Ginny woke up to TAP. TAP. TAP.
She sat up and looked squinty eyed at the window, it was Hedwig. She felt an immediate sense of dread, "Hermione." She called.
"mmmmmm." Was all the response Ginny got.
She shoved her best friend, "Hermione, wake up Hedwig is at the window and I'm feeling …worried. It's bad news." She whispered the last words.
Hermione popped an eye open and looked at the now constantly tapping bird at the window. It sure was Hedwig and he looked both tired and annoyed.
Hermione threw the covers off her tired form and opened the window. Hedwig stepped inside, sighed (if birds could indeed sigh) and held out its foot.
Hermione untied the parchment and gave Hedwig a treat. Ginny was by her side now and as Hermione unrolled the message the girls read it together.
Gin, Mione,
There's been some attacks and we need you back. Remus is contacting Snape. They will escort you both back to Grimmauld. Pack now and be ready to go asap.
Harry
"Why'd they have Harry write it?" Ginny asked
"Because they know we would listen to him."
A knock at the door caused the girls to startle and turn towards the sound; the visitor didn't wait for an invitation, but instead opened the door and walked in.
The dark figure looked grim, "Pack your bags, we must leave now." Snape said
"Is Remus here already?" Hermione asked.
Snape shook his head and added, "Not yet, but will be shortly. He floo called about ten minutes ago."
The girls nodded and before Snape could close the door and walk away Hermione noticed something flicker in his eyes… sadness, regret? She couldn't put her finger on it. He was probably reluctant to leave so soon after he found someone he was interested in. she thought
***
The girls walked downstairs with shrunken trunks in their pockets to find Remus and Snape by the floo, Raya and Nikolai with Desislav and Anna in the foyer looking less than happy and Sergei and Viktor at the bottom of the stairs waiting for them with the same unhappy expression.
Viktor hugged her, "Princess. I do not vant you to go." He said burying his face in her neck, placing a kiss at her pulse point. It made her shiver involuntarily.
"Viktor do you know what's going on? What happened?" she asked him, but he didn't answer, only squeezed her harder.
"Princess, remember your necklace. I luff you and vill see you soon." He said
The tone in his voice was making her want to cry. She couldn't speak and only nodded.
The sky outside darkened immediately. Raya signaled to Snape to get the elemental back home before they had a torrential rain pour causing floods and Merlin knows what else.
Viktor walked away to collect himself and Hermione made her way to Raya and Nikolai.
"Thank you for being so wonderful. It was lovely to meet you both." She said giving Nikolai a hug and kiss on the cheek, he just smiled, but didn't speak. When she turned to Raya she had tears in her eyes and it started to rain outside.
Raya had tears too and the wind started howling, the two women noted the weather and giggled at each other for a moment before hugging fiercely.
"You haff home here, child." Raya told Hermione.
"May I write you, if I have questions?"
"ov course. You haff snap charm, yes? You vrite me anytime." She said.
The women (all four) performed the necessary magic for using the snap charm as correspondence.
The witches said goodbye and with tears. The hugs were taking too long and the weather was getting worse.
"It's time we left." Remus told the women. Snape nodded not looking the least bit amused.
Hermione and Ginny nodded and walked towards Remus and their professor. Remus pulled out a book and counted down; they all held on and in ten seconds they were gone.
Raya broke down immediately and Anna turned to her husband's shoulder.
Nikolai new of the prophecy and just held his dear wife, "And so it begins." He said.
***
Viktor was outside in the rain not wanting it to end. As long as it continued it meant that his princess was with him. He loved her so much it hurt. He wanted to go back with her, to keep her safe, but he couldn't. Every other adult in the house told him it was a bad idea.
He heard the door, but didn't look to see who it was.
"Viktor." his father said, "Want some company?" the large man asked, but didn't wait and sat down anyway.
"What happened?" Viktor asked dreading the answer.
"There were some attacks on muggle families and some pure bloods too."
Viktor tensed, "Muggle families?"
"Da."
His father didn't need to say anymore. Inside Sergei was sitting in front of the fire with his parents while they explained. He was so angry, Why did this happen! He even got up to go to London, but his parents stopped him. He didn't want to be away from her – his red-headed sweetness.
She had giggled when he first called her that, but now he knew that she loved it when he did. He wanted to marry her, but for that to happen she needed to remain alive.
***
"OOOOMMPH!"
"I will never get used to that." Hermione said picking herself up off the floor of Grimmauld Place.
The house was filled with Order members rushing about making noise… this rushing about and making noise stopped immediately upon the appearance of the two witches.
Hermione and Ginny just looked at each other, "What?" Ginny asked the room of people in general; and in a moment, no one could look at them. They were all but ignored.
Hermione turned to look at her professors with a question in her eyes, "Maybe we should go into the library." Remus suggested. Snape agreed and led the way.
When they opened the door, Harry, Dumbledore and McGonagall were in there as well as Ron and the twins.
"Have a seat." Dumbledore motioned towards the couch only occupied by a red faced Harry.
Hermione looked at him, "What's going on Harry? Are you ok?"
He his only answer was of physical affection when he scooted closer to her and held her hand.
"Miss Granger, there's been some attacks." Dumbledore said
"We've gathered." She said her voice a bit more edgy than she would have liked, but she was getting worried now and they needed to get to the point.
"Miss Granger, You're parents were killed yesterday as were the Dursely's. There was also an attack of the burrow and Bill and Charlie were killed in the fight." McGonagall told the students.
Remus and Snape both rolled their eyes, leave it to Minerva to get right to the point.
In Hermione's mind everything turned hazy and Ginny's cries became distant instead of sounding close.
Hermione watched as Remus went to comfort the hysterical red-head. It seemed like he was moving in slow motion. She just stared at the two.
Hermione turned her head slowly (she felt like she was drunk almost; surreal) to look at her Tranfiguration teacher. The elder Gryffindor's eyes were bouncing wildly from Ginny to Hermione.
Harry squeezed her hand and she turned to look at him; she wondered briefly if he was crying because he now had zero official family or because of her. The Dursely's were the worst sort of muggles, but they were his family, the last of his mother.
Hermione stood lethargically and wobbled a bit when she did. She murmured something about needing air and walked around the couch.
What she didn't realize was that Professor Snape was watching her closely, paying attention to every movement and every expression crossing her young features.
Tears were pouring down her face, but she didn't feel them.
Before she walked out the door, he stepped in front of her, "Hermione." He whispered.
She turned to look at him with the saddest expression he had ever seen in his life, a sob escaped her, and "They're gone. I have no one." She said – though she doesn't remember saying anything.
Before she dropped to the ground, Snape caught her.
Sitting on the ground and pulling her onto his lap, "I've got you. You aren't alone, Hermione." He said rocking her, letting her cry, feeling her body shake with sobs. They all stayed in the library for hours.
Ginny had Ron and the twins, Harry had Remus, Ron and the twins and Hermione had Snape, Remus, and Harry.
Ron was earning his keep this morning, plus he was still mourning his brothers also; the assembly made for a rather macabre setting.
Dumbledore and McGonagall had left a while ago and the crying had been reduced to sniffles.
"Is the library still stocked?" Snape asked Remus
Remus nodded with relief written all over his face. He needed a drink. In fact, everyone in the room needed a drink.
Snape pulled out six bottles of firewhiskey and Hermione conjured tumblers for everyone.
They drank and spoke about memories and the mood in the room darkened after about the fourth shot.
"You know, we should be toasting happy times." Hermione said feeling the warmth from both the fire and the alcohol.
Ginny nodded, "I know! We'll each make a toast to each year we were in school."
"Ok Harry first year." Ron said.
"Flying for the first time." Harry said with a smirk.
"Welcoming Feast after sorting." Ron said *eye rolls – always about food*
"Meeting you two." Hermione said eye roll from Snape and a smile from Remus
"Second year." Ginny said though she wasn't sure she really wanted to go there considering.
"Flying dads car to Hogwarts." Ron said. *Harry laughed*
"Flying to rescue Harry." The twins said.
"Talking Albus into not punishing you two for harming the womping willow with said flying car." Severus said *Remus laughed and so did Hermione and Ginny*
"Turning myself into a cat." Hermione said *causing Remus to spit out his drink*
"What?" he asked thinking she was an animagi.
"Polyjuice potion. I brewed it so that we could find out if Draco was the heir to Slytherin. Harry and Ron were Crabbe and Goyle, but I took some hairs off of Millicent Bullstrode – they were from her cat." She explained. *Snape was chuckling and Remus was tearing up he was laughing so hard.*
"Third Year." Snape said skipping Ginny, though she looked she was fine with that.
"So many things… The Marauders Map, riding and saving buckbeak, meeting and saving Sirius, realizing that Hermione was a girl." Harry said the last bit quietly, but everyone heard.
Ron cleared his throat and shifted, Hermione was sitting on his lap now, quite drunk.
He had one arm around her waist and her head was on his shoulder. She would straighten up when she had something to say then deflate like a balloon afterwards.
Remus and the twins were on the floor, Snape was sitting in a large chair with his feet on the table, Harry was sitting with Ginny's feet on his lap (he was giving her a foot massage) and Ginny was in the middle.
"The scar Sirius gave me when he bit me." Ron said. *confused looks*
"Chicks dig scars…duh." Ron said. "Laughter and agreement from both Severus and Remus"
Hermione finished up her drink and tried to stand.
Ron laughed and stood up, picking her up with him. "I'll take you to bed, love." He said carrying her bridle style. She couldn't move her limbs, they just hung there. She watched upside down, Snape and Remus get smaller. Her head was hanging over his arm in a drunken stooper.
Severus did not trust the boy to just put her in bed and leave her, so he stood also and followed them quietly.
Ron placed her on the bed and walked to her dresser to find pajamas. He waved his wand and changed her quickly.
Once she was in bed he touched her cheek and kissed her temple. He couldn't help but notice the swell of her breasts beneath the thin material of her pajamas. He moved to touch her, but decided against it. He settled for just watching her for a bit then left quietly, clicking the door shut.
Snape was watching the whole time and felt sorry for the boy, he really did love her, but she was not his to love. The red head had a temper. This would not end well. He thought.
He looked at his watch, it was 1:45 am. He needed to sleep. He sent Josslyn a quick thought and went to bed.
***
Josslyn was cooking when she 'heard' Severus, "I miss you. See you soon."
She smiled and got back to what she was doing.
***
Hermoine woke up two hours later hicupping, must have been crying in my sleep. She thought.
Everything came rushing back to her and she covered her face trying to contain her uncontrollable sobs.
She fingered her necklace and rubbed it twice counter-clockwise and whispered, "Viktor."
Nothing happened at first. Then after a minute she heard a thump and then cursing in another language.
She got up on her knees on her bed and waited for Viktor.
He walked out from a dark corner a little confused, but relieved when he saw her. When he took in the situation he had to stop from running and jumping on her.
There she was, hair mussed, a soft glow on her skin from the candles around the room. She was wearing a soft white barely-there camisole and white boy-shorts. She was up on her knees watching him. He almost melted.
He walked closer to her and could see the muscles in her legs, the curve of her buttocks to the slope of her toned hamstring muscles. Her knees were shoulder width apart and she made a very tempting picture.
"Princess." He said and took her hand.
"I need you, Viktor, Please." She told him pulling his head down to her lips for a scorching kiss.
He placed his hands beneath her thighs and picked her up, pressing his erection into her soft core.
She moaned and wrapped her legs around him.
His hands were kneading her thighs and squeezing her bum. She was moving her hips in a circle against him making him go wild.
His lips never left hers as their tongues dueled for dominance. He bit her lip and sucked on her tongue and she pressed his head closer to hers letting him take from her.
He laid her down and unwrapped her legs so he could remove the offending material separating him from heaven.
He pulled them off and inhaled her scent, he couldn't get enough.
"Open for me, Princess" he said kneeling in front of her.
She sighed in pleasure when his warm tongue stroked her swollen clit, "Oh Yessssss, Viktor."
Her hands went from gripping the sheet to running her fingers through his hair trying not to press his face forward into her center.
"You taste good, Princess. I could eat you all night." He said gruffly meaning every word.
She moaned, she loved it when she spoke to her. His voice was sexy and his accent her undoing. The only thing now was for him to speak to her in Bulgarian and it would send her to new heights. And just as if the gods above heard her very wish,
" Obicham te. (I love you), bŭde moya zhena (be my wife)."
That did it; she circled her hips spreading her legs far apart and panted his name while his very talented tongue brought her sailing into the clouds. She saw spots for a moment before she came floating back down to earth.
He was licking her unhurriedly now waiting for her to open her eyes; when she did he positioned himself at her wet entry and pushed in. She gasped and her back came off the bed a little bit – he was large and she loved the way he stretched and filled her. It was exquisite.
He pumped slowly into her, long smooth strokes with one hand riding on her hip and the other supporting him (on his elbow) so he could kiss her and watch her. He also wanted the other hand free to run his fingers over her nipples – which made her writhe in pleasure – especially when he pinched her nipple. "YESSS, VIKTOR! OOHHHH"
She met every stroke with a lift and half circle motion with her hips. This was making things progress faster than he wanted.
"Princess…"
"Yes Viktor I want you too, Please, fill me. Cum in me."
He thrust faster and more erratically, once, twice, and pushed hard into her and grunted her name, "Mimi."
He rolled over pulling her with him; he rubbed her back and waited for the inevitable.
She was sobbing now, "They're dead, Viktor."
"Shhh I know, Princess. I'm so sorry."
"Did you know before I left?" she asked tensing a bit.
"No. Papa told me aftervards."
"I have no one now." She said desperately.
"No, no, Princess. You haff me; and mama said you could come stay if you vanted." He said.
She lifted her head, "thank you. I love you." And she kissed him.
"I luff you too, Princess."
He stayed with her until she fell asleep. He quietly cast a contraceptive charm over her stomach, waved his wand and with a hushed POP he was gone.
She awoke the next morning with a small hangover, but feeling better than she thought.
She showered, walked down stairs for breakfast.
She said good morning to everyone – it was fairly silent due to the hangovers, mood and pre-coffee hour – she noticed several parchments on the table.
"What are these?" she said reaching for one that had her name on it.
Dear Miss Granger,
In light of your recent loss, the ministry would like to extend our deepest condolences. However, as you are under age, you are currently a Ward of the Wizards State until you reach the legal age of consent. As such, it is the responsibility of the ministry to place you with a family that can provide you with adequate shelter, food and education.
With this in mind, Lucius and Narcissa Malfoy have graciously petitioned ministry to adopt you. Should a conflict arise you will have the opportunity to have your voice heard in court in three days time.
Again, Our condolences and thank you for your time,
Ashley Cobb
Dept. of Wizarding Welfare
"Oh my good God." Hermione said looking up in horror.
Harry walked in carrying a parchment much like her own, "Who?" he asked
"Malfoys. You?"
"Le'Stranges." Harry answered.
They both looked at the rest of the pile of parchments and guessed the remaining were all from death eaters.
Remus and Snape walked in together and stopped abruptly when they saw the two young Gryffindors holding similar objects and looking like someone killed both Crookshanks and Hedwig.
"What?" Snape asked.
"Lucius Malfoy wants to adopt me and Bellatrix wants to adopt Harry." She said casually as if it were an everyday occurrence.
"I'm going to need some more coffee." Remus said.
"Me too." Hermione added shaking her head and smelling her camisole. She had put it back on after her shower, it smelled like him.
"Me three." Said Harry.
This was going to be a long day.