A year passes, then two, and Ostara Baratheon has proven to be the oddest child Maester Cressen has ever interacted with.

Two years old and already speaking in full sentences, two years old and showing perfect understanding of things children should not understand. Cressen doesn't know what to make of it. If he were anyone else he might say that Ostara Baratheon is not a child. But that's ridiculous, he was there for her birth and even if he hadn't been her physical appearance is still that of a young Baratheon.

With her mother's flesh tone and her father's wild array of ebony curls Ostara Baratheon is, perhaps, one of the prettiest little girls Cressen has ever seen. But even then it is her eyes that catch the attention of many of the men and women who see her. Cressen had expected to see the blue that always makes up the eyes of Baratheon children. Robert's eyes had settled to blue, so had Stannis' when the time came... But not Ostara, oh no, when her eyes had settled they'd taken a shade similar to that of an eggplant or perhaps a plum.

Rich and dark and entirely Targaryen in their color.

It almost distracts from the storm that lingers there... But when she does smile the storm dissipates and her little face simply lights up and the world around Cressen stutters.

He thinks that when the roundness of youth leaves her Ostara Baratheon will be a maiden sought after by many.

Steffon must see it too, the oddness and the beauty, for he glances warily around the room whenever he holds court. As if he's searching for anyone who would comment on such beauty manifesting in a babe so young. It's better then them commenting on her perfectly formulated sentences and her single minded focus. But Cressen thinks that while his Lord's caution is good he has nothing to fear from any of the men and women living in Storm's End.

For Ostara Baratheon is much loved, especially by Robert who follows her nurse around and stares at her with something akin to wonder. Robert doesn't seem as fond of Stannis as he is of his sister and while that bothers Cressen a bit he isn't worried. Stannis will never suffer for lack of sibling love, not when Ostara loves him so fiercely already. Toddling after him, speaking to him, defending him with glares and frowns whenever Robert comments on something Stannis can't quite manage to do.

Cressen finds it odd that Robert seems to care more for the thought of siblings then actually having them. Whenever the maester compares Roberts actions to those of Ostara, or sometimes Stannis who follows after Ostara more oft than not, Cressen wonders if the twins' affection for each other and Robert has more basis then Robert's affection for them.

~X~

Being a child again is hard, mostly because she's had to come to terms with everything and accept it. Having the motor skills of a toddler and being unable to pronounce certain words because she just can't get her tongue to move the way it should certainly doesn't help but her biggest issue with everything that's happened to her are the memories. Because it's hard being Ostara Baratheon First of Her Name, daughter of Lord Steffon Baratheon of the Stormlands when you're also Hermione Jean Granger, Brightest Witch of Her Age and a war heroine to boot.

Ostara remembers being Hermione, remembers Hogwarts and Harry and Ron. She also remembers being tortured and being hurt because of who her parents were and dying in her husband's arms too. Coming to terms with everything had been the hardest bit, but she'd had months to reconcile and accept everything that had happened to her and who she'd become.

She's Ostara now and while it's bloody weird she can accept that.

Doesn't mean she isn't going to find whoever's responsible for all this and kick their ass. She'll have to wait until she's old enough to threaten someone without them laughing but she's had years to formulate a plan and she's rather proud of it considering she doesn't have her wand.

Ostara looks away from the doll that had been given to her in place of the book she'd asked for in favor of looking at her new mother who is tickling Stannis' feet and kissing his cheeks and telling him how sweet he is.

This is her family now... As odd as that is.

Hermione hadn't had siblings. She'd never been the baby sister or a twin and while she's seen how siblings interact with one another seeing is completely different then being part of that experience. But Ostara likes Stannis, she likes her parents too, and Robert even if he does make her want to box his ears half the time.

Whether or not she likes it Ostara can't go back to being Hermione Granger. She can't go back to being a Ministry worker and Ron's wife and the Godmother to an entire slew of little red haired children. The realization had hurt, it still hurts, but she's learned that even if she can't go back to the life she'd had before Ostara can still make a life for herself here.

That thought alone is enough to lessen some of the pain she feels whenever she thinks of the people she loved and left behind.

~X~

Cassana and Steffon are attentive parents, loving and gentle but unafraid to discipline their children. Ostara's grown to love them both just as fiercely as she'd loved Jean and David Granger. And they love her just as much as they love Stannis and Robert, which surprised her at first seeing as she's now living in a time period where women aren't considered good for much more then popping out babies and raising them.

It's good to know that she has a strong support system in this life since she doesn't have Ron or Harry to make sure she eats and sleeps on a regular basis. Now she has her parents to look after her and a Septa (which is terrible because she's supposed to be teaching Ostara but she doesn't know things like algebra and physics) that treats her tenderly but firmly.

But honestly, Stannis is her favorite.

Maybe it's a twin thing? Padma and Parvati had been extremely close despite having been put in separate houses and the Carrow twins (Hestia and Flora but also Amycus and Alecto) had been close too from what Hermione had understood. And even if Stannis doesn't have magic there's still a connection. Ostara can tell when he's upset and more oft than not she can figure out what's bothering him without so much as saying a thing.

Having a twin is different but Ostara likes it.

Stannis is a good twin to have too. He's quite and severe but he never yells at her or tries to push her into things like Robert sometimes does. Of course, it's too early to tell what their relationship will be like when they're older but for now it's comfortable. Ostara likes it in any case and that's good enough.

~X~

When she's four Ostara finds the Godswood, a desolate place with an ancient tree at the center with a solemn face carved into the white bark. Ostara sticks her fingers into the sap that drips like bloody tears down the carved face and her fingers come away sticky. The sap is sweet when she sticks her finger in her mouth, a stupid move she's fully aware but she does it all the same.

It's probably a good thing she did because the moment she pulls her finger from her mouth, the sap lingering despite her having swallowed, something shadowy and black moves in her peripheral vision.

Ostara whips around as fast as her little body can handle, hands raised defensively to fend off anyone who tries to hurt her, but the being standing in the shadows under an older oak tree does not move to toward her.

It does not move at all.

Instead the being stares at her from under its hood and Ostara begins to grow anxious, then she gets angry. Because she knows who it is. She knows what it is. And oh how she wishes she had her wand. She'd kill him. She'd find a way to kill him.

"You did this." She growls, it's not nearly as menacing coming from a four-year-old's body and Ostara hates it.

Yes.

"Why?" Ostara demands and she gets the impression that the being is smiling under his hood.

As if he has any right to be amused. She's angry with him. He can't be amused by her when she's angry with him. That he's refused to answer her question, which only makes her angrier... But she finds herself curious as well.

Mortals aren't supposed to be able to see Death.

So how can she?

"How can I see you? What did you do?" Hermione asks, a bit softer but no less angry.

What did you do?

"What do you mean? I didn't do anything."

The hooded being shakes with silent laughter as he reaches out with a thin, grey-blue finger to point at the stained skin of her hand.

You've done something, sweet faced warrior.

Ostara moves her hand behind her back and scowls, "I'll have you know that it's not a crime to taste sap."

Are you sure that's what you've tasted, girl?

His tone is calm and soft, almost soothing, but Ostara can only hear ringing as she sucks in a breath to yell and rage and scream at the creature that brought her to this world. No matter how much she may love her new family it doesn't lessen the anger she feels for him. And before she can begin her rant about whatever it is she's going to yell at him about (she's still debating whether she's angrier that he sent her here or that he took away her chance to see Ron and Harry and everyone else from her past life) when a soft breath of wind blows her hair into her eyes causing her to flinch away.

When she opens her eyes the creature is gone and Ostara is left standing in the shadow of the Weirwood tree.

~X~

He comes for her later that evening when Storm's End is quiet and the wind outside taps ever so gently at her window. Ostara should be sleeping but she'd managed to sneak a book out of the library and a lumos is easy enough to cast all things considered. Her love of books will get her into trouble one day, Ostara is sure.

Hello, gentle eyed dragon.

Ostara cringes, the light from her spell flickering before blinking out.

It's dark in her room without her lumos but the moon outside is full and bright and Ostara can see the being standing at the foot of her bed well enough to send him her most ferocious glare.

"What are you doing here?" She asks fingers curling around her blanket.

The being reaches into his cloak and removes a stick made of smooth white wood similar to the wood of a weirwood tree. He holds it aloft with one hand and motions to her with another.

"A wand?"

A peace offering.

Ostara purses her lips.

"What happened to my wand?"

This is your wand now. Hermione Granger's wand would not have worked for you.

Indignation burns hot, hot, hot in her chest and Ostara glares harder at the creature standing before her.

"And why the blood hell not?"

Death's laughter is a strange thing, like the sound of wind rustling leaves but softer.

Hermione Granger did not have the blood of Dragons, he says as he tosses the wand into her lap.

And then he's gone and the only thing left behind to even prove he'd been there at all is Ostara's rage and the weirwood wand laying innocently in her lap.

~X~

"Maester Cressen?"

"Yes Ostara?"

"Is it true that the Children helped to build Storm's End?"

The aged man looks up from his table full of herbs and non-magical potions to stare at her briefly before returning to his work.

"It is impossible to say, really... Some claim the Children helped in the construction others say it was Bran the Builder when he was but a boy."

"But there is magic here, yes?" Ostara asks.

She already knows the answer. She can feel the magic lingering in the stones, threading throughout the whole of Storm's End. Old magic, fierce magic, magic Ostara's never witnessed before. The only reason she's even asking the good Maester about it is because she wants to know more.

Applying new runes and protective spells to runes and spells already laid down could be incredibly dangerous and Ostara refuses to be the reason someone gets hurt when she's trying to prevent exactly that. Unfortunately, there aren't any books in the library that can tell her anything, not that the librarian would let her borrow the books if there were. Something about he possibly smudging the pages or ruining the book.

"Hmm. It is possible, yes. Why the interest?" Cressen asks and Ostara shrugs delicately.

"Just curious I suppose."

"Yes, well, perhaps it would be best if you put your thirst for knowledge aside for the time being and go outside to play. A storm's coming and this will likely be the last time you get to play outside before it hits."

This is why she likes Cressen. He doesn't treat her differently from her siblings and he encourages her to ask questions. A funny thing considering most of the people in this world are incredibly sexist.

Ostara kicks her feet and frowns a bit, "I can go outside and play after the storm comes."

"You can, yes, but you're also a growing child and play would do you some good."

The girl frowns. Aside from Stannis and Robert she doesn't have anyone to play with and why would she want to play anyway when she's having a perfectly good conversation with Cressen?

He must see something in her face before the good Maester sighs before moving to pull a book from a shelf which he promptly sets in front of Ostara.

"If you're so opposed to going out and playing you could at least go out and read."

It's a book on plants.

She'd never been overly fond of Herbology in her past life but she had paid attention. It would certainly be interesting to compare the differences between the plants of this world and the plants of her old one. Perhaps magical plants have similarities to plants found in this world? It would be much easier to make a potion if that were the case.

Ostara takes the book and jumps down from the stool she'd clambered up onto earlier.

"Thank you, Maester Cressen!" She calls, already flipping the book open as she makes her way to the door.

"I expect the book back, Ostara."

"Of course, Maester, have I ever stolen one from you?"

She doesn't wait around to hear his answer.

She's not going to give his book of legends back anyway. Not until she's read through it a few more times and gone over it with a fine tooth comb. Not until she's good and ready to part with it.

Besides, he hasn't asked for it back yet so he can't miss it too terribly now can he? Ostara smiles as she makes her way through the keep. If he hasn't asked for it back then that means he's not expecting it back until she's done with it. He hadn't given her a due back by date either so technically she hasn't stolen any books from him. Though, she thinks that she'll have to give this one back eventually... But only after she's finished reading it, of course.

~X~

"A raven has arrived from King's Landing." Cassana says, offering the letter to her husband.

Steffon looks up from whatever it is he'd been looking at, careful not to jostle the little girl sleeping on his lap as he takes the letter. Once it's out of her hands Cassana kneels down to gather the book Cressen had given to Ostara nearly three days prior off the floor and set it delicately on the writing desk so that Ostara can take it with her when she leaves.

"Would you like me to take her?" Cassana asks, watching as Ostara wiggles and turns in her sleep.

Whatever dream she's having must be an exciting one for her little fawn to move so much in her sleep. It's making things harder on Steffon though for he can't use the letter opener without running the risk of either dropping their daughter off of his lap or accidentally stabbing himself should she move a certain way and bump his arm.

"Please," Steffon says as he leans back to let Cassana take their daughter. "Thank you, love."

"What does the King want?" Cassana asks as she adjusts her daughter's form in her arms.

She watches as her husband frowns, eyes drifting over the words written for his eyes only.

"It's from Tywin," he says after a moment. "Rhaella has lost another babe."

"Is she alright?" Cassana wonders, voice carefully devoid of emotion.

She'd been Rhaella's Lady-in-Waiting for a time and Cassana had grown fond of the younger woman. If something were to happen to Rhaella... Cassana shakes her head. She'll not think of that now.

"Tywin says she is expected to make a full recovery." His voice is gentle but his eyes are wary.

Cassana frowns as her husband's eyes rise from the letter and move to rest upon Ostara's sleeping form. The Lady of Storm's End swallows and tightens her grip on her daughter.

"Why has Lord Tywin sent you such a letter?" Cassana demands.

And Steffon's eyes turn chilly as he pulls them away from Ostara to meet his wife's gaze.

"He wants us to come to King's Landing for Rhaegar's name day celebration."