"…and it must be a female castor, as the original curse was cast by a witch," Hermione explained to Daphne, seeing the blonde pace a little nervously along the lavish hallway in the recesses of Malfoy Manor.

"Will you be able to do it?" She asked.

Hermione hesitated. "I think so. The reason why we're making no promises is that this is very powerful magic, a curse like this that had time to grow and develop through generations is always more difficult to banish. And I understand your sister is weak?" She asked gently.

Daphne nodded, finally taking a seat in the chaise across from her as she ran a hand through her blond lock distractedly. "It's sapping every ounce of strength from her, I know it. Tori has always been prone to over-exertion and her magical core can be a bit unstable. The labour took so much out of her, we fear it will take her. This is our only hope," she explained.

Hermione nodded. "I can't promise it will work, or that separating the curse from her blood won't have fatal consequences. We just don't know how her body and magic will react," she tried to explain carefully, as gently as she could without obscuring any facts.

Daphne nodded. "We know, and we'd rather she passed during an attempt to help her than stay in bed for months on end before slipping away in pain. We need to do *something* and I do trust you'll try your best."

This time Hermione's nod was resolute. "Absolutely, everything we can," she promised and accepted a small, grateful smile from the blonde before they were led to Astoria's chambers.

She looked pale and frail, her thin arms folded carefully as she appeared to come out of a deep sleep to see who her visitors were. Her husband, Hermione's once-bully, looked up, his pale features drawn and eyes tired judging by the deep purple valleys beneath them.

"Hermione Granger…I feel safe in the knowledge you will be casting the spell…" Astoria offered with a small smile that turned into a grimace as a wave of pain hit her.

Draco got up when the sound of a fussing babe from a nearby crib interrupted the silence that followed.

"I hope we'll be able to help at least, I'm sorry this curse has caused you so much pain," she acknowledged and motioned at the edge of the bed in question, taking a seat when she received a nod of invitation. "We will need to move your son from the room, the magic may be quite powerful, and I will need you to shuffle on the bed. I'm afraid we may ruin the bedding."

Astoria waved her off and slowly shuffled down the bed a little until she lay flat as she suspected would be needed. "I would buy hundreds of new sets of these if it meant the pain goes away and I get to see my son grow up," she said softly but gravely.

Bill entered the room as well, carrying the basin of water Daphne provided for them and nodded to the blonde who was clutching his child close and looking with worry at his wife. After a moment of hesitation he kissed his wife silently, letting her see their son once more just in case she didn't pull through and then straightened his spine, walking out of the room without looking back. Hermione suspected his façade would crumble the moment that door was closed.

Once they were alone, they worked as a well-oiled team, Bill on the grounding stones and Hermione on the sacred oil runes that soon began to cover Astoria's body, her touch gentle not to cause too much discomfort. The sigil for banishment was painstakingly drawn on Astoria's flat belly, her ribs and hipbones prominent despite giving birth only only a few short months ago.

Now came the difficult part. Bill looked at her and nodded, placing his hand on her shoulder to help lend his own magical energy, as this spell was sure to be exhaustive despite how powerful Hermione was.

She settled more comfortably next to Astoria, the parchment with the chant floating before her as she placed her own hand over the sigil and began chanting in the old magical tongue, the sounds throaty, almost distorted as she pressed with her magic and healing intent into the curse she felt wounding beneath her hand like a snake, coiled to strike and seize its victim.

A startled cry fell from Astoria's lips as she began to writhe a little beneath her touch, clutching onto the sheets as she tried to stay her body in face of the agony that ripped through her very veins. If Cruciatus felt like liquid fire, this blood curse felt like acid. Bile rose in her throat and she tried to swallow it down, feeling the tingling of a spell hitting her skin, securing her limbs in place and vanishing the vomit from her throat as she gulped in greedy breaths of air, only for more cries to escape her.

Hermione felt herself waning, the curse taking more and more of her energy, sapping her magic as it tried to do with the Greengrass descendent. She felt Bill's steadying energy as her magical core pulsed powerfully, the time near stopping for just a breath as the magical particles around them zeroed in on the banishing sigil before exploding into the ether, knocking both Hermione and Bill back.

Astoria took a big, gulping breath, sweat covering her body as she carefully sat up. Her whole being hurt as if she'd been turned inside out and reassembled, but she could no longer feel the simmering darkness in her veins. "You did it…" she croaked, her throat parched and hurting.

Bill managed to pull himself back to his feet, exhausted as the counter-curse took more magic than he had expected. He realised with a sinking feeling that Hermione wasn't moving. There wasn't even a gentle lift to her shoulders to indicate she was breathing. He pushed her slumped form onto her back and felt for a pulse. There…barely a flutter beneath his firm touch.

"Malfoy!" He barked, the door nearly tore off its hinges as the blond rushed through. "Your wife is fine but she needs to be checked by a healer. I need to get Hermione to the hospital as well. We need to bring them in together in case there is any left over magical tethering," he instructed and in a few moments they were both stepping through the floo into the emergency ward of St Mungo's, each carrying a witch in their arms.

The next half-hour was utter chaos as they found a room big enough to accommodate treatment of both of the witches. Astoria was soon stabilised with several potions to help her regain her strength and vitality, and Draco sat beside her, holding her hand as she slumbered. He quietly watched the healers work over Granger's still form long after his wife was settled.

They nearly lost her twice but managed to bring her back to life. Her magical core was nearly completely depleted and her usually warm, tan skin looked pale enough to show the freckles on her nose, her usually wild hair limp and dull. Bill was leaning against the wall, appearing silent and grave but something inside him felt like it was breaking. He couldn't imagine losing Hermione - his friend, confidant, business partner, the only other woman in his life beside Fleur who kept him sane. When she stopped breathing for a moment, he felt a howl dragging its way out of his throat but at the sound of her heart beating once more, he sagged against the sage green wall with relief. He should have done more, they should have pushed her to rest longer before the ritual. This couldn't be it, he refused to even contemplate this being her last moments.

"Please don't leave us, Hermione…" He spoke softly, unheard by anyone other than the universe he sent a quiet prayer to.

The low murmurs of the healers in the room were interrupted by a loud gasp as Hermione's eyes flew open and back arched, her lips parting in a silent scream as her body was consumed by a warm orange glow. The magical energy was alive almost like fire but the heat of it was neither oppressive, nor painful. The delicious sweet smell of honey and cinnamon filled Bill's nose and he watched in awe the magical arc pulsing around the brunette before imploding back inside Hermione's once again limp body.

"What the fuck just happened?" He practically barked at the stunned mediwizard beside him who looked just as astonished.

One of the elder healers gathered her wits and cast a diagnostic spell between the two beds. "Well, it doesn't appear that Mrs Malfoy's proximity has any impact on Miss Granger so we shall perhaps find a new room for the Malfoy family to have peace," she spoke clearly, two of the healers springing to action, one in search of an available room, the other securing the bed to wheel the woman out.

Bill watched as they began casting diagnostic spells on Hermione, muttering about the readings, their faces looking more baffled than they had been before. What did all of this mean?

"Are you family, sir?" One of the healers asked, looking as if he were about to usher him out.

Bill glared at him, his stance softening a little when he smelled the fear rolling off the young man who was likely just doing his job. "I'm her emergency contact, and her family of sorts. I will not be leaving her side," he said simply and moved a bit further back to give them room but remained otherwise unmoving and overlooking her care.

As the Malfoys were escorted out of the room, Draco paused beside him and offered him his hand with an earnest expression. "Thank you, both of you. I hope she pulls through alright," he offered and Bill was surprised to see he actually meant it.

He nodded his thanks before his gaze returned to Hermione's limp form. At least she appeared stabilised and sleeping, that was something.

One of the healers stepped closer and noted down a few markers in the patient card. "Miss Granger is currently sleeping. Her body was completely exhausted before she received the magical boost to her core. We added a medium grade sleeping potion to keep her asleep for the next 12 hours to allow her body and magical core to regenerate," she summarised.

"And the magic?" He asked, trying to understand what it could possibly mean.

The healer hesitated but decided to go ahead, her gaze briefly falling to the scars on his cheek. "We are not yet certain, which is why monitoring her over the next 12 hours and once she wakes up will be crucial. This is a unique situation, so we are treating it with every care," she promised.

"Thank you," Bill nodded. "Can I stay with her?"

"Of course, as long as she remains undisturbed," she agreed before leaving as well, the room descending into silence following her departure. He sent a patronus to his wife to let her know where they were and took a seat in the uncomfortable chair beside Hermione's bed.

It didn't take long for Fleur to appear in the doorway, looking worried as she hurried to his side. He stood and pulled her into a tight embrace, holding her close for a long moment, sensing her worry.

"What happened? Was eet too much? Will she wake up?" She asked anxiously.

Bill nodded, his hand rubbing circles along her back. "She's completely exhausted, they induced magical sleep for her to get some rest. She won't be awake until tomorrow morning at the earliest," he sighed. "And something strange happened," he admitted.

"Strange how?" Fleur asked, stepping away and towards the bed, gently folding the blanket higher in the brunette's chest to make her more comfortable.

"There was a magical field or a pulse, I haven't seen anything like it before. They're investigating."

She frowned, leaning down a little to inspect her face. "She looks fine. Does she smell different to you?" She asked, thinking Bill would be the first one to spot a change with his senses.

He paused, looking sheepish. "I didn't think of that," he mumbled and leaned over the brunette, taking a careful whiff, expecting her usual jasmine, bergamot and lady's mantle.

Instead he was greeted with honey and cinnamon once more.

"She does smell different. Maybe because her magic had to replenish?" He suggested but Fleur looked thoughtful.

"Perhaps, we'll see. We should go home, pack her a bag. You're exhausted as well, let's get some rest and come back in the morning, oui?"

He hesitated, not wanting to leave her alone but knew Hermione needed rest, they both did, and they had to pick up Victoire from Andromeda's. "Alright. Let's see the Malfoys on the way out though, I think they're in room fifty-four," he suggested as they exited the room.

The first sensation she registered was pain. Her head was throbbing, her throat felt dry and her skin felt tight. The only thing that didn't hurt was her magic, she could feel it pulse beneath her ribs and thrum beneath her skin unlike ever before.

She lifted her hands and rubbed her eyes and face tiredly to wake up before taking a look around the room, her nose wrinkling at the smell of antiseptic charms. It was only once she was seated that she realised she was dressed only in her knickers and t-shirt, the rest of her clothing folded on a nearby chair.

It appeared she must have passed out after the ritual casting and they brought her into the hospital just in case. All she could remember was the pain in her magical core as she finished the chant and felt the dark curse push against her one last time before disappearing. They'd done it, it must be completed surely! She needed to flag someone down and get out of here.

Just as she swung her legs out to the side of the bed, a healer came into the room with her wand and clipboard raised, looking surprised to see her up. "Miss Granger, you are supposed to be asleep for at least another hour," she said worriedly, checking the watch clipped to her robes

"I'm feeling fine, though I was quite thirsty," she explained as the healer got closer. It was when she caught the scent of lilacs that she felt another type of sensation, a hunger of sorts. "I think I might be hungry as well," she admitted.

"Let's have a look at you then and see if we can get some water for you." The healer was a curvaceous woman, only a few years older than her, abundant blond hair plaited thickly and wrapped atop her head like a headband for practicality. She appeared to have that calm but bubbly disposition many of the young healers had but was rarely found in senior staff.

"I would be much obliged if you could," her voice came out almost husky, a little raspy from disuse as the healer took her hand to check her heart rate while looking over the diagnostic charts floating above her head.

The moment their skin came into contact though, her eyes lost some of their focus and she was looking at Hermione with a sort of wonder. "I can…I can get you some water now, if it pleases you?" She stuttered a little, a rosy blush rushing to her cheeks.

"It would please me greatly…and perhaps something to eat, I'm starving…" Hermione subconsciously leaned closer, unable to resist when the healer's lips landed on hers in a surprising but delicious kiss.

There was a moment of wonder at what brought her to this moment but it was almost like a switch was turned off when their lips parted to deepen the kiss and she tasted the witch's essence. Parma violets, sweet and unassuming, and the kiss seemed to be doing wonders for her hunger, making her feel so much more content. Hmmm perhaps she should get closer-

"STUPEFY!"

Hermione fell to the floor with a thud like a graceless turtle, knees raised from where she had been somehow straddling the healer who looked surprised and breathless above her, leaning back against the hospital bed as she tried to get her bearings.

She felt herself being levitated back to bed before thick black ropes secured her and the stupefy was lifted. There was a disorienting moment as she took in Bill and Fleur and two other healers at the door to her room, watching her with astonishment and some with fear.

"What…what's happening? Did I do something?" She asked, looking at the pretty blonde healer who was now backing away from her bed.

Bill looked at his wife and they exchanged a quick look, seeing their suspicions were correct. The powerful magic and the change in scent, it was a sign of a change within the witch before them. She was quite a sight - her usually warm tan skin was golden-brown and positively glowing with health and beauty, wild hair thick and glossy, fanning around her shoulders in thick waves and tighter curls alike, and her eyes, Merlin her eyes….they were the same shiny whiskey but deeper, almost glowing with hues of orange and bronze, the colours of passion and desire. She was magnificent.

One of the male healers standing to Bill's left cleared his throat and took a cautious step forward. "Miss Granger, we're glad to see you are awake. Based on our diagnosis, your magical core nearly collapsed due to the serious drainage of your magic performing a blood-curse removal ritual. This led to some…unexpected consequences," he began to explain.

"What consequences?" She asked, the glow in her eyes softening until they were back to their usual colour, looking at them intently, trying to read their reaction to understand what was happening. "And why am I restrained?"

"Yes, we will come to that," the healer hastened to reassure her. "It appears the damage to your magical core activated a dormant creature inheritance in your blood, which explains your transformation and current state," he explained, trying to keep it plain and as simple as possible in terms of an explanation.

She blinked, a silence descending on the room momentarily. "But..I'm a Muggleborn. I have no previous magical family, much less creature heritage!"

"That's one strand of magical theory," a new voice announced as a third healer walked in and shooed out the younger staff, taking over her clipboard. She was clearly a senior ranking healer by the more elegant set of robes and the silver streaking her chestnut hair. "The other theory strand, and I have always thought it was much more plausible, is that magic doesn't just appear in a muggle line, it is born from squib unions and dormant for several generations, until a child is born with enough strength or I suspect some sort of genetic marker that predisposes them for magic. That is how muggle-borns come to exist," she explained patiently and stepped forward without reservation, vanishing the ropes. "Honestly, I wish we had the means to look at our genetics, muggles have made such advancements and we still don't know what our magic looks like in sequencing… Anyway, my name is Catrin Evans, and I will be taking over your care and monitoring. Forgive me Miss Granger but I will not offer you my hand to shake, you will need a few weeks to settle in with your powers before you'll feel more in control of them and able to handle physical contact without triggering them."

"My powers?" Hermione asked, looking down at her hands, seeing no difference in her skin, the occasional freckle across her knuckle, or her chipping burgundy nail polish.

"Yes, your creature heritage took us a while to identify while you slept but your results just came in and I was called to attend to you. I specialise in a specific type of creatures, namely Fae, Veela, Incubi and Succubi. Your results show succubus heritage so you are a Demi-human, just like Mr Weasley here, or Mrs Weasley whom I believe is one quarter veela?" She turned to the blonde who nodded.

"I'm part succubus. But then…oh Merlin, I won't get the wings and pointed tail, will I?" She cringed.

"Not likely, no. Only full blooded succubi may inherit those characteristics. You however exhibit the ability to control a subject's desire through touch and hormone alteration, and we just witnessed you feeding from Healer Mattley, so you should have no trouble getting sustenance. You will however have to learn moderation. You were in the middle of a feed before we even stepped into the room, without realising what you were doing which could have resulted in you taking too much energy," she cautioned.

"Wait, so even though I'm only half-succubus, I still have to feed? Why? Bill is a Demi-wolf and other than issues with cooked meat and moon-related PMS, he doesn't have to undergo any changes," she pointed out. "No offence," she looked at the grinning redhead.

"None taken, love. PMS though?" He quirked a brow.

She shrugged, arms crossed over her chest as she looked at the healer, pausing when a realisation dawned on her. "By feeding you also mean…"

Healer Evans nodded, her lips quirking into an encouraging smile. "A healthy succubus is one that has a satisfactory and varied sex life. You may feel the need for multiple or different partners. You may even enjoy a variety of genders now instead."

Hermione groaned and covered her flaming face, hearing Bill's amused snicker. She looked up and glared at him. "Not a word."

He mimicked zipping his lips closed as Fleur tried not to titter beside him.

"This is hopeless," she sighed. "I mean, how often do I have to feed? Will anyone do? How will I know when to stop?" She asked, feeling tendrils of anxiety blooming in her chest.

Healer Evans smiled reassuringly. "As you're getting used to your powers, you will need to feed regularly, likely every day. You could also alternate. To put an analogy to it, maybe begin with a big meal once every three days and snacks in between. Almost like a safe, moderated intermittent fast, enough to satisfy and train you to take time between feeding."

"Snacks?" She looked unimpressed. "What does that even constitute?"

"Take Healer Mattley for example. You were hungry and you fed. And now you're sated but not feeling completely regenerated, is that correct?"

Hermione nodded hesitantly, realising it was a feeling like she could eat more but if she did, she would feel a bit uncomfortably full.

"Good, that was a snack, to continue using the analogy. Muggles will also likely not be potent to your appetite, so consider any dalliance with them a snack as well. Wizards and Witches tend to be more powerful, our magic helps feed the libido, which makes for a more satisfactory meal. The stronger the wizard, or witch, the more you will be satisfied. And if your partner happens to be another creature or a Demi-human, even better, as that usually means extra stamina and stimulation. We had a most successful couple consisting of a dark fey married to an incubus just the other week and it is a marvellously and truly balanced union," she continued on.

Hermione jumped up from the bed and began to pace, ignorant of the silence that descended on the room as she wore a hole into the ground, uncaring for her partial state of undress in her white t-shirt and simple black cotton knickers. She finally paused, arms wrapped around her torso almost protectively. "What do I do next?" She asked, her mind deciding to process this later, her practicality taking a step forward.

Healer Evans nodded encouragingly. "Good. First of all we will do a final check on you and help you fill in the creature registration forms before you leave the hospital. Then we recommend you notify any partners or housemates of your condition. If you live alone, we recommend moving in with a friend or family member for a short time to help monitor your social integration and have someone on hand as an emergency contact. We will provide you with a list of recommended reading and some pamphlets to take home with you, and there is counselling available on hand if you need help to adjust to your new form. Your medical file will be in my care from now on, so if you need to consult anything, I will be available for appointments as your specialist," she promised.

"Thank you," Hermione said softly, reaching for her jeans to get dressed and ready to leave soon. Though, where she was going to go was a golden question….