Hello, darlings, I have good news and so/so news. It is the same news- I have finished the story. Two more chapters after this one. I am amazed to have gotten this far. And the response this story received is beyond amazing. Thank you all so much for reading, reviewing, liking, recommending, everything you did.
Chapter 62
The trial of Rabastan Lestrange, Niall Parkinson, and Humphrey Warrington ended nearly as quickly as it began. With Hermione's memories as evidence and the combined righteous anger of Sirius Black and Lucius Malfoy, no one doubted the verdict. First-time offenders, Warrington and Parkinson were sentenced to life in Azkaban. The escapee, Lestrange, received the severest sentence, the Dementor's Kiss. Given his previous escape, the ministry carried out the sentence immediately. Hermione tried to feel bad when she read about the events in the Prophet, then she tried not to feel too bad that she didn't.
Professor Janssens continued giving out fluff assignments while following Snape's lesson plans. Hermione's study group each researched topics according to Hermione's study guides. "Five months," ranted Hermione, "we have five months before the biggest exams of our lives. Exams that will determine the course of the rest of our lives, and she wants essays about grindylows? She's killing me! And the amount of time she spends almost flirting with seventh years, she's treating this position like a new dating pool."
"It is kind of disturbing." Fay agreed. "And annoying when she hits on your boyfriend."
Theo ran his hands up and down her arms soothingly, "Relax, sweet, your amazing revision schedules are keeping us ahead of where Snape's has us."
"Still, that isn't the point! I shouldn't have to be teaching myself or having Harry teach me, the people being paid to should be."
"Agreed, but nothing you can do about it now." Draco told her.
"I know." She deflated, allowing for temporary defeat. "Someday we'll break the curse on the position. Our children won't have to teach themselves." She started down the corridor. She stopped, noticing Theo still standing staring at her. "What?"
"You said our children."
"So? Would I prefer I refer to them as mine only? I don't have to share."
"No, I like hearing you mention things about our future." He grinned at her foolishly.
She rolled her eyes. "I agreed to be your wife. We've discussed needing a Nott heir, and Black heir. Did you think I meant monkeys?"
"Well, no." He grinned, kissing her cheek.
"You are slightly insane, you know that?"
"Probably, but you love me anyway."
"Very true, I do."
Ravenclaw House required several nights for the talent show due to the overwhelming response. Students danced, sang, played instruments, recited poetry, and had their familiars perform tricks. Tangle insisted on "dancing" out of a tiny basket like a king cobra, much to everyone's amusement. Everyone joined the month long show, discovering the hidden talents of their schoolmates.
As January blended into February, Slytherin House began preparations for a Valentine's Day dance, electing to go more informal than the Yule Ball or Halloween Masquerade. This time they prepared a small carnival with small booth games and a few Weasley Wheezes board games.
Romilda Vane suggested modifying the ministry's messenger memos to allow the students to send secret admirer, or not so secret admirer, messages. With a little work, she and Hermione managed to modify howler parchment to play soft music. Remembering the embarrassment of the singing dwarves in her second year, Hermione refused to allow the messages to read themselves for everyone to hear. Utilizing the sixth and seventh year Gryffindors, the group produced five parchments per student. Hermione had Romilda and Ginny demonstrate how it worked before dinner. The redhead never regained her previous popularity, but between keeping her head down, and playing catcher for the house team, she was no longer a pariah. Similarly, keeping his mouth shut and earning a place as keeper helped Ron. Occasionally, he earned a sharp look from Hermione after agreeing with Lavender's gossiping, but otherwise, he avoided her and she him.
Valentine's Day pastel colored origami flowers floated through the building. Hermione smiled fondly as post owls dodged the flowers to deliver packages. She settled at the table, filling her plate with fruit and sausages. She noticed Narcissa's owl drop packages to Draco and Theo before winging over to her and Harry. Her parcel contained a selection of cream filled chocolates. Harry's had chocolate frogs. Sirius sent her some sugar quills. Five mint colored paper roses landed in front of her labeled 1 through 5. All together the messages formed Shakespeare's Sonnet 18, signed, "Forever yours, Theo."
"How romantic." Fay sighed. "Draco sent me all five of his, too. No poem though."
Hermione smiled at her friend. "I sent Theo all five of mine with hints about what we could sneak off from the dance and do to each other."
Fay laughed, clapping her hands in delight. "Naughty witch."
"You know it." She looked over to see a comically wide eyes Theodore reading her notes. He looked up, locking eyes with her. He raised an eyebrow. She simply smirked in return. "I think he liked it." She finished her breakfast in two bites and strode over to her boyfriend. "Your present." She handed him a small plain white box. "I wouldn't open that here."
"What is it?"
She rose on her tiptoes to whisper in his ear, "What I'm not wearing right now, or later on tonight." She winked and walked away smugly. Theo stared at her in silent shock.
Tracey jumped up and joined her. "What is in there?"
"A tiny pair of lacy knickers."
"Oh, wow. Harry sent me all of these flowers. The poem was very romantic. Thanks for any help you rendered."
"You are most welcome."
The only downside to this was the deluge of messages Harry received from admirers, the secret and the not so secret, and the very bold. By the end of breakfast, his eyebrow twitched every time one came here him. To help distract him, Hermione drew his attention to Theo's reaction every time she bent over, which she did often. The Slytherin's eyes would glaze over and he swallowed hard. She refused to tell Harry why he reacted that way, but he enjoyed it regardless.
Prepping for the dance, Hermione decided to up the ante by selecting a bottle green skater dress, pairing it with strappy silver heels and silver accessories. Knowing the last ten hours of teasing would result in at least one major snog session, she opted for lip gloss, a swipe of mascara, and a smudge of eyeliner. She left her hair a riot of curls. After one more glance in the mirror, she skipped down the stairs to the sitting room.
Roger and Theo stood when they heard her door open. She heard Roger address Theo, "I guess I'll see you down there, mate."
"Of course." Theo replied, turning to watch his girlfriend emerge. Whatever else he intended to say died on his lips as she skipped towards him.
"Bye, Roger." She beamed at him.
"Have fun tonight." He told her over his shoulder as he exited their dorm.
She smiled seductively as she stepped up to Theo. "Oh, we will. Happy Valentine's Day, handsome." Wrapping her arms around his neck, she pressed her lips against his. Eagerly, he kissed her back, running his hands down her back.
Pulling her down with him, Theo sat on the couch, Hermione landing on his lap. She adjusted her legs to straddle him. She nipped his bottom lip before swiping it with her tongue. He opened his mouth allowing her tongue entry. His hands wandered up her legs and under her skirt. Encountering bare skin, he groaned his head dropping back against the couch. "Fuck, sweet, are you trying to kill me?"
"Nope, just keep you interested." She punctuated her words with tiny kisses.
"Is that a legitimate concern?" He sounded slightly worried.
"No," she assured him, "but like you said, we have to avoid certain acts, so that only leaves other ones."
"But no knickers, Hermione?" He groaned again, caressing the skin under his hands.
"Think of it as quick access."
"That isn't helping."
She kissed his nose, "It wasn't really meant to."
Hands on her hips, he ground up against her. "You aren't playing very nice, sweet."
"Do you want me to stop?" She pushed against his groin.
"Merlin, no." He pulled her down to resume kissing, grinding her into his lap. They snogged for a time before he broke the kiss. "We need to go make an appearance. We stay for a bit, then we are coming back here and finishing this."
"Deal." She slipped off his lap, allowing him to stand. They both straightened their clothes and Theo smoothed down his hair.
Numerous enchantments enabled the dance to be held in the Transfiguration courtyard, while the carnival was in the Great Hall. Warming charms eliminating the need for coats. Strings of fairy lights illuminated the space. Students mingled around the fountain, some danced on the conjured dance floor. Hermione waved at several familiar faces. "How long do we stay?"
"A few dances, long enough to remember seeing us."
"In that case, go dance with Luna or Sally-Anne. I'm going to steal Harry for a few. Then we'll dance and make our escape."
"You just want to make sure the harpies are playing nice."
"Of course. Go dance." She smacked his butt before making her way to Hermione. He and Tracy hadn't immediately gotten back together but were acting more friendly. Most girls recognized the writing on the wall, but a few refused to give up.
She located her quarry near the snack table, cornered by a dramatic looking Cho Chang. Hermione fought to keep from giggling at Harry's tense body language. Everyone but Cho could tell he intended to bolt at the first opportunity. Hermione approached from behind the Asian beauty. "Harry! There you are, you promised me a dance. Come on." She ignored Cho's gasp of protest, snatching her best friend's wrist. He obediently followed, relief evident on his face.
"Have I told you how awesome you are lately?"
"No, and I never tire of hearing it, either."
"You are an amazing friend, Hermione."
"I know, but so are you." They laughed and joined their classmates on the dance floor.
At the end of the song, Theo maneuvered Tracy over to them, "Excuse me, Potter, but I wish to arrange a trade."
"Certainly, Nott." Harry released Hermione and grabbed Theo's hands.
"Not quite what I meant, Potter. You ask Davis, I'll ask Malfoy."
"I like my chances, Nott, but Draco seems really into Fay right now."
"I thought I would try my luck with the other Malfoy."
"I don't know, she can be kind of mean and bossy."
"Knock it off." Hermione smacked Harry on the chest as she stepped into Theo's arms. "Go dance with Tracy."
"See what I mean?" Harry laughed.
"She can boss me around whenever she likes." Theo kissed the top of her head. He pulled her closer. "May I have this dance, Miss Malfoy?"
"So long as you don't step on my toes."
"Perish the thought." The two danced and occasionally stopped to talk to friends, or trade partners, for the next two hours. As the dance wore down, Theo escorted her back to her rooms. "Do you have to go back and help clean up?"
"No, Draco and Blaise are in charge this time. Pansy and I took our turns at Halloween."
"So, we have as much time as we want?" she asked seductively.
"Hermione," he started in a warning tone.
"I know, I know, no sex. There is more to intimacy than sex. I want to curl and sleep in your arms."
"Is that all you want?"
"Hell, no." She reached behind herself unzipping her dress. Theo watched her slowly unfastened the buttons letting it drop to the floor. She stepped out of the dress and slipped naked into the bed. He hurried to join her.
Hermione walked her fingers down his chest, gripping his member in her hand. She pumped her fist up and down the shaft, twisting her wrist on the downstroke. Theo groaned. He lay his head back on the pillow, eyes closed as he relaxed into her ministrations. She loved the feel of the soft velvety skin covering the iron hard muscle beneath. Slowly, without saying a word, Hermione shifted until her mouth hovered over him. Gently she exhaled, causing him to shiver. Just as her tips touched the tip, Theo reached down. "Wait, straddle me."
She looked at his face, "Really?"
"Unless you don't want to, but I want to taste you as badly as I want to feel your mouth on me."
"Okay." She reversed herself and straddled him, positioning herself over his face with her own over his groin. She lowered her head, running her tongue down his shaft like a lollipop before taking it in her mouth. She sucked hard on the tip, then began making her way down. The feeling of his tongue on her slit startled her, causing him to swallow further than she meant to. She relaxed as best she could and fought to concentrate on her own actions.
They took turns revealing in their ability to make the other moan and pull back, only to return to the activity with renewed vigor. Theo's hands tightened on her hips. He fell back with a cry of "Hermione" as he climaxed into her mouth. She swallowed and licked him clean. Once he recovered he resumed laving at her bundle of nerves and slid two fingers inside her, curling them to caress the sides. Hermione followed him over the edge shouting his name. She rolled off him, collapsing onto the bed.
"Come here." Theo pulled her top half up the bed cuddling her against his chest. She pulled the blanket behind her covering both of them. He kissed her temple. "Love you, Mione." he mumbled.
"You, too." she whispered falling asleep.
March arrived in northern Scotland, melting the snow from the grounds. What began as a Defense study session in the Heads common room devolved into theorizing about the identity of the last horcrux. "A common theme seems to be Riddle's obsession with Hogwarts and powerful wizards." pointed out.
Luna lay on the floor in front of the fire, "What are the other items?"
"Riddle's diary, Gaunt's ring, Slytherin's locket, Hufflepuff's cup, and his snake."
"If I made a horcrux it would be a grain of sand on a beach." Luna idly reported, staring dreamily at the ceiling.
"Harder to find and destroy that way." Hermione agreed.
"You do know how to destroy them?" asked Blaise. "Because the pressure to join is getting intense."
"And the more violent elements are slipping their leashes more and more." Theo added.
"Hermione and I can both create and control fiendfyre." Harry assured them.
"Well enough to play catch even." She smirked.
"That was fiendfyre?" Roger stepped fully into the room. "What the hell? And what is a horcruxes?" The pitch of his voice raised.
"Yes, it was." Hermione answer calmly. "A horcurx is a vile item created through dark magic and murder to house a piece of someone's soul to make them immortal. Well, unless someone destroys the item."
"Basilisk venom will also destroy one, like with the diary in second year. Stabbed it with a fang." Harry remarked.
"What?" cried Roger.
"He had to, Riddle was using it to possess Ginny Weasley." explained Hermione.
"But where did you get the basilisk fang?"
"From the Chamber of Secrets. It was Slytherin's monster."
"Okay," Roger swallowed hard, "who is Riddle?"
"Tom Marvolo Riddle, also known as Lord Voldemort."
"You really have been fighting him for years."
"Since first year." Roger simply stared at Harry in silent shock.
"I wonder if he knew about Ravenclaw's diadem?" Luna mused.
"Huh?" Draco shifted his attention back to the airy blonde. "That went missing years ago."
"What if he found it and hid it again?"
"Where would he have hidden it?" Theo asked.
"Somewhere remote, somewhere he thought secure." Hermione said.
"Sixteen-year-old Tom bragged he had learned more secrets about the castle than anyone else. He considered the castle home."
"The Room of Requirement," Neville said quietly, "you said Riddle came for an interview, knowing Dumbledore wasn't going to give him the job. He could have asked the room for someplace to hide something. It gives you whatever you ask for."
"That's brilliant, Neville. I'll see what I can discover about the diadem, try and see if that could be our missing item." Hermione grinned at him.
Saturday, Hermione started out of her room but froze when she heard voices below. Recognizing the voices, she stood debating. She assuaged her level of thirst against her desire to avoid those arseholes. She shook herself, avoiding them changed nothing, nor would she hide in her personal space. She made plenty of noise on her way downstairs. Roger looked up and greeted her warmly. Ever since he learned more about the events of the last few years and her role at Harry's side he had been somewhat nervous around her. She supposed it was one thing to hear rumors and think them false, but quite another to hear them stated matter of factly like they were no big deal. "Good morning, gentlemen, don't mind me. I'm just going to grab something to drink." She moved to the kitchenette area. "Can I grab anyone anything?" She asked as she removed a gilly water from the chilling cabinet.
"You can..." Justin started in a rude voice before Roger cut him off.
"No, thank you, Hermione. Very nice of you to offer."
"You're welcome." She started back towards her staircase.
"What the hell, dude? You're taking her side?"
"Her side of what? Hermione has never been anything else than perfectly polite to you all, despite your shitty attitudes. This is her room, you're a guest, and a poor one at that. And she has spent the last seven years busting her arse helping Potter defeat evil wizards without any thanks or real adult assistance. That reputation of being the brightest witch? Totally earned. While the rest of us have just worried about quidditch, and dating, and passing classes, they have been doing all that and then some."
"Sirius Black has been a big help since the end of fourth year, actually."
"So, the Gryffindors get into trouble, big deal."
"Look, she and Potter can play catch with fiendfyre, so continue to annoy her at your own risk. I'm not protecting you. They are all yours, Hermione."
"Thank you, Roger. I have what I came for, I'm going to return to my studies. Enjoy planning your Holi event. I suggest contacting Fred and George for the colored chalk, they're quite adept at navigating the muggle ordering systems." She nodded farewell to the stunned silent students and returned to her room.
The day before the Holi celebration the Hufflepuffs distributed white linen clothes to everyone and explained the objectives of celebrating the triumph of good over evil and the coming of spring. The next morning most of the student body assembled on the quidditch pitch to lob packets of colored powder at each other. At the end of the day, multicolored laughing teenagers returned to the castle. The biggest smiles were on the faces of the students of Indian descent. The Patil twins tackled Roger in a hug. "Thank you, thank you." Pavarti cried.
"We missed this so much." Padma exclaimed. "This was so wonderful."
Hermione smiled at their antics. She swung her hand with Theo's. "Perfection."
"You suggested this, practically walked Roger through it, but they get all the credit. Again." Theo huffed.
"So long as everyone had a good time, that's what matters. That they think positively about another house is even better. That is the goal of all these events."
"So long as you aren't upset." She squeezed his hand.
"You learn to enjoy the calm when you know the storm is coming."
