Chapter 1
The two best friends hung onto one another whooping in hysterics as the years of torment melted from their tired faces. They were delirious with triumph; after what had taken most of their entire adult lives so far- Voldemort had been vanquished.
In response to the fortunate turn of events the three of them: Hermione Granger, Severus Snape and Lucius Malfoy had been randomly selected together to be Floo'd to safehouse number five for the time being, until the Order could be assembled to give evidence at the Wizengamot. There were a lot of bodies to put to rest from their side and they needed to protect key witnesses whilst several of the most loyal to the Dark Lord remained at large.
At that moment though, away from the death and despair and the still several untrusting Order Of The Phoenix members -Severus and Lucius laughed wholeheartedly making their way outside. They had noticed that Granger had skulked off to make a bonfire not too long ago on the moor opposite the tiny cottage they were currently occupying. Unable to resist the starry night in their high spirits – they had decided to go sit with the small witch, who had seemed surprisingly unbothered by their presence. The two uninvited wizards sunk down on the large log to the left of Hermione and began toasting with the small bottle of wine they had found at the back of a dusty cupboard.
"Cheers to that Snakey monster being inducted into hell as we speak!" Roared Lucius to the sky as he drank deeply. Then he obligingly handed the dark green glass over to Snape.
"Cheers to it finally being over!" said the ex-Headmaster, ex position master, ex death eater who exhaled happily closing his eyes and glugging the dark red liquid so fast it left a little rivulet running down to his chin.
"So, you two are as fucking stupid as everyone else? Wonderful. Good to know." Hermione muttered.
"Excuse me?" Severus Snape's eyes widened at the blatant disrespect rolling off Miss Granger in waves. He was wary of this new creature as she was a far, far cry from the knock-kneed schoolgirl he remembered. The war and the hunt for horcruxes had hardened something within her irrevocably.
"What do you think happens now? That it's over? That everyone is going to be slapping each other on the back and grabbing a drink together at the Three Broomsticks? That the sycophants aren't already circling?" The two former Death Eaters regarded the battle-hardened young woman with incredulity. "I thought against hope that you two, at least, wouldn't be dunderheads about this – that you'd have a plan." She sighed with exasperation. "I'm not ready for this – but I can't, I won't let them usurp our victory or it really would have been for nothing."
"What are you bleating on about now Miss Granger? We defeated the Dark Lord." Lucius drawled.
Her eyes flashed. "Yeah, and what happens when the next one shows up? Fancy letting them have free room and board at the old Malfoy Manner again Lucius?" And the way she said his name sounded like a expletive. But she continued, "The whole fucking system needs gutting from top to bottom; social services; education; culture; media; law; finance. There's so much corruption and individuals pulling the strings to promote their own agendas." She shot another nasty look at Lucius.
Snape however was intrigued by her comments, in spite of himself, and probed her further. "What is it exactly that you intend to do then Miss Granger?"
"Become The Minister for Magic, obviously." She breathed out – as if it was as simple as tying a shoelace.
Lucius snorted. "Of course you will. Of course you will! Everyone is so far up your cunt already! The little sheep will be all too thrilled that the Princess is throwing her hat in the ring. Merlin's Pants – I can already hear the election slogans: Potter's whore for Minister!"
Hermione shot him a withering look at that. As if she was admonishing a first year for talking with their mouth full in the great hall.
Severus surveyed Hermione then with morbid interest. "There are far better more experienced leaders out there than you little girl –"
"-Like who? Who amongst the living? Minerva? She would no sooner leave Hogwarts than I'd go join the Chudley Cannons. Harry is probably impregnating Ginny Weasley as we speak, he'll collect his First Class Order of Merlin and will bugger off to be fattened up by Molly until the end of his days. And good luck to him! He deserves it! Harry has given enough." Hermione sighed and stared hard at the two. Under this new knowing gaze the men shifted uncomfortably. She cast her eyes to the fire again, looking through the bright flames for the answers. "It can't be either of you two. Your reputations are seeped in blood."
Lucius hurrumphed at this in his characteristically aristocratic way, as if he was too far above it all, but the reality of her words was starting to dawn with a chilling clarity to him. Yes, he had defected to the light. Yes, they had won the war. But now there was a life to live in the fallout. Draco and Narsissa were leaving him; he would see his day in court; the Malfoy businesses desperately needed tending to.
"Well well" Severus sneered, thinking that she was making a jibe about the nature of Dumbledore's death, "Thank goodness that we all have your snowy white reputation to lampoon all of our futures on Miss Granger."
Hermione nodded in sombre acknowledgement of his words. "And who's going to keep me in check? When things get hard. When the Wizengamot and the Aurors are being prats and I lose my patience…Harry? Ron?" A shadow that had never existed before veiled the eyes of Hermione Granger. "I've tasted real, dark, powerful magic. I don't even know the lengths I would go to achieve my goals. People would never suspect I could do anything bloodthirsty or cruel- I am the golden girl of Gryffindor."
Then, startling Severus Snape and Lucius Malfoy, she began to laugh – a deranged high-pitched laugh. An echo of the monster they had just defeated. As quickly as it had begun she stopped and shuddered.
Then she turned to the two wizards in front of her. "You see- my soul isn't as pristine as it once was. I think that might be the real cost you know, of war. It takes a part of you so you never quite work right again. Even with the best of intentions; Dumbledore always strived for the light – but he cast shadows over so many lives because of his sanctimonious bullshit. Maybe that was just as unforgivable as some of Voldemort's deeds-"
"I say, Miss Granger! Bravo." Lucius allowed the complement to escape silkily with a rakish raise of his eyebrow. He was oddly pleased by the insightful witch's comments. He had assumed her to be a devoted, card carrying member of the cult of light. It seemed he had judged her too quickly. Perhaps there was some hope left after all. If this child – no, if this young woman could see the grey and subtle workings of the world.
He elbowed Snape and Severus reluctantly passed the bottle of wine to his former student. Hermione took the bottle hesitantly and her fingers lightly grazed his. Both men regarded her as she titled her head to drink and her curls fell sensuously from her shoulders and cascaded down her back.
"Huh." Hermione whipped her head round and regarded Lucious with her large amber eyes, searching for something in his cool grey ones.
"What?" Lucius asked, looking a bit put out and suddenly feeling oddly self-conscious.
"You've never called me by my name before. It was always just mudblood." Hermione offered levelly.
"I think, under the circumstances we can dispense with trivial formalities and name calling - don't you?" Severus retorted in defence of his oldest friend. He sighed and for some maddening unbeknownst reason went on, "You may use my given name if you so choose Miss Granger."
"Mine as well." Lucious committed instinctively.
A beat passed. "Then… you can both call me Hermione."
Without any of them meaning to, something aloof unfurled between the odd trio. For a moment, all that there was to do was watch the intermingling of their breath as it combined in a vaporous cloud against the cold night.
Snape, always the bravest of the two men spoke again. "You know… you needn't fear of slipping into that darkness Hermione. I wouldn't allow it."
"Nor I." Lucius Malfoy stated.
Hermione could only nod. Befuddled by the strangeness of the new free world she found herself in. Her relentless brain, as ever, trying to control and categorise and plan ahead.