Chapter Three

Terms and Conditions

Through most of dinner, Rabastan sat quietly on the fringes, content with observing the gravitational pull that was Hermione's presence. Ordinarily he and the others, along with Evan's sister and her small circle of friends, took their meals at the very end of the table closest to the doors with a healthy distance between them and the rest of their house. It was a seating plan that suited them and one he greatly preferred as it allowed him to keep a watch on everyone in the hall. The arrangement was unspoken and easily maintained with their fellow Slytherins, given Severus's reputation for having a sharp tongue and little patience, as well as Evan's reputation for having a fast draw to his wand and fists when his even shorter temper ran out.

The formal feasts that occurred several times a season however, threw off that routine given that they were required to order themselves by year. With their preference to stay close together superseding their want for a prime location, the others had to fall into place amidst the rest of their house. Those in Slytherin knew the way of things though and managed to keep what distance they could between themselves and their group. Hermione's presence however had a majority of the students from fifth year up swallowing that coveted bit of space as they sought entrance into her orbit. Her place between Reggie and Evan though was worth far more than the annoying nuisance and spectacle their housemates were causing.

Still, Rabastan couldn't fault those in his house for their behavior. Within moments of her arrival she had ensnared them all with equal parts beauty and mystery. She was a lovely dichotomy with her alluring aura and wondrous gaze, her soft demure manner against her sharp wit and steel filled spine. They knew, as the others would soon learn, that she had unparalleled skills and no doubt few would be able to match her intellect. Even without her surname she was going to be a coveted prize to many of the wizards within their house, as well as those outside of it who didn't fear a snake's bite. With it though, she was akin to royalty in their house and every family would be making bids to garner her favor and through her the Dark Lord's.

Thank you Merlin for Reggie's swift and subtle claim over her for us. Evan's suggestion definitely warrants further reflection, he thought before locking it away keeping in mind Severus's warning about her skill as a Legilimens and even closer to the front that they didn't know what would be expected of them if chosen.

Eventually Dumbledore rose from the head table and asked for the prefects to escort the first years to their dorms and get them squared away for their first day of classes the following morning, effectively dismissing the hall from the feast. Getting up from the table, Rabastan crossed around Regulus who was heading for the front of the table with the other five prefects to dole out duties for the evening.

Reaching his hand out to Hermione who had begun to turn on the bench seat, he asked, "If I may?"

"You may," she smiled, delicately swinging her legs over now that she had the room and didn't have to straddle the seat.

"I'm sure you're more than capable of finding your way to our dormitory given the mass exodus that is occurring, but all the same I would like to extend the offer of bringing you there myself."

"Oh for the love of Merlin, Rab shut up," Eloise laughed as she came over to them, once again making Evan groan and no doubt wish that he had been an only child. "I mean honestly, how long do you all think you can keep this up with her? With the exception of Severus, whom I've known long enough by now as well, I grew up with all of you and not once have any of you acted this way outside of a courting season event. Come on Hermione, I'll take you myself and begin telling you how they really are," she said, taking her hand from his and lacing their arms together as she pushed her brother aside.

Looking over her shoulder with an amused and apologetic smile as she was pulled away, Hermione asked, "Would you four, or three I guess," she corrected seeing that Regulus was gone, "mind terribly if I commandeered a part of your evening? I have to speak with you all as well as Balthazar Cudland, Jason Edgelm, and Mischa Tippon. I'm afraid it's a bit of a time-sensitive matter, otherwise I wouldn't ask so soon."

She added a quick wave as she, Eloise, and her friends disappeared into the funnel of students rushing out the Great Hall.

"So that's our competition then?" Evan asked, crossing his arms over his chest as they watched the last spot they had seen her in.

"Well Mischa is enamored with Olivia. They've already set their fasting date for a week after school ends, so he's only competition as far as entering her father's service early," Rabastan explained.

"And while Zar's father is heavily aligned, his mother wishes him to remain neutral for as long as possible so he'll probably bow out in both cases," Severus said.

"I was serious when I said we should share, just saying," Evan reiterated, as they too began to make their way out of the hall after a majority of the school had already dispersed.

"While I admit the idea has merit, we're getting ahead of ourselves. She's the Dark Lord's daughter. I would be surprised if her hand wasn't already claimed and contracted to someone," Rabastan said reluctantly, the idea not sitting well within him.

Severus made a noncommittal noise as they began descending into the dungeons, his brow creasing with the tell that gave him away as being deep in thought.

Through the tall windows of the castle they slowly lost sight of the grounds as the Black Lake came into view. Reaching the gold leaf trimmed railing of the spiral staircase that led to their common room, they began to circle even lower beneath the castle. Halfway down, the stone walls gave way to paned glass that surrounded them, putting them on display as though they were the fish in a bowl for the lake's inhabitants to see. Stepping off of the staircase, they continued in silence down a glass made tunnel that allowed all manner of marine life to swim around them.

At the end, there was a painting that covered the entrance to their dormitory. On the canvas was a larger than life rendition of a muggle sailor who had been rowing a boat from his ship to the shore when he was lured in by the haunting call of a siren. He was leaning over the side of his little dingy as she broke the surface of the ocean and reached for him, her lips coming dangerously close to his so she could kiss him and pull him under. Distracted by their presence, the mermaid released the sailor and turned to look at them with an expectant eyebrow raised.

"Régnât ambitio," he answered, to which the mermaid turned back to her sailor and sealed her lips over his, pulling his willing body beneath the surface, as the painting dissolved into an opening.

Stepping through and onto the balcony that overlooked their subterranean dormitory, the painting rapidly sealed up behind them and depicted the same siren resting along the ocean floor, wearing the hat of the sailor who was nowhere to be found. Seeing Reggie in a back corner that led to their house's personal library, they headed down yet another set of stairs and weaved through the couches and desks that filled the space to meet him.

As they got closer, Regulus's face pinched with suppressed laughter as he asked Severus, "Why do you look like you haven't shite in two weeks?"

"Oh fuck, he's right! You do!" Evan accused, as he fell back into an armchair laughing.

"Piss off, all of you," he grumbled, knocking Reggie's feet off of the table as he passed by to take a seat. "I was just thinking about what Rab said earlier."

"Care to enlighten those of us who weren't there?" Regulus asked, kicking his feet back onto the table top.

"Hermione asked to meet with us along with Zar, Jason, and Mischa before Eloise all but abducted her-"

"For fuck's sake, don't remind me," Evan groaned, slumping into his seat.

"I think she likes your sister, so relax," Rabastan said, waving off Evan's embarrassment. "Anyways, we were comparing the other three-"

"Against what?" Reggie interrupted.

"Against getting selected to be Marked and more so about the chances of pursuing her, which is what I was contemplating," Severus said, taking over the conversation. "Rab is under the impression that she's most likely already betrothed to someone but I disagree.

"Her godfather is Dorian Nott, he's been by the Dark Lord's side since the beginning along with your father Evan, and yet no one even knew he had a child, let alone a daughter until today. You don't keep a secret that big for nearly eighteen years, by arranging a marriage for her. And even if they had and somehow managed to still keep it quiet all these years, I imagine it would have been to Evan. So unless you're unwittingly promised to Hermione, I don't think we have to worry about a secret fiancé, just each other."

"I'll say it again because clearly none of you have been listening: why don't we just share her?" Evan said in exasperation.

Rabastan scoffed as he said, "Oh yeah that'll go over real well with her father. 'Yes my lord, we are in fact all involved with your daughter... No, it hasn't been a problem for us. We quite like tag teaming her actually.' I can already fucking feel the crucio burning my nerves to a crisp before he kills us all."

"He brings up a valid concern, I'll allow it," Reggie ruled.

Giving a mock bow of his head in return, he sank further into the leather of the couch, resting his head along the back. Staring up at the ceiling, he pushed up the sleeves of his sweater and removed his cufflinks, banishing them to the side table in his room while he rolled the sleeves of his Oxford up and over his sweater.

Further turning the idea over in his head, he found he wasn't as adverse to it as he would have originally thought. True his mortal wellbeing was a primary concern that went hand in hand with such an arrangement. And since nothing ever stayed secret at Hogwarts for long, it was a forgone conclusion that her father would find out in record time. Then before he knew it, he and his three friends would be staring down the business end of the Dark Lord's wand. However that complication aside, Rabastan surprisingly found himself quite amicable to the idea. Given their dynamic as friends and the way they worked to balance each other out, it made a sort of odd sense that they would eventually find themselves all attracted to the same witch.

Sitting up he looked at his three friends who were as close to him as his brother and asked, "I can't believe I'm about to say this, but how would it work? Obviously she would need to express a mutual interest in us as well, but what then?"

"We court her like we would any other witch we thought could possibly be worth getting involved with past a quick romp or two in the back of the Divination section of the library," Regulus answered flippantly. "A better question to ask ourselves is, do we think we could all do this without letting it come between us?"

All three turned to look at Severus knowing he was by far the most possessive given his history with Gryffindor's Saint, Lily Evans.

"What the fuck? Why are you all looking at me?" He demanded.

"Well it was my idea so clearly I don't have an issue with it," Evan answered.

"And Reggie and I have shared a few times though admittedly it was only fucking."

"Which leaves-"

"Me," he answered, interrupting Regulus. "Yeah I get it, I'm a bastard who doesn't play well with others. However this," he said, connecting them all with a circle of his finger, "it feels as though this is how it's meant to be."

Rabastan nodded his head at Severus's words, a shared understanding passing between them all. They were each equally drawn in by her and instead of her presence causing tension and aggression amongst them, she kept them calm and mellow, already fitting into place as their center. He only hoped she would be as open to the idea as they were and would equally accept them all. The idea that she might not, made an even heavier lead weight settle into his stomach as he knew he would need to voice the what if.

With a reluctant sigh, he asked, "And if she only wants one of us? Or some combination of us that isn't all?"

"Well I can choose up to four and since you all already have a strong, functioning dynamic, it really adds more to each of your favor that you all would be those four," Hermione answered rounding the corner into their alcove.

Severus's eyes widened a slight fraction at her presence, while Rabastan and Regulus each turned an accusing glare to him and Evan flexed his hand away from his face as though he was trying to restrain himself from strangling him.

Clearing his throat, Severus said, "I'll go get Zar, Jason, Mischa for you and once I'm back I'll be sure to put up a privacy charm."

The words this time went unsaid but were understood by the three of them as he walked out to the open common room.

"Would he mind if I sat there?" She asked, gesturing to the tufted club chair Severus had just vacated.

No, especially if you were to straddle his lap while in it, Rabastan thought, instantly swearing as her face colored with a soft blush.

Shielding his face with his hand, he fumbled as he spoke, "I'm sorry, he said you were a Legilimens. I shouldn't-"

"I shouldn't be eavesdropping," she replied with an embarrassed laugh. "It's a horrible habit that your brother has already gotten on to me for, at least a dozen and a half times in the few weeks I've been here. It can be hard to turn it off though, especially right now given what I have to talk with each of you about. It's just easier to sweep across your minds to get a true sense of how you each feel." Curling her legs up under her as she sat down she laughed again. "Merlin, that sounds horribly invasive, I'm sorry."

From the couch beside her Reggie chuckled, his eyes crinkling as he watched her.

"How long have you known Rodolphus?" Evan inquired, subtly seeking out what Rabastan wanted to know.

"Oh, not long at all. I only came back in July and met him the moment I arrived, then Bella the following day," she explained, before turning her attention back to him. "I really am sorry for commandeering so much of his time this summer, I know it's just been the two of you for some time now," she said softly, her honey flecked brown eyes so ardently fixated on him that everyone else seemed to melt away.

"He talked about you, boasted really, all the time. After what happened, my father's already protective streak became a near obsession, not that I can blame him after what I saw... He wanted eyes on me constantly and I wanted to, for once, have someone who wasn't at least twelve years older than me to socialize with, which left Bella and Rodolphus. I didn't know about you at the time, otherwise I wouldn't have fought him so hard on it.

"Honestly, I think he was hoping that by the time I had to go to school that I would have been so enamored with Rodolphus that I wouldn't want to leave," she laughed.

Evan, Regulus, and himself went stiff at her words, each of them drawing back from how they had unknowingly leaned into her as she spoke.

Never one to waste words, Severus pointedly asked, "So are you engaged?" As he and the other three took seats around her, his wand flicking up at the alcove as his own privacy charm surrounded them.

"Technically speaking... No. However, it's a little complicated," she answered before taking her attention away from all of them to introduce herself to the other three.

After she had exchanged pleasantries with Zar, Jason, and Mischa, the shy and unswervingly awkward Hermione melted away and in her place was the steel spine, hard face, commanding daughter of the Dark Lord. She stood from where she had curled up like a cat in the chair and looked upon them as if she were their queen and they were expected to bow before her, laying their lives at her feet to use as she pleased.

"Seven weeks ago, I was happily living in Ksamil with my mother, Madeline Granger, my godfather Dorian Nott, and six of my father's Death Eaters, unbeknownst to Wizarding Britain. On the fourteenth of July, the Order of the Phoenix launched an unprovoked attack on our home," she explained, her well hidden rage and pain beginning to creep towards the surface with her harshly spoken facts.

"The state my house was left in when Uncle Dorian and I returned from a trip along the coastline, made it abundantly clear that they're intentions had been to kidnap me, or kill me if they were unable to subdue me. The Dark Lord's followers died fending them off as my mother tried to escape. We found her in my room..." she choked, her eyes turning glassy.

Clearing her throat with a delicate cough, Hermione continued, her voice still shaky with emotion but firm with growing hatred, "We found her tortured to death in my room. Dorian grabbed the emergency portkey from my desk and it brought us directly to my father's location." She looked at Rabastan, the honey flecks of her eyes swallowing the brown as they shone with her tears and added with a watery laugh, "Your brother had the misfortune of standing right where I landed."

With another audible and fortifying breath, she swept her gaze over each of them, further explaining.

"After I arrived, we had planned on finishing my education through private tuition as I had been doing for the last six years. However the Ministry denied that request, stating that if I wished to achieve the credentials I would need to seek an apprenticeship or enter their workforce, I would need to attend Hogwarts so that the professors here in tandem with sitting my NEWTs in June, could verify that I met all the standards of learning that Wizarding Britain requires of it's witches and wizards.

"Anyway, to shorten what has already become an impossibly long story, my very protective and somewhat paranoid father made a deal with me. I would be allowed to attend Hogwarts though he wanted to keep me at home so long as I had constant protection much like I did in Albania, made up of an entirely new guard whose first loyalty was to me.

"So with all of that said, you seven have made the short list of candidates he, along with Bellatrix and Rodolphus, has deemed acceptable and worthy. He wishes for me to take on at least two but ideally four or five of you. Doing so would put whoever is chosen directly into his Inner Circle given the close proximity you will have to me and by extension him. Each of you were chosen based on attributes ranging from your upbringing to your intellect to perceived compatibility with me, which is where the complicated manner of my marital status comes into play..." Hermione said her strong voice drifting off as her shy demeanor returned.

Rabastan instantly knew where her words were headed and looking to his friends he saw they too had a clear understanding of what exactly would be expected of one of them if they made it into her guard. She had already said favor was cast upon them given their already established dynamic together, the dynamic that had them each agreeing that they wanted to pursue her with the intention of them all committing themselves to her. This however was a wrench in the plans they hadn't thought of. Even if she wanted them as equally as they sought her, they would still be forced to compete against one another to be the one that received her hand in marriage, unavoidably throwing off the delicate balance that would be needed for their relationship to be successful since one of them would end up with more claim over her than the others.

A beautiful shade of pink bloomed across Hermione's cheeks and down her neck as her confidence wavered. She stumbled over her words several times before letting out a massive huff and sinking back into her chair.

With a rush she finished, "I know you will probably think it extremely perverse but my father wants additional assurance that your loyalty will be wholly to me given the implications behind my having been found in Ksmil. If I select you for my guard and you agree, he will ideally want you each bound to me come Winter Solstice, which is why this is so time sensitive." Hiding her face in her hands she added, "I know it is a lot to not only ask one of you to be willing to marry me within four months but to willingly bind yourself to another wizard or wizards as well. I managed to talk him down to agreeing that just one of you marrying me would be suitable with that one and the others taking an additional oath of allegiance to each other without having to force them all to bind to me "

At her words Rabastan's head snapped from her to Regulus who sat across the coffee table from him, them both looking to Severus and Evan just as quickly. In their world magically binding marriages had been arranged on far less and with half as much time as they were afforded between now and the Winter Solstice. For one of them it would be easy enough to court her and form the kind of bond that would be needed to make what was essentially an arranged marriage happy and that could grow to encompass a love that came from more than just loyalty. With four of them though, he wasn't sure if it would be possible. Hermione would essentially have only three weeks to forge a bond with each of them and the five of them a mere four weeks to learn how to become a cohesive unit so that they each shared in her time and affection equally.

"Why us?" Jason asked, breaking the tense silence around their small meeting. "If the Dark Lord wants you married why not just arrange it with someone he already trusts and be done with it? You said you already have a relationship with Rodolphus, why not just marry him?"

It was an odd feeling for Rabastan to so easily accept the idea of sharing Hermione with his friends. He could even accept the idea, though it was with reluctance, of her not choosing him so long as she was with at least one of the others but the idea of her married to his brother sent a lance of jealousy through him that he couldn't explain.

Looking up from her hands, Hermione pushed her wild curls back from her face and gave them all an earnest expression, as she all but whispered, "This whole situation has come about because I've had an enviable education that I think everyone should be afforded the opportunity to receive. After studying for my OWLs so I could attend this year, I saw how low the standards of learning actually are and I want to rectify that. However in order to do that, I have to sit for my NEWTs and I can't do that without being here first.

"If I marry a fellow student I will be allowed to continue my education, whereas if I marry Rodolphus I'll be forced to drop out. I selfishly want to be able to still follow my dreams despite what's going on. However, to remain transparent with you all, Rodolphus and I have agreed to marry in December if I do not connect with any of you before then. I'm selfish though and want to at least have a chance to fall in love with the person that is to be my husband. I would be content with Rodolphus but it isn't a love match for either of us and I don't want to do that to him or myself unless I have to."

Once again standing up from her chair, Hermione spoke, "I know it's a lot, so think it over and come talk to me in a few days about it."

Rabastan watched her as she circled around the furniture and walked out of their small alcove back into the main common room and presumably towards the dorms.

Behind him, Severus's short patience gave way as he ordered, "Mischa you're engaged to Olivia so go ahead and leave now. Zar, we know your mother and you as well want to stay neutral so you can leave now too."

When neither of them made a move to stand, Rabastan turned around and barked at them, "Now!"

"As for you Jason you're a fucking prick, so you can leave too," Severus added in a flat command.

"That's rich coming from you, Snape."

"Doesn't make it any less true, now go," he replied, waving him off.

Jason stood up and began to vacate the room only to stop and face them again. Canting his head to the side as he examined them, Rabastan braced himself for whatever consequences were about to befall Jason for whatever he was going to say.

"You know, I've always wondered about the four of you," he mused. "All of you are so enmeshed together, each of you hardly ever seen without at least one of the others. Seemed just a little too close if you catch my drift. Makes sense now though with the way you all are basically salivating at the idea of sharing the little princess's cunt. I mean Snape I understand, he's used to getting the scrapes in life but for the rest of you, none of you would have to settle for something like only receiving a fourth of a witch unless of course you all prefer each other's company to that of any witch."

"Do you see this face?" Reggie asked, pointing to himself. "Do you honestly think you're the first one to make such a comment given this bone structure? Fuck, my own brother believes I prefer to be the one polishing brooms. So you can take your deflecting arse and fuck right off, because from where I'm sitting, no one questions a wizard's sexuality as much as you apparently are questioning ours unless they want to know their chances with said wizard and I can tell you now, that even if I did prefer taking a hot dick to the back of my throat, it wouldn't be yours."

"And while you're at it," Evan added, standing up to face him, "I would keep all mention of Hermione from your mouth unless you want me to break your jaw instead of merely dislocate it," he threatened, punching him in the face with enough force for them to hear the joint popping out of place.

Shaking out his hand he resumed his seat and smirked at Rabastan, he said, "Looks like you felt that nerve crisping crucio a little too soon."