AN: Trigger warnings to many things are present in this story. Don't like, don't read.
I don't own Harry Potter.
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Hermione groaned as she awoke slowly, a hand shaking her shoulder quickly, "Hermione wake up."
She grimaced as she rubbed the sleep from her eyes, "Harry?"
Harry put his finger over his lips and motioned for her to follow him out of the dorm room. They slipped into the empty common room, "Hagrid knows what the first task is. We must hurry. Cedric and the others already know."
She grimaced, "The task is tomorrow how did they find out so fast?"
Harry wrapped them both in the invisibility cloak, "Karkaroff worked a deal with Madame Maxime, and they worked together to get Hagrid to show her. Then they told Fleur, Krum and Cedric."
They crept out of the portrait and hurried through the empty halls, slipping silently past Filch and out the main doors, before Hermione spoke again, "So they told everyone but us?"
Harry grimaced, "Yep. Cedric cornered me near Charms earlier, but he never got to say anything before his friends showed up. Hagrid sent me a message at dinner and asked for us to meet him at his hut at midnight."
"Why didn't you tell me sooner?" She asked, annoyed but relieved.
"I couldn't get you alone. Neville really has a thing for you doesn't he." Harry had noticed the way their friend kept his eyes on Hermione too long. He had tried to stop the boy, but a red-faced Neville had only denied it and continued to do it. Harry had always felt protective of Hermione but with certain people it seemed worse.
Hermione wrinkled her nose, "He's nice and all but…" Harry snorted, and she glared at him, "What?"
"Like you even notice anyone other than Narcissa. I know when you're daydreaming about her because you start to drool and don't get me started on when she's around." Harry smirked at her playfully.
She shoved him gently as she shook her head, not able to prevent the bashful smile or blush that rushed over her face, "Where's Hagrid?"
They grew quiet as the approached the hut, frowning when they heard Hagrid's voice already entering the Forbidden Forest. They rushed to catch up but remained quiet as they followed the half giant and Madame Maxime deeper. After ten minutes the sound of a roar met their ears, making them both freeze for a moment.
Hermione felt the blood drain from her face, "Is that what I think it is?"
Harry stared at her in horror as the roar grew louder and Hagrid's voice echoed around them, "Dragons!"
Hermione's jaw dropped as her heart thundered in her ears. Their first task was something to do with dragons. Harry shook his head and led them back towards Hagrid's hut, "How the bloody hell are we supposed to beat a dragon?"
She shook her head, "Maybe it's not about beating it but getting past it."
He grimaced at her as they entered the castle, "Same difference. Hermione, this is suicide."
She nodded, "Yes but the Goblet is a binding contract. We must compete or… Well, let's just leave it at that."
They climbed back into the Gryffindor common room before pulling the cloak off. They sat silently on the sofa, and she felt her heart ache. She would give anything to talk to Narcissa, but she couldn't contact her in the middle of the night. How were she and Harry supposed to get through a dragon? They were barely fourth years.
The entire day she had spent lost in thought about Narcissa and Bellatrix Black. She hadn't been able to stop thinking about them since the night before and while she was pulled to Narcissa, there was something about Bellatrix. The idea of belonging to anyone was something that she couldn't fathom but she found herself not minding belonging to the two Black sisters.
Harry shook his head before beginning to pace, "Dragon's? Why of all things… Is Narcissa going to be there tomorrow?"
She nodded, "Yes. At least she said she would be there." She could see Harry's mind trying to search for a way through this that would allow them both to survive. She sighed, "Harry we can't do anything more tonight. We need rest in order to survive. We'll talk in the morning." He nodded as she headed up to her bed.
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The following morning was a rush of activity as Hermione and Harry met in the empty common room. Each wearing their Gryffindor color in the Tournament robes that had been delivered to them over breakfast. They took a deep breath before nodding and heading through the portrait. The halls were oddly empty and silent as they worked their way down the unsettling motionless staircases.
They made their way down to the small tent near the Quidditch pitch hand in hand before stepping inside. McGonagall's head turned in their direction quickly and ushered them over, "Good, you're here. Mr. Diggory will be with us in a moment and then Mr. Crouch will be along to read the rules. Now if you have someone that is going to visit, they will be here before Mr. Crouch and will be expected to leave before the rules are given."
Hermione felt her heart clench painfully in her chest. Would Narcissa show up for her? It was something that had plagued her thoughts the entire day before and now it was a moment of truth. She and Harry slipped to a silent corner to be alone as Cedric entered the tent with his father, both men grimacing at them.
Harry glared at them, "Why do I have the feeling you and I are being singled out?"
Hermione snorted, her anxiety rising quickly, "Because we are." She kept her voice low as Karkaroff entered the tent, "Face it Harry, our names shouldn't have been in that cup." Madame Maxime entered the tent and hurried to Fleur with the girl's little sister. Hermione sighed, "Plus you and I don't have anyone to be here for us."
Harry frowned at her, "You give up already?"
She bit her lower lip as she turned to face the corner, not wanting to see the smiles and care the others were receiving, "I don't know."
"Never doubt me little one." Narcissa's voice sent a chill down her spine.
She spun around, eyes wide and teary as she smiled at Narcissa, "I didn't think-"
"And you need to stop that. You belong to us. Always." The blonde opened her arms and Hermione instantly fell into them, her fear dissolving in the safe embrace. "Now why are you two over here?"
Harry glared at the others in the tent, his voice low but angry, "They're singling us out. They all knew about the dragons before Hagrid found out. It wasn't until dinner that Hagrid messaged me to have Hermione and I meet him at the hut."
Narcissa's hold tightened around Hermione, too tight, "Dragons?"
Hermione brushed her lips against the smooth skin of Narcissa's neck, "It's okay Cissy."
Narcissa's breath hitched for a moment, Hermione's distraction nearly working, "This is ludicrous. You are just children."
Hermione snorted as she pulled back slightly, "Technically…"
Narcissa narrowed her eyes at the younger witch, "Shut it. When she finds out about this, she's going to lose it."
Hermione frowned, "Will she be okay?" She had seen the anger in Bellatrix's eyes on Saturday and she had a feeling the dark witch was going to be possessive of her, but she was actually afraid of what the woman might do when she found out she was in danger.
Narcissa frowned at her for a moment before shaking her head, "You worry about staying alive today. We'll need to see you this weekend though. I don't think she'll last much longer than that."
Hermione nodded as Dumbledore entered the room, "Contestants, time to say goodbye."
Hermione frowned as her fear returned and she stared into worried blue eyes, "We'll be okay. I'll be looking for you."
She pressed a quick kiss to Narcissa's lips while no one was looking and stepped back, against her better judgment. She caught McGonagall smirking at her for a moment before the woman turned away, facing Dumbledore. An uneasy feeling passed through her body. Harry hugged Narcissa before the blonde exited the tent with the others.
Crouch held up a small bag, "Now for the order. Each of you will reach into the bag and grab a dragon. It will have a number attached to its neck and that will be the order in which you shall go. You will be expected to collect the golden egg that the dragon will be guarding."
Crouch held the pouch up to Victor Krum, the boy grimacing as his hand disappeared into the pouch before he retracted it. A small green dragon had its teeth sank into his finger as it dangled, a small two dangling around the Welsh Green's neck, the breed looking exactly like its real-life counterpart. Fleur hesitated for a moment before shakingly inserting her hand into the pouch. She gasped as she jerked her hand back out, the Chinese Fireball dangling from her pinky with a number one hanging from its neck. Cedric pulled the three draping the neck of the Romanian Longhorn.
Harry took a deep breath as he slowly reached into the bag, a smirk dancing on his lips at the sharp teeth that clamped down on his skin. It tickled more than it hurt as he pulled the creature out of the pouch. The Norwegian Ridgeback looked similar to the one that Hagrid had hatched in their first year, and he shared a small smile with Hermione, ignoring the number four. Both remembering the moment that the baby dragon had set Hagrid's beard on fire for the first time.
Hermione slid her hand into the pouch, feeling the heat from the dragon's breath. She held her hand open instead of trying to grab it, the sharp points of its claws poking into her skin as it climbed into her hand willingly. She removed her hand and smiled at the small dragon as it looked up at her, the number five not having been a surprise. She would go last, and it would be against the Hungarian Horntail. Her mind filled with things she had read about the creature. Thought to be the most dangerous, even as its yellow eyes stared up at her innocently, a puff of smoke billowing up out of its snout playfully.
A silence spell was placed on the tent before Fleur exited. Hermione and Harry retook their position across the room in a corner alone before Harry spoke quietly, "Get passed the dragon and collect an egg, brilliant."
She frowned as her mind searched for a solution, "Harry you are the best on a broom."
He grinned at her, "After all the practice and techniques I've shown you, you aren't half bad either."
She rolled her eyes at him with a smile, "No Harry. Use the broom. Accio the broom to you."
"Have I mentioned you are brilliant Hermione?" Harry hugged her tightly.
She slapped his shoulder playfully, "Yes but I love hearing it." They laughed before they fell silent, each lost in their own thoughts.
One by one the tent emptied and soon it was just Hermione, wishing she could see what was happening with Harry. Suddenly the silence spell released the tent and the loud announcement had her moving towards the exit. She took a deep breath before walking through the dark tunnel and steeping out into what used to be the Hogwarts Quidditch Stadium. She took in the amount of people surrounding her as shouts and cheers made her ears ache. She spotted Draco and Ron, both watching her with worry. She nodded at them once and shook her arms, gripping her wand tightly as she surveyed the rough terrain in front of her.
Boulders and rocks dotted the area, a large nest sitting across the field from her with a large golden egg in the center. She searched for the dragon but found nothing as she began to move, her eyes searching for the Hungarian Horntail. A quarter of the way across the field she spotted movement to her left and dove behind the largest boulder beside her as a blast of fire singed her robes, burning her leg. A roar shook the ground as the dragon finally made its presence known.
Her heart pounded in her chest, the blood rushing through her ears drowned out the noise of the crowd. She could feel eyes on her but knew she had to focus. She shook her head and re-centered herself on the task.
A strong gust of wind circled the dirt around her as the beast raised itself into the sky, the chain around its neck not letting it go far. She ran to the left as a burst of fire burned where she had been standing. She shot two spells at the creature but only managed to make it angrier. She didn't want to hurt the beast, not that she wouldn't if it came down to her life or its. She spotted the egg as the creature landed and she sprinted forward, towards another large boulder, however she didn't see the tail.
Air disappeared from her lungs as the creatures overly strong tail connected with her midsection, her body fitting right between two bronze spikes. Her grip on her wand loosened as she struggled to grab hold of a spike but quickly slid off the slick scales. She flew backwards through the air, the wand slipping from her fingers as her body slammed into a boulder before falling to the ground. She could feel the burn in her face as small rocks scrapped across her skin with the force of the landing, the coppery smell surrounding her. She could hear the shouts from the audience but ignored them, adrenaline surging through her body, forcing her to scramble towards her wand before the beast's foot could crush it.
She snatched the wand up as she continued to run, shouting, not bothering to aim her wand, "Bombarda Maxima!"
The dragon was flung backwards but it caught itself with its wings, blowing its fire through its mouth to follow her as she threw herself behind another boulder, covering her head with her hands. She could feel the burn on her right arm but the adrenaline pumping through her body prevented the pain from getting through her mind right away. She was closer to the nest but there was nothing to hide behind between her and it. The ground shook as the dragon made its way towards her angrily. She frowned, knowing she had no choice but to run for it.
She wiped the sweat from her brow before it could drip into her eye but stared at the red on the back of her hand. Blood not sweat; she had a wound on her forehead. She frowned, not quite sure when that had even happened. A roar echoed around her, and she refocused on the task at hand.
She pushed herself up into a sprint towards the egg but was snatched by the dragon's claws, her body flinging up into the air even as the sting from the slice to her skin penetrated her adrenaline filled brain. She gripped her wand tighter, "Accio Firebolt."
She knew it was a longshot that Harry's broom would come to her, but it was worth it to at least try, which paid off as the very item flew into her outstretched hand. She smirked as she twisted in midair and flew as fast as she could towards the ground, pulling up as hard as possible before colliding. She snatched the egg out of the nest with a victorious grin before spotting the dragon above, and not seeing its tail swinging up towards her. The loud crash created a silence throughout the stadium as she struggled to keep her grip on the egg but losing the broom in the process.
She felt the anger well up inside her as she landed on the dragon's head, the hard slick scales making it impossible to grip anything. The creature flew higher as it struggled to get Hermione off its head, but she found a horn to grip onto. The sound of the chain breaking echoed around the field and she let her frustration out.
"Bloody hell would you stop. It's not like I wanted to do this," she snapped. Without warning the creature froze, hovering high above the pitch, out of sight of the audience. She frowned as she glanced into one large yellow eye, seeing the sudden understanding the creature seemed to have, "Neither of us wanted to be here. None of us wanted to be in this stupid barbaric tournament. Unfortunately, you and I were at the wrong place at the wrong time."
The dragon's wings slowed, and they began to drift back towards the ground before it shot off, away from the school.
She readjusted to sit on the back of the dragon's neck, letting the cool wind whip through her hair. She smiled at the peace she felt before placing a hand on its neck, "I have to go back but you can be free."
As if understanding yet again, the creature circled back towards the pitch slowing as it neared the ground long enough for her to slide off the beast's neck. She fell towards the ground and tucked her body, rolling back up to her feet near the stadium, stumbling slightly. She grinned as she watched the dragon disappear up into the clouds until the shouts of Harry met her ears.
"Hermione!" Harry ran towards her as Draco and Ron followed him.
She smiled widely as Draco's arms wrapped around her tightly, lifting her off the ground in a spin, "You're alive! We were all so worried."
Once back on her feet she smiled at him as the entire stadium took notice of the group. Hermione's eyes searched the crowd and finally landed on Narcissa as the woman stood frozen, fear and relief flashing between her eyes. Hermione shoved the egg into Draco's hands before pushing her way through the crowd of people wanting to congratulate her.
Narcissa held her arms open and Hermione launched herself into them, ignoring the shocked gasps echoing around them as their lips met. Her body ached and her burns were on fire slightly, but nothing mattered more in that moment than the woman whose body was nearly wrapped around hers. She didn't care what others thought. She belonged to Narcissa. She wanted Narcissa and she dared anyone try to take that from her.
Her high of besting a dragon may have made her bold but she was done caring about others. She was ready to go for what she wanted and, in that moment, Narcissa is who she wanted. She pulled back to rest her forehead against the blonde's and sighed happily.
Narcissa chuckled, "So much for being discreet."
Hermione laughed, "I want you."
A small gasp slipped from Narcissa's lips, "I love you Hermione. You belong to me little one."
Hermione nodded, "And you belong to me." They kissed again as Draco gagged and Harry and Ron cheered.
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Hermione grimaced as she shifted on the bed in the Hospital wing, "How much longer?"
The eggs were safely tucked in the Gryffindor common room. Hermione having stayed with Narcissa as long as she could, before McGonagall insisted she needed to be seen in the Hospital wing. Pulling away from Narcissa had been even harder after admitting that she wanted the blonde. Every bit of space between them hurt and she struggled to understand why. Narcissa had been struggling with seeing Hermione hurt but Hermione quickly assured the older witch that she was going to be okay and that she would send an owl after she was out of the hospital wing.
Harry chuckled at her lack of patience, "What happened to your never-ending patience?"
She glared at him, "That disappeared when the dragon sent me flying the first time."
Draco smirked at her from his seat on the foot of her bed, "Not long and then we'll go to dinner. Mum wants us in Hogsmeade early on Saturday morning, you specifically. She's jumpy."
She smirked at him, "What can I say? I'm the favorite."
Draco grimaced, "I'm still trying to gouge my eyes out after seeing your tongue down my mother's throat."
Harry chocked on his water, and she laughed, "Harry and I walked in on you and Ron doing a thorough tonsil check remember. At least Narcissa and I kept it clean for an audience."
Draco paled slightly, "Have I mentioned she's my mother Hermione. I'm all for you two and happiness but it doesn't mean I want to hear about it."
Ron snorted, "Yes but you will because she has to hear about us."
Draco groaned as the other three laughed, Madam Pomfrey hurrying to shush them and check on Hermione and Harry. Once she gave them the all clear they made their way towards the Great Hall, "How did yours go Harry?"
He grinned at her, "Used the broom, which is fine by the way."
She gave him an innocent smile, "I didn't know what else to do."
Draco laughed, "Good thing Potter's been showing you the proper way to use one."
Ron grinned, "I'd hate to see you use one if it was like our first year."
She hadn't enjoyed flying in their first year but after spending most of every summer with Harry teaching her how, she grew to sort of love flying. Not that she wanted to do it all the time. She grimaced at the boys as they laughed, opening her mouth to respond but Snape's voice stopped the four in their tracks, "Granger."
She turned to face the Potion's master, face blank, "Professor Snape?"
"A word Granger. Now." He snapped angrily before heading towards the dungeons.
She sighed and dragged her feet with a groan, her head thrown back, as the others laughed. It wasn't that she didn't want to speak with Snape, quite the contrary in fact, but she was tired and hungry and a few of her wounds were still healing up. Anger was flowing from the man in front of her and she had a strange feeling she was in trouble.
Snape opened the door to his private office and allowed her to slip inside before slamming the door as hard as he could. Dust shifted from the ceiling while Snape warded and silenced the room before turning on her, "That is the most scared I have ever been, and I was in the first war."
She collapsed in a chair in front of his desk, "And here I thought I was in trouble."
Snape plopped down in his high back chair shaking his head, "I thought you were dead Granger."
She smirked at him as she leaned forward, the cocky feeling she had after surviving the dragon returned in full force, "Aww were you missing me?"
He scoffed, waving his hand and pouring two glasses of Firewhiskey before sliding one to her, "As if."
She smirked as she downed the drink, the burn in her throat spreading across her chest, "We're alone. You can admit it. I admitted I need Narcissa." She sat the glass back on Snape's desk with a frown, "Now the pain is worse."
He sighed as he poured another glass, "Tell me about it." He downed it quickly, his lips pursing slightly from the burn.
The door burst open before slamming closed again and McGonagall snapped her fingers, the whiskey filling another glass before it hovered towards the older witch. She downed it in one swallow before sighing heavily, "If I have to listen to the old prat say how he's surprised that Potter and Granger survived one more time…"
Hermione smirked as she held the bottle over her head to the older woman, after refilling her glass, "Any news yet?" She took a sip, enjoying the tingle on the tip of her tongue.
Snape nodded, "Lucius has informed me that he's found a trail connected to you."
His eyes lost focus and Hermione leaned forward, "Are you Harry and Ron's father?" Snape's eyes darted up to her face, fear flashing through his dark eyes.
McGonagall chuckled as she took the seat beside Hermione, setting the bottle on the Potion Master's desk and sipping her drink, "She is the brightest witch of her age Severus. Did you really expect her to not figure it out?"
Snape sighed, "Yes but I can explain."
Hermione burst into laughter, "I can't wait to tell them. Ron has this dark streak that he's convinced is from his mother." She grimaced suddenly, "Wait, you and Molly Weasley?"
He shook his head, "Lilly was everything to me but when she passed Molly had also lost her husband. We comforted each other and it just…" He waved his hand in the air before downing another full glass of whiskey.
Hermione frowned, "Wait, Molly had a husband before Arthur? So those aren't her kids then, just Ron."
Snape nodded with a weighted sigh, "Yes. Ron's hair gets black during the year because Molly can't keep putting the charm on it. I didn't know at first but then Molly called me over the summer."
Hermione nodded, "'Their father needed to know'. That makes so much sense now."
Snape frowned as he leaned his elbows on his desk, gesturing with his empty glass, "You, Miss Granger, are nosey."
McGonagall laughed after drinking her third glass, "Worse than Bellatrix and Narcissa ever were. Go figure you'd be mated to them."
Hermione frowned, "Mated to them?"
Snape glared at the older witch, snatching the Firewhiskey bottle from the old woman's hand causing her to pout at him, "When someone is prophesized to be with someone else it becomes a mate bond that cannot be broken. It's normally only in the pureblood families. You just happened to end up with Bellatrix and Narcissa."
His smirk did nothing to comfort her as she threw her head back and swallowed her second glass of burning liquid, "Let's go back to Lucius's trail." She really didn't want to think about being 'mated' to Narcissa and Bellatrix at the same time. Her tired fragile mind couldn't handle it at the moment, she poured another glass for herself at the thought.
Snape chuckled, "As you wish. He found something interesting hidden deep in the Ministry but he's unable to get to it."
"Prophecies? Or something else?" She raised an eyebrow at him curiously.
He frowned, "I never thought about the Prophecies. They should be at the Ministry, but I wouldn't know where to look for them."
She frowned, her shoulders slumping in disappointment. If her own prophecy was kept in the Ministry maybe Harry had one as well. The only issue now was how to find said prophecies. She shook her head, "I'll hit the library tomorrow during free period, see if I can find anything about how to find them." She downed her drink in one swallow and sat the glass on his desk.
Snape nodded, "In the meantime you have to solve the golden egg issue. I'm afraid I don't know how to help you with that one either."
She stood, dizziness hitting her head from all her whiskey. She steadied herself on Snape's desk before shaking her head to clear it, "I'll figure it out, but you should know that Karkaroff knew about the dragon's first and made sure everyone, but Harry and I knew about it. Hagrid didn't even know until dinner and then he asked for Harry and I to follow him and Madame Maxime into the Forest."
Snape grunted angrily as McGonagall shook her head, "Dumbledore knew ahead of time. He slipped the information to Karkaroff."
Hermione frowned, "Dumbledore is the only one that could have put our names in the cup. The question is why does he want me to be involved. If it was just Harry, I would believe it being Voldemort, but something isn't adding up."
McGonagall downed the last of the bottle of whiskey, hiccupped and then spoke, "Dumbledore started this war back then. He was the one that went after Tom Riddle. Tom only retaliated after Dumbledore killed his family."
Snape's eyes widened slightly, Hermione shared a curious glance with the Potion's Master, "If Voldemort had a child, that would explain a lot. If he believed Dumbledore killed it then that would explain why he went after the Potters."
Snape shook his head, "He never would have gone after Lilly. He would have been there to help her protect my son."
"James?" She asked hesitantly, knowing the name was a sore spot for Snape.
Snape's lip curled as a soft growl left his throat, "If, and that's a big if, James somehow found out that Harry was mine then no I don't see him hesitating to kill a child, but that still doesn't explain what happened to Voldemort."
Hermione thought back to the books she had read on the boy who lived for a moment before speaking, "The stories all say that Lilly gave her life for Harry, a mother's love rebounded the curse back to Voldemort. What if Voldemort was an innocent bystander? What if Lilly's love for her son somehow was reflected onto Voldemort as well?"
Snape shook his head, "Why would she love him? She and I…"
Hermione shook her head, easing around the desk to place a hand on his shoulder gently, trying to calm him. "No, I meant what if there was a prophecy about Harry and Tom Riddle? Like mine with Narcissa and Bellatrix. What if Voldemort is mated in a way to Harry and Lilly's love of Tom was for that of a son?"
Snape stared at his desk silently, his thoughts swirling wildly.
McGonagall pursed her lips, "If that's the case… Then Potter isn't meant to kill Voldemort as we were told. He's supposed to be reunited with the Dark Lord."
Snape's head snapped up, "Which is why Dumbledore wants to stop him, wants to kill him." His eyes darted up to Hermione's, "But that still doesn't explain your involvement."
Hermione shrugged, exhaustion quickly trying to take hold of her mind, "One thing at a time. If we can figure out how to get to the prophecies, then we'll be that much closer to finding Voldemort. Then we can figure out what the need for my sudden death is. I'm beat. I'm heading to bed."
She made for the door until McGonagall called out, "Miss Granger, well done today. Bellatrix will be proud."
She smirked as she left the office, her heart swelling with warmth. She wanted to make the sisters proud but more than anything she just wanted to be with them. She hated the distance between them now more than ever, the strangest thing however was her including Bellatrix in that statement. She didn't even know the eldest Black, but she wanted to.
She rounded the corner to the Gryffindor tower and paused as she spotted Harry pacing back and forth, "Harry?"
Harry spun to her, relief appearing on his face, "Where have you been Hermione? We've been searching all over for you. We saved you some food."
She smirked at him, "I've got news. Let's get inside. Where's Draco?"
They slipped through the portrait and entered the common room, finding Ron and Draco pacing in front of the fire. Ron spun to face her, "Blimey Hermione I thought we were going to have send out a search party."
She shook her head and sat on the sofa, pulling the plate of food towards her. She spent the rest of the night telling the boys everything. Each were glad that McGonagall was on their side, but the best news hadn't been shared until dawn. She smirked as she stood near the window, preparing to laugh.
"I know who your father is," she started slowly. Harry and Ron frowned at each other before looking back at her expectantly, "Snape."
Three jaws hit the floor as eyes blew wide, pupils shifting quickly. Ron's hair was already blacker than it had been, and she had a feeling it would be returning to its original colour soon. Harry lurched to his feet and began to pace the length of the room.
A wicked grin began to spread across Ron's face, "Severus Snape. Ronald Snape. I can live with that."
Draco chuckled at his boyfriend, "Yes because it just rolls off the tongue. How did you even end up in Gryffindor with Snape as your father?"
Hermione snorted, "He was in love with Lilly and Molly was a Gryffindor."
Harry approached her, "That's why he's been saving my life this whole time?"
She shook her head, "He and your mother were in love but James… He wasn't a good man, Harry. We believe when he found out about the affair and that you are Snape's son, he may have had a hand in Voldemort's death."
Harry's anger flowed through his body, his magic sparking between his fingers. Rage rolled through him as he spoke, "That's why the prophecies are so important to get." At her nod he grit his teeth before taking a deep breath, "We have to find Voldemort before Pettigrew."
Hermione nodded, "I'll be in the library as much as possible today. I'm going to try to find a way to get to our prophecies. Draco pick a fight with Harry in Defense Against the Dark Arts during roll call. It should distract Moody from noticing me missing. I'll see what I can find."
Draco grinned at Harry, "Don't hold back Potter."
Harry's green eyes darkened dangerously, "Wouldn't dream of it."
.
For the next week Hermione spent most of her time in the library, having enough trust with Madam Pince that the woman allowed her into the Restricted Section without a note. By the end of the week, she was about to give up until she found what she had been looking for near the top of the last section, having to climb to the top of the ladder to find it. She took as many notes as she could in the few hours until curfew before quickly returning it to its place and hurrying back to the common room.
Saturday morning, she awoke early and rushed Ron and Harry out of Gryffindor tower. Draco met them at the main doors, and they all hurried towards the Shrieking Shack. She had sent a quick note with Crookshanks to Snape to have him meet them as well.
They slipped into the shack and rubbed their hands together. The cold wind blew through the building with a soft whistle and Draco grimaced, "Winter is here."
Ron smirked at him, "I'll keep you warm." Draco's blush gave his already rosy cheeks even more of a red tinge as he shook his head while kissing Ron on the cheek.
Hermione and Harry simultaneously rolled their eyes as a loud crack sounded upstairs. Hermione smiled, letting her body relax fully as Narcissa's magic searched her out and engulfed her soothingly. She moved towards the base of the stairs and smiled as Narcissa appeared at the top. The woman's blue eyes darkened on sight, and she moved quickly down the stairs, wrapping her arms tight around her waist.
"How are you?" Narcissa asked softly, not noticing the others in the room.
Hermione pressed her lips against Narcissa's softly before grinning, "Better now."
Bellatrix scoffed as she descended the stairs, "Yes, yes. Good to see you. Now care to tell us why we are here so bloody early."
Hermione smirked at the woman before raising an eyebrow at Narcissa. She had received a letter from Narcissa earlier in the week detailing exactly how angry Bellatrix had been. Narcissa complained about having to completely repair two rooms of the Malfoy manor after Bellatrix had all but exploded them.
She slipped away from the woman and moved towards Bellatrix, placing a tender kiss on the woman's cheek before continuing towards the fireplace, "Glad you could join us my Hellcat."
Bellatrix's gasp wasn't missed by Hermione or Narcissa but they both ignored it. Hermione couldn't ignore the smirk on Bellatrix's face at the pet name though and the woman made sure she knew how she felt, "Wouldn't miss it my Vixen."
Hermione nearly choked on her own spit before she regained her composer, shaking her head at the grinning woman, "I found a book on prophecies in the Restricted Section last night."
Harry frowned, "Is that why you missed dinner again?"
She glared at him as Narcissa and Bellatrix leveled glares at her, "I'll deal with you later Harry." He smirked at her; his job done for the time being. She sighed, "Yes, but what I found will help us get into the Ministry later. While there I also figured out how to find our specific prophecies which will be further apart since I'm older than you."
Draco frowned, "I don't think we should be worrying about this right now. There's still two tasks remaining."
"And," Snape entered the room with a smirk, the cold air swirling through the room before he closed the door, "the holidays are coming up which means the Yule Ball." Harry and Ron smiled widely at him, making him hesitate nervously before he glanced at Hermione with narrowed eyes, "You told them."
She shrugged, "I don't keep things from them, and they don't keep things from me."
Harry and Ron launched themselves at the normally stoic man, knocking him backwards before his arms instantly wrapped around them. Hermione chuckled as she stood next to Draco, his arm coming to rest on her shoulder, "Family reunion?"
Hermione snorted, "That is one strange family Draco." They laughed before she shook her head and moved towards Narcissa and Bellatrix, "Is it possible for Narcissa to come to the Ball?" She glanced back over at Snape as he held his boys tightly.
He thought about it for a moment, "No but Dumbledore will be trying to keep you apart so I don't know if we can get around him."
Bellatrix scoffed, "Why can't we just kill him?"
Hermione rolled her eyes at the older witch, even as she moved towards her. She took a deep breath and stepped into the woman's personal space, "Patience is a virtue Hellcat."
Bellatrix's arms wrapped around her waist, jerking the younger witch's body tight against her own. It was an overwhelming feeling for her to need someone so close. She was used to her sisters wanting to be close to her but the idea that someone else wanted it was more than she had ever hoped for. Hermione was more than she could have imagined when she heard the prophecy so long ago. The entire time she spent in Azkaban she couldn't stop thinking about her mate and what she would be like. Now she didn't have to live in a fantasy. The girl was practically made specifically for her.
She leaned forward and nipped at the girl's neck, receiving a soft giggle in response, "I've never been patient and my virtues were lost long ago my little vixen."
Hermione grinned as she wrapped her arms around Bellatrix's neck, her fingers sliding through the thick black curls that were piled high on the woman's head, draping over her shoulders exotically, "You will be for me and I highly doubt that, at least not all of them."
Bellatrix felt her heart skip a beat at the sultry look Hermione gave her before placing a tender loving kiss on her lips. She closed her eyes at the feeling of warmth that crept into her heart, the muscle swelling happily. She opened her eyes with a small smile, seeing the shy grin that Hermione was giving her.
Narcissa moved towards them with a knowing smile, "Have you figured out the egg yet?"
Harry shook his head from his position near Snape, the room having been reset with new clean furniture. He was sitting on the sofa on Snape's right while Ron was on the Potion Master's left, "No but it looks familiar."
Hermione nodded as Bellatrix pulled her to another sofa near the fireplace, "It matches the one in the stain glass window in the Prefect bathrooms. With the mermaid."
Narcissa sat on Hermione's left, Bellatrix cuddling into the girl's right side, "Well you can only understand them underwater."
Hermione grinned over at Harry, "Baths?"
Harry snorted, "Separately."
Hermione glared at him, but Bellatrix responded, "Go anywhere near her naked form and I'll Cruico you myself."
Hermione gave him a toothy grin as she settled back against the cushions, "Well that's one down. What about the Yule Ball?"
Narcissa smiled at her, pulling the younger witch against her side, "I'll be there."
Snape nodded, "Dumbledore already suspects you two are growing closer. He's been watching you during the summers and when you are in the Malfoy Manor, he can't track you. It might be safer for her to be there since Bellatrix can't be."
Bellatrix grunted, "I could if I used a glamour."
Hermione shook her head, "Dumbledore will be looking for something like that if Narcissa is there. He'll expect you to be there too and talking to me." Bellatrix slumped against her side quietly and Hermione couldn't help but chuckle and kiss her head, "We'll have plenty of time together soon."
Narcissa smiled, "So you're coming for the holidays before the Ball?"
Draco grinned, "Before and after. Thanks to Hermione, McGonagall convinced Dumbledore that the participants needed time with family before the next task."
Hermione shrugged, "Just because she had too much to drink on Wednesday while Severus and I were having a meeting as usual, doesn't mean I had anything to do with it."
Snape snorted, "You practically held it under her nose all night."
Hermione narrowed her eyes at him, "I did no such thing." Snape only laughed as she sank deeper into Narcissa's arms, "What can I say, McGonagall likes me." Laughter filled the shack.