Hello all! As always I own nothing HP.
Thank you all for the continued support and love for this story. I cannot believe we are almost at the one year mark!
.
.
.
.
SO I know i left you on a cliff last chapter so I rewarded you with 11 pages of FLUFF, or as close as I get to it LOL.
.
.
Also I am super excited because we are TWO chapters away from my absolute favorite chapter, I have had it written since I started the chapter and practically based the story around it. And we are almost there! I know you all have been guessing and there are some hints in this chapter as to what is to come and we will see soon if our boy Dolly gets his act together in time.
.
.
Until then, stay safe and healthy!
.
.
.
Chapter TextHermione walked through the floors of her home with a mixture of excitement and nerves filling her body. Today was the day. After over four years she would finally be able to tell Thor the truth about her. This would actually be the first time she was doing the telling. Anyone else that knew now either found out on their own or was brought in by her father. She had gone over in her head a thousand times of what she would say and nothing felt right yet.
After all she didn't want to just jump up and say "surprise I am Voldemort's daughter!" As quick to the point as that would be it would leave him more shocked than anything and would open the floor for a million and one questions.
Then of course there was the fact that everyone seemed to want in on the action. When she told them she was letting Thorfinn meet her family they all immediately assumed it meant all of them. Which only started a disagreement within them that they aren't actually family and it would be a bit overwhelming to have everyone there at once. She thought they understood her plight but the fact that Fenrir and Rodolphus had been sticking around her house more and more led her to believe that they all were not going to follow through with her wishes.
Now she was walking around the house trying to calm her nerves by looking for Crookshanks. Her Kneazle familiar had gone missing and it was unlike him not to drop by for some tummy rubs at least twice a day. She had walked to all of his favorite spots to lay in and soak up sun beams but there was no trace of the ginger beast.
Having exhausted herself with her search she turned to the big guns and asked Tully to help her look. The elf took on the project proudly and Hermione chuckled hearing her verbally accuse Fenrir of eating the missing cat as a snack.
Looking up at the clock and realizing she still had some time before her father said the Rowles would arrive she went to the back gardens to look for him.
Winding through the different topiaries she came across one of their other elves who was assigned to the lawns. He was an odd elf. Quite heavy set for the species and he had a deep gruff voice that would have given six year old Hermione nightmares. Now though she thought he was original which worked for their home.
"Good afternoon Boris. Have you seen Crookshanks today?" She called out to the elf tending to a flower bed.
The squat elf shook his head in the negative.
"Boris has not seen Mistresses cat, bossy elf has already asked. Now the bossy elf is accusing Masters' big snake of eatings it." He grumbled.
Hermione thanked him and turned around with a chuckle. She had to go rescue Nagini from Tully now. The poor dear could only take so much and she didn't want her to get moody. She walked through the house and was about to walk into the library where she knew Nagini would go to hide away from the elf. Her hand froze when she reached for the handle hearing voices inside. She focused using her advanced senses thanks to her animagus training to listen in.
"So, I think we should just cut to the chase. Thorfinn, tell me about Hermione Granger."
'What the heck! Thorfinn and his father were already here and her father had them in there by himself talking to him. Was he setting him up? This wasn't part of the plan.' She thought as she dropped her hand from the knob. Deciding to wait a second to see what came next she leaned against the door frame and waited to hear what Thor had to say.
Thor almost choked on the tea he just drank. His heart hammering so hard in his chest he was certain the werewolf sitting near him could hear it. This was a critical situation he had found himself in. He tried to glimpse at his father but the elder Rowle wasn't looking his way and seemed to have a relaxed state on the chair by him. He was starting to panic, the truth would be the only answer right? He wanted Hermione and needed her in his life. There was no way to make that happen without laying it all out there on the line to the dark lord. He needed to make him see how special she was.
He cleared his throat. Setting down his glass on the table to speak.
"My Lord if I may speak frankly."
Tom nodded with a small smile. "Please do."
"Hermione is everything you would hope to find in a witch. At least for me she is." He said with a small smile. "She is without a doubt the most intelligent person I know, but she doesn't have the Ravenclaw tendency to rub it in your face. She is very powerful and has been since I met her. She was performing magic as a first year that even those taking the NEWTS couldn't do. She could tear through everyone in her way without blinking an eye but she doesn't because even though she has a penchant for revenge above anything else she is kind."
Tom cut in. "So she is the perfect poster girl for the greater good? Her next to Harry Potter?"
Thor snorted and his eyes widened when he realized he did. "I am very sorry my Lord, it's just well, that's definitely not it. I said she is kind. I did not say she is good." He smirked. "She cares deeply for her friends and those she has adopted as family. But where your average Gryffindor would die for someone they love, I fully believe Hermione would kill for hers. She sees through all the bullshit that the ministry and Dumbledore preach. I think she should have been a Slytherin, and I sometimes find myself wondering how she was anything but. She is cunning to the core, she could serve you tea today because she was planning on poisoning it three years from now. That type of mindset isn't found in most Gryffindors who act first and think later. Not saying she doesn't have her moments where I doubt her self preservation but even the textbook Slytherins drop their masks from time to time."
Tom grinned. "You seem to be very taken by her."
Thor shot his father one last look, this time he was looking his way. He gave him the tiniest of nods that let Thor know he should proceed.
"I am my Lord. In fact I am in love with her. If I'm being honest I probably have been in one way or another since I first met her. I am a Rowle and just like my father and his father and the father before him my magic has been known to be erratic and even unstable. Once I found Hermione that stopped. Something in her magic calls to me and she taught me how to control myself." He shook his head slightly to come out of the deep thought he was in.
"Since we are speaking frankly I feel like I need to say I have every intention of marrying her. As long as she will have me I won't be changing my mind."
"You'd bring a mudblood into the Rowle line?" This question was from Rodolphus.
Thor sneered his way. "Her blood matters little to me. Even if I believed she is truly a muggleborn, which I don't. There has been several times in history where houses brought in new blood in the form of powerful witches. I couldn't ask for anyone more powerful than Hermione and her magic and skill will only bless the house of Rowle for generations to come. She was brought up in an upper class home and has manors and traditions instilled in her. Not to mention she has read enough about pure blood culture to fill in any gaps. Then of course there is the fact that She is absolutely beautiful and will be a source of envy to the other pure blooded witches who want to be like her and their husbands who just want her."
Tom was staring fondly at the boy in front of him. To say he passed the test was an understatement. He really cared for Hermione regardless of who she was or what her blood status was. He wasn't just interested in her for her looks but her brain as well. It was more than any father could ask for. The fact that he stood up for his way of thinking to him, the dark lord, of all people was a testament to how deep his devotion ran.
"She is quite beautiful.." Rodolphus said tapping a finger against his chin in thought. Tom sighed knowing the two men were scheming something.
"Uh huh. Quite the fit little thing too." Fenrir added nodding his head and licking his lips for extra effect.
At the same time both men sat forward in sync. Putting both their forearms on their knees, looking at Thor excitedly.
"So tell us. Is what under those robes as good as what we have all thought. I mean at the cup she wore that little red dress that had men drooling. Then we saw photos of her from Yule..." Rodolphus whistled.
"Tell us Rowle. Have you seen everything she has to offer." Fenrir asked, wiggling his brows.
"DO NOT ANSWER THAT!" The shout came from the doorway.
Hermione thought her cheeks would burst from how hard she was smiling listening to Thor talk. Getting to hear an unfiltered view of yourself from someone else was a treat and the blush that spread down her throat from his thoughts on her was a give away.
Merlin, she wanted to grab the man and pull him into the nearest room and snog the daylights out of him. Well she would actually like to do a lot more. The thought of taking things to the next level plagued her the two days they spent together at the beach. Every touch and kiss had her literally begging for more but she knew it wouldn't have been right to take them to that stage in the relationship without him knowing the truth. Now though, well after hearing what he really thought of her. Let's just say anything is fair game.
She was snapped out of her slightly dirty thoughts by the sound of Rodolphus and Fenrir taking control of the situation. Those bastards! They were trying to catch Thorfinn off guard and get him to admit to the more physical aspect of their relationship in front of her father. She quickly grabbed the handle and threw the door open. Speaking before Thorfinn had a chance to.
"DO NOT ANSWER THAT!"
The men in the room quickly rose to their feet when she made her appearance. Three of them confidently and one just following the motions as his brain was spinning out of control at the sight of the witch. She crossed the room to her father first who leaned down to her and pressed a kiss to her forehead.
Hermione then turned to Ogden who had a wide smile as he reached for her hand pressing a kiss to her knuckles.
"Hermione my dear, it is so lovely to see you!" He said cheerfully fully aware that his son was starting to hyperventilate on the other side of him.
"You as well Mr. Rowle. I sent an owl to Clarissa thanking her for the lovely gift basket she sent. But please reiterate my thanks to her. It sincerely has come in handy while I have been cooped up recuperating."
He chuckled and clapped her hand with his before releasing it. "Wonderful she will be glad to hear that. She has been hounding me to invite you to tea once you are well enough to brave the public."
She smiled. "Of course I would love to. Now I think I ought to speak with your son before we have to get him a calming drought." She said and they all turned to see Thorfinn who had actually taken a seat. The color completely drained from his face.
Ogden nodded chuckling and moved across the room so Hermione could take the seat next to his son.
"Hey superstar. Are you still with us?" She said easily as she leaned in and put a small hand on his knee.
He startled slightly at the touch looking up at her in confusion. "Yeah princess I am here. I am just having the strangest dream. I am not quite sure when I fell asleep but this has been wild." He said dreamily, still not focusing.
She tried to keep down a laugh. Instead reaching up to pat his cheek. The stronger tough made him look at her again closer.
"You aren't dreaming Thor. This is all real and really happening. I wasn't planning on telling you like this. But those two idiots on the other couch were trying to cause trouble. Which don't worry I will pay them both back for." There was a grumble from the other couch that had Thor looking around the room. He saw the amused expressions on both his own father's face and the Dark Lords. The two on the other couch looked a mix between amused and concerned at what threat Hermione would pin them against. He turned his eyes and focused on the curly haired witch in front of him.
She was really sitting there. He felt the pressure of her warm hands against his cheek and knee. He looked into her big cinnamon colored eyes and saw them filled with concern. He assumed it was because he was very close to passing out when he saw her walk in.
"I'm so confused." He said in a near whisper.
She grimaced. "I know and I am really sorry about that. You see there just wasn't a really good way to do this. Of course it could have gone loads better. It would have been jarring regardless. But, well I did tell you I wanted you to meet my family!" She gave him a small smile. "And now you are."
He glanced around the room again. "You aren't a muggleborn." He said evenly.
She ignored the snorts in the room while answering. "No, but you already knew that." She caressed his cheek once more before lowering her hand.
"I was raised by muggles though. For thirteen years I did live with the Grangers. But I found out about my real heritage when I was ten." She froze for a second. "Speaking of which."
She turned in the seat looking at the snake that was still curled up in the chair by the fire.
"Nagini. Please tell me you didn't eat Crookshanks." She spoke in parseltongue to the snake.
Nagini lifted her head and gave the witch as much as an affronted expression that a snake can offer.
"Love I would never eat your cat." The snake hissed back. Slowly lowering her head back down. Eyes closed as if she were falling asleep already she added. "I would be coughing up hairballs for weeks..."
Hermione shook her head while Tom let out a chuckle at the snake. Turning back to Thorfinn she saw his eyes were wide again as he had witnessed the exchange.
"You can speak to snakes?" He asked and she nodded.
"Yes. I met Nagini when I was 10. She told me I was a witch and what to expect out of life. She has been with me since then. She stays near Hogwarts when I am in school. I would say she is my familiar but Nagini is her own being she can do what she wants. We have a bond, but it's of friendship." Hermione explained.
"You. Um. You can speak to snakes like The Dark Lord can. Right. So Um.." he was struggling with articulating his rapid thoughts.
She grinned.
"Yes. Let me make this easier on you. Thorfinn my father is Tom Riddle. Or Voldemort, the Dark Lord. Whatever you refer to him as. We live here together. While many of his followers are aware he has an heir. Only a very very small group know who I am. The four you see in this room. The Malfoys, the Notts and Snape are it. We have been forced to keep my identity close to chest because there are still people out there that see my existence as a threat. If Dumbledore were to find out he would have me killed. Well I guess try again to kill me would be a better phrasing." She drifted off.
"Wow. This is a lot to take in." Thor said, sitting back further on the couch. "My father knew?" He shot his dad a glare and the older man just shrugged. "I guess that makes more sense of why he was so taken by you and welcomed you in with open arms. So I guess a lot of things make more sense now that I think about it. May I ask why now? Dumbledore is still out there right? Isn't this putting you at risk to tell me?"
Hermione opened her mouth to answer but her father spoke over her.
"Yes it is. I won't let her lie and say it isn't a big deal because it is. However I trust Hermione's judgement and if she said we can trust you then I believe her. This is something that has meant a lot to her. I know she has been nervous and I do apologize for the interrogation before but I had to see for myself first. I want you to understand that if she could have she would have told you the truth her first year. I have heard so much about you through her that I want to thank you for looking after her all these years." He gave them both a smile before he got a twinkle in his eye and looked only at Thorfinn.
"I'm fact. Let me tell you a story about Hermione her second year." His voice had a comical tilt to it that had Thor peeking up in his seat. Especially when he saw Hermione blush and hide her face in her hands.
"I take it back. I don't want you to meet my family." She muttered through her hands.
"Too late." Tom smirked before continuing. "So imagine thirteen year old Hermione sitting here with Rodolphus, Severus, Lucius and I. She had just proved herself invaluable, as always. Her Slytherin side kicked in and she asked for a favor in order for what she would be providing us. She could have asked for anything in the world and the only thing she wanted was for me to write Ogden here and put in a good word for you to pursue a career outside of the ministry. It was precious." He grinned.
Hermione was groaning into her hands saying words that were thankfully blocked out. Thor couldn't fight the smile that formed on his face as he looked down at the little witch. He remembered that. He was so thrilled to get the letter from his father. He knew Hermione was responsible but never knew what she did or how she did it. But he was never one to look a gift horse in the mouth so he had just accepted it.
"I remember that!" Rodolphus said with a booming laugh.
He used his best falsetto; "Oh father you should see him, he's built like a viking." He laughed even harder while the others shared a chuckle.
Thor looked over at Hermione who had picked up her head and was glaring daggers at Lestrange.
"Retribution is coming for you Roddy. Laugh it up while you still can."
Rodolphu sobered, holding his hands up defense. Tom, seeing the move, laughed.
"Alright you two, we will give you some time to discuss everything without an audience. Hermione dinner is still set for the regular time. We will see you both down then." He left the room and Ogden followed. Fnrir and Rodolphus were moving lower, mainly because Rodolphus was trying to judge how angry she really was at him.
"Are you really mad Mina?" Fenrir asked the question for him.
"I am!" She huffed crossing her arms. "I told you all I had a plan and you all went and mucked it all up. And then you two took it too far with the questioning. What happened to you both agreeing that it was my right to explain things however I saw fit?"
"Well that was before you spent the whole day pouting. We thought he must have done something to upset you and we were going to figure out what!" Rodolphus defended their actions.
She huffed hands planted on her hips. "I was not pouting. I was thinking. An activity I honestly advise both of you to take up from time to time!"
Rodolphus mirrored her stance only having to look down at the witch. "I swear to you Hermione I better not sprout one single feather."
She just glared up at him. "I have told Snape the same thing I would never do that to any of you.." He started to ease up the tension in his shoulders. "After all you all know the counter curse now."
Rodolphus' eyes narrowed again and Hermione just lifted her chin in challenge. Thor was watching with a small smile at the little witch taking on Lestrange. The wolf just came and pushed the aristocratic man away from her. Leading them both to the doorway.
"Alright alright, I'm moving. We will see you all at dinner?" He hollered behind his shoulder.
Hermione paused then turned confused. "Wait what?"
Fenrir gave her a smirk at the doorway. "Oh yes Mina, you invited him to a family dinner. He is going to have dinner with your whole family." He finished and the door shut behind him.
She lifted her hands and groaned into them, "Why can't I just have a normal life."
Hearing her Thorfinn let out a chuckle. She peaked through her fingers at him to see him smiling at her. She spoke through the cracks in her fingers.
"Are you ready to run for the hills yet. This is not how I was planning on tonight going."
Thor reached over and grabbed her hands from her face and pulled her across the couch to where she was seated next to him. He held both of her small hands in one of his and used the other to brush the curls back from her face slowly. Then he ran it even slower down her jaw line to her chin before lifting it up to look him in the eyes.
"I am not going anywhere princess. Am I surprised, totally. Will I have a million questions to ask you, you can bet on it. Do I love you any less today then I did yesterday? Never, if anything I love you more for deciding I was worth exposing your true self to. I will do everything in my power to keep you safe." He whispered the last part, his face closer to hers, his breath warm on her lips.
She leaned the rest of the way forward capturing his lips in hers. It wasn't until he felt both her small thighs bracketing his large ones that he realized sometime mid snog she had climbed into his lap and was now straddling him. Her arms were draped across his shoulder, her hands tangling in his hair. His own hands had gone to her hips where he was gripping her tight. She groaned at the contact of tongues and rocked her hips against him. It was that movement and the accompanying moan from both of them that reminded him of where they were. He held her tighter pulling her back from him.
"Good Godric what am I doing?" He groaned. "Princess what if your father walks in and sees us. I doubt the dark lord will take kindly to his only daughter rocking on my lap."
She made a disgusted face at him, her nose wrinkling. "Thor don't mention my father when I am sitting on your lap and you are hard. It grosses me out." She complained.
He let out a deep laugh. "I am sorry, just this probably isn't the best time to show you just how appreciative I am." He winked at her and she groaned but stood up all the same.
He watched as a thought crossed her mind and she smiled wickedly at him.
"What's that look for?" He questioned.
She simply shrugged, "We are going to Sirius' tonight for dessert. We won't be under my father's roof anymore." She winked and turned to leave hearing his deep groan and the squeak of the couch as he got up to join her.
Dinner was a memorable affair. Like she expected to happen after Fenrir and Rodolphus didn't give her the space to ease Thorfinn into the family, once they arrived in the dining room they were greeted by everyone who was currently aware of her true identity. Her adopted family per say. Even Snape had come and though he was amicable to Ogden as usual he did not spare more than a nod hello to Thor.
After proper introductions and the obligatory period of politeness the atmosphere at the table went from formal back to what their normal get togethers were. There was massive amounts of teasing between Hermione and Draco and Theo. Rodolphus and Fenrir were giving them all hell and even Lucius got tutted at by Narcissa for making a racy remark. Thor seemed to fit in well, he knew how not to take things too far while still being humorous. The fact that he already had known most of the group helped. Their talk turned to current events and the articles the prophet had been printing.
"Wait," Hermione interrupted. "So Fudge will have the final say in who it is? That's ridiculous. I thought we would get to have Lucius or hell even Roddy come in and take the position."
Tom shook his head while wiping his mouth with the napkin. "That will be if Dumbledore is dismissed before the start of term. This will be what happens if he isn't. Fudge won't send him back as headmaster without a babysitter of sorts."
"No, he won't." Severus added. "Dumbledore is being followed extensively now. He has been trying to restart the order of the phoenix, but is hitting a lot of problems with logistics. That's not even mentioning that Black has yet to take a side, and with him follows Lupin and Potter. Dumbledore has asked me of all people to get them to see reason. He wants to speak to Potter alone, I have no doubt if he is allowed to return to Hogwarts he will corner him within the first week."
She made a face frowning. "Well, that is unfortunate. Who will fill the DADA position then?"
"Likely whomever Fudge appoints so it isn't as obviously he brought along a spy." Tom shrugged. "However if Dumbledore is gone and Lucius is appointed or any of the others from the board of governors Rodolphus will be stepping into the role. I believe you said he was a decent enough professor."
The man in question clasped his hands under his chin and batted his eyelashes at her in mock preening for her praise. Hermione rolled her eyes at his antics.
"He was tolerable I suppose." she grumbled only to be chuckled at by the others.
"We do need to be aware that if Fudge selects someone it will be someone he holds in high regard. Someone he trusts not to betray him, that also idolizes him in some way. That is a short list." Lucius added.
They decided they would make a list of possible people who could be placed into the position. In the meantime they would have Rita up the amount of articles about Dumbledore as well as spread the more damning facts they knew about the man. The rest of the dinner passed without issue and soon Thorfinn and Hermione were telling the others goodbye before they headed to Sirius'.
She had stopped them by her room where they would floo from her private floo to Sirius' house. She needed to make sure he understood exactly what he couldn't say around them.
"They know about my friendship with Theo, and even that I am decidedly friendly with Draco. They know about Fen now because Dolly cant keep his fucking mouth shut it seems." She growled and Thor just laughed smoothing his thumb down the middle of her forehead ironing out the creases there.
"You're cute when you're angry." He teased.
"And you are a git!" She laughed, swatting his hand away and leading them to the floo.