"Pray that your loneliness may spur you into finding something to live for, great enough to die for."
-Dag Hammarskjold
"Hermione, will you please stay after class?" Professor Dumbledore requested one day near the winter holidays. Hermione nodded and told Alphard to head on ahead without her.
"Yes Uncle?" she asked after everyone had left, taking a seat across from him in his office.
"You are aware that the holidays are approaching, are you not?" he asked, eyes twinkling.
"Yes, and I was meaning to talk to you about that, among other things. I've been awfully busy," she replied with a blush. She really hadn't meant to neglect her uncle, especially considering he was only her uncle out of kindness to her.
"I perfectly understand. As far as I can tell you seem to be striving for Head Girl next year. However, I was rather wondering what arrangements you've made for the holidays."
"I haven't really thought about it. I suppose I assumed I'd stay with you, although Alphard does want me to visit for Christmas dinner with his family, which frankly terrifies me. It would be helpful if you'd accompany me to that."
"Of course, dear, I would be happy to. As headmaster, I cannot leave the school permanently over the holiday, so I will be staying here for the most part. However, my brother and I will be having dinner together Christmas eve. You are welcome to join us."
"Your brother… Is he also to be my uncle?"
"Actually, he is your father. Your mother left you with her family when she died, not believing Aberforth to be a fit parent. He was grieved by her loss and so he never tried to gain custody of you. Of course, he was not aware of this until I told him shortly after your arrival. I do hope you agree to meet him, and maybe try and build a relationship with your father. But people will understand if you don't want to; after all, he never came for you and now you stay with me, because your mother's relatives were killed in the war. They were French." Hermione listened as Dumbledore gave her all the details about her life that she had somehow managed to get by without. She supposed they would be useful when visiting the Blacks.
"My mother's family were of some other nationality then?"
"Yes, they were French."
"I see. Well, I would love to meet your brother, as long as you come with me to the Black family dinner. We're going to have to say these French Grangers were pureblood you know."
"Of course."
HGTR
"Uncle Albus is going to come with me to Christmas dinner at your house. I hope your family doesn't mind," Hermione told Alphard as they lay in bed in the Room of Requirement that weekend.
"Of course they won't mind. What's one more?" he answered, kissing her neck.
"It's just, what do you family think about the Dumbledores? I mean, the Blacks aren't known for their friendliness to muggles, the way Uncle Albus is," she continued, ignoring his kisses.
"It's fine. You know about your grandfather, right?"
"That wasn't his fault! Those muggles did an awful thing to my aunt!" she cried out, surprisingly defensive about her surrogate family.
"Did they? Well, the way my family sees it, thanks to your grandfather, you're one of them."
"I don't want to be one of them!"
"I know, but sometimes it's just easier to go along with them for now. When we're out of school and I've already received my inheritance and you and I can marry without their permission, then we can be however we want. I'm still financially dependent upon them, you know."
"Yes, I know. And I do want them to approve of us being together. I love you."
"If you really love me, you'll stop all this talk of family and let me continue with what I was doing," he replied mischievously, before kissing her breast, circling her nipple with his tongue.
"Of course," she sighed, "this is so much better."
HGTR
The holidays approached quickly and the next thing Hermione knew, she was seeing Alphard off, promising to arrive at his house by floo at 7 sharp for Christmas dinner.
Hermione also made sure to give Abraxus a hug before he left and was rather surprised to see him hugging Mary Lamport rather fiercely. While she watched the two, Artemis came up behind her, tapping her on the shoulder and startling Hermione.
"I guess I'll see you at the family dinner?" she asked, avoiding looking at Abraxus and Mary.
"Yeah, I'll be there. Are you okay Artemis?" Hermione asked, noticing how Artemis wouldn't look at Abraxus.
"I- I don't know. I'm still Abraxus' 'public' date, but he still doesn't have any real feelings for me. I know this is silly, but first I thought I lost him to you, but now he's seeing that muggleborn girl and I guess I just have to accept he'll never want me," she admitted.
"Oh, I'm sorry. I never knew you felt you had to compete with me."
"It's fine. Abraxus is over you and you're happy with my cousin. I guess I just have to move on too. Anyways, I'll see you at the dinner." Artemis gave Hermione a hug before departing.
After the train left, Hermione returned to the castle, feeling lonely in the big castle.
A/N- This is a short chapter, but I had to write it because the other day I saw this boy sitting on the ground against a tree where I catch my shuttle from the university home. He was kind of watching everyone and, since I'm a people watcher too, our gazes kept meeting. Then he'd smirk, because he knew he was good looking, and I'd blush. The reason I kept looking is because his style was kind of 40's-ish and he looked just like Tom Riddle. So, I took that as a sign that I should update. I figure this is just a filler chapter and things will get more interesting in the next chapter. I just had to get everyone out of the castle for break so things could keep moving along.