CHAPter 8
Disclaimer: Harry Potter does not belong to me, nor do I profit from it in any way.
Adrian arrived at Pucey Hall just as his mother was entering through the floo. Noticing her son she rushed forward. He removed his cloak and hugged her, trying to leave quickly. Glenora Pucey was determined to clean up her eldest child. Adrian grabbed the short sleeve of his shirt he wore and wipe his bloody cheek.
"Adrian Ellis Pucey! What did you do? A tattoo! I've been searching for you for hours since you didn't return from the stadium and you were off getting a tattoo!" Glenora Pucey yanked the sleeve up higher on his bicep to inspect the triangular tattoo.
In confusion, Adrian looked down at his arm. Surprised, he found a tattoo there that he'd never seen before. Quickly thinking back to what the man who claimed to be Hermione Granger's father had said about not finding any bonding tattoos on his hands or fingers, Adrian groaned.
"Mother. I didn't get a tattoo. Well at least not on purpose. But I'd suggest not planning any betrothal for me. I believe I may have bonded myself to a muggleborn." Adrian sighed in frustration. He had to tell his mother she was a muggleborn. The vow wouldn't allow him to say otherwise. He couldn't even explain the situation to her. Knowing his mother, she was going to be extremely livid. He desperately needed to find out how Hermione Granger had a wizarding father and who this wizard was. He was older and sounded as if he was familiar with the Pucey family. Adrian had some work to do. But first, he had to calm his raging mother.
Across Europe, an exhausted quidditch player climbed into bed, stopping long enough to strip off his dirty cloak, trousers and shirt. He rolled onto his broad chest before snoring softy, not noticing the triangular tattoo on his chest that lay against his heart.
The following days leading up to school starting had Hermione writing several drafts of the same letter. It usually started with father, included something along the lines of magical tattoo, bonding, confusion and ended with her wadding it up and burning it so no one else could read it. Similarly, Hermione had started letters to both Victor and Adrian asking if they had found tattoos also. Those letters had ended up burning as well.
The arrival of September first came quickly. The boys, much to her surprise, had left her alone regarding the night of the World Cup attack. Mrs. Weasley, firmly believing it to be a traumatic time for Hermione gave a brief overview to the family and then forbid anyone to bring it up. Ginny was the only one who had asked and Hermione had again left out the sarcen stone circle in her story. As far as anyone knew, Hermione was chased by a death eater then rescued by two good Samaritans who happened to be in the right place at the right time. They had hid out in the woods until aurors arrived and escorted them home.
Walking onto the platform, surrounded by the Weasley family, Hermione quickly stowed her trunk. Listening to the conversations around her, she realized most were talking about the World Cup and the activities after. Groaning she realized the train back to Hogwarts would not be the place she escaped from thoughts of two dark haired wizards or if they had matching tattoos.
The group boarded and quickly located an empty cabin. They were soon joined by several friends, including Neville. Hugging Crookshank to her as she searched through her bag for a book, Hermione listened to Ron and Harry chat. Finding the book, Hermione dived in, prepared to spend the next several hours immersed in the history of the Valknut knot. She had picked the book up while getting school supplies in Diagon Alley. Disguised as Hogwarts, a History, it was the perfect distraction to get her through the train ride without being interrupted. The entire group knew how much she enjoyed the book she read often.
Only several chapters in, the door to their cabin slid open. Believing it to be Malfoy and his gang, Hermione refused to give in to his taunts. That was until she heard the rumble of a familiar voice. Blushing slightly, Hermione glanced up through her long curly hair. She was hunched over slightly leaning against the window. Her hair had fallen in her face creating a safe curtain to look through. Or as safe as it could be with the tall man standing impossibly large at the door. In the small cabin, Adrian was easily the tallest amongst the younger students.
"Granger! I would like a word with you. Privately. Let's go." Irritation laced each word Adrian spoke.
"Now wait just a bloody minute, Pucey! You can't just come in here demanding to speak to Hermione." Ron spoke up from his seat.
"It's fine, Ronald. I needed to speak with him as well. It's about," Hermione struggled to find a plausible excuse for why she needed to speak to a Slytherin seventh year.
"The use of magical tattoos in ancient ruins. Extra credit project." Adrian's statement dripped with sarcasm.
Hermione flushed.
"Let's go, Granger!"
"It's okay everyone. I'll be back soon. You know me, already getting a jump on school work." Hermione attempted to smile brightly. She somehow knew she failed to convince Ginny. Realizing she'd be interrogated later, Hermione followed Pucey put of the cabin and down the hall. Several minutes later they reached an empty cabin and Pucey grabbed her arm, shoving her in. Slamming the door closed after him, he turned to glare at the girl. He pulled his wand out and noticed she flinched as he did so. Rolling his eyes, Adrian cast several privacy spells before ripping off his cloak. Pulling up his shirt sleeve he turned so his bicep faced Hermione.
"What is on my arm Granger? Why is there a magical bonding tattoo on my arm?" Pucey barely contained the anger that had built in the last week since the dreadful night. The same symbol that Hermione had grown accustomed to stared back at her from Adrian's arm. Hermione stood up removing her cloak. Shifting the back of her blouse down, she gave Adrian a view of the top part of her similar tattoo.
"I noticed mine after we all went home. I'm sorry we didn't realize sooner. I didn't plan this. I haven't spoken to my father yet. I'm not sure what this one in particular means." Hermione whispered to Adrian in her frustration. Hermione removed the glamour from her book and showed Adrian the cover, "I have been researching though."
Adrian, realizing Hermione was an confused as he was sat down on the seat behind him. Reaching out he grabbed Hermione's hand and pulled her down beside him. "My mother is livid. She's a Rosier but can't access the family manor to see their family tapestry and the Pucey's don't have one."
"I imagine my father will be the same way. You haven't even met my mother or brothers. They can be slightly protective." Hermione smiled shighly at Adrian and he grinned back.
The pair sat there quietly trying to decide how to move forward with each other for several minutes before Adrian spoke again. "I know you have secrets. Your father is obviously a wizard but did not introduce himself to the scions of two notable houses. You have house elves extremely loyal to you and you walked though the wards easily. How dark is your family, Hermione?" He turned to look at the petite woman.
Hermione frowned, "You know I can't tell you. My family has to stay safe. You could endanger them or yourself with the knowledge of who they are. You know Voldemort will return. He can never find out."
"You Know Who! I'm starting to believe you're less of a Gryffindor than you appear." He snarled.
Adrian stood abruptly and paced the short length of the cabin. "Your family is hiding from the dark lord and I'm somehow bonded to the girl pretending to be a muggleborn. Lovely."
Adrian flung the cabin door open and with one last glare at Hermione, left. The crack of the window the only indication of how upset the young man had been. With a quick reparo, Hermione fixed the window before going back to the cabin she shared with Ron and Harry.
"Meeting for extra credit go well?" Harry asked Hermione when she entered.
"Bloody mental she is! Planning school work before start of term." Ron humphed before ordering a chess piece to move and take out one of Harry's rooks.
"Language, Ronald. Not everyone likes to coast through. Some people like to excel." Hermione glared at the oblivious wizard.
Meanwhile, a father and his two sons sat down in a library to discuss the young lady and the situation she found herself in the night of the Quidditch World Cup.
"Father, I found something interesting the other day in the hall of records. It seems Hermione Black, Adrian Pucey and Victor Krum have entered into a very old version of a triad bonding ceremony. The ceremony hasn't been used in over 500 years. They don't even keep these records in the same filing system as marriages and bonds. What in the bloody hell happened after the match?" Regulus near shouted at his father. Pacing back and forth the wizard resembled Orion so much when Eileen entered the room she stopped to watch.
"Regulus dear, it seems you're upset. May I help you in any way?" Eileen offered the younger man.
"Hermione bonded with two wizards, has to register as a Valkyrie and father was just going to tell us why I had to remove official documents from the ministry!" Regulus rushed out. At his words, Eileen sat down shocked, while both Orion and Sirius jumped up.
"Register as a Valkyrie!" Sirius shouted.
"Bonded to both of those boys!" Orion glared. "I checked them for bonding tattoos and magical rings."
Everyone turned to Orion. "You had enough knowledge of the night to check them for bonds but did not inform your wife, Orion Black?" The tone Eileen used reminded both younger men of Severus Snape. Her black hair flipped around as she glared at each man unsure who she was actually angry with.
"They must have a bond mark somewhere on their body. I can't believe Hermione hasn't found it yet. She must know." Orion sighed heavily. His young daughter was as stubborn as both of his sons. The Blacks a,ways bred true on stubbornness.
"First, I will write Hermione and demand an explanation. Sirius, is there any way you can check on her discreetly. You're the only one that can go to Hogwarts discreetly. Orion, you need to check the family tapestry. Regulus, register Hermione but do not let it be known." After giving her orders Eileen Black turned on her heal and left the men to complete their parts by themselves.
