logistics

Narcissa Malfoy was decidedly not pleased about Draco’s decision to go time-traveling without informing her, and she made that very clear as everyone settled into the second-floor sitting room, but had mostly gotten it out of her system by the time Harry was serving her tea. 

Most of the room was rather surprised when she kissed his cheek in greeting, particularly Draco, but that little display was soon put on the back burner as the rest of the room made their displeasure with not being informed of this plan clear.

That aside, none of them actually seemed that interested in accompanying them. They were, however, interested in sending back letters or memories. Some to people they loved, some to their younger selves. 

Parvati had messages and memories for both Lavender and her sister. Dennis had both for Colin. George had some for himself, Fred, Ginny, and Ron, who also had some for his younger counterpart. Luna had a few for her younger self, her father, Neville, Ginny, Dean, and Draco Malfoy of all people, which surprised everyone but Dean and Draco. Seamus had a letter and memories for his younger self, as did Hannah Abbot, and Ernie McMillan. 

Susan Bones had an entire portfolio she wanted sent to her Aunt Amelia (who had been the Head of the DMLE in ‘95) along with all of her memories of Wizengamot meetings from when she had first joined after the war until the last one the week before, a small library’s worth of books for her Aunt to read, nearly all written by muggles, and which were to be passed to her younger self after they were read. She also had more memories than anyone else had to send to her younger self, which was mildly terrifying, but given that Susan was just as displeased with the current state of the Wixen government in Britan as they were, Hermione at least was convinced that it was in their best interest to do as she said. In response, Susan added another hoard of memories for past and current Hermione as well as a reading list as long as her arm.

Neville in particular also had memories and a letter for himself, but also had a letter he wanted to send to the head healer at St. Mungo’s with the contact information for a certain researcher in America who had a good chance of being able to help his parents, especially since they hadn’t gone through the stress of St. Mungo’s occupation by the Death Eaters in ‘97. 

Dean Thomas’ request was actually the most surprising, as he had discovered after the war when he was opening up a Gringotts account for the first time that his father, who his mother had never seen again after the night of his conception, had been Regulus Black of all people. His request was to give a letter explaining this to Sirius Black, and also to have his younger counterpart do an inheritance test at Gringotts the summer before his fifth year. Being part of the Black Family, even if it was illegitimate, would give him a better chance at finding a job in magical London, and while he loved being a tattoo artist, he would like his younger self to at least have more options.

By the time requests were all made, Hermione had a checklist and a binder out to store all the letters and had Harry going to find vials for everyone and a case that could be altered to safely carry it all.

Once all that was done, most people made their goodbyes and left, having sworn unbreakable vows not to reveal anything about their plans to anyone who didn’t know until a year from that day. 

Ron, George, Luna, and Neville decided that they wanted to stay and see what Parvati decided their new looks were going to be, and Narcissa was waiting until everyone else was gone to tell the trio what she wanted them to take back for her. 

“Hmm.” Parvati hummed, eyeing her victims. “Hermione first, as you’ll need the least work, I think.”

“Hey!” Draco looked offended. 

Parvati just waved him off. “Not in a bad way, you just look a lot like your father and that will take some effort to change in ways that won’t be detectable by magic.”

Without waiting for a response, she turned back to Hermione. 

“Frankly, I don’t think anyone from back then would recognize you as you look now. You’ve learned to care for your hair since then and with your scars, ear piercings, and tattoos…” She trailed off, tapping her chin as she thought. “Maybe we should focus on your wardrobe. If you’re not going to be a lawyer again—which you’re not, don’t bullshit me, Granger—then perhaps we should lean into a little more of the bad girl aesthetic.”

Hermione stared at her. “In what world do you think I could pull off a ‘bad girl aesthetic’?” She asked incredulously.

Parvati raised her eyebrow. “This one. Granger, you set a teacher on fire in your first year, punched Malfoy in the face in third, blackmailed Rita bloody Skeeter successfully for nearly a year, dated an international quidditch start, started an underage militia directly against edicts given by the Ministry, held up under torture from a woman who has literally driven people mad, and were on the run for nearly a year since you were considered the second most dangerous person on our side of the war next to Harry Fucking Potter, who actually killed the Dark Wanker, and everyone knows he wouldn’t have pulled it off without you. Ever since then, you’ve been the main advocate for equal rights for magical beings and spent countless hours tearing down old pureblood views with logic in front of the entire bloody Wizengamot.” Parvati crossed her arms. “My little cousins never believe me when I tell them that Badass War Hero Hermione Granger was my dorm mate for the six years she attended Hogwarts and wasn’t on the run from Death Eaters. You can pull it off, you just need to woman up and own it.”

“She’s right,” George said, shocking her, Ron, and Harry, as he didn’t do a lot of talking these days, without Fred to finish his sentences. “You haven’t taken shit from anyone in years, unless you were just waiting for them to hang themselves with their own arguments. Every time you’re in the papers you’re the only one a lot of people on Diagon will talk about for days. Face it, ‘Mione, you’re a badass.” Then he gave her a grin that no one had seen on him in a long time. “Personally, I think a bit of leather would suit you just fine.”

Parvati made a noise of agreement. “Wand holsters, I think. You cast with both hands, right?” At Hermione’s nod, she continued. “Right arm and left leg, I think, and an invisible one on your left arm so you can show off that Ironbelly tattoo.”

“Maybe shorter hair?” Luna suggested. “Not much shorter, but maybe just a bit below the shoulders? Add some layers to change the shape a bit?”

Harry conjured a full-length mirror for Parvati at her request, and Parvati began casting glamours on Hermione so she could see how she felt about the look. 

Most of the studs in her ear piercings—three in each lobe and  two helix piercings on either side—were replaced with small golden hoops, the largest ones (still rather small)  in her lowest lobe piercings. Her hair hung down to a couple inches below her shoulders rather than near her waist, and she could see what Luna had meant about shaping her hair differently. 

Parvati had her in black dragonhide boots, dark-washed, high-waisted jeans, with a black leather wand holster with gold buckles strapped to her left thigh and a black leather belt. She also appeared to be wearing a black camisole under an open dark red button up with the sleeves rolled past her elbows, which showed off the other holster and her Ukrainian Ironbelly tattoo that covered the ‘mudblood’ scar from Bellatrix, and the scar Dolohov had given her from naval to clavicle in fifth year, as well as—

“Is that a bloody collar?!” She asked, a bit offended at the strip of leather with a single pearl dangling close below the center around her neck.

Parvati snorted. “No, it’s a choker. You looked a bit naked without some sort of necklace, and I figured you’d prefer one that wouldn’t make noise if you had to sneak around, which you almost definitely will, and which nobody could get their fingers under to strangle you with easily.”

Hermione narrowed her eyes at her old dorm mate. “I think that’s bullshite, and you’re making fun of me for second year.”

Parvati smirked at her. “Maybe a bit, but you can’t deny it suits you.”

Hermione stared in the mirror for a long moment, ignoring Harry and Ron’s snickers and Draco and Nevilles questions. “I hate you.” She finally said in defeat.

Really, she did like the look. It was a bit more tame than she had been dreading, which made sense if they were going for slightly scandalous in Wizarding society in the nineties rather than muggle. At that point, most women were still wearing skirts most of the time, unless they were pretty progressive. The war had changed that, more people reaching for clothes that were easy to move and fight in rather than trditional.

Parvati grinned, but instead of rubbing it in, continued by summoning a slightly oversized black leather jacket from the expanded bag she’d brought with her. 

“That’ll fit over those jumpers you live in, in the winter. Already had it on hand for a commission that didn’t work out, but I think it’ll suit you nicely.”

Hermione slipped it on, and decided she hated Parvati even more. It was perfect. She loved the weight and texture of it, even the lining against her bare arms, which was a novelty with her sensory issues, and she loved the tiny painted stars, and the little moon over her heart, which appeared to be enchanted to change with phases of the moon, since she couldn’t think of any other reason for a waxing gibbous to be permanently on a jacket. 

When she looked back in the mirror, she happened to catch Narcissa Malfoy’s amused gaze and abruptly remembered that Sirius Black would be one of the first people they would be meeting up with when they traveled back. 

Before she could say or think anything more about that, Parvati had dispelled the glamours and sat her in a salon chair, haircutting cape fastened around her neck where there had been a choker a moment before, and was talking about makeup. 

“I know you do a bit of hair and makeup styling for when you’re in court, but before you go I want to sit down with you and go over a few different style ideas with you that I think will suit a bit better for the new look. From what I know of what’s already in your closet—or wallet, as the case may be—you’ll only need a couple different pairs of jeans, the belt, choker, and holsters. After we’re through with the boys, I’ll double check what you have and drop by my shop to pick up whatever’s missing. Might grab you some brown leather too, see how a mix looks on you.” 

After what was possibly the quickest haircut of her life, Parvati was tugging her up from the salon chair and hitting her with another glamour. “That’s what I was thinking for the makeup look, check it out and tell me how you feel.”

Hermione found herself blinking at the mirror again. By Parvati’s standards, the look was actually pretty simple, and one that Hermione liked and could see herself wearing (once she’d figured out how to apply it). It was mostly eyeliners, black on her upper lids and white on the lower and inner corners. It reminded her a bit of a cat, or fox maybe. She wouldn’t put it past Parvati to already know her animagus form, despite never being told.

Hermione went to sit by Harry again as Draco got swept into his own makeover by Parvati. 

“Well, we did say that one of us marrying Sirius might be a good idea, looks like Parvati made the choice about which.” Harry muttered to her, receiving a smack on the arm in return. “But seriously, Hermione, it’s a good look on you. How do you like it?”

“Better than I thought I would,” She admitted. “I actually really like the makeup, also.”

He hummed. “Makes your eyes look a bit of a different shape, which will be useful. I think she also did something around your jaw and cheekbones to make them look sharper.”

She nodded. “Not sure I’ll want to do that part, but I like the eyes and lip color.”

The next two hours were spent watching Draco and Parvati bicker about everything from color, style, and cut of robes and a few sets of muggle clothes to accessories, shoes, and length of his hair. Pretty much the only thing they did agree on was the color; a soft blue—almost turquoise, that was about the same shade as what Teddy tended to favor. 

By the end of that portion of the afternoon, Draco was the proud new owner of hair that faded from a short buzz on the sides into an inch or two of length on top, pierced ears, and five sets of everyday robes in both dark and pastel shades of blue, purple, and pink that could be mixed into just about any combination with a black base layer beneath, and Hermione had accidentally blurted that he looked a bit like a bisexual pride flag, to which Draco responded that that was the point, before remembering his mother was present. 

Narcissa had just snorted. “If you think I haven’t known you were interested in both genders since you were a child, I don’t know who you think raised you.”

“Supernova was what I was going for,” Parvati broke the slightly awkward silence that followed, “Tie you all together in the star theme, since the Black Family seems to be the common denominator here, but you know. Anyway, Harry, it’s your turn.”

Harry walked across the room like he was walking to his death, but Parvati just rolled her eyes at him. 

"Relax, Potter. This is going to be easy. Let's start with your hair."

She sat him in the salon chair. "Long hair, yes? Looks like you’ve already started on a beard.”

Harry nodded. Parvati hummed. 

“I’m not sure what your hair will look like long, since I don’t really know how it curls, so why don’t we grow it out first and cut it to whatever length after.”

“Alright.”

It wasn’t that Harry didn’t expect to like long hair, it was more that he had just never expected to like his hair in the first place. But now that it was grown out longer than Hermione’s, and Parvati had run some sort of potion through it, he realized that the birds nest it had always been was just curly hair that had never been properly taken care of. Not the tight sort of curls that Hermione had, but too tight to be called wavy. Still prone to going wherever it wished, but whatever Parvati had put in it had calmed most of the frizziness as well, so it wasn’t nearly so messy looking.

“Sleakeasy’s Curly Formula.” Parvati told him, handing him a rather large tin of the stuff. “Pretty sure it was actually invented by your grandfather, but it works like a charm. There’s a few other products that’ll be helpful, but Hermione has them all already, so she can help you out there. Now, do you like the length here, or do you want to go a bit shorter.”

Harry thought about it for a minute. On one hand, he did like how it looked, but practically, he had no idea how to take care of so much hair, so it would probably make sense to go a bit shorter first and let it grow out.

“Can you show me what it’d look like just a bit shorter than Hermione’s?” He asked, figuring that would be a good length that would be easy to tie back out of his face.

Parvati cast a glamour and did as asked.

He hummed. “Bit longer…? There.”

It was just slightly longer than Hermione’s hair, but not nearly as long as before. 

Parvati grinned. “I like it. Ambitious. Give me a couple minutes to cut it and we’ll move onto clothes.”

Harry’s new wardrobe ended up being decided more by committee than the other two, mostly because, while he had never really done much with his Lordships, aside from sitting on the Wizengamot, he would need to be more involved when he went back.

“Even though I’ll probably lose the Black Lordship to Sirius, him being older, I’ll still have the others to worry about.” He said absentmindedly, practicing one of the hair styles Parvati had shown him in the mirror. She had stepped out a bit ago (after taking the same Unbreakable Vow as the others) to grab the items they needed from her shop, and the materials to make the ones she didn’t have readily available.

“I thought you only had the two?” Neville asked. He had actually been the most helpful in keeping Harry’s wardrobe on the less opulent side while still being ‘Wizengamot Appropriate’.

Harry grimaced.

“So did I, until I had to do an inheritance test at Gringotts to verify my eligibility to sit on the Wizengamot.” He undid the braid he was attempting and tried again. “Gryffindor and Peverell were both merit-based, total coincidence really, but I inherited Slytherin from my mother, who earned it by conquest from the Dark Wanker when she killed him in my nursery.” He half-lied about the Peverell and Gryffindor houses being coincidence. Technically there was a blood tie there, but the Lordships were contingent on having both the blood tie and the items created by the lines, ie: the Hallows and the Sword, neither of which would leave him alone, and he was not interested in advertising that he owned them.

Hermione’s eyes sparked in interest. “You mean there’s actual proof that Riddle was killed by Lily back then?”

Harry nodded, giving up on the braid for now and doing his hair up in the half-up bun thing Hermione did sometimes and turning back to the others. Everyone but Hermione was staring at him, wide-eyed.

“How was that never in the papers?” Draco asked incredulously. “I don’t think there’s ever been someone holding so many Lordships at once!”

Harry shrugged. “Only told Hermione, didn’t I? And it’s not like I wanted any more attention than I already had.”

“Wouldn’t that mean that you own half of Hogwarts?” Luna asked.

Harry grinned. “Between us, Hermione and I own three-quarters, actually.”

Now, at least, everyone was staring at Hermione. 

“You’ve been Lady Ravenclaw this whole time and never said anything?” Ron asked.

“I think it’s because I destroyed the—the thing in the Diadem.” She said. “I found out when I had to open. Gringotts account for my first job.”

“I suddenly have much more faith in your abilities to manage this plan of yours.” Narcissa said faintly.

“Rude, but fair,” Harry said, earning a smile from Narcissa. “I’m going to go make some lunch. Call me when Parvati gets back.”