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Harvest Moon	By : vbruce Category: Harry Potter > Het - Male/Female > Lucius/Hermione Views: 46151 -:- Recommendations : 0 -:- Currently Reading : 0
Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter that is J.K. Rowling's honor. Making no money, just enjoying writing.

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HM74

Hermione stirred slightly, opening one eye very cautiously to peer up at . . . Snape? Both eyes flew open at that and she stared at the ghost in disbelief.

“Now really, Miss Granger, what have I done to warrant that expression this time?” Severus sneered at her.

“What are you doing here? Where’s Lucius? Is he all right? What . . .”

“I see you’re full of questions instead of answers at the moment,” he said, gliding around her so she could clearly see Lucius and Luna trying to work out how to get the forcecage to drop.

Hermione groaned and sat up carefully. Gods, everything was sore and hurt like mad but she managed it and after a few moments rolled to her knees. Arabella was next to her almost instantly.

“You really should rest, Hermione. You’ve had quite a trying ordeal,” Ara said.

“Not nearly so much of one as those other women had,” Hermione grumbled, using Ara as a prop to get to her feet. “Why are you here?”

Ara shrugged and grinned. “Someone had to be the Cavalry. Gods know we couldn’t let you try to do this alone with just Harry and Draco for support.”

“I suppose that’s true. Where are they anyway?” Hermione asked, looking around for them.

“No idea. Severus seems to think they’re lost somewhere in the castle,” Ara said.

“Why didn’t Angus bring them out?” Hermione said with a frown.

“Because, Miss Granger, he only has the energy to appear for so long. Then he has to rest and gather more strength,” Snape said. “The older the ghosts are, the more energy they need to manifest.”

“Well, that certainly explains why you can hang around all the time being only ten years dead at this point,” Hermione sniped at him.

He snorted at her and lifted a nonexistent eyebrow. “If you wish to do something useful with yourself, you might want to keep a wand on that,” he said, nodding to the false Liren prostrate on the ground. “Though considering the future Mrs. Malfoy keeps hexing him every time he twitches . . .”

Hermione snarled a little and staggered over to the rapidly changing person on the ground. She glared down for a moment before swinging her gaze over to Luna and Lucius. “Luna, it’s a Sanguine Spiritus spell.”

“We’re aware of that,” Luna said. “Though it has Lucius’ energy signature to it, it’s muddled. Like there’s something else mixed in with it.”

“Probably combined more than one person’s blood,” Lucius said thoughtfully. “It’s what I would have done at any rate.”

“Let’s see if this one added their own,” Hermione said, grasping the fake Liren by an arm and dragging the limp body over to where Lucius was being held. She frowned a little. He was certainly much lighter than she would have surmised at first.

Arabella handed her the pocket knife she always carried no matter what she was wearing and Hermione sliced open the fake’s hand, letting the blood pool at the edge of the cage. It shimmered a bright purple, indicating that the blood was indeed one of the components. Hermione frowned. If the fake had used the blood of the women murdered they were going to have a hell of a time getting Lucius out.

“Did you have to render him unconscious as well, Ms. Lovegood?” Snape asked. He was peering at the rapidly shifting body of the fake.

“That’s Doctor Lovegood, Professor,” Luna said serenely. “It seemed the best idea at the time considering I don’t believe he would have gone quietly.”

“Likely not,” Hermione said, peering down at the body on the ground. “At least we’ll know who they are soon.”

The blonde had bled completely away to be replaced with dark hair and the face was starting to shift. Everyone watched in fascination as the features rearranged themselves into someone very recognizable to all those gathered around.

“Oh, sweet goddess,” Arabella said quietly. Her eyes shot to Lucius, who was looking just as shell shocked as the rest of the party. “This will destroy him.”

Lucius’ lips thinned into a grim line. “He’ll survive. He’s stronger than that. But it will hurt for a good long time.”

Hermione shook her head in disbelief. “But why?” she asked, turning to look at Lucius.

“For exactly the reasons stated, Mine. To hurt me as much as was humanly possible.”

“It’s also likely why the more delicate female parts were removed,” Luna said clinically. “Also why everything was done post mortem and with a wand. The likelihood of a woman having the strength to do what was done is almost unheard of.”

“What about the Foster case two years ago?” Hermione pointed out.

“That was a different thing as that particular woman had Fey blood and was immensely strong,” Luna said.

Everyone suddenly heard raised voices and swearing come from the other side of the heavy wood door leading to the house. Luna had moved toward it immediately to intercept Draco and Harry before they could get anywhere near the person lying on the ground.

“Damn it, Potter, I don’t care what you think. That team would have never made the playoffs if it hadn’t been for their Beater launching the Bludger into the opposing goalkeeper’s head,” Draco was saying loudly as he came out the door. “Finally! Luna, what are you doing here?”

“Being the rescue party helper. Draco, really, you should stay where you are,” she said, putting a hand on his chest. “You don’t need to see this.”

“See what?” he said, looking over to the group gathered around Lucius’ cage. “What the HELL is going on?!”

***Author’s Notes aka Mad Ramblings***

To everyone who has read and reviewed this whole time, I sincerely can’t thank you enough. I’m very happy to have entertained. Hopefully, the big reveal in the next chapter will not disappoint, though I’m certain some of you have guessed who the murderer is. Yes, there will be a prologue at very least. I like to tie up loose ends for a story. And yes, I will be getting back to the other things I’ve left hanging for a small eternity.

Sorry this has taken forever to get going again. I ended up helping start a business and finishing a few of my OF works to put online for sale. If you want to read them they’re here.

http://www.amazon.com/-/e/B004OUH42E

If not, that’s okay too.

Again, thank you all so much for your interest.
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Harvest Moon