Song Suggestion: Cavetown- "Devil Town"

A/N: Thanks for your patience while I was on vacation. Greece was wonderful. Now I'm inspired to write a fic with Hermione and Draco in Ancient Greece lol. A lot of world building questions will be answered in this chapter.

A big thank you to my lovely beta, MyPrivateInsanity

An Ugly Trinket

A year later, Theo went to Hogwarts. Hermione traveled to King's Cross Station with Titus and Tabitha, and their nanny wept the whole journey. Hermione didn't cry, but her heart ached. Her whole body trembled thinking of the separation. Who would she talk to? Who would she play with? Who would she go to with her nightmares? Titus had started a new position in the DMLE, a step below Mediator, and she never saw him, even on weekends. He came in, shoveled down food, and went to bed.

The future loneliness already weighed her down.

"You have to promise to write every day," she demanded as they walked through the station. Tabitha said it used to be crawling with muggles, bustling with noise and activity. Now it mostly remained empty, with only a few people milling around with their heads down, leaving the station quiet.

Theo rolled his eyes.

"I'm not sure I'll write every day, but I promise to write once a week."

Theo pushed his cart through the brick wall, and she followed, stumbling out near a long red and black train, sleek and beautiful. Steam billowed around as witches and wizards stood next to it on a platform. She saw a group of young witches laughing in a circle and looked at them with curiosity and a teensy bit of jealousy. Having not seen Katie since the party, Hermione wished to find a friend beyond Theo.

She spotted the Malfoys. Father and son stood stiffly, talking to the Crabbe family. Malfoy twisted, caught her eye, and froze, his face expressionless.

The intensity made her nervous. Hermione pulled at one of her curls. Tabitha had spent a long time getting her ready, nearly going to war with her hair. The effort paid off. Hermione liked her hair in its natural state more, but she could admit the defined curls sat nicely on her shoulders.

Ignoring Draco's piercing stare, she turned to Theo.

"I wish I could go with you."

"You would have scored top marks for sure." Theo grinned. "I don't think anyone, even the Ravenclaws, could be smarter than you."

Theo always knew just what to say to make her feel better. She threw her arms around him in a tight hug, whimpering a little into his robes– the closest she'd get to crying. Theo patted her back for comfort.

When she managed to let go, Titus took her spot, placing a heavy hand on his brother's shoulder.

"Slytherin," he said. "Repeat after me. Sly-ther-in. Tell that to the hat if it starts saying something else."

Theo rolled his eyes.

"Wait…you said Hufflepuff, right?"

Titus laughed and mussed his hair. Theo pulled back, pushing on his brother's arm. That was about as affectionate as they'd get.

Tabitha took the longest, giving his cheeks a few kisses while blubbering. Theo looked a little embarrassed but endured it because he loved her so much.

After a few more hugs, Theo walked away and disappeared into the train.

Titus put a hand on Hermione's shoulder, and she realized she still trembled, her insides cold and fragile as ice.

"It won't be forever," he said, but Hermione didn't believe him. She wanted to race after Theo and hide in his luggage.

When Hermione looked back to the train, Draco was boarding. He turned to say a final goodbye to his father, and then he caught her eye again. He tilted his head for a moment, studying her and a large grin split his face, as if the party never happened, and they were the best of friends like he wanted.

Out of reflex, she almost returned it.


Titus kept her tutor, so in the mornings she attended lessons as usual, but the afternoons dragged. She annoyed Tabitha and Bitty often enough the old woman snapped and told Titus that, as her guardian, he needed to find her a companion. He gave a sheepish expression under the cloud of Tabitha's rare condemnation, promising he would.

The next day Katie arrived in the morning through the floo. Hermione squealed in delight, and Katie matched her enthusiasm.

"Why are you here?"

"Titus convinced my master and mistress to let me come to your lessons, and I've never been so excited! I've been so bored since Greg left I almost considered throwing myself into the sea."

Hermione found it hard to pay attention to her tutor. After studying and lunch, they spent the rest of the day roaming the grounds. She showed her all the cool hiding spots and how to catch tadpoles and climb the giant unicorn statue in the middle of the largest garden.

The next day, a girl named Julie arrived with her Mistress. The lady had wild dark curls– maybe even wilder than her own– and made the hair on the back of her neck stand up. An instinct prickled in her mind that something dangerous entered her space. Titus once said her name was Bellatrix Lestrange and warned Hermione never to anger her.

"Here you go, my sweetling," the lady said. "Behave for your professor and have fun with your new friends. I'm going to miss you."

The lady gave the girl a hug, a kiss on the cheek, and patted her strawberry blond hair before leaving.

"Hi," Julie said, blushing and twisting her foot on the ground, keeping her dark eyes lowered. "I haven't met another muggleborn before. Mum doesn't let me go out much."

"Mum?" Katie asked, a little scandalized.

"Yeah," Julie blushed. "I've always called her that. I don't remember my muggle one, but I think mum is a better one anyway. Dad told me she tried to have a baby for a long time and couldn't, which is why she's so protective. I was surprised she let me come here. But I told her a month ago I really wanted friends, so maybe that's why." The girl shrugged, and Hermione did as well. It didn't matter what she called her mistress. She thought of Theo as a brother, and she knew Katie thought of Greg as a brother too.

The lesson that day went slower. Julie didn't know how to write or read yet, so the professor focused on that, leaving Katie and Hermione to study together. In their free time, she showed Julie the treehouse, but the girl feared heights. And then she showed her the pond, but she squealed when she saw a bug. Hermione almost gave up finding something her new friend would like when they passed the instrument room, a place Hermione rarely went. Julie sat down at the piano and played, fingers gliding effortlessly along the keys. It was so pretty the elves stopped by with hands to their hearts and tears in their eyes.

At the end, Julie got up, gave a dramatic bow, and they all clapped. The elves kept trying to kiss her hand in their thanks.

At dinner, Hermione couldn't stop smiling. Titus was there, a rare occurrence, and noticed her good mood.

"Are you liking your studies?"

Hermione nodded.

"Good," he said, looking pleased at her answer, and took a bite of food. "It required a little persuading, but I think most of them are deciding it's a good idea. Muggleborns need socialization or else you could get depressed. And it does nobody any good if you can't read or write or understand history and simple spells. Of course, I won't allow some subjects, but the basics are acceptable."

The next day an extra tutor and two new muggleborns arrived. Justin–or Finch–showed up first. He looked a little lost without his family, and he hung out in the back without talking to anyone. She used to think him rude, but now she thought he might be shy. Another boy named Dean came too. He loved the full-sized quidditch pitch Titus had built Theo for his eleventh birthday. His master–a man named Avery– had already taught him to fly, so in their free time, he showed Katie how to command a broom. She caught on quickly– a natural– and both of them zoomed around the field until they had to leave.

"That was the best day of my life!" Katie exclaimed before leaving.

It took three days for Finch to talk to them. In a herbology lesson, the tutor asked if anyone knew about mandrakes. Finch raised his hand, giving a good explanation of how to take care of one and how to use them in potions. And then he went on a long rant about several bugs important to potions as well.

"I love bugs," he said later. "They're a little gross, but so interesting. Don't you think so?"

Now he looked nervous again, as if they would make fun of him.

"Sure, mate," Dean said. "I don't like when they surprise me, but it was cool how much you knew. You're like a walking nature encyclopedia. Come out to the pond with us later. There's plenty of gross bugs there."

The days passed this way at the newly dubbed Muggleborn School: studious mornings, fun afternoons. Dean always thought up new games, and they spent most of the day laughing at Katie's bad jokes. Julie provided her gentle smile and taught them how to play simple songs on the piano, though Hermione was tone deaf. Finch could identify any bug, and they caught a few, placing them in different magical terrariums, charmed to provide the correct environment. The labeled glass jars rested on a shelf inside the treehouse, along with any artwork they created.

No other children joined their school. Titus said the rest of the purebloods with wards their age either didn't believe in muggleborn education, or they thought getting them in groups would be bad. Not for the first time, did Hermione feel grateful to be in the Nott household, where they let her have unrestricted access to the manor library.

Of course, Hermione also read outside of class. The tutors only taught the basics like Titus promised, but Hermione wanted more. She practiced the wand movements from spell books with a stick in her room under the covers. Sometimes the magic sparked even without a real wand. Each time it happened, it surprised her, and it inspired her to try harder, going over the same spell again and again and again. And since Titus didn't prohibit any book in the library, she studied both offensive and defensive spells, charms and hexes, loving the way magic zinged under her skin.

The books she liked the most explained wandless magic. It required pooling the volatile energy to her hands, siphoning it from the rest of her body and demanded total concentration. The ancient texts explained that wandless magic was the oldest form of magic and didn't need correct words or movements–though those things helped. It only needed intention.

So she practiced obsessively while hidden under her covers, using her instincts and intense thirst for knowledge to wield the magic flowing like lightning in her veins. She'd practice until sweat dripped down her body, face red, muscles aching. An unending desert stretched inside her soul, and a glass of water remained just out of reached, taunting her. Hermione decided that if no one handed her the water, she'd force the liquid up through the cracks of the Earth to use as she pleased.


Christmas arrived within the blink of an eye, returning Theo to her. They had just opened their presents, and their gifts littered the floor, but instead of enjoying them, they rested side by side on the bed staring at the ceiling, talking about their semester apart.

He'd already told her all about the sorting ceremony and talking hat. Headmaster Snape terrified everyone, but Theo liked the other professors. He'd been sorted into Slytherin, of course, to the great relief of Titus.

"I thought for sure you'd get Hufflepuff," Titus had teased at breakfast. Theo rolled his eyes in response.

"Really it suggested Gryffindor, but it chose Slytherin in the end."

"Thank Merlin for that. I'm not sure I could have shouldered the embarrassment of having a Gryffindor brother."

He'd only been teasing, but Theo flinched.

She waited until they were alone to ask the question.

"Did Draco bully you?"

Theo flinched again.

"By the second night, I wished I had insisted on Gryffindor. Don't tell Titus that. He'd only worry for me."

"I hate him." Hermione wished Draco stood before her so she could punch him right in his smart mouth.

"He wasn't that bad. Just played pranks and called me names. Nothing I couldn't handle. You've pranked me worse before. I only got hurt once. Flint and the other older boys stepped in after that. They don't tolerate fighting other Slytherins, because we need to present a strong front so we can get enough house points." Theo paused and frowned. "It helps that Titus is my brother. After the bad incident, Headmaster Snape pulled Draco out of class by the ear to talk to Lucius. Since then, he's been a bit better. Still, I don't have hope it will last. Draco always manages to get around the rules."

Again, Hermione wished she had been there to help Theo. For every prank, she would have responded with a worse one. And she wouldn't have stopped until he begged her on his knees for mercy.

"Did you make any friends?"

Theo hesitated.

"There's this one Gryffindor named Harry. His father was a blood traitor but somehow got pardoned after the war, so he doesn't get picked on much. Not like his friend, Ron, whose parents were also blood traitors. Draco teases him and his siblings mercilessly. There's a million of them, and they all have red hair."

"Blood traitors! Why are they allowing those types of families in Hogwarts?"

"Well, they're children, I suppose, and they are purebloods. They deserve to make their own choices. Their mum managed to get pardoned as well after the great war. Their father is in Azkaban. I feel sorry for the lot of them, because they live in total poverty… though the oldest two are graduated and supposedly doing great as a curse breaker and dragon tamer."

A curse breaker and a dragon tamer. It sounded so exciting. She imagined herself on a dragon, telling it what to do, or wrestling with old, cursed objects that wanted to kill her. Muggleborns couldn't have careers. Not as a curse breaker, or a magical creature liaison, or even a filing clerk. Older muggleborns worked as in-house nannies or janitors, but not a single muggleborn went higher, besides as breeders. She shivered with a sudden sinking feeling, as if she just slipped under the ocean waves into the dark deep.

The best she could hope for was to be a breeder for a pureblood family, though she still wasn't sure exactly what they did, except it had something to do with babies. No one would tell her, and she couldn't find much about it in the library.

No, that couldn't be all she did. She'd go mad. Maybe the wizard she lived with would let her do something, anything besides wander a manor.

She had a secret hope it would be Titus. He'd let her do whatever she wanted, and he'd always treat her right. Her whole body flushed at the thought, remembering the time Theo showed her the photographs of people kissing. Since that time, she found it hard not thinking about how it might feel to kiss Titus.

"So you're friends with Harry?"

"Not officially, but we keep getting paired in Potions, so we naturally had to talk. He's not a bad bloke, even for a Gryffindor." He turned his head and grinned at her, showing he referenced her as well.

Hermione wondered what it would be like to attend Hogwarts with the purebloods and half-bloods. She couldn't stop the overwhelming jealousy that a prat like Malfoy could experience Hogwarts when she couldn't.

Theo sighed and stood up. He walked over to his school trunk, lifted the heavy lid, and rifled around for something.

"What are you looking for?" She sat up and pressed her feet to the floor.

"I was asked to give you a Christmas gift." He pulled out a rectangular box with a pretty ribbon on top.

"Who would give me anything?"

Theo gave her a look, followed by a grimace. She recoiled, knowing instantly who he referenced. There was only one pureblood trying to win her favor.

"You can tell Malfoy I don't want it. Just put it in the bin with the rest of the rubbish."

Theo frowned.

"Listen, I didn't want to give it to you, but he promised if I did, he'd let up with the pranks for the rest of the year. It doesn't have any charms or curses, and he said you'd really like it."

Hermione gave a snort, wondering what the spoiled prat thought she liked. He didn't even know her.

"Alright." Hermione groaned. Theo let out a sigh of relief that told her the bullying had been much worse than he let on. If it spared Theo pain, she'd take the stupid gift.

Theo walked over and handed it to her. Hermione ripped the ribbon away in an angry tug. On the top of the box perched a tag labeled An Ugly Trinket in bold black letters with his initials below. Hermione ignored that and flipped open the lid, intending to hate the gift no matter the rarity or cost.

But instead her whole world stopped and started, and her head felt woozy. If she'd been standing, she would have fainted. Inside the box, nestled peacefully in pretty paper, was Hopper, her old stuffed bunny. Hermione's face tightened in a funny way, eyes hot, and she blinked a few times. No tears fell, but they threatened to tumble down. For the first time in years, Hermione almost cried.

Theo looked stunned at her reaction.

"What is it?"

Hermione reached down and gently cradled the stuffed animal. It looked exactly like it used to, except someone cleaned it and fixed its broken eye. She clutched Hopper to her chest and hugged. A few memories broke through of her parents. They clapped while candles burned on her cake. Someone turned on a television as she curled up on the couch. Her mother sang a lullaby as she stroked her hair to get her to sleep. Her father threw her in the air, higher and higher and higher, catching her every time.

She'd forgotten too much to be homesick, but Hermione grabbed on to the fleeting thoughts, afraid they'd disappear again.

"Tell Malfoy…" Her voice caught. "Tell Malfoy thank you. He was right for once."


It wasn't until the next day she noticed a letter at the bottom of the box, hidden under the paper. She waited until she was alone to read it. Muggleborns weren't meant to interact with the pureblood boys without supervision, even in letter form. He risked getting in bad trouble sending it. For Hopper, she decided to honor the act by keeping it secret.

It was written on expensive paper, heavy under her fingertips, and it made a lovely sound when she unfolded it.

Hermione,

Greg said I might have scared you in the treehouse, and I didn't mean to do that. I only wanted to be friends, and it went wrong somehow.

After you dropped your bunny so long ago, I always wished to give it back to you. If you'd like, I think we should start introductions again. Would you want to exchange letters? You couldn't tell anyone.

First question: would you rather be eaten by a hippogriff or a dragon? I've been thinking about it a lot lately, and I can't decide, though I'm leaning toward a dragon.

Your new friend,

DM

Hermione didn't want to be his friend. Not after how he acted at the party, and especially not after he bullied Theo for an entire semester. But if she didn't, would he take out his anger on Theo? She might have to play along for his sake.

Hermione grabbed a quill, ink, and paper. She chewed on her bottom lip in thought before writing.

Dear Spoiled Pureblood,

Thanks for Hopper. That's my bunny's name. I didn't think I'd ever see him again. Even though I'm still mad at you, I'm grateful you mended him and kept him safe.

I guess it wouldn't hurt to write a few letters, though if I find out you're bullying Theo again, I'll send you a howler and laugh when Headmaster Snape drags you to your father again by your ear.

I'd rather get eaten by a hippogriff, of course. They're honourable creatures, so they would make your death quick. Though maybe they like to savor mean bullies. Which, in your case, should be something to consider. Burning to death sounds horrid. You should honestly stop claiming you're intelligent if you choose a dragon.

Thanks again,

An Annoyed Muggleborn

Satisfied, Hemione called over Tabitha's owl, the one least likely to be missed. She gave the owl an affectionate pat, a treat, the letter, and sent him on his way.


Hermione dreamed of necks splitting, blood pouring out. Of men that looked like angels but only hurt people. Of beasts with sharp teeth. She'd jolt awake, breathing hard and sweating. Before he left, she'd grab Theo's hand and hold it tight until she could return to sleep. Without him, she didn't sleep well. She stayed awake in terror, imaging the shadows as monsters in billowing black capes.

The first night after Theo left again for Hogwarts, Hermione bolted up in bed, clutching her chest. Her heart pounded hard, and she felt ill with fear. It didn't go away as she sat there, eyes wide. She wished she could cry. Maybe that would rid her of the terrible feelings.

Her fingers brushed something soft, and she pulled up Hopper from under the covers. As she hugged him close, her heart calmed, her breathing evened. Just before sleep, she buried her face into his soft belly. It smelled of something both clean and sharp. She realized it must be how Draco smelled. With that disturbing thought, she let herself smell it again, finding she liked it more than she should.

Hermione slept better than she had in a long time.


Titus intercepted Draco's next letter, hidden inside Theo's trunk during Easter break. He waited until after dinner when she was getting settled into bed to talk to her.

"Give us some privacy, Tabitha," he said. The old woman gave a bow of her head and exited Hermione's room, along with Bitty.

Titus gave a sigh and sat on a chair near her bed. He stuck his hand in his cloak and came out with a letter written on expensive paper.

"When did this start?"

Hermione withheld a groan. She'd been looking forward to Draco's reply. Despite not liking the boy, the conversation rested on some edge over a cavern. She had to be on her toes, and it made it exciting.

"He only gave me one, and I sent one back. That's all."

"There shouldn't have been any. I'm willing to overlook it on your part, since I'm not sure I've explained all the rules, but Draco knows he shouldn't be doing this."

"Don't get him too much in trouble. He just wanted to be friends."

Titus kept his hard eyes on her for a moment.

"What do you know of the selection process?"

"Not much. Katie mentioned something about tokens and Trials, but I couldn't find anything in the library to explain."

The edge of his lips twitched up. He'd always told her he found her research of every topic that struck her interest endearing.

"No, I don't think you'll find this in any library." He gave a heavy sigh, glancing out the window as if he wanted to be doing anything besides talking to her about this. "The Trials won't happen until you're eighteen, or a few years later if I decide otherwise. The latest you can enter is twenty-one. Wizards will give me a token for the right to compete. There are usually four trials in all and whoever wins two will win that witch. Their tokens aren't infinite either. Each wizard only gets three in total."

"What happens if they put in all their tokens for different witches and never win?"

"Then their bloodline dies out." Titus crossed his arms on his chest. "They may have love and companionship in their lifetime, but nothing else. To some, that's a fate worse than death. So the men, especially the ones from the oldest families, take a great risk for each selection. The witch must be worth it."

"But why do it at all?"

"Muggleborns are rare. I don't think the wizarding world realized how rare muggleborns were until after the curse. Since you came to live with us, we've only found twenty muggleborns of various ages… but there are hundreds of purebloods and half-bloods vying for them. More if you include the other countries affected. The competitions were created so wizards stay civil. There would be terror and anarchy otherwise."

Hermione hesitated.

"Has anyone put in tokens for me?"

Titus studied the way she clutched her blanket under her fingers.

"Many have tried, but I'm not accepting any right now." His expression softened. "You're only twelve, and I'm not going to let just any sorry excuse for a wizard compete for you."

"Does that mean you decide who can put in tokens?"

"Since I'm head of the household, I decide who puts in tokens, and I also decide how many, though I must accept at least three. That's why you don't need to worry, Sprite. I'm not accepting any tokens from wizards you don't like. I'm willing to give you an option to decline."

That did make her feel better. Ever since Katie told her about the tokens, she worried over the meaning.

"You promise?"

He grinned.

"I promise. My standards are ridiculously high. So high no one has met them yet. The ministry will probably have to force me at wand point to finally start the trials and choose three candidates."

Since Titus was in a rare sharing mood, Hermione dared to ask the next question.

"But what are the Trials for exactly? I don't really understand everything."

He ran his hand down his face and then through his hair, making it stand on end.

"Do you remember when Theo said muggleborns can have babies?" Hermione nodded her head. "Well, that makes you both rare and a treasure. The wizarding world would die out without you. That's why wizards are willing to compete for you… to have their baby."

Babies—that's what continuing the bloodline meant.

A funny feeling filled Hermione. A mixture of pride for being so important and something uncomfortable and sad. She'd known she was to be given away, and she'd guessed the reason long ago, but to hear it confirmed made her… disappointed.

A few months before, she woke up to pain and bloody sheets. She thought she was dying until she got Tabitha. The old woman sat her down and explained the bodily function to her. It was a nuisance more than anything. She did know it meant she could technically have babies now, though Tabitha had been vague on the details. Since then, she'd made the connection, but Titus saying it out loud made her uncomfortable.

"What if you kept me? I could have your babies, and then I would never have to leave."

Titus' eyes widened, and he gave a sharp laugh. He rubbed the back of his neck with his hand, cheeks coloring. She felt hers warm too, embarrassed this was his reaction.

"Do you even know how babies are made?"

She blushed.

"Well… not really."

"Oh, Sprite, one day, I'll have Tabitha explain the details about the process. After that, I doubt you'd want to have my babies."

There were still things he wasn't telling her, and she didn't like that. She crossed her arms and gave a severe frown.

"Listen, I'd have to compete for you too. It's against the rules to just keep you. I'd do anything to make you happy, but I can't let you skip the Trials. It's against the law. Do you understand?"

Hermione gave a little nod of her head, uncrossing her arms.

"Yes."

His stance loosened, as if he'd been worried she'd be more upset.

"Which brings us back to this." He held up the letter. "Draco not only bullies Theo, but he has the audacity to send you a letter behind my back. He's of age to put in a token for the future, and his father has tried several times to convince me. There was a moment I considered… Draco's your age. He's top of his class. And there's very few families that can protect you on the same level as I can." He grimaced. "But I'm denying him the right to give a token. Maybe one day he can prove different, but I can't overlook this."

Hermione wasn't sure how to feel about the whole thing. There were still questions she didn't know about her future, which would probably help her understand enough to be happy or sad.

"I understand," she said.

Titus nodded but he looked hesitant and sighed.

"Theo admitted Draco gave you a gift." He outstretched his hand. "I hate to ask this, but I'm going to need it back."

Hermione slipped her hand under the cover, brushing the matted fur of Hopper.

"No."

Titus crinkled his brows in surprise, and it surprised her too. She had never told him no like that.

"I'm going to give you a moment to reconsider your answer. This is unlike you."

"It's mine." Hermione brought out the old, ugly bunny. "I dropped it in the mud when Fenrir– Draco only sent it back. Please don't take it. I don't– I don't have nightmares when I hold it."

Titus froze and then lowered his head, looking ashamed for a reason she couldn't identify.

"I won't take it." He stood up, straightening his robes. After walking to the door, he turned with a gentle smirk on his face. "By the way, you were right. A hippogriff is a better choice. In this letter, Malfoy was explaining the virtues of a dragon. I'm sure his response would have only annoyed you."

Stupid dragons and stupid Draco. The conversation with Titus was meant to soothe her worries, but it only unsettled her more.