It was a few weeks later in mid August , when Hermione had gotten used to her job and settled in well next to Draco as Deputy Minister, and she had pretty much flawlessly embodied Hermione Snape so that Hermione Granger came across very little in her daily life. 

There was a night on the sofa, however, where Severus was fiddling with some papers and looking rather frustrated, that Hermione sat herself down next to her lover and kissed his cheek, content to be near him, yet unaware she would make the first mistake of memory that had happened in a long time. If she had known she wouldn't have asked, but if she were Hermione Snape she would not have had to. 

"What is so important about that date?" Came her inquiry, watching as it floated across many of the pages in Severus' delicate scrawl. Sometimes her mind wondered, whether it be in this world or the other, how he had such perfect script. 

"This date?" He nearly hissed, looking at her in shame, "You must be jesting," he determined, turning away his icy black eyes and seemingly pulling away from the pressure of his wife against him.

"Obviously it is important, Severus, what is it?" She wondered, sitting up and placing a hand upon his thigh. 

The stone-cold visage she recalled from her days as a school girl came about to his features as she tried to figure what the date was. He scoffed, however, turned to her on the couch and nearly hissed, "It is Sagitta's birthday."

That had been going well, also: Hermione and the young witch's relationship. The two had come to care for one-another very much, and while sometimes Sagitta still insisted on rows with the elder woman, they seemed to be getting along well enough that there was no longer any mediation from Severus.

"Of course," Hermione breathed, knowing very well if the girl caught wind of this, then she would lose the witch's favor in a moment. 

"How did you not remember? We celebrate every year. You haven't had any of these worrisome memory lapses since June, I thought you were quite well," he said in a mix of concern and pure hatred.

"I'm sorry, Severus, things have been so well lately between us, and between your daughter and I, that I got caught up in it all," Hermione falsified quickly, "Do you need any help?"

The question seemed to soften him, and with luck, they continued on with the night as if nothing had happened, making invitations and luckily enough, keeping the whole of it a secret from the young girl who would soon turn fifteen.  Even with her little Weasley's  orb of hearing, she escaped any knowledge of her party. 

Eventually the grand celebration came, and Hermione and Severus got to enjoy the surprise on the witch's face as she came into the hall they'd rented, things floating near the ceiling like candles in Hogwarts, and the night sky on display as well, also a wonderful charm Severus borrowed from his place of employment. 

The Minister of Magic was there, though he lacked the company of his partner that evening, and many more high-listed wizarding men and women were there as well. Harry Potter was alone, as well, a promotion closer to head-auror just the week prior, and Ginny Weasley, soon to be another name, who was Captain to her Quidditch team also happened to be in attendance. 

There were a few others around that caught Hermione's attention, and even took some of her time as they wandered over to chat. Sirius Black was apparently invited, along with Lupin and his family. Though, it was little surprise to see the Malfoy's, seeing Sirius was certainly unbidden. He'd come back from many weeks of travel just to attend and see Severus and his daughter.

Lucius looked unnaturally uncomfortable, though it nearly pleased a giddy Hermione who clung happily to her wizard that evening. 

Of course, one must expect the unexpected at a party that involves any part of the Golden Trio... though they were all there, so it was almost inevitable something odd happen. Luckily, the occurrence was not an attack or anything of the sort that Hermione had been gladly left out of the prior few weeks. No, it was someone who pulled her aside in the lonely bathroom.

Hermione knew Narcissa Malfoy to be a rather dignified woman, but to trap her in the bathroom and suddenly throw a few silencing charms at the door disconcerted Hermione greatly. 

"Mrs. Malfoy?" She asked gently, looking at the smiling woman through the mirror instead of turning around.

"I am aware that I am committing several offenses as of right now, against you and my son, but I have a few words I would like to share with you."

She was pacing, her form tight and proper as it always had been, and she looked regal with her blonde hair up in a delicate style that was certainly impressive to anyone who saw. 

"As you wish," Hermione agreed, but only because the witch continued to smile her gentle lips off... and she wanted to leave and get back to Severus as soon as possible. 

"Just a little while ago, you did something that was very out of the blue. I was shocked, as was my husband, but the only people who seem to reap the benefits of such a deal are you and Severus. Well, I wish to reap on these benefits as well, Hermione."

Suddenly the woman turned about and Hermione really had no choice but to do the same and look directly at the woman herself. Her brown eyes found gray ones, though they were not steely and bleak, they looked almost... gleeful. 

"I want to be your ally."

"Ally?" Out of all the responses the younger witch could have formed, she surprised herself with that small question. 

"Yes, while I do mean friend, in this time I think you may need my insight as an Ally far more."

If she had been confused before, Hermione chose completely befuddled this time around. 

"What in Merlin's name--"

"Young woman, do not interrupt an elder witch."

That got Hermione's lips sealed shut as the blonde smiled. 

"Lucius has been up to no good. His sour moods have not gone away, and he sneaks away to one particular place every night. I thought he was drinking, when one goes through heartbreak, that is what would usually occur, but it seems that is not the case with Lucius. I think something is foreboding us, Hermione, and I think it has something to do with you."

Shuddering, Hermione closed her eyes and tried to take in everything that a witch, who just a little while ago had hated her entire being, was saying... then again, it wasn't her any more, was it? Narcissa probably felt this way because Hermione Snape was no longer with them. 

"Thank you for warning me."

"Of course... and I apologize for the way I've treated you... you don't deserve that any longer. As long as you're happy with Severus."

Hermione grinned happily, feeling just giddy at the mention of her wizard. 

"I love him, very much."

"Wonderful," Narcissa told her sincerely, suddenly releasing the charms they were under with a quick swipe. 

"The guests await."

She hadn't had a single hand in choosing who was and was not invited to Sagitta's "small" party of nearly a hundred people. There were plenty of students, but many friends of the family lurking about in their usual way. Lucius Malfoy was hard-pressed for Hermione to find, though many had participated in pleasantries with him. It seemed that at all times, Draco was in the furthest spot possible from Harry, and the wizard seemed not to mind at all. 

At least everyone was pretty much getting along. 

A tap on her shoulder, and Hermione was forced from Severus again by blonde hair. Though, this blonde was male and certainly not Lucius. 

"How was your day off?" He asked, looking about the place with travelling eyes, "It must have taken a while, it's wonderful."

"Not really, besides you know Severus and I, it was enjoyable... But Harry must be on the other side of the room," she surmised.

"Not really," Draco muttered, looking right past her and at who she could only deduce to be an uncomfortably close Harry Potter.

"Is everything alright? Did something happen?" Hermione pestered, growing very worried for a man she'd become attached to over the weeks of working with him. 

"No," he gritted out, and it would have been obvious to a blind person that he was lying. "Fine... Xander left me today, while out at lunch no less. Good thing it was at the muggle place, or I would have been humiliated, and it would have been in the papers faster than you can say 'Draco, I still don't like your laws.'" He grinned fantastically at his wit. 

"Oh... it just doesn't seem like him to walk away from you like that," Hermione soothed, hoping that her words would help at least a little, "Then again, I didn't know him awfully well."

"You knew him well enough to guess why he left," Draco said shortly.

"Your career?"

"Ever the book-worm," Malfoy lavished, kissing her head as his height made it easy to do.

"Your break-up does not explain your proclivity for avoiding Harry, however, mister," she scorned gently, looking behind her to see the Gryffindor chatting with Sirius animatedly. 

"I... have no idea what you're talking about. He doesn't pick out good places to stand, and any interesting people never seem to be around him..." Draco physically deflated at his own very poor lie, though it wasn't much, just enough for Hermione to be able to tell.

"I think you took Minister on way too early in your life. But, regardless of that, Harry is single," she remedied, pointing out a very obvious fact to start with. 

"I know, but that information is irrelevant," he told her snobbishly, the first glimpse of a Malfoy she once knew searing through the surface. 

"It wouldn't be if you'd get rid of that stupid law," Hermione returned, just as princely as his own tone. 

"Not any time soon, Madame Snape," he chuckled in reply, tipping his glass in her direction and heading towards a few gathered friends, far away from one Harry James Potter. She made a few strangled noises in his wake, but Hermione did little to stop him from departing. Brown eyes could see the poor Minister's lack of comfort from a meter away anyways. 

As if she wasn't deserving of a break from conversation, arms wrapped around her waist, and Hermione was crushed into a hug from one young witch who seemed all too excited if her skinny arms were any indication. 

"Thank you so much for this, Hermione!"

"You're welcome, Sagitta, but you should honestly thank your father," Hermione turned in the hug to reciprocate the affection, "I barely lifted a finger."

"But you still lifted that finger, so thank you all the same!" The witch exclaimed. 

They embraced for a few moments longer until Sagitta let go and smiled brightly at her step-mother. Hermione loved how much older the young girl looked in her stylish dress robes, her black hair pinned up and gorgeous eyes accented by silver make-up. Though, the large orbs of black seemed not focused on their interaction, they seemed to be focused just past Hermione where Harry had been conversing with Sirius Black. Most likely, the witch was just day-dreaming.

"Which one are you looking at?" She joked, turning so Sagitta knew who the intended wizards were. 

"What? They're years older than me, Hermione," the girl coughed, obviously uncomfortable.

"I know, I was simply teasing, Sagitta--"

"Sirius."

"What?" Hermione regaled, furrowing her brows and creasing brown eyes. 

"I've been in love with him since... forever. I don't know, it's weird, don't tell dad, please!" She begged, suddenly pleading and tugging Hermione as if the secret would kill her. 

"You fancy Sirius? Trickster Sirius Black?" The elder witch clarified before agreeing to the younger's plea. 

"Yes, yes I do." 

And while it wasn't what she expected from such a bright and brilliant witch who knew her father would apparate himself to the other end of the earth in hopes of splinching if he knew, Hermione just nodded, feeling drunk from all the things she'd been told that evening. And she thought Narcissa's conversation had been odd. 

A/N

I KNOW, OKAY???? It's been forever, and I am moving into college on Thursday? What? Adulting? Oh boy. Anyways, I hope this was good, and I hope that you're excited for what's to come, because Heaven knows I am!!!