Over the term, many things changed in young Hermione's life, for better or worse she did not know. Firstly, James had not spoken to her the entire time after her spat with the Marauders, but the cruelty of the 'pranks' increased. From transfiguring her equipment into mice, to hexing her teeth to enlarge dramatically, every day Hermione was looking over her shoulder in fear of a Marauder jumping out at her. Regulus, who before Hogwarts was always awkward around girls let alone crying ones, found himself comforting his Nita after every prank or joke that went too far and unable to do anything about it.

Secondly, after she had toned down her compulsive hand raising and started to act as she did at Potter Manor, by the time it was time for Christmas Break, Slytherin House had finally welcomed her into the fold (with the exception of a few). This seemed to anger James even more, to the point where for the first time, Hermione didn't want or feel safe to be at home.

"Reg?" she asked one night, looking up at him from her place laying her head in his lap.

He grunted softly, turning the page in his book delicately. One of the things she liked about Regulus was how careful he was with books, and how he cringed when he saw cracked spines and dog eared pages just like she did.

"Can I go to Grimmauld for Christmas?"

Her friend stiffened considerably. "Why?"

Hermione set down her book on her legs with a thumb, and Regulus took it as an indicator that it was going to be a proper conversation, so he put his down too, his hands going to her hair automatically.

"I don't want to be home. Sirius will probably be round, and they'll make my two weeks hell" the Potter daughter looked up at Regulus with the pout and puppy eyes combo that always gets him to help edit her essays.

He held his ground for a longer time than Hermione thought he would, but eventually he said "I'll write to Mother, but don't get your hopes up Nita. Even if you are allowed, you'll probably be questioned about your blood status and beliefs the whole time"

"It'll be better than being at home. Plus, I can hold my own against that banshee" Hermione scoffed and picked her book up again, already planning on how to tell her own mother.

"I'm not joking Nita, she's a lot," Regulus murmured, finishing the small plait and picking up his book again.

"She might be, but I'm a guest, and your mother can't be inhospitable. It's against her code" Hermione pointed out, before adding "How did you learn to do this by the way? It's really neat" playing with the braid that sat among her curls.

"Sirius and I learned from watching the Muggles one day. We were incredibly bored, and he let me practice on him." The next page he turned was rather aggressive, so Hermione let the subject of Sirius go and she went back into her own little world her book granted her, both of them feeling comfort in the silence.

"You're what?!" James stared at his sister in shock.

It was the first time James had bothered himself to talk to his little sister, and he'd brought Sirius along. The Potter Matriarch had written to James and asked him to ask Hermione if she was having any guests over for Christmas, and he'd begrudgingly done so, as he was more scared of ignoring his mother than he was mad at his sister.

"I am not going home for Christmas" Hermione spoke slowly, and put emphasis on every word.

"Well where are you going?"

Hermione almost smirked when she saw James's expression trying to fight between indifference and concern. But being the Slytherin she was, the girl kept a neutral face and tone. "Grimmauld Place"

James burst out laughing, but Sirius noted her serious face and elbowed his friend "She's not joking" he muttered.

"Why would you go there? Sirius said it's awful that's why he's coming to ours isn't it?"

At Sirius's nod of conformation, James looked at Hermione as if to shout "See".

"It's really not your business Jamey. Please tell Mother though, I'm out of parchment"

The boys just looked at her, not having anything to say, so Hermione filled the silence.

"Why have you been ignoring me Jamey? And the pranks?"

James's face turned sour. "I only talk to Snakes when I duel them. And I don't know what you're talking about. I don't prank you. You must've made other enemies than us"

"Enemies?" Hermione whispered, barely audible.

"Yeah. You know, it's a good thing you're not staying with us. Good bloody riddance" and with that, the boys swept away, leaving Hermione in the throng of students going to their last week of lessons.

Regulus and Hermione got off the train, Regulus helping Hermione with her trunk and Hermione looking for their parents.

"C'mon Reg! There's my mother. I'll introduce you."

Before the boy could object, his friend grabbed his hand and dragged him through the crowds, coming to a stop in front of an older woman with thick black hair and sharp grey eyes not dissimilar to his own.

"Lady Potter" Regulus inclined his head and smiled up at the Potter Matriarch shyly.

Euphemia had been skeptical that young Regulus Black was not good company for her impressionable daughter, but she had seen them laughing through the train window as it came to a stop, saw the boy carry her daughter's trunk like a gentleman, and now he spoke to her with perfect manners. It seemed her cousin Walburga had failed in raising either of her sons to be as cold as she.

"Master Black" Euphemia bowed her own head, chuckling. "I believe you'll look after our Mia this Yule?"

"Of course" Regulus smirked slightly, and Euphemia saw a flash of Sirius in him.

"Well I know your mother doesn't like to be kept waiting, so I'll see you at the Potter Ball, hmm?"

Regulus looked down slightly, his cheery demeanour fading. "Wouldn't miss it for the world, Lady Potter. Kreacher's picking us up though."

Euphemia felt for Regulus, she knew what it was like to be greeted with a house elf instead of your mother after you'd spent a term at Hogwarts, so she wrapped both of them in a hug and kissed the top of both of their heads instead of just Hermione. "We'll see you in a week kids"

And with that, the second Potter/Black duo went to find Kreacher as the first duo went to greet Mrs Potter.

Regulus came to a stop in front of an old house elf who was standing to the side of the crowd, looking around and wringing his hands fretfully.

"Kreacher, this is Hermione Potter, she's staying with us this Yule" Regulus smiled at the elf warmly.

"Miss Hermione." Kreacher raised his eyebrows at the girl, but Hermione merely smiled at him too and said "Lovely to meet you Kreacher" extending her hand.

Kreacher took it, but instead of shaking it he grabbed Regulus's too and they apparated to Grimmauld Place.

Hermione landed gracefully, and Regulus stumbled slightly, into the Black's parlour.

Kreacher apparated away, and the pair heard him land a few floors ahead. Regulus turned to Hermione immediately and started straightening her clothes and smoothing her hair.

"Just what are you doing Reg?" she huffed.

"Making you presentable Nita, apparation does not suit you"

Hermione slapped Regulus's hands away just in time for Walburga Black to glide into the parlor.

She looked beautiful, in a formidable way, with the sharp eyes of her sons and her black tresses tied away in a complicated knot at the back of her hair.

After a few moments of eyeing them, Walburga glared at Regulus "Are you not going to reacquaint me with your guest, son?"

"Of course Mother. This is Hermione Potter" he gestured to Hermione briefly, before standing up straight again, as she curtsied.

"Lady Black"

Walburga sniffed, sweeping her eyes up and down Hermione's frame. "At least you have brought home a friend with manners and who can dress appropriately. Dinner will be at 7 and your father will be home at 6. Kreacher will show you to your room, Hermione, once he's finished putting your clothes in the wardrobe etc" She made an attempt at a smile, but it didn't work, so she just screeched for Kreacher to bring her tea in the drawing room.

Once they'd reached Regulus's room, Hermione laid down on his bed and he took to sitting on the floor, leaning on the bedframe.

"Believe it or not, she complimented you massively, Nita. That was her way of saying she loved your outfit and thought you were very charming." Regulus whistled at the end, almost disbelieving his own words.

Hermione rolled onto her stomach. "How come she didn't treat me like a blood traitor?"

Regulus seemed to ponder this for a while. "She knows you are an adopted pureblood, and a child, so to her, you can't have blood traitor ideals yet. Also one of my cousins probably mentioned you in a letter the past term. As long as you act as you did then, you should be fine."

The explanation sufficed for Hermione, but before she could say anything else, Kreacher entered the room. He bowed so low his nose scraped the floor. "Master Regulus. Miss Hermione, your room is ready. Follow me"

"Thank you Kreacher" Hermione smiled at the elf. As they followed him down the halls, she said "You may call me Nita if you prefer, Kreacher, Reg seems to have adopted the name, and I cannot change it, so I think it should be as common as my own original one."

"Yes,Miss Nita," Kreacher said, and Hermione was sure she caught a glimpse of a smile.

The elf pushed open a door, and they entered a light room, with windows that went from the floor to the ceiling. The windows were covered with pastel green curtains, as was the bed, and the vanity in the corner had a mirror that complimented you and told you what was missing from your outfit. The shelves had all her belongings she had taken with her, and the en suite had her toothbrush and soaps in it

Regulus had gasped when he realised where Kreacher was taking them, so she asked him why.

"Mother hardly lets any guests stay in this room. It's rather special... " he trailed off. "Oh she has a bloody ulterior motive"

Hermione laughed, "Reg it's fine. Can we go to the library?"

"Yeah, but its a few doors down from the drawing room, so we can't talk about 'improper' things"

Kreacher watched them walk up a flight of stairs and disappear to the left with linked arms talking quietly. He'd never seen Master Regulus talk and behave like that with anyone but Master Sirius, and he was happy that Miss Nita could fill the gap Master Sirius makes when he's off to the Potters.

"Merlin! Oh go bugger yourself Nita. Merlin's sake!" Regulus shouted, glaring at the board in front of him. After a few hours of reading to each other aloud and switching ideas on each other's books, debating concepts, Hermione had suggested they'd play a game. So there they were, sitting on the floor behind one of the many bookshelves playing wizards chess, or, Hermione was beating Regulus at wizards chess.

"Is that anyway to talk to a guest, Regulus?" a smooth voice called out to them from the doorway. The boy cursed under his breath and went to greet Orion Black, Hermione following.

"Sorry Father, we were just playing chess."

"And I suppose you were losing, eh? To this young lady? Nita, was it?"

"Hermione Potter, Lord Black" she inclined her head softly, and he laughed loudly, booming even. The

"Well, if Kreacher goes on about his 'Miss Nita' and my son can shout profanities with that name, it should be fine. But don't let my wife hear. She hates nicknames" Orion winked and left.

"He isn't like this when Mother's around. He's usually silent, just agrees with everything she says. Him and Sirius are really close, Mother's the reason why he's gone." Regulus muttered, running a hand through his hair.

Hermione looked at her friend, searching for something to say. She didn't want to sound like Sirius didn't matter, like she would replace him, but she also didn't want to make him sadder. So she said "One day she'll regret pushing your family apart, the same way James will regret pushing mine. But in the meantime, you make your own temporary one."

"And that's you is it?"

"You'll always have me, Reg"