything more serious than in the Swelling Solution. You could have killed people. If I could prove it had been one of you two, I would have ensured your expulsion,” Severus said, curling his lip up.

“We didn’t do that,” Harry said, taming the light flush on his cheeks.

“Mr. Potter, I am not stupid; I know it was one of the two of you, just as I know that Miss Granger’s stint as a half-feline was due to Polyjuice.”

“Do you have any theories on what spell Aunt Bella used?” Draco asked, walking into the room and looking at the bed with a pouty frown.

“Why do you care about Hermione, Malfoy?” Harry asked.

“Maybe, I just don’t want you two in my home, Potty.”

Harry rolled his eyes.

“Would you both just act your age?” Lucius said, walking over and sitting on the edge of the bed. He took Hermione’s hand in his and looked at her peaceful face.

“We do have an idea,” Severus said, walking over to the bed and looking down at the fuzzy brown-haired witch lying asleep in the large bed.

“What is it?” Ron asked, looking over at Hermione and imagining her cooking and cleaning and taking care of the children the way his mother had his brothers, his sister, and him.

“Der Dornröschen-Fluch und der Ritter in der schimmernden Rüstung,” Severus said lifting the flower at his side. “Roughly translated, it means ‘The Sleeping Beauty Curse and the Knight in Shining Armor.’”

“How do you test it?” Ron asked.

“If the poppy blooms when placed on her chestm according to the text, it means it’s the spell she is under,” Severus said.

“What does the spell do?” Harry asked, walking over and looking down at her. He glared at the pale, aristocratic hand that had laced its fingers with Hermione’s.

“The curse was originally designed to kill young, virginal females. However, there are many protective spells that can be used to protect the maidens that were applicable after the curse. In Miss Granger’s case, the spell that protected her was cast prior to the curse and is a wholly new type of protective charm,” Severus said, placing the poppy buds on Hermione’s chest.

Instantly, the buds bloomed sending their sweet fragrance into the air.

Lucius rubbed his thumb over the top of Hermione’s hand.

“Well, it appears that that is the spell Miss Granger is afflicted with,” Severus said, taking a step back.

“How do we reverse it?” Ron asked, taking a step closer to Hermione.

“Incendio!” Lucius said, pointing his wand at the strawberry flowers in the redhead’s hands.

Ron yelped jumping back as the flowers ignited. He dropped them, and nothing but a sprinkling of ashes hit the floor which was instantly winked away.

“BLOODY HELL!”

“I won’t let you cause Miss B-Granger harm,” Lucius said, placing her hand on her chest before clenching his teeth and aiming the wand at Ron’s chest. “You will not bring presents for Miss Granger since you apparently mean her harm.”

“Father,” Draco said, placing a hand on his father’s shoulder.

Lucius glared at Draco momentarily before shaking himself out of it.

“How do we reverse the spell, Severus?” Draco repeated.

“The book indicates, that essentially, it will only be her ‘soul mate’ that can wake her. He will do so with a kiss.”

Ron instantly moved closer to Hermione. He crawled up on the bed and looked down at Hermione.

“Relashio!” Lucius hissed causing Ron to slide off the bed and bang his head against the wall.

“I was going to wake her up!” Ron yelled, glaring at the man.

“You may attempt, like a gentleman, without lying on top of m-Miss Granger,” Lucius said, and he turned away from the sight.

He would rather go to Azkaban again and feel the coldness of the dementors who’d left him with only the memory of her leaving than see a Weasley wake her. It just wouldn’t be fair. He had done so much to protect her and her family from the death eaters.

Lucius heard the smack of the, no-doubt, sloppy kiss the Weasley had given his Hermione. He could cast the Avada on the boy right now. He cut his eyes toward his son, the best thing he’d done with his life.

Draco shook his head just barely to indicate to his father that Hermione remained in her state.

Lucius loosened his grip on his wand and cane as he sighed.

“Wake up,” Ron said, poking Hermione.

“You are not able to awaken Miss Granger,” Lucius said, staring out the balcony doors where the afternoon sun shone brightly. He closed his eyes.

“Aren’t you going to give it a go, Harry?” Ron asked, looking over at his dark haired friend resentfully.

“I hope to marry your sister, mate,” Harry said, looking at Hermione. “I’ve no romantic feelings for Hermione. She’s like a sister.”

“Try Harry,” Ron said, pointing at her. “We’ll tell her it was me who woke her up, and no one outside this room will ever have to know.”

“Do you swear not to resent me if she wakes up?” Harry asked, walking close to the bed. “I don’t want to lose a friend because of this stupid spell.”

“I swear, mate,” Ron said.

Harry looked down at Hermione as if he was almost going to be sick. She was like an annoying older sister to him, always bossing him around and telling him when and how to do homework. It would be way too messed up if he woke her up with his kiss. He leaned over. Screwing his face up and closing his eyes, he gave her a quick peck on the lips before whipping away.

Hermione didn’t even twitch.

Harry sighed.

“Thanks mate,” Ron said, and he has slumped back against the wall.

“You try Malfoy,” Harry said, pointing at his friend.

Lucius’ back stiffened. How dare that insolent little bugger talk to him that way!

“Why would I want to kiss Granger?”

NO! NO! NO! His son could not be the one to wake his love. It would be too twisted and wrong if the only female he’d ever known enough to love turned out to be destined for his son.

“Malfoy, everyone knows you liked her. You wouldn’t have always been picking on her and making fun of her and trying to get all that attention from her if you didn’t,” Harry said.

Draco turned and glared at his godfather.

“It was one of the most puerile displays I’ve ever witnessed in seventeen years of teaching,” Severus said with a shrug. “You were practically shouting it out.”

Draco wouldn’t hurt his father that way, Lucius moaned in his head. Surely, he wouldn’t kiss the girl he knows his father loves.

Draco looked at his father and how tightly he was holding the wand and cane in his now almost bloodless knuckles. He had had a tiny crush on Hermione. But he would not kiss her without his father’s permission. His father was obviously already distressed by the thought of the other two perhaps having been able to awaken her. He would not cause him further distress.

“Hate to disappoint you both, but if I’d had the chance…I’d have pushed her out the Astronomy Tower!” Draco said, stalking from the room but not without glaring at his godfather as if daring the man to try to wake Hermione.

“GET YOUR LAZY, PUREBLOOD ARSE BACK HERE AND PLANT ONE ON HERMIONE! THEN I’LL KILL YOU AND TAKE HERMIONE FOR MYSELF!” Ron yelled running after the blonde.

“Not in this lifetime, Weasel!”

Harry dashed after them wanting to be sure that Ron had a backup if he needed help.

Clack. Clack.

Lucius didn’t register the sound of his wand and cane dropping to the floor and hitting the vanity. He walked over to the balcony doors and flung them open to breathe fresh air.

“Are you going to try, Lucius?” a soft, silky voice asked behind him.

“No.”

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I hope y'all enjoyed it and aren't too mad at me. Drop a review! I love um!

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