CHAPTER FORTY-ONE
Summary: Sent to Volterra in order to negotiate terms of an alliance to end the war, Hermione's life is turned upside down as she is brought into the world of the Volturi, better known as the Vampire Kings. There she is made a part of a new kind of family and a most trusted member of the guard, whether she likes it or not, and surprisingly, she does. Rated M for language, violence and sexual content.
Disclaimer: I do not own canon events and characters, they belong to J.K Rowling and Stephenie Myers. I am not making a profit from writing and posting this fanfic. As for the descriptions of appearances for the Twilight characters, all my research is based on the books and not the movies, but I may have changed a few things regarding Alec's height and age.
Page count: 13
Saturday 22nd August 1998
"Are you ready?"
Hermione took one last look at herself in the mirror. Her wedding dress really was quite beautiful and Hermione had almost been afraid to wear it given what it had cost. It was a fit and flare style gown made of a satin underdress and white lace, fitting to her frame perfectly and the train being so long, she'd have to be careful where she was walking lest she snags it on the ground and damages it. The dress had a sweetheart neckline, diamante beading throughout the design, capped sleeves and to add the finishing touch, a pretty ivory ribbon sash.
Her makeup was minimal, having instructed the makeup and hair team that had been hired for the day to keep her look natural. She had a small amount of mascara on her lashes, making them darker and longer and allowing her eyes to stand out. On her eyelids, she had a pretty nude shimmer and her lips were a lot bolder than usual, but she found she actually liked it, them now being outlined in a dark red lip stain.
Her hair had taken the longest and she'd almost felt sorry for the poor hairdresser, that was until, she'd made a comment about her hair Hermione hadn't appreciated. It had taken some work but her hair had been tamed and was held back from her face in an elaborate updo.
As per the tradition of incorporating something old, new, borrowed and blue, she wore a silver hair comb embedded with blue sapphires, it having been a gift from the Lords, and her lace veil was clipped onto it. And around her neck she wore a silver necklace with a small diamond pendant and the matching tennis bracelet adorned her wrist, them both having come from the Potter Vaults, curtsey of Harry.
Looking down at her hands, she saw her engagement ring sparkling in the rays of light that streamed in through the window, casting rainbows on the wall. She subconsciously checked her nails for dirt and the like but found none having had a manicure earlier that morning.
"Hermione, are you ready?"
Hermione took a deep breath and nodded to herself. "I'm ready," she said to her reflection.
She turned and headed for the door but Jane beat her to it and she spied Ginny on the other side of the room, slipping on her heels. Hermione thought they both looked beautiful in their dresses, their pale skin being covered by the silver satin material that fit their frames perfectly, and with Ginny's vibrant hair and Jane's ruby eyes, they both stood out. The dresses themselves were identical, both having halter-style straps and the fabric flowing down to the ground with a single slit up the left thigh. Their makeup was also kept natural and their hair was tied back in an elegant knot at the nape of their necks.
Shaking her head, Hermione smiled when the door was opened to reveal both Harry and Ron stood on the opposite side both dressed in their muggle suits and ready to walk her down the aisle.
"It's alright, Jane," Hermione said, seeing the distrustful glance in her soon to be sister-in-law's eyes, when they both stepped through the door.
"We'll do the final check and let you know when it's time," Ginny spoke, heading for the door and motioning for Jane to follow.
She looked to Hermione and she tilted her head, signalling that she would be perfectly fine for the time being. Though it was clear Jane didn't approve, she did respect Hermione's wishes and left out the room, closing the door behind her.
"Blimey, this place is bigger than Hogwarts," Ron remarked, his eyes darting about her rooms and he let out a loud whistle. "No wonder you want to stay here, I'm almost considering staying myself."
Hermione laughed at him. "You'd get bored, there's not much for you to do here. You hate academics and research and you'd have no clue how to use the muggle technology the Coven's so fond of."
Harry chuckled, his eyes also looking around the room and they landed on the group of kittens by the fireplace and Crookshanks watching them with a single open eye.
"You look beautiful," Harry complimented.
"Thank you, Harry," she replied with a smile.
"Hermione, are you sure you want to go through with this? You can change your mind," Ron spoke.
Harry eyed him warily before excusing himself to 'use the bathroom,' giving them some time to talk alone.
"Ron, I'm certain this is what I want. I love both Alec and Demetri and I want to marry them, regardless of how long I've known them or how long we've been together. They make me happy; they give me peace and love. They don't expect anything of me; they just want me safe and happy. They want to raise Teddy and be good role models for him, and they are. You might not like what they are or what they must do to survive, but they are good for Teddy, and they're good for me, too."
Ron let out a sigh and ran his hand through his hair, messing it up a little. "I don't like it, Hermione."
"I know," she nodded.
"I can't accept what they are, I'm sorry, but I can't."
"I understand."
"But I can accept that you love them, that they're what you need."
"Thank you, Ron," she said softly.
He let out another sigh and slipped his hands into the pockets of his trousers.
"You know, once upon a time I thought it'd be us saying the marriage vows."
A small smile pulled at her face. "Me too," she admitted.
"But things didn't work out that way, did they?"
"Certainly didn't," she nodded. "But I think this is for the best. You know how argumentative we are as friends and that would've only gotten worse had we gotten in a relationship. We're both so stubborn and opinionated we'd do nothing but fight, especially if there was no space between us. I have always belonged to Alec and Demetri. Even if I hadn't been sent to ask for help and they fought with us, I still would've discovered my being a Sorceress and my magic would've still brought me here."
"And you would've still fallen for them, just under different circumstances," Ron nodded in understanding, a sad smile pulling at his mouth.
"Exactly. I understand that you don't like them but they're good men, Ron. They truly are. I wouldn't be standing here talking to you now if it weren't for them. They saved me, not just physically, but emotionally and psychologically. I owe them a great deal and I'm never going to be able to repay them for all they have done for me. The best I can do is support them and love them, just as they have me."
"Harry's right, you look beautiful," he said.
Hermione ducked her head and her eyes lowered to the floor, not being used to receiving such compliments from him and he chuckled at her.
A knock on the door startled them and Ginny's voice carried through. "It's time, Hermione. Everyone's taking their positions."
Hermione took a deep breath and Harry came out of the bathroom. Walking over to the door, Hermione opened it and Ginny smiled at her, holding out her bouquet of red and especially charmed silver roses and white lilies, tied off with a silver satin ribbon.
"Let's get you married," Harry said, coming up beside her.
Taking her bouquet from Ginny, she hooked her arms through Harry and Ron's when they held them out to her and she led the way, her being the only one that knew the quickest path to their intended destination.
With the weather being so warm and sunny as of late, Hermione had opted for the ceremony to proceed outdoors in the gardens of the castle. Hermione had only visited once or twice but had immediately been taken by its beauty and the peace and serenity it offered. Of course, it was well maintained and it was so big, she hadn't actually seen all of it. She knew there to be a maze, as well as an area that held several fountains and a fish pond but hadn't had the chance to visit those yet.
Stopping at the large doors that rivalled the great hall's, Hermione took a deep breath and nodded to both Ginny and Jane who'd already been there waiting, letting them know she was ready. Hermione didn't hear or see Jane's lips moving but knew they had, as the wedding march soon sounded and the doors opened, Jane stepping out first and being followed by Ginny not long after.
"It's not too late," Ron muttered.
Hermione shook her head. "Nice try."
Harry snorted at them both before lifting his hand and placing over Hermione's where it rested in the crook of his elbow.
"Your turn," he said.
"My turn," she breathed out.
The doors opened once more and Hermione stepped out, instantly being bathed in the warm rays of sunlight and the slight breeze brushing against her skin. Her eyes briefly took in the white chairs with red ribbons, stone flooring being covered with red carpet and the arches of flowers, before she skimmed over the faces watching her. She recognised most of them, the majority being Volturi Coven members, but she also spied McGonagall and Fred and George stood on the right side front row along with the Italian Minister of Magic. On the left, she saw Aro, Caius and Marcus who was holding Teddy and Felix, all of them looking genuinely happy to be in attendance, as well as the wives of Aro and Caius. Kingsley stood at the altar, a smile on his face as he watched her approach and she noted the beautiful fountain that was in the background behind him.
And then her eyes landed on her vampires, Alec and Demetri. They were both watching her intensely with their ruby-red eyes sparkling in the sunlight, as well as their pale skin. They were both dressed in immaculate black suits and without their Guard robes, with Alec having a red rose pinned to his jacket and Demetri a silver rose.
Once their gazes locked, everything fell away and it was only them. She forgot about the guests watching her, she didn't hear the whispers, she didn't feel Harry giving her hand a comforting squeeze, nor did she see the photographer snapping photos of her. Feeling her emotions getting the better of her, she closed her eyes and took a deep breath, forcing herself to calm down and before she knew it, Harry and Ron had both pressed kisses to her cheeks, sent her vampires glares of warning and moved to stand beside Fred and George. Hermione handed her bouquet off to Ginny and turned to face her vampires, taking one of their hands in hers.
"Ladies and gentleman, vampires and wizards," Kingsley began, "We are gathered here today to witness the union of Hermione, Alec and Demetri. They are bound by fate and they are bound by love, and now they wish to be bound by marriage and magic, forever entwining their souls and lives. I dare not ask if someone should wish to object to this union, for fear of the reaction from our betrothed," he said, earning sniggers from some of the crowd.
"So, let's move to the vows. Hermione, repeat after me," he turned to look at her, "On this day I give to you my soul, my heart, my mind, my body, my fidelity and my magic. I give to you love, friendship and companionship. I give to you myself, in both life and death."
Hermione repeated the vows slowly, wanting them, wanting everyone to know she meant every word she spoke and feeling her emotions welling up inside of her, her eyes began to water with unshed tears.
"Alec, Demetri, repeat after me," Kingsley instructed. "On this day I give to you my soul, my heart, my body, my mind and my fidelity. I give to you love, friendship and companionship. I give to you protection and safety and honesty. I give to you a forever home and a forever family. I give to you myself, for all of time."
They each repeated the vows, softly spoken but loud and clear and Hermione was helpless to hold back her tears, them escaping and running down her cheeks and she gave a little sniffle.
"Hermione, do you take Alec and Demetri to be your lawfully wedded and magically bound husbands, in both life and death?" Kingsley asked.
"I do," she replied without hesitation and despite her clear emotional state, her voice had been loud and clear.
"Alec, do you take Hermione to be your lawfully wedded and magically bound wife, until the end of time?"
"I do," Alec said, his eyes boring into hers and Hermione would swear they glowed brighter.
"Demetri, do you take Hermione to be your lawfully wedded and magically bound wife, until the end of time?"
"I do," Demetri vowed, his eyes trailing the tears of happiness that rolled down her cheeks before moving back to her eyes.
"Please clasp hands," Kingsley instructed and he removed two gold ribbons from his pocket.
Once they'd done as asked, he flicked his wand and both ribbons glowed brightly before they levitated over to Hermione's wrists and each ribbon fastened itself around their clasped hands.
Kingsley began a chant that even she didn't recognise, the ribbons glowing brighter as the seconds ticked by until they were so bright they had to close their eyes against the light. Hearing a bang, all eyes opened to see the ribbons bursting into gold dust that rained down upon them and gold markings wound themselves around their ring fingers, runes being entwined with vines and ivy.
"I now pronounce you eternally bound, you may now kiss your bride," Kingsley smiled.
Demetri dropped her hand and stepped back, allowing Alec the first kiss. Alec took Hermione face in his hands, wiped away her tears with his thumbs and his mouth pulled into a wide smile, making her lightheaded.
"When I say your beauty is unrivalled, I mean it," he muttered.
He lowered his head and pressed his mouth against hers. Hermione sighed and was disappointed when he pulled back from her but Demetri soon took his place. He grinned down at her before unexpectedly sweeping her up into his arms, holding her against him and kissing her until he stole her breath and when they pulled back, it was to applause, laughter and cheers.
"I've been wanting to do that all day, glykó sýntrofo," he told her, gently setting her back on her feet.
"I present to you, Hermione, Alec and Demetri Volturi," Kingsley introduced to the cheering crowd and Hermione ducked her head slightly.
Alec and Demetri each took one of her hands and walked her back down the aisle and into the castle, moving into a room off to the side to allow time for the human guests to get to the ballroom before they made their entrance.
The moment they stepped through the door and it closed behind them, Hermione found herself being pulled into Alec's arms as he buried his nose against her neck and nuzzled at her skin.
"How do you feel?" He asked her.
"Overwhelmed," she admitted, feeling her tears making a re-appearance. "But in a good way. I don't feel any different but at the same time I do."
He chuckled. "I have something for you," he said, pulling back from her and Demetri stepped behind her, wrapping his arms around her stomach and gently tugging her back to lean against him.
Alec dug into his pocket and pulled out a ring. Knowing what it was, she offered him her left hand and with a smile that stole her breath, he slipped the ring onto her finger before placing a kiss to the back of her hand.
She allowed her eyes to wander down, seeing the stark difference between her engagement and wedding rings, showcasing how different Alec and Demetri were personality-wise, one being quiet and thoughtful, the other loud and flashy. The ring was silver and had strange carvings and marks and looked to have recently been given a polish and a bit of maintenance. It looked very old and traditional, certainly not something you'd see in present times.
"It's beautiful," Hermione said softly, her thumb moving to trace the band and carvings. "I've never seen anything like it."
"It's very traditional," Alec explained. "It's known as a posy ring and they first made an appearance in the fifteenth century and they haven't been seen much since the seventeenth century. I've had it for five centuries. Jane and I discovered that after we died, our birth mother had another child. Our bloodline officially died out in the sixteenth century and we retrieved all possessions worth of note. It's technically a family heirloom."
A smile pulled at her mouth at that. "And I have yours," she said, clicking her fingers and two identical bands appeared, bobbing about gently in the air. They smiled at the sight. She plucked them out of the air before slipping them onto their ring fingers. "They might look simple, but I assure you, there's more to them." They both raised curious eyebrows, honestly not expecting anything less. "I've infused magic into them, along with a series of protection wards that will protect you from most spells that are known to be harmful to vampires. I've been working on them for a couple of weeks and I only finished them last night."
They both blinked in surprise. "When have you had the time?" Demetri asked, knowing she'd barely had time to eat and sleep properly, let alone start a new project.
"I haven't been in my potions lab much the last couple of weeks, whenever I tried to start a new potion I'd suddenly feel nauseous, so for the time being I've stepped away from it. I can afford to do it; I'm ahead of schedule. I spent my time working on the rings instead."
"You've been feeling nauseous?" Demetri questioned and when she looked over her shoulder, it was to see him frowning worriedly.
"Yes, I think it's just the stress I've been under, I've been feeling out of sorts for a couple of weeks but now that we're married, I'm sure everything will go back to normal. We did a magical bonding and if you had magic like me, you'd feel unsettled, too. My magic wants to bond with you but seeing as you're not wizards it can't, so it's going to take a little while to settle back down."
"And you're fine?" Alec checked, his eyes searching her for symptoms of illness.
"Perfect," she assured him. "Now, I'm sure we've given them plenty enough time, we should get to the reception before someone comes looking for us."
~000~000~000~
The large doors of the ballroom opened and they stepped inside to the cheers and applause of the crowd, there being far more people present than she could actually count. There'd been no more than fifty guests at the wedding, but judging by the numbers now, she'd say there was at least three hundred, probably more, at the reception.
It took her a moment to get over her surprise before her eyes roamed the ballroom, being pleasantly surprised that the Lords hadn't gone overboard on the decor like she'd expected them to. In fact, the ballroom was decorated in shades of silver, red and white ribbons and swatches of silk and flowers were positioned strategically around the room so they didn't look out of place. Where she knew the Lord's thrones had once been was now where the orchestra sat, Hermione being surprised that there were no thrones in sight at all. A table sat off to the side, pressed against the wall and it held the catering, and the beautifully decorated six-tier cake sat on a table all by itself, easily drawing attention. A single table with enough chairs for the humans in attendance was also close to the catering table and out of the way of the dance floor.
"Hermione," Lord Aro greeted, taking her hand in his and bowing to her.
She blinked in surprise, having never heard him refer to her by her given name. But now she supposed she was technically one of them, taking Alec and Demetri's last name of Volturi.
"My Lord," she responded, tipping her head.
"You look radiant," he complimented. "And I found myself surprised by the beauty in the simplicity of your ceremony venue and decor."
"I'm not sure if that's a compliment or not," she replied and he chuckled at her. "And I admit, I am surprised myself," she said, pointedly looking around the room.
"As much as we like a good party, we were reminded that it is your day and not ours," Caius spoke.
Hermione's eyes immediately moved to Marcus, he shifted a giggling Teddy in his arms and gave her a wink. A smile pulled at her mouth in response.
"Well, then, I would hate to keep you from all the fun," Hermione smiled.
~000~000~000~
Several hours later found Hermione exhausted and sat at the table with Demetri beside her and she was tucked into his side, all but falling asleep where she sat. She'd eaten more food than she thought possible and enough cake that she'd made herself sick. She'd laughed with her friends and family and she'd danced with so many people that the Cushioning Charms on her heels no longer had an effect and her feet were killing her. She knew she wouldn't be able to last much longer and soon would have to excuse herself.
When the speeches had been given, she and her human guests had been given the finest champagne money can buy and the vampires had been given a glass of human's blood, earning looks of disgust but they never voiced their opinions upon seeing Hermione's glare. When the speeches were over, Hermione had been left in a flood of tears and it had taken several minutes for her to calm herself down.
The Lords approached the table along with Alec who held a sleeping Teddy in his arms and Hermione found the energy to stand and bow her head in respect.
"You wished to speak with us," Aro mentioned.
"Yes, I have something for you, something to say thank you for making today so wonderful," she responded.
They gave her curious glances as she clicked her fingers and a box appeared on the table. She reached over and removed the lid before pulling out the first item and it meowed in protest. Midnight, the only female kitten of the litter sent her a withering look and Hermione snorted at her before she held her out towards Marcus. He blinked slowly in surprise.
"As I told Jane, the litter is part kneazle, a magical breed of cat and they tend to pick a master or mistress, someone to watch over and protect. Midnight has clearly chosen you. She's yours."
He blinked in surprise once more before gingerly accepting the kitten from her, Hermione smiling when Midnight butted her head against Marcus' chin and rubbed herself against him affectionately as she let out a purr.
Aro and Caius both looked amused at Marcus and his new pet before they turned back to Hermione as she reached into the box once more, pulling out a stack of books.
"These books contain information on different duelling styles throughout the history of magic, as well as physical fighting styles, magically created weapons and battle plans from some of the most horrific wars to have taken place in wizarding history," she explained, holding the stack out towards Caius.
He blinked in surprise before his eyes positively lit up and he took them from her, earning snorts from his co-rulers. Hermione dug into the box once more and pulled out two folders, holding them out towards Aro.
"In one folder you will find a list of buildings that are suitable for housing a potions brewing business, and in the other, you will find every piece of legislation surrounding the vampire species. I have finished reading, editing and updating them. I have already sent a copy off to London and it should be on Kingsley's desk by the time he returns home. We are one step closer to abolishing the old laws and ensuring you legally have the rights that you're entitled to."
Hermione had never seen Aro Volturi speechless, and judging by the surprised looks on Marcus and Caius' faces, she didn't think they had either.
Sudden loud bangs startled everyone present and coloured sparks rained down to the ground. Looking up to the high ceiling, she saw the brightly coloured shapes taking form as they danced above their heads, telling stories.
"Fred! George!" Hermione called.
The two redheads grinned from their positions standing on the raised platform where the orchestra was positioned and they waved at her before setting off another round of fireworks, completely ignoring her glare.
"I'm going to kill them," she muttered.
"Hermione..."
"How did they even get them in here? They were searched. Twice!"
"Hermione..."
"What?" She said, looking to Demetri, seeing him looking up at the ceiling and watching the display.
"Look."
Hermione allowed her head to tip back and as she looked up, a gasp of surprise left her when she saw the very lifelike images of Remus, Tonks and Andy, moving about above their heads as they waved and smiled down at her before they disappeared from view, and they were soon followed by images of Bill, Fleur, Charlie, Percy and Mr. and Mrs. Weasley.
"Now they did attend your wedding!" George called over to her.
She felt her eyes tearing up again and Alec stepped up beside her, slipping his hand around hers and Demetri slipped his arm around her waist.
"Alright, I suppose I can forgive them," she whispered, still looking up at the ceiling.
A sudden bang, a scream and the sound of glass smashing drew her attention and just in time to see a firework flying about the room and she was forced to duck before it hit her, and it ploughed straight through the window, shattering it into thousands of pieces and the firework exploded out on the grounds.
Hermione turned her eyes to the sheepish looking Weasley Twins.
"Oops!"
"Fred! George!"
~000~000~000~
Monday 24th August 1998
Hermione woke to the feel of fingers gently running through her hair and a second set tracing patterns on her bare back. Her eyes fluttered open to see the mid-day sun shining brightly through the window and once her vision cleared, she became aware of Demetri lying in front of her half-naked, and Alec was behind her, fully clothed.
The Lords hadn't been able to allow them time to leave Volterra to go on a honeymoon but they had given them the weekend to themselves without interruption, with Jane, Felix and Marcus watching over Teddy for the weekend. So, she and Alec had spent their wedding night together and she and Demetri had spent time together the following night.
She knew that whilst they were both comfortable with each other and their relationship with Hermione, neither of them wanted to risk harming her because despite her potions, she was still human and whilst she may have been safe with one of them, she definitely wouldn't have been if she had to deal with them both at the same time. She hadn't been sure how to feel at first, feeling a little disappointed but knowing they were right and it was for her safety, it just meant that before anything like that happened she would have to be turned first.
"Morning," Hermione hummed.
"Afternoon," Alec corrected with a chuckle from behind her.
"It's not my fault I was kept awake all night and had to sleep late to catch up on my sleep," she defended, seeing the smug smile Demetri sent Alec. She reached out and slapped at his bare chest, knowing it wouldn't hurt as her potions had long since worn off. "Alec did the same the night before, so don't be gloating," she said, not needing to look to know Alec had a smug smile on his face and she kicked at him with her foot, making him laugh.
"How are you feeling?" Demetri asked. "Hungry?"
"Starved," she replied, turning over on to her back and sitting up with the covers covering her naked form.
"I'll have Selena bring you something. Do you want breakfast or lunch?" Alec said.
"Breakfast, I have a craving for bacon," she replied.
"You hate bacon," Demetri frowned.
"I don't hate it, I just have to be in the mood for it, like I am now."
"Alright, bacon it is," Alec said, leaning over to press a kiss to her shoulder before he climbed off the bed and left out the room.
Demetri sat up, leaning against the headboard and he watched as Hermione climbed off the bed and summoned a robe, slipping it on and hiding her naked figure from him.
"Are you feeling alright?"
"Fine, why?" She asked, turning to look at him as she busied herself with picking up the cushions from the floor, along with their dirty clothing and putting them in the hamper to be washed.
"I don't know; something about you seems different."
"And that would be?"
"I don't know," he frowned, his eyes carefully roaming her face, down her body and bare legs and back up again, searching for something. "You smell different."
"Okay...?" She said slowly.
"You always smell good," he assured, "But now it's different somehow."
"I don't know what to tell you, I feel fine," she shrugged, making her way back over to the bed and climbing on beside him.
Alec soon made an appearance with a tray in hand, carrying a cup of tea, a glass of orange and a bacon sandwich. Hermione took the tray and sipped at her tea before she made to grab her bacon sandwich, only a sudden wave of nausea hit, and this wasn't like the others she'd had.
Without warning, she put the tray aside, darted off the bed and into the bathroom, only just making it to the toilet as she emptied the contents of her stomach. She felt their presence behind her but was otherwise too distracted to acknowledge them. Several minutes later, she flushed the chain and made quick work of brushing her teeth, turning to look at them once she'd finished.
"I'm fine," she told them, seeing their looks of worry. "I'm not entirely sure what came over me but I feel absolutely fine now."
"You're not ill are you?" Alec questioned in concern and stepping forward, his eyes searching for symptoms of illness.
"No, I feel fine, honestly," she told them. "Now, I know the Lords wish to see me, so I'll just get ready and then we can go."
~000~000~000~
Two hours later found Hermione pacing back and forth in the chamber, the three Lords perched on their thrones and the room filled with the majority of the Guard. The Lords had offered her previous duellers a rematch and so she'd fought Nikoli, Santiago, Marius and Soran, once more beating them. This time they were more amused than surprised that she'd done so, and she was sure she'd have to get used to duelling with the Guard, the Lords wanting them to become more familiar with magic, especially in case they ever found themselves up against another witch or wizard.
"Hermione," Aro said, sounding amused.
"I don't want to," she all but pouted, coming to a stop and crossing her arms over her chest. Sniggers and chuckles filled the room and she glared at them all, amusing them further.
"Hermione," Aro repeated, his tone teasing and soft.
"Fine," she huffed, taking a deep breath and unfolding her arms and she opened her mouth to sing. "Hogwarts, Hogwarts, Hoggy Warty Hogwarts. Teach us something please, whether we be old and bald or young with scabby knees, our heads could do with filling with some interesting stuff for now they're bare and full of air, dead flies and bits of fluff. So teach us things worth knowing, bring back what we've forgot, just do your best, we'll do the rest, and learn until our brains all rot."
The laughter in the room grew louder and Hermione silently fumed as she folded her arms over her chest and glowered.
"My Goodness, I was not expecting that," Aro said, shaking his head as his chuckles tapered off.
"I said it was awful," she grumbled.
"Yes, but I never imaged it would be that awful. Who wrote that?"
"No one actually knows," she shrugged uselessly. "It's believed to have been passed down sometime during the Founder's era."
"Powerful they were, verbose they were not," he chuckled.
"Are we finished now? Can we get back to work?" She pleaded.
Caius snorted. "Take it away, Little Witch," he said with a gesturing wave of his arm, telling her the floor was all hers.
She scowled at him but turned and walked back to the centre of the room, when all of a sudden she went lightheaded and stumbled before righting herself.
"Hermione?" Alec said, he and Demetri sharing a worried glance as they both took a half step forward.
"I'm fine," she waved him off.
She rolled her shoulders and neck before taking several more steps, once more going dizzy, only this time she swayed on her feet before righting herself.
"Hermione?" Demetri said, his voice showing his worry as he and Alec both took a step closer to her.
"I'm fine, just had a bit of a blood rush to my brain, is all... don't worry about..."
She swayed on her feet, only this time she didn't stop. Her eyes rolled into the back of her head before everything went black and she collapsed to the ground.
"HERMIONE!"