A/N: For those of you who were surprised by the double wedding, I realized that I had been dragging my feet and that if Lily and James don't get married soon—Harry's going to be late for his own birthday. And then, I felt that since Hermione and Sirius had actually been working on getting married for a lot longer, it would be weird if Lily and James got married first. So here we go, a double wedding so that everyone (except poor Remus) gets married and continuation of noble and ancient houses proceeds unabated.
Official Disclaimer: If there's a wedding…there's bound to be a wedding night. If the thought of that squicks you out, I suggest you stop reading now. I will try to stay within the realm of that which our supreme overlords have deemed permissible. If I color outside the lines…sigh…well, they'll probably take away my crayons.
HP/HG/HP
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Whoever wed in August be, many a change is sure to see
Wednesday, August 30, 1978, Potter Manor
"Why is your gown blue?" Lily asked curiously.
The redhead looked ethereal in a beautiful white gown that had belonged to her mother. They'd transfigured it just a bit, making a few changes so that it would be Lily's gown, too. She had looked up with a warm smile when Hermione had entered the room, followed by Dorea Potter, but the smile had faltered just slightly when she saw that her best friend was wearing intricate dress robes that were made of a deep shade of blue that flattered Hermione's coloring. She could see tiny crystal beads that picked out some sort of ornate pattern, but the way the dress moved around Hermione made it impossible to determine what the pattern was, specifically.
"Married in blue, your love will be true," Hermione recited with a slight blush and a smile for her friend. "And I see you've gone with 'married in white, you've chosen right'."
"Among muggles, white is the preferred color of wedding gown," Mrs. Evans explained to Hermione with a slight smile. "It became popular in the nineteenth century and implies that the bride is a virgin."
"How fascinating," Dorea Potter said softly, with a slight smile. She waved her wand in a complex display, which made a delicate silvery nimbus around both girls' heads. Her smile became slightly wider and her look was positively smug. "Unfortunately, our girls have no such luck. Your father owes me a hundred galleons, Hermione."
"Mother!" Hermione blushed furiously, and Lily's face pinkened as well. "How could you!"
"I didn't do anything. Your father opened his mouth, and I decided it was an excellent opportunity to make a few galleons," Dorea said with a self-righteous air. Lily was looking at her reflection in the mirror.
"Um, Mrs. Potter? Can you take away the nimbus things?" She asked faintly, an embarrassed flush high on her cheekbones. Dorea patted her comfortingly.
"Unfortunately not, dear. This is a pureblood custom. It has fallen to the wayside because so few girls are able to stand up at their weddings this way, but you both will bring honor and credit to your respective Houses today. Believe me, Lily, this is an important custom…one that Charlus and I think may very well be necessary today," Dorea said firmly, her hazel eyes turning hard and cold. Hermione's eyes narrowed on her mother.
"Are they trying to imply something untoward about Lily?" She asked in a soft voice. Dorea's eyes flicked to her daughter's face and her lips tightened just slightly. Hermione turned to Lily and smiled encouragingly. "You look beautiful, and the silvery halo is like a tiara or—oh! I almost forgot!"
The Potter family had a wealth of jewels that were under the purview of the ladies of the family. After today, Hermione would no longer have the right or the privilege to wear any of them, but Alphard and Sirius had both made passing references to coffers full of jewelry that would be hers. Hermione didn't particularly care one way or the other, but it was expected at events like these and she would need to represent the House of Black well. Regardless, today she was still a Potter, and a flick of her wand brought two velvet boxes into the room. Dorea opened one of the boxes and showed the tiara to Lily. It was goblin-wrought white-gold and diamond with teardrop pearls that moved when Lily turned her head to look at her mother. Dorea and Mrs. Evans carefully attached the veil to the tiara.
"This particular tiara is very, very old and comes to us through the Peverell line," Dorea said quietly as she arranged the veil just so.
"It was made for Sapientia Peverell," Hermione said softly as she watched the two mothers help Lily. Dorea turned to her daughter.
"Really?" She asked in surprise. Hermione nodded.
"It was hers for her wedding day," Hermione said mildly, opening her own velvet box to reveal her tiara. Nestled in the velvet box was another white gold tiara resplendent with diamonds, but this one had fairly substantial sapphires as accents. Her mother moved to help her, and as they both looked in the mirror, Hermione realized that her mother was crying. "Mum?"
"I'm fine," Dorea sniffed delicately and conjured a handkerchief.
There was a soft knock on the door, and Dorea moved to open it. Andromeda Tonks moved into the room wearing beautiful dress robes, her hair pulled back into a sophisticated upswept hairstyle. Her five year-old daughter followed her into the room, wearing a much smaller version of her mother's gown. Hermione had kept this as a surprise for Sirius. She knew that he and James had asked Remus to be the best man for the both of them, and she was happy that he was being included in the wedding party. Hermione had immediately asked Andromeda to be her matron of honor, and young Nymphadora to be her flower girl. Pureblood weddings didn't normally have a flower girl, but she had lied wildly and insisted that they were incorporating muggle elements into the wedding to make Lily feel more comfortable. She knew that Sirius liked and respected his cousin for her courageous choices, and she knew that when he'd been younger they had been friends; having her at his wedding would be special to him.
"Now, Andromeda," Hermione said with a smile and a positively wicked twinkle in her eye. "How do you feel about betrothal contracts for Miss Tonks?"
"You haven't even gotten married yet, Hermione," Andromeda said with a laugh and a shake of her head. "Why don't we wait and see what happens?"
"Dear, is there a reason you're bringing this up?" Dorea asked with a slight frown. Hermione smiled slightly wider and nodded.
"Yes, Mum, but it has nothing to do with any of my children. Meda, how do you feel about betrothing your daughter to an older man?" Hermione asked curiously. Andromeda blinked.
"I would be a bit leery of it," Andromeda said honestly, her brow crinkling slightly. "Why?"
"I would pay careful attention to your daughter today," Hermione said with a smile. "The answer may come to you when you least expect it to."
"Any other words of wisdom before we go out there and show everyone that all their nasty gossip was a steaming pile of manure?" Andromeda asked archly. Lily and Hermione looked at Dorea with stern expressions, but Mrs. Potter just shrugged innocently.
"It seemed like the easiest way to dispel all the rumors," Dorea said defensively. Andromeda looked at Hermione and smirked.
"I'm not sure whether to be proud or disappointed in Sirius," Andromeda said after a moment. Hermione blushed. "Proud, I think. Definitely proud."
Little Nymphadora moved uncertainly down the aisle, stopping at irregular intervals and flinging rose petals at unsuspecting guests. The purebloods were unsure how to respond to this, as flower girls were a new thing to them. The muggleborns and the few muggles in the audience smiled indulgently so the purebloods tried to emulate them and they smiled carefully at the small witch as she made her way down the aisle. Sirius smiled indulgently at his small cousin, who looked very cute in her dress robes. He glanced at James who looked nervous and then at Remus who was staring at the little girl and frowning slightly. Next, Andromeda, his favorite cousin, swept regally down the aisle, looking every inch a daughter of the House of Black. It was a tricky sort of move on Hermione's part, and it showed a sort of solidarity among the Blacks who were déclassé amongst their own family. He smirked at her as she moved closer and the minx winked at him.
When Lily and Hermione appeared together, their fathers flanking them, a soft, but audible gasp swept through the assembly. The silvery nimbus around each girl's head proclaimed to one and all that each young woman came to her marriage as virgo intacta. Sirius felt his heart swell in his chest as soon as he saw Hermione. She looked radiantly beautiful, she seemed to glow from within. He had known that she was untouched, but he felt a certain vindication to have it proclaimed before everyone that they knew, including Hermione's father. The smile she bestowed on him was filled with happiness, and he felt an answering smile spread across his own face. A brief glance at Lily and James showed that they were in a similar boat. The look on Charlus' face when he placed Hermione's hand in his was one of grudging respect.
"Take care of her. She's the most precious thing I have," Charlus muttered gruffly. Sirius nodded.
"I will, sir. I swear it," Sirius said softly, his eyes on Hermione. Charlus stepped away and went to sit with his wife.
The oaths sworn in a wizarding wedding were a surprise to Mr. and Mrs. Evans, and to a lesser extent, Lily. They were swearing oaths on their magic, and the magical bond forming between each couple was easy to see. Sirius and Hermione's bond brought more audible gasps from the crowd because it was obviously a natural bond. Their magic was already pretty well meshed, and the officiant merely blessed their bond rather than invoking it as he did with James and Lily. When James slipped the rather ostentatious wedding ring on her finger, Lily felt tears of happiness well in her eyes and blinked them away rapidly. She looked up at James and saw that he, too, seemed to have some suspicious moisture in his eyes. He grinned at her, and his lips brushed hers to seal the bond. They both felt the tingle of the marriage bond settling over them, binding them for life.
Sirius was holding Hermione's hands tightly so that no one could see that his were shaking. The ring that Alphard had helped him choose for Hermione was very old, and his uncle wasn't sure where it had come from. They had carefully checked the ring to make sure that it didn't have any curses or dark magic; with a Black family heirloom, it paid to be cautious. Two tiny gold lions appeared to be holding up a large ruby surrounded by diamonds. Remus silently handed it to Sirius who took it and carefully slid it onto the first finger of her wand hand. Hermione had suspected that he might continue the theme of all of her betrothal gifts, and the ring that she'd found for him in the Potter vaults was masculine, in the style of a signet ring, with a lion worked into a gold bezel and rubies for eyes. Her small hand steadied his as she slid the ring onto the first finger of his wand hand. Sirius Black was still an intensely private person, but it wasn't hard to see that his eyes were darkened to almost black with the strength of his emotions. When his lips touched hers, she felt their bond respond to their heightened emotions with a light caress along the skin that caused both to shiver slightly.
The large ballroom had been decorated for the celebratory dinner because it was the only room large enough to accommodate all of their guests and even then it had had to be resized. Hermione was passed around for hugs and kisses from a variety of friends and family and was grateful to Sirius when he pulled her into his arms and led her into the ballroom. Hermione had spoken to her mother previously, and Nymphadora, as a member of the wedding party, was seated next to Remus. He was her partner for the meal, and it was his duty to see to her needs. Hermione hid a smile behind her hand as she watched Remus interact with the small girl, a confused frown on his face the entire time.
"I believe I see what you meant," Andromeda commented later, when the Marauders had disappeared for a small amount of time. "He's a werewolf, isn't he? And she's his mate?"
"He's one of the nicest, most honorable men I've ever known," Hermione said firmly, a steely glint in her eye. "However, he tends to doubt his own worth. I think if you and I spoke to his parents, we might be able to arrange a betrothal contract. I'd like to see him wriggle out of that."
"Wriggle out of…you think that he would abandon my daughter?" Andromeda asked coolly, her eyes turning hard and cold. Hermione shrugged and turned to her friend.
"I plan on making sure that he won't think any such thing. He'll have fifteen years to get used to the idea of marrying her. Hopefully that will be long enough," Hermione said dryly. "Uncle Alphard and Sirius will make sure that she has a suitable dowry, and I can't see any reason why the Lupins would object. An alliance with our family would be advantageous."
"It's your wedding day and you're already plotting?" Dorea commented slyly, sitting in Sirius' empty seat. She smirked at her daughter and patted her hand. "I'm so proud of you, love."
"I'm just trying to fit in with the rest of the family, Mum," Hermione said with a smirk of her own.
"Hermione?" Sirius' voice came from behind her chair and she looked up at him. He smiled at her, but she noted that it was a slightly nervous smile. "It's time, kitten."
The subject of honeymoons had come up fairly early on. Sirius had been approached by his uncle with the opportunity to use a Black family property that none of his cousins or their husbands knew about or had access to. It was a tropical island, and Old Hermione had the sneaking suspicion that it was the same island that her Sirius had hidden on for Harry's third and fourth years of school. Needless to say, both Hermiones were fascinated at the prospect and could hardly wait to see the place that the other Sirius had called home for a brief period. Hermione stood gracefully, and hugged her mother and father. Uncle Alphard came over for a quick hug, which Hermione suspected was just an excuse to tease Sirius because afterwards she was pulled up against his side and held there with a dark glare at his uncle. Everything had already been packed and sent ahead, so Hermione and Sirius waved good-bye to everyone and went to the family's apparition point.
"What do you want to do first, kitten?" Sirius asked her in a husky voice. She glanced up at him, watching his eyes turning almost black and she smiled.
"Are we alone here?" she asked curiously. He nodded, his eyes watching her. She blushed, her cheeks turning pink. He cupped her face in his hands and brushed his lips against hers, which made her skin tingle and her eyes flutter closed.
"Don't be afraid to tell me what you want, Hermione," Sirius said thickly, struggling for control. "You have nothing to be embarrassed about with me."
"I want you," she said softly, the blush turning a shade darker. He swallowed and took her hand in his.
"All right then," he said faintly and practically dragged her toward the bedroom. Hermione stood in the center of the room hesitantly, staring at him with wide hazel eyes.
Relax. He loves you and he's going to be as careful as he can.
For Merlin's sake! Do you need to be here now?
I'm here all the time, love. I have nowhere else to go. However, in this instance, I might be able to help.
Help? Like how?
Here, just…relax.
"What do you want me to do?" Hermione asked after a moment. She felt calmer now, and she wasn't as worried about what was going to happen.
"I want you to relax," Sirius said with a slight smile, in an echo of Old Hermione. Then he waved his wand with a flick of his wrist. "And…it might help if we both had less clothing on."
Nimue's Blessed Toes!
What? Oh…my. Is that normal?
Well, that all depends on what you're talking about. They normally look similar to that, yes. He's excited right now, and attracted to you, so the fact that he's…er…at attention is normal, too. The…erm…size is not exactly normal. Your new husband is what we like to call 'blessed'. If I had known…well…I think I would have chained him to his bed and damned the consequences.
Chained him to the…Sirius isn't going to do that to me, is he?
Not unless you ask him to, honey. He's going to take all his cues from you.
She moved toward him then, and she noticed that he was watching her carefully. She slid her arms around his neck and kissed him. Then she giggled and pulled back a little.
"What?" He asked curiously, his hands stroking the soft skin of her sides. She looked down and then looked up at him.
"Without clothes on, that's a lot harder to ignore. It's quite warm, isn't it?" Hermione said thoughtfully. Sirius laughed and kissed her on the nose.
He was incredibly patient and gentle, and allowed Hermione to touch him as much as she wanted to while his fingers roamed over her soft skin. Their magic was flaring and expanding, meshing and coalescing around them and both of them could feel their skin tingling in response. Sirius led Hermione gently toward the bed and pulled her into his lap. She wrapped her legs around his waist and put her arms around his neck. Their magic seemed to humming, but all she cared about were Sirius' lips on hers, and his hands on her skin. He lifted her up carefully, and she braced herself on his shoulders.
Why is he doing it like this?
Oh, well, remember when I told you he was going to take all his cues from you? This position allows you to control everything.
"Go as slowly as you need to, kitten," Sirius managed to pant at her and she nodded slowly.
Inch by torturous inch, she slid further down until she was fully seated on him. When that happened their magic flared wildly and they stared at one another. Hermione could feel how tight and wet and warm it was to be inside her, and she heard or felt the passing thought or feeling that it was the most heavenly place to be in the world, and she blushed. Sirius could feel how incredibly full and stretched to capacity Hermione felt and he blinked in surprise. She shifted a little in nervousness and they both moaned and then blinked at one another.
"Is that, are we?" Sirius asked cautiously. Hermione bit her lip.
"I think it's the natural bond," she muttered. "If I remember correctly, once it's complete this will be normal for us and hopefully we'll get used to it."
Hermione shifted slightly again and tried to figure out what worked best for her. Due to their emotional link, whatever she did was pleasurable for the both of them. Sirius' strong hands cupped her bum and helped her support herself. Soon, the feelings and sensations overrode everything else and she was lost to everything but the magic, which seemed to be binding them tighter and tighter.
"Sirius," she gasped as everything seemed to be winding tighter and tighter. He held her in his arms and pressed kisses along her jaw.
"Hang on, kitten," he rasped. She could feel how close he was, and she could feel him try to hold himself back because he wanted her to be with him. It was just like the broom closet again, they were the only two people in the whole universe and their magic was winding about them and binding them closer and closer until Sirius' thumb found her and she exploded around him. She clung to his shoulders, shuddering against him as he fell off the edge and joined her. They held onto one another until they were both calm, and their breathing had returned to normal, and then Sirius rained tiny kisses over her face.
"Come on, love," he murmured, and scooped her up in his arms, carrying her into the bathroom.
"Ooh, it looks like the prefect's bathroom," she said dazedly as he set her down. He quirked a brow at her.
"How do you know what the prefect's bathroom looks like?" he asked dryly.
"Never you mind," Hermione said primly. She looked around curiously. "Why did you bring me here?"
"Because you're going to want to have a nice soak, and you feel sore and it will help." He pointed out with a raised eyebrow.
"You can feel that I feel sore?" Hermione said faintly. He nodded with a slight flush on his cheeks and she blushed.
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HP/HG/HP
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October 1, 1978
You can wipe that smug look off your face before your parents see you.
I do not look smug.
Oh, yes you do, but if I had had Sirius Black in my bed for a month straight I'd be impossibly smug. I might even take out an ad in the Daily Prophet.
Don't be silly.
If it helps at all, he looks ridiculously smug as well. Your father may be forced to hit him.
"Hermione! Sirius!" Dorea Potter called as she ran toward them, embracing her daughter and then moving on to her son-in-law. "That tropical sun seems to have been wonderful for the both of you, you both look so fit and tan."
"Princess," Charlus Potter swept his daughter up and hugged her tightly. He pulled back and smiled at her. "You're looking well. You too, Sirius."
"Thank you, sir," Sirius said with a happy smile at his bride.
"We're headed to the townhouse, but we wanted to come see you and let you know that we were fine, and that we're home," Hermione explained to her parents. Dorea and Charlus nodded their understanding.
"James and Lily are supposed to be home next week," Dorea said with a slight smile. "They're spending a week in Wales with Mr. and Mrs. Evans and then they'll be home. We're going to have a family dinner next Sunday. Sirius, please tell your Uncle Alphard that we would love to see him there as well."
"Yes, ma'am. He'll be honored, even if his schedule doesn't permit it," Sirius said with a smile.
The London townhouse was lovely and it was in a nicer area than Sirius' childhood home. Hermione quickly had everything squared away with the house elf staff at their new home, and was able to concentrate on her correspondence. She had several urgent notes from Regulus and Severus. The Ladies' Aide Society wanted her help with an upcoming 'fundraiser', and Augusta Longbottom had invited her to tea. Hermione quickly responded to Severus and Regulus, arranging a meeting with them as soon as possible. She accepted Mrs. Longbottom's offer for tea, and told the Ladies' Aide Society that she would love to be a part of their next fundraiser. She then also wrote Andromeda Tonks and invited her and Miss Tonks to a small luncheon next week. She smirked to herself for a moment, and then sent off an invitation to Mrs. John Lupin as well.
"You're humming. I'm always suspicious of you when you hum like that," Sirius observed from the doorway of her small parlor. He was leaning against the door frame watching her with a slight smirk. She turned from her secretariat desk and raised an eyebrow at him.
"Why, Mr. Black, I'm shocked at your insinuation," she said with a delicate sniff.
"What are you up to, kitten?" Sirius asked with a slight frown. She smiled secretively at him.
"I've invited Mrs. Lupin and Andromeda for a small luncheon," she said mildly, shaking out her new, longer robes. Sirius' eyebrows rose in surprise.
"Remus' mum? What on earth for?" Sirius asked in surprise. Hermione's eyes narrowed.
"I suspect she isn't invited into polite society much because of Remus' condition," Hermione explained gently. Sirius thought for a moment and then he nodded at her.
"That's very sweet, kitten. Thank you," he said quietly. Hermione blinked at him.
"Remus is my friend as well," she reminded him.
"True," he agreed. "Haven't seen much of him lately, though. We saw him at the wedding, but aside from that he's been rather scarce."
"He's not eligible for the Auror program," Hermione pointed out gently. "In fact, the ministry has fairly rigid guidelines in place so that he can't apply for any position at all."
"I forgot about that," Sirius muttered in embarrassment, his face flushed. Hermione shrugged.
"Remus Lupin is not the sort of wizard that whinges about the things he cannot do and cannot have," Hermine observed mildly. "Besides, I believe Dumbledore has him on a special assignment."
"Did you See it? Or have Severus or Regulus heard about it?" Sirius asked worriedly, his brow furrowing in concern for his friend.
"I've Seen it," Hermione told him. "He is unusual among the werewolves because he is able to ignore the orders of Fenrir Greyback. I may be mistaken, but I believe this makes him an Alpha, or at the least a lone wolf. Dumbledore is hoping that he can sway some of the werewolves to follow him. Unfortunately, Dumbledore doesn't really understand werewolf culture. Remus is not accepted because he is a wizard, and because he is able to ignore Greyback. The others resent him."
"Is he in danger?" Sirius demanded, frowning sharply. Hermione bit her lip.
"He is in as much danger as you are when you go out as an Auror," Hermione said finally. Sirius snorted at her.
"Killed at any time then?" He asked dryly. Hermione paled.
"That's not funny, Sirius," she said softly, her hazel eyes on his face. He sighed and dropped a kiss on her brow.
"No, kitten, it isn't." He cupped her face and looked into her eyes. "Have Mrs. Lupin over for a luncheon then, if it makes you feel better."
"Thank you for understanding, Sirius," Hermione said with a slight smile. He dropped another kiss on her brow and left to work on a project for the Order.
Dining with Andromeda Tonks, Nymphadora Tonks and Mrs. Lupin was interesting to the say the least. Hermione had requested that Miss Tonks' meal be the type of food that would appeal to a five year-old girl. Mrs. Lupin kept looking about the room as though she couldn't quite figure out how she'd gotten here, and expected to be asked to leave at any moment. Andromeda was in her element, and Hermione could tell that she'd missed the camaraderie and friendship of her old circle of friends. Hermione made sure that she kept the conversation light and polite, and tried to include Nymphadora as often as possible.
"Mrs. Black, as pleasant as this afternoon has been, I can't help that you had a reason for inviting me," Mrs. Lupin said with a careful politeness. Hermione nodded gravely.
"Indeed, Mrs. Lupin," she agreed. "I've invited you to discuss your son's future."
"His…Mrs. Black, you do know that his…affliction shortens his lifespan by decades?" Mrs. Lupin asked sharply. Hermione frowned slightly.
"When Remus was bitten that was true, yes. However, there is a new potion, which drastically reduces the wear and tear on his body and mind," Hermione said carefully. "In light of that, I think it prudent to consider his future."
"What are you talking about? The Ministry isn't going to magically start hiring werewolves," Mrs. Lupin snapped, her protective instincts for her son raised. Hermione nodded.
"You are quite right. The Ministry will continue to be the breeding ground for idiots and sycophants," Hermione agreed. "I don't think that we really need to worry about that, though. No, I'm talking about marriage."
"Marriage? Who in their right mind would allow their daughter to be betrothed to a werewolf?" Mrs. Lupin asked in shock. Hermione smirked slightly and Andromeda rolled her eyes at her friend.
"I can see you biting your lips to avoid making a joke about the fact that most Blacks are not in their right minds," Andromeda drawled coolly. Mrs. Lupin blinked at her in surprise.
"I beg your pardon?" Mrs. Lupin said in a stunned voice.
"You know that I am Andromeda Tonks, but I was born a Black. This is my daughter, Nymphadora," Andromeda explained carefully. "At Hermione's wedding, we realized that Dora here is Remus' mate."
"Is she?" Mrs. Lupin asked faintly waving her hand slightly, silently asking if Nymphadora was a werewolf as well. The other two women shook their heads negatively.
"No, ma'am, but that doesn't make her any less his mate," Hermione said gently.
"But the children," Mrs. Lupin said faintly. Hermione shook her head.
"No. The children will be fine. Well, they'll have Black blood, and they do tend toward insanity, but aside from that…they'll be fine," Hermione explained carefully. Andromeda mock glared at her from across the table and a faint smile curved Mrs. Lupins' lips.
"I…we never thought," Mrs. Lupine murmured to herself thoughtfully. She finally looked up at both women. "Why?"
"You have done a wonderful job, Mrs. Lupin," Hermione said quietly. "Your son is one of the kindest, gentlest, most noble men I know. He is honorable, trustworthy and chivalrous. In short, he is everything that every woman hopes her own sons will be. I am privileged enough to call Remus Lupin my friend, and he is my husband's friend as well. I would go so far as to say that my husband and my brother consider him family."
"Ah," Mrs. Lupin said with a nod. Family was important in the wizarding world, and Mrs. Lupin could understand that.
"Which actually brings me to another concern that I have," Hermione said carefully. Andromeda frowned slightly and turned her head toward her friend.
"Yes?" Mrs. Lupin asked carefully.
"Your husband is still, er, outspoken…politically…one assumes?" Hermione asked as politely as possible. Mrs. Lupin sighed and nodded.
"He is," Mrs. Lupin said slowly. "Perhaps even more so because of Remus."
"I admire his desire to stand up for his rights," Hermione soothed, proceeding carefully. "I was wondering if he might be open to a certain arrangement?"
"It would depend on the arrangement," Mrs. Lupin said dryly. "John is a man of firm morals."
"I know that many people discount the Quibbler due to its more esoteric subject matter, but Xenophilius Lovegood is a man of similarly firm morals. He is not afraid to confront the Ministry in print," Hermione observed mildly.
"I see," Mrs. Lupin said carefully, in a voice that implied that she most certainly did not see.
"Due to a substantial investment from an outside source, the Quibbler finds itself in the unusual position of being able to hire a reporter," Hermione continued gracefully, smiling slightly at Andromeda who was watching her with an expression of fascination. Mrs. Lupin frowned slightly.
"And Lovegood wants to hire John?" Mrs. Lupin guessed with a slight frown.
"Yes, unfortunately, you'll be forced to move to a small house owned by the Quibbler, and live there rent free while Mr. Lupin works on the paper. Xenophilius insists on having his reporters close at hand so they can discuss their work," Hermione said mildly.
"Rent free?" Mrs. Lupin echoed sharply. "And John would be paid, as well?"
"Yes. Of course, when Xenophilius approaches Mr. Lupin, he may neglect to mention this, but he's an artistic spirit and he feels that money sullies his work. I'm worried that Mr. Lupin may receive the wrong impression, and may reject Mr. Lovegood's offer, not realizing that it is a genuine, substantial offer," Hermion fretted convincingly, biting her lip and wringing her hands.
"I see," Mrs. Lupin said with a slight frown.
"And there's the small matter of Nymphadora as well. Even though Cygnus Black has disowned Andromeda, Alphard Black is the Head of our family and he has promised to provide a dowry for the girl," Hermione explained carefully.
"I must speak to my husband," Mrs. Lupin said, clearly overwhelmed at all the information she was receiving today.
"Of course," Hermione agreed. "The house is located near Ottery St. Catchpole, close to Mr. Lovegood's house and another magical family, the Weasleys, I believe. Here is the address for the house that belongs to the Quibbler. I'm sure your husband will want to look it over."
"Thank you, Mrs. Black," Mrs. Lupin said in a somewhat dazed voice.
"Oh, no, Mrs. Lupin, if your husband is willing to work for the Quibbler, he will be instrumental in the war effort, and we will be thanking you for your sacrifices," Hermione said firmly.
"Sacrifices?" Mrs. Lupin asked sharply. Hermione nodded earnestly.
"Of course. Moving is such a chore after all, and Ottery St. Catchpole is rather quiet and cozy. It's certainly not fashionable," Hermione explained with a slight smile, knowing that everything she was saying would reassure Mrs. Lupin.
"I'll speak to John," were her parting words as she nodded to both ladies and took her leave. Andromeda was staring at her in wonder.
"You…you…does Sirius realize what he's done?" Andromeda asked curiously.
"I doubt it," Hermione said with a slight smile.
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HP/HG/HP
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Shopping in Diagon Alley was one of the things that one had to do at one point or another. Hermione was still adjusting to being called Mrs. Black everywhere she went. She had had several unfortunate mishaps where her orders had been confused with her husband's estranged mother. Really, why on earth would someone need a case of mummified bat's wings? One or two, sure…but a case? Hermione bit her lips as she walked and thought about that. What if Alphard was right? She had supposed that her new uncle-by-marriage was sad to see his cousin become so twisted and cruel, but what if he was right and Orion Black was cursed or Imperiused? With a case of bat's wings, Hermione wondered if maybe some sort of potion wasn't responsible. She was willing to bet that a strong-willed man like Orion Black had been would have been able to throw off an Imperius. She wandered toward Flourish & Blott's and began to look for books on potions. Hermione was deep in the stacks, nibbling her lower lip and frowning, unsure of which book to purchase when she felt that she was being watched. She straightened up immediately and turned toward the source of the feeling.
"Mrs. Malfoy," she said politely, with a slight nod of her head. They were related by marriage now, it wouldn't hurt her to be polite. Then she noticed that Narcissa seemed rather wan and pale and she smiled encouragingly at her.
"Mrs. Black," Narcissa said as though the words pained her greatly, and nodded her head as well.
"Are you well?" Hermione asked cautiously. Narcissa's face looked slightly pinched and somewhat pained.
"I'm fine, thank you for your concern," Narcissa managed to bite out between clenched teeth.
Purebloods often found it difficult to conceive children due to the excessive inbreeding, and the Potter's story was not unusual by any means. Old Hermione had not been privy to the vagaries of Lucius and Narcissa's marriage and relationship, but Hermione P—er, Black stood there and frowned slightly. Could Narcissa have had a miscarriage? It was entirely possible. She looked it, certainly. Hermione knew how much Narcissa loved Lucius, and she would view a miscarriage as a failure on her part to carry on the glorious Malfoy line…or something. Hermione sighed and decided to be kind to her new cousin-in-law. Certainly one of the less pleasant members, but also not the worst of the lot.
"You will give him a son," Hermione said softly enough that no one else could hear. Narcissa stiffened and her eyes narrowed in anger.
"Excuse me?" She demanded coldly.
"You will give him a son," she repeated. "He will be so happy, and so proud that he is going to name him using the Black family customs."
"He…he will?" Narcissa asked faintly, hope flickering feebly in her eyes. Hermione bit her lip slightly and then looked sternly at Narcissa.
"You must not spoil him, even if he is the only child you have. Spoiling him will only make him turn out like your sister, Bellatrix. You will love him, of course, but that doesn't mean you can't be firm with him. He won't break, Narcissa," Hermione said firmly. Narcissa nodded, dazed.
"I—I…thank you, Hermione," she whispered, and then Narcissa Malfoy was gone.
I think that was our good deed for the millennium.
You don't understand, children are a very big deal to the pureblood families.
You're worried that you and Sirius won't have any?
I have dreams about the twins…but they're just dreams.
Bloody awful dreams, you mean.
Well, yes, but what if that never happens?
Merlin's beard, I truly hope it doesn't.
No! Not the repudiation, I have no contact with anyone part. The babies part.
Aren't we kicking ass and taking names right now?
Well, yes. We are, and we're quite busy at it. It's just…later. Down the road I mean.
Oh, well, down the road sure. It would be fabulous. Right now, though, we have dark lords to squash.
Indeed. Our Ladies' Aide Society has been doing excellent work, protecting targeted families. Any time our milites hear of an attack, or I see it, we've warded the houses of muggles, and moved the magical families.
How do they choose the muggle families? Have you determined that, yet?
You won't like it.
Probably not, but tell Auntie Hermione anyway.
Usually? It's families that have magical children. Somehow…they're accessing the books at Hogwarts. The books that list incoming students.
That's…that's…I…I think I'm going to be sick.
You can't be sick. I'm not certain, mind you. It's a theory that I have.
Your theories are very often right.
Unfortunately, you're right.
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HP/HG/HP