Hermione stared at her reflection in her mirror for a good ten minutes, as she twirled this way and that—fussing over every last detail from her hair to her shoes. For some unfathomable reason, which she really didn't want to admit to, she actually wanted to look her very best for today.
She still couldn't believe that Draco Malfoy was coming over with his parents and she would be sitting down and breaking bread with Lucius Malfoy of all people.
Was it too late to feign illness?
She had spent the better part of yesterday going over every detail of the party the evening prior, from the confrontation with the pampered parasites to the talk she'd had with Adrian and finally the kiss with Malfoy—and all of it had left her feeling overwhelmed.
But in different ways.
It was hard to explain to herself and even more challenging to try and justify how in Godric's name her magic had chosen Malfoy as it's likely mate. There was still a small part of her logical brain that refused to accept the very stark reality where she ends up bonded with the Slytherin Prince.
But fucking Morgana...the wizard could kiss!
Just thinking about it now? She smirked as she fanned herself with her hands and hummed pleasantly at the tingling sensations and pulsating throb of heat working its way through her body.
Thankfully a short knock on her door prevented her from engaging in such fantasies long term.
If last night was any indication, she would be having a difficult enough time trying to curb her baser desires.
It was the first time she'd ever made herself climax by her own hand...to thoughts of Draco Malfoy—of all the wizards!
Another knock sounded and giving herself one last appraisal and a short nod of acceptance, the words, "come in" fell from her lips.
The door opened and Harry's messy black hair preceded his smiling face as he peered around the door.
"Hey Sis, you ready yet? Theo just got here with his Dad."
"I'm ready." She demurred, spritzing on a splash of her favorite perfume that her parents had given her last year.
She really needed to go into a Muggle London to check on them.
Harry must've noticed something was off because he asked, "Everything alright? Cause if it's not we can run off and hide somewhere and let Aunt Muriel deal with the ferret and his family."
"Harry!" Hermione admonished with a snort. "No calling Draco that name. Especially in mixed company."
"Fine." Harry groused as he plopped himself down on the edge of her bed, staring at her critically. "You look too pretty. Please don't tell me you went through all that effort for Malfoy?"
Hermione looked at the put upon expression on Harry's face and sighed as she sat down next to him and nudged his shoulder with her's.
"Is this really going to be an issue, Brother Mine?" Her voice wavered slightly, and she could feel Harry tense up minutely next to her before he sagged in defeat.
"No," he replied lowly, "I don't like it but I won't make it an issue either."
"How generous of you." Hermione snarked and Harry just chuckled at his sister's cheek.
"I'm a generous wizard." He bit back playfully before he tilted his head to the side and laid it upon his sister's shoulder. "Of all the wizards though, why did it have to be Malfoy?"
"I'm still not 100% convinced it is but..." Hermione was quick to add when Harry lifted his head up with a hopeful look. "but...I'd be lying if I didn't admit that my reluctance has more to do with my own preconceived feelings about Malfoy than how I instinctively feel."
"Oh...joy." Harry pouted and Hermione just giggled at how ridiculous he was being.
"Stop it, Harry."
"Fine." He stood up and offered her his hand, which she took without hesitation. "But if he so much as puts a single, solitary toe out of line? I'm going to hex his pasty arse into next year."
"Good to know."
The two shared a quick laugh before Harry escorted her downstairs to greet their guests, who were probably waiting for them with her Grandmother.
Thankfully, when they arrived into the blue room, only Theo and his Father were waiting.
"Hey Theo." Hermione moved over and gave her cousin a hug, which he was getting better about tolerating as he actually hugged her back. When she pulled away she smiled at Lord Nott and curtsied respectfully. "Hello Sir, has my Grandmother been down yet?"
"Not as such," Thoros smiled as he bowed over the young witch's hand in greeting. "Sabbo led us here, and I must say you look very lovely today, Hermione."
"Thank you." Her blush was endearing as she gestured for them all to sit. "And I appreciate you both being drafted into service for today."
Thoros chuckled deeply, while Theo just grinned.
"We wouldn't have missed it."
"Do you think this is a mistake?" Hermione inquired as she stared at Theo questioningly and her cousin sighed.
"Draco told me he'd mentioned that I figured it out before hols?"
Hermione nodded. "He did, and I'm not upset Theo. I just don't understand why my magic would choose someone who has spent the better part of five years tormenting me."
Theo took in his cousin's melancholic expression and glanced at his Father, who seemed to be thinking too—as his eyes were averted towards the doorway, brow furrowed in thought.
"I wish I had an answer that makes sense, Hermione," Theo offered with that damnable shrug, "but I don't know. There's so much about this that is mysterious. I wish there was a book or something I could gift you that might offer you some answers."
She nodded and bit her lip, her blue eyes downcast as she felt Harry's hand grip hers in solidarity.
"I suppose I need to learn to trust in my magic more and not try and overthink everything so much?"
"That would be wise, Dearest." Her Grandmother said evenly as she glided into the room, waving both Thoros and Theodore still when they went to stand in greeting. "Please stay seated you two...we are family after all and there's no reason for such formalities amongst family."
Hermione smiled softly while Thoros just chuckled. "Far be it for me to defy your wishes, Muriel."
"You'd be wise not to do so, Thoros." Muriel snarked back before her heavy gaze landed on her granddaughter. "As for you, Dearest...magic isn't logical and often challenges us in ways we don't understand until after the fact. Perhaps if you had grown up here with me, your Father and Mother...you wouldn't be struggling to accept—but I feel a certain culpability in that I haven't taken the opportunity to tutor you as I've should have because I wanted you to feel some measure of control over this new life that has been thrust upon you."
The room was silent as Muriel's words fell like weighted bricks upon everyone—but eventually Hermione just said, "I know this hasn't been easy for you either, Grandmother. But if I might I'd like to ask a favor?"
"Which is?"
"I'd like to take Harry and go into Muggle London tomorrow."
Hermione noticed Thoros flinch and Theo just scowled, but Harry seemed confused.
"Why?" Muriel demanded and Hermione replied pleadingly, "I need to check in on the Granger's. My parents. I need to know if they're okay and to see for myself firsthand that they're really lost to me. I want you to know it's no reflection on my time here. You've been more wonderful than I could've imagined, Grandmother. But I need to do this to find some closure. If nothing else, I just want to know they're safe and happy."
Muriel's blue eyes bored into her's and Hermione could see several emotions present. There was frustration, understanding and a tinge of fear.
She knew her Grandmother didn't want to lose anymore family and truth be told, neither did she.
Unfortunately, an answer was not forthcoming as Sabbo came into the room, leading their three guests, who looked impeccable.
Everyone stood, and Draco couldn't help but feel the tension within the room—and glancing over at his parents—he knew they'd sensed something was amiss too.
"Lord and Lady Malfoy, welcome to Fosgate Hall." Muriel moved towards her guests and placed the perfunctory air kisses on Narcissa's cheeks in greeting while Lucius bent over her knuckles with a polished bow. When Draco moved forward, the platitudes were repeated in introduction before he moved confidently towards Hermione, who looked simply stunning in her periwinkle day robes.
"Hermione." He drawled causing her to smirk up at him, and he could see her desperately trying not to roll her eyes at his heavy-handed chivalry as he placed the softest of kisses on the back of hand.
"Draco, welcome to my home."
He bowed again and Muriel offered them seats, with Hermione sitting next to Draco on the smaller loveseat while Theo and Harry sat to Hermione's left and the Malfoy's sat on Draco's right.
Muriel and Thoros sat across from Hermione and Draco.
"I do believe it has been sometime since you've had the opportunity to visit, Narcissa."
"I believe so," the regal witch demurred, "I think the last time was after my final year at Hogwarts at the Summer Ball. I do remember the rose gardens being particularly lovely that year."
"Hmm," Muriel nodded, "the gardens were quite something that year but nothing compared to this past summer."
"Oh?" Narcissa asked, intrigued. She had heard from Lucius second-hand that the lands at Fosgate Hall had been simply enchanting when Thoros had visited after Mr. Potter had been grafted into House Prewett. "Such a shame to have missed it. Will you be holding any events here during next summer season?"
Muriel smirked knowingly while Hermione grimaced and Harry just coughed awkwardly.
"I see." Narcissa returned Muriel's expression, before turning her attention to the Prewett Heiress. "You don't seem too well pleased Miss Prewett, to be hostessing an event?"
"I wouldn't say I'm entirely adverse to the idea and Harry is going to help me," Hermione glanced at her Brother with a wicked grin, "aren't you, Harry?"
"You're evil, Sister Mine."
Everyone laughed at the clearly panicked look on the Chosen One's face.
"Nonsense, Brother Mine...you'll be turning of age this summer. We must do something to commemorate the occasion properly."
"Don't act like my birthday is your motivation for commandeering me into service," Harry pouted, "you just want to see me suffer."
"Maybe." Hermione winked. "After all the adventures I've followed you on throughout our early school years...I think you owe me a favor or ten."
More laughter and Draco had a predatory gleam in his eye as he asked, "So what kind of adventures are we talking about?"
Harry's face darkened a bit, but Hermione just tutted at Malfoy's blatant volley.
"Pish-tosh, Draco..." Hermione's voice held an conspiratorial tone though she wanted to scoff when Malfoy just smirked at her like he knew what was coming. "You can't expect a witch to not be reticent in revealing her secrets on the very first formal meeting." She tutted cryptically. "That wouldn't be very Slytherin of me."
"You're not a Slytherin, Hermione."
Waving her hand obliquely, Hermione just quirked an eyebrow at—whatever he was and said, "I'd like to think we all have the personality traits of all the four Houses within us. Just some more than others."
"And what traits would you believe recommend you as a Slytherin, Miss Prewett?"
This question had come from Lucius Malfoy and Hermione just smirked as she said, "Oh, I suppose in due course of trying to keep Harry out of trouble over the years I might've done a bit of larceny, blackmail and liberating wronged parties from certain death."
Lucius eyes narrowed as Hermione's smirk just deepened challengingly, while everyone else including her Grandmother was just staring at her like she'd lost her mind.
"Sister..."
"Oh, Harry..." Hermione just smiled indulgently at her brother and he shook his head as if to say, "whatever you want" which she silently agreed to.
She would have a bit of fun alright.
She had earned this.
"What am I missing?" Theo leant forward, giving both his cousin and Potter the stink eye.
They hadn't told him anything about blackmail, larceny or liberating of criminals.
"Black?" Thoros guessed and Hermione grinned and nodded.
"Buckbeak too."
"What?!" Draco's voice elevated, and Narcissa cleared her throat at her son with a silent head shake of warning.
The blonde just glared at his little spitfire before saying lowly, "You freed that chicken?"
"He's a hippogriff, Mal...Draco..." Hermione caught herself as she stared triumphantly back. "And yes, I freed both Sirius and Buckbeak...with Harry's help of course."
"Don't bring me into this." Harry mumbled as he sat back with a moue of exasperation.
"Don't be silly, Harry. You were with me when I used that time turner...don't try and claim plausible deniability." Hermione waved her finger playfully at her brother, ignoring the several gasps and in one case, severe glower at this new piece of information.
"Time turner, Dearest?"
Hermione's gaze met her Grandmother and she nodded. "Professor McGonagall obtained permission from the Ministry for me to use a time turner third year, so I could take all the offered classes."
"Bloody Hell." Theo murmured, then flinched at his Father's disapproving glare.
"Dumbledore knew this?"
Hermione nodded again, and Muriel scowled and pulled her lips together angrily.
"Grandmother?"
It wasn't hard to miss the dark expression on Muriel Prewett's face and Lucius Malfoy could only imagine why she was upset. Dumbledore had allowed her granddaughter to use a device that would have sped up her aging process. Not having access to her family magic, Hermione Prewett was left unaware of what such a thing might've done to her magical core and it was even more appalling since she was a Sorceress.
Had Dumbledore purposefully hoped that somehow Miss Prewett's magical core would've been unable to sustain her powers due to manifesting early?
Harry and Hermione stared at each other confused while the rest of the room went deathly silent.
Theo looked pissed!
"That bastard!" Theo snarled and Hermione's eyes widened not only at the profanity, but how murderous her cousin looked.
"Indeed." Thoros replied darkly, giving Lucius a knowing look.
Hermione didn't know what the fuck was going on, but by Merlin and Morgana someone needed to tell her post haste!
"Grandmother?" Her voice was emotive as she pleaded, "What am I missing?"
Muriel's blue eyes locked with her granddaughter and then she explained exactly what the issue was. As she finished, Hermione's face was ashen while Harry barked out in rage, "Are you shitting me!?"
"Harry!" Muriel reprimanded her nephew, but he just turned to his sister and could see her body shaking with adrenaline, and tears starting to well in her eyes as she stared at him in shock.
"Hermione?"
Her body started to react to the swirl of thoughts and emotions moving through her mind and body. Had Dumbledore wanted her to perish? If she hadn't been cursed by Dolohov and left for dead, would her magic have consumed her in the end? She was near death and had it not been for her powers manifesting—she would have in all likelihood, died.
Harry could see how distressed Hermione was. She had been similarly distraught fifth year when her magic was all over the place.
"He knew," She whispered brokenly, "you tried to talk to him about my magic fifth year and he lied and said he didn't understand what was happening to me."
Big blue eyes filled with tears, and Hermione stood up suddenly, her body trembling terribly. "Grandmother, I need to be excused."
Muriel nodded and watched as the last part of her Fabian dashed out of the room hastily.
Harry went to leave too, but Muriel stopped him cold.
"Harry, please explain to me what you related to Dumbledore fifth year?"
Green eyes looked at Theo pleadingly and the Slytherin sighed and nodded, getting permission to follow Hermione while Harry explained the particulars of what had happened.
"We went to McGonagall when Hermione's magic starting acting erratic and she went to Dumbledore personally. We took Hermione to Madam Pomfrey and did some magical scans. The results showed her magic was increasing but Dumbledore wasn't convinced. However by the time it became a critical issue, Dumbledore had disappeared from Hogwarts due to Umbridge."
Muriel Prewett wasn't the kind of witch to sit idly by and allow anyone to harm her family. Back during the first Wizarding War both Fabian and Gideon had been loyal members of the Order but even so, Fabian never trusted anyone completely except Marlene and his brother.
For all of Fabian's stubborn willfulness, he loved his family with the fiercest of devotion. It had been hard for Muriel to not know why her Grandson had refused to allow his only child and heir to remain safe at Fosgate Hall. He had never told her directly of the Prophecy, but Muriel was no fool.
And she had known something hadn't added up.
Now as the pieces of the puzzle were starting to fall into place, Muriel Prewett knew for a fact that there was more to this secret Prophecy than her Great-Grandaughter being a Sorceress. More than her being bonded to the Malfoy Heir but for the life of her she couldn't figure what the piece of the puzzle she was missing in all of this.
"What are you thinking, Muriel?" Thoros inquired with concern and Muriel turned to him with a deep frown marring her elderly features.
"That there is something I am fundamentally missing. Why would he wish Hermione dead? Why would he play with her life in such a way if there wasn't more to this than what we know?"
"And what do we know?" Narcissa asked, her voice tight.
"We know that there was a Prophecy in regards to Hermione's heritage. That is why Fabian absconded with Marlene and Hermione and placed them somewhere where he'd hoped they'd be safe. We know that Dumbledore most likely knows of this Prophecy in its entirety. He may be the only one left alive who does."
Lucius steepled his fingers as he nodded thoughtfully.
"I would tend to agree."
"And he knew enough to decide to save you from Azkaban, my Friend." Thoros drawled unhurriedly. "He did so to spare your Heir a worse fate."
"But why?" Draco asked in confusion and all eyes landed on him. "We know Dumbledore hates the Malfoy Family so why would he spare Father and me by extension? Wouldn't it be more beneficial to him to see the Malfoy Family fall into magical ruin?"
Everyone considered that factoid and even Harry had to agree that Malfoy was spot on.
He was learning the hard way that Dumbledore never did anything without an ulterior motive.
So what was the reason?
"Why do you think he had the McKinnon family leave their ancestral home?" Harry asked, as the question had been bothering him for months. "I've been there and the wards are formidable. So why would he have done such a thing?"
Muriel's gaze locked with Thoros and she could see him pondering the question too.
None of this made a lick of sense.
