Hey everyone! It's time for another update! Since my last update I've moved. I'm staying with my sister for right now, and that's going pretty well.
The song featured in this chapter is called "Lullaby for a Stormy Night" by Vienna Teng. It's very pretty so I recommend looking it up. Hopefully there won't be anymore songs for a while. I'm sure that they're starting to bore some people.
If there are any minors that read this story, or people that don't enjoy reading smut there will be some splattered through out the chapter, so feel free to skip over that should you come across any. If anyone hasn't guessed, I'm not very familiar with writing adult scenes, and I tend to get a bit flustered whenever I try, so I tried my best for the scene at the end of the chapter, but I'm not sure if I pulled it off well. The scene that is closer towards the beginning was requested, and is suppose to hold more comedic value.
I am not J.K Rowlings and earn no money from this story.
/
"Five minutes," Ginny said coldly, her voice muffled by the thick wood of the door. "That's all I'm allowing you."
"Thank you for letting me see my daughter, Ginevra," said a male voice from the other side of the door.
"Parker," Hermione whispered with wide eyes.
The kitchen was silent as everyone heard the pair walking down the hall.
Hermione nibbled on her bottom lip again. She paused seeing Octavian trying to rip the door off its hinge. "Octavian, what's wrong?"
"Sally in bavroom," he replied.
"Shit," Hermione muttered. "Ginny won't let her be hurt, Octavian, you know that. Trust Ginny."
Octavian sighed and slowly relaxed against the door.
"He's here to see Persephone?" Brian asked.
"Yes, but I don't know why he wouldn't wait until in the morning. Is he travelling?" Hermione asked Jessica.
Jessica shook her head. "I don't have him down for a trip for another three weeks."
"Then what does he-"
"Shh," Draco hissed.
Hermione turned and saw that Draco had the receiver for her room in his hand and turned it on.
"Has she asked about Melissa at all?" Parker asked Ginny.
"No, I don't think it's sunk in, then again, she didn't think highly of Melissa, did she?" Ginny replied.
"Melissa was more forceful in her parenting," he said slowly.
"Oh yes, and very hands on," Ginny spat.
"Will you never let that go?" he hissed.
"No," Ginny replied honestly.
They were silent for a moment, before Parker asked her, "Are you planning on standing in the doorway the whole time?"
"Yes."
"Whatever for?"
"Because the hall light is on and I can see into the room better."
"You don't trust me with my own daughter?" he asked.
"She's not your daughter, Parker."
"Ginny, what are you doing?" Hermione hissed even though Ginny couldn't hear her.
"She is legally," Parker retorted.
"Yes, but not in the way that matters."
Parker exhaled loudly. "I notice that things are being packed. Is she redecorating?"
"Moving," Ginny replied smoothly. "I thought that as a wedding present I would do all of her packing for her."
"Yes... Tell me... Did she borrow your dress?" Hermione could hear his smirk.
"What dress?" Ron asked quietly.
"I'm sorry, Parker, do I look like a gown type of girl to you?"
"You know which dress I mean, Ginevra," Parker whispered.
Hermione looked over at Lucius and saw that he looked just as confused as she did.
"Apparently, Parker, I do not."
"The wedding dress that you have hidden underneath the floorboards in Hermione's kitchen, Ginevra. Surely you remember it now? Or do I need to go and get it to refresh your memory?"
Everyone's gaze went towards Lucius, whose face was a mask of calm.
"No," Ginny replied in a choked voice. "I recall the dress now."
"I'm sure that you do... It took me quite some time to figure out why I couldn't find out anything about you under the name Ginevra Weasley, and imagine my surprise to discover that Weasley isn't your last name at all, is it?"
"No, it isn't, but I fail to see how that's relevant-"
"It's relevant, my dear Ginevra," he began, slowly sounding out the syllables of her name. "Because it is proof that you are a liar and a whore, just like I told Hermione from the start. All you want is money-"
"That's not true," Ginny snapped.
"Oh, it isn't? Is your husband not from one of the richest family owned vineyards? Or do I have another man by the same name?"
"You are correct, but I have none of it."
"Yes," he said dryly. "I'm sure that you spent it all on heroin, among other things, and I'm sure that your brother squandered it as well."
"You are mistaken," Ginny told him slowly.
"Then where is it, because judging from your frumpish wear I would say that you have none."
"I owe you no explanations," she said to him firmly.
"Be careful, Freckles," Jerome whispered.
"How much of a threat is he?" Harry asked.
"Well... I think he tried to run her over once," Jessica admitted. "But I'm not sure."
Hermione groaned. Stupid stupid Ginny always digging her nose where it's needed at the worst possible times in history.
"That explains the motor vehicle phobia," Severus said.
"Indeed," Lucius bit out in between gritted teeth.
"How do I get to the space underneath the floorboards?" Draco asked.
"Draco," Lucius snapped.
"You're as curious as I am, so don't speak to me like that! She's obviously hiding something from you."
"She will tell me when she's ready," Lucius said firmly.
"Or she won't," Draco replied. He turned back to Hermione. "Where?"
"It's underneath the table. All you need to do is move the middle chair and tap the floor directly under the center of the table," Hermione replied.
Draco nodded and pulled out the chair. After tapping the correct tile, it sunk in and slid underneath the next one, and the next three rows did the same. He looked over at Hermione with an arched brow.
"After the burglary we became very... Thorough with hiding our valuables," Hermione explained and bent down. "Spread out people, we'll need the room."
Severus shrunk her dining set and set them on the counter beside him. "I'll place them back when we're done," he told her.
Hermione nodded to him.
"How deep is it?" Draco asked.
"Up to your thigh, maybe," Hermione said.
Draco jumped down and bent onto his knees. "How far does it go, Granger?"
"It connects to a sewer down the street. It's for emergencies only."
"It's not very big."
"It's for Persephone's use," Hermione explained. "She was here when the house had been broken into..."
"What did they want?" Harry asked her.
"Ginny and I weren't sure. He never said what it was that he had wanted. I don't have much of anything that could be considered valuable. I have my piano, but that's really all."
"Your piano is valuable?" Ron asked.
Hermione nodded. "It's an antique."
"Let's see... The only thing down here is a Hogwarts trunk," Draco said.
"It's mine. She could have easily hidden something in there."
Draco easily lifted it and set it on the floor beside Hermione. "Alohamora," he said after pointing his wand at the lock.
Nothing happened.
"It's not that simple," Hermione murmured. She knelt before the box and slowly ran her hands along the top. She leaned towards the lock and whispered in a seductive voice, "Alohamora."
The lock clicked open and the trunk opened to reveal all of Hermione's school books.
Several throats were cleared.
"Where did you learn that trick?" Ron asked her.
"A book," she replied, and began to empty the trunk of it's contents. "Well I know that this isn't mine." She pulled out a long white box and handed it to Draco after a moment's hesitation.
He lifted the lid slowly, and peeked inside. "Oh, damn," he murmured.
Lucius sighed and began to stroke the snakehead on his cane.
"There's a marriage certificate," Draco mumbled and held it out towards his father who looked down at the paper with disdain.
Severus stepped forward and took it. His brows rose after his eyes scanned the paper.
"What?" Hermione asked.
"Oh, I'm sure it's nothing, Granger, but your brother's name is down as a witness," he said.
"What?" Brian hissed and snatched it from him. "Did you know about this?" he asked Jessica.
Jessica shook her head.
"This just... It doesn't add up, sis," he said to Hermione. "Why was I there?"
"I don't know," she said. "When is it dated?"
"January 5th of 1998," Brian said.
"That's just days after Persephone was born... Why didn't she-"
"You've had longer than five minutes, Parker," Ginny said softly. "It's time for you to leave."
"Draco, what's wrong?" Hermione asked.
"The dress is in the box," he replied in a whisper.
Hermione turned towards him and looked inside. "Help me get it out," she murmured, and reached inside.
"Perhaps you should think about this again before you pull it out of the box, Granger," Severus said to her as he glanced over at a stiff Lucius.
Hermione looked at him and said, "She shouldn't be able to hide anything from me." She began to pull the dress out of the box.
It was a white, shoulderless, a-line dress, with a dark green train that was attached to the back, and had silver rope crossing over the middle.
"Was she really married in Slytherin colors?" Neville asked with an arched brow.
"So it would seem," Luna replied with a smile.
"Have you reconsidered my offer, Ginevra?" Parker asked on the other side of the door.
Everyone's gaze flew towards the door of the kitchen.
"Turn on the other receiver," Draco hissed towards Brian.
"What are they doing in here?" Hermione asked as Brian quickly followed Draco's command.
"We moved them in here while we were cleaning off your shelves," Draco replied.
"Choose your next words wisely, Ginevra," Parker bit out.
"Every time you ask me that, I give you the same answer," Ginny said to Parker. "I'd die first."
"Well," he said smugly, "That can always be arranged."
"Take one step closer to her and it will your last," said a firm confident voice.
Everyone looked towards Octavian in surprise. He merely smiled in response.
"What's this? The mouse has a backbone after all. Tell me, mouse, have you killed any step-fathers lately?"
"No," Sally said. "But it's never too late to start again."
"Go, Sally," Hermione murmured.
"Oh, and you think that you'll be able to handle me, mouse?" Parker asked her, his voice holding a sinister edge.
"I can handle anything that you dish out, Parker. Pregnant or not," she replied.
"Pregnant? And here I thought that you had just gotten fat."
"Oh, don't play macho, Parker. We three know of your weakness for pregnant girls," Sally replied in a voice of soft silk.
Parker sighed. "When are you leaving?"
"In the morning if I can," Ginny said.
"Alone? I hadn't realized that you'd gotten over your fear of vehicles."
"You won't bait me, Parker," Ginny told him.
"Pity." Parker sighed. "Do you... Have enough money to pay for a hotel or something?"
"I'm not following," Ginny said slowly.
"When will Hermione be back?" he asked.
"A few more days, I guess."
"Do you... Have enough to cover for Persephone while she is gone?"
"Oh... Yes, I should be fine."
"Your brother won't steal it the moment you walk into your apartment?"
"No. I'm going to stay with a friend until Hermione returns so that isn't the case."
"I see. A most practical decision on your part."
"I'm full of them."
"Indeed. Well... Let us hope that you'll have more further down the road. Thank you... For letting me see her, Ginevra."
"You're the only father that she's ever known, Parker. Why would I keep you from her?"
"You are... Kinder than you are given credit for."
"Thank you for noticing," she said crisply. "Don't let the door hit your arse on the way out."
Parker chuckled a rusty laugh.
"Parker," Ginny called.
"Yes?"
"In all the years that I've known you, your first name has never been mentioned. Would you care to share it with me?"
"Thomas," he said nonchalantly. "A word from the wise... A lioness can only protect her cubs for so long, pet."
The door clicked closed.
"I hope you believe me now," Ginny said as she locked the front door and opened up the kitchen door.
The first thing that happened was that Octavian moved her out of the way to take Sally into his arms and hold her closely. The second thing that happened was Ginny noticed several people holding up a dress. Not just any dress. Her dress.
"What are you doing?" Ginny asked Hermione.
Hermione turned towards her and gasped. "Oh, your face! You poor dear, here let me..."
"Stop," Ginny said sternly.
Hermione faltered in her approach. "What's wrong?"
"I expected you to peek inside of the box, not pull the damned dress out of the box," Ginny snapped and slowly walked towards Draco. "Hand it here." Her hands reached out for the dress.
"You're covered in blood," he said, and his gaze flicked towards his father.
"Not all of it is mine. My dress, please, ferret, unless you intend to wear it."
Hermione fought to stifle a laugh at Draco's horrified look.
"It's very pretty," Ron said softly. "I would have liked to see you in it."
Ginny grabbed the dress and slammed it into the box. "Some things are better left in the past." When she turned back towards Hermione, Lucius grabbed her by the shoulders.
"Are you still married?" he asked.
"No," she cried.
"Divorced?" he asked much slower.
She shook her head slowly. "Widowed," she said.
"Did you love him?" Ron asked from behind her.
Ginny shook her head. "He was a good friend. He was... Well, that's neither here nor there," she said as she took the certificate from Brian and placed it inside. She closed the box and carried it into the sitting room to place it with her things.
Hermione rolled her eyes seeing Octavian and Sally embracing. "Go into the kitchen, and close the door," she said.
"Oh," Sally's face took a rose colored hue as Octavian picked her up and quickly moved into the kitchen.
"Newlyweds," Ginny and Hermione said with a smile.
"Did he hurt you?" Hermione asked after a moment.
Ginny shook her head. "Not really. He dragged me into the car with him, but that's it. He barely talked on the drive here. You heard his name?"
"I did," Hermione said. "And I heard what he called you."
"What do we do?" Ginny asked.
Hermione massaged her brow. "I don't know. None of this makes sense anymore. Let's just... All of my supplies are in the kitchen," she sighed.
Ginny looked down at ground, and trudged towards the kitchen door. "Forgive me for intruding," she began, as she opened the door, and walked in, "But Hermione needs her medical supplies to repair my face."
The couple didn't reply, because they were too busy kissing on top of the table.
Hermione laughed and covered her face with her hands. "Oh, Jesus Christ," she muttered.
"Malý," Octavian groaned.
"Why must you people always do things like this at my house?" Hermione asked.
"Because it annoys you so much," Jerome replied smugly. "And it's sexy as hell."
Hermione huffed out a breath.
"Damn, she's riding him like an animal," Ginny called from the kitchen.
"Ginevra, grab those supplies and get out the kitchen, immediately," Lucius snapped. "Stop being such a perverse miscreant."
Ginny squeaked, hopped out of the kitchen, and closed the door. "Yes, sir!"
"Oh... Could you get a steak for your eye?" Hermione asked.
"You're going to feed her eye a steak?" Ron cried.
"But... I just," Ginny looked at the door and then at Lucius who was glaring at her. "Oh!" She opened the door, and charged in.
"Oh, bear! Bear, please!"
"Dieťa!"
A loud thudding could be heard.
"I can't find the steaks," Ginny cried with horror.
Hermione laughed. "Try the other freezer, dear."
"Ah," Ginny growled and ran into the pantry. "Why the bloody hell must you have two freezers? Is the one not good enough for you? Sweet Merlin, Octavian, I do not need to see that much of your inner thigh, thank you."
"She's taking this rather well," Draco said with a laugh.
"You know you appreciated the view," Jerome called into the kitchen.
"I'm surprised that they are... Continuing their... Lovemaking," Severus said after clearing his throat.
"When you have a family like this, you realize that there are never moments where you can't. Ginny and I use to snog all the time at the arena," Hermione replied.
"These things just happen," Jessica agreed.
"You just had to put the bloody steaks at the bloody bottom of the bloody freezer, didn't you?" Ginny yelled.
Sally made a gleeful shriek from the kitchen. "Harder, Octavian, harder."
"Oh Merlin, get me out of here," Ginny whined.
"Nie, I could hurt you, dieťa," he replied.
Sally whined.
"Fine, áno, áno, áno."
Sally cried out in pleasure.
"Milujem ťa," Octavian panted.
"I love you too!"
"I'm going to be sick," Ginny cried. "Why can I not find the steaks?"
"You vere so brave to stand up to Parker," Octavian murmured. "I'm so proud of you. I vish I could have seen you. I'm sure your eyes glittered like diamonds."
"Damn," Hermione muttered.
"Who knew he was such a smooth talker?"
"Oh," Sally said in a flustered voice.
"Come vif me, malý. Come vif me."
"Well when you put it that way, I may as well climax too," Hermione muttered.
Jessica giggled behind her hand. "His voice does have quite the affect, hm?"
Severus mumbled something under his breath.
"I'm sorry, what was that, lamb?" Hermione asked as she fluttered her lashes towards him.
"Her ear! Lick her ear," Ginny snapped from the pantry.
"What? Ginny! No, bear! Don't-" Sally broke off with a scream and Octavian followed with a bellow of his own.
"I have finally found the steak! Next time you can get your own bloody steak," Ginny snarled as she stomped out of the kitchen, but stopped to lean against the door. "I'm so angry I see red."
"That or you have blood in your eye," Severus muttered.
"Is that what that is?" she asked. "I'm tired, Hermione, can I just... Collapse here?"
Lucius walked over to her, picked her up, and carried her over to the piano bench.
"Jess, can you go fill this with warm water? Use the sink in the bathroom," Hermione handed a bowl to Jessica.
"Yes, of course," she said and walked away.
"What happened to your face?" Hermione asked.
"I got swung into a support beam," Ginny whispered. "Luckily I hadn't been that far away from it. Word of warning, the Irish dude, whatever his name is, he's scary. A complete monster. I thought he was going to eat me!"
"And I'm sure that was a tempting thought," Jerome teased. He frowned a moment later when Ginny made no rebuttal. "No threat against my manhood? Are you sick, freckles?"
"Just tired," she sighed as she leaned against Lucius' shoulder.
"Here, Hermione," Jessica said and handed the bowl back. "I got some cloths too."
Hermione smiled. "Thank you. This may sting, Ginny."
"Bring it on," Ginny groaned. She hid the right side of her face against Lucius' arm.
Hermione dabbed a cloth in the water and slowly began to clean Ginny's face. "How did you do?" she asked breathlessly.
"I won the pot," Ginny murmured.
"You won the pot?" Sally shrieked from the kitchen doorway.
"Yeah," Ginny said with a sigh.
Hermione isn't sure how it happened, but somehow her face got pressed into Ginny's breasts as several objects pressed against her back.
Ginny cried out in shock, and then in pain when Hermione tried to squirm away from her.
"Cracked rib?" Hermione asked as lifted her head on Ginny's chest.
"Two," she croaked.
"Sorry, freckles," Jerome said with a grimace.
"Don't worry about it," she murmured as she looked down at Hermione. "We all know that I've been hurt worse."
Jessica nodded sadly. "At least you aren't in the hospital."
Ginny shuddered. "Just patch me up so that I can shower."
"As you wish," Hermione muttered and pried herself off of Ginny's chest. She slowly wiped the blood from Ginny's cheek. "We need to find you a quicker way to earn money."
"Turning tricks on Knockturn Alley?"
"Ginevra," Lucius said sharply.
"What?" she hissed. "Mum told me that's where I'd end up when I went back home."
"She did?" Ron asked.
Ginny nodded. "She tried to give me a mother daughter talk about aborting Kaiden. I told her something not very nice, and then she replied with something not very nice, and it went on and on. I left and," Ginny stopped to wave her hand around the house. "Got all of this."
"Kaiden's father was your husband?" Hermione asked. "How did you hide him from me? Was my husband in on it?"
Ginny nodded. "Can I talk about all of that later?"
Hermione pursed her lips.
"Oh, don't give me that look. You've been tossing all of my secrets out in the open to hide your own. Don't think I'm not on to you, missy."
"I have nothing else to talk about," Hermione said defensively.
"Sure you don't," Ginny muttered with a grimace.
"You need stitches," Hermione murmured.
"What next?" Ginny cried.
"Well, we'll need to see the rest of you for that," Jerome said eagerly.
"Perverted bastard," she hissed.
"Can we remove him from the room?" Lucius asked Hermione.
Ginny grinned maniacally. "Octavian," she said in an overly sweet voice. "Big bad Jerome is picking on me again." She even pouted.
Octavian chuckled and picked up Jerome and locked him inside of the kitchen.
"So much better," Ginny sighed with relief.
"Quieter definitely," Hermione agreed.
"You two are horrible," Jessica said with a giggle.
"True, but it was for his own benefit," Hermione replied. "Unless you want Lucius to tear him apart limb from limb."
"My dear, I would never stoop to such a level," Lucius said with a sniff.
"Who are you trying to fool?" Ginny asked dryly.
"No one," Lucius said. "I wouldn't tear him limb from limb, but I would certainly maim him."
Ginny leaned away from him to straighten up and kissed his cheek.
Lucius froze on the seat and slowly looked over at her as she sighed and rubbed her cheek against his shoulder like a cat.
"I understand the petname now," Severus said with an amused smirk.
"Octavian, could you bring me the whiskey above the sink, please?" Hermione asked.
"Ya," he said and sauntered into the kitchen. He came back and handed her the bottle.
"Oh! I could use a good drink," Ginny said and reached for the bottle.
"No," Hermione and Lucius said in unison.
Ginny leaned back with a pout.
Hermione poured the whiskey over the needle, and then turned to Jessica. "What do I have in my kit?"
Jessica turned and peeked into the bag. "I see... Some antiseptic wipes, bandages, gauze, and there's some fishing line."
"Hand me the line," Hermione said and grabbed it from Jessica. She poured the whiskey over a very long strand of the fishing line. She tied it off at the end and slid the top into the eye of the needle. "Pour some of the whiskey onto the cloth, please."
Jessica did as Hermione asked and handed it back to her.
"This might sting a little," Hermione murmured, and placed the cloth on the cleaned cut.
"Might," Ginny hissed, as she tried to jerk away.
Lucius wrapped his left arm around her face to hold her in place, and grabbed her hand with his right.
Hermione heard him whispering into Ginny's ear, but had the decency not to comment. "Ready?"
"No," Ginny whimpered.
"She's ready," Lucius replied.
Hermione slowly began to stitch the cut along Ginny's face.
"Can't you use magic or medicine to numb the pain?" Ron asked when Ginny whined.
"No," Ginny, Lucius, and Hermione snapped.
"What? Why not?" he asked.
"I'm a drug addict, you dunce," Ginny hissed.
"Well, I beg your pardon, but I don't do things like that," he said defensively.
"Surprise, surprise," Hermione mumbled to herself. "Is this your only serious injury?"
"I'm pretty sure," Ginny replied. "Parker checked me over before tossing me in the car."
"Probably because he didn't want to get blood in it," Brian muttered.
Ginny nodded.
"Alright then... You're all patched up," Hermione said as she pulled away from Ginny. "Just let me cover it up, and then you can go and shower."
The moment Hermione was done, Ginny gave Lucius another kiss and sprang into the bathroom.
"Think she'll sing?" Harry asked.
Hermione nodded. "She always does. It's something she can't control. Where are Sally and Octavian?"
"They went into the kitchen to keep Jerome company. I'll be going in there too, if you don't need me," Jessica said with a smile.
"No, no, thank you for your help."
"Anytime. That's what sisters are for," Jessica said with a smile and walked into the kitchen.
"It only took about ten years, but you two are finally getting along," Brian sighed.
"Well... I'm allowed to be territorial of you. I'm your little sister," Hermione said defensively. "Who else was going to protect me from the monsters in the closet?"
Brian smiled down at her and pulled her in for a hug, but then he pulled away to look at her. "No more secrets," he said and wagged a finger at her.
"None," she said with a nod, and wrapped her arms around her brother's waist.
"Nothing would ever be the same... My heart would take wing, and I'd feel so alive, if someone like you found me..." Ginny's voice carried from the bathroom.
"She chose a big song today," Hermione said curiously.
"What is it?" Lucius asked.
"It's called Someone Like You from the musical Jekyll and Hyde."
"So many secrets I've longed to share. All I have needed is someone there..."
"She's in a good mood," Hermione said as she moved away from Brian.
"What is this song about?" Lucius asked as he looked towards the hall.
"A prostitute that has fallen in love with a doctor who suffers from dissociative identity disorder and is contemplating her feelings for him," Hermione replied with a shrug.
"Oh? Is that all?" he asked.
Hermione laughed.
"What was that?" Brian asked.
"What was what?"
Everyone was silent, and Hermione noticed that Ginny had stopped singing.
Hermiones blood ran cold as Ginny released an ear splitting scream.
Lucius was the first at the door. "Kitten, what's wrong?" he asked as he opened the door.
Ginny was pressed against the back of the tub, looking down in fright.
"Ginevra, what-" Lucius broke off when a large snake began to slither up her leg.
"Oh, my god," Hermione gasped from behind him.
"Remain absolutely still," Severus said with his hands outstretched towards Ginny.
Ginny whimpered as it's scales caressed her waist and travelled along her back.
"If you can," he murmured.
The snake trailed it's body around her side and up to her breasts.
"Don't just stand there," Ginny cried.
"We aren't sure what to do," Hermione snapped.
"Everyone, just calm down," Lucius said softly.
"And stop looking at me," Ginny snapped.
Lucius stood up straighter and glared over his shoulder. Almost everyone scrambled to stand further down the hall.
"Someone go and wake Persephone," Hermione said.
The snake's tail stroked Ginny's inner thigh, and then moved higher.
Ginny's eyes grew wide.
"That snake is asking for it," Lucius hissed.
"Lucius," Ginny squeaked in a broken whisper.
"I know, kitten. Calm down."
Ginny let out a weak laugh.
The snake's tail flicked in between her thighs, and Ginny spasmed against the wall almost slipping.
Lucius moved forward but froze when the snake hissed at him and rubbed it's face against one of Ginny's nipples.
"Hermione," she whimpered.
"Hush," Hermione cooed. "Everything will be fine."
"Mama? What's wrong?" Persephone asked with a voice thick from sleep.
Hermione quickly covered Persephone's eyes and held her in her arms. "I need you to speak with this snake here."
"Where?" Persephone's voice was filled with fear.
"It's over here," Ginny croaked. "Please, sweetheart, can you help?"
"Is it hurting you?" Persephone cried.
"Hurting... Isn't the word that I would use."
Hermione closed her eyes as her daughter began to speak with the snake.
"It's not my friend, Mama! It's a bad snake! He said to destroy it if it came again!"
"We would, sweetheart, but it might bite Gingin."
"He says that Gingin is really pretty, Mama," Persephone said slowly.
Lucius growled.
"He also says that Lucius needs to back up or else he's biting Gingin on her..." Persephone faltered.
Lucius quickly moved back. "What else does he want?" Lucius hissed.
"For you to shut your pompous trap..."
"I'm going to make my ex wife a purse of this worm," Lucius spat.
"Strike two," Persephone said in a shaky voice.
Lucius wisely kept quiet.
"What does he want?" Hermione asked her calmly.
The snake flicked his tail again and again, and made a sound almost like laughter when Ginny released a frightened cry.
Lucius jerked forward again, but moved back as the snake grew larger.
"Oh, my god," Ginny squealed. "Get him off! Get him off!"
"Ginevra, hush!"
"He's laughing again, Mama," Persephone said.
The snake slithered along Ginny's breasts and slowly licked the valley in between her breasts.
"Someone please kill me now," Ginny cried.
"Ginevra, hush," Lucius growled.
"You hush! You're not the one being molested by a perverted reptile!"
The snake moved around and under her arm to poke it's head above her shoulder, where he nuzzled the skin along her neck.
"Oh, aren't you sweet?" Ginny asked in a martini dry tone.
"He said that he's good in the sheets too... What does that mean?"
"It means that he sleeps well," Severus replied smoothly.
The snake laughed again.
"He's an animagus," Hermione murmured.
"Oh, great," Ginny whimpered.
"He says that you have lovely... You can't really expect me to say that word, do you? That's a bad word," Persephone said. After a moment, she added, "You have lovely curves, Gingin."
"It keeps getting better. How do I get him off-"
Persephone froze. "I don't think I should repeat that, so I'm not going to. Oh, he's complimenting your parenting, Mama."
"How considerate of him," Hermione said.
"For a lizard without legs," Ron muttered from the hall.
"Strike three," Persephone whispered.
The snake grew even larger, and darted across the room, through the doorway, and down the hall, all the while keeping his tail wrapped around Ginny's ankle and dragging her through the house.
Ginny managed to catch the corner of the wall, and tried to push away from the snake, but he grew even larger and threw her towards the glass door.
"Bombarda," Hermione cried and aimed at the snake.
He flicked his tail in annoyance and sent her flying backwards.
"Mama!" Persephone ran to her mother and hissed at the snake when he moved towards them.
Lucius and Severus came through the hall, and aimed their wands towards the beast, but he turned towards Ginny and slammed his head into her gut, and sent them both through the glass door.
Hermione rose shakily to her feet. "Stay with Sally," she told Persephone and shot another spell at the snake. "Get away from her!"
The snake hit Ginny with his tail and she flew into the far fence clutching her side.
Hermione shot curse after curse at the snake, but even in his enlarged state she couldn't hit him. "Ginny, move!"
"I can't," Ginny groaned.
Lucius and Ron tried to run to her, but the snake smacked them both away with his tail.
"Ginny, crawl if you can," Harry said to her.
Ginny released a whimper as she began to do just that. After three paces forward, the snake caught her by the ankle with his tail. "Lucius," she screamed as it dragged her back and into Hermione's only tree.
"You bastard," Ron cried and charged for the snake.
"Weasley, you dolt," Severus hissed. "Go get your boyfriend, Potter."
"Boyfriend?" Harry squeaked. He looked towards Ron, but the snake had whipped his tail out, so Ron was flying back towards him. They both crashed to the ground.
"Not your best day, is it?" Hermione asked them.
Lucius looked over towards Ginny and sighed with relief when she moved.
"Why aren't you using your curse, Snape?" Harry asked.
"Because, I could hit your lover's sister, or a little girl's mother. It's got range, Potter! Why do you think I never actually taught it?" Severus snarled.
"It was one time, man! Let it go," Harry groaned.
"I won't," Draco said with a chuckle.
"Gentlemen," Lucius said in as calm a voice as he could muster, "We have other, and far more pressing matters at hand."
Ginny slowly picked herself up and staggered around the tree.
"Ginevra," Lucius called.
"Oh, Merlin, kill me now," she muttered before the snake snagged her again by one ankle. "Hermione, please tell me that you're about to kill me."
"Sorry, dear, but I can't do that," Hermione said as she shot a hex towards the snake, but he moved out of the way.
He tossed Ginny to the ground and stared down at her quivering body. His large head was almost the length of her body now.
She screamed when he opened his mouth.
Everyone froze and looked towards her.
The snake lowered his head-
"Ginevra!"
Ginny turned and looked over her shoulder as a much smaller snake lunged for the larger one. With a groan she rolled over and began to crawl towards the tree.
Hermione watched as two snakes hissed and lunged for each other.
"Mama," Persephone screamed from the doorway.
Both snakes looked towards her, and lunged at the same moment, but something stopped the larger snake.
"Ginny," Hermione cried.
Ginny had lunged for the beast's tail, and had managed to stop it's movement. It quickly turned towards her and let out a savage hiss.
"It's going to take a lot more than that to get rid of me," she taunted, and punched it in the nose before running to the other side of the yard.
The smaller snake wrapped his tail around Persephone's hand and led her back inside.
Lucius and Severus shot spells at the snake, but he easily dodged them and this time lunged for Hermione.
Hermione barely managed to roll out of the way.
The snake suddenly cried out, and looked behind himself to see that Ginny had dropped a cement block on the very tip of his tail. He yanked it out, and quickly wrapped himself around her and hissed.
Ginny screamed as the snake squeezed her.
"Ginny," Draco called and threw her her wand.
Ginny caught it, and aimed it at the snake's face. "Lumos solem!"
The snake cried out, and began to change shape into that of a naked man. "Little bitch," he hissed and snatched Ginny's wand before catching her by the back of her head and tossing her away.
Ginny caught herself with her hands, and turned back to kick his feet out from under him.
"Ginevra, you're both nude!"
Ginny looked towards Lucius, and tried to crawl away from the man, but he snatched her feet and pulled her to him. A fist to her stomach had her out of breath and gasping for air.
"Stupefy," Ron yelled and shot a spell towards the man who moved away with Ginny in his grasp.
"Stop shooting at him, you dunderhead! You could hit your sister," Severus hissed and popped Ron on the back of his head.
"They like you, don't they?" the man asked against Ginny's neck. "But then again, what fool wouldn't like you? With that creamy skin and fiery hair I'm sure that you have them eating out of your palms."
Hermione stood straight and aimed her wand.
"What are you doing, Hermione? That's my sister," Ron said.
"Aye, you wouldn't want to hurt the lad's only sister would you?" the man asked as he ran a hand along Ginny's face, and pressed a kiss to her shoulder.
"Why is it always me?" Ginny groaned.
"Hey, that's right! It's not me for once," Neville said cheerfully.
"This isn't the time, cub," Draco said to Neville tenderly.
"Right... Sorry, Ginny..."
"Lower the wand, and we will lower ours," Lucius said calmly.
The man looked at Ginny, and slowly lowered his wand. The others did the same.
"Now, what is it that you want?" Lucius asked.
"Honestly, I just wanted to ruffle up some feathers, but this girl is just lovely," he whispered as he nuzzled Ginny's neck.
Lucius growled.
"What are you a dog?" the man asked. "Does the little puppy not like having his bone played with? Although, I suppose that you're the one with the bone..."
"No, I'm pretty sure that's you," Ginny said dryly.
The man looked down. "Ah, so it is. I like gingers."
"That's it! I'm dying my hair!"
"No," Lucius and Hermione cried. They shared gazes and then looked back at her.
"No need for drastic actions, kitten," Lucius said.
"A kitten, hm? You must be great in bed," the man said to Ginny with a chuckle.
"You have no idea," Ginny replied.
Everyone froze and looked towards Ginny.
The man chuckled. "Perhaps I'll try and find out sometime."
Ginny spit in his eye, and hit his chin with the bottom of her palm. As he flailed for balance, she pushed him with all the strength she had left in her arms, and he teetered back to the ground.
"Ginny, stop," Hermione shouted.
The man sprang up and lunged for Ginny, but she lost her balance trying to dodge and fell.
"You've just made it all to easy," he said.
"No, I haven't," she replied coldly, and kicked him in his twig and berries.
"Oh," Draco said with a grimace.
The man grunted and fell over to cup himself for a moment, but then he turned and gripped Ginny tightly by the back of her head and yanked her close. He rose, and pulled her up with him. "Perhaps I should have you kiss that, hm?"
Ginny made no reply.
"Brave girl. That must be why he wanted you," he murmured, and then smirked when he saw Lucius step forward out of the corner of his eye. "I have no more use for you at this time, my lovely." He smacked her bum, and then threw Ginny towards Lucius, and smiled at Hermione. "We shall meet again."
"I look forward to it," she replied.
"Not as much as I do," he said and eyed Ginny, who was now in Lucius' arms. He held out a hand and drew a line in the air. A wand appeared in his hand, and he Disapparated.
"How hurt are you?" Hermione asked Ginny as she ran towards her.
"Well... A cut on my face is the least of our worries now," Ginny replied weakly and tried to hide herself against Lucius.
Hermione felt her resolve snap. She turned and stormed inside of the house. "Set up the sofa," she said to Jerome.
He looked at her curiously.
"Now!"
When he sprang into action to find it, she moved towards the box that she knew had the mirror for her sitting room. She unwrapped it, and stared inside. "So, you'll come for Ginevra, but when it's a mudblood like me, you won't? Oh, how charming of you!"
"You're trying to call him?" Severus hissed from behind her back.
"Yes," she snapped and turned back towards the mirror where she proceeded to knock. "Mister Dark Lord, your furious widow is calling you."
"Maybe he's busy," Ron offered from behind her.
"Or he doesn't want to handle his furious widow," Draco said with a smirk.
"Oh, you bastard," Hermione squealed.
"That's enough mirror talk for you," Severus said and picked her up under her arms and dragged her away from the mirror.
"Calm down, love," Ginny murmured. "He might be making business transactions."
Hermione looked at her. "He put you in danger, and you're defending him?"
"As if I have a choice in the matter," Ginny groaned as Lucius laid her out on the sofa.
"Gingin," Persephone cried as she ran from the kitchen.
Ginny sat up and wrapped her arms around Persephone, grimacing at the pain she felt.
Hermione sighed and began to massage her brow. "You maternal instincts are such a pain."
"As if yours aren't," Ginny retorted. "Who is this?"
Persephone's snake friend had wrapped himself around her neck like a scarf, and was staring at Ginny.
Severus turned pale. "Hm... Something in the kitchen looks fascinating, let me go observe it."
Hermione's gaze followed him as he walked into the kitchen, and watched from the doorway.
"This is my friend," Persephone said to Ginny. "Isn't he nice?"
"Very much so," Ginny said with a smile. "I'd have been a snack if not for him... It is a boy right?"
Persephone nodded with a giggle. "Mama, do you want to meet him too?"
Hermione sighed and sat down on the couch beside Ginny. "Hello," she said to the snake.
He wagged his head at her.
"Thank you for saving, Ginny."
He looked away.
"Well I certainly appreciate it," Ginny said.
"As do I," Lucius said as he looked down at Ginny and shrugged out of his cloak to wrap it around her.
"He came in through the drain," Ginny said to Hermione.
"It's loose?" Hermione asked.
Ginny nodded.
"I'll fix it first thing in the morning, sis," Brian said.
"I was so scared," Persephone whispered to Ginny as she tightened her arms around her.
Ginny stiffened and gritted her teeth to stifle her cry, but held onto Persephone tightly. "I'm fine. I will always be fine."
"Why?" Persephone asked as her snake nuzzled his face against her.
"Because I have you," Ginny told her and smoothed Persephone's hair back from her head.
Hermione smiled at Ginny, and glanced at the snake that was watching her carefully. "Isn't he heavy, sweetheart?"
"No, he's as light as a feather," Persephone replied to her mother. "Do you want to see him?" Persephone leaned over towards Hermione, but grew startled when Ginny hissed in pain. "You're hurt!"
"Just discovering some broken bones and failing organs," Ginny rasped.
"Severus," Hermione cried, and picked up Persephone to move her. "Stay right here with Luna, and make sure that your snake behaves."
"Yes, Mama," Persephone said.
Severus was casting spells over Ginny to see the problem when she returned to the sofa.
"How badly is she hurt?"
"Extremely," he murmured. "That should have been your first priority, Ginevra. Not Persephone."
Ginny winced as Lucius laid her out on the sofa again. "Sorry, dear, but I can't handle anymore mute children."
Lucius stroked her hair, and shushed her. "I'm sure that he would have been understanding..."
"No," Ginny said. "He hates me, and loves to hurt everyone I care about. He alienated me from my family, he's almost killed me more times than I care to count, he punished my son for something instinctual, and he..." she broke off with a groan. "Are you healing me yet?"
"I'm working on it," he said. "Hermione, you'll need to help me."
"Okay," Hermione said.
After some elegant wand waving, Severus looked at Hermione expectantly.
With a wince she tried the spell, and sighed when her wand flickered out.
"Oh, Severus, have mercy on my poor wounded flesh," Ginny cried.
Lucius shook his head at her with a smile, and bent to kiss her head.
Hermione tried again, and smiled when it worked.
"This will more than likely hurt, Ginevra," he told her.
Ginny whimpered.
"Squeeze my hand, kitten, if you think that it will help," Lucius said.
"Alright," she said and gripped his hand.
After a nod from Severus, Hermione cast the spell, which she knew would stop any internal bleeding and patch any wounds. Severus was mending her broken bones.
Ginny began to scream the minute the spell started, but broke off with a wail and spasmed through the pain. Persephone's sobs could be heard from the other side of the room.
Hermione stopped and looked at Severus. "Again?"
He nodded slowly.
Ginny had a fraction of a second to brace herself, and released a gasp.
Hermione stopped again and pressed a hand to Ginny's stomach. "You're fine now. How on earth could move if you were so injured?"
"I tap into my magic reserves and it combines with adrenaline. I'll go until it's done or I die," Ginny replied weakly. "Could I have some water?"
Hermione frowned. "How long have you... When... I don't understand."
"Pet and protector, love," Ginny groaned as she tried to sit up to drink the water that Brian handed her.
"He treats you like a dog," he said with disgust.
Lucius helped her hold the cup, and pulled it away from her after several swallows.
"Mm. You would think since I was the first he ever bonded with that he would like me more, but when he has used the four of us for his latest schemes I will be the first to go," Ginny said and looked over at Persephone. "Oh, come here, darling."
Persephone ran towards Ginny, but froze when a loud crash of thunder shook the house. She screamed and lunged for Ginny's body.
"Aw. It's just a storm, sweetheart," Hermione told her. She stroked Persephone's hair and Ginny rubbed her back. "The thunder can't hurt you."
Persephone shrieked as lightning struck outside, and the rain began to pound heavily on the rooftop. The snake rubbed his face along hers soothingly.
Hermione stroked her daughter's hair and looked at Ginny helplessly.
"It's just rain, sweetie," Hermione told her. "There is nothing to fear."
Persephone continued to cry.
Hermione looked at Ginny again, who nodded. She rose and walked around the sofa to sit at her piano.
"Kaiden's afraid of storms too," Ginny whispered.
Persephone froze. "Really?" she asked as she looked up at Ginny and wiped her eyes.
"Oh, yes. He called me some time ago during one, so I sang him a song that I'd heard on the radio. Would you like to hear it?" Ginny asked, and reached for the water.
Persephone sniffed and nodded her head.
Ginny handed the glass back to Lucius and turned to Hermione. "Do you remember it?"
Hermione nodded, and began to play a tune on her piano.
"Little child, be not afraid. The rain pounds harsh against the glass like an unwanted stranger. There is no danger. I am here tonight. Little child, be not afraid. Though thunder explodes, and lightning flash illuminates your tearstained face. I am here tonight," Ginny wiped the tears from Persephone's face and glanced at the snake as he watched her curiously.
"And someday you'll know, that nature is so... This same rain that draws you near me. Falls on rivers and land, and forests and sand, makes the beautiful world that you see in the morning." Ginny stroked Persephone's hair and held her gaze through a loud roll of thunder as Hermione played.
Persephone leaned into Ginny's chest, and held her tightly.
"Little child, be not afraid. The storm clouds mask your beloved moon, and it's candlelight beams still keep pleasant dreams. I am here tonight. Little child, be not afraid. The wind makes creatures of our trees, and the branches to hands. They're not real, understand, and I am here tonight."
Ginny's hands danced small circles across Persephone's back in an attempt to soothe her frightened nerves. "And someday you'll know, that nature is so... This same rain that draws you near me. Falls on rivers and land, and forests and sand, makes the beautiful world that you see in the morning."
"For you know..." Ginny grew silent, so Persephone looked upwards towards her face to see what was the matter. Ginny smiled sadly and continued, "Once even I was a little child, and I was afraid. But a gentle someone always came to dry all my tears, trade sweet sleep the fears, and to give a kiss goodnight. Well, now I am grown, and these years have shown, rain's a part of how life goes. But it's dark and it's late, so I'll hold you and wait 'til your frightened eyes do close." Ginny rested her head on top of Persephone's and met eyes with the snake again.
"Want to sing the chorus with me?" Ginny whispered to Persephone.
Persephone nodded with an eager smile.
"And I hope that you'll know, that nature is so... This same rain that draws you near me, falls on rivers and land, and forests and sand, makes the beautiful world that you see in the morning. Everything's fine in the morning. The rain will be gone in the morning..."
Persephone sang, "But you'll still be here..." at the same time that Ginny sang, "But I'll still be here..."
"In the morning," they finished together.
"I feel much better now," Persephone said with a smile.
"I'm glad," Ginny told her.
Hermione turned and leaned back against the piano with a sigh. "It's going to be a long night."
"It shouldn't be. You're going to sleep," Ginny told her.
"And what about you? You've just gotten your bloody arse kicked repeatedly, not to mention the fact that that man was all over you as a snake."
"I can't protect you or Persephone if I'm sleeping."
"Yes, but at this rate you'll be lucky if you ever get any sleep."
"It's what your husband wants."
"He's killing you, and you're not even trying to fight him."
"Why would I? We've already seen the things he does to me. I lost my family, I lost you, I lost my home, I lost my son, and-"
"Yes, but surely you don't think that this is quite what he meant?"
"I'd rather not take my chances, besides he's never noticed me working hard before, so why on earth would he notice now?"
Hermione sighed and bent over to hold her face in her hands. "What am I going to do with to do with you?"
"Nothing I would hope," Ginny replied.
Hermione sighed. "If there are four of us bound to him, then I want to find the other two. It could help you in some way."
"Their jobs won't be the same, love."
"That doesn't matter to me. What matters to me is that you can't take care of yourself if you're too busy taking care of Persephone and me."
"We've had this conversation, love," Ginny said with a sigh and looked down at Persephone's peaceful face, and the snake snuggled around her.
"I know."
"You feel guilty?"
"Yes," Hermione whined.
"Why? My bond was done before yours, and that was only because it made it easier to steal my soul."
Hermione massaged her temples. No one said anything of course. Everyone wanted to know everything they could about what the Dark Lord had done to them. "We need to break the bonds."
"It can't be done," Ginny said sharply. "I looked! My husband looked! Jerome looked! Octavian looked! Albus fucking Dumbledore looked! There is no way to break the bond."
"Your husband looked?" Harry asked.
Ginny shrugged.
"Who is... Was he?" Ron asked.
Ginny looked at him with such a hard stare that he raised his hands in surrender and backed away.
"Ginny," Hermione began.
"He's dead," Ginny said. "What more could you want to know?"
"Tell me why you kept him hidden from me, and I won't ask anymore questions," Hermione said to her.
"His family doesn't like me. They were against the marriage from the start, and after he died used any means necessary to screw me over. I lost the house, and the..." Ginny broke off to swallow, "The nursery he made..."
"You still haven't said why."
"I... I suppose you could say that I was given an ultimatum, even though I had no choice in the matter."
"So... They blackmailed you?"
"She," Ginny clarified. "His mother acted alone. She has been the matriarch of the family for years. After he died, she told me that I was no longer a member of the family and that I had to leave our townhouse, and she didn't even give me time to pack up my clothes."
"But you grabbed the dress?" Draco asked.
Ginny looked over at him. "We'd kept it in the closet by the front door. I was afraid that she would burn it or something. It's a one of a kind dress and was made by Cheshire Designs. I figured if anything I could sell it for a few quid."
"Few hundred thousand maybe," Draco said with a snort.
Ginny shrugged. "It held monetary value only. We had hidden the marriage license inside the box with the dress, and a friend had managed to get a hold of his death certificate for me, but I don't have much else. She even took my wedding ring..."
"She sounds like a horrid woman," Neville said.
"She is," Ginny said with a sigh.
"You were pregnant with Kaiden when your husband died?" Draco asked.
"Yes."
"How did his mother take the news?"
Ginny looked down at her hands and began to run her fingers through Persephone's hair gently. "She dragged me off to a muggle abortion clinic..."
"Dragged?" Lucius asked.
"My wand was snapped... And she had me by the hair. Her driver drove us there."
"Does she know that you kept the bab... Kaiden?"
"No. I haven't told a soul... I would fear for Kaiden's safety if she knew."
"Are you a witch or aren't you?" Severus hissed.
"I promised that I wouldn't harm her, so I won't. I've more things on my mind than how to annihilate a senile old troll from the face of the planet."
"Wait, your wand got snapped?" Ron asked.
Ginny groaned. "Please, please, just leave it be. I answered Hermione's question, so let's just leave it alone."
"She seems tired, mate," Harry said to Ron. "I'd let her win this one."
"Thank you, Harry."
"No worries, love," he said to her with a smile.
Hermione sighed. "Do you feel up to a shower? Or would you prefer a bath?"
Ginny sighed. "I'd rather just go play in the mud."
"While... Cute," Lucius said, "That won't help you get clean, and you have plenty of scrapes and cuts, kitten."
"Among other things," she muttered sadly.
The snake looked up at her, and watched a single tear trail down her cheek. His tail reached out to brush it away, but Ginny flinched away, and leaned closer to Lucius to avoid him. The snake went from looking betrayed to very sad.
"Brian, can you help Ginny get Persephone into bed, so that I can get a bath ready for her?" Hermione asked. She looked down at the snake. "I'm not sure what you intend to do..."
He nuzzled Persephone's face and snuggled up to her.
"Well, I guess that answers that."
Brian bent in front of Ginny and they slowly transferred her into his arms. "Snake dude, you're going to have to stay off my kids, okay? Your buddy scared them, and... Am I honestly talking to a snake?"
"Stranger things have happened I'm sure," Ginny said as she rolled her eyes.
"Especially lately," he said over his shoulder as he walked down the hall.
Ginny rose slowly to her feet, and wobbled forward. When she teetered to the side, Severus reached out and gripped her elbow to steady her.
"Do you think you can make it?" he asked.
Ginny jerked away from him. "I have no reason not to."
"Ginevra," Lucius said, "I really must insist-"
"Hush," she hissed. "If I can birth a baby on my own, then I should be able to walk down a hall on my bloody own!"
Hermione sighed. "I'll get your bath ready as you wobble down the hall. Octavian, can you make sure that she doesn't fall, please?"
Octavian nodded and leaned against the corner of the wall, and watched as Ginny slowly walked down the hall.
Hermione cautiously walked around her, and into her room. She smiled as Brian placed Persephone in bed. The snake looked up at her, and then coiled up near Persephone. Hermione wondered if she should get a lamp or something.
She perched on the edge of her tub, and held her face in her hands. She felt so lost.
"I thought you were going to have a bath ready," Ginny whined as she leaned against the doorway.
"I thought that we should shower you off first. To remove the dirt and grime. After that you can relax in a bath for as long as you like," she replied as she looked up at Ginny.
"Oh. That'd be nice," Ginny said with a dreamy sigh.
"Octavian, can you help her stand up under the spray while I clean her off?"
"Ya," Octavian said. "Okay?" He looked down at Ginny for confirmation.
Ginny nodded to him.
Hermione turned on the warm water and turned the knob for the shower spigot to activate. She opened the curtain, and moved to the side.
Ginny shrugged out of Lucius' cloak and stood in her naked glory before them.
"Damn, you're gorgeous," Hermione muttered.
Ginny's face flushed brightly. "Shut it!"
"Octavian, can you help her in?" Hermione asked. "I forgot to grab a towel. Oh, Ginny, where is Jerome's car?"
"In my jacket pocket. The keys are in the ignition," Ginny said as Octavian set her into the spray of the shower. She released a startled cry, but then relaxed under the water pressure.
Hermione nodded. She watched Persephone sleep for a moment, and walked towards the door, but she slowly turned and after two failed attempts was able to cast a warming charm over the snake, who looked at her gratefully in return.
"Jerome," she said as she walked down the hall.
"Yes, my queen?" he asked dryly as he sipped from a glass of wine.
Hermione walked into the guest bathroom and picked up Ginny's leather jacket, she was rummaging through the pockets as she walked into her sitting room. She tossed Jerome his shrunken car. "The keys are in the ignition."
"Oh damn," he muttered as he leaned forward to catch it. He inspected the car closely, "Not a scratch." His voice was filled with pride.
"Is she a bad driver or something?" Brian asked. "You and Lucius seem to be wary of her driving."
"Ginevra is an excellent driver," Lucius said from his spot on the couch. "It is just how she drives that can be worrisome."
Jerome nodded in agreement.
Hermione walked out of her kitchen and handed Jerome a piece of paper. "Get these things out of my clinic and bring them here. The sooner the better."
Jerome looked down at the list and frowned. "I don't suppose anyone wants to come with me?" he asked.
Neville stood from his spot on the floor with Luna and Draco. "I'll go. I'm curious to see the Arena and Hermione's clinic. If that's alright with you?" he asked Hermione.
Hermione nodded at him with a smile.
"Anyone else?" Jerome looked at Ron and Harry.
Ron and Harry looked at each other and then nodded.
"Why not?" Harry asked and walked towards the door with Ron trailing behind him.
"You're just oblivious aren't you?" Hermione asked with a look of amazement.
Harry licked his lips subconsciously, and hurried out the door.
"Stop picking on him," Ron told her and followed him out.
"Then he shouldn't make it so easy," she called, as she walked into her laundry room and grabbed several towels and carried them into her bathroom. "Oh, you're cleaning her off?"
"No, I've been taking care of that," Ginny said. "My back hurts."
"It's bleeding," Hermione told her.
"Lovely."
"Very." Hermione grabbed the cloth from Ginny and bent to clean her legs and feet. "That should do it." She turned and handed a towel to Octavian and turned off the water. "Put pressure on her back, Octavian, and then see if you can temporarily seal the wounds."
Octavian wrapped Ginny up in the towel and lifted her from the tub, and Hermione quickly began to clean it and then refilled it. She added vanilla bubbles for Ginny's pleasure. "I've turned the monitor on, so let me know if you need anything. With luck your scars will stay sealed until Jerome gets back."
When she turned Octavian had had to switch towels and was still adding pressure. "I had hoped that it would be over by now..."
Octavian shook his head. "Almost done. Just a little more."
Hermione frowned as Ginny grunted in pain and supported herself on the sink. "I'm sorry that it pains you so much," she said.
Ginny sighed. "It's not your fault. If anything it's..." Ginny grew quiet. "Are they sealed yet?"
Hermione grimaced. "Mostly."
"Mostly?" she hissed. Ginny moved away from both of them, and sighed. "Just go away. I can take care of this on my own."
"But-"
"Go. Away!"
Octavian and Hermione quickly left the room and closed the door behind them.
"Menstrual cycle?" Octavian asked.
"Not that I am aware of," Hermione bit out as she walked out of the room and into the hallway.
"What's wrong?" Brian asked from beside her piano.
"Nothing," Hermione hissed and turned to look at the markings on her wall. "It's nothing..."
"Are you sure, Granger?" Severus asked. "You don't seem well."
"I'm going out," she said firmly and walked back into her room to grab a jumper.
"Out? But it's pouring," he replied as he followed after her.
"I'm going for a run. I... I need to think," she said before she pushed past him to go towards her front door.
"And what good will that do?" he asked her. "You'll make yourself sick, and then you won't get anything done when you get to London. Unless, of course, this is your way of making sure that you don't get there."
"No, Severus, it isn't. If I honestly didn't want to go I wouldn't still be here. Persephone is here, and Ginny would find me if I stepped foot out of the city. I'm tired of being backed in a corner for a decision, so I'm going out to clear my head. I can't focus with this," she gestured to the star, "Breathing down my neck. Ginny will know if I need assistance, and I'll take my wand, so just-"
"Fine," Draco said to her from his spot on the sofa near his father.
"What was that?" she asked as she immediately deflated from her rant.
Draco looked over at her again. "We have been inconsiderate about your feelings thus far. Potter and Weasley are hopeful to get your old team together in hopes to restore you to your former Gryffindor glory. It's a possibility, but in my opinion there is no hope of bringing Hermione Granger, brightest witch of her age, to life again.
"You have become far too meek to become a proud lioness. A kitten would have a better chance-"
"Draco," Lucius said sharply.
He smirked at his father and turned back towards Hermione. "You think me wrong?"
"Excruciatingly," she said between gritted teeth.
"Then prove it," he replied and waved at her dismissively.
Hermione looked down at him blankly. With a sigh she turned, and walked out of her house, and slammed it closed behind her. She walked down the cemented pathway to the street and turned to the left. Inhaling deeply to get her wits about her, she took off down the pavement and into the rain.
She had wanted to leave the past behind, but that didn't seem possible now. Not if they needed her... Not if they wanted her. She had forgotten what it felt like to be a part of their family, and she wondered if they might become one again.
It seemed as if some days she could barely remember her days at Hogwarts, and others she would turn around and expect to see Crookshanks chasing Scabbers around the Gryffindor common room. Her life as a witch seemed to have happened in the blink of an eye.
Her husband never spoke of the Virginity Bond to her, even the one time that she had asked about it. She remembered how furious he had been when she showed him the book that she had found.
"Where did you find this?" he asked as he gripped the spine of the white book tightly.
"It was in the stack of books that you brought me from the library," she replied. "I thought that I was allowed to read it. It's a fascinating tale really. Did you know-"
"You are never to read this book again, is that clear?" he hissed.
"But why? The spell must be ancient! Look at how faded the words are-" she broke off when his other hand shot out to grasp her throat.
"This silly little story holds no academic value, and therefore it is useless. If you so much as mention this book to me there will be severe consequences. Am I understood?"
Hermione nodded vigorously, and sucked in oxygen the moment that he released her.
He looked down at her, and then the book, and then flung it into the fire.
Hermione tripped in the midst of her running and launched herself forward onto her hands and knees. She released a scream for her unshed tears. She released another for her fears. Another for the wasted years, and another, and another, and another.
She screamed until her voice grew hoarse, and let the rain wash away her anguish.
Splish. Splash. Splish. Splash.
Hermione moved to sit, and turned to look behind her. "Who's there?" she asked.
Splish. Splash. Splish. Splash.
The quickened steps moved closer, and Hermione looked upwards in fright... But she saw nothing. She moved her gaze lower and saw a small white rodent padding towards her. "Draco?" she asked it.
The white ferret nodded up at her and slowly climbed up into her outstretched arms and nuzzled her cheek soothingly.
"It's time to return the favor, hm?" she asked tearfully.
Draco nodded.
Hermione held him close and cried.
He staggered into a bedchamber and leaned against the bureau for support.
"Did it not go well?" asked a sultry voice from the other side of the room.
"Nay, my queen, all went well. They are moving her to London just as you wished," he replied breathily. "The ginger chit put up a tougher fight than expected."
"You underestimate the powers of the earth," she replied fluidly as she slid from the bed. The hissing of snakes filled the air. "She will stand firm until destroyed, Nathair. You should have learned that by now." With a wave of her hand the room filled with dim light, but she remained hidden in the shadows. "How was the other?"
"Not as broken as you would have liked. She stood strong, and practically reeked of power. The child has grown stronger as well."
Feminine laughter filled the air. "Of course she has. She is the child of Lord Voldemort. Why would she not be strong? Her mother was also an accomplished witch if my memory is correct."
"Yes, my queen."
"A most curious find this mudblood... We shall have to keep a closer eye on her, do you not agree?"
"Wholeheartedly," he replied.
"The time is drawing closer, Nathair," she said. "I can almost taste it in the air. The four shall be together soon, and when they are he will return."
"And when he does, my queen?" Nathair asked.
She walked towards him slowly, but turned away again and walked away with a sensual sway to her hips. "A promise was made, but not kept, Nathair, and that simply won't do, will it?" The queen leaned towards a post on her bed and cooed to the snake coiled around the beam.
"His bonds will be difficult to sever, Nathair. Their sanity is linked within the chain, and to break one of them would break all of them. We must think this through carefully before we take any other action."
"What do you wish to do?"
"Have the few watchers left remaining stay out of sight for the time being. I do not wish for any of them to be aware should I decide to have a little fun first." She smirked towards Nathair. "But... Enough about them. How are you? You seem to be injured."
"I was attacked by a smaller snake before I changed. The ginger witch seemed to know that I was an animagus from the beginning."
"Did she? It wouldn't surprise me if he had suggested the fact to her."
"Aye, but have no fear, my queen. I will be fine in the morning, I am sure."
"Are you going to retire now?" she asked with a small pout.
Nathair smirked at her and arched a brow on his handsome face. "Does my lady wish me not to?"
The queen flipped back the front of her dressing gown, and lounged on the bed. "I am quite sure that I could think of something else to keep us both occupied this night."
"As my queen wishes," he said with a grin, and strode to the bed.
She watched with a smile as he crawled over her and bent downwards to touch her lips with his. They both moaned into the kiss, and quickly moved to deepen it, but she drew back when he released a hiss. "What is the matter?"
"It's nothing," he assured her, and pulled her to him again.
Taking him at his word, her hands grasped his hair and held him closer. She turned her head to the side when his tongue sought entrance into her mouth and reached down to grasp him in her hand.
Nathair released a strangled moan.
She moved back and looked down at him. "What has been done to you, my mighty snake?"
He chuckled slowly. "She got me good, my queen. The ginger. I'll have to tell the men to not underestimate her aim."
The queen darted from the bed and around to his side. "Let me see," she whispered. "Perhaps I can heal what ails you."
Nathair slowly got off the bed and leaned against the post.
"Here, move here," she crooned. "That way I can see it in the light."
Not one to go against his queen, Nathair did as instructed. He looked up in surprise as one snake wound around his wrist and held it tightly against the post, and then another did the same for the opposite hand. "My queen?" he asked in a choked voice.
She slowly walked around him and knelt on her knees before him.
"A queen kneeling before me? Goodness me, the scandal," he murmured.
The queen laughed from below him, and looked up at him with a smile. "If I cared about what the courts said of me I wouldn't be here now, would I, my snake?"
Nathair shook his head slowly. "Am I wounded terribly, my queen?"
"Quite terribly, I'm afraid, dear snake," she replied gravely.
Nathair groaned in agony.
"But I know of a magic that can help you," she whispered. "Do you want to hear of it?"
"Enlighten me."
"I remember a time when I was very small I fell and scraped my knee as all children do. I ran to my mother and she sat me down and looked over the wound, and told me that the simplest magic was sometimes the strongest. She bent over me, and pressed a gentle kiss to my wound, and like magic it felt all better."
Nathair arched a brow at the ceiling. That sounded promising. "I think I recall hearing of this magic now."
"Do you?" she asked curiously with a smile as she gently trailed her fingers along the growing length of him. "Should I see if such a magic exists?"
"Please," he begged.
She leaned forward and pressed a chaste kiss to the very tip of him. "Do you feel any better? Or should I give you another?" she asked.
"Another, my queen," he bit out.
She pressed another kiss to him. "Now?"
"It still pains me," he told her.
"Does it, mighty snake? Should I perhaps add a little more to the kiss?"
He almost whimpered at her teasing tone.
She smiled, and slowly leaned forward. She opened her mouth and took the head of him between her lips and trailed her tongue along him. "Better?" she asked huskily.
"No, my queen," he gasped out.
"No? You must be dreadfully injured," she murmured sympathetically.
"Horribly, my lady."
"Perhaps I should be more vigorous with my attentions."
"Perhaps you should," he replied.
She nodded and took the head of him into her mouth again to lave attention to him with her tongue.
"Oh, my queen," he groaned.
"Must you call me that?" she asked as she pulled away.
"What?" he asked her with a foggy brain as he plummeted from his daze.
"All of this 'My Queen' and 'My Lady' nonsense, it really can be tiring, and it's such a mouthful! I have a name. Did you know that?"
"What?" he asked again.
"A name. I do have one. Just like you have one too, my mighty snake. Perhaps you would call me that rather than 'My Queen' during moments of exquisite passion?"
"Twould not be proper, your highness."
"Ugh, and there's another one," she scoffed. "Well... As your queen, I demand that you tell me why you will not address by my birth name. I call you by yours when you're pounding me into my furniture."
"Is now really the time for this?"
"Yes."
"It truly upsets you?"
"Immensely."
"Even walls have ears, my lady."
She looked at him thoughtfully. "While true, it is still annoying to not be addressed by some sort of endearment. We have been lovers for quite some time, and I would think that you would-" she paused when he arched his hips her face.
"You are a fierce viperess, ready to strike at any moment, and now that we have that out of the way, perhaps you could put that beautiful mouth of yours to better use, hm?"
She looked up at him curiously. With a sudden smirk, she took him into her mouth again and began to tongue him.
Nathair released a groan as she took more of him into her mouth. He could swear he felt the back of her throat. "My viperess," he murmured.
She looked up at him, and smiled before continuing.
He tugged against the snakes weakly. His head flew back as she began to suck almost furiously on him, and he longed to run his hands through her hair. He could feel it coming. The pressure in his loins. He should warn her. He should...
"I'm... Going to finish, my viperess," he gasped.
She didn't move away from him.
Nathair looked down at her. Should he hold back? Should he stop it? Could he stop it? "Viperess," he gasped.
The queen ignored him and after three more sucks, greedily accepted the offering of his seed.
He fell slack against the footboard, and looked down at her as he prayed for breath. "You're going to be the death of me," he muttered.
"Oh, I should hope not. There is still plenty that I wish to do with you," she said earnestly. With a hiss to her snakes they released him, and he fell to the floor before her.
His first action was to wrap his fingers in her hair, and the next was to pull her in for a kiss that left her breathless.
She smirked when he pulled away. "I take it from your gift of gratitude that you are healed?"
"Oh my viperess, if you only knew how much," he told her.
She smirked again and rose to saunter towards her bed. "Perhaps you would like to show me then?"
Nathair regained his composure, and walked along the other side of the bed. "Aye, my viperess, I will show you. But I feel that there is so much more gratitude for me to give you."
"Oh?" she asked with arched brows.
"Yes," he said as he slid across the bed towards her. With a snap of his fingers the snake that held him to the footboard, wrapped around her wrists and held her to the headboard.
"What are you doing?" she asked.
"Showing you my gratitude," he replied as he lowered himself to give her kisses.
She looked up as two snakes slid along her arms and down towards her breasts. She released a gasp as one them tweaked her nipple with his tongue. "Many of my people have shown me gratitude before, my snake. How do you know that yours will be any better?"
"I don't, but I suppose that we'll just have to find out," he replied before kissing her again and slowly trailing hot kisses down her body.
One snake crossed over her chest and the other slowly trailed down her stomach to a thigh.
The queen's body arched up with pleasure as Nathair slowly began to trail his fingertips along her inner thighs, but he never touched her center. The part where she wanted him the very most. "Oh, Nathair," she whined.
He chuckled warmly and gently pressed a kiss to her pelvis, and then to her thighs. "You're beautiful. Did you know that? Never have I seen such a beautiful creature."
"I'm a queen, Nathair, of course I'm beautiful."
"Aye, but you were just as beautiful as a princess."
"You noticed?" she asked coyly.
"A blind man would have noticed," Nathair snorted.
The two snakes slid back up the poles of the bed and eyed the couple.
She smirked at him. "I would have you enter me now."
Nathair looked up at her in surprise. "Right now? I was planning to-"
"I realize what you were intending to do down there, my mighty snake, and while I am quite sure that I would enjoy it... I would have you enter me now."
Nathair rose above her on the bed. "As my queen commands," he murmured before lowering his head to hers and slipping his tongue in between her lips.
The woman moaned against his mouth and arched her back as he slowly slid into her wet core. Love was such a costly emotion, but she wouldn't deny having a fondness for Nathair. She enjoyed the moments where they could entwine their bodies.
Nathair slid his arms under her thighs and lifted her slightly for a deeper penetration. He thrust in and out of her slowly with a roll of his hips that seemed to make her wanton.
"More, snake, more," his lady cried.
He looked down at her and hastily increased his pace. "Does this please you, viperess?"
"Yes! Please me more!"
One hand tangled in her long hair and yanked her mouth to his, and the other sought her soaked clit. He frantically circled the hardened nub with his fingers and pounded his queen into the plush of her mattress so fiercely that he thought they might fall through.
She moaned against his mouth and wrapped her legs around his waist and her arms around his shoulders. She held his body as close to hers as she could. It made the end all the sweeter.
She came with Nathair just behind her and laid panting on the bed, blinking the spots out of her eyes.
"It was too quick," he muttered as he rolled to the side of her, and rested a hand on the flat of her stomach.
"We will join again before the night is through," she said softly.
He looked over at her and genuinely smiled. "As you wish, my beautiful viperess."
She sighed and rose from the bed restlessly. Pacing to her window, she looked out at her kingdom. "They are coming together. One by one they will learn of their new magic. A curious thing that he left no way to help them through the ordeal. His pet barely survived on her own, and now his wife is going through the same metamorphosis. When Fire and Water finally reveal themselves they too will begin to change. I wonder how long it will take them to notice..."
"The pet noticed quickly enough," Nathair told her quietly from the bed. "Perhaps his wife will notice soon as well."
"If the pet tells her, then yes, she will, but if not... Perhaps that can be used to my advantage."
"But?"
"There is Fire and Water," she replied and turned to him.
"Which do you fear more?" he asked softly.
"I fear none of them," she snapped. "None of them alone... But together... They would be an unstoppable force. Fire and Water will need to reveal themselves soon, and when they do we will take them... One by one."
"And until they do?"
"We wait," she replied as she turned back to look out of her window.
/
Poor Severus, he just hasn't been having any luck with snakes since he arrived at Hermione's house is he? And what do you think happened to that steak that Ginny never put on her eye? And what will Nathair and his Mistress do while they wait for Fire and Water? My guess is Wizard's Chess.