The eagle among the lions
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Thank you to: Lugia'sChallenger13, Slytherin2616 & violetchalice59 for adding this story to your following list :)
Chapter 12
Albus looked at the gifted witch in front of him and sighed "Miss. Granger as you are aware Tom has been trying to reserve the effects that splitting his soul into many pieces did to him and his magic, he asked an intelligent wizard to help him however the wizard is unable to reserve all of the effects."
Hermione nodded as she knew this was going somewhere important.
Albus glanced over at Minerva before he continued and got a small nod from her "due to this Tom and Lord Slytherin have had a meeting about how the contract will be fulfilled now that Tom cannot fulfil the contract himself. They have decided to add a family to the Slytherin family tree who have always been loyal and members of the Slytherin house and it is Salazar who has the final say about who is a part of his family tree and who is not."
Hermione nodded again and knew where this conversation was heading; seeing as Lucius Malfoy was present in the office and he had no real business being a part of this meeting so Hermione had already guessed that the family that had been added to the Slytherin family tree was the Malfoy family and that it would be Draco who she would have to marry to fulfil her family's part of the contract.
Minerva stepped forward and put her hand on Hermione's shoulder "you do not have to worry my dear we have all cleared the family before it became official so that you wouldn't be marrying someone older than you or someone whose magical signature was weaker than your own."
Hermione nodded, she really knew it was Draco Malfoy now "so what you are all saying is that Riddle has passed on the contract to the new Slytherin honorary heir who is currently wearing the Slytherin uniform and has a magical signature to match my own."
Albus nodded and smiled at the young witch "do not fret my dear girl, we would not have all agreed to the union if we did not think it was in everyone's best interest."
Hermione felt herself getting angrier and angrier "you all decided on this, all of you?"
They nodded and Minerva placed her hand on Hermione's other shoulder "what the headmaster means is that we came to an agreement about which of your fellow Slytherin wizards it would be, we wouldn't agree to the change in contract if the wizard in questioning couldn't handle you and your intelligence."
Hermione bit her lip "you wouldn't agree to the change if Riddle had made say Crabbe or Goyle his honorary heir."
Albus chuckled "Merlin's beard no, you Miss. Granger need someone who can match everything you have to offer and we believe that we have found the right wizard and he himself has been told and signed a legal document that he himself is willing to marry you."
Hermione woke up the next morning hoping that everything had been one big nightmare but when she rolled over and saw the glowing legal marriage contract that had been drawn up by Riddle and the Malfoy family (her hunch had been right); she had also discovered that both Malfoy wizards' signatures lay on the bottom of the parchment along with Riddle's and Professor Snape's it was just the empty space that was waiting for hers.
Right now all she could hear was that Ginny, in the bed next to hers, was complaining about not having the right accessories to go with her dress for that night. The Christmas dance had rolled around and Hermione had promised Harry and Ginny that she would attend with them but after the night she had in Dumbledore's office she did not feel in the festive mood.
Hermione groaned which caught the red heads attention "morning Mione."
Hermione sighed and leant her head on the edge of her bed "Hey Ginny, about tonight."
Ginny shook her head "Nope not happening, you promised Hermione, c'mon."
Hermione looked down at the floor "Riddle changed the contract fulfilment between our two houses; he can't produce any heirs due to the extreme ramifications he did to himself so he added a very loyal Slytherin family to his family tree so that they can fulfil the contract."
Ginny jumped off her bed and laid down next to Hermione "ohh Hermione I'm sorry I should had waited up for you."
Hermione shook her head "its fine, the marriage contract is on the bedside table and guess who that honorary heir is."
Ginny snorted "like I have to even guess, Draco ferret Malfoy, not to kick you while you are down but won't that sully the pureblood Malfoy name."
Hermione shook her head "my parents were both purebloods making me a pureblood and I think being an heir to one of the founders houses trumps blood status, they currently bow down to a half blood."
The girls ventured out into the common room where Parvati ran over to the friends "is it true Hermione?"
Hermione looked confused at the witch so Parvati showed her the latest copy of the Daily Prophet 'Last pureblood heir of Rowena Ravenclaw found' and there at the bottom of the headline was a picture of Hermione. Ginny pointed to the bottom of the article where it read written by Rita Skeeter.
Hermione sighed "I wonder who could have possibly told her seeing has hardly anyone knew; I only found out two months ago."
Parvati put her hand on Hermione's shoulder "sorry Hermione I thought you would want to know before you went into the great hall for breakfast."
Hermione faintly smiled at her "no thanks Parvati the pre-warning is needed trust me."
Ginny was full on sitting down and reading the article that Skeeter had written about her best friend "according to Skeeter your parents were purebloods but killed by Riddle when they wouldn't side with him bonus points Mione however it is leaked that there is a contract that is still unfulfilled by the Ravenclaw and Slytherin families."
Ginny burnt the newspaper "what do you wanna do Mione?"
Hermione sighed and smoothed out her clothes "I am going down to the great hall to have breakfast then I will cheer on Hufflepuff in the game against Slytherin this afternoon and I will keep my promise to you and Harry by attending the dance."
Ginny and Parvati linked their arms with hers "and we will be right by your side."
The morning had gone sort of smoothly some people did stare at Hermione as she sat down at the Gryffindor table mainly the looks were coming from the Slytherin and Ravenclaw students, Luna however had walked over and hugged Hermione when she had entered the great hall and saying how wonderful it was to be a member of her house.
The quidditch match was an actual success Hufflepuff had somehow manage to beat Slytherin even though the Serpents were not playing fair which they never seemed to do anyway however Hermione kept getting nudged by Ginny every time Draco flew over them in the crowd or looked over in their direction but now it was time for Hermione to get ready for the dance.
Hermione looked her dress over and smiled, it was a simple floor length very pale blue flowy dress with a detailed lace scoop neckline. She started to charm her hair and make up to be just right not to much but when the light hit her right you knew that she was wearing makeup as that was more Hermione's style.
Ginny was busy spinning around the dorm in her black strapless cocktail dress with gold sparkles that were scatted around her dress and collected at the bottom of the skirt. Hermione rolled her eyes at her friend's antics and knew that Ginny was happy to be attending this dance as Harry's date.
The girls along with Harry made their way down to the great hall, the three of them met up with Neville, Hannah Abbott and Luna. Hermione looked around and saw that Blaise Zabini was looking in her direction "I'll be right back."
They all turned and watched as Hermione graciously walked towards the Slytherin member, Ginny noticed that the two of them were also being watched by what looked like a very jealous Draco Malfoy.
Hermione smiled "well don't you look handsome Blaise."
The Slytherin wizard smiled "thank you but you wow Hermione, no wonder why I am currently getting evil glares from Malfoy. I just wanted to thank you for all your help this year."
Hermione put her hand on his arm "it is fine Blaise; it was actually nice to have someone to study with who actually wanted to study and also hold a civilised conversation with someone."
The two of them entered the great hall together and once the stares and gossiping was done they went their separate ways for Blaise only to get Draco sending him a slight stinging hex "ow Draco we all know that Granger is your witch and soon she will be known as Mrs. Malfoy relax man, besides I was just proving to her that not all snakes are bad meaning that she might give you a chance."
Draco nodded at his friend "just make sure you and everyone else remember that she is my witch and I do not share."
Ginny nudged Hermione when she arrived at their table "Malfoy is seriously staring at you and I know why because my friend your dress matches his eyes, oh and the fact that you were talking to Blaise Zabini clearly did not help."
Ginny started to laugh and Hermione sighed "great besides I haven't signed any legal contract just yet so I am free to talk to whomever I like and also dance with whomever I like."
As it was a Christmas/end of year dance the governors were also present at the dance along with Order members which was bad for Hermione because Lucius and Narcissa were both present at the dance and she knew if she had fun tonight it would haunt her and cause her much pain if she did sign the contract to marry their son.
Everyone was dancing and enjoying their selves, Hermione had never seen Harry smile to much in their years as friends he was so carefree and she loved that and wished that look and feeling could stay with him forever. She knew that even if she did fulfil the contract it would not stop the war that was coming so what was the point.
They all stood outside to watch the fireworks that would end the lovely night and in the morning some of them be heading home for the holidays, Harry and Hermione would be heading to Grimmauld place and wait for the Weasley's to join them on Christmas day.
That was when it all blew up in their faces…. Literally
What happening during the display?
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Gracie :)
