A Siren's Call

Chapter 2

Midnight while everyone was asleep, Hermione snuck down to the kitchen for a cup of tea. She was still having a hard time sleeping, though she was not sure why. She was very happy to be here, so why did she feel so unsettled? She pulled out the letter she had received that morning from Viktor and read over it again. It was full of love and longing, and Hermione could not help but want to be near him.

After having a little chat with Kreacher went to the library. She turned on a lamp before disappearing down one of the many isles. What she needed was a good book. When Hermione was introduced to the library at Grimmauld Place, she was surprised to find a whole section devoted to Muggle Fiction.

"Mother's guilty pleasure," Sirius said when asked about it, "she said Fiction was the only thing Muggles ever did right. You're more than welcome to borrow them if you like. They are clean of spells, Moody and your father already checked."

After picking up a book, Hermione proceeded to the window seat. A little while later, the twins snuck into the library, stealing the empty spots beside her. She jumped a bit from being startled; but recovered quickly, "Couldn't sleep?" she asked closing her book.

"Not really," Fred said.

"We Missed you," George said.

"We didn't get to greet you properly this afternoon."

"We plan to amend that."

"When did the two of you decide that?" she asked with a smile.

"A while ago," Fred said.

"And when do you plan to amend it?" She asked, moving closer to them.

"Right now!" they said, practically jumping her.

The twins plopped down, one on either side of her. They leaned in and kissed her gently on the neck, before putting their noses into her hair and taking a deep breath. She found herself holding their hands, fingers laced together like missing pieces to a puzzle. Hermione pulled on George, so he wrapped one of his arms around his waist. She pulled Fred to her, and he wrapped his free arm around her. They fidgeted for a few minutes before finding a comfortable position.

The twins continued to kiss the exposed skin on her arms and neck. Hermione just leaned back into them and enjoyed the tickling feeling they were causing with their hot breath across her skin. Wishing for more she turned her head into Fred's, and he kissed her gently on the lips. She smiled and sighed in contentment as George took his turn and he too gave her gentle kisses.

Though the petting and kissing stayed chase and languid, Hermione was overwhelmed with feeling. As if sensing her need, they pulled away slightly, causing her skin to pimple with goosebumps at the loss of their warmth. She pulled their hands to her lips, before whispering how much she loved them. They grinned in reply, also telling her how much they loved her. Then the three of them settled into each other before she pulled out the Odyssey and began to read out loud. The three of them fell asleep before they could retire to their rooms, and they were found in the morning by Remus and Sirius.

While surprised to see the three of them sleeping, they were relieved to know that all their garments were still in place and no liberties were taken. Of course, there would have to be a talk about appropriate behavior and proper sleeping arrangement. And even worse, Remus thought I would be smart to inform Arthur about the situation.

Later the next day, after Hermione had looked through the books in the library for anything on Siren's, she was found dozing on the settee in the sitting room directly across from the kitchen. Her father knelt before her, tapping her shoulder lightly.

"How are you feeling pumpkin?" Remus asked, concerned, placing his hand on her forehead.

"I'm ok," she said, sitting up.

"How late did you stay up last night?" he asked.

She assumed he was asking about her late-night reading habits, and replied with a yawn, "Early morning. I couldn't sleep."

"I've noticed that you're up late most nights," Remus said, taking the empty seat beside her, "have you always had problems? Or are these more recent sleeping problems."

"It comes and goes," Hermione said leaning against his shoulder, "back at school I would be up late studying or correcting Harry and Ron's papers, so I was used to the late hours. Though some nights I was asleep as early as 10 O'clock."

"And since you've been here?" he asked, wrapping his arm around her shoulder.

"I stay up until midnight most nights, sometimes even later," she said, her voice still tired but more alert, "Kreacher has been very kind. Always sitting up with me in the kitchen, fixing me a cup of tea."

"I'm surprised he's taken you so well," Remus said, patting rubbing her shoulders.

"I don't think that Sirius gave the elf a chance," Hermione said with a shrug of her shoulder, "maybe he just recognized me as a Black?"

"I don't know what to say, Hermione," Remus said kissing her hair, "Just watch yourself around him."

"I understand Daddy," Hermione said, snuggling to his side.

As Hermione pulled from her father's embrace, she yawned once again, "Perhaps you should take a nap before dinner," Remus said, "I'll make your excuses, and have someone fetch you before dinner."

"I really shouldn't take such a long nap," Hermione said rubbing her eyes, "then I really won't be able to sleep again till late tonight."

"I'll talk to Severus and see if he can fix up a mild sleeping draft for you," Remus said, standing up from the settee.

"Alright," Hermione said, standing and stretching, "see you in a little while."

"Have a nice nap pumpkin," Remus said to her. He received a smile and a little wave in return before she disappeared from the sitting room.

After Remus sent Hermione off to take a nap, Remus walked into the kitchen. Seeing as there was no one around, which Remus thought was rather odd, he walked up the steps and into Sirius's study. Pulling out a piece of parchment from the drawer of the desk, he sat down and penned a letter to Severus.

Severus,

Hermione has been having a hard time sleeping at night. I was hoping you could brew her a sleeping draft. Of course, I understand if you are unwilling to, and I can pay you of course.

Your Friend

Remus Lupin.

After he finished, he found the family owl, and sent the letter off to Severus, hoping that the man would come through for him.

After a normal and engaging dinner, Hermione and Ginny went to the library, and they started looking through the books once again. The ones that Sirius had set out for them on Siren's.

There was a passage in 'Mating Rites'; of course, it was little more than a paragraph of two:

'Siren mating rituals aren't all that different than that of a Veela's. When a Siren finds her mate(s) they must all be present for the mating. Mating for Siren's may last from 24(hrs.) to 7days in duration. The Siren's mate(s) must stay until the siren's heat is finished.

It is recommended that no one outside of the mating party enters during the ritual. Sirens are very territorial during mating and cannot be held responsible for their actions. You have been thus warned!

Food and supplies may be supplied by a third party, (House elves are best.) During mating, the mate(s) will be compelled to mark their Siren at the Siren's bidding, the Siren will then return the mark. Once complete, the mating bond is unbreakable until the Siren's death. A mate cannot die before his Siren. They may become sick, they may feel horrible pain or suffer deathly injuries; but they may not, cannot die before their Siren...'

"Alright," Ginny said with a giddy laugh, "Now we're getting somewhere."

"It doesn't say what the ritual is," Hermione said with a tone of confusion.

""Well, let's look under Veela's," Ginny said, turning to the Index for the page numbers, "the book did say they were similar."

After Ginny turned to the section on Veela, they were annoyed to find that the section on mating rituals was even smaller than that of the Siren.

'Veela mating rites often start with a bonding ceremony, and thus through the consummation of the marriage, a Veela marks the mate, and the mate returns the mark.'

"Hmm," Ginny said with a hum, "You'll have to get married it seems."

"Is there no other way?" Hermione asked petulantly, "I'm a little young to be getting married."

"Doesn't seem so," Ginny said reluctantly, "but by wizard standards, 14 isn't too young to be getting married."

"Let's make a list," Hermione said, pulling out a piece of parchment, a quill, and some ink.

""Alright," Ginny said, turning to a section on Siren's in yet another book, Ginny sighed in annoyance, "it's mostly things we already know."

Hermione zoned out as Ginny read about facts they had just read in another book. "Here's something," Ginny said, touching Hermione's elbow to get her attention.

'A Siren's call to its mate(s) is mentally triggered. Though a Siren's mate(s) may be miles away, he may still feel a physical pull to be near his Siren. This may happen for both the Siren and Mate(s) as they both feel the pull to be near their mate(s).

Note: In a time of danger an unmated Siren may choose to complete the bonding without a formal ritual. There needs only be a vow or declared devotion between them.

It is known that Siren's may have up to as many as 6 mates...'

"That's good to know," Hermione said, sighing and rubbing her forehead.

"Do you think you have any more mates out there?" Ginny asked, glancing at the book's anymore clues.

"I don't know," Hermione said, shrugging her shoulders, "let's see if we can find anything on links. Maybe dad would know." However, Hermione could not help but wonder if her mother had looked any of these things up before, knowing what she was. Could this be the reason why Voldemort wanted her so badly? If he knew of me would I be in danger too? Maybe she should pull her mother's letter back out and have another read through it.

"Know what pumpkin?" Remus asked from the doorway.

"I was wondering, did you and Mum share a link?" Hermione asked, trying to make some sort of note to continue looking.

"I don't think she did on her side of things," Remus said thoughtfully. After taking another second to think back, he continued, "I doubt she would have gone to her death if she knew I was still alive. I could even in a way feel you when she was pregnant, but we could not share thoughts or anything like that. I remember I could feel her one day, her life, her warmth, and then one day I woke up and it was just gone. I couldn't feel her warmth any longer, I couldn't feel you." Remus hung his head, his hands clasped, "If she had known that I couldn't die before her she wouldn't have worried as much."

"I'm sorry Daddy," Hermione said, hugging him, "I don't think she could have known as much as she thought she knew about herself."

"Don't worry," Remus said, hugging her to him, "We'll figure out what we need to do to keep you safe."

"I was wondering," Ginny asked from her spot on the other side of Hermione, "Do you think You-Know-Who knew that if he mated a Siren that he couldn't die before the siren? Could that be why he wanted her so badly?"

"It's possible," Remus said, looking up at the girls, a look of pure horror written on their faces. In desperation to comfort his daughter and her friend, he hugged them, promising that they would keep her safe no matter what it took. "I know that her father gave up the information to save his own life. I also know that the moment word got back to Katherine about what her father had done, she had been taken into hiding. Your mother and I had already made the connection, it was that same day that Dumbledore himself preformed the marriage ceremony and we completed the bond shortly after that. Don't get yourself worked up, no one will let you fall into his hands, no matter how hard Dumbledore pushes you to mate. You and you alone can decide when you are ready."

After the comfort session, Hermione and Ginny stood to gather the books, putting away the ones they already looked at, and keeping the others on the table to be looked through another day.

"Before I forget," Remus said, pulling a letter and a Vial of some sort from his pocket, "This came while you were napping. It's the Sleeping draft I said I'd look into."

"Thank you," she said, hugging him around the waist, before returning to help Ginny put the books away. After they were finished, they decided to go and see what the boys were getting into. Perhaps they could play a game of some sort.

"I'm just going to put these up in the room," Hermione told Ginny, waving the letter and the vial in the air, "and perhaps read my letter."

"Take your time," Ginny said before turning towards the stairs again, "On second though I'll come with you. I've been meaning to write a letter to Neville all day."

"Get many letters from Neville, do you?" Hermione asked in a mocking tone.

Ginny blushed under Hermione's knowing gaze and caved, "about as many as you receive from Viktor and Cedric."

Hermione blushed at Ginny's tone before nodding her head as they headed to their shared bedroom. Hermione sat on her bed, putting the vial on her nightstand. She opened the letter, and read its contents:

Ms. Granger,

Your father informed me that you have been having trouble sleeping. I have brewed a light draft for you, that if taken an hour before bed, should give your body the extra help in falling asleep. Perhaps a light snack such as tea and biscuits would also help in making you sleepy.

Don't worry, taking it with a snack is not necessary. Sometimes a bedtime snack is a good treat, something to look forward to too. You only need to take a small swallow, there should be enough to last for the remainder of the week. And don't worry, you might find that at the end of the week that you no longer need the extra help falling asleep.

Do not hesitate to ask for more if you need it, I promise that the potion is harmless.

Sincerely,

Severus Snape

P.S. I suggest you burn this after you have memorized the contents. Would not want it to fall into the wrong hands. Oh, and you can thank me tomorrow at dinner.

Hermione could not hold her laughter after reading such an affectionate note from Hogwarts' most hated Potions Master.

"What's so funny?" Ginny asked curiously.

"Oh, daddy asked Professor Snape for a sleeping draft because I have a hard time falling asleep at night," Hermione admitted, "Well the Professor sent me a letter to accompany the draft, I didn't expect him to read so affectionately."

"Only affectionate to you," Ginny said with a grin, "he would be snarky to the rest of us, and you know it."

"Yes, I do know it," Hermione said, sticking her tongue out at Ginny, "Haven't you got a letter to write?"

"You're the one who interrupted with your infectious laughter," Ginny said in a light teasing tone, "Haven't you a letter to write as well? I do not imagine that Cedric will wait much longer for a letter. I mean you just received it this morning."

"I'm getting there," Hermione said, pulling a fresh piece of parchment.

As the night wore on, it was decided that they would not be getting downstairs to talk to the boys tonight. It seemed that there were letters that needed to be written, and they would not write themselves. Hermione also wrote a note full of sweet nothings, to Fred and George, even going as far as to send it with an owl.

That night, Harry was not the only one having fitful dreams. Though his dreams by far were the most frightening.

However, for Hermione her dreams were just as scary. The conversation they had held in the library the night before, scared her. Her dream started off with being captured in Hogsmeade on the first Hogsmeade weekend by Lucius Malfoy. He kept trying to get her to wear house elf garb which ironically looked vaguely like something Princess Leah wore in Star Wars. She kept refusing of course, but every time she looked in the mirror it seemed he had transfigured her clothing as well as her hair.

After that things became weirder, Lord Voldemort himself showed himself into her rooms. He kept talking about how they could rule together, and she could claim him whenever he desired, and something along the lines of being her devoted servant. She turned him down several times but found it quite annoying when he kept trying to kiss her feet with his literally forked snake tongue.

She shuttered in disgust, before sitting straight up in bed yelling out, "Never!"

"Hermione," Ginny mumbled in her sleep, "What's the matter?"

"Just a few disturbing dreams," Hermione whispered, "go back to sleep."

"Okay," Ginny mumbled before snuggling back into Hermione's side and promptly falling asleep.

For Hermione, though, sleep refused to come. She closed her eyes and after a few minutes of sleep seemed to return to her. she could not shake the weirdness of the previous dreams, and somehow seemed to slip back into the oddness of the previous dream.

This time the dreams did not wake her, she seemed to be in an endless maze or portraits. All seeming to have a story to tell.

Kreacher, had taken a liking to the Hermione girl. She was smart, funny, and treated him nicer than any master he had ever known. However, he was devoted to the Black family, Mrs. Black, her portrait hung in the house, overheard everything. And while she took to screaming and wailing less often, she was still ruthless.

However, that is not to say that she agreed with her Brother-in-law's choice to sell out his own daughter to the Dark Lord. Sure, she had pushed Sirius to become a Death Eater, and had even disowned him when he refused to join him. She was secretly glad that he had not done so; after Regulus died shortly after joining the Dark Lords ranks, she became increasingly angry, and bitter even. She cursed everyone, even her husband's brother, for attempting to sell out his daughter. Kathrine Black was just like Sirius in many ways. She cursed the girl's name several times; but she did not want to see the girl misused.

Only a desperate fool would sell out his own flesh and blood, to save his own life. Mrs. Black, before she passed, made Kreacher take an oath; if he were to ever learn about any heir that came from her niece, that he would keep it in confidence. That he would not speak of it, even on the threat of death. That was the last order she gave him before she died. He intended to keep Miss Hermione's secret, even Angry Dark Lords could not take it from him. *

After the children retired for the evening, Remus, Arthur, Molly, and Sirius all sat in the kitchen talking about things they were worried about who they should trust in the order to know Hermione's secret. With the children in bed, Kreacher served them some elvish mead that Sirius had asked him to acquire for him.

"Dumbledore knows, and I know that he has said that many members are on a need-to-know basis with certain things, Hermione's true nature included. But personally, I would not trust Fletcher if my life depended on it. No offence to Dumbledore for letting him in the order or anything," Molly said in a clipped tone. Arthur just grinned, they had all had a couple of drinks and when Molly drinks she speaks her mind

"No, I agree," Remus said, nodding his head and reaching for the open bottle on the table, "he's a thief and an opportunity seeking mongrel. If he got wind of this, he would probably sell it to the highest bidder. I don't know why Dumbledore let him into the order in the first place. Sure, he's good at getting information for the order but what's to say that he's not selling our information to the Death Eaters?"

"What are we going to do about Hermione?" Sirius asked his laughter over Fletcher turning into concern: "Is she really safe at Hogwarts? Are any of the children safe at Hogwarts?"

"Let's wait until we talk to Severus tomorrow before we start trying to come up with solutions," Remus said, changing the subject back to Dumbledore, "but I'm not sure that Dumbledore isn't planning to use her for something. I was talking to the girls in the Library today, and they had found out a lot more information than I had expected. Do any of you feel like you were being pushed to push her too fast?"

"Explain," Molly demanded, pounding her fist on the table.

So, explain Remus did, about the bonds, about the calling, about the link and about how the mates could not die before their Siren.

Molly was suddenly frightened that if the girl did not bond soon, that it could be the end of her as they knew it. For what would a dark lord do if he were bonded to such a mate? Was it even possible to force a mating to a siren with someone she did not recognize as a mate? There was only one way to find out and if it were possible; surely being mated to such a monster was a fate worse than death…

A/N: Rewritten 1/3/2021

So, there have been a few changes, I feel that Hermione's fears were quieted by Remus, so while she had weird dreams, I wanted to keep them on the funny weird side rather than the fearful side of things.

I also changed the scene in the library where the twin and Hermione are being intimate. She will not be 15 till September, they respect her, and it can be assumed that Arthur has had a chat with them about witches and being respectable and proper. You can fill in holes with your imagination.

*References to Anne of Green Gables

*Star Wars return of the Jedi reference.

So, what do you think? Do you like the changes? Leave me a review and let me know.