Summary: Tracey's first few days in Volterra. How would a Slytherin react to the Three Kings?


~ooO Interludes III, Life with Stregas - Tracey Davis 2 Ooo~

Tracey resisted the urge to fidget and gawk as she followed Abbott down the very richly decorated corridors. It was as expensive and lavish as any Pureblood home and it made her very self-conscious of her cheap clothes.

As soon as they arrived Abbott had shown her to her own quarters, a two-bedroom suite since Tracey wanted to stay close to Abbott, the same floor, not the singles. Sharing the suite with another single witch was no big deal, she'd done it at Hogwarts. She hadn't had the chance to see Matt and Sophie since they were 'at-school'. Abbott had asked if she wanted to rest, do some shopping to replenish her wardrobe, but Tracey had asked to speak to Granger immediately.

"I just want to get it over with. I'm not going to be able to relax until I do."

Now they were standing before a richly carved door. Abbott reached out and gripped the brass door handles and pushed. It was a greeting room very similar to one used by Pureblood wives hosting tea parties. Granger was seated on a loveseat, a beautiful blond male with topaz eyes sitting next to her. There were other vampires, male and female, all of them beautiful and attractive, with either topaz or ruby eyes. What stuck out was the soft childish babbling sounds. Two female vampires – one dark Italian looking, and the other shorter curvy and red-haired – were keeping a close eye on two blonde babies sitting on a blanket spread on the carpet. And Tracey had to admit they were beautiful dressed in cream dresses with either blue or green accents.

Granger stood up and came forward holding her hand out.

"Hello Davis."

"Granger," Tracey said neutrally.

The Gryffindor smiled. "It's Cullen now." She turned and smiled brightly at the blond male who had moved to stand beside her. "This is my husband, my consort, Carlisle Cullen."

Tracey murmured polite platitudes feeling even more out of place.

"Don't."

The Slytherin's head jerked up and she was surprised by the compassionate understanding look in Granger— no Cullen— gah! Granger would always be Granger.

"Don't feel out of place because you most definitely have one. We would not have asked you if we didn't believe you would fit, adjust to all these changes." Then she looked more thoughtful. "Are you hungry?"

"I am," Tracey confessed.

"Hetty." And Tracey nearly jumped when a House Elf appeared right next to Granger.

"Yes, Mistress Hermione?" Huh, it wasn't cowering and butchering the English language.

"A light tea repast." Granger ordered.

The House Elf vanished and Granger proceeded to make brief first name only introductions. Tracey memorized each name to the face and wondered why they were present. Before she could ask the House Elf reappeared. Granger smiled and explained. "They always have the makings for tea and quick snacks. We rarely have the time for a proper sit down meal."

"You mean you don't," Tracey corrected. "You'd have snuck sandwiches into the Library if you could have gotten away with it." Hermione shrugged. But Tracey was feeling comfortable enough to push. "But really Granger, House Elves? What happened to that rubbish SPIT, SPAT—"

"SPEW," Granger corrected without taking offence. "And I gave up on it long ago. Besides we could never operate without the House Elves."

"Oh yes, and speaking of which, exactly what have you been up to Granger?"

She laughed "Reshaping vampire-magical relations."

Tracey snorted. "I can see that. More details please." But she did not push as Granger poured tea for herself, Tracey, and Abbott. The vampires received glasses of red liquid (blood?) poured from a silver carafe. After everyone had finished at least half a glass or had a nibble Granger began explaining.

"At first I wanted to create and build businesses financed by the Volturi and run by magicals."

"And why would vampires agree?" Tracey asked sceptically.

"It is a legitimate 'in' to the enclaves. Right now we are heavily restricted and have to use less than legal methods to procure what we want," an older vampire with bright red eyes and long dark explained. He had fragile-looking white skin and was dressed in a very modern Muggle black suit. His voice and expression was cheery, almost too much. His name was Aro. Oddly he reminded her of Dumbledore. The old Headmaster was infamous for his barmy notions but no one could say he wasn't a powerful wizard. Tracey tore her eyes from the vampire and turned to Hermione.

"You said, at first. Is there something else that is first now?"

"I would say there is another project that is working in parallel." Granger said coyly.

Tracey snorted. "Matchmaking witches and vampires." Her expression was shrewd. "Why?"

"I met several female vampires outside the Guard and realised many of them are very maternal and envious of me and Carlisle. And I don't have to tell you about the males." Tracey made a face. She understood. It was a guy thing to want sons and to propagate their genes, to carry on the family line and traditions. "They had tried adoption in the past but when the child grows up he or she has to be turned to ensure secrecy; it caused a lot of heartache and resentment. So I came up with the idea of matching witches with unmated vampires as a surrogate or permanent consort. Or with couples who want to have children, as a surrogate or a permanent triad. And it's been working so far."

"How do you make the matches?"

"I don't. Luna uses Arithmancy and Divination to create a list of compatible candidates. Then we introduce the witch to the vampires. After it is entirely her choice."

Tracey turned to Abbott who was sitting next to her. "You chose Felix?"

"Yes. He is a member of the Guard and most definitely not one of the vampires who were courting me." Abbott's eyes softened. "But I liked him best."

"And you and your… consort?" Tracey asked sneaking peeks at the angelic looking vampire, Carlisle Cullen.

"I met Carlisle in Seattle. I was grieving and lonely. I wanted him." Granger said simply.

"Why do I get the impression the story is a lot more complicated?"

Aro laughed. "Because it is! Hermione came to us, the Volturi, for protection. But there is a Seer in Carlisle's coven so he knew and came to Volterra to join her. All of his coven has agreed to join us for the foreseeable future. Permanently if our joint community attempts are successful."

"Huh." Tracey didn't have much to say about it. Then something struck her mind. "Granger, Abbott said you were willing to pick up Apprenticeship fees."

"Yes."

"I had always planned on a Healing Apprenticeship. Before the War broke out Madame Pomfrey promised to sponsor me. But after she died I couldn't afford the fees."

Granger nodded and looked at her mate to explain. "Apprenticeships are either a matter of affording the fees, or knowing someone who is willing to sponsor you, usually by introducing you to a Master. Poppy Pomfrey was our school Healer. She would have been Davis's Master after the two years in-class studies were completed."

"I studied most of the material already. When I was in Hogwarts and after because I had plenty of time. I can write the exam in Naples or Florence. Both enclaves have hospitals that automatically assign passing students to Masters on staff."

"When you graduate, perhaps even before, you will be expected to work in our clinic," Carlisle said calmly, catching Tracey's eyes. "I am the primary physician. I've spent decades working a doctor in non magical hospitals but I don't have experience in magical illnesses and treatments."

Tracey nodded. "I can ask for extra coursework in caring for expectant and new mothers and young children."

Aro clapped his hands. "Wonderful!" he said gloating giving Granger a pointed look. "See Hermione, you were worrying for nothing!"

Granger snorted. "Nothing Aro? You won't say Davis is nothing when you've been ripped apart verbally." Several inquiring looks turned in the direction of both witches and Tracey resisted the urge to cringe. "It was a debate and Davis is very good at finding holes in an opponent's arguments."

Aro gave Tracey a thoughtful look that made the Slytherin cringe inwardly. "Is that so?" he murmured softly.

"And no Aro. You don't get to play with her until she's settled down," Abbott said firmly. "Go twist someone else into knots."

Tracey was torn between disbelief and terror when Aro pouted and batted his eyelashes at Abbott.

"Pretty please?"

"No."

Then Granger felt enough pity to explain. "Aro can be very childish. Quite off putting to find in one of the defacto rulers of vampire society."

"What?" Tracey croaked.

Granger blinked. "Oh, didn't Hannah tell you?"

"Sorry Hermione. I was more focused on getting Tracey settled. I thought we'd be having this talk tomorrow so I skipped the debriefing."

Hermione turned to a gorgeous brunette vampire with red eyes. "Heidi?"

Heidi produced a slim booklet made of Muggle paper folded into half and held it out to Tracey who accepted. It had less than two dozen pages. The cover was black with red lettering outlined in gold. The title was simple: The Volturi.

"It will eventually be part of the welcome package," Heidi explained. "Feel free to provide feedback on what works and what's needed."

Unable to resist Tracey flipped it open. The first page was an index with names listed in alphabetical order. She could not resist going straight to Aro and froze when she read a few lines in the description next to his picture.

Aro Volturi, Alpha of the Volturi Coven … Three Kings (see Marcus, Caius), the leaders of vampire society …Turned around 1300 BC … Mated to Sulpicia (deceased).

Oh Merlin! She turned horrified eyes on Granger who shrugged.

"I know. He's the leader of the vampire world."

Tracey inhaled deeply. "Okay. Despite my reservations about him," she jabbed a thumb at a wounded looking Aro, "Granger won't ally herself with a screw-up." Then she smiled wickedly. "Correction, if she does she'll make sure she straightens him out. Too bad it didn't work with Potter and Weasley."

"Please don't. Harry and Ron made their own choices. I've made mine."

Tracey scowled. "They betrayed you!"

"They don't see it like that. And I don't have the inclination to make them understand. It would be a waste of time and energy." Then Granger gave her a sharp look. "Are you in?"

"I'm in. Not promising anything about finding a vampire guy and the babies part but I'll definitely help with the hospital and any planning. I still have favours I can collect on."

Granger smiled. "You don't have to use them. Let's try money and threats. I'm finding the combination works wonders."

Tracey threw her head back and laughed. "Granger, we'll make a Slytherin out of you!"

"I think she's more Hufflepuff," Abbott objected mildly. "She's been working very hard to get everything set up and organized. And balance her family and work."

"And Luna would say something weird about her creatures," Granger said firmly. "I personally think I'm more of a Ravenclaw."

And then all three witches burst into laughter. When they stopped laughing they were still smiling.

"Come on Davis, I want you to meet my daughters."

"Tracey."

"What?"

"Call me Tracey." Tracey wondered if she had said it the correct way.

Granger smiled brilliantly. "Of course Tracey. And you must call me Hermione." She smiled impishly. "I know you love calling me Granger but it's Cullen now. And there are too many Cullens in Volterra to know who you're referring to."

Tracey smiled slightly and nodded. "Understood Hermione."

~ooOoo~ooOoo~ooOoo~

The End