Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter or any affiliated characters. I just happened to come up with the plot for this ship. All credit to J.K for her amazing universe that she allows us to play in.
Warning: Rated M. Cursing, sexual innuendos, lemons and fluff ahead. Basically what you would expect from a romance novel nowadays. However, the lemons will be in the middle to end of this story. You're warned.
Music is my muse:
Song for this chapter: Younger, Miley Cyrus
Lyrics: Change is a thing you can count on.
Riddle This
Chapter 29
Change
Hermione shook her head angrily. "Must we keep doing these oaths and vows?"
Lucius laughed at his goddaughter. "Yes, I believe we must."
OooOooOoO
Hermione left to find Viktor and Draco. There was a field they used for Quidditch practice, and she made herself a comfortable chair and pulled a romance novel out of her coat pocket casting warming charms all around her as she watched the two wizards above her 'play' Quidditch.
She rolled her eyes realising they hadn't even noticed her and cast a charm for silence, why they had to scream insults at one another baffled her.
She had reset the warming charm for the fourth time before they even noticed her. She looked up as sparks hit her protective bubble of silent to see Draco smirking at her. She lowered her shield and raised an eyebrow at him.
"What?"
"When did you get here?"
Hermione shrugged. "About forty minutes ago."
Viktor chuckled and landed waving his wand sending his broom whizzing off to his room.
"You are not watching us," he chided.
Hermione gave him a look and shook her head smirking. "No, are you two done now?"
Draco landed next and sent his broom racing off too. "Yeah, we would have stopped —"
Hermione cut him off, "if you had noticed me?"
She was happy to see both of them flush. She shut her book and stood up pointing at Draco. "We are betrothed not married, Draco Malfoy. I am not even out of school. You need to stop acting like you can decide who I spend my time with," she waited until Draco nodded his face sour.
Viktor lost his smile when she turned on him. "You know we are nothing more than friends. Best friends, you are doing me an amazing favour, and I am grateful; but stop rubbing it in Dracos' face."
Viktor gave a short nod. "It is no trouvle."
Hermione sighed shaking her head at both of them. "I love you both, but if you two don't work this out I am going to start hexing—"
Draco cut her off grabbing her and hugging her to him. "Okay, we get it, message received, no hexing."
Viktor nodded and chuckled. "I will go and bathe now." He left with a bow.
Hermione allowed Draco to pull her down in his lap and played with his hair as he sighed heavily. "Can you not dress me down in front of him again?"
Hermione flushed. "Sorry, but I think it needed to be said. Draco, I hate that you two refuse to just get along. Viktor is helping me, helping us, you shouldn't be such a prat to him."
Draco snorted and hugged her tighter breathing in her hair. "It's a wizard thing, Hermione. I respect Viktor; it's just," he paused and shrugged. "I can't explain it."
Hermione smirked at him and sat up so she could kiss the side of his mouth. "You are silly."
Draco growled and pulled her into him biting her lip softly and deepening the kiss. "I am a wizard who has to watch his witch waltz around with someone else."
Hermione ran her hands through his hair frowning up at him and then sighed. "I can understand, Draco. I would be upset too."
He looked at her his eyes wide. "You would?"
She shrugged. "Get upset if you suddenly were pictured holding hands with Pansy Parkinson? Yes, I would probably be a complete bitch to her."
Draco put a finger over her mouth chuckling. "Don't curse with that beautiful mouth."
Hermione bit the pad of his finger and watched his eyes flashing with lust. She smiled as he redid the warming spell.
"It's enough you would be jealous too," Draco said as he moved his finger and settled his lips over hers.
As with most of their snogging sessions, things got out of control rather quickly. Hermione was started to tire of the slow burn that would explode with just a small thing. Right now it was him nibbling on her neck. It was slowly burning her alive. She wanted to push him away and pull him to her at the same time. Deciding if she liked it so much he might as well she started to nibble at him, shocked by how much she loved the salty taste to his skin, the smell of him after his workout with Viktor. She often found herself feeling like she was awkward around Draco. He had a magnetic pull she couldn't avoid. Wherever he was she seemed to sense that he was there. She knew when he walked into a room. She knew when he left a room. And her entire body tingled when he looked at her.
She sucked in a loud moan as he pushed his hand under her jumper and palmed her breast. They looked at one another and she knew he was waiting for her to pull away, to call a halt, to consider the consequences of what they were about to do. His breathing was as hard as hers and she was lost in silver gaze, sinking.
"Touch me," she finally said closing her eyes and tipping her head back to give him better access to her neck.
He just chuckled and pulled down her basic cotton bra, she really should start wearing the lace ones Narcissa got for her. But as his fingers pinched her nipple she lost thought of things like cotton and lace and fell into the force that was Draco Malfoy and his kisses.
Her coat was off, and his Quidditch jersey was being pulled up when there was a loud throat clearing.
They both froze, a bit awkward as Hermione was halfway through getting Draco's shirt over his head.
"I think that will do," was said with a laugh by Lucius.
Hermione let the jersey fall back in place and closed her eyes in embarrassment and irritation.
Draco however growled. "Really Father?"
Lucius chuckled. "Be lucky I volunteered to find you when it was noticed you were still missing. Hermione, your father, wishes to have a word with you over the meeting with Rita Skeeter."
Hermione let out a deep groan and kissed Draco one more time before she climbed off his lap and yanked on her coat, avoiding her godfathers' laughing face.
"See you later," she said rushing off.
OooOOoOOOoO
Draco turned to glare at his father yanking his jersey back into place.
"A bit frustrated?" His father asked knowingly.
Draco growled in annoyance and vanished the cushioned chair Hermione had conjured. "Nothing little about it, father."
His father threw his head back laughing. "I did try not to interrupt you two when an elf informed me where you were. However, her father is the Dark Lord."
Draco groaned and went a little pale. "So the elves snitched?"
Lucius inclined his head. "When they felt things might be getting," a long pause and knowing smirk. "Out of control," he finished.
Draco slapped a hand to his head. "How do you woe someone with elves spying on you?"
"I think you were doing far more than wooing there, son," Lucius said with a knowing smirk and slapping his son on the back.
Draco snorted and pulled at his hair in frustration. "Father, we are of age!"
Lucius nodded and tilted his head. "You are also a Slytherin, Draco. If you can't figure this out you are no son of mine."
Draco sucked in a breath in outrage. "Her bloody father is The Dark Lord!"
Lucius smirked. "True, and Severus would severely hurt you if he knew anything. However, you are about to be staying at the Krum Estate with Krum elves."
Draco's eyes widened and then he grinned. "Ah, yes."
Lucius hummed to himself and walked away as his son stood rooted to the spot, planning. It was better for him to have plausible deniability.
OoOooOOoO
Hermione paused outside of the door to her father's study. The wards were up, that was odd. She was about to just sit and wait when Nagini hissed, and she looked over to see the snake materialise out of thin air. Hermione smirked, Harry! Brilliant. She saw the string now, extendable ears.
"Get over here and help me finish taking down the silencing wards, you are better at it," Harry whispered in the hissing snake language they now used with one another.
Hermione nodded carefully removing a part of the silencing wards that would allow the extendable ears Harry and she had been working on for just such a purpose. "Who is he in there with?"
Nagani answered her head on Harry's shoulder by the ear, obviously waiting to listen. "The wolf," the snake hissed.
Hermiones' eyes went wide as Harry nodded and then they went silent as they started to hear what sounded like pacing.
"Remus," Harry said softly. "He does that when he is upset. He was just walking in when I walked by, luckily under the cloak."
Hermione nodded, and with wide eyes, they waited for something to happen.
OoOOooOOOooO
The Dark Lord watched his wards shimmer and sighed. The little brats were trying to ease drop. He thought about putting up more wards and then shrugged. They would have to lean right against the door, so he just put a mild shocking charm up, smirking. That should handle that, now what the wolf wanted, that was a bit more problematic. He waited while the man paced like the animal he was.
"I need to know why?"
Tom sat up frowning. "Could you perhaps be more specific?"
The wolf threw himself into the chair. "Why you claimed Hermione. You left her alone, why now?"
Tom sat back and looked at the man before he sighed and pulled some Brandy out of his desk with two crystal glasses. He handed one over and poured himself before setting the liquor down and letting the wolf decide what he wanted to do. He was impressed when the wolf poured himself a drink, sniffing it first, and took a long swallow.
"Outside of very few moments when I wallowed in personal grief, I was always looking for Hermione," Tom kept his tone even. Watching the wolf in front of him scent his words.
"Why didn't you protect her?"
Tom sighed and took another sip of his Brandy. "I tried, I am sure you remember that her mother was rather stubborn."
He saw the wolf flinch but nodded, and Tom sighed. "I was obsessive over their safety and felt the prophecy Severus overheard was instrumental in ensuring that my daughter and Diana would be safe."
There was a low growl. "You were willing to kill a baby to protect them?"
Tom shrugged. "In hindsight, I can see how that did not sit well with Diana."
He seemed to have shocked the wolf because there was silence as the two considered one another.
"How did you survive?"
Tom sighed. "I made a Horcrux, something I am sure the leader of the light is not sharing with his followers."
He knew he wouldn't have to explain what the dark artefact was when the wolf stood up looking horrified. "He knows?"
Tom nodded. "He knows. We had a visitor before you arrived. Andromeda Tonks, she had a prophecy from Diana."
The wolf went totally still. "She shared it?"
Tom nodded and gestured at the pensive. "I am sure you can tell a real memory from a fake one?"
The wolf nodded, and so Tom pulled out the memory and sat waiting while the wolf viewed it. He wasn't surprised when more pacing ensued.
"I don't understand; she means Dumbledore?"
Tom snorted. "Obviously, still unable to believe he could do such a thing?"
The wolf surprised him. "He is capable of doing many dark things and passing them off on the idea it is for the 'greater good' but to make a Horcrux," the wolf shook his head his eyes flashing. "He would have to be desperate. What scared him so much he did that?"
Tom sat up in shock as he realised the wolf was much smarter than he had given him credit for. "My daughter, he bound her magic. I think, your Dumbledore is afraid of Hermione."
The wolf stopped pacing and was breathing heavily his eyes a dark amber. "He is not my anything."
Tom gave a slow nod not showing any emotion. "You do realise that you will have to help with the wolves?" He decided to change the subject to something that had to be addressed. He watched as the blue leaked back into the amber and waited.
"Very few can be trusted," was said with a sigh. "It's the pack mentality. I escaped it because I made a new pack with James and Sirius, my loyalty could lie elsewhere."
"They are both dead." Tom pointed out with a frown.
"Hence why I am now loyal to Harry, he is my pack, and by default so is Hermione."
Tom tested the words. "Pack. Will you expound upon that, if you please?"
The two stared at one another before the wolf sat down again his manner academic. "A wolf needs to feel like he has a purpose that is above his own needs. That is how the pack works. You are working for more than just your own needs. I created a pack accidentally in school. Once I did, I was much more stable, happier. When James died, I still had Sirius and Harry. When Sirius died, I had Harry. Now that Harry has adopted Hermione I have them both."
Tom looked at the wolf in front of him. "I am the center of that adoption."
He watched as the wolf go pale. "You are?"
Tom nodded. "Hermione requested my permission and claimed me as her father, thefore—"
The wolf stood up cutting him off. "You are the magical father to Harry James Potter!"
OoOoOOoO
Hermione looked at Harry in horror as they both stood at the same time. She was through the wards in five seconds. Harry had Remus magically bound in what seemed like the knick of time because Remus was terrifying, his eyes amber and his face full of rage.
Hermione looked to her father who was glaring at them. "You dare interfere?"
Before Hermione could speak Harry did. "Well, it seemed a better option than having the closest thing I have to a godfather and my adopted father try to murder one another."
Hermione barely hid her giggle as Nagani slithered in and moved up Remus, hissing in her strange way. When Remus immediately calmed Hermione let out a sigh of relief. "Thank you, Nagini."
Harry snorted. "She probably gave him a headache though."
Remus was still breathing hard but looked much calmer. "I have had worse."
Harry sighed and ran a hand through his already messy hair. "Look, Remus, I knew what it meant to claim Hermione. I wasn't tricked or anything."
"He killed your parents!" Remus said his tone full of anger even with whatever Nagini did to calm him down.
Harry nodded. "And Dumbledore killed Hermione's mother and is trying to kill me."
Hermione watched as Remus processed this before he let out a low growl. "No one is without blood on their hands. That is what you are telling me?"
Harry shrugged looking at Hermione who sighed. "Change is something you can count on, Remus," she said softly. "Dumbledore would see us both dead; my father would protect us. What choice would you like us to make?"
Harry nodded and then let out a brittle laugh. "I don't care about the past at this point. I know that sounds horrible. But my parent's fate was sealed with that stupid prophecy, and Dumbledore knew Peter was a spy. He handed them to Tom Riddle with a pretty bow." Harry was breathing hard. "He handed me to Lord Voldemort. If it hadn't been me the prophecy meant, I would be dead."
This stunned Remus because he just blinked at them. Hermione was holding Harry's hand and she squeezed it offering him whatever comfort she could. "We are not saying my father doesn't have fault."
A snort from the man and Hermione turned to give him a 'be quiet' look.
Harry spoke up his voice firm. "We are saying Dumbledore is more at fault. Tom Riddle was searching for his family, terrified for his baby. What were Dumbledore's motives?"
Hermione looked at her friend in shock. "Harry, that's it!"
Remus and Harry both looked at her as she went pale and sank down. "The prophecy we are missing it must be about me. Dumbeldore's motives were to take my father out of the picture so he could get to me and my mother."
"What other prophecy?" Remus asked watching Hermione his eyes hard.
Tom spoke up his tone weary. "It was what I was actually searching for their fifth year. It is rumoured Diana gave a prophecy about me and Hermione before her death. Witnessed by someone we can't identify."
Remus went still his eyes thoughtful. "Could it not be the one you heard from Dory?"
Hermione shook her head. "I don't think so. That was about Dumbledore, not me."
Tom gave a slow nod. "I happen to agree with my daughter. There is a factor in play here we can't identify. I believe it revolves around my daughter."
Harry snorted. "Well, happy to say for once it is not bloody well about me."
The tension broke and as Hermione tried to hide her giggle and she saw Remus smirk.
"So how do we find a missing prophecy and Horcrux?" Remus asked his tone betraying his angst.
Hermione sighed and sank down pulling Harry with her. "It is like looking for a needle in a haystack."
Harry chuckled as the Dark Lord smirked, but Remus paused. "I don't get it."
Hermione smiled up at him wearily. "A muggle saying."
Harry nodded. "It was right on though. This is a needle in a haystack."
Hermione went into thinking mode as they all sat in the study just the ticking of the clock for company.
"So, how do we do it?" Harry asked finally.
Hermione looked up smiling. "You bring a magnet."
She watched her father turn to give his full attention to her his eyes flashing and smiled sweetly at him as Harry frowned.
"You can't mean—" Harry started, but Tom Riddle cut him off.
"Oh, I assure you, Mr Potter, she does indeed mean herself."
Hermione stood up and squared her shoulders. "It is time to go on the offensive, and you know it. I am not my mother; I do not have an infant to protect. I will not go into hiding. I am going to be the magnet, and you are going to help me. It is time, father."
"You dare give me orders?" Was asked sarcastically by her father.
She snorted and waved her hand. "I am of age. We were heading this direction anyway. We just, speed things up a little."
Harry sat up on his knees his face troubled. "He could go on the offensive too, Hermione."
Hermione's eyes flashed fire. "He thinks of me as the magically blocked bookworm he last saw. Change, change is a thing you can count on. I am not the same witch." She held her head high. "I am the daughter of Diana Karkaroff and Tom Riddle Jr. I am the second heir to Salazar Slytherin," she smirked at her father who tipped his head to her and turned to Remus. "And I am part of the Lupin Pack."
Remus nodded slowly his eyes full of weariness but also pride. "Yes, you are."
Hermione grabbed Harry's hand and pulled him up. "I am not who he thinks I am. Let him find that out."
Harry swore but nodded. "You're bloody terrifying when you act like this."
Hermione smiled and turned to her father. "No one stays the same, father. Change is a thing you can count on. I think it is time for Albus Dumbledore to realise that I am not as defenceless as he believes me to be."
Remus looked between them all and then nodded. "What goes up must come down, Lily always said that," he said looking at Harry. "Dumbledore is riding high; perhaps it is time we all brought him down a few feet."
Hermione nodded. "Now, about Rita Skeeter."
Author Notes:
Okay, I write fluff, this intrigue is really hard for me. I love the challenge but it means I take much longer on chapters. Apologies for the delay and my eternal thanks to Duchessofthedeprived for putting up with my constant rewrites.
Cheers,
CJean
