Daughter of Leda

Lucius was consumed with a mix of emotions when Hermione left. On the one hand, he felt a bit guilty knowing how much their night together would complicate things for Hermione. On the other, Lucius was quickly beginning to believe himself in love with the girl. It was a prospect that both frightened and exhilarated him. It was a new sensation to want to put another before him, and yet here he felt it necessary. Lucius found it impossible to fall asleep until he managed to put some of his thoughts on paper.

It was nearly noon when Hermione felt her mother gently shaking her shoulder. “Hermione, are you sick? Hermione? It’s not like you to sleep this long.”

Hermione blinked rapidly as her eyes adjusted to the light that had been turned on, trying to focus on the words her mother was saying. She’d been interrupted in the middle of a rather lovely dream involving Lucius, strawberries and cream, and a shore side cottage. Oh well. “I couldn’t sleep well last night, mum. It was early this morning before I could manage to fall asleep.”

Her mother looked at her sympathetically. “This situation about Leda getting to you, Herms?”

“You could say that,” said Hermione carefully. “I—“

They were interrupted by the sound of tapping on her window. Hermione recognized one of Lucius’ owl and went quickly to let it in, giving him one of the treats she had begun keeping in her room. It hooted happily and flew off after giving her the letter.

“Who is it from?” her mother asked cautiously. She was unaware how often Hermione and Lucius exchanged letters, but knew that her daughter’s expression wasn’t for her friends Harry or Ron.

“L-- Mr. Malfoy,” said Hermione, hoping she’d spoke quick enough to cover her near mistake. She wondered if it really mattered though. So long as her mother didn’t know she had been gone all night, it would all be fine.

“Ah,” said her mother, smiling. “Taking you under his wing, is he? He’s so charming, and that’s terribly kind of him. So unlike his son that you have told me about.”

Hermione chose not to correct her mother’s assumption. After all, the distinction wasn’t all that important. Or rather, it was, and therefore she was doubly grateful for not having to come up with an explanation on her own.

Soon enough, though it seemed to Hermione as though it was an eternity, her mother left to go begin fixing their lunch. She dressed quickly, using her remaining time to read Lucius’ letter. A part of her suggested checking for any spells that might turn it into a portkey, but for the most part Hermione couldn’t help but believe he would keep his word not to do so again. Ripping into it, she settled back on her bed to read.

Lioness,

I have done a lot of thinking since you left me this morning, and there are some things which I feel must be said. You were completely correct in thinking that what we shared last night was a bad idea. That is not to say that I regret it, or that I didn’t enjoy it – both would be very much inaccurate.

The fact of the matter is that it greatly complicates our respective situations, and I would venture to state that neither of us can afford such a complication. I have come to the conclusion that it is in our best interests to cease communication for a time, both to cool whatever feelings are compromising us and to deal with our separate obligations as we ought.

Tell me your opinion, for if you feel my reasoning to be in error I would greatly favor any viable alternative.

Please know that, whatever side we may be on, I hold you in the very highest regard and hope you reciprocate that feeling. If my affiliations ruin your regard before this war is over, then I accept it as it is no better than I deserve.

I hope that will not be the case.

Yours, as always,
Lucius

Her heart felt numb by the last line. Though she wanted to come up with some excuse as to why it was not necessary, she knew he was right. There was no way for her to keep in contact with a Death Eater when she joined Harry and Ron in a few weeks without exposing them to danger, just as Lucius attempting to keep in contact with her would most assuredly put both him and his family in danger. There was nothing to do but agree, even if she didn’t want to.

It was a short note she wrote and sent back with the owl that she found had actually waited outside her window for a reply. It seemed to like her, and was perfectly happy waiting all day for her orders. The note was also simple, with no endearments or formalities. It was only two lines.

Now, perhaps more than ever, I hope this war ends soon.

Be safe.

After giving the owl her note and bidding him farewell, Hermione joined her mother for lunch. Her mood wasn’t particularly cheerful, but it was easy enough to blame it on exhaustion. She would just have to get used to hiding her feelings, for she doubted missing Lucius would get better very quickly.

Lucius slept only two hours before one of his house elves came to wake him. It would be a busy day, and he’d known all along that one of the costs of his night with Hermione would be exhaustion. By the afternoon, though, Lucius’ energy was starting to wane and it made him feel old to be so seriously considering a nap. Instead he just pushed forward and set about his work as rapidly as possible, hoping that if he didn’t think about the exhaustion then maybe he wouldn’t feel it so strongly.

His efforts were interrupted by the return of one of his owls bearing a note for him. It took only seconds to open and read it. It took much longer to recover from it. The words were all he could have hoped for, quite likely more than he should have hoped for, and yet it was filled with disappointment. He’d felt compelled to write his words from the morning, but he’d hoped beyond reason that Hermione would have some excuse for why they shouldn’t cease contact. He felt like he was back in school and with his first real crush. It was maddening.

What could he truly hope for, though? Hermione was Harry Potter’s best friend, and as such a wrong move could result in her death. He was a Death Eater, a choice from which there was no escape but death. If her side won, he would be dead or in Azkaban. If his won, she would be dead. Neither was a conclusion Lucius wished to dwell on, but neither did he completely cease his attempts to form a solution.

There were certain things that Lucius, as a Malfoy, did exceedingly well. One of those was to extricate himself from any compromising situation without loss to his reputation. It was a time to use that gift well, and he fully intended to do so. While his mind was primarily spent in taking care of the Manor, managing his investments, and doing his Dark Lord’s bidding, deep down it never stopped searching for his way of escape. In the mean time, he would do what little he could keep himself safe, and everything possible to make sure Hermione stayed so.

That night, after a very long day of pretending, Hermione stretched out on her bed with yet another stack of Leda’s papers and artifacts. As she went through them one by one, her hand froze over a notation scribbled in Leda’s hand on what looked to be her family tree.

The name Tom Riddle is etched in my mind when I wake each morning, though I don’t know who this person is or will be – he somehow seems connected to my sister, Althaea, and her husband Marvolo.

Hermione felt cold. Not from the room around her, but a chill in her soul that quickly spread through her body. Marvolo. She’d studied everything she could get her hands on about Voldemort in order to aid Harry, and at that moment she was very much afraid, and very much convinced, that this Marvolo could only be Marvolo Gaunt, Tom Riddle’s grandfather.

Of all those in the wizarding world or out of it, there were few others Hermione had such little desire to be related to. What did that make him? Her cousin or something? As Hermione pondered the term for their relation, her horror only grew greater and greater.

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When I was writing this chapter I had to look up some stuff about Voldemort's heritage and ended up creating a chart for my own benefit. I've included it below in case anyone wants a visual as to how exactly Hermione is (in my story) related to him. [_*_] is a placeholder for each individual whose name is unknown... otherwise known as that’s for me to know and everyone else to learn later. I hope this little chart clears up any possible questions or at least amuses you. ; )

___[_*_]_=_[_*_]___
|                                   |
Leda Atreus         Althaea Atreus = Marvolo Gaunt
|                                   |
[_*_]                     Merope Gaunt = Tom Riddle Sr.
|                                   |
[_*_]                         Tom Marvolo Riddle
|                                    “Lord Voldemort”
Jane Granger
|
Hermione Granger