"Well, I have to say, that was a wonderful meal. I don't know why I don't come over often." He said with a chuckle.

"Well, we enjoy your company here, and you are welcomed whenever." Hermione said with a smile. She was glad he came, his presence helped her stay strong for just a few more days.

"Indeed, my love, indeed. Now tell me Severus, why is a bachelor such as yourself have no... bachelorette?" Lucius asked with a grin. Severus glared at him.

"Lucius, don't do that he's..."

"No that's all right Hermione. I can assure you Lucius that I have no plans on falling in love. I have fallen twice but never was lucky enough to succeed." He grimaced as Lucius laughed.

"Please do tell who you fancied. Becau-"

"Excuse me, um... Master? The Minister of magic wishes to speak with you." Stickles said while playing with his pillowcase dress he wore. Lucius sighed and nodded his head.

"Very well then. I shall be one moment." He kissed Hermione on the forehead and called over his shoulder, "Dont go far Severus, we have a lot of catching up to do my dear friend." Severus chuckled.

"Indeed." As he departed the room, Hermione downed the rest of her wine.

"Would you like some more?" She asked as she refilled her glass. Severus waved his hand.

"No, I think ive had enough for one night." She looked at him and smirked, "okay, just one more." He said as she filled up his glass. He took a sip and sat back in his chair. He looked around him and saw that since the last time he came here, it had been redecorated. There were chandeliers made of an emerald diamond hanging from every corner of the room. Their was a large painting of Lucius and Hermione hanging above the grand cobblestone fireplace. He stood up and walked over to it. "This is quite impressive." He hadn't known she followed him until they were hip to hip.

"Yes, yes it is." She said sadly. "That was painted for us four years ago, although it feels as if it were yesterday." She sighed and gazed at the painting. A twinkle of pain and sadness fluttered in her warm brown eyes. He turned to her.

"Are you sure you want to do this?" She turned to him and a tear escaped her eyes and slowly slid down her face.

"Yes. Oh god yes I am sure." She choked out, quickly wiping madly at her tears. She laughed, "God, im sorry. I never act like this, its just..."

"You don't have to explain, i know." She smiled warmly at him.

"Thank you." He nodded his head. He shoved his hands in his pockets and felt something cold and small hit his fingertips. He clutched to small, cold, metal object and identified it as Hermione's ring. He pulled it out and held it in his hand, Palm up in front of her. She gasped and clutched her neck. "Oh, you found it!" She smiled at him.

"It was left somewhere it shouldn't have been." He winked at her and held out his hand. She placed it in his hand and he was about to slip the ring on her dainty little finger when Lucius walked in.

"Well, now then, where were we. Oh yes, you were just about to tell us about..." His eyes landed on the display in front of him. Hermione Looked at him and blushed a scarlet red. Hermione dropped her hand and Severus just held the ring up in his fingers.

"Um, Severus found my ring." Hermione said, her blush deepening at her chest. Lucius walked forward, closer to them.

"Well, isn't that swell! She has been missing it for a few days and she couldn't seem to remember where she placed it. May I inquire where you found it?" Severus cleared his throat.

"I um, found it at the front gates outside, just lying on the ground." Severus glanced at Hermione and she seemed to understand.

"Oh! My hand did get caught on the gates entrance the other day. I guess I didn't bother to notice because I was eager to return to you love." Hermione said, placing a kiss on Lucius' cheek. He smiled and clapped Severus on the shoulder.

"Well I'm glad its found. I was starting to think we had thieves in the house." He reached out and grabbed the ring out of Severus' hands and stood before Hermione. He then got down on one knee and held out his hand. Hermione, flustered by the display placed her hand in his. He beamed at her and she blushed. "Hermione Malfoy will forever be one with the lucky Lucius Malfoy for as long as eternity." He said as he slid the ring on her finger. He then stood up and grabbed Hermione, dipped her, and kissed her sweetly but roughly on the lips. Hermione pushed him back and blushed.

"Lucius, need I remind you Severus is still here." She looked around and found Severus had wandered off. When she laid eyes on him, he was refilling his cup of wine and downing it greedily. Lucius chuckled.

"Severus has seen more than ones public display of affection my dear." He grabbed her hand and pulled her to the table and sat down, pulling her down on his lap. She, uncomfortably sat there. She looked at Severus as he sat down, with his glass in his hand. He raked his hands through his hair before settling his eyes on the both of them. Hermione Looked away, embarrassed by Lucius' actions, he was really making her whole situation look like a fluke. Lucius snapped his fingers, snapping Hermione out of her reverie and appeared Stickles.

"Yes master?" He asked, respectable bowing his head.

"Bring us more wine." He said with a hint of annoyance in his voice. The house elf disappeared with a pop and then reappeared with another pop and in his hands, a vintage looking bottle of wine. He scurried over to Severus and filled his glass. Once filled, he scurried over to Hermione and Lucius. He hopped up on a chair and began to fill the glasses. Stickles, being small, and the bottle being quite large, spilled the wine. It drenched the tablecloth and Hermione's robes. Stickles, scared, began to quickly clean it up, mumbling sorries as he did so. Lucius cursed as Hermione's robes, dripped access wine on his perfectly tailored suit.

"Why you Damn house elf!" He seethed. Hermione stood up and began to help Stickles clean up, but Lucius grabbed her wrist and yanked her away. "No! What did I tell you!? You do not help them, this is what they are for!" Hermione yelped as he gripped her wrist hardly. A hot white pain seared at her wrist, she knew for sure it was broken.

"Lucius! Let go! Your hurting me!" She cried out. Lucius, lost in the moment of anger, didnt feel Severus approach his side and place a hand on his shoulder.

"Lucius," he said calmly, "let go, your hurting your wife." Lucius, finally realizing what he was doing let her go. She stepped back and clutched her wrist. Severus stepped forward and gently touched her wrist, receiving a cry of pain in return. He grasped her shoulders and led her over to the chair and sat her down. He glanced over his shoulder and saw Lucius standing there dumbstruck.

He then collected himself and ran a hand though his hair. He looked at Hermione who had tears in her eyes, and then at Severus, who looked at him with an expression of disgust and confusion. He traced his fingertips around his lips and retreated from the room, leaving the two alone.

Severus knelt in front of Hermione. "Let me see." He said. Tears were rolling down her eyes as she gingerly placed her wrist in his hand. She hissed at the contact.

"Please Severus, you see how I live." She said in barely a whisper. He grunted and nodded his head. He removed her wrist from his hand and pulled out his wand.

He pointed it a her wrist and said "Brackium Emendo". He then gently grabbed her wrist and held it up, examining it. It was still bruised, but the bones that had seemed to fragily crack were healed. He dropped her hand and stood up with a sigh. "I must be going." With that he grabbed his cloak and retreated from the room, leaving her there all alone. She wiped the tears in her eyes and stood up, cradling her wrist at her waist.

This was somewhat nothing compared to what he has done before, but the emotional part was that he did it right in front of Severus. She ascended up the stairs to their bedroom slowly. When she entered the room, he wasn't there. She assumed he was in his office, drinking preferable.

She inhaled sharply and lay on the bed, closing her aching eyes and cried herself to sleep.