"Miss Black." Lucius smiled at her, utterly enchanted by the picture she made curled into the sofa, a book almost bigger than she was opened on her knee. He was all too aware that he had a week to convince her that he was a better prospect than Rabastan Lestrange. His only comfort was that she hadn't accepted the other man's suit and she at least appeared to be tolerating his visits. However, he couldn't work out how much was politeness and how much was genuinely developing affection. And he desperately wanted to know.

Now shed forced him to examine his own complacency, to discover his own opinions, he was sure he wouldn't be happy with a woman who behaved the way the old families told them they should and he couldn't deny that he was becoming increasingly enamoured by the youngest Miss Black. He just had to hope she returned his affections.

Hermione's head rose slowly as his greeting filtered through and she blushed when she realised he was watching her with fond amusement. "Master Malfoy! I wasn't…." her eyes darted to the clock and her blush deepened. "I got lost in a book." she sighed.

He bit back a laugh, "May I sit?"

"Oh! Gods, yes!" she groaned, "I'm sorry! I'm not sure where my mind is today."

"Presumably in whatever world your book is set," he returned dryly as he sat, spying the ever-present elf in the corner.

She sighed, "An old favourite."

"Oh?"

"Arguments in Arithmancy," she informed him with a straight face.

His smile faltered as he attempted to find a reply to that before she giggled. "Merlin's toes! I was attempting not to be so insulting that you had your elf remove me! Arguments in Arithmancy is one of the driest books I've ever had the misfortune of reading."

"I know," she said, "Its concepts are actually rather interesting if you can get passed the fact the author wrote it in the most boring way they could."

"I shall take your word for it. I think I fell asleep after every other page. I cannot remember anything other than it was awful"

"So not an arithmancy fan?"

"I am generally!" He argued, "Arithmacnyc combined with runes are staples in warding and at some point I'll be expected to manage the wards around the manor."

She hummed, "True but you can work with them and hate them at the same time."

"Miss Black have you seen the magic you can create with those two disciplines alone?" he demanded, attempting to sound offended.

"Yes," she replied wryly, a knowing look on her face. "Uncle Tom's had me breaking curses since before I could walk."

He let out a laugh, clearly not believing she was serious, his smile faltering at her arched brow "You're serious?"

"Yes," she sighed. "He was rather adamant that I learn whatever I wanted. Still is, to be honest."

"Merlin I can't quite imagine personal tuition from Tom Riddle. Or well… perhaps I can. Did he mention he demanded that I attend duelling lessons?"

"No." she replied slowly, her eyes scanning his face "Why?"

"Because he's protective of you," Lucius replied bluntly. "He might have also…ah…shared how you met."

Hermione froze, her posture stiffening immediately as she stood, putting some distance between them. "Oh?"

"Don't do that," he murmured, his eyes darting to Kreacher who was watching them closely, clearly ready to step in if he had to. "It's…well in all honesty it sounds utterly unbelievable and yet explains rather a great deal." He let out a sigh cursing himself for bringing this up, before he stood, crossing the room slowly, with his hands up placatingly. "Beyond desperately wanting more details than the scant ones he gave, I am…it does not scare me as perhaps it should."

She let out a disbelieving snort, "And they stay the Blacks are mad."

He let out a bark of laughter involuntarily before he sighed, "You are rather unlike any other witch I have ever met Miss Black and I find myself rather reluctant to give you up. I am not put off by the lengths you went to to fix things, I am far more inclined to to be impressed with your resourcefulness, intelligence and quite frankly, ruthlessness."

She sighed dramatically, losing some of her tension. "You are such a Slytherin." she sighed.

"Guilty," he agreed with a smile.

She rolled her eyes. "You would take that as a compliment."

"Wasn't it?" he asked guilessly, taking another step towards her.

She didn't rise to the bait as she considered him, "You're not entirely what I expected, Lucius Malfoy." she said finally.

"I could say the same of you Hermione Black." he countered.

She inclined her head silently, still clearly sizing him up. He could feel his adrenaline rising the longer she remained silent. "Alright, then Master Malfoy," she said finally bouncing on her toes to kiss his cheek, stunning him into silence, as Kreacher objected loudly. He wasn't entirely sure what they spoke about for the rest of his visit. The only thing he was sure of was that Hermione Black had apparently decided she was keeping him.


"Are you sure? Truly sure?" Sirius demanded as he watched his twin fix her hair in the mirror.

Hermione sighed, "As sure as I can be."

He stood still, scanning her face, "I heard he impressed Uncle Tom."

"Apparently," she agreed with a genuine huff of laughter. "He cautiously approves of the match, although he's reserving judgment and has reminded me that he can have him removed if needed."

Sirius's bark of laughter was expected, coupled with a grin that split his face, a constant reminder that all the original Hermione had sacrificed had been worth it. "I can't believe you're going to marry a Malfoy," he murmured softly, wrapping his arm around his sister's shoulder.

"Not for another couple of years," she reminded him. "I've NEWTs to sit first!"

"I know," he sighed, "I just…it's…strange to think of us growing up. Married… Merlin help us, children and I'm going to miss you."

"I'll be on the other end of a floo." she reminded him softly. "Always."

"You gave up your entire life for me," he whispered.

"Not just for you," she countered, "You…you were definitely a factor but so were many others."

"And yet you ensured you were close enough to monitor my life."

She gave a sad smile, "You deserved far better than you got last time. Do you think Jamie will marry Lily this time? With Severus being…less intense, I had wondered if it would change."

Sirius hummed, "I don't know. She still hates him and he's utterly ridiculous around her. That being said Severus is no longer solely obsessed with Lily and you ensured we behave, at least partially and they are still not as close as I expected them to be.."

"I know," she admitted sadly, "At least he has friends. Sane, non-murderous friends. And Cassie."

Sirius smirked, "I wouldn't exactly class you as sane, sister. As for Cassie. I must admit I didn't see that one coming."

"No? Cassie is ruthless when duelling but she is incredibly sweet and I think he needs that. It's better this time around obviously, and Uncle Tom dealt with the abusive father early on but he couldn't force his mother to accept our help. Severus still grew up in poverty and that leaves a mark."

"You never thought of removing him?"

"Yes," she replied, "We discussed it...before. But Tom was reluctant to do too much in case Severus resented him. You know how loyal he is to his mother. I believe he kept an eye and bridged the financial gap when it was desperate, and of course, he took a leaf out of my book and took him for his first Diagon trip."

Sirius sighed, nodding. "So Eileen's still refusing to have anything to do with this world?"

"Yup. Her parents were utterly awful by all accounts. For all we've changed the law, we both know that some prejudices are hard to shift."

He hummed, "how do you…I mean…" Hermione arched an amused brow, reasonably certain she knew what he was asking. "He tried to murder you! And now you're going to marry him!"

"Not his him, not this me." she contradicted. "It's…hard, sometimes, the warring memories. That Hermione, the one from before would no doubt be horrified, she is a little, I can feel it. But, this version of us was brought up differently. It gives a different perspective. I have... expectations, and rules I've grown up following that she didn't have and sometimes it's incredibly hard to combine the two. But where she grew up with expectations of a slow courtship, falling in love and perhaps then getting married, we both know that that's not how our world works." she sighed, "And anyway, he wasn't the hardest of them to accept. Peter was the hardest of all of them."

"Even harder than Bella?"

"Yes." she nodded, "Which I am aware seems absurd. But she was a product of her upbringing, which by all accounts was beyond awful and he…he was the catalyst to everything. Even now, I don't understand his actions. It makes being his friend…challenging sometimes, despite knowing that I've changed everything and that this Peter is unfailingly sweet."

Sirius hummed. "What about Narcissa?"

Hermione let out a deep sigh. "I don't know." she admitted, "Knowing her as I do now, I wonder if they were just a terrible match."

"In what way? He asked curiously, wondering how she had justified contemplating this marriage.

"Lucius is…was? I don't know, easily lead. He bowed to his father, and I wonder if later he bowed to his wife. Narcissa is not the dainty little flower she portrays herself as, as well you know. I have to wonder if she needs someone to soften her a bit in a way he wasn't able to?"

Sirius paused, turning that over inside his head. "Who are you thinking?"

"Truthfully, I had wondered about a Prewett or Leander Selwyn. Or….what about Kings?"

Sirius snorted, "Narcissa would eat Leander alive and she'd murder either of the twins in their sleep. Kings though…."

"Perhaps I'll have Uncle Tom mention it." she mused.

"Which brings us back to Lucius. Are you sure? If you're right, he won't stand up to you, how long until that makes you lose all respect for him?"

Hermione hummed, "I think we could be happy," she admitted, " he's already thinking more for himself. But, I suppose if he displeases me too much I'll take Uncle Tom up on his offer."

Sirius laughed at her, replying with exasperated fondness, "We both know you won't, my twin."

"I might if he annoys me enough," she muttered, making his grin widen. "And…I wonder if he had some encouragement to continue to think for himself whether he would find his feet. We have two years before this wedding, we have time. He has already made a bit of an attempt which I imagine was difficult. We both know Abraxas expected complete compliance. I'm reserving judgment on whether to share when and how he dies. I imagine it'll depend on how overbearing I find him."

Sirius smirked at her, "If only all those people who question whether you are really a Black could hear you now." he teased before he sighed, looking like he couldn't quite believe his next words, "Well then, seeing as you won't be swayed, shall we go and tie your life to the blonde git?"

Straightening her spine, Hermione took his arm, "Let go then, brother."


Their father looked utterly unsurprised to see Sirius escorting her, an amused smile quirking his lips as he tried to prevent it.

"I do believe this event has enough witness," he looked at Sirius pointedly. He flushed but held his ground.

"One more won't hurt surely?"

"Your Uncle Tom is here," Orion replied instead.

Sirius sighed, knowing he wasn't winning this argument. "Fine." he turned to Hermione, "If you're not sure, even a little, don't sign."

She smiled slightly bouncing on her toes to kiss his cheek. "I'm really glad I got to be your twin this time around," she murmured.

"Me too," he admitted softly. "Even if you do have questionable taste in wizards. Maybe we should have you checked for the family madness, just in case."

Hermione rolled her eyes, nudging him. "If either of us is mad, it's you!" she retorted.

"I'll be in the library, probably with Reg," he murmured instead of rising to the bait, squeezing her hand before forcing himself to walk away.

"Well then, Princess. At the risk of echoing your brother, are you sure?"

"Yes." she agreed, meeting her father's eyes without hesitation as she took his arm and he led her in.

"Miss Black," Giselle smiled, reaching to kiss her cheeks.

"Madam Malfoy, Mr Malfoy." she smiled. "Lucius."

She bit back a smile when he flushed, reaching to kiss her knuckles.

"Enough of that," Tom commanded when Lucius seemed reluctant to let go of her hand.

"Uncle Tom," she laughed, allowing him to sweep her into a hug.

"You're far too grown up my girl. I do not like it."

Hemione rolled her eyes, ignoring the incredulous looks on the Malfoy's faces. "You're absurd. I'm not any more grown up than I was the last time I saw you."

"We're here to discuss your betrothal contract, my girl!" he lamented dramatically, "It seems like only yesterday you were a tiny thing that was more curls than person asking thousands of questions…." he trailed off with a teasing smirk. "Forgive me, my girl, it was yesterday wasn't it?"

"I know where you sleep." she threatened.

He laughed at her, "I'll add to my wards."

"And I'll break them."

"More than likely," he agreed placidly, "Are you sure you need your NEWTs? There are lots of pretty, dangerous things for you to play with in my offices."

"As tempting as that is Uncle Tom, unfortunately, I do intend to sit my NEWTs," she replied dryly.

"Pity," he lamented before he brightened, "I'll look some out for your Christmas holidays."

All three Malfoys stood watching with increasing shock making Walburga laugh, "You get used to them," she murmured consolingly.

"Do you?" Abraxas asked.

"Well…we have had years. He's been teaching her warding and cursebreaking since she was old enough to know what magic was. Regulus too. Sirius was more invested in duelling than anything that required him to sit still but he's still well versed in warding and rune work."

"Mother of Merlin," Abraxas muttered, "I wonder if I should add in a clause ensuring all our safety."

"Too late for that now," Orion replied with slightly sadistic glee, handing the parchment to Hermione. "Read please."

She rolled her eyes when Tom peered over her shoulder to read alongside her. "Seems reasonable." he mused sounding almost put out.

"Why were you looking for something to complain about?" Hermione asked

"Because you're a baby! And this is a betrothal contract," Tom pouted, "I don't like it."

"Noted," she laughed, "Merlin I thought it would be Daddy who objected, not you!"

"You live in my house," Orion muttered wryly, "And your Uncle has taught you far more than was sensible. I wasn't stupid enough to argue against something you'd decided on."

"You could have never mentioned it then she wouldn't have known anything about it," Tom muttered.

"Honestly," Walbrurga sighed, "You are all being patently ridiculous. Now, I assume you are signing?"

"Yes, Mother."

"Good, then do so before the males in the room get even more absurd."

With a laugh Hermione sighed her name, feeling the sting as her blood was used as ink before handing the quill to her father. Beside his parents, Lucius let out a breath he hadn't been aware he'd been holding as Orion followed suit, before handing him the quill.

"You'll stay for dinner?" Walburga offered, hooking her arm through Giselles as Abraxas' signature caused the contract to flash gold, signifying its acceptance.

"Of course, "Giselle smiled. "We'll have to begin discussing the wedding."

"Salazar please no!" Tom muttered, "Tell me you have decent brandy so I can lament the fact that my goddaughter just tied herself to a boy."

Abraxas laughed, "A boy you used to like."

"Used to and then he set his sights on Hermione," Tom muttered mullishly.

"Come along," Orion headed for the door with an eye roll at his dramatics, "We'll have brandy in the study." he turned to Lucis, "Ten minutes. I'm leaving an elf."

Lucius let out a breath as the door shut behind them, reaching into his pocket for a box. "For you, Miss Black."

"I think that you can call me Hermione now, no?" she replied with amusement.

"I did not want to presume," he murmured.

She rolled her eyes as she took the box. "I have quite literally just tied myself to you in blood, Lucius. We both know that contract is unbreakable."

A small pleased smile travelled over his face, "It is, isn't it?"

Her huff of laughter was cut short when she opened the box. "Oh." she breathed, running a careful finger over the bracelet.

"Will you allow me to help you put it on?" he murmured, taking a step closer. With a silent nod, she handed the box back, watching as he pulled the bracelet out carefully, all three strands of diamonds glittered in the light. It truly was stunning, if slightly more ostentatious than she had anticipated wearing daily. She noticed his hesitation as he closed the clasp, his hand cradling her wrist.

"I'm very glad you agreed…Hermione," he murmured before he dipped his head and kissed her, making poor Binky squeak in disapproval.

They both laughed as they parted, their cheeks slightly pink, before he held out his arm, "Shall we return before your father, or Merlin forbid, your Godfather comes searching."

"Probably best," she agreed, sliding her arm through his. "Uncle Tom tends to hex first and ask questions later."

"I know," he muttered, making her laugh.