AN: Hello, fanfiction and Harry Potter fans. I do not own Harry Potter, but feel free to enjoy this or hate it. If you enjoy it, please leave a lovely comment, if you hate it, then leave some constructive criticism, thanks!

WARNING: Smut!

Can You Take the Jump?

Chapter 38

Sirius felt Hermione shift next to him in bed, the nightmares disrupting her sleep once more. It always started around her 3rd hour of sleep. Their surroundings would tremble and float if he left her alone, but instead of fearing her magical outbursts, he snaked his arms around her and held her tightly.

She struggled against him, whimpering as the dreams played out in her mind.

"Not the kids," she pleaded. "Please not the kids."

By now, Sirius knew children were a common repertoire in Hermione's dreams, but it still broke his heart to hear.

"Shhh, I've got you love." He kissed her forehead. "No one is hurting you."

As if her subconscious could recognize him, the fighting fists eventually stopped and turned into a grip. She held onto him tightly, burying her face into his chest.

"They're only kids."

"I know, love." His hand travelled up her neck and cupped the base of her skull, holding her close.

Frozen in that position, she soon fell back asleep.

This was routine for them, now. Ever since her hospital visit in March, he refused to leave her when she slept. Sure, he was tired. In fact, he was exhausted. He was sacrificing sleep and trying to function with 6 hours of broken sleep, but he wanted to do this for her. Sirius imagined her going through these nightmares every night alone. Instead of having someone to hug her close, she would just wake up in this cold and empty room, running away from the monsters that killed children in her dreams.

That thought alone hurt him far more than the lack of sleep did.

…

Hermione's eyes peeled open after 5 consecutive hours of sleep for the 6th time that week for two months straight. She'd never felt better. She was practically overflowing with energy. She even managed to cut down on some potions, making her overall health much better.

She smiled at her slumbering boyfriend next to her, knowing he was the reason she was feeling much better. Hermione cupped Sirius's face and kissed him on his cheek, then his nose, then finally on his lips.

"We have our O.W.L.s in 20 minutes."

"No," He groaned.

"I know," she nodded knowing he was tired because of her. She felt extremely guilty for how exhausted he was these days because of her. "Normally I would let you sleep in, but it's the O.W.L.s."

"I'll skip it. It's not worth that much."

She smiled at the blatant lie.

"If you wake up, we can…" She leaned into his ear and whispered.

Sirius jumped straight out of bed, pulling her to the shower.

"Come on! We have less than 20 minutes and I intend to make you come at least once."

"Those are some big promises." She smirked, following him into the shower.

They hurriedly undressed each other, Sirius grumbling about the number of buttons she had on her pajama top. Once they were naked, they stepped into the perfectly warm water without breaking contact between their lips. He cradled her head as they snogged as if their life depended on it.

Sirius started trailing his kisses down to her ears then her neck, and she moaned. "A gift." She knelt on the wet tile floor and took his semi-hard cock into her mouth.

"Oh sweet Merlin's tits," Sirius leaned back to the tiled wall. His hands hovered her over her head but gripped the walls behind him instead.

Hermione wrapped a hand around the base of his cock. She looked up at him with her beautiful almond-shaped eyes, her auburn hair wet from the water. She stroked him with the smallest smirk on her face. She was fucking beautiful.

"Fuck my mouth, Sirius."

Sirius closed his eyes.

Good gods, she would kill him if she kept talking like that. He wrapped her hair around his fist and guided her mouth deeper. Hermione didn't hesitate, just swallowed him down until she has to move her hand for her lips to meet his base. Soon, he didn't even need to do much, he was just holding her as she picked up the rhythm and depth on her own, practically choking herself with his cock.

She was driving him out of his mind with pleasure. He didn't try to hold out, not when she was sucking him so sweetly. With one hand still in her hair, he wiped his thumb over her cheeks, wiping away the water.

"I'm almost there."

A warning, he'd promised to make her come. Instead of stopping what she was doing, she immediately picked up her pace, sucking on his cock like it was the greatest task she'd ever been asked to do.

He let go. Pleasure took over, riding him down like waves. She swallowed him down as he came, sucking him dry to get the last drop. She smiled as she licked her lips.

I really fucking love you.

Somehow, he was able to keep the words inside. He couldn't tell her without scaring her away, without ruining what they had, but he could show her. Regaining feeling in his legs, he lifts her off her knees. He switches their positions so that she's the one with her back against the wall, and he was the one kneeling on the floor.

He skated his thumbs up her inner thighs, begging her to spread them open for him. He looks up at her to see her eyes dark with lust. He narrows his attention back to her pussy glistening with moisture.

I worship you.

He kissed her pussy. A long lingering caress that causes her to emit a gasp of pleasure. He guided one of my legs up and over his shoulder, spreading her wide for him.

Time didn't exist. Hogwarts didn't exist. It was just them and pleasure. Suddenly, it was no longer about the orgasm he'd promised her, but simply the joy of giving her pleasure.

Each lick and kiss were like he was memorizing her. He sucked her clit into his mouth, working it with his tongue. It was so shocking after his light touches and teasing that it bowed her back and drew a cry from her lips. Hermione ran her fingers through his hair, holding him close.

"Make me come," she whispered her demand.

Sirius growled against her, the vibrations making her go weak. He slowly pushes a finger, then two inside her, twisting and curling as he searched for the spot that turns her into goo, even as he traced her clit in steady circles with the tip of his tongue.

Hermione's pleasure was like a tsunami; no way of stopping it or fighting it.

"Sirius!" She came, the sound ringing in every corner of the luxurious bathroom.

…

They made it just in time for their O.W.L.s, not a second to spare.

…

Hermione walked out of her Transfiguration O.W.L. with the rest of the class, most of the students swerved around her as they exited, but someone bumped into her. She caught herself before she fell. She looked up with annoyance to the person who'd pushed her to see Mulciber's intense eyes staring at her.

"Hermione!" Lily appeared next to her, causing Mulciber to run away.

"Hey, Lily."

"How was it?" Her sister bit her lips with worry. "I think I botched the last half of the exam, I didn't have enough—"

"Relax Lily," Hermione reassured, knowing her sister had studied hard enough to get an Exceeding Expectations. "Your grade will equate to the efforts you put in studying."

"But Transfigurations has always been my least successful subject and I always do less than I hope for."

"And what grade are you hoping for?" Hermione asked knowingly.

"Outstanding."

"So, a perfect grade? Potter might have helped you study, but I'm not sure Outstanding is realistic for anybody. You'll get Exceeding Expectations at the very least."

"Hullo ladies," the Marauders greeted. Lily's eyes went to Remus who had his Transfiguration textbook open, checking his answers from the test. Lily didn't even bother responding to the greeting, flocking to Remus's textbook to check her answers.

"Hello, boys," Hermione responded on behalf of Lily and herself.

Sirius walked to her side and kissed her in the corner of her eye. "How was your exam, love?"

"It went well enough," she replied as she leaned into him. "How was yours?"

"Lily's obsessive studying probably got me a better mark than I normally would have."

"It's not obsessive if it works, Sirius." Lily rolled her eyes.

The group laughed as they headed down for lunch before the practical exam took place later in the afternoon.

"Lily!" A voice stopped the whole group from descending the stairs. Amos Diggory ran towards the group with a big smile on his face. Seventh years were also taking their NEWTS at this time, making the interactions between Amos and Lily a little none.

"Amos," Lily smiled, but it didn't reach her eyes. Ever since her Yule Ball, Lily's interaction with her boyfriend seemed forced and unnatural.

"How was your exam, Lily Flower? Transfiguration, wasn't it?"

"I'll catch up to you guys later," Lily waved at them. Catching her sister's eye, Hermione nodded and started ushering the group of Gryffindors down to the Great Hall, but she didn't miss James's sudden dip in mood.

"Keep moving Potter," she warned. "Keep moving."

…

"Miss Evans," a government employee sat in the empty Transfiguration classroom, looking through her records and grading sheet. "I see that your grades have taken quite the trip up and down the scales this year."

Hermione narrowed her eyes as she approached the table where she sat.

"The year has been…challenging."

"Well," she smiled, finally looking up at her. She paused, giving her a critical eye. There was recognition on her face, although Hermione did not recognize her. "Let's go out with a bang, yes?"

"For your first practical assessment, please transfigure this cauldron into a badger."

Hermione took her wand out of her pocket and pointed it at the cauldron. After a flick of her wrist, the cauldron transfigured itself into a badger, which started sniffing around the other items on the table as if it'd always been there.

"Excellent." The grader nodded, impressed by her detailed work. The badger was large with sharp claws and a wet nose. When it bumped into the cage with the ferret inside, the badger jumped back, like it was scared.

"This time, I would like you to turn this armadillo into a pillow."

Hermione proceeded, the woman grabbed the pillow and squeezed the pillow to check its softness, going as far as placing her head on the pillow like she was about to take a nap.

"How marvellous, you even managed to take the scent of armadillo away." She sounded impressed. "Finally, I would like you to conjure a bird."

Hermione raised her wand without thinking. Her mouth was about to form the spell "Avis" when she stopped. "Conjuring is a NEWTS level spell. I haven't learned it yet."

"But you know it. You were about to do it, just before you realized what I was asking you to do."

"I'm sorry, I've completely blanked out on your name, Ma'am." Hermione paused. "What was it, again?"

The woman's lips, coated with rouge curled up. "Mafalda Hopkirk, my dear."

A Death Eater ally, that's how she knew who she was.

"I'm sorry Ms. Hopkirk, but I'm afraid I have no idea what you're talking about. While I'm flattered you think that I am advanced enough to conjure a bird, I am going to have to disappoint you by informing you that, no, it is not a skill I've yet to learn. However, if you ask me a different question within the fifth year's curriculum, I'd be more than glad to show you my skills in that range of transfiguration."

The woman's lips twitched, letting out a fake laugh.

"Oh, goodness. My apologies. You were such an unexpected winner of the Dueling Championships this year that I have seemed to have overestimated you. Hm," She pretended to think. "How about the vanishing spell, then? Could you vanish that chair over there?"

Now that Hermione knew that the woman was a Voldemort supporter, she did not want to perform the spell. In fact, she wanted to fail entirely, but it was impossible considering she'd performed the other two spells perfectly.

"Evanesco." Hermione clumsily flicked her wand at the chair. Most of the chair vanished, however, one of the legs remained visible, standing by its lonesome.

"Oh, so close." Hermione tucked her hair behind her ear, using wandless nonverbal magic to turn her ears red as she grazed them to appear embarrassed by her failure. "I hope it won't reflect too negatively on my grades."

Hopkirk gave her a weak smile and wrote something on the sidelines of her grading sheet.

"Thank you, Miss Evans. I believe I've seen quite enough."

"Are you sure?" Hermione made her voice sound desperate. "I can try again! I'm sure this time it'll be better!"

"Yes, Miss Evans. You're dismissed."

Wrinkling her forehead and making her lower lip tremble, she stuttered out a 'thank you' as she ran out of the room.

…

Hermione walked away from their table in the library, trying to distance herself from the oppressive atmosphere that hung over everyone's heads. It was one of the rare weekends that everyone spent in the library rather than soaking up the sun or sleeping in. The first week of O.W.L.s and N.E.W.T.s was completed, meaning it was the last and final week of exams for all of Hogwarts, especially the 5th and 7th years. Even the fun-loving Marauders were studying diligently in the library for Potions tomorrow morning and their respective elective courses.

She stuck her hand in her bag to pull out a book she'd been meaning to read when she felt a wad of crumpled-up parchment. This hadn't been in here before.

The memory of Mulciber purposely pushing her after Transfiguration dawned on her. She unravelled the parchment to see jot notes.

Who: Mr. and Mrs. Snyde, but likely headed by Evan Rosier, a self-proclaimed weapons master. (He likes to make cursed objects.)

How: Mr and Mrs. Snyde are responsible for the Annual Charity Ball. It might have been the invitation.

When: Since she became Minister probably.

It was the information she'd asked from him a while back about the recent death of the Muggleborn Minister of Magic. As she suspected, it'd been a homicide, not an accident. The war was creeping its way into daily life. It was coming.

"Where did you run off to?"

Hermione gasped loudly.

Sirius jumped as well, but it was more of a reaction to her dramatic reaction than anything else.

"Sorry, I didn't mean to frighten you."

"No. No," she shook her head as she gripped his shoulder tightly. "I—" she gulped loudly.

"Are you okay?" Sirius placed his hand under her chin and gently pulled her face up to look at him.

His beautiful grey eyes that reminded her of the cloudy rainy skies she loved so much reflected back at her. She kept the crumpled-up piece of parchment hidden in her hand as she took another deep breath.

"I'm okay. Are you okay?"

Sirius smiled and nodded. "I'm the picture of health."

His lips were pinker than usual, probably from biting them as a habit while studying. His hair was dishevelled and there was a blueish tinge beneath his eyes from the lack of sleep.

"Hey, I actually wanted to talk to you separately about something." He gave her a smile that looked more like a grimace. "I need to talk to you about this summer," he muttered, stroking her hair gently. "I won't be able to visit or drop by. My family's sending me to the continent to some posh school…"

He was lying. She could hear his heartbeat pace faster, his pupils slightly dilated. Even if she couldn't sense these things thanks to her Animagus, he was rather terrible at lying. He couldn't hide the stiffness in his voice, face, and body, but everything in him was screaming, please just believe me.

This was because of his deal with his mother.

They stayed like that for a while, maintaining eye contact. His vitals returned to normal. It calmed him when he realized that she wasn't going to push him about his terrible lie.

"That's too bad. I'll miss you." She told him honestly. She leaned in closer, breathing in his scent. Hermione stared into his storm grey eyes, his pupils dilating as he looked at her. Her breathing slowed, matching him. Her sensitive ears picked up his heart rate, slowly escalating.

"I'll be back. Don't worry."

"I'm not worried." She would make sure of it. "However, if you meet some pretty girl on the continent, I hope you know that your girlfriend is a vicious, self-serving Slytherin who will destroy her."

Sirius let out a low laugh, he closed the gap between them by stepping in closer. She wrapped her arms around his waist, dropping her parchment back into her bag. She gave him a kiss on the lips by pulling him down by his Gryffindor tie.

"Then we better make good of the time we have left, don't you think?" The hand that had gripped his tie loosened and trailed down his body.

Sirius audibly gulped. He let out a shaking breath while nodding. He grabbed her hand and pulled them out of the library, leaving a trail of Hermione's giggles to be heard by everyone in the library.

Sirius being Sirius, knew the closest broom closet and dragged her to the enclosed space. He yanked the doors open and threw her inside, feral with need.

"You fucking minx." He growled, closing the door behind him.

"Fox." She corrected, already sliding her knickers off. Sirius unzipped his trousers and pulled his semi-hard cock out.

Both of them knew that this had to be quick, there was no time to be fully naked. The broom closet wasn't in the most secluded area, and it was still broad daylight out.

He lifted her off the floor and pushed her to the wall, knocking over brooms, pails, and other supplies, but neither of them cared when he crushed her lips with his own, enveloping them in a kiss. They fought for dominance, but it was Sirius who won when she finally relented as he dipped his long, beautiful fingers into her wet heat.

"Oh fuck." She gasped. She immediately started moving her hips into his hand, fucking herself with his fingers. "Sirius," She groaned in frustration. "Fuck me."

She could feel him smiling into their kiss, but he was never the type to deny her needs. Obediently, he hiked her leg over his shoulder and wrapped his arm around her other leg so that she was suspended in the air.

"You want me?" He asked. She could feel his thick hard cock lined up perfectly to her pussy. His voice was so low that it came out more of a growl than anything else.

She nodded, but her lack of vocalization must've annoyed him because instead of filling her as she wanted, he rubbed himself against her.

"Look at me and tell me what you want." He demanded.

She opened her eyes to look into his stormy greys. His pupils were blown wide, and she assumed hers were the same.

"You. I want you. Inside. Now."

They stared into each other's eyes, lips so close, but not touching, breathing in each other's breaths. He slowly entered inside of her, stretching her, filling her every inch by devastating inch.

Hermione struggled to maintain the intense eye contact, wanting to roll her eyes back at how good it all felt, but he kept her present instead of floating off to a world of sensation and pleasure. He wasn't letting her escape, not this time.

It electrified her, yet it terrified her.

"Ah!" She gasped when he thrust into her, hard and fast, the delicious friction was growing the fire in the stomach. She clutched his shoulders as the tip of his cock slid against her g-spot. "Ah!"

He gripped her jaw and redirected her face to his. Her eyes fluttered open, unknowingly closing at the sensations he created.

"Look at me." He ordered. "Look what you do to me, Hermione. Look at how you affect me. See how we fit together. The magic only we can make when we're united like this." He gasped, breathless with desire. "I will do anything for you. I can be your everything."

"Sirius!" She moaned as his tempo increased. Though she was suspended in mid-air, with only the wall of the broom closet and Sirius's hips as her leverage, she tried to meet his thrusts as much as she could. His girth stretched her fully, filling her in more ways than one.

"Hermione, you complete me," Sirius confessed as his thrusts became more erratic. "There isn't a thing in the world you could ask of me that I wouldn't do. Because it pleases me to please you."

His words, his confession, tugged at her heart. She was unsure of how to respond, but when she opened her mouth to say something a loud groan was the only sound that escaped. He hadn't touched her except in the beginning, but she was about to come, just from penetration alone.

He finally broke their eye contact and kissed her sweat-glazed shoulder, up her neck, and just at the base of her ear.

"I am yours." He whispered, at the crook of her neck.

"Sirius!" She came hard, writhing against him.

Sirius drops her to the floor and turns her around so that her face and chest are crushed against the broom closet wall. He bends her back over and finished in a series of violent thrusts.

He was angry. Angry that his confessions had spilled out of him, angry at his lack of self-control, and lastly angry that she hadn't responded to his confessions.

He pulled out of her, and the silence is only cut by their heavy breaths from their strenuous exercise. She pushed her skirt back down and readjusted her shirt over her breasts. Her nipples still peaked through the thin material of her bra and her shirt from residual arousal, but Sirius did not comment, only reaffirming her suspicions that he was angry or at least upset. No, disappointed.

She cleared her throat.

"No." He stopped her. "You don't have to reply. What I said…" his voice was hoarse, as he spoke his words through a clenched jaw. "You shouldn't feel obliged to respond. I was just…the sex was just…"

Hermione cupped his face with both her hands, placing both her thumbs over his lips to silence him.

"You…" She whispered over his lips. "You are mine." She rested her sweaty forehead against his. Her hands travelled into his hair, she could feel the sweat trapped at the base of his hair and scalp from their passions.

"I am yours." He whispered, candidly admitting to his words without the excuse of sex in their way.

"And I," Hermione gulped. Her heart trembled and her throat constricted. Romance had never been in the plan. Her big elaborate plan.

"Hermione, you don't—"

"Shh," She cut him off with a peck on the lips. "And I am yours, for as long as you'll have me."

The dusty, sex-filled air stopped. Sirius's jaw slacked as he stared up at her with disbelief. Even she was shocked by her own words. They certainly weren't the words she had intended to say.

He let out a small laugh, his eyes sparkled with joy as he lifted her once again. She wrapped her legs around his waist, and he kissed her deep and thoroughly. He smelled of sex, but beneath it, he smelled warm and comforting. All the hours they'd spent in the library made him smell like old parchment and ink. There was also a hint of leather and something else she couldn't place, a sweet warmth that she loved. He tasted like coffee, which she thought was divine.

"You're mine as I am yours?" He asked as if to confirm because he simply couldn't believe it to be true.

She nodded, "As long as you want it to be so."

"Then you better get comfortable with the idea of me in your life because I'm never letting go of you."

…

"You're sure this will work," Avery asked for the umpteenth time. He nervously paced the floor back and forth.

It was the morning of the Potions exam, and all the students were nervous. The O.W.L.s were a cumulative examination of the past 5 years of their magical education. For subjects like Charms and Transfiguration, it was unlikely that foundational knowledge from 1st year learning was going to be tested, but for a subject like Potions, all potions and ingredients from any year were fair game.

"And you've studied," Avery asked once more.

Hermione closed her eyes to suppress the urge to snap at the nervous Slytherin. After a deep breath, she put on a forced smile and opened her eyes once more.

"Yes, Avery. I've studied. And yes, this spell will work. We've been over this. You'll be fine as long as you just let me take the reins. Don't get stubborn and try to take control because of something you studied or read somewhere."

"You wouldn't…fuck me over all of the sudden, right?"

"Why would I do that? Why would I dedicate 5 years to making you a Potions genius, only to fuck you over now?"

"R-right." He gulped and nodded. "Okay. Okay."

"Just relax. This is no different from me taking control in class and giving you all the credit. I'm just doing it from afar this time."

"Yeah, just doing it from afar. No different from regular class."

"Exactly. Trust me."

"Trust…" he glanced up at her smirking face. "You…"

"Yes. Now, ease your mind and…coactio ad voluntatem"

Fredrick Avery could only describe the sensation by relating it to being buzzed on one too many butterbeer. He felt much less coordinated and everything was just a bit fuzzy. He felt like he was floating in his own mind and body, detached yet lingering.

He felt his body going through the motions, but he wasn't really doing them, just as if he was a marionette. Unused to such a foreign experience, he tried to focus on the exam paper before him, but there was a slight sting on the back of his neck like he'd been lightly smacked by a thin stick. Although such general pain had no direct correlation to an emotion, it somehow reminded him of his childhood, when his Governess used to reprimand him with a stern look that would make the back of his neck prickle. It was not a painful sting, but just like he had that desire to please his Governess when he was a child, he had no desire to go against the current reprimands either.

At one point, other students tried to talk to him. There was an initial urge to respond to them, but the prickle returned, so he turned away from them, ignoring their calls for help or clarification on a question.

Hours passed like this. The longer he stayed in this state, the more comfortable it became. It was relaxing, not having to worry about one's actions or behaviours. By the time the examiners were talking for his practical exam, it was easy to ignore their words. He wasn't even sure if they'd made a comment or asked him a question, all he knew was that it wasn't his problem. Nothing was.

His hands got busy, preparing a potion. What potion? He didn't know, he didn't care. He simply did the motions as his marionettist demanded. He watched Hermione work during their Potion lessons to know what perfection looked like. Not a fumble or pointless movement was made. Everything had precision and reason.

He wondered if this was what it felt like being Hermione Evans. He often wondered if there was a thought behind those dead eyes, but if this was anything like what her days felt—just going through the motions because it was expected of her—then he understood why she always looked so dead, so cold, so fucking bored.

If she was a marionette, then who was her marionettist?

Suddenly the sensation of cold water splashing all over him, jarred him awake.

He let out a small gasp and stumbled slightly. It felt like someone had dropped him aggressively back into his body with no warning. It was nauseating, to say the least.

All previous thoughts vanished as he blinked, taking in the unfamiliar setting around him. The last thing he remembered was pacing in an empty corridor with Hermione Evans, but he found himself in a smoky classroom with 4 other classmates who'd also completed their potions.

"Don't act surprised when you wake up from the spell." Evans had warned. "Act natural."

He looked down at his potion, he recognized it: Everlasting Elixirs. It was notorious for its fickle nature and difficulty, even for advanced potioneers. It wasn't easy to make permanent magical effects. It was a potion Slughorn had taught in the off chance that it could be tested for their O.W.L., but he had assured them that it was unlikely.

'Unlikely my ass.' Avery thought. But at the end of the day, it didn't matter. It looked perfect. Its blue colour was bright and opaque, its bubbles were large, but small in number, appearing from the bottom and travelling up.

"My word, Mr. Avery." The examiners were awed as they approached his table. Even the students next to him, two Ravenclaws and a fellow Slytherin peered over their cauldrons to get a better look, despite being assigned different potions to complete.

"I think that may be one of the best Everlasting Elixirs I've ever seen. I've seen lower quality at the Academy itself!"

"If I could, I would give you a grade higher than Outstanding!" The other examiner told him.

"I have no words." The last examiner nodded, agreeing with everything his colleague was saying. "Professor Slughorn must be proud to have so many talented students under his tutelage."

"Thank you," Avery smiled weakly, fighting the urge to upchuck his meagre breakfast.

"He finally speaks!" One of the examiners pointed. "You must've been quite nervous, young man. Never made a peep the entire time."

"I—I just didn't want to lose my concentration."

"And what concentration it was. I've never seen such focus in my life! The whole 5 hours. You never once looked up, even to stretch your neck or grab a drink of water. You just worked on and on, never taking your eye off the fire or your cauldron once."

"Am I free to go?" He asked, getting antsy to get away from the fawning examiners.

"Yes, yes. Absolutely."

Avery nodded his gratitude and quickly headed out the door, searching for the closest loo. He didn't know where he was. What floor was he on? Was he on the East side? The West?

No longer able to hold it in, he ran to a corner and vomited his stomach contents, which weren't much, to begin with.

The hairs on the back of his neck stood when someone began patting him on the back. He whirled around and pointed his wand, but he was easily disarmed by his wand being ripped out of his weak grasp by his intruder.

"Easy Avery."

"Evans."

She placed his wand back into his hand and raised her hands to show she meant no harm.

"It's just a side effect of being under for so long. To suddenly be back in control after hours of not, it's jarring, even if it is your own body."

"You didn't even feed me?"

She shrugged. "Food wasn't on my mind, so I guess I kind of forgot to feed you as well."

"I'm fucking starving."

She nodded, "Dinner should be soon. You won't have to wait long."

"H-how was your exam?" He asked tentatively, wiping his mouth.

"I'll pass, probably with Exceeding Expectations, now that Slughorn isn't marking."

"Is it wise to pass with such a good grade? It wouldn't be consistent with your previous marks."

She shrugged, "I had to, in order to take NEWT level courses with you." She explained. "It couldn't be helped."

Avery let out a silent, "oh". He hadn't even thought that far.

Hermione smirked, "Even if the Wizarding Examinations Authority asks questions, it won't be hard to prove my innocence. I didn't cheat."

He cocked his head to the side and narrowed his eyes. "If you truly wanted, you could receive all 12 O.W.L.s, couldn't you?"

She let out a small laugh, "I guess we'll never know, Avery."

…

Narcissa Black loosened her hair as she walked back to her private dorm room. The night was the perfect end to a perfect day. Her final N.E.W.T. was Care of Magical Creatures, her easiest class, not that N.E.W.T.s greatly mattered in her future, but she knew her fiancé was an intelligent man. He'd want an intelligent wife; someone to confide in and to seek advice from.

The Hogwarts House-elves served her favourite supper and Slytherin had won their rightful House Cup. The great traditions of House Slytherin were maintained with grace with her as its Head Girl, now tomorrow morning she would return to her home and prepare for her wedding, just as she'd wanted.

Everything was going right.

"You look right jolly, Black."

Narcissa stopped abruptly, her shoes made an unseemly squeak and clatter, unfitting for a woman of her breeding.

"Apologies for frightening you, I seem to be doing that quite a lot today."

She walked out of the shadows, pulling her hood off, revealing those long beautiful red locks. Her intelligent hazel eyes peered up at her through her lashes.

The last time she'd interacted this closely with the Mudblood was at her uncle's funeral when she'd gone berserk. She still remembered the magic that trembled around this small girl, magic unbefitting someone so tiny, someone so impure.

Perhaps that is why Lucius wanted her so much, why she attracted him so much. He lusted after power, Narcissa knew this much about her intended. She simply feared it could be more.

As if she read her mind, the girl's voice turned soft. "It's a beautiful ring. Goblin made. It will last longer than either of our lives combined."

"It is a Malfoy heirloom. His mother's, his grandmother's, and great grandmother's."

"Precious indeed."

They fell silent, but it caused dread to climb up the older girl's chest.

"W-why are you here?"

She internally grimaced at her stutter, a telltale sign of nerves, foolish to show in front of someone like her.

The girl smiled knowingly, clearly catching the hiccup in her words, "I think you know. It's why you're so nervous."

"No." Narcissa shook her head. "Leave him alone."

"You will marry him. You will provide him with an heir. It is you. You will be his family."

"But you will have his heart?" Narcissa spat, tears welled in her eyes as she tore herself away from the girl.

The younger girl shook her head.

It made her let out a scoff, "Do you think I'm a fool? Or that I'm blind?"

"If I do have his heart, it will not be for long." She told her, her voice was confident and assured. It was a promise.

Narcissa imagined her fiancé, going through the stages of heartbreak because of this girl in front of her. A Mudblood. His pride would never let him stand again. It would break him.

"Why must you do this then? Why must you shake him, so? You have Sirius! A Black! He is besotted by you! A boy far beyond your social and economical background!"

"I wish it wasn't like this, but Lucius has something—is something—that Sirius is not. You and I both know this."

"You bitch!" Narcissa spat. "You vile wretched mudblood! How dare you! How DARE you!"

She stood there, unmoved by her insults.

"I need to see him. I will do it tonight."

"You cannot—"

"He gave me his address, a drop of his blood." She told her.

Narcissa gasped, her pale skin turned even paler.

"I do not need your cooperation or your permission. This was a courtesy to you, to inform you that I require an audience with your future husband. I didn't wish to do it in secret, like some secret whore. Your fiancé and I do not have that kind of relationship, as everyone thinks. Nothing will happen, I promise you. I just need to ask him a favour."

The blonde clutched her stomach as if the younger Slytherin had punched her right in the gut. She might as well have.

He'd given her access to Malfoy Manor. He'd given her access to his home. Her future marital home. Her future.

"You will break him." She whispered. "To be broken by you, it will break him."

The redhead stared, letting out a small chuckle. Though it held no joy, Narcissa felt she was mocking her.

"You think it's not true?" She challenged, wondering if this child thought she knew her fiancé better than her.

She stopped laughing, realizing the truth Narcissa's words held. She placed her hood back on and started to walk away, but the words she spoke echoed in Narcissa's ears.

"Honestly, I never thought of how my existence would affect Lucius." She admitted. "But if he breaks, you'll be there to build him back up."

…