Song Suggestion: The Prince of Egypt Soundtrack– "All I Ever Wanted" (with Queen's Reprise)
A BIG thank you to my Beta, MyPrivateInsanity!
Blackmail and Demands
Hermione's eyes fluttered open just as she was placed on the dining room table. A stab of pain lanced through her left side. It burned more than a cut should.
"Am I dying?" she asked Titus. He stood over her with an expression she'd never seen on him—an intense mixture of fear and fury.
"I won't let you, Sprite."
He took off her top robes, shoving up her bloodied white shirt to reveal the wound. Shaking fingers ghosted over the jagged skin, held together by the first aid spell.
"They're going to regret this." Titus bent down his head, grimacing at the ground. "The streets will run red with blood. They'll cry for mercy, and I won't give it."
A healer came through the floo in her heavy robes and serene expression. Titus towered over her.
"Keep her alive, or I'll end you too."
The serene expression dropped with a wince. Titus stepped away as the woman began her spells, and Hermione slipped back into darkness.
"There are things we need to discuss."
Lucius' voice woke her up. Hermione guessed she was in her room, judging by the soft mattress. She didn't open her eyes, knowing an important conversation was happening. She wondered what they would say without knowing she listened.
"Can't this wait?" Titus sounded stressed. "I'll make sure you're rewarded for finding her, but I want you to fuck off right now."
"Wait for what? The boy is sleeping in his room. The girl is healing. There are no pressing matters."
"My thoughts are not in the right place for negotiations."
"I'm not going to negotiate."
Silence. Titus shifted in the chair. Hermione dared to peek out of the barest slit of her eyelid. Only Lucius and Titus were in her room. She reclosed her eyes, oddly disappointed Draco wasn't there.
"What do you want?" Titus asked. It sounded forced like he said it through clenched teeth.
"The girl can do magic."
Titus scoffed.
"Is that supposed to be news? Of course, she can. Accidental magic happens around her all the time. She's a witch."
The click of a cane echoed against her bedroom walls.
"This was far from accidental."
Again, silence. This time heavier.
"Explain."
"Are you saying I know something about your ward that you don't?"
"Stop with the games, Lucius. There's a point you want to make, so I suggest you make it before I lose my temper. The only reason I'm entertaining you right now is because you were the one who found her."
"It will do well for you to remember that," Lucius warned. "When I arrived, the girl had just produced a decent Protego with Theodore's wand… and then proceeded to cast a Reducto that took off the man's finger. I'm fairly certain she petrified the auror too."
More silence.
"There's no way that's possible. She's never held a wand in her life."
"I'll show you my memories if you wish."
That must have convinced him.
"Bloody hell," Titus cursed, then something shattered. She assumed he threw his tumbler. "If the ministry figures out she can do magic with a wand, they'll—"
"Take her away," Lucius finished. It came out as a threat. Hermione struggled to keep her eyes closed and her breathing even. "They'll consider you an unfit guardian. You're lucky Kingsley destroyed the trace when he turned traitor, or she might have been discovered already."
She didn't want to be taken away. She regretted her late-night wand practice, her relentless pursuit of magic. Hermione didn't know the consequence would mean she'd be ripped from Theo and Titus.
"Luckily, Draco and I were the only ones who witnessed this. Well, a few muggleborns did too, but I managed to fix that easy enough."
Fix that? She wondered what he meant. The thought of the dirty, skinny muggleborns eating rats gave her an odd feeling. One she didn't know how to place. It caused an acute discomfort deep inside her soul. It stuck to her insides, no matter how hard she tried to shake it loose.
"Thank you." His voice was strained. More than before.
"I didn't do it for free."
"What's your price?"
Another click of a cane, as if Lucius adjusted his stance.
"Accept Draco's token."
"Fuck, fine. I'll let the little wanker compete when it comes time. Is it worth the risk of blackmailing me, Malfoy?"
"She's extraordinary. There's no other muggleborn like her. In fact, there's nary a witch like her. Even among the Purebloods, she stands out."
"I can agree with you on that." Titus sucked in a quick breath, and then his voice lowered into something serious. "I'm not sure how she managed to learn to do magic with a wand, but I promise I'll discover the source and end it."
Lucius only laughed. It sounded mocking.
"Don't bother. Let the girl learn, just keep it quiet. If something like this happens again, she should be able to protect herself. Once the Order learns about her abilities and power, they'll stop at nothing to obtain her. Besides, you could break every wand around her, and it wouldn't stop her."
"I'm not following."
"The girl doesn't need a wand to do magic."
The legs of the chair scraped as Titus stood straight up.
"What you're suggesting is impossible. She's fourteen, and she's had no training."
"Which makes it all the more incredible. She's clever enough to discover what she needs, even if you never gave it to her. I'm guessing she's been utilizing your library to its fullest potential. If I hadn't seen it with my own eyes, I wouldn't have believed it either. I almost stepped in after the wizard expelled her wand, but then she lifted her hands, and the man froze." He paused to let it sink in. "She made the wizard put his own wand to his temple and tried to cast a Confundo through his wand. It didn't work this time, but give it a few more years…"
Titus began to pace. She heard his boots scuffing the hard wood floors.
"What you're suggesting is… is on Dumbledore's level. On Shacklebolt's level. On Voldemort's level. How am I supposed to handle that?"
"It's simple," Lucius drawled. "You oversee her training, so the magic doesn't turn against her. I've heard of strong wizards going mad without a substantial outlet. Most of the muggleborns will get enough through the ministry-blunted wands they get at fifteen, but the girl will need more. If you give her just enough, you can control her power. Leave her to her own devices, and she might grow hard to control, even for you."
Titus seemed to be thinking in the pause.
"A trip to Ollivanders?"
"Normally, I'd be opposed to it, but, in this case, there is no choice. She'll need a wand for her magical level. Just control the information she receives. We wouldn't want an intelligent muggleborn with the power of Dumbledore to gain access to dangerous spells. Just enough, Nott, just enough."
Hermione stopped her instinctive recoil. She didn't know if she wanted to rage at the fact that they both wanted to control her knowledge, or if she deserved to lose it after almost getting Theo killed. There'd be no more late-night practice with a stick and her will, studying whatever she wished, reading any book. The thought of it being taken away left her empty.
Titus stopped pacing. She assumed he stared at Lucius.
"For your silence, I'll allow Draco to put in a token. If there's nothing else, I want you to leave my home."
"Oh, you'll do more than that."
"What else?" The words were hard as iron.
"I want a guarantee he'll win."
Hermione heard the shuffle of feet toward Lucius in obvious anger, but Lucius didn't retreat.
"What you're asking for is cheating."
"No, it's ensuring my bloodline continues with the best witch available. I'm not letting a game decide such an important thing. Don't pretend the others don't rig the games for the highest buyer. What I'm offering guarantees everyone wins. In the meantime, I want you to allow a few letters a year from Draco. My son has grown fascinated with the girl, but it's important the girl develops loyalty to him, so fostering a relationship is paramount."
A little thrill went through her when thinking of getting letters from Malfoy again, though she didn't know if she wanted him to win her Trial. She didn't like cheating, and she definitely would not be loyal to the spoiled prat.
"You go too far."
"I'm not asking you to leave them alone together. You can even oversee their correspondence. He won't touch her before it's time. It will simply ensure a healthy transition into the Malfoy household. We've both seen witches fight and scream on the ritual night. It's not pleasant. Do you want that for Hermione?"
Ritual night? It sounded ominous and made her stomach swoop low with nerves. Just like anything to do with the Trials, she doubted she'd get any information from the library or Titus. She'd somehow need to discover it for herself.
Titus hesitated, like what he asked was almost painful.
"Even if she knows the boy, I doubt it will still be a pleasant experience."
"No," Lucius agreed. "But at least, if she develops a level of trust, the night will go easier."
"Alright… two letters a year." Titus collapsed in a chair. "Anything else? My left kidney, perhaps?"
She could almost swear she heard Lucius roll his eyes.
"You can keep your organs," Lucius said. "I just want the girl. For that, you'll have my silence."
A door opened and closed, and Lucius walked out. Hermione tried to keep even breathing. She stayed in that suspended tension until Titus let out a loud sigh.
"Go back to sleep, Hermione," Titus said. "We'll talk tomorrow."
Titus walked to the door, opened it with a hard jerk, and slammed it behind him.
She woke up to a warm hand on her forehead. She tried to sit up, but the same hand pressed down on her shoulder.
"Not now, my girl. The healer just left and said you needed to stay in bed for at least a day. That dark cutting curse hit your spleen. Any deeper and… well, nothing was permanently damaged, thank Merlin."
Her fuzzy eyesight cleared. Tabitha sat over her, giving her a look full of love. She was in her own room still, but now it was daylight.
"Oh, my poor dear." She ran a cool hand down her cheek. "How scared you must have been. Two teenagers against three armed wizards. It's a miracle you're here and alive."
"I'm okay," Hermione assured her old nurse maid before she could start crying. Tears always made her uncomfortable.
But it only seemed to make Tabitha more upset.
"The thought of you or Theo getting hurt—." She fluffed and tucked her thin blankets in a ridiculous way.
"I promise I won't freeze to death," Hermione said.
"I guess you are feeling better if you're back to your cheeky comments. Get some rest, dear." Tabitha gave a final, teary smile and exited.
That was when she noticed Titus. He stood against the wall with his hands in his pockets. The light from the window hit him just right, making his blue eyes glow. The sun's rays showed off the subtle auburn streaks within his dark hair. His expression was neutral, but she still tensed, knowing she had disobeyed him.
"You're not going to cry too, are you?" Hermione asked.
"Do you want me to?"
"Merlin, no."
A smile tugged up the side of his lips, but it fell.
"Is—" she began. "Is Theo okay?"
"More than fine. He's been milking the injury. I think he's just trying to make me feel sorry for him, so he doesn't get punished."
Hermione swallowed hard, throat dry. She needed water and food, but she knew this conversation came first.
"I'm sorry," she said. "It was my fault. I convinced Theo—"
"Theo knew better. Don't excuse his behavior. I'm angry at the both of you. You could have been killed," it came out as strained. "Do you know how it felt, knowing you were missing? Don't ever do something stupid like that again."
Hermione nodded. She pulled out her hands and stared down at them, knowing more was coming.
"Why didn't you bring me to St. Mungo's?"
"There was a breach in security at the hospital from the Order. It was meant to pull my attention away from your kidnapping, but the second auror I sent to bring you home couldn't find you. I didn't have time to secure the hospital, so the manor was the safest place to heal you."
Hermione's heart pounded as she brought up the next subject. He'd ask her anyway, so she felt the need to start the conversation.
"You know about my magic?"
Titus gave a sharp nod. He examined her then, as if he'd never seen her before.
"I know Lucius' story, but I don't trust it." He gave her a pointed stare. "I'm going to have to see your memories." He walked over and sat on the edge of the bed, facing her. The mattress dipped with his weight. He pulled out his wand and put it to her temple. "I hate doing this. It will hurt, but I have to see everything."
Hermione steeled herself as Titus dove into her mind. It took a moment, but he arrived at the ice cream shop. He followed them through the bookstore. The whiplash of memory made her ill, and it began to hurt, but he continued watching as they raced through the streets and into Knockturn Alley. What came next tumbled her stomach, having to relive every awful word, the pain, the terror.
When he finally pulled out, Hermione leaned over and vomited on the ground. She groaned and laid back, clutching her head to soothe the pain. The world spun around her.
"Sorry Sprite, but it had to be done."
He allowed her to recover, cleaning her vomit, and wiping her curls from her forehead. When she finally regained her bearings, she looked over to find Titus sitting in the chair, resting his chin on his knuckles in deep thought.
"If Garner did as he originally planned, it might have worked. I probably wouldn't have found you. So even if you did do something stupid, it saved you both from a worse fate."
He blew out a hard breath through his mouth and pressed his knuckles to the middle of his eyes. Then he sat up and leaned back in his chair.
"The redhead is Charlie Weasley, an exceptional dragon trainer. I worked with him a few months ago when we needed help with some magical creatures. Even considered him a friend. His parents were blood traitors, but I always thought—." He shrugged, looking disappointed. "I guess some things run in families."
"Did you find him?" She knew he must have already extracted Garner's memories.
"No," he answered. "His favorite Hungarian Horntail is missing too. I doubt we'll find him any time soon."
A part of Hermione hoped they didn't find him. Titus would kill him, and he didn't seem violent, even if he did work for the Order. Maybe they could change his mind and convince him the Order was wrong.
"What will happen to the auror?"
A dark look passed his face. She rarely saw him this cold.
"Garner had a false tooth filled with poision to commit suicide, but I cured it before it could kill him. Weasley should have ended him instead of leaving him alive. His mistake will cost him."
She wondered if that was what the redhead hesitated about moments before leaving. Had he been tasked to kill the others if things went south? The thought made her ill.
The auror scared her, and he hurt Theo, but she didn't want him dead, not like she did with the filthy one. She looked down at the blanket. Something felt a little broken inside her chest.
"Can you promise you won't hurt him?"
"I wish I could appease your soft heart, but I won't promise that."
She breathed out, knowing she couldn't argue with Titus when he was determined like this.
"Are you angry with me?"
She looked up to find him grinning at her.
"I'm so fucking proud of you." He got up and walked over, once again resting on the edge of the mattress. "A highly-trained auror— one of the best— and you brought him down with a single spell. You faced down the other wizards with courage, protecting both yourself and Theo." He paused, as if unsure how to word what he wanted to say. "Garner told you many lies. You aren't a slave, Hermione. You're loved by this whole household, and your home is here." He looked serious. "You need to know that so no one else makes you question who you are to me."
Hermione's heart warmed as he talked. The bad feeling in her chest lifted a little. What the auror had said did bother her, but it helped to know Titus cared for her. She was important to him and to wizarding kind. The Order was wrong for trying to take her. She belonged at Nott Manor.
She glanced around, taking in all of her possessions—the accumulation of her life. Her expensive clothes were displayed in the wardrobe, and the vanity sparkled with her jewelry and a mother-of-pearl hairbrush. The Puffskein rug was situated under a fluffy chair in the corner for reading next to a giant bookcase of her personal favorites. Pictures that she'd taken with her new camera hung on the wall. In the nearest one, Theo and Titus waved at her from beside the pool.
Titus didn't think of her like a dog. He loved her. And if the Order thought they could take her again, then they'd find her as ferocious an adversary as Titus.
Hermione reached out and grabbed his hand. It was large and calloused from years of quidditch, hard work, and dueling. Something fluttered in her stomach, but she ignored it. Titus gave a gentle squeeze and extracted his hand.
"Do I even need to ask how you learned to cast with and without a wand?"
Hermione pushed down her smirk and looked out the window.
"I've been reading magical theory, and I practice at night with a stick."
Titus gave a deep belly laugh.
"You're something else, Sprite." He reached out and tugged on a curl, and she shoved his hand away playfully.
Hermione hesitated a moment before asking the next question.
"Will you let Draco win like you promised Lucius?"
"Absolutely not. No one manipulates me and gets away with it. But for now, I think it's best if we play along."
"Do I have to be nice to him?"
He gave another loud laugh.
"Please don't. Someone needs to put him in his place."
"I don't like Lucius."
Titus rolled his eyes.
"No one likes Lucius. Not even Lucius likes Lucius."
She laughed at that. Titus paused, eyes roaming her face.
"As for your punishment… I'm going to ban you and Theo from Diagon Alley for the rest of the summer."
Hermione groaned. They would be so bored, but it was only fair, she supposed.
"I'm sorry I scared you." She nestled back into her bed. Her side twinged. Dark magic took longer to heal. "And I'm sorry I went to Knockturn Alley. I didn't think the Order would— I thought they weren't real, like a fairytale. Now I know they're terrible. They wanted to take me from you." Hermione choked on the last word, the closest she'd come to crying.
"You don't need to fear them," he said, voice going lower. "They need to fear me. After this, I plan to become their nightmare. Their mothers will weep for their mistake." He gave a single touch of his finger to her cheek. "Get some sleep. That's an order."
She believed him and never felt safer. Hermione closed her eyes, knowing nothing could hurt her with Titus around.
Two weeks later, Titus brought her to Ollivander's. They went after it closed. Titus looked both ways, making sure no one saw them. The bell jingled when they entered. The old man stacking boxes looked surprised to see them, but he gave a warm smile.
"For your silence." Titus reached out his hand with a bag full of galleons. "I think you understand why it would be bad if any word of this got out."
The old man looked at Titus and pushed back his hand.
"My wands are for any witch or wizard that needs one, and that includes muggleborns."
Titus' jaw clenched, and his hand gripped the bag of galleons harder than he should. There seemed to be a lot said between the two men during the silence. Hermione didn't understand the hard stares, but eventually Titus retracted the bag and placed it back in his pocket.
"Very well, but I should warn you that if this gets discovered, I'm coming to you first, regardless of the source."
Ollivander gave a sharp nod and turned his gaze on Hermione, looking her up and down, as if assessing for something. Eventually, his eyes lit up.
"Ah, yes, I think I know the one."
He led her to the rows and rows of wands and climbed a stool, pulling out several boxes of wands. Hermione wondered how he kept them all straight. Any minute now, and they would all topple over. But the stacks remained intact when Ollivander pulled out a black box. To her, it looked just like the rest, but there must be some way for him to tell them apart.
He climbed down and opened the box to reveal a pretty black wand, straight and smooth. It looked unbendable.
"Grab it," Ollivander encouraged. Hermione did, and it only emitted a few ugly sparks.
"No, no, that's not right." He grabbed the wand and placed it back in its box. He took another moment, and then he gave a grin.
He walked back up and pulled out another, this one in a brown box.
When he opened it, a light brown wand emerged with a raised pattern on the bottom of vines crawling up.
"Ten and three-fourths inches long, made of vine wood, with a dragon heartstring core. A remarkable wand for a remarkable witch."
Hermione's breath caught in her throat before she touched it, knowing it was meant for her. The magic called to her, twisting in her chest. Her fingers reached out, and when she grasped it, her whole body lit up. Every cell in her body stood at attention, vibrating just below her skin. She gave a gentle swish, and the room exploded in a firework of colors, a celebration.
Hermione laughed, watching the sparks of magic rain down around her. In the glow, Titus' face appeared. His pensive expression cut through her joy for a moment, but it didn't last.
She gave another swish of her wand.
