A/N: Thank you all so much for your reviews, favorites and follows! I am glad you liked the interaction with Rodolphus - he isn't as terrible as we know from the future, but he isn't a choir boy either - expect more conversations incoming. You can follow me on tumblr (nauticalparamour) where I post sneak peeks, story updates and answer questions.

Please let me know what you thought of chapter nine and be on the lookout for chapter ten soon!

December 1967

"Are you sure that you don't want to come with? Mum always makes the best roast turkey," Arthur said, trying to persuade Hermione to join the Weasley family for the Christmas holidays for the eight hundredth time. "I just know that she'd love to have you, wouldn't she Georgie?"

George Weasley, who was standing with this brother in the Entrance Hall, ready to make his way down to the carriages, for once was agreeing with his older brother. "It really wouldn't be a bother at all, Hermione," he said, his voice beginning to lose that squeaky quality that had still plagued him over the summer. "I'm sure mum would love to host you...I think she likes being not the only girl in the house."

Still, Hermione could not be swayed. "I'm sorry boys," she said with a smile. "I just think it will be better for you to celebrate Christmas as a family. Not to mention, it will give you both an opportunity to study for your OWLs and NEWTs without me to distract you."

The younger Weasley did not need further convincing. George wished her a happy Christmas, before turning and heading out the castle, running once he got outside to catch up with his friends. Arthur, however, still did not look too convinced. "Are you sure? I have months to study for my NEWTs, and I would hate to think of you here on your own," he said with a frown. "You'll have to open your presents here by yourself...that doesn't sound very fun."

"I'll be fine, Arthur, really. You don't have to worry about me," Hermione insisted. "I actually wouldn't mind a little time alone this holiday...it's my first holiday...well, alone, and...I'm sure I'll just be sad and mopey. I wouldn't want to ruin your family's good cheer." She felt a little bit badly alluding to her mysterious family, especially when it was only half true, but she knew it was the only way to get Arthur to let this one go.

Before he could respond, Molly was running up to him. "Arthur, come on, let's get going," she encouraged, with a huge smile, perhaps glad that she wouldn't be spending the train ride with Hermione. "If you don't come down to the carriages now, we might just be forced to give your spot away to Kieran," she teased, knowing that Arthur would take the bait.

Nodding, Arthur gave Hermione one last look, like he was going to protest once again. "Go," Hermione said encouragingly, barely able to hold back her smile.

"Happy Christmas, Hermione," Arthur bid her goodbye, before following after Molly, eventually catching up to her.

Hermione watched the retreating forms of her best friend's parents and was touched by how perfect they looked together even now that she was a spanner in the works. She hoped that Arthur would eventually give up on her and see the great woman who was obviously quite interested in him. Molly Prewett, while she made it abundantly clear she did not like Hermione, was a very nice witch to nearly everyone else. She was vivacious and had a spectacular laugh and Hermione just knew that Molly and Arthur would make each other very happy. The sixth year was glad that the two would be able to spend time together with Samantha and Gerald, like things were pre-Hermione, hopefully to remind Arthur of the great witch that Molly was.

Hogwarts at Christmas time was unusually quiet in 1967. Hermione wondered if it was due to the fact that there were fewer students matriculated at this time, or if this is what it always felt like. She'd never stayed behind with Harry like Ron had, instead spending the holidays with her parents. But it was nice to have some time to herself. While she adored her new friends in Gryffindor, they could be a little bit exhausting, too.

Dinner was a quiet affair. With most students gone, there was no need for everyone to sit at their own house table. Instead, only one table was left in the middle of the Great Hall. Hermione found an empty seat off by herself, not really knowing anyone else at the table and not wanting to try and make friends with some Hufflepuff who looked far happier staring into the eyes of her boyfriend instead.

She had barely taken one bite out of her mashed potatoes when she noticed the shadow looming over her. Eyes darting up, she was genuinely surprised to see Rodolphus standing there, with a rather irritable looking Rabastan at his side. "Hello Hermione," he said cheerfully, before sliding into the seat across from her.

Rabastan began tugging at his older brother's robes, trying to get his attention. "Dolph, you know we can't sit here," he whined, his distrustful eyes darting to Hermione's face again and again. "She's a...a you know."

"It's fine Rab," Rodolphus said, waving off his brother's concerns.

"But what if she tries something. You know what father always says about mudbloods and their tricks!" Rabastan hissed furiously, upset that he wasn't being taken more seriously.

Hermione was reeling from the casual way he'd said mudblood. When the Slytherins in her year said it, it was usually said with anger and spite, but it seemed as if it was a word that the Lestranges must use casually to talk about all muggleborns. Rodolphus didn't bat an eye at the word or attempt to apologize to her, instead shooing away his little brother. "Go find somewhere else to sit," he instructed sternly.

Rabastan looked like he was going to protest further, but realizing that his brother wasn't about to budge, turned on his heel and stomped away with all the self-righteous anger of a twelve year old.

Looking down at her plate, Hermione pushed her mash around her plate with her fork before looking up at Rodolphus with hurt eyes. "That's not a nice word," she said with a frown, reminding herself that this was precisely why she shouldn't be friends with Rodolphus in the first place. He didn't even think about it twice.

"He's young and doesn't know any better," Rodolphus excused his younger brother. "Don't worry too much. One of these days he'll say it proudly to some muggleborn boy who is bigger than him and next thing he'll know he'll be getting decked by Danny Peakes in the Transfiguration hallway."

"Is that what happened to you?" Hermione asked, equal parts intrigued and annoyed. She wasn't aware of anyone with that name at Hogwarts currently.

"Yes," he admitted, not embarrassed to admit to being bested previously. "Peakes was a Hufflepuff two years ahead of me, but he was massive. And us purebloods are used to dueling with wands, not with our fists. He caught me by surprise."

Hermione fought to hide a proud smirk, remembering the time that she had punched Draco Malfoy in the face. The right hook had caught him on the nose and had made him bleed. It was almost too satisfying to reveal in the way that muggleborns had a hint of an advantage over the poncy purebloods. "You could just tell him, and save him the pain," she suggested.

"Nah," Rodolphus answered, shaking his head. "The kid still worships the ground my father walks on and he'd never believe me. He's too much of a little parrot."

A few beats of silence passed between them while Rodolphus dished himself happily and Hermione cut her chicken into tinier pieces. "Did the Weasleys not ask you over for the holidays?" he asked, looking casual, even though his tone was anything but.

Hermione smiled. "They did invite me, but I thought it would be better to let him celebrate as just a family when I am perfectly content here. It's my first Christmas...away from home and I don't want to be a dark cloud on their holidays," she explained smoothly. Needing to get the conversation off of her and her past, she quickly asked him why he and Rabastan had remained behind.

"My father said it was to force me to study for my NEWTs," he said, rolling his eyes. "He's always so convinced that I am such a poor student and loves to rub it in. But, I think the real reason is because he's having some kind of party with his old school friends and they always get a little rowdy, especially after mum died."

There was so much to unpack in his explanation and Hermione was nearly desperate to dig in deeper to what he was saying, but she tried not to appear to eager. "What kind of party?" she asked, practically at the edge of her seat.

"Oh, it's just some old magic ritual, welcoming back the sun," he said, waving her off. "At the solstice, they welcome back the sun. A witch is chosen to represent the sun and they give her pine boughs and stuff to bless and she'll kiss them each to light her blessing on their family. Then they get drunk on honeyed meade."

Hermione's eyes widened in surprise. "I've never heard of anything like that at all," she said, thinking that it all sounded rather silly. "And a bad excuse to not spend the holidays with your sons," she added with a frown, wondering if Rodolphus felt rejected by his father.

He looked down at his plate. "Yeah, well, I'm sort of used to it by now. While I'm at Hogwarts, I'm not useful to him. Rab still hasn't figured it out yet, but..." he said, sounding aloof. He returned his bright blue eyes to hers, a devious smile crossing his face. "You know, Granger, I've just realized that you and I will have plenty of time to spend together these holidays...what with Weasley gone home and basically all of Slytherin house, too."

She rolled her eyes at him. "Will your shadow let you?" she teased, looking in the direction of Rabastan Lestrange. The younger boy was seated down the table, staring at the pair of them intently, looking rather worried that Hermione might reach across the table and snatch out Rodolphus's beating heart at any second.

Rodolphus colored, seeing how concerned his brother still was, before laughing it off. "Hmm, I might have to consult with him, but I bet I can bribe him to my way of thinking with enough candy," he quipped back. "He means well, but..."

The Gryffindor could feel her heart soften a bit at the relationship between the two Lestranges. "It's obvious that you care a lot about your brother," she said softly, wondering if that played any part in the events of the future. If she recalled correctly, the Lestrange brothers, Bellatrix and Barty Crouch Jr - a shifty second year - who went after the Longbottoms. What would happen that would make this carefree young man go after Neville's parents?

Not one to be bashful, Rodolphus agreed wholeheartedly. "Yeah, well...sometimes it seems like he's all that I've got, even if he's underfoot more often than not," he explained, giving Rabastan a little wave. He set down his cutlery, having already cleared his plate. "So, since I presume you are free, can I see you tomorrow, too?" he asked.

Hermione bit her lower lip, pondering if it was actually a good idea to hang out with Rodolphus. Bellatrix was gone and presumably begging Cygnus Black to let her out of her betrothal. Still, was it a good idea to hang out with a future Death Eater one on one? Rodolphus said he was different, but did she really know? "Maybe if you can find me," she said finally, thinking that would be the best. She'd probably split her day between the library and Gryffindor tower, but she wouldn't turn him away if they crossed paths.

"I'll hold you to it, Hermione," he promised, before standing up from his spot at the table. Hermione watched as he walked down to where Rabastan was sitting, only to ruffle his hair. The two brothers left the Great Hall together, leaving Hermione alone with her thoughts.