Another Chapter! Thank you to everyone for the comments, favourites and messages! They always help. A shout out to some the inspiration for the characters and future and past situations.
Upthehillart- Inspires Hermione and well smut on her NSFW Pillowfort
CaptBexx- Draco, Narcissa and younger versions of the Malfoy's
Blvnk- for all things Hinny
If anyone wants particular links then feel free to message.
Hermione was met with everyone she had seen in Berlin other than those on the run. She could see Kira Lee stood in the corner talking with Theodore Knott. The Snyde woman stood discussing something intently with Draco Malfoy who looked disgusted at what she was telling him. Hermione swallowed her fear as she stepped into the room. She was in a room full of dark wizards and she only had herself to protect her. She could see Lyra stood talking quietly with Adrian Pucey, he was discussing something with her and Hermione could tell Lyra was being polite by the smile she had on her face. As soon as she looked over to see Hermione her smile turned to a smirk as she looked Hermione up and down. Hestia left her standing in the doorway, looking like fresh meat in the wolf's den.
"Seems like you brush up not bad Granger" Hermione turned to see Marcus Flint staring down at her.
"Hello, Flint" Marcus Flint grinned at her.
"It's rare for Lyra to be seen in public let alone throw a private party. I think we should be on a first-name basis don't you?" He said, offering her his hand. Hermione swallowed her prejudice and took his hand. She was expecting him to shake it but when he leant down and kissed her knuckles Hermione swallowed her constricting throat. A warm blush rising in her cheeks,
"Marcus" Hermione jumped at the sound of Lyra's bark. "I believe you betrothed is looking for you," Hermoine thought she had a strange look on her face, similar to the face she used to pull when she saw Ron touch her in any way. Flint smirked,
"Of course" He nodded to her before turning back to Hermione, "I'll come back for a catch up soon Hermione" He walked off towards Flora who was watching Hermione closely,
"I'm sorry about that. He often forgets he's engaged" Lyra stated, she handed Hermione a glass of champagne which Hermione took gladly.
"What are we celebrating?" Hermione asked, watching Lyra out of the corner of her eye.
"I closed a business deal with a company in Berlin to help refinance wand production in Diagon Alley" Lyra explained, "What with Gregorvich out of business there's too much pressure on Olivander, and let's face it. He isn't getting any younger"
Hermione watched Lyra carefully. The Older Malfoy was a conundrum. Strong and business focussed with an undertone of something that wasn't right. Hermione knew she was up to something. But she didn't know what. Unfortunately, everyone in the room with them knew exactly what it was Lyra was up to which meant she couldn't ask a single thing.
"Is that what you had to keep going to Berlin for?" Hermione asked. Lyra nodded, her eyes constantly scanning the room. Hermione could see the necklace lying around her neck.
"So what does the business have to do with the pure blood families?" Hermione asked. Lyra smirked holding back her laugh.
"It's easy to forget you don't know the ins and outs of what I do" Lyra stated simply. "Everyone in this room has something to do with my business. Whether it's opening restaurants, taking on other businesses to save them from folding, or simply by injecting funds"
"So you use your family's connections to save other people and get their money?" Hermione asked. She watched Lyra look down at her with narrow eyes.
"If that's what you want to belittle it down to" Lyra grit out. Hermione nodded, taking a sip of her drink. She heard Lyra sigh but refused to look up at her.
"I apologise for not taking your break up with Weasley seriously," Lyra said in a quiet voice.
"Is that sincere?" Hermione asked,
"Yes, I know you're upset. I didn't mean what I said when- Well"
"I know that wasn't you. It doesn't mean it doesn't hurt" Hermione admitted. "But I know the truth hurts" She added looking up at Lyra who was staring down at her with a small smile. She knew it had been true deep down she just didn't want to have admitted it. Lyra nodded,
"Anyway, you look stunning" Lyra moved on, clearly not wanting to linger on what had been said.
"Thank you," Hermione said looking down at the golden dress. "It's all Hestia," Hermione admitted. Lyra nodded with a smile,
"She is doing an apprenticeship with a designer in Paris in hopes to get somewhere here" Lyra explained,
"Wouldn't Madam Malkin take her?" Hermione thought of Lavender as she said,
"Not a lot of the original business are willing to take on Death Eater children" Lyra explained staring into her glass intently with a clenched jaw. Hermione looked away,
"Maybe I can help?" Hermione found herself volunteering, she looked round to see Lyra watching her with a raised eyebrow,
"And how can you help?" Lyra asked,
"I am part of the Golden Trio, remember" Hermione joked, making Lyra laugh with a shake of her head.
"Lyra" A snarl came from beside Lyra, turning Hermione's breath snagged. Snyde's daughter stood glaring at her.
"Calina, this is-"
"Hermione Granger, yes I read the prophet" Calina sneered, Lyra's jaw clenched tightly.
"It's nice to meet you" Hermione greeted politely sticking her hand out. Calina looked at her hand with a sneer. Calina's lip curled and Hermione braced for the comment. Lyra cleared her throat however and Hermione found her hand shaken loosely.
"Pleasure" Calina sneered. "Lyra we have things to discuss"
"I'm aware, Calina" Lyra gritted back. Calina didn't seem to get the hint that Lyra did not want to discuss whatever it was now. "We'll discuss it later. Let's just enjoy the party for now" Lyra tried.
"We need to talk about-"
"I am aware" Lyra snapped glaring hard down at Calina Snyde. "We will discuss it later" She sneered. Calina's nostrils flared but nodded, Hermione didn't miss the small click of her heels together before she walked away.
"She seems abrasive" Hermione commented into her glass.
"You have no idea," Lyra mumbled looking around the room. Lyra took a long drink of the champagne. Hermione could see the irritation on the tall woman's face.
"You don't like her?" Hermione asked quietly,
"She isn't the nicest person to have to deal with," Lyra admitted with a shake of her head. Hermione watched her shift her weight from one foot to the other, showing her discomfort.
"Tell me what was it you wanted to ask?" Lyra asked quietly. Hermione paled slightly,
"It can wait, it wasn't urgent" Hermione dissuaded, Lyra seemed to accept it. Hermione knew it was the alcohol, in a normal situation Lyra wouldn't have left it alone. Hermione watched people talk with Lyra and Hermione had to admit she was good. She seemed the perfect blend of Narcissa's charm and Lucius Malfoy's manipulation before Hermione realised she was getting pledges from most of the room to back her latest bill on dismissing the werewolf registry. Even Pansy Parkinson had promised she would sign as well as her parents. The party raged on and Hermione found herself in deep debate with Marcus Flint, Kira Lee and Hestia Carrow on the prejudices of the Wizarding World. She wasn't shocked by Marcus's passion for a competition but the two women were also giving Hermione a run for her money on who currently was facing more hardships and it was Kira Lee who had her pinned,
"You can't tell us, Granger, that muggleborns are currently facing vast unemployment and disengagement from wizarding life like purebloods are at the moment" Kira argued.
"No, but we did once upon a time" Hermione countered,
"When? In 1819?" Hestia countered, "We are all facing judgement for crimes we didn't commit" Hestia stated. "I wasn't the one torturing mudbloods at Hogwarts" She snapped.
"Now, now, Hestia," Marcus warned in a dark tone. "There's no need to throw words like that around in Hermione's presence," Marcus said with a smirk. Hermione felt uneasy in her stomach like she had pushed too far in the argument and now they were fed up with her presence. That they had only been willing to put up with her silly argument for so long. She looked for Lyra, the only way out she had. Lyra was busy, however, Adrian Pucey was busy arguing with her over a scrap of parchment Lyra was angrily shoving back into his hands. Her hair spilling from its tie at the base of her neck.
"Lyra this is more than reasonable" He snapped as Lyra moved to walk away from him,
"I will not be bought like some prized Unicorn Adrian" Lyra shouted. Lyra's anger growing as he gripped her upper arm. He shouted after her as Draco followed Lyra from the drawing room, clearly intending to calm his furious sister.
"We told him he was silly to offer it to her tonight" Marcus muttered into his firewhisky.
"He's mad if he thinks he can pin her" Hestia smirked with a chuckle.
"I will have you know Hestia that if I hadn't had such a delectable offer from your sister that Lyra was my next option" Marcus informed Hestia with a grin.
"Pucey's proposing?" Hermione asked, her voice a much higher pitch than she would have liked. They all laughed,
"Not quite," Kira said through her giggles.
"Don't worry Granger you'll have her in your pocket for a little longer," Hestia smirked. Marcus shook his head at the women, however,
"He's offering her a marriage contract" Marcus explained, "The Malfoy's are a noble house that most pure-bloods want to tap into at some point in their family history, let alone a half-blood like Adrian. But, good on him, they've always been friends but I was shocked he'd have the balls to give that to her"
"Do you think she would go through with it?" Hermione's question was asked before she had time to think how pathetic she sounded.
"I wouldn't worry Granger, the last thing Lyra Malfoy thinks about is getting married" Hestia smirked,
"I mean we all thought Lucius had given up on it after Lyra was practically adopted by Bellatrix and the Dark Lord" Kira added,
"What are you talking about?" Hermione asked,
"Don't you know?" Hestia asked, "Lyra stayed with Bellatrix most of her summers when she was at Hogwarts. Some say she's a better Legillimens and Occlumency than the Dark Lord was. He practically raised her to be blood thirsty"
"Lucky Potter didn't run into her at the battle. She probably would have finished him before the Dark Lord" Kira smirked,
"What are you discussing?" Calina's hiss appeared from behind Marcus. He smirked at her,
"We were just discussing how Lyra's a bloodthirsty beast who could have outpowered the Dark Lord should she had wished for it," Marcus teased.
"You shouldn't speak of her that way" Calina sneered, "Not in front of her" She practically spat at Hermione. Hermione had had enough of the attitude, fueled by alcohol,
"What's that supposed to mean?" Hermione snapped. She didn't miss Hestia's raised eyebrow, impressed at Hermione's temper.
"You know what it means Mudblood," Calina spat. Hermione went to respond when she looked past Calina to see Lyra stood a short distance. She was furious. She had fixed her hair, but Hermione could see she was practically shaking in rage.
"I think it's time you went home Calina," Lyra said quietly, her eyes closed as she tried to contain her anger.
"Lyra I will not let them ruin what we have worked-" Lyra's arm was quicker than Snyde's protests. The full body bind wasn't what Hermione expected but she was glad Lyra hadn't hurt her. With a sharp move of her wand, Calina Snyde was levitated to the fire.
"I'll talk to you later about this," Lyra sneered. A sharp throw of floo powder and the order of the Snyde residence. Calina Snyde was gone for the evening. Lyra stared furiously into the flames.
"Alright everyone, now the excitement is over, let's get back to the party shall we" Blaise announced with a grin and a slight increase in volume from the gramophone in the corner.
"I didn't mean to upset her," Hermione said to Marcus and Kira. They both shook their heads but Hermione could tell they were watching Lyra who was currently downing a glass of fire whisky.
"Calina takes everything a bit too seriously. I wouldn't worry Hermione" Marcus said with a tight smile. The situation at the party changed, everyone was slightly on edge and Hermione found herself stood in the corner looking over some of the cabinets and their contents. She felt like she was back in sixth year with Ron snogging Lavender Brown in the corner and no one wanted to talk to her. She stared down into her glass of champagne, she was a fool for coming here alone let alone trying to get Lyra to talk.
"A sickle for your thoughts," A voice said next to her. She looked up to see Lyra staring into the cabinet. Hermione smiled softly.
"You know the muggles have a similar saying. A penny for your thoughts" Hermione explained. Lyra smiled.
"We're not so different from them I guess. What's a penny?" She asked curiously. Hermione spent the next half an hour explaining the monetary system in the muggle world. People began to trickle out of the party not long after. Hermione walked to collect her things. She turned to see Lyra stood watching her. Grey eyes boring into her intently,
"Why did you come here tonight?"
As always please let me know what you think, with reviews/messages. If you have anything you particularly want to see or feel was unfinished then let me know (Shout out to Shuminna whose already done this and I've fixed it) :)