            Hermione spent the rest of November and into December researching, her schedule now a firm Monday, Wednesday, Friday at the Malfoy library. If Lucius was ever busy, he gave no indication. Even if he was, it didn’t seem to matter—he never bothered her in the library, only conversing with her after particularly difficult research sessions. Some days, they hardly spoke at all. It did ease her, though, knowing he sat just on the other side of the wall. Just in case she had a need.