Bound by Garlands of Her Own
From the poem: "If By Dull Rhymes Our English Must Be Chain'd"
Prologue: And All Thy Heart Lies Open Unto Me
"So fold thyself, my dearest, thou, and slip
Into my bosom and be lost in me"
Alfred Lord Tennyson from 'The Princess'.
Disclaimer to JK Rowling
Friday 24th July, 1992
Dearest Hermione,
After weeks and weeks of nagging, Father has finally permitted for you to stay at the Manor for the rest of the next weekend, and possibly even longer, (he has allowed Draco's troll friends to come without question, sadly, and I am not putting up with it any longer.) Mother is delighted to have another girl in the house as it's gotten a little rowdy, having to listen to boys all day. I did not know that Draco, Crabbe and Goyle had so much to even discuss, did you know that they are worse than us in History of Magic? (Of course, you would always pay more attention to Professor Binns than me, which is confusing more than anything), and even Nott came over. He and Draco had a nice long, private chat in the Manor's maze (wait until you see the maze, Hermione, it is beautiful! I can imagine the hours we will spend in there!) And he refused to tell me about it. It's all right because there are plenty of things that we talk about that he does not know.
There is so much to talk about, so I hope your parents allow you to go to the Manor as I do miss you terribly. I have told Adelais not to leave your side for the duration of the holiday, as you do not have an owl, and we simply must keep in touch. Do not fret about her, as long as you let her out every day she will be fine. I will be fine too. I will use my Mother's owl, Athena, to send my post. I also await your reply and I have told Adelais that you must write at least half a roll of parchment in response if you cannot go. I want a real reason, none of this... you need to do homework (although, you have probably done it all) or something like that. I want a really good excuse for getting out of coming to the Manor. I've begged (and Malfoys do not beg, as you are fully aware) for too long.
Your best friend,
Lacie.
PS. If you do have homework, the Manor has an extensive library full of information for the homework. I hope that tips the scales on your decision, which I eagerly await.
Saturday 25th July, 1992
Hi Hermione!
I hope you've not overworked yourself too much doing Snape's homework. Now that I think of it, how much have you done? I've done 6 inches and I think that's alright but if you've done twelve rolls of parchment then I'll have to find a way to add more. You know Snape, he already hates my guts so he'll barely look at your essay and then he'll flip when he sees what I've done. Fred and George are no help whatsoever, as they don't really care for Potions, or Snape for that matter, and Percy is holed up in his room. He's probably revising, or something like that. He probably wants to take seventh-year exams a year early and prove he's the better Weasley. Even Bill couldn't do that and Percy and Bill have had a friendly rivalry since they were born. I don't see why Percy bothers, though. Bill trumps him every time.
I've been so preoccupied with writing about Snape's homework (he is a nasty git though, setting that work over the holidays. What happened to the fun?) I almost forgot to ask – would you like to come to the Burrow over the course of the next week? Harry's coming too. Well, I've tried to contact him all summer, and I've gotten no reply which makes no sense since he has an owl of his own and could even start writing to me when Errol returned (has the same happened to you? Wait, you don't have an owl, ignore that, well, have you seen Hedwig at all?). I'm a little concerned for him. If I don't get a reply by Wednesday next week, I'm secretly going to save him with Fred and George. I'll spare you the details since Errol may get intercepted and you'll go ballistic when you find out.
Yours sincerely,
Ron.
Saturday 25th July, 1992
Dear Lacerta,
I was wondering if you like to stay at the Burrow for a few days during the course of next week. I already invited Hermione and Harry will be there.
Hope you can come,
Ron.
Sunday 26th July, 1992
Dear Ron,
Was that even an invitation?
Malfoy.
Sunday 26th July, 1992
Dear Ron,
I do apologise but my rude brother intercepted my post and responded to the letter and sent it back before I even had a chance to read your letter, or rather, note. He told me what he wrote to you, and I can hardly disagree with him seeing as the note had no manners whatsoever and was hardly an invitation.
However, I cannot stay, unfortunately, as much fun as it would sound. I have invited Hermione over to the Manor for next weekend and I hope to have her over for longer. I apologise on her behalf as well.
Since you were not so polite to ask, I have had a good holiday. Mother recently took me Germany for a day trip in Demeter's Gardens. It is so beautiful! The Herbology greenhouses cannot compare to those gardens. Legend has it, that the Greek goddess Demeter pours her love of nature into these gardens each summer because she's reunited with her daughter Persephone. It is a beautiful story that you will probably not appreciate but I thought I ought to educate you in some respect, seeing as you will probably be too busy doing Merlin knows what with your time off. I do not even know why I am warranting you with such a detailed response to your invitation. It is probably because I have barely spoken to Hermione, since she has not got an owl, and Harry will not write back. It is probably because of those Muggles he lives with. I bet they do not let him write to us and they take away all our letters to him.
I will probably see you and him on the Hogwarts Express,
Lacerta.
PS. Could you give Athena some bacon? She is one of those owls that expect to be rewarded once she has done a job. Did you really expect any less from a Malfoy owl?
Monday 27th July, 1992
Malfoy,
Stay out of my business.
Weasley.
Monday 27th July, 1992
Weasley,
Stop writing to my sister and I might consider it.
Malfoy.
Monday 27th July, 1992
Dear Ron,
I'm sorry! I can't go to the Burrow although it sounds like a brilliant place. I am thankful for your generous invitation. I hope I can go some other time. I hope you've had a good holiday too but I suppose you have, because Snape asked for no less than a foot. I also don't appreciate your little jibe, Ronald, since I have only done three rolls of parchment, not twelve. You better find a way to finish that essay, since that alone with give Snape enough reason to hate you.
I don't think that it's wrong with Percy wanting to take seventh-year a year early. I wonder if you an actually do that since that would be a good idea. Ask him if it's possible to do so, because I may try that too.
Additionally, I want you to know that I disagree fully with your rescue mission with Fred and George. You should tell your parents the problem and maybe they'll help you. I mean, we're not supposed to do magic outside of Hogwarts, especially in front of Muggles and Harry lives with Muggles, remember? That reminds me, it better not involve magic, Ronald, I'm not joking! It's illegal and it will get you expelled! We already pushed it enough when we went after the Philosopher's Stone a few months ago and we could have been expelled then. Please, Ron, think about what you're going to do.
Your concerned friend,
Hermione.
Monday 27th July, 1992
Lacie,
I would love to come to the Manor, since you asked so politely and it sounds so lovely at the Manor. (However, I do feel a little anxious about coming. Does your father truly not mind me being there?) I cannot wait until I see the library at the Manor. I've still got a conclusion to do on my History of Magic homework before I finish it but I haven't got many points to conclude it with. I also find the maze interesting. I cannot wait.
I hope that Draco and his Neanderthal friends aren't always around us when I'm there though. You know that I don't like them that much.
Thank you for letting me uses Adelais. I am really grateful since I can't send you letters via Muggle post. I've been trying to get to Harry but no avail. I suppose Harry thinks that I'm ignoring him and won't send me any letters. Ron told me that Harry hasn't spoken to him either, which is strange, since I thought that they would be writing to each other each day, since...well, you know... but I suppose not. Maybe it's the Muggles that Harry lives with. My parents are a little more open to owl post. At first they flinched when they saw Adelais and then Errol (Ron's owl) came and they've gotten used to having Adelais around.
See you next week!
Hermione.
Tuesday 28th July, 1992
Granger,
I heard that you will be coming to the Manor this coming Friday and be warned. I will not hold back.
Malfoy.
Tuesday 28th July, 1992
Malfoy,
I am not threatened by your childish jibes.
Bring it on, I dare you.
Granger.
Friday 31th July, 1992
Dear Harry,
I'm worried. I've sent you letters by owl post but you haven't replied. Is Hedwig alright? I suppose she could be ill, I just thought that the Muggles you live with would stop you from using your owl or something. I've been using Muggle post to try and contact you and I know it takes forever but, I'm sure that you've gotten at least one of my letters. Lacie lent me her owl so that this letter would be more efficient.
Ron told me of a ridiculous rescue mission he's planning. I told him to leave it to adults and he probably would have but Fred and George are involved and you know the twins. They would never say no to a challenge. I'm worried for Ron too. He could get expelled! You need to write to him and tell him that you're fine and he'll stop thinking about doing something that would mean expulsion. I'm sure you're fine. I'm just being too anxious.
Oh, and Happy Birthday!
Love,
Hermione.
PS. I'll be at Malfoy Manor from later today until the end of the weekend. If you write, I'll be there.
Friday 31th July, 1992
Harry,
Mate, you haven't replied to ANY of my letters. It's worrying! Fred and George reckon that we pay you a little visit and see what's going on (and rescue you). If you don't reply in a week's time, we're coming.
That'll be your birthday present.
HAPPY BIRTHDAY!
Ron.
PS. Did you hear? Hermione's going to Malfoy Manor! I find that hilarious. I hope she finds a way to get Malfoy in an embarrassing situation so that we can talk about it when he starts to annoy us.
Friday 31th July, 1992
Dear Harry,
Everyone is worried about you. Including me! I hear that Ron has invited you to the Burrow (he invited me, but, I hear – well you know how much it would not suit me) and I hope you have fun there. Hermione is coming to the Manor and I cannot wait to see her later today. You know, the way that you cannot wait to see Ron.
I do not know why I am writing to you, actually as you will most likely not write back. It is not just me saying that. Hermione and Ron have written to me asking about your owl. Of course, you are probably enjoying life with the Muggles and you want the peace. It would help for you to write back to them before they send me more frantic messages.
Lacie.
PS. Happy Birthday, Harry! I have not gotten your present yet. Wait until the first of September. It will be ready then!
A/N: Thank you for anyone who read the old version of this story and was keen on it before I removed it to rewrite it. Thank you for new readers, and readers who have just finished Bright Star. If you haven't read Bright Star yet and you have no idea what is going on so far, I suggest reading the AU of PS first as this is the continuation of that story before I upload the first (second) chapter of this story.
Quick recap though: Lacerta Malfoy is the twin sister of Draco Malfoy who was Sorted into Gryffindor and becomes the unintentional fourth wheel in the Golden Trio, this changes the dynamics of the Golden Trio and Draco has to deal with his sisters' slowly changing values amongst other things.
I hope that this version of the story is as well received as the old one, as I added more and made the chapters shorter for easier reading and added a lot more POVs and my fave – (cute?) pre-teen Dramione moments. That's all to come, oh, and because I spent a lot of my time on this I will be updating more frequently so you it will be back to where it was before quite soon… if that makes sense.
Love always,
CS.