Author's Note: Once more I didn't deliver and I'm sorry about that. But I updated twice so thumbs up. On a more serious note, I'm started to get my schedule together now so I'll soon be able to update weekly. I'm not saying I'll be able to pull out two chapters a week but I'm getting in the zone where I can start writing more.

Chapter 4

Hermione's Summer Part 3

July 27, 1992

After getting out of the infirmary she was giving the day to rest. Arcturus was long gone, so she decided to look at her accumulating mail. She didn't have any new mail from Tracey or Daphne nor did she have anything new from Harry. Being able to call him seemed to assuage his worries. She did have mail from Neville but it was the standard catching up type of mail. It was the new mail from Ron that gave her pause.

Do you have any books on something called occleamancy? I hope I spelled that right. I'd like to learn it ya know. I hope I'm not being too much of a bother always writing you for information and stuff. I want to learn this though. I'll owe you one if you had something for me and I'd be really grateful. I don't need it now.

Ron

It was more a missive than a letter but what Hermione noticed wasn't the words it was the paper. The paper was heavily creased and there were stains on it, not from food or ink but water stains. Stains in an orb form like tears. The Black glowered at the stains wondering if he had been crying when he wrote this. Why would he need to learn Occulumency?

She got out of her trunk and dug through her mini library and pulled out a book she had on Occulumency. It was the same one she allowed Harry to use. "Indra," she called her familiar. Indra appeared in a flash her magic humming in greeting. Hermione felt it through their bond and she could feel her familiar's curiosity. "Take this to Ronald Weasley." She told her, voice clipped planning to get to the bottom of it before the end of the holidays.

For now, she had homework to do.

July 28, 1992

The two of them sparred circling each other with swords. Ramon thrust his sword towards her and Hermione with her swift feet leaped to the side. She swung her sword in a slicing movement that Ramon blocked with his sword. It glowed momentarily and Hermione backed off in case the spell was detrimental. They continued an exchange each of them physical with only a few spells being thrown.

"Time!" Ana called. The two of them stopped the spar immediately. "If this was human vs. human I'd say you two could handle it."

"But it's not." Drusilla stated. "As such, we need to go over the plan."

"We should take away its senses as well." Ramon stated. Hermione brow furrowed.

"A blinding curse and a curse that takes away smell?" Hermione asked. Ramon nodded his head in agreement.

"Does any of us know any curses like that?" Ana asked. Hermione frowned.

"I know of the Conjunctivitis curse which is a type of blinding curse." She told them. Ana nodded.

"Then we practice that and use it against the beast."

With that said they continued to practice their formation before going to attend their classes. Hermione wasn't certainly glad that she didn't have early morning classes on Tuesday.

She walked into her class with Senior Centurion Moore. He told them to sit down in the meditative posture. Hermione was gleeful that they were finally able to meditate. "Close your eyes." He ordered them all. She did so immediately. A sweet calming scent filled the air around her. "Feel your magic thrum beneath your skin. Close your mind to the magic around focus squarely on yours. Follow your magic to where it flows from."

Hermione focused on his soft and smooth voice. The instructions he gave and felt for her magic. She felt the raging of her magic inside her. Something was different about it. Before her magic was more stable but if she were to guess it was now more unstable. Through her inner eye, she looked at the constant flickering colors that changed from one color to the next. Around her changing colors of magic there were two strands of magic weaving through it. One, reminded her of Hesperos and Silvesse's magic the other felt like Indra's.

Indra's magical signature weaving through her own felt brighter and drew Hermione's attention away from her purpose. She followed the light blue spark of magic following the waves of it ignoring the other magic going deeper into the depths of her being. She saw a dark glowing orb that reminded her of a solar eclipse. The orb was circled by the vibrant blue magic of Indra and the whitish grey wisps that had come from Hesperos.

In her mind, she approached the orb feeling a feeling of overarching power and serenity emanating from it. The closer she got the more vibrant it was. And just as she was about to reach it she was pulled from her meditative state. Her eyes blurred as they popped open she felt someone shaking her and saw Senior Centurion Moore's face as he spoke to her.

"Yes?" She asked. Moore looked relieved before glaring resolutely at her.

"You were about to touch it, weren't you? Your soul?" He asked looking at her knowingly.

"Yes, how did you know?"

"Because your magic began to spark out of you. You were meant to follow it see it not touch it. What did you see?" Hermione blinked and looked around to see that others were still in their meditative state.

"A glowing orb of blackness. My familiar's magical signature wrapped around it as well." Senior Centurion Moore blinked once then twice before putting distance between the two of them.

"You will have a proficiency in the Dark Arts. I must urge you to study it. I understand that you are from Magical Britain which has forsaken the teaching of that subject completely as such you will need a foreign tutor. I would recommend a Durmstrang graduate. They have the best Dark Arts course in the European sector."

"Um, thank you. I'll inform my Head of House. He will make arrangements when he can." Senior Centurion Moore gave a jerky nod in acknowledgment.

"You are done for the day Miss Black."

Hermione quickly left feeling uncomfortable to stay there any longer. Why out of all the other students was she taken out. It couldn't be just because she was about to touch her soul or whatever. When she thought about it, Senior Centurion Moore had been cold to her.

HGHG

The first thing Mihai told her to do when she walked into the room was shift into her thunderbird form. She hesitated only slightly before doing as she was ordered. It wasn't an instant thing like the first time. She struggled getting her wings to pop out and her head to changed. But once she got it down, a dark blue thunderbird with purple highlights on her feathers stood where she was.

"It seems you will have no problems with this Animagus form." Mihai stated. "Return to your regular form." He ordered. Hermione did as she was ordered. "I'd advise you in your free time to transform into your thunderbird form to acclimate to the feeling of it. And to learn how to fly and use her abilities. Indra should be able to tell you how to control it."

"Are you angry with me?" Hermione asked suddenly. Mihai stared at her a moment before shaking his head.

"No child I am not. I am annoyed at myself for not preparing properly in case your familiar would pull something like that."

"What was so bad about what Indra did?"

"You could have died. She did not give you a part of her magic as I thought she would. Instead, she gave you pure magical energy that belonged to her. Such, raw energy in a young body such as yours could've and should've had appalling effects. I can only speculate about why such a thing did not occur."

"Then I'm lucky." She acknowledges with a nod. Hermione then looked into Mihai's eyes. She recognizes that the situation that happened a few days ago could've been dire. Indra would have to explain her reasoning for doing such. She reached through her bond with her familiar and sent annoyance at her towards the bird. And was only given a feeling of righteousness in response.

"Come today I will teach spells." This peaked her interest. "The first is a lovely spell that morphs the space around you to disorient others. The incantation is Spațial vertij. The wand movement is an upward slash with a right flick like so." He demonstrated the movement. Too bad she didn't have a wand. So, she drew her sword and delved into arcane and wild magic spells. Noticing though, that the sword she was using worked against her magic.

July 29, 1992

This day was spent going through her regular schedule before her turn in the Coliseum. It was a relatively calm day spent for Hermione. She hung out with the friends she made. She went to her classes, meditated, theorized, sparred and such before tucking in that night. It wasn't until she was about to fall asleep that she remembered she had to do something she had been putting off for a while.

So, she got out a pen and paper and wrote to the Flamels.

I have found myself wanting to impart on you the knowledge that I have your Philosopher Stone. The common word is that it has been destroyed but no such thing has happened. I stole it from Hogwarts during the Voldemort debacle that caused a ruckus. I am not informing you out of some goodness of my heart. I stole your stone to use it and I have. I am willing to return it to you under certain circumstances.

The Thief

With that written she called Indra to have her take it to the Flamels.

July 30, 1992

She woke today not to the anxiousness of what's to come but to the flash of Indra appearing. Her bird pecked her harshly to awaken her. Hermione slapped the ruddy bird back with glower. She felt amusement shine through their bond and unbidden by her a smile pulled on her lips. The Black heir noted the letter in her talons and took it.

Dear Thief,

My wife and I under some deliberation have decided to inform you that we do not need that Philosopher Stone as we have many. We were not foolish enough to put all our eggs in one basket as the Mundane would say. As I have not noticed the gold trade rising my wife and I believe you are not using it for worldly treasures and are curious to how you planned to use it before it runs out.

Although, I do wonder if the rumors of senility of Dumbledore are true as he did not recognize the stone he 'destroyed' to be fake. How curious?

Nicholas Flamel

Hermione read and re-read the letter before pinching the bridge of her nose. She found that it would be dumb for them to have only one Philosopher Stone. Not to mention they probably could make another one if they needed to. Bloody Hell I feel foolish. She thought to herself. She then relooked over the part about Dumbledore. That was a bit suspicious wasn't it. Did he know or did he think someone else stole the stone? She wondered. She sighed with a frown as she dissected the letter.

Although, rather than the shot against Dumbleore the most surprising part was the fact that the stone could lose its power. The Philosopher Stone was said to be the greatest material. It shouldn't run out of power. Was this one faulty? She wondered. She got of bed and opened her trunk. She pulled out the glowing red stone turning into her hand. That's when she noticed that the glow it had when she first pocketed it was dimmer than before.

"Damn." She murmured and put it away. The vials of elixir she had now would have to do. She didn't plan on using it again until it was very much so needed.

Hermione placed it back into the trunk and locked it before pulling out her school trunk. She stripped out of her night clothes and donned her Coliseum clothes. The black shirt fit her snuggly and showcased the what little she muscles gained in her month of being Legionis Ludo. She pulled on a pair of shorts before donning her armor. After she tied her sword to her belt she turned to the sleeping form of Ana.

She was tempted to wake her up but decided to let her rest. Their foray into the Coliseum would not be later into the afternoon. For now she should go get something to eat. She'd need the food. As, Hermione sat in the cafeteria she could feel the same foreboding she felt before going with Harry to fight Voldemort.

As she sat relaxing and watching her surrounding peers she was joined by Drusilla. Hermione sat her cup of coffee down, she'd grown accustomed to drink having had it served every morning, before looking to Drusilla. "Ana is still sleep." Hermione informed.

"Lucky her, I barely got any rest last night." Drusilla responded, her face ticked and her eyes showed her tiredness. Hermione on the other hand looked perfectly fine. "You, look well rested."

"This is not the first instance where my life had been in danger." Hermione freely informed.

"You're serious."

"Deadly." She joked with a small smirk. Drusilla narrowed her eyes before her lip tipped up in a half smile.

"Is that why you can look so calm?"

"Yes, among others." Hermione thought about her occulumency training. Occulumens could block off emotions. That form of occulumency should not be used often lest the user forgets how to access his or her emotions. It did help that Hermione had been in dangerous situations before. But, she had never fought a beast before which made her entrance into the Coliseum foreboding.

The Nemean Lion was a beast and seeing those others fall despite, wanting to test her mettle against the creature, she was not foolish enough to not fear it. She told Drusilla just that. "I am afraid. Do not think I'm not. But I am also a Black and fearing a beast at the level of the lion is no way for me to behave." She said grandly. Drusilla snorted.

"You Brits and your egos." Hermione's eyes twinkled a bit at the assessment.

Still, it seemed that Hermione was able to get Drusilla to relax. Soon, the worried girl began to eat. They were joined by Ramon and then lastly Ana. The four of them went over the strategy once more before the horns roared signaling the Coliseum opening.

They all left the cafeteria fully outfitted and made their way to the Coliseum. They did not go through the spectator's entrance in the front and instead went through the competitor's entrance at the side of the structure. Upon entering, the building Hermione found herself touching the smooth brown stoned walls as they walked further in. The path they were on was well lit from not only the sun's rays but also torches.

The four of them kept walking until they found themselves in a room with twelve people inside it. Hermione took them all in. Many of them were older than they were. Only a few looked about their age of twelve to thirteen. They were all young, though. That was obvious. Hermione wondered if it was normal for magical schools to put their students in such dangerous things. Although, it seemed that the teachers stepped in when it got too much here.

Hermione couldn't say the same for her school as she was reminded that none of the teachers stepped in when Harry was dangling from his broom, from what her friends told her. They even facilitated danger with their little traps. At least this was a controlled danger…somewhat controlled danger. She recognizes that the danger posed in Legionis Ludo is due to the type of academy it is. As a military academy from what she read in their history it has primarily taught war and violence while other types of magic was pushed to the side away from the primary focus and was viewed as secondary.

Over time it has changed obviously but they still kept time honor traditions like sword mastering and the Coliseum. Despite all this, their library was grand even grander than the one at Hogwarts. Hogwarts had always boasted about its library but she was finding the boasts held to be foolish. Their library needed serious updating and lacked many useful magical textbooks should students wish to self-study subjects not taught. The number of dusty old books that were written centuries ago that had no bearing now outnumbered the ones that were written centuries ago and still useful.

"Hermione we're supposed to go out soon." Ramon said. She hummed in answer. She didn't think they'd been here that long.

She shook off her thoughts and paid attention them. Hermione certainly wished she had her wand to use. The sword was okay for simpler stuff but she knew her wand would be useful. She was more use to it than the sword but it would have to do.

A roar of cheers went out and she heard Gaius clear voice beginning the magical creature bouts. Hermione stood along with the rest of her group and walked towards the door that led to the large metal gate. They made to the gate just as Gaius finished championing them. The gate rose slowly rattling as the chains strained in effort. The four of them walked out and immediately fanned out. The lion was already there.

The lion was bigger than she thought it'd be. Up close and personal with it she could see that it stood at least fifteen meters (50 ft.) tall. Its body was thick and muscled claws out and sharper than the sharpest blades at the school. Its eyes were a glowing amber pinning her in place with its stare. Around her she could hear the chants of the other students. Her heartbeat was moving so fast that she feared she'd arrest.

And then it moved. Right towards her. Hermione drew her sword but not before ducking to the left. She quickly infused her sword with her mana and sent a wave of magic at it. Keeping the beast's eyes on her. Ramon to the left of her shouted the curse "odnesis miris." The spell flew from his sword impacting the lion's nose. The lion shook it's mane and padded its nose. It turned to Ramon and roared angrily.

Hermione darted forward her sword in hand. She swung the magic infused blade at its leg cutting it deep. The lion jumped back snarling before pacing around the rink looking at them thinking. Ana moved forward and attacked with flurry of sword swipes the beast dodged agilely for such a large creature. It then went to bite her when it did Drusilla shouted "Conjunctivitis Maledictio."

The spell missed. Not only did it miss but it caused the Nemean Lion to look towards Drusilla. Drusilla who was not the team member most suited for a straight confrontation. It ran towards her despite the spells and stabs that was given to it by Ana and Hermione. Ramon who was closer in that direction ran in front of Drusilla with his sword in a defensive posture. The lion swiped its claws.

Ramon was able to block the slices but the power from the blow sent him flying into the stone wall. Drusilla backed away slowly. Hermione took the chance and re-shouted the curse that Drusilla just used. The spell spluttered its way through the sword towards the beast. It landed on the beast but only affected one eye. The black haired girl dashed in front of the beast and began to attack. She did not pay attention to her fallen comrades and only blows raining down on the Nemean Lion.

She was batted away after a few strikes and Ana attacked its hinds. Hermione slowly got up feeling her body aching from that blow. She stepped forward ignoring the blood trickling down her back. She saw that Ana was being pushed into the corner. Where are Ramon and Drusilla? She looked to see the two of them helping one another up. Cursing under her breath, Hermione darted forward to help Ana.

The young witch drug her sword along the side of its belly not cutting deep enough into its skin. She rolled and pushed Ana out of the way of its second paw as she was still holding off the first. The second paw struck her back cutting into her back shallowly. She stumbled forward as her blood coated the Coliseum floors. But, she still stood tall turning to face the beast once more.

Her friends were ready as well.

The fight continued in a whirlwind of moves. They traded places and traded blows with the lion. Each, hit received in given put chinks in the armor. Chinks that both sides could've moved on but, Hermione, Drusilla, Ramon and Ana were the first to do so. She jumped up on the back of the beast and twirled her sword and struck downwards. It reared up in pain giving an opening to its belly where Ramon, Drusilla and Ana took advantage impaling their swords into its chest.

The Nemean Lion stuttered to halt before collapsing in defeat. There was a silence before the coliseum erupted into cheers. Hermione collapsed on the back of the lion feeling exhaustion under take her bones. She laughed in victory while below her comrades pumped fists and hugged. They were Principes now.

HGHG

"Congratulations. I did not expect for you to enter the Coliseum." Gaius said, as he peered at her while she lied on the infirmary bed. The Homeopath of the day had placed dittany on her wounds and wrapped a bandage around her back. She was told the wound would heal in a day or two just to not upset it. Although, it would scar. Wounds given by magical creatures were the most resistant to healing arts.

"Thanks. I wanted to enter at least once before I departed." Hermione responded easily enough.

"The Nemean Lion will be rendered and parts will be given to you. You will receive two heartstrings, one cornea string, hair of the mane, one claw and four of its teeth." Gaius said. Hermione blinked.

"That's a lot."

"Your associates are receiving similar things." Hermione nodded stiffly.

"Is Grand Uncle Arcturus here?" Hermione asked.

"Your family were in the stands watching." Hermione groaned audibly knowing that the other members must be Grand Aunt Melania and her Grand Aunt Lycoris as well as her cousin Lucretia and maybe even her husband and son.

"I meant in the infirmary." Gaius gave her a look that stated that it was a stupid question to be asked. Of course, they were here.

"I'll send them in."

In seconds, her family strolled in. Lycoris was first grinning at her a bit while Melania was giving her a stern glare. Arcturus looked pleased although, his expression blanked a bit. Lucretia seemed mildly annoyed. Hermione couldn't tell if it was because of Jarius jabbering in her ear or because of the injuries she sustained. She was definitely about to be lectured.

Lectured she was. Until, Arcturus finally took pity on her and shooed them out for a private conversation. Her Head of House stared at her for a moment. "I have set up a meeting for a betrothal." He stated.

"What?" Hermione asked with widened eyes.

"Do not worry, I have taken into account of your taste and have come to the conclusion that Daphne Greengrass and Tracey Davis would make the perfect wives for you."

"What!?" Arcturus ignored that and continued speaking.

"Their parents through a little strong arming and reminding them of the life debt now owed have grudgingly agreed to the betrothal."

"It was you. You were the guy they were writing about." Hermione's eyes flash in realization. She then frowned. "Wait, it's my life debt. Don't I have the choice in this." Arcturus blinked at her in surprise.

"Don't you want them?"

"I'm only twelve I don't know what I want." Hermione retorted. Arcturus patted her shoulders.

"No matter the date has been set and agreements made. It would not look good for me to back down. Not only that, I must remind you that you must do anything possible for the revitalization of the House of Black."

Anything. The words reverberate inside Hermione's head long after he left. It was unnecessary to remind her. She knows her duties. She just didn't think this would be one of them. Hermione bit her lip and clenched her fist. She would go through with it. For the House of Black.

July 31, 1992

"When I first arrived, you said you'd teach me that only I can help myself." Hermione stated as she sat in Gaius's office. The Headmaster of Legionis Ludo stared at her for a moment before smirking.

"It was a grand statement wasn't it. Took me all of five seconds to create." He responded easily.

"What did you call me here for Headmaster?"

"You simply have a few more weeks in our school two to be exact before you must return to Hogwarts. From what I could gather you adjusted rather well although you balked at the physical tasks." This made Hermione flush as she remembered how she almost passed out a few times from the exercises the Borgia siblings made her do.

"Yes, they were daunting tasks. But, you still not have told me why I'm here." He leaned forward creating an arch with his hands and he laid his head on them.

"Let me be blunt with you, the sword waves taught to you buy our Sword Mage will be utterly useless to you. You have the power, potency and capacity for it but your magic does not attune well with swords. I can only assume that it is your wild magic at play. The spells Mihai taught you do not work as well with the sword as well. I'm sure you've noticed."

"I have. Using magic through the sword has been daunting compared to wand magic. I simply presumed that it was because my magic had bonded already with two wands and a third conduit would be too much."

"The type of magic you wield as a wild mage works best from what has been researched and what I have seen with an object that has once been alive or part of something alive. With that said…" he stood from his chair moving it back slightly. He walked over to an elongated desk to her right. And opened the top drawer. The drawer was long…more than long enough to hold the sword he reached in and pulled out a sword.

"This is for you." He finished his sentence holding out a finely forged sword. Hermione stood and took the sword from him gently in her hand.

The sword was unique to the say the least. Unlike any sword Hermione has ever seen. The blade was beautiful was a near white color with a black strip up the middle. Runic symbols that she was unfamiliar with were carved into the blade. The hilt was…it was made out of bone.

"What is this made of?" Hermione asked as her eyes continued to trail over the sword. Her hand stroked the end of the hilt where a metal chain large enough to be wrapped around her neck or wrapped several times around her wrist was a bail like structure in which the chain went through.

"The claws, teeth and bone of the Nemean Lion you killed."

"But…" Gaius interrupted her.

"It will work as a good conduit of your magic much better than the steel swords we have. It was forged by our Master Blacksmith Redstone. It was forged in dwarf fire and although dwarven weapons do not have the same impressive nature of goblin made weapons they are able to hold magic and enchantments unlike goblin made weapons."

"Does this sword even cut?" She asked before she could stop herself. It only took her a second to realize how rude that had sounded. Gaius took it well with a laugh luckily.

"Of course, do you forget the attributes of the teeth and claws of the Nemean Lion."

No, she did not. Her back still ached where the beast sliced into it with its claws. The wound would scar as did most wounds did when met with a curse or a magical beasts attack. "Thank you." She finally said. "For your hospitality, and this sword."

"You're welcome I was simply doing a favor for my friend." He waved the thanks off easily. "I will tell you this though, from my understanding Hogwarts is not a school in which you carrying a sword will be thought of in a kind light. It seems your school your country has taken to hating things they view as mundane. Things they forget have been a part of your culture millennia. From what I've read in History Godric Gryffindor was a fierce sword and battle mage."

"You're right it won't look favorably not to mention no one carries a sword there these days."

"With that I've enchanted the chain around the hilt of your sword to shrink your sword. Wear it as a necklace when necessary. The chain responds to a password. A password you must infuse yourself with your magic."

Hermione looked at the chain and smirked thinking of the perfect password one she wouldn't have a problem being overheard. She hissed parsletongue into the chain infusing the words :Blackest Knight: into the chain.

"I did not know you knew the language of snakes." Gaius remarked idly.

"It's something I recently picked up and something not everyone speaks." She shrugged simply. He stared at her for a moment before smiling.

"I wish you luck in your endeavors. May your path always be illuminated. Enjoy your last few weeks here."

August 1, 1992

Hermione smoothed down her robe. Her dress was rather simple yet elegant. The robes hung on her in a trim manner. A deep black with light blue stitching along the vest of the robe and the trimmings of the sleeves. She wore a pair of pressed slacks underneath the robe that fit her for swift movement. Her unruly curly hair was styled back into a loose yet fitting ponytail. On her left wrist hidden under her sleeve was her vine and acacia wand held in its holster. On her right wrist hidden under her other sleeve was her Gryphon feather wand.

How she missed her wands. When she was able to touch them again she felt a bit irritation coming from the wands. She of course did her best to soothe them. To tell them, it wasn't her fault they were separated for so long. Her wands simply huffed in annoyance before buzzing away from her mind. Now, they were fine with her once more.

"Are you ready?" Arcturus asked. Hermione looked at him and frowned.

"Is this truly necessary?" She asked.

"Yes, and do not worry I have been assured that Miss Davis's shields are more than up to par. Same as Miss Greengrass."

"That's not what I'm worried about."

"They won't betray you, they're bonded to you." Arcturus reminded her. Like she needed to be reminded of the hold she had over her friends' due to the life debt.

Hermione knew she could in making a life debt with them have them do anything they wished. Arcturus as her Head of House was calling in the debt to give her in his words…complacent wives. She snorted at this knowing that even though they were young Tracey and Daphne were anything but complacent. And once, the betrothal agreement was in full force the life debt should not be so overpowering on them that they would not be able to freely speak and do as they wished. Sadly, Hermione also knew that they would be signing their lives away to her. It was a sobering thought to her.

"Let's go." She finally said after a few moments. And then they left.

The arrived at Gringotts minutes later in a private boardroom in the back. The room consisted of a rather large rectangular table with six chairs on each side of the long part of the table. The short sides of the table held one chair each. Standing adjacent to the table was the goblin in charge of their accounts Beograd. Hermione had met him when she first went to leave with Arcturus about two years ago. He helped her understand her accounts of course for a price.

"Good day Noble Guard." Hermione greeted the goblin inclining her head in a slight nod.

"Good day young heir. Good day Lord Black." Beograd greeted easily. Arcturus nodded his head before taking a seat.

"Our first meeting should be with Lord Davis, Scion Tracey and his account manager." Arcturus informed Hermione. She swallowed and closed her eyes preparing herself. "Are you ready?"

"Yes," she said crossing her legs.

Beograd called them in the room. In walked Lord Davis who paused when he saw her, followed by Tracey and bringing up the rear was their account manager. Arcturus stood in greeting and Hermione did the same although she bowed a bit to Lord Davis while Tracey curtsied lowly to her grand uncle. The three of them took a seat on the opposite side of the table.

Hermione stared ahead which was right at Tracey. Tracey who just stared at her, her face a perfect mask. It was disconcerting. Hermione was used to seeing Tracey smiling, laughing just emotive. Now, the young heir Black couldn't get anything off her expression. If it wasn't for her training she would've shifted improperly into her seat.

"Is your daughter aware of why she is here Lord Davis?" Arcturus asked the question starting the conversation. Tracey's eyes narrowed before returning to the passive gaze. Hermione softened her expression slightly trying to convey that she didn't want to be here either.

"She is aware Lord Black." Lord Davis told him.

"Let us begin the proceedings." Arcturus clasped his hands together. Beograd slid the contract over to Lord Davis who gingerly picked it up. "Account Manager Beograd and Account Manager Sharpshark will look over the betrothal contracts written to assuage the Life Debt between the Most Noble and Ancient House of Black heir Hermione Potter-Black and Lesser Noble House of Davis scion Trace Davis that was established October 31, 1991."

When Arcturus said that two things happened. Tracey said "No," and looked at Hermione her eyes failing to hide the betrayal and hurt. The second thing that happened was that Tracey almost bolted out of the room. If not for the steady hand that her father had on her shoulder Hermione was sure she would have. Then the anger came and Hermione sunk a bit in her seat unable to stop the welling grief.

She took a look at Lord Davis to see his sharp eyes staring at Arcturus with undisguised loathing. Yet, he took the contract that was written up and read it through. Hermione was curious about what it said and tried to peer to read it.

"NO!" Lord Davis stood slamming his palms down as his chest huffed. All grace and decorum forgotten. Arcturus simply looked at the man with an expression akin to amusement.

"Is there a problem?" Arcturus asked.

"My daughter a concubine…married out of school…children immediately." Were only a few of the words that Hermione understood from Lord Davis when he began ranting. Tracey looked at her copy of the contract and paled considerably. Hermione borrowed one from Beograd and looked it over.

Hermione Lyra Serenity Potter-Black hereinafter referred to as Prospective Wife (Husband), and Tracey Esmeralda Davis hereinafter referred to as Prospective Wife, hereby agree on the 1st day of August in the year 1992, as follows:

Lord Arcturus Black and Lord Davis on this day agree to the betrothal of Hermione Potter-Black and Tracey Davis. This contract establishes the respective rights and responsibilities regarding Prospective Wife (Husband) and Prospective Wife's marriage in the near future. Prospective wife (Husband) and Prospective Wife, are to be married upon the graduation and passing of NEWT(s) from their respective schools. After which the two will be espoused into a concubinal marriage where Prospective Wife is the Concubine subject to the Consort (main wife) and is beholden to the Prospective Wife (Husband).

Prospective Wife (Husband) must partake in this behavior towards Prospective Wife: To protect and care for her in a rightful manner, to provide needed assets to wife. Prospective Wife must follow these rules: To upon marriage immediately work towards children (within a year be pregnant), to sacrifice goals to fit spouse, to within five years have at least three children two of which should at least be one male and one female, to waive the right to any financial increase in value during concubinal marriage.

Additional Provisions: Prospective Wife must agree that children will be raised in the way that all Blacks have been raised before. Children are to begin elementary education of magic by at least age eight. The year of life their magic stabilization begins.

Both Prospective Wife (Husband) and Prospective Wife are represented by separate and independent legal counsel of their own choosing. Both Prospective Wife (Husband) and Prospective Wife have the ability to have separate income and assets to independently provide for their own respective financial needs. This agreement constitutes the entire agreement of the parties and may be modified only in a writing executed by both Prospective Wife (Husband) and Prospective Wife. Heads of House. In the event it is determined that a provision of this agreement is invalid because it is contractually impossible the invalid portions will be stricken and rewritten so that the agreement remains valid and enforceable.

This agreement is made in accordance with the laws of the Ministry of Magic to enforce and solve Life Debt between House of Black and House of Davis and any dispute regarding its enforcement will be resolved by reference to the laws of the state. Upon the signing of this agreement the life debt will become solved. This agreement will take effect immediately upon the solemnization of the parties' marriage.

There were truly only a few parts of the contract that Hermione had a distinct issue with. One, was that Tracey would be viewed as a simple concubine to her peers and the second were the details regarding children. Of course, Hermione wanted children for the future of the Black Family but not so soon after marriage. She planned to go abroad travel, study get a few masteries before taking over her seat on the Wizengamot.

"Grand Uncle, I agree with Lord Davis…partially." Hermione added as she heard the man shout and say that the how the two of them (Tracey and Hermione) were going to have children didn't matter it was the fact that it was so soon. He also had a problem with her being a simple concubine. It was something humiliating but necessary. She turned to her Head of House to see Arcturus looking displeased.

"I don't want to have children so soon. At least amend it for three years after joining must the first child be had." Hermione pleaded intently not looking towards Tracey. She leaned in so only he could hear, "You should add a bride price so they not take offense to the concubinage."

Arcturus stared at her for a moment and Hermione kept her face as blank as possible. She knew, that he viewed what she just said a sign of weakness. But, she already felt like she was betraying her friends. She had kept her true status a secret for good reason she didn't feel bad about that. But, she allowed Arcturus to deal with the issue of the Life Debts something as the person the life debts were owed to should've been decided by her.

The black-haired girl most likely would not have even cared about using something like a betrothal to fix a life debt if it wasn't for the fact that they were two people she cared about. This past summer she was in fact angry at the attention her friends were getting from an unknown family now knowing that the family was hers didn't make it better. She would've loved to fall in love but she knew with the fate of her family at risk she could not make time for a dalliance. Her family superseded any wants of her own completely.

And with her eyes she tried to show Arcturus that she acknowledged that. And with a simple nod of acceptance Arcturus acquiesced. The meeting continued as they ironed out and added in the clauses like the bride price, the children issues and even schooling. Lord Davis could only growl and bark as the contract stayed pretty much the same in the other areas. They were after all beholden to the House of Black.

The meeting ended and Lord Davis and his scion left but not without parting words from Tracey that echoed in her mind. "I thought you were different. I thought you were my friend." It was the last part that struck Hermione because of course Tracey thought she was different. She thought she was a muggleborn but the idea that their friendship had most likely now taken on an irreparable rift struck her. And she could say nothing in her defense.

Hermione was unable to dwell on that thought long though, as Daphne and her father appeared no later than twenty minutes after Tracey's departure. They walked in Daphne wearing her elegant blue robes that accentuated her eyes. Her face was that cold block of ice that she had first came across only this time it seemed a lot more…perfected.

The meeting went in the same way with similar betrothal arrangements in the contract. Of course, unlike with Tracey, Daphne's betrothal had a bride price of forty-thousand galleons already attached and instead of concubine she was written in as the consort. Daphne upon recognition of who Hermione was simply stared at her not a crack at all in her façade. It was disconcerting for Hermione. She expected her to get angry and lose a bit of control like Tracey but she didn't. Like she was expecting it.

Then the meeting ended. There were no parting words on Daphne's part. There was no Hermione speaking up to her simply the silence of the room and the thunk of the door as it shut. It was time for her to return to Legionis.

End Note: Hopefully this wasn't rushed or anything. The next few chapters I'm sort of giving you glimpses of the summers of Hermione's friends. Also I didn't rewrite the contract for Daphne because both of them were similar with only a few differences.

Spells:

odnesis miris: spell that blocks target from being able to smell

Spațial vertij: magic alters space around the spell recipient and throws them off balance.

Conjunctivitis Maledictio: Conjunctivas Curse that causes victim's eyes to swell shut