Circle of Love

a/n: Info from Accio Quote: The MoM does not find out which children are magic. Instead, there is a magic quill in Hogwarts that records the birth of a magical child, and McGonagall checks it every year, then sends owls to those magical children who are turning 11. [Read the exact quote from the Scholastic chat #1, 2000] Thanks Anne for finding the info for me.


The wedding was over, and most of the visitors had finally left number 12, Grimmauld Place. Hermione collapsed on the settee beside Draco, and laid her head on his shoulder. Ginny and Harry were playing a game of wizarding chess, and Caleb, Mariah and Minerva were talking near Albus's portrait.

A shout of glee from Harry had Draco snorting, and Hermione slapped his hand lightly with hers. “Checkmate!” Harry repeated, and groaned when Ginny's rook snagged his king.

“Game over,” Ginny smirked at him, and watched the game reset itself.

Hermione saw a shadow pass by the door, and the floating robes bespoke of the wizard Severus Snape. She bit her lip in indecision, and then nodded her head. “I'll be right back,” She whispered to Draco and stood up. Draco gave her a puzzled look.

“You want me to go with you?” Draco asked and began to stand up himself. Hermione shook her head no. Draco settled back down and looked at her with an arched eyebrow. [i]She must need to use the loo,[/i] He thought.



“Professor Snape?” Severus heard from behind him in the kitchen. He gave a long sigh, and finished pouring the coffee into his cup, adding a spot of sugar to it and stirring it before acknowledging the voice. He turned slowly, and nodded.

“Miss Granger?” Severus replied, and sipped his coffee. He gazed at her over the rim, and a slight smirk formed.

“May I have a word with you in private?” Hermione asked him.

Severus arched an eyebrow, and tapped a finger on the warm ceramic of his cup. “If it's concerning the potion you and Draco were assigned, it can wait until the holidays are over with.”

“I would prefer not to wait sir.” Hermione replied, “I feel it's too important.”

Severus looked down at Hermione, and nodded. “My office?”

“Lead the way sir.” Hermione replied, and almost breathed a sigh of relief.


Caleb looked over to where Draco sat silently on the couch. The younger man's eyes were closed, and his head was leaning back on the cushions of the settee. He kissed Mariah's forehead, and walked over to sit next to Draco.

“Malfoy?” Caleb said, and watched the other's eyes open slowly to look at him. “I want to thank you for helping Mari last night.” He told Draco in a serious tone, and looked at the boy who was also Mariah's brother. He had never expected to meet the boy. In a secret way, he had hoped this day would never have come, but now it was like a speeding train. He only hoped that when all was revealed, both of them accepted each other. He'd heard a lot of bad things about Draco Malfoy from some of the Muggleborn students, and had feared the worst. Hearing from Mariah what Malfoy had done last night had eased the worry, and the words from two of his Slytherin friends had helped also. Pansy Parkinson had finally joined her Hufflepuff boyfriend secretly in the school rebellion. Blaise Zabini had also after Draco had disappeared. The two now played a dangerous game of spying on those in their House, but they could no longer hold back their dislike of Voldemort's plans.

“It was nothing Mr Sanders.” Draco admitted honestly. “As it turned out, she was okay.”

“It wasn't what you did, it was that you willing to help.” Caleb said, and clapped his hand on Draco's shoulder. He stood up, and looked down at Draco after glancing at Minerva. “The Professor and I need to get back to the school.” He rubbed the back of his neck in tiredness, and looked at his sister. He wanted to be here, but knew the students at Hogwarts needed him also. It was hard deciding who needed him the most.

“I thought you'd be spending the night here?” Mariah said sadly, and Caleb went to her. His arm went around her shoulder, and he hugged her close.

“There are some students that couldn't return home,” Minerva touched Mariah's hand with hers. “Things will settle soon.”

“I know grandmother,” Mariah's head nodded sadly and felt the older woman squeeze her hand. “I'm just glad you both came for today.” She clung to it for a moment, not willing to let go. Minerva's eyebrow arched slightly, and Mariah nodded again, and hugged her.

“It was a wonderful day.” Caleb said, and picked up his scarf and wrapped it around his neck. “We'll be back again, never fear.” He nodded his head towards Draco, Ginny and Harry.

“See you Mr Sanders,” Harry called out, and Ginny smiled lightly. Her hand motioned the queen on the board. “Take care sir,” She said, and Harry groaned out. “Not again.” His king fell with a cry.

Hermione followed Professor Snape into his office, and closed the door behind her. The walls were filled with shelves of prepared potions. A locked door to a closet was just behind his chair. She knew it led to some volatile potions ingredients for Draco and her had fetched some one day for a potion.

“How may I help you?” Snape asked, and sat down in his chair. He placed his cup of coffee on the table, the steam making swirls. His hand gestured to an empty chair in front of the desk. “By all means, make yourself comfortable.”

“Sir,” Hermione sat down on the chair, and looked at the Professor. “What do you know of Draco's sister Mariah?” She came right out and asked finally. Hermione saw something pass through his eyes before it disappeared.

“Why would you ask that?” Severus asked, and picked up his cup. He raised it to his lips, and took a sip.

“Because I think Mariah Sanders is her.” Hermione blurted out, and waited for his response.

“Mariah Malfoy died over nineteen years ago.” Snape said calmly, but there was a light shake to his hand when he replaced his cup on the desk.

“You know they share the same birthday?” Hermione asked him, and her eyes watched him to gage his reaction.

“Really?” Severus replied with an arched eyebrow.

“The same middle name also- Rachel.” Hermione said.

“Coincidences I'm sure,” Snape replied, and after pulling his robe cuffs down he folded his arms across his chest.

“They also have the same gray eyes. The Black family trait.” Hermione added.

“The Malfoy's also have gray eyes Miss Granger.” Severus reminded her. “And she doesn't have the Malfoy blond hair like Draco.” He smirked again, and sipped from his cup.

“No she doesn't,” Hermione said with a shake of her head, “But she does have your hair and pale skin sir.”

“Just what are you implying Miss Granger?” Snape hissed out between clenched teeth. He leaned forward and his hands braced him against the desk.

“That if we looked in the book the Magic Quill writes in at Hogwarts, it would list Mariah Rachel Snape, born March 11, 1978 to Severus Snape and Narcissa Malfoy nee Black.” Hermione told him, and backed a bit away at the look of pain that crossed his eyes.

“Know-it-all,” Severus muttered under his breath and stood up. He walked towards the music box and placed his hand on it. He turned back to look at Hermione without opening it. “Your conclusions are false. No such words are revealed in the Book of that sort.”

“Concealment charm or obliteration?” Hermione retorted.

“You know not of what you are messing with Miss Granger.” Snape turned away again, and his eyes gazed upon the music box.

“Open the box Professor, and look at that picture. Then tell me I'm wrong!” Hermione exclaimed.

Severus's hand hovered over the music box, and he sighed.

“Don't interfere in this, Miss Granger. What was done almost twenty years ago was necessary.” Snape flipped the box open finally, and looked down into it without pulling the picture out. “She is Mariah Rachel Sanders, daughter of William and Miranda Sanders. Sister to Caleb Masters Sanders.” Snape turned and looked at Hermione, and she was shocked by the depth of emotion she saw in them.

“Draco and Mariah both deserve to know.” Hermione reminded him.

“I know,” Snape sighed, and sat down in the chair. The music sat open, and it played the tune magicked to it by Narcissa.

“She's safe here in this house, and no one is going to tell the Death Eaters or Lucius Malfoy who she is from here.”

“I was hoping she'd get over Albus's death first.” Severus leaned back in the chair.

“That's selfish of you,” Hermione retorted.

“I hoped that she could at least make friends with Draco. Her overwhelming hatred towards him because of what happened didn't bode well for a good brother-sister relationship. She can continue hating me- I deserve it.” Severus arched an eyebrow at Hermione.

“For giving her away or killing Professor Dumbledore?” Hermione asked.

“Both,” Snape said shortly, and stood back up. He closed the music box with a snap and turned back to the girl. “It's not time for them to know.”

“When will it ever be the right time? We could all be dead tomorrow- and the most perfect gift you could give Draco and Mariah will be lost!” Hermione exclaimed, and watched his face fall into contemplation.

Snape nodded, “I understand your argue-”

“They need to know!” Hermione broke in, “I can't keep this a secret from Draco much longer.”

“Don't. Tell. Him.” Severus hissed out slowly, “Don't. Interfere.”

“Then tell them yourself.” Hermione folded her arms across her chest, and tapped her fingers on her arm.

“In good-”

“There is no good time. Don't you understand? They deserve time together-- knowing who the other is to them.” Hermione threw up her hands in frustration. “Mariah's been here for almost two months now- all of that lost time.” She turned to the door and placed her hand on the knob.

“By New Year's Eve,” Snape said in an anguished whisper, “Give me until then.”

Hermione spun around and looked at the Professor. The sadness in his eyes made her heart ache. “No longer,” She both promised and warned him. “My word till then sir.” She nodded her head.

Severus watched Hermione as she turned again and this time walked out the door, the skirts to her pale pink dress from the wedding billowing in her haste to leave him. His hand reached for his coffee cup, and he instead angrily brushed it off his desk to shatter to the floor in pieces.

Draco turned his head when Hermione reentered the sitting room in a rush. She walked over to where he still sat, and paced a bit in indecision before sitting down next to him. Harry and Ginny had started another chess match, and Mariah sat close by them and watched. Draco ran a concerned hand over her shoulder before pulling her close to him and he kissed her forehead.

“What's wrong?” Draco asked her in a whisper, and felt her head snuggle into his shoulder. She obviously didn't use the loo, he thought and reached a hand to gently caress her cheek.

“Nothing love,” Hermione mumbled into his shoulder, “It's just been a long day,” She looked up and grinned at him. The shadows of her troubled thoughts lay hidden in her brown eyes. She glanced over at the chess match, and met the gray eyes of Mariah, who smiled at her before turning back to watch Harry take Ginny's knight.

“Want to go to bed?” Draco asked her, and turned her face gently with his hand to look at her.

“Yeah, it sounds good,” Hermione yawned, and stood up. She stuck her hand out to him, and laughed when he pulled himself up with it. They almost tumbled back to the settee, but he eased up on his pull until she righted herself.

“Night guys,” Hermione said, and received the same back from Mariah and Ginny. Harry was too lost in his concentration to notice. She grinned at the sight.

“Go for the Queen,” Draco suggested unhelpfully, and Harry looked over at them finally with glazed over eyes.

“Really?” Harry asked, and then looked back to the chessboard. The horse his knight sat upon whinnied, and Harry motioned it forward. Ginny smirked, and motioned her bishop.

“Checkmate love,” Ginny exclaimed, and they laughed as Harry fell backwards off the stool.

“Dammit Ginny,” Harry exclaimed from the floor.

Draco pulled Hermione from the room, and laughed as they made their way up the stairs. His arm slipped around her waist, and he held her close.

“That was bad,” Hermione slapped his arm slightly, and he pushed his bedroom door open.

“He needs to not try so hard,” Draco told her, “Instead of trying to just play and enjoy the game, he's trying to beat her.” They entered the room, and he turned her in his arms, and kissed her forehead. “That makes her want to beat him, and she won't let him win if he tries.”

“It's a Weasley thing.” Hermione shrugged her shoulders, and reached up to undo his tie. The knot undone, she slipped it down slowly from the collar. “Ginny had to learn a lot of sneaky tricks to keep her brothers from always winning. Harry couldn't beat Ron or the twins either at the game.”

“He should watch her moves, and he'd learn a lot more.” Draco tilted his head to the side. “Have I told you yet how beautiful you look in that dress?”

Hermione shook her head, and frowned. “Why no,” she replied, and was rewarded with a grin and he pulled her closer.

“Very beautiful,” Draco whispered, and kissed her. His hand reached up behind her, and slid the zipper down slowly. “Like Christmas wrapping to the most beautiful present in the world.”

Hermione sighed, and returned the kiss. She felt themselves slowly sway back towards where the bed was, and her dress dropped in a silken pool at their feet.

“Happy Christmas Draco,” Hermione murmured against Draco's lips, and they fell to the bed in a tangled heap of limbs.

Draco looked down at her, and touched a hand to her chin. “Happy Christmas kitten,” He replied.