Edited 5/8/23: Minor Grammar/Spelling. Side note… it's so interesting reading this back. Even within one year my writing has changed SO MUCH. Like I'm a little astounded by it if I'm honest. I do hope you enjoy!
Preeeeepare for zee drama!
Sunday, May 10, 1998
Hermione was still riding the high from their engagement that morning. They'd stayed up very late celebrating. Now as she was getting ready for a meeting with the Order, she found herself pacing. Finally, Theo pinned her down while Draco read to them from Hogwarts: A History, which was a surefire way to calm her down.
When the clock finally struck 11, they stood and after Hermione and Theo disillusioned themselves, followed Draco down to Hogsmead. They each grabbed an arm and he apparated them to Headquarters.
When they appeared, Ginny was waiting to jump on Hermione, but faltered when she saw both Theo and Draco standing in front of her. "Hello Gin!" she said as she shouldered past her boys.
As she pulled away, Ginny saw the ring in her finger and grinned at the three of them. "Congrats seem to be in order Lady Malfoy-Nott!" She pulled Hermione's hand to her to inspect the ring. "Mum and Ron are going to be…" she shuddered, "but I'm ecstatic for you."
Ginny had known about Hermione and Theo since shortly after the Yule Ball, and was honestly one of Theo's biggest fans. They even had inside jokes. It had gotten to the point that Draco and Hermione joked that Theo would leave them for the youngest Weasley.
After Harry had almost killed Draco in Sixth Year, Ginny had figured it out. At first she was angry, but unlike her brother, had the ability to use logic in high stress situations. When Hermione and Theo explained the whole situation, Ginny firmly planted herself on team Dreomione.
"Kings and Remus are waiting for you in the dining room, I'm your escort," she grinned as she looped arms with Hermione. Draco and Theo followed behind like silent bodyguards. When they walked through the doors, Kingsley and Remus were sitting at the table, looking tired. Hermione ran over and hugged each of them,
"Welcome back, Hermione," Remus said, heavily. Hermione looked at the board behind them and saw the MIA (Missing in Action) List, followed by a longer KIA (Killed in Action) list.
Her name, along with Constellation (Draco's codename) and Madrid (Theo's codename) were crossed off on the MIA list. The KIA list included Fred, Tonks, and Lavender. Hermione found herself staring at the list for longer than she meant to. When Kingsley cleared his throat, she turned back to the gathered group. Ginny had slipped out without her noticing. Theo and Draco were huddled together across from Kingsley and Remus.
"I see congratulations are in order," Remus said, gesturing to her ring. Hermione flushed and smiled softly when both of her men preened a bit.
"Yes, just last night, we've come up with what we think is a feasible beginning to our lack of information," she said sitting between Draco and Theo. Theo draped his arm around the back of her chair, playing with one of the curls that fell at her temple, while Draco rested his hand on her thigh. At Kingsley and Remus' nod she continued, "We were going to marry anyway, so we'll push up the timeline to this week. We want to do a Triadic Bonding, but will need help hiding Draco's name from the records for now. I will attach this glamour," she tapped the sapphire of her engagement ring three times to the beat of "I love-you" said quickly and felt the ripple of magic settle over her features.
She'd transformed from "Hermione Jean Granger" into "Mya Gisele Nott." Her hair darkened from brown to a blue-black and her eyes went from a flecked amber to dark brown, a smattering of freckles appeared across her nose, her chin became a bit more pointed, and the curve of her lips changed to a more downwards turn. The two men across from her nodded, impressed.
"It should hold through attempts to disengage it, as it's attached to her ring. It's part of the Magic of the ring to hold the glamour without taking power from the wearer," Theo said, grinning at her. "It's uncanny," he continued, "you look like you if I look hard enough, but yet…" he ran his thumb over the freckles on her cheek.
"That is some very impressive magic," Kingsley said with a grin as she turned off the glamour, returning to her natural features..
"We hope that Theo and I will be able to navigate the dark leaning neutral families and help distinguish which direction they're leaning," Hermione said, "Draco, has been asked to Apprentice as Potion Master, but with the loss of Severus, we've lost our Inner Circle Spy, so we'll have to find someone to take on that role."
"We have a few leads, but will need you all to scope them out," said Remus softly. Hermione could see how heavily Tonks' death was weighing on him, but as always he carried on. Hermione reached out and squeezed his hand.
"Draco, we'll get you the list we've compiled, but I know that your mother is hoping to see you before anyone else," Kingsley rumbled as he stood.
Seconds later the door was thrown open and a very casual looking Narcissa Malfoy burst into the room. Hermione wasn't sure if she would have been able to picture the witch in such casual clothing, but here she was in tailored jeans and a blouse, a pair of Keds on her feet. She pulled Draco into a hug immediately and began checking him for any injuries.
Remus and Kingsley ducked out quietly, shutting the door behind them. "Oh my Dragon, you're alive," she moaned, holding Draco's cheeks between her palms, "and well!"
"And Engaged!" chimed Theo. Narcissa turned to him and wrapped him in her arms.
"I'm glad it was you, Teddy," she said as she let him go.
Finally she turned to Hermione. "Miss Granger," Hermione saw tears pooling in the older woman's eyes.
"Please call me Hermione," she cut in.
"Hermione," Narcissa said, feeling out the name, "and you must call me Narcissa. I'm ever so glad it was you. I-" she choked off, "I'm so sorry for all the hate that Draco and Theodore heard in my home growing up. You're a testament to witches everywhere. Now, let me see the ring!"
Hermione blushed as Narcissa oo'ed and ah'd over the ring. This was not the cold witch that Hermione had met in Madam Malkins a few years before. It seemed like getting out of Malfoy Manor had lifted the witch out of the character she'd been playing for so long.
"I do so hate that you'll have to take on the role that I played for so long," Narcissa said, urging them all to sit, "I'm happy to answer any questions and help you with some of the more antiquated practices."
"We're hoping that her backstory of being from the Caribbean will help with some of that, even the Purebloods there have a different set of practices," Draco said, squeezing Hermione's hand. "We're hoping that Pansy and Daphne will take her under their wing and help her navigate."
"A wise choice," Narcissa said, nodding.
Before she could get another word in, the door burst open, Harry and Ron standing there, bewildered. Harry shrugged, embarrassed, "I tried to stop him but-"
"Hermione! Get away from those snakes!" Ron shouted, coming towards her. Draco and Theo stood in front of her where she was seated to stop Ron's movement.
"Let me at my girlfriend!" Ron continued shouting.
Hermione stood, and put a hand on the two men in front of her, ushering them to the side. "I am not, nor have I ever been your girlfriend, Ronald Weasley," she said firmly. "Just because you feel something about me does not mean it is or was reciprocated."
His face grew red, "But we kissed in the Chamber!" he shouted, surging forward and gripping her upper arms.
With a burst of wandless, wordless magic, Ron was pushed back, "That is the second time you've assaulted me, Ronald Weasley. I had no interest in your kiss nor do I have any need of you defending me from my Fiancés," she said, crossing her arms.
"What do you mean, Fiancés!?" He shouted, his face turning purple.
"I mean that yesterday, Draco and Theo proposed to me, and I've said yes."
Harry sputtered, "Malfoy!? I knew about Nott, but this is a lot to ask, Hermione."
Hermione laughed, fully throwing her head back. "Ask!?" she shrieked, "When have I ever led you astray? When have I not followed you through hare-brained schemes and fucking Fiendfyre?"
Harry looked cowed, and embarrassed, but Ron had turned his rage on Harry. "You knew!? And you lied to me!?"
"I never lied," Harry said, frowning, "I told you again and again that I didn't think Hermione saw you that way and that you should talk to her."
"She's supposed to be mine!" Ron shouted.
At this point, Draco gently nudged her behind him and said, "Hermione is not anyone's she is her own person and by some twist of fate, she'd decided that we're hers."
"Don't mistake me, Weasley," Theo growled, "if you ever lay a hand on her again, there will be serious repercussions."
Ron gaped at them, "You're just going to let them talk to me like that?"
Hermione took a deep breath, "What is my Patronus?" she asked Ron, eyebrow raised.
"An Otter, of course!"
Summer Before Sixth Year
Hermione sat heavily on the steps of her now empty house. Draco and Theo had just helped her Obliviate herself from her parent's memories. She felt the tears running down her face and leaned back against Theo who was sitting behind her. Draco was on the step below and had his cheek resting on her knees.
"I'm all alone," she whispered.
Draco scoffed, "Your parents may be gone, darling, but you're not alone. We've got you, we'll always have you."
Theo laid a kiss on the top of her head, "I've known that I was yours since I saw you raise your hand and wave it around in First Year. There is no getting rid of us now."
She sniffled, but did feel slightly better. "What if we can't get them back?" she whispered.
"Then we'll spend both of our sizable fortunes figuring out how to return them to themselves," Draco said, turning to kiss her bare knee.
"Hermione, can you teach us to cast a Patronus," Draco asked, "Since he decided my punishment, I want to make sure that I can protect you both from anything."
Hermione ran her fingers through his hair. "The wandwork doesn't really matter much, it's all about the intention. You have to think of the happiest memory you can, or the happiest thing you can imagine," after a few moments, she felt them nod. She had all three of them stand and adjusted their stances.
"Now think about that memory and say 'Expecto Patronum!'"
Both of the men followed her directions, blue wisps emanating from their wands. "Oh! Good work!" she clapped, "No one can get it on their first try, what were you thinking about?"
"The first time I saw you two kiss," Theo said with a lascivious smirk.
She rolled her eyes, "Theodore! Happies memory, not horniest memory." He scoffed, but nodded and scrunched his nose in thought.
"I- the first time Theo sucked my cock," Draco said, flushing.
Hermione found herself blushing as well, "That was quite a sight, but let's think a little bit bigger," she speculated.
"I've got it!" Theo shouted, and called out "Expecto Patronum!" A Eurasian Lynx prowled around him, its pointed ears flicking toward the sound of cars rumbling by outside the window. Its spotted fur was beautiful. Hermione watched as it rubbed up against her and grinned at Theo.
"Bravo, tesoro! A Eurasian Lynx! He's beautiful!"
Draco huffed, then with a determined look, cast for himself. After a moment, another cat joined Theo's.
"A Jaguarundi!" Hermione shouted, grinning at the cat who had a long body and short legs. "They're usually grey, very on brand, Mr. Malfoy. Both of these are quite difficult to spot in the wild."
"Why, Ms Granger," Theo smirked, turning to her, "do you know so many random cats?"
"I may have had a bit of an obsession with the Discovery Channel a few years back and Mum and Dad bought me the Compendium of Cats…" both boys threw their heads back, roaring with laughter.
"Oh, darling," Draco said as his laughter died down, "Only you. Let's see yours then? It's an Otter, right?"
She nodded, "Expecto Patronum!" but instead of her happy little otter, a tiny spotted cat appeared. "The Rusty Spotted Cat," she said in awe, "This is the smallest wild cat in the world, usually only growing to 48 centimetres (18 inches). But they're quite daring, they hunt in trees and on the ground!"
"Hmmm," Theo said, pulling her against him and pressing kisses against her neck, "Sounds just like our little brave lioness."
Present (May 10, 1998)
"Expecto Patronum!" Hermione said, and out popped her tiny cat. Draco and Theo quickly followed behind, their cats, circling around hers, finally cuddling into a pile at their feet.
"When did I send my parents away?" she asked, tightly.
"Right before we went on the run," Ron scoffed.
Harry groaned, "She did it before Sixth Year, mate. I'm assuming you both helped?" When her two men nodded, he continued, "I'm not totally pleased about this," he said gesturing between Draco, Hermione, and Theo, "but I'm not an idiot. If Hermione is sure, which I can only assume based on that rock on her finger, then I trust her. Welcome to the family," he held his hand out to Draco.
Ron gaped, "YOU TRAITORS! You're siding with the enemy! They'll hurt you! Don't be an idiot, 'Mione!"
"That is not my name. My name is Hermione. In two days, I will be both Lady Nott and Lady Malfoy. These two have been my support since Fourth," she pointed to Theo, "and the end of Fifth Year," she pointed to Draco. "They've made me cry significantly less than you have, Ronald Weasley."
A shriek was heard from the doorway, and Molly Weasley came sweeping in. "You utter tramp!" she screeched, but before she could go further, Fleur came and silenced her.
"I would be very careful about what you say about 'ermione," she said evenly. Hermione saw sparks emanating from Fleur's hands. Fleur, Narcissa, and Harry stood in front of the trio. "Zis girl 'as 'ad enough of your petty jealousy! She ees just a girl. Thees ees a deep and overflowing love."
Narcissa took a small step forward, "If you threaten my daughter or sons or disparage their name in any way, the full might of the Malfoy and Black families will come down on you and yours."
"Mrs. Weasley, Ron is in the wrong, he made assumptions and assaulted Hermione, multiple times, this is not a battle you want to fight," Harry said, firmly. Hermione felt tears prick her eyes, she had never felt so supported by so many people.
Molly whipped around, looking for support from Arthur and her remaining children. Arthur looked embarrassed but didn't say anything, Ginny looked irate at her mother, and George had created "Team Dreomione" badges that he handed to Ginny and Bill, who was looking very amorously at his enraged wife.
"This conversation is not over!" shrieked Mrs. Weasley as she dragged Ron out the door.
The remainder of the afternoon was spent in companionship as they planned their wedding ceremony for Tuesday evening.
Thanks for reading! Let me know what you think or if you have any thoughts about what might happen next!