It was the day the students returned home for the holidays. Hermione, Luna, and Pansy rode the train back with their friends and parted with them at the station. As far as everyone, including Dumbledore, knew the three girls were travelling Britain looking for potential residences for the summer. It had taken awhile for them to convince Dumbledore that there was no need for him to tag along and finally persuaded him by stating that he had duties to attend to at Hogwarts, most especially making sure they had a DADA professor by the time the students returned. The students had had just about enough of textbook studying during the interim.

"So you just kissed him out of nowhere?" Pansy asked incredulously as she worked on the wards of Malfoy Manor. They had apparated there directly from the station.

Luna gave a vague nod that had Pansy and Hermione exchanging an eye roll. It seemed Luna treated romance much like she treated everything else in her life: with boldness and with surety and with a smile on her face.

"Well, I'm happy for you Luna. You deserve every happiness," Hermione said sincerely.

Luna turned to Hermione with a more focused look in her eye.

"Thank you Hermione. But remember that the same applies to you as well."

Hermione simply scoffed as if the very idea of her in a happy romantic relationship was completely out of the question.

Luna sighed. She was well aware of Hermione's single-mindedness when it came to their mission. She was also well aware that Hermione believed herself too damaged to be in such a relationship. Luna knew that despite these obstacles, Hermione was developing an interest in Remus Lupin. And Luna felt that she had an obligation to Hermione to encourage her to fall in love again and allow herself to be loved in return. But Luna also knew how stubborn Hermione could be. For now, she would let the topic drop, if only to avoid upsetting her.

"Woah," Pansy suddenly spoke up. Luna and Hermione turned curiously at her tone.

"The Malfoy blood wards are extremely weak right now. That must mean the head of the household is close to dying since blood wards take energy directly from the head. Breaking through them was far too easy…"

The three exchanged a glance. They were unsure of what kind of reception might be waiting for them inside the stately manor but they would be cautious all the same.

As they walked wands at the ready toward the front doors, passing the infamous white peacocks along the way, Hermione couldn't help but think of the last time she had been here. It was within this house that Hermione was tortured for the first time. She still carried the word 'mudblood' upon her skin and rubbed it absentmindedly now as they stood outside the entrance. She had been so young then, though physically she was younger now than at the time of her first torture. Hermione had yet to realize at that time that there were worst things that physical pain or even death in this world. She knew better now.

The three comrades pushed open the door, surprised to find that it wasn't even locked and tentatively walked across the threshold. The inside wasn't nearly as ominous as it had been in their time.

"Who goes there?" A weak voice suddenly sounded from down the hall.

The three froze in place, looking into each other's wide eyes.

"I know you're there. If you're here to rob the place feel free. Merlin knows I cannot take any of it with me in death." The voice trailed off.

Hermione straightened her shoulders with regained confidence and strutted purposefully toward the sound of the voice with Pansy and Luna following in her wake.

They suddenly entered a room made of glass, allowing for the viewing of the surrounding nature. The solarium contained a green Victorian chaise lounge in the very middle of it. Near the sofa was a table covered with various bottles of potions and other medical supplies. What immediately caught their attention however was the thin figure draped over the chaise lounge dramatically.

"Who are you?" Hermione asked reflexively, though she already had her suspicions.

"I am Abraxas Malfoy. Lord of this house and currently dying. And you are?" He enquired with a bit of regained regality.

"Hermione Durant and these are Luna Summerbee and Pansy Peasegood," Hermione replied coolly.

"I see. Well, Miss Durant I am in no condition to fight you even if I wanted to so I will simply ask what business you have here," the wilting man coughed out.

Hermione raised an eyebrow at the man's strange behavior but before she could respond, Luna stepped forward.

"Hermione dear, why don't you and Pansy go the library and pick out a nice book while Mr. Malfoy and I talk?"

The other eyebrow rose to join its partner as Hermione stared at Luna before silently exiting the room with Pansy in tow and leaving Luna with the strange shell of a man that claimed to be a Malfoy.

The library was back the way they had come from, conveniently still on the first floor. It was a grand space, one would expect no less of the Malfoys, and Hermione couldn't help the excited trill that went through her at the sight of so many books. She quickly stamped down her younger self's automatic impulse to run to the nearest shelf and start devouring as many books as she could. Instead, she focused on their real purpose in coming. Luna had hinted that the horcrux was in this library somewhere amongst the many tomes.

"Where do you think we should start?" Hermione asked Pansy mildly.

Pansy seemed to think it over seriously before responding.

"You know, Lucius was always absurdly particular. I wouldn't be surprised if he shelved the damn thing under Riddle, Tom," She said half seriously.

"Worth a shot." Hermione shrugged.

They made their way to the R section of the Library and searched alphabetically.

"Well, I'll be damned," Hermione said dryly as she pulled the small black book from its place upon the shelf.

"He really must not have known how important this was to old Voldy," Pansy speculated.

"Explains why he slipped it into an 11 year-old's cauldron without provocation," Hermione replied casually.

They both looked down at the black book in Hermione's hand with a slightly more serious state of mind.

"I believe it is my turn," Pansy spoke quietly.

After uneventfully destroying the horcrux in the most anti-climatic fashion, Hermione and Pansy returned to the solarium to find a rather startling sight.

The man who had once looked on the brink of death was sitting up upon his ostentatious chaise lounge and laughing boisterously. His pale skin was clear of the dragon pox while his long white blond hair flowed elegantly down his back like silk.

"Dear Luna, you are an absolute delight," the man stated as his laughter calmed.

Luna merely smiled mildly from her perch upon his lounge and turned to greet her friends as if there was nothing bizarre about the situation.

"Luna…" Hermione began darkly, sensing she had something to do with Abraxas Malfoy's instant recovery. The cure for dragon pox wouldn't be discovered for many years yet but Luna kept a fully stocked bag of potions that included many brews that would be unheard of in the 1970s. Even worse, to use one on a Malfoy of all people! He seemed harmless but that did not negate the fact that he was part of a famous muggle-hating family.

"Hermione," Luna responded lightly.

Hermione just stared the other girl down, demanding an explanation with her gaze.

Luna sighed before launching into her monologue.

"As you know, this is Lord Abraxas Malfoy who was suffering from an advanced stage of dragon pox. Before curing him, he allowed me to perform Legillimency upon his mind. I discovered that he is not a death eater like his son, merely an old pureblood left behind to die alone. Apparently, he and Lucius had a falling out and they haven't talked since he was first diagnosed. While approaching death, he became enlightened on a great number of issues, mainly thanks to his house elves who have been his only company throughout his ordeal. I believe he truly wishes for Voldemort to be defeated so that his 'rebellious son" might return to him and see that non-wizards like his house elves are not used and abused by bigots. He's eccentric but a clever and powerful Slytherin that could be a great ally for us." Luna turned to look at the man in question. "Does that about cover it Abby?"

Pansy's jaw literally dropped open. Abby?

Hermione's jaw chose the opposite route and tightened. She warred with herself. She trusted Luna more than she trusted herself. But this was a Malfoy they were talking about. The slipperiest of the slippery. And he looked just like a slightly older Lucius Malfoy from their time. It was hard to separate the two. She glanced at Pansy who in turn was now staring at Hermione with an unreadable expression. Hermione suddenly remembered when Pansy had first joined the Resistance after saving them from the heart of Voldemort's lair. Hermione hadn't trusted her at first because of old prejudices and feuds. Now, Pansy was one of her dearest friends.

With her mind made up she turned back to the two blondes that were continuing to chatter amicably.

At a clearing of her throat the two turned back toward her, Luna still smiling and Abraxas staring nervously.

"Well Mr. Malfoy, I suppose it nice to meet you," Hermione intoned solemnly, the corner of her lips lifting slightly in a smirk.

Abraxas Malfoy suddenly broke out into a wide grin that completely transformed him from a Lucius look-alike to a friendly, handsome middle-aged man.

"Please, dear you must call me Abby, or Abraxas if you prefer. I owe you three my life and I have a feeling I will end up owing you more than that when all is said and done."

Hermione stared at the man in front of her as if seeing him for the first time. Hermione may not have Luna's gifts but she had her own sense of intuition that was telling her that this man was very different from a stereotypical Malfoy. Perhaps he had always been this way, perhaps impending death had put things in perspective for him, perhaps the dragon pox disintegrated part of his brain. Hermione didn't know. But she was glad to see her decision was probably the right one.

"So, Luna tells me you three are homeless," Abraxas suddenly stated bluntly.

Hermione stared at him incredulously before shooting Luna a look. Unfortunately, however she couldn't dispute this fact.

"Why don't you stay here in Malfoy Manor. There are plenty of guestrooms. You could each have your own wing if you like!" Abraxas joked good-naturedly as if he hadn't just offered up his home to perfect strangers who claimed to be homeless and out to destroy one of the most powerful dark wizards of all time.

"We don't need charity," Hermione replied uncomfortably.

"You've already paid in full with a priceless cure to dragon pox that has given me my life back. What more payment could I possibly ask for?" Abraxas argued back.

Hermione considered it. They couldn't keep paying for a Leaky Cauldron room forever and they had told Dumbledore that they would be looking for a house (though that was mostly just a ruse and Hermione was pretty sure bunkering down at Malfoy Manor was not what he had in mind.) Still, was it safe?

Abraxas seemed to read the doubt on her face. "I assure you that now that I am back to full health, the blood wards will keep this house as protected as a Fidelius Charm. They are ancient magic set in place by my ancestors and I have every confidence they will not let through anyone I do not allow."

Hermione glanced to Pansy upon hearing this declaration. Pansy, who had been quietly observing the scene until now readied herself to speak.

"He's right, when the Lord Malfoy is at his strongest very little could be done to break the wards. They are some of the strongest in Great Britain when at their most powerful."

Hermione nodded distractedly. Now that she thought about it, the fact was no one from either side of the war would suspect them to reside in this place. If and when they become exposed to the public (as enemies of Voldemort) the safest hideaway will be the least expected.

All three of the other occupants of the room were staring at her expectantly, Abraxas having caught on that Hermione was the deciding factor in the equation.

"I guess we're going to be your new house guests… Abby," Hermione declared.

Abby broke into another wide grin and clapped his hands together excitedly as if they were all about to have a slumber party.

This might take some getting used to. Hermione thought dryly.