A Crown of Sacrifice
A/N: I've posted a map of the geography of Hogwarts that you can find under this chapter on my AO3 under the same name.
Warnings: Minor character death
Hermione's view overlooked a sea of black, red, and gold, an army of people, from bannermen, knights, squires, and nursemaids. Their numbers spanned across several acres of camp and though it was a formidable sight, she and all of its inhabitants knew the truth.
They were tired—tired of the pain, tired of the hunger, tired of the suffering that war had brought them.
A war that had been raging for three years. A war that, up until that day, had no end in sight.
No matter the cost, as long as it's for the good of the people.
The words rang in her head, and with it a memory of a patient voice, the upturn of a playful smile and kind, obliging eyes framed by spectacles.
What Hermione wouldn't have done to have him there with her. She missed him—she missed both of them, terribly.
She and Harry had lost Lily and James many years ago. Their parent's death a wound that had never quite healed.
She remembered it clearly. Two weeks before her sixteenth natal day. Dumbledore's reign was peacefully coming to an end. The entire kingdom had been eagerly waiting for the announcement of the next ruler of Hogwarts. Lord and Lady Potter, like all head of houses, would attend the ceremony in the capitol.
Hogwarts was not a monarchy, not in the traditional sense, her mother had explained. A very long time ago, the four founders had formed the houses, one for each, that embodied their own vision and values. These four houses made up the Kingdom of Hogwarts.
But as great and powerful as the founders were, they were not without faults. Conflict between houses became a pressing matter, and to prevent war and promote unity, they decided to create a single governance over the houses.
A ruler. Chosen by a crown, instilled with magic that would allow itself to choose a new ruler every half century.
"And you'll be able to see how the crown's magic works during the ceremony." James had said, causing the children to glance at each other with excitement.
They would have joined their parents in the capitol accompanied by their Godfather, Sirius Black, but only a night after their parents arrival, everything had gone terribly wrong.
The entire kingdom had heard of the coup launched against King Dumbledore and his allies. The whispers of Voldemort's return, the whispers that Dumbledore and the majority of the kingdom had ignored, the whispers that children like Hermione and Harry had been blissfully unaware of, were proven to be true.
Voldemort had been secretly plotting his return, gaining the support of prominent noble families, largely from Slytherin house. But perhaps his most fatal blow, had been managing to somehow obtain the loyalty of the hand of the king, Severus Snape.
News spread quickly of the new ruler and his merciless nature and the strange power he possessed.
Voldemort had killed Dumbledore along with a majority of Dumbledore's court. He had then declared from then on, he would be the only ruler of Hogwarts, destroying the ancient crown and giving those who opposed him a choice.
To join him or die.
All Hermione and Harry could do was wait, anxious for news of their parents. What little they knew, was that Voldemort had kept them like many of the other nobles who had arrived in the capitol as prisoners.
Rebellion and opposition grew in parts of the kingdom, of which Gryffindor was the loudest despite the objection of the provisional Gryffindor leadership. The situation was tense as is with Sirius Black and Remus Lupin beginning talks to free their Lord and Lady.
The plan had almost come to fruition. Gryffindor would pledge allegiance in exchange for Lily and James' safe return. Hermione and Harry's tortuous wait would be over, and soon their family would be reunited.
But on the day of Voldemort's coronation, a mutiny was carried out by a group of rebels from Gryffindor, Ravenclaw, and Hufflepuff.
Voldemort could have made the three house's rulers pledge fealty to him. It would have sent a message and tamped down the rebellion, but the cruel madman sought a different solution.
After killing the rebels there in the capitol for all to see, Voldemort ordered the heads of all three houses to be executed as well.
Lord Diggory of Hufflepuff, Lord Davies and his eldest son Chester Davies of Ravenclaw, and Lord and Lady Potter of Gryffindor.
Voldemort declared it as a warning to all who opposed him. What it became, however, was the catalyst for the Second War.
If Hermione had known that the goodbye's she spoke to Lily and James would have been their last, she would have hugged them tighter and never let go, asked her inane, never-ending questions so they'd have to stay, or at the very least, looked at them long enough to memorize every detail of their faces.
But they were gone. For the second time, Hermione had lost a mother and father and the pain hadn't faded ever since.
The sound of footsteps broke her reverie. Hermione turned and her face softened when she was met with the sight of her brother.
They both had grown up too fast, but she thought Harry more so.
His dark hair was ruffled, the stubble on his face bordering on a short beard, and his eyes—though between the two, Harry was the more mirthful and light-hearted one, his eyes still held a haunted quality from his time on the battlefield.
After their parent's death, it had been Hermione who had rallied support, with the help of their Gryffindor allies and devised a plan that would lead them to the capitol to take the throne from Voldemort. But Harry had been the one who led the army, who faced death as he marched with their men into countless fiery battles as they advanced.
And for years their warpath had been advancing. Victory after victory, the outcome of the war slowly but surely tipping in their favor—that is until they had neared Slytherin.
Known for the strong white stone wall that ran across its border, Slytherin's defense was well fortified. And the confidence and success with which Gryffindor's army had begun with, dwindled in a matter of months.
"You don't have to do this." Harry's voice was loud and strong as if that made up for the shaky truth behind his words.
"Do not speak as if you actually believe that."
"I do! By gods—you are my sister. I would never let anything happen to you against your will."
"If I refuse this, the war is lost. And if the war is lost, I have condemned our living to death, and the those we lost, to a death in vain. What other choice do I have?"
She knew as well as he did, that there was no answer to her question. Still, the fall of his expression caused her heart to numb.
"Remus suggests we could go straight to Ravenclaw, we have some allies there—" His tone was full of hope, and she quickly stopped him.
"Ravenclaw is almost all waterlocked, you know that Harry. It would be suicide."
He looked away. After weeks of deliberation and planning, that had been their alternate solution—and it spoke volumes that it was their most promising one, even after general consensus that it was doomed to fail.
The capitol where Voldemort ruled from was heavily guarded and resided in the Southern region of Hogwarts, on the shared border between Slytherin and Ravenclaw. Although Gryffindor had taken almost all of Hufflepuff, the only way to reach the capitol was through Ravenclaw or Slytherin.
And though they had allies in Ravenclaw, Voldemort held the majority of control through blackmail and duress.
Even if they decided to go around Slytherin, it would have to be by water. Gryffindor nor had the supplies, people, or ships to sail to it from Hufflepuff and with all port access under Voldemort's control, they would be decimated before even reaching land.
And so that left them only one option, to go through Slytherin—if they could only get past the damn wall.
When the Gryffindor army pushed inwards, they were promptly pushed back, like a game that had devasting consequences every round. Money and supplies and most of all their people's strength and willpower was running low, and Hermione feared if they did not somehow take Slytherin soon, the war would be lost.
"What happened with your correspondence with Lord Davis. Did he seem agreeable to reopening negotiations with us?"
"It is a risk they are not willing to take." Harry replied. "Not till the Malfoy family remain rulers of Slytherin."
"The Malfoy family? It is only Draco Malfoy left! Narcissa Malfoy has been dead for years and we killed Lucius in battle months ago. Tell Lord Davis this is his chance to take control of Slytherin."
"You know Slytherin folk are if nothing else than cowards. Lord Davis had been warming to our negotiations till he received a missive from a Malfoy owl. I don't know what Draco said, but Davis has ignored all our correspondence since."
"Then there you have it." Hermione said with a bitter smile. "We have merely the illusion of choice."
The choice she referred to, was the one that had been brought to them when a Slytherin rider with a white flag had approached their camp that morn and delivered a message to Harry.
Draco Malfoy wished to negotiate and in good faith, he had sent a trunk of silver.
At first they had deliberated whether Harry should even entertain the missive. Mad-eye was convinced it was a trap, whereas Remus and Tonks argued that the Malfoy's were not so low as to break a period of truce.
The Malfoy's had been one of the first families to betray Dumbledore and became one of Voldemort's most powerful allies. Hermione herself, had to take a moment to reign in the hate that Draco Malfoy's name elicited.
She had realized if the Malfoy heir was open to negotiation, it would change the tide of war in Harry's favor again. For the first time in months, she had felt hope until Harry returned after meeting with Draco, red faced and furious.
He had told them in very short words what Draco wanted before storming off to clear his head. She had been shocked, perhaps even more furious than her brother, but then the true weight of the decision had hit her.
In the back of her mind, she knew she had already come to a decision, but the idea felt too terrifying to acknowledge just yet. So, she looked at Harry imploringly. "Tell me again, Harry. I need to know exactly what he said."
Harry ran a hand down his face. "In exchange for his loyalty and support, Draco Malfoy wants his family name to remain untarnished. He wishes to face no repercussions for his time supporting Voldemort and he wants his land, coin, reputation, all of it to remain intact."
"More than what he deserves—but did you tell him we are willing?"
"I told him we would honor all of it. But then there was talk about the bad blood between Slytherin and Gryffindor. He said it made it difficult for him to trust us to keep our word."
"That slimy—as if it is not the snakes we all have to keep an eye out for. Was this when he proposed—" She felt herself choke on the word, "—marriage?"
"He said that Slytherin would be taking a great risk for Gryffindor and that a true honorable motion would need to take place such as the binding of the two houses. What else could that mean if not marriage?"
"I don't trust it, Harry. When we were children, every time we crossed paths, he made it a point to claim that I was not a true Potter. And now he wants a marriage, to bind our families, when I have no claim to Gryffindor?"
"Perhaps not by blood, but Gryffindor considers you one of us. And you are my sister. Not by blood perhaps, but you have a right to everything I have."
"I am your sister—could that be what this is about? When Voldemort is defeated, Draco may use me to sway your decisions as King."
"If I thought there was a true threat to your wellbeing I never would have even disclosed Draco's offer. I think he truly does want Voldemort gone, if nothing more but because his coffers are draining. The ports are closed, crops are dying, Voldemort is hoarding all the money and even his supporters are facing the impact. The Malfoy's have been notorious for being loyal only to family. Tonks believes that is why marriage will be the only way he trusts us."
"And what about our trust? What has he done that warrants our faith in his motives? All I remember of Draco Malfoy, was that he was an arrogant, spoiled little boy who cared only for himself."
"I don't trust him either! And I don't relish the idea of handing over my sister, my only family left to that man but—Gryffindor gets weaker day by day. We are losing the war. Our choices are—limited." Harry's voice grew soft. "But I will not force you. Do not think of anything but yourself as you come to your decision. Remember it's not you who has to make these sacrifices."
But it was. It was her duty, just like it was Harry's, to do what was best for her people. And Harry should have been telling her that, he should have been forcing her to realize what needed to be done.
No matter the cost, as long as it's for the good of the people.
The words rang in her head like a chant.
The fate of her people, of Gryffindor, and perhaps the future of Hogwarts rested on her. If Draco Malfoy joined them, other Slytherin families would follow. They would have an influx of resources, money, more soldiers, and perhaps most importantly a clear passage to Voldemort. Victory would be in Harry's favor, the war perhaps over in months and all it would cost, was a ceremony, and her condemnation to a man she felt nothing but hate for.
Women had married for far less.
She had not seen Draco Malfoy since that day he had cut her and gotten Ron Weasley punished, but she would not placate herself with wishes that years later, he was a better man.
She would hate him. For the things he had said and done in the past, but also his hand in the war. No doubt even as a child, he had applauded and cheered as her parents had been murdered, and even now rather than joining them through the good of his heart, he had exploited their desperation for his own gain.
And so, Hermione came to a final decision, her voice soft but firm. "You may send word to him, Harry. We will the bind houses if that is what guarantees his loyalty."
Harry's eyes shone with sorrow and an anger, not at her, but at the circumstances they had been dealt. "If there was any other way—"
"I know." She murmured. "You don't need to say anything. I'll loathe every second of it, of him, but my heart is placated knowing it is what's best for our people, and if it will end this war…"
"I promise you, it will. Hogwarts will return to its former glory and Voldemort will fucking pay for his atrocities." He hugged her, and Hermione allowed herself to be comforted by the embrace and the conviction in his promise.
They stood there for a long moment and then a thought came to her that caused her lips to pull into a dull smile.
"And who knows? War is a precarious time, perhaps the gods will reward my sacrifice and make me a widow by the end of it."
Word returned quickly from Draco Malfoy, expressing an interest in the proposal Harry and their advisors had drafted. The exchange of Slytherin and Gryffindor messengers became a routine sight, as both sides hurried to come to an arrangement.
It was a delicate situation in which time and secrecy were of essence, lest Voldemort learned of the alliance forming and sent his own soldiers to tamp it down.
Though Hermione was always involved in the plans and war tactic discussions of Gryffindor, she chose to separate herself from this matter. What should have been her parents, were generals and bannermen negotiating her betrothal contract.
Once she had agreed to the terms with great reluctance of course, it was followed by rage, sadness, and a twinge of anxiety. News and information about their enemies was already limited, so little was known about Draco Malfoy. She did not what kind of man he was, but her mind seemed unable to resist conjuring images of big, alcohol reeking, brutes.
She wished her impending nuptials not to take up any more of her mind and energy. Instead, she threw herself into her self-imposed duties, healing the wounded, organizing the tents, distributing meals, and anything else she could do in the camp to make herself useful.
Until the day came, that negotiations on parchment were no longer necessary. Terms were accepted by both sides, and the wedding was set to be held at Malfoy castle, where she and the rest of her people would be accommodated.
The army at Harry and Hermione's command at Slytherin, was truly only half of Gryffindor's forces. The other half were garrisoned in Hufflepuff commanded by Sirius Black. Still, Hermione felt they could not take any risks.
On the day of the wedding, Harry and General Mad-Eye led a portion of their soldiers to Malfoy castle. But the remaining would stay with Remus, until the wedding ceremony completed, and the alliance was officially sealed.
Hermione rode behind Harry and Mad-Eye, alongside Tonks. The woman noticed Hermione's solemn disposition, and wisely remained silent only shooting her sympathetic looks on their journey. When they neared the bridge of Malfoy castle, soldiers were waiting for them. The long steel gates were raised, and when they entered, there in the courtyard stood people waiting for their arrival.
Harry and Mad-Eye slowly rode ahead, descending from their horses and meeting the other men in the middle. Hermione remained behind with Tonks, soldiers by their sides and she took that time to take in her surroundings.
The white stones of Malfoy castle were vaguely familiar to her, from the one time Hermione had visited in her youth. The design of the castle appeared just as sharp and imposing and the garden and fountains were as grand and neat as she remembered, everything seemingly untouched by the turmoil that had afflicted Hogwarts the past few years.
Her eyes drifted to the people. By the entrance doors there were servants, their eyes brimming with curiosity and apprehension. Slytherin soldiers were strategically stationed among the courtyard.
There were two men that had moved to meet Harry and Mad-Eye. One was tall and darkhaired, and did not speak, standing slightly behind the other man. Hermione assumed, he was a bannerman or vassal, perhaps.
When she moved her eyes to the other man, the only indication that this was Draco Malfoy was the snow white hair on his head and the grey of his eyes. She remembered a short, insecure, arrogant boy. This man speaking to Harry was tall, imposing, and confident.
He shook Harry's hand with an easy smile as if there was no difficult history between the two. His stance was relaxed, his expression friendly but Hermione saw the underlying cunning and mockery.
A wolf in sheep's clothing.
It was his eyes that gave it away. They were observant but there was nothing behind them that revealed himself or his intentions. They were blank, impassive, almost lifeless and she was taken aback when they suddenly shifted and met her own.
She held her breath, her composed expression unwavering, even as his gaze roamed her face and an unsettling sensation drew up her spine.
She did not like it. She did not like him. She could handle insults and outright antagonism. But these mind games, trickery concealed in shadows, she hated how it disarmed her.
She didn't know how long their stares held, but then slowly, one corner of his mouth lifted upwards, and he turned back to Harry replying to something her brother had said.
"He is handsome, at least."
Hermione looked at Tonks, a deep frown settling on her face. "My feelings are not weak enough to be swayed by the mere look of a man."
"I did not mean—"
"That I can soothe my distress and disgust at being with this man who fought against us for the entirety of the war and who so clearly has ulterior—possibly dangerous motivations because he is pretty?"
Tonks looked properly chagrined. "Of course not. I just meant, it is a small mercy."
A beat passed and Hermione willed her shoulders to relax and her anger to cool. "I'm sorry, Tonks. I'm feeling a little..."
"Nervous?"
"I suppose. But also, angry. I should not take it out on you."
Tonks gave her a comforting smile. "Everything will turn out fine, you'll see."
Hermione gave an answering smile but could not help but think of her mother, imagining what Lily would have done in this situation, what she would have told Hermione. Surely, she would not have wasted time in false words of comfort.
She would have reminded Hermione of the sacrifice and the good it would do but also of the unknown of the world Hermione would have to embrace. She would tell Hermione to remain on guard, to not trust anyone until they proved themselves to her.
That was what Hermione resolved to do as Harry turned and made a motion with his hands. A signal, that everything was well and that she and Tonks could join them. They descended their horses, following Harry and Mad-Eye as they were led inside the castle into the receiving hall.
There was a greater number of people gathered here. Harry offered his arm to Hermione, and she took her place by his side, as she watched Draco address his court.
"We welcome these honored guests, to our home, to our food, to our wine for it is a day of benevolence and unity. A new day, for both Slytherin and Gryffindor where past hostility and conflict will be erased to forge an alliance, a bond, that can withstand anything even in these times of war. Our halls are graced with the formidable Harry Potter of Gryffindor." Draco paused as hooting and applause engulfed the hall.
"And his sister, Hermione Potter soon to be one of us, a Slytherin." Hermione was horrified when another round of applause broke out, this time accompanied by whistles. Draco grinned. "We shall begin preparations to join the two houses in matrimony today, to begin this grand alliance."
And with that, they were dismissed. Hermione wished to speak to Harry about what he and Draco had spoken about outside, but after a few words with some of his men, the Slytherin ruler was already approaching them.
"I'll have accommodations set up on the grounds for your men. Food and ale and such." Draco motioned to the silent man who had remained by his side. "This is Lord Theodore Nott, my most trusted vassal. He will show you where to direct your men and to anything else you need."
"It is appreciated, Lord Malfoy." They all sensed the difficulty with which Harry spoke the sentiment.
Before Harry made to move, he exchanged a look with her, and Hermione sent one back assuring him she would be fine without him. Hermione had Tonks, her lady in waiting and a formidable swordsman in her own right, and her own assigned soldiers.
Draco waited until Harry and Theodore left, before turning to her.
"As for you, my betrothed." He paused and cocked his head, smiling at her in a practiced way she knew he thought he could easily gain a women's affections by. "Betrothed. It sounds strange, does it not?"
"Absurd." She murmured in agreement. "Positively laughable—It almost makes one wonder why on earth such an occurrence needed to be prompted in the first place."
"My Lady." Hermione pressed her lips together at Tonk's quiet warning.
Draco was unfazed. Hermione made no attempt to hide the malice in her smile as he attempted another tactic. "We have not seen each other since—"
"Since our ball at Gryffindor castle. Tell me, it was so many years ago, do you remember when you cut my face with your sword?" Hermione blinked innocently, taking pleasure in the way Draco's congenial expression faded into nothingness.
A tense moment passed, and then he grinned slowly, perhaps the first genuine one she had seen that day. "And I thought we were all here to get along."
The mocking lilt in his tone caused her eyes to narrow. "I was not given the same impression. It was marriage that was required of me, and I've seen many that have survived on only thinly veiled tolerance."
She was well aware that they were not alone, and that she and Tonks would be discussing her lip later on, but she found she did not care. She needed him to know that she would not make this easy.
"Though it seems even tolerance will be difficult for you." He mused. "Is it truly too much to ask for the simple effort towards amends?"
The resolute expression on her face answered for her.
"Fortunately for you, I am no longer a child. You, however, are just as I remembered, brave or perhaps reckless is the proper term, defiant, challenging."
She glared at him and raised her nose up. "You cannot claim to be different and expect one to believe it. My words are harsh but only because I want to make it clear that, although I will marry you for the good of Gryffindor and Slytherin, and Hogwarts itself, I will take no pleasure in it."
His lips twitched, and it looked like he made an effort to hold his tongue but failed. "I beg to differ."
"Two minutes in and you've already confirmed my suspicion that I'd loathe you." Her tone was acidic.
He beamed, "I suppose it's a good thing I have—what's the phrase? Ah, till death do us part, to change that."