A/N: Another chapter, as promised, for the 10 reviews last time! It's one of the longest chapters yet, and I really enjoyed writing it! Also, I got 20 favorites, so looks like I'm gonna do another bonus Thursday chapter next week too!
Responses to reviews:
sonick- Sorry, I just don't see Flint as someone Hermione would be with. He failed his NEWTS, and we all know she's the perfect student. As for the other two, I stick with ships that are in a close age range. My personal belief is if said person is old enough to be your parent, you shouldn't date them. Hope the pairing doesn't turn you off the story though.
Enjoy! And Happy New Year! Cheers for 2016!
Hermione decided to immediately go visit Andromeda Tonks. Harry hadn't visited Teddy in a few weeks, so he apparated there with her, a new toy in hand for his godson. When the door swung open, a small blur cannonballed towards the pair with a shout of "Uncle Harry! Auntie Mi!" Harry handed Hermione the package he was holding and scooped the four-year-old boy in his arms, tossing him in the air gently before catching him. The boy giggled, and when Harry put him down, he dragged the man off to play. Hermione had the perfect opportunity to speak to Andromeda without anyone disturbing them. They made small talk, discussing brief overviews of their lives in the time that had passed since they'd last seen each other. As the conversation began to lull, Hermione brought up the reason for her visit.
"Andromeda…" she began. "I've recently come across a piece of news that's essentially turned my life around. What do you know about the Sagittas?"
"The arrows?" As a Black, the woman had learned many refined languages and had a strong base of Latin.
"Yes, I supposed. I meant the family, though."
"I've no earthly idea who you are referring to. Is this something you came across in your reading?" The look on Andromeda's face was one of pure confusion.
Hermione brought up the Sacred 28, something which Andromeda was well versed in. The version of events she related was the one that Hermione had more or less discovered from ordinary textbooks, the version that entirely denied the existence of the Sagittas. There were a lot of new details that she figured came from being directly involved in that elite group. She drank in all of the information, storing it away for future use, because of both her naturally inquisitive nature and her new-found agenda. Making a comment about it being insane that Andromeda knew so much, she was surprised at the response. Andromeda explained that her family had drilled Pureblood beliefs and society norms into her head since the age of about four. Her theoretical education was complete by the age of ten, and from that point onwards, she had had to play the part of the delicate, innocent, Pureblood princess. Suddenly, she stopped talking, thinking to herself.
"There was something though. It was only once I became of age that I was to learn it, some great family secret." She went on to explain that she'd been disowned at the age of 16 for her relationship with Ted. She had never learned the mysterious secret, but she'd never cared about it. By that time, she had already rejected most of the ideals and family heirlooms she'd been raised to cherish. She noted that she'd nearly forgotten about it until Hermione brought up her early education. The two pondered the possibility of said secret dealing with the Sagittas, although Hermione didn't divulge too many details. She was slowly developing a flair for dramatics, especially after hearing the advantages of such, as taught in Pureblood families.
Harry came in from the other room, a sleeping Teddy in his arms. While taking her grandson back from him, Andromeda advised Hermione to visit Narcissa. If the secret was what she needed to learn about, then the blonde witch most certainly would know. Thanking her, the two friends took off, stopping for a quick lunch. Over bowls of soup, Hermione shared the information she had learned and shared with Harry her conflict between following Pureblood traditions and living her life the way she had been. They discussed the advantages and disadvantages of each before tabling the subject for later discussion. Harry decided to go back to Grimmauld Place, whereas Hermione continued on to find more answers.
2 pm found her in front of Malfoy Manor, rapping on the door with the ornate brass knocker. A house elf opened the door and stood expectantly. Hermione asked for an audience with the masters of the house, all the while thinking how different the Malfoys' house elves were from Spotty. They eternally seemed to cower in fear, making sure to not appear over eager or disinterested. The one who had welcomed her, Dippy, went off to find Lucius and Narcissa, leaving Hermione standing in the overly grand foyer.
As she was waiting and looking around the room, Draco sauntered into the room. "Not used to seeing such pretty or expensive things, Granger? Don't touch anything now. Don't want to get your muggle germs on anything." He leaned casually against the door frame with an air of superiority. To his surprise, she simply laughed. "How dare you laugh at me, Mudblood?" he snapped.
"Oh come off it," she replied. "Perhaps you ought to be at this meeting too."
He drawled, "Do explain. Why on earth would I spend more time in your presence?"
Just then, Dippy returned and began guiding Hermione to the sitting room. As she passed the door in which he was standing, she smirked, her head held high. "Maybe you might learn something new. Trust me, you're going to want to hear this." She winked slightly, and then continued onwards as if nothing had happened. Draco's eyes betrayed his shock, and only the utmost resolve kept him from spluttering. He mutely followed her to the room in which his parents were waiting.
They were seated on a couch facing a simple, wooden chair, a coffee table in between. Hermione stared at the chair that she was supposed to sit in, entirely unimpressed. Narcissa elegantly lifted an eyebrow when the girl simply waited. By this time, Draco was already seated.
"Oh, must I do everything?" Hermione sighed with fake exasperation. She waved her wand, and the chair transformed into something much more comfortable and posh. "Much better."
Narcissa glanced at her husband, not expecting that. "Well, Miss Granger. What brings you to our home today?"
"That's just it. It's Miss Sagitta, not Granger, due to the recent inheritance I've come into." Hermione cut straight to the chase, resulting in precisely the reaction she wanted.
"Excuse me?" Lucius asked, eyes wide.
Hermione smirked again. "Exactly what I said. Oh and Draco, dear. You might want to close your mouth. That expression is very unbecoming on you." The statement had quite the opposite effect; Narcissa's jaw dropped too at the way the other witch sounded just like a Pureblood princess.
In a state of utter disbelief, Narcissa snapped her fingers, calling another house elf to her and giving it a command. Toro returned with a vial of clear liquid, handing it to his mistress before disappearing again. "Forgive me for not believing you, but what you are saying is impossible. This is an inheritance potion."
Hermione took the vial and performed a series of diagnostic spells to ensure it wasn't poison of any sort. When the potion assumed a green glow momentarily, deeming the contents safe, Hermione took a sip. She looked entirely unsurprised when Narcissa informed her that she'd need to spill a drop of blood on a piece of parchment. She pulled out her knife from her robes. By now, she had gotten used to drops of blood forming into words, and the four people watched as the parchment identified her as truly a member of the Sagitta family.
Lucius, who had been sitting quietly all this time finally spoke up, his words dripping with malice. "Well, well. One seems to have escaped. Thank you, girl, for delivering yourself right into my home. I can finish the job my ancestors seem to have failed it. Should I take you to the drawing room where the blood I spill can join the old stain left by my sister-in-law's work?"
Hermione did not expect this in the least. Through sheer force of will, she kept her features schooled in a tight mask. She was about to say something, but the blonde woman beat her to it. "Lucius, please. She's a Pureblood, and Draco's age too. We have the prospect of setting up a marriage contract between the two."
At this, Hermione stood up. "Marriage? With your son? I'll be taking my leave now. Good day." No emotions changed on her face, even though there was a slight scoff to her tone. She turned on her heel and walked to the door. She was almost to it, when Lucius aimed a hex at her turned back. She blocked it without it turning around and continued on her way. She waved her wand once more, but nothing seemingly happened. Stepping past the wards, she apparated back to her own manor for a good night's rest.
When the Malfoys went to bed that night, they found little notes on their pillows, each only two words. They put them together to read, "You won't… get away... with that." Thus, they went to bed, shaking slightly. Meanwhile, in the privacy of her own room, Hermione's eyes gleamed into the darkness with triumph.
A/N: Read and review, please. Have a wonderful year my lovelies!
