1975

The visit from Minerva made Hermione and Theo realize that perhaps they had been slacking a bit when it came to locating horcruxes. They at least knew where the Diary and the Cup were safely hidden, so they had all the time in the world to locate the Ring — the one they weren't entirely sure of its whereabouts. It had been so easy to fall into a normal routine of life with Arthur that it had certainly fallen to the wayside.

The need to find the Ring was only further punctuated when a date was set for Theo's initiation into the Death Eaters. Hermione was so anxious for what was going to come that she needed something to take her mind off her worry for him. Theo probably knew what to expect for the initiation better than most, but Bellatrix's warnings were stuck in her mind, nonetheless.

So, instead, she threw herself into searching the property records and eventually traced them down to a tiny muggle village called Little Hangleton. Hermione thought that it was odd that the Gaunts would have lived there, but it seemed that they had been there long before the muggles, who had slowly encroached on their ancestral lands. It was likely fuel to the fire of the Gaunts' hatred of them.

It also explained just how Merope Gaunt had come into contact with Tom Riddle, the handsome muggle who lived in the grand manor house next door. That was a story that Theo was unfamiliar with, but Hermione was happy to share. She thought that it gave some insight into why Tom Riddle was the way he was.

They went to the village by way of a muggle train one rainy afternoon, dressed for once in muggle clothing. It felt almost foreign to Hermione to be out of her traditional robes, but then again, she hadn't worn jeans in over two years at this point. Theo was never entirely comfortable going undercover as a muggle, but he'd done admirably when they stopped at the one pub in the town square.

The Gaunt's ancestral home was in shambles when they finally found it. Hermione knew that no one had lived there for a long time, but still, it was sad to imagine anyone growing up there. The dreary weather only served to highlight how bleak it was. Hermione was beginning to feel a small sliver of understanding for Merope's behavior, even though she still vehemently disagreed with the woman's use of potions on a hapless muggle.

With Morfin Gaunt, the sole remaining member of the family, off in Azkaban, the wards had all but fallen and it didn't take Hermione and Theo long to make short work of them. "I've never seen an ancestral home with such sparse security," Theo said with a sniff, clearly unimpressed.

"I think the Gaunts were quite used to taking security into their own hands," Hermione explained.

The floorboards creaked and groaned under their weight when they made their way further inside the little shack. It only took a few steps before Theo's weight pushed the wood past it's breaking point, leaving a hole in the floor and his foot resting on the packed dirt subfloor. Theo hissed in pain, blood quickly staining his jeans.

"Oh shoot," Hermione said before summoning on the chairs that had been knocked over the last time the home had occupants. Helping her husband to free himself, Hermione urged him to sit down so that she could get a better look at his wound.

Rolling up the thick fabric, she was relieved to see that it wasn't as bad as it could have been. "Nothing that a little dittany can't fix," she told him, before digging around in her familiar beaded bag.

Theo swore under his breath when she applied the dittany, but quickly relaxed as the sting dissipated. "Thanks, Hermione," he said with an affectionate smile.

Before Hermione could think more on the way that he made her stomach twist and turn in delight, her eyes were drawn to a spot on the floor, just next to where Theo was sitting. The whole shack was covered in a thick film of grime, cobwebs stretching from every corner. But there was one floorboard in particular that wasn't quite as disgusting as the others. Raising her wand, she had the nails pulling out, followed by the plank of wood.

"What is it?" Theo asked her, peering over her corner to get a better look.

"I don't know, it's just...not as dirty as the rest of them," Hermione said weakly. She shuffled her way over, only to look down into the hole. She gasped in delight when she realized that the dirt was not as well packed down in that area, clearly previously disturbed by someone. "I think there is something hidden in here."

Theo dropped to his knees from his chair beside her, looking at her find. "Well, are you going to look and see?" he asked, using a lumos to give them more light to work with.

Hermione frowned. "I'm certainly not going to stick my hand in there," she said. "Dumbledore tried to put on the ring and ended up with a horrible curse that slowly ate away at his hand. We should be especially careful with it."

He did not need to be told twice.

Biting her lip, Hermione finally used her wand to act as a fan, slowly blowing away the loose dirt to reveal what was hidden inside. Moving it back and forth, there seemed to be nothing there. Until finally, a glint of silver caught her eye. Working slowly, she eventually removed enough dirt to unearth the Ring.

"That's it," she said confidently. She hadn't actually seen the Ring the last time around, but Hermione would recognize the odd, geometric stone that sat in it based on Harry's description. "I can't believe we really got it."

Once the Ring was safely stored in Hermione's beaded bag, they stood up from the ground, replacing the removed floorboard. "So that means there are only two horcruxes left to retrieve," Theo said quietly.

Hermione nodded. "Yes, and they might be the most difficult to get yet," she explained. "We are at an advantage that we know what they are and where they are, but I highly doubt their keepers will be eager to part with them."

"So, we will just have to be careful," Theo agreed. "Maybe try to create duplicates so they aren't any wiser if we take the real horcruxes."

She agreed that that was a good idea. "We will just have to keep working Bellatrix and Lucius," she told him. "Though maybe Rodolphus would be an easier target to get into the Lestrange vault."

"Rodolphus might be so focused on drinking and fucking, but he isn't stupid enough to give up something from the Dark Lord," Theo disagreed.

"I suppose you are right," Hermione said. "Come on, let's get home to Arthur. This place is giving me the creeps." So many bad things had happened over time in the shack that it seemed to have its own sinister aura. It was oppressive, pushing down on her until she felt like she couldn't catch her breath.

"We will need to send in a notice to the Daily Prophet," Theo reminded her, before leading her back up the dirt lane to the train station, his arm low around her back. "Let Minerva know that Madame Carlisle got a new ring."

Hermione snorted, hoping that the other witch would understand the message.

The Friday of Theo's initiation found Hermione huddled up in the library with a slumbering Arthur, trying very hard to focus on reading. Instead, she found herself worried about her husband, wondering just what he was being asked to do before he pledged his loyalty to the Dark Lord. Once she'd stayed up long enough, she passed Arthur off to Dolly before retreating to her own bed, looking for sleep that just would not come.

Theo returned home, stumbling up the stairs, and slid into bed next to her. His hands pulled up the silk of her nightgown before he entered her from behind. He fucked her slowly, face pressed into her neck, her hair slowly growing wet with his tears. She understood that Theo was just looking for a human connection and held him after he'd finished, letting her hands caress the smooth skin of his back.

She fell asleep listening to the steady beat of his breathing.

The following morning, there was no hiding the inky black mark that stood out against the pale skin of Theo's forearm. The snake slithered and hissed as if mocking them for the lengths they were willing to go to — selling their souls in the hopes that they might make a difference.

There was no time to talk about the ceremony Theo had participated in, seeing as there was to be a party that evening to honor the new initiates — Theo and a Pucey and Antonin Dolohov. It was certainly a party that the Notts could not miss, especially knowing that it would likely be their first chance to meet Ursula Nott as well.

Hermione slipped into fashionable navy blue robes that looked especially good on her. It had taken time, but she was no longer embarrassed at how good she felt when she looked in the mirror. Although this was not a lifestyle she ever would have chosen for herself, she did like the pretty clothes and she did like being admired for her looks. It was vain, she knew, but it wasn't easy to give up once she'd gotten a taste of it.

Theo had emerged from the basement where he'd been hiding the whole afternoon, not having the mental fortitude to talk over what had happened, and knowing his wife would not be able to keep her questions to herself. Still, he managed to make himself look presentable. More than presentable really. Hermione was proud to walk in on his arm and wondered if there was ever some kind of future in which she and Theo could have been together normally.

Pushing those thoughts from her mind, Hermione followed her husband to the floo. Moments later, they were walking into the lush ballroom of Evan Rosier. It was all rich velvets and buttery leather and everything seemed designed to remind you just how much money the Rosiers has without being too overt.

Hermione and Theo greeted Evan, who was unfortunately in the company of Antonin Dolohov. Hermione didn't particularly want to speak with the man who'd nearly killed her when she was just sixteen years old, but it seemed the feeling was mutual. He obviously had little interest in a witch who was just the wife.

"Sorry, Hermione, you don't mind if I take these two away, do you?" Evan asked her. "The Dark Lord really would like to congratulate them again."

Knowing that she couldn't possibly say no, Hermione agreed, pressing a kiss to a Theo's cheek before he was being dragged off to face his new master. Although Hermione certainly didn't wish to be marked herself, she couldn't deny that she was feeling a bit poorly when she realized how little anyone cared about her in this time. She'd gone from being undesirable number two to unknown.

Hermione found herself feeling very alone all of a sudden, standing in the middle of a party with no one to speak to. She found herself looking around for Bellatrix's company, knowing that the other witch was at least good for some snide comments about the other partygoers.

But, Bellatrix had perhaps not arrived yet, so Hermione slunk to the side of the room, grabbing a heavy tumbler of firewhiskey as she went. She settled herself in one of the lovely leather couches and sat back, eager to do a little people watching while she waited for her husband to come back. No one was going to notice what she was up to.

Looking from guest to guest, she tried to get a glimpse of the newest Madame Nott, knowing that Alfred would certainly be at the party. It did not take long for her to spot the woman, who was wearing the most awful set of peacock inspired robes, with real feathers that seemed to be knocking into anyone who got within three feet of her. Hermione was barely able to contain a rather unladylike snort before taking a big drink of her firewhiskey, wincing at the way it burned in her throat.

"Scoping out your competition, Madame Nott?" a teasing voice came from her left.

Hermione had registered someone joining her on the couch, but she was surprised to see that it was none other than Lucius Malfoy who had joined her. "If you could call her that. I don't know if she is really a match for me," Hermione told him, surprised at the haughty tone in her voice. "And she is welcome to Alfred. I certainly don't want him."

Lucius chuckled at that, taking a sip of his own drink and leaning back into the couch. "I think you are right there. There is not a single man in here who would pick her over you, not even Alfred himself," he told her. "She's dreadfully dull."

She felt her face and neck flush from the compliment, even though she knew it was likely true. Still, she couldn't deny that it was flattering to hear that from Lucius Malfoy of all people. Angling her body so that she could look at him, she catalogued the differences between Lucius and Draco. When he was at this young age, it was easy to see Lucius for what he was — an attractive man who lived a very easy life. While it was clear that Draco would inherit many of this father's traits, they were not doubles. For one, Draco obviously had gotten his mercurial gray eyes from the Black family.

"Careful, Malfoy," she teased back at him. "What would my husband think if he heard you flattering me so?"

Lucius smirked at her. "Hopefully he would agree with me, if he had any sense. I don't think any man should feel threatened when another man recognizes the value of his chosen wife," he said, smoothly. "If anything, it's a compliment to his good taste."

Hermione pursed her lips. Oh, he was good — a real smooth talker. "Well, then, you must feel very pleased with yourself for having snagged Narcissa for yourself," she answered, reminding the man of his wife.

"Certainly. Narcissa's pedigree is unmatched, and she is, of course, very beautiful. Those are some desired qualities in a wife," he agreed, his blue eyes finding hers over the rim of his glass.

She took a sip of her drink to stop herself from saying whatever was going to pop out of her mouth next. If she was reading between the lines, it sounded as if Lucius found Narcissa lacking in some way. Her heartbeat sped up and she wondered just what Lucius wanted from her.

"And just where is your husband now, Hermione?" he asked, not wanting their banter to go stale.

"Oh Evan dragged him and that Dolohov fellow off the moment we got here," she responded, her dark mood returning forcefully when she remembered how completely ignored she was by Voldemort. "Theo is far more interesting than I could ever hope to be," she said, pouting.

Lucius laughed once again, before leaning in to whisper in her ear. "For what it's worth, I find you utterly delightful — a breath of fresh air compared to all the rest of us."

Hermione wondered if Lucius knew more than he was letting on. If he was trying to hint that he knew why she was different. Had he discovered she was a muggleborn?

"I can see why my wife despises you, and why my sister-in-law adores you," he added finally.

She frowned, not having realized that Narcissa didn't like her. She thought she'd finally befriended the blonde, but it appeared that Narcissa was simply a good actress. But, she also felt a surge of pride at knowing that Bellatrix adored her. She was always so upfront about her feelings, but Hermione never felt like she could really pin the other witch down.

Needing to get the conversation off of her and whatever this weird conversation Malfoy was initiating with her, Hermione returned her attention to Ursula, who just at that moment was laughing loudly and over the top at something Avery's wife had just said. "Circe, at least her face is prettier than her laugh," Hermione said under her breath.

Lucius laughed again. "You are something else, Hermione Nott."

Immediately, Hermione flushed. "I'm sorry, that wasn't very charitable of me," she said, hating the way her mouth had gotten the better of her.

"Leave charity to the poor," he said, grinning from ear to ear, before standing up, empty glass in tow. "I'll be seeing you again, Hermione. You are far too much fun."

Nibbling at her lower lip, Hermione wasn't sure what to make of Lucius's promise. She watched as he left, probably to go find Narcissa. She wondered if she should tell Theo about what happened, but then she remembered that she was feeling rather cross with him. Lucius was probably just trying to pass the time and had helped her do the same.

Standing from her own spot, Hermione decided that it was time for her to track down her own husband. He'd been gone long enough that she could kick up a fuss and no one would think it odd.

She found Theo standing just outside the ballroom in the night air, sharing a cigar with Antonin. The pair of them were laughing, and Hermione felt her stomach twist when she realized she'd never seen Theo laugh like that. Antonin's good mood dissolved the moment that he laid eyes on her, but Theo seemed happy to see her.

Snuggling into his side, Hermione made some excuses about wanting to see the baby. Theo was only too happy to oblige her, obviously tired himself, and escorted her home.