Hermione couldn’t tell you why or how she ended up in Mystic Falls… it just sort of happened. Teddy had wanted to go on a fun trip with his aunty MiMi and had her throw a dart at a map. Which is how they ended up in Mystic Falls, Virginia; sitting in The Mystic Grill… which is very original… Hermione just barely hides her eye roll from Teddy seeing because he is so excited and so full of joy.
Hermione is dragged from her thoughts when the food gets dropped off at their table, she turns and smiles at Matt in thanks. Teddy is bouncing in his seat, “Thank you!” Hermione lips quirk at his energized words as Matt gives him a grin.
“Your welcome Teddy.” Hermione murmurs her thanks as Matt walks away and herself and Teddy start eating. As they eat, Hermione is watching everything going on around her. She’s constantly alert, searching for some threat and wanting to be sure that herself and Teddy have a safe exit strategy.
“MiMi?” Hermione’s attention comes back to Teddy.
She gives him a soft smile. “Yes, Teddy Love?” Hermione watches as Teddy frowns and fidgets a little bit, looking extremely troubled.
Teddy hesitates for one moment and then speaks in a barely there whisper. “I don’t like how it feels here MiMi. It’s spooky. I don’t feel very good here.” Hermione gives him a worried look even as she covers his hands with hers.
“I’ll keep you safe Teddy Love.” Teddy gives Hermione a breathtaking grin causing Hermione to give him a soft smile. Even as she allows her magic to unfurl to scan the grill. Teddy happily goes back to eating while Hermione slightly frowns at what her magic finds. There is another witch in the grill but her magic feels… different, not good or bad, just different. Hermione’s magic also picks up on four different supernatural signatures, though she cannot tell what exactly they are.
Hermione tries to take her mind off of her findings, by taking another bite of food even though her stomach churns with nausea. Her body still hasn’t gotten used to eating normally and sometimes she completely forgets to eat, other times she can’t. Hermione carefully pushes her plate toward the edge of the table and reaches to her right side, where Teddy is sitting on the inside of their booth, to run her fingers through Teddy’s curls. Meanwhile he happily munches on his food, completely unaware of her inner turmoil.
Right as Hermione is about to throw down way more money than the meal is worth and get the hell out. Someone stops on their table. Hermione warily looks at the younger woman standing at the table, though her wariness lessens at the pain and frustration in her eyes.
Afterall, Hermione knows exactly what that feels like.
“I know that we don’t know each other, but can I please sit with you? Apparently my friends have only ever seen me as a tool to be used and I’m somehow just now realizing it.” Hermione quietly studies the young woman in front of her. Feeling compassion well up in herself at the tears in the woman's eyes. Hermione motions for her to sit and the young woman quickly sits across from her and Teddy.
Hermione gives her a compassionate smile. “My name is Hermione, this is my godson Teddy. Don’t worry, you won’t receive any judgment or expectations from us.” The woman blinks at Hermione and then a grin comes onto her face.
“I’m Bonnie, it’s nice to meet you! If you don’t mind me asking, where are you from and what brought you to this town?” Hermione gives Bonnie a kind smile as she runs her fingers through Teddy’s hair.
Teddy sleepily climbs into Hermione’s lap. “I don’t mind, we’re from London and Teddy wanted an adventure, apparently his five year old brain isn’t getting enough adventure… so he had me throw a dart at the map and it landed here.” Bonnie lets out a shocked laugh even as Hermione slowly runs her hand through Teddy’s hair.
Coaxing him into rest, Hermione's not surprised by Teddy’s exhaustion. They spent most of the day traveling and then settling into where they are staying. Teddy only was able to have a quick power nap before they came out to the grill.
“He’s really adorable. I wish that I could be as at peace as he is…” Hermione quietly studies Bonnie and sees the same soldier that she, herself sees when she looks in the mirror.
Hermione allows a quiet sigh to escape her, “Me as well, Bonnie, me as well.” she reaches into her purse and puts out enough money to give Matt a good tip. “I want to get Teddy to the place we are staying, if you want, you're welcome to come with.”
The relief that floods Bonnie’s face pains Hermione. “Yes please.” Hermione nods in acceptance. They get up and head for the door.
“Where are you going judgey? We need your help… who’s your new friend?” Hermione easily takes notice of how tense Bonnie gets the moment this… man with crazy blue eyes.
“I’m leaving Damon because I’m tired of ‘helping’ all of you with your self-made problems. Leave her alone Damon!” Hermione could easily tell that this can and will get nasty, fast. She carefully adjusts Teddy enough where she can easily use her wand if need be. Hermione has her hand in the correct shape to catch her wand if it needs to come out of the wand holster.
“You know Damon, the world doesn’t revolve around you. Bonnie wants to come with me and my godson. Which is her right as a human with free will. She doesn’t owe you anything, least of all her time.” A slight snarl escapes Damon as he takes a threatening step forward and his eyes go weird as does the skin around his eyes.
Hermione takes a defensive step back, getting ready to hex the shit out of Damon; the MACUSA be damned. Warm hands and a strong body is what stops her from moving any more.
Bonnie jolts when Elijah puts a calm, steady hand on her shoulder and speaks. Even as Bonnie nervously eyes where Klaus is standing with both hands on Hermione’s shoulders and his chest right against her back.
“Damon Salvatore, how very… unsurprising that you cannot handle being told no. That you would stoop so low as to threaten a woman holding a young child. You will let them leave.” Damon viciously snears at Elijah even as a shadow of veins dance under his eyes.
The hate burning in his eyes leaves Hermione pushing herself further against the man standing behind her. The look in his eyes reminds her too much of Tom Marvolo Riddle; it reminds her of hunting horcruxes. The night terrors that haunted her during that time, that still haunt her. Leaving a shiver of revulsion to dance through her as she adjusts Teddy into a more protective hold.
Klaus’s hold on the young woman’s shoulders tighten just enough to be reassuring. When Damon goes to step forward more and say something else. A woman comes up with blond hair, looking like the typical high school cheerleader.
“Klaus, let the woman go.” Bonnie glares at Caroline even as Elijah slightly squeezes Bonnie’s shoulder in warning. Klaus narrows his eyes at Caroline as his wolf makes itself known in his eyes. A low growl escapes him, Klaus has long since gotten over his infatuation with Caroline Forbes.
He quickly realized just how shallow she is and lost all interest in her. He snapped out of it with the help of the whole Mystic Falls Gang (not counting Bonnie since he was forcing her to undo his mothers spell), almost killing Finn. Klaus feels the woman he still has in his hold press slightly more against him. He moves one hand down her left arm and carefully rests his hand on the young boy's back.
An annoyed breath escapes Elijah, “Enough. Miss Bennett, the other young woman, and her charge are coming with us. Wherever they go after, is their choice. We all know how much Kol likes you two. I’m sure he would love for a reason to cause some chaos.” With that very well placed promise Elijah softly steers Bonnie out of the grill.
While Klaus moves Hermione towards the door and keeps a hand on her lower back. He turns his head to look at Damon and Caroline one last time, his eyes go gold, the threat in them very clear. He will bite them and no matter what anyone does or says, they will not be receiving his blood.
----
Hermione is clutching Teddy to her with her back to the fireplace as she warily eyes everyone in the room. The man that had led her out of the grill - Klaus - is watching her with thinly veiled amusement. While Bonnie is glaring at Elijah and Klaus with her arms tightly crossed sitting in one of the armchairs.
Finally, Hermione lets out a frustrated breath. “Will someone please explain to me what in the name of Merlin and Morgana is going on?” Immediately after she curses under her breath at the ‘Merlin and Morgana’ part. Quickly doing a silent and wandless muffling spell so Teddy doesn’t wake up.
“That’s an interesting expression, love. To answer your question, Bonnie Bennett here is a witch,” Bonnie’s jaw drops and she throws her hands up in the air, “My brother Elijah is an original vampire along with the rest of my siblings” Elijah sighs and adjusts his cufflinks, already long since used to Klaus’s antics. “I myself am the original hybrid.”
A slight huff escapes Elijah, “Niklaus…” Hermione mentally acknowledges that to be the man's full name.
Hermione blinks a couple of times in confusion her eyebrows raise when she makes the connections. “Well, aren’t you full of yourself?” Bonnie chokes on air as she starts cracking up at Hermione’s sarcastic question. Elijah’s lips twitch a bit as he tries to hide his amusement. Klaus’s eyes narrow briefly and then, to the surprise of everyone he genuinely laughs. Hermione warily watches Klaus as he finally calms himself.
“You would be right, love. Now, do you care to explain who and what you are?” Hermione blinks a couple of times and looks out the window to gather her thoughts; all the while unconsciously swaying back and forth with Teddy in her arms.
Klaus silently watches as the woman sways with the young boy in her arms, completely unaware of his wolf coming out in his eyes. His wolf very much enjoys watching his woman holding a young child. Though, the wolf would love it more if it were its own pup or pups.
When Hermione turns her attention back to the occupants of the room, the words that she was about to say are stopped on a sharp gasp. Seeing Klaus’s eyes completely in their wolf state, leaves Hermione slightly reilling. Mentally adding that Niklaus Mikealson has broken his curse to her information on the original family, she forces herself back on topic.
“My name is Hermione Granger… I’m a muggle born witch and- oh Merlin’s balls- this is going to take a long time.” Hermione carefully lays Teddy down on the couch and covers him with a soft, thick, weighted blanket. For a child that is so happy the majority of the time, he really has trouble sleeping peacefully. Hence the weighted blanket, it’s the one thing, short of Hermione cuddling him that keeps him sleeping peacefully.
She sits next to the sleeping lump that is little Teddy. “I guess the best place I can start is the beginning… It all started when I was eleven; with a woman by the name of Minerva McGonagall and a letter…” Everyone settles in for what is no doubt going to be a long story.
----
Klaus breaks the silence after Hermione finishes talking about first year. “Bloody hell! Trolls and Ceberus’s are real?” Hermione just lets out a huffed laugh and nods.
Bonnie finally gets over her shocked silence,“Who cares about the trolls? Unicorns are real! A–and centaurs!” her hands wildly wave around as she speaks. Leaving Elijah to carefully dodge her waving hands.
“There is the situation of the Professor with another face on the back of his head.” Hermione snorts at Elijah’s input and gives him a look that says, you have no idea. She almost outright laughs at the slightly startled look Bonnie gives Elijah, at suddenly realizing he’s sitting next to her.
Klaus gives a low growl, “... I need a bloody drink… We all need bloody alcohol to deal with the rest of this story.” with that he pours all of them four fingers of whiskey. Hermione gratefully takes a glass and sips from it, her free hand lovingly running through Teddy’s curls.
----
“So… a gigantic… snake.” Bonnie speaks slowly, trying to wrap her mind around that.
“Oh don’t forget little witch, it also can kill with its gaze.” Klaus oh-so-helpfully tacks on.
“How did a basilisk not get the attention of the Ministry?” Hermione slowly breaths in as her eyes fall from Elijah’s slightly concerned look to her drink.
She takes a sip before she speaks, “We didn’t realize it then, but Dumbledore was just as bad as Voldemort, just in a different way. The Ministry was already corrupted as well- on both sides.” Klaus gets a murderous look in his eyes as he finishes his fourth glass of whiskey. Hermione gives Klaus a knowing and darkly amused look.
“Oh, don’t worry. It gets so much worse.” The sardonic twist of Hermione’s lips causes a quiet and vicious snarl that escapes Klaus.
----
“Wow… just… wow.” Bonnie breaths out the last wow, her eyes are incredibly wide. Hermione looks at Klaus and Elijah, noting the tension that they are holding.
“We didn’t figure out until much later that, though Sirius was and is innocent of what he was put away for… though the time he was in Azkaban… it matched his crimes that he did while in Hogwarts and after. That he - of course - never got caught for. Not to mention that he tried to have Severus killed while they were students. That part will come later; I also wasn’t told that using the time turner would age me an extra year. Making me… legal in both the wizarding world and the muggle world a lot sooner than I was expecting.” Hermione watches in sort of morbid fascination as both of the Mikaelson brothers get tenser.
----
They all jump at Klaus’s outburst, “How in the fucking hell did no one realize that Moody wasn’t Moody!” Hermione thanks Rowena that she thought to put a silencing spell around Teddy. Leaving him with completely undisturbed sleep.
“I don’t-” Hermione runs a hand through her wild mane, “I honestly don’t know how nobody noticed… none of us kids knew him before, so there was no sense of him being not him. Though, I do suspect that Dumbledore knew… I know that Severus knew, but was barred from saying or doing anything due to his vow, dark mark, and work as a spy. Of course Dumbledore would do nothing to stop Barty from doing what he did.”
Elijah slowly breathes, trying to keep control of himself even as he gives Klaus a warning look. Though he doesn’t say anything, if he opens his mouth, he’s afraid of what will spill out.
----
“I-” Hermione clears her throat before beginning again, “I spent the whole summer at Grimmauld Place… which was a mistake. I was there with Sirius… alone for much longer than I would have rather spent.” Klaus, Elijah, and Bonnie tense at Hermione’s hesitation. Hermione silently watches as Klaus’s eyes turn golden and black veins dance around his eyes. Hermione tries to speak, but finds herself frozen, with a lump in her throat.
Hermione moves her eyes and focuses on the fire, “He didn- I mean- he trie-oh bugger.” she gets up and agitatedly paces. Hermione runs her hands up and down her arms; she stands at the window looking out, making sure her back is facing them. “Sirius somehow knew that I was of legal age and what no one knew at the time…” Hermione stops and clears her throat, even thinking about it, makes her want to hurl. “Not that anyone wants to admit that this is the truth. He… had a history of girls not being fully willing when he was with them. Remus, his friend from school-”
“Your DADA professor, right?” Hermione doesn’t look back at Bonnie and just nods in affirmative.
“had no idea that those young women were anything other than willing.” Hermione waves her shaky hands around, trying to find the right words and coming up short. “Sirius tried and failed… partly because I fought him as hard as I could and Crookshanks did what he could to help me. Luckily for me Professor Sna-Severus arrived at Grimmauld place two weeks earlier than what was expected. He- um Severus got him off of me and hexed him so bad that he didn’t wake up for a week. Even after Sirius woke up… there were certain… changes.” Hermione gets lost in the memory for a few moments, but shakes herself back to the present. “Anyway, I had come to find out from Severus, after I finally calmed down that is. That he had actually woven his own wards within Grimmauld Place to let him know if anyone was in distress. It wasn’t until long after the war that he told me that he had put those wards up solely because he didn’t trust that I would be safe alone with Sirius.”
It’s quiet for a long while as they allow her words to hang in the room. Klaus is practically vibrating with repressed fury; he and his family may do all manners of horrible things… but that is something that none of them would ever even think of doing.
Hermione makes her way back to the couch, instead of sitting on it, she settles on the floor with her back to Teddy. She just wants to know that he is safe and protected, talking about everything that has happened, has left her with the haunted feelings.
Hermione carefully looks between Klaus, Bonnie, and Elijah. “Are you ready for me to continue?” Bonnie looks distinctly queasy, Klaus has finally gotten control of his fury, and Elijah has a dead calm around him that speaks of danger. Though, Hermione does notice that he has on hand holding Bonnie’s hand in comfort.
Hermione decides to take their body language as a yes.
--
Klaus interrupts Hermione’s recounting of fifth year with his uncontrollable laughter. Elijah is snickering and Bonnie looks like she is about to start laughing. Hermione is barely stopping herself from cracking up.
Klaus, through his laughter, is able to speak. “You sicced the centaurs on Umbitch! Tell me love, is she still alive. I would love a reason to torture someone.” A wicked grin spreads across his lips. Bonnie snorts under her breath and a quiet giggle escapes her. Elijah, with a smile still playing on his lips, even though murder is in his eyes, drapes his arm around Bonnie’s shoulders.
She lets him.
“If you three are done… I will continue.” Hermione raises her brows at them and Klaus with a mirthful grin motions for her to continue. She moves herself back onto the couch. “Right, as I was saying… I warned Harry that it was a trap and urged him to reconsider. Of course, he didn’t listen to me…”
--
Klaus finds himself crouching in front of Hermione, she had moved back onto the couch at some point in her retelling. “Show me the scar.” Hermione dumbly blinks at him, but slowly moves and lifts the bottom of the shirt up. Stopping it right under her bra. She hears Klaus suck in a breath, vaguely aware of Bonnie and Elijah’s shocked reactions. “How far does it go?” A shaky breath escapes Hermione at Klaus’s whispered question.
Hermione bites her lip and quickly licks it after, “From the top of my shoulder,” she waves her hand to the area and traces down and across her body. “to my hip and slightly around it.” Hermione drops her shirt as a low growl escapes Klaus followed swiftly by a vicious curse.
Safe to say, Klaus has grabbed the entire bottle of whiskey and refuses to part with it for the rest of Hermione’s retelling.
----
“Severus Snape killed the headmaster?!” A loud sigh escapes Hermione as she looks at Bonnie.
Hermione rubs her hands on her legs, “Look, you have to understand, Professor Snape only ever did what Headmaster Dumbledore told him to do. Which wasn’t completely of his own free will, he was bound by a Wizards Oath… meaning that if he didn’t do what Dumbledore wanted him to do, it would kill him. Professor Snape is not an evil man. He is a good man, he just was thrown into an impossible situation coming from an awful situation as a child. Severus was dealt an atrocious hand in life, I’m not saying that he doesn’t have his responsibility in his own life. I’m saying that he did the best he could during the war and has more than made up for his sins.”
“What about Draco fixing the vanishing cabinet?” Hermione looks at Klaus and bites her lip.
“Draco…” A long sigh escapes Hermione, “Draco is or rather was a byproduct of his upbringing. He’s much better now and he was terrified. You need to understand, Voldemorte lived in his house the entire time that he was back and throughout the war. It brought all the death eaters there as well. There was no break for Draco, no safety, no reprieve, no relaxation. While in school he had to keep up the mask and at home. To add onto that, Harry almost killed Draco using Draco’s godfather's spell on him. Luckily Severus was one of the first professors to come across them and was able to save his life… Draco still has scars from that.”
“Sectumsempra… roughly translates to always cutting. You said Severus creates his own spells?” Hermione turns her attention to Elijah as she tries to get her thoughts and words in order.
“Yes, Severus Snape is not only a Potions Master but also a Master spellmaker. Which evidently helped him save his own life… along with some help from me. I need tea.” Before anyone can react she gets up and heads out.
When Hermione is about to the kitchen, she yells back. “Siblings that I don’t know the name of. You might as well join us in the room, instead of being creepy.” She already has the hot water pouring into a mug with a tea bag as they hear the last of her words. Hermione can’t stop herself from smiling at hearing Klaus’s loud and amused laughter.
She chooses to ignore the blush that touches her cheeks.
Afterall, no one is in the kitchen to see it.
----
“Wait, you obliviated your parents… as in, wiped their memory of you completely?!” Rebecca cannot stop herself from being astonished. The pure strength and force of will that Hermione has… Rebecca can only hope to have a fraction of that.
Hermione licks her lips and looks down at her hands. “Yes… not that it did any good. They were found by death eaters; tortured and then killed.” A wry laugh escapes Hermione, “I hate myself for saying this, but the only blessing there is that they had no memory of me at all. So, they couldn’t give any information, even if they wanted to.” she swallows tightly trying to hold back the grief that has come up once more.
“Bloody hell, I’m impressed that you survived batty-Bellatrix’s tender, love, and care.” A loud growl from Klaus follows Kol’s words; even as a shocked laugh escapes Hermione. She looks at Kol and can see that though he just cracked a joke that he is being completely genuine and honestly trying to cheer her up.
Kol starts bouncing around like a child, “Oh! Let’s not forget the dragon that she escaped Gringotts on, effectively freeing it. What I would have given to get my hands on a dragon roughly a thousand years ago.” his eyes get almost glassy with fantasizing.
A loud snort escapes Elijah, though it is Finn that speaks, “Brother, if you had known about dragons and been able to get one to bond with you… the entire world would have burned. There would be nothing left.” All of his siblings stare at him in shock. That is until Kol lets out a loud gasp as he puts a hand to his heart, working very hard to look offended and innocent at the same time.
It doesn’t work. Hermione can’t stop herself from laughing, which brings everyone else in. Leaving Kol to grin, feeling accomplished at having lightened up the room.
Once everyone calms, Bonnie can’t stop the nagging question. “So, after the battle… you what? Just left the Wizarding world with Teddy?” Hermione bites her bottom lip as her brow furrows in thought.
“I was really messed up after the battle finally finished, I was nowhere near in a good state of mind. Harry dropped The Hallows on me and begged me to take care of it. I was still feeling the echoing effects of the torture. My mental and emotional state were shot to hell and everyone wanted me to be ‘Hermione Granger brightest-witch-of-her-age’. I just- I couldn’t do it anymore, I wouldn’t do it. It also didn’t help that Ronald thought that he could force me into a marriage.” Hermione rubs her brow in agitation. “I was tortured, turned into a child soldier - along with everyone else - and fought in a war that… quite frankly, we had no hope in winning. I saw classmates, younger children dead on Hogwarts grounds. Grounds that were supposed to be the safest place on earth!”
Hermione gets up and starts to agitatedly pace. “I was given an Order of Merlin, First Class. The Ministry and Department of Mysteries offered me jobs, and I was offered to be waived for my final tests. I was focused on paying back the goblins in whatever way I could for destroying their bank and endangering them. Then I found out that I was the sole person responsible for taking care of an infant! I wanted to be left alone and everyone was talking, all their expectations were suffocating me… and I just- I DIDN’T WANT ANY OF IT! I still don’t! I’m tired… I’m tired of fighting or trying to prove myself to the bloody brick walls that the purebloods are… I left. I disappeared with baby Teddy and showed up on Severus’s doorstep…”
--
Severus opens the door to his secret-kept home ready to eviscerate whoever dared to bother him… and stops short upon seeing one Hermione Granger. She’s standing on his doorstep; her hair is a crazy, knotted mess, she’s clutching an infant, she has her ratty beaded bag, and a cloth bag. He can see the shivers of pain running through her body as the continued afteraffects of the torture she went through. Severus for a few moments is stumped and they both stare at each other for a few moments. He goes to speak, but Hermione is already speaking.
“I-I’m sorry sir.” Hermione’s voice cracks, “I-I just needed a break. I wasn’t even thinking when I apparated here and I-” tears build up in her eyes and she holds the baby even closer to her in a bid to try and stop her shaking. “Please, I’m sorry. I just- I can’t just forget everything. I need time away from the limelight, The Ministry, the DOM,” Her entire body is trembling, “I just need to get away from the expectations and the Wizarding Wor-” Severus grabs her and pulls her tightly into his embrace; one hand holding the back of her head and the other on her back. They stand like that for a while, until Severus takes notice of her shaking picking back up.
He ushers her inside and allows the door to close. He carefully takes who he is assuming is Teddy from her and transfigures a cradle for him. Severus looks at Hermione as the tears track down her face. He reaches out and softly takes her two bags from her and sets them down. Severus hands her five potions to take; which she does without question in rapid succession. A slight sigh of relief escapes her as the affects of her torture finally stop.
Severus leads her to the couch and pulls her down onto it; tenderly pulling her into his embrace once more, he starts to soothe her. Starting at her head and running down her back and back up. Finally, he speaks. “Stupid girl.” It’s said with so much affection that the floodgates open and sobs take over Hermione’s body. Severus just continues to soothe her and starts to slowly rock back and forth while holding her even closer.
“You can stay as long as you need.” Hermione clutches him tightly upon hearing him say that.
She refuses to let go until five hours later when the exhaustion has finally caught up and sleep has taken her.
Severus stays in the same spot with her for another six hours, before getting up and covering her with a blanket.
----
Everyone is quiet as Hermione runs her fingers softly along Teddy’s face and through his hair while staring at the fire. The only sound in the room is the crackling fire and three heartbeats and their breathing.
Eventually, Elijah breaks the silence. “Did you stay with Severus the entire time?” Hermione takes a deep breath and forces her eyes to focus on Elijah.
“Yes. Teddy and I actually have been staying with him up until we came here for a little adventure… as Teddy had put it. He helped me raise him when Harry and Ronald were completely unwilling. Molly very much wanted to raise him, she actually tried to take custody of him… but Tonks -Teddy’s mother- had it put in her and Remus’s will that under no circumstances were he to be put in the custody of Molly Weasley. Or any Weasley for that matter and if any of them tried to take custody - namly Molly - they would immediately be completely barred from even being in his life.” Kol gives a low whistle at that and snickers a bit.
“Anyway, Severus and I have started a very mixed business, all via owl post. So, there is no need for in person visits. We make potions for people, spells, I translate books, repair books, I search for books that people are trying to find, and help figure out what artifacts are. There are also different things that go on as well… but those are the main ones. The DOM has asked us for help on multiple occasions as well. Severus is actually supposed to get here about a day later than us.”
“Where are you and Teddy staying, love?” Hermione blinks at Klaus’s random question.
Confusedly she answers him, “We are staying at this cute little airbnb. It's closer to the outskirts of town.” there is something in Klaus’s eyes that she cannot read, but it sends a shiver of awareness down her spine.
Faintly, Hermione hears Elijah’s warning voice. “Niklaus…” A low growl escapes Klaus and Bonnie tenses, ready to throw him out the window if need be. Kol and Rebecca both tense and give Elijah panicked looks. Elijah keeps his eyes on Klaus even as he lays a calming hand on Bonnie's thigh.
“You’ll be staying here. You are going to cancel that airbnb and stay in a place that is safe.” Klaus’s wolf is at the forefront and it is obvious that the wolf is in control. His siblings tense up even more even as Hermione carefully studies him. Her mind goes back to what Remus had told her about werewolves;
‘Hermione, you have to understand that the wolf part of us… it has much more sway than I would ever want to admit. Sometimes it can take over even when it isn’t a full moon, I have had experiences where I lose time. I don’t shift, but the wolf is in control of my body, my mind, and my choices. When a werewolf finds their mate… there is nothing that will stop it from having its mate short of their mate rejecting them.’
Hermione knows that his kind of werewolf is different from what Remus was, but she figures that roughly the same rules apply. She makes sure to give Bonnie and Klaus’s siblings a reassuring look. Hoping that they will realize that she has it under control. Hermione gets up and walks over to where Klaus is sitting and with no hesitation; cups his face with her right hand. She allows her eyes to lock with his wolf’s.
“Can you please give him back control? I know that you want me safe, but this is not the way to go about it. If Klaus himself and his family are okay with it, then Teddy and I will stay. I do warn you though, if that happens, Severus is going to stay as well.” Hermione silently watches as the wolf contemplates what she has said. Finally, the eyes slowly bleed out and back to Klaus’s blue-green eyes.
Hermione goes to pull away once she sees that he has control. Before she can, Klaus has his hand covering hers as he closes his eyes and allows his forehead to drop to her stomach. She carefully reaches with her left hand and runs her fingers through his hair. Calming him in a way that he has never been calm before.
Everyone is dead silent as they watch this; they can’t help but think that this is going to change everything… Hopefully for the better.
----
A man in all black walks into The Mystic Grill, sneering at the name, and walks up to the host stand. Ignoring the feeling of eyes on him, he waits for the hostess to acknowledge him.
She looks up with a smile on her face, but quickly pales as she sees him. She stares at him with fear in her eyes and Severus; he hides his amusement and raises an impatient brow at her. “I–I-” The hostess shakes her head.“I apologize sir, how many will I be seating today?”
Severus studies the woman for a few seconds, getting some pleasure in her squirming. “There will be three of us, if you have a booth that would work best and one kids menu.” The woman nervously looks at the layout of the restaurant.
Rapidly nodding her head, she grabs the needed menus and with a quick. “Follow me please, sir.” Severus follows the slightly panicked woman with a bemused look on his face, though if anyone were to look closer, they would see amusement in his eyes.
He waits about five minutes, “Sevie!” Severus sees Teddy barreling toward him with Hermione following behind looking lovingly exasperated. Severus stands up and catches Teddy as he throws himself at him. Hermione gives Severus a slightly exhausted smile and allows herself to be pulled into a hug.
After they get settled Hermione waves her hand and Severus raises his eyebrows as he feels her magic surround them in a silent and nonverbal muffliato spell. “There are some things I need to catch you up on, but it will be easier if you just look. I would explain why I put this spell up… but looking will be the explanation. Let’s just say that there are people that can overhear very easily. I may, possibly, be….”
Severus frowns as Hermione tapers off of her words. “Hermione, where has the annoying Gryffindor quality gone that leaves all of you Gryffindors spouting out whatever they want?” Hermione chews on her lip as she looks nervously at him.
“Promise me you won’t yell.” Severus’s eyes narrow at her careful words, easily acknowledging that while she wants him to promise not to yell… she said nothing about him getting mad. He gives a nod of his head and watches as Hermione’s shoulders slump in relief. “I may or may not be thematetoTheOriginalHybridandhemayormaynotbecompletelyoverprotectiveofmyselfandTeddy.”
Severus is left blinking at her quickly spoken and run together words. Once the words fully click in his mind his already dark eyes turn practically black. Hermione can still make out the glinting of anger in his eyes.
She reaches out and grabs his hand, “Severus, you know me, you know that this situation was not purposeful.” his jaw clenches and unclenches… Hermione can only watch as he allows his mind to think and process everything. Hermione allows her privacy spell to drop knowing that nothing will really be said to give anything big away.
Hermione sees the exact moment everything clicks and loud laughter escapes him. His laughter gets the attention of the other occupants in the restaurant. Teddy giggles along with Severus, having no idea what he’s laughing about. Her lips twitch even as she takes a sip of water.
“Only you, Hermione, only you… above and beyond in school and it just moves out into your life.” The smirk he has on his face after Severus finishes speaking leaves Hermione laughing. It says sooo much about him and about herself.
----
“Okay Severus - the Mikaelson family - starting with the eldest; Finn, Elijah, Klaus, Kol, and Rebekah. Everyone, this is Severus.” Hermione carefully watches everyones reactions as she holds a passed out Teddy. Someone - KOL - let Teddy have a ton of sugar and now he’s crashed. Of course the men of the family just give nods as greetings and Klaus walks up to Hermione and pulls her into his body. Wrapping his arms around her, one around her waist and one higher up to help her hold Teddy.
“Well you don’t look how I was expecting you would.” Severus raises a brow at Rebekahs words. Even as a soft snort escapes Hermione. Afterall, Severus does not look how he did while he taught at Hogwarts.
In fact, it took Hermione and Severus almost an entire year to figure out that his mother had put an incredibly powerful glamour on him… Tobias is not his biological father, his mother was terrified of what would happen to her son… so she did what she could to try and protect him. By running from the Wizarding world and throwing her lot in with an abusive drunk; which is eventually what killed her.
“What were you expecting? A face to match the stories?” Hermione slightly hides her smile as she takes in the carefully blank look on his face. He doesn’t even flinch when Rebekah speeds in front of him and closely studies him.
A slight hum escapes her, “Well, you’ll be much more fun than the humans in this town.” Rebekah backs away from Severus while also scanning his form. Hermione bites on her cheeks to stop herself from breaking out in a smile at how Rebekah is looking at Severus with appreciation.
Hermione elbows Klaus hard in the side and glares at him when she takes notice of him giving Severus a death glare. When Klaus gives Hermione an affronted look, she just narrows her eyes sharply at him.
Right after, Hermione notices that Elijah, Kol, and Finn have disappeared. Rebekah and Severus have locked in on what seems to be a staring contest… with something very different charging it.
Hermione lightly taps Klaus’s chest to get him to stop frowning at them. Once she gets his attention she motions to where Teddy is passed out on her. Klaus gives his sister and Severus one last glance and then speeds them to Teddy’s room.
----
The next morning finds Hermione drinking coffee and helping Teddy to cut up his food. Severus walks into the kitchen and immediately takes notice of Klaus leaning against the island with a mug and watching Hermione and Teddy with the golden eyes of his wolf.
“Good morning…” Hermione looks up at Severus’s words and gives him a smile and motions to where there is extra coffee. Severus pours himself a cup and raises a brow at Hermione with a quick glance at Klaus; silently asking her to explain. The look he gets back tells him to not open that particular can of worms. Severus covers his snort by taking a sip of coffee, though he doesn’t stop himself from raising both brows.
A soft snort escapes Hermione as she shakes her head. Teddy finally takes notice of Severus and squeals while making grabby hands towards him. Severus takes a quick glance at Klaus to gauge his reaction and finds that he’s already watching him.
Severus walks over to Teddy and Hermione backs up with her coffee mug in hand and leans against Klaus’s front; who immediately wraps an arm around her waist.
Severus runs his hand over Teddy’s head and murmurs his name as Teddy gives him a toothy grin. “You can help him eat this time, Severus.” Severus glances at Hermione with a dark look causing Hermione to snicker into her mug. Though, he does start helping Teddy eat; not without first mentally acknowledging that Klaus’s eyes are back to normal. Luckily for him Teddy is out of his throwing food faze, now it’s just helping him with hand-eye coordination.
A young, petite woman with olive green eyes, her black hair braided tightly, and in workout clothes walks into the kitchen. “Good morning Bonnie!” Bonnie gives Hermione a smile as a greeting as her green eyes sparkle with the energy and magic running through her. She has been getting up earlier in the morning to train with Kol and Elijah on magic and hand-to-hand combat. Afterall, witches cannot always rely on their magic.
“Bonnie, this is Severus. Severus, Bonnie, she’s the type of witch that speaks to her ancestor line. She also taps into nature magic.” All Severus does is nod in greeting to Bonnie while continuing to help Teddy with eating. Bonnie shoots him a quick smile and pouring some coffee for herself.
“Where’s Kol and Elijah?” Bonnie takes a sip of her coffee and hums.
“They’re finishing cleaning up from the training session, I offered to help. But, they wouldn’t let me!” A huff of annoyance escapes Bonnie as she rolls her eyes. “I have half the mind to explode the blood vessels in their brains! I’m perfectly capable of helping to clean up!” Bonnie’s free hand agitatedly waves around as she talks.
Severus can feel his brows raise at her frustrated words as Hermione lightly giggles and Klaus grins. Bonnie takes a long drink of her coffee trying to control her annoyance and Hermione gives her a grin as she cuddles into Klaus more.
“Think of it this way Bonnie, they grew up as and were vikings. They lived through all these years where social norms changed and societies had different rules. There will always be certain things that peak through every once in a while with that. For instance, there are certain viking things that make me want to hex the shite out of this one.” Hermione points to Klaus as he gives her an amused smirk, “All the years are blended into each of them. So, of course certain things from different time frames will come out. I honestly don’t think they really even realize what they're doing.”
“Come now love, of course we know when we are pulling from the past!” A loud snort escapes Hermione as she gives Klaus a side-eye look. When she turns her attention back to Bonnie; the amusement hidden in both their eyes as they roll them sends the same message.
As much as the Mikaelson men will say they are aware of when they pull from the past. They are rarely ever aware of it because it is so well threaded through every fiber of their being. It’s just a part of what makes them, them.
Rebekah struts in the room with a mini dress; one that leaves very little to the imagination and kitten heels. “Morning Nik, Hera, Bonnie,” Rebekah grabs a blood bag and pours some of it into a mug then pours coffee in. Her eyes fall onto Teddy and she immediately brightens. “And goodmorning little mister!” Teddy gives her a food-filled grin; Hermione and Bonnie shake with laughter at Rebekah’s slightly disgusted look.
“Severus.” He looks at Rebekah and calmly raises a brow.
Their eyes lock, “Rebekah.” as everyone silently watches.
Kol, Elijah, and Finn walk in; they all immediately raise their brows and shoot Klaus, Hermione, and Bonnie questioning looks. Hermione just shakes her head in a ‘don’t ask’ motion. Klaus smirks and drops a kiss on Hermione’s head as he tightens his grip on her.
Bonnie rolls her eyes in answer and moves over to Teddy and starts helping him eat. Since, Severus is otherwise… occupied. Everyone notices the glint that appears in Severus’s eyes. In a split second he’s right next to Rebecca and in a crack of thunder, the both of them are gone.
A snort escapes Hermione as the Mikealson brothers jump at the unexpected loud noise. “Always so dramatic, Severus…” Hermione mutters to herself as she pushes herself closer to Klaus. “I wouldn’t worry about Rebekah, Severus won’t hurt her… unless she asks him to that is…” Hermione has to bite on her bottom lip to keep from laughing at their expressions while Bonnie doesn’t even bother and starts laughing.
Once Bonnie gets a hold of herself a wicked glint comes in her eyes. “How long will it be until we see them again? A couple days?” Hermione laughs lightly as she wipes Teddy’s face with a damp napkin.
“Oh please, it will be at the very least a week before we see either of them. Severus is thorough with everything he does. I’m sure it transfers over to this as well.” A whining sound escapes Kol.
Kol is visibly disgusted, “Oh come on! I don’t want to hear about that. That’s our sister that he’s taken.” Bonnie and Hermione start to laugh at the varying levels of disgust and anger in the male Mikaelson’s eyes.
Bonnie slips out of the room laughing with her coffee mug still clutched between her hands. Hermione gives Klaus a warm smile and lifts Teddy up and out of his seat. Klaus follows her out of the room and silently helps her to clean Teddy up and get him dressed.
Once they do, Klaus sends Teddy to find his uncle Elijah, knowing that Elijah has been reading some book to Teddy.
Hermione raises a brow at the mutinous look on Klaus’s face. She walks up to him and reaches up with a hand to cup his cheek. “Nik,” His eyes turn gold before they close at how his mate breathes his name, “Don’t be so frustrated, your sister is a grown woman who can very easily take care of herself. Severus has come a long way and believe me when I tell you… He won’t mess this up.”
Klaus opens his eyes and locks with Hermione’s whiskey ones. Seeing the truth in her eyes, a low sigh escapes him as he wraps his arms tightly around her.
“Okay, I concede.” Hermione dazzles him with a breathtaking grin and lays her head on his chest while wrapping her arms around him. They stay like that in silence for a while as Klaus softly rocks them back and forth.
“You’re mine, my love.”
A soft almost kitten-like sigh escapes Hermione.
“Yours.”