A/N: I know that chronologically these events should play out around '99, but for the sake of shenanigans to come, I've decided that all current era (2021) technology/culture is present in the Muggle world. You have been warned. (Un)fortunately, the Slytherins weren't… :D

It was going too well. Hermione did not have a single complaint as they transferred all secondary rights to their family accounts from Draco to her. She did not comment on the fact that they requested an enchanted pouch that allowed her to withdraw any funds she might need. She did not even blink when the goblin painstakingly recounted the exact - and rather large - number of Galleons in their family vault.

Then came the Bludger to the face.

"Mr White, I was wondering if it is possible to change my name to Hermione Nott?"

Theo's heart nearly stopped. All the careful planning of keeping his sister out of trouble came crashing down like a Seeker hit by the aforementioned object. Half of their agreements would be voided, and the other half needed so much rework, they might as well start from scratch. Theo saw the lawyer's eyes dull for just a moment, no doubt mourning the many days' work.

Hermione did not need the scrutinizing eyes of the Sacred Twenty-Eight to watch over her every move, every choice of garment, every uttered word, every-

She grabbed his hand under the table, palm a bit sweaty, but so nice and warm. Theo stopped the spiral of pessimism that threaded his thoughts and focused on her touch. Her hands were so much smaller than his, and all soft except for the calluses that were formed by quills through so many perfectly researched and written essays that were no doubt a new record in Hogwarts' history.

Theo let out a shaking breath he didn't know he was holding.

He should not be this worried. His sister was quick-witted and resourceful, charming, but unstoppable. There isn't a single purebred crone in the world that could make her kneel. Combined with his cunning and Draco's apparent devotion to her made them a mighty foe for any and all.

Mr White finally recovered enough to carry on the conversation, but Theo noticed the slight shake to his hands. The man was barely holding himself together.

"Of course, Miss Nott. I shall submit the application first thing on Monday."

"When will the school be notified?" she asked.

"It usually takes about a month for requests to go through unless we wish to help the process along."

Please don't…

"A month is fine-" Theo's shoulders finally relaxed. They had some time to work this all out.

The next thing he noticed was the tumbler of amber liquid on the table before him. He played with it as the happier side of this ordeal hit him.

He had a sister. Hopefully, she'd allow him to call her that. Sister. It was unreal. Smartest witch of her age, the only useful part of the Golden Trio, Hermione bloody Nott was his sister.

Unbelievable.

"Are you sure?" He had to know. It was a big decision, and he didn't want her to live with regret over it.

"Yes. I have thought about it, and whatever feelings might tie me to my old name, I will not leave you as the last living Nott in the world. Nott a chance!"

Her unyielding spirit and that damn Gryffindor optimism might have rubbed off on him as a chuckle escaped his lips.

Everything will be fine.

—

Normally you wouldn't hear a single raised voice in the dungeons, especially not on the weekend, so when a shrill hit Theo's ears he rushed to their common room, to seek out the source.

It was pandemonium. Groups of first and second years streamed from the door as if fleeing. Theo pushed through them, just in time to see a hurled inkwell shatter on a well-timed Protego, launching ink everywhere. In the sea of green and silver, a single red form stood tall and unflinching on an ancient wooden table.

Hermione.

Theo broke out in a cold sweat.

"For the last time Parkinson, I do not need your approval to visit the Slytherin common room. In fact, I could also do without your presence." She enunciated each word like one would for a child.

Pansy's face was reddened and twisted by rage and disgust.

"You don't belong here, Granger. We don't need your high and mighty speech about equality and justice and shite. I get it, you won the war and now you feel like you have to help us better ourselves for Merlin knows what snotty reason. Well, we don't. Go. Away!"

Hermione worried her lip and seemed to be in thought for some moments before straightening her back and staring the angry witch in the face.

"I think you misunderstood my intentions, so let me get this straight." With a single wave, she disarmed Pansy. The confiscated wand flew to her hand, where she seemed to examine it carefully, twisting it around in the greenish hue of the room. Theo had no idea what she was playing at, but she now had the undivided attention of everyone in the room.

"One, as you probably know, I could not have entered without a proper invitation. This means that there is at least one person here who wants my help, and you have no right to deny it in their place."

Pansy took a deep breath, no doubt to start shrieking again, but the Gryffindor hit her with a Silencio. The witch's eyes bulged out as she looked around the room for help, but no one lifted a wand. Some even chose to quietly slip away, letting the others deal with the enraged lioness.

"Two," she continued calmly, "I am not here for your betterment. In fact, I do not care if you hate Muggles, or Muggle-born, or everyone in the whole world. Your bitterness is your own problem."

She jumped from the table and the students backed out of her way. She stood in front of Pansy, whose eyes grew wide.

"Three, me talking about justice and equality would not only be pointless, but hypocritical, considering until recently I thought each and every one of you was a rude, slimy, evil, self-serving git." There were some gasps, but most Slytherins knew about their less than desirable reputation in school. "Thankfully, I have found some people to prove me wrong." Theo had to stifle a smile.

"Four, other than Voldemort's maniacal plans of world domination, the biggest factor that fed this war was the fear of the new and unknown born from the rampant ignorance on both bloody sides."

Hermione glanced around for some reactions, but most just stared at her. Theo tried to signal her in silence to use smaller words for once, but she wouldn't look his way.

She was preoccupied with the blond sauntering towards her from the back of the room.

"What Granger is trying to say, is that we are all clueless about the world we live in. Dangerously so." As Draco spoke, all other voices quieted out of either fear or respect.

He stopped at her side and looked around with a measured expression. Theo did not have to be a Legilimens to tell that his friend's head was filled with Hermione-themed doomsday scenarios, just like his own. But Draco wasn't Slytherin's prince due to his bloodline. It certainly helped, but the persuasiveness Lucius was teaching him since childhood did most of the work. Even with his family disgraced and him a pariah, he swayed people's opinions with little effort. You could feel the mood of the room change as the smarter ones caught on to his words' meaning. But he still lacked the coup de grâce.

"Information is power. The dismissal of it…" he took Pansy's wand from Hermione and handed it back to the shocked witch "…is ill-advised."

By now, the entire room was staring expectantly at a thoroughly blushed Hermione.

"Thank you, Malfoy," she beamed and Draco nodded. After taking a shaky breath and no doubt gathering up her Gryffindor courage, she cheerfully continued "Would you like to know how not to get completely lost on the Tube?"

"Definitely," he said with a rare, genuine smile.