The next morning, Hermione wakes at 7am to a pounding headache. She opens her eyes, blinking in the bright lights which they forgot to switch off, and glances around the room. She thanks Merlin she has managed to hang her dress up and then looks down at herself. She is almost completely naked, with one leg thrown across James, who is thankfully wearing boxers, and Sirius's dick pressed into her ass. She jumps out of bed and grabs Sirius's dress shirt, buttoning it up as she stumbles down to the kitchen.
"Morning," Euphemia says warmly as she walks in. "Coffee?"
"Please," Hermione says, falling into the nearest chair and putting her head in her hands. "I think I'm dying."
"I'm not surprised," Euphemia laughs. "All of you drank at least twice as much as you should have."
"I know," Hermione groans. "I don't even know what we were drinking but it tasted like death."
"Yeah, it's one of those new cocktails," Euphemia says. "Firewhiskey mixed with Absinthe and all sorts of other rubbish."
"Merlin," Hermione says. "I barely even remember the last hour."
"Nothing special happened," Euphemia says. "You'd done your socializing by then so you were just dancing with your friends."
"Oh okay," Hermione says. "Did you have a good time?"
"Yes, I did," Euphemia says. "I got cornered by Walburga at one point though – she is not a fan of yours."
"I know," Hermione frowns. "It's a shame but I think I'd care more if Sirius did."
"Yes," Euphemia agrees. "Besides, she's the only one who didn't like you. Everybody else was singing your praises all night long."
"Oh, that's nice," Hermione says. "It was a really beautiful dress."
"Well yes, the dress was lovely," Euphemia says. "But I actually meant you. The way you conducted yourself. You're a very charismatic young woman, Hermione, you draw the attention of any room you're in…but I think you know that?"
"Oh yes," Hermione says. "To be perfectly honest, if you asked me, I'd say I was manipulative but I don't think that's entirely fair either. I just…I know I'm a pretty girl. I have good boobs, I've got a decent ass, long legs, nice face, I am the sort of girl who attracts attention. But I haven't always been like that and when I first got…pretty, as it were, I was really embarrassed about it. I didn't like the stares, I tried to dress myself down so that people wouldn't look and it didn't make a damn bit of difference. So, I stopped trying to hide it, I dressed for my figure and I started using my body as a weapon. Cause I'm young and I'm a girl and people will always see me as weaker than any man, but if I can get what I need because Sirius's father or Alastor Moody or even Harold Minchum are more interested in my boobs than in keeping their secrets safe, then more fool them. So yeah, I know I draw the attention of any room and I know I take full advantage of that but I'm gonna keep doing that until people stop staring."
For a moment, Euphemia doesn't speak and then she nods in approval. "Fair enough," she says.
"I do love your sons, Euphemia," Hermione says. "James is like a brother to me – he is good and kind and funny and he's got my back and I have his. Sirius is…I actually think he's the love of my life – he's so special to me and I would die for either of them. I would risk everything to keep them safe. I just want you to know that."
"I do," Euphemia says. "I can see it on your face when you look at them. I didn't see it at first because I was more worried about how they look at you but now I see that it works both ways."
"I hope so," Hermione says. "Cause they're all I've got."
"Oh James, it looks lovely," Lily says as she walks into the ballroom. The room has been set up for a meal and a party, with dinner tables around the outside of a big dancefloor. The tables have beautiful centrepieces, each made up of ten different kinds of flower, and they are set for a three-course meal. Hanging from the ceiling are streamers and a huge disco ball; there is a bar at one end of the room with two fulltime bartenders, a huge DJ booth ready to go at a moment's notice and even a magical photo booth charmed to take pictures when people are holding props. Lily and James are standing at one end; James is dressed in a smart blue shirt, jeans and loafers while Lily is wearing a full-length green dress with a thigh high slit on one side and nude heels.
"Hermione!" James shouts. "Sirius! People are starting to arrive!"
Hermione runs into the room; she's dressed in an over-sized t-shirt tied at her waist and a pair of tiny shorts, her hair is piled up in a messy bun and she has a book in one hand. "Oh, hey Lily," Hermione says. "Sorry James, I'll go get ready right now. Sirius is on his way." She disappears and seconds later, Sirius appears. He is dressed in a black shirt, grey trousers and black shoes and he runs forwards, hugging Lily tightly.
"Thank Merlin you're alive," Sirius says.
"Yes, Sirius, I'm alive," Lily laughs. "Why wouldn't I be?"
"You were so drunk the other day," Sirius laughs. "I genuinely thought you were going to die."
"So did I," Hermione says, re-entering. She has changed into a black floor-length dress with one sleeve and glittery mesh panels all the way up either side. She has paired it with the black stilettos Marlene got her for Christmas, her lips are painted scarlet and her hair is in loose curls around her shoulders and down her back.
"Whoa," James and Sirius say in unison. "Babe you look hot," Sirius says, kissing her deeply.
"Thank you," Hermione laughs, twirling so they get a good look.
"How did you change so fast?" Lily says incredulously.
"Eh, it's easy if you've done it often enough," Hermione says. "Come on, last checks before everyone arrives?" As if on cue, the doorbell rings and she sighs. "Okay," she says. "It's good enough – let them in."
Half an hour later, the room is full of people all milling about, drinking the free champagne. Hermione, James and Sirius are doing the rounds, chatting and laughing, until finally James heads up to the stage and casts a Sonorus charm on his voice.
"Hello, everyone," he says warmly. "Thank you all so much for coming – we're almost ready to start the meal now so if you can take your seats? We have got a seating chart so check the walls for your table number and please enjoy your meal."
Everyone heads to their tables; each house has been mixed up around the room to encourage inter-house relations. Hermione is sitting with Bella, Avery and Sirius, James and Lily are sitting with Regulus and Narcissa, Cass and Remus have been seated with Mulciber, Peter and Marlene are sitting with Severus, and Frank and Alice are with Nott; each table has Hufflepuffs and Ravenclaws thrown in as well. Each table chats and laughs their way through the meal, conversation flowing as fast as the alcohol is, until, as the dessert plates disappear, James and Sirius step onto the stage.
"Hey guys," Sirius says. "We just wanted to say a few words before the real party starts."
"To be honest, we wanted to thank you all for coming," James says. "We know you've probably got other places to be but this is our last year as a class and it feels good that we're all here together to celebrate the New Year."
"1978 has been marked in our calendars since the day we started Hogwarts as the year we would leave," Sirius says solemnly. "But even so, it feels weird that it's finally coming around. We've had the best time being at school with all of you and I know we've still got two terms left but we just wanted to say thank you."
"We couldn't let this evening pass without mentioning the very special someone who has brought all of us together this evening," James says. "If anyone had told me at the beginning of September that the Slytherins would be here and having a good time with us tonight, I would have laughed in their face. But it's just a testament to her that we are all here and finally getting along. So, we wanted to raise a toast to the beautiful Hermione Granger, the girl who has finally brought us together."
The whole room stands and toasts her, Bella nudging her in the side as she blushes. She gestures for them all to sit down and blows a kiss to James and Sirius on the stage, who have a mock fight over who gets to catch it.
"That's all we really wanted to say to be honest," Sirius says. "So, have an amazing time tonight, don't be afraid to have as much sex and booze as you want and here's to a fabulous final year at Hogwarts. All our love!"
The room erupts into cheers as James and Sirius head out onto the dancefloor, gesturing for Hermione and Lily to come join them. They open the dancing with the most beautiful waltz and then, as everyone stares at each other awkwardly, the music switches to wizard pop and everybody can join in.
Several songs later, Hermione stumbles off the dance floor, throwing her shoes down in a corner and heading to the nearest table. "You look beautiful," she says as she sits down beside Narcissa, who is quietly sipping her wine.
"You're one to talk," Narcissa says. "Look at you – every guy in here wants to fuck your brains out."
"Narcissa Black, look at that dirty mouth," Hermione laughs. "You're wrong though – James and Remus are caught up in their own girls, Avery seems to be more and more interested in Bella, Peter and Marlene definitely hooked up after the Blood Ball and I'm pretty sure Mulciber would rather have you than me."
"You're wrong about Avery," Narcissa says. "Nott's the one who's interested in Bellatrix. Avery has only ever had eyes for you."
"Of course he hasn't," Hermione says. "Good looking boy like that, he's probably had tons of girlfriends."
"He hasn't," Narcissa says. "To be honest, until you came along, I was wondering if he was gay or asexual or something because he hadn't shown the slightest bit of interest in anyone. And then you walked into the room that first day at breakfast and he genuinely didn't stop staring the whole time."
"I'm with Sirius," Hermione says quietly. "I love him."
"I know," Narcissa says. "I never said you reciprocated his feelings – I was simply informing you that they're there."
"If you say so," Hermione says. "So, Nott and Bella, huh?"
"Yeah," Narcissa says, smirking at Hermione's quick change of subject. "They definitely had sex after the Blood Ball – Rodolphus was furious."
"Wasn't he just?" Bella laughs as she sits down on Narcissa's other side. "Honestly, I've never heard him shout so loud."
"Well maybe that will teach him to leave you alone all evening," Hermione says sharply. "How was the sex then?"
"Oh yeah, it was good," Bella says. "Nott and I have done it before so it wasn't that scary new feeling, you know? It was just comfortable."
"That's sweet," Hermione says, glancing across the room to where Nott, Avery and Mulciber have just got into the photo booth. "What about you, Narcissa? How are things going with Lucius?"
"Fine," Narcissa says. "He's completely spineless to be honest, but he treats me well enough that it's not an issue."
"Will you marry him straight out of school?" Hermione asks. "Or will you wait a while?"
"I don't think we'll wait," Narcissa says. "He's 6 years older than us, remember, so he's already been waiting a while."
"Fair enough," Hermione says, glancing round again as Snape waves her over. "If you'll excuse me, ladies, I think Severus wants a word." She stands and turns back to them. "Bella, there are plenty of rooms if you want to take Nott somewhere, help yourselves to as much booze as you want and have fun, okay?"
"See you later, Hermione," Narcissa says, smiling warmly.
Hermione grins back at her and then glides across the room to where Severus is standing with Lily and Avery. "Are you having a good time, guys?" she asks brightly and all three of them nod.
"Lily said you needed an Occlumency teacher," Severus says quietly and Hermione's eyes flick to Lily, examining her dangerously.
"Oh did she?" she says carefully. "I think Lily should go and sober up a little bit, don't you?" Lily blinks at her and then scurries away obediently. "Why do you care, Severus?" she asks.
"Both Avery and I are trained Occlumens," Severus says. "If you need help, you could have just asked."
"I do," Hermione acknowledges. "And I was going to ask, when I was ready. I'm more concerned with other matters at the moment."
"Like whatever you need the Parseltongue for," Avery says matter-of-factly, not wavering under the dangerous look Hermione shoots him.
"What are you up to, Hermione?" Severus asks. "What aren't you telling us?"
"A lot," Hermione admits. "But I need you to trust me."
"You might as well tell us," Avery says quietly. "If we're to train you in Occlumency, we're going to find out the truth anyway."
"Which is why I haven't asked you yet," Hermione shoots back and he bows his head in acknowledgement.
"What do you need right now?" Severus asks. "How can we help you?"
"What makes you think I need help?" Hermione says coolly.
"Because you're sad," Avery offers quietly. "Even when you're smiling, you're sadder than anyone I've ever seen."
"Everyone I knew before the age of 17 is dead," Hermione says icily. "Wouldn't you be sad?"
"Of course, but it's not that," Avery says. "That's something else, something that only crosses your face every so often. This is constant."
"You're very observant, Avery," she says.
"Yes," Avery says, looking her dead in the eye and frowning. "Can we help you?"
"I'm sure you can," Hermione says. "But not yet. For now, all I need you to do is enjoy the party and be good to the Gryffindors. It's extremely important to me that you can all trust each other."
"Okay," Severus says. "You know where I am, Hermione." He moves away, heading over to where Alice and Marlene are sitting, but before Hermione can go, Avery catches her arm.
"I wish to speak with you in private," he murmurs. "Can we step into the hall?"
"Of course," Hermione says, walking gracefully out of the room and leading him next door to the kitchen. "What is it?"
"I want you to trust me," he says calmly, sitting down at the table. "And in the spirit of that, there is something you need to know."
"What?" Hermione says impatiently, folding her arms.
"The Dark Lord has approached us," he says.
"What?!" she says, slipping into the nearest chair. "Who is 'us', Avery?"
"Nott, Severus, Mulciber, Bella and I," he replies. "As Lucius Malfoy is already working for him, Narcissa was not approached but has been assumed to be compliant by proxy."
"What did he say?" she asks anxiously.
"He has asked us to join him," Avery says simply. "To do his bidding in the future, I imagine, but for now, just to swear allegiance to him. He does not expect an answer until we formally leave school, but as far as I know, Nott has said yes already and is working as a spy within Hogwarts for him."
"What?" Hermione breathes. "Oh no, this is really bad. What about me, Avery? Has he asked about me?"
"No," Avery says. "As far as I can tell, he doesn't even know you exist."
"Okay," Hermione says. "That won't last long if Nott really is spying."
"I don't know if Nott fully understands your significance," Avery says. "He'll mention you, I'm sure, but he may not be…"
"I don't think we can assume anything," Hermione says. "What do you think the others will do?"
"It's difficult for us, Hermione," he says. "You have to understand. If we say no to him, he will kill us."
"I know," Hermione says. "I don't know what to do, Avery, what do I do?"
"I don't know," he says. "I don't have all the information, but I'm giving you what I've got, to help you."
"Thank you," she says, standing and turning away as her voice cracks.
"Hermione," he says, standing up and forcing her to look at him. "Please don't cry, Hermione, I didn't mean to upset you."
"Oh no, you didn't," she says tearfully. "You've helped me, Avery, honestly. I just…it's been such a lovely Christmas that I've been able to forget everything that's coming. And I've wasted so much time, I just…"
"Don't cry," he says, hugging her tightly. "It will all be okay."
"I know," she says eventually, pulling away. "If you'll excuse me, I need to go and fix my make-up – you should go back to the party."
Half an hour later, Hermione returns to the ballroom; instantly Sirius is at her side. "Where have you been?" he asks quietly.
"Just fixing my make-up," she says. "You okay?"
"Of course," he says. "Only about ten minutes until midnight."
"Fine," she says. "We all heading outside for the fireworks then?"
"No," he says. "It's pouring with rain – we're going to use the indoor ones."
"Okay," she says. "I'm just going to go and speak to Cass, I'll come find you in a second."
"Okay," he says, catching her arm as she tries to walk away. "Hermione, what's the matter?"
"Everything," she says, her voice cracking as she wrenches her arm out of his grip. "I can't do this right now, Sirius, you need to sort the fireworks."
"Hermione, please," he begs. "Talk to me."
"Not now," she says, walking away and heading over to where Cass is sitting on Remus's lap.
"You okay?" Remus says, pulling out a chair for her to sit down.
"I wish people would stop asking me that," she says, sitting down. "How are you guys doing, having fun?"
"Yeah, it's been great," Remus says. "Cass has had a bit too much to drink, haven't you?"
"Nah, I'm fine," Cass slurs, burping as she stretches. "What time is it?"
"Almost midnight," Hermione says. "Come on, we're all getting together for the fireworks."
She crosses the room to where Sirius is standing as the final countdown begins. "Are you okay?" he asks again and she shakes her head.
"I love you," she says, turning to look as the crowd shout out the final five numbers before erupting into a huge cheer of 'Happy New Year!'.
"Happy New Year," Hermione says, kissing Sirius deeply. Sirius kisses her back and then they turn to look at the fireworks. As they stare up at the pretty colours and shapes, tears start to slip down Hermione's cheeks and she leans her head on Sirius's shoulder.
"Miss Granger," Dumbledore says quietly. "It's 3 o'clock in the morning. What are you doing?"
"Happy New Year to you too, sir," Hermione says, kicking her shoes off and sitting down opposite him. Her hair is messed up, her lipstick is smudged, her mascara is running and she is drunk out of her mind.
"Happy New Year," he says. "What's happened?"
"He's started," she says quietly. "He's got to the Slytherins, he's trying to recruit them."
"Who?" he asks. "Which Slytherins is he targeting?"
"Avery, Bella, Mulciber and Severus have been approached," Hermione says. "Nott has already agreed to work with him."
"Who told you this?" Albus asks.
"Avery," Hermione says. "According to Narcissa, he's…got feelings for me, and he approached me in a bid to make me trust him."
"Do you?" Albus asks. "Trust him I mean?"
"He's been good to me," Hermione says. "And he's helped me out a lot."
"Okay," Albus says. "So what do you propose?"
"I don't know," she says tearfully. "I don't know what to do here. I don't know if this happened in my timeline, I'm pretty sure it didn't, but I don't know how to stop it. If they say no, they die; if they say yes, then who knows what will happen. What do I do?"
"I don't know either," Albus says. "Give me some time to think it over and come back to me at the beginning of the term, okay?"
"Okay," she says. "The beginning of term."