AN: I love how people think that Dramonie and Hermione/Draco shipper are the worse insults in the world. I understand it may not be your cut of tea. I don't like horror stories but that doesn't mean they are bad. I did add an "OC' character so we can hopefully get rid of all the people who can't handle anything oc. And if you are looking for something that follows cannon exactly, can I recommend rereading the Harry Potter series? This story is NOT cannon. It is very AU and very OC. And a lot of fun. It is a very dark world, but it is surprising how shadows also cast highlights.

If you have something constructive to say, PRAY TELL.

Chapter 11: Marked

His nerves were too frayed and he was too tired to employee his impeccable manners as Haydrien lead Hermione into a second room where Mrs. Longbottom and Neville waited.

"She said yes," Haydrien sighed in response to Mrs. Longbottom's expectant look.

"I have more questions," Hermione stated.

"I know," he replied, nodding wearily. "But they will have to wait. The ceremony has to take place before sundown."

"Perhaps you should rest first," Mrs. Longbottom suggested, looking over the boy.

"I rather not tempt fate. Millie?"

"Yes, Master?" Millie bowed as she popped into existence.

"A Pepperup potion, please." The elf returned with a vial in hand that he quickly downed. Color flooded back into his face and his back straightened.

"This way," Haydrien said, back to his hostess face. Two witches and a wizard followed him as he went down a secret passageway to a door covered in runes. A couple of the runes lit up as he touched the handle and pushed it open, motioning his guests in first.

Torches lined the stone walls. In the center of the room stood a circular platform. Runes were carved into every inch of the raised stones with the exceptions of two small circles. Hadrien pulled two pieces of parchment from his trouser pocket and handed one to Hermione.

"I will read mine first," he instructed. "To each question, you are required to say 'I do.' Then you will read yours and I will respond." Hermione took a deep breath and nodded. With offered hand, Haydrien helped Hermione into one of the circles on the platform. Mrs. Longbottom stood against the wall with her grandson. Haydrien settled into the other circle. With right hands clasped, the ceremony began.

"I, Haydrien Arcturus Black, Head of the House of Black, offer you, Hermione Jean Granger, protection of my house, magic and blood. Do you accept the protection of the House of Black?"

"I do," Hermione answered.

"I offer protection in the highest order in all matters of Magical, Political, Physical, Financial, and Social safety. Do you accept this protection of the House of Black?"

"I do."

"I offer the option of being released upon the changing of Head of House, should the Head of House change in your life time. Do you accept this option, the decision to be made upon the time in which it comes into play?"

"I do," she said. Haydrien lowered his own paper and stared pointedly at the one in her left hand.

"Oh," Hermione breathed and looked to the parchment. "I, Hermione Jean Granger, accept the protection of the House of Black, in magic and blood. Does the Head of the House of Black, Haydrien Arcturus Black, accept me into that protection?"

"I do," Haydrien answered.

"I offer all of the rights to any profitable venture that I create from this day forth for as long I am under the protection of the House of Black. I offer my compliance to the Head of House's wishes in regards to my employment, residence, and associations. Does the House of Black accept my offering in exchange for this protection?"

"I do," he said.

"I am willing bound by this protection until said time that we both decide otherwise and the ceremony to disintegrate is performed or said time as the Head of House changes and I, Hermione Jean Granger, disintegrate this agreement. As I am willing bound, the House of Black is willingly bound."

"I am," Haydrien answered. The torches went out. The runes around the platform glowed blue and then faded. When the last of the runes went dark, the torches re-lit and Haydrien pulled Hermione into his arms. Over her shoulder, Mrs. Longbottom smiled at the boy.

They filtered out of the room, the door hissing closed.

"Perhaps some tea?" Mrs. Longbottom inquired.

"I agree," Haydrien said and took a step forward before promptly falling to the ground. Hermione rushed forward to check on the unmoving boy.

"He fainted," she said, looking up to the only adult helplessly. Mrs. Longbottom sighed.

"Silly child," she chided. "That spell work is done by adults for a reason." She waved her wand over the boy. "Exhausted," she signed, levitating his body. "He will need some rest, but will be fine."

Hermione looked worriedly as Haydrien's body floated ahead of them. Millie opened the door at the end of the tunnel for them, immediately fussing over her master.

~XxXxX~

Mrs. Longbottom had gone into extensive explanation to Milly, Haydrien's personal elf, and Nabby, the head elf of the manor, that their master was not to leave his bed for at least 24 hours and to not give him any Pepperup or Invigorating potions. If Haydrien was to sink so low as to order to elfs to give him the potions, they were to fetch Miss Granger who would make sure he rescinded the order and probably felt bad about it too.

Such potions could be extremely dangerous given his magical exhaustion. He needed to rest, not walk about on potion fumes. Of course most wizards and witches knew this by the time they headed to Hogwarts. Though on the other hand, grieving men are often apt to take unnecessary risks and grieving boys even more so.

With the instructions clear, Mrs. Longbottom turned to Neville.

"I have a small expedition planned," she said. "You are welcome to stay here or at Longbottom manor. I am sure the Haydrien will need some help teaching Hermione the ropes. They are of course both welcome at our home as well. I need not express what is deemed appropriate or what is expected of you." She raised her eyebrows with a steely gaze at her grandson.

"No, Gran," he answered with a gulp visually bobbing his adam's apple.

"Good. If you need me…" She let the sentence hang before nodding to the children and disappearing into the fireplace.

Hermione watched the green flames die away.

"Now what?" she inquired. Neville slumped into one of the chairs facing the fire in the parlor.

"Well the prat will be out of commision for a day or two," he said as Hermione settled into the chair next to him.

"A day or two?" she moaned. "I have so many questions about the protection though." Neville chuckled.

"I would love to help, but the specific runes used in each family, not to mention spellwork and tradition, is extremely sacred and is not shared. I'm not certain how similar or different the Longbottom protection is from the Black's. Though that may have been the first time the Head of a different House was present for the ceremony."

"Really?" Hermione asked. "Does there need to be witness? Is that why you and your gran were here?"

"No," he shook his head. "Gran wanted to make sure that the specifics of the ceremony were correct. You know, properly performed with correct wording, but also not too restrictive."

"Oh." Hermione stared off for a moment, processing information and too many questions. "Haydrien said that I couldn't find out much about it in books. How is the information passed down?"

"In books," Neville smirked. Hermione stared at him until his cracked and started laughing. "Family books, stored in family libraries. Not open to the public mind you."

"So there is a library around here somewhere," she mused, looking to the doorway.

~XxXxX~

Haydrien sat up straight in his bed. His heart was pounding and he couldn't draw a deep breath. Panic rose in his chest, making him dizzy and weak.

Library.

The word flashed through his mind as the wards triggered. Something was wrong. He began to shake as fear forced him to his feet.

"Master," Millie squeaked as she popped into the room. The small elf tried to push him back towards the bed and he swayed.

"Library," he bit out, barely remained on his feet.

"Master must rests," Millie cried. The scent of old parchment and worn leather wafted over the wizard, throwing up an image of books in his mind. The already pale face of Haydrien froze for a moment, his mind's eye watching a small white hand reach for the tome.

"Library, now," Haydrien growled, gripping the shoulder of the elf.

"Master…"

"Now."

~XxXxX~

"Hermione, I really don't think this is a good idea," Neville whined, trailing behind the witch.

"Millie confirmed that the library is just around this corner," Hermione said, eyes trained on the decorated walls.

"But it's a Black library," he continued. "The family is know for studying the dark arts. Who knows what dark books you'd find."

"Are you afraid the book is going to bite?" she laughed, but Neville went pale.

"There are books that bite," he whispered. Hermione sighed.

"Well I won't touch any book that I don't know what it is then, is that fine?" Neville sighed, but followed the witch without another word. Hermione turned to her left and faced a set of beautifully carved french doors. It was dark oak with designs so intricate she slid her hand over them before reaching for the doorknobs. She swung both doors open and then gasped.

The library was a circular room with inlaid bookshelves running along the walls. Directly on the opposite side from the door were windows that stretched from the floor to the ceiling of the second level. She now realized there was a staircase leading to a second level that ran around the shape for the room, leaving the center open to stare at the vaulted ceiling. On the ground floor there were sofas and chairs gracefully arranged in the middle and bathed in the sunlight pouring through the windows.

"Wow," Hermione sighed. Neville shrugged.

"I like the setup at home better," he said. "We have the best herbology section." Hermione smiled at him and stepped forward before gasping once more.

With a pop, Haydrien and Millie were standing in front of them. Haydrien was haggard looking and swaying slightly. Next to him, Millie twisted her hands nervously.

"What...are you doing?" Haydrien bit out, using every bit of will just to keep him standing.

"What are you doing out of bed?" Hermione shot back. "Millie?" she turned to the elf.

"Master ordered...Millie tried...Milliez so sorry," the elf sobbed and bowed her head. Hermione looked shocked at her response. Haydrien threw the witch a glare before turning to his elf.

"You did the right thing Millie, thank you." Mille looked up with hopeful eyes and he gave her a nod before turning to the other matter. "You on the other hand, did not. What are you doing in the library?"

"Looking for books," Hermione said.

"No."

"No?"

"No," Haydrien continued, "you are not. You cannot come into the Black Library by yourself. What were you thinking allowing this, Neville?"

"I told her there would be dark books," Neville defended. Haydrien put his hand to his head, massaging the temple and trying to fight the headache.

"Dark books, yes," he sighed. "But all the books can only be touched in the presence of a member of the Black family. Otherwise it reacts as if outsiders are invading and stealing."

"What? Why would someone ward a library that way?" Neville asked.

"Dark books," with raised eyebrows was the only answer Haydrien gave. He sighed and swayed again.

"You need to get back bed," Hermione ordered, still surprised that this beautiful library could be so dangerous. The exhaustion showed when Haydrien didn't make a comment or even smirk at that.

"Yea, but you…" he trailed off, not sure if the world was tilting or him.

"We'll go to Longbottom manor," Neville offered. "Owl when you can stand for more than five minutes straight."

"Will do," Haydrien replied with a soft smile. "Millie?" The elf popped her master back into his bed and fussed over him long after sleep had already claimed him.

~XxXxX~

Luckily, for both Hermione and Neville, the books in Longbottom manor were not warded against strangers. This was not the first time Neville had been left alone in the manor with elves to watch over him. He knew better than to ask questions about the tasks his Gran set out on. It was was enough to know that Moody would keep her safe and bring her back to him. And though he often refused to think on it, he also knew that this expeditions were dangerous enough to need the bodyguard present.

However, despite that this wasn't his first time alone, it was the first time that someone was over when Gran wasn't home. Neville was unsure how to play hostess and was relieved when Hermione simply wanted to pour over books.

It was also a relief when, two days later, Odin-Haydrien's owl-showed up announcing that their friend was once more in good health.

~XxXxX~

Hermione felt sick with the spinning and then she was immediately falling. In expectation, Haydrien caught the girl.

"That was terrible," Hermione complained, not opening her eyes yet as she stepped out of the fireplace.

"That's why I normally recommend travel with elves, most comfortable there is actually," Haydrien answered as he helped her into a chair. Neville appeared and stuck out a foot, catching himself, if still swaying a bit.

"Even when Millie pops me somewhere it's quite disorientating. Are you saying there is nothing that is...smoother?"

"You get used to it," Haydrien answered and Neville shrugged. Hermione sighed.

"One step forward and two steps back, that seems to be all magic is," she mumbled.

"Well I didn't exactly invite you lot over to talk about magical transportation," he said.

"Wouldn't it be more teleportation?" she mused.

"Teleportation?"

"Disappearing from one place and appearing in another instantaneously."

"Not, that's apparition," Haydrien corrected. Then pressed on before she could ask more questions, "What we need to do is get you prepared for pureblood society. Teach you all the rules and procedures and such so that you can gracefully integrate and hopefully I won't have to fight any duels. I do hate wizarding duels."

"Wait...what?" Hermione said, once more confused. She looked to Neville for an explanation.

"It isn't as simple as placing you under protection, you see," Neville sighed. "The protection allows Haydrien, and me as well, to teach you the rules of pureblood society. Its a quagmire full of pixies, but it is necessary to know how to manage it in order to protect yourself and family. Also, if you were to make a rather obvious fauxpas, someone could challenge Haydrien to a wizarding duel as a way of negative reinforcing that he should teach you better."

"That seems a rather rehearsed explanation," Hermione commented with narrowed eyes at her friend.

"Whether Neville here fretted over how best to explain your training or practiced in front of a mirror is inconsequential. Because, we best get started," Haydrien said.

"And where Lord Black shall we start?" she said as properly as she could.

"Who'd you hire?" Neville asked. "It took me three years with Governess Ainsworth to manage."

"She'll know it all by September first, given how brilliant she is," Haydrien answered confidently. "And we'll be the guv'nors."

"And what if I don't want to go into some insane two month training," Hermione propped her hands on her hips.

"Well," he started slowly, "there is some recourse should you knowingly choose to place yourself and the House of Black in danger, mainly the withdrawing of said protection. As I rather not do that, would you please at least give it a try before you decide to quit?" His look pleaded more than even his words.

"Where do we start?" she huffed once more.

~XxXxX~

They started, of course, with the do's and don't's of conversation. What she was most likely going to run into upon entering the magical world with Black protection. Flashing back to the conversation with Mrs. Longbottom and Haydrien from Christmas break, a few things fell into place as she could understand the extra level of it.

Then the difference between conversation with her pureblood classmates and with pureblood adults. They prepared her for a socialite gathering as she would most likely be invited to one so each could see what the new Black Lord had done.

The days passed hard and long, often leaving her with a headache. Hermione wanted to argue against the mundaneness of learning how to greet and courtesy to different levels, but Haydrien would always throw in a story of someone who had started a problem between families and what it cost them. She would think that he was making it up if it wasn't for Neville backing it up with the stories he had heard.

~XxXxX~

"How can a society possibly operate like this?" Hermione yelled 26 days in the training. Her feet hurt. Neville was in the corner icing his and she had just stepped on Haydrien's foot yet again. "Why should how I dance matter at all?"

"Should?" Haydrien said, stepping back from the girl and letting his arms drop. "It shouldn't, but that isn't that same as it doesn't. And it doesn't operate, persay. It glides along on lies and backdoor deals and puff pieces in the Daily Prophet. Hey, even the light side doesn't operate in the light."

"What do you mean?" Neville shifted uncomfortably in the corner.

"The light side, the one who believe in equality and such. Even they operate in backrooms that no one knows exists. Their goals are just more noble that the other side of the coin."

"And the other side?"

"Want to enslave all magicals that are less pure than themselves so they can have more power. They may sing themselves to sleep on the lie that they are better, but deep down it is just selfishness and greed."

"But...but...there must be more," Hermione pressed. "More than just prejudices and sides and back rooms." Haydrien sighed and walked over to a chair.

"The problem is, Hermione, that you must know the rules to survive. You have to play by the rules succeed and you have to manipulate the rules to change anything. Yet by the time you get to a place where you can change something, your hands are so soiled and your soul half-sold, that how can one even make purely good changes. It's dirty and it's bad and it's rotten, but we haven't found a way to change it yet. Instead the dark payoff Ministers with gold and blackmail and the light meet quietly to make sure we don't end up in another war. It's not great, but it's what we have."

"Somehow they didn't mention that on the brochure," Hermione mumbled and slumped into a chair before automatically sitting up straight with a sigh. Haydrien smiled at the sight.

"To most it'll never matter," he whispered. "They'll progress in their careers to a certain point, gripe about how purebloods have it easier and that they can't go any farther and, well, no one will pay attention. It is in those inner circles that those small gestures and hidden words mean something. It is into this world that I brought you and I'm sorry, though honestly, you were knocking at the door before."

"It's funny," she whispered back. "I was so ready to shine when I entered the magical world. Your little history lesson curbed some of it, but now I can see how I was placing myself in front of it all. Ironic that the only way you can even know that you were on the edge of a cliff is by falling over. It is not until you have the knowledge that you realize, maybe ignorance was bliss."

"Bliss it may be, but it will not keep you any safer."

~XxXxX~

It was two weeks until they would go back to Hogwarts when Haydrien approached Hermione. His stiff shoulders and straight back told a story all of their own, one she realized that she wouldn't have picked up on a couple of months ago.

"There is another layer of protection I wish to place," he said. She stayed silent, waiting for him to proceed. She had to nearly bite her tongue, but she knew the art of it now. Haydrien smiled. "Its the mark of the family. It will let all know you are under our protection. It announces it better that I could without showing either of us as weak."

"A mark," she inquired.

"Yes, it is like a family crest."

"Permanent?"

"It can be removed easily enough."

"Yet I'll be branded like cattle," Hermione snapped. "No thank you." Her patient has long since waned. The more she learned of the so called "upper echelons" of society, the more she despised them. She didn't mean to be taking it out on Haydrien. She understood he was trying to help, trying to keep her safe in the only way he knew how. She may know every rule and protocol now, but it only made her feel helpless. It only remind her of how worthless they all think she is. She held her magic tightly, it also angry that anyone would think her lesser.

"Hermione?"

"No." She turned and a table at her side rumbled. She pulled the reins tighter, but her magic felt too full, too volatile. She took a breath, trying to calm the sea inside her. The emotions too raw, the magic to bold. A single tear slid down her cheek.

"No," she whispered again and then promptly collapsed.

~XxXxX~

Haydrien closed the door to Hermione's room, leaving the girl resting inside, and turned to Neville. Neville was leaning against the wall and watched him carefully.

"She'll be fine," Haydrien said.

"You've been pushing her pretty hard to learn all this stuff," Neville commented.

"We don't have much time."

"I know, but there is more and I think I deserve to know what that is."

Haydrien sighed.

"Not your burden to bear," he answered.

"Haydrien…" Neville watched him.

"Lord Longbottom, I mean her no harm. I will be breaking the Black's connotation with dark arts. Is that not enough?" Haydrien met Neville's eyes, regret churned in the green.

"No, it's not."

"So I tell you everything or what? You make me your enemy?" Haydrien asked.

"I rather not," Neville answered, his eyes not wavering.

"Be that as it may," Haydrien sighed and ran a tired hand over his face. "Tea?" he offered.

~XxXxX~

Tucked away in what was his grandfather's study, Haydrien and Neville sat down with tea and biscuits.

"By the end of this," Haydrien started, "I will ask for a wizarding oath that this will not pass to anyone else. You will understand." He stared into his cup and the other boy watched him. "There is a trait passed down in the Blacks, a secret and cursed trait. If it was known, we would be hunted and killed, reputation be damned. You see, every now and again a rare child is born as a Grim Walker." His fingers strayed to a ring on his left middle finger.

"They have fallen into myths, and we have kept them that way. But on that train last September, I sensed how very important that one muggle-born witch is to the balance. For all the conjecture, the Grim Walker's abilities are very specialize. They can sense when someone is important, in the great scheme of things. And it is their duty to maintain the balance."

"Balance?" Neville asked.

"That no force pushes the magical world in an unhealthy direction, be it dark or even light. It is inherent for a Grim Walker to know that balance. There is a certain amount of play in the scales. However, at a certain point, we are bound to help set it right-even if it cost our life...as it did my father."

"Sirius?"

"Yes."

"And Hermione?"

"I don't know why and I don't know when. I just know that she has a very important role to play. She is...good. It is because of that that I choose to imprint on her. It basically gives me an edge in keeping her safe until she has completed her role. An imprinted Grim Walker has access to more of their abilities because they are meant as guardians."

"That doesn't make sense," Neville said. "If Hermione is meant to do something great in the future then why layer on the protection? Doesn't that mean she is safe until then?" Haydrien shook his head.

"It isn't a prophecy," he said. "It is an option of the future. She could die before then. She could also choose not to fulfill it. I am simply trying to make sure she gets to that point unharmed."

"You've mentioned abilities twice now," Neville said. "What abilities are we talking about?"

"Enhanced senses as well as speed and strength are the main ones," Haydrien answered with a wry smile.

"Guess that answers why you're so fast. And the other ones?"

"There is the sensing greatness, obviously, and knowing the balance. But there is also the ability to change into the Grim form. The physical traits are more enhanced in that form."

Neville eyed him over his own cup of tea.

"That is a lot for magic to give," he said slowly, "but you referred to it as cursed."

"In exchange, as there is also a price for every gift, I have less control over my magic. It automatically enhances those things, but leaves little to actually perform with a wand. I am a Grim Walker; I will never be a great wizard. Always the guardian, never the center."

"So her role, if it's great, it is for the good or balance then?" Neville asked after a long pause.

"Yes and no. It should be, but it isn't clear yet if that is all it will be."

"What happens if she goes against the balance?"

Haydrien closed his eyes.

"Because I have imprinted, it is my responsibility to end her," he whispered.

"But the protection," Neville pointed out. Haydrien look at him with a small, sad smile.

"It has never happened before that an imprint and one under the protection of the house have gone dark enough to threaten the balance. I am not sure what it would do to me, but I somehow don't think she's going to be the first."

"You said the light can endanger the balance though."

"It can and is quite unusual. It is usually due to darker methods or with messing with death on a large scale. So if a light wizard was to disregard the what is best for all magicals in an effort to do something 'good,' that is when it happens."

Haydrien set down his empty tea cup on the table.

"If you have future question, you can ask when we're alone. But as you can see, I cannot hurt her, only protect. But I will need that oath now," Haydrien concluded.

"Are you going to tell Hermione?"

"I can't. Her knowing may set her on a different path, trying to obtain that greatness, but actually keeping her from it. The reason wizarding kind are so wary of Grim Walkers is because every instance of imprinting and telling the wizard or witch has ended with them having to kill their imprint. They may have been fated for greatness, but in deliberately seeking it, they always go against the balance and that can only end one way."

Neville nodded and gave his wizarding oath not to tell anyone of what they had discussed. He clapped Haydrien on the shoulder on their way out, finally fully trusting the boy at his side. Moody had made sure Neville didn't trust easily and tended to look for ulterior motives. He had also made sure the boy could tell a lie from a mile away. And today, his friend had told him only the truth.

AN: Grim Walkers are my own concept, not cannon. If you have questions, review or PM them to me and we can get them answered in the story. I am sorry for the late update, this chapter fought me and I had to re-write some sections. Hope you enjoyed!