'I don't…have anything….to wear,' said Hermione, goggling in surprise.
Lucius' eyes ran over Hermione — from her worn jeans and T-shirt, to her hair, which was starting to frizz up at the ends (it had been a while since she'd remembered to use her Hair-Straightening Potion), and her beaten-up boots. 'You are small and slender,' he said, and now she definitely didn't like the look on his face. Harry's hand suddenly came down hard on her shoulder, and squeezed.
'Like my wife,' added Lucius blandly. 'I am sure she can lend you something.
Draco!'
'Yes?' said Harry, who had the bright red spots on his cheekbones now that Draco always got when he was angry. 'What?'
'Go find your mother,' said Lucius. 'Ask her if she can bring up a dress for your young friend here. I think she would look lovely in something lavender.'
Lucius smiled. Clearly he found himself amusing. It was apparent that Harry did not agree. He looked wildly from Lucius to Hermione, who gave him a desperate smile. Go, she mouthed. I'll be fine.
'All right,' said Harry. He turned to go, then turned quickly back, bent down, and said in Hermione's ear — loud enough for Lucius to hear him- 'I'll be right back, darling.'
'Of course you will,' she said faintly.
Her eyes met Harry's. His were full of anxiety, anger, and something else. Without warning, he leaned forward and kissed her on the mouth.
It was a quick and thorough kiss, over almost before Hermione had a chance to realize what was happening. She closed her eyes and leaned into the kiss, but Harry had already pulled away. For a split second, he looked into her eyes, and she could have sworn that she was looking into Harry's green eyes and not Draco's gray ones….he was so very Harry in that moment.
Then he stood up and glared at Lucius. 'I'll be right back,' he said again, turned and left the room.
As soon as the door closed behind him, Hermione's heart fell. She had always felt she could face anything as long as she was with Harry….even with Draco, it had been all right, since he looked like Harry….but facing Lucius Malfoy alone made her sick to her stomach.
'So, Amanda,' Lucius said, grinning all over his pale, pointy face. 'You never did tell me how you met Draco.'
'Quidditch!' she said quickly. 'You know he's Seeker for Slytherin, and they were playing Gryffindor and won, and after the game I went up and congratulated him on beating Harry Potter. So he asked me out.'
Lucius' eyes flashed at the mention of Harry's name. 'You know the Potter boy?'
'Everyone knows Harry Potter,' said Hermione with complete honesty.
'Is he a friend of yours?'
Hermione took a deep breath. 'No,' she said. And it hurt, somehow, to say that she wasn't Harry's friend, even if it was a lie. 'He's horrible to Draco. So I don't like him.' She took another deep breath. 'And he is the Enemy, isn't he?'
Now Lucius' smile widened. 'I was right to call you clever,' he said. 'So you?re on our side?'
'Oh, yes. Draco's explained everything to me and it all makes sense. When — when the Plan is put into action, those who are loyal will be rewarded.'
'That's right. And are you one of the loyal ones…Amanda?'
'I'm loyal to Draco,' she said stoutly.
'Are you?' he said meditatively. 'Come here for a moment, my dear. I want to show you something.' He stood up and went to the bookshelves, and Hermione followed. He took down a fat green book called Epicyclical Elaborations of Sorcery and opened it, flipping through the pages. 'Have you seen this book before?' he asked.
'No,' said Hermione, who had a strong feeling that if she had looked for this book in the Hogwarts library, she would have found it in the Restricted section.
'Look at this,' said Lucius, laying the book down on the desk and showing her an illustration. It was of a man, a full-grown wizard wearing elaborate robes. He held a wand in his left hand. His right hand, in fact his whole right arm, was encased in what looked like an elaborate metal glove, ending in a carved, pincer-like extremity that looked very nasty indeed. Hermione swallowed hard.
'Is that…some sort of weapon?' she asked, pointing at the picture.
'That,' said Lucius, looking fondly at the book, 'is the Lacertus Curse. A very advanced form of sorcery, in which a metal arm crafted by Dark magic is grafted onto the arm of a living human man.'
'For what purpose?' asked Hermione.
'When the arm is grafted onto a human being, it becomes a powerful and selective sorcerous weapon. In essence, its touch destroys any person who is nonmagical.'
'It kills Muggles,' said Hermione flatly.
'And Mudbloods,' said Lucius. 'Its very effective that way.'
She looked at him. He was looking pleased, as if he were showing her a picture of some nice begonias he had planted, and not of a terrifying weapon.
'You're going to put this spell on Harry Potter,' she said dully.
'Not me personally,' said Lucius, shutting the book with a snap. 'Voldemort. I will, of course, assist him.'
