Chapter 10
It was early December when Hermione knew things were finally starting to change for the worst.
It had been a relatively quiet few months leading up the day things changed. Snape had taken to not talking to Hermione all together after the recent events of her confrontation with him, and somehow it felt almost worse than when he was insulting her with every turn. At least when he was insulting her she knew exactly how he felt about her. His silence was almost all the worse, because now she truly had no idea how he felt in the revelation that her brother never held some sort of vendetta against him, and that the cause of their fight was truly an accident.
She could understand why he felt it so hard to believe that she truly wished him no harm. How could she blame him when he had spent the better part of the last year hating her brother for a misunderstanding? It had been a bad misunderstanding, but it was a misunderstanding none the less.
Lily had pulled her aside after it had happened, needing to speak to her, to clarify her own intentions.
"Hermione, can we talk?" Lily said, anxiously as she cornered Hermione in the Library the next day after classes had finished. She had been steering clear of the girl so far, wanting to give her time to come to terms with what had been revealed on her own, without Hermione seeming as if she were pressuring her into accepting her friendship.
"Is everything okay?" Hermione asked her, slightly unsure of why Lily wanted to talk to her, or at least what the outcome of their talk would be.
"No," Lily said quickly, "It's not, Hermione. Why didn't you tell me that Severus said those things to you?"
"Because I didn't want to put you in a position where you were forced to either tell me that what he said was true, or to put you at odds with him," she said softly.
"Did you believe it could be true?" Lily asked her carefully.
"I don't know," Hermione said looking down, "It was clear that neither of you liked my brother. And I couldn't help but wonder if at times that same hatred was extended to me. He's my family after all. How could it not extend to me? Whether anyone chooses to admit it or not, we're alike in so many ways, that it would only be natural if you were to hate me."
"You hardly go around pranking people," Lily pointed out.
Hermione rolled her eyes, "So that's one thing. He's still my brother. We'd both fight for those we care about, even if it means endangering ourselves. We'd both choose to do the right thing over the easy thing. You can't just separate the two of us because it's easy to like one and hate the other. You're right, we do have our differences too. I prefer to spend my time with books, and he prefers to apply his intelligence, even if through less than savoury means. His pranks are many things, but they are brilliant displays of magic, which take some brains after all."
Lily was silent, and she knew that had given her something to consider.
"I didn't want you to tell me you hated me, because James is my brother, whether you like it or not. You don't have to like him, but I was afraid you would say that Snape was right, and for all the reasons you hated him, you hated me as well."
"I don't, you know," Lily said. "Hate you or your brother. I dislike that your brother spends so much of his time slacking off and pranking others, especially when pranks such as those lead to Severus being hurt. But if you had asked me if I hated you, or if I simply put up with you because I was too nice to say no, I would have disagreed in an instant. We might not be close friends, but I truly do enjoy spending time with you, Hermione. You're a brilliant witch in your own right."
"Thank you," Hermione said softly.
"I know it won't change things, or what Snape said, but I truly would like to be your friend," Lily said to her softly. "You came to us with only the purest intentions, and instead we hurt you. We questioned you. I wish I could say I didn't have my own doubts about you, but I can't because I did. But I shouldn't have. Not when you are too kind to ever do the things Severus accused you of."
"I'd like to be friends too," Hermione said, a soft smile filling her face for the first time that day.
"I'm glad," Lily said softly. "And please, come to me in the future if anyone says anything like that to you again. I know why you didn't, and it hurts me that I am responsible for your fears too. But I don't want anyone to make you feel less than worthy of belonging here. Especially when you would do the same for me. When you have done the same for me, like at Slughorn's party. You had no reason to need to stand up for me, yet you still did. And for that, I thank you."
Hermione looked up at her, "And I would again and again, Lily. I meant what I said. You're smarter than almost of the purebloods here, a good number of whom as thick as a broom. You belong in our world."
Lily gave her a bright smile.
"Do you want to go to dinner with me?" Lily asked her, smiling, "We can talk about some of the new theories I learned in transfiguration. I think they might interest you in learning, as they are rather fascinating, if I do say so myself."
Hermione grinned back, "I would love to," she said softly, as she gathered up her books and headed out of the library.
It had been nice of her to do so, and she felt slightly relieved, knowing Hermione's mother wanted to put aside all their differences and their rough start, and to truly be friends.
It was easy to see where Harry got the compassionate part of his personality. While he was like James in so many ways, from his looks, to his flying, to his need to rescue everyone, his personality was so much like Lily's in so many ways.
She thought to herself that her brother, whenever he finally realized that he was in love with Lily, in later years, would be so bloody proud to know his son. To see the mixture of both of their traits so perfectly in one child.
She felt her chest pang in pain as she remembered Harry, and she knew that it would be years before she saw him again. She would never be like his sister, like they once were, but instead be his aunt. But he would grow up happy and with people who loved him one way or another. She refused to let anything happen to her big brother and to Lily. Not if she had any say in the matter.
It was a December morning, when she was sitting at breakfast, by Lily and Mary discussing their plans for the holidays, when the post came in all at once. She could feel a shift in the air, as the Daily Prophet landed in front of those who subscribed to it.
She could feel a shift in the air, as the professors began whispering to themselves, and Dumbledore stood from the High Table and immediately left the room. He had a worried, pensive look on his face, and she knew then that something bad had happened. Something that she had been anticipating for months.
It took one glance at the headline of the Daily Prophet for her stomach to drop in panic.
Magical Attack on Muggle London: Who is to Blame?
She skimmed through the article quickly, needing to gather as many facts as she could.
She and Draco had tried to read as many Daily Prophet articles before going back, to gather as many dates as they could for attacks to know how to stop them, but the archives had been damaged by Death Eaters in the height of Voldemort's reign in the second war, wanting to remove any of the speculation of him being a magical terrorist.
They had asked as many old Order members for dates and important details, but at that point the beginning of the war had been over twenty years ago, and exact dates were hard to remember.
It was why everyone remembered first hearing of Voldemort through a magical attack on the muggle world, but all those asked could barely remember when and how it had happened.
She looked over at Draco, and he gave her a slight nod, in recognition of having read the article. Fifty dead, at least a hundred injured, in the middle of London. And no one could remember what it was exactly that happened. Just that buildings had been blown up and left damaged.
She knew it was the work of the Ministry, sending in oblivators to ensure the Statute of Secrecy was maintained, blaming it on some muggle terrorists or the other. And it didn't take much for her to know that it had been Death Eaters, as Voldemort made his first steps into the light.
"Who could have done such a thing?" Lily asked, as her eyes widened in fear, immediately grabbing parchment to begin writing a letter to her own parents. She could see similar actions across the room, as those with muggle relatives wanted to ensure their family had not been hurt by the recent attacks. Not that she blamed them, knowing she would be doing the exact same things. "It's so horrible."
She could see James look pale at the news, unsure of what it meant but aware enough to know it was greater than a single magical attack.
They had grown up in the Wizarding World after all, and the last time any one had attacked Muggles so blatantly had been the works of Grindelwald. And to them, who had yet to know Voldemort, Grindelwald was more than enough to leave them quaking in fear. It was why Dumbledore had run out so quickly, needing to get to the Ministry to find out who had done it, who was responsible; whether it was someone who supported Grindelwald, or someone with their own agenda.
Because the last time a Dark Lord rose to power, there had been a genocide. And the last thing the Wizarding World needed, while it still recovered from the last attacks were to face another set. Especially given that that she knew what was to come.
It was starting. And she felt herself grow anxious, knowing that the reason she and Draco had come back in time was slowly starting to occur. That from here on out, they were on a race against the clock, to defeat Voldemort before he rose to power. Before 1981, when he fell, and her brother would die. Before he killed hundreds of wizards and witches, leaving Wizarding Britain in a near extinct state, from which, after the second rise of Voldemort, they would never recover.
She had to do this. To save them all, one way or another. She had to make sure none of them died, not if she could help it.
It was nearly a week before the Christmas holidays, when Hermione decided to spend the night reading while her brother and his friends planned on how to prank the school before they left for the break. She knew Peter had raised some concerns about her sitting with them while they did so, worried that she would rat them out, but she had simply rolled her eyes and insisted if she wanted everyone to know about their pranks, she would have warned the professors before they had managed to make sure that every single person in the school was left sneezing uncontrollably whenever their professors asked them questions in class. Or the one where half the school was left needing to use the bathroom every few minutes after ingesting the trifle. Or the one where the students all had been put to sleep before their winter tests, leaving them all to miss their exams.
Sirius had barked out laughing as she listed all their pranks, knowing all too well that they had cast them, and insisted that she could be made a Marauder out of yet. She had shaken her head at them, but smiled while her brother had given her a proud grin, and even Remus looked amused by her declaration of such.
"I knew there was a reason I liked you," Sirius said, as she offered them a suggestion on how to make their potion to make the school speak in rhymes more potent, so that it would last longer.
James grinned, "She is my sister after all. How could you expect anything less than brilliance?"
Peter didn't look convinced, and she knew he didn't trust her.
She knew she owed it to her brother and his friends to try and change his path in life, so she tried to keep a calm demeanor around him. Time was complicated, and the last thing she wanted was for in this new time line, to be the reason why he went to the Death Eaters. If she could try and save everyone else, she could try and save Peter. But she refused to let him be the reason why her brother died. Not this time around. Not if she had anything to do with it.
"I don't know, James," Remus jested lightly, "I've studied with the both of you. It's rather obvious that Hermione is far cleverer than you are."
She smiled and stuck her tongue out at her brother as he laughed and wrapped an arm around her, "Of course she is," he said looking at her fondly, "She's brilliant."
She blushed slightly, and Sirius laughed at the display, but she could see a slight pang of pain in his face, knowing he missed his brother all too well. She could only pray that Draco was having better luck convincing his cousin to reach out to his younger brother.
"But in terms of this prank," Remus said, looking tired, "I think the best time to cast it would be the day before school ended, and not the day of. That way we'd be able to enjoy the full results."
"Are you sure, Remus?" Sirius asked, exchanging a look with him. "That would be the 21st. You're aware of that, yes?"
"I'm aware," Remus said, without looking up, and part of her wanted to ask the significance of the day. Why did it matter what date they casted it other than what results they would be seeing from it? Why did the date matter?"
She could see the four boys exchanging looks and part of her wanted to smack her forehead for not realizing the signs sooner.
The 21st was the Thursday before school let out and given the fatigue in Remus' face and demeanour it didn't take much for her to piece together that the full moon would only be a few days away. That it was likely that the date most likely was on the day of the full moon, if not after, and Remus wouldn't be able to enjoy the prank they'd be casting in its entirety.
"Are you feeling alright, Remus?" Hermione probed slightly, wanting to know how receptive he was to her questions. She knew he was cautious about his condition, and she knew that the only people who knew aside from the staff was likely the three boys sitting in the room. But would he be open to her knowing that she knew about his condition?"
"I'm fine," he brushed off slightly, looking down instead of at her. "Just a cold."
"Are you sure?" she pushed, "You look slightly pale. Maybe you should see Madam Pomfrey?"
"It's just a cold, Hermione," James said, trying to draw her attention away from his friend,
"He got some cold potion from her earlier, and he'll be right as rain in a few days."
"I suppose," she said, slightly sceptically. She wondered if he would be receptive to her knowing the truth about him. It was likely that he would never tell her freely. Especially given the current laws around werewolves in the magical world. And while she knew they were friends, she was certain he was terrified it would change if she knew the truth about him.
She hated that he felt so isolated by something he had no control over. All she wanted was for him to know that he was loved and cared for. That she would never judge him for something like that. And she supposed it would have to be enough for him for now to have her friends. She could hardly come out right and give him the wolfsbane potion before it had been invented.
She would let him keep it as a secret for the time being, knowing how it must make him feel to be in that position, but she would tell him that she knew in all due time. She refused to let him believe he was a monster, not when he had done nothing wrong. He was her friend, and in her last life, her teacher and her mentor. He had suffered the most in many ways, out of the four boys, and she refused to let him suffer once more. She would make sure he got the potion as soon as it was available, and if she could help it, change the rules against werewolves and the prejudice they faced.
To say Draco was a little curious to see his older sister sneaking out of the Slytherin dungeons late at night was an understatement. He knew she didn't have prefect duties, or any reason why she would be leaving after curfew, and he couldn't help but be curious.
He knew that after graduation, at some point, she eloped with Theodore Tonks, and after that moment she cut off all contact with her family. He knew that after that moment, his mother had never been able to speak to her sister ever again because of family obligations and such.
And this Draco Black, who knew Andromeda as an older sister who was nothing but compassionate and caring for him didn't want her to leave. He loved his older sister, despite only knowing her through the ritual memories. But those memories were still real. They happened, even if they weren't meant to originally. And if Andromeda ran away, he would lose her as a sister as well. He would lose her just as Narcissa would.
So he followed her, unashamedly, wanting to know the truth. Wanting to know if she was planning on leaving him and Narcissa behind.
She didn't go very far, when he saw her sneak off behind a statue, which he was certain she had done so many times in the past. Which he figured to be her meeting place with Tonks for all their late-night rendezvous.
"Ted," he heard his older sister murmur slightly, as he put up a disillusion charm over himself. "I missed you."
"I missed you too, Andy," Tonks said, as he pulled her into his arms. "I wish I could write to you over the break. To talk to you. It would make the time pass faster than it would otherwise."
"I know," she said softly, looking down, "I wish you could too. But if my parents were to find out…"
"I know," he responded, cupping her face and kissing her head.
"Ted, there's something I need to tell you," his sister said softly, "My parents are arranging my marriage to Lucius Malfoy."
Ted tensed, and Draco looked up in shock. He had known that the arrangement was pending, but he had assumed that his sister was unaware of the arrangement.
"I see," Ted said, pulling back. "What does this mean, for us?"
"It means I'm choosing you," Andromeda said softly, "I can't do it, Teddy. I can't go through and marry him and pretend that I'm fine with it. I'm not Narcissa; I'm not a proper pureblood girl or whatever rubbish they want from me. I can't marry a man like him who I have no love for. I love you."
"Does this mean you're accepting my proposal?" Ted said, beaming at her. "To marry me?"
"Yes," Andromeda said, with a smile that didn't quite reach her eyes, and Draco knew why.
"Even if it means leaving your family behind?" Ted said softly, "That you will be disowned like you fear you will be? That you'll never be allowed to talk to your younger siblings ever again?"
"Yes," Andromeda said, crying softly, "I need to choose me, Teddy. I love Draco and Cissa so much, but I can't marry a man like that. I can't marry him, not when I love you."
"So you'd leave us behind?" Draco said, unable to stay silent, dropping the charm keeping him hidden. "You would choose to leave us behind for him?"
He knew it probably wasn't the best way to go about it, but it hurt, knowing his sister would choose someone else over him. That she would run away and leave him behind.
And from the fear in his older sister's eyes at his presence, he figured he should have made his presence known in a less threatening way.
"Draco," she said, looking cautious. "It's not what you think."
"Isn't it?" Draco spat out, "You're choosing him over your family. You're choosing a boy over your brother and sister. Isn't that what you're doing? Because that's what it looks like."
"What are my options?" Andromeda said back, looking panicked at being caught out. "To marry Lucius Malfoy and spend the rest of my life as some sort of trophy wife?"
"You could try and talk to Mother and Father and ask them not to go through with the arrangement!" Draco said, shaking, "Did you at least try?"
"Of course I have!" Andromeda said, her voice breaking. "I've been begging them to nullify the agreement for months, but they refuse! Do you think it's my first option to run away and leave you behind? You're my baby brother. Of course it's not easy for me to leave you behind."
"Yet you're still willing to," he said looking down, unable to look at her.
"Tell me what else I should do!" Andromeda said, tears streaming down her eyes, "If you have any better suggestions then tell me what I should do, because I don't want to have to leave all of you behind. It's the last thing I want, Draco."
"Talk to Grandfather," Draco said softly, "He is still the head of the house. If anyone can break the agreement, it would be him. If you talk to him he might help you."
"He believes in the old ways just as our parents do!" Andy said, as she wiped her eyes, and Ted, took her hand in his, looking worried at the interaction.
"But maybe he can do something. Maybe he would do something for you," Draco pleaded. "Don't you owe it to us to at least try before you decide to take drastic measures? You'll be disowned by our parents if you do. At least this way you would have tried all the things you could have. It's going to break Narcissa's heart if you run off without telling her, you know that right? She loves you so much. I love you so much. I don't want to lose you, Andromeda."
She pulled him into a hug, and he held his older sister tightly.
"Okay, Draco," she whispered, "I'll talk to Grandfather. And if he can get me out of this marriage, then that's great. But if not, you have to understand why I'm doing the things I am. And I pray that you'll be able to forgive me, and not cut me out of your life like the rest of them will."