While Severus worked on various potions—one to potentially get Riddle off Quirrell's person, and another to get the Horcrux out of Harry—he still had to contend with the potions for the hospital wing. While Hermione was pleased that Severus permitted her to help him, once she proved to him that she was indeed adept at potion making, she herself was quite busy as well. It didn't take too long to track down the diadem, and she destroyed it systematically with a basilisk fang that Severus had for making potions. Minerva, meanwhile, got her an appointment with Madam Malkin to make her some suitable ball gowns, and she was given etiquette lessons on the weekends for how to properly behave at a Malfoy ball.

"This is all very ridiculous, I hope you know that," Hermione grumbled to Severus. They all three were in the Room of Requirement, two Saturdays after Severus had decided to make her his partner for the Malfoy Easter celebrations, and Minerva was overseeing their dance lessons, although it was terribly awkward. "Besides, I already know how to dance. Minerva taught us before the Yule Ball."

"I'll bet you didn't even get the opportunity to practice your steps," Severus replied with his trademark sneer. "You likely were regulated to the corner all night."

"Actually," Hermione countered, "I did have a partner. One of the Triwizard Champions, I'll have you know."

"Ah, Potter took pity on you, then," Severus declared.

"No," Hermione said, glaring up at him. "It was Viktor Krum, I'll have you know. He was so kind and attentive that evening..."

"You were fourteen!" Severus sputtered. "And he... Well, he had to have been at least seventeen in order to be eligible for the tournament, although the headmaster let Potter compete..."

"Fifteen, actually," Hermione said. "I was born in September of 1979. Not that you would remember something like that," she said snidely. "Being a Gryffindor and a Muggleborn, I couldn't have been very high on your radar."

Severus murmured something unintelligible before pulling her closer and dipping her, much to Hermione's protests. "The Malfoys enjoy little shows like that," he informed her, although there was surprisingly no bite to his voice. "See that you're prepared for it."

Hermione rolled her eyes as her sense of gravity returned to her. "I'll try to keep on my toes, then," she said quietly.

"See that you do," Severus told her, turning her again.

"We haven't yet decided if we'll use Polyjuice for this farce," she snapped. "Or would you rather go with a buxom blonde?"

Severus actually threw back his head and laughed. "Since you seem to know so much about me, Granger, you would know that I'm not into blondes."

"Hmph," Hermione said, hating the sensation of her skin erupting in goose bumps at the sensation of him laughing. "Just so. Still, shall you be wanting me to attend as myself to the balls or not?"

"Hmmm," Severus mused. "When did you say Lucius first met you?"

"In my second-year, while we were shopping in Flourish and Blotts," Hermione responded. "As you well know, I look quite different now..."

"Different enough so that he likely won't notice," Severus said. "Plus, with your gowns and your hair done appropriately, it will be unlikely that he will catch on. No, it's decided. You will go to the balls as yourself."

Hermione grimaced. "I haven't been to the manor in...quite some time," she said softly, watching from the corner of her eye as Minerva manipulated the record needle.

"I thought you had mentioned that you and Draco were friends in the future," Severus replied, and spun her around again.

"We are," Hermione confirmed. "I even introduced him to his wife... Of course, it was mainly done to keep him away from me."

Severus smirked. "He wasn't even good enough for you?"

"Even though he changed, declaring for the Light, and took a wonderful job as a pediatric healer at St. Mungo's, he was never my type. I don't like blondes either," Hermione informed him.

Severus arched an eyebrow at that. "I see," he responded. "So, if you are a friend of Draco's, and presumably his wife, why have you not been to the manor? Are Lucius and Narcissa completely against his friendship with you?"

Hermione shook her head. "No. Their treatment of me has been fine, cordial even. They are just pleased to have escaped Azkaban, due to Harry's willingness to testify on their behalf for the Wizengamot, and for me not...revealing certain things."

Severus slowed in their dancing, and waited for Hermione to look up at him before he decided to speak again. "You're trembling," he observed.

Hermione flushed red at that. "Well-spotted," she snapped.

Severus's mouth flattened into a thin line. "It was an observation, not condemnation," he replied, his voice actually patient. "We'll have to get to know one another properly sooner or later. If we are to pretend to be engaged, we need to get our story straight."

Hermione moved in the dance after Severus started up again. "All right. What did you have in mind, then?"

"Our likes, dislikes... How we met, for one thing."

Hermione pursed her lips, allowing Severus to lift her temporarily in the dance. "I suppose we could say that Minerva introduced us, as I am to go by Dagmar Cork, though my appearance will remain the same," she mused.

Severus nodded. "Of course, we will have to say you attended somewhere other than Hogwarts, as they will know that you didn't go there."

Hermione nodded. "My mother was French," she said softly. "It is actually my second language, tied with Latin. We could say I attended Beauxbatons."

Severus raised his eyebrows, clearly impressed. "That could work," he replied. "You're also a Half-Blood—your mother was Pureblood, and your father a Half-Blood. It would be seen as unbecoming if you were to declare yourself a Muggleborn."

Hermione sighed. "I understand," she responded. "We could say that I was a top-student of potions whilst at Beauxbatons, and interviewed you for an apprenticeship at Minerva's suggestion, but we mutually decided not to, as you decided to court me."

Severus inclined his head. "That could work," he responded. "However, we will need to decide what it is you do in your free time..."

"I am an Unspeakable, meaning that I cannot talk about my work, but arithmancy and Ancient Runes are my specialty, which they were before I became Deputy Minister under Kingsley," she responded. "The less we inform them about my work, the better."

"That sounds good enough," Severus said softly. "Now we will have to go over our likes and dislikes with one another. I suppose you know by now that my favorite subject was potions, and I will wager yours were a combination of arithmancy and Ancient Runes."

Hermione gave a nod. "Correct. Your favorite colors are black and green, then?"

"Just black," Severus said. "What are yours? Scarlet and gold?"

Hermione huffed. "No," she sputtered, clearly annoyed. "It's violet."

Severus looked intrigued. "Favorite food?"

"Roast chicken," she replied. "And you?"

"A Sunday roast with all the trimmings—Yorkshire puddings, vegetables... What do you enjoy doing in your free time?"

"If I am not reading, I am walking Sharma," Hermione said pointedly.

"Walking...?" Severus turned, locking eyes with Sharma, who was atop Minerva's mantle, and watching them dance before her. "Sharma is half-Kneazle..."

Hermione raised her eyebrows. "And?"

Severus shook his head. "Isn't walking reserved for dogs or Crups, or, perhaps, on the extremely rare occasion, one of those horrible ferret animals?"

Hermione laughed aloud at the mention of a ferret, and Severus eyed her. "I'll put it in a pensive for you," she assured him, clearing her throat. "No. It is a Muggle practice to walk your cats. It gives them outside time without as much risk of them coming to harm."

Severus looked shocked. "Perhaps we might walk her one day," he said. "I should like to see her led upon a lead."

"She enjoys it," Hermione said. "And I suppose your free time is spent, whilst not marking papers scathingly, reading and doing potions research. Of course, I know you enjoy harvesting as well, so that likely takes up a considerable amount of time. You do have to pick certain ingredients on the occasion of a full moon, after all."

Severus looked impressed at this. "Touché," he replied. "What were your mother and father like growing up? Did you have any siblings?"

"No, it was just me," Hermione told him, and knew that he was asking for her, not for her Dagmar persona. "They're dentists, and they had to work quite a lot. I had a nanny for the first eleven years of my life, and then I went to Hogwarts."

Severus looked saddened at that. "Was it very lonely?"

"I always had my books, although my nanny believed I was mad. She didn't like me very much, unfortunately, but she had all the right credentials, and I knew my parents would have to take time off work to find me another..."

Severus seemed to tighten his grip upon her. "Was she cruel to you?"

"She never hit me, although words have the capability of slicing through you as any dagger might do," Hermione whispered.

"My childhood wasn't terribly glamorous," Severus said softly.

"I know," Hermione replied, and Severus looked down at her. "There was an incident, in fifth-year, where Harry had to have Occlumency lessons from you, all by Dumbledore's orders. He was protecting his mind, because you were hurting him, and used Protego against you, and entered into your own mind..."

Severus's jaw clenched. "Did he?"

Hermione nodded up at him, and spoke sincerely. "Yes, unfortunately. He saw how his father, plus his friends, treated you. He was so sorry, but you never gave him the opportunity to correct his mistake..."

Severus released her, just as the record playing the waltz scratched. "That is perhaps enough practicing for one day... Perhaps I can make more headway on those potions," he said, before he turned and stomped out of the room.

Minerva rushed forward, flinching slightly as the door slammed behind him. "Merlin, what happened?" she whispered.

Hermione sighed, wrapping her arms around herself. "It suddenly got entirely too real for the both of us," she whispered back.

~*~

Hermione was reading in Minerva's rooms the following week when the Head of Gryffindor suddenly swept into the rooms herself. Hermione quickly put her book aside, while Sharma looked up, not managing to return to sleep, and stared widely at their host. Minerva stepped closer to Hermione, her green eyes filled with fear, as Hermione promptly got to her feet and faced her.

Minerva, looking around, promptly dove into her robe pocket, her other hand still held in a fist, and produced a silver vial. Under Hermione's watchful gaze, she also opened her fist, revealing a lock of blonde hair.

Hermione's eyes widened quickly. "Polyjuice Potion?" she whispered.

Minerva nodded. "Yes. Severus brewed it himself, and just finished this batch this morning. He always has some on hand, apparently."

The hairs on Hermione's entire body stood up. "Likely to masquerade as someone else for Dumbledore's benefit, no doubt."

"I agree with you," Minerva assured her, and handed both the vial and lock of hair over to Hermione, as if her touching them made her ill.

Hermione raised her eyebrows, but nevertheless took the proffered items. "Are you going to tell me who I'll be transforming into, then?"

"Narcissa Malfoy," Minerva said, her nose wrinkling obviously, leading Hermione to realize just exactly how her former Head of House felt towards the Malfoy matriarch. "Severus was a guest at the manor for Sunday dinner, and retrieved it then. Narcissa is, shall we say, demonstrative towards those she likes."

Hermione clenched her teeth. "She hugs them, then?"

"Along with a kiss on each cheek, as is customary Pureblood greeting," Minerva replied with a half-hearted shrug.

"Sounds like tea with the queen," Hermione said, grimacing.

"If the queen were into the Dark Arts and unforgivable curses," Minerva informed her. "But, then again, you knew that, didn't you?"

Hermione swallowed uncomfortably. "Harry, Ron, and I were taken captive by them in April, in 1998," she replied, not daring to meet her eyes.

"Them?"

Hermione shook her head slightly, allowing the memories to wash over her. "Riddle was using Malfoy Manor as his hideout, his base, as it were, as he thought Riddle House would be seen as too convincing. Ultimately, this didn't matter, as the ministry had fallen to him the August previously, however, he still liked having two ancient houses at his disposal."

Minerva nodded. "Go on."

"Lucius and Narcissa had taken Draco out of Hogwarts, despite Severus being declared headmaster, as they feared retribution by those on the side of the Light," Hermione explained. "It was all so uncertain, and dark, in those days. Well, we had just gotten some information from Xenophilius Lovegood, but he betrayed us, given that the Death Eaters had kidnapped Luna and were holding her captive, as it turned out, in the dungeons of Malfoy Manor."

"Luna? I don't know her..."

"She won't be a student here until next year, like Ginny Weasley, and she sorts Ravenclaw," Hermione told her.

"Alongside Ginny?"

"Oh no," Hermione assured her. "Ginny sorts Gryffindor like all the Weasleys."

Minerva nodded. "Right. Sorry. Do go on."

"Well, Harry, Ron, and I all landed in a forest, but we were unaware that Snatchers were patrolling there that day. We tried to outrun them, but our attempts were, ultimately, fruitless, so I jinxed Harry to give us more time."

"Dear Merlin, what did you jinx him with?"

Hermione pursed her lips. "More of a hex, now that I think of it, really. Like a Polyjuice Potion in spell form, in that his face became unrecognizable, so not so much like Polyjuice and more like complete unrecognizability from anyone..."

"It was his scar that they were looking for, I take it?"

Hermione swallowed. "Yes. They took us to Malfoy Manor because of it, instead of directly to the ministry and to the DMLE. Not only were Lucius, Narcissa, and Draco in attendance, but Bellatrix Lestrange was there, too."

"She gets out of Azkaban?"

"No, although it was likely more appropriate for her to be in the closed ward in St. Mungo's, as she is truly mad... Hmmm, something to think about," Hermione mused. "Anyhow, they took Harry and Ron to the dungeons, and she kept me with her..."

"What did she do to you, dear?" Minerva asked, clearly horrorstruck.

Hermione shook her head. "I... I still can't talk about it," she whispered. "Everyone encouraged me to go to a mind healer once everything was over, and Riddle was defeated, but I just couldn't do it. Going would involve me discussing my demons, and I just wasn't ready to complete that phase of my life just yet."

"So you're living with the devastation, for all these years? Hermione, come now. You must know that you of all people don't deserve that..."

"Nothing is black and white, Minerva," Hermione responded resolutely, before she placed the hair of Narcissa Malfoy into the vial, and drank it down, the scent of expensive perfume wafting into her nostrils, and the taste combined with orchids and saffron tickling her tastebuds. It was a miracle that she managed to swallow the concoction, and cleared her throat as her legs became longer, and she grew taller, with a perfect hourglass figure. Her hair immediately tamed into admittedly lovely blonde locks, and she felt her face temporarily distorting into that of Narcissa Malfoy. "You're good at transfiguration..."

Minerva nodded. "I am."

Hermione reached into her robe pocket and produced her own wand. "Could you transfigure this to look like Narcissa's?"

Minerva blinked, clearly surprised. "Yes, I certainly could," she said and, with a wave of her own wand, and plenty of concentration, a replica of the wand of Narcissa Malfoy now lay across Hermione's palms. "Is there anything else you needed?"

"Green velvet and black furs," Hermione informed her, and Minerva raised her eyebrows. "I have to look the part of the Pureblood witch, do I not?"

Once Hermione had been outfitted, and wanded, appropriately as Narcissa Malfoy, she once again put a Disillusionment Charm upon herself as she roamed through the castle. The last thing she needed was to be spotted. As she walked along, however, she suddenly remembered one thing, a very important thing. The Marauder's Map was currently in the possession of Fred and George, and she would need to figure out a way with Minerva to confiscate it from them so as they could navigate about the castle in an easier manner.

With that plan in mind, Hermione finally exited the castle and made her way quickly across the grounds, and towards the gates. Stepping through them, she meandered down the path of Hogsmeade, and cracked away, appearing in Diagon Alley. Once she was in the alley itself and things seemed clear, she revealed herself and made her way promptly to Gringotts. Sticking her neck up and nose in the air, people seemed to move out of her way as she dramatically and haughtily stepped down the cobblestone street, and up the steps of the bank.

Venturing inside, she sneered at any patrons who dared look at her, and promptly went to the main desk, a goblin sitting behind it. Glaring up at him, she mustered all the hatred in her voice and stated, "I wish to enter the Lestrange vault."

"Ah... Madam Malfoy," said the goblin, nodding his head; considering that Narcissa's sister, brother-in-law, and his own brother, were locked away in Azkaban, it would make perfect sense that she would be given permission. "You have your wand, I presume."

Hermione rolled her eyes, as if to say, Do you think I am an idiot?! and promptly produced the transfigured wand to him, holding her breath. After a moment, she wand was handed back to her, and the goblin nodded in approval.

"This way, please, Madam Malfoy," he said, hopping off his stool and making his way towards where the vaults were kept. He opened the little door of the cart, and Hermione rolled her eyes again and let out a noise of disgust as she sat down at the back, attempting to make herself as comfortable as possible.

Once the goblin was at the helm of the cart, it surged to life, navigating its way at lightning speed down the track. Hermione remembered the water, and had casted an automatic shield over herself to ensure the Polyjuice Potion would not falter. It worked, and, quite soon, they were in front of the Lestrange vault. The goblin removed himself from the cart and made space for Hermione to do the same, and she watched as the vault was opened.

Stepping inside, Hermione remembered the Gemino Curse placed upon all the objects, and put several quick Immobulus Charms onto all of them to prevent that. Her eyes fixed upon the back shelf of the vault, and she spotted Helga Hufflepuff's Cup. Finding what she had come for, she made quick work of stepping forward and summoning it and, to her relief, it came quickly down into her hands.

Turning about, she was about to thank the goblin but, remembering who she was supposed to be, she merely sneered at him. "Well, go on. Hurry up. I haven't got all day."

The trip back to the main floor of the bank was uneventful, and she even managed to secure an escape route through the back door. She made quick work of shrinking down the cup and putting it into her robes, before cracking away again. She hurried up the path from Hogsmeade and made quick work of Disillusioning herself again, before hightailing it back through the gates and into the castle. Not ceasing in her hurried steps, just as she felt the potion beginning to wear off, she tore through the corridors towards Minerva's rooms, making it there just in time. She made herself known again, and breathed a sigh of relief.

"Ah, so you can managed to follow orders."

Hermione let out a squeak and staggered backwards, but Severus was faster and quickly caught her by the waist. Hermione stared up at him, realizing for the first time how lovely his eyes were, before the moment was gone and he helped her up. "Thank you," she said softly.

Severus nodded, looking uncomfortable. "No problems at the bank, then?"

"No," Hermione assured him, reaching into her robes and producing the cup, which she brought back to its original size. "We'll need another fang for this..."

Severus delved into his own robes, producing one, and stabbed the cup effortlessly. He then tossed it into Minerva's fireplace, and nodded to himself. "Good. Now, there is more news on Sirius Black."

Hermione immediately perked up. "Yes? What news?"

"The Wizengamot has voted to clear him," Severus replied. "He has been exonerated and pardoned of any crimes, and he has been restored to the Black family fortune. According to reports, he is being moved into Grimmauld Place as we speak."

Hermione nodded. "Good. That's good, although I think he should live somewhere else, given all the unhappy memories in that house."

Severus sneered. "Unhappy memories? The Black family had plenty of money. It's not like Black went hungry or had to wear threadbare clothes..."

"Unhappiness can stem from more than lack of proper food and clothing, Severus," Hermione told him, and, for the first time, he didn't dissuade her from using his name. "Sirius was the black sheep of the family—literally. Regulus, whom I'm sure you're familiar with, was the favored child, for he was a lover of the Dark Arts and sorted Slytherin. Sirius was sorted into Gryffindor and just attempted to be happy, and got shown no love for it."

"So he lashed out a me? Come on," Severus snapped, crossing his arms.

Hermione sighed. "I do not condone with how you were treated, Severus, but perhaps the pair of you can learn to empathize with one another."

"Empathize?!" Severus demanded, almost as if she had suggested he marry Sirius. "You dare suggest that I empathize with Black?! Have you gone mad?!"

"Not in the last few moments, I assure you," Hermione replied. "But, perhaps, in time, the pair of you can speak without permitting the hate to permeate the words..." She sighed, rolling her shoulders as she considered it. "I suppose he will make a play for custody of Harry?"

"I heard it was to be considered soon, yes."

"Harry needs to meet with him, first," Hermione said softly. "All of this must be terribly overwhelming for him, but I know he'd do anything to escape the Dursleys."

"Well, I know that Black will likely be on our good side," Severus muttered. "In fact, he's invited us round for tea later this week."

Hermione raised her eyebrows. "Tea? What for?"

"Under the guise of meeting with Harry, and I've been roped into accompanying him. However, he knows it wasn't just me in on the plan, and has vowed to meet the witch in charge. Minerva is invited, too, never fear, but he wants to meet you," Severus informed her.

Hermione's eyes widened at that, before a grin passed over her face. Marching up to Severus immediately, she pressed a kiss onto his cheek. "Merlin, Severus! You're a genius!"

Severus rolled his eyes, gently pushing her away. "And why have you just now come to this conclusion, Granger?" he asked, although without rancor.

Hermione laughed. "You know as well as I do that Salazar Slytherin's locket is being held at Grimmauld Place," she informed him.

Severus arched an eyebrow. "Oh. That is true..."

"I'm sure that Sirius would be only too glad to part with that particular artifact, given what it is and which house it is connected to," Hermione mused.

Severus rolled his eyes. "Until you Gryffindors admit that Slytherin House is just as wonderful as your own..."

"Sorry, Severus, but that won't happen," Hermione informed him with a grin. "Now, we've destroyed the diadem, and the cup just now. We can wipe out the locket later on this week... I mean, you do have more basilisk fangs, do you not?"

Severus sighed at that. "I am running low on them, and they are not easy to come by, not to mention quite expensive," he said thoughtfully. "They originally came from Greece, although now they are found worldwide. I suppose I could contact a supplier..."

"How about a freshly dead one?" Hermione asked, thinking quickly.

Severus raised his eyebrows. "You know where I could procure one?"

Hermione smirked at him. "Severus, are you familiar with the Chamber of Secrets?"