Here is a one year anniversary present of this story! Don't worry I'm still here and I WILL get around to working on this eventually, but I've really focused on Transtemporal: Genesis at the moment.
Sunday, July 9, 1995
The following day dawned brightly. Harry bounded into her room, forcing her to get up much earlier than she'd prefer. "Come on! You have to come down and eat with us! Arthur and Ron are here!"
She grumbled and wrapped her robe around herself, pulling off her bonnet and throwing her hair into a bun. She stomped down the stairs and into the dining room. Ron and Sirius looked like they were both half asleep, trying to keep up with Harry's rapid fire chatter. Arthur and Remus had their heads together discussing the Adoption and Heirship ceremonies.
Hermione slumped down at her seat, she gratefully poured her coffee from the gooseneck coffee pot in front of her seat and sipped slowly.
"Mione," Ron said, looking at her. "Your eyes! You look so different."
She just smiled at him, trying to hold back the blush. "Yes, I quite like them. My hair also lightened up quite a bit," she added grinning at Remus. She turned to Arthur, "Have you ever seen a Blood Adoption before?"
"Hmmm. Yes there was one a few years younger than me in Gryffindor. Another Muggleborn, but no one you'd know. It's quite a fascinating magic. Have you noticed any other changes, besides your physical ones?"
"She's a lot quicker to sass," Harry said, sticking his tongue out at her, then looking at Sirius, "She definitely got that from Sirius."
Sirius threw a sausage at the boy, who was laughing more freely than Hermione had ever seen him. She knew that Remus and Arthur had both caught it too.
"What will you all be doing for the rest of the day?" she asked Ron.
"Well once we get Harry's trunk all settled, we'll probably play quidditch for a bit," Ron answered, mouth full of food. The rest of the meal went quite peacefully. Hermione, Harry, and Ron ran up to Harry's room so he could show Ron his new space.
"This is wicked," Ron said, turning around the large room. "I've never seen a bedroom this big, definitely better than the Muggles, eh?"
Harry snorted, "Not much wouldn't be better than the Dursleys…" he trailed off and looked around his room again. "What will you three do today?" Harry asked Hermione.
"I'm going to try to convince Sirius and Remus to go shopping. They both need a new wardrobe. I cannot be the best dressed in the family! I'm hopeless with clothes."
Ron snorted, looking at her old robe and "Granger Family Dentistry" T-shirt. She wrapped her robe a little tighter around herself, feeling a bit embarrassed.
"Well that sounds miserable, but I'm sure the addition of Sirius will make it more enjoyable," said Harry, ignoring Ron. "Alright, Ron, will you help me with this?" he gestured to the trunk.
Kreacher popped in next to them. "Mister Harry will let Kreacher bring his trunk to the Burrow," he rasped.
"Oh-uh, alright, if it's not too much trouble, thanks Kreacher."
The elf bowed and popped away, trunk in tow. "Don't tell me you've taken her spew stuff seriously, mate," Ron whined.
"It's S.P.E.W and Elves deserve rights! They're not slaves and they should be treated like members of the family!" she huffed.
"She's got a point, mate," Harry said, rubbing the back of his neck.
"He has our magic, Ronald. You will treat him with respect!" she spun on her heel and marched to the doorway. "I'll see you later this week, Harry! Have fun, and don't forget to write!"
She heard the boys shuffling down the hallway as she flopped onto her bed. Half an hour later, she heard a knock at her door.
"Come in!" she called.
Sirius and Remus stood in her doorway and looked around her room. "I think we should make this place a little more homey, what about you?"
She smiled at them and welcomed them in. "Could we go to my parent's house and take some stuff? I'd like to have some things from there. I know we have to talk to the lawyer next week about selling it and everything, but I haven't been able to go back yet."
"Of course, Cub," Remus said fondly. "Why don't you get dressed and we'll make our way over there."
She nodded and made her way to the hallway bathroom pulling on a pair of jeans and a tee shirt. She brushed her teeth and made her way downstairs. Remus was standing in the front hall, leaning against the wall reading a paperback.
"What're you reading?" she asked.
"Some Muggle werewolf fiction," he said with a chuckle. "I always like to see what they've gotten right and what they've gotten wrong."
"Why don't you write something?"
"M-Me?" he stuttered. "I don't know how to-"
"Don't let him fool you, Kitten! He's an excellent writer, he just never wanted to out himself as a werewolf!" said Sirius as he sauntered down the stairs. "Let's go! Remus, can you apparate Hermione to the tube in Brixton? I'll meet you there in Animagus form."
Hermione watched as Sirius Disillusioned himself and apparated away. Remus held out his arm and apparated them to Brixton. When they appeared by the entrance to the tube, Hermione saw Padfoot standing at their feet.
She led the two wizards to her house and stood in front of it, just staring. "Mi!" she heard from behind her. Dean and his sisters were running down the street toward her. Shanice threw herself into Hermione's arms "I've missed you so much!"
Hermione grinned down at the little girl, as her sisters threw themselves at her legs, each grasping one of them. "I'm glad to see you four. Remus, Padfoot and I need some help with my house. We're trying to figure out what I want to keep." Dean finally arrived next to them, hugging Sirius and Remus and pulling Shanice from Hermione's arms.
"Sorting day, eh?" he said quietly. "Let us know what you need, we're happy to help however we can."
What followed was an emotional day if Hermione had ever had one. By the time it was time for dinner, they sorted through all of the rooms. They'd packed every book and picture in the whole house, most of the things from Hermione's room, and a few of her more sentimental heirloom items, including her mother's wedding dress.
As the sun was setting, they called for Kreacher who appeared to take all of the boxes away. Delyse had come by after work to help and agreed to hold a jumble sale the next day. Most of the furniture would be taken by people in the neighbourhood. The troupe followed Delyse to her house, where she'd prepared dinner for them all.
When they were all seated at the table, Remus turned to Dean. "How has everything been going? Have you decided on what to do with the old house?"
"I think we're going to move in. I'm going to ask Gringotts to go in and make sure it's okay for the girls, but it's outside of Kent and Benenden is there, which would be an excellent opportunity for the girls. Would you help me out next week with all the paperwork and things from Gringotts?"
"Of course! I think Wednesday should work, we're meeting with the Granger's lawyer on Thursday so we need to make sure all the adoption paperwork is ready."
The rest of the meal passed in amiable conversation. Delyse was quite put out when she heard about Molly's rude behaviour toward Sirius and Remus. "Bloody woman. I've never liked her, especially after you told me about how she treated you, Doll. Don't even get me started on that Skeeter woman! I'd keep her in a bloody jar with no holes if I ever got ahold of her!"
Sirius and Remus looked quite confused, which led Hermione and Dean into telling the tale of how she'd been keeping Rita Skeeter in a jar upstairs. "She's a good one to have in your pocket though," Remus said thoughtfully. "We'll have to consider how to appeal to her when it comes to clearing Sirius' name."
"Blackmail her," Sirius coughed into his hand. Hermione grinned at him. He was more Slytherin than he liked to admit. On their way home, they brought an angrily buzzing Beetle home with them.
When the three of them apparated back to Grimmauld place, they trekked up the stairs, to the boxes that were in Hermione's room. With a few flicks of their wands and some directions from Hermione, her room felt homey and comfortable, just how it was supposed to. They'd painted the walls a light lavender, and her parents quilt was spread across her bed. The wood had all been lightened to match the wood in Harry's room and her books had been shelved.
Her posters of Naomi Campbell and Diane Abbott, were hung proudly next to her sentimental personal pictures. She grinned and launched into an explanation about how Naomi Campbell had been one of the first Black women on a Vogue cover and was just generally an icon. Diane Abbott was one of Hermione's major influences when it came to changing the world. She was the first Black woman to become an MP in the country and just made Hermione proud of the strides. The two men watched her lecture them with small smiles on their faces as she continued her lengthy diatribe, making sure to ask appropriate questions.
Next, the pictures of her and her parents were hung , some being saved for the other rooms of the house. Her favourite, a Wizarding picture from the summer before when they'd picked her up from the train, was on her dresser. In the picture, she was running toward her dad who scooped her up and spun her around, her mum laughing in the background.
"It's perfect," she said, running and hugging both the men. "It feels like home." She heard them both clear their throats, and a sniffle come from Sirius, so she just held them tighter. "I'm glad we're here together."
That night, she spent a long time watching the picture of her and her parents loop from her large bed in Grimmauld place.
The next morning, Hermione did not wake up early, and when she'd finally rolled out of bed close to eleven she found her breakfast under stasis at the table. Remus was puttering around in the library, but she could tell that Sirius had just woken as well.
"Remus!" she called. "Can you come in here?"
He poked his head in the dining room, grinning and dropping a kiss on both of their heads as he sat at the table. "How can I help you, Cub?"
"We need to go shopping," she said firmly. "Sirius' clothes are from the 70s, and yours look like they belong to a hundred year old man."
Both the men looked playfully offended. "We're going to Harrods and you will both buy a new wardrobe. I think if you glamour your hair and eyes you won't be recognizable, Sirius."
The two of them nodded at each other. "Only if you let us buy you a new wizarding wardrobe," Sirius said, smirking.
"Oh, but I don't need-" Sirius raised his eyebrow. "Oh alright, if that's what will convince you, fine!"
The rest of the afternoon passed like a montage from a teen comedy. Clothes flying everywhere, ridiculous and not so ridiculous outfits being tried on left and right. Hermione hadn't laughed so hard since before her parents had passed.
When they finally arrived home, the three of them collapsed in the living room and turned on the Wizarding Wireless. "We really have to figure out how to get the Telly to work," Hermione mused.
"Maybe I'll make that my fall project while you're at school and Sirius is busy clearing his name," Remus chuckled.
"He's a man of leisure now, Kitten. He needs hobbies," Sirius said snootily.
"Have you thought about how to clear your name?" Hermione asked.
"I was thinking I'd get my cousins involved, Andromeda was always a blast, although I'd have to reestablish her into the family, and Narcissa would do anything for family, even if she protests."
"Mrs. Malfoy? She's your cousin!?" Hermione screeched.
"Lady Malfoy, kitten. But yes Cissa is my cousin. It would be very helpful to have her in our corner. Maybe I'll invite Andi over for tea and we can create a game plan. What do you say, are you up for your first spot of entertaining, Miss Black?"
Hermione looked to Remus to gauge his opinion, but he was snoring lightly on the chair next to Sirius.
She shrugged. "I suppose I have to meet the family eventually. Is she quite traditional?"
Sirius burst out laughing, making Remus jumó out of his slumber. "Andromeda Tonks married a Muggleborn and was blasted off the family tree, she is almost as untraditional as I am!"
Hermione let out a quiet sigh. "It's before dinner, is it too late to send an invite for tomorrow?"
"She might appreciate the lack of formality, so let's send her a message. Kreacher!" When the elf appeared, already looking more sane and less wrinkled after a few days of them being around, he continued. "We need to send a missive to Andromeda. Could you fetch the parchment and a quill and call for a post owl?"
"Please!" Hermione added with a stern look.
"Please," he said, begrudgingly.
The following day, Hermione sat next to Remus on the couch, readjusting the skirt of her dress for what had to be the millionth time. Remus finally grabbed her hand and squeezed it. "I promise that you'll love Andi, Cub, you have to stop fretting."
"But what if she doesn't approve of me as Heir Black. What if she doesn't like me?"
Remus chuckled and dragged her to the parlour that Sirius never went into. She gasped as she saw the most epic family tree she ever had laid eyes on. Remus walked up to it and pointed to a burned hole in the fabric.
"Sirius, and who is this?" She saw a line leading to "Remus Lupin" and another line that led down to Hermione Granger Black.
He wasn't officially disinherited, so the magic still added us, but if you look over here…" he pointed to another burnt hole between "Narcissa Black" and ''Bellatrix Black." "Andromeda was officially disinherited because she married a Muggleborn. She will love you, but even if she didn't, she's not even a Black."
Hermione felt equally sad and comforted by the news and leaned her head against Remus' shoulder, she looked across the tree seeing everyone from "Harry Potter" to "Draco Malfoy."
"I don't think we should tell Harry how closely he's related to Malfoy," she chuckled. "And definitely don't tell Ron how closely I'm related to Malfoy." Remus grinned down at her and rumbled out a laugh.
They heard the sound of Apparition from the front room and made their way out. Sirius stood next to a woman with wavy hair that was closer to brown than black, but had the same striking grey eyes that Sirius did. She could see the resemblance between the two. She was wearing a sundress that Hermione could see her mother wearing to one of her summer picnics.
"Remus!" the woman said, drawing him into a hug. "And you," she said turning her steely eyes toward Hermione, "Must be my niece, Hermione!" She pulled Hermione into a hug faster than she could have ever expected.
Hermione liked Andromeda immediately. She had a lot of the chaotic energy of Sirius, but you could tell that she was older and more refined than he ever would be. Remus led them to the Parlour for tea.
"Please call me Aunt Andi, Hermione," the woman said, turning to her. "Do you know how to serve a tea service?" Hermione felt herself heat up.
"Uhm-uh, no?"
"Is that a question?" she tutted and began to serve them all tea, asking for their specifications. "When we're at home it's no bother, but if you as Heir Black are to be in Society," she said with an eye roll, "then unfortunately we'll have to teach you."
All of a sudden, a large Eagle Owl pecked at the window, Sirius stood and retrieved the letter. It was a short missive from Narcissa Malfoy. She expressed interest in reuniting for tea and to discuss a possible alliance with her House. Sirius scoffed at the letter and threw it to the side. Remus looked down at the letter thoughtfully. "Siri, I think this is something to consider. The Malfoy name might be just the thing we need to clear your name officially. I couldn't hurt to serve her a tea here at Grimmauld, and introduce her to the Heir. I believe Draco thought he'd be taking over that title. Wouldn't you love to stick it to her?"
Sirius rubbed his jaw looking between Hermione, Andromeda, and Remus with a glint in his eye.
"I know that look, what are we plotting?" she said with a chuckle.
"But we couldn't invite the esteemed Lady Malfoy to Grimmauld when it's in the state it's in. I'm wondering if you have any of that Pureblood training left in you to help us redo the lower floor of the house to be a proper Pureblood home. We can adjust the upper floors later, but for now I think it would be helpful for Hermione to get some of the training you may have received."
Andromeda turned her grey eyes to Hermione, lifting a brow. Hermione huffed. "I don't want to be a Pureblood Princess!" she said, more petulantly than intended.
"Oh no, Kitten," Sirius said with a laugh. "We'll be starting you, Dean and Harry will be starting Heirship classes next week, you'll have no need to be a Pureblood Princess."
Andromeda cleared her throat. "That being said, part of your new role will be navigating Pureblood culture, and for that you'll need to have at least the basic understanding of societal expectations. I'll let Dora know that she's also required to attend if we're to be formally reintroduced to the Black family." Hermione pouted to Remus who shrugged and looked a bit sheepish.
"I'll only do it if Dean, Harry, and Moony have to," she rebutted, looking between Sirius and Andromeda proudly.
Sirius held back a laugh when Remus gaped at her. Andromeda turned her eyes on Remus, tutting and adjusted the way he held his tea cup. "That sounds fair, Hermione."
"Well I suppose my final surprise is a bit ruined," he handed a document to Andromeda. "You are now officially reinstated as a member of House Black, if you so wish. Nymphadora as well. I was thinking about having someone come by to repair the old tapestry for us. It seems like it's about time to add all of us Blood Traitors back on, especially when the end of the Pure line has ended."
What did you think?
Thank you to BeaxT for betaing this chap for me! I so appreciate you.
And bam2305 for being you!