Violet
This sentence is nothing but a short disclaimer :p
"George," Jareth greeted the young wizard solemnly. George Weasley turned and gave the Fae a sad smile. "You should have taken your dreams," Jareth lightly jested and George gave him a soft laugh.
"I only wished Fred away because he wanted to visit the underground after mum told us the story," George said.
"He was quite a handful," Jareth sighed. "I am only thankful you did not get someone to wish you both away at the same time," he chuckled and George laughed half-heartedly. "Soon after your visit, one of my Fieries showed up at the entrance to my castle with a missing head." George tried not to look too guilty and smirked. "Would you happen to know where he left it?" Jareth inquired.
"Why no your majesty," George shook his head unashamedly. "If I were that fiery I would have taken better care of my appendages," he tried not to laugh.
"What is this I hear?" Hermione smiled, stepping out from behind the Goblin King. "You naughty boy, George Weasley," she laughed.
"Is this your idea of a joke Hermione?" Harry asked, staring at the man dressed in grey tights and a white poets shirt with only a heavy cloak to hold back the cold. "You look exactly like the Goblin King in that film," he commented.
"That is one of my-well my only favourite film," Jareth smirked and twisted his hand to play with a few crystals between his fingers. Harry gaped, his eyes bulged at the sight.
"You must have gotten George in on this," he said after collecting himself when he heard Hermione laughing. She shook her head.
"This is honestly not a joke and he is the real Goblin King," she said, smirking, while George continued to laugh at Harry's incredulous expression.
"Perhaps a trip to the bog will convince you," Jareth whispered his mock threat. Harry involuntarily shuddered at the threat in the Goblin King's words.
"Not happening," Hermione answered for Harry, chuckling at Jareth's barely concealed pout, and ushered everyone into the entry hall of Grimmauld Place. Jareth playfully sulked and allowed her to lead him away. The noise assaulted their ears upon entering and the two wizards and one witch smiled sadly at the memories it brought back for each of them.
"Hermione," Arthur Weasley greeted despondently. Hermione gave the man a big hug before pulling back and kissing his cheek.
"You are still one of the greatest wizards of all time in my mind," Hermione whispered to the sombre wizard. "I think nothing less of you for their choices. Their choices were not your own and I think nothing less of you," she reiterated. "Nothing has changed," she said gently. Arthur gathered her into another hug before excusing himself.
"Thank you Mione," Ginny smiled softly. "His conscience has been weighing on him these past few days." Hermione smiled sadly. "I think he was even avoiding me at the Ministry. I hope this helps. I miss seeing him everyday," she said quietly.
"So what have you called a meeting for?" Ginny asked a bit more loudly to gain everyone's attention.
"Kingsley's not here yet," Harry spoke up.
"I did not think it a good idea that he be here at the moment," Hermione answered.
"Why?" Harry and Ginny asked.
"Because he is the Minister and this emergency involves the Ministry," Narcissa answered.
"What does?" Neville asked.
"Well...you see..." Hermione said hesitantly, effectively gaining the attention of the whole room. Everyone knew the situation was serious when Hermione hesitated. She chose her words carefully before she spoke again. "It all started centuries ago with wished away children and a desperate Ministry," she started the explanation about the reason they were all there while everyone quietly listened and asked questions which were either answered by her, Lucius, and later Jareth.
"That is hardly fair," Luna said airily, but with a hint of a dreamy glare that amazed everyone when she could actually pulled off the facial gesture.
"It is unfair," Hermione agreed.
"What is the plan?" George asked. Everyone paused and looked at Hermione.
"The day after tomorrow, Minister Shacklebolt has to report Violet's case to the Head of the Ministry's Family Archives and there will most likely be an inquiry the next day when the Head of said department presents the case before the Wizengamot," Lucius answered. "If you will allow me," he paused. "When Jareth is summoned a few days from now I propose we should all accompany him to show the Ministry that he has the Order of the Phoenix's full support."
"Will that not make us enemies of the Ministry?" Arthur asked worriedly.
"I know you all have lives here aboveground," Jareth spoke up. "I do not expect you all to just up and become traitors to your Government-"
"Screw the Ministry," Hermione interrupted, and everyone agreed with her.
"Kingsley is a great Minister but he is in way over his head with those bigots," Ginny said sadly. "You still have my support," she said to the Fae. "The Ministry will just place Violet in some overcrowded orphanage and she'll be starved of the love and caring a child needs to grow." She was met with silent agreements from the crowd.
"After the Order announces its decision to side with the Goblin Kingdom, where are we going to hide?" Luna asked. "It is obvious that Harry will not be able to go back to his Senior Auror position in the Ministry after our public denouncement, Hermione will not be able to go back to her Head position in the Research and Development department, and Professor Snape will be very vulnerable at Hogwarts," she pointed out.
"Well I, for one, do not mind taking a breather," Severus drawled. "We would have to make everyone believe we have left the country, though how we will pull of a mass exodus is beyond me," he said, rubbing his chin thoughtfully with his potion-stained index finger.
"The answer is simple," a new voice spoke up from the entryway of the kitchen.
"Ambry," Jareth greeted. "I would like to introduce my younger sister, Queen Ambrosia of the Fairy Kingdom. Ambry, you already know everyone," he said pointedly. She gave everyone a wide grin when the group gazed at her with various looks of awe and one or two with confusion.
"Yes," she answered with a smirk. "I have, of course, Seen everyone already, but that is not the current topic," she waved the introductions away. "I have already had the Goblins and elves dust and air out your guest wings," she said to her brother. "Whoever chooses to support the Goblin Kingdom will have the full support of the Fairy Kingdom also. Please gather your belongings and anything precious to you," she instructed the entire occupants of the room. "There will only be one chance to leave after the inquiry and we must take full advantage."
"I will be offering the Goblin Kingdom my full support," Hermione said firmly to the quiet room.
"If you are than I am," Harry immediately stood up next to Hermione.
"Count me in," George smiled.
"You can count on the Malfoy family," Lucius said to Jareth, shaking his hand and giving the Fae's sister a polite tilt of his head.
"Our family will stand by its own unwaveringly," Arthur said to Hermione. "With the exception-"
"Thank you Arthur," Hermione politely interrupted him. "I know this must be harder for you then it is for me but I am grateful all the same to be counted as a member of your family," she smiled up at one of her surrogate parents.
"I think you can count on all of us and the D.A.," Harry smiled at Hermione. Hermione's smile changed into a tired yawn.
"I think for old times sake I will stay in my old room tonight," she said. "If that is all right wi-"
"Do not even finish that sentence," Harry interrupted her. "You don't even have to ask Hermione. It is rather late," he commented. "You may stay if you like," he said to Jareth.
"Thank you very much Mister Potter," Jareth answered, and his sister politely bid her farewells while keeping a discreet eye a certain member of the Order. "I think I may take you up on that offer." Hermione narrowed her eyes at him and he smiled down at her and followed her up the stairs.
"I know something is going on with you two," Draco spoke up behind Jareth. Hermione turned and landed a punch on his arm. "Ow woman!" He playfully glared then smiled. "You are going to share my room with me," he said pointedly to Jareth.
"You are even more overprotective than Harry," Hermione muttered quietly, rolling her eyes.
"With the trouble that follows you around I have to be," Draco answered smoothly, smirking at the, now, fuming witch.
"Hurry and go to your room Draco," Hermione ordered. "I am tired and I don't have the patience to put up with you at the moment." Draco frowned and stepped past Jareth, closer to Hermione.
"Are you okay?" He asked gently. "Are you feeling off?" Hermione sighed.
"I am sorry," she answered. "I've just been feeling exhausted these past few days. I am sure some rest over the weekend will help." Draco nodded, accepting her excuse and allowed Jareth to escort her to her room.
O.o
He inwardly groaned when he found he could not sleep. He lifted his head and contemplated whether he should toss a pillow at the sleeping occupant of the other bed situated a few feet from his. He dropped his head back into his pillow and punched the mattress. After a few more minutes of snores from the only sleeping occupant in the room, he decided to seek out warmth and comfort from the person who was on his mind, keeping him awake.
"One step within an inch of Hermione's door and my father will be hexing you into next year," Draco drawled, surprising the Fae. Jareth smirked at the young wizard in the darkness of the room.
"What makes you think I was going to see Hermione?" He asked innocently. "I may have been heading down to the kitchens to serve myself a warm cup of tea." Jareth could practically hear Draco rolling his eyes.
"I do know something happened between the two of you." Draco smirked at the man in the darkness. "I was the one to check up on her after she returned from being missing. It is amazing...the things magic can detect."
"If you know then why are you stopping me from going to sleep in Hermione's bed?" Jareth asked.
"Ah, so you admit you were sneaking out to further defile my father's daughter," Draco inwardly growled but gave the Fae an amused chuckle out loud. Jareth held his nose between his thumb and index finger.
"Nothing of what you are thinking is going to happen tonight," Jareth quietly hissed. Draco chuckled again.
"What do you know of what I am thinking?" He asked. "There are other things two people can do in bed besides a wand stirring a cauldron."
"Anyway," Jareth smirked at Draco's analogy. "Who said I was just going to walk into Hermione's bedroom?"
"I woul-" Draco never got to finish. Not a second later, a few wards filled in the silence of Grimmauld Place. He hurriedly jumped out of bed only to bump into his infuriated father and his mother chasing after the blond wizard. Harry met them in the middle of the corridor but was shoved aside as Draco had by the elder Malfoy. "He is a man on a mission," he whispered to Harry.
"What?" Harry asked. Before Draco could answer, Hermione's door was flung open by the enraged wizard only to meet the small form of an incensed witch who was standing in front of the now open door, tapping her foot with arms folded across her chest.
"What is the meaning of this?!" Hermione hissed at the enraged blond who ignored her and shot his first hex at the Fae standing behind the witch.
"Lucius!" Hermione and Narcissa pulled on his wand arm but he pushed them aside and into Draco, who helped the witches steady themselves with Harry's assistance.
"I knew something happened between you and our Mi!" He hissed at Jareth. "What happened to following the Old ways?! I thought Fae men adhered to it better than us wizards!"
"I was busy keeping up with how much wine Hermione was consuming after I figured out that she is a lightweight that I did not keep up with how much I consumed," Jareth admitted. Lucius growled and Harry jumped back in surprise and equal fright at the sound while Hermione and Narcissa continued trying to pull Lucius away from Jareth. Lucius paused at the name he heard Hermione call him, his head snapping to an equally surprised Hermione.
"D-did you just...?" He whispered, his anger rapidly leaving him. Hermione buried her face into Narcissa's neck and Narcissa held onto her tightly while gently swaying her side to side.
"I think we should give them a few minutes," Harry said to Jareth quietly, motioning for him to quickly leave the room while he still could.
"She did," Draco said quietly to his father after Harry and Jareth closed the bedroom door behind them after their hasty exit. Lucius looked down at the witch, feeling his heart constrict as her shoulders shook and she kept her face hidden from him in the folds of Narcissa's night robes.
"If you are ashamed-" Lucius began.
"No," Hermione interrupted, quickly lifting her head from Narcissa's shoulder. "I just feel like I'm betraying them in some way," she whispered.
"We do not expect you to-" Narcissa softly spoke up
"I know you don't," Hermione quickly reassured her. "It just feels right," she quietly admitted. "I would not say it if I did not feel that way. I-is that okay?" She whispered apprehensively while wringing her hands together. She looked up at blue and grey eyes, when two hands were placed over her own, to see Narcissa and Lucius looking at her with gentle expressions on their faces.
"I love the sound of it," Lucius smiled down at her. "I admit I was a bit jealous of Cissa when you were sick and delirious with the wizard's flu and called her Mum." Hermione blushed, quickly looking at a beaming Narcissa and then at the carpet. "I like the sound of Dad," he said pointedly to Draco. Draco rolled his eyes but smiled with Hermione.
"I loved the sound of Mum," Narcissa said nostalgically, remembering Hermione when she nursed her back to health. She quickly pulled her into a hug joined by Lucius and Hermione pulled a reluctant Draco into the group.
"What is this?" Hermione quietly gasped when the delicate tendrils of magic began swirling about them.
"Familial bonds!" Narcissa laughed joyfully. "Our magic is recognising you as a member of our family!"
"What is that!" Lucius suddenly hissed when a few of the tendrils twined themselves about Hermione's abdomen. Narcissa gasped and Draco just smirked.
"Was that normal?" Hermione asked apprehensively. Narcissa did not know how to answer her question, Lucius turned redder at the inquiry, and Draco continued smirking.
"Mi...love," Narcissa began hesitantly then leaned over to whisper in Hermione's ear. "When was your last monthly gift?" She murmured. Hermione paused before turning very red.
"I'll kill him!" Lucius roared, already knowing the line of questioning that was asked of Hermione and judging her reaction for himself.
O.o
"May I ask how they became so close?" Jareth asked Harry as soon as they were both situated in the sitting room down the corridor from Hermione's bedroom. Harry took a sip of his firewhiskey before answering.
"When the Malfoys became a part of the Order our fifth year Hermione took it upon herself to make them feel welcome," Harry answered. "Molly Weasley was always muttering about how disgraceful their presence was and that the family should die along with Voldemort," he flinched at speaking those words from the Weasley Matriarch and her blatant actions towards the reformed Malfoy family.
"She always spurns them every chance she receives," Harry said, rolling his eyes. "Hermione saw how they were trying to prove themselves and was always quick to stick up for one or all of them and encouraged them not to give up. She became close with the Malfoys and I still think Molly is jealous of their relationship."
"Can I ask why Lucius was so mad about finding you in Hermione's room?" Harry asked, his green eyes staring at the Fae a little harder. Jareth lifted an eyebrow but answered truthfully.
"I simply wanted to hold her while we slept," he replied. Harry could not decide whether to be angry with the man or not.
"I'll kill him!" The voice carried through every corridor and room of number 12 Grimmauld Place. Harry jumped in his seat at the sound of the elder Malfoy's roar and quickly looked at Jareth.
"If he means you I would find a good place to hide," Harry spoke seriously.
O.o.O
She watched as he muttered to himself while agitatedly throwing, sometimes simply tossing, rocks over the edge of the cliff. "I Saw you," she spoke up quietly. He turned abruptly with his wand already at the ready and a curse already half-formed on his tongue.
"Did no one tell you not to sneak up on an ex-Death Eater!" He bit out harshly, then took a deep breath when all he received was a glare in return. "I am sorry," he said quietly. "It seems I owe your brother an apology and Hermione and him a congratulations," he said none too sincerely.
"Are you not happy for them? Especially Hermione. I know you have a close connection with her," Ambry said. He paused and smiled briefly before sneering openly at a thought, then sighed.
"My visions don't usually happen so quickly," he said quietly. "I thought I would have some time to prepare myself and my family," he sighed.
"I am curious to know how you kept your gift from Lord Voldemort," Ambry said after a few minutes of silent contemplation between the two.
"A Death Eater must keep some secrets your Majesty," he smirked and she laughed. "Just so you know," he paused, "the ending is worth fighting for," he said softly. Ambry heard the sombre note in his voice and gasped.
"Bitter-sweet," she said softly after Seeing a small portion of what he had already Seen, and receiving a nod from her companion.
"I daresay he needs the peace and comfort it will bring," he said quietly and she silently agreed with him.
"You do know that we must prepare them," she stated softly.
"Yes," he agreed while tossing pebbles now, instead of throwing them. "Have you not Seen it yet?" He suddenly asked. Ambry fought back a blush but noticed his smirk.
"Tease," she laughed and lightly bumped his shoulder with her own, he chuckled. "I suppose it does make sense," she said softly.
"How do you mean?" He asked.
"The Fairy Queen is chosen by the strength of her intuition," Ambry said quietly.
"The Fates have spoken then," he said wryly. "Funny," he sighed. "I always hated that my choices were dictated for me."
"Is that how you see this?" Ambry asked, suddenly upset. He turned his head and looked at her.
"Not any more," he said gently. "I look forward to the future...especially if it includes you."
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