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Hidden in Plain Sight	By : Katay Category: Harry Potter > Het - Male/Female > Lucius/Hermione Views: 17098 -:- Recommendations : 0 -:- Currently Reading : 0
Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter, nor any of the characters from the books or movies. I do not make any money from the writing of this story.

Chapter List
- 24
- 25
Chapter 25: An End and a Beginning

December 5^th,
2002

Dear Mum and Dad,

I�m sorry I haven�t written in the past
few months, my work at the Ministry has picked up considerably and I�ve been
inundated with work. I�m writing to tell you that I�ve recently become engaged.
I know this is something that I should probably be telling you in person � but
as you�ve elected to move back to Australia without telling me, you�ve made it
slightly difficult. However, that was not the reason I�m writing this letter, I
wanted to invite you to my wedding to Lucius Malfoy.

Yes, the Malfoy that you may recall me
having mentioned in the past, but (and I know this will not be adequate) he has
changed since those years. As clich� as it will sound, I do love him and I
would like for you to have a chance to know him. If you do decide to come,
please give me a call and I�ll have a Portkey made for you. If you decide to
not respond, I will assume that you would prefer I leave you alone and shall
not pursue any further correspondence.

Your daughter,

Hermione

P.S. Mum and Dad, I wish things could
have been different � but you�re alive, and if I hadn�t done what I did, I
don�t think you would be. I miss you.

**

December 10^th,
2002

Hermione,

We appreciate your attempt to include us
in your current happiness. However, considering the fact that your happiness
has come at the price of a man twice your age who once attempted to kill you,
we do not feel the need to partake in it with you. We hope that you live a long
and happy life � but seeing you grow in it is simply too hard.

We no longer know the woman you�ve become
and while we appreciate what you did for us, we still cannot condone it. We
will always love our little girl, but she left us a long time ago.

Yours,

Mum and Dad

P.S. We�ve attached our wedding gift with
the letter.

**

Hermione spent
the next day scrubbing down Andromeda�s house, furtively glancing at a new
photo on the mantle every few minutes. The photo featured a happy young couple
standing behind an excited little girl, busy blowing out candles in the form of
a �10.�

**

December 15^th,
2002

A swift tapping
echoed through the hallway, alerting the young office assistant of an
approaching visitor. She scanned the visitor list in confusion, noting that
there were no expected visitors for that time. The tapping stopped outside the
door and she lifted her head to see a tall, blonde and extremely well known
wizard walk into the office. She gulped under the full extent of his gaze and
fluttered her eyelashes unconsciously.

He smirked.
Glancing around and then focusing back on her, he said, �I�m here to see Bill
Weasley.�

She stuttered
under the force of that unholy smirk, �Oh .. oh, um yes, Sir!� She paused to
look at the tablet, ascertaining whether Bill had someone in the office or not.
�Mr. Weasley seems to be free at the moment if you would like to step into his
office. It�s the last office down the hall on the right.�

The smirking
Malfoy bowed his head towards her and she could feel her knees weaken slightly,
oh that mouth! �Thank you Madame,�
was all he said as he took off down the hallway.

She jumped after
a second and then tapped a square on her desk hurriedly, alerting Bill to an
incoming visitor.

Bill jumped as
the bell above the door rang softly. He cursed and looked at his agenda, unsure
of who could be coming to meet with him. He stood and cleared some of the
papers off his desk quickly. He heard a tapping sound outside his door and
cursed once more in his head.

�Come in,
Malfoy,� Bill called out.

The door eased
open and Lucius Malfoy stepped into the office. Bill marveled at how a man who
had gone through as much as he had still managed to fill a room with as much
presence as this one.

�Weasley,�
Lucius greeted.

The two men
stood for a moment, looking each other in the eye, sizing up the other. Lucius
nodded his head first, knowing that as it was Bill�s office, he should
acknowledge acceptance first. Bill motioned with a hand for Lucius to sit down
at one of the leather chairs in front of the desk.

Once both men
were seated, Bill spoke, �So what is it that you needed, Lucius?�

�Hermione and I
plan to marry,� Lucius spoke baldly, enjoying the shock apparent on the younger
man�s face.

�You WHAT?!� the
redhead whispered squeakily.

Lucius smirked
and spoke slowly, �I proposed and she accepted.�

Bill waved a
hand, �I gathered that. I meant �
well I don�t know what I meant, but jumping hippogriffs!�

Lucius sneered,
�I assure Mr. Weasley, I am not forcing this upon her.�

Bill glanced at
him in shock, �Gods, no! I didn�t mean that. Hermione�s damn stubborn, so I
don�t doubt it � I guess I�m just surprised, is all.�

Lucius quirked
an eyebrow, �I assure you, we�re both not the people we were three years ago.
It�s actually been a well-thought out process. However, I am not here to
explain the details of my relationship.�

This time it was
Bill who raised an eyebrow while Lucius continued, �She was hoping that you and
your wife would stand for me and Hermione for our bonding, on Christmas Eve.�
Lucius searched Bill�s face for a reaction and added, �George will be standing
as Hermione�s male representative.�

Bill felt his
own eyebrows shoot up. �Wait, the only reason you would need � fucking
fireballs, Malfoy you�re doing a blood bond?!� Bill stood and began to pace
while Lucius watched on amusedly, �That�s the only reason you�d need a
pureblood and a couple representing you � great Merlin � how�d you get her to
agree to that?!� Bill turned to Lucius questioningly. �And why us?!�

�Skillful
manipulation,� was the answer given.

Bill grimaced,
�I did
not need that imagery. Thank you.�

Lucius sneered,
�As to the latter part � it is rather difficult to find those one can trust
these days, especially when most of one�s former acquaintances are in Azkaban
or dead.�

Bill winced
again, but another though permeated his mind and he blurted out, �Does she even
know the implications of the blood bond?�

Lucius stared at
Bill for a moment before Bill shook his head, �Of course, sorry. Hermione has
probably known marriage bonds in and out since I got married.�

�Actually, since
the Triwizard tournament; apparently the young Mister Krum was quite ambitious
in his affections.�

Bill chuckled
and shook his head. �Well Lucius, I�ve got a meeting in a few moments, but once
I�ve talked it over with Fleur, I�ll get back to you. As of right now, I don�t
foresee a problem.�

Lucius nodded in
thanks. He stood gracefully and swept out of the office, leaving Bill to bury
his head in his hands. He massaged his forehead for a moment, murmuring, �Oh,
Hermione. What�ve you gotten into now?�

**

Same day

The Leaky
Cauldron

�Ron! How many
ti-� Hermione huffed angrily at the redhead chewing an overlarge bite across
from her.

�Hermione let
him alone. If he hasn�t gotten it by now, he won�t.� Harry sighed tiredly,
dealing with his two peace-challenged friends was not what he had in mind for
the afternoon.

�Fine!� Hermione
sniffed and sipped her mulled wine.

Ron snorted and
attempted to speak, �Hesh! I�wm nowt thaht bahd!� Unfortunately, in the attempt,
various food particles managed to escape.

�Oh! Gross!�
Hermione scooted back her chair and ran a napkin over her blouse.

�Guys!� Harry
snapped.

Ron gulped and
then smirked. �What�s wrong with you, Harry? Ginny pushing for that ring
again?�

Harry growled
and Hermione stretched out her left hand on the table, aware that she would
soon be gaining that ring that Ginny wanted so much from her own boyfriend.

�Yes, dammit.
And, pardon this Ron, but its hell. The more she pushes, the more I want to
drag my feet.� Harry ran his hand through his black hair, making it stand
straight as usual.

�You don�t have
to tell me, mate.� Ron nodded sympathetically.

Hermione cleared
her throat, �Speaking of rings ��

Both boys
glanced at her, �Yeah, what do you think, Hermione? How should I handle Ginny?�
questioned Harry.

Ron piped in,
�And Lavender!�

Hermione sighed,
�Well, tell them you aren�t ready? I don�t know. I don�t see why you can�t
commit either. But if you aren�t, you aren�t.�

Ron sighed, �But
why are they so set on it? It�s just a piece of gold and paper!�

Hermione shook
her head, �If that�s what you think, no wonder they�re frustrated.� She took a
sip of wine and then continued. �It�s much more than that. It�s a symbol of
your commitment to them.�

Ron shook his
head, �But if we�ve said we�re committed, then they should trust us!�

Hermione raised
an eyebrow, �Like I trusted you?�

Harry snorted
and Ron blushed.

Hermione nodded,
�Exactly. They�ve both seen firsthand what could happen. You just need to be
honest � you�ll know when the step is right.�

Harry chuckled,
�Thanks, Hermione. Lucky we have a girl around to help us.�

Hermione snorted
and murmured, �That, or I could be going through it myself.�

Ron shook his
head, �You�re lucky, you don�t have to deal with another person. Good ole
Hermione.�

Hermione
narrowed her eyes at Ron, �And what makes you think I don�t?�

Ron snorted,
�For one, you�ve got Teddy. Two, you�re going to the Christmas Ball with
Malfoy.�

Hermione
frowned, �I don�t see how those exclude having a partner?�

Harry grinned,
�Well, you�re never going to let a bloke get close to Teddy and if you did,
he�d probably run once he heard you had a kid. And as for Malfoy, if you had a
guy, you wouldn�t go with him.�

Hermione opened
her mouth to speak, but couldn�t find the words in the face of such blatant disregard
for her, instead opting for another tact to tell them about her nuptials. �So
you�re coming to the ball?�

Both men
laughed, �Gods, no. You�re joking, right? We always go to dinner with Mum
Christmas Eve. Remember? Everyone�s coming, �cept Bill and them, I think �
Fleur probably wants to visit her family,� Ron offered.

Hermione fought
to keep her face straight. �Oh, right.� Ever since she and Ron had broken up,
it was always awkward for her to join in the festivities with the Weasleys. She
was still welcome, but when it came to family � she still theoretically had her
own.

Harry nodded and
then tilted his head, �Say Hermione, instead of just dropping off Teddy for
dinner,� she felt her hopes rise a little, �why don�t you keep him with you? I
bet he�d enjoy the ball!�

Hermione felt
the last strings of belonging that she�d felt to the two men in front of her
slowly slip away. When had they become so different?� She nodded her head slowly and said, �Sure,
Harry. I�m sure Teddy would love it.�

She opened her
mouth to finally tell them about the engagement, the three years of dating
Lucius Malfoy � and realized she just couldn�t. These two men were not ones who
would understand that she was, in fact, ready for that kind of a commitment and
with that man. She shook her head slightly, looked at Ron and Harry and said
softly, �I�ve got to run, but I�ll catch up with you later.�

Within a few
minutes, she was walking out the door into Diagon Alley and contemplating how
her friendships had changed so much in the past few years. She had increasingly
noticed that while she, Ron and Harry continued with their lunches, it felt
more like an obligation than a respite from the daily norm. She sighed,
straightened her shoulders and apparated to find Lucius and see if he�d
convinced Bill to be present at the wedding.

**

December 24^th,
2002

Malfoy Manor,
Gloucestershire

Stepping into
the bracing, cold air of one of Gloucestershire�s winter evenings, Hermione let
a little shiver overtake her frame. She brought her hands up to rub her exposed
arms and stepped lightly towards the stone railing that lined the back porch.
Reaching the railing, she took a deep breath and absorbed the power of the stars
lighting up the sky. They are never as
impressive as when there is no light and it�s too cold to stay out long.

She sighed and
shifted her ball gown to avoid brushing the moist stones of the railing and
porch. The gown was a princess� dream: built with a full skirt of layers of
white chiffon, and a fitted bodice, trimmed in small white seed pearls. A
forest green velvet ribbon was tied around her waist around her ribcage �
alluding to the Christmas season. Her red velvet cloak had long-since been
discarded, it being too cumbersome when the dancing began.

The annual
Malfoy Christmas Ball was, as usual, a hit. The various employees of the
Ministry, friends of both Hermione and Lucius, as well as the social elite of
their world were all in attendance.� She
was content with the turn out and pleased that not too many spectacles had
occurred so far in the evening.

The ballroom was
a vision of magically falling snowflakes, sparkling tinsel and glistening,
snow-tipped evergreen trees. She felt inordinately proud of her decorating,
knowing that it was up to the Malfoy standard. She smirked at how Narcissa
might react to see the splendor of the ballroom without her meddling hand, now.
Hermione sniffed a little at the reminder of her fianc�e�s first wife.

Scanning the
dark horizon, she imagined she could see the distant Forest of Dean � an irony
she contemplated often. Lucius had moved his Manor�s location to
Gloucestershire, near the Forest of Dean. When Hermione had moved in, she felt
it some kind of poetic justice that she would find a sort of peace, this close
to that forest once more.

She stiffened as
she heard footsteps and stepped swiftly to the side of the porch, melting into
the shadows quickly and silently.

�Why, Lucius this has been absolutely wonderful,�
a familiar voice attempted to purr. Hermione frowned and peered into the
pooling light that had appeared with a short woman and larger masculine
presence.

�Indeed, Madame,
I�ve been pleased with the turnout. Now, what was it that you wanted to address
with me?� Her lover�s tone was businesslike and curt, Hermione was pleased to
note.

The woman
simpered and Hermione twitched, �Oh, Lucius,
surely, you must know?� She stepped toward him.

He matched her
step, taking one backwards warily. �Madame Smattery, I�m fairly sure we have very different ideas about why
we�re out here.�

Madame Smattery
stepped forward once more, �Oh, but Lucius, surely you see the possibilities
between us!�

Lucius stood up
straight, �Madame, I think you have deeply misinterpreted something.�

Hermione by this
time was smirking and spotting the bucket of ice near her - used to keep the
air moist on the porch - she took out her wand and murmured a quiet �Wingardium
Leviosa!� �

The ice bucket
lifted up into the air and floated over to the two figures. It stopped above
their heads and Lucius, spotting the movement, moved back slowly, as not to
alert Smattery to its presence.� Hermione
slowly tilted the ice bucket and the ice shifted quickly, spilling over the
sides and pouring onto the unsuspecting older woman. Smattery shrieked and
scrambled out of the way, slipping on the ice chips sliding over the
floor.� Still shrieking as the bucket
followed her; she made her way slipping and sliding over to the double doors
and ran through them quickly.

Hermione stopped
the bucket as the poor woman went through the doors and fought down her
chuckles.

Suddenly her
hands had been manacled and she was pulled to a hard chest. Lucius wrapped her
wrists together behind her back with one hand while pulling her chin up to face
him with the other. �That was a rather nasty trick, my dear.�

Hermione fought
his hands for a moment, her eyes darkening with the instinctual desire to break
free. �She deserved it.�

He smirked
darkly and whispered his thumb over her cheek. �And what were you doing out
here all alone? A quiet assignation perhaps? Doubts?�

She shook her
head as much as he would allow, �You know it wasn�t. And I have no doubts
unless you do. I�m ready for this, Lucius.�

He sneered, �And
yet you never told them.�

She sighed and
shifted her eyes. �I tried.� His hands stiffened on her skin. �I did! You know
I did. It wasn�t right.�

Lucius growled,
�It wasn�t right, or you�re ashamed? Perhaps you should be honest, on this,
your final night to be free.�

Hermione�s eyes
shot back to his own and she glared, �How dare
you say that. You know I am not
ashamed. You know that if it weren�t
for you and your hatred of the press, that I would gladly marry you in the
middle of the street.� She paused and then took another breath. �It wasn�t
right, because they are no longer my closest friends.�

**

Hermione fell
into a mint green chaise lounge in one of the side parlors, relieved that the
last guest had left. She put her hand over her eyes and shifted her silver-blue
dancing slippers off her feet. Relaxing back she gave herself a moment to
contemplate the event to follow, the consequences that were sure to follow and
the meaning it would have upon the rest of her life.

She jolted when
she heard the clock chime 11:30, and jumped up. She slipped on her shoes and
set out to set up the observatory they�d chosen for the ceremony. George, Bill
and Fleur were due around 11:45 and Hermione wanted to have it set up by then.

Lucius was busy
with Teddy in the meantime, working to keep the young metamorphmagus awake.
�Come on now, Ted. You�ve got to stay up for Mimi.�

�O-o-otay, Uncle
Luc,� yawned Teddy. They sat in the sitting room off Teddy�s bedroom, having
just fit Teddy back into his tux after his short nap during the ball. Both
Hermione and Lucius wanted to be sure the little boy would get enough sleep,
despite the festivities.

Lucius smiled
down at the sleepy boy, chuckling to himself at the boy�s red and green hair.
He and Hermione had given up on attempting to regulate the various hair colors
� often appreciating the hints that the color gave.

He heard the
sound of voices in the foyer, so picking up the drowsy boy; he carried him down
to the ground floor to welcome George, Fleur and Bill. Hermione had told him to
stay away from the observatory until the three had arrived, so he and Teddy had
taken refuge upstairs. Arriving on the stairs, he gave a nod to the three
upturned heads. �Good evening, Misters Weasley and Mrs. Weasley.�

Fleur tilted her
head, while Bill and George replied, �Malfoy.�

Fleur watched
the sleepy boy as Lucius descended the last stair and said softly, �He must be
tired after the ball.�

Lucius nodded
stiffly, �He is indeed. Now, we must get to business. Mrs. Weasley and George,
I believe Hermione is waiting for you in the second drawing room on the left.
Bill, the binder needs to speak with you, so you follow me.�

The four split
up, Fleur and George finding an impatient Hermione in the drawing room. Fleur
rushed to her and enveloped her in a tight hug. �Oh, my dear, how wonderful for
you.� Hermione let the older woman embrace her for a few moments, letting the
compassion from the half-Veela envelope her. Despite it being by choice, the
knowledge that not many knew or supported her marriage was quite disheartening.
�

George cleared
his throat and Hermione stepped back sheepishly, holding out her arms to her
best male friend. �Oh, George,� she murmured. They hugged for another few
moments, Hermione careful to not wrinkle or upset her dress.

Fleur clapped
her hands after checking a clock and said softly, �Hermione we�ve got to go!�
She placed the Galway-lace veil, which Hermione�s mother had given her when she
turned 15, on the crown of Hermione�s head, making sure it aligned with her
chignon. She lifted the lace over Hermione�s face and murmured at the effect.
Fleur stepped back and left the room to alert Lucius, Bill and Teddy.

Hermione took a
deep breath, took the bouquet of orchids that George had grabbed from the table
and stepped to the doorway. George stepped up beside her and looked down, �You
sure you wanna marry this mutt?�

Hermione let out
a choked laugh, �Yes! I think it�s time I finally took my own path.�

George nodded,
�Well, let�s go then. But don�t think I won�t kill him if he hurts you.�

Hermione wrapped
her arm through his and squeezed his hand, �I know. That�s why I love you so
much. Now let�s go before he starts pouting.�

**

Hermione and
Lucius stood before their trusted witnesses, hands wrapped in white silken
scarves, slightly stained where the cuts for the blood taken from their palms
were. As the ageing, family minister of Lucius finished his slow binding of
their hands, they felt a flash as the bonds tightened under the older man
brought his wand over the binding and then a light permeated the observatory,
before dimming and then disappearing with the white cloth.

The old man
wheezed, �And so, with promises of love, fidelity, devotion, and faith - with
the support of your witnesses and sponsors, I pronounce you Wizard and Witch,
Husband and Wife, Lucius and Hermione Malfoy. He nodded at Lucius, �You may now
present your wife with the outward sign of this binding.�

Lucius bent
towards Teddy and took one of the two rings the awed little boy carried.

Lucius smirked at
the teary-eyed Hermione and slipped an elegant, marked by time, thick silver
band onto her left ring finger, with only the simple decoration of the small
family crest on the top of the ring.

The binder
nodded and then looked to Hermione, �Now, you Madame, may present your husband
with the outward sign of your binding.�

Hermione took
Lucius� left hand in her own and slipped a matching ancient ring, this one with
a larger Malfoy crest.

The two clasped
hands, magic thrumming along their arms, as though approving the match.

The man clasped
his own hands together and said, finally, �The ceremony is over; you may now
kiss the bride as I present you before your peers in our magical community and
Magic itself. Live long and prosperous lives together.�

And as the giant
hall clock struck twelve, Lucius lowered his head to Hermione�s and took her
lips in a short but marking kiss. The company clapped and moved to embrace the
newlyweds, as the binder slowly slipped out of the room. The five adults
celebrated for a little while, until Hermione discovering the ever-so-sleepy
Teddy asleep on the floor, moved to put the dear little boy to bed. Fleur, Bill
and George said their goodbyes softly and left for their own homes.�

After Hermione
had finished changing and tucking Teddy into bed, she slipped out of the room,
closing the door softly behind her. Turning around, she bumped into a firm
chest, and looking up she saw steely eyes looking down at her.

She licked her
lips, �Hello, Husband.�

He smirked at
her nervous reaction, �Hello, Wife. I believe we have some business to finish
from the porch earlier.�

Hermione
shivered in anticipation.
- 24
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