A/N- Here's a nice big chapter. The kids find out about Narcissa and Alexander and New Year's Eve arrives and then there's a quidditch game. The pacing in this feels a little off to me but I've worked it as much as I can without making things way too long. Happy reading!
"You're shagging Nott?" Draco asked, shocked. He'd never expect such behavior from his mother.
"Yes I am," Narcissa nodded. "He makes me happy, dear. I didn't have much of that with Lucius."
No of course she didn't. His father wasn't one to be particularly affectionate and his mother experienced even less affection than Draco had, which was to say almost none at all. "So long as he makes you happy I don't care," Draco shrugged. "Unless he doesn't treat you right. Then I have a problem with it."
Narcissa smiled, privately very relieved. "How was your time with Tonks?"
"Fun," Draco answered. "She took me to an arcade and we played games. I'm getting better at them."
"I'm glad you had fun," Narcissa smiled, "Have you started your homework?"
"Tonks is going to help with the wolfsbane project. Potter thought we should look at the laws at the time the potion was created and Tonks said she can get us copies of the laws and changes to them that went into place after the potion was created."
"Sounds like he's pretty smart." She distinctly recalled the complaining when he'd first been paired with Harry Potter in potions class. It rather amused her to see him get on with the other boy now. That would send Lucius into a tizzy.
"Yeah he's much smarter than he looks. Helps he's hanging around Granger all the time," Draco said. The first clue for Narcissa that Hermione didn't put more stock in pureblood society was when Draco had come home for the summer and in telling her about his time at school, consistently called the young witch Granger when referring to her. When she asked why he didn't call her Nott, Draco had shrugged and said that the young witch had told everyone she was still a Granger. Her 'new' status didn't mean anything other than she had a biological wizard brother and father.
Of course that didn't mean much to Narcissa at the time, but when she'd received her roster it was Hermione Granger not Nott written down. That was when she'd started to notice that the witch really had no interest in pureblood society and she didn't bother to hide it at all. Having been the good pureblood daughter her entire life, Narcissa was very intrigued by the way Hermione opted to forge her own path. It reminded her very much of Andromeda. Andi had always had that fire that saw her ultimately ignore her parents' wishes and marry a muggleborn wizard for love. Hermione wasn't exactly like Andi, but if Alexander pushed his daughter hard enough then Narcissa could imagine the young witch pulling away from her father. Which Narcissa knew was the last thing her lover wanted and was the reason she'd opted to warn him.
"What's for dinner?" Draco asked, pulling her out of her thoughts.
"Andi invited us over for pizza," Narcissa answered. "I thought that sounded better than us eating dinner alone. Now go wash up sweetheart. We leave in half an hour."
"Okay," Draco said, heading upstairs to clean up and get changed.
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"Have you finished any of your homework yet?" Petunia Dursley asked Harry and Dudley over dinner.
"I finished my Transfiguration work today," Harry answered. "I got some headway on my Defense work too."
"Dudley?" Vernon asked his son.
"I got my history paper finished," Dudley responded.
"Tomorrow night is the office Christmas party," Vernon said. "You two don't have to attend but we won't be here for dinner."
"Okay," Harry said. His aunt's face said quite clearly that she didn't want to attend, which Harry found amusing. His aunt was much more likable since the curses and hexes had been lifted.
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Theo stared at his father. He really didn't understand it. Lucius Malfoy had nearly killed Hermione, and here was their father shagging the bastard's widow. Hermione didn't see it quite that way, but she didn't understand why her father continued to limit himself to purebloods when he didn't have to. Perhaps he wasn't quite as progressive as he claimed to be. Either way, it had nothing to do with her so she didn't really care all that much.
Except that she could see it upset Theo, which was why she spoke, "You're sleeping with our professor?"
Blaise watched all of this feeling sympathy for the pair. He could relate to this. Alexander nodded, "I am," he answered. "It's just a physical arrangement to soothe the loneliness. She knows I don't want to get married again and she doesn't want to either. We're trying to keep it quiet."
"Okay then why tell us?" Theo asked.
"Because Narcissa was worried Skeeter or some other gossip might find out about it," he answered. "So she's telling her son. I thought it best to tell you two just in case."
"Malfoy won't be coming to live with us will he?" Theo asked, his brow wrinkled at the thought.
"No he won't," Alexander promised.
"At least there's that," Theo said.
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Christmas morning Harry woke with a grin. This was going to be the best Christmas ever. He checked his clock to see that it was just after seven in the morning. He fed Hedwig and exited his room. Dudley was just waking up. "Hey Dud. Merry Christmas."
"Merry Christmas Harry," Dudley sat up in his bed, "are Mum and Dad up yet?"
"I don't know. I checked on you first. It's a little after seven so I'd guess they are," Harry answered.
"Let's check," Dudley got out of bed and yanked his covers back into place before exiting his bedroom. Presents on Christmas morning were one of his favorite things in life.
Petunia and Vernon were already downstairs, Petunia having made tea for the two of them. "Present time!" Dudley declared.
"Go on in you two," Petunia told the boys, "We'll be right in."
Under the Dursley tree was not just the presents for the Dursleys but all of the presents sent to Harry from his magical friends too. He had a very large pile, "Wow you're popular," Dudley said.
"It's a new phenomenon," Harry said. "I've got more friends now that I'm spending more time with Hermione and Theo and less with Ron." He did have an impressive amount of gifts. From Blaise there was a Ballycastle Bats shirt. Harry noted with amusement that Theo had meanwhile sent him a Montrose Magpies shirt. "Those two are ridiculous," Harry laughed.
"Who are the Magpies and the Bats?" Dudley asked.
"They're quidditch teams. Hermione's brother Theo has grown up a Montrose Magpies fan but his best friend Blaise is a Ballycastle Bats fan. They know I grew up in the muggle world and they're campaigning for me to follow their teams. The match they're taking me to see is against one another, actually," Harry said. "I'm looking forward to it. Although maybe I should tell Hermione about their gifts to me."
"Why would she care, dear?" Petunia asked.
"She told them both not to pressure me into picking their team on the train ride home," Harry grinned, "and you should see the way Blaise cowers when she yells at them."
"Is she really that scary?" Dudley asked, looking doubtful.
"She's his best friend's sister and easily the best student in our year," Harry answered. "She is definitely scary."
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The New Year's Eve Ball found Hermione in the Nott family library sitting in a nook reading. Attending the ball had been loosely translated, by Hermione, to mean simply be in Nott Manor during the party. She'd given attending a go but seeing her father be so fake to the guests was beyond the pale. She'd retreated to the library. She might as well try to enjoy herself. And what Hermione most enjoyed were books.
It was about an hour into the party when she heard someone enter the library. Thinking it was likely Blaise or Theo she paid it no mind and didn't even bother looking up. "Oh! I'm sorry. I thought no one was in here," Hermione looked up to see Daphne Greengrass staring at her.
"Are you trying to hide from the party too?" Hermione asked her.
"Desperately. It's bad enough I have to share a dorm with Pansy and the older girls. I don't need to be forced to endure them being idiots about boys and faking their laughs and interest in quidditch all in the hopes of securing a betrothal contract," Daphne looked at the bookshelves, "I was hoping to grab a good book and hide out in here. But if I'm in the way…"
"No not at all," Hermione sat up in her nook, "Grab a book and join me. It'd be nice to not be alone in here. It's kind of creepy at night."
"Thanks," Daphne smiled genuinely. It struck Hermione that she'd never actually seen Daphne smile before. She was so used to Daphne looking like the 'Ice Queen' she'd been labeled by the boys and Daphne's actual smile was completely different from that persona.
"I hate quidditch too," Hermione said. "Theo and Blaise want to attend a professional match before we go back to Hogwarts and they've invited Harry. I'm dreading it. It's bad enough having to attend all the Gryffindor and Slytherin matches because Harry and Theo are on the teams. Why do I need to watch people I don't even know play?"
"Oh Merlin and the rivalry between Gryffindor and Slytherin over a stupid game!" Daphne exclaimed, making Hermione smile. It was nice to meet someone who also hated the sport.
"I love my brother, and Harry's my best friend, but they really do take it to ridiculous extremes," Hermione agreed.
"Does Gryffindor act like someone died if their team loses too?" Daphne asked as she plucked a book from the shelf and walked back over to the window nook.
"Yes," Hermione rolled her eyes. "And the boys always say witches are so dramatic but the way they act losing to Slytherin is like someone murdered their entire family."
"Slytherin is just as bad," Daphne sat down, "but the worst part is all the girls fawning over the quidditch players like they're sooo irresistible. Pansy is horrid. She gets this fake giggly laugh and bats her eyelashes like a fool. It's an embarrassment to womankind."
Hermione laughed. Her brother had described Daphne as Slytherin's biggest irritant but from what she'd seen Daphne wasn't that way at all. "How's your potions project going?" She asked Daphne.
"Seamus is basically useless at research," Daphne complained. "I find it very unfair everyone gets paired with someone at a similar skill level except I have to babysit the misbehaving student."
"I do too," Hermione said. "Blaise is afraid of me though so that helps."
"Maybe I should try that," Daphne mused. "I've tried being a bitch but that doesn't seem to have helped things. I haven't tried fear though."
"Fear is very underrated when dealing with idiot boys," Hermione smiled. Daphne laughed. "If it really bugs you though, complain to Professor Fox. Surely he'd change you to a new partner."
Daphne had her doubts about that, "Would he? He says he initially assigned partners based on our grades last year but if that was true, then you and I should have been partners first. Not you and Theo."
Hermione hadn't thought about that before, "You're right! Why would he do that?"
"I don't know," Daphne shrugged. "But it doesn't give me faith he'd give me a capable partner."
They talked a little more before settling into their books. Hermione appraised Daphne's gown. It was a ball gown, but she clearly had cast a spell to make it less poofy so that she could sit properly in the nook with Hermione. Hermione's gown was more demure, a dark green to Daphne's dark blue, with a much slimmer skirt. "Do you read muggle fashion magazines?" Daphne asked Hermione after a bit.
"Not particularly no," Hermione answered.
"I would love to get a hold of some. I could pay you," Daphne offered. "If you could get some for me in the muggle world."
"I could do that," Hermione nodded, surprised at the request. Not just of the request, but of the fact that Daphne was the witch her brother had described as the most annoying in Slytherin. As the elitist; the snobbiest of all the snobs. Daphne wasn't acting that way at all. Daphne was more low key than Blaise and Draco, for sure, and way nicer than Pansy. After a moment to properly phrase the question Hermione decided to ask, "Why does my brother describe you as the most entitled person in Slytherin when you've been nothing but nice to me since entering the library?"
Daphne blushed before answering, "My parents believe they should choose a partner for their children. I refuse to be treated like cattle. And the best way to assure my parents can make no betrothal contract is to take on the characteristics that make boys run away from girls. If Theo thinks I'm the most entitled person in Slytherin then I'd say my efforts are working nicely."
"There's no other way to get out of it?" Hermione asked.
"You had to come to this ball despite having a whole other house to live in and family to live with," Daphne pointed out.
"True," Hermione nodded. "Still, don't you get tired of pretending to be someone you're not?"
"You do," Daphne argued. "Just because you were raised in the muggle world doesn't mean you're not a pureblood and stuck in the same traditions I am."
Hermione bit her lip. Daphne made some good points. "I suppose that's fair," Hermione blushed slightly before opening up, "I do get tired, though, straddling two worlds like this. I do want to get to know my father. And part of that is knowing his world. But the rules are just so stupid!" Daphne laughed. "Well they are," Hermione insisted. "And they're so rigid. The rules for formal dress are especially outrageous. How long a hem line must be. How much of your arm can be bare, whether you can expose your neck or not. Sweet Merlin it's like they want us all to dress like nuns."
"What is a nun?" Daphne asked, not familiar with the term. Hermione explained it and Daphne laughed, "That does sound accurate," she agreed. "That's why I want muggle fashion magazines. I want to see what they wear."
"Well I'll see what I can do," Hermione said. She was sure her mother would help her collect a good assortment for the pureblood witch.
"Thank you, Granger."
"You're welcome, Greengrass."
"Just don't be surprised if I'm an entitled bitch to you in public. I can't let anyone think otherwise or all my efforts will be ruined."
"Noted," Hermione smirked. She rather liked Daphne. "You can always come let your guard down around me, though. I'll keep your secret."
"Thanks. I'll remember that," Daphne said.
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Draco Malfoy watched as his mother gazed at Alexander Nott who was doing his hosting duties walking around the room chatting up the guests. There was longing in her eyes. And jealousy whenever a female witch touched his arm, which most of them did. It was acceptable contact in pureblood etiquette, but it was rather amusing that his mother still looked ready to hex them. When Nott approached Narcissa, Draco noticed his mother checking her appearance to be sure she looked her best.
What caught Draco's attention, though, was how Nott's hand went to the small of Narcissa's back which was decidedly inappropriate contact. It seemed to soothe his mother's agitation, though. Maybe Nott just wanted to assure her he wasn't looking at other witches. That seemed plausible. Though Draco was far enough away he couldn't hear what they were saying.
"You look beautiful tonight," Alexander said when he'd arrived next to Narcissa.
She turned into him and looked up at him, "You think so?"
"I do," he nodded. "I'd show you but it's not exactly proper conduct to open one's fly in the ballroom."
Narcissa laughed before growing serious, "Your daughter is missing."
"She's in the library," Alexander said. "She did the greetings and then begged off. That's all I asked of her."
"I thought you were going to talk to her," Narcissa said, surprised he'd made her attend.
"I was, and I did," Alexander said. "But her parents got invited to a New Year's party and it was either attend a party with loads of muggles she doesn't know and teenagers she doesn't like or stay here. I told her she could spend all night in the library if she wanted. She quite liked that idea. An evening surrounded by books is better company to her than a room full of people. And I have a house elf taking her food and drink every so often."
"Oh," Narcissa said, taking a sip of her wine. "I'm glad it worked out."
"All thanks to you," Alexander said, stepping closer to her. "Do you perchance have a midnight kiss arranged already?"
"No not as of yet. Are you offering?"
"I would be honored to be your first kiss of the New Year," he smiled. "Our kids all know. I don't really care who else does."
Narcissa returned his smile with one of her own, "I would be delighted to have my first kiss of the New Year be with you."
Alexander leaned close to her and whispered into her ear, "For the record you're the hottest witch here."
She knew that wasn't true but she smiled all the same. He thought so and that was what mattered to her. "Although I do forsee a problem," she said seriously.
"What?" Alexander asked.
"How do I limit myself to one kiss when you always make me want more?" Her smile was rather large and Alexander took satisfaction in putting it there. For her entire marriage to Lucius he'd never seen her smile in public. Well, unless it was a fake smile.
"We could have a sleepover," he suggested.
"I suppose that's one way to satisfy your oversexed libido," she teased.
"If you find another let me know," he smirked. The band started playing a song and he offered her his hand, "May I have this dance?"
"Yes you may," Narcissa sat her glass down and took his hand. A smiling Alexander led her onto the dance floor and pulled her into his arms.
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Hermione and Daphne stayed in the library until midnight, reading their chosen books. Occasionally they'd talk briefly about something but most of the time was a shared silence as they lost themselves in their reading. It was a comfortable silence that put Hermione at ease. Daphne was the first pureblood aside from Theo to achieve that. Hermione shared the food and drink brought by the house elves for her with the blonde. "I suppose we should rejoin the party," Hermione mused as she looked at the clock.
"Yes it's time," Daphne agreed, standing and putting the book back into the bookshelf. "Thanks for letting me stay here."
"Thanks for the company. And it's nice to know I'm not the only witch who finds all these rules stupid."
"No you're definitely not," Daphne chuckled.
They exited the library separately and rejoined the party only for Daphne to be surprised when as midnight rang out Alexander Nott kissed Narcissa Malfoy. But she kept her ice queen mask in place, though she noticed Draco, Hermione, and Theo were not surprised by it. So they knew, at least. It was an interesting turn of events but Daphne wasn't bothered by it. She didn't care who Nott was sleeping with. If Narcissa didn't favor her son in class why would she favor Nott's children? Although she was sure someone would complain about it.
"So how was your evening?" Hermione asked her brother.
"Fine," Theo shrugged, "I don't mind these parties. Blaise and I just goofed off. How was your time in the library?"
"Enjoyable," Hermione smiled. "Much preferable to an evening watching you two idiots."
"Hey only Blaise is an idiot," Theo protested.
"I am not!" Blaise frowned at Theo. Hermione rolled her eyes.
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Harry was excited to go to the quidditch match. The day of it Alexander arrived with Hermione and Harry greeted them at the door. "Hi Hermione, Mr. Nott."
"Hi Harry," Hermione hugged him, "Thank you for the pen. It's very nice."
"I thought you'd like it," Harry smiled. "I love the video game you got me." Hermione smiled, pleased he'd liked it. "Thanks again for taking me to the game," Harry said to Alexander Nott.
"You're welcome," Nott responded, "Go on and get your coat. It'll be chilly at the game even with some warming spells."
"I apparently get my talents with charms from my mother," Hermione whispered to Harry, who smirked.
After saying goodbye to his aunt and Alexander promising to return him in time for dinner Harry left the Dursley home, Mr. Nott apparating them back to Nott Manor. "Wow this is Nott Manor? It's huge!"
"Yes it is," Hermione nodded. "You should see the library. It's so big and wonderful."
Harry chuckled. That was Hermione. "How do we get to the game?"
"Floo. Hermione says you've flooed before."
"Yeah but not very well," Harry said. "I didn't like it."
"This time will be fine," Alexander assured him.
Harry heard running and looked toward the grand staircase to see Theo and Blaise running down, "Hi Harry," they both greeted him.
"Have you chosen your team?" Blaise asked.
"Nope," Harry answered. "And I brought your presents."
Hermione looked at Harry, confused. Harry handed her the boxes. When she saw what was inside of them she glared at her brother and Blaise, "We talked about this."
Blaise swallowed hard and cowered behind Theo, "Um, sorry?" He squeaked.
Theo tried to spin it, "I just wanted to give Harry some quidditch merchandise."
"You could have bought him an England, Scotland, Ireland, or Wales shirt," she responded.
"Uh…" Theo blinked stupidly. He'd not thought of that. "I'm sorry?" He tried.
"Why are you asking me?" Hermione asked. "Surely you know if you're actually sorry or not."
"Definitely sorry and we will fix this," Theo promised. "Right Blaise?"
"Right," Blaise nodded his head rapidly, making Harry struggle to not laugh. He loved Hermione. She was his best friend. But she wasn't as scary as Blaise was acting like she was.
A bemused Alexander watched all of this while struggling not to laugh. There was something about the way Hermione could intimidate her brother and Blaise that was just terribly amusing to him. Aurelia Nott had been a very kind woman. The temper in his daughter was all him and he knew it. He could imagine how Aurelia would berate him for passing on that temper to their daughter.
Once Theo and Blaise had their coats, and the gifts for Harry had been put away, Alexander took them to the floo room. "Enunciate clearly," he reminded them. "No getting lost. Theo, you go first."
They arrived at the stadium without any problems. They made their way to their seats and Alexander bought the four of them some warm apple cider. "Are there many of these stadiums?" Hermione asked.
"No," Alexander answered. "Most of them are designed to be taken down after matches. It's not easy to have a standing quidditch stadium. One or two countries on the continent have a standing national stadium they use to arrange quidditch matches, but teams put together temporary stands for the most part. Hogwarts is the closest you'll get to a proper stadium like muggles think of one, I daresay."
Hermione nodded in understanding. Her father had taken her to Wembley a few times over the years, and to Stamford Bridge where his beloved Chelsea played, so she knew what muggle stadiums were like. The Montrose Magpies' stadium wasn't very much like a stadium at all. It was more like some quickly erected seating on either side of a pitch. "Warm enough?" Alexander asked her.
"So far so good," Hermione nodded.
He knew she wasn't interested in quidditch. He admired how despite her dislike of the sport, she was willing to suffer through it for Harry's benefit. She'd had the option to not attend. But she'd foreseen Harry enjoying it, and so she'd said she'd go with. It was that nobility that he imagined saw her being put in Gryffindor. But he was still confident in his World Cup plans. There was much more to the World Cup than quidditch, after all, and he was sure Hermione would enjoy those other aspects.