Huge beta love to The Dragon and the Rose and CarbConnoisseur
17th December 1994
"What are we shopping for?" Neville asked as they trudged down to Hogsmeade in the snow.
Susan shrugged. "Last minute Christmas bits and I think 'Mione wanted some of Rosemerta's gingerbread."
"It's so good," Hermione agreed, overhearing them before turning to Viktor. "You should try it."
He grinned back down at her. "If you say so."
Draco rolled his eyes. "I don't like it," he muttered as Hermione and Viktor got lost in their own conversation.
"It's alright, " Luna consoled him. "They're lovely for just now but it won't be permanent. Their auras don't mesh properly.
Draco looked at her, torn between wanting desperately to believe her and sure she was talking nonsense.
"Nothing wrong with just now," Susan declared staunchly.
"But she's my cousin," he whined.
"She's an intelligent, beautiful, powerful witch who just happens to be your cousin. Why shouldn't she have a Mr. Right Now?"
Draco scowled. "Because she shouldn't. I don't like it."
"Tough," Susan sang, laughing. "Did you sort a date to the ball?"
"Yes," he sighed. "I'm taking Astoria. It was either her or Pansy and the thought of taking Pansy is terrifying so…yeah."
Susan snorted. "I'm sure Astoria is thrilled with such a glowing recommendation."
"She couldn't go otherwise. She'll be fine."
Rolling her eyes, Susan increased her pace to catch up with Georgi, steering him in the direction of Scrivenshaft's.
Several hours later, they congregated in The Three Broomsticks. Hermione's sought-after tin of gingerbread biscuits was stashed in one of her bags and a plate was on the table in front of them as they all clutched a warm butterbeer.
"It's good!" Viktor exclaimed, the Bulgarians nodding their agreement. "Almost as good as ours. It is missing the chocolate."
"Chocolate on gingerbread?"
"Da. Chocolate makes everything better, no?"
Hermione laughed when Draco fervently nodded his agreement.
"Prefect's bath?" Susan checked.
"I can't think of anywhere else. Did you speak to Luna and Astoria?"
"Yes, they're coming. Astoria especially was intrigued. She asked if Daphne could come too. I agreed."
"I ah…I might have invited Millicent Bulstrode," Hermione rushed out.
Susan's eyebrows hit her hairline. "Pardon?"
Hermione sighed. "She overheard me talking to Elena and Maria and her face, Susan…..I cornered her later when I was looking for Greg. He asked for help with his charms and she….she was defensive and rude and then…then, when I didn't leave, she admitted that no one saw her as a girl. What was I meant to do?"
Susan sighed. "Exactly what you did, you bleeding heart."
"How are your tailoring charms?"
Susan frowned, confused by the rapid change of subject. "Passable, why?"
"She said she was dreading the ball because the robes her mother sent her were like a tent. Apparently her mother is some tiny little thing and thinks Millicent's figure is through lack of discipline."
"Merlin," Susan looked at her horrified. "Her mum said that?"
"Apparently. She only really spoke to me because Greg promised she could trust me."
Susan frowned. "Are we collecting snakes now?"
Hermione shrugged. "Apparently. We need some more Ravenclaws to balance things. Is Hannah coming?"
"Yes. She's quite excited. What about Padma?"
"What about her?"
"We could add her to our band of misfits. She gets overlooked too because Parvati is so…"
"Full on?" Hermione suggested.
"Gregarious," Susan corrected.
"We can ask," Hermione replied with a shrug. "I don't know her well."
"I know her a bit. I'll ask. See you at seven?"
"What exactly are we doing?" Millicent asked nervously, her eyes darting around the group as if unsure as to how she'd found herself here.
"Relax, Millie," Daphne soothed, as they entered the prefect's bathroom. "It's meant to be fun."
"Oh my," Hannah muttered, spotting Hermione and Susan next to a table covered in an assortment of pampering things.
"What's all that?" Astoria murmured.
Hearing her, Hermione grinned. "Face masks, hair masks, nail varnish, body scrubs, and body butters."
"What in the name of Merlin is a body butter?" Daphne exclaimed. "I don't want to be basted!"
Hermione snorted. "It's…cream. You use it to moisturise your skin."
"Oh. It's not actual butter?"
"No," she giggled, holding out a pot for Daphne to smell.
"Strawberries," she murmured.
"There's different scents. I'm pretty certain Dad just bought out The Body Shop."
"The Body Shop?" Millicent queried.
"Oh. Muggle shop. They do…ah, bath and shower products and lotions and skincare….that short of stuff."
"You sent your dad?" Hannah asked with a giggle.
"Who else was I meant to send? Aunt Cissa's only been in the Muggle word twice and I wasn't sure Tonks wouldn't trip over something and be banned from the shop"
"Why would she trip?" Astoria frowned.
Susan snorted as Hermione paused, wondering how to explain. "She's clumsy," she shrugged finally.
"So, you can do this however you want, but I'm going into the bath with this lovely little vanilla body scrub," Susan grinned.
"What does it do?" Millicent asked, picking one up gingerly.
"Oh it exfoliates the skin… makes it smoother," Hermione explained, picking one up alongside a hair mask and a face mask. Astoria looked at her in confusion. She shrugged. "I'm not getting back out for the rest of it. The masks have to sit for a while."
"Oh good shout! WIll you bring some for me?" Susan asked from the bath.
"So…scrub, hair mask, and face mask?" Astoria checked.
"You don't have to, but that's what we're doing."
Nodding, the other girls followed suit.
"This is nice," Elena commented, leaning back against the side of the bath. "Our baths are so small."
"So are most of ours, this is just for prefects," Daphne murmured, looking completely relaxed, her legs floating in front of her.
"Who's everyone going to the ball with?" Hannah asked quietly, as she copied Elena's pose, letting out a sigh as she relaxed into the water. "And why have we never done this before?"
Beside her Susan snorted, careful not to dislodge her mask. "Because the prefects would have murdered us for taking over their bathroom?"
"There is that," Hannah allowed, wincing as she smiled and her mask cracked slightly. "Justin asked me. He's…he's nice enough. Bit of a prat sometimes if he spends too long with Ernie."
"Theo," Daphne murmured. "He's…it was expected."
"In vhat vay?" Maria queried.
"Oh. Mother wishes me to make a good match. Draco, Theo, Adrian, although he's out of the running now. He and Fred are sickeningly adorable. Um…Cassius was mentioned. Marcus Flint. Cedric. She has a whole list. I don't want any of them."
"Anyone you do want?" Susan asked.
Daphne flinched slightly.
"Pansy or Sophia Travers," Astoria answered for her.
"Tori!" Daphne cried, sitting up abruptly.
"What? They're not going to tell. If everything Draco says is true, McKinnon has this odd sense of honour that means she wouldn't even consider it."
"Shit, Greengrass," Susan winced. "Does your mother not know?"
"Oh, she knows. But it's…less easy for girls. It's accepted that men can adopt but two women? In our circles, it's unheard of."
"Then perhaps it's time to do something about that," Hermione muttered.
"McKinnon?"
Hermione shrugged. "Perhaps it's time to drop some hints to my Aunt Cissa… She…well, let's face it she's terrifying. I've seen her work a room and seen how much her good opinion matters."
"But…" Daphne spluttered.
"Pansy feels the same you know," Astoria said gently. "She pursues the boys aggressively in the hopes of putting them off so she won't be forced into a marriage she doesn't want."
"Well, that's fucking awful," Hermione muttered. "Right, Easter project then. We're fixing that. No one should be forced to marry someone they don't bloody want to."
"You dont think Lord Black will choose for you?" Daphne asked hesitantly.
Hermione snorted. "He can try. Not that he will. He'd have to speak to me in order to do that. Uncle Lucius and Aunt Cissa are my official guardians and for all they've admitted that they'll vet Draco's wife and definitely torment him with the idea of an arranged marriage, they won't force the issue. He'll be given a choice. They were a love match, you know?"
"No!" Daphne breathed, something akin to hope on her face.
"Yes. Uncle Lucius just enjoys winding Draco up. He absolutely believes they'll pick for him, but they've promised to stop and actually have a conversation with him at the end of this year given that girlfriends are a real possibility. They don't want him not to pursue someone because he's scared he'll be forced to give them up. Maybe don't tell him that yet though. The genuine fear that Aunt Cissa will choose someone exactly like her is far more entertaining than I had originally anticipated, although I'm sure he'll get me back once he finds out I knew."
"You think…you think your Aunt would understand?" Daphne asked softly.
"If she doesn't we can make her," Hermione growled, making Susan laugh.
"Only you would talk about making Narcissa Malfoy do something."
Hermione shrugged. "Aunt Cissa is terrifying but she's also human. She's not…she'll listen even if I have to say it four hundred times first."
"Right…back to the ball," Daphne spoke, visibly gathering herself. "Who was brave enough to ask you?"
Hermione rolled her eyes. "Viktor."
"Viktor Krum!" Hannah squealed.
"He rather taken vith the tiny vitch," Elena shrugged, making Hermione blush. "Says she doesn't care he's famous."
"Probably because she hates quidditch," Susan muttered, making the rest of them laugh. "I'm going with Georgi, one of Viktor's friends. It was a kindness. Hermione kept winding Draco up and he's terrified of me."
"You'd think he'd have a stronger constitution given that Lady Malfoy is his mother." Millicent mused, making them all giggle. "I'm…I'm going with Greg."
"Ron Weasely." Padma sighed.
"What?" Susan yelped. "How did that happen?"
"Ugh. Vati asked me for a favour. She's going with Potter and Weasley made an idiot of himself in front of Fleur Delacour. It was…actually rather alarming. He just sort of screamed at her and ran away.``
"And you then felt sorry for him and what? Agreed to take her place?" Astoria asked, incredulously. "Merlin!"
Padma snorted. "Well it sounds awful when you put it like that!"
"It's alright. You'll have a lovely night with the Beauxbatons boys instead," Luna smiled vacantly. "Neville asked me to go with him seeing as who he wanted to go with is already taken."
"Oh that's sad. Who did he want to go with?" Hannah asked.
Hermione froze. "Oh, it doesn't matter. I'm sure he'll share when he's ready," Luna replied arily.
"You know," Susan accused, looking at Hermione shrewdly.
She grimaced, shrugging awkwardly. "Perhaps. Luna's right though. If he decides he wants to share, he will."
"Fine," Susan sighed dramatically before turning to Maria. "You're last, who's your date?"
"Stefan," she replied with a slightly dreamy smile.
"Awww," Astoria and Hannah cooed simultaneously.
"I want a boy who makes me look like that!" Susan pouted.
Maria patted her shoulder. "One day. It's taken Stefan years to vork up the courage."
"Years?" Susan breathed.
"Oh yes. He tell me in first year that von day he'll marry me. And still ve had to come here before he ask me on an actual date!"
Susan snorted. "So what you're saying is I need to take a trip to another county with a random selection of boys?"
They all laughed at her ridiculousness. Both Hermione and Millicent privately wondering how on earth they had gotten so lucky as to end up there, silently vowing not to jeopardise it.
25th December 1994
"Millie, don't be absurd," Hermione chided a reluctant Millicent. "We're all getting ready together and we'll help. Susan and Daphne are apparently good at tailoring charms. We'll fix it. And we're going to Luna's dorm because no one else will be there. Most of the third years have gone home."
"But…you'll all look…." she waved her hand in an obscure pattern.
"Millicent Sophia Bulstrode!" Daphne growled. "Move."
"And stop being mean to yourself!" Hannah chided.
"You've a rather bad Dellywig infestation," Luna mused. "I told Hermione last time she had them. They cause self doubt you know. I could make you some earrings that will help? Yours did, didn't they?"
Hermione looked momentarily startled. "The cork ones? Um…yes. Definitely."
"Good,'' Luna smiled serenely.
Millicent frowned. "What earrings?"
"Oh, Luna made me earrings from butterbeer corks."
"Do you actually wear them?" Millicent asked in confusion, flushing when she remembered Luna was standing there.
"I do, actually," Hermione smiled. "They're rather sweet and Luna made them herself. It would be rude not to, even if they didn't help the ah…dellywigs."
Susuan shook her head. "Biggest bleeding heart…." she muttered.
"Perhaps I should have made you a matching necklace," Luna mused.
"There's always next year," Hermione smiled. "Dad gave me one that was my mum's. I…I rather like having something that was her's. Apparently the set he gave me, Mum had always intended to pass on to me."
Luna's face lost its dreamy look as her eyes softened in understanding. "Yes," she agreed softly, running a finger over the delicate silver bracelet on her own wrist. "I know how that feels."
Silently, Hermione reached for her hand, squeezing it briefly. Susan swallowed visibly. "I have my mum's jewellery tonight too. I… I've been scared to wear it in case it gets lost. Maybe… maybe I should."
Both Hermione and Luna smiled slightly wanly as both of them reached for her.
"Right, enough of this!" Susan commanded, her voice sounding slightly choked. "We're meant to be having fun today, not…not becoming maudlin. So, let's gather everyone and head to Luna's dorm. We can ask a few elves if they'll help us with our things. The boys all look preoccupied with their snowball fight."
Snorting, they all nodded. "Draco and the Twins are scarily competitive," Millicent mused, watching the boys as they ran around. "I'm slightly jealous that they'll all be ready in minutes and we're starting now."
Hermione laughed. "If you think my cousin isn't going to be in his dorm shortly along with Blaise you're mental. I swear he takes longer to get ready than I do. I've never seen anybody so concerned about their hair, which is hilarious given how much he abused hair gel in first and second year."
Millie laughed, giving in to the strange feeling of being included. "Come on then. Let's get the humiliation over with."
"Don't be absurd. By the time we've finished with those robes, you wont recognise them. No need for humiliation," Daphne chided as they trooped after Luna. "Are Elena and Maria coming?"
"No," Hermione shook her head. "They're getting ready with their friends on the ship, so it's just us, Hannah, and Padma."
Hermione sat on Luna's bed and took in the carnage that was Luna's dorm. The elves had been sweet and accommodating, which meant every available surface was now littered with something. They'd taken turns showering, each of them taking a little pot of the exfoliating scrub and body butter after begging Hermione to acquire some more for the following term. Now they were sitting in their dressing gowns applying potions to their hair, Daphne and Astoria advising the others with a surety Hermione was envious of. Other than Vivienne's potions, she was leaving her own well alone in case she undid their effects.
"Now, let's see those robes and we can do nails!" Daphne commanded, as each of them moved to unzip their garment bags.
"Wow," Hermione muttered, spotting Padma's. "That's stunning."
Padma grinned. "Whatever else you may say about my sister, you cannot deny that she has exemplary taste."
"Indeed she does," Daphne murmured, eying Padma's robes appreciatively. "That turquoise will be gorgeous on you, do you want that on your nails or gold to match the detailing around the hem?"
"Oh…turquoise, I think. My jewellery is gold and I have little gold flowers for my hair."
"Turquoise it is," Daphne grinned, reaching for her wand, desperate not to recreate the disaster they'd had with Muggle nail polish earlier in the week. Hermione bit her lip to hide her grin, knowing they were all thinking it.
"Done!" Daphne announced after muttering the charm over Padma's fingers and toes. "Luna, you next."
"Oh…I'll have silver please. My dress robes are blue." Nodding, Daphne worked her way around them all until she got to Millicent. "Right no hiding any longer, let's see them."
Millie flinched. "If you must," she sighed, pulling down the zip to reveal emerald dress robes with an uncomfortably high neck, a voluminous skirt and what looked like several metres too much fabric. "Oh Millie," Daphne breathed before gathering herself. "Well, at least the colour is lovely and that gold stitching on the bodice and arms is stunning. Let me do your nails then you can try them on and we'll fix them."
Reluctantly, she agreed, watching as Daphne charmed her nails the same green as the dress before she put on the robes she hated.
"Merlin, there's enough fabric there to make another five sets," Susan muttered.
"The neckline is wrong," Astoria joined the scrutiny as Mille fought the urge to squirm.
"She has fabulous legs," Hermione chimed in from her perch on Luna's bed. Millicent turned to look at her incredulously. She shrugged in response. "You do. They're all long and…." she gestured with her hands making the others laugh.
"Gods Mckinnon, I dont think I've ever seen you fail to find the correct word," Daphne teased.
Hermione huffed. "Well, leg-like didn't seem quite right."
Daphne snorted, shaking her head. "Shapely I think is the word you're looking for. And she's not wrong, you know," she said to Millie. "You really do have fabulous legs. So…I propose we take it to just under the knee. Make the neck a 'V', not low, maybe just a touch deeper than Padma's, leave the sleeves long, take out three quarters of the skirt fabric. We'll make you something else from it."
"Like an entire wardrobe?" Astoria muttered. "Merlin knows there'll be enough fabric left. What was your mother thinking?"
"Let's pin it then," Susan sighed. "We probably could just cut some but we'd better not, just in case."
Astoria and Daphne hummed. "I'll do the neck. Daph can do the skirt. Susan can do the hem," Astoria commanded. "The rest of you watch. All of you should be able to do this!"
"Yes Mum," Hannah grinned as they set to work.
Half an hour later they stepped back to admire their handiwork. "Sweet Merlin, Mils!" Daphne breathed. "Have you been hiding that figure under those awful robes all this time?"
Millicent blinked as she looked in the mirror. She…well, she was still decidedly larger than the other girls, but she had a figure for once. Torn between revelling in it and desperately wanting to cover herself back up lest someone notice, she continued to stare at her reflection.
"You look beautiful," Hermione spoke softly, recognising her conflicted look. "It's not the same but when Aunt Cissa insisted my uniform fit rather than allow me to keep it baggy, I felt so exposed. She was right though. When it comes to fashion, I'm beginning to accept she usually is. Hiding behind too big clothing doesn't solve anything. I feel….less constrained now that I'm not trying to hide behind it."
Millie blinked, nodding. "I…I've never looked like this."
"Then perhaps over Easter we can persuade Daphne to come shopping with us all. Between her and Aunt Cissa you'll have an entirely new wardrobe." Millie blinked, forcing back tears as she realised the offer was genuine. Hermione grinned suddenly and continued. "Really you'd be doing me a favour. I cannot possibly wear any more clothes unless I start wearing two of everything at once. Aunt Cissa is a menace in a clothes shop."
Giving a watery sounding laugh, Millie nodded. "I…I think I'd like that," she murmured. "And really, Viktor would think you insane if you started doubling your clothing, and we can't have that."
"See, practically a public service," Hermione grinned.
"And I'm never going to turn down shopping!" Daphne grinned. "Now, everyone get dressed and we'll sort hair. If you need to dry it first, do so. If you need it wet, for the love of Merlin cover it in a towel before touching your robes!"
"Yes, Ma'am," Susan saluted, ignoring the glower Daphne sent her.
Twenty minutes later, they sat carefully on various beds, as those who had decided fixed their hair. Hermione had never been so grateful for Aunt Cassie's combs than she was as she watched Daphne, Astoria and Padma complete complicated hairstyles involving curls and twists and sticking charms.
"I think I might curl mine," Susan mused, eyeing Padma's with interest. She'd curled the ends, twisting back two sections away from her face that she held together with an ornate clasp. It was simple and beautiful, her tiny gold flowers standing out from the darkness of her hair, matching the colour of the pattern that was woven around the hem of her floor length robes.
Silently, Hermione admired her patience as she painstakingly applied a sticking charm to each tiny flower.
"I have a clasp somewhere, we could charm it if it doesn't match," Susan mused as Daphne rolled her eyes and transfigured a pin into a clasp that matched Susan's jewellery.
"Wow. Thank you."
"I think…I think I'm going to put mine up," Millie decided finally, watching Astoria as she applied another sticking charm to the complicated updo she was creating.
"I have no idea what to do!" Hannah whined.
"I'm just going to…." Luna began.
"Let us help?" Astoria begged, turning slightly to face Luna, cutting her off.
"Alright," she agreed cheerfully.
"Right, Hannah first. Have you any ideas?" She shook her head. "Trust me?" Daphne asked.
"Alright," Hannah agreed, watching as Daphne made a few complicated wand movements and the front of her hair was plaited back from her face, almost like a hairband before being caught in a slightly messy bun at the nape of her neck, the small tendrils left framing her face curling into loose spirals.
"Wow," she muttered. "You need to teach classes on this stuff."
Daphne snorted before she paused. "I could, you know."
"You should," Hannah emphasised again as she moved to allow Luna in.
"How do you feel about curls and it being pulled back from your face?" Daphne asked hesitantly, still not sure how to take Luna.
"Oh, that sounds lovely," Luna replied with a beaming smile.
"Good," Daphne nodded once and got to work as the rest of them began layering makeup with charms.
"You look lovely Luna," Padma smiled once Daphne was done, Luna's wild hair half pulled back loosely and secured with a silver clasp Daphne had unearthed from somewhere, as it trailed in loose curls down her back in a slightly less tamed version of Padma's style.
"Thank you," she murmured softly, looking at herself in the mirror.
"You've such a small face, it gets lost in all that hair," Daphne explained.
Luna hummed. "Maybe you should teach."
Daphne flushed, feeling oddly discomfited by Luna's remark. It was more startling than the other recommendations, given the girls' usually airy demeanour. "Now, makeup. Were you intending on wearing any?"
"Oh, Daddy doesn't really know where to go for make up. I don't have any."
"We can share," Hannah offered. "Between us we'll have something that suits you."
"Blue," Astoria murmured, not taking her eyes off her own face in the mirror. "Subtle, light blush, and a pinky, glossy lip."
Hannah paused before rummaging through her makeup for Luna as the other girls followed suit. "Okay."
"Light browns for you, darker lip. Pink to match the top of your dress." Hannah blinked but nodded. "McKinnon should go brown and smokey with gold, burgundy lip to match the hair. Bones should go green, subtle lip. Mils and Patil should do something similar to McKinnon."
All of them paused to look at the girl. "Right, really, when do these classes start?" Hannah demanded.
Daphne snorted. "Don't your female relatives teach you this?"
"Aunt Amy doesn't have time. Madam Longbottom has gone over the basics," Susan shrugged. "But it's more correct techniques and charms rather than what suits."
"Aunt Cissa did but I still can't tell what suits someone like that! Gods, she wasn't even looking at us! And time was limited given everything else I had to learn this summer."
"Mum's hopeless with makeup. She can do the charms but sticks to the basics that she knows work," Hannah shrugged.
"Daddy doesn't wear make-up," Luna murmured throughtgfully. "Maybe he should."
The rest of them hid their grins. "Right, classes begin after the holidays. An hour a week…we'll find somewhere. Honestly!" Daphne sighed.
"Charge for them," Susan murmured. "You'll still be inundated."
"I can't charge for them!"
"You can," Hermione insisted. "It doesn't have to be much but I'll bet there's loads of people who'd love to learn this stuff. We can't be the only ones who are hopeless."
Daphne paused, frowning as she considered it.
Half an hour later they stood back admiring their handiwork in the mirror. Hermione swished in her gold robes, admiring the tiny crystals on the chiffon overlay that she'd usually think was too frivolous as the light hit that and almost foil like appearance of the gold detailing that encircled her waist and torso. They were long sleeved and princessy and like nothing else she'd ever owned.
"Those are absolutely stunning," Susan murmured from behind her. "Where did you get them? They're not a style I've ever seen here."
"Paris," Hermione replied softly. "Dad insisted. You look lovely. Green is definitely your colour."
Susan grinned, giving a twirl. Her robes were a deep forest green in a more traditional style than Hermione's, heavy satin, three quarter length sleeves, and a princess were simple and stunning. Susan's mother's gold jewellery took centre stage against the darkness of the fabric.
Beside them, in robes of frothy pale blue tulle, looking ethereal and fairy like, her robes sparkling with tiny crystals, Luna was humming to herself as she fixed the clasp on her heels.
"We really do scrub up well," Hannah murmured as she looked around the room. Her own robes shifted from a raspberry pink at the top of the bodice to a colour so pale it could have been white at the hem of the skirt where it reached the floor.
Daphne grinned in response. Her robes were a similar green to Millie's, with silver detailing crawling up the skirt to the waist, almost like vines. "Very Slytherin Miss Greengrass," Hermione teased, noticing her looking at them.
"Says the lion in gold with red hair," she shot back.
Hermione snorted, but didn't argue as Astoria left the bathroom where she'd disappeared in search of a lipstick she thought she'd put there earlier. Her dark purple robes swirled about her legs as the heavy fabric moved with her.
"Right, picture!" she announced as they all huddled together, grinning at the charmed camera in front of them.
"Thank you for this," Padma murmured. "I…well no one expects me to like this sort of stuff as much as Parvati. It's been…nice."
Daphne shorted but shook her head. "Don't. What is it Blaise calls your group?" She turned to look at Hermione who rolled her eyes. "McKinnon's merry band of misfits?"
Padma laughed. "I don't hate it."
"I do!" Hermione pouted. "It's ridiculous!"
"Nonsense. It's about time the female side was balanced out a bit," Daphne grinned before sighing exaggeratedly. "All those boys….."
She dodged when Hermione aimed a pillow at her. "Speaking of those boys, let's go and shock them," Astoria grinned.
For the first time since they'd been inflicted on her, Hermione was grateful for her Aunt's insistence that she practised walking in heels. "There's too many stairs," Astoria muttered as they made their way towards the Great Hall.
"We do this daily," Hermine reminded her. "It was my main argument against Aunt Cissa's insistence that I wear heels all the time."
"Gods, I'd have argued harder. This is horrible!"
Laughing as they rounded the corner to the final flight of stairs, none of them spotted the group of boys standing at the end of it. All of them bar Ron, who looked like he wanted to be anywhere else but there, looked slightly star struck.
"Wow," Neville muttered. "They all look…."
"Beautiful," Viktor supplied with a grin.
Neville turned to nudge Ron. "I have no idea how you did it but look at Padma!" Reluctantly Ron lifted his head, his eyes scanning the girl in front of him dispassionately.
"She looks better than you deserve, Weasel-bee," Draco sneered before his jaw dropped. "Is that….is that Millie!"
Greg's head turned sharply. "Yes," he breathed.
"Sweet Salazar," Draco muttered.
"Close your mouths," Hermione commanded with a smirk as they reached the bottom.
"Miss 'Mione, you look beautiful," Viktor smiled down at her as he leant tin to kiss her hand.
"Why thank you, kind sir," she grinned, blushing slightly. "You look rather dashing yourself."
"Gods this is sickening," Ron muttered, tugging on Padma's wrist. "Let's go."
Hermione glowered at him before shooting Padma a sympathetic look.
"Tell me he did not just do that?" Daphne growled as she looped her arm through Theo's.
"Arsehole," Draco muttered, offering Astoria his arm. "Will we go and show him how he's supposed to behave?
"And maybe rescue Padma," Susan muttered.
"I could hit him?" Millie offered hopefully from where she was standing next to a stunned looking Greg.
Hermione snorted. "If you chip those nails, Daphne will murder you. Wait until tomorrow."
Millie's grin was wicked as she nodded seriously. "Gives me longer to contemplate where best to aim for."
"Planning is always best," Hannah agreed sagely.
Neville looked around the strange group Hermione and Susan appeared to have acquired. "And I thought you two were terrifying before," he muttered. Luna patted his arm consolingly.
"I think they're all rather lovely. We'll need another summer with your Grandmother and Lady Malfoy to be truly terrifying. I think Hermione's going to set it up."
They'd never admit it, but both Draco and Neville whimpered at the thought.
Harry fidgeted nervously next to Parvati. He wasn't sure he could do this. Dancing had been an interesting form of torture after he realised he was abysmal at it. The twins had tried to help after McGonagall's lessons, but they were…more boisterous than skilled. He hadn't been brave enough to ask Neville. Ron had scoffed at his desire to learn, telling him it wouldn't matter, which had been all well and good until he realised he had to open the ball. Beside him Parvati huffed. She looked stunning in her pink robes but it made him tongue tied and clumsy. He knew there were things he should be doing but he had no idea what they were. In front of them, Hemione's strange little group was dispersing, moving into the hall, teasing her about the upcoming dance. It was… strange. She looked beautiful, and, if he was honest with himself, more relaxed than he had ever seen her. She was smiling, teasing a few of the girls back. He wasn't sure he had ever seen her with a girlfriend other than Ginny. Beside her, Krum stood sentry, looking at her like she'd hung the moon. It hit him then that he missed her. Not because he felt he should, not because homework was now four times as difficult, but because despite having been a terrible friend, she had always been a steadying presence. And he missed it.
"Champions!" Professor McGonagall called. "It is time to open the ball!"
Slowly they filed in, taking up position, Parvati impatiently adjusting his hand on her body as the music swelled.
"Potter's bloody awful," Blaise murmured, watching the champions and their dates.
Draco snorted. "Lord Black thought he deserved a summer of fun."
Theo looked at him incredulously. "Seriously?"
"Oh yes, or so he told Longbottom. Bloody stupid if you ask me. Mother and Lady Longbottom had a rigorous program to ensure Hermione was ready, and she had to practise several things daily."
"She's done well," Theo murmured. "Even my father was impressed."
Draco hummed watching his cousin as she moved fluidly around the floor with Krum.
"'Mione's nothing if not stubborn," Neville muttered. "She was never going to let the lessons beat her. Even if she hated them."
Draco snorted. "That might be the understatement of the century. I don't think even my mother is as stubborn as Hermione."
"You actually like the witch," Theo frowned.
"Yes. Why shouldn't I?"
"No reason. I… truthfully I thought your parents would have an issue with her being Muggle raised."
Draco shrugged. "She's family. Mother was never going to turn down the opportunity to be in her life. Father…Father likes her. She pushes him in a way I don't think I've seen anybody dare. She doesn't bow down to him. They… we…. Hermione might have been the one having lessons officially, but she's training us too. She had us in the Muggle world."
"Your father? In the Muggle world?" Theo asked incredulously.
"Yes," Draco grinned back at his first friend. He missed him. "More than that, he's going back. And he's trying to adapt some Muggle technology. He's working with Professor Lupin."
"The werewolf?"
"He's Hermione's dad. They're going to be living in the Manor now that my parents have taken over her guardianship."
"Sweet Salazar," Theo muttered.
"Maybe next time we go out you should come?" Draco asked softly, pretending the answer didn't matter.
Theo gulped. "Maybe I should," he murmured, just as Daphne tugged on his arm, asking him to dance.
"Having fun?" Susan grinned at Hermione when she collapsed into the seat next to her.
"Yes. I'm exhausted though. I didn't think anyone could beat Fred's tango but Gods Ade's been with him too long. I have no idea what that was!"
Susan laughed. "At least you escaped George. I have no idea what he was trying to do to me! How was Cedric?"
"He's ok. Worried about the second task apparently. None of them have been able to figure out the clue."
"That's concerning," Susan replied softly before inclining her head. "What do you think is going on with those four?"
Hermione's eyes landed on Luna and Gregory Goyle. Luna was dancing to a beat only she could hear as he valiantly tried to imitate her, across the room Millie was dancing with Theo Nott. "Interesting," she murmured. "He's been…almost pleasant tonight. Asked me about joining us on our next trip into the Muggle world. Draco said he actually spoke to him."
Susan hummed. "They fell out?"
Hermione shrugged. "No, at least, I don't think so. Aunt Cissa said Theo just drifted away. I don't know why."
"Your drink, Miss 'Mione." Viktor handed her a cup as he sat down next to her, Georgi mirroring his actions at Susan's side. Your friend has given up on her date, no?"
Hermione's eyes followed his as they landed on Harry and Ron sitting sullenly on their own. Padma and Parvati were dancing with some of the Beauxbatons boys.
"You'll have a lovely night with the Beauxbatons boys," Hermione murmured.
"Vat?" Viktor frowned.
"Oh…something Luna said a few nights ago."
Catching on, Susan's eyes widened. "Merlin, so she did," she breathed.
"She has the Sight?" Georgi frowned.
"I'm beginning to think she might," Hermione replied softly.
"Damn. Are we going to have to take these creatures of hers seriously then?"
Hermione laughed. "I'm not sure they're real," she replied diplomatically. "At least not all of them but….perhaps she sees something that indicates feelings?"
Susan hummed. "Dellywigs for self doubt."
"Wrackspurts for confusion," Hermione chipped in.
"Nargles for missing things."
"Winkleshins for….happiness, I think."
"I've never thought about it like that," Susan mused.
"Me either," Hermione agreed.
"I have no idea vot you're talking about." Viktor announced, making them giggle. "Vot is a Nargle?"
"We have no idea," Hermione admitted with a smile. "But apparently they steal things and live in mistletoe."
"Mistletoe?" his eyes sparkled slightly. "Perhaps ve have a closer look. Perhaps ve see von of these Nargles."
"Perhaps," Hermione agreed, her heart thudding slightly as he tugged her out of her seat towards the mistletoe tucked in one of the corners near the double doors leading to the gardens.
"Where's 'Mione?" Draco asked, flopping into a seat.
Susan snorted. "Shall we go with currently…um…indisposed?" she replied hesitantly.
Draco frowned. "Where is she?"
Daphne coughed to hide her laugh as she noticed where Susan was looking. "You should definitely just accept 'currently indisposed.'"
"Why is Malfoy glowering?" Neville asked, appearing with cups in his hand, handing one to Daphne.
Smirking, Daphne inclined her head slightly to the corner where Hermione and Viktor were making good use of the mistletoe. Neville snorted, hiding his grin in his cup.
"I wonder if they even bothered to look for the Nargles," Susan mused idly.
"Nargles? What?" Draco looked back at her as if she were insane.
"Oh. Hermione and Viktor have given up looking for them," Luna said dreamily as she leaned against Greg. "They seem much more interested in the inside of each other's mouths. There won't be Nargles there."
Daphne and Neville choked on their punch as Draco yelped, "What?" spinning wildly in search of his cousin. "Where is Father? He was meant to be here!" he froze as he spotted them. "They can't do that!"
"I think you'll find they can, mate," Neville replied with a grin.
"Oh, stop it!" Daphne commanded. "How many times have you been caught kissing random girls in alcoves?"
He scowled. "Not the same!"
"It's exactly the same or maybe it's not…she definitely has better taste than you. You've kissed Lavender Brown."
"You have not!" Neville exclaimed, wrinkling his nose. "Gods. I've seen her kiss Seamus…she's very…enthusiastic."
Daphne snorted. "It looked like they were trying to eat one another." Draco glowered and stormed off in the direction of a second head of white blond hair that had just arrived, accompanied by a woman in a vulture hat.
"Gods, is that Gran?" Neville whined.
"With Mr. Malfoy," Blaise agreed with a grin. "Lovely hat."
"Don't be an arse," Neville chided. "And be grateful he's not still alive."
Everyone swivelled to look at him in horror.
"It used to be alive?" Greg asked incredulously.
"Bingley," Hermione supplied as she rejoined them, ignoring their smirks.
"How nice of you two to join us," Susan grinned. Hermione stuck her tongue out at her in response.
"Did you find the Nargles?" Luna asked idly.
Hermione flushed. "Ah…no. Couldn't see any."
"Father! Lady Longbottom."
"Draco," Lucius smirked. "You appear to be missing your date."
Draco waved his hand carelessly. "She was dancing with Adrian last time I checked."
Lucius eyebrows rose.
"Hermione's hiding in a corner with Krum! With mistletoe!"
Augusta snorted with badly concealed amusement as Lucius began scanning the room for his niece, barely biting back a growl at the sight of her wrapped around the Bulgarian.
"What is she doing?!" he hissed.
"I believe it's called kissing," Augusta replied with a smirk. "If I remember correctly you and a young Narcissa Black used to be found in various alcoves around the castle doing similarly."
Draco wrinkled his nose in disgust.
"That is not the point!" Lucius protested.
"Of course it is. The girl's young. Leave her be."
"I'm going to have a word," Lucius muttered as he watched Hermione rejoin her friends. "Meet this Krum."
Augusta shook her head before pinning Draco with a look. "The first time your cousin catches you kissing a witch, Mr. Malfoy, she's going to retaliate. I do hope you know what you're doing."
Draco paled, stuttering something inaudible before disappearing back into the crowd.
"Dance with me?"
Hermione rolled her eyes at Lucius.
"Is saying no truly an option?"
"Of course," He replied. "Although if you refuse I'll be forced to take Mr. Krum for a walk into the gardens."
"I had no idea he was your type, Uncle Lucius," she grinned cheekily. "He's a bit young for you, surely?"
"You cheeky little…." he sputtered as everyone else looked at her in horror. "Just for that, no. Saying no is not an option. Come along."
"Come along," she muttered. "Condescending bloody…."
Lucius raised his eyebrow at her.
"Malfoy," she spat finally as she stormed onto the dance floor, Lucius sauntering after her.
"Is she insane?" Blaise asked faintly. "That's…that's Lord Malfoy and she just….."
"Spoke to him like he was a normal person?" Neville finished, trying not to smirk. "Yes, she seems to do that. Their letters are hilarious."
"Sweet Merlin," Daphne breathed. "I'm surprised he didn't Avada her on the spot."
Slinking back in silently, Draco looked around the group. "Who's Avada-ing someone?"
"Your father!" Daphne hissed. "Hermione just…."
"Ah," Draco nodded in understanding. "Yes, she does that. He finds it…endearing, apparently."
"Now, my dear. What is this with Mr. Krum?"
Hermione huffed at him. "Honestly, did Draco send you over?"
"You were hardly discreet, Hermione," he chided.
"Fine. It was just a kiss." She smirked, suddenly. "We'd gone over to check the mistletoe for Nargles."
"What?" Lucius frowned at her in confusion. "What in the name of Merlin is a Nargle?"
"I have no idea," Hermione giggled, noticing Theo do a double take from where he was still dancing with a grinning Millie.
"That's an interesting development," Lucius drawled.
She beamed back at him, "Isn't it? He's going to come with us to the Muggle world at some point. And we're hoping Aunt Cissa will take us shopping to get Millie a wardrobe that actually fits."
His eyebrows rose. "I don't imagine your aunt refusing. Now, Mr. Krum… do I need to be drawing up contracts and contacting his Paterfamilias?"
She scoffed, rolling her eyes. "Don't be absurd. He's…I really like him but he's going home in June and who knows what will happen. And I can hardly see myself as a Quidditch wife. I have far too much to do."
He huffed out a laugh as he looked down at her. "Never change, Miss McKinnon," he murmured, as the dinner bell went and they walked back towards the group. "I shall leave you here, Hermione. Do remember I'm here for the night."
She rolled her eyes. "As if you're going to let me forget. Although I do look forward to watching you dance to the band later."
He looked horrified by the very thought as he stalked off towards his table leaving Hermione giggling.
"I really don't know that I'll ever get used to that," Blaise muttered.
Hermione stood at the edge with Fred and George as the band warmed up. DInner had been lovely and now she was heading rapidly towards sleepy.
"You can't fall asleep, 'Mione!" Fred chided. "You're swaying."
Laughing, she yawned. "I blame the food!"
"Not the dancing beforehand?" Geroge teased.
"Now…who's up for a little bet?" Fred grinned as several more of their group meandered over. "Or…a little dare."
"Gods. No," Neville muttered. "No one in their right mind accepts a dare from you two."
"We'll do one too," Fred wheedled. "'Mione? You can't tell me you're scared."
"Arse," she muttered. "Fine."
Neville groaned as the rest of them watched in fascination as Fred pondered what to say next.
"Go and ask Snape to dance."
Hermione's jaw dropped before she smirked.
"Fine," she agreed before countering with, "Drag Uncle Lucius onto the dance floor. Don't ask."
Fred paled. "Are you trying to kill me?"
"Scared, Freddie?"
"No!" At that he stormed off in the direction of Luicus, Hermione barely fighting her grin as she followed behind him.
Noticing them, Lucius paled slightly. "My niece is up to something," he muttered to Severus.
"With a Weasley twin?" Severus sneered. "I thought she had better taste."
"Sir?" Hermione asked, when it became clear that Fred had no idea how to go about this without getting hexed.
"Miss McKinnon."
"Sir, will you accept a dance?"
"No," he sneered as she grinned before shrugging.
"I asked Freddie."
Fred gulped before gripping a startled Lucius' wrist and beginning to drag him onto the dance floor.
"What are you doing!" he spluttered, attempting to wrench his wrist from Fred's grasp.
"Miss McKinnon, he is going to hex you for this," Severus muttered, attempting to hide his amusement.
"Hermione? What on earth is Mr. Weasley doing?" Augusta asked, breaking away from her conversation with Minerva.
"Taking Uncle Lucius for a dance?" Hermione replied, her expression innocent.
Augusta snorted. "Did Mr. Weasley displease you? Your uncle is going to murder him."
Hermione giggled as Lucius finally shook Fred off and stormed back over to them.
"I am going to contract you to someone awful," he threatened.
Arching a brow she looked at him pointedly. "Uncle Lucius, do you think Dad or Aunt Cissa will let you?"
He growled back at her as she laughed, scampering away before she pushed too far and he reached for his wand.
"May the gods help whoever her husband ends up being," Severus muttered with a smirk. "Or perhaps it should be may the gods help you. You still need to get her to adulthood and she's about to be living in your house, teaching your son her tricks."
Lucius swung to look at him in horror before groaning. "I don't think I'll survive that," he admitted. "Draco has never been that bold."
"Gryffindors," Minerva said sagely, her mouth twitching as she fought a grin. "We're a very different breed."
"You are a fucking legend," Adrian laughed as Hermione returned. "I can't believe you got him to do it."
"I'm pretty sure Uncle Lucius is going to Avada me in my sleep during the Easter holidays," she admitted with a reluctant smile.
"Probably," Draco agreed. "Although he'd have Avada'd me on the spot for setting that up if it had been me, so you get a slight reprieve."
"Oh wonderful. Longer for him to think up a way to make things painful first."
The rest of them laughed, their eyes darted towards the wall where Lucius was attempting to appear unruffled.
"I'm never daring you again, McKinnon," Fred muttered, sidling in behind them so as not to be seen.
Hermione laughed. "Apparently I have learned from you and George over the years."
"Yeah, let's not teach her anything else," Fred muttered, earning a laugh from his twin.
"Ve dance?" Viktor checked. "Your Uncle vill not be displeased?"
Shaking her head, Hermione allowed him to lead her onto the dance floor, the rest of them following suit.
"My feet are killing me," Hermione groaned as she leaned into Neville while they climbed the stairs.
"You had a good night though?"
"Yes," she admitted. "I…I wasn't sure I expected to, but yes."
"You appear to be collecting some interesting strays."
"You can't call them that!" she exclaimed, hitting his chest with the back of her hand.
Smirking at her, he shrugged. "I was talking to Millie. Apparently it's the first time she's been treated like a girl. She was….more than a little grateful for the inclusion."
Hermione shrugged awkwardly. "She's funny, and…I didn't do much. Daphne, Astoria, and Susan are responsible for her dress robes. All I did was ask her if she wanted to join us."
"Which is what started it."
Hermione hummed. "I know how it feels," she finally replied softly.
Nodding, Neville wrapped his arm around her. "I don't think there's any pretending you're not a girl after tonight, not with the way Krum was looking at you. I was beginning to think he wasn't going to hand you back given the way he was kissing you goodnight."
She blushed. "It was hardly the most surprising. Did you see how Theo was with Millie?"
"I did," Neville grinned. "Shame, apparently he's very straight. More's the pity."
Hermione grimaced. "Sorry about that. And Ade's taken. Cedric is very much into Cho." She paused. "Blaise was interesting though."
"Was he?" Neville asked blandly.
She huffed. "Arse. That corner is hardly private. Your notice-me-not wore off."
Neville flushed a brilliant red. "Shit. Really?"
"Yes," she grinned. "No one else saw. It was just before we left."
Neville relaxed fractionally. "It was just a kiss…He…well, you've seen him."
"And?"
"Ugh, 'Mione, don't make me say it!"
"Say what?" she asked, frowning.
"Well, look at me!"
"I am looking at you!"
He groaned, "'Mione boys that look like that don't go for boys that look like me."
She gaped at him before hitting the back of his head.
"Ow! What was that for, you vicious harpy?"
"I was seeing if I could knock some sense into you! There's nothing wrong with you, Neville Longbottom and Blaise hardly looked upset by how things ended up!"
Shaking his head, knowing there was nothing he could say that wouldn't incur her wrath, he hugged her into his side as they reached the portrait hole. "Goodnight, 'Mione."
"Night Neville," she yawned, trudging up the stairs to her dormitory.
26th December
The Prophet hung limply in his hand as his jaw went slack.
McKinnon Heiress Tempted By Bulgarian BonBon, one of the headlines screamed. Scrambling to corral his thoughts, he looked back at the picture. Staring back at him as she laughed at something the Bulgarian had said was a girl who was the image of her mother. Her hair though, that was all Black. She even had Aunt Cassie's combs holding it back from her face. How had he missed Sirius having a child? Because there was no doubt that the girl was his. She had to have been born during the war though and nobody had known. Had Sirius? Where had the girl been? Did she know? If she did, why was she a McKinnon, not a Black? He groaned, too many questions and no way to get answers unless he did the unthinkable.
Sighing, he picked up a quill. They were going to be bloody furious with him for this.
Narcissa,
I hope this letter finds you well and I hope you will forgive me for not having written in some time. I was given a task many years ago by a mutual friend, and as a result it was easier, safer, to disappear. Before I left, Mother was….not particularly well. I confess I had not intended to ever come back, unless I was commanded to. However, one of this morning's headlines has given me pause.
Who is this girl Narcissa? Is she Sirius' like I fear? How is it possible that she has never been mentioned before now? And if she is…why is she a Mckinnon?
I hope that despite the anger you must be feeling that you'll indulge me and answer my questions,
Your loving cousin,
Reggie
Narcissa stared at the letter in her hand for a long time. It couldn't be real, but every spell she'd cast had come back clean. Making her mind up, she called for Cally.
"Mistress bes wanting Cally?"
"Yes. Cally…can you find Regulus Black and bring him to me?"
Cally looked at her for several moments before disappearing with a sharp crack. She returned ten minutes later holding the wrist of a disgruntled looking wizard.
"Good gods."
"Hello Cousin," Regulus smirked. "Have you missed me?"
"You utter….arse, Regulus Black!" Narcssa shouted, sending a volley of stinging jinxes his way, making him jump.
"Shit! Cissa! Narcissa! For the love of Merlin, stop!"
"No! We all thought you were dead!" she howled.
"Cissa, what is….Sweet Salazar!" Lucius stopped dead. "Is that…."
"Hello Lucius," Regulus grinned as Narcissa finally stopped jinxing him.
"You're meant to be dead!"
"Sorry to disappoint," he muttered.
"Let's…let's sit down. Have…have tea," Narcissa suggested, her voice hard and her breathing ragged.
"And you'll fill me in on the girl?" he checked. "Seems like the least you can do seeing as your elf abducted me."
Her eyes narrowed. "Cally wouldn't have had to abduct you if we'd had any indication you were alive!" she snarled.
He held up his hands placatingly. "The girl?"
"Hermione," Narcissa sighed, a small smile appearing on her face.
Regulus wrinkled his nose. "Not quite in line with family tradition."
"No," Narcissa agreed. "Hermione Aquilla is clearly Marlene Mckinnon's daughter."
"At least they gave her a family name as a middle name," he muttered. "I assume she's Sirius'?"
"Yes," Narcissa replied slowly.
Regulus frowned. "What am I missing? Other than apparently the birth of my niece."
"Sirius…Sirius doesn't have anything to do with her."
"Pardon?" Regulus growled.
"You heard me," Naricssa sighed. "He abandoned Hermione and Marlene when Hermione was four months old. He married the witch while she was pregnant, so I suppose that's something. You are aware of the years following the Potters' deaths?"
At his nod, she continued. "Harry Potter lives with Sirius now and to my knowledge he has yet to write Hermione so much as a note. She revived the McKinnon name because there was an incident at the end of last year where they discovered Sirius was innocent. It's a long story, but the short version is that it cost her her friendship with Potter and not one of them has thanked her for getting them out of a terrible situation."
"He doesn't see her at all? Who the bloody hell is my niece living with?" Regulus barked, looking furious.
"No, he does not. She calls Remus Lupin Dad."
"Remus… the werewolf?" he asked, horrified.
"Yes. She…she adores him. He is the only one who has been consistent. We had no idea she existed. Andromeda refused to help….she was…she did not have an easy childhood. She has only lived with Remus since last summer."
"Where the hell was she before that?"
"With various Muggles. I confess I do not know how the system works entirely, but they have a version of fostering that isn't as binding as ours. Accidental magic meant that they feared her. She was never settled for long. She left of her own volition this summer. She is…guarded and untrusting. She questions her worth regularly and she has no idea how lovely she is. Remus…for all I am aware he is not who you would choose to have your niece live with, has been incredibly patient with her. It is clear he loves the girl."
Regulus sat still for several minutes. "Is she coming home for the holidays?" he finally demanded.
"No. They weren't allowed to if they chose to stay for the Yule Ball."
"Who is her head of house?"
"Minerva."
"Of fucking course she is," he muttered before turning to Lucius. "You're still a governor?"
"Yes," he replied warily.
"Then escort me to the school. It's time I met my niece."
"Regulus you cannot just go barging in!" Narcissa scolded. "For all she's fragile, Hermione is strong-willed and stubborn and she will not take kindly to you appearing and handing out orders."
"I wasn't going to!" he protested. "I just want to meet her!"
Narcissa arched a brow. "And?"
"And…maybe persuade her she's a Black….and to ditch the wolf."
"I can tell you right now that neither of those things will be happening," Narcissa informed him sternly. "So do not even try or it'll be the only time you meet her."
"But….she is a Black!"
"And the ones that knew about her showed her precisely how little that mattered to them. Leave it alone Reggie. Now Lucius can probably convince her to meet you, but I will not allow you to risk our relationship with her. So there will be no demands, am I clear?"
"Crystal," he muttered petulantly.
"Wonderful. And when we come back you and I are going to have a long talk about where exactly you've been, Cousin." She eyed him sternly, making him flinch.
"Minerva, I do understand it's irregular, however Hermione's uncle has returned after learning of her existence from the Prophet."
"Her uncle?" Minerva asked sharply. "Which uncle would that be?"
"Regulus," Lucius sighed. "Regulus Black appeared in my home today clutching that damn newspaper and asking for answers. I had no idea he was even alive."
"Regulus Black?" Minerva parroted faintly. "He's alive?"
"So it would seem."
"How?"
"I have no idea," Lucius admitted reluctantly. "Narcissa intends to find out, of course, but he was insistent he meet the niece he had no idea existed until this morning."
Minerva looked at him, unsure. "Is it wise?"
"Unless we wish to see a Black tantrum of epic proportions, it is probably necessary," Lucius admitted.
"I do not usually pander to tantrums, Lord Malfoy," Minerva reprimanded sharply.
"Minerva," Lucius replied softly. "The man has just found out that he has a niece that he didn't know existed. A niece that doesn't live with her father, that has never lived with family. He is…worried. And anxious to meet her."
Minerva sighed. "I do not like this. If he upsets her, Lucius…."
"I know."
"I need to inform Remus."
"Do you?" Lucius asked.
"Yes," MInerva replied sternly. "I understand you and Narcissa are her guardians now but he is her parent. You may wait there until I do."
Her patronus bounded out the castle, making Lucius sigh. Regulus was not going to like this.
Quarter of an hour later, Remus stumbled out of the Floo. "Minerva, Lucius. Explain," he demanded tersely.
"Remus, sit down," Minerva instructed. "Lucius, if you could explain."
"Regulus Black appeared at the manor earlier today, demanding to see Hermione. I am genuinely surprised you didn't hear him. Narcissa sent a rather large volley of stinging hexes at the man. He had no idea Hermione existed and is rather anxious to meet her. He…we have no idea where he's been."
"Regulus Black," Remus repeated. "Regulus Black who died around the same time Hermione was born…. that Regulus Black?"
"Yes," Lucius sighed. "I imagine there is a story, but I currently have no idea what it is beyond the fact that he is quite clearly not dead."
Remus sat frozen for several minutes. "Why does he want to meet her?"
"Because she's his niece."
"I don't like it."
"No, I imagine you don't."
"Does he intend to take her?"
Lucius froze. "I…Narcissa strongly advised against it."
Remus blanched. "She'd hate him," he warned.
"We know. Which, I believe, is why Narcissa advised against it. He doesn't like the situation but… she made him promise to work with it and we both know Hermione is not shy in sharing her opinion."
"No," Remus replied slowly. "I suppose she is not."
"You'll agree then?" Lucius hedged, unable to read the expression on the other man's face.
"Yes," Remus sighed, running a hand over his face. "But I'm staying here."
"Of course you are," Lucius rolled his eyes.
"Very well. You may bring Mr. Black through," Minerva instructed. "I shall locate Miss McKinnon. Do not…I am rather fond of my office. I would prefer not to see it destroyed."
She returned to find Regulus Black lounging in one of her armchairs, looking for all the world to be at perfect ease while Lucius and Remus looked on warily.
"Uncle Lucius…Dad, what's going on?" Hermione asked sharply, her eyes landing on each of the occupants in the room. Regulus had sat up abruptly, all pretence of comfort gone as he scanned her face greedily.
"Sit down, Hermione," Remus said gently, tugging at her hand until she sat down next to him. "Hermione…this is…your Uncle Regulus," he began. He felt Hermione stiffen.
"No," she barked, making Regulus flinch.
"Hermione. He is. He had no idea you existed." Hermione froze, seeming to consider that, so Remus continued. "He just wanted to meet you. Whatever…whatever I think of the boy he once was, sweetheart, he's been back for all of half an hour and the first thing he did was ask to meet you."
Hermione gulped, her face blank as she studied the man in front of her; he was watching her with a desperate sort of intensity. "Why now?"
"I saw the paper… You…you look remarkably like your mother in those photos. Black hair, of course. Seems it can't really be helped, only Cissa escaped it."
She hummed noncommittally. "Where have you been?"
He froze. "That's….rather complicated to answer," he admitted. "Switzerland mainly. France for a while. There was a short stint in Germany and Poland."
"Why?"
"Definitely difficult to answer."
She looked at him shrewdly. "Well now you've met me. Can I go?"
"Hermione!" Remus scolded.
She sighed. "What do you want, Mr. Black?"
Regulus took a steadying breath. The look on the girl's face made his chest ache. How the fuck had Sirius fucked this up so badly? "I… I just wanted to meet you. I… I've got some things I need to sort back home, but then I intend to come back… stay for a while, perhaps…. Perhaps you could write to me? I… I could meet you on Hogsmeade weekends, get to know you?"
Her face was blank. "Why?"
"Because you're my niece," he said softly. "I…I don't know the full story. There wasn't time and I understand that the family hasn't made the best impression, but… I really would like to get to know you."
"I won't take the Black name," she warned.
"So I've been told," he replied wryly.
"Remus Lupin is my dad."
He winced but nodded. "Alright. Where…where are you staying? I asked but Cissa was still pissed."
She snorted. "Apparently from Easter I'll be staying at the Manor."
"Malfoy Manor?" Regulus checked, shooting Lucius a look.
"Yes. Due to ridiculous, antiquated, and quite frankly discriminatory laws, Dad isn't allowed to be my guardian."
He hummed. "I see. Who is?"
"Cissa and I," Lucius cut in.
Regulus hummed again, a calculating look on his face. "I am technically Lord Black, you know," he mused.
Hermione blinked, curious in spite of herself. "How?"
"I was made Heir when Mother blasted Sirius off the family tree. Be grateful you didn't meet her. The woman was insane."
Lucius snorted, muttering, "That's an understatement."
"Is there a point?" she asked, ignoring Remus' growl of warning at her rudeness.
"Well, yes…I could take up the title again, technically Sirius only got it by default because they thought I was dead. I could…resurrect myself so to speak. Sirius becomes Heir Black, however I can bypass that and give it to you."
"What makes you think I want it?"
"Don't you want to change things for your…ah…Dad?" he ventured cautiously.
"Yes. But I also hold the McKinnon seat."
"True," he agreed. "But two votes are better than one, no?"
She paused, thinking of that. "Perhaps," she agreed.
"Of course it'll cause scrutiny I'd really rather not have but…I'd do it. I have a condition though."
"Of course you do," she muttered.
He smirked. "I take over your guardianship. You're a Black. There are things you need to learn that only I can teach you."
"You don't need to be my guardian to teach me."
"No," he admitted. "But I do need a way to make you direct line. If I adopted you…it'd bypass Sirius automatically."
She frowned. "Adoption is not the same as guardianship."
"No," he admitted slowly. "Adoption won't change much. Despite your protests you are a Black. It just gives you more protections."
"How?"
"No one can contest a blood adoption. There'd be no threat of someone interfering."
She hummed, her face thoughtful, hiding the fact that her mind was racing as she tried to work out what he gained from this and perhaps, more likely, what she'd lose. "I'll consider it," she replied finally. "I want to speak to some people first. And if I agree I'll want some assurances in writing. Signed. With witnesses."
He grinned, his eyes lighting up with delighted amusement. "Oh my girl, you're more Black than you'd want to admit to."
She rolled her eyes at him. "Somehow that doesn't feel like a compliment," she muttered.
"Can we stay for a while?" Regulus checked, looking over at Minerva.
She sighed. "I ought to say no."
"But you're not going to?" he asked hopefully.
"No," she agreed reluctantly, as she looked at them contemplatively. "I'm….Hermione, do you wish to go home for the remainder of the holidays?"
"Can I?" she checked.
"Yes. Yes, I think in this instance you can."
Her eyes lit up. "And Draco?"
Minerva pinned her with a look. "You have fifteen minutes." Shooting Lucius a pleading look, she bolted.
Laughing, Lucius got up. "I suppose I have a son to find."
"Neville!" Hermione shouted frantically, running through the common room to the surprise of everyone.
"What?" he asked, alarmed.
"Everyone's fine. I'm….there's a little bit of an unexpected situation and Draco and I are going home. Will you pass it on to the others? I only have fifteen minutes!"
"Of course, everything's alright though?"
"Yes!" she shouted, running for the stairs to the girls' dorms.
"Draco and I are going home." Ron parroted in a shrill voice. "Honestly, who'd want to admit to being related to that snake."
Neville's eyes hardened. "Draco is Hermione's family and he adores her."
The entire common room went silent.
"He wished her dead in second year."
"He did," Neville acknowledged. "And this year he apologised and spent parts of his summer in the Muggle world learning about it. He actively spends time with her, comforts her when she's upset, and makes sure she's okay when she's only pretending to be. He was an utter arse but, unlike you, Ron, he acknowledged it and is actively trying to change. Ironically, you've made her cry more often than he has. What does that say about you?"
"Draco Malfoy actually spent time around Muggles?" Seamus asked incredulously.
"More than once," Neville admitted, spotting Harry listening intently. "He's fascinated and openly admits he was wrong about them. There are plans for more trips over the Easter holidays."
"To where?" Dean asked.
"The cinema. Hermione mentioned sports. Rugby, I think? Football?"
Dean grinned. "God, let me know if you're planning that! I love football! We could take him to a West Ham game. I think I'd actually pay to see Malfoy at a Muggle football game."
Neville nodded. "I'll suggest it. Marcus is insisting Hermione go to one of his games too. We apparently have no limits on who we can invite if you're interested?"
"Marcus?" Dean frowned.
"Flint. He's been signed by the Tornadoes."
"How in the name of Merlin did Hermione get personally invited to Quiddich by Marcus Flint?" Seamus asked incredulously.
Neville shrugged. "The Flints and the Malfoys are close. Have you not seen her jersey?"
Both boys frowned, ignoring Ron who was steadily turning redder beside them. "No."
"He sent her one. It has Flint's name on it and everything," Neville grinned, deliberately goading Ron. "He's quite fond of her."
"Bloody hell," Seamus muttered.
Dean grinned. "I'm never going to say no to Quidditch!"
"But they're Slytherins!" Ron exploded. "Evil, slimy, untrustworthy Slytherins!"
"With an interesting repertoire of hexes," Neville smirked. "Hermione appears to be collecting them, so perhaps you should be careful."
At that, he walked away just in time for Hermione to race down the stairs, levitating her trunk behind her.
"Bye!" she called, running through the portrait hole.
Draco and Lucius met Hermione at Minerva's office door.
"What's going on? Father won't tell me anything other than everyone's alright, but we're going home."
Hermione hummed. "It would seem we've acquired a new family member."
"Who?" Draco frowned.
"Him," Hermione gestured towards Regulus as they walked through the door.
Draco looked at her incredulously. "I swear to Merlin if he didn't beg for your forgiveness on his knees, we had better not be doing this."
Hermione looked at him confused before it dawned on her. "Oh…that's not Sirius. Draco, meet Sirius' brother, Regulus."
"But he's dead!" Draco blurted, wincing as his father's hand cuffed the back of his head.
"You've been spending too much time with Gryffindors," he lamented.
"I resent that," Hermione pouted.
"As delightful as you are, my dear, your filter is sorely lacking. Something that appears to have rubbed off on your cousin."
She stuck her tongue out at him. To everyone's amazement, he laughed. "I can't decide whether to be relieved or disappointed that I never had a daughter. No one has dared cheek me like that…ever."
"Never?" she asked incredulously.
"No. I'm rather frightening, don't you know?"
She looked him over. "Are you?"
"Hermione!" Remus reprimanded as Regulus smothered his laugh. The girl had spirit at least. Hopefully less than Sirius, but he had no use for a simpering, vapid niece. Then again, Black women were traditionally terrifying. She was in good company. And that thought pleased him to no end.