Disclaimer. I do not own Harry Potter. He belongs to J. K. Rowling. I'm grateful she lets us play in the sandbox. Ripclaw and the idea for the story are mine.
Hail the Higher Power for a new story.
I would like to thank the amazing people behind this story. My mom and my son as cheerleaders.
SlytherinSal and Marc the Unruly for their support. Marc the Unruly came up with the name of this story based on the song. Sweet Dreams are made of this. By Eurythmics. 1983. Very cool song.
The Ghostly Minion for cheering just as hard as my mother and son.
No place for storing Trolls, don't bring any.
To the rest, enjoy and leave a review.
Today was the first day of the new year. Hermione believed that, with this new beginning, she had another opportunity at being closer to happiness.
She smiled and realized that was a pretty lame way to say thank you for a new day, but she was coming out of her period, so in a way she deserved a bit of leniency from whatever was out there.
Hell, if she actually began complaining, she might as well go back to her cat Athena and her chocolate box and hate on her single status and all the happily married witches. And dive back into the chick flick marathon including Bridget Jones, like she did the night before.
But, she was a very responsible witch, and she loved her job. So, after her morning ablutions, cleansing juice treatment, health potions, abusing the sleek-easy potion while dipping her wild locks in it, working out, stretching, double checking her paperwork and the color code, plus the calendar on all of her deliveries. She got a shower, ate her sensible breakfast, checked her lunch box was set up, made up her face, and dressed in her very chic French witch robes. Because Merlin forbid, the English robes were just too frumpy for her style! Got her chunky/platform slippers, and a touch of perfume and apparated to the back entry door from Gringotts, and in the frenzy, she forgot her lunch box at home.
She realized her missing lunch box was not there while making the line to clock up into Gringotts, and before she could roll her eyes and frown, she noticed a gorgeous ginger waving at her and smiled at one of the few or two Weasley brothers that were decent. Bill, who currently was her co-worker and thankfully married to a genuine woman. Fleur, not those British she dogs. Still, Bill was cute to look at. The other Weasley was George Weasley, and he too was married. To Angelina, a real lady.
It was no secret that the rest of his family, the Weasleys, were a nightmare and even though the brothers loved their tribe, she figured that their wives were barely tolerated. After hearing the harrowing tales of the family gatherings, Hermione knew the family was quite particular with outsiders, by the two wives' elusive comments. The seasonal family gatherings happened, and she involuntarily was made aware of the details, today was no exception to the rule.
"Mon, Dieu, I was so close to hexing that horrible girl," said Fleur. "My Harry would have paid for a family party in the Bahamas. I swear Angie, I didn't mean to giggle at her drunken speech, but then, I remembered, Harry, the Harry Potter, went out with her in their teens, that was well over a decade ago, and dear, you saw what happened then."
"Oh, I remember, I wanted to jump into the water hole Fleur, as Whiny, I mean Ginny went on with her usual spiel. Really, if I have to hear for the nth time, my Harry, my Harry. Thank Merlin, the man opened his eyes in time. He was on the Quidditch team and realized that while they were going out, she was cheating on him. It was so obvious, right and left with anything that moved in the tower and outside too. I'm glad he figured it out, Fleur, the breakup was legendary. He broke up with that neanderthal Ron too. At the time, I didn't know Ron was gay, but it made so much sense after all the gaslighting that boy did to poor Harry."
"I say, he was smart, but I didn't know Harry was bi if he was going out with Ron and Ginny? But, let us not get distracted, now, as a member of the unwanted Weasley wives' club, we have to endure, darling Banshee Molly, funny and henpecked Arthur, and of course the rest of the clan." Said, Fleur.
Angie laughed and added. "No, no, you got me all wrong, he broke his friendship with Ron and he ran away from Ginny's clutches. I mean, come on Fleur, there is nothing wrong with being Bi, but give Harry some credit, Ron? Eww!" said Angelina.
Hermione couldn't help it, and she began laughing. Fleur and Angelina, who also worked in Gringotts, turned to the eavesdropper and said, "Bon Jour Hermione." Said, Fleur. "Morning girl, and happy new year." Said, Angelina.
"Morning Mrs. Weasley and Mrs. Weasley," said Hermione while smiling. She brought two gift bags and gave them to the women. She added, "Happy New Year dears, I hope the gift helps alleviate last night's hangover,"
"Oh Hermione, you shouldn't have, I feel terrible, I don't have a gift to give you," said Angie.
Fleur smiled, took the gift, and gave Hermione a gift card. "It's for the bookstore that just opened next to the Leaky, I'm sure you will like it," said Fleur.
Hermione hugged Fleur and said to Angie. "Don't worry Angie, I'm sure you'll make it up to me, if not, I'll just erase you from my Christmas list and that's it." She added with a twinkle in her eye.
Angie smiled and said, "Yeah, okay, tell you what. I'll buy your next lunch at the Leaky and we will call it even, alright?"
"Why thank you, now, I will raise that stake, how about you tell me more about what was growing up next to Mr. Hot, rich, widower, who is definitely not bi or gay Potter, and we will call it even, huh?" Asked Hermione.
"Well, I think that is a great idea, let's get together for lunch and I will give you all the sordid details of the runt who grew up to be the stuff of so many witches' dreams Madame Granger." Replied Angie.
"You are so on. See you girls then. Have a good day," said Hermione.
She walked away, and, as always, where Goddess Granger walked all sorts of stares followed. Which made Angie exclaim to the distance.
"Goodness, she is so cute when her Aussie accent makes an appearance."
Fleur giggled and said to Angie, "Angeline, your crushing heart is showing."
"Right, like the Aussie babe Granger is going to let me pinch on that gorgeous bum, you and I know it's not happening, but I can still flirt. Plus, George is not complaining, I'm just playing," said Angie.
Fleur smiled and added, "Bill is quite hopeful that one day, Hermione will share our bed."
"And you say my crush is showing, what about yours?" Asked Angie.
Both laughed and then they heard a voice say, "Oh, those are sexy images, but I'm afraid that woman is dangerous and she will be Harry Potter's before anyone else's."
Both Fleur and Angie turned and noticed the lovely Luna Longbottom walking up to Hermione's office.
"Ah, morning Madam Longbottom." Said, Fleur.
"Morning Mrs. Longbottom." Said, Angie.
"Morning Angie, morning Fleur." Said Luna as she walked to Hermione's office.
Luna knocked at Hermione's office door, and the door opened a second later.
"Luna, good morning to you, how are you on this new day of the year?" Asked Hermione.
"Oh, I'm good, but I've come with a bit of a warning. My mother in dreams came to me and said that you need to be cautious. Your lover and mate is about to reveal himself. Don't hesitate to take his hand and protection, protect him back, for no one loves like you and you will be gifted with feral motherly love to protect your mate and his young. Protect back, there are several gorgons wanting his magic, love him and don't hesitate to protect your new family. Destroy the gorgon sisters."
As Luna said this, Hermione noticed her eyes went onyx, and her voice had an echo and magic, felt like an embrace. She realized Luna was a seer. A true oddity among magicals. She blinked and kept the exchange to herself. Because, as she understood, seers rarely kept a memory of their messages. Just like the books read, Luna snapped back and said, "Oh dear, what am I doing here?"
"You came to assure me that you would attend the housewarming party this weekend and to remind me that you were right and I was very smart to follow your advice on my last investment on the purchase of land and building the new house in Hogsmeade." Said, Hermione.
"I was? Oh dear, I ruined the surprise, I was going to bring a fruity mix to make those cocktails, you loved so much." Said a mortified Luna.
"Ah, good, I will get the Vodka and those little paper umbrellas the children love so much." Said, Hermione.
Hermione smiled and brought up a gift bag for Luna. "Here, happy new year, Luna dear, and please tell Lord Longbottom that Gringotts is fascinated with his handling of the Venomous Tentacula, and without his loving touch, many goblins would have missed out on the newest version of the Goblin's chickenpox vaccine,"
"Oh, I know you have a crush on my Neville, he is quite manly. He was very brave when the final battle happened, I knew then, he would be my husband, and I wouldn't mind sharing, not with you, but, you already have a mate, he is just too stupid to realize you exist, no matter what I tell him. Neville tells him, even Augie tells him, no, he's too busy, anyway, I have to run. Celeste is about to find out I'm out and she is going to turn Linny, our house-elf, upside down with her magic." She got up, hugged Hermione, and kissed her cheek, while babbling, "Thank you for the bag, you're right I love liqueur chocolates," without opening or glancing at the bag.
Once Luna was gone, Hermione laughed, and said to the ceiling, "Darling Luna, if you would tell me his name, I would tell him myself. He's too stupid, anyways, another day another galleon," she paused and smiled to herself. "If they only paid me a galleon a day, I wouldn't be working here!"
As promised, Hermione went to the Leaky to get lunch only to receive a note from Angie and Fleur, apologizing. There was a tainted treasure inside Gringotts, and the malicious magic was close to killing a member of the goblin party Bill too was caught and now getting treatment for a backlash from a withering curse. Hermione wrote back accepting their apologies and their rain check.
While in the Leaky, Tom the old innkeeper had a table reserved for Hermione, away from the rest of his patrons. Old Tom realized this witch was powerful, and she would create waves if someone crossed her the wrong way.
True to his gut feeling, the first time that Malfoy cretin noticed the gorgeous girl, he tried to insult her lineage, gender, and education, to which Miss Granger ignored him. He insisted while everyone in the Leaky gave a step back; she created a dome of defensive magic, something quite rare since she did it without raising her wand, Malfoy continued harassing her, and at last, she told him to get lost. The dome was not impervious to noise and the rest of the Leaky laughed at his stupid attempts. He then advanced and took a hold of her arm and demanded the respect he deserved as a noble, pure blood by the upstart foreign witch. That was the last thing he did before Hermione gave him a kick in his crotch and finished him with a right hook to his nose, she then added, "Don't touch me, death eater, I'm a free woman and a new blood, and I don't bow to anyone, you bow to me, now, get out my face." It was then that Madame Susan Bones laughed and made the arrest while adding. "Oh Merlin, Malfoy, you still don't get it, after all these years, women have to be courted, not forced. Now get up. Miss, could you please share the memory of the last ten minutes, for the record?"
Hermione did, and from then on, no one in the Leaky crossed a word if not necessary with her. It was a shame because she really wasn't a snob or without manners; she was just not into their cultural limitations, which, to her, seemed as current as Queen Victoria. Hagrid talked to her, Old Tom the Innkeeper too, and Ollivander, but the rest of the patrons kept their distance and in a way, it broke Hermione's heart.
It was an unusual start of the year, Hermione noticed as several acquaintances moved through the place. She observed how Hagrid went through the entry of the Leaky in a rush. Madame Bones was behind him. Something was amiss. Then she heard the conversations around her. Usually, they all talked about the wizarding world's royal, or media person, Harry Potter. She had seen his picture on Witch Weekly and fell for his loving stare. Well, she knew the loving stare was for his children, but the angle of the photo displayed him staring lovingly, and it won the best picture for the publishing house. Still, she was not a big fan yet. Until, she learned of his story from Neville, Fleur, and Angie. Usually, she would not mind the conversations of others but today there was a different vibe in the air. She kept quiet and let the sounds of other voices fill the void.
"Have you seen the latest post on his wizard media account? He broke the engagement to that slut Greengrass, and good for him, took him long enough…" Said a gossiping witch. At this point, Hermione wondered if she wanted to hear more. Then a new voice asked."Oh, dear Merlin, did you hear about his little daughter being abducted?
That last piece of information made her raise her head sharply and pursue the note on the Daily Prophet, such a rumor was over the top. She picked the Daily Prophet and there in wide bold letters the title and article.
Breaking News. Lily Marie Potter kidnapped!
Article by: Rita Skeeter.
My dearest readers, I'm sorry to be the bearer of shocking news, but since it is my duty to my trade, I must relay this distressing bit of information.
You see my darling audience, I must report that as I was walking outside the Ministry of Magic, our esteemed hero of the wizarding world, Harry Potter, was being escorted inside with the highest secrecy.
Harry made a sudden appearance at the Department of Magical Law Enforcement, and, a few moments later high ranking Aurors were present to greet him. Our dearest Hero of the wizarding war then handed a letter to the agents, as proof of the abduction of his child, the note in question, had instructions for the ransom in exchange for his daughter Lily M. Potter.
As you can imagine our poor Harry rushed into the ministry's office and I was led to the exit by none other than the young Madame Susan Bones. I was unable to ask for more information or an interview.
As you might remember, Harry Potter, the hero of the war, survived abuse by his hateful non-magical relatives. Survived being used as a weapon by that two-timing goat, I mean, bless our souls, the 'Great Albus Dumbledore'. Regardless, our esteemed hero survived even the loss of his lady Potter, the muggle-born beauty, Sally Anne Perks, and now the poor man has to endure the disappearance of his youngest daughter, the fair Lily.
As always, we send him our best wishes and as soon as I am able, I will do a follow-up.
Harry and family, our love and prayers are with you.
R. S.
This was wrong. Hermione sighed and considered the article tasteless and irresponsible. Rita Skeeter was cashing in on the despair of a father and his family. The one thing that Harry Potter needed was not more publicity. The wizard in question needed respect for himself and his family's privacy. Hermione guessed he must be going out of his mind. However, that cow reporter had one thing right, she prayed for that little girl, Lily, to be found safe and sound as soon as possible.
Hermione rose from her seat, paid for her meal, and walked back to her office in Gringotts. At twenty-nine years old, Hermione believed she was an oddity, herself. She was single, successful, and stunning, and, still to the majority, she got treated like a hag in the magical world. She believed that she was misunderstood. But, in a world full of blind people she was still looking for the cyclops who would figure she was not unreachable. Screw them, she would not apologize for being herself. She had her own share of memories of never fitting in. She was not here to please; she was here to make a name of herself. And no, she wasn't fighting or at war with the world, she just hadn't found the right one, and she would continue searching until she did. Or maybe die of old age and be eaten by Athena, after she figured out Hermione was no longer breathing.
She smiled sadly and sighed. The one thing that always made her smile was the fact that she was of the age to belong to the same generation as Harry Potter. Opposed to that was the fact that she only learned of Harry Potter after she arrived in magical Britain, three years back. She could have gotten her Hogwarts letter, except for the fact that she was residing down under and instead she attended magical education in Oz. Which was leaps ahead in so many things. Finally, she had at least three degrees. One as a potions Mistress, the one she used to get into the Gringotts task force. The other two were hobbies to her, but the hobbies did get her a better deal in the mundane world. A whole new world to the rest of magical Britain it seemed. After a long day, of delivering results and making Gringotts a lot of money, she looked at her watch, clocked out, and went home. Wishing only for a hot bath, a scoop of chocolate ice cream, and diced strawberries.
As she was walking home back to Hogsmeade, she noticed an odd figure. Up close she realized it was a little girl of only three years at the most; She had black curls and vivid green eyes and was all scruffy and dirty.
Hermione got close to the girl who was sitting down on the sidewalk, just outside her house, she had fat tears rolling down her face.
"Hello?"
The little one looked up, and Hermione noticed how frightened she was as the girl kept crying. Hermione got on her knees and said in a soft voice. "Hi there, baby girl. There, there sweet one, can I help you?"
The little one raised her eyes and flung herself into her arms. "I'm sorry, I want my daddy."
"Don't worry sweetie, we'll find him, now would you..." Only then Hermione realized that the little girl was outside cold and alone. She added, "Oh, you poor thing, you probably had a burst of accidental magic, didn't you? Well, wild magic does that." She sighed and made her mind up, she went to her office at Gringotts, instead.
While in Gringotts, she took the girl to the goblin healing center, where a pediatrics healer confirmed Hermione's theory.
They gave her a bath and healing potions. After that, they ran a test and became serious.
Hermione's boss entered and told her to wait.
Twenty minutes later, Madame Susan Bones and a man in a cloak entered the room. After the Head of the DMLE confirmed the information provided by the goblin healer and Hermione's boss on her involvement, the man in the cloak revealed himself. It was Harry Potter, and the little patient was his daughter.
Well, she thought as she looked at the man in front of her, for the first time. So this is the famous Harry Potter? Man, he looks like shite. But then his eyes rose, and she could only think to herself, Wow. As those perfectly anxious eyes in emerald shade filled with tears of gratitude for her.
As Harry looked at her, his magic pulled on her just like a magnet. He was embracing her and sobbing while mumbling. "Thank you, thank you for rescuing my Lily, whatever you want is yours. I'm at your service, the House of Potter-Black is at your disposal."
Hermione was a bit confused but realized this poor man had been out of his mind for at least three days, praying, waiting, and wishing he was dead. She could push him away, but then again, she was just as human as he, and at last, she did the only thing she could come up with. She returned the embrace and quietly began caressing his dark messy hair and whispering softly to his ear. "It's okay, just relax, she's okay, and now you're here, that's all that matters."
"I've died and gone to heaven, haven't I? You, you are an angel, aren't you?" Said Harry as tears rolled over his face. He was a mess, but this angel was embracing him, so nothing made sense if not for her hug.
Hermione blushed and smiled, saying. "No, you're still breathing and about me being an angel, I'm sure my mom and dad would disagree."
"Miss uh, Granger?" Asked the young Madame Bones to Hermione.
"Yes?" Replied Hermione as she tried to untangle herself from Harry's arms.
"This is just a formality, but can you please provide me with a memory of how you found Lily?" Asked a very professional Susan Bones, a.k. a. Auror head.
"Oh, right, um, Mr. Potter..." The man in question corrected Hermione, "Harry." Hermione tried not to blush or display that her magic was thrumming happily at the closeness of Harry's magic. However, she persisted, "Harry, could you give me a moment while I get the memory?"
The goblin healer curled an eyebrow at Harry's attitude and walked close to him and ran a diagnosis charm.
He then turned to Hermione and added. "Don't detach from him, his magic and yours are in communion. He's an elemental Mage and you are an ambiance Sorceress, detaching will cause a shock to both of you. If I may? I will get the memory."
"What?" Asked both Susan and Hermione. The healer then turned to Harry and ordered. "Turn into your primordial animagus and rest. Your magic is at its limit after these last seventy-two hours. Now please Mage Potter."
Harry shape-shifted into a massive black wolf and slumped at Hermione's feet, Hermione, as a result, became tired, just as though she had been hiking for days and just now found a lovely black fur bed with her name on it. The healer nodded his acceptance. "It's okay, relax, you will charge each other's core, and you can shift into your animagus form. I have the memory contained."
Susan and the healer became witnesses to Hermione Granger's transformation into a cinnamon she-wolf, which both the healer and public servant could only take in numbly. As a tiny voice said.
"My daddy found a new mommy, and she's so pretty!" Lily walked to the two magical wolves and placed herself atop them and mumbled, "She's so fluffy and soft, and smells like vanilla ice cream."
Lily sighed and fell again into a magical slumber.
Susan could only shake her head in bemusement. "What just happened?"
"Magical Imprinting, Harry and Lily just found their magical mate and adoptive mother. Ancient and forgotten lore happened, here's your memory."
"Can you take the memory of Lily of who her kidnapper was?"
"I cannot, the parents must consent to mind magic," replied the healer.
"I understand, uh, I will inform the other children of Lily's..."
It was then that two boys of five years of age appeared in the room. "Thank you, Kreacher,"
As soon as the two noticed Lily sleeping on top of their father and the other smaller cinnamon wolf, they ran towards the sleeping figures and embraced Lily and their father, which made Hermione growl and then sniff the air, she then yawned and whined. The twins immediately smiled and got close and hugged her while whispering, "So pretty, so pretty, are you going to be our mommy?"
The wolf nuzzled them and both boys giggled and added. "Good, we need a new mommy."
The female wolf growled, and both relented. "Goodnight new mommy,"
The wolf licked their faces and lay her head close to the dark wolf's snout and fell asleep seconds later.
"I'm sure this is still unusual, correct?" asked Susan.
"I can only recall knowing about one ancient myth of adoption, that was in any way similar. The tale of the wolf mother of Romulus and Remus, founders of Rome." replied the healer.
"Who is this woman?" Asked Susan.
"The brightest witch that I have ever met, her name is Hermione, Hermione Jean Granger, but I'm sure her last name is going to change soon," replied Hermione's goblin boss, reminding everyone that he was still there.