Thoughts

The tree by the lake had been claimed by Lily and Hermione for a sunny study session. It was fall, and days like this wouldn't last for much longer at Hogwarts. Hermione wasn't exactly studying because she already knew all of the spells and lessons. Instead, she was reading Dark Arts: A Scholar's Compendium. Lily hadn't noticed because Hermione was smart enough to change the cover to something innocuous. Regulus threw himself down next to Hermione, and Severus lowered himself down next to Lily. Regulus glanced at Hermione's book and recognized it from his family's library. He frowned and looked up at her.

"Uh, Hermione?" Regulus tried to communicate with his eyes. Hermione bit her lip, and looked at Regulus debating with herself.

"Research," she said shortly. Regulus frowned again, but nodded.

The friends sat under the tree studying quietly. Hermione's curls were bowed over her book. Regulus sat next to her and murmured in her ear occasionally. She would nod every time he spoke to her, and make a tiny notation. Lucius Malfoy was strolling by himself along the shore of the lake and stopped when he reached the tree. He stood there for a moment, watching Hermione read and nibble on her lower lip.

"Miss Potter?" He purred at her. She looked up at him in surprise, a light flush on her cheeks.

"Mr. Malfoy, what brings you to our tree today?" Hermione asked him with a sparkle in her hazel eyes. Lucius smirked at her.

"This is your tree?" He drawled.

"Yes, we usually come here to study on sunny days," Hermione replied. Lucius nodded.

"So, would you like to come with me to Hogsmeade tomorrow?" He asked her politely. The light flush turned slightly darker, and Hermione swallowed nervously. Old Hermione was screeching like a banshee in her head, but Hermione Potter was thinking about the hard muscle under his robes.

"I'd love to," she heard herself say with a shy smile. Lucius bowed courteously and then left her with her friends.

"What the hell was that?" Lily demanded as soon as Lucius was far enough away. Hermione blushed.

"He's courting her," Severus explained shortly. Lily looked confused.

"Um…It's 1974, not 1874," she said as though this fact should be obvious to everyone. Regulus shook his head at her. Hermione cocked her head at Lily.

"The old wizarding families do things a certain way," Hermione said carefully. "I belong to those families and so does Lucius Malfoy."

"So…it's a pureblood thing, and I just wouldn't understand?" Lily asked angrily, heat rising in her cheeks. Hermione and Severus both protested and shook their heads. Regulus just looked out at the lake, his body language subtly indicating that he believed Lily's statement to be correct.

"No, Lily. It's more like, we have really weird customs that you will either accept or you won't." Hermione said finally with a glance at Regulus.

"Well, what about your brother, then?" Lily demanded. "He doesn't act like Malfoy at all."

"My brother is shameless," Hermione said with a secret smile for her twin. "However, he's never done anything, but treat your reputation with the utmost respect. He's publicly announced, more than once, that he wants to marry you someday. In our world, that promise allows him a large margin of liberty."

"Wait, we're not engaged then are we?" Lily asked in horror with a panicked expression. Regulus rolled his eyes.

"No," he said shortly. "It just means that he has declared that his intentions toward your person are honorable."

"Oh." Lily said thoughtfully. Severus frowned at her.

"Lily? Can we walk for a minute? I want to ask you something," Severus muttered nervously. Lily got up and grabbed her books and walked with Severus back towards the castle.

"So, why are you studying the Dark Arts?" Regulus asked idly as he transfigured leaves. Hermione looked at him and nibbled her lower lip.

"I plan to fight against him," Hermione said slowly, cautiously.Regulus' eyes sought hers and he stared at her with Sirius' eyes. Hermione shifted uncomfortably.

"Why would you tell me that," Regulus asked with a dark frown. Hermione reached out and touched his cheek with just the tips of her fingers.

"You have made one choice already, Regulus. There will be others to make," she whispered her hazel eyes wide seeing things that made her shudder. "Just remember, there is always a choice. Always."

"You're scaring me, Hermione," Regulus said nervously.

"You will see things that will shake you to the core, that will make you question everything. You will make the difficult choice, the brave choice, and in the end you must make it alone," Hermione continued to whisper in that strange voice. She turned and looked at him, tears slipping down her cheeks. Her eyes were completely black, no pupil, iris, or white visible. "When you are there Regulus, please know that I am with you. I am holding your hand and I am cheering you on. I know what you will do, and I will be so proud of you."

"What are you talking about?" he whispered, his grey eyes wide and frightened. Hermione's eyes rolled back in her head and she fainted.

Regulus hurried to her side and patted her cheeks until she woke up. She was disoriented and confused, but her words stayed with Regulus, and made him think.

HP/HG/HP

The day of their Hogsmeade trip dawned bright and sunny. The students were allowed to dress in their everyday clothes. Lily threw on jeans and a sweater and ran downstairs. Hermione rose and went to stand in front of her closet. She was going to Hogsmeade with Lucius Malfoy. Old Hermione snorted in disgust.

He is a Death Eater!

No, he isn't. Not yet, anway.

What about Sirius? I always thought he was kind of sexy.

Ew! Sirius? That's Jamie's best friend! He might as well be a brother.

I…loved…him. You know, my patronus changed after he died. I bet it's still the same. How are going to explain that, I wonder?

We'll cross that bridge when we get to it. No one expects a 4th year to produce a fully corporeal patronus.

Harry could.

Oh, shut up.

In the end, Hermione selected one of the beautiful silk gowns that her mother had sent just in case. Just in case of what, she wasn't quite sure, but they would come in handy now. It was pale blue with a row of buttons that marched down her back. The gown was modest and slightly old-fashioned by muggle standards, but it flattered Hermione's figure and helped her look more feminine. She waved her wind silently because she was alone and her buttons fastened themselves. Another wave pulled her unruly curls back and placed heavy silver combs in her hair to make them cascade in a wild tangle of black tresses down her back. She glanced at herself in the mirror. Not bad at all.

When she descended the stairs and arrived in the common room, all the older students were gone. Her brother and his friends had left long ago. Hermione swallowed nervously at that. James reaction to her with Lucius Malfoy in Hogsmeade would not be pleasant. She made her way carefully to the Great Hall where Lucius was leaning against the wall, waiting for her. When he spotted her, something flickered in those grey eyes of his. He stood up and moved forward. Hermione hid a smile at his reaction.

"You look beautiful," he said sincerely, those silver eyes on her face. Hermione flushed prettily and smiled at him.

"You look pretty handsome yourself," she said shyly. He took her hand and tucked it through his arm and they began the walk to Hogsmeade.

"What do you see in me?" Hermione asked him after Hogwarts was gone from their view. Lucius looked away for a moment and then looked back at her.

"You're the smartest witch of your age, they say that, you know," Lucius said quietly. "You're beautiful as well, but it's something more. There's a spark inside you that I find myself drawn to."

"Why, Mr. Malfoy, you are quite the poet," Hermione murmured. Lucius gave her a wry smile.