From lioness to serpent princess

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HAPPY HOLIDAYS

Chapter 24

She glances up at him "wizard bodyguards?"

He kisses her nose "yes we all want you safe Hermione especially now as we know Greyback has help, forget that for a moment I have a surprise for you, I know that Christmas is your favourite holiday so."

She covers his mouth with her hand "I have an idea first before you carry on."

Draco nods and already knows what Hermione has in mind; he takes her hand and slowly guides her towards the new and improved ballroom. They stood outside the doors "are you sure you want to do this Hermione?"

She nods and places her hands on the door handles on top of Draco's, together they push open the doors, Draco squeezes her hand and watches as Hermione slowly walks into the improved ballroom.

Hermione was lost in her own world and didn't hear Draco telling everyone to be quiet as his parents and Severus had joined them, the four snakes watch as Hermione takes back her life.

Narcissa nudges her son into the ballroom; he follows his mother's lead and joins Hermione in the ballroom. Hermione hears footsteps behind her but remains calm as she can feel Draco's magic wash over her.

Draco places his hands on her shoulders hoping that he doesn't scare her "how do you feel?"

Hermione glances over her shoulder at him "why don't you tell me?"

Draco smiles "you are calm and that makes me very happy."

Hermione nods "it seems stupid but this"

He kisses her head "I understand you feel like you can finally let go of the past and fully move on with the future."

Hermione nods again "I have control of my future and she no longer has that hold on me."

Draco turns her around so that they are facing each other "I have a surprise for you back at Slytherin house."

They all apparate back to Slytherin house and are greeted by Hermione's family/friends. Hermione looks at them all "what is going on here?"

Molly smiles at the witch "We are celebrating Christmas of course; we all agree that with Greyback safely in Azkaban that we can be together and celebrate the holidays."

Hermione hugs her wizarding world mother "thank you for this but it really isn't safe to be around me."

Molly hugs her back "Don't be silly Hermione, Mad-eye is watching him and will send his patronus to us if anything changes now upstairs with you and get dressed."

Ginny helps Hermione get ready "one last touch and there you are all done."

Hermione looks at herself in the mirror "wow, Ginny you didn't have to do this."

Ginny nods "of course I did, I found a tiny piece on what Draco did and erm you might want to sit down."

Hermione sighs "He married us didn't he?"

Ginny bites her lip and nods

Hermione sits on the bed and slips on her shoes "I knew it; I can't believe he couldn't let it all go."

Ginny looks at the witch she considered to be her sister "You do realise that we are all behind you Mione, you will not fight Greyback alone. Remus and Bill want to be there with you, besides you can't help it that your magic likes the magic of Draco Malfoy; you should be thankful that it is Draco and not someone else."

Hermione looks at her friend "what do you mean someone else?"

Ginny sits down "You are 'linked' to Draco by your magic however if your magic had rejected his you could have been 'linked' to someone else and IF we hadn't won the war let's just say you are a smart witch Mione you could have been magically linked to someone much worse that Draco 'Ferret' Malfoy."

The Slytherin heir nods as reality finally hits her that she should be grateful that she is magically bound to Draco and not someone far worse like an older wizard or a more devoted follower of Riddles.

Hermione and Ginny join everyone back downstairs, before anyone else could hug or talk to Hermione, Teddy runs over to her and hugs her legs.

Hermione picks up the little blue haired boy "Hello Teddy."

Teddy hugs her "hugs ione hugs."

Hermione kisses his cheek "I love your hugs Teddy you really do give the best ones."

A few minutes later and Teddy is off playing with Harry and the twins giving Hermione time to find Remus and Bill who were talking about werewolf stuff. Bill notices her walking towards them both "Hey Hermione."

Hermione hugs them both "I really appreciate you both being here."

Remus smiles at her "Nowhere else we would rather be Hermione; I believe that Miss. Weasley has already given you the speech."

Hermione nods "yes Ginny gave me a speech but who knows what will happen."

Bill looks at her "We all spoke about it and I do mean everyone spoke about it, we all agree Hermione that IF the time does come we will ALL be there right beside you, just like with Harry so the idea of you facing him alone get it out of your head."

Hermione blushes "thank you I just don't want anyone to get hurt, some of us are still healing from Riddle."

Remus looks at her "If it hadn't of been for you Hermione, Harry would have been killed years ago by Riddle and his followers. Besides I owe you my life for what you did during your third year and Sirius owes you his life twice from third year and then again in fifth year when you saved him from Bellatrix's killing hex."

Bill nudges her "Harry owes you his life a million times over, you have no idea how many times you have saved someone Hermione. Let us return the favour, we will face this together even if we stand around and make sure no one else comes with Greyback."

Molly walks over to them "No more talk of this, we are meant to be celebrating and celebrate we shall, I do not want to hear that name come from anyone's mouth, got it?"

The three of them nod, Molly goes back to find Arthur and Hermione goes to find Draco. She finds him talking quidditch with Harry and Ginny; she happily sits in the corner and watches everyone mingle.

Andromeda was happily talking with Nymphadora, Narcissa and Molly; Arthur was with Lucius and Severus. Sirius was swapping pranks with the twins and Remus would remind Sirius of things he missed out while holding a sleepy Teddy on his lap.

Hermione smiles to herself, this was her family now and she had to start trusting them, they had trusted her during the war to keep Harry and Ron safe and hunt down the horcruxes so what was so different this time.

Draco sits down next to her "You seem happier."

Hermione lays her head on his shoulder "Seeing everyone like this make me happy, this would have never happened a few years ago."

Draco kisses her head "Have you been thinking about our future?"

Hermione nods and holds his hands "we will face whatever gets thrown our way together, I'm really glad my magic accepted yours Draco. Yes it will take time to get used to it all but I really am happy."

Draco tilts her head towards him and kisses her, everyone is in awe as they watch as Hermione finally accepts her fate with Draco and realises that she doesn't have to face anything alone.

Slytherin house was filled with love, light and laughter which is what the holidays should be filled with but across the wizarding world on an island the holiday period there was about to be filled with horror.

Hermione catches Harry's eye and motions to the door, he nods in agreement and tells Ginny he'll be right back.

Draco watches Hermione "Where you going?"

Hermione wraps her scarf around her neck "I'll be right back, Harry and I have a Christmas tradition that we need to honour."

Harry sadly smiles "Granger-Potter family tradition, don't worry Draco I'll protect her she is my sister."

Hermione and Harry apparate to a snowy quiet village, they walk the path they had walked the year before. They stop at the headstone that they stopped at last year; Hermione wraps her arm around Harry "Merry Christmas James, Merry Christmas Lily."

Harry sadly smiles "Merry Christmas dad, Merry Christmas mum."

Hermione waves her hand and a wreath appears just like she had done the previous year "They'd be so proud of you Harry."

Harry nods "I think my mum would have loved you Hermione, from the stories that I have been told from people, you are just like her."

Hermione lays her head on Harry's shoulder "I just don't want to lose myself."

Harry glances down at his sister "If you were going to lose yourself Hermione, you would have done it by now believe me."

Hermione smiles "do you want to be alone with them?"

Harry shakes his head "Let's get you back to Draco; I'm sure he is pacing up and down the house worrying about you. I have been talking with Sirius and Remus we might rebuild Godric's Hollow and you know live there."

Hermione and Harry walk back up the path talking about Harry's plans for the future. They then change the topic to Hermione and her future but she just shakes her head "Come on Harry, our family is waiting for us."

The pair of them apparate back to Slytherin house and re-join the celebrations. Everyone could tell that Draco was glad to have Hermione back by his side/his sight. Harry over hears Sirius telling the twins about a Marauder prank and slides over to their conversation.

~ Azkaban ~

Mad-eye had always preached about constant vigilance but how is someone meant to do that when you are out numbed and hit in the back by a powerful stinging hex.

The first person keeps their wand pointed at Mad-eye in case he moved or tried to cast a spell at them, the second person walks over to the cell where Greyback is in, the door to Fenrir Greyback's prison cell opens and he looks at the person who had sprung him from Azkaban. He nods at the person

The person looks at him "Do you know what to do?"

Greyback smirks at the person "Just leave it all to me, in a few hours Hermione Grange will be mine or dead."

The three of them leave Azkaban and Mad-eye sends out his patronus to the order to tell them that not only has Greyback escaped but the people who helped him were very familiar to everyone…

Who is Fenrir Greyback working with?

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Gracie :)