A/N: Everyone be proud of me, I actually got the chapter done and it hasn't been a month yet! Has it? Whatever, I forget. Anyways I was able to get this out a lot sooner than I was thinking. It's shorter than it's suppose to be because there was another scene at the end I was planning, but that would have pushed it to probably double the size. It will be the next chapter so don't worry about it. This has not been beta'd yet (what else is new) so all errors are my own. I hope you all enjoy. Also I'm working on about 4 different plunnies right now so updates may be even more eradic than normal but I will try to keep up as much as I can.
Peace, Love and Slyther 2017,
Gimi aka Jess
Hermione landed in the flat she had shared with Ron. Ron was out of town, still on assignment for the Auror department. Hermione sighed as she looked around at the life that she had led with Ron, sad that as much as she wanted it, it was no longer hers. No, Hermione scolded herself, I will not wallow. I am not going to continue to do this to myself. Taking a deep breath, she swallowed the tears wanting to surface. Hermione caught her reflection in the mirror they had hanging on the wall. She looked into those unfamiliar grey/blue irises and found that, while the color was not something she was use to yet, she found something about them that was. The glamour had kept her original bone structure, only changing the pigment of her eyes, hair, and her undertone.
Twisting her head to the side and up, she noticed that her skin was slightly more pink than before. Hermione had always been on the warmer side, she had always had a slight natural golden glow to her before. Looking at herself now, she could see the pink to her cheeks, a small flush. Taking another breath, she continued to stare at herself, taking in the changes that happened two weeks before. To be perfectly honest, Hermione had been avoiding her reflection up until now. She guessed she had been in denial and her friends were more than willing to let her live there for a little while. After seeing the affect that Bellatrix's attack had actually had on her, she decided it was time to face facts. Bellatrix LeStrange, Death Eater was in fact her mother.
She could feel herself begin to breath faster as that thought ran through her mind. She closed her eyes and began to count her breaths, holding each puff of air in her lungs for a short time, being conscious of each of them as they left her body, trying to stave off the attack. This was something that had helped after the war, to keep herself from falling trapped under the pressure that came with PTSD.
Reminding herself that she was safe and taking one last breath, she opened her eyes and looked at herself again. While the hair was not what she was used to, it was not all bad. The curls were not as unruly as they once had been. It was still big, but Hermione just had thick hair, she could do nothing about the size of it. The eyes were a lovely color, she had always liked Draco's eyes, but they were a bit too cold at times. Hermione laughed at that thought because the Draco she grew up with was glacial compared to the one she knew now, but that was over and in the past, now he was just Draco and her cousin.
"You have to work through this," She said to her reflection, "I know this isn't what we planned for our life, but there is little choice in the matter. Unless death sounds like a good option, you will have to calm down, stick close to your friends who are your family and take this day by day."
"You know," A disembodied voice came from the fireplace behind Hermione, "They say that talking to yourself is the first sign of a mental breakdown."
Hermione jumped and shot a hex at the burning brick. A face flickered out of focus for a moment before the green flames jumped again and George Weasley appeared in the hearth, "Blimey Hermione, you are testy!" He said with a small chuckle, "You almost took off my ear, you should be careful, I've only got the one!"
"George Fabian Weasley!" Hermione shouted as she tried to control her heartbeat, "I ought to skin you alive for that! It's been a hectic few weeks and you nearly scared me to bloody death!"
"I called out," George argued, "It's not my fault that you were busy being a muggle pyscho-whatzit. You didn't hear the chime."
Hermione huffed, knowing he was right. The floo would have chimed to alert her that someone was there, "What are you doing here?" She asked, changing the subject.
"Mum asked me to stop by and remind you, with great vigor if need be, that you're still family, no matter what and you are to come to family dinner tonight."
Hermione groaned, falling into the chair behind her, "I had forgotten what day it is. George I can't-"
"Hermione, you are family and you know how mum is about family."
Hermione nodded, "I know, but so much has happened today, I have to pack-"
George looked confused, "Why?"
Hermione began to tell George the story of her day. She had been surprised to see how upset he had gotten when she told him the state they had found Bellatrix in, even going as far as throwing a vase of flowers at the wall. Then he went ghostly white when he heard that she was going to be moving into LeStrange estate with someone she hardly knew.
"No, Hermione. You are coming to dinner tonight, you have to talk to my parents." He said firmly, "You can't just up and move into a strange home with a complete stranger and expect everyone to be okay with that. Bring him along if you have to, but you are coming tonight."
Before she could answer George, Harry's patronus found its way in front of them to let her know that he had brought Rodolphus to the ministry and they were waiting for her. Hermione stood and gave George a hug agreeing to go to dinner that night. Walking over to the fireplace, she gave him one last smile as she was sucked away.
OoOoOoO
Hermione landed in a fireplace at the ministry and went up to Kingsley's office. Hermione was surprised to see that not only was Harry there with Rodolphus but Ingrid was also there with Thorfinn. She gave the witch a small smile, rolled her eyes at the smirking viking of a wizard, and nodded at her father.
Giving Harry a hug, she mentioned the dinner with the Weasleys and Harry nodded, letting Hermione know that Daphne and he would be there as well. Hermione felt a small weight lift off her shoulders, "What about Rodolphus Harry," Hermione asked in a whisper, "George insisted I go, but I can't just leave him home alone. I certainly don't want to make Molly and Arthur more uncomfortable than they must already be."
"Come to dinner at my house," Harry said after a moment. "I will let Molly know to come to Grimmauld Place and we can have family dinner on neutral territory. You're right, you can't leave Rodolphus at home and it's not like you can call a nanny to watch him while you go out." Hermione chuckled at the image and Harry gave a small snigger at that as well. "Everyone will come to our house, I'm sure Molly won't mind."
Hermione gave him another hug, silently thanking Merlin for her best friend. Harry went off to let Daphne and Molly know of the change as well as invite a few others. Hermione walked over to Kingsley and began to sign the paperwork giving her custody over her parents, Ingrid doing the same thing.
Hermione was just about done signing all the paperwork when she heard a bit of a commotion outside of Kingsley's office. The door swung open and the voice of Kingsley's assistant rang out, "Mister Malfoy, you can't go in there."
Draco walked through the door, seeing Hermione he smirked at the look of disapproval she sent his way. "Granger!" He said as he closed the door in the face of the assistant, "Mother is upset with you. Home and haven't sent her an owl that you've returned from your trip. Where are your manners?"
Kingsley looked up, "Mister Malfoy what are you doing here?"
Hermione rolled her eyes, "Draco, how did you know I was here?"
"Potter sent his ridiculous patronus to the Manor inviting me to his house to dinner. Why must that thing be so big and gaudy? He mentioned you were here and mother has sent me to invite you to lunch tomorrow to discuss your wedding plans."
With a completely straight face, Hermione said, "What wedding? Kingsley just married us right now. Rodolphus here cried, it was a great celebration. Please give Narcissa my apologies that she has missed her chance to plan the grand event."
Draco paled slightly and then smiled, "Please let me be in the room when you try and pull that one over on my mother. I would like to see just how fast you are with your wand against Narcissa Malfoy."
Hermione chuckled knowing she was no match for the woman. Narcissa may not have fought in the war, but Hermione was sure she had to have some spells up her sleeves to keep her family in line. "Why? I don't need a wedding."
"Because you're a Black." Draco said with a smirk, "You're the last Black to get married, not to mention the only girl mother will ever be able to dote on."
"She's not a Black, she's a LeStrange," Rodolphus finally spoke up, "And Ly- Hermione will have what she wants, not what Cissa deems acceptable."
Hermione felt her mouth drop open in surprise. She had not expected Rodolphus to stand up for her, though why she hadn't thought of it as he had broken Thorfinn's nose earlier that day was part of the mystery of the day.
Draco chuckled, "Again, can I be there when you tell that to my mother? I'll be sure to hide behind something as she hexes all of you for denying her the privilege of a pompous pureblood wedding."
Hermione broke out of her daze and laughed, looking at Draco again she said, "She still gets to plan yours Draco."
"Ah," Draco said with a satisfied grin, "But with you, she gets to do all that witchy stuff like parade you in fluffy robes, whereas when I get married, she won't get to do that fun girly stuff."
"But I think you will look cute in a wedding dress, cousin," Hermione teased feeling a bit lighter since that morning. In the corner of her eye she could see Thorfinn's stony face go even more grim. Hermione smiled a little more, "We can go looking for something pretty, I'm sure you'll look smashing Draco."
"Ha ha, Granger," Draco said lamely as she laughed at him. "Laugh it up now, I can't wait to see what monstrosity mother gets you in. And please, if you plan on telling her you wish to elope. I hope you have a strong enough shield charm, I don't think she is above hexing her niece. She hexes father daily."
"I'm sure he deserves it," Hermione grinned at that thought. "Draco are you coming to dinner tonight?"
"A Weasley dinner?" Draco asked a bit uncomfortable. While he was friends with Ginny and Hermione and by extension most of the Weasley family. Family dinners with the Weasleys were a rather boisterous affair. Even now with his group of friends doubled, the redheaded family was a bit much at times.
"Daph, Ginny and Blaise will be there. Rodolphus as well."
Draco thought about this for a moment when he looked over to the side and saw Thorfinn standing there, still with a scowl on his face. Draco smirked and then noticed Ingrid as she finished the last of the paperwork. The wheels turning in that blond head of his, Draco smiled at Hermione, she noticed that same evil glint in his eye that she associated with Hogwarts Draco.
"Ingrid, I didn't see you there," Draco said smoothly walking past Hermione and Rodolphus. Ingrid, who had been engrossed in reading the papers she was initialing about her brother's parole.
Bringing her blue eyes up to Draco she gave him a small smile. "Hello Draco, good to see you again."
"As it is to see you," Draco said with a bow and a kiss on her hand. Hermione bit back a laugh as she watched Draco's pureblood, aristocratic lineage shine through. "Will you be joining us tomorrow for lunch? It would be nice to see Adrian again."
Ingrid nodded in agreement, "Yes. I have already sent your mother my R.S.V.P. this morning. I believe Adrian will be joining me as well and of course Thorfinn will be accompanying me as well."
Finally looking over at Thorfinn, Draco gave him a nod. "Rowle."
Thorfinn gave Draco mocking smile, "Malfoy. Looks like we'll be family soon."
"Unfortunately, not the way I would have preferred." Draco smirked, giving Ingrid a flirtatious smile.
Hermione sniggered, remembering how once in awhile she would see Draco flirting with Ingrid Rowle in the library while at school. She had caught Rodolphus' eye and he gave her an apprehensive smile and rolled his eyes. Hermione, caught off guard at such a mundane expression from her father, laughed a bit louder that warmed his heart to hear. He knew she was not at all comfortable with him, how could she be, they had been on opposite sides of the war. Though, her tiny laugh and smile gave him a tiny glimpse of hope for one day, getting his daughter back.
Pop! Hermione startled a bit as Cheeks apparated into the room. Thorfinn grinned at his betrothed, she really did make some fun noises.
"Missy Lyra," Cheeks said to her mistress as she hugged Hermione around the legs, "Missy Lyra, Missy Bella is resting now. Doctor Pans says Missy Bella is to sleep for many hours and I's to go to you and tell you she's okay. Doctor Pans says she stays with Missy Bella, she's not come to dinner and she's speaks to you later." Hermione bent down and thanked her elf, Cheeks, then threw herself into her mistress' arms and gave her a hug and sobbed. While she had not been Bella's elf or what had happened, she had known that it was bad.
Putting a hand to Hermione's face, "Missy Lyra, Miss Bella will be okay now. She's safe, you makes your mother safe. I's so proud of of my Missy." Cheeks said with praise in her squeaky voice.
Hermione, not sure what to say, smiled at the elf and gave her a nod. She couldn't tell her that she didn't save Bellatrix because she cared for the witch. Mother or not, she wasn't sure she would ever like her, let alone love. Yes, Draco had verbally tortured her during school, but they were children and those were just words. Yes; he had sent a curse her way, but to be fair; that curse had been for Harry and was easily fixable. Bella truly tortured her, it had takens weeks to recover physically and even longer mentally. Even years later she was still suffering from nightmares of that time in her life.
Hermione smiled at the elf, "Cheeks, will you please go to my home and begin packing the closet for me? I will be moving into LeStrange Estates today with my uh… with Rodolphus and will need some clothing to tide me over until I can pack the rest of my things." Cheeks nodded and popped out of the office and to Hermione's flat.
Looking up at Rodolphus, she also thought he might need some things of his own. "Uh, will you be needing to uh…" He looked at her confused, she sighed, "Will you be needing new robes? I am unsure if you still have belongings that have not been confiscated from your imprisonment."
Rodolphus smiled at his daughter, "I believe I still have clothing at the Manor, if not I can owl someone to come to the home and tailor some for me. I do need to go to Gringotts and have you added to the LeStrange vaults."
Draco laughed and Hermione shot him a look of loathing. Rodolphus looked at his daughter confused at the laughter.
Hermione sighed looking up at the ceiling, "I'm not allowed near the LeStrange vaults."
"I don't understand," Rodolphus said perplexed, "I thought you were a curse breaker for Gringotts?"
Draco laughed even harder and Hermione sent a stinging hex at him. "I am, but they don't like me down at that level."
"Why"
"Because she stole their dragon." Draco said with another guffaw. "She, Weasel and Potty broke into your vault during the war and escaped on the back of the Ukrainian Ironbelly. They tore the entire bank apart getting out."
Hermione groaned, not really finding the story of how she stole from her employers as funny as Draco and her other friends did. The goblins may employ her now, but they had long memories; while they conceded that it had to be done, they would not soon forget how much it had cost them to repair the tunnels, surrounding vaults and Gringotts itself after their little escapade. If Hermione was not as good as she was at her job, they would never have allowed her back in through their doors.
"You broke into the vault?" Rodolphus wracked his brain for the memory of this. That time was full of chaos, while he had known it had been broken into; Rodolphus had forgotten it was his daughter and her friends that had done it. This was done the day before the final battle, he was a bit preoccupied at the time trying not to die. "Were you injured?" He asked knowing full well that the vaults were hexed to those who wished to steal from the family.
"Um yes," Hermione said a bit guilty, now that she knew that it was her parents she stole from. Even with a perfectly good reason, stealing didn't sit well with her. "The Flagrante curse was activated several times, we all had burns all over our bodies. Luckily Kingsley was able to have one of the unspeakables work up a salve that would take away the bulk of our scars." She looked down at her arm, the angry red mark hidden under her sleeve, "Well most of them."
"But you are Lyra," Rodolphus said, not understanding, "Even with the glamour, your blood is still family, it should not have harmed you."
"I don't remember being the one to activate the curse, but the copies still burned me." Hermione said, not comfortable at all with this conversation.
"Wait," Thorfinn finally spoke up with a grin, "You and your idiot sidekicks actually robbed Gringotts?" He barked out a laugh at that last bit, "And you escaped on the back of a dragon?"
"Can we stop talking about this," Hermione said a bit cross now that Thorfinn and Draco had both began to laugh again. "Draco, are you coming to dinner?"
Draco nodded as he tried to catch his breath, "Yes, I'll be there, Daphne will not forgive me if I don't show up and leave her with all those Weasleys and just Blaise for company."
Hermione smiled, "Daphne has been married to Harry for over a year and they had been dating since school. She's use to the Weasleys."
Draco shook his head, "No, she is use to Weaselbee and Ginny. Maybe the twins, but the entire family gets together and it's like an explosion goes off in your head."
Hermione sniggered and said to her friend and cousin, "You are just upset because you fell for George's exploding beanie and your head caught fire, ruining your perfect hair for a month."
Draco scowled, "I couldn't get the smell out Granger. My head smelled for weeks," she laughed at him again and he sighed, "Anyways, I will see you at dinner tonight and let mother know that you will be at the manor tomorrow morning at ten for brunch."
Hermione stopped laughing, "I never said I would go." she said to Draco as he had turned to kiss Ingrid's hand again and walked over and gave her a hug.
"You have to come. The Manor is already connected to the LeStrange Floo, it's permanent. I wouldn't put it past her to come and levitate you."
Hermione grumbled, "Fine, Rodolphus and I will be there, but I will not be pleasant."
Draco laughed, "So I'll tell her you will be back to normal then?" Hermione swatted at her friend, still marvelling at how well he let down his barriers with her. It had taken him years to get this comfortable with her, but even then it usually took a lot more alcohol.
It must be a familial thing, Hermione thought. They had bonded as cousins, almost siblings as children, maybe that was it.
Draco gave his uncle and Thorfinn both nods, he walked out the door of the office, side stepping Harry as he walked back into the office.
Confused, but not at all concerned at seeing Draco, he walked in with Dean Thomas. Dean was also an auror and the one who would be escorting Thorfinn and Ingrid back to Rowling Hills Hermione supposed.
"All ready?" Harry asked. Dean gave Hermione a stilted hug in greeting. He hadn't seen Hermione since her change, while it was only her eyes and hair, the change from brown to grey was startling. Not to mention, she looked uncannily like her mother.
Hermione gave him a tight smile and then looked over at Rodolphus and Harry, "Yes," she said with fear beginning to settle in her stomach. She had known for hours that this was coming, but the fact that it was happening now, that she was expected to live in the same house as a Death Eater, even one that was suppose to be her father. Well, that was a little scary, even for her.
