Hermione groaned and rolled over on her bed. Today was the day of Zane's welcoming ball and she had slept away most of her free time. She hadn't spoken to Draco in weeks. He was seriously jealous of all the attention Zane was getting even before his arrival. Hermione had overheard him complaining to Blaise that Zane would be all they heard about for the rest of the year. She rolled her eyes at the memory a small smile lifting her face. Draco would be pissed when he found out that she was going to the ball with the alpha wolf. He would regret making her feel like crap for the past several weeks. The heir to the Dark Lord did not get treated like Hermione Granger the Mudblood. Never again. Seeing her in her dress would stun him and then she would tear him to pieces.
She stood up from her bed and stretched, running her hands through her straight hair. She examined her closet snatching a pair of yoga pants and tank top before heading to the her bathroom. Twenty minutes later she sat down at her vanity just as Pansy and Ginny burst into the room.
"Oh good," Pansy smiled shutting the door behind her, "We were worried that we would have to role you out of bed after last night."
Hermione raised a brow, "Last time I checked my name was Hermione Riddle not Ginny Weasley and I didnt drink that much last night so stuff it."
"Hey now!" Ginny protested grabbing a pillow while taking a seat, "Im not that bad."
"I seem to remember you sleeping through an entire day of exams during school." Pansy countered flicking her hair over her shoulder and smirking.
"Yeah because I was studying all night!" Ginny explained.
"Studying Dean all night maybe." Hermione mumbled reaching for her brush.
Pansy burst into a fit of giggles as Ginny blushed a deeper shade of red than her hair.
"Well I did learn quite a bit." She admitted bursting into giggles with the others.
Hermione grinned, "Speaking of learning. Have you learned anything about Blaise lately."
"No," Ginny scowled, "He's been stuck up Draco's ass since your father brought up Zane and the pack. He doesnt like the idea of a bunch of new guys moving into their territory."
"Kind of stupid when you think about it," Pansy added with a look of complete exasperation, "the boys are so worried about other boys taking over that they are completely ignoring us."
"Dont worry Pans, they will regret it." Hermione assured her watching their marks spring to life, "After all. No king survives without the protection of their queen."
A knock on the door announced the arrival of their stylists for the evening. Hermione wandlessly opened the door and the topic changed to lighter things. The stylists spent an hour giving each girl a manicure and pedicure before moving on to make up and hair. After three hours the girls were almost ready to head downstairs.
Hermione gave the girls a once over while her stylist brought their dresses in, "Ladies, we are about to make history."
Ginny and Pansy smiled watching Hermione step into her dress and put on black leather peep toe heels. The others pulled their dresses and heels on without another word. The stylists were packing up the last of their supplies when someone knocked on the door. Hermione nodded to Pansy who cracked the door to see who was there. She smiled while pulling the door open to admit Voldemort
Voldemort smiled, "I've never seen a group of girls more beautiful...and lethal might I add."
Hermione smirked, "We learn from the best father."
"Well I believe that everyone is waiting but they will have to wait just a little longer. Someone would like to speak to you." Voldemort said motioning to the door.
Hermione was dissapointed that the blonde that entered the room was not Draco. Narcissa Malfoy walked forward to deposit a small box in Hermione's hand. "Your mother wanted you to have this when you turned sixteen but we had not found you. I figured that you might like to have it now."
Hermione lifted the lid to reveal a silver tiara. It glittered under the light. Tears rushed to her eyes as she brushed the sapphire gems with her fingertips. Only her mother would have chosen sapphires. Lucky that she had decided to wear her hair down. Pansy helped her position the tiara in her hair and stepped back to admire the beauty of it.
"It looks like the diadem," Pansy whispered.
Ginny frowned, "What?"
"Ravenclaw's diadem." Narcissa explained smiling. "You will reign tonight my dear."
"Now to the ball," Voldemort said clapping his hands.
The girls entered the ball from the grand staircase. Pansy went first. Slowly decending the stairs then taking Theodore's hand to be escorted to her chair. Ginny entered next descending into Blaise's arms. Finally Hermione stepped out with her father. Many people gasped at her beauty and Hermione felt her mark flare to life in her excitement. Voldemort walked her to the raised dias where the inner circle and Dark Bloods waited with a young man who must be Zane.
Hermione couldnt stop staring at him. He couldnt have been more opposite of Draco if he tried. He was roughly Draco's height but the similiarities ended there. Zane had dark hair and eyes, broad shoulders and a stocky build. A person could tell that they didnt want to mess with him. Hermione wondered if his body type was directly related to his second nature. He smiled and Hermione was stunned. He was ruggedly handsome. Not refined like Draco but definitely his own brand of sexy.
"Ms Riddle," Zane spoke quietly, "Its a pleasure to finally meet you."
Hermione smiled back, "And I you. My father speaks highly of you." Her grin widened when Zane bent to kiss her hand and Draco stiffened.
Hermione turned to introduce Pansy and Ginny first then Draco and the boys. "Ah yes, Draco Malfoy, your second in command."
"And boyfriend," Draco added with a stiff smile.
Zane's grin could not have resembled a wolf more, "Well you know what they say, if the girl isnt married shes available."
Hermione's look became deadly, "She is standing right her and can make her own decisions."
"Of course," Zane agreed with a dip of his head, "It is always the lady's choice."
Hermione nodded dismissing the conversation and turning to her father. He immediately drew her I to conversation and the boys were left to stare each other down. She successfully avoided both men for an hour as she greeted her guests and danced with different individuals. Finally she sat at her table and began the tiresome task of diplomatically endearing herself to Zane. She noticed Draco storm from the hall not long after and rolled her eyes in annoyance. She would deal with him later. Right now she had business to take care of.
Zane continued to speak with Hermione until he had her laughing again. Hermione was grateful for his sense of humor and casual attitude. He told stories of his pack and the many adventures they had. The way he spoke of the transformation mesmerized her. One would think that he loved his wolf side more than people. He spoke of the lack of respect for the power of the werewolf and how he hoped to change the publics view. Zane thought about things that even she hadnt considered.
The pack was completely self sufficient. Off the grid and therefore untrackable. The thing that caught Hermione off guard was his second in command. He spoke of Catia like a warrior goddess. Brunette hair, green eyes and a vicious nature. Everything that Hermione valued in a warrior. Zane explained that Catia ran the pack in his absence and he had complete faith in her.
Hermione interrupted him then to ask a question, "Why do you have a female warrior as your second in command?"
Zane shrugged before answering, "She is the best. Her gender did not play a part in the decision. However, it is true that no king lives without the protection of a queen."
"Interesting view," Hermione replied with a small smile.
Zane failed to notice when her eyes and mark flared with a dull red glow. Their conversation was cut short by the clock chiming 3 times. The party had come to an end all to quickly. Hermione immediately stood to say a final goodbye to her guests. Zane was the last to leave and she laughed as he transformed and bounded into the forest.
Pansy and Ginny stayed in Hermione's room that night to talk about Zane. Hermione noted that Pansy seemed a little tense but was wise enought not to address the issue. Draco stipped by shortly after they had all changed for bed and demanded to speak to his girlfriend.
Hermione's smile was ice, "You dont speak to me for weeks and now I am your girlfriend again. Let me explain something to you, you dont get the right to demand anything. You are in my house, at my door, and I decide whether you get to be a part of my life. You dont get to treat me like shit for no reason."
"Hermione, Im sorry." Draco groaned fisting his hand in his hair, "this jealousy is eating me alive. I dont mean to do this to you. I just react before I think."
"Maybe you should just spend some time thinking then." Hermione suggested with a voice of steel.
Draco sagged against the door, "What are you saying Hermione?"
Hermione looked back at Ginny and Pansy with an unreadable expression before answering, "Im saying grow up. We are not betrothed. I will choose who I want to spend my time with and heres a clue, it wont be with people who try to make my decisions for me. Now I had a good time tonight and I refuse to let you ruin it. Goodnight."
Draco growled turning and punching the wall with all of his might. His hand immediately split open and began bleeding. With a lost look he touched his fingers to the blood and quietly traced the lines of his Dark Bloods scar. It glowed silver before dissapearing. Somehow Draco knew that it would be days before he would see it or the girl who put it there again.
Hermione sighed heading over to the window to close it. The last thing she heard before closing the windowwas a lone wolf's howl of victory in the night. A small smile lifted her face. He wasnt the only one who had been victorious.