Last time...

"Are you sure, Dobby?" He hears her ask, tears falling down her face as she held them to her, the bonding magic telling her what he'd done. "You loved you freedom so much."

He knew Winky could sense it too, the way she stared at 'Harry' in awe. There was ancient magic about this most kind of witches. It was born of chaos and mischief, a desire to protect and defend. She had a sort of golden hue about her, if one looked close enough, with only the dark spot on her forehead to blemish it. With the kind of magic she had, it was only a matter of time before she figured out how to deal with it on her own, and then her magic would truly shine.

"Dobby understands." Dobby insisted. "Dobby loves his freedom, yes, but Dobby wishes to protect you more."

'Harry' let out some kind of choked sob, before nodding, hugging them to her once more.

It had been hard to convince Winky that this is what was best for her, especially with the conditions he knew 'Harry' Potter would have. The witch would want to see them in uniforms, which he had had to promise were not freeing clothes to Winky. He'd had a hard time explaining that more than likely 'Harry' would want to pay them money, if only to buy more cloth for uniforms, and getting her to agree to days off had been a challenge. No self respecting house elf would agree to such a thing, Winky had insisted, but Dobby was just as stubborn. 'Harry' would argue that days off made for better workers.

The conversation had gone about how he thought it would have. With Winky forewarned, he had hoped it would make things easier. However, Winky seemed to take this as knowing the enemy, and used them to try to prove her own points so that she could stay right there and wait for her Mr. Crouch to take her back. 'Harry' hadn't tried to fight her, which had surprised Dobby, only reiterated that she would not treat a house elf any less than she would a witch or wizard. It was this that won Winky over, opening her up to see the magic that now surrounds them both.

"Why didn't you tell me?" Winky whispers as their new master left for her sleeping quarters.

Dobby can only watch after the girl and her friends as he replies. "I didn't know."

Chapter 26

"You want me to what?" Hera asked, not sure she'd heard him right.

"Your friend. I see her in library. She is nice. Does not care for Quidditch. Likes studying." Krum explained in a rush, trying to keep his voice down.

"Hermione?" Hera realized.

"I try talking vit her, but fans…she does not like them interrupting her studying." Victor continues. "Can not ask her to Ball if they keep following me. Help?"

She realized what he meant the second the swarm of girls came into view, and quickly shoved him into the alcove before they could catch sight of him.

"Hey, girls! I think I just saw Victor Krum go up the moving stair cases!" She called out, in as excitable a voice as she could manage, and watched as they all quickly changed direction; an absent thanks thrown her way. "I can't believe they actually fell for that. That's just sad."

"Many thanks, Potter." Krum sighed in relief, only to be stopped when he tried to leave, Hera's hand on his shoulder.

"You break her heart, I break your legs." She warned, and then grinned as she patted his shoulder. "Glad we could have this chat. Now get in there before the gang comes back."

...

Some time later…

...

"Hera!" She hears, right before being barreled into by Hermione. "Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! Thank you!"

"You're…welcome?" Hera hedges. "Also, what did I do?"

"He told me what you did for him! He's been wanting to ask me for ages!" Hermione insisted excitedly, then lowers her voice. "Did you really threaten to break his legs for me?"

"You're my sister, and I love you. Of course, I threatened to break his legs for you." Hera replied nonchalantly, only to get squeezed again by an overly happy Hermione.

...

"What about Ron?" Hermione asked, going over the list in the Common Room.

"He's like a brother." Hera grimaced. "He jokes about me becoming part of the family, but I can kind of tell he really hopes for it. No to Fred and George for the same reasons."

"Oi! Why not?" Fred

"We could be-" George

"-twice the fun!" Fred and George

"Yeah, I see what you mean." Pansy nodded sagely.

"Neville?" Hermione continued, having checked the list again.

Hera shook her head. "Going with Ginny."

"Brave, that boy." Hermione noted. When the other girls perked up at that in inquiry, she added. "Her batty bogey hex created things the size of Great Danes."

"Krum?" Millicent suggested from somewhere nearby.

"Taken." Hermione answered primly.

"Really? Way to go, Hermione!" The girl congratulates her, clearly impressed, and the two promptly high five.

"Flint?"

"Look, I get that he's a mountain with muscles on top of his muscles, but no."

"Grabbe? Goyle?" Pansy suggested, looking to the boys. "They're not much on conversation, but you'd never have to worry about either of them getting handsy or anything. So respectful."

"They have dates. Girls from Beauxbatons." Hera chirped.

"Nice."

Hermione checked the list again. "Dean?"

"Going with Seamus."

"Took them long enough." Her friend snorted.

"Draco?"

"Assumed he was going with Pansy." Hera admitted with a shrug, before looking to Pansy. "Is he not?"

"I'm going with Theo." Pansy admitted with a blush.

"Hey Malfoy!" Hera shouted across the Common Room. Draco was playing wizarding chess with Blaise, but looked up at hearing his name. "You want to give your father a heart attack?"

"Do you even know how to dance, Potter?" Draco asked, automatically knowing what she was talking about. That wasn't a no, but Hera blushed anyway, because she did not know how to dance. She'd experienced dreams where Loki learned to dance, but it just didn't feel like it counted as the same thing. "Good thing our Head of House will be giving lessons for the unfortunate souls who never learned."

"Is that a yes?" Hera asked, looking to Pansy.

"Of course, it's a yes, Potter." Draco declared in exasperation. "Think of it this way. We play our cards right, we'll not only give my father a heart attack, but my godfather, and yours too. They'll all be there."

"I kind of wish they would let Tony be here for this one." Hera snickered. "It would be nice to give my newly discovered brother a heart attack. I'm sure I can get Colin to take some stills, and then I can just give him a belated heart attack that way."

"So, it appears that Ron has finally realized that I'm a girl." Hermione announced in the middle of their preparations for the Ball.

At the moment, Hermione was sitting still while Pansy gently worked a solution into her hair. It was slowly causing the frizz to relax into silky waves, but it was going to take time. It didn't help that the girl still used muggle shampoos and conditioners, one of her last stubborn hold out habits. Pansy had 'helped' by cursing her teeth to grow, thus resulting in a visit with Madam Pomfrey, and Hermione letting the woman shrink her teeth to the 'proper' size. The girl's parents weren't going to be happy, but braces were the kind of thing that needed constant maintenance, something that couldn't be achieved at a magical boarding school.

"It's true." Hera confirmed. She was working on Millicent's hair. Winky and Dobby were handing each girls vials of the hair solution to use, making sure they had what they needed as they got ready. "I have never feared for that boy's life more so than I did in that moment."

"Didn't help that right after that, he realized you were a girl too." Hermione snickered.

"And this right after his disaster of asking Fleur to the Ball." Hera sighed.

"Boys." The four girls chimed in unison, descending into giggles.

Draco's first chance to see Hera doesn't come until almost at the start of the Ball. He sees Pansy and Theo talking to each other first, noting how well they looked together. Granger was talking to Millicent, before Victor Krum appeared out of nowhere, both of whom looked fantastic in ways he'd never considered them before. Hera though…Hera was something else altogether. Her attire was styled after Grecian dress robes, a white number that was held by golden clasps at one shoulder. The sleeve flowed open, allowing him to see that she wore golden snake arm bands above the elbow on both arms. Gold and green accents lined the dress, which helped bring out her eyes impossibly more. Her dark hair came into sharp contrast with all this, only made more so by the golden laurel leaf circlet resting on her head.

"Really leaning into the name, I see." Draco remarked in amusement, to which she smiled brightly.

She chirped. "How could I not?"

"Champions, this way!" Professor McGonagall called out, over by the set of large oak doors.

"Is it bad that I'd rather face another dragon than the crowd that's in there?" Hera asked, as they ventured forward. "I'm sure I'm going to muck this up somehow. I'll step on my robes, or your toes, and ruin everything."

"You'll be fine, Hera." He insisted quietly, shocking her into looking at him with wide hopeful eyes. Shite. She was nervous about this. "We've been practicing. You haven't stepped on my toes in days. You're actually rather graceful when you're not thinking about it too much. Just let me lead, and don't try to fight me on it, and you'll be fine."

"Thanks, Draco," She replies, her voice just as quiet as his own. "for not making fun of me for being nervous about this."

"Oh no, see, I reserve the right to make fun of you for all manner of things throughout the year, but this…" Draco kept his voice down as the door opened, and the Champions and their partners were guided into the Great Hall. "I will not make fun of you for being nervous about your first Ball, Hera. That's hardly sporting."

"Plus, your mother would kill you." Hera pointed out in amusement.

"Plus, my mother would kill me." Draco parroted truthfully.

...

The walls of the Great Hall had been covered in sparkling silver frost, with hundreds of garlands of mistletoe and ivy crossing the starry black ceiling. The House tables had vanished; instead there were a hundred smaller round ones, each seating about a dozen people. Hera concentrated on not tripping over her own feet, even as Draco quietly whispered words of encouragement. She saw Ron sitting at one of the tables with Padma, glaring at both Hermione and Hera in short intervals with narrowed eyes. Poor Padma looked sulky. She'd have to check on her later.

Nearing the table where the Judges and certain members of the school governors sat, Hera could see that most of them had recovered from her vengeance by dragon fire. Only Mr. Crouch was missing. She really hoped it didn't have anything to do with what she'd done. Rules lawyer though he was, she'd not wanted to kill him. Instead though, Percy Weasley was in his place. When the champions and their partners reached the table, Percy drew out the empty chair beside him, staring pointedly at Hera. Taking the hint, Hera sat down next to him, waiting till Draco had taken his own seat before turning to Percy.

"I've been promoted." Percy announced without prompting. "I'm Mr. Crouch's personal assistant now, and I'm here representing him."

"That's brilliant, Percy. Congratulations." Hera replied sincerely. "I know you've been working hard to get that job, but why isn't he here? I didn't…"

"It was nothing that happened during the first task, Hera." Percy insisted, patting her arm in sympathy. "He's not been well since the World Cup, and that disobedient house elf Blinky-"

"I'm going to stop you right there, Percy." Hera said, lowering her voice. "I've taken her on. New Ladyship to contend with and all that, you know, so I would appreciate you not saying anything bad about Winky. I don't know what happened at the World Cup. I've not asked, out of respect for both their privacy, but I do know she loved that family. Whatever happened, I don't think either of them deserve the gossip."

Percy regarded her carefully for a moment, and then nodded. "Too right. Well spoken, Hera. Well, with all the work with the World Cup, and the Tri-Wizard Tournament, and that Skeeter woman buzzing about, I imagine Mr. Crouch is having a nice quiet Christmas this year. He's earned it. I hear you're apprenticed to Professor Snape now, new House and everything. How's it suiting you? Mum bout had a fit when she heard Fred and George went Slytherin, but I always thought it would suit them."

"Tell her not to worry. Everyone's been nice. It's not all evil Dark Lords everywhere." Hera teased.

"And you're alright…here with Malfoy?" Percy asked, his voice suddenly barely above a whisper, his eyes darting to Draco for a fraction of a second.

"I'm fine, Percy, I promise." Hera nodded. "Thank you for making sure I'm okay."

Dinner went by without a hitch, as soon as everyone realized they had to order their food. There were menus and golden plates, but no waiters: It had taken Dumbledore speaking to his plate before anyone realized what to do, and then food was popping up everywhere. Hermione was busy talking to Victor most of the time, talking about Durmstrang and her studies. She caught Hera's inquiring gaze and smiled, signaling she was having a good time. Draco kept up a steady stream of intriguing conversation, pausing to explain things in more detail when she asked, and asking for her opinion; surprising more than just herself with his behaviour.

...

Sirius Black knew the exact moment he realized he was going to go away for murder, and actually be guilty of it this time. It was the moment he'd seen Hera radiating with beauty in her own right, fully taking advantage of the name her father had given her. It was the moment he'd seen Draco Malfoy next to her talking in hushed whispers of encouragement, the moment she'd looked at the boy with pure relief. He was going to go away for murder, because he was going to kill that boy for taking advantage of his innocent little cub! Only…he couldn't seem to get out of his chair just now.

"Sticking charms." Severus deadpanned, not even looking at him. "Apparently, the two of them wanted to give us all heart attacks, thinking it a grand prank for the three of us. Narcissa warned me only because she knew what you two would do. Were either of you anywhere near level headed, she would have left me in the dark as well."

Sirius snorted, seeing Lucius huff indignantly as he too realized he could not escape his seat.

"You could have warned me, at least, Severus." Lucius grumbled. "I thought we were friends."

"And miss the look on your face just now?" Severus countered, right before Colin Creevey swooped in and snapped a photo of them. "I think not."

"I don't believe it. Our little Sevy's growing up, pulling pranks and everything." Sirius snickered, even as the three of them blinked away the flash in their eyes.

"I can see it now." Lucius drawled. "Soon he'll be crawling all over the floor, refusing to eat, making faces at plates of broccoli."

"What are you talking about?" Sirius asked, in mock affront. "He already does that."

...

The actual dance wasn't near as bad as she thought it was going to be. Draco was right, not that she'd ever tell him. As long as she didn't think on it too much, she wasn't as nervous as she thought she would be. Once the opening dance was done, others started joining them. Draco showed no signs of wanting to stop, and she was quite content to keep dancing now that she'd gotten the hang of it, especially since she'd not gone for the high heels like the other girls had suggested.

"You're not going to fall in love with me or anything weird, are you?" She blurts out.

He pulls her just a bit closer so he can speak more quietly. "No, but the longer we're out here, the more the little vein in my father's forehead starts twitching."

She turns her head slightly closer to his own. "How's Sirius looking right now?"

Instead of answering, he spins her out slowly so she can see for herself without being obvious.

"Drinks?" She offered, when he pulled her back in. "Any longer, and Sirius might try something drastic."

"One more dance, and then drinks." He negotiated. "It will be good for them, you know, practice that patience they claim we need to learn in order to be adults."

"You're evil." She laughs as she nods. "I love it!"

...

Only the ginger oaf would be so artless as to piss off not one but both of his female best friends; Granger because he no doubt had a crush on her, and Potter because…well…maybe he had a crush on her too. It wasn't out of the realm of possibilities. Hera had tried to help the youngest Weasley boy, but said ginger oaf had been too far into his anger for her words to help, and snapped at her too. Granger had stomped off, and Draco had decided that maybe a walk would help Hera cool off. It had helped, but then they'd stumbled onto Hagrid's confession, and could only watch as Madam Maxime left him behind.

"Hagrid?" Potter called out after the Beauxbatons Headmaster had gone, hesitantly walking out to the crying half giant. Draco couldn't just leave her there, but was at a loss for what to do now.

"'Arry? Wha' are you doin' out here in the cold?" Hagrid asked, already trying to hide the fact he'd been crying. "Don' suppose ye heard tha'?"

"We did." She confirmed, patting his hand when he slumped in defeat. "Don't worry, Hagrid She might not be ready to face that, or it could have come about…badly for her mum or dad, yeah?"

"I hadn' thought of tha'." Hagrid admitted with a sniffle. "When did ye get so wise anyway?"

"I'm a girl. It's built in." Hera chirped.

"You still want ter be seen with me, even though ye know wha' I am?" Hagrid hedged, nervous, looking from Hera to Draco and back again.

"Hagrid, there's no way you're as dangerous as they say giants are." Hera rolled her eyes at him, and then pointed to the bushes. "I'm pretty sure that if one of those fairies landed on you right now, you'd adopt them or something equally ridiculous because you care so much."

Which, okay. Fair. Not like Draco could say that though.

"We should get you two inside, before ye catch colds." Hagrid mumbled, blushing. "'Arry's hands are already turn'n blue."

Except, Hagrid meant that literally.

"We'll go inside right now, Professor." Draco insisted. "Hera, come on. I think someone must have spiked your drink with a colour changing solution or something. Uncle Sev will have an idea how to fix it."

With that he ushered her inside and straight to his uncle, who took one look at her hands and said. "Follow me."

Once inside the office, Draco was surprised that his Uncle Sev started casting simple warming charms on Hera's hands until they turn back to normal.

"Coldest night on record, it seems, and you two decide to go outside." The man grumbles. "Now go back to the party. I've got to make rounds, and I'd rather not worry that one of you will try something stupid, like taking a swim in the Black Lake."