Chapter 8
Hermione woke up from the best sleep since coming to Hogwarts. She didn't realise how much energy being afraid or depressed had been taking. The bed had been a costly Baroque style antique bed. The upholstered headboard was decorated with delicate gold flowers:
- acacia for friendship and elegance, she was sure
- alyssum for worth beyond beauty
- bearded crepis for protection
- monkshood for Knight-errantry
- milkvetch, for your presence, softens my pains
Above the bed was a canopy that hung like a chandelier with more rich fabric flowing down. Theo had even gotten a proper satin pillow for curl protection to go with the equally decadent bed. She hadn't lied when she told Pansy her parents were not poor. But they were not; my eleven-year-old could buy a custom bed with custom bedding levels of rich either.
Pansy and Hermione turned from their wardrobe to the door as they heard Theo yell. "Onwards, my noble steed!" They only realised his plan to get around the stairs when he jumped out of Mil's arms. Beaming, Theo threw himself on the bed. "Tell me everything, lioness. Was it the best sleep you ever had?"
"I'll be back with Draco," Millie said. When it looked like Hermione might object, she reassured. "I charge 100 galleons per trip. Rates go up once we are old enough. It's risky."
"Or the girls could just go up to the boy's dorms." Hermione pointed out. At the blank looks, she clarified. "Honestly, I know Hogwarts a History is a bit dry, but the charm was placed at a time when women were chaste virginal things who needed protection from the desires of men. All the school rules are there."
It was challenging, but Draco still seemed an arrogant aristocrat while being carried bridal style. "No one tells any of the other years." He announced saving Millie's blossoming business.
Pansy snorted. "Other years? No one is telling any of the other boys in our year. If I fancy Zabini, he'd better be able to afford the fee."
"We need an in with other houses." Hermione excitedly suggested. "Mills is clearly the strongest girl. And it's not technically against the rules since the slides have been sufficient since school started." Hermione beamed at her fledgling friend as they turned a sore point into a good thing and a burgeoning side hustle. "Come to study in the library, and I will introduce you to a few people."
"Anyways, reactions. Did the witch love it, or did she love it?" Draco demanded, looking between the two of them.
"Theo, you shouldn't have." She said and then, in a panic, reassured him. "I mean, I love it. It's very sweet. But won't you get in trouble? It's not like you could have told your parents. What if your dad finds out and he…" She spiralled into worry while a grin slowly filled Theo's face.
"To be fair, Draco's buying the vanity and a beautiful new trunk to match," Theo announced cheerfully.
"Lioness," Draco said, drawing her attention. "So your only objection is that someone might notice and punish us?"At her nod, he pulled her into a hug. "No one will notice. I promise."
"Thank you," she whispered, getting teary-eyed. After taking a moment to school her emotions, she continued. "And I did have probably the best sleep in my life."
Theo beamed. "It's charmed for good dreams. Only the best for my familiar!"
"You know she's a person, not a cat, right?" Daphne asked as she put her hair up.
"She's a person, and my-" at Draco's cough, Theo corrected, "our lioness."
"If they argue too much, she's getting a diadem with cat ears!" Theo said, bouncing off the bed and spinning with her until they collapsed into laughter.
Levity and fun were left behind the doors of their house. Well, for everyone except for Hermione and Theo. Theo was draped over Millie, telling her a fun story.
Hermione, surrounded by her favourite people, couldn't bring herself to a wholly stoned face. She smiled slightly as she hit Theo ever so lightly with a tickling jinx, only to get a deep burst of laughter from him and a wink.
"Miss Granger, a word." A stern Scottish voice called out, causing the procession of students to stop and stare at the deputy headmistress. "In private." She clarified while an 11-year-old Malfoy looked at the woman like she was gum under his shoe. Pansy rolled her eyes, and Theo froze.
"Now," she added.
"Miss Granger, it behoves me to caution you that Mr Malfoy, Mr Nott, and Miss Parkinson come from. I guess you might call them dark families." the older woman said, looking down at her charge.
"Thank you, Professor. If that is all, my friends are waiting for me." Hermione answered in pleasant but dismissive tones.
"You might be doubtful, but in the not-too-distant past, we were at war." The woman said, trying to warn. "And their fathers,"
"Were found innocent as you would do well to remember." Snape's dry voice came from behind them.
Hermione cut the instructor off. "I know Draco's father said he was imperiused and most likely that it was a lie supported by a bribe. And Theo's dad was close with Death Eaters. I read everything I could about the world I was entering. I think we spent 1,000 gallons on books. Your concern in this case is unneeded and unwarranted." Of course, her parents spent a small fortune. There were people to impress, and they were already at a disadvantage.
Minerva frowned at the girl's blase attitude. "Miss Granger, I don't think you understand the magnitude. The Headmaster and I are concerned that this will end badly, and you could be hurt."
"So this school's policy is to care only when it's the Slytherins?." Hermione asked, eyes wide. "Because when my house made me bald, no one was concerned. When they broke into my trunk, where was this concern? Right now, the only thing keeping me at this school is those students."
"Let's not get ahead of ourselves…."
"This isn't the first time I've had to deal with a school that doesn't take the bullying I was experiencing seriously. The magic school in France sounds fascinating. I've finished up my GCSEs, and I know my parents were hoping I would go into an articling job with a law firm by the time I would have finished here." Hermione commented. "Please don't worry about me; Professor, Hogwarts isn't my only option." She gave the deputy headmistress a polite smile.
Theo released Millie and went to lurk beside Draco. "It's fine, Draco," Theo said quietly.
"What's fine?" Daphne asked, confused.
"Draco's half Black and half Malfoy." Theo reminded everyone. "And we have decided that she is ours." Everyone was at least somewhat familiar with how jealous and possessive the blonde was. Hell, it was well known if you could get a Black to fall in love with you, that was it. A curse tied to the bloodline that played on their tenuous grip on reality. Theo was ever so pleased. His dad may not love him, but his best friends would.
But then she returned and was tucking her hand in the crook of Draco's arm, and the world felt right.
"Not afraid we will sell you to our big, bad, Dark families, Granger?" Pansy asked dismissively.
Hermione shrugged. "I trust you enough to sleep in the same room as you and to bring Theo home for the winter break." She smiled at them as Theo stole her free hand and started swinging them as they walked.
Draco snorted and shook his head as his Theo acted like the chaotic little gremlin he was.
"Watch at dinner," Draco promised, a dark look on his face. "It's just the beginning." Uncle Severus had very helpfully reminded him of a potion they had brewed over the summer. It was easy enough to get an elf into the kitchens.
"I don't know what you were thinking earlier…." Minerva said in a clipped and irked tone. Her ire is clearly shown on her face.
"You don't know?" Severus pressed before narrowing his eyes. "I take great interest when any student entrusted to our care is systematically being harassed by your house, Minerva." The school was more than lax when it came to her house.
He was also getting far fewer complaints about his godson and his friends. The Nott boy was tutoring Longbottom. Bulstrode was, by Slytherin standards, practically beaming. And his godson was downright pleasant to be around. His less appealing personality traits were funnelled into more beneficial endeavours, which Severus found both appealing and terrifying at the same time. And despite being a Malfoy and a Slytherin, Draco was only eleven years old. There was no mistaking how he'd look towards her for permission before being nasty or for her reactions immediately after.
"Albus is aware of my opinions on that matter, so this should come as no surprise. But believe me, that little girl has become the most powerful girl in the world." Severus pointed out.
The Dark Lord would return. Potter might be destined to kill or be killed. But that girl could be instrumental in preventing the next generation of Death Eaters or recruiting spies.
Minerva could fuss all she wanted. Severus wanted each of his snakes to thrive. Typically, the odd student would latch on to their own emotional support Hufflepuff in a symbiotic relationship. If he were a religious man, he would pray that this ended better for this generation of snakes and their lion.