The Given Choices
The Given Choices
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Title:
The Given Choices (1/?)\"Book Antiqua\";mso-bidi-font-family:\"Courier New\"\'>
font-family:\"Book Antiqua\"\'>By: granger2malfoy
font-family:\"Book Antiqua\"\'>Rating: R (in later chapters)
font-family:\"Book Antiqua\"\'>Pairing(s): HP/HG, DM/HG, RL/BB,
font-family:\"Book Antiqua\"\'>Disclaimer: The characters are JK\'s.
I just enjoy using them for my
font-family:\"Book Antiqua\"\'>own amusement. ;) Yes, I have made one little
change to the JK\'s
font-family:\"Book Antiqua\"\'>characters. I have Bellatrix
and Narcissa cousins, not sisters. It
font-family:\"Book Antiqua\"\'>would get rather sticky with Draco
and Hermione, if I did not change
font-family:\"Book Antiqua\"\'>it. Please forgive me but it works out better that
way.
font-family:\"Book Antiqua\"\'>A/N: This story\'s plot bunny is from class=SpellE>Chrissy and is my take on the
font-family:\"Book Antiqua\"\'>family\'s story. Please see
font-family:\"Book Antiqua\"\'>http://groups.yahoo.com/group/choices_and_trials/
for exclusive 24hr
font-family:\"Book Antiqua\"\'>chapter updates for this story or on my class=SpellE>livejournal
font-family:\"Book Antiqua\"\'>href=\"http://www.livejournal.com/users/granger2malfoy/\">http://www.livejournal.com/users/granger2malfoy/
. Please review on
font-family:\"Book Antiqua\"\'>either spot and do not send flames. It makes class=SpellE>Severus VERY unhappy.
font-family:\"Book Antiqua\"\'>Summary: After Bellatrix\'s
husband and brother die, there is a
font-family:\"Book Antiqua\"\'>secret discovered and it all comes down to the
choices given to
font-family:\"Book Antiqua\"\'>Hermione Granger.
font-family:\"Book Antiqua\"\'>~*~*~*~*~*~*~
font-family:\"Book Antiqua\"\'>A cloaked, hooded figure stood along the side of a
white marbled
font-family:\"Book Antiqua\"\'>foyer. The person was examining a very large
painting of a stone
font-family:\"Book Antiqua\"\'>castle with a moving storm dancing in the
background. A few times
font-family:\"Book Antiqua\"\'>some lightning flashed and a soft thunder rolled.
font-family:\"Book Antiqua\"\'>The lady of the manor entered the foyer to greet
the new arrival.
font-family:\"Book Antiqua\"\'>Her long blonde hair reached far down the back of
her long green
font-family:\"Book Antiqua\"\'>dress robe. She smiled as she approached the hooded
arrival. "I am
font-family:\"Book Antiqua\"\'>so surprised to see you, but happy nonetheless. May
I say I am sorry
font-family:\"Book Antiqua\"\'>to hear about the death of your husband? He will be
missed. "
font-family:\"Book Antiqua\"\'>The figure lowered the hood to reveal silky black
hair that reached
font-family:\"Book Antiqua\"\'>a few inches past her shoulders. The woman
unclasped the black cloak
font-family:\"Book Antiqua\"\'>and placed it on her arm. She was wearing a long
navy robe with
font-family:\"Book Antiqua\"\'>black lace on the cuffs at her elbows and the hem
of her skirt. The
font-family:\"Book Antiqua\"\'>woman spoke, "My dear cousin, thank you for
saying t hat. But that
font-family:\"Book Antiqua\"\'>is not the reason I am here tonight. I require the
assistance of you
font-family:\"Book Antiqua\"\'>and your family; especially your charming
son."
font-family:\"Book Antiqua\"\'>"Bellatrix, you are
looking well-rested and back to the young woman
font-family:\"Book Antiqua\"\'>I once knew. Of course, the Malfoys
will do anything you need.
font-family:\"Book Antiqua\"\'>Please, let\'s move this conversation into the
study," Mrs. Malfoy
font-family:\"Book Antiqua\"\'>stated as she lead the other woman down the closest
hall of Malfoy
font-family:\"Book Antiqua\"\'>manor.
font-family:\"Book Antiqua\"\'>*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
font-family:\"Book Antiqua\"\'>A few months later and a few days till the end of
July, Professor
14.0pt;font-family:\"Book Antiqua\"\'>Severusstyle=\'mso-ansi-font-size:14.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:14.0pt;font-family:\"Book Antiqua\"\'>
Snape slammed the doors wide-open to the Order\'s
font-family:\"Book Antiqua\"\'>Headquarters. His face was in his normal scowl as
he walked into the
font-family:\"Book Antiqua\"\'>living room and saw the Headmaster talking to Harry
Potter. It was
font-family:\"Book Antiqua\"\'>the summer before their sixth year at Hogwarts and
Dumbledore was
font-family:\"Book Antiqua\"\'>giving him Occlumency
lessons three times a week. Albus Dumbledore
font-family:\"Book Antiqua\"\'>looked up as Snape
entered the room. "Severus, we weren\'t expecting
font-family:\"Book Antiqua\"\'>you until tomorrow."
font-family:\"Book Antiqua\"\'>The Potions Master gave Potter a normal glare of
death and the soon-
font-family:\"Book Antiqua\"\'>to-be sixteen-year-old got the hint. Harry left the
room muttering
font-family:\"Book Antiqua\"\'>rude words under his breath. Once they were alone, class=SpellE>Severus closed
font-family:\"Book Antiqua\"\'>the wooden double-doors to the living room. He
began, "We have a new
font-family:\"Book Antiqua\"\'>problem, Albus. class=SpellE>Bellatrix has hinted that she is expecting to hand
font-family:\"Book Antiqua\"\'>over a very `special\' person to the Dark Lord by
the next June. When
font-family:\"Book Antiqua\"\'>I asked her who, she stated she was confident that
her `daughter\'
font-family:\"Book Antiqua\"\'>would be joining the ranks and soon-then-after by
her side within
font-family:\"Book Antiqua\"\'>the inner circle."
font-family:\"Book Antiqua\"\'>"I was not aware that Rodolphus
and Bellatrix had a daughter,"
font-family:\"Book Antiqua\"\'>Dumbledore admitted as he took a seat in a high
winged-back chair in
font-family:\"Book Antiqua\"\'>front of the fire.
font-family:\"Book Antiqua\"\'>Professor Snape took a
seat opposite of him and he remembered the
font-family:\"Book Antiqua\"\'>conversation he had just had with the recent-widow
in a shop near
14.0pt;font-family:\"Book Antiqua\"\'>Knockturnstyle=\'mso-ansi-font-size:14.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:14.0pt;font-family:\"Book Antiqua\"\'>
Alley. Her husband and brother were both killed in a raid
font-family:\"Book Antiqua\"\'>by the Order about a week after the summer had
started. Snape had
font-family:\"Book Antiqua\"\'>known her even as Bellatrix
Black since schooldays at Hogwarts
font-family:\"Book Antiqua\"\'>because she was only two years ahead of him.
"Nor was I aware of
font-family:\"Book Antiqua\"\'>that new piece of information. And I highly doubt
her husband or her
font-family:\"Book Antiqua\"\'>brother knew of a child. I suspect the child was
born sometime her
font-family:\"Book Antiqua\"\'>graduation and the wedding two years later. So,
that would make the
font-family:\"Book Antiqua\"\'>girl\'s age so were between fifteen and seventeen
years old."
font-family:\"Book Antiqua\"\'>"She could be at Durmstrang,
but a slight possibility that she is at
14.0pt;font-family:\"Book Antiqua\"\'>Beauxbatonsstyle=\'mso-ansi-font-size:14.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:14.0pt;font-family:\"Book Antiqua\"\'>.
I don\'t believe any of your fifth, sixth, or seventh
font-family:\"Book Antiqua\"\'>year Slytherins could
possibly be her daughter," the Headmaster
font-family:\"Book Antiqua\"\'>stated as he ran his hand down the length of his
long white beard.
font-family:\"Book Antiqua\"\'>"I agree to a point. It all depends on what
happened to the daughter
font-family:\"Book Antiqua\"\'>since the birth. She could\'ve been sent to live
with someone in far
font-family:\"Book Antiqua\"\'>away and go to Durmstrang.
If she is at Hogwarts, she could also be
font-family:\"Book Antiqua\"\'>in Ravenclaw. Bella is
very intelligent but she always leaned more
font-family:\"Book Antiqua\"\'>to the cunning and arrogant. Her sorting would also
depend on the
font-family:\"Book Antiqua\"\'>father. I\'ll look into the possibilities amongst
the Ravenclaw
font-family:\"Book Antiqua\"\'>girl\'s within the possible age range."
font-family:\"Book Antiqua\"\'>The Potions Master got to his feet as the
Headmaster spoke, "Well,
font-family:\"Book Antiqua\"\'>we\'ll have to keep our ears open and examine the
pieces of
font-family:\"Book Antiqua\"\'>information as we get them. Some how they must make
some sense. And
font-family:\"Book Antiqua\"\'>we will have to keep our eyes open to watch for any
suspicious
font-family:\"Book Antiqua\"\'>actions by any girls fifth year and up."
14.0pt;font-family:\"Book Antiqua\"\'>Severusstyle=\'mso-ansi-font-size:14.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:14.0pt;font-family:\"Book Antiqua\"\'>
Snape snorted at that statement as he opened the
double
font-family:\"Book Antiqua\"\'>doors again. Dumbledore chuckled and stated,
"Okay, more suspicious
font-family:\"Book Antiqua\"\'>than normal for a teenage girl."
font-family:\"Book Antiqua\"\'>~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
font-family:\"Book Antiqua\"\'>Harry tromped up the stairs of the Order and headed
to a bedroom,
font-family:\"Book Antiqua\"\'>the bedroom of his best friend. He gave a quick
knock before he
font-family:\"Book Antiqua\"\'>entered and shut the door hard behind him. With a
quick flop on the
font-family:\"Book Antiqua\"\'>bed, he covered his eyes with his forearm as he
heard his friend
font-family:\"Book Antiqua\"\'>ask, "The lessons went that well, huh?"
font-family:\"Book Antiqua\"\'>He turned on his side and looked up to Hermione as
she sat with her
font-family:\"Book Antiqua\"\'>knees up re-reading the Charms textbook for the
upcoming year. The
font-family:\"Book Antiqua\"\'>female Gryffindor was dressed in a tight red tee
shirt and hip-
font-family:\"Book Antiqua\"\'>hugging blue jeans. She had arrived a week after
the school had
font-family:\"Book Antiqua\"\'>ended and Harry arrived two days later. As per the
norm, she made
font-family:\"Book Antiqua\"\'>him sit with her for the first two weeks to
complete their homework
font-family:\"Book Antiqua\"\'>for the summer. Ron and his family decided to stay
at the Burrow
font-family:\"Book Antiqua\"\'>till Harry\'s birthday and were due to arrive the
day after tomorrow.
font-family:\"Book Antiqua\"\'>The friendship between him and Hermione had become
much stronger as
font-family:\"Book Antiqua\"\'>she had helped him deal with Sirius\'s death and the
prophecy. He had
font-family:\"Book Antiqua\"\'>not told Ron yet because he wanted to tell his
quick-tempered friend
font-family:\"Book Antiqua\"\'>in person.
font-family:\"Book Antiqua\"\'>Harry didn\'t want to admit it but he was starting
to have more than
font-family:\"Book Antiqua\"\'>just `friend-type\' feelings toward his female best
friend. Hermione
font-family:\"Book Antiqua\"\'>was now more than a know-it-all that knew him
better than anyone
font-family:\"Book Antiqua\"\'>else, but he hadn\'t gave
her a hint of his new feelings. With a long
font-family:\"Book Antiqua\"\'>sigh, he started to play with her shoestrings, as
he talked, "No,
font-family:\"Book Antiqua\"\'>the lessons went fine and he said I should be done
in two weeks.
font-family:\"Book Antiqua\"\'>It\'s just that Snape came
in just as we were finishing up. Yes, I
font-family:\"Book Antiqua\"\'>know it is not his fault for Sirius\'s death but the
fact he hated
font-family:\"Book Antiqua\"\'>him and my father till the days they died just
really pisses me off."
font-family:\"Book Antiqua\"\'>Hermione put down her book and sat up as she looked
down on him. She
font-family:\"Book Antiqua\"\'>placed her hand on his as she said, "I know
its hard Harry but he is
font-family:\"Book Antiqua\"\'>on our side and just remember that you don\'t have
to endure any more
font-family:\"Book Antiqua\"\'>Potions Classes."
font-family:\"Book Antiqua\"\'>"True, are you sure you want another year of
Potions? Ron and I
font-family:\"Book Antiqua\"\'>would love to have you stick with us and take the
Healing classes
font-family:\"Book Antiqua\"\'>with Pomfrey."
font-family:\"Book Antiqua\"\'>She laughed as he gave her his cute puppy-dog face.
"That look won\'t
font-family:\"Book Antiqua\"\'>work on me Harry James Potter. I asked her to send
me the list of
font-family:\"Book Antiqua\"\'>books, so I can study it independently. Speaking of
Ron, I got a
font-family:\"Book Antiqua\"\'>letter from him while you were at your lesson. He
finally got up the
font-family:\"Book Antiqua\"\'>nerve to ask Lavender out and she accepted, of
course."
font-family:\"Book Antiqua\"\'>"Of course. Ever
since she\'s been spending so much time over at the
font-family:\"Book Antiqua\"\'>Burrow this summer, I figured it would only be a matter
of time. He
font-family:\"Book Antiqua\"\'>can be so dense at times," Harry remarked as
he tied her shoes
font-family:\"Book Antiqua\"\'>together without her noticing.
font-family:\"Book Antiqua\"\'>Hermione was about to swing one of her legs off the
bed and other
font-family:\"Book Antiqua\"\'>one swung off with it. It almost caused her to fall
of the bed.
font-family:\"Book Antiqua\"\'>Harry started chuckling, which became harder as she
gave him an evil
font-family:\"Book Antiqua\"\'>look that resembled Snape\'s
glare. She leaned over and picked up her
font-family:\"Book Antiqua\"\'>wand. Since Harry and Hermione had been practicing
their defense
font-family:\"Book Antiqua\"\'>skills, the Order allowed a shield over the house
to not pick up
font-family:\"Book Antiqua\"\'>student\'s wand using during the holidays.
font-family:\"Book Antiqua\"\'>With a flick of the wand, Harry\'s normally
jet-black hair had turned
font-family:\"Book Antiqua\"\'>into a light blonde. It was now Hermione\'s turn to
start cracking
font-family:\"Book Antiqua\"\'>up. He turned to the mirror and saw what she had
done to him. He sat
font-family:\"Book Antiqua\"\'>up and pinned her to the bed as he tickled her in
font-family:\"Book Antiqua\"\'>retaliation. "Turning my hair to look like class=SpellE>Malfoy\'s, you\'ll play for
font-family:\"Book Antiqua\"\'>that you little witch."
font-family:\"Book Antiqua\"\'>After a few minutes of non-stop tickling, he
stopped and noticed how
font-family:\"Book Antiqua\"\'>attractive she looked with her cheeks flushed. He
held her arms down
font-family:\"Book Antiqua\"\'>on either side of her to stop her from trying to
get away and to
font-family:\"Book Antiqua\"\'>stop himself from kissing her. The red tee shirt
she wore raised and
font-family:\"Book Antiqua\"\'>fell with her quickened breathing from his
tormenting. He sat up as
font-family:\"Book Antiqua\"\'>he moved his body away from her and smiled as he
handed her wand
font-family:\"Book Antiqua\"\'>back to her.
font-family:\"Book Antiqua\"\'>With a slight giggle, she changed his hair back and
picked her
font-family:\"Book Antiqua\"\'>Charms book back up to start reading again.
"Your right, you look
font-family:\"Book Antiqua\"\'>better this way."
font-family:\"Book Antiqua\"\'>*** End of Chapter One ***
14.0pt;font-family:\"Book Antiqua\"\'>Sostyle=\'mso-ansi-font-size:14.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:14.0pt;font-family:\"Book Antiqua\"\'>,
what do you think? Please let me know comments and suggestions.
font-family:\"Book Antiqua\"\'>This will be a different kind of story than I am
used to writing.
font-family:\"Book Antiqua\"\'>This will be more of different views and scenes
that are happening
font-family:\"Book Antiqua\"\'>than just one person\'s point of view.style=\'font-size:14.0pt;font-family:\"Book Antiqua\"\'>