Hey Everyone,

I started a new story. It seems like it will be another Epic but hopefully shorter than A Time, lets find out together. All I ask is if you please please be patient with me. A Time We Can Never Be is my main priority, but I think a fresh story, a fresh... well everything would be nice. I promise I will get out the latest chapter to A Time... tomorrow. The pairings will be subject to change, but yes this is a Fleurmione story, Endgame is unknown, but they will weave in an out of each others lives. Lets just say Hermione has a thing for blondes. haha

Thank you for giving me a shot at a new story and I hope you like the new take on this AU HP story line.

Enjoy
Snow

The woman in rich robes of deep green sat in her living room next to the fire with a snifter of brandy in her hand cupping the bottom of the glass gently warming the liquid with the warmth of her palm. Her, oh so, loving husband, the fucker, ordered her presence at Hogwarts any way she could to get on the grounds as a permanent fixture. He was just short of telling her to whore herself out to the Dumbledore, she inwardly scoffed. She would have better luck with McGonagall. Her best friend and sometimes bed mate simply watched the interaction and then Lord Malfoy leave the living room. She hated his stare, those black eyes, never changing, not even in the throes of passion did they never change. It was as if he tried to read her mind, but he never could. Not even her husband's precious Dark Lord could break into her vault of thoughts.

"How does he expect me to get on the grounds and stay there? Permanent fixture my ass," she spat as she sat back, lazy like a sprawled cat with her brandy in her hand on her thigh. She only let herself break the masks of the proper pureblood wife, ever perfect, ever poised, in front of this man and her son. They were the only two she could ever trust.

"Help Madame Pomfrey in the infirmary with healing," Severus offered as if it were the simplest solution on the planet. Narcissa scoffed then looked back at him, read him, and then narrowed her eyes.

"What aren't you telling me?" Narcissa rose from her seat head back, stretching out her legs.

"There will be an event, a yearlong event, held at Hogwarts. I am sure we will need the help. Shall I drop your name and credentials, with the old man?" Severus stared at the fire, never looking up.

"I think that is the best we could ever hope for. It allows me complete and total access to the entire castle, surrounding grounds, and the ability to emergency apperate if need be," Narcissa turned and then smiled, Severus felt that stare, and then their eyes clashed, "Come he will not be back."

They walked to her room, took, but never gave to the other. Such was their game.

Oo0o0o

"The raid did what it needed," hissed a bundled figure.

"Yes, My Lord," scurried a frantic figure. Out of nowhere the frantic man, haggard, lanky twitchy, knelt before the bundle.

"I have a job for you, my most loyal servant," the small swaddled mass hissed to the kneeling sack of frantic nerves before him. The smile grew lopsided. The man practically buzzed with excitement and almost fell over himself to be used. All you could hear was an adoring, "Yes, My Lord."

Then the man was off with a loud crack. Then a hissing chuckle filled the room.

Oo0o0o

When school finally began there was a sigh from Hermione Granger as she stepped off the Hogwarts Express and looked around at the grounds. Her grounds. She immediately felt at home as she began her walk to the Gryffindor common room. When dinner came Hermione found herself in a book nibbling on a small sandwich and sipping tea. Ron shoveled food into his mouth as if he never ate a damn thing, and Harry was almost as bad which was shocking seeing as he spent the last few weeks at the Burrow. So, she had no idea why he ate as if he was starved. Maybe he had a tapeworm. The thought made her cringe.

She vaguely listened to Dumbledore drone on about forbidden forests, certain death, guests coming from abroad in a few weeks. She honestly didn't care about the competition she didn't want to be a part of and because of her age couldn't even compete in if she wanted to. Ron bumped her shoulder again drawing her from her book with a glare.

"Sorry 'Mione," he grunted as he shoved a heaping helping of mash potatoes into his mouth. She scoffed at him, closed her book and belted him on the shoulder with it. Ginny laughed at the shock on Ron's face and Hermione sneered at the sausage he just stuffed into his mouth hung open in a mouth still filled with potatoes. Hermione looked at Ginny and saw the red-haired sisters disgust. Hermione shook her head, shoved her food away, appetite lost, and opened her book, Advanced Healing: Your Bones and You.

Hermione finally went to her Extra curriculum assignment. She asked Professor McGonagall is she could take healing as an elective. Something in the older witched eyes shone.

"Miss Granger, why would you want this opportunity right now?" the professor sat back, clasped her hands before her on her desk and waited.

"I am not asking for the same schedule as last year, not the same workload. It is simple. I find I do not have the aptitude for Divination, and Muggle Studies is rather redundant. Astronomy is chart reading and watching. I can see potions, transfiguration, Defense Against Dark Arts, Charms, and arithmancy. I took runes and loved it but want something different, challenging," Hermione argued.

Her favorite professor lifted an eyebrow. Hermione inwardly groaned. What is it with purebloods and raising their eyebrows in disgust? She saw the same damn sculpted eyebrow lift on a rather haughty Lady Malfoy at the Quidditch event over the summer.

"Any further reason, Miss Granger?" Professor McGonagall asked.

"Well..." Hermione sighed, "Harry and Ron, they always seem to be accident prone. If it is minor, I wont have to take the boys to the infirmary every three days due to their stupidity," Hermione grumbled.

McGonagall stared at her favorite student, she only had a few in her tenure as professor she truly considered her favorite, and the witch before her was one of her pride and joys. The professor stood and motioned for Hermione to follow her. Hermione complied but it almost killed her not to ask questions. They took the winding staircase past the Gryffindor common rooms, McGonagall's class, and through the moving stir cases. Finally, Hermione realized where she was going.

"I agreed to an extracurricular study with you Miss Granger, but I did not think it would be healing. As always you leave an old witch surprised," Professor McGonagall smiled as she swung open the Infirmary door, "This subject of independent study is fine by me, however your Master, for this type of study you will be an apprentice, needs to approve."

The professor ushered Hermione through the doors and straight to the medi-witch administering first aid to a first year Ravenclaw. Hermione watched intently. She listened to the questions, watched the wand movements for diagnostics. She didn't see McGonagall watch with a small smile. Hermione turned and lifted her wand with a small smile and a shrug silently asking permission.

"I normally wouldn't but I will trust you with healer confidentiality?" McGonagall quipped.

"Of course, professor," Hermione replied. McGonagall nodded. Hermione remembered the wand movements but stopped, "I don't know the incantation," Hermione's brow furrowed.

"Quid enim mali est," Madam Pomfery said while treating the boy on the table. Hermione swallowed but held her shoulders high.

Behind Poppy's back, so no one could see the diagnostic, Hermione waved her wand and spoke the spell.

Nothing Happened.

"Close," came a voice from behind another curtain, "Less flick more swish," the newcomer came across the room, "Roll your wrist here," Hermione's wrist was captured with long elegant fingers. She immediately tensed up and moved to the side and out of the woman's grasp.

"Oh," the newcomer exclaimed, not sure if she was offended or apologetic, as the girl moved. She placed her hands to her side. She straightened her back, "My pardon," she said safely then she watched.

Hermione followed instructions, took a deep breath, and sure enough McGonagall's read out and health loomed before her.

"Thank you," Hermione said softly, but her voice weighted with distrust.

"You are welcome," the woman acknowledged, turned to the read out, "What do you see?"

"Bill of near perfect health," Hermione said as she looked at the diagnostic.

"Near?" asked the professor looking at her own read out turning this way and that with a furrowed brow.

"Yes, you have slightly inflamed bronchial tubes," Hermione walked to the potions cabinet, perused the labels, and then chose two then took them back to Madame Pomfrey who had already dismissed the boy who then shifted to look at the professors read out. Madame Pomfrey looked at Hermione, and then to the vials, then to the professor.

"She is your patient, Miss Granger," Poppy gave the vials back to the little witch and waved her hand to the woman, "Treat her."

Hermione summoned a glass of water and mixed the potions into the glass. She waved her wand silently getting the mixture to stir. It made Hermione's chest warm as her Head of House took the glass and drank. Hermione took the glass back, cast a cleaning spell, and then put the potions back in the cabinet. Pomfrey cast another read out and saw a lessening in the Deputy Headmistress's symptoms. Three witches looked at her, their stairs equal parts pride, wonder, and impressed.

"Very good Miss Granger," said the third witch then she turned to the medi-witch, "I have no idea why you would need me," she said a bit snobbishly, but still very impressed with the girl. Her blue eyes narrowed as she looked Hermione over from the tips of her boots, to the light brown of her hair, then to the hazel of her eyes.

"Extraordinary," the witch commented and then turned to organize another part of the infirmary.

"Thank you, Lady Malfoy," Hermione said once more but with a tiny bit warmth, much more than the thank you she shot the woman earlier. The woman paused and with as much warmth as Hermione gave her.

"You are welcome, Miss Granger," then Narcissa Malfoy turned from Hermione's wide, pure, yet slightly measuring eyes. Hermione turned to the other two witches.

"Did I pass?" asked the nervous girl.

"How are you with the sight of blood?" Pomfrey asked.

"I have seen enough of Harry's to last me a lifetime," she said with a shrug.

"You squeamish? Blood, bones forced through skin, vomit?" the older witch pressed further.

"Never bothered me. It was a problem, something out of place. If I could fix it, or put it back into place that would be great, but if I can't that's what you are there for to help and guide me to fix the problem," Hermione said and then Poppy placed a hand on her shoulder.

"These are not problems, they are people," the medi-witch said softly.

"People that need help with a problem nonetheless, even if it is medical it is still a problem. I would like to help them get into order," Hermione said softly, "I know that seems detached, clinical... but..." Hermione sighed as her words failed her.

"You start tomorrow," the medi-witch looked at the professor, "I assume you can adjust her schedule. Afternoon? Class block?"

Hermione nearly whooped with excitement. She even hugged Professor McGonagall. The old witch smiled and tapped her shoulders. The girl took off.

"Miss Granger," Hermione turned around as she heard Madame Pomfrey's voice, "Clinical and logical is what a medi-witch needs to be, but they also need to care about how and what they are trying to do. I believe you have passed your first lesson," Pomfrey dismissed the grinning witch as she turned around.

From the side Mrs. Malfoy glanced at the excitement in the young woman that she exhibited. She was an odd little mudblood. She was curt, but not disrespectful. She was untrusting but not ignorant to help. She was young and yet had an old soul. She was a mudblood, but she felt it, the power rippling just below the surface as she touched her wrist. Narcissa could feel it in her fingertips as she guided the girl's wrist for the spell's movements, when her fingertips touched her flesh. Narcissa looked at her hand as she rubbed her the pads of her fingers together. They were warm, tingling. Interesting.

It was finally here, the arrival of the other schools. Durmstrang seemed very… militant, and to Hermione's annoyance loud, and then the Beauxbaton girls came in with a graceful flutter. The entire time Hermione could care less. She didn't care about the announcements, later, she didn't care about eh cup, and the twins trying to beat Dumbledore's age line, and finally she didn't care as everyone, all schools, looked at her as she walked around with her nose in a book miraculously avoiding collision, and hitting other people. It was the night of the drawing, and yet she still didn't care. She had a feeling she would be needed, and she would be prepared for every person in this hall. Harry sat next to her happy that this year would not have one damn thing to do with him, no focus on him.

Victor Krum…

Fleur Delacour...

Cedric Diggory…

Hermione Granger…

The hall went silent.

Hermione felt Harry nudging her, poking her trying to get her attention.

"Harry stop!" she hissed as she kept reading then he took the book from her hands. She blinked, in shock and just as she was about to demand her book back, she looked around, truly looked around. Everyone, all sets of eyes looked at her, watched her, Dumbledore sounded positively frantic as he came toward her as Harry shoved her book into her chest, and then pushed her forward.

Panic, strait-laced, like a shot of firewhiskey to the gut on an empty stomach, raced through her veins, and sent a chill up and down her spine. She swallowed, looked around and found blue eyes. They pierced into her core as if looking, searching. Hermione felt the tingle and narrowed her eyes, pursed her lips, and tugged her eyes from Narcissa Malfoy's. She sent a strong NO toward Narcissa and the woman cocked her head. Hermione stepped forward, shoulders back, head tall, eyes forward. Each step with purpose. No one had to know the fear that bubbled in her guts. Once in the back all hell broke loose. Hermione hung back and listened. Adults argued her legitimacy to participate. Each of them forgot one thing.

"Once the name was expelled from the cup, the so-called champion is magically bound to participate in the tournament," came a gruff voice from the corner. Damn you Mad-eye Moody. All adults stopped and looked at the ragged man. Then Dumbledore sped toward her when he saw her. She had to step back as he didn't seem he was going to stop.

"Did you do it?" he asked his eyes glittering and searching hers. She felt it again. Therefore, she learned occlumency. Dumbledore spent too much time in other kids' heads. Dumbledore spent nearly every meal searching, gleaning, and then using that taken knowledge to use it against others. She picked up on it when he took her eyes with his after first year when he tried to figure out what happened with Quirrel and Harry.

"No I didn't. I wanted nothing to do with this!" Hermione yelled. She screamed right up into Dumbledore's space just as he invaded hers. She looked away. Then looked to Mr. Crouch and Mr. Bagman. Then it hit her. They were going to make her do this. The were actually going to make her participate in this barbaric tournament.

"If I am being forced into this tournament where I can die, I want the trace lifted from my wand, no underage restrictions, and considered an adult, of age in the wizarding community beginning now, and the restrictions never to be placed back on me. I think I deserve that right if you are forcing me into a competition with adults, or near adults, and deserve the same right of equality," Hermione ticked off on her fingers her requirements, shocking everyone. All adults looked at her but only one laughed an eerie garbled chuckle.

"Aye, I would want access to the restricted section too," Moody's glass eyes winked at her, then zipped this way and that.

"I see Professor Moody can understand where I am coming from," Hermione gestured to the man and he toasted her with his flask. Hermione waited as silence once again settled over the room. On the outside she tried to look as if it didn't bother her. It was nothing more than an annoyance. But on the inside, in the heart of it, it felt as if tiny feet ran a marathon in her veins, butterflies the size of hippogriffs flapped their wings in her stomach, and a stampede of acromantulas crawled over her heart. She was a mess.

"Let her," came a voice she really wished she would never hear in this situation. Severus Snape oozed out of the shadows, "She thinks she can do it, then let the little know-it-all die trying," Snape sneered. Dumbledore yelled at his distasteful words, but Snape said the ugly truth of it. She could die. It was there, the elephant in the room. Hermione Granger, resident know-it-all, bookworm, will probably, most likely die.

"I don't want to find out if I can do this," Hermione gritted back.

"But you have no choice," came a sad whisper from beside her. Dumbledore sighed then looked to Minerva who placed her hand on Hermione's shoulder after she spoke those fateful words. Hermione watched as the older witch shook her head, "Come Miss Granger, let's go to your dorms. I will make sure you are settled and request a House Elf to send you a light dinner."

Hermione walked with Professor McGonagall, and when they got the common room it was empty. People still roared in the Great Hall.

"Professor?" Hermione asked for the woman's attention, and he eyes finally showed her anxiety, "How did this happen?"

Minerva was by her side in a flash. She pulled the girl, who clearly let shock overtake her as tears fell from her unblinking hazel eyes, to her chest and soothed her as well as she could.

"I don't know, dear girl, But I will find out," with that Hermione nodded and the professor let her go, and left Hermione to the light dinner brought to her by the house elf. She shook her head, and the house elf sighed, and looked at her with wide sympathetic eyes before she popped away. How the hell did this happen?! She changed for bed, went to her four poster and charmed it not to be disturbed.

She needed to find her center, her foundation, her base. She will go to the library tomorrow.