Story setup: This will be one of the only fics I write where Harry is raised by his Muggle relatives and not Sirius. Hermione's parents will not be Dentists, her mother was English and Father Russian. Also Dark and Glamorous Hermione She will still have faults, just being frumpy won't be one of them. That's been done to death. This is my set up for almost all my fics.

MOST IMPORTANTLY: I mix up the timeline however I please. This is my make believe story, and I can do whatever I want. Take it or leave it.

This fic WILL be Draco-Hermione, but you are only going to see Theo for a minute. It may end up being Draco-Theo-Hermione.


Luck

It's strange isn't it, those life changing moments that happen. There is never any real warning, sometimes you don't even realize till years after the fact. That moment that changed your life forever. You look back and go, "Ah! Things could have been so much different if I didn't walk into that store that day and met that clerk." or "That day I was late to the office and missed that memo."

Today was the day Theo would one day look back on and go, "It was that day, that was the day that changed my entire life."

Today was the day he and his father were to pick up their Mudblood ward that the Nott Family would be sponsoring. A new program that had been enacted by Headmaster Dumbledore, and grudgingly approved by the school governors. All Children born to none Wizarding families were to receive their Hogwarts acceptance letters a year early at the age of 10. They would then be introduced to a 'Sponsor,' a Wizard Family that would be there to help them navigate and acclimate to the new customs and rules regarding the Magical world they were entering into.

Theo's father, as a member of the School Board of Governors, (One of the those who opposed the new program quite strongly) was expected to set an example, and his name had been added to the list of Volunteer Sponsors.

Thoros Nott was a hard man, and quite difficult to deal with at the best of times. Theo was not looking forward to having the Mudblood brat around, making his Father's temper worse than usual. And the blasted thing was a girl on top of everything! Thoros Nott had no patience for the childish disposition of youths, his son learned this very early on in life, and he doubted the theatrics of a female child would help matters at all. This was to be a very trying year for the Young Heir it seemed.

Using a Portkey arranged in partnership with the School and Ministry, Lord Nott and his Heir found themselves outside a home in the country. Not as large as their own estate house, it was still quite impressive, if unkempt. Not at all the hovel Theo had been expecting. The home was white, with dark blue decorative shutters, and dark green ivy vines had been allowed to creep up half the home. The overall effect was inviting and oozed cozy charm.

Making their way to the front door, they were greeted with the sight of a knocker made of bronze, in the shape of a fox head. After using it to announce their presence, it was only a few moments later that the door opened.

Theo blinked in surprise. He came face to face with a young girl. With freckles on her nose, dark shiny coffee colored ringlet curls, and most startling, one brown eye, one blue. Like looking in a mirror, his own eyes reflected back to him. Her eyes widened at the sight of him, her mouth falling open slightly before looking up to his father and back to him again.

With a snap, she closed her mouth, her face fixing itself into a mask of polite indifference.

"Lord Nott, welcome to Fox Hollow, please come in."

Her voice was soft and low, a pleasant London lilt to her words, almost like a little lady.

Thoros stepped through the door, Theo could feel his father's anger radiating off him in waves. He stepped after him cautiously. The small girl lead them to a small sitting room with Tea and 3 settings laid out.

Taking their seats, the girl began to pour out Tea, starting with Theo's father.

"What is the meaning of this Mu-... Child?"

Her hands shook the barest bit as she finished pouring his father's tea, before she started to fill Theo's cup.

"What do you mean Sir?"

"Your eyes, is this some sort of joke? Did Dumbledore do this?" Thoros growled out, low.

The girl raised a hand to her blue eye, before setting it back down. Her gaze drifting up to Thoros Notts own blue and brown gaze. The mark of House Nott.

"There was an incident a year ago, my-my eye was damaged. I had to have 2 surgerys, the second

included a laser. The side effect was losing the dark brown melanin pigment in my left eye."

Theo watched in shock as his father reached over and took the girls chin in his hand, leaning forward peering into her face. The girl sat stock still, folding her hands into her lap, meeting his gaze resolutely.

"I see a scar here. Surgery, Lay-zers, explain these phrases to me."

He tilted her head to the side, surprisingly gentle in handling her. A ray of sunlight through the window hitting her face, showing two small scars, one a small nick beneath her left eye, and the other above her eyebrow, cutting into it slightly. He let her go, and leaned back into his chair.

"Surgery, a procedure done by Doctors to fix a medical problem or injury, usually quite invasive. Lasers are hard to explain, they are a mechanical device that emits light through a process of optical amplification which can be used in a number of different ways. For me, specifically it was used in such a way as to help correct my damaged eye."

"And these, Dock-tores, they are Healers?"

She nodded.

"If that is your word for the occupation, then yes. Doctors heal people whom are sick, ailing in some way, have been hurt, or are in need of Medical advice."

Theo watched as Thoros shoulders relaxed, and he picked up his Tea. Theo used the lull in conversation to study the girl, taking in the full view of her finally.

Her dark curls, a brown that was almost black, were long, reaching to her lower back. Her skin had a slight tan to it, he wasn't sure if that was her natural color or if she had taken sun, with a smattering of brown freckles along her nose and cheek. She wore a white sundress with cap sleeves, and green ballet flats on feet so little, that Theo was surprised she could stand at all. Her back was straight, her shoulders thrown back, and her chin slightly raised.

This was unexpected. This was not what he had been told Mudbloods were like. He had come here expecting to find a dirty, raggedly dressed girl with no manners or culture. This girl in front of him, was a child of good breeding. Theo found himself quite wrong footed. Especially when she turned to him, and held out her hand.

"My name is Hermione Granger, It is nice to make your acquaintance."

Not knowing what else to do, Theo leaned forward taking her hand in his own, and bowed over it.

"Theodore Nott, a pleasure Miss Granger."

"Please call me Hermione." She demurred politely, her eyes glancing down to the floor. And just like that, 10 year old Theo, who had never really cared much for girls, nor had much occasion to ever be around young ladies. Found himself quite charmed.

Putting down his tea cup loudly, Theo's father brought their attention back to himself. He looked around the room, his scowl was gone, but his eyebrows were still drawn in a surly manner.

"And your parents? Is this customary of your kind? To not introduce themselves to the family that will be kindly taking their child in for the Summer? We are opening our home to a stranger, and they can not be bothered to greet us even?"

Theo winced at his father's tone, he was not yelling, Thoros did not yell, but his displeasure was obvious and the timbre of his voice menacing. The little Lady's eyes widened just the slightest bit at his father's rude questioning. Otherwise she continued to sit, prim and proper, calm as a cat.

"I apologize Lord Nott, I thought you had been made aware. I am an orphan, my father died last year. It is only I here."

An orphan. There was a slight ache in Theo's chest, a small pinch. Theo knew the pain of losing a parent, of being alone. And here this girl was, both her parents gone. She was not even left with a angry, cold father to care for her.

Thoros looked back at the girl sharply, finally it seemed, taking her in fully for the first time.

"And you live here, alone? Do Mud-Muggles generally leave children unattended in situations such as yours?"

"No sir, my parents solicitor has me enrolled in a boarding school, but during the summer months I was retained to an Orphanage, that is, a home that cares for children with no family."

Thoros grunted.

"Yes I know what an Orphanage is."

Theo kept his face blank. HE didn't know what an Orphanage was, how did his father know of such a Muggle Institution? As far as he knew, no such thing existed in the Magical world. Magical Children were sacred, no child was ever left without care, especially not a Witch. There was always family, or friends to take a child in.

"And why are you not currently at this Orphanage?"

With a sniff, the girl churned he rhead away, looking out the large bay windows.

"I did not care for the establishment."

Theo's eyes widened. Had she run away?

"And has no one come looking for you?"

Thoros asked, his tone gentle. Theo looked at his father, the man was digging, for what he did not know.

"No, and no one shall."

"And why is that child?"

She looked back then, looking at his father with the sweetest smile on her face.

"I made them forget. I wasn't sure at first, if I could, one or two adults fine, but it was so much easier than I thought! To make it so no one would remember, to make those that come asking, forget why they had come."

Thoros smiled back then, and Theo just about dropped his tea cup.

"And you have done such things before?"

"Not exactly, before it was small, like making my parents forget I had already had a serving of desert."

She blushed, casting her eyes down at the admission.


He had been enraged at the first site of her, at the Mudblood that opened the door, sporting the Nott family trait of mismatched eyes. But now, now he was intrigued. There was a familiarity there, in her mannerisms, in those few moments he had witnessed her face go completely blank. It was only once or twice, he had almost missed it, no emotion, just large glittering eyes taking everything in. Making her hands shake while pouring the tea was a good touch. It made something in Thoros Nott's brain itch.

Mudbloods would call it, 'coincidence.' But Thoros knew better. He was a Wizard, and he knew that there really was no such thing. The world turns, and the fates spin their threads, and this girl wasn't right. She was a book with a page that had once been dog eared. Sure the page laid flat, but you could see the crease from where someone had once folded it.

Then she mentioned the Mind Magic she performed, and he felt ice in his veins.

Magical Children coming into their own were able to manifest Magic without a wand. It was always a wonder to see a child perform Magic, natural instinct taking over, bending the world to their whim. Thoros found few things beautiful in this life, but seeing a Child perform their first Magic, that was truly beautiful.

It was always manifested physically though. Moving objects, unlocking the spell on the cookie jar that kept it closed to wandering fingers, setting fire to a siblings blanket. That's how a child's Magic usually manifested. But this child, at the age of 10, an age when her Magic would have settled until she had the aid of a wand, this child was performing Mind Magics. A difficult task even with the help of a wand, and experience.

Children did not present Magicly in such a way, at least most children didn't. Thoros knew of only one other whom had ever had a natural inclination towards such gifts.

"Theo, go and help Ms. Granger grab her belongings. We will be departing for Nott Hold immediately."

Dismissing the children, Nott sat back in the high backed chair, and took up his discarded tea while staring out the window, lost in thought. He was a careful man, a quiet man, his son took after him in that respect. He noticed things, but unfortunately for him, he did not notice the children as they left. No, unluckily for Nott, he did not observe the young girl stumble over what seemed to be thin air, only to have his son and heir catch her. The boys hand in hers, she did not let it go. He did not see the smile she gave Theo, nor the shyly returned smile on his sons part as she held his hand and lead him out of the room. If only he had noticed, perhaps things would have ended differently. Perhaps he wouldn't be dead only a few short years later.


It all starts with money really. Money changes everything. That saying; 'Money can't buy you happiness,' is true, but god, it sure fucking helps. The other part of it was breeding. Not literally, obviously my heritage was less than ideal in this world, but my upbringing. My Father instilled in me, at a young age, the importance of not only manners, but being aware of what is going on around you, and reading people.

The next factor was 1 part preparation, and 2 parts luck. The preparation came when I had first turned 10, and first found out I was a witch. An older woman by the name Minerva McGonagall had come to my home, had bypassed all my muggle security, and let herself into my Father's Study. The power coming off her was palpable. I responded in kind, almost flinging her out of the room. Her experience and power able to block most of my attack, there was still a moment of surprise that had crossed her face though. That memory still brings me a smidge of pride, to this day. It wasn't the first use of accidental magic I ever had, but it had been the most powerful at the time.

It turned out all those wacky fake letters of acceptance to a Magical Private School, that had been sent to me, were not fake at all. And the Witch who also happened to be a Professor at the school actually, was rather put out by the lengths she had to go to, to reach me. Especially as I was not at the Orphanage I was supposed to be at.

Once things had calmed down and settled, and I had made a pot of tea, (and also made sure to add a generous dollop of whiskey to her cup, which went quite a long way to soothing the Scottish Witch) the entire story came out. She, Hermione Ara Granger, was a Witch, and was accepted to Hogwarts, Britain's only Wizarding School. Though there were other Magical Educational facilities throughout Europe, that she also had a choice to petition for. Though the sniff the Witch gave when mentioning them, showed what she thought of her Schools competitors.

But most importantly, as a muggle born, she would be 'sponsored' by a Wizarding family. Most students did not receive their acceptance letter until they turned 11 it seemed, but Muggle borns, children born to none wizarding families, received their letter a year early. A way of preparing them and to introduce them to their Wizarding Sponsor. A family that would take her in, and teach her the ways of their world.

After McGonagall had left, but not without first bringing Hermione back to the hateful Orphanage, a plan had been formed. And tickets to Russia, her dead Father's homeland, were bought. A normal child would not have been able to accomplish this, even with her families small fortune at their disposal. But she was not normal, she was not only a witch, but an incredibly and uncommonly smart little girl. Some might even say, a disturbingly brilliant and astute child.

Her Father's influence in his home country had ran deep, and once she knew a Magical community existed there, it took no time at all to find the right people. The first order of business was safety, magical muscle, and a tutor. For McGonagall's entrance to her English estate had ruffled Hermione's feathers something fierce. She had hired two Wizards to come and ward her families Russian home, tying the wards to her blood, with the sacrifice of a lamb, burning the bones of a viper mixed with dried lavender, and her left eye freely given…

An old warding she discovered in one of the many books she had purchased while in the Magical Russian underground she had found. That had raised the two men's eyebrows, but this was Russia, and they did as they were paid. One of them, a tall dark haired, tan wizard by the name Antonin Dolohov stayed afterwards. Curious about the horrifyingly young, parentless child, who ripped out her own eye.

He became her Magical bodyguard and in turn her tutor, taking her on a trip to Gregorovitch's Wand Shop, a wondrous place that vibrated with a soft power. Wand in hand, and a full time instructor, that was when the real research came in. Not just spells of course, but she wished to know the state of the Wizarding world, and learn she did. Learned of the different Wizarding communities around the world, but concentrated on Magical Britain, Russia, and France. She learned of the financial and political powers involved in those countries, and most importantly she learned about the importance of Blood Status.

She knew she should have felt some form of disgust over the matter, but really it's the same everywhere you go, even in the Muggle world. Everywhere, there is some hang up, Be it your financial status, your upbringing, your skin color, ect. Half the battle was knowing. Knowledge was the ultimate power after all, and knowing how to use it.

And then the luck mentioned before. You can work hard, study, examine, and prepare all you want in life. But that won't necessarily be enough. No, for people to achieve truly great things, a bit of luck, or some may call it fate, is involved. It was luck that Hermione was assigned the Sponsor she was. Lord Nott, one of the School Governors, a widower with one lone Heir.


Antonin sat in front of the fire in his tiny employers manor. It had been quite a surprise meeting the person that had acquired his services. He had no warning that it would be a child, and then she had to choose an almost forgotten spell, a highly illegal spell even in Russia, to protect her family home. Her last name Granger, her mother's Maiden name, but she was of the Ivanov line, the only living descendant. A muggle well known throughout all of Russia, his mafia like organization had been vast when he lived. He lived no more though, deciding to give the child her mothers name was smart of him, it kept her safe.

Today was the day her Sponsor would come to collect her back in England. He wondered how that would go. He had known Thoros Nott once upon a time. Knew him quite well. He looked over to his left arm, his sleeve rolled up, the faded mark dancing in the shadows cast by the fire.

He had stayed after the ritualistic warding had been done. His associate had left right away, wanting to be gone from the site where they had just performed highly illicit blood magic. But Antonin stayed, curiously he watched the child. A gaping hole where her left eye had been, blood pouring down her face, he wondered idly if she would bleed out.

The girl sat on her knees on the ground, not making a sound, her face blank. Her hand felt around the ground until she found her overlage backpack. Opening it up she struggled to pull something out. Antonin bent and held the bag for her, while she pulled out a live fucking Golden Eagle. It was tied up, it sharp tallongs cut, its wings clipped, the bird was under a sleep spell.

"Will you lift the spell for me?" Her voice was small like her, and had a soft pleasent english lilt to it.

Antonin released the spell silently. The giant raptor woke instantly, and started fighting against its bonds. The girl jumped on it, the Eagle as large as the child herself. Its wicked hooked beak was not bound, and it snapped viciously at the girl. Yet she persisted, she lunged at its head, as it snapped at her fingers, wrists and arms. But she did not stop until she had its head in her hands and had plucked out its left eye.

Throwing herself off the bird of prey, she crawled a few feet away from it, clutching its eye in her hands. She bent over it, and whispered to the eye in her cupped palm before she put it in her mouth and swallowed it whole. He could feel her magic for the first time then, it was rolling off of her in vicious waves, and then a calm settled over them. Antonin watched silently, as the child slowly opened her eyes, One brown, and one yellow eye where once there was a gaping hole. Yellow like the flames in front of him now.

He rubbed at the mark on his arm, right where she had touched him when explaining to her about her unfortunate blood during one of their tutoring sessions, and what it would mean for her. Her face had gone blank again, something he had caught and noticed her doing only a few instances before. Then she had smiled up at him. Smiled in that way only children could, that innocence the world has not had a chance to corrupt yet, there was sunshine in her smile. She then asked, while grabbing his left arm and running her small fingers over his Dark Mark, what it felt like to work for a Mudblood. And then she laughed, and his mark burned. The Dark Mark, the faded symbol on his arm only other Death Eaters could see, burned for the first time in 10 years.

She had him move in after that, asking him to be her 'Guardian.' It was all a show of course, she just needed an adult to acquire and handle the things that a child could not without raising eyebrows and getting people talking. He had been with her a month before it was time for her to return back to England to meet her sponsor.

He came home after having set up the international portkey for her. She had bound down the stairs and into his arms. She had become affectionate towards him at first while out in public, and he posed as her guardian. Soon enough, she kept it up, even at home. Treating him as family, they even looked slightly alike. Both with naturally tan skin, and dark hair.

"Your eye."

She laughed at him before pulling away and twirling in front of him.

"Do you like it, do you like it?"

Antonin bent down on one knee. "Come here zolotse, stop moving and let me see." (1)

She finally stilled and came up close to him, his face level with hers now. He looked at the deep blue eye, where once a gold eagle eye had been. The blue was familiar, and then it hit him, where he had seen this eye before.

"The stray cat you have been feeding? The one with the extra toes on its paws?"

She smiled at him, looking at him as if she was proud of him, and nodded excitedly.

"Yes! I traded her. She was quite pleased, it's not often a cat can get their paws on an eagles eye after all. Really she came out ahead in the deal."

Antonin blinked at the girl as she giggled and kissed him on the cheek before twirling away from him again. Calling out after her as she ran back up the stairs, he couldn't help but ask; "Why?"

She stopped at the top of the landing and looked back at him, her face blank again.

"For Thoros of course. Don't you think it fitting?" And then she was gone.


So what do you guys think? Please review and let me know!

1: Zolotse - 'My Gold'

So as you can tell, this is going to be a Dark-Hermione. I love reading Dark stories, but I am not very good at writing them! So I am trying my best here. I will be introducing the Malfoy family in the next Chapter I think.