Chapter 54: Tea party
I've seen them be much, much worse, but that's usually for family or former friends. We'll try to make sure that you sit with Hermione, or Augusta Longbottom. Oh, Hermione, Andromeda shan't be coming any more. She married a muggle, and the Blacks have disowned her. If you're lucky enough to be at a table with any of them, expect some nasty comments about Sirius. Alphard publicly began the process, and if, Merlin forbid, Walburga is there…well, you may want to leave early," Dorea said calmly. Hermione nodded. Lily blanched.
The first tea party of the little summer season was held at the Greengrass Estate. Lily shifted uncomfortably in the silk tea gown that Dorea had altered to fit her. It was in a soft, mint green because custom dictated that young ladies not wear bright colors or jewel tones—those were reserved for married witches. Hermione's tea gown was in a light mauve, and Lily thought that Hermione looked graceful and ladylike. Lily felt like a moose in a taffeta ball gown—awkward and decidedly silly looking.
"Stop fidgeting, you look beautiful," Hermione hissed at her. She snapped open a lace fan and held it in front of her face. "If they're rude, it's because they feel threatened. If they ignore you, they don't consider you important, but here…that's probably a good thing. We're breaking bread with the enemy Lils. Never forget that."
"Okay then, great pep talk, Hermione," Lily muttered. Hermione rapped her hands with her fan. "Ow! That hurt."
"It was meant to. Stop tugging at your gown," Hermione said firmly. Dorea moved to stand near them, and she frowned slightly at Lily, who immediately stopped pulling at her gown.
"Now do try to remember, dear," Dorea said kindly. "A lady glides. Try to imagine yourself floating. Do not stomp, or shuffle, or lumber along."
"Yes, ma'am," Lily said miserably. Hermione giggled behind her fan.
"She meant me, Lily," Hermione explained. Lily rolled her eyes.
"You never do any of that," Lily said flatly. "You float down the halls of Hogwarts. I've had girls ask how you do it. Well, the muggleborns anyhow. I told them it was how you were raised."
"Yes, well, I've seen a shocking number of Hermione's generation whose parents seem to have forgotten to instill basic grace and charm into their daughters," Dorea said, her face decidedly cool as she glanced toward Narcissa Black. Lily and Hermione shared a glance and small smiles.
Perhaps the gods were against them, Hermione thought faintly as she sat down where Mrs. Greengrass had assigned her. She was sitting with Augusta Longbottom and Walburga Black at the same table. Surely the sky would open up and the end of the world must be nigh. Thank Merlin, Lily and her mother were seated together at a different table, and most of the people there were not Death Eater's wives, or pureblood fanatics.
"Hermione, we missed you last summer," Augusta Longbottom said warmly, with a fond smile for the younger witch. Hermione smiled back, and nodded briefly to Alice Longbottom, Augusta's daughter-in-law.
"Yes, ma'am. Mother thought it might be worthwhile to expand my horizons a bit. I'm looking forward to visiting with you this year," Hermione said politely.
"Congratulations, Hermione," Alice said eagerly, not noticing the dark frown from her mother-in-law. Hermione flushed slightly, and refused to sneak a glance at her future mother-in-law.
"Thank you, Alice, but I think it may be a bit early for congratulations," Hermione said with quiet dignity.
"I suppose a blood traitor is the best he can hope for now that he's shamed his family. It's a testament to my fortitude that I'm able to be seen in public. I considered hiding in my house for the shame of it all, but my Regulus has done his best to redeem his House. Thank Merlin I've got one son who knows his duty," Walburga Black observed coldly. Hermione refused to look anywhere near the woman, and instead focused on Alice.
"I heard that you were accepted into the Auror training program. What was that like?" Hermione asked curiously. Alice Longbottom was one of the only female Aurors on the team, and Hermione wondered what her experience had been like.
"I think I'm glad that Frank was there, too," Alice said with a slight frown. "They're a rough and tumble bunch of men. Auror Moody doesn't put up with a lot though, so he straightened them out."
"Auror Moody is very professional," Hermione said with a nod. "He takes his job seriously. I wish we had more like him."
"That's exactly what I was saying to Frank and Alice, yesterday," Mrs. Longbottom said with an approving nod.
The rest of the tea was painfully correct, with Augusta Longbottom and Hermione doing their very best to steer the conversation away from anything even close to her possible engagement to Sirius. Walburga Black seemed to be making an attempt to behave herself, for whatever reason, but she seemed unable to help herself and would occasionally make disparaging comments about either the Potters or her erstwhile son. Hermione fought for control. It would be unthinkable for her to fly across the table and choke Walburga Black. Her mother would never forgive her, and she'd never be able to look Mrs. Greengrass in the eyes ever again. Even worse, to Hermione's mind, it would make Walburga the victim, and seem to prove her point for her, and if there was one thing Hermione wouldn't do it was help the woman who'd made it her life's work to destroy Sirius Black.
HP/HG/HP
The château was beautiful, and its library was incredible. Hermione spent several days there researching, and Lily had joined her as a nominal chaperone. The staff of house elves was happy to see to their needs, and Lily helped her read through a score of books, looking for information about her weird kiss with Sirius in the broom closet in Hogwarts. There didn't seem to be anything about magically induced orgasms. Perhaps she was addressing the situation from the wrong angle. She nibbled her lip and tried to think about what that might mean.
"Hermione?" Sirius walked into the library, his face tense and upset.
Hermione ignored all of that. She grabbed him by the front of his robes and pressed her lips to his. He started slightly, but then began to kiss her back enthusiastically. She slid her arms around his neck and wound her fingers into his silky, black hair. His lips moved against hers, his teeth nibbling, his tongue searching. She started to feel warm, her belly tightened in pleasure, and her nipples hardened as they rubbed against the silk of her clothes and making her knees feel weak. He wound one hand in her thick curls and tugged slightly, the other hand slid down her back and held her against him. Their magic hummed between them, and it seemed like a happy hum to Hermione. As far as she could tell, their magic was meshing together nicely. Hers sort of melted into his and vice versa. It wasn't a permanent state, which would indicate bonding, but it happened whenever they got…close. She wondered if it was a preliminary bond. It was hard to think though when Sirius was licking her neck and breathing in her ear like that. She sighed as he nipped her earlobe, and there was a loud throat clearing and coughing that seemed to come from distinctly different sources. She pulled back reluctantly, and sent an apologetic glance to Lily who shrugged. James looked revolted and incensed.
"Do you have to maul him in front of me?" James asked in a pained voice.
"I wasn't mauling him," Hermione said stiffly. "I was conducting an experiment."
"Really? Was that whether or not you could survive without oxygen?" James snapped in irritation. "Because if so, it seems to be a successful experiment."
"It didn't happen this time," Sirius said quietly, drawing her attention back to his smoldering gaze. She shook her head. "I wonder why."
I…I'm not sure. I've been researching," she murmured indicating the books spread across the tables. "It may be a preliminary bond…but it may be something different. It's troubling."
"What are you two talking about?" Lily asked curiously. Hermione blushed, and Sirius' arm wrapped around her waist protectively.
"Our magic is meshing, but I'm not sure why," Hermione said quietly, not looking at her brother.
"Your magic is WHAT?" James demanded. He glared at Sirius. "Just what have you been doing to my sister?"
"Nothing, James," Hermione said sharply. "He's kissed me, that's it."
"What does that mean, exactly," Lily asked curiously. Hermione turned slightly toward Lily, and away from James' glare. Sirius did not let go of her, and Hermione touched his cheek with her fingertips. He turned his head and kissed her fingertips. She shivered slightly, and frowned at him. He grinned at her, and she rolled her eyes. Then she directed her focus to her friend.
"Magic is a part of us, you know that part already," Hermione began carefully, frowning to herself. "When wizards and witches marry they are bound to one another. That's why divorce isn't possible with a full, traditional wizarding marriage. Your magic, and your spouse's magic are linked inextricably, and to break the bond is dangerous to the bonded pair. That's also why many couples choose not to have the full ceremony. However, spontaneous bonding can take place as well. Sometimes, the magic wills a bond. In earlier times, these were seen as bonds willed by the gods. Even if the couple was not one that would normally have been acceptable—due to station or circumstance—the magic's blessings make the bond acceptable."
"Is that what you think you and Sirius have?" Lily asked cautiously. James seemed shocked.
"I doubt it, I'm just not sure what is happening, and I don't like that feeling," Hermione said firmly. James snorted.
"You have always liked being in control, My Own," James said wryly. "This must be driving you crazy. However, Mum and Dad panicked when they couldn't find you anywhere, and Notty said that you had left the Manor with Lily. I told them that you'd promised not to leave Potter land, and that meant that you, with your sneaky Slytherin ways, had to be on Potter land somewhere. Sirius and I offered to search all the dower properties. This is the last one, Sirius was starting to panic a bit himself."
"Was not," Sirius muttered at James, but his arms tightened around Hermione's waist. Hermione sighed.
"It's just this last year," Hermione told them both calmly. "If I can make it through this year, we'll be fine."
"We need to tell Remus," James said flatly. "We have to be able to explain what's going on with Peter."
Hermione tilted her head to the side, frowning, then she looked at Lily, who nodded just slightly. They would talk later. She wished she could talk to Severus about all of this, he would have some sort of brilliant insight, she knew he would. If only there were someone that she could talk to. Someone intelligent who could be discreet.
HP/HG/HP
"What a pleasure to see you again, Hermione. This is young Mr. Black, I presume?" Mrs. Longbottom said politely. Hermione gave a small nod.
"Yes, ma'am. And you remember my brother, James Potter? Jamie, I'm sure you recall Mrs. Longbottom," Hermione said carefully. James took her hand and bowed over it.
"Vividly," he murmured. Mrs. Longbottom pierced him with her gimlet gaze.
"Indeed," she replied. Hermione smiled slightly.
"And this is our houseguest for the summer, Lily Evans. Lily, this is Mrs. Longbottom."
"Miss Evans, welcome to Longbottom Manor. I hope your summer with the Potters has been pleasant." Mrs. Longbottom nodded regally to the young woman.
"Yes, ma'am. Thank you, ma'am." Lily replied nervously, and curtseyed.
"To what do I owe this unexpected visit?" Mrs. Longbottom asked curiously.
Well, ma'am, I was wondering if the Longbottom library had anything on spontaneous bonds, or anything that seemed similar to a spontaneous bond in outward appearance, but might actually be something completely different," Hermione said in a great rush. Mrs. Longbottom blinked at her, and then smiled slightly.
"My dear, to my knowledge, there is nothing like a spontaneous bond, except a spontaneous bond," Mrs. Longbottom said firmly. "Just because the answer isn't pleasing, doesn't make it untrue, Hermione."
"But…but it just can't be," Hermione said flatly. Augusta Longbottom frowned at her.
"Come along then, and I'll show you the books we have," she said flatly. "I'm telling you now, though, it sounds like a spontaneous bond."
Hermione spent hours in the Longbottom library and most of what she found supported what Augusta was saying. She slammed the last book shut, a look of frustration on her face. Sirius was watching her solemnly, his dark grey eyes sad.
"Does it bother you that much?" He asked softly, looking away from her. "The idea of a spontaneous bond…with me?"
"No, of course not, Sirius. It's just that…well…I don't understand how this happened, and I don't like not understanding," Hermione said, frustrated. "Normally a spontaneous bond occurs under very specific circumstances, and we haven't fulfilled any of those."
"Such as?" Sirius asked curiously. Hermione blushed. He blinked. "Ah, well. No wonder James wanted to gut me."
"Let's go. There's nothing here that will help me. Maybe Hogwarts holds the answers," Hermione said with a sigh. Sirius cleared his throat. She glanced at him.
"I have a gift for you…for Hogwarts," he said softly. He held out a box, and Hermione opened it carefully. It was a delicate bracelet made of gold lions with ruby eyes. The tiny lions appeared to be chasing one another around the bracelet. He took it out of the box and clasped it around her wrist. She turned her wrist in the light.
"It's beautiful," she said slowly. Sirius grinned.
"Uncle Alphard said that it never gets used, for obvious reasons, but I thought it would be perfect for you," he murmured, touching her wrist lightly.
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