Long ago in the mortal realm, in a small kingdom of a name long forgotten, lived King Isadore and Queen Saskia. They ruled their kingdom with patience and love, just as they raised their three daughters: Pansy, Hermione, and Ginevra. While each daughter was blessed by the Gods with beauty, they each had talents that made them unique.
Pansy, the eldest, was a talented artist. Even at a young age, she felt a connection to the world around her. So, when words failed to express how she felt, she did it through painting and sculpting. Much of the art that hung on the walls in their home was painted by Pansy, but she never signed them. Guests always complimented the talented, unnamed artist.
Hermione, the middle, had the wit of scholars. There was no problem, no matter the size, that she could not handle. It bewildered one tutor after the next that a mind so young could handle the complexities of math and science. Hermione's passion to always learn more allowed her to get lost in literature for days on end.
Ginevra (who only ever answered to Ginny), the youngest, grew to be the most athletic of the three. When she ran, it was as if she were gliding on a cloud. When she threw a discus, it was as if the Gods themselves guided it on its journey. Ginny knew she could never compete, and it saddened her at times that only her trainers and family saw what she could do. She hoped one day things would change.
King Isadore was protective of his daughters, much to Queen Saskia's dismay. He allowed them to grow into their own, but he kept them hidden from the world. After letting both Pansy and Hermione's coming of age pass, the queen wouldn't let him get away with it a third time. When Ginny turned 18, the king sent notice to his kingdom and introduced his daughters to them.
When the citizens looked upon the princesses for the first time, cheers erupted. Their beauty and grace were a sight to behold. But as the young women made their way through the crowd of their small kingdom, the chants grew to praises of Hermione alone. Pansy and Ginny noticed this and grew angry. After years of being told that they were all of equal beauty, they both felt like it was now all a lie.
That night, at a small party held to honour the princesses, many suitors spoke with Hermione. The guest brought tributes to worship her beauty. Word spread that they no longer needed to visit the temple of Narcissa since a true goddess now walked the land. Some tried to gain the attention of her sisters just to get an audience with her. Hermione, noticing this, would begin to talk up her sisters. She raved about their beauty and talents. They, however, would not listen and her sisters grew angrier.
After many hours, the guests finally left. Hermione watched as her sisters raced to their rooms. Wanting to speak with Pansy first, Hermione walked through the halls to her room. When she arrived, the door was ajar. She heard Ginny in there with Pansy; the pair argued over what happened that night.
Hermione hesitated for a moment before deciding to leave. She wanted to speak to her sisters, but she didn't know what to say. Being singled out tonight made Hermione uneasy and she hated that Pansy and Ginny were upset because of it.
She walked through the halls and into her room, tears in her eyes for the upset she had caused her sisters.
As the days turned into weeks, the kingdom was relentless as they now saw Hermione as a deity. Honey, perfumes, and commandaria were among many of the gifts left for her. When she left the walls of her home, she would be handed roses and myrtle. Hermione gave thanks every time to not upset her people, but with every passing day, her sisters grew more and more distant.
Far away on Mount Olympus, Narcissa was pacing in her home as her anger boiled to the surface. In all of her immortal life, she had never experienced such disrespect from mortals! Since the beginning of their existence, mortals would flock to her temple, praying to her for love and beauty. Some thanked her for sending their sons' wives while others begged for her blessing of children. She was the Goddess of beauty and passion, not this useless mortal girl.
But for weeks, she watched the mortals pass by her temple and leave her nothing. She saw countless mortal men fall to the feet of a mere mortal girl. Yes, she was a princess but still. A measly mortal took everything, and she wouldn't stand for it.
Narcissa was tempted to speak with Lucius but worried his temper would lead to devastation in the mortal realm. So, instead, she called for her eldest son to visit. She knew that with Draco's gift, he could fix this mess for her.
When she heard the sound of wings, Narcissa's eyes filled with tears. When Draco landed and saw his mother, he ran to her.
"Oh, Draco! I'm so glad you've come! I didn't know what to do", she cried out, throwing her arms around him.
"Mother, what's wrong? What happened?"
Narcissa wiped the tears yet fallen from the corner of her eye before looking up to her son. "There's a mortal that's cursed my name, Draco. She's turned other mortals against me and claims to be better than the Gods. Better than me!"
"I'm sure it's just a misunderstanding."
Narcissa turned and began walking away. "The mortal spat on the grounds of my empty temple", she whispered. "She's making a mockery of me."
Draco stood in shock at his mother's words. How could any mortal think to disrespect a goddess in such a way?
"Albus will strike down any mortal that puts themselves above us, there's no need to worry mother", he tried to reassure her.
"No!", Narcissa shouted, turning back to her son. "She must pay for this disrespect; death is too good for her. I want to deal with this myself, but I need your help."
"How can I help? Just tell me what you need."
Narcissa smiled sweetly at him. "I want you to take your arrow and strike her in the heart. Make her fall in love with a hideous beast - man or animal, I don't care. Do this for me and they'll see that she is nothing like me. Do this, and the mortals will come back to me."
Draco looked at his mother's pleading eyes. "What's her name and where can I find her?"
Narcissa hugged him gently before giving him everything he'd need.
Draco waited until he saw Parvati cloak the sky in darkness. He watched as the twin walked with her friend Lavender and smiled softly at the pair as he flew down. Many of the gods and goddesses had to work alone but he was happy to see that a friendship formed easily between the two.
Draco passed the clouds and touched down in the mortal realm. He waited high in the thick of the trees until it grew quiet. The mortal was too far to get a good look at but from what his mother described; he had the right room. When he was sure everyone was asleep, Draco landed just outside the dark bedroom, making sure she was alone. Rolling his shoulders back, his wings folded inward before disappearing.
Unable to see her in the dark, Draco focused his mind on her emotions. At that moment, he could feel every desire she had. This was overwhelming when he first came into his powers long ago, feeling the weight of emotions from every mortal he worked on. Over time, it just became something he could ignore… and something he grew to despise.
The longer he focused on her, the stronger his arrow's strike would be. Draco reached behind him, pulling an arrow out and loading his bow. He pulled the string, resting his hand gently against his lower jaw. The words his mother left with him raced in his mind.
There's a mortal that's cursed my name-
She's turned other mortals against me -
Her name is Hermione.
Just as he was about to let go, she shouted and woke from her sleep. Draco lowered his bow and arrow, quickly hiding further into the shadows. Her heavy breath slowed before she settled in, falling asleep.
Curiosity got the better of Draco as he waited for her to fall deep enough into her slumber. He had been to the mortal realm at night many times. Gatherings loaded with wine, lowering the barrier so many mortals put up allowed him to put hundreds of couples together. But even with all the heart's desire he's seen in his time, he had never before heard of events like his mother told him. He needed to see the face of the mortal woman that caused his mother's distress, that caused mortals to turn away from her temple.
Draco quietly walked into the room. When he got to the edge of her bed, she turned in her sleep and faced him. He froze, worried he'd been caught.
But then, as the light of Lavender hit her face, Draco fell to his knees and his wings opened. He took a shaky breath as he drank her in.
The mass of curls he saw hours ago from afar was now braided tightly, laying over one shoulder. Her warm, brown skin reminded him of the beauty in bronze sculptures he saw in his travels. Oh, how she reminded him of such perfection in the soft curve of her lips.
Hand pressed firmly against his chest, it felt as if one of his arrows struck him; Draco had never felt this before. Her beauty was beyond measure. Every breath she took pulled him closer to her, it took everything in him not to reach out and move the few curls that kissed her face.
This was Hermione.
He understood how so many mortal men were drawn to her.
This was Hermione.
He understood how they melted in her mere presence.
What was it like to hear her speak? What colour are her eyes? Would she prefer that he serenade her, or should he rearrange the stars in her image?
Hermione. Her name, once filled with disdain, now played like a melody he never wanted to end.
She stirred more in her sleep again. The fear of her seeing him like this forced Draco from the ground. He hid in the shadows Parvati granted him before flying back to his place in the trees.
Draco stayed there until he saw Padma and Ron coming over the horizon. When the sounds of mortals in the morning filled the air, Draco took flight, greeting the pair as he journeyed home.
In that moment, he thought about his four friends: twin sisters and two lovers, all separated by fate. To live life constantly chasing after the other. The responsibility was great so they never questioned or defied. Their reward? One day every year or so, they all got to meet for a little while.
Draco wondered if it was worth it, for Lavender and Ron to wait all that time for just a brief meeting.
When he arrived home, the long night he had finally caught up with him. Draco settled in his sitting room, wine in hand and eyes closed. He pictured Hermione's face, recalling every detail. When he remembered the worry between her brows, he wanted nothing more than to erase everything that ailed her.
He could feel his body relaxing as he raised the glass to his lips and took a sip.
The sound of clicking heels alerted him to his mother's arrival.
"Hello, Mother," Draco said with a sigh.
"Good morning, my dear. How was your night?"
Draco opened his eyes and walked over to a window, looking over his garden. He finished off his drink unsure of what to tell her.
Narcissa plucked a pear from the bowl beside her. "Well?"
"I wasn't able to do it."
"Why not?!", she exclaimed.
Draco struggled between telling the truth and lying to her, neither having the best result.
"I- I didn't find a beast hideous enough for her to love. I want to find the worst I can." He turned, looking to see if his half-truth saved him.
"Oh, that's all? It's okay, young one." Narcissa poured herself a drink. "You'll just try again."
"I promise, I'll travel there as many times as it takes to find such a beast. The mortals will return to your temple."
Many months passed in the mortal realm. As seasons changed, Hermione was thankful that things had calmed in her life. While she was still being sought after by the occasional suitor, within the next day or so he would be courting someone else. Though the waves of gifts stopped, Hermione was confused by this new behaviour. Had she done something wrong? Said the wrong thing?
These questions danced around her mind while life progressed. And through the fortune of the Gods, Hermione couldn't be happier that both her sisters found love.
Pansy met Neville when he saw her out one afternoon painting a field of anemone. Pansy was shocked that someone had found her favourite spot, so far away from the original trail. Neville told her stories about the anemone, how they came to be the colours they are. They talked for hours while Pansy finished her work. Before long, it was night and the pair had made their way back to her home. The following morning, Neville was greeting the king and queen, with a bouquet of anemone for Pansy.
Harry was Ginny's new trainer. Things had settled long after her birthday and Ginny was desperate to interact with more of her people. When word got around that the princess wanted a new trainer, an Olympian came by to offer his services. Ginny found Harry to be charming, so it didn't take long before feelings developed between them. What started as twice a week training turned into Harry courting her.
One night at dinner, Pansy asked Hermione how she felt about her and Ginny's engagements. Hermione expressed her happiness and wanted nothing but the best for her sisters. Queen Saskia reassured Hermione that a suitable man would come along when the time is right. King Isadore, however, could see how his wife's words did little to comfort his troubled daughter.
Draco listened closely, hidden in the shadows. He watched the family together, as he did every night since he was first sent down to Hermione. He could feel the words she left unspoken.
In his pursuit to learn more about her, Draco refused to awaken the love towards Hermione in any man she came in contact with. Draco knew what would happen if this was found out but damned the consequences. The moment he first heard her speak, first heard her laugh, that was it for him. His love for her grew stronger every day. What he felt was far greater than any love a mortal man could give to her.
It was selfish. It was impossible. He was a God, an immortal being whose only destiny was to give others the desire he now craved.
But he had been selfless for too long. He wanted Hermione, he needed her. Even if it meant giving up all he's known.
King Isadore grew restless after his two daughters married. Words could not describe the happiness he felt when they wed, but his heart still broke for Hermione. He feared that he had angered the Gods somehow and now his daughter was being punished for it.
When his worry finally got the best of him, the King took two guards and journeyed to the temple of Sirius. Upon his arrival, King Isadore was taken to the Oracle Luna.
"I come to your temple, humbled and in desperate need of your guidance", King Isadore pleaded. "Blessed Oracle, please tell me her destiny. The Gods have granted two of my daughters with love but not my dear Hermione. Her sadness is too much to bear. What can be done?"
The eyes of Oracle Luna turn from a soft blue to a clouded grey. Her body rose from the ground, feet no longer touching the floor. The white fabric she wore danced around her body as she focused on the king before her.
When she spoke, it was that of two voices: hers and Sirius.
"King Isadore, hear this and know the truth. Your middle child shall never have a human husband."
"What?", he whispered to himself.
"Dress your daughter in black, matrimonial attire. Take her to the edge of the highest summit in your land, where the earth meets the sea. It is here where Hermione shall meet her husband, a winged dragon-"
"No!", King Isadore exclaimed.
"SILENCE!", they shouted.
King Isadore bowed his head in shame.
"He will take her as his bride", they continued, "and death will become her."
The king could not help but question this. "Is- Is this my fault? Have I displeased the Gods in some way? Can I fix this?"
Luna was silent for a moment. Her eyes closed before they spoke again. "It is the word of the Gods and so shall it be. This is her fate."
Luna's eyes opened, returning to the blue they once were. Her body touched the ground and laid there until she caught her breath.
The king raced out of the temple. His knees buckled before he finally collapsed under the weight of the words.
He hid his face in his hands, not wanting his guards to see their broken king.