Hey, I know this is technically the start of a new week, but this week flew by. After next chapter we will be back at Hogwarts. I know some people want to get to the 'action.' I promise every chapter has had something that really does tie in, even if no one noticed it. As always, I own nothing. Thanks for reading! (And any errors that exist are there because I typed all of this today and just wanted to get it posted. And anything I'm not catching, I won't any time soon.)

Chapter 27

Saturday morning the snow began falling. Harry and Hermione watched it out the kitchen window at Black Cottage. The night before Sirius mentioned he would be taking Dudley to visit Petunia and Vernon since they had been settled into prison. Hermione decided to visit as moral support. She knew Harry would have no desire to go, and Dudley would be devastated after. They stood in companionable silence as the spinning snowflakes landed. Drifts accumulated on the patio furniture Sirius neglected to put up for the winter. "Did Sirius mention how bad their sentences ended up being?"

"I didn't ask. I assume pretty bad. Our barristers advised the prosecution drop the child abuse and endangerment charges, and go after the money charges. Unless everyone wanted to drag us minors through drama of testifying. Everyone agreed the other charges were severe enough and pretty airtight." Harry dragged his hand through his hair, sighing. "Am I a bad person for not wanting to go?"
"Are you happy Dudley's upset about his parents?"

"No."

"Do you intend to mock him or his parents' situation?"

Harry looked affronted, "No."

"Are you looking forward to telling everyone who knows him every scandalous detail?"

"NO!"

"No need to shout, Harry. I'm only listing the things a bad, or rather, a cruel person would do."

"Oh."

"Yes, oh. So long as you show Dudley compassion, you good person status should remain in good standing."

"Okay. Maybe I'll suggest going to the movies tonight if he needs a distraction."

"He might like that." They lapsed back into silence.

Hermione began preparing sandwiches for lunch when a somber looking Sirius and Dudley opened the front door. Harry rush to them. "How did it go?"

Dudley sighed and continued walking towards the kitchen. "Dad's really bitter. He spent the whole visit ranting. He's going to get his revenge on everyone: you, Sirius, the police, the Crown, Mum." Dudley sat down at the table. "He got the max sentence for every charge, so he'll be away for, well, forever."

"I'm sorry, Dudley." Harry said sadly, sitting down besides his cousin.

Dudley shrugged. "He did this to himself. He could have paid taxes on that money, he could have admitted to receiving it. He could have treated you like a human being, and not taught me to mistreat you as well. He got seven years for the tax evasion and live for cheating the Revenue, and for not being the least bit repentant."

"How's Aunt Petunia?"

"Better than Dad. Mum asked to be tried separately, and after observing Dad for an afternoon the judge agreed it was in her best interest. She got thirteen years, one for each year she cheated the Revenue, and six months for false documentation. But her sentences can be served concurrently. Plus they both have a bunch of fines." He gave Hermione a small smile when she handed him a sandwich. "Thanks. She seemed happy to see me. Pleased to hear about my grades and boxing. Sirius told her to send letters for me to him and he'd pass them along. She hadn't been writing because she didn't want to embarrass me."

"I'll change the envelope and send it along Dudley can send me his replies and I'll send them along."

"Thanks, Sirius."

"Not a problem, pup."

"I thought I was pup." Harry protested.

"You're prongslet. James called you that as a baby. Dudley's pup."

Harry considered it for a moment. "I think I like it." He took a bite of his sandwich. "What happens next?"

"Petunia petitioned for divorce. She wants free, and I don't blame her. The house sold, after paying the lawyer fees, and fines, there isn't much left. Petunia's managed to get that put in a trust for Dudley."

"But we're not going to dwell on this all day and be mopey." Dudley declared.

"Do you want to go see a movie?" Harry asked.

"Yeah. How about the new Ace Ventura movie?"

"Yes!" Harry agreed enthusiastically.

Hermione rolled her eyes. "I am so grateful to have plans this evening." They all laughed. After the boys explained the plot, an enthusiastic Sirius agreed to go.

Once again dressed semi-formally, Hermione waited for the rest of the family. Her dark amethyst dress flattered her figure nicely, while still being rather modest. She wore mostly Malfoy jewelry that night, except the for the Black hair clip Sirius gave him, and Theo's bracelet.

"You look lovely, my treasure." She jumped at the sound of his voice startled her. "Sorry, I thought you heard me."

"It's all right. Thank you."

"Something troubling you?"

"Just thinking about the money Mrs Dursley put in a trust for Dudley. I wonder if she or Sirius thought about investing some of it for him?"

"I suspect not, but I will mention it to him."

"Thank you, Daddy."

He kissed her forehead, "You're most welcome, my treasure."

Mr and Mrs Pucey greeted them warmly before handing the teenagers off the Adrian. He escorted them to the room set aside for the younger set. "You should know everyone, Draco. Though, word of warning, my cousins are visiting from France."

Hermione raised a questioning eyebrow at Draco's full body shudder. "Lovely girls, but both are obsessed with the idea of landing a wealthy husband. The sooner the better."

"Just mention you only stand to inherit half your family's fortune now." Hermione shrugged.

"Still a lot of money, sister dear."

"Then, brother mine, tell them I'm an overprotective older sister, and I bite." Draco laughed. Together they circulated around the room, mingling with the other guests before taking seats on one of the couches scattered about the room. Blaise and Theo had yet to arrive.

"Mrs Zabini likes to make an entrance. So, they're always fashionably late."

"And Blaise has inherited her flair for the dramatics."

Draco chuckled, "No matter how much he tries to deny it."

Numerous classmates stopped by, some sat and stayed for a bit, others exchanged pleasantries and continued on their way. Eventually, Adrian's cousins located Draco. With excited squeals of French, the girls launched themselves onto the couch next to him, shoving Hermione aside. "How disappointing to discover so few students from Beaubatons have any manners to speak of, Draco."

The girls glared at her. Draco chuckled. "Hermione, these are Ade's cousins, Misses Sandrine and Mireille Dubois. Miss Dubois, this is my sister Hermione Malfoy."

"Oui, the missing one." Sandrine nodded.

"You must be so 'appy she return, non?" Mireille giggled.

"We're all very happy to have Hermione back."

"Hermione would be happier if the Dubois sisters would sit elsewhere." when the girls began shoving to sit on Draco's lap, Hermione sighed and stood. She grabbed each girls' collar and separated them. "You are in public. Stop embarrassing yourselves and Draco." She hissed. A glance around the room showed only the closest people noticed anything, but they did notice. The girls stopped instantly. "That's better. Now, woman to woman, this is ridiculous. This is not how you get a boyfriend."

Mireille sniffed, "We do not need petit amis. We just need fiances to turn into 'usbands."

"It 'elps if said fiance likes you, but really all we need is the approval of the father." Sandrine retorted haughtily.

"Where Draco's concerned, that is a false assumption. Malfoy children have final say in who they marry. So I suggest you start treating Draco like a person instead of a possession to fight over."

The girls pouted. "Drakie poo likes it when we fight over him."

Hermione's raised eyebrow suggested that if Draco agreed everyone, including Sirius, Harry, and Dudley, would know that nickname by the end of the night. "No, I do not. Nor do I like that nickname. Furthermore, any arsehole who says he likes girls fighting over him, likes the attention, not you."

"But," Sandrine pouted.

"No." Draco said firmly. "Hermione is right. If you really liked me, not just act like you do." He stalked off, leaving Hermione with the rather irate Dubois sisters.

Both girls glared at her menacingly. "I suggest you stop those thoughts of revenge now before you get yourselves hurt. I'm fast with my wand and have no problem with escalation. And I don't fear the nuclear option." The girls looked confused. "Attempt any of those nasty curses you're thinking of and I will hex you bald for the next forty years. Then I will cover you in warts and boils from head to toe." The girls covered their hair and with their hands and shrank back. "Now go annoy someone else." The French witches fled.

A slightly older wizard, who Hermione vaguely recognized approached. "That was hot."

"Not very lady like, I'm afraid."

"Being lady like is overrated. Most witches go all passive aggressive, completely fake." He stepped closer, his larger frame crowding her a little. "It's a refreshing change."

"So glad I could be of service." She rolled her eyes.

He laughed, "Just delightful."

"She is, and rather spoken for." Hermione spun around. Theo stood behind her glaring at the wizard. She beamed and lunged forward to hug him, causing his glare to soften. His lips twitched as he fought to keep from smiling. He wrapped his arms around her.

"Hello, sweet. Flint."

The older wizard frowned, but nodded in greeting. "No engagement ring, so there's always the chance someone will swoop in for the steal."

Hermione narrowed her eyes. "I am not a quaffle, Mr Flint." She turned her body to face him, not leaving Theo's embrace."

"No, princess, if you were quidditch related you would be the golden snitch. But even I know how much you dislike endless quidditch talk, so I would never compare you to either." He gave her a crooked smile.

"Knock it off, Flint." Theo growled.

"Afraid of some competition, Nott?"

Hermione felt Theo tense for a moment. She squeezed his arm and he relaxed. "No, not really. Lucius told me months ago, Hermione can have who ever she wants. And she can have me for as long as she wants me." Theo shrugged. "Not much I can do to change that."

"Well, there are things, but you all ready do most of them." Hermione purred.

"So there's room for improvement?" Terence Higgs asked, an odd gleam in his eye.

"No one's perfect." she shrugged. "I'm sure there are things he wishes I did or didn't do. If any of them are important, I'll tell him. Right now nothing immediately comes to mind." Higgs smiled slid from his face. "Sorry to disappoint you."

Flint smirked at her, "We'll just take notes and wait in the wings, in case he screws up."

"Very optimistic of you, Mr Flint."

"Hope springs eternal, Miss Malfoy."

"Indeed." She raised an eyebrow at him. They regarded each other in perfect silence for several seconds, then both burst into laughter. The rest of the group joined them. The topic of conversation shifted to the love potion investigations and the political ramifications it could have. Hermione and Theo remained silent, citing the fact that they were part of the active investigation.

While no one else attempted to overtly flirt in front of Theo, Hermione felt like several attempted to impress her, while others tested the waters, searching for possible openings. She felt grateful both Draco and Theo remained close. It seemed she was the main course at a holiday feast. If not for their presences, she suspected the sharks would have been circling like they scented blood in the water.

She laughed at jokes and discussed magical theories and gossip. She genuinely enjoyed herself. A part of her revealed on being included in the inside jokes, not the brunt of them. Other than a few derogatory comments about brainless Gryffindors and spineless Hufflepuffs in general, no one seemed the brunt of any jokes beyond good nature ribbing between friends. Usually, at this kind of function she felt out of place and awkward. Almost like she expected someone would point out she didn't belong. Intellectually she knew that if she had still been the muggleborn, Hermione Jean Granger, not pureblood, Hermione Celeste Malfoy, her reception would be different. But the one time someone started say mudblood, the others stopped her. Both Draco and Theo entertained with stories of their antics in the muggle world. Several purebloods looked interested. Others scowled, but remained silent. Hermione noted the identities she knew from both groups.

A joking comment made by Dudley the night before had Harry making a last minute shopping trip to an magical exotic pet shop. After a brief consultation he left, confident in his purchase. He had nearly reached the brick wall leading to the Leaky Cauldron, when a voice he dreaded called his name.

"Harry, my boy!" Dumbledore strode towards him. He moved in front of Harry, blocking the pathway.

"Professor, happy Christmas."

"Happy Christmas to you. I was disappointed to learn you refused to visit your aunt and uncle in prison. I urge you to forgive them. Holding onto hatred only leads to dark places."

"I would forgive them if they acknowledged they did anything wrong. And I might go see them if they asked to see me. But, professor, the truth is they probably don't want to see me anymore than I want to see them. That doesn't make us bad people."

"I also wish you would reconsider not moving into Grimmauld Place. It is safer."

"For who? Dudley, who can't see or locate it without magical help? Or Sirius, who grew up abused there? We'll stay where we are. Thanks."

"Voldemort," Dumbledore began.

"Tom Riddle is a clay golem. Maintaining that form requires most of his magic. And Wormtail was next to useless last I saw." Harry began moving around the wizard. "Maybe you should focus more on what's going on at your school, and less on where I live." Harry stomped towards the brick exit until he remembered the fragile package in his pocket and slowed down.

Sirius remained dubious of Harry and Dudley's secondary present, but said nothing against it. Harry sent Hermione a note requesting she come early and bring Crookshanks.

"All right, I'm here." Hermione entered the living room wearing jeans and a silk blouse. "What was so important I had to come so early?" Sirius grinned at her choice of clothes. "Happy Christmas."

"My hero."

"Harry?" she asked again.

"Okay, we were goofing around yesterday, and I mentioned worrying about security after we go back to school. Dudley suggested a guard dog, but someone would notice. She we did research and found this." He pulled open a small box and opened the lid. Nestled inside lay a tiny emerald green snake. "Guard snake. This is a Zithna snake. They have the ability to form a telepathic bond with a magical being. She thinks she'll like you, and likes the idea of being a bodyguard. I told her about you."

"Zithna snakes, aren't they ridiculously venomous?"

"Only when they want to be. They are incredibly intelligent. Tangle can read."

"Tangle?"

"She likes to hide in hair."

"I plenty of that."

"So, what do you think?"

"She'll bite Ron the first week back."

"Forget about the ginger carrot."

"I think she's adorable. Crooksie?" The snake raised her head to regard the half kneazle. The animals touched noses and turned to regard Hermione. Crookshanks purred. "I think we're in agreement then. Hello, Tangle."

The tiny snake blinked twice. Hello. She worked her way up Hermione's arm and into her hair. I look forward to being your warrior. Lucius heartily approved of the gift when he learned of it. Even Narcissa found the snake enchanting.

Once the party was in full swing, Hermione and Harry took Sirius into the parlor. "We have a surprise for you." Harry grinned madly. They moved a drape to reveal a fully restored Black family tapestry. Every face appeared, smiling and unblemished.

Sirius stepped forward, reverently touching his face, then Andromeda's. "What?" A line lead from Andromeda to connect with Edward Tonks, from them a line dropped to Nymphadora Tonks. "You restored us." He whispered.

"Every last one. But that's not all we did." Hermione pointed to the area with James Potter and Lily Evans Potter. From Lily a line added Dudley Vernon Dursley. A series of dashed lines connected Hermione Malfoy, Harry Potter, and Dudley Dursley to Sirius Black. "We made sure everyone would know that we were a little family."

"Do you like it?" Harry asked in a worried voice.

"Do I like it? That doesn't even come close to expressing how much I love this. You even added Dudley."

"Of course, he's family." Harry replied. Sirius embraced them both tightly. "I'm raising your allowances." He ran off to find Andromeda and show her the new, improved, Black family tapestry.

The next morning, Draco launched himself onto Hermione's bed, bouncing to wake her. "Happy Christmas! Wake up! Presents!"

"Draco! Stop it! What time is it?"

"Time to get up. It's Christmas morning."

She laughed, "Are you five?"

"No, but I missed getting to do this when we were little. And Theo knows to ward the door. C'mon, open your stocking." He perched on the foot of the bed as she neatly emptied the red velvet stocking. Calmly she placed an orange next to the pile of candy. She smiled to see only her preferred treats, sugar quills and cauldron cakes.

"Are Mum and Dad up yet?"

"They have a ward on the top of the staircase, it will go off when we go down. They'll meet us at the parlor. Apparently, as a child I often tried to sneak down and open all the presents." He bounced again. "C'mon." An angry hiss stopped him cold. "Wait, where is Tangle."

"Under the pillow. But she'd like you to stop. She's sleeping."

"Does she want to come with us?"

"No, she's sleeping."

The siblings went to collect Theo, Hermione easily passing through the anti-Draco wards. Hermione leaned over and gentle kissed his lips to wake him. Arms snaked out from under the blanket and dragged her into the bed. "Good morning, sweet. May I say this is the nicest Christmas wake up I've ever received at Malfoy Manor." He kissed her.

"I'm glad you enjoyed it. But we need to get up. If we take too long a certain bored wizard will wander downstairs, waking my parents. Who will certainly question where we are."

"I hate him sometimes." Theo dropped back onto the pillows.

"I know you did." She pecked his nose and climbed off the bed. They joined Draco in the hallway.

"Oh good, you didn't spend an hour molesting my sister."

"You have got to let that go, mate. What are you going to say when she has kids."

"They will appear like magic."

"You keep telling yourself that."

"I will."

Exactly as Draco said, Lucius and Narcissa waited for them at the door to the parlor. They exchanged greetings as they made their way into the room and over to the tree. Draco insisted on distributing the gifts as quickly as possible. He then tore into the brightly wrapped gifts. Theo followed his example. Hermione watched the paper frenzy with a bemused smile. "Do all boys open gifts in the same manner?" She looked at her parents. Narcissa slowly peeled back the tape securing the wrapping paper. Lucius sat a midst a pile of paper similar to the ones around the boys. "Never mind." She and Narcissa laughed, drawing Lucius's attention.

"Hmm? What are my beautiful girls laughing about?"

"Nothing, dear." Narcissa patted his cheek.

"Of course." His tone suggested he didn't quite believe his wife or daughter.

"Draco and I made you something." Hermione said distracting him.

"Yeah, it's great." Draco pulled the baby blue package from under the tree and handed it to his father.

Narcissa snatched it from him. Teasingly, she slowly opened it, painstakingly preserving the paper. Lucius growled his annoyance, and tore a strip off before she could stop him. The hole revealed a photo album. Narcissa slipped it from the wrapping and opened to the front page. Lucius slipped closer. Both laughed softly at the first image.

On the front page a picture of Draco pulled Hermione's braided pigtail while she held a sign that said 'Hermione and Draco: The Missing Years.' Inside the album held pictures of Draco and Hermione in poses and clothes similar to the ones they might have worn when younger. Several times they recreated formal portraits that had been taken of Draco, only adding in an older sister. Included were candid shots of the two of them "playing together." They recreated milestones, like first steps and broom rides. Adding the actual photos as well.

For the first day of Hogwarts an eleven year old Hermione smiled at Kings Cross, and Draco smirked in front of the Hogwarts Express. Then the teenagers stood side by side in unmarked school robes, pretending to be annoyed at the photographer. A photo at school showed Draco teasing Hermione about her scarlet and gold scarf, and then her strangling him with it. Narcissa clapped her hands. "Oh, darlings, this is wonderful."

Lucius chuckled at one where Draco made faces at his sister's back, and then got caught. He flipped to the back pages. A photo of Hermione twirling about the Yule Ball with Viktor Krum caught her eye. "You looked beautiful, my treasure."

"Thank you, Dad."

"Your mother is correct, this is wonderful. Thank you."

"You're welcome."

Hermione called Winky and asked her to bring the special gift. She presented it to Theo with a shy smile. "I hope you like it."

He opened the silver and green wrapped gift, and opened the white cardboard box. He stared at the letter opened resting in the nest of tissue paper. Hermione began counting the heartbeats as she waited for him to respond. "Um, Theo?"

He looked up at her in shock. "This has the Black family crest, Hermione."

"I know. It belong to my Great Uncle Alphard. Sirius gave it to me to give to you. I mean, I picked it out of his suggestions, but yeah." she trailed off. He continued to stare. "Um, some kind of response would be nice."

Theo lunged forward, dropping the box to the floor. He held her face between the palms of his hands and kissed her deeply. She responded as relief flooded her body. A wrapping paper ball to the side of the head separated them. Draco glared, while Narcissa smirked. Lucius attempted to look neutral and failed. "Theo liked his gift then, did he?" He asked.

Theo nodded. "Yes, sir." He pulled out the letter opener for the rest of them to see. Narcissa's smirk deepened, and Lucius simply nodded. Draco continued to glare.