Beta Love goes to NetsirkElocin. You guys should go check out her new story At Christmas time. It is amazing so far. I hope everyone has a wonderful holiday and is safe if you are traveling.
Art by Freya-Ishtar.
As always I do not own Harry Potter.
"Hermione? Do we really have to stay in here? We have all of our books already!" James complained
It was now the end of August and the Marauders were getting ready for the upcoming school year. They had all met at Potter Manor, and Dorea and Charlus had taken them to Diagon Alley to get their school supplies. They had already gotten their new robes and were currently in the stacks of the bookstore as Hermione was looking through a new book on Phoenix's magic. Sirius and James were board and were letting it show.
"Your parents told us to wait here, James. They were going to pick up our new potion supplies. I will not be moving and get in trouble with them. If you and Sirius wish to go then by all means do, and I will make sure I tell your mother that you just could not stay here." Hermione said without looking up from the book.
The boys paled at the thought of what Dorea Potter would do to them if they did not follow her instructions.
"There are books on pranking a few aisles over" Hermione said as she put the book on Phoenixes down. James and Sirius beamed.
"Why didn't you say that from the beginning?" Sirius asked as he rushed to find the books on pranking with James.
Hermione and Remus rolled their eyes and made to follow their friends. They turned a corner and came upon a very distressing sight; Walburga and Orion Black, standing in the center of the aisle looking down upon their eldest son and his friends. Behind them, Hermione could see a small, scrawny boy that she knew must be Regulus.
"Running around like you have no manners. I don't know where we went so wrong with you Sirius really!" Walburga said in a stern voice. The sneer on her face made her look like a goblin. "And associating with those who are less than you. Really Sirius! I know you are the son of my cousin. But who are you two? You girl, with your coloring you are either a Weasley or a Prewett. So which one are you?" she sneered as she faced Hermione and Remus.
"Hermione Prewett, ma'am," Hermione said through clenched teeth. It took all she had not to hex the women in front of her, not only for treating Sirius so poorly but also for all the things her portrait had screamed at her while living at Grimmauld Place.
"Hmm, I don't seem to recall Alexia and Percival having two daughters. I know you are not Lucretia's child. I saw her just last week. In any case," she said turning back to Sirius. "You were missed at your cousin Bellatrix's wedding to the Lestrange boy. When are you going to give up this acting like this and become the proper Black heir?"
Sirius remained silent looking at his mother and father behind the curtain of black hair hiding his eyes.
"Well, BOY! Answer me!" Walburga yelled as she stepped forward to grab Sirius at the same time that James, Remus, and Hermione stepped forward to protect him, Hermione's hand in her pocket holding her wand.
"Oh, cousin, so good to see you." Everyone heard. They turned around to see Dorea and Charlus making their way to the children. They gracefully stepped in front of them to shield them from the rage of Walburga and Orion.
"Cousin Dorea. How are you doing today?" Walburga questioned in a fake tone.
"Oh, we are wonderful. Just taking James and his friends for their school supplies, you know. Is that Regulus? Is he starting Hogwarts this year?" Dorea replied ignoring her cousins biting tone.
Walburga placed a hand on the small boy's shoulder and pulled him forward. Hermione could see he was almost identical to Sirius only much smaller.
"Yes. He will be restoring the honor of our noble house this year at school," Walburga said as she stared down her eldest who was standing behind Charlus.
"Oh, wonderful! Are you planning on being sorted into Gryffindor like your brother? I'm sure he would love to show you around the school," Dorea asked the small boy.
Walburga pulled Regulus back sharply, "Absolutely not! He will be sorted into Slytherin and be a proper Black."
"Oh, I am sorry I thought you said he was going to bring honor to our house. Silly me. It is so easy to confuse those two things," Dorea retorted with a smirk.
"Why you…"
"Careful, cousin, you would not want to get in trouble with the law now would you." Dorea smiled. She had been able to crack her cousin first.
Walburga stiffened as she turned to her husband and son. "Let's go," she said, and the group left past the shocked preteens still standing behind the Potter elders.
"Well now. Why don't we go and look at Quality Quidditch Supply and then head over for some ice cream before we leave?" Dorea said looking down at the kids.
The group paid for their books and was soon on their way to the Quidditch shop. James, Remus, and Hermione were all around Sirius giving him their silent support.
"You guys go on ahead. I want to talk to Sirius quickly," Dorea spoke once the group reached the door.
Even though they did not want to leave their friend, they followed Dorea's instructions by trailing Charlus into the shop.
The friends made their way over to the wall of jerseys and were looking around silently.
"Well, that was uncomfortable," Remus said.
"We knew his mother was a nasty thing. I'm just surprised they were personally shopping here today. I assumed they would have ordered their house elf to do it," Hermione said looking at a jersey for the Chudley Cannons.
"Mum has always said Walburga was nasty and that Orion was not any better," James replied as he pulled the jersey from Hermione's hand and hung it back up before replacing it with one from the Falcons. "What did she mean, though, with you, Hermione. About not knowing your parents had you?"
Hermione stopped for a moment before answering. "By the time Mum and Dad had me, they already had Molly and the twins. They didn't feel the need to go all out announcing my birth, I guess."
The boys seemed to accept this explanation.
Sirius and Dorea shortly joined them. Sirius gave no indication that he wanted to talk about what had just happened.
"Alright then, if everyone is ready. Let's get some ice cream!" Dorea said as she smiled at the children.
After they had eaten their ice cream, the group went back to Potter Manor. The Marauders went flying for a while before Hermione had to go back home for supper.
She flooed into her living room and saw her dad sitting on the couch.
"Hello, Pip. Did you have a good time today? Get everything you needed?"
"Yes, daddy. We had a good time but…"
"But what, princess?" her dad asked putting down the book he was reading.
"We ran into Sirius' parents in Flourish and Blotts. His mother was really mean to him. And she said something to me that made me wonder about something," Hermione said as she sat next to her dad.
"What's your question, Pip?"
"I know I was adopted, and it went through the Ministry. But will it show up on things like magical family trees? I don't want Walburga to find out that I was adopted."
Percy held his daughter close and kissed her temple. "Don't worry, Pip. You had a magical adoption. That means you are truly ours. It will show up on that crazy family tapestry of the Blacks. You have nothing to fear. But I want you to promise me something, alright?"
Hermione nodded her head as she shifted to face her father.
"I know your brothers have been teaching you defensive spells all summer long. No, don't look upset. I am honestly thankful they did. I want you to promise me that if Walburga Black ever tries to confront you, that you will do whatever you can to get away even if you have to use magic outside of school. Let me deal with the Ministry, if you have to. Then I want you to get back to the Hollow as quick as you can, alright? Walburga Black is not someone who I want you around. Most of the Black family is insane. There are a few exceptions, of course. Sirius and Dorea being two. And I think Sirius has a cousin who left the family because she fell in love with a muggle-born wizard. In any case, promise me that you will be safe when dealing with them."
Hermione looked up at her father's face and nodded once again. She knew which cousin her father meant. And her brothers had indeed been teaching Hermione defensive spells all summer long when they could. She knew her family just wanted to see her safe.
"Good. Let's go to the kitchen. I think your mother should be done cooking dinner for tonight."
Hermione stood up and held her father's hand as they walked out of the living room and into the kitchen to have supper as a family.
So since I am going to not be posting over the next few days let's have a poll.
What is your favorite type of Hermione story?
A. Time-turner
B. 8th year
C. Post Hogwarts
D. Complete Au
Let me know in your review! Till next time lots of live from the bookworm.