Chapter Text
Sirius Black enjoyed the Order of the Phoenix meetings, which, since his escape, had been held in his family’s house. For a moment, 12 Grimmauld Place felt different from the home he’d grown up in and became a place filled with life. He even welcomed the arguments between himself and Snape, which was a surprising discovery for him.
What disturbed him, what almost filled him with the same sense of dread he felt around the Dementor, was the presence of Hermione Granger. This witch was a friend of his godson, a model student, and she treated everyone with respect. Well, almost everyone. In moments when no one was looking at her, something… unsettling appeared in her eyes.
“You’re looking at her again,” Remus said, breaking him from his reverie. This was the first Order meeting since the battle at the Department and the loss of the prophecy concerning Harry and Voldemort. “This is getting creepy. Not everyone has to like us, Sirius. Don’t act like you’re offended by this girl’s lack of admiration.”
He looked at his friend. He stared at him for a moment before muttering, “Snape’s already accustomed me to the idea that not everyone has to like me. I admit, though, that it took me a really long time to understand that fact.” He took a deep breath and then asked, “Have you really not noticed that there’s something strange about her behaviour? She looks at us as if we’d done something to her. She smiles at us, but that smile never reaches her eyes.”
“She also treats Albus and Minerva with a bit of reserve,” Moony said after a long moment of thinking. “She is also cold towards Harry. He told me she was important to him, but… she treats him only as a friend. I think that’s why she’s so reserved with us. She doesn’t want to give hope to your godson.”
Godric, how could he not have thought of that? It was clear as day that both Harry and Ron were interested in Hermione as more than just a friend. She hadn’t given them any sign that their feelings were reciprocated. He knew this from Molly, who had dreamed of matching Hermione with Ron and Harry with Ginny. She wanted both—both Hermione and Harry—in her family.
“No...it can’t just be that...” he muttered quietly under his breath. After a moment, he added, a little louder, “There has to be more to it. I can feel it. Remember my words. I’m sure you will be forced to agree with me one day.”
When Sirius finished speaking, he stood up and headed straight for the library, where he’d hidden the firewhiskey. He had to hide the alcohol from Snape, who poured the contents of every bottle he found down the sink. This wasn’t bad in itself—he could afford to replenish his supplies—but it was driving Sirius to reminisce about his past. Only years later did he learn that Snape’s poor financial situation when they were both just students was partially due to his father’s alcoholism. That was why Sirius couldn’t forgive himself for bullying Severus over something beyond his control. He still wasn’t ready to face his guilt.
xxx
Meanwhile, Hermione Granger sat in an armchair by the fireplace, fighting the urge to flee this place. She wasn’t here because she liked these people, but because it was the right thing to do. They were fighting for a common cause, and she didn’t need to feel sympathy for anyone here.
She watched Professor Snape as he spoke about what he’d learned at the Death Eater meeting. She listened patiently in silence until Dumbledore asked about the Malfoys. That’s when she raised her hand, and before anyone allowed her to speak, she told, “Draco Malfoy said his family was ready to switch sides.” She took a deep breath, then added, “The Malfoys are loyal not to the Dark Lord, but to each other. They know about Professor Snape’s double game. And since they consider him family... They will be loyal to him.”
In an instant, the faces of the Order of the Phoenix members turned toward her. The surprise of some of them was more than obvious. Severus Snape was sickly pale as he asked, “What are you talking about, Miss Granger? And what’s your connection to my godson?”
Draco’s smile flashed before her eyes as she calmly said, “My relations with Draco began with blackmail. He was the only one who realised I’m not a Muggleborn. And the only one who connected me with one of the Marauders’ favourite victims.” Her father still suffered from post-traumatic stress disorder caused by the bullying from Harry’s father—he lost access to his own magic. He was perhaps the only wizard who rejoiced not in Lord Voldemort’s fall, but in James Potter’s death. “Draco is currently my... boyfriend. He prefers to think of himself as my suitor.”
Severus didn’t know how to start a conversation with his friend. He was used to Lucius telling him everything. He was used to that damned proud wizard consulting him about everything for fear of making a mistake that could ruin his family’s reputation. It even got to the point where he wondered if Lucius could make a decision without consulting him or Narcissa.
Only now did he realise this was how they showed he was part of the Malfoy family.
“Are you going to say something, or are you just going to keep staring at me like that?” Malfoy hissed irritably, tapping rhythmically on the table they were sitting at. “I thought you wanted to talk.”
“And this is a case,” Severus said, his hands clenching in his robes. His problem was that ever since he was a child, he hadn’t known what to do with his hands during such conversations. His hands always showed that he was unsettled, which made him even more nervous. “When were you going to tell me you knew about…”
Suddenly, almost immediately, Lucius’s face softened, and he uttered, “About you being a spy? I’ve known that from the very beginning, Severus. My family’s success is based on more than just potion-making skills. In financial negotiations, we’ve always employed something that… couldn’t be called honest tactics.” He stood up, nervously straightened his Muggle clothes, and added, sitting back in his chair, “Malfoys have a natural aptitude for Legilimency. Of course, not at the level Dumbledore and the Dark Lord are known for… But it’s enough for us to predict the moves of our business opponents and the dreams of potential partners.”
“Go on,” Severus hissed through gritted teeth. In that moment, he felt misled, like he’d seen a new side of someone he thought he knew better than himself. But it was absurd, because he already knew that Lucius wasn’t always honest during business negotiations. “I would like to know how your son’s courtship with Miss Granger came about.”
“My son decided to use his ability on a witch who interested him. Draco did what I do when I want to gain something. He found an opponent’s weakness and used it against them. Your godson forced Hermione to spend time with him and showed her that he is the only right option in choosing a future life partner.” He smiled as he added, “My future daughter-in-law wanted no one to know about her father. Something serious must have happened if she revealed her connection to us before the scheduled time.”
Severus recalled the conversation at the Order of the Phoenix meeting. He hadn’t noticed it at the time, but now… that witch’s reaction made sense. It wasn’t the action of someone acting on emotion, but of someone who decided to use an uncomfortable situation to their advantage. “You have a few more things to explain to me before we return to Malfoy Manor.”
“Of course, my friend. I’ll tell you everything you need to know.”
xxx
Draco smiled as he heard a snort behind him. He didn’t have to turn around to see who had once again slipped into his bedroom, even though Malfoy Manor was now home not only to the Dark Lord but also to the Death Eaters who served him. That was why he whispered, “It took you a long time, my love,” and as he looked at his witch, he added, “I was convinced you’d arrive much sooner.”
Hermione wore the robes the Dark Lord’s followers were known for.Her posture and the way she walked meant that all she needed was a mask to look like one of them. “I got a letter from my parents...” Only then did Draco realise his girlfriend was nervous, perhaps something more. “Does your mother still know about Healing?”
It took him only a split second to be beside her and ask, “What the hell happened?” Draco wanted her to look him in the eye, because then he’d know she wasn’t lying to him. He could penetrate her thoughts, but he promised her he wouldn’t invade her mind like that again unless it was absolutely necessary. He cupped her jaw between his fingers and forced her to look at him. “Tell me what happened.”
She took a deep breath, then muttered, clearly shaken, “Dolohov was trying to finish what he couldn’t do with me in the Department of Mysteries. I wasn’t there, so he wanted to take my parents from me...”
“Your father...”
She rested her forehead against him, and he wrapped his arms around her. His gaze was fixed not on her but on the door behind her. A moment passed before he heard a soft, strangled voice. “Dolohov is dead because my father killed him. He used his magic for the first time in fifteen years. I know we should take him to Mungo’s, but... he doesn’t want that. I know only two healers and one mediwitch. Poppy Pomfrey, Andromeda Tonks and your mother. Andromeda and Pomfrey are not witches I trust.”
He tightened his arms around Hermione, assuring her that he would take care of everything. The thing he loved so much about Hermione was that she cared about her family above all else. She cared about her family even more than doing what was right. That was why, to him, she was everything he could want in a witch he wanted to build his life with.