A/N: The long awaited continuation of WWAL.

o.o.O.o.o

"So, you and Harry mmm?" Hermione smirked as she and Theo walked through the gardens of Malfoy Manor. He'd come by today ostensibly to set up their study schedule. The returning students would be heading back to Hogwarts in a few days and both of them were obsessive planners. They'd spent an hour in the library setting up a rough schedule and agreeing on where they might need to consult with the Professors at the school for check ins and feedback on their NEWT prep.

"It was…unexpected." Theo's cheeks got a little pink as he smiled. "You're not shocked at all?"

"Not really." Hermione laughed a little. "Harry could use someone with a little Slytherin sensibility to keep him out of trouble." She winked.

"Speaking of Slytherin sensibilities," Theo said and took a breath, seeming to steel himself for an unpleasant topic. "You know that Draco's been staying at my home since his falling out with his father?"

"Harry mentioned it the other night. He said Draco looks like hell." Hermione felt a twist of guilt in her gut. No matter what Lucius said, this was partly her fault.

"He told me that you were fucking Lucius." Theo just came out and said it.

"He what?" Hermione froze, eyes wide. "Who else did he tell?"

"No one, at least not that I know of. I told him that it was best to keep it to himself. It's not true, is it?" Theo lifted an eyebrow.

"No, it's not," Hermione said, gritting her teeth. "What Draco saw and what he thinks he saw are two very different things. Lucius did spend the night in my rooms, but it's because I'd been having screaming nightmares after the night Bellatrix tried to take me. He was fully clothed and just stayed to keep me company. I won't say it was completely innocent, but I am not having sex with Lucius." She sighed and walked over to a stone bench and sat down.

"I'll manage Draco, at least as much as I can." Theo sat down beside her. "Just be careful, Hermione. Lucius is a powerful wizard who is very used to getting his own way. You're quickly becoming a friend, and I would hate to see you get hurt."

"I don't think that he wants to hurt me, Theo." Hermione ran a hand through her hair. "I do like him, more than I should. If he wanted to take advantage of me, he's had more than ample opportunity to do it. He hasn't."

"Ok, I've done my duty to warn you as a friend, so I'll leave it alone now. Unless you need to talk about things. Unlike your other friends, I might actually understand you." He winked, lightening the mood.

"There's not really much to tell," she laughed a little. "I mean its hard wrapping my head around it sometimes. I do know what he was and probably still is…but he doesn't treat me like I expected him to. When I agreed to this, I thought it was going to be horrible. Two years of being treated like shit to repay this life debt."

"Whatever his beliefs, Lucius has always been frighteningly intelligent. He knows that once this term as a prisoner in his own home is over, he needs to repair his reputation. You're already part of that. Treating you well and showing you respect means that everyone else is expected to do the same. Disgraced or not, he's a Malfoy and they've always set the tone for the wizarding elite. He's practically come out and said that you're a peer, an equal. That's significant." Theo met her eyes then. "Even if his affection for you is real, don't think that he's not already making plans for the future. Slytherins always do. That's how we keep three steps ahead of everyone else."

"You make it sounds so…manipulative." She frowned.

"Slytherin remember?" he said. "We're not ones to leap without looking, not in politics and absolutely not in love. We like to know where we're going to land and that means being certain that the person we have our sights set on feels the same. Before we commit. It's not because we don't respect the other person, it's because we're protecting ourselves."

Hermione listened to him and while it was calculating as hell, she could understand it. It also explained a lot about things she'd seen since coming to stay here. She ran a hand through her hair and frowned a bit more.

"Do you think I'm an idiot for getting involved with him?" she asked Theo then, hating that she was so uncertain.

"No, I just want you to be careful. If this goes badly, you're the one that's going to take the hardest hits. It's not right, but that's life." He shrugged. "Find your inner Slytherin and just try to remember to protect yourself while you're falling into those silver eyes of his mmm?"

"I'll try," she promised and took a deep breath. "You know if you hurt Harry, they'll never find the pieces right?" She looked over at him and raised an eyebrow.

"I assumed as much." Theo chuckled, the smile lighting up his whole face. "I've never felt like this before, he just fits so perfectly in my life. And those bloody green eyes of his…" He shook his head.

"I know. It lets him get away with too much." Hermione grinned. She was eternally grateful that Harry was completely oblivious to how they effected people, because if he ever figured it out the world was in big trouble. It was part of what she loved about Harry, he was so open and honest. "Are you going to miss him?"

"Yeah, he stays over most nights now. It's going to be strange waking up without him." He frowned a bit.

Hermione bumped his shoulder with his, giving him a little wordless support. A year ago, if someone had told her that she'd end up being friends with Theodore Nott, she'd have called them certifiably insane. The world was a strange place, but he had just somehow become that friend that she could actually discuss relationship things with, and not worry about any kind of judgement. She'd never been able to have those kinds of discussions with Harry and Ron, or even Ginny. She'd always been holding back, instinctively hiding her real feelings. With him, she could actually just be herself and that was a wonderful feeling.

"Well, if you get lonely, you can always come here." She smirked.

"I'll make sure I owl first. There are certain things I don't think I could survive walking in on." He winked at her and they laughed together, letting go of more serious topics for the afternoon.

o.o.O.o.o

Draco wiped the condensation off the mirror, staring at his reflection. The last thing he wanted to do was go back to Hogwarts, but he didn't really have anywhere else to go at the moment. It was likely that he'd be a pariah, even among most of the Slytherins. The only bright spot was that Tracey was going back too; if nothing else he'd have her. He ran a hand through his wet hair and sighed, trying to pull himself back together. Being here at Theo's meant that he was having to share space with Potter, of all people. He certainly hadn't seen that coming, not in a million years.

He'd always known Theo was gay, there had even been a slightly curious kiss when they'd been in 3rd year that had cleared things up for Draco. He most assuredly did not fancy other blokes, despite a lot of good-natured ribbing about his antagonistic relationship with Potter over the years. Seeing Theo with Potter was taking a lot of getting used to, but he supposed there were stranger things than that. Like his father and Granger. He scowled instantly at the mere thought.

The thought of it turned his stomach, she was his age for Merlin's sake! His mother was barely cold in her grave and he'd already replaced her, with a girl young enough to be his own daughter. All those lectures about the importance of protecting the bloodline, of needing to make the right match, and in the blink of an eye it was as if none of it had mattered at all. He'd always known his father was an opportunist, but seeing it first-hand sickened him. Granger was supposed to be smart, how could she be so completely taken in by him? Any idiot could see that his father was just using her.

He pushed away from the sink and finished getting dressed. He was heading to Diagon Alley today, intending to go and see the Goblins. While he had rejected his father, as his mother's son there should be some provisions for him to have inherited something after her death. Hopefully it would be enough for him to make a start on his own, until he could finish school and find some manner of employment. His stomach churned uncomfortably at the realization that he was in effect destitute. He knew Theo would help him out if he really needed it, but having to rely on someone, even a friend, made him feel very uneasy.

Finally dressed, Draco headed downstairs for breakfast. Theo was there, reading the morning paper, and Draco was relieved to see that Potter had yet to get up.

"Morning." Draco said and sat down, a piping hot plate of breakfast appearing before him.

"Off to Gringotts today?" Theo asked, setting the Prophet down.

"Yeah, they have a copy of my mother's will. I'll have a better idea of what I have to work with once the meeting's over," Draco said, shifting a little in his seat.

"You're my friend Draco, but you've always been a stubborn git. Harry's been trying to corner you for days. You really should talk with him," Theo said.

"There's nothing to say." Draco's jaw tightened.

"There's a lot to say and most of what he wants to discuss would surprise you. If you're worried he's hanging onto all the shit from the war and before, don't. He wants to move on," Theo said. "We all deserve the chance to move on now. We earned that, every one of us."

"What, like my father?" his tone fairly dripped in venom.

"I thought he wasn't your father anymore?" Theo lifted an eyebrow.

"You're a right bastard sometimes, you know that Nott?" Draco muttered and stabbed his fork into a sausage.

"Sometimes you need me to be." Theo shrugged a little and picked up his paper. "When you get home from the bank, talk to Harry. You can't avoid him forever."

Draco didn't retort, but couldn't help but think that he could definitely try.

o.o.O.o.o

Hermione apparated to the gates of Hogwarts and smiled brightly as she saw the Headmistress waiting for her. Though she would never have admitted it to Lucius, she had been nervous to leave the safety of the Manor. This was her first official day working for the Ministry as their liaison to Hogwarts, and she was both anxious and excited to get to work. She knew that this was going to be difficult, simply because Hogwarts had never truly allowed Ministry interference before, but she could completely understand why there needed to be some kind of co-operation now.

"How are you feeling? I heard all about that nasty business at your ball." Minerva opened the gates and welcomed her in.

"I'm feeling much better, thankfully the worst I had was a bit of headache." She dodged around the truth a little.

"Good. Now, why don't you tell me what the Ministry is trying to ram through that they've recruited one of my favourite students to try and convince me to agree?" Minerva snorted a little.

"Lord Travers did think that I might be the best one to discuss things with you." Hermione laughed. It had been rather transparent, but the point wasn't subterfuge here.

"He was always a clever man," Minerva admitted. "So what do they want?"

"Nothing too horrible. I had a look at his proposals and really most of them make a lot of sense. I know they would have made things easier for me when I was just coming into the wizarding world." She eased into the conversation. "They want to host an orientation meeting for muggle parents, to give them a better idea of the world their children are coming into. They'd like to discuss adding a course for first years that covers both wizarding and muggle culture, just to help both groups of children understand one another better and have a careers fairs every year. It would expose the students to the different mastery guilds, Ministry departments, and other trades within our world. It would make career counselling a little easier for the Heads of House too." Hermione smiled. "Mostly they just want to be more present, since a lot of problems stemmed from the disconnect between Hogwarts and the Ministry."

There was also the reality that the Ministry subsidized the school to allow all magical children born within the British Isle to attend, regardless of their monetary realities. While Marcus hadn't explicitly said that they were considering withdrawing funding if Minerva refused to work with them, Hermione knew that it was a threat they certainly had in their power. Dumbledore's reputation as the man who'd defeated Grindlewald had cowed the Ministry over the years, no matter how blatantly he'd fought them. Professor McGonagall didn't have that same level of threat. She really didn't want to see the Ministry go there, and hopefully she'd be able to convince her former teacher to at least bend a little.

"Those don't sound like horrible ideas." Minerva frowned and considered as they walked towards the castle.

Hermione paused as they reached the front steps. It was almost surreal to be back here, especially with everything looking completely restored. It was almost like the Final Battle had never taken place. She felt a strange swell of emotion, but she couldn't really put a name to it. She wiped away a few tears that slipped down her cheeks.

Minerva came back to her side and just pulled her into a hug.

"My poor girl," she whispered and stroked the younger witch's back. "You all went through so much. I wish we could have protected you better."

"I'm sorry, I don't know what's gotten into me." Hermione pulled back and blinked rapidly as she fought back the sudden outburst.

"The last time you were here, everything was in ruins. I was rather teary eyed after we finished the reconstruction myself," Minerva said and they continued inside the castle. "I wish you were coming back this year, but I imagine that even without your obligations…returning would have been difficult."

"I think it's going to be difficult for a lot of people. I'm not the same person I was." A part of her mourned that and at the same time celebrated that she'd passed through the fire. She'd been altered, but not destroyed. The war hadn't consumed her. It had hardened her though and hopefully the changes would be for the better.

"None of us are," Minerva said.

Hermione simply nodded as they walked silently through the castle. Hermione was grateful for the silence to just process being back here after everything that happened. Some portraits were still missing, and certain areas gleamed with a newness that seemed wrong inside a thousand year old magical castle. Overall everything looked just as she remembered it from the day of Dumbledore's funeral, like everything has just been a bad dream.

They reached the Gargoyle and Minerva smiled.

"Invictus," she said clearly and the statue moved to reveal the spiral staircase. The Headmaster's Tower had been changed greatly from Dumbledore's days, reminding Hermione of Professor McGonagall's old office. There were comfortable places to sit, and a full tea was waiting for them.

"Well, have you brought along anything outlining the proposals from the Ministry?" Minerva finally asked as they were settled in slightly overstuffed armchairs, sipping their tea.

"I have." She opened her bag and handed a folder to the Headmistress.

"Thank you." Minerva took it and began to peruse the pages.

Hermione simply sat quietly and drank her tea. She had a feeling that Minerva would be inclined to accept the offered changes, but as a token protest might reject one or request conditions. Lord Travers was honestly expecting her to dismiss everything straight out of hand.

"How have things been going at the Manor?" Minerva asked, looking up at Hermione over the top of her glasses.

"Very well," she said. "Professor Snape is staying there too and he's been letting me help with some of his brewing. Theo and I have hammered out a study schedule for the year so we should be able to keep each other track."

"I admit to being a little relieved to hear that you're not there alone with him. I've been concerned for you. Especially after what happened at the ball," Minerva said.

"I know everyone's worried, but I wish they wouldn't." Hermione shook her head. "After everything that's happened, I'm perfectly capable of taking care of myself. It's strangely peaceful there and right now that's what I need. Also with Bellatrix hunting me, it's probably the safest place for me to be." Hermione repressed a shudder just from saying the witch's name. She could finally understand why some people couldn't bring themselves to say Voldemort's name.

"We only worry because we care." The older witch's face expressed genuine concern.

"I know." She sighed. It worried her a lot, knowing that the people who cared about her wouldn't take kindly to the knowledge that she was considering a relationship with the former Death Eater. It was something she'd need to come to terms with eventually. She only hoped that the people she really cared about, would eventually understand.

o.o.O.o.o

Hermione returned to the Manor after a long afternoon with Minerva. It was strange to think of her former teacher as a friend, but really…so much had changed that it was as if old rules no longer applied. Who she was today was so far removed from the student she'd once been, that it was hard to even really remember that part of her. Severus and Minerva were now firmly part of this new life, not as teachers or mentors…but friends. She walked up the crushed stone walkway and felt a smile creep over her lips, just thinking about the expression on Severus' face if she were ever to tell him that she considered him a friend. Yes, that would probably not go terribly well. She laughed a little to herself as she headed inside.

Bilby appeared with a little pop.

"Miss, you is to go and see your surprise in your rooms. Master said you were to do it as soon as you returned," he said.

"Surprise?" Hermione smiled. "Where is Lord Malfoy?"

"He said you is to see your surprise, nothing else," Bilby said firmly and disappeared.

Hermione just shook her head and decided to head up to her rooms. In all honesty, she hadn't been spending much time in them since Draco had left. Most nights she fell asleep in Lucius' arms in his rooms. He'd kept everything quite tame, restricting them both to kisses and a few stolen caresses, but she was frankly growing impatient with that. She knew why he was trying to be so careful with her, but it frustrated her. She wasn't afraid of Lucius, not like that.

She opened the door to her suite and picked up a little folded note off the table just inside the room.

Severus will be gone until tomorrow. Since I was robbed of the chance to enjoy your ball with you, I thought you might enjoy a kind of do-over. There is a relaxing bath waiting for you, and a gown across the bed. I will be waiting for you on the terrace. ~ L

Hermione smiled to herself and continued through to her bedroom, starting to undress as she approached the bathroom. There was a steaming hot bath waiting for her and the scent of vanilla filled the air. There was a flute of champagne on the side with a pair of silver hair clips. She finished undressing and twisted her hair up off her neck, securing them in the clips. They were just perfect, taking care of her thick curls without any issue. The hot water was divine perfection after her long day, and let all the stress from going back to the school just melt away.

She wanted to linger in the water, but her need to see Lucius quickly drove her from the bath. The dress that was waiting for her was far removed from the lavish ball gown she'd worn that night. This was sleeker, a dark blue and made of the softest silk imaginable. Hermione put on the lacy lingerie and then slipped the dress on. The back was scandalously low, and it hugged her body like a second skin. Looking in the mirror, Hermione was stunned at the picture there. She looked…sensual. Her hands came up to take the combs out of her hair and she left her curls loose and wild tonight. She kept her make-up light, but chose a deep wine for her lipstick.

Her feet led her down to the terrace, and she smiled at the hundreds of enchanted candles that floated in the air, creating a simply gorgeous space. Lucius' robes were a dark pewter, and his hair was held back with a simple tie at the nape of his neck. He looked perfect, and Hermione felt a now familiar swell of lust that hit her hard. She could see an answering heat in his eyes as he looked at her.

"You look beautiful," he said and moved forward to offer her his arm.

"Thank you." She smiled and walked with him down the steps to the dinner table that had been set up for them in the middle of the rose garden. "Lucius this is…"

"What you deserve." He gently cut her off. "Since I can't whisk you away to an expensive restaurant in Paris, I'll have to content myself with doing the best I can here."

"If this is you just making do, I don't think I could survive you in Paris." Hermione laughed a little, a nervous flutter in her stomach.

"Oh, I think we'd find a way to muddle through." He held her chair for her as she sat down, and poured her some wine, as their meal appeared on the table. "How was your meeting with the Headmistress?" he asked and took his seat across from her.

"It went very well, she accepted most of Marcus' proposals and is open to considering the others." Hermione smiled.

"Marcus will be overjoyed, and I wouldn't be surprised if you found yourself being rewarded with a handsome bonus." Lucius grinned. "To your first political success, the first of many." He lifted his glass.

"I'll take it, even though I don't think it was really all my doing. They were very sensible proposals," Hermione said.

"Still, hearing them from a beloved student as opposed from a Ministry official likely went a long way to softening her to them." Lucius said. "It's not always the message, Hermione. At times it is the messenger."

Hermione nodded and smiled, willing to accept the praise. "Is Severus off with Miss Hart?" She couldn't help the smirk on her lips.

"I believe so." Lucius chuckled and shook his head. "It's good to see him happy."

"She's…interesting." Hermione settled on that word.

"She is that." Lucius agreed. "How is your duck?"

"It's delicious." Hermione smiled. "The Elves outdid themselves."

"They like you, it makes them go to extra effort." Lucius smiled warmly at her. "You've brought light back to this place, and they aren't the only ones happy to have it here."

Hermione melted a little and sipped her wine. Sometimes the things he said rendered her speechless. She could tell that he meant them too. He had a way with words that she envied. There were so many things she wanted to say to him, but had no idea how to voice them.

"You say the most incredible things," Hermione said after a moment.

"You inspire them." He grinned.

"Lucius, I'm suddenly not that hungry. Will you dance with me?" she asked, setting her fork down. She needed to be in his arms and with everything that had been happening, she was done waiting for the things she wanted.

"You only ever have to ask," Lucius said and waved a hand at their meal. "It'll keep." He stood and came around the table and offered her a hand.

Hermione stood and only barely registered the sound of music starting somewhere nearby. She was too focused on his eyes and the warmth of his hand in hers to focus on where it was coming from. He led her a short distance from the table pulled her into his arms, much closer than he'd have dared in public. His fingers trailed down her bare spine, teasing her skin and taking full advantage of every part of her that was on display in this dress.

Hermione let him lead, sweeping them around the garden beds in graceful turns. All the while, she was completely lost in his eyes. Subtle shifts of his hand on her back guided her as she surrendered completely to the moment and to him. He lifted her up, and on the way down she wrapped her arms around his neck and caught his lips in kiss. Weeks of pent up desire poured into that kiss, and she whimpered a little as he responded just as desperately. He tried to pull back, but she didn't let him.

"No more stopping," Hermione said as their lips parted. Her heart was pounding wildly in her chest. "I want you." She needed to be clear with him and knew that he'd been waiting for her to say it.

"And I want you." Lucius leaned down and kissed her again, this kiss less wild. He took his time in this kiss and pulled her closer. His hand slipped down, cupping her ass briefly before smoothing up her back. He broke their kiss and looked long into her eyes. "Are you sure?"

"I've never been more sure about anything." Hermione felt the rightness of this decision. The world might judge her for it, but she'd given up so much for this world that she deserved to have something just for herself. Something that made her happy.

Lucius nodded and then swept her up into his arms. "Then I think we should take this somewhere more comfortable than the rose garden." He smirked a little, and carried her back into the Manor, leaving the roses and glittering candlelight behind them.