Author's POV

The school holiday finally arrived and every student had been looking forward to going back to their respective families. Hermione no longer had one but she was still looking forward to the holiday, specifically to the upcoming events.

During the course of last week, she had received a reply letter from a certain Auror, Nymphadora Tonks, who had agreed to meet with her on Christmas evening. Tonks was so excited and had, in fact, invited Hermione for a sleepover at her parents' house. Hermione had replied back in earnest, not wanting to impose on the family but Tonks had none of her excuses.

Most students had packed their luggage and were prepared to depart to Hogsmeade station, and Hermione was relieved when all her roommates had left the room earlier. She did not want to deal with Pansy and her gang today, or possibly ever but that was too much to ask for. She sighed as she remembered that she probably will see them at Malfoy Manor on the Christmas eve.

Speaking of the Christmas party event at the Malfoy Manor, Draco had extended his invitation to all Slytherins in their batch, except her. They had been mocking her about being a left out but she ignored them. They did not need to know about her plan.

On her way out of the school entrance, she had been pulled back in and dragged by someone to a secluded hallway. It was none other than Minerva McGonagall. Figured. Hermione let out a defeated sigh and looked at her wristwatch. She still had some time to spare but she needed to make it quick.

"May I help you, Professor?" Hermione asked politely. She could never bring herself to hurt the woman albeit verbally.

"Hermione, where will you be going for the holiday? Who are you living with?" The older witch asked but her tone was stern and dubious.

Hermione did not like it one bit. "Where I go and who I socialize with, it's none of your business, right?" Her own voice was strict.

"It is! I am your teacher and—"

"A fact I would hate to be reminded of," she interrupted and scoffed at the woman who left her heart shattered not once, but twice.

"Hermione…" Minerva's tone changed to low and pleading, her eyes were watery. It made Hermione's heart clenched in pain.

"No, Min. Please don't do this." Hermione's own eyes filled with unshed tears but she withheld strong. "You have made it clear about where you stand and I respect that. It was not easy for me because you were my first rejection, my first heartbreak."

Minerva's tears started to roll down her cheeks. "Please forgive me…" she continued pleading.

Hermione looked around and was glad to see no one was near and can notice their presence there. She moved her thumbs to wipe Minerva's tears away before she moved closer to the woman and whispered in her face, "I have long forgiven you, Min. I just need some time." She kissed the woman on her forehead. "Merry Christmas, Minerva." Hermione said.

Hermione left the woman and hurried towards the station. She was the last to board the Hogwarts Express train and found an empty booth. She promptly sat near the window and let her familiar, Crookshanks to sit on her lap. Speaking with Minerva had evoked feelings left suppressed for a long time. She felt the urge to inflict pain but she had been better at controlling it.

Remember people who stayed by your side. Remember Rosmerta, remember Severus.

Hermione looked outside the moving train as she took deep breaths and felt herself calming down. Until a certain Weasley came barging into her booth.

"Oh look, the whore is alone. Mind if I sit?" He did not wait for an answer and sat close to her side. His arms circled her shoulders.

"Go away, Ronald." Hermione pushed him away hard.

"Mm, feisty today isn't you, slut? Playing hard to get?" He moved in closer again and forcefully kissed her ear and neck.

"I said. Go. Away!" Hermione pushed him with enough force that his back met with the wall of the booth.

Ron stood up and growled at her. "A dyke like you need the dick to set you straight!" He punched at her face and gripped her shoulders hard.

Sensing the distress of its owner, Crookshanks hissed and jumped over to the boy. He scratched on Ron's face and gripped hard at his head with his sharp claws, causing Ron to scream in pain as he grabbed the kneazle hard to pull it away from his face. Crookshanks let go but continued mewling angrily at him. Upon seeing the red marks and drops of blood on his face, Hermione laughed and saw Ron glared at her and her familiar before he stomped out of the booth.

"You'll pay for this!" He snarled before he left. Hermione continued laughing as she picked Crookshanks up and snuggled in his fur.

"Oh, my hero, my saviour. Thanks, Crookshanks. I owe you my life." Hermione said.

Minutes later, Harry Potter and Ginevra Weasley came barging in.

"How dare you hurt my brother!" The red-haired girl shrieked.

Hermione flinched at the high pitch tone. "He deserves it." She merely shrugged her shoulders without a care in the world.

"What did you do to him?" Harry asked but his tone condescending.

Hermione smirked at them. "I didn't do anything." She said as they look at her.

"Then explain how did he get the blood and red marks on his face?" Ginny continued with her shouting. Hermione flinched again. 'The girl really needs to know how to tone down her voice.' "Crookshanks, explain what you did to them, please." Hermione playfully asked her familiar as to mock them.

"What did he ever do to you?" Harry asked.

"Honestly? He harassed me." She spoke as a matter of fact.

"You must have seduced him, you whore!" Ginny grabbed her robe and pulled Hermione up. Her face was red with fury as she held tight on the robe.

"Go on, you know I am more than just a whore to all of you. What else is there — slut, dyke, murderer, Mudblood?" Hermione stared at the red-haired girl defiantly. She would not back out from this.

Ginny slapped her hard that her lips split and she could taste the blood at the corner of her mouth. Hermione growled and glared at the girl, ready to bounce back but she controlled her anger. Harry pulled Ginny away from her, good move.

"Why would Ron have harassed you?" Harry asked confused.

'Wow, he really is a dimwit.' Hermione sighed inwardly. "Why don't you ask him?" She said. "Oh, don't you try to act innocent. You seduced him just to hurt him. You think of him as a toy and played with his heart!" Ginny went forward with the accusations she had heard from the rumours.

'I'm getting tired with this nonsense.'

In a flash, Hermione pinned Ginny to the door with her wand pointed under Ginny's chin. The girl gasped and her eyes widened in shock while Harry immediately pointed his wand at the brunette, ready to do anything if need be.

"I am not going to hurt any of you but listen to me. I'm only going to say this once." Ginny struggled against her grip but Hermione pressed herself closer.

"Listen! Your precious brother, Ronald, was the one who started all of those rumours. Why do you think he did that, hmm? An out of all, only one is true. Yes, I'm a lesbian and no, he is not my type." Hermione pressed even closer to the younger girl a spoke in her ears.

"So, you tell me, Ginevra, why would I waste my time seducing him and play with his heart like a toy? There is no benefit to me at all. In fact, I would be glad to seduce you instead of him." Hermione whispered the last sentence in Ginny's ear with a pure unadulterated voice and saw the change of colour on Ginny's face.

She smirked and hid her surprise well. "Now, you go back to the pity party of his and asked him for the truth. Whether he tell you or not, none of them is of any concern to me."

Hermione let Ginny go and went back to sit by the window. She clenched her quivering hands, not wanting anyone to see her in her vulnerable state. When the two left without a word, she let out a long breath and ran her shaking hands in her hair. Crookshanks jumped back on her lap to which she was grateful. Running her fingers through his fur was a kind of meditation and gave her serenity.

The serenity was brief as she apparently had another uninvited visitor. 'Why does the train ride today feel so long?'

It was Luna who came and sat opposite her. Hermione tried to ignore the blonde girl who was studying her. She continued scratching behind Crookshanks' ears while he slept on her lap.

"Did you kill your parents?" Luna blurted out after a moment of silence. Hermione froze and felt Crookshanks stirred from his sleep. She stared at Luna and saw only curiosity in her eyes. Luna may be weird but she was an honest person.

She took a deep breath before continued to look out the window again. "No, I did not kill my parents." She paused and saw the bobbing of Luna's head from the corner of her eyes but then she continued, "however, whether or not I was the reason for their deaths, that remains with the dead."

Luna tilted her head to her side. "Have you slept with a teacher?"

"No, I have never slept with any of the professors." Yet.

"Are you still a virgin?" Luna asked her and Hermione look at her with a smile.

"No, I'm afraid not," Hermione smirked.

"Did you sell yourself for money?" She asked again.

"Hmm, why would I do that when I have enough money for myself?" Hermione asked in return.

"Are you really a lesbian?" She asked for the third time.

'This girl is so honest and straightforward,' Hermione mused to herself. "Yes, Luna, I am a lesbian and proud of it." She winked at Luna and chuckled at seeing the blush on Luna's face.

"Why do you not like a man or a boy?" She asked again and Hermione look at her with something akin to hatred to the men.

"Men are fools and boys are plain stupid," she said as a matter of fact.

Silence engulfed them as Luna nodded and went to read her book. Hermione appreciated the end of 'twenty questions' game and reached for her own book to read. They sat in silence until the train arrived at Kings Cross station. Luna went out first but after she bid goodbye and Christmas wish to her. Hermione liked to be among the last to exit the train.

Hermione made it safe to Severus' cottage and plopped down onto her bed. She had been staying in the same room since the first time she came there. It had an overview of the backyard and was located very near to the back door. She could easily go out to the back whenever she felt constricted.

Severus had warded the house from any outsiders, not just muggles. Only people with his permission could come and go through the house. Even his floo was sealed most of the time. That was why she felt safe here. She had never felt bored in the house. She would either spend her time brewing and stocking up potions or reading in the backyard. Severus had plenty of books with a variety of genres she could read.

In fact, there was one book Hermione had liked so much and never got bored reading it many times. The title was 'Morgan Le Fay: The Once and Future Queen'. The book looked quite old and thick like an ancient journal. The story was interesting but the ending appeared to be hanging as if there should be a continuation of a series. She had asked Severus once about it but he only said:

"There is no continuation to the story yet, but maybe one day there will be. Who knows?"

The story was about the tale of Morgan Le Fay's life, who was the Queen of Avalon, from the moment she had met with her half-brother, King Arthur, the ruler of Camelot. During the time, there were rumours that she had been trying to kill him or be seductress to tempt him and make him commit adultery on his wife, Guinevere, or attempted to get the Caliber sword owned by the king and many more.

Morgan was a very powerful dark witch and a foe of Merlin. She had done many evil deeds but the moment she met and knew about her brother, she slowly changed. She valued his life as much as she valued hers. He was the only sibling she had left after all her sisters had died. Arthur was a good man and she had tried to do better for him, even befriending with Merlin.

One day, she had a vision of the future. Merlin had also told her about a prophecy he had regarding her and the future — where she will be reincarnated and able to be reborn anew and she will have Arthur by her side, along with her future soulmates. They will stand together in protecting and ruling the world or maybe her kingdom. But the story ended with her dying by ancient poison and she was not able to heal and save herself from her death.

Hermione wondered if the tale was true and if the powerful witch will one day be reincarnated. Will Hermione be able to witness the reign of a new Queen? What would that be like? Will she be as dark as Lord Voldemort or will she be someone who stands on the equality and justice of all creatures?

No matter, the focus now should be on the impending war of Voldemort versus Harry Potter. As long as Albus Dumbledore, the most powerful wizard still existed, Voldemort would not be able to win. Would he?

All those thinking made Hermione more tired so she took a nap. She woke up later in the evening and went downstairs to prepare for dinner. The basement consisted of the kitchen, a spacious dining room with a table for eight, and the apothecary, where several cauldrons were located and shelves full of potions and the potion ingredients.

A house elf appeared out of thin air. "Miss Hermione, would you like Lori to prepare for dinner?" She was wearing a simple pin gown and her hands on her stomach.

"It's okay, Lori. I feel like cooking today." Hermione smiled politely at the elf.

Lori pouted at her mistress, "Lori can cook for Miss, Lori likes to cook."

"I know, but would you be okay if I cook tonight? Please?"

Lori nodded defeated. "If you say so, Miss. Does Miss need any help? Can Lori help Miss?"

"I'll be fine, Lori, thank you for asking. Would you be so kind as to ask Severus if he will be coming home for dinner tonight? But please don't mention my name if he's with someone else. " Hermione inquired since she did not see the man in the house.

"Very well, Miss. Lori will go to Master Severus now." The elf immediately disapparated with a click of her fingers.

Hermione went about to cook dinner and while she was cooking, the house elf reappeared and told her that Severus will be coming home soon. Lori was a house-elf that Hermione insisted Severus to hire rather than owning her and he easily agreed.

Later while she was eating, Severus popped up into the house and shouted her name. "Downstairs!" She howled.

Severus came down and went to plate the dinner for himself and sat near her. "How was your train ride?" He asked, his body posture straight even while eating. He looked quite tense as if something was bothering his mind.

"Eventful as usual. A coward Weasley sobbing behind his best friend and sister. Nothing I couldn't handle." Hermione waved her hand.

He snorted. "Typical."

"You looked tense. What happened?" She looked at him who seemed hesitating before answering her.

"I had just come back from meeting with Dumbledore. It seemed Mr. Weasley had been attacked in the Department of Mysteries."

"By You-Know-Who?" Hermione raised her eyebrow.

Severus shook his head. "His snake, Nagini."

"Wow, is he still alive? How did you know?" She was shocked by the news.

"Dumbledore told me and asked me if I knew about the attack, to which I answered the truth, I had no idea at all. Not everything that the Dark Lord does, I will have the information." He said as he was chewing his food.

"Regardless, it was Potter who had the vision in his mind of attacking Mr. Weasley and he immediately alerted the Order members. They are now safe in a safe house and I should be bringing them the potions to cure soon." He continued eating at fast pace that it was a wonder he did not choke.

"Were you in distress because the Order accused you or because they are doubting you?" Hermione had finished her meal and was nursing a pumpkin juice.

Severus let out a heavy sigh. "Neither. Dumbledore asked me to train Potter in Occlumency since he seemed to have a mind connection with the Dark Lord."

Hermione chuckled. "Ah, I see. That will be quite troublesome indeed." She nodded her head.

"Enough about me. What are you planning to do this holiday?"

Hermione shrugged her shoulders. "Hmm, the usual stuff, I guess. Reading, brewing potions for you and maybe do some research. There's something that had picked my interest." She said the last part with an upward turn of her lips.

Severus raised his eyebrow and looked at Hermione with curiosity. "What is it?" He had finished eating and sipped on the red wine he had poured earlier.

"Just something about curing someone who had suffered permanent mental spells damage."

Severus accidentally sprayed the wine he sipped onto Hermione's face, who merely waved her hand and the mess was instantly cleared. He looked impressed as he dabbed his lips with a napkin. "Sorry. You don't mean—"

"Yes, maybe, I don't know. I haven't started anything yet and I certainly don't want to give any false hope to anyone, especially not to Neville." Hermione interrupted and finished lamely.

Severus nodded. "Tell me if you need help." He smiled warmly and received a grateful smile in return. "Are you still sure about going with me to the Malfoy Manor for Christmas party?"

Hermione furrowed her eyebrows at the change of topic. "Yes. Why? Should I not?"

Severus shook his head. "No. It's good if you are still going because I have already informed Narcissa about you. Well, not exactly you, per se but about the distant cousin thing."

"Ah, no time to back off then. How did she take it?" Hermione moved closer to him as she was excited to hear the news. "She was intrigued of this 'distant cousin' that I suddenly seem to have. I merely told her that we were not really in touch and haven't been for a while as you were really very little since the last, I met you.

She seemed to buy it though so I guess it will be okay. We can pull this off, I'm sure." He grinned at Hermione, feeling equally as excited as her.

Hermione felt gleeful, "well then, I guess we better start on those charms and disguises soon because I'm going to do the dress shopping possibly in the next two days."

"Where will you go shopping for the dress? Madam Malkin's?"

Hermione snorted. "Nonsense. Madam Malkin won't have what I'm seeking for. I'm thinking more of Twilfitt and Tattings." She grinned at him as his jaw dropped.

"No way. Narcissa always shop there!"

"All the more reason for me to go there." She winked at him.

"Girl, you got guts! Alright, we'll start on the disguise tomorrow. I need to go bring the potions now. Thank you for the lovely dinner." He kissed on her forehead before standing up and sent the dishes to the sink.

"My pleasure. Goodnight, Sev!" Hermione said.

Hermione went upstairs to start with reading before going to bed later. Tomorrow and the days to come would be fun, dared she hoped.