.vii.

"You look fine," Regulus drawled after Hermione smoothed out her skirt for the seventh time.

"I feel overdressed," she pouted. Regulus had insisted on meeting early at Gryffindor Tower so he could approve of her outfit, which had turned out to be a fantastic decision. Regulus had immediately turned her around and demanded that she change out of her skirt and blouse ensemble and wear a dress. He'd then vetoed her flowery sundress, a polka-dot dress, and a brightly striped one. Eventually, he'd had to take her to the Slytherin Dungeons and beg a dress off a sympathetic sixth year.

Hermione felt like she was wearing a wedding dress. The pristine white fabric was rich and smooth under her fingers. The collar cut elegantly above her collarbones, the back dipping down to reveal her shoulder blades. There was a deep blue ribbon around her waist before the heavy skirt flowed outward to mid-calf. The dress, coupled with a pair of high heels, felt entirely too fancy for an afternoon lunch.

"If you were underdressed, Uncle Al would have taken offence."

Hermione made a face. "It looks like a wedding dress."

Regulus smirked. "Please, there aren't even any diamonds on it." She nearly choked before she caught the mean little glint in his eye. Hermione scowled at him and looked away. The carriage jostled as it took them down to Hogsmeade. "Is that the sort of dress muggles wear for weddings?"

She turned and gave him a look of mild suspicion. From any other pureblood, she would think they were teasing her, but Regulus sounded genuinely curious. Hesitantly, she replied, "No. Well, sometimes. It depends. I don't even think my mother had a wedding dress." At Regulus' raised brow, she elaborated. "My parents eloped. My father is English, my mother French." She waved her hand as if to say you get the point.

"The scandal of the century," Regulus drawled in French.

Hermione smirked. "My grandparents certainly thought so," she replied in the same language. "They didn't speak to my mother for a decade. Not until after I was born."

Regulus gave her an approving nod. "You speak French. Uncle Al will appreciate that, we'll have to slip it in somehow." At Hermione's confused face, he explained, "All Blacks learn French. It's a tradition dating back to when French was the standard speech of diplomacy. Now it's because we're cultured and better than everyone."

Hermione rolled her eyes at his sarcastic tone. "I could close my eyes and I honestly would think I was talking to Sirius." Regulus smiled.

The carriage came to a stop and Regulus hopped out. He turned and offered her a hand down. "Ready?" Hermione drew in a deep breath and nodded once. Regulus tucked Hermione's hand into the crook of his elbow and led her to the gates.

Sirius was waiting for them. He was clad in the finest wizarding robes Hermione had ever seen. She thought for a moment he might actually be wearing an ascot. Merlin's beard, he was. He was also smoking a cigarette.

Hermione snatched the cigarette from his lips and threw it down on the ground.

"Oi!"

"What have I said about smoking?" she scolded.

"It helps me relax!"

"It's a disgusting habit. Where are the others?"

Sirius stood up straight with his eyes narrowed. "I don't know what you're talking about." Hermione lunged forward. She dug her hand into one of his front pockets. Sirius grabbed her wrist. "Those aren't cigarettes, love."

Hermione's cheeks turned pink. "No, but these are." She pulled both her hands away. One of them held the pack of cigarettes she'd stolen from his back pocket when he'd been distracted by her other hand.

"You little thief."

He tried to snatch them back but Hermione jumped back. She quickly moved so Regulus was between them. "Wash out your mouth," she ordered. Sirius glared without heat. "I'm not kissing you until you do."

"Will I get my cigarettes back?" he bargained.

Hermione smirked as she slipped the pack into her dress pocket. "Even you're not that good of a kisser."

Sirius smirked at her. Her own words hit her and she blushed. Sirius arrogantly drew his wand and with a flourish, he cast a spell to get rid of the taste of cigarettes. He grabbed her hand and pulled her from around Regulus so she was flush against him. Regulus rolled his eyes as they kissed.

"You're both sickening," he drawled. He glanced at his watch. "I'll give you five minutes before Uncle Al will go looking. Try and not have her look like she's just been shagged, will you? I worked hard to make her look like a respectable witch."

Hermione glared at Regulus over her shoulder. Sirius smirked and tightened his arms around her so she wouldn't hex his little brother. "I don't make promises I can't keep, Reggie."

Regulus rolled his eyes. "Five minutes," he reminded before he turned towards the Three Broomsticks.

When Hermione looked back to Sirius, he could instantly read the anxiety in her face. "This is going to be a disaster," she whispered.

"It'll be fine."

"First your friends? Now your family?" Hermione shook her head. "Sirius, I don't know how many more people I can look like an idiot in front of."

Sirius was nonplussed. "Hermione, what are you talking about? My friends loved you." She didn't look convinced. He rested his hands on her shoulders. "We did such a fantastic job the other week, James accused me of sleeping with you. We even had him fooled."

Hermione's eyes widened. "Really?" Sirius nodded. Hermione heaved a great sigh of relief. "Oh, thank god." She leaned against him as he hugged her close. "I've been stressing for days."

Sirius shook his head as he laughed under his breath. "It's fine. We've got the whole world under our spell. If it makes you feel any better, Uncle Al is already completely convinced this is a real and serious relationship."

Hermione pulled back and raised her eyebrows. "Then why am I here?"

"Because he's convinced this is a real relationship." She frowned in confusion. "We told you how serious people will think this is. He thinks I want to marry you and for the purposes of this whole thing - I do."

Hermione licked her lips and nodded quickly. "So, am I looking for his approval?"

Sirius shrugged. "He knows I would appreciate his approval, but at the end of the day, I would still marry you regardless. As formal as this all feels to you, it's fairly standard in the wizarding world. Just be your usual self and it'll be fine."

Hermione looked down at their feet for a long moment. "When… when this is all over," she whispered. She looked back up at him, her brown eyes wide and sad, "tell them it was my fault."

Sirius' brows drew together. "What?"

Hermione looked away quickly before she met his gaze once more. "School is almost over. I'll be leaving and this is all going to end. I'm so happy I was able to help you and your brother come together, Sirius. And I don't want our - whatever this is - to ruin the familial relationships you have. Tell them I was stringing you along or I cheated or something. I don't care. Just don't let them be angry with you about it." She smiled weakly. "I don't want them to think you're a scoundrel."

Sirius blinked rapidly. He'd honestly forgotten that it was almost summer. He'd forgotten that this would end. He gently cupped Hermione's face in his hands. "Anyone who has met you would never believe those lies."

"Well, tell them something!" She pouted at him. "Just don't let yourself be the bad guy, please?"

Sirius slowly stroked his thumb along her cheekbone. "Oh, I'm gonna miss you, kitten." Hermione smiled. He ducked his head and pressed his lips chastely against hers. It was brief and innocent. It was the most real kiss they'd ever shared and it took Hermione's breath away.

Hermione sucked in a deep breath. "Okay." She nodded quickly again. "I can do this." She didn't sound like she thought she could, but Sirius decided not to comment. He was starting to have doubts himself.

Alphard and Regulus were seated at a table in the centre of the pub. Sirius nodded at Rosmerta in greeting before he guided Hermione to his uncle and brother. Both Blacks rose to their feet when Hermione approached.

Alphard took Hermione's hand and pressed a kiss to the back of it. "Alphard Black."

"Hermione Granger," she introduced. "Thank you for the invitation to lunch today. I was very pleased to receive it."

Sirius pulled out a chair for her and Hermione almost laughed. It was all so formal and they were in a pub of all places. Better than Madam Puddifoots, she thought sardonically.

"I'm glad you could make it," Alphard responded as they all took their seats. "I know you have much studying at this time. You're in your final year, correct?"

"My fifth, actually."

Alphard stilled. He sent his elder nephew an inscrutable look. "I was informed you were studying for your NEWTs?"

"I am," Hermione confirmed. "I took my OWLs in my fourth year. I plan to sit my NEWTs this year and graduate early."

Alphard was speechless for a moment and both his nephews smirked at his expression. "I'm - that is impressive, Miss. Granger."

Hermione straightened her shoulders as she beamed. "I'm glad you think so."

He raised an eyebrow. "If you can manage it, that is."

Sirius glared. "Uncle," he warned.

Hermione touched Sirius' leg to calm him before he got too angry. Her gaze never left the challenging one of Alphard's. "I'm sure I'll be fine," she responded coolly.

"Are you?" Sirius tensed at his uncle's tone. Hermione's fingers dug into his leg in warning. "NEWTs can be magically exhausting. Simply being able to recall the theory of a spell or perform it once or twice doesn't mean you will have the necessary magical ability to withstand the entire test. How many NEWTs will you be taking, exactly?"

"Eight," Hermione responded tightly.

Alphard raised an eyebrow. "How daring of you."

Her nails dug into Sirius' thigh, but in anger instead of a warning. "I thank you for your concern, Mr. Black. If I find myself in need of advice before my exams, I'm sure you can point me in the direction of a wizard who could better assist me." Her smile was almost a smirk when she added, "Perhaps one that has taken the exams… recently?"

Regulus snickered into his hand. His shoulders shook. Alphard looked to him before turning to Sirius who had an arm across the back of Hermione's chair and a lazy smirk on his face. Hermione's own smile could only be described as triumphant.

"You play the pureblood game quite well, my dear." Hermione bowed her head in thanks. "But you aren't one, are you?"

Hermione shook her head. "Muggleborn," she confirmed. "Is that a problem?"

Alphard shook his head. "I'm not my sister, Miss. Granger. I have no problem with your blood status. I do wonder, however, if you might have a squib on one side of your family or the other. It's been known to be the catalyst behind a muggleborn's powers manifesting."

Hermione shifted in her seat. "I doubt it. Usually, in those instances, multiple children show signs of magic. But I'm one of four and I'm the only one that has magic." She paused as she thought about it. "Although Tommy is only seven. He could potentially still show signs of magic."

Sirius nodded. "Most children show signs of magic between the ages of five and ten."

Hermione shrugged. "I started at age two." She looked back to Alphard, ignoring each of their shocked expressions. "I quickly learned to control it so I wouldn't be teased about it." She raised her eyebrows at Sirius' incredulous expression. "I told you I was a magical prodigy."

Sirius nodded dumbly. "Yeah, but… that's incredible." Hermione shrugged again.

Alphard leaned forward. "Did you ever research your lineage? Regardless?"

"I did," she confirmed. "There's nothing on my father's side and I don't exactly have much access to my mother's history." At the confused expressions around the table, Hermione elaborated. "My mother is French and ran away with my father when she was barely eighteen. Her parents disowned her and didn't speak to her until only eight years ago, just before Tommy was born. They don't know about magic and I have no intention of telling them I'm a witch."

"Do you speak French?"

"Oui," she responded with a polite smile. "My mother raised all of us bilingually. I also speak Latin, Spanish, a little German, and I'm learning Hungarian."

"Absolutely incredible," Alphard complimented and Hermione smiled widely. "What on earth are you doing with this bum?"

"Oi!" Sirius protested.

Hermione laughed. She turned and looked at Sirius who was grinning at her in amusement. Her eyes flickered across the high cheekbones of his face, the scruff along his jaw, the steel of his beautiful grey eyes. Why was she with Sirius? Because Dumbledore had ordered it, that's why.

She licked her lips as her mind raced with reasons why she of all people would date Sirius Black. The only thing she could think of was her mother, years ago when she'd asked her a similar question. But why did you marry him, maman? You barely knew him. How did you know you wanted to be with him forever?

"'He told me,'" Hermione quoted in English, "'that he would always make me smile. That he would never let me cry. And then he promised me the world.'"

Regulus snorted and unknowingly said the same thing she had all those years ago, "Sounds like a line to me." Sirius glared at his brother.

Hermione laughed and nodded, thinking of her mother with her long brown waves and bright blue eyes. Her smile as she had said, "Oh, it definitely was. And I thank God every day that I fell for it." Sirius smiled at her as she recited these words for them. He leaned forward and kissed her soundly. Hermione smiled into the kiss.

A little while later, over much laughter and three bottles of elf wine, Sirius snuck out for some fresh air. It took Hermione exactly three minutes and forty-two seconds to realize the reason why. "He stole the cigarettes!" she exclaimed when she realized the pack was missing from the pocket of her dress. "Oh, that man." Hermione grabbed her purse as she jumped to her feet. "Excuse me, will you?"

"Where are you going?" Alphard asked as she moved around the table.

"To give that man a piece of my mind!" she hollered over her shoulder.

Regulus laughed, almost moving to get up and follow so he could watch. Alphard shook his head. He turned to his nephew, a wondrous smile on his face. "That girl is perfect." Regulus was inclined to agree.

Hermione barged out of the Three Broomsticks and looked both ways. She didn't see any curly black hair and wondered where her troublemaking fake boyfriend had gotten to. "Damn it, Sirius," she muttered under her breath. She turned to the left, thinking he might have gone around the corner to smoke in the alley. Her hands nervously grasped the strap of her purse. "You can't just leave me alone like this." And she really shouldn't have left the pub either.

"No," a voice agreed, "he really can't."

Hermione screamed as she was shoved into the alley. She stumbled. Her hand quickly reached for her wand. Strong arms grabbed her from behind and someone else snatched her wand. Hermione struggled.

A big, meaty hand grabbed her jaw and forced her head back. A man with a long pale scar across his right eye came into view. His left eye was a dark brown, but the right one with the scar had a milky film over it. Long dark hair framed his unshaven face.

Antonin Dolohov smiled cruelly at Hermione. "Fancy meeting you here, little witch."

Hermione screamed as loudly as she could.

"Hermione!"

The witch turned her head towards the sound of her name. Her heart was beating frantically in her chest. Sirius appeared at the mouth of the alley. "Sirius!" His eyes widened. He raised his wand but it was too late.

Dolohov sent him a mocking wink before he, Hermione, and the man holding her all disapparated away. Hermione could just barely hear Sirius' voice shouting her name as the world suddenly warped and twisted around her.

Her feet met solid ground once more and the man shoved her forwards. She collapsed, scraping her hands and knees on rough stone and dirt. She cried out. Tears were already stinging her eyes.

"Miss. Granger," a low, cool voice greeted. Hermione looked up and found blood red eyes staring down at her. She gasped in horror.

It was Lord Voldemort. He stood tall and regal at the top of a cliff face. The wind blew wildly around them. The sound of the ocean waves struck against the cliffside below. Voldemort smiled. His thin lips stretched across his pale skin. His hair looked black as ink, parted perfectly to the side.

"What an honour," he mocked.

Hermione took in a deep breath and slowly let it out. She stood on shaky legs. All she could see in front of her was the cliff edge and Voldemort. She glanced over her shoulder. Dolohov was there as well as the other Death Eater Hermione didn't know. Dolohov had her wand. Behind them was nothing but grass and rock, slowly dropping out of sight and leading towards what Hermione assumed was the sea. She turned back to Voldemort.

"What do you want?" Her voice was not as fearless as she'd have liked it to be.

Voldemort's red stare travelled across her form as he analyzed her. They'd never met before, never been in even the same vicinity. He had not been in attendance to his Death Eater's attack on Hogsmeade that winter. Though Hermione was sure Dolohov had ranted to his master about the muggleborn witch that had scarred his face and ruined his eye.

"Information on the Order," the dark lord finally claimed.

Hermione forced her brows to scrunch together. "What order?"

Voldemort narrowed his eyes. "Not an order, the Order." When still she pretended ignorance, Voldemort stormed forward. Hermione jumped away as he roared, "I know you're working for them!"

"I don't know what you're talking about!"

"Don't lie," he hissed. "You fought against my men in Hogsmeade."

"Of course, I did!" Hermione shouted. "They were trying to kill people!"

"So, you would have me believe your heroics were purely selfless?" He raised an eyebrow. "You may have beat my OWL scores, Miss. Granger, but do not think that makes me a fool. Dumbledore's people are completely untraceable. Their hideouts unplottable. I can create such spells and I know Dumbledore can, but he hasn't the time. You on the other hand…"

"Me?" Hermione replied incredulously. "I'm a student! I'm studying for my NEWTs! I'm trying to graduate from a high school I've barely stepped foot in! I don't have time for your stupid bloody war!" she was screaming by the end of it and Voldemort took a step back.

Hermione was not finished. She stepped forward, her face a mask of rage. "I didn't want to be a part of this world! They made me do it. I didn't want any of this! And since entering into this horribly messed up society I've been treated like nothing but utter shite!" She glared at him, her chest heaving. "Why on earth would I fight for them? Fight for you? I am going to graduate and then I am gone. So, just do me a bloody favour and leave me the hell alone!"

Voldemort eyed her incredulously. His anger was simmering just below the surface, she could tell. She stepped back, preparing for the detonation. "And you told Dumbledore this?" he asked coolly.

Hermione fidgeted. "Yes…" She had, actually, when Dumbledore had first asked her to join his army after she graduated. She had blown up on the Headmaster in a rain of righteous fury that he would ask her to fight for a world that had been nothing but an inconvenience to her.

"Was this before or after you started fucking Sirius Black?" Hermione's cheeks flamed red hot. Voldemort raised a dark brow at her. "It's a little hard to argue you don't want anything to do with our world when you're obviously sleeping with one of the most affluent members of its society. You do realize what your relationship with Mr. Black means exactly, don't you?" Numbly, Hermione nodded. "So then, you might understand why I'm hesitant to believe your entire rejection of the magical world… and your pretend lack of awareness of Dumbledore's Order."

Hermione slowly shook her head. "I don't have any information on any Order. Even if I might have doubts about leaving the magical world." She shifted on her feet as she looked down at them.

Voldemort narrowed his eyes. He obviously didn't believe her. "Eventually, you'll have to choose a side, Miss. Granger. I would hate for you to think you don't have options because of your… unfortunate taste in men." Hermione opened her mouth but he continued. "Or perhaps it's fortunate? The Black family is, after all, a very good one. How… enterprising of you to wriggle your way into one of the purest families left."

Hermione's jaw clenched. Her eyes darkened hatefully. Voldemort smiled, obviously having gotten the reaction he was looking for.

"What is unfortunate is how I'll have to torture you for the information I seek." He raised his wand, a face of false upset perfectly masking his glee. "I doubt that would inspire much trust between us, unless…. perhaps you have something you'd like to share?" He raised an eyebrow once more.

Hermione glared hatefully. "Torture means I'll tell you whatever you want to hear," she told him boldly. "But what you want to hear will mostly be lies since I have no useful information for you." He narrowed his eyes when he heard this. Slowly, Hermione revealed, "And even if I did… you'd never get it. I am fully trained in occlumency-" she wasn't, actually. She'd tried to learn and had ended up being completely rubbish at it. Hermione was too passionate of a person to ever be able to keep someone out of her head for long. But all Voldemort knew about her was that she was smarter than him at a younger age. She was banking on the fact he'd assume she could do it, simply because he had been able to at her age, "-and I don't have the sort of will that can be broken."

He lowered his wand. "Does this mean you're willing to work for me?"

She took a deep breath. "I've refused to make any decisions while I'm in school," was all she said and prayed he would accept it.

Voldemort did not look pleased with her answer. "I guess I will wait for you to graduate, then. I can be a patient man when I need to be." Hermione didn't believe it but kept her mouth firmly shut. He knew he could get her to do what he wanted if he applied the right sort of pressure. Hermione was also aware of this. So, when he finally said, "I'll let you go."

Hermione responded with a firm, "No."

Voldemort stilled. His lips twitched. "No?"

Hermione licked her lips as she looked around. "You brought me all the way here." She gestured to the cliffside they stood on only feet apart. "Let's make a deal."

Voldemort smiled. Hermione tried not to shiver at the cold, calculating look in his blood red eyes. "I'm listening."

Hermione glanced over her shoulder at the two wizards. They were both looking at her as if she were crazy. She was standing on a bloody cliff, in a wedding dress, making a deal with the Dark Lord Voldemort."I duel one of your men," Hermione proposed with far more confidence than she felt. "The first one of us on their back loses. Nothing lethal. No illegal curses."

"And what do I win?"

"My cooperation and a little knowledge."

He smirked. "I thought you didn't have any?"

Hermione shrugged. "You only asked about an Order. Maybe I have something else for you?"

He smiled at her indulgently. "And you're offering cooperation you previously stated was unavailable?"

Hermione shrugged. "Contingent on my graduation, of course."

He nodded graciously. "Of course. And what do you win if you win?"

Hermione took a deep breath. "My family," she stated firmly. "They get complete immunity from you and everyone who not only follows you but follows your movement as well. If some fanatic comes out of the woodworks and thinks they can just attack my family I want them to know that such an act will be punishable by death by you. Whoever so much as goes near my family will be tortured within an inch of their life and you're the one who'll do it." Hermione was breathing heavily by the end. She stared at Voldemort, waiting for his reply.

All he said was, "And then I can't use them against you."

Hermione nodded once. "If you're going to sway me to your side, you better have had a nicer offer than 'I won't kill your family.'"

He smiled. Hermione's heart dropped into the pit of her stomach. "Deal." He nodded to Dolohov. "Return Miss. Granger's wand to her."

Dolohov moved until he stood straight across from Hermione with Voldemort watching from the side. He tossed her the pale vinewood wand which she caught deftly in her left hand. "You will fight Dolohov. He's been begging me to let him take you since Christmas." He turned and smiled at the scarred wizard. "Perhaps I will give her to you if you win, Dolohov."

Dolohov smiled darkly. "It would be an honour, my Lord."

Hermione glared at him. "Don't count on it."

Dolohov growled at her. They both raised their wands, each at the ready.

"Oh," Voldemort put in before they could begin, "you do remember, of course, that as an underage witch you can't cast any magic outside of Hogwarts?"

Hermione's eyes flickered to him. Dolohov struck. Hermione spun out of the way just in time. Her hand dove into her purse and grasped the first phial it found. She dodged another spell from Dolohov. In one quick motion, she threw the potion. Her aim wasn't great. It shattered a foot before him. It didn't matter.

The potion set off and exploded like a bomb without fire. Dolohov didn't have time to throw up a shield. He flew back with the force of the reducto and landed in a heap on his back near the edge of the cliff.

Hermione smiled triumphantly. She turned and raised her chin to Voldemort. "I did remember that, actually. Thanks."

Voldemort stormed forward. "You cheated!"

"So did you," she protested.

"That's not the same, you knew I thought you'd be defenceless," he roared at her.

Hermione refused to step back. She crossed her arms and kept her chin raised. "It doesn't matter. I outsmarted you. We made a deal. Are you going to stand by it or not?"

"Maybe I'll just steal you away instead," he seethed.

"You won't," Hermione told him boldly. "You still want me on your side and you know that won't happen if you take me before I've graduated."

Voldemort's hand shot out and he grabbed her by the throat. Hermione gasped. Her hand caught his wrist but he was too strong to pull away. His fingers tightened in warning and she stilled immediately. "You think you can just slip away from this world, Miss. Granger, but you can't. The magical world will sink its claws into you and you will never escape. One way or another, this world will have you. I will make sure of that."

He pushed her away. Hermione fell back into the arms of the unknown Death Eater and the two suddenly apparated away. Hermione stumbled when her feet landed on the hard packed dirt of the alley she'd disappeared from. A pop behind her alerted her to the fact the Death Eater had left.

Hermione let out a breath and her tears finally fell. She pressed a hand to her racing heart. It felt like it might just beat right out of her chest if she let it. She walked towards the mouth of the alley, her legs wobbly. The adrenaline had left her and Hermione felt exhausted.

The sun hit her as she entered Hogsmeade's main road once more. There were dozens of people littering the streets. If she took a moment, she would have realized that they were professors, the Headmaster himself, and aurors. But all Hermione saw was Sirius.

He was standing across from James, his curls a mess and his ascot ripped away. There was red on his shirt - blood. His eyes caught sight of her over James' shoulder and he froze.

"Hermione!"

The witch smiled as she let out a sob. Sirius raced towards her. Shouts went up across the street. People converged towards her. But Sirius got there first. He wrapped her up in the tightest hug of her life. Her feet left the floor, which was fine because she honestly thought her legs might give out at any moment.

Sirius set her back down and grabbed her face in his hands. He pressed a long, hard kiss on her lips. Hermione's fingers curled into his shirt and she pulled him close. She was okay. Everything was going to be okay.

Sirius pulled back a fraction. His eyes were dark as they stared into her own. "You're fucking dead, kitten." And with those whispered words, Hermione's heart sank once more.

Greetings from South Korea! I'm so busy here, I'm so sorry. I don't have much time to write. I'll try and stay on top of things, but updates are definitely going to be slow goings. I have a whole country I need to explore!

Hope you enjoyed this!

xx