Three updates coming at you. For that of the story they fit better before the hogwarts winter term.
Chapter 10
Despite Harry's trepidation towards returning to school, the young wizard couldn't remove the grin from his face. Each time he glanced over at Hermione as the two settled into an empty compartment on the Hogwarts Express, his smile would renew and broaden.
"Stop it," Hermione hissed at him after catching him staring at her again. "It's getting weird at this point."
"Nope!" Harry said cheerfully, as the witch glared at him. "As your official big brother it's my job to annoy you!"
"Clearly my parents lost their minds," Hermione muttered before correcting Harry, "Have you conveniently forgotten I'm older than you? The adoption didn't make us siblings, if anything we're cousins."
"God-siblings!" Harry cheerfully declared as Hermione rolled her eyes. "Sirius said legally, god-siblings are as good as biological siblings, and that the wizarding community treats the two equally."
"Shocking considering their abysmal record on equality," Hermione answered, still frustrated over the entire situation. Rather than continue to indulge her insolence, Harry ignored her.
"Now, if you're itching to use the word cousin," the black-hairedwizard said, "Remember, Sirius said officially you're Malfoy's second cousin. Aunt Narcissa seemed inclined to uphold the marriage between first cousins' rule. His reaction was excellent."
"While Voldemort may not have succeeded in killing you, if you keep this up, I'll make death stick," Hermione said sweetly. Harry, however, was too busy daydreaming to take her threat seriously.
Sirius, along with Narcissa and Andromeda, tried their best to prepare the two underage students for the public's reaction to their sudden change in social status. However, neither truly believed anyone would care Sirius was their guardian until they arrived at Platform 9 ¾. When the three of them stepped through the barrier, nearly all conversations ceased as the crowd spotted them and then erupted into whispers.
The only individuals not staring at the trio were the muggle parents escorting their children.
"How in Merlin's saggy tits is this so interesting?" Harry demanded as his frustration bled into his voice. "The reaction from my name coming out of the Goblet of Fire wasn't nearly this bad."
"At least then it was only you they were just staring at," Hermione muttered, as Harry gave her a half-hearted glare. "What? It's true! Before I was just the supportive friend no one cared about. Now, you've gone and lumped me into it."
"Chins up," Sirius said, glancing at Harry who was fidgeting with the cuff of his sleeve. "Stop it Harry. Ignore all of them, your family, and family has each other's backs. Narcissa has Draco keeping an eye out as well."
"Family unity," Harry said nodding, perking up at the reminder he now had a sibling and a godfather. "Got it."
"If we weren't in public, I'd hex you," Hermione said looking at Sirius with a very wide and fake smile.
"Now you're acting like a true Black!" Sirius exclaimed,tweaking her nose, and earning a growl from the young witch. "Alright, I'll make you a deal; behave and I'll restore the Black Library first so you can have access."
Sirius' bribe caused Hermione's eyes to widen while Harry snickered at her.
"Our ancestors' collection rivals that of Hogwarts, but with first editions," Sirius told her, grinning over the fact his plan was working. "Not to mention the number of books in the collection, which are the only copies left in existence."
"Sirius, you know she's got to go back to school right?" Harry asked, glancing at Hermione, who appeared ready to demand Sirius take her directly to this haven. Come on sis, we've got to get on the train."
"Fine," Hermione grumbled before looking at Sirius, and putting on her haughtiest impression of Pansy Parkinson and demanded, "As my new magical guardian, it is your duty to ensure my trunk is properly loaded onto the Express."
Instead of looking put out, Sirius grinned and swept into a low bow, loudly declaring, "It would be my absolute delight to assist the heir to the Ancient and Most Noble House of Black."
Predictably, Sirius' voice carried well into the crowds and recaptured everyone's attention as Hermione glared at him. Harry was far too busy laughing at Hermione's expense to notice, and followed Sirius onto the train with his own trunk. Sirius gave them one last pep talk before he departed, leaving the two alone.
"Do you think it'll really be different at school?" Harry asked. "It's not like we're not the same people we were before break."
"Logic isn't a strength of the Wizarding World," Hermione said shrugging. "I mean look at the reaction to your status as a champion. If it involves salacious gossip, people seem to lose their minds. I think Sirius has tried to down play it, but I think the adoption and your guardianship affected political landscapemore than we first assumed. attention. I will admit I'm grateful that Rita Skeeter isn't writing rude lies about me anymore."
"I think Sirius would kill her if she did," Harry agreed with a grin. "I still can't believe your parents agreed so easily. I assumed they'd hate the idea."
Hermione groaned, "I know. I was counting on them to say no the moment Sirius brought it up. You should've heard my mum."
"She did seem thrilled when we were purchasing new clothes," Harry said, fussing with his sleeve again. Ever since Sirius had forcibly bought Harry a new wardrobe, he hadn't been able to stop fidgeting with it. Originally, Hermione teased Harry about his new "refinement." That line of jokes ended the moment Sirius and her mum informed her she'd be getting a new set of clothing too.
"You have to look the part," Jean had insisted. "Sirius' social status, which is now yours, requires a certain level of qualitywhen it comes to clothing. You'll be getting new school robes as well as every day wear both muggle and magical."
"I am happy with my current belongings," Hermione protestedas Jean laughed at her.
"You just hate shopping. Now don't spoil my fun. Sirius has set up a bank account for you in both a muggle bank and Gringotts. I cannot wait to go to Harrods and Saks Fifth Ave!"
Hermione was pulled from her thoughts when the compartment door slid opened, revealing two younger witches.
"Hi Ginny," Harry greeted, hiding his surprise by gesturing for the two to join them. "Who's your friend?"
"Hello Harry Potter, I'm Luna Lovegood," the blonde answered with a wide smile, before looking over at Hermione. "It's lovely to meet you Hermione Black."
Harry promptly groaned, "Don't get her started. She hasn't stopped complaining about the adoption since it happened."
"You are not excited to gain a family?" Luna asked, tilting her head to the left and studying Hermione.
"Really? I figured you'd be over the moon," Ginny said with an impish grin. "You know, since you now can reenact the scene from Beast and Beauty where he shows her the library."
"Beauty and the Beast," Hermione corrected.
"When did you see a muggle movie?" Harry asked, looking at Ginny.
"Over the summer when I visited Hermione," Ginny answered. "Really though, if Aunt Muriel is to be believed The Blacks' library has always been one of the most extensive of all the old families."
"Sirius started bribing her with books," Harry supplied, grinning at Ginny when Hermione groaned. "He's absolutely delightedabout having Hermione join the family."
"The amount of times he's outright called me ''Heir to the Ancient and Most Noble House of Black' or some variation is criminal," Hermione told the two girls.
"She hates it," Harry added, "Which of course makes him use the moniker even more. Not to mention he's been using any excuse to spend his money on muggle stuff."
"Apparently his greatest joy in life are wasting his parents' money on everything they abhorred in life," Hermione explained. "Both were blood purists and hated that he was a Gryffindor."
"How are your parents handling it?" Ginny asked. "I was surprised when you wrote me about Sirius' intent to adopt you. It's rare enough with magical orphans, but I've never heard of a situation like yours."
"My mum is absolutely enchanted by Sirius," Hermione said with a shake of her curls. "It's like they've become instant best friends and she's just as incorrigible as him when it comes to spending his money. Dad, of course, just says that he'd rather indulge her shopping habits with Sirius' fortune than his own."
"Still though," Luna said thoughtfully, "Surely your parents had some hesitation when approached."
"Sirius started by explaining the system of houses, which the wizarding world defers to legally, and that I'm at a distinct disadvantage as a muggleborn. He also brought up the fact that he owes me a life debt."
"No wonder the familial bond took so strongly," Luna commented whimsically.
Ginny's eyes widened, "He does? Well then, I'm not surprisedhe insisted on magically adopting you rather than simply declaring you under his protection."
"Why would a life debt make a difference?" Harry interjected looking between the three witches.
"Life debts invoke a witch's or wizard's magical core," Luna said. "Intervening in a life or death situation is often provoked by the very essence of our magic."
"Which means that if you ignore a debt that's been invoked it can fracture your core," Ginny said. "Life debts are never to be taken lightly, even if you have one that's never called up to be paid. By adopting Hermione magically, it's the same as if she was born into the family. It'll give him the ultimate ability to protect her."
"Sirius convinced my dad by explaining the tradition of courting a witch and betrothals," Hermione added looking at Harry. "I was furious at first, until he told me that without a Patriarch I could easily be forced into a contract against my will."
"He's right," Luna said nodding. "It's why many families choose to create a betrothal contract when the children are young. My father contracted me with Theo when we were toddlers."
Everyone turned to stare at her, "Theodore Nott?"
"Yes. Our mothers were quite close before their deaths."
"Does Sirius intend on accepting contracts for you? He wouldn't betroth you before graduation, would he?" Ginny asked, turning back to Hermione whose eyes were suddenly narrowed.
"I will castrate him without magic if he even thinks about it,"Hermione seethed, before slumping into her seat. "This isn't what I wanted. Sure, learning more about the Wizarding World traditions was always something that fascinated me, but I'm proud of my muggle heritage."
"You're not losing it," Harry reminded her. "You're just gaining a magical family too, not to mention the library you're getting."
A wide smile bloomed on Ginny's face, "Good to see some things never change. Is it alright if if Luna could join our study sessions this year Hermione? She's brilliant with magic. Sees more than the other students, and some of the Ravenclaws aren't very welcoming to her."
"Ravenclaws aren't always great at setting aside their competitive nature. I've no doubt the source of your housemates' ire is because you're outwitting them all. Of course, you're welcome to join us Luna," Hermione said smilingas Luna returned it. "Harry will be as well."