As much as I hate to admit it...I suck at starting stories. My bread and butter replies on a good plot. Hopefully you can appreciate where it's going long enough to get to the good bits. Because I personally think they're pretty lit.
I'd like to also point this out before I forget. This is a Black!Hermione fic (should be obvious by the cover but in case it's not up yet, now you know).
Enjoy and let me know what you think!
News of the return of the Peverell bloodline to England had been all anyone, Pureblood or otherwise, could talk about. Rita Skeeter had been on the story the second she'd caught wind of the rumors. It started with a simple inquiry about how to verify ones blood relationship to an extinct house. A certain beetle on the wall had listed, ears burning at the new prospect.
Within days the whole of Wizarding England was abuzz with whispers of this mystery Peverell Heir. People gathered near the Ministry, hoping to catch a glimpse of the famed boy as he claimed his birthright. Imagine their surprise, when the green eyed, curly haired toddler was not a boy, but instead a girl. Hermione Peverell, Heir to a lost Pureblood legacy. Every Pureblood man with even an inkling of a son practically salivating at the prospect.
Cadmus Palandrani, Hermione's maternal uncle, had declared for pureblood status for Hermione, who at 5, was unable to do so. He made his case by freely offering a copy of their family lineage to anyone who inquired. Naturally, Purebloods flocked, all wanting to either verify Hermione's status, or debunk it. All for personal gain.
While her blood status was held under review, Cadmus worked with the Ministry to verify her relationship with the Peverell line, submitted her for countless blood tests and weeks worth of paperwork. She was able to take ownership of the Peverell estate weeks shy of her 6th birthday, under his guardianship. Cadmus and his wife Isabel wasted no time in choosing a Manor from among the many she now owned, and restoring it. Private tutors were hired to ensure her education would not lapse, and she settled into life in England quite well.
After the fall of the Dark Lord, by a child no less, the mad scramble for power left a hole in Pureblood society long before her sudden appearance. Hermione's blood status was confirmed, and she was welcomed with greedy open arms. From then on, her upbringing was strict and monitored closely by Cadmus. His strong Italian beliefs kept her morals in a grey area, leaning no closer to dark than light. Seeing the opportunity to gain an ally within the Inner Circle of Pureblood society, Dumbledore extended invitations to Christmas and various holidays. Hermione split her time between warm dinners at the Burrow with the Twins as partners in crime, chasing behind Tonks, who fascinated her with her odd abilities, and stiff dinners with the Zabini's that lead to Blaise and Hermione sneaking off to read in the library, avoiding unwanted advances from more... forward older men as she grew older, and learning to perfect the mask of indifference she'd later be known for.
As she entered into her first year at Hogwarts, it surprised no one that she'd been sorted into Slytherin. She'd left the hat in a deadlock of almost legendary time, juggling her between Ravenclaw and Slytherin. Finally, with one decisive shout, she was shrouded in green and silver, settling in with her fellow snakes.
This sorting made her friendship with Fred and George a little strained. A year ahead of her, the boys seemed to think she'd forget the bond they'd formed as children. Against the urging of her peers, Hermione refused to abandon their friendship, spending countless hours getting into mischief with the older redheads as if no time had passed at all since they were the 8 and 9 year olds who made life hell for anyone living at the Burrow. Even Tonks, a 6th year at the time, would occasionally join in on their jokes and pranks, and it was the closest Hermione had ever known to having siblings. Her association with the known "Blood Traitors" and "Halfblood scum" seemed to cause a stir for her during her first summer after starting school. She'd had several invitations rescinded from the usual Pureblood Balls that took place over summer. Most notably from the Malfoys and the Browns.
Hermione hadn't really been too bothered by this, since it freed up more time for her to spend with the Twins and Tonks. They'd been allowed to visit her at Peverell Manor, and together they explored the large home, uncovering secrets long lost. Blaise, who had spent the beginning of the summer visiting family in Italy while his mother... sought a replacement for his late father, spent the later half of the summer with Hermione. He never truly said why, but Hermione suspected it has something to do with the fact that many men had come calling after his mother, who was clearly enjoying the attention.
It was during this summer that the 5 of them would form a bond that people were hard pressed to break.
The beginning of second year started off really rough for Hermione. She'd encountered Draco Malfoy fairly early in her ride to Hogwarts, and the boy proceeded to talk her ear off, telling her how much better it would be if she became close with him over "blood traitors". This was obviously the work of Lucius, grooming a perfect little clone. Hermione had left her cabin, and nearly ran into Ron Weasley and Harry Potter in her haste to get away from Draco's nagging. Ron had blushed a deep red, stumbling an apology as she bent to grab the glasses she'd accidentally knocked off of Harry's face.
Draco, who'd followed her, stopped short when he saw Harry. She realized immediately what was about to happen, and almost felt bad for the poor boy. As Draco gave Harry the same speech as he'd given her, she noticed Ron growing more irritated as Draco insulted him and his family. Eventually she'd stepped in, defending the two boys and dismissing Draco in a way that left him flushed with embarrassment and promising reprisal. She'd offered to fix Harry's glasses, and sit with them during the rest of the ride.
Hermione was only slightly disappointed to find them both sorted into Gryffindor, but she'd decided that wouldn't stop her curiosity. She would come to regret this, as it pushed her firmly into Dumbledore's grasp, and landed her as the object of Ron's obsession. He followed her everywhere he was allowed, which was only slightly annoying at first, but soon became a pain she longed to be rid of. She was so desperate to escape Ron's annoying talking that she'd stowed away in the girl's bathroom, unaware of the trouble it led to. When Harry and Ron came to her rescue, she'd been so grateful that even Ron wasn't enough to sway her from their side. The Twins made constant jokes at her expense, but she put up with it out of a strong sense of loyalty.
That loyalty was paid in full, as far as she was concerned, by the end of the year. After nearly dying again for the sake of following behind the two boys, she swore to never get roped into their antics again. From then on, she made other friends, and her association with Gryffindor rested mostly on her friendship with Fred and George. Soon the other Slytherins came to accept that she would not change her mind about them, and they chose to ignore it. She focused more on her studies, becoming known as the only Slytherin that fit better with the Ravenclaws. It was something of a running joke, which often called back to her deadlock sorting. She never let it bother her, and as time passed, her association with Harry Potter was limited at best, while her status within Pureblood Society only grew as the years went by.