Unfinished Sympathy

He had heard about her before he met her. He had boarded the Hogwarts Express and had found an empty cabin knowing that within moments his fellow Slytherins would fill the cabin. His thought was confirmed when Thoros Nott strutted into the cabin moments later followed by Evan Rosier, Regulus Black, Rodolphus LeStrange, and Walden McNair.

“-believe it’s happening now,” he heard McNair say.

“Well, with all the trouble here-”

“It’s safer here, they’re assuming. That’s what Lucius has said to me, anyway.”

Severus lifted his eyebrow in annoyance. He did not enjoy not knowing what was going on. He masked it quickly. The strong did not show weakness, “Where is Lucius?”

Nott plopped down across from him before answering, “He’s going to be a little late. His twin sister has come back from the continent.”

Severus had heard very little about Lucius’s twin. All he had heard was that she had been sent to Beauxbatons because of a curious affliction. He assumed that was code for being so ferociously ugly that she would never find a proper, English, pureblood husband.

“She’ll be attending Hogwarts then?” Severus said with feigned indifference.

“She must be hideous. I’ve never seen a portrait of her and anytime she’s home for the summer or Christmas and the Malfoys entertain, she’s been away in France or locked away in the East Wing,” observed McNair.

“- told them to take care of you when I’m not around,” came the aristocratic voice of Lucius Malfoy.

“Well, we’ll certainly find out won’t we?” joked Evan.

“I don’t need a babysitter, Lucius! I’m seventeen!” came a shrill voice in anger.

“She sounds like a harpy,” continued Regulus.

“Hi! My name is Oliver Davies-”

“I don’t care!” shrieked the voice again in annoyance.

“Get out of the way and stop following us,” said Lucius, “I forgot how terrible it is to have you around.”

“You don’t really mean that,” came the voice again muffled as Lucius opened the door and ushered her in.

Several things happened at in a moment. First, the door shut closed and was locked as soon as it was opened. Lucius moved out of the way of his sister. And all the boys began throwing themselves at her.

“My name is Evan-”

“She doesn’t care about you! I’m Walden. I’m foreign.”

“So is Dragon Pox!” exclaimed Nott, “My name is Thor-”

“Regulus is the name. My cock is n-”

“Shut up, all of you!” growled Lucius. At the threat of wand point, most of the boys settled back for a silent glazed look of wonder.

The girl rolled her eyes in annoyance before sitting between Lucius and his oddly quiet friend.

“This is my sister, Hermione. She’s just arrived from Beauxbatons. She’s been sorted into Ravenclaw. As you can clearly tell, my sister is Veela,” he said with annoyed distaste, “and if you touch her, you’ll regret it deeply.”

“That’s your sister?” hollered Nott.

Hermione rolled her eyes at the continued looks wonder the boys were giving her, all but the boy next to her.

“And you?” she said with a raised fine white brow, “Who are you?”

“My name is Severus,” he said with a steady voice. He hoped he looked like he was in control. He was focusing quite hard on his occlumency shields and he was working very hard not to reach out and touch her long sheets of white blonde hair. He could see some of the resemblance between her and Lucius. She had aristocratic high cheekbones and was tall and very slim. She had a full bust and her lips were very full and red. Her eyes were a startling shade of violet and she had long thick eyelashes with creamy skin with a pale glow and rosy cheeks. She was exquisite.

“Why are we just meeting you now?” asked Severus in genuine curiosity. Surely the Malfoy family would want to advertise their beautiful daughter as a bargaining chip. She could attract the most elite and richest pureblood males and their generosity. Lucius after all was marrying Narcissa Black, as Malfoys only married those within the Sacred Twenty-Eight. Hermione could marry anyone she wanted. Even if she hadn’t been Veela, she would be the most sought after witch at Hogwarts.

“My family wanted me back on British soil.”

 “I didn’t know you had Veela blood in your family, Lucius,” said Bellatrix Black as she entered the cabin carelessly.

“We don't,” Lucius said in annoyance, “Hermione is a full bloodVeela.”

Bellatrix glared at Hermione, “Sounds just as bad a mudblood to me.”

Hermione rolled her eyes, “I was blessed by Aphrodite at birth. She chose me to be Veela. Have you been blessed by a Goddess, Bella?” Bellatrix glared at her, but Hermione continued on, “And of the two of us, which one us has the advertising deal with Twillfit and Tattings International?”

“Why you- well keep away from Rodolphus,” said Bellatrix nastily, “He’s mine.”

“Is he?” Hermione asked innocently, “Are you Rodolphus? That’s such a shame.”

LeStrange choked desperately, “No! I’d leave Bella for you if you asked it of me, Hermione.”

Bellatrix sneered before slapping him hard on the arm and storming out of the cabin.

“I’d reprimand you for your behavior,” Lucius said, “If I didn’t hate her so much.”

Hermione shrugged, “Girls tend to not like me.”

Lucius rolled his eyes, “I can’t imagine why.”

_

James had heard of her before he saw her.

Sirius had strutted into their cabin, laughing hysterically the whole way.

“Oi, Padfoot, what are you laughing about then?” James spouted.

“Yes, do tell,” said Remus sarcastically.

“Shut up, Moony!” exclaimed Sirius and he fell into a seat breathlessly.

“Well?” prompted Peter.

“I was minding my own business, checking to see if any of the girls in our year finally became attractive-” Sirius began seriously.

“Are you kidding me, mate?” Remus choked.

“I’m Sirius, actually!”

“Shut your whore mouth, Padfoot! And finish the story!” exclaimed James. “Did you prank Snivellous?”

“Better. I saw an angel.”

The entire cabinet paused.

“Um,” began Remus, “I’m not sure-”

“Well, not an actualangel,” said Sirius, “A Veela. A full-blooded one at that.”

“Really?” asked Peter, perking up.

“What’s her name?” James asked, “I don’t know any family that has a Veela.”

“It’s Malfoy’s sister.”

James and Remus went quiet, “She’s a Malfoy?” James asked for clarification.

“Completely. She and Lucius are twins. It makes sense. I knew he had a sister, but we all thought she must have been ugly since they sent her away.”

A few hours later he finally met her. Their carriage was about to leave for Hogwarts when a pale hand grabbed onto the back and started to climb up. James thought for a second it was Lily but then he spotted light hair and realize he was finally meeting the angel.

She slid into the seat across from him and next to Peter and smiled. Peter, for his part turned bright red and looked terrified. Sirius and Remus were trying hard not to make fools of themselves, but James was embracing being mesmerized.

“You must be the marauders,” she said, “I’ve heard you enjoy being in a pain in my brother’s arse.”

“We do, my lady,” said Sirius with a salute.

“Well, in that case I think we’ll get along just fine.”

_

While Hermione was popular with the boys, she was rather unpopular with the older girls who saw her as competition. They glared at her, mocked her and were disrespectful any chance they got. It mostly had to do with the herd of boys that followed Hermione everywhere she went.

Thankfully, she found that many of them were intimidated by Lucius, and thus tended not to invade her personal space as much as blatantly stare at her throughout the day.

“Life was much easier at Bauxbatons,” she sighed as she sat with Severus before potions began. It was her first day, and she had yet to meet many people outside of her own house.

“Because it’s an all-girls school,” Severus affirmed.

A young second-year girl with a badger on her crest walked into the classroom shyly. “Miss Ma’foy? I have a note from Professor Dumbledore from you.” She held out the paper and blushed bright red as Hermione stood from her chair.

“It looks urgent. I’m sorry, Severus. You’ll have to be on your own today. Your name is Amelia Bones, isn’t it? Walk with me, darling,” Hermione said sweetly to Amelia as she led her towards the headmaster’s office.

Amelia rushed to follow Hermione stammering her thanks as the rest of the students filed into the classroom.

_

Aside from the younger students, and Narcissa, the only girlfriend that Hermione had managed to make was Delphinia Greengrass, a sixth year Ravenclaw with long blonde hair and bulging blue eyes. She was quiet, but Hermione found her to be a lovely girl. She usually didn’t say much, but Hermione had noticed that when Delphinia did say something, it was important. She was quirky and she enjoyed talking about [weird] creatures [that didn’t exist].

_

After three days at Hogwarts, Hermione Malfoy knew she wanted James Potter. Besides the fact that he was smoking hot, he was the most amazing boy she had ever met. His hair was messy and cool. Even though he had glasses he was able to rock the super hot nerdy look. He played quidditch so his body was rock solid and as a positive, if Lucius ever found out, he would have a coronary

He was cute, and funny and even though they had only talked in passing a few times, Hermione’s Veela instincts were going wild. He was smart, and really sweet and goofy in a cute way. James Potter was the one.

_

She’d been asked to join the Slug Club the first week she arrived, and she wasn’t particularly surprised about it. From what she understood from her brother, Slughorn was something of a collector of the excellent, and Hermione was excellent. She was the first daughter in the Malfoy family in three hundred years, and a Veela to boot. Plus she excelled academically and magically. She was a pureblood’s wet dream.

She’d written to her father, the ever-stern Abraxas Malfoy and had explained that she had been invited into the club. She then continued to rat out Lucius a few times just to get him back for making her spend time with her soon to be sister-in-law’s sister, Bellatrix. She rolled her eyes before hopping out of her own seat in the library and onto her brother.

“Hey, Lu,”

Lucius grumbled in annoyance that Hermione could tell was only half-hearted, “Hermione. You know I don’t like being called that. Especially since I got a sternly written memo from our father this morning that makes me suspicious of your sisterly affection.”

“What do you mean? I didn’t do anything, Lucy. Lucy is a good one. How about Lucy?” Hermione asked with a wicked grin.

“It may have been alright when we were six, but we’re adults now, and it is nolongerappropriate.”

Hermione wrapped her arms and legs around her brother and squeezed him tightly. “Aw, Lu. Are you nervous your friends may hear?”

Lucius glared at Hermione before nudging her hard in the ribs. “Did you turn into a monkey while you were in France? You’ve been hanging all over me like a lost brownie.”

Hermione glared at him playfully, “Silly Lu. I’ve missed you.”

Lucius looked around them before sighing in resignation, “I’ve missed you too. Now get off me before you ruin my reputation.”

Hermione laughed.

_

“Psst, Cissy,” came a voice from her side.

“Erg-uh?” replied a tired and confused voice.

“Cissy!”

She felt a hard poke and jolted up, throwing up a silencing charm around her bed. “Hermione! What are you doing here? It’s the middle of the night!” she hissed in irritation.

“Yeah, I know, but I have a question.”

“And it couldn’t wait until morning?”

“No! When else was I going to talk to you when Lucy wasn’t around?”

“Stop calling him that. How did you even get in here, anyway? This is the Slytherindormitory.”

“I knew the password.”

Narcissa sighed. “Fine. What is it?”

“Okay, so you know James Potter?”

“Thisis what you’ve woken me up for?” Narcissa nearly shouted. “Potter!”

“Listen and stop judging me, Cissy!”

“Fine.”

“Anyways, you know how we Veela are more in tune with our mating instincts?”

“I don’t like where this is going.”

“Well, I think- well know, really – that James Potter is my mate.”

“Your father is going to have a fit,” Narcissa exclaimed, “You’re done for! You’ll be disowned! Can’t you mate someone else? Like Regulus? He’s a nice boy.”

“No,” forced out Hermione, “James is my mate. I can’t be with anyone else. I need your help.”

“How can you ask me to help you with this? Lucius will kill me if he finds out I know anything about this!”

“So -duh- don’t tell him.”

Narcissa glared at Hermione before replying, “What is it exactly that you are planning on doing? I’d like to know the reason for my death.”

“Oh stop being such a melodramatic biatch,” waved Hermione before she climbed under Narcissa’s blankets with her.

“Who invited you into my bed? Did I miss the part where I did that?”

“Oh be quiet,” Hermione rolled her eyes, “We’ve been having sleepovers since we were two.” Hermione paused and thought for a moment, “How angry do you think Lucy would be if I went out on a date with James?”

“Is this a theoretical question or is the world ending?”

“I don’t think he’d be thatmad.”

“You must be joking,” Narcissa scoffed, “Lucius hates Potter almost as much as he hates that know-it-all mudblood, Evans.”

Hermione flicked Narcissa hard on the ear, “That’s a rude word, Cissy. Evans isn’t so bad. She’s just a bit much.”

Narcissa rolled her eyes. “Listen, if you really want to start seeing Potter, there’s only one way to go about it.”

“Okay,” Hermione said, “I’m listening.”

_

“What’s wrong with him?” questioned Sirius as he sat down beside Peter at breakfast.

“He’s in love,” Remus supplied sarcastically from behind his newspaper.

“You need to let Evans go, Prongsie,” Sirius said as he shoved a sausage in his mouth. “I hear that there’s a sixth year Puff who’d like to share a broom closet with you.”

“Oh but that’s the thing, isn’t it?” Remus supplied again, “He’s over Lily, aren’t you, James?”

“Huh?” James asked as he left his daze.

“That answers that question,” said Peter with a round smile.

“Sirius! When did you get here?” James asked in confusion.

“Are you stunted?” Sirius asked. “Who are you looking at?”

James sighed happily and both Peter and Remus laughed since they had already heard this multiple times, “Hermione,” he breathed as though her name were from Merlin himself.

Sirius put his hand to James’s head and then looked at him hard before pinching him.

James jumped and glared at him, “What’s that for, then?”

“Just making sure you weren’t potioned,” cautioned Sirius, “I’ve never seen you swoon over Evans like this before, Prongsie.”

Peter looked around and then leaned in towards his group, “Are you sure you should be going after her, Prongs?”

Sirius narrowed his eyes but Remus replied sooner, “I’m sure that Miss Malfoy is a perfectly acceptable young lady, Peter.”

Sirius rolled his eyes, “What Moony means to say is that there’s no way she’s a Death Eater.”

“But how can we know that?” asked Peter nervously, “She’s a Malfoy!”

“And I’m a Black,” Sirius said gently, “But I’m not marked. Let’s give her a chance before we assume she’s evil, Wormtail. After all, she isn’t even in Slytherin.”

“Being in Slytherin does not make someone evil,” chimed Lily in irritation from nearby.

“We will agree to disagree about this, Evans,” Sirius called out.

“Oi!” Frank Longbottom said, kicking Sirius in the shin, “What about Alice, then ay? She’s lovely.”

“For a Greengrass,” Sirius groaned with a shudder.

The two mock glared at each other and then laughed.

James just sighed.

_

“I don’t understand, My Lord,” spoke the elegant blond man.

“You’ve offered me one child. What of the other?” the pale man asked, “Are you trying to keep something from me?”

“Of course not, My Lord,” Abraxas said, bowing deeply.

“I will require your daughter’s hand.”

“My Lord?” Abraxas questioned in terrified confusion.

“She is a pureblood Veela is she not? Does Lord Voldemort not deserve the best in all things?”

“Y-Yes, My Lord.”

“Then should I not have the best of women, as well, Abraxas?”

Abraxas bowed deeply, his terror multiplying with every word.

“Keep her chaste,” Voldemort commanded, “We will marry when she leaves Hogwarts.”

As Abraxas left his Lord’s lair, he could feel the tears in his eyes. When had the Dark Lord become so mad? How could the Dark Lord ask for his only daughter’s hand? Demand it? He had wanted his daughter to marry a good pureblood – someone with money and a title so she could live comfortably. It was one thing for his daughter to marry a Death Eater, which would have kept her safe from attacks from other Death Eaters. But the King of Snakes himself? How could he accept that his pure, innocent daughter was to marry Lord Voldemort?

He collapsed in front of his wife, explaining brokenly that their only daughter was going to be a slave to a man of evil.

_

Hermione had of course noticed that James had been following her around like a lost puppy all day. And she was entirely fine with it. Around their third class she made a point to sit down at a table alone right as he entered. As she predicted, James zoomed over to the seat and sat down beside her.

“Hi. I’m James. James Potter - Captain of the Gryffindor quidditch team and Head Boy. You’re Hermione Malfoy.”

Hermione laughed in her head. She wasn’t even using her allure (well, it was always still there but she was working hard to keep it reined in so she wouldn’t overwhelm the men of Hogwarts) and he was still acting like an idiot. It must have been his personality. “I know who you are, James. We met once already.”

“Uh- yeah. I remember. But I wasn’t- er- I mean - Sirius. So, do you like Transfiguration?”

Hermione openly laughed this time before moving her chair a bit closer to James’s. “Why don’t I tell you in a study date, later?”

James turned bright red and began stuttering in agreement. From behind him, he could hear Peter, Remus and Sirius laughing their arses off. “I-uh-Yes!”

From the front of the room, McGonagall cleared her throat and trained him with a glare. “Mr. Potter. Is there something you’d be interested with sharing to the rest of the class?”

James, still recovering from his outburst of mesmerization quickly spat out, “I have a study date with Hermione.”

Hermione turned bright red, knowing that his odd behavior was at least partially because of her natural allure. She heard Sirius and Remus laugh even harder.

The stern transfiguration professor rolled her eyes, and turned to begin her lesson. Maybe a Ravenclaw would be good for one of her favorite lions.

_

Lily Evans, Head Girl was doing her nightly rounds, checking the fifth floor when she spotted the telltale signs of an occupied broom closet: a closed door, silence, and irritated portraits. Her brow rose in annoyance before she opened the door abruptly.

And she was very surprised by what she saw: Hermione Malfoy’s white satin hair in a ruffled mess with a hand up her shirt and another in her skirt. She seemed to be enjoying herself, because her eyes were closed and she was gasping in pleasure with her hands deep into the raven locks of the boy who was kissing her neck. On closer inspection, Lily realized that the hands and lips belonged to none other than that toe-rag James Potter.

“Miss Malfoy.” Lily stated without emotion, “Potter,”she continued with thinly veiled distaste.

The two broke apart but James did so rather unwillingly. James sighed with a dazed look across his face, “Hermione, your hair is white as-”

Lily turned to him and glared. “Go.”

Hermione rolled her eyes before following Lily in annoyance. “You could have just closed the door if you didn’t enjoy what you saw. I certainly did.”

“I’m not sure how things work at Beauxbatons, but what you were doing is against the rules here.”

Hermione rolled her eyes again, “Relax, Evans. James and I were just having a bit of fun.”

For some reason this made Lily absolutely furious, “So, you enjoy using your Veela power on unsuspecting males? That’s disgusting.”

Hermione cocked an irritated brow. She was trying to like Lily, but Narcissa was somewhat right about the redhead, “In fact, I didn’t need to use any allure on James because he likes me. For me. And I like him back and treat him well. Unlike you.”

Lily bit her lip in barely contained anger. What a bitch! Before she could say anything Hermione spoke again, “If I have it my way, Evans, I’ll be the next Lady Potter. Stay out of my way.”

And then she strutted gracefully away.

_

The next day, Lily had to hold back an angry scream when she watched Hermione Malfoy, Bitch of Ravenclaw glide towards their table and sit down right next to James who seemed to sigh when he saw her. From across the Great Hall, Lucius Malfoy looked like he was going to have a coronary.

“Hello, Evans,” Hermione said politely.

Lily could feel the vein in her forehead throb.

Black, the arrogant snot that he was looked at Lily and said, “Rude, much, Evans?”

Hermione just smiled peacefully, “James, did you see there’s going to be a Hogsmeade weekend coming soon?”

“I did,” James said, putting his arm around her waist and pulling her close, “Would you like me to show you around?”

“Hmm,” Hermione said pretend thoughtfully, “I’m not sure. Maybe I should ask Remus instead.”

Remus, who sat across from them, began to splutter and turn red.

“Maybe you should,” growled James before kissing her thoroughly.

“Disgusting,” said Peter. “You two are disgusting.”

“I think it’s hot,” said Marlene McKinnon from nearby. “This is masturbation fodder.”

_

“Being Head Boy comes with certain privileges,” James explained as he escorted her to the Headmaster’s floo. “Thanks, Uncle,” he said to the weathered white haired man nearby.

“Be safe and make sure you represent Hogwarts accordingly,” Professor Dumbledore warned with a happy smile, “And please be sure to bring me back some candy. I do love muggle candies. They’re rather creative.”

Hermione gave a confused look as she held onto James in the floor who called out, “The Leaky Cauldron.”

“We’re going to the muggle world?” Hermione questioned nervously.

James paused as they walked towards the exit of Diagon Alley. “Is that going to be a problem? We can do something else if you’d like.”

“No! It’s no problem at all. I used to explore back in France. But I’ve never seen muggle London.”

“Then you’re in for a treat. C’mon.”

The first thing Hermione noticed was that it was loud, veryloud. There were muggles everywhere, wearing clothing in every color, showing their skin! Hermione looked down at the light coral Acromantula silk tea dress she was wearing with her nylons and heels and frowned.

“There’s a few things we’ve got planned for today. It’s about… 11:45 now. Sirius showed me a great Indian restaurant a few blocks down this way. Have you ever tried curry?”

That was when they noticed that they were garnering a lot of attention. They probably looked out of place. She in her dress and he in his dress pants and buttoned vest? And the addition of Hermione’s allure made it much worse.

“Uh, James? Maybe this wasn’t the best idea?” Hermione suggested as she leaned in closer to him. A few feet away there was a middle-aged man and his friends leering at her like a piece of meat.

“I’d forgotten,” James sighed as he opened the door to the small restaurant, “About- well, you know.”

“Sometimes I forget too. I’ll try to rein it in as much as I can.”

James paused as they reached the table the waiter had given them, “Don’t. It’s part of you. If I can look past it and still fall – er, see you as youthen others should too.”

Hermione blushed knowingly and kissed him on his cheek.

They ordered and Hermione snuggled close to James before looking at him seriously. “We need to talk about something.”

James paused. “I know. I figured we’d dance around it for a while.”

“You know I don’t have any marriage contracts. I’m a Malfoy, and there are some things that are expected of me…”

James’s hopes sunk.

“That being said, fuck Voldemort.”

James blinked. “Did you just-”

“Yes. He’s a bigoted, ass backwards, snake in the grass weasel who is forcing purebloods to lick his boots. Malfoys do not bow to others, and I will not be the wife of a Death Eater. If you plan on joining, I’m not going to be able to continue to see you.”

“But what about your parents?”

“I’ve been in France for six years. What do you think they want? I’ve only been forced to come back now because Lu and Cissy are marrying and I’m helping to plan the wedding. Or at least, that’s what my parents have told me. I’ve a feeling there is something else at work, but I can’t be sure.”

They looked at each other before James opened his mouth, “I used to be in love with Lily Evans.”

Hermione’s manicured brow rose elegantly on her forehead. “Yes?”

“Er…”

“I’m a girl, James. I knew about it already. Evans acts like even more of an uptight bitch when I’m around. Clearly she’s put out that she’s been replaced.”

James frowned, “That’s a little harsh, Hermione.”

Hermione shrugged, “It’s the truth. She ignored you and I saw you and I liked what I saw. Now she’s jealous. She had no intention to date you, Mr. Potter,” Hermione breathed into his ear. She kissed his neck and then entwined their fingers together before continuing, “And I have intentions for so much more than that.”

James had to hold in a groan and clear his head, which felt like it was going foggy.

“Your meals,” the waiter said, interrupting the moment.

Thank Merlin.

_

They were walking down the road towards their next destination when Hermione paused to look in the window of a store that James had stopped in front of.

“What’s this?” she asked.

“Well, I did say we were going to a show tonight.”

“But you told me to wear something casual!”

James laughed as he held the door open, “I know. That’s because Narcissa Black told me that you’ve been stealing copies of muggle fashion magazines for years. And she said that the only thing you love almost as much as books is shopping. After this we’ll be going to this muggle bookshop – Shakespeare and Co.”

Hermione slapped her hands in front of her mouth and then hugged James, “I’ve never been able to go… Because father…” She teared up a little. She didn’t want to talk about this anymore.

“There’s a clerk waiting for us inside. She’s been told to get you whatever you want. As long as you model it for me.”

“Anytime,” she whispered back.

_

After having Hermione hang out for a few weeks, Lily was starting to get even more irritated than she had been before. She didn’t even like Potter, but she was annoyed that he suddenly wanted nothing to do with her, and everything to do with that Pureblood Princess Hermione Malfoy. The thing that irritated her most was that Hermione wasn’t even irritating! She was an angel! She was nice to the house elves. All their professors loved her. She got perfect grades. She was pretty. Marlene and Alice really liked her… It seemed like she was a genuinely nice person. But Lily was committed to hating her because of the way she was treating the boys in the school. She treated the boys in the school like they were all her pet dogs!

To make matters worse, Remus thought she was brilliant. The two of them were always chatting and talking about the things they were learning in school. Why did Remus have to like her? She was annoying! Why couldn’t Remus like Lily instead? Lily was smart. And nice. And funny.

Ugh!

_

Hermione slid into the seat next to James in their potions class and kissed him on the cheek lightly.

Sirius was on the other side of James and tugged James.

“Oi, Malfoy! Quit macking on my best friend!”

“He’s myboyfriend,” Hermione said drily.

“Best friend trumps girlfriend!” Sirius exclaimed.

“Padfoot, perhaps you could leave them alone for a change?” asked Remus with a bemused smile.

“Not a chance! Ever since these two have started dating we hardly even see Prongsie!” Sirius whined still hugging James tightly.

“That’s because I prefer to look at Hermione than to look at you three,” James joked, shoving Sirius off of him.

_

Hermione had become the fifth part of their group, since she was around so much. She was headed towards Ancient Runes, the only class that she and James didn’t take together with Remus.

“I know your secret,” Hermione said knowingly as they rounded a corner.

Remus almost tripped right there before Hermione continued.

“You like Lily Evans.”

Remus almost cried in relief. “I-uh- How did you know that?”

Hermione gave him a look. “You stare at her all the time. I’m not surprised you like her. You two are a lot alike. She’s the swottiest swot to ever swot and you’re just as bad.”

“Hey!” Remus exclaimed.

“It’s not a bad thing,” Hermione said, shrugging. “I like books too. But I like James more.”

Remus went quiet, nervously. If Hermione had noticed, who else had noticed?

“It’s okay to like Lily, Remus. She likes you too, you know.”

Remus’s eyes widened to saucers.

“You’re kidding me, aren’t you?” Hermione laughed, “She’s been making eyes at you for months. Ask her out,” Hermione suggested, “Alice and Marlene told me she likes sunflowers and The Beatles. That’s a muggle band.”

“I-but- she doesn’t deserve someone like me,” Remus said miserably.

Hermione gave him an irritated glance, “Remus, you’re only a werewolf one night a month. There are worse things – like being my brother everyday of the year.”

Remus gasped loudly and Hermione rolled her eyes again.

“I’m a veela, Remus. You didn’t actually think I wouldn’t have figured it out the minute I met you?”

“But- you- why are you-”

Hermione sighed patiently, “It’s fine with me. And that’s all we will discuss on the subject. Now come on before we’re late.”

_

Lily sat at her usual table in the library, revising her potions essay. To her annoyance, her favorite table was only four tables away from where Hermione Malfoy always ended up sitting with both Greengrasses and Narcissa Black. Luckily, Lily always sat with Marlene and Dorcas, just in case those rotten Slytherins had some tricks up their sleeves. She had noticed in the last few weeks that Hermione had been coming to the library alone, and usually ended up being joined by Severus Snape, Lily’s estranged childhood friend.

Potter and his friends never seemed to come to the library to visit Hermione at all. But Lily supposed that that was because it seemed anytime Hermione wasn’t in the library or class, she was spending time with the foolhardy foursome.

Today, Hermione sat completely alone, busying herself with her end of semester assignments and with books stacked high next to her. If Hermione noticed that Lily was glaring at her from across the room, she didn’t say anything.

But she must have noticed because she sighed, packed up her bags and books and sauntered to sit directly across from Lily, dropping her stuff on the table and staring at her intently.

“Did you need something?” Lily asked with slight venom. There was something about this girl that just-

“Yes, actually,” Hermione pressed opening a book in front of her. “I was wondering when you were going to ask Remus on a date.”

Lily turned beet red and opened her mouth but Hermione trampled on, “He’s liked you for ages. I know you like him back, and he knows too. But you know that he won’t ask you out because of his… condition.” Hermione looked down at her watch, “I know you don't like me, Lily. Most girls don’t. It’s part of being a Veela that I have accepted. However, Remus is my friend, and he is James’s friend. I want him to be happy. And even though you’ve been nothing but a spoiled brat to me, I want youto be happy as well. I’ve told Remus to meet me to study eight minutes from now. I’ll be gone from here far before then. That means you have eight minutes to decide whether you’ll stay being a brat about this, or just accept that you and Remus Lupin are meant to be.”

At that, Hermione picked up her bags, and spelled the books she had been looking at back to their homes before giving one last meaningful stare at Evans and heading towards the exit of the library.

Lily gulped and looked down at her book. Should she stay? For Remus? What if it was a trick? She might as well just wait and see what would happen. Why would Malfoy do something like that anyway? To rub it in her face that-

Stop. Lily thought to herself. How could she have been so unfair to Hermione Malfoy? Yes, she was a little put out that Potter had suddenly decided that Lily was no longer the object of his affection, but she didn’t even like Potter. So, then why? As she thought about it, she realized Hermione might’ve said exactly why. She was a Veela, and part of being a Veela was that there was a built in level of competition that seemed to affect people of the same sex. Lily had noticed she wasn’t the only one who was standoffish with the seventh year Ravenclaw. It seemed that the only people she ever saw with her girl were those she studied with and occasionally Marlene McKinnon. And Hermione seemed to drift away from being friendly with boys outside of the Marauders and a few of her brother’s friends.

Maybe, Lily thought, Hermione wasn’t so bad. Maybe she was really just a victim of a very poor, and very good situation. And as Lily pondered that, she noticed a flustered looking Remus Lupin looking around the library.

A week later, Hermione saw them snogging in the 6^thfloor corridor.

_

Hermione Malfoy and James Potter were Hogwarts’s new It Couple. Narcissa and Lucius had taken the cake for the past two years, but Hermione and James? The younger girls wanted to be Hermione. They followed her around, asked her questions and hung on her every word. Hermione’s table, a six-person mahogany table that had (in her opinion) the best view of the Arithmancy section, perfect reading light, and the best stack of books to hide from Madam Pince, had become a high traffic in the normally secluded area of the library. Younger girls shyly came to ask her school related questions that eventually evolved into questions about James and their relationship. To which Hermione always smiled softly and told them that they should focus on their studies and not boys. And it got even worse after the article had been published.

Full-Blood Veela, only daughter of Duke of Malfoy, and model for Twillfitt and Tattings International, Lady Hermione Malfoy has enchanted Hogwarts with her good looks, astounding brilliance and her keen ability to charm her classmates. The Pureblood Princess has transferred this year from Beauxbatons Witch’s Academy in order to be closer to her family, since her brother, Lord Lucius Malfoy is rumored to be marrying Lady Narcissa Black this spring. Word in the halls say that Hermione’s thrown away her twenty-two year old, politically aspiring French beau, Louis Delacour for seventh year Head Boy and Gryffindor Chaser, Lord James Potter. Before that, she dated twenty-six year old Bulgarian Keeper, Igor Krum and the thirty-year-old Russian socialite Viscount Anton Karkaroff – at the same time!

“Hermione Malfoy?”

“How do I begin to describe Hermione?” says sixth year Gryffindor, Janine Smith.

“Hermione Malfoy is flawless,” Amelia Bones tells me.

“I hear her hair’s insured for 10,000 galleons,” elaborates sixth year Delia Brown.

“I heard she does wand advertisements… In France,” wondered a second year Hufflepuff.

“Her favorite book is Hogwarts: A History,” says first year Hufflepuff, Ella Goode.

“One time,” ejaculates one of the fifth year Ravenclaw Carrow twins, “she met Brixton Jones from Puddlemere United in Diagon Alley-”

Her twin continues, “And he told her she was pretty.”

“One time she hexed me in a practical,” explains seventh year Marlene McKinnon, “It was awesome.”

But is this pretty princess all that she says? Not everyone seems to have a glowing recommendation of the seventh year Ravenclaw.

“She’s horrid,” says pretty seventh year, Lady Bellatrix Black, “She tried to steal my boyfriend right in front of me!”

It seems like this is an ongoing issues because another sixth year Hufflepuff says, “She’s such a guy stealer. James Potter has been going after Lily Evans since forever and all of a sudden he drops her for Hermione Malfoy? Love potion, anyone?”

Did Hermione Malfoy potion James Potter so she could be the next Duchess of Potter? This reporter will keep you updated.

For more information on Hermione Malfoy’s romances including Pierre Delacour, Sirius Black, Igor Krum and Anton Karkaroff see page 7. For more information on James Potter see page 12. For more information on Lucius Malfoy and Narcissa Black’s engagement, see page 22.

Hermione rolled her eyes and threw the article into the trash. Rita Skeeter needed a good knocking down, but Hermione didn’t think the irritating seventh year Slytherin even deserved her attention. “What absolute rubbish! As if I would date someone that much older than me? Pierre and I never even dated. We were just friends. I ought to curse that bint.”

Amelia Bones, a very small second year Hufflepuff with beautiful auburn hair, knobby permanently skinned knees, and a slight speech impediment tumbled over to her table at least once a week with her shy friends hanging about nearby to get a good view.

“’Squeze me, Miss Ma’foy?”

Hermione looked away from Remus, Lily (who had finally realized that Hermione wasn’t thatbad), and James (who had finally joined her in the library) and down at the short girl before smiling slightly.

“Hello, Amelia. You can call me Hermione, you know.”

“Or, The Pureblood Princess,” James snarked, to which Hermione whacked him over the head.

Amelia looked at her with wide eyes and then whispered, “My f’iends don’t believe we’’e f’iends. They said I lied.”

“Well it was very brave of you to come over here. Would you like to sit with us?” She moved to make space between herself and James.

Beside her James silently groaned, to which Remus kicked him hard in the shin and glared at him pointedly.

“’kay,” said Amelia, climbing in between James and Hermione on the oversized couch.

James leaned in to look at her assignment. “What’s this, then?” he asked, not recognizing what she was doing.

“It’s an extra assignment,” Hermione said flippantly, as she put her final touches on it, “Professor Babbling has offered me a recommendation for a Mastery at the College of Merlin in Arithmancy.” Hermione blushed slightly.

James looked at her in surprise and then smiled, “College of Merlin, ay?”

“What’s the College of Merlin?” asked Lily, not liking being out of the loop.

“It’s the magical college at Cambridge University,” Remus explained patiently, “the College of Merlin has been around since the founding of the school. Before the Statute of Secrecy, it was common knowledge that Cambridge had a Wizarding College.”

“That’s bloody fantastic,” James said.

“When I was a girl, I wanted to be a spell-maker, and Arithmancy is the most important part of spell-making,” Hermione said, somewhat shyly.

“Bloody brilliant!” James boomed, which got him an angry shhfrom the front of the library.

_

Lucius had left Hogwarts for the weekend to visit his father. He had told Hermione that it was strictly a visit between he and his father and Hermione was not to be involved with affairs of the House, just as the note from his father had directed.

Hermione had rolled her eyes and stormed away at the loss of opportunity to see her parents.

When he arrived at the Manor, he was surprised to find his parents solemnly waiting for him outside of the floo. He furrowed his brows, “What has happened? Have the Blacks decided to reject our contract?”

“No, son,” said Abraxas, “Come sit with us.”

When they were all seated with tea, Violetta continued, “I am sure you know what is in store for you this Christmas?”

Lucius’s eye twitched, “I’m to be marked.”

“It’s okay to not be excited,” Violetta said, “to not want to do it.”

Lucius gulped. This was the type of talk that got Purebloods killed.

Abraxas crossed his knees and then began, “The Dark Lord has taken an interest in your sister.”

Lucius’s cup fell to the ground and shattered into a thousand pieces at his feet.

“He has insisted that she marry him as soon as she leaves Hogwarts.”

Violetta could see her son’s apprehension and quickly cut in, “We have always taught you the importance of your blood, of our blood. This will always be a truth. Mudbloods are not like us, and they do not belong here. However, your father and I have noticed that the Dark Lord has become increasingly unstable. He has been killing those of pure blood. Your sister may be in grave danger.”

“I-” Lucius began.

His father cut him off, “You are not to let Hermione know that you know this. She does not know and we fear for her safety if she finds out. We’ve read in Witch’s Weekly that she is seeing the Potter boy. If we have seen it, there is no question of whether or not the Dark Lord has seen it.”

Violetta continued, “You must arrange dates for her. We can certainly explain away dates with many different suitors. We cannot explain away a relationship.”

“So you’re going to let her marry him?” Lucius shouted angrily.

“We don’t have a choice,” said Abraxas wearily, “No aligned families will be able to pursue a contract with her now.”

“What about Potter? Surely he’d contract for her!” exclaimed Lucius.

“He certainly would,” Violetta agreed, “And then we would watch as Hermione’s husband and his family were killed and then she would still marry the Dark Lord.”

Lucius flopped back in chair, wishing he had a brandy. “What are we going to do?” he whispered.

“We are going to wait it out. If we cannot find a way out of this by Christmas, we have another plan in store for Hermione. And it is not a preferred plan.”

_

The last Hogsmeade weekend of the year was this weekend, and Hermione had finally gotten Lily to like her enough to convince her to join Narcissa and the Greengrass sisters.

“We’re going Yuletide shopping for the boys,” Hermione explained as she dragged Lily from the Great Hall and towards the carriages.

“What are you getting Lucy, Cissy?” Hermione asked.

Narcissa sighed, “He’s told you not to call him that, Hermione.”

“Yeah, whatever,” Hermione said and pulled them towards the bookstore.

“I’m going to get Frank a new curse breaking set. He’s applying to Auror Academy and I think it’s marvelous,” said Alice excitedly.

“What about you, Del?” Hermione asked, “What are you getting Xeno?”

Delphinia stared widely at Hermione before replying, “I got us tickets to a muggle spell-casting show. Xeno wants to see the nargles.”

Hermione nodded solemnly and Lily just looked confused.

“What are you getting Remus?” asked Alice as she picked up a book on spell-making.

“Er… Remus really likes chocolate so I thought he would enjoy some chocolates and a pair of self warming socks…” Lily looked nervous, as though she wasn’t sure if Remus would like the present, or if the Pureblood girls she was with would judge her for such an inexpensive gift.

Hermione smiled widely, “That’s an excellent idea. James tells me that Remus has been losing his socks for years. Want to go to Twillfit and Tattings?” Before Lily could object, Hermione continued, “I have a lifetime of free clothes there and good self warming socks are pretty expensive. You know, I might get James a new jumper. He’s been wearing that horrendous Puddlemere United jumper for ages. It’s disgusting,” she continued as she dragged Lily to the next store, “I’ve tried to get him to get rid of it, but he insists it’s good luck. As if!” Hermione exclaimed, now on a rant, “That ratty old thing is the nastiest piece of-”

“We get it,” Narcissa said drily.

_

The year progressed quickly. The seventh years were taking mock N.E.W.T.s and handing in end-of-term assignments. People seemed to be in the Christmas spirit, with the Great Hall decorated for the special yearly occasion. It was winter and Christmas was right around the corner, and most of the students couldn’t wait to get on the Express and head back down to London.

“And of course, you’re welcome to come to the family party this year, Severus,” said Lucius as he sipped his wine by the fire in the Slytherin common room.

“I may,” said Severus without commitment.

At that moment, Narcissa stormed in and stood in front of Lucius with annoyance. “Did you truly send Hermione on a date with Rosier?”

“What’s it to you?” sneered Lucius.

“You know she doesn’t like him,” Narcissa spat, “She’s been complaining about him and Mulciber for weeks!”

“She is obligated to marry and Rosier is an excellent choice,” Lucius spoke, “She could do much worse than him.”

“She could do better too!” Narcissa exclaimed, “She’s been dating Potter for months, and you know it too!”

“My sister will not be marrying a blood-traitor,” Lucius said, eyes narrowing dangerously. “She will not sully the Malfoy name with the likes of him.”

_

Hermione was going to lose her virginity to James before they returned to the castle after Christmas. They’d been dating for two and a half months, and Hermione was ready to take the next step. Unsurprisingly, it was really easy for Hermione to convince James that it was time for them to make love, since he had been thinking about it too. He hadn’t mentioned it to Hermione, mostly because he didn’t want to push her.

Usually, purebloods waited until marriage to have sex, since virgin blood could be used to strengthen fertility potions, and purebloods had had issues breeding for centuries. But Hermione was a Veela, and things were different for her. Besides, it wasn’t a huge deal. After all, Bellatrix and Rodolphus had had sex and nobody had said anything.

She had dragged him into a dark corner of the East Wing, and was toying with his pants zipper. The portrait of her great-great grandmother Aurelia rolled her eyes in unveiled disgust. Her husband, Marcus watched with great interest and desire.

“If you sully yourself with him, he shant marry you, my dear. And then you shant have naught but a babe and disgrace,” said Aurelia Malfoy.

“I’d say leave them be, Madam! This is the most rutting I’ve seen since my grandson had that live in whore.”

Hermione rolled her eyes and looked up, “Keep talking and I’ll stash your portraits in the back end of the dungeons.” She looked back to James and kissed him hard, “I’ve wanted you since I first saw you,” she whispered hotly in his ear, pushing him through the door behind him and shoving her hand into his underwear. “Is this for me?” she asked, referring to his raging hard on.

James groaned heatedly as they kissed again.

She stroked his erection in her palms before standing on her toes and kissing him deeply. “James,” she whispered, “Touch me.”

“Where?” he breathed back, massaging his palms into her back as he groaned in pleasure.

“Everywhere,” she answered, before putting one of his hands on her covered breasts. She kissed him again and then quickly unbuttoned the long dress she had been wearing for the Malfoy Christmas ball, revealing a light pink lace bra that was sheer and showed off her dusty pink nipples.

James groaned at the sight.

“Do you like it?” Hermione asked, “I ordered it just for you. Because I know you like my tits.” She brought one hand to her breast and pulled on her left nipple, which stood to immediate attention.

James couldn’t even answer. “We can’t do this. What if-”

“Nobody is coming this way soon. There’s a party going on downstairs.”

“But-”

“Besides, daddy won’t be able to deny a petition from your family if we’ve had sex. He’ll go beserk.”

He probably should have been angry that the first time that they had sex would be a political move, but he couldn’t bring himself to look away from the delicious sight in front of him.

Her panties matched her bra. Then she took initiative and pushed him onto the bed, climbing into his lap, with her legs on either side of his.

“Do you want to see what’s under my knickers?” she asked. “I got them in muggle London with Lily. Muggles truly know how to make a good pair of crotchless panties.”

James choked and stuttered, “Cr-Crotch-Crotchless?”

“That’s right,” Hermione said, bringing her face closer to his and rubbing the place where her heat touched his chest.

James’s eye twitched and he watched as Hermione put her lips around his cock and sucked gently. “Do you like this?” she asked as she rubbed his cock and kissed the tip before engulfing the entire thing.

James, finally abandoning his gentlemanly behavior put his hand on the back of her head, forcing her to take more of her cock down his throat until he could see the outline of his cock going down her neck.

Hermione looked up at him, and brought one of the hands that had been playing with his balls down to her pussy, making sure he saw her push her fingers into her wet hole.

James motioned for her to sit up and pulled her onto him roughly.

Hermione straddled James, positioning herself over his cock. She dipped his head into her folds before allowing her to slowly ease down on him. She had expected more pain but all she felt was a tiny pinch that was gone as soon as it began. She felt more discomfort in the fact that James’s cock was pressing against her cervix. She sighed as James groaned and then lifted her hips before slamming them back down again.

James gripped her hips to steady her as he helped her gain a rhythm. Then he reached down and rubbed her nub gently, trying to coax her into an orgasm. She leaned down to kiss him, her breasts rubbing against his chest, and her clit finding even more friction with his hand.

“You are so perfect,” James whispered before flipping them over and taking control. Gone was the slow rhythm that Hermione had built and in its place was a fierce, passionate and hard loving that James guided.

“I see the way that every man looks at you,” he said, thrusting so hard that Hermione was gasping for air. “They can’t have you. Do you understand?”

“Y-Ye-Yes!” Hermione cried in pleasure.

“No one can have you except me,” James said, “You are mine.”

There were tears leaking from her eyes now. She felt like she was teetering on a rope. It was coming. She knew this feeling, this feeling of being on the edge.

“I’m going to cum,” she groaned, her nipples becoming even more erect as James bit one roughly. Her walls tightened and she gave a quiet whimper as she felt herself fall over a wave of pleasure.

Suddenly he went nearly rigid, slowing down before stiffening and releasing into her in long, hot, spurts.

She felt near delirious. She couldn’t think. All she could feel was an aching tiredness and comforting, soft warmth that was wrapped around her. James.

They fell asleep.

_

“Thank you, Mipsy,” said Lady Malfoy, grinning slyly at her husband.

“This is our chance, Violetta,” said Abraxas, “If we can push them to marry we can keep her from the Dark Lord.”

“And when he realizes we’ve married her off? He’ll kill us for our insubordination!”

“We’ll claim that we can only do so much to control our daughter when she is out of our sight. He won’t want if her she isn’t…”

“Quite. Although what’s to stop him from torturing us for this?”

Abraxas stood and paced in front of the fireplace in his study. “We’ll have to play this off as though it was a mistake that can become a political move. We’ll say that there’s a chance she could have taken his seed. Then, we’ll say we’ve planted her to inherit the Potter seats as soon as she has a child and that we’ve planned on slaughtering the rest of the family. That will leave her with all three of their Wizengamot seats and the Potter fortune. He’ll buy that. They’ve money, even if they are blood traitors.”

Violetta hesitated before agreeing, “How fortunate this opportunity has been. We will have to act reluctant. Hermione must believe that this marriage wasn’t planned on our part.”

Abraxas smirked. “I’ll owl the Potters.”

_

Hermione should have realized her lack of presence would be noticed, because that morning the angry gaze of both of her parents and a guilty looking house elf woke her.

“Get dressed. Now! And the both of you had better be in my study in less then five minutes,” her father spat angrily, throwing robes at her and slamming the door behind him.

James looked like he was about to have a heart attack, but Hermione didn’t seem as worried as he thought she should be.

James was even more terrified when he entered Lord Malfoy’s study to find that both of his parents were standing and looking at him with a mixture of anger and disappointment.

Abraxas leveled an angry gaze at her daughter, “This is why we sent you to Beauxbatons. Look what you’ve gone and done. You’ve sullied yourself. How can we enter you into a good contract?”

Charlus Potter rolled his eyes, “She could do worse than my son, Malfoy.”

“She could do better, too!” Violetta Malfoy spurned angrily.

“Now see here,” Dorea began shrilly, “We’re Pure thirty-six generations! That’s far more than a French usurping family like the Malfoys! We’re sacred twenty-eight!”

“Why you-”

“Daddy! Please stop!” Hermione begged, “It wasn’t James’s fault, I swear it. It was my idea.”

“Your idea?” he asked angrily, “What would possess you to break your chastity?”

Hermione sniffled a little, “I love him, Daddy.”

At that, it seemed that all the glares in the room softened. They all knew what it meant to be young and in love.

James reached out and took Hermione’s hand into his before looking up to meet the gaze of the adults. “I am very sorry, Lord Malfoy, for what we’ve done.”

Hermione looked up in hurt.

“I’m not sorry for what we did last night. And I’m not sorry that I love Hermione. I’m sorry that I didn’t petition for an official courtship and ask your permission to see her. Please, accept my formal request of courtship with intent to marry for Hermione Serena Malfoy.”

Charlus gaped. His son-

“Absolutely not!” yelled Abraxas in horror.

“Now wait, Abraxas,” said Violetta, “Let’s be rational about this. She’s… fallen with him. We can’t very well marry her off to anyone else. And… He could have been a Longbottom. Or worse, a Weasley.”

Dorea glared at Violetta, knowing that since the two teens had been caught that there was not much that could be done, “Then we’ll write up the contract now.”

“Fine!” snarled Violetta, challenging.

“Fine!” sneered Dorea back.

Abraxas sent for blooding paper, used for important Wizarding oaths as well as Dorea’s sister, Cassiopeia Black, who would act as a neutral party between the two families. The group gathered together around the parchment, as Cassiopeia noted their demands.

“Miss Malfoy will come to the marriage with two Dower homes: one in Southern France and the other in Kent. Her family must provide a Dowry of 50,000 galleons,” Cassiopeia read from their agreed upon form, “This Dowry must go to setting up a suitable home outside of both family properties. Additionally, a Bride Price of 100,000 galleons must be paid. Let it be noted that this Bride Price agreement takes into consideration: the purity of the bride’s blood, the bride’s assumed ability to carry an heir, the bride’s magical prowess, the bride’s family lineage and the bride’s rare blessing from Aphrodite. This Bride Price must go to the management of the family Estate. If the union bares an heir and a spare, they will be expected to take the mantel of House Potter. If there is a third son, he is expected to take on the name of House Malfoy.”

The group looked around, waiting for objections upon the stipulations that they agreed upon.

“This marriage must be held before Miss Malfoy turns eighteen on August 11^thof next year.”

“Eight months?” asked Hermione.

“Is that a problem?” pushed Violetta dangerously.

Hermione shook her head, “No, mama.”

“Please sign your names with this blood quill, and leave your wand mark here.”

They were getting married.

_

Hermione and Lucius arrived at platform 9 ¾ on time the day that they were ready to return to snowy Scotland. Hermione bundled up her coat tighter and kissed her mother and father goodbye. “I’ll see you soon mama, daddy.” Even though Abraxas was still put out that his only daughter would be marrying a blood-traitor (though happy because his plan had worked out and she wouldn’t be marrying the Dark Lord), he doted on his daughter, and hugged her tightly before she headed towards the train with her brother in tow.

“Lu,” Hermione said as her brother lifted her trunk onto the rack for her, “Do you mind if I sit in another cabin today?”

Lucius sighed, “I can’t stop you. You’ve gone and engaged yourself to the idiot.”

Hermione’s eyes watered a little and Lucius felt bad instantly.

“I’m sorry. I didn’t mean that. But… Please be careful. I want you to be happy. I just worry.”

“I know, Lucy. But James will never hurt me,” Hermione said with a smile, “I love him.”

Lucius wanted to roll his eyes but refrained, since he could see messy black hair coming down the hall.

“Hermione-princess,” came the voice as he grabbed her hips and spun her in the air, “Are you extra beautiful today?”

She giggled and kissed him softly while her brother glowered in mild disgust.

“I’ll see you later, Lucy!”

“Don’t call me Lucy!”

_

“You directly disobeyed my orders,” hissed the red-eyed man as he sent a bone-breaking hex at the man’s back.

“I’m sorry, My Lord!” Abraxas cried, out of his mind in pain.

“Sorry?” Voldemort taunted.

“We thought it would be for your pleasure, My Lord!” Abraxas breathed desperately.

“Explain yourself, Abraxas, or I will string you by your hair.”

Abraxas stuttered out the plan he and his wife had discussed and breathed a sigh when his Lord seemed to relax in his chair.

“When the blood-traitor is dead, she will marry me. Is that understood?”

“Of course, My Lord,” murmured Abraxas, bowing as deeply as his sore and swollen back would allow him.

“You shouldn’t have done this without my permission,” Voldemort said and then in a cool voice called over Antonin Dolohov, “Have fun.”

_

Second term came and went, and soon, the year was coming to an end. N.E.W.T.s had just ended and the seventh years were all getting ready for their graduation.

Lily and Hermione got along far better these days, and Remus and Lily seemed to be doing very well. James and Hermione were doing even better.

“I can’t believe we aren’t going to find out our grades until Monday,” said Lily in frustration, “I need to know what marks I’ve gotten.”

Hermione groaned and fell back onto the grass behind her, “Me too. I’ve failed everything, I just know it.”

Lily let out a straggled sob and fell back, “If you’ve failed, then I don’t know what I’ve gotten.”

James looked at the two girls like they had both grown second heads and turned to look at Remus, Peter and Sirius who both shrugged.

“Oi!” hollered Marlene as she shredded towards the grassy knoll near the lake followed by Dorcas Meadows. “Greengrass is looking for you, Hermione.”

Hermione sighed and kissed James quickly before hurrying off back to the castle.

She ran into Delphinia only moments later who told her that it was Narcissa that wanted to see her. Hermione sighed and then headed towards the dungeons where she knew she would find Narcissa.

“Cissy?” she called after the blonde to get her attention.

Narcissa spun around and looked around before grabbing Hermione and yanking her into an empty classroom and throwing up a dozen wards.

“What are you-”

“Listen. This is important.”

Hermione immediately shut up, knowing that whatever Narcissa had to say had to be important if she was acting this serious.

“There is something that you need to know. I’ve been begging Lucius to tell you for months but he’s too afraid you may be hurt.”

Hermione furrowed her brows and then looked at her in understanding, “James didn’t hook up with that fifth year Hufflepuff. She was lying.”

Narcissa let out a frustrated gasp, “Merlin, Hermione, are you listening to yourself?”

“What?” Hermione asked, affronted.

“There is a warbrewing. People are dying. There are more important things than James!”

“Hey!” Hermione said, her face turning bright red in embarrassment, “I know that something is coming. Don’t you think I know? I saw my father when he came back from a meeting with You-Know-Who. And we both know what Lucius did over the holidays!”

“That’s just my point!” Narcissa forced, “You don’t know anything! Bella has been marked too- and Severus! Lucius has told me things, things that your father told him and expressed that you not know.”

Hermione frowned, getting anxious at whatever might be said.

“The Dark Lord wants you to wife,” Narcissa said bluntly.

Hermione immediately laughed, “You really had me going-”

“I am not joking around,” Narcissa said with a stern face, “Why do you think it was so easy for you to convince your father to sign that betrothal contract? Did you really think that he would be okay with you not being chaste? He hoped that your lack of… decency would be enough to keep the Dark Lord away and make him rethink his decision. Even now, your father and Lucius have convinced the Dark Lord that it is a political move that they have made in order to seem aligned with the Light, and so that they may murder the Potters to take their wealth and titles.”

All of the blood drained from Hermione’s face.

“Your father has tried to push the Potters to encourage that you and James move to France and has yet to be successful. You would be safe in France but Lord and Lady Potter have expressed no desire for their grandchildren to be raised on the continent.”

Hermione looked at Narcissa pensively and then whispered, “Why are you telling me this?”

“I am telling you this because you are my sister. Dolohov and Karkaroff are stationed near Potter Manor with the orders to burn it down with everyone inside.”

“Dorea and Charlus-”

“Yes.”

“What must I do?” Hermione said, standing straight, “I’ll do anything if I must. Anything!”

“You must appear to be complacent with your family and James’s. Do not trust anyone.”

“I need to tell James.”

“Absolutely not,” Narcissa interjected, “He needs to act exactly as he is acting now. If you tell him, protecting him will be all for naught. I know you love him, but Potter is an idiot. A well-meaning idiot, but an idiot no less.”

Hermione bit her lips and thought carefully, “I will do my best.”

_

The seventh years graduated from Hogwarts without much fanfair. Frank, Alice and several other students from Hufflepuff and Ravenclaw started Auror training right away. Peter had been employed in the Misuse of Magic office and Remus hadn’t been able to find a job because of his status as a werewolf. Hermione and James had insisted that he live with them. James and Sirius had both decided to join the Order of the Phoenix and devote their time to defeating Voldemort. Hermione had gotten job offers from every department at the Ministry. In the end she had declined them in order to enroll in the College of Merlin as a mastery student in spell theory and arithmancy. Lily had joined Hermione at the College of Merlin to study charms.

Their wedding came and went and soon, Hermione and James were married. Hermione Malfoy had become Hermione Potter. It wasn’t a large affair, since they knew a wedding would be an easy target to hurt members of the light who would attend. They’d married in the Potter’s garden with only their immediate family and a few others attending. It was over in mere minutes.

At their weekly Order meeting, Hermione stopped Dumbledore before he could leave, “Professor?”

“Yes, dear?” asked Dumbledore. Their relationship had started somewhat tense. Dumbledore did not trust Hermione, because of her family but when she had come to him explaining that James was her mate and that Voldemort had an extravagant plan for her and her husband, Dumbledore had recognized Hermione as an ally.

“It’s about my brother,” Hermione said, “I know you know he’s a Death Eater. But he wasn’t marked because he wanted to be. He- he’s trying to protect me. And my parents. He wants to become a spy – for the Order.”

Dumbledore frowned deeply, “Are you certain?”

“Lucius will do anything to protect me and Cissy.”

Dumbledore paused and then agreed to a meeting at Hogwarts.

_

Christmas had come again and it seemed that 1978 was coming to an end. Hermione was finished with her first classes at College of Merlin and Lucius had been inducted into the Order a month earlier.

“I’ve told you to be nice to Lucius, Jamie,” Hermione prodded, pinching her husband hard. “He’s my brother,” Hermione climbed onto James’s lap, “And he’s going to be our baby’s godfather.”

“Siriusis going to be our baby’s god- Wait what?” yelled James.

Hermione smiled and kissed him on the lips, “I’m pregnant. Sixteen weeks pregnant. I didn’t want to tell you too soon, just in case.”

That sobered the pair up. Both of them knew she was referring to the infertility problems that ran in many pureblood families. Narcissa had already miscarried once and there was a reason that James was an only child and that the only children of the Malfoy family were a set of twins.

James’s mouth dropped and then he let out an excited yelp and kissed his wife deeply. “It’s definitely a boy,” James said, “I can tell.”

Hermione looked at him skeptically, “Most children born to Veela are girls.”

James waved it away, “We don’t follow rules, love.”

Sirius came barging in moments later and Hermione rolled her eyes, “Why do you never knock? I could have been naked.”

Sirius shrugged, “Then I would have gotten extra lucky, ay?”

“Oi!” hollered James, grabbing his friend and threatening to punch him.

“Sirius, must you always bate them?” asked Remus.

“Stop your yelling,” Lily called from down the hall, “You’re giving me a headache!”

“We were trying to celebrate,” James said, as Lily walked in to join the group.

Lily looked at Hermione and then whooped before hugged her friend, “Congratulations!”

“Huh?” asked Peter, who had just arrived at the house, “Congratulations for what?”

“Did your term marks come?” asked Sirius.

“No you blind idiot,” Lily hissed, “They’re pregnant!”

“Oh that’s – wait, what?”

Hermione hugged her friend tighter and started tearing up before letting out a shuddering cry.

“Oi! I thought you were happy about this? What’re you slobbering all over the place for?” cried Sirius in confusion.

“These are happy tears, you dope!” Lily said as she hugged her friends, “Girls cry when they’re happy too.”

“How the-” Sirius turned to James and Remus, “I don’t know how you do it.”

Peter just sighed.

_

As April came and went, Hermione found herself spending more and more time on the nursery.

“It’s a lovely color scheme, darling,” said Dorea as sat with her daughter-in-law in the room. “I thought the lavender would be pretty. It’s very soothing.” Hermione stroked her belly and then winced. “I guess the false labor has started,” she said pleasantly, “I can’t complain because-” at least she had been proven fertile. That was more than many other pureblood women could say these days.

“James should be home any minute. Come along, dearie.”

Hermione followed Dorea down the hall and towards the stairs, trailing only feet behind her, but waddling slowly.

Dinner that night was eventful, full of jokes and laughter about everything from the recent loss by the Chudley Cannons to recalling the ghastly Professor Binns everyone at the table had once had.

Suddenly, Hermione gasped.

James was by her side in an instant, “What’s wrong, love? Are you okay? Is it the baby?”

Hermione opened her mouth to reply but let out an agonized wail.

Charlus looked on in moderate disgust but Dorea got up quickly rushing to her daughter-in-law and leaned in close, “Forgive me for this, dear,” she pulled up the hem of Hermione’s satin dress and her brows furrowed together.

James looked at her and then reached to look as well but Dorea pushed the hem back down gravely and shook her head at her son.

“We need to head to St. Mungo’s,” Dorea said emotionlessly, helping Hermione up and getting the Floo ready for the family.

Hermione started crying just then, “Please, James,” she whimpered, “Please don’t let anything happen to our baby. If something – pick her, okay? Pick her, not me.”

“Hermione – I can’t-”

“Promise me!” Hermione forced out, “Promise me.”

“Okay. I promise,” James hesitated.

He regretted that promise as he was pacing outside of the room where the healer was examining his wife. Soon he was beckoned in, watching as his wife cried out in pain.

“There doesn’t seem to be anything grievouslywrong,” said the Healer, “Aside from the fact that your baby is a few weeks early. Your baby is big enough, and from scans would be fine to be delivered today. It seems that your little one is just impatient.”

“But she’s in so much pain!” cried James miserably.

The healer smiled sadly, “It is not uncommon for Veela to have very painful deliveries.”

Violetta Malfoy gasped, “You mean-”

“Yes,” said the healer, “This experience is not unlike when Lady Potter was born, correct, Lady Malfoy?”

“So the baby will be a veela?” James asked.

“Well,” the healer began, “Any child borne from a full blood veela and a non veela would be half veela. But full blood veela are only born with a blessing from Aphrodite. Your baby is a magical miracle, Lord Potter. There has never been a recorded case of a full blood veela being born to a full blood veela!”

Hermione’s agonized cry cut across the statement and James looked on with anxiety.

“But doesn’t that mean-” began Dorea.

“Ha!” exclaimed Charlus, “Wait until I rub this in Fleamont’s face.”

“That the baby is a girl?” whispered James, his eyes wide in happiness. “A daughter.” He leaned in close and gripped his wife tightly, kissing her on the forehead, “Did you hear that, love? We’re having a baby girl.”

Hermione cried out and nodded.

“And she’s going to be sobeautiful,” James said, soothing his wife, “Just like her mum.”

It took hours and pain but eventually, there was a screaming baby brand new to the world. James and Hermione sat together, admiring the beautiful creature that they had made. On her forehead was the hand mirror symbol, a claim of blessing from Aphrodite. It was at that moment that in a ray of orange light a tall figure appeared, arms outstretched. She reached for the babe and smiled at the amazed Hermione and James. “Hermione,” she said, and she touched her head before sitting next to her on the bed. “My beautiful daughter.”

“W-What?” Hermione stuttered in confusion.

“Hermione,” sighed the tall, olive skinned woman, “Daughter of Helen of Troy, the most beautiful mortal.” She leaned in close, her golden hair making a halo around her head and showcasing her green eyes and red lips. “I am Aphrodite.”

James nearly fainted.

“I chose you, Hermione, to be my child before you were even a thought in your parents’ head.” She leaned in close to her daughter and smiled at James, “We look alike don’t we?”

Although Hermione was far paler with cool toned features and white blonde hair, the two did look astonishingly alike in their facial structure, down to the tiny beauty mark above their eyebrows and the fullness of their lips.

Aphrodite rocked their new baby and continued on, “What do you think of the name Aphrodisia? I think it’s quite fetching.”

Hermione wrinkled her nose, “Everyone will make fun of her for a name like that.” As soon as the words left her mouth she turned red in embarrassment knowing she had probably insulted the Goddess before her.

Aphrodite laughed quietly and placed the newborn back into her mother’s arms, holding them both. “But it suits her, doesn’t it?”

James couldn’t help but agree. Their baby had the softest downy hair of white blonde with the same pale features and beautiful, full lips. She already had rosy cheeks and James wondered if when she finally opened her eyes they would be the same startling violet that her mother had.

“Yeah,” Hermione whispered, “It does. James?” she asked.

He nodded.

“Aphrodisia Selene Potter,” Hermione said with finality. “Hello, Aphrodisia.”

Aphrodite smiled at the family before continuing, “I came here today to warn you of something that the Oracle of Delphi predicted one thousand years ago.”

James and Hermione looked at the serious face that Aphrodite gave and became wary and concerned.

“You will have another child, Hermione. It will be a boy and he will be born next July. He alone will have the power to destroy Voldemort. Or, at least, that’s what Voldemort will believe.”

“What do you mean?”

“This is a self fulfilling prophecy. The child could be anyone, but Voldemort himself will make it you. You know why, Hermione,” Aphrodite said sternly.

James frowned, “What do you mean? Hermione, what is she talking about?”

Hermione sniffled, knowing it was time to reveal the secret she had been carrying for so long. “Voldemort wants to marry me,” she said, and then explained the full story.

“How could you keep this from me?” asked James angrily, “We could have left! Gone to France!”

“Hush now,” said Aphrodite, “You can discuss such things later. Right now it is important that you know what I am about to tell you. You must make another child. You must start right away and the rest, I will have Hera take care of. She has taken a liking to James and so it is possible that everything will fall into place easily. When you have this son, I will visit you again and I will bless that child. We will allbless him.”

“But why?” whimpered Hermione, “Why our son?”

“If we do not bless your child, Voldemort will slaughter both of you and Aphrodisia and then murder your child,” Aphrodite said softly, “This is the only way to make sure that you all survive.”

“Why do you care so much about this?” asked James, “Why does everyone care so much about this? About Voldemort?”

Aphrodite narrowed her eyes in anger, “He struck a deal with Hades and then ran from it. He did something that no mortal should do. He cheated death. And that is why I am going to tell you how to make him mortal again.”

_

Having a new baby was tough on the young couple but Hermione was getting better and better at being a mother every day. The three of them spent a lot of time together. Hermione liked to sit in the garden, drinking her morning tea while Aphrodisia suckled on her breasts. Hermione liked to stare into her baby’s eyes, still in wonder by their pale lavender beauty. James liked to stare at them both.

When she began to cry, Hermione picked her up and soothed her, handing her slowly to Lucius, “Look at Uncle Lucy, Aphrodisia.”

The baby stopped crying before looking at her uncle with wonder. Then she gripped his hair and chomped on her fist.

Lucius even smiled.

The infant gave another cry, which Hermione recognized as her hungry cry. She pulled Aphrodisia back into her arms and pulled one shoulder of her dress robes aside. Aphrodisia’s cheek went to her breasts, instantly finding her nipple and latching on.

 “She’s beautiful, Hermione,” said Lucius, kissing his sister on the forehead. “You did well.”

Hermione smiled lightly and looked down to her bundle of happiness again. Aphrodisia was a greedy eater, and was finicky about everything down to the position her mother was in when she ate. When she looked up, she noticed Lucius staring in longing. He and Narcissa hadn’t managed to conceive successfully yet and Lucius was worried that they had been struck with the same curse of infertility as many purebloods had before them. Her heart ached for him.

_

It was that summer that Remus and Lily married in America, since their laws for werewolves were virtually non-existent. Delphinia and Xeno married soon after. Every day they looked at the news, knowing that that day would be the day that they saw one of their friends in the obituaries. Britain was falling. The Aurors were depleted. People were disappearing left and right. Hermione barely saw Lucius and Narcissa outside of Order meetings and the occasional careful visit. Sirius was still around but he seemed to be withdrawing into himself. Peter never seemed to be around when it wasn’t an Order meeting.

The summer ended and Hermione wondered every day when the nightmare that they were living in would end.

That was when the Death Eaters killed Dorea and Charlus.

They had known that there was a possibility that Voldemort would get impatient, but Hermione had never suspected that someone would target her in-laws without James also present. Lucius had brokenly told her that it had to have been McNair. He’d waited until the small family had gone to visit the Greengrass’s for a play date to draw Dorea and Charlus from their home and leave them dead on the front lawn.

James didn’t sleep for days.

The funeral passed in a foggy blur. James looked at their coffins silently while his wife held their daughter who cried louder than she ever had before.

That night, trying to give him comfort, they created new life in death.

_

Molly Weasley was also pregnant, and much to Hermione’s excitement, her brother was to be a father. Alice and Frank were expecting too and Lily and Remus had just announced that they were having a child.

Voldemort was striking even more than before. It seemed like every time the Order met, another member was gone. Hermione kept herself awake most nights wondering if this would be the night that her husband would not come home – that Dumbledore had sent him on a mission that he could not possibly complete.

Hermione found she was spread incredibly thin. She was brewing Remus’s Wolfsbane potion, a new creation that helped werewolves keep their mind during the full moon. It took an entire month to brew and as soon as she was done with one batch, she was starting on the next one. Her classes were picking up even more than before and Aphrodisia was starting to wobble around on her tummy. Great things were happening, but nothing could be celebrated, knowing that Voldemort and his Death Eaters were on the loose.

_

January of 1980 was when Hermione watched Aphrodite’s predictions ring true. Dumbledore had flood to Potter Manor and had gently told James, Sirius, Remus and Lily something that they did not want to believe.

“No,” said Lily, “He wouldn’t do that.”

“I’m sorry,” Dumbledore said, his face in a concerned look of pity.

“That no good piece of-” Sirius began, pacing around the room.

“He heard a prophecy, one made by Sybil Trelawney about the demise of Lord Voldemort.”

Hermione looked at him darkly, “The one to vanquish the Dark Lord will be born as the seventh month dies,” she said.

Dumbledore looked at her and then, “How did you know that?”

A hand placed itself on his shoulder, “I told them.”

Sirius gasped and Remus looked shocked. Lily just looked confused.

“I am Aphrodite,” She beckoned to the tall, blonde haired, blue eyed man beside her, “This is Apollo,” finally she beckoned to the raven haired man with deep brown eyes on her other side, “And this is Hades.”

“Merlin,” whispered Sirius.

“Yeah,” agreed Lily.

Aphrodite smiled and then caressed Hermione’s face and then took Aphrodisia from her arms, “How is my beautiful daughter?” she cooed, “Can you say Aphrodite?”

Aphrodisia gurgled and then laughed and put her fist in her mouth. “She’s a beauty, isn’t she, Apollo?” Aphrodite asked, placing the child in his arms, “Look, she has Zues’s nose.”

Hades grumbled but Aphrodite could tell that he thought that the baby was adorable.

Aphrodite turned to the group and said clearly, “We are here to help.”

_

“It’s okay, Mipsy,” said Hermione to her crying house elf as she shoved all of her heavy wool sweaters into the tiny beaded bag that she was packing. “Please bring me all of the spell books, history books, children’s books, potioneer’s books, medical books and all the books we have on herbs. Please bring me all the map books we have as well.”

“I’ve got the tent,” said James, pushing the fabric and poles into the bag, “And it’s filled with sleeping bags, cots and two baby bassinettes.”

“We need to put a pram in there,” said Hermione, “And two slings.”

Mipsy came back with a tall stack of books and helped put them into the bag.

“Merlin, Hermione. You need all of those?”

Hermione fixed him a look, “It’s better to have too many than not have brought something and have needed it. Did you pack the mirror?”

“Yes,” said James, “Is this all necessary? This is an emergency bag. We shouldn’t have to use this.”

“We hopewe won’t have to use it,” Hermione said “It looks like we have just enough. Narcissa brought me a year supply of emergency potions. Including three bezoars.”

She brought her hand down to her belly. It had only just begun to swell. She couldn’t complain though, because it seemed as though James found her full, pregnant breasts and hips even sexier than her normal figure.

“Hermione,” James whispered seriously, “I won’t let him hurt you, or Aphrodisia or Harry. I won’t let him hurt any of you. I promise.”

Hermione blinked back the tears that she could feel begin to form in her eyes before hugging her husband tightly, “I know, James. And I’ll protect you.”

James hesitated but Hermione stopped him, “If I don’t protect you, who will?”

_

They were under the Fidelious. Hermione didn’t like it but James trusted Dumbledore to keep them safe in the small cottage in Godric’s Hallow. When he left, Hermione immediately summoned Lucius for Blood Wards. Sirius had been appalled.

“That’s Dark Magic!” he cried angrily, “Do you know what that could do to the children in the house?”

Hermione frowned at him, “Blood magic isn’t Dark Magic. And Dark Magic doesn’t exist.”

“I’m a Black,” Sirius sneered, “I know Dark Magic.”

Hermione sighed, “Magic is not inherently Light or Dark. It’s the intentions of what you do with that magic that make it good or evil. You and I both know that there are some spells that could be used in the worst possible ways that are meant for good things.”

Sirius pursed his lips and open to bite out a remark but Hermione cut him off.

“This is my family,” Hermione stressed, “My husband and my daughter and my unborn son are in this house. I am not letting anyone get in. There are no limits to what I will do to protect them.”

Sirius paused and Hermione took his hands, “I know you are scared. I am scared too, Sirius. But that doesn’t mean that I will sacrifice my family for the sake of being morally correct.”

Sirius understood.

_

“He’s beautiful, Lily,” Hermione whispered kissing her friend on the forehead, “He looks just like Remus.”

“We decided to name him Theodore,” said Lily, “After Remus’s grandfather.”

“He’s precious,” Hermione said resolutely, “James will be thrilled that Harry will have a playmate. Now all he wants is for Sirius to have a son too.”

Lily and Hermione shared a smile together.

It was a moment of contentment.

But it didn’t last long.

Only a month later, disaster struck again. Fenrir Greyback along with Bellatrix LeStrange and her husband managed to get past the wards on the small home that the Lupins were living in in Cornwall. Lily’s remains were nearly unrecognizable except for the blood-spattered copper hair. Remus was hollow. Hermione and James had taken him in, hoping that their friend would try to live for his son. The first month he barely left the room. He ate, occasionally, and slept. He went to the basement for one night to transform.

Hermione cared for Teddy as if he were her own son.

How had things gotten like this? So skewed? So painful? Lily, who when she had first met she hadn’t particularly liked but had become a trusted friend was dead. Remus seemed like he would be soon after. Sirius was trying hard to be happy. Everyone else was so unhappy that someone needed to be positive. Sirius was trying to be positive enough for them all. Peter was never around. He wasn’t coping either.

But it wasn’t working.

_

They weren’t surprised when Harry arrived. Aphrodite had warned them it would be the end of July, and so when she held her newborn son in her arms, Hermione couldn’t help but fall more in love.

He was beautiful, with a head of downy, dark hair and her violet eyes. He was half veela, Hermione surmised, but he looked more like his father than his mother.

And she watched as the room filled with bright colors, and her son – her son – was blessed by the gods.