Hermione woke to the smell of nutmeg under her cheek. Slowly, she opened her eyes. Blaise had crawled into her bed in the hospital wing. Harry and Ron lay in beds across from hers, asleep. She knew they were because of their odd positions. They'd been seriously damaged and were wrapped in bandages. Poppy strolled by quietly, going to her office. She could hear Blaise's heart pounding through his shirt in a steady rhythm. He had pulled her into a snuggling position, her head on his chest. One arm was on her hip, the other across his lower abdomen. She knew he was awake though she couldn't see him because he tapped the finger on that hand.

"Mama, I love this girl." He said quietly in italian. She felt badly because he thought she was still out and started to speak before he said, "with all of my heart, so much it hurts."

"I know this." She heard Tilly speak. Hermione couldn't eavesdrop any longer,

"I love you, Blaise." He cried out her name with such excitement it made her warm all over, pulling her up to look at her and she cried out. Blaise's face was marred by three fresh scars, trailing down one side of his face. In that eye, though you almost had to look twice, he was blind. "Blaise!" she wailed, "what happened?"

"Werewolf, mia." He frowned, "I am…" clearly he thought she was going to leave, "I am not… infected. My own blood will not allow it so easily. However, mia, I understand if you would want to leave. I-" he cried out as she slapped him. Harry and Ron were up, grabbing her by the arms.

"How dare you!" she shrieked, "how dare you, Blaise Aurelias Zabini! That is the worst thing you could EVER say!"

"MIONE!"

"SHUT IT, HARRY!" she growled, wrenching free from her friends and Madame Pomfrey and grabbed the Italian by the face with both hands, "Tilly, keep them off of me, please."

"Si."

"Blaise, how could you? I've given you everything," she whispered gently, "we have survived two battles, at least! We have survived hatred and fear and our heritages; jealous women, imprisonment and certain death. I gave myself to you. I am learning Italian, I want to cook for you! I love you, Blaise, truly love you. How could you ever think it's okay to hurt me like that? What about getting married and our kids? What about forever? Can a scar break that?"

"No." he choked, wincing. She nodded, kissing him.

"for such a smart boy, you are so daft." He laughed, squeezing her tightly. Then, something occurred to her and she sat straight up, "OH MY GOD, WHERE IS DRACO?!"

"Miss Ganger! Stop that shrieking this instant. Mr. Malfoy was discovered as a Death Eater by Head Auror Gawain Robbards. They had to release him from custody but Mr. Malfoy was expelled." Poppy said, "they will wish to speak with you as well, concerning the multiple bite marks on your body from Mr. Zabini."

"and they can go to hell." She hissed. Harry butted in just then,

"Mione! I got you a card."

"I don't want a card." She scoffed, "Harry, this is imp-"

"Take. The. Damn. Card." Harry ground out. Poppy huffed at language, said something about keeping them a few extra days and stalked off. Hermione took "the card" as Blaise opened his mouth.

"Potter, I like you. If you ever talk to her in that fashion-"

"Hush." Hermione said, "I solemnly swear I am up to no good."

"You never are." Ron grinned. Standing directly behind Harry was Draco. She smiled brilliantly, handing Harry the map back.

"Keep your card, Harry."

"Mischief managed then," he grinned, "it at least got you to calm down."

"You two are impossible." Ron snorted, "I'm going to lay back down."

"I wish Draco were here." Hermione sighed, "he could be in so much trouble."

"Draco is a big Slytherin," Blaise chided, "he will be fine on his own."

"Yes, but I have so much I'd like to say." She grinned, eyes twinkling, "like how brave I thought it was that he hid Harry from view, he's definitely one of my best mates. He even looks out for Blaise. I never thought I'd say it but I really do love Draco Malfoy, that sneaky, snarky, ferrety and apparently very self controlled git."

"I'm glad you said something," Harry nodded, "I was thinking, one day, I might tell him about the Marauders." Ron groaned,

"I don't know why I put up with either of you, any of you. You're all barking."

"No, Ron, you." she grinned, sticking out her tongue, "Harry, does Draco know anything about the Marauders?"

"Mssrs. Moony, Padfoot, Wormtail and Prongs?" Harry grinned, "no. Not one single thing."

"Padfoot?" Blaise asked, glancing at Madame Pomfrey who tended a potions accident victim "your dog?"

"Si, my dog." Hermione nodded.

"Wormtail is a Death Eater." He growled. She nodded,

"He is now, he wasn't then."

"Moony is your… other dog?"

"Yes."

"Then… who is prongs?"

"Harry, show him Prongs."

"Expecto Patronum!" Harry grinned, he instantly deflated, the Patronus vanishing, "what the bloody hell?!" Hermione grinned back at Blaise, leaning back onto his good shoulder. "Ron! Did you see that? What was that?"

"I dunno, mate, do it again."

"Expecto Patronum!" A rather large wolf came out. "it's a damned dog!" Harry wailed, "it's not supposed to be a dog!"

"It's a wolf, Harry."

"It's not a wolf, it's a stag."

"It's a wolf, Harry." Hermione grinned, "look at him all fuzzy and warm, Blaise."

"I see savage and fierce." Blaise sniffed, "nothing fuzzy or warm."

"It is a stag!" Harry argued as Albus walked in. The old man paused, eyes twinkling and looked over his glasses,

"Harry, that is clearly a wolf." He paused, "it is a shame Mr. Malfoy is not here to see it."

"He's seen it," Harry growled, "and it's a stag."

"Wolf." Albus corrected, "and it's a very proud wolf, I think."

"I agree." Hermione said, "proud and stubborn, a bit of a loner, fierce, relentless, and yet… cuddly."

"Fine!" Harry huffed, "why is it a wolf then?" The silvery wolf, it's eyes bright white, looked back at him as if waiting for a command. Harry growled, "do you see a Dementor? Go away!" and flicked his wand.

"The Patronus represents who you love the most or has the biggest impact, depending; it's not uncommon for them to change," Albus smiled, "do you know anyone who is these things? Anyone who would likely take a wolf animagus form? They are clever creatures as well as the attributes miss Granger listed."

"Oh…" Harry grinned, "I like it."

"What are you going to name it?" Hermione asked.

"Hmm…I don't know yet. Fluffy I think- ow!"

"Are you quite alright, Harry?" Albus asked. Harry nodded,

"er…"

"Growing pains?"

"Yes."

Hermione crossed her arms and glared heatedly at Gawain Robbards as he spoke to Madame Pomfrey. Ron and Harry pulled their curtains mostly closed at the look on her face; they didn't want him dragging them into his fight. Gawain was on his own. He had two other Aurors with him, flanking like Crabbe and Goyle used to flank Draco. Hermione looked to Harry,

"who are they?"

"Vampire Squad; Romanoff and Sanchez. Sanchez is actually the non-latino."

"Grazi," she lazily flipped her wrist from her head in a mock salute. Tilly, standing two beds down beside Blaise was also glaring at the men. Then, they turned and headed toward them. Hermione was on her feet, blocking them.

"Robbards, Romanoff, Sanchez." She greeted real ice in her voice, "the Headmaster and Madame Pomfrey informed me you'd be coming to speak with me. There will be no need in waking Blaise to speak with me."

"We are here to arrest him." Romanoff said.

"Oh, so then you mean to incite another war." Hermione nodded, "we are in the middle of a war with Lord Voldemort right this moment but you think you can handle another; so you thought it should start today. I completely understand."

"Now see here, girl-" Romanoff froze as a hand grabbed his wrist that was reaching for Hermione with Seeker fast reflexes. Hermione started to see Marius, Mael and Julius. Marius had his wrist firmly. He shoved it back at Romanoff in disgust.

"You see here, sir," he spat, "you are in the presence of a lady and so help me you will treat her as such."

"You and what army?" Romanoff snarled.

"Oh no!" Mael gasped, head snapping to look at his brother in wide eyed mock fear, "Julius! We've gone invisible!" All three brother and Ron and Harry snickered. Albus Dumbledore walked in then and up to them.

"Back away from the girl." Marius pressed, "you will leave her alone and show her the proper respect."

"Or what? You will bite me?"

"Technically," Hermione said, making her way through the brothers to the front again, "he can. He can drop you like a quaffle if you touch me. I will say it again, you are inciting another war. Twice I have told you. Do you want a repeat of the 1321-1400 Vampire War? Well, do you?"

"What war?" Albus asked, frowning, "no war will be incited on Hogwarts grounds while I am Headmaster."

"According to the law; which these men claim they're here to uphold, Headmaster Dumbledore, they cannot just waltz in here on public property and arrest Blaise. I will explain why. When the High Council disbanded and the Vampire World joined the Wizarding World, there were many laws exchanged. Some were erased, some kept, one of the laws that remained from the Vampire World was the Law of Mates. A vampire's mate must be marked twice and I am. Therefore, I am Blaise's mate."

"Indeed." Gawain nodded, "I know this law. However, it doesn't apply here. There must be rituals performed to finish the bond. It's the closest thing Vampire's have to marriage and they cannot be completed on school grounds. So, that doesn't apply here."

"Alright," Hermione nodded as though playing her hand in a chess match, "so then, we're not allowed to finish through with these rituals?"

"The rituals also have to happen within twenty days of each other, yours have not." Gawain replied, "do you wish to refute that?"

"No, I will tell the truth." Hermione shook her head, "so the fact that I was willing and that he saved my life, Ron's life, Harry's life, and Draco's life because he bit me has no weight here?"

"Forced under duress." Sanchez replied, "no, it doesn't apply. Now, move."

"No." Hermione turned, sort of hugging Marius, "let them. They were warned." She turned and grabbed a hand of each, Julius and Marius. "Don't do a thing, don't break any laws. Tilly, please."

"There's nothing we can do, mi bambinos, our hands are tied." Tilly said looking sadly at Blaise.

"No." Ron flung back his curtain, "I won't let you. If no one else is going to do anything, I will."

"You will not, Ronald Weasley!" Hermione barked, "Harry, watch him. We cannot afford to break the law; look what they did to Draco. We will have Blaise back."

"In five to ten years!" Ron wailed, "five to ten years in Azkaban?! Hermione, you know what that does to a bloke!"

"I KNOW! SHUT UP AND SIT DOWN!" she roared. Huffing, Ron sat. She looked at Blaise who was climbing out of bed. "Blaise…" she hurried over to him and he hugged her tightly.

"Mia, I will not survive. Vampires do not survive Azkaban."

"You will," she whispered, "if you go, you will survive for me, alright?" she sniffled and leaned up, kissing his jaw and she said where only he could hear her, "if I can't get you out legally, I'll break you out. Don't forget, my dog." He chuckled, petting down her hair and holding her to him.

"Mia, ti amo."

"Ti amo." She rasped, trying to be strong, "I love you, Blaise. Stay strong," they were taking him from her now, "I will come for you. You've come for me. I will be there." He nodded, head hung low and took a deep breath. He lifted his head and squared his shoulders, turning to ice before her eyes.

"Ti amo mi familia." Then, they were marching him out with all the dignity and honor a Slytherin and Zabini could possibly dredge up. It almost appeared that Blaise was leading them out. Hermione went to stand in front of his brothers, blocking them from going after their smallest with arms stretched wide and head high.

"Tilly." She said coldly, looking to the woman, "we need to…to…to…" Tilly surged forward and hugged her. When Hermione finally glued her pieces back together, she stood taller. "Harry Potter, I need to borrow some money. A lot of money."

"I'll go get my keys." Harry smirked, sliding out of bed. She nodded,

"Harry, see if Moony will bring us our dog as well. If they want a war, they're going to get one."

"No war will be incited on Hogwarts grounds," Albus repeated, "but, I think I can help organize a few skirmishes." Hermione nodded and then pulled away from Tilly, drawing her wand,

"I'll be back, I need to… send an owl. There's a bug that owes me a favor."

Hermione stood, dressed to kill, atop the Ministry steps. Werewolves who had never raised a ruckus before, led by Remus lupin were lined up to her left. Half giants and hordes of Veelas, the worlds few free house elves, vampires by the pound, and creatures she didn't recognize lined the steps of the Ministry. They spilled out down Diagon Alley, sat atop light posts and eachother's shoulders. They were raising a ruckus, a deafening roar, and held various signs in different languages.

"This is the wonder of public protest." Hermione told Rita Skeeter as she and her photographer snapped photos. The crowds went wild as Fudge appeared.

"What is the meaning of this?!" he demanded. Hermione turned, casting a sonorous,

"Could you all quiet down a bit? He'd like to know why we are here!" instantly, the crowds hushed. She nodded, "Merci, grazi, Arigatou and thank you, those are the only thank yous I know. Minister Fudge seems to think he hasn't done anything wrong, he hasn't offended anyone." She turned back to the Minister, "but you have. You've offended werewolves, giants, veelas, vampires, elves, witches, wizards and many more. You've offended me, Minister Fudge. Blaise Zabini's trial is a public one, do you deny this?"

"No."

"Then bring him out where the public," she swept her arm over the crowd, "can see!" They went nuts, calling for Blaise. "You claim to uphold the laws here, Minister, and you have. Your Aurors took Blaise Zabini into custody for biting me, twice. Any mating or bonding ritual had not been completed, this is true."

"I've broken no law."

"You've broken the law of common decency!" she shrieked, "you knew that the first time, Blaise took a bludger in a meaningless game of Quidditch, to save me! He nearly died and Madame Poppy Pomfrey as well as most of Hogwarts and more than a few Healers can attest to that. How am I supposed to have a bonding ritual with an unconscious man? Your own Aurors know that we had been kidnapped the second time, Blaise attacked by a werewolf on the behalf of myself, Draco Malfoy, Ronald Weasley and Harry Potter. We were awake, yes, but laid up in an Infirmary from our wounds. Are you saying, Minister Fudge, that we do not have the right to have a happy bonding ceremony?"

"No!"

"You are!" she spat, "you lie! According to you and your Aurors, Blaise and I are not allowed to have a happy bonding ceremony. According to you and your Aurors, it means nothing. According to YOU and your AURORS, we cannot even marry! Since we cannot marry, and we respect those laws, I wanted to follow my own muggle traditions as well, not that it's any of your business. We were going to dress up, have friends and family, food! But no, that- as a muggle tradition- was also taken from us! I've seen the arrest warrant, you signed it, Minister." Rita Skeeter waved the parchment in his face.

"I- I-"

"YOU WHAT?!" Hermione crowed mockingly. "You didn't have to say it, Minister, it didn't have to be written down. Your words were implied so loudly, so clearly, that it was heard around the world!" she gestured sweepingly to the crowd again, "You said, Minister Fudge, that we must bow like slaves under your rule. You said that we must be together on your terms and not our own. We are not allowed the time for happiness but must do as you say, no matter the conditions. There can be no leeway for recovery of life threatening wounds, there can be no leeway for being kidnapped."

"I never said that."

"It was implied."

"Minister Fudge," Rita said, "Rita Skeeter with the Daily Prophet, tell me; is it muggles you hate more or vampires? Maybe it's another magical creature here?"

"Nephellius Lovegood with the Quibbler, Minister, tell me; what do you intend to do if the magical creatures rejoin as communities and withdraw their contracts of peace that have lasted so long?"

"How do you feel about Veelas, Minister?"

"Giants, Minister?"

"What of the rarer Volaticae, Minister?"

"Minister!" Hermione spat, "the trial! Let's get to it! You are running late!"

"Minister," this was Tonks, "what would you like me to do with the prisoner?"

"Cornelius," Albus said gently, "If it were I, I would think very carefully about my next words." The Minister nodded. Several people came up the stairs and he paled.

"and who's this?"

"Oh, they're here for Blaise." Hermione said, "his trial is due to start in ten minutes, afterall. This is Tilantha Zabini, Marius Zabini, Mael Zabini, Julius Zabini and Zenobia Zabini. They've come to watch their brother be sentenced to a place that will, undoubtedly, kill him; as it has all vampires. Death to Blaise Zabini because he was wounded honorably." She shook her head sadly, "instead of being praised a hero, Blaise is a villain. Because he is a vampire."

"Only 1/8." Albus nodded, "it's sad."

"I-I- I have something to say."

"Go on." Hermione growled.

"I believe," he said loudly, waiting for everyone to quiet down. He cleared his throat, "I believe I was misinformed. I was not fully aware of the circumstances surrounding the arrest or lack of bonding ceremony. Laws were broken and are meant to be upheld; I think we can all see that. However, laws should also provide for more leeway than this, given the circumstances. Auror Tonks, please, release the prisoner, Mr. Blaise Zabini. Only prosecution will happen here, not persecution. Miss Granger, I would like to be the first to wish you congratulations."

"Grazi, Minister, but I think we've decided to wait after all of this."

"A wise choice." He croaked. He then turned back to the crowd, "I thank you all for bringing this to my attention, no volatile act was meant against any person or persons identifying with their creature heritage here…" Hermione drowned him out because behind him she could see the Zabinis happily greeting their free brother who was now rubbing his unbound wrists. He looked dirty and worn, tired. His hair was greasy and he appeared a bit thinner, gaunt. He'd only been gone a week but that was too long. The Minister seemed to notice she wasn't standing over him like Molly Weasley and one of her children and turned to look.

Blaise lifted his head, scars standing out as well as his blind eye and smiled fully, showing his fangs. It was something he had never done. The crowds quieted but no one noticed,

"Ah, Mina," Blaise sighed, "I have missed you." He laughed as she seemed to regain her senses and pummel into him, legs around his waist and arms around his neck, hugging him.

"I'm sorry, Mr. Zabini, what did you call her?" Fudge asked, repeating the question shouted by some in the crowd.

"Mina." Blaise smiled, "mi Mina." Hermione laughed because she knew now who were the muggle borns amongst them and they began to laugh.