A/N: I am so sorry I haven't been updating lately my lovely fans, but reality calls. I've been busy trying to get things in order and I haven't had time to post my work. So, now that I have a quick peaceful period, I will be giving you guys 3 more chapters to help things along.
When she woke up once again, she was sitting on the daybed in the study, and neither of the men was any wiser. So she decided to eavesdrop.
"You mean to tell me that she had shown up, after 17 years, and you have no curiosity of who she was as before?"
"I had curiosity, but none of it was warranted. I looked into her mind. I can find nothing. It's as there is a barrier, none that Occumolency could procure. Someone has prevented her from seeing her past, and nobody can get through it."
"Very well. And Lucius-"
"Has knowledge of her, and your engagement with her. He would not dare to say anything against me."
"And yet, that still poses a danger for me, and for her."
"She shall be fine. Lucius harming his only daughter?"
"I trust you know what you are doing."
"Good. Do not question my reasoning again, Severus."
"Yes, Milord."
She chose that time to "wake up". Groaning she sat up and the two men took their seats.
"My Dear, meet Severus Snape. He is your-"
"-betrothed. I think it's a bit obvious." The numbing in her derriere was painful, and she stood up, eyeing him with malice. Granted, Voldemort was ugly- Tom was scary with a dirty look, but Hermione knew that she shocked them both by giving a Voldemort-like stare. The paled, and Hermione stopped.
"Well, Severus, I wish to formally introduce the female heir of the Malfoys" (he added a slight, near undectable sneer at the last name) "Anastasia Fae Malfoy. She has a pet name, but she doesn't allow many to call her that."
"Miss Malfoy, it is a pleasure." he extended his hand
"As it is to you, Mister Snape." she took the offered hand, shook it and sat done beside him. She could immediately feel the magic working. Shit! A binding engagement? Which means that if the war ends- uh oh... I'll be stuck with him... She was snapped out of her thinking by her father's voice.
"Now, you will marry before the holiday terms are out, and Anastasia will keep her former name, no hyphen. When the war is over and I finally take over Britain, She will take your name, and over course you children." he said gleefully.
"Children?!" they both asked, shocked. Tom nodded. (Mind you, he looks like Tom riddle. When he looks like the snake, there will be added 's's and it will be Voldemort)
By the time that Hermione, introduced to everyone as Anastasia, was on the way to Hogwarts via the Hogwarts Express, She was married, and no longer a virgin, but nobody knew of the marriage between her and Snape, not even Dumbledore. Nobody knew of her assignment either. She didn't know if she could do it, because she could finally get the attention she wanted from Ron, but to kill the one who was her best friend and her object of her desires? She didn't know. Maybe she could come up with a poison that would be inflicted to him each time she kissed him... Either way, she knew that she couldn't change anything- this was her life. Perhaps when Tom was dead she could go back to her life, but if Ron died at her hands, she would be outcast- or worse.
"Anya!" a voice called, coming into the compartment.
"Ronald!" she said cheerfully. He smiled and Harry came in. She gasped. He looked horrible. There were dark bags under his eyes, and he seemed extremely thin. Immediately she became her old self, becoming Hermione. "Harry, what happened to you? You look like death warmed over!" she reached for him and he growled at her. Ron looked between the two people interacting and began to tear up. Anya knew Hermione, and she acted just like her. He watched as Hermione pulled out some potions and chocolate and began to fix him up.
Harry willingly took the four pepper-up potions and the full bar of chocolate. He also took two more potions. One, which tasted of boiled cabbage and haggis, immediately began to re-nourish his body. Only when Hermione was certain that it was working, did she give him the second potion, which was only a couple drops, and he was fast asleep.
"What were all of those?"
"Pepper-up potion, chocolate, dreamless sleep lasting five hours, and a potion I recently patented." It was true. After being married to Snape, she was given an apprenticeship with him and within two weeks; she had created a potion and patented it, using it only as sparingly as needed.
"What does it do?"
"It replenishes the blood, but it doesn't do it like the blood-replenishing potion. It actually is blood, shrunk even smaller than normal, allowing more to be taken in. it rebuilds damaged and missing tissue, muscles, even bones, and it even with repair him with his vision- he will no longer need glasses. It also gives him an immunity boost so he won't get sick for some time."
"That is bloody brilliant." he said. She shifted in her seat. Still uncomfortable with Ron alone, even if she had been Hermione, she didn't know what to begin to talk about. Draco basically gave her a rundown of attracting a boy. Quidditch was definitely a large topic, not so much the teams, but how to play, seeing as Draco urged Hermione to try out for the house team in which she would be sorted. That at least was a good effort to be put forth. She stared at Ron, remembering his face, the little details. Like how his hair shone like a brand-new copper in the sun, and how he had 42 freckles along his face, however faint, and how he carried himself next to Harry, always shadowed. She could make this the best year of his life. She just hoped she could.
"So, Anastasia, what are your favorite subjects?"
"My favorite is Potions. I've always been fascinated by potions, and it is good if you know how to cook. It is the exact same science of cooking that potion is."
"Can't stand it. The teacher is very moody anyway. Snape, I think, has it out for Harry. Works for You-know-who."
"Ah, well then I trust to not get on his bad side." Hermione said very quaint like.
As Harry slept, Hermione got to re-know Ron through another set of eyes. It seemed that Ron had hid quite a bit, and he just opened up with her.
They changed into the school robes and Hermione woke Harry up so he could change too. Harry was rather silent, and she knew that Harry wouldn't talk about anything in front of her unless she was given the "okay" by Dumbledore.
When the train stopped, it seemed she was lost. She was in 7th year now, yes, but did she take the boats or did she take the carriages?
"You look 'ter be lost, youn' lady." A gruff and large voice said behind her. She turned and saw Hagrid standing there. "Told we were gettin' a transfer student. You'll be coming with us on the boats, you get sorted too."
"Thank you," Hermione said weakly. Her hair had stayed the shocking pale blonde, and her response to Ron was "oh I just charmed it brown. Didn't want to be flabbergasted first day in London, Did I?"
Anya followed Hagrid to the boats and climbed in herself, taking two young children with her. As the boats began to enter the boathouse, she began to get nervous, just like when she was 11 and coming here for the first time. It seemed surreal that she was doing this. It seemed almost impossible that her new life was her own. It seemed very surreal, almost dream like. She couldn't remember the first ten years of her life with the grangers, and it was replaced with false memories of her childhood in hiding with another purebred family. She knew they were false because she could still remember the first five years of Hogwarts with Ron and Harry.
"First years, you'll travel up the stairs and straight into the Entrance Hall. From there you'll meet Professor McGonagall and she'll lead you from there. Off ya go, now."
Hermione traveled towards the back of the short parade of 11 year olds. She once again began to wonder and worry about her house.
The first years stopped when they reached the entrance hall, where an elder professor stood in a green teaching gown with a scroll in her hand.
"Welcome to Hogwarts." She began, and Hermione zoned out slightly as she began the customary introductory speech. When Professor McGonagall stopped talking and motioned Hermione to come forward, Hermione shook herself out of looking around the hall and walked up to her.
"You are to wait here. We will not be sorting you with the others. Instead, I shall send a house elf to deliver you to Headmaster Dumbledore's office. You will eat and be sorted there. From there, he will give you instructions on what next to do."
Hermione nodded in understanding and as the First years were led in, McGonagall snapped her fingers and an elf appeared out of nowhere. The elf began walking with Hermione, directing her to the headmaster's office. Portraits began to talk, wondering about the student who wasn't in the great hall.
By the time the elf and Hermione made it to Dumbledore's office, the pictures had stopped whispering.
"You stays here miss." The elf squeaked. "Headmasters will be here for you soon!" and he disapparated. Hermione stood there, twiddling her thumbs. She could hear the students leaving and trumping through the halls, and so she stood and began to pace, before a voice reached her ears.
"Miss Malfoy, I take it?" a deep voice began. She whipped around and came face-to-face with Severus Snape. She looked down, avoiding eye contact, and nodded. He tilted his head to the side.
"I have been told that you have a mission from the dark lord. I assure you I can help if you wish; he did give you permission to tell me."
"I'll be fine, thank you. Besides, right now I don't know if you could handle it. And seeing as I am to be meeting the headmaster to be dealt with educationally, it would be best if you did not accompany me. Or rather, at least not tell Dumbledore that we were forced into this."
"Very well. I can do that, it seems."
"Severus! Miss Malfoy! Please, both of you come up." An enthusiastic Dumbledore said happily. Turning to the Gargoyle, he spoke, "Acid Pops" and the gargoyle sprang to life, and the three climbed on.
Albus opened his office door, urging them in.
"Albus, I must speak with you when you are available."
"It will have to wait Severus. I have a Miss Malfoy to sort."
"Yes, that's fascinating, but the news included her."
"How does it include her?"
"After having been brought back, Lucius deemed that we should marry, and we had little option, especially with the Dark Lord seeming so eager about this… match."
"Ah ha… that does complicate things. Miss Malfoy, how old are you?"
"I am 17 as of this past June. It had been rough, getting used to my new life at Malfoy manor with hooded figures walking around- Not exactly a warm welcome, and especially since my father had this arrangement done before I had come home and before he was caught attempting stupidity in the Dept. of Mysteries."
"I see. Well dear, let us get you sorted, and perhaps we should put you on an independent study course, still able to deal with housemates, I'm sure."
"I agree on this Independent study you speak of. Let us continue with this strange Sorting hat." She said, showing no turmoil that racked her nerves.
Dumbledore procured the stool and Sorting Hat from his personal quarters and beckoned her forward. As she as she sat with it on, it began to speak to her.
"Ah… another Malfoy, but you don't want to be in Slytherin… That is plain and obvious. Strange to sort one so old. I'm not used to a mind this complex… Well if not Gryffindor, then perhaps… No, not Hufflepuff, so down to the wire- Ravenclaw, or Slytherin?"
"Whatever seems more… challenging?" She thought back.
