The Prime Princess

Dark clouds roamed over the night sky. The cold and bitter wind chilled the very soul of the lonely person standing by the lakeshore. Stinging rain poured unstoppably with thunder storming above Hogwarts.

There were no more cries to scream from horror or tears to shed from sorrow. She looked down and raised her right hand in front of her eyes. A small hourglass with golden frame lay on her palm. It had taken all her wits to get one of these and not get caught.

“A couple hundred times should do the trick,” she mumbled and started turning the time backwards.

Suddenly the night went bright and Hermione got struck down.
***
“Ariston!” shouted professor Snape and ran down the hill to the lakeside. He feared he had been too late to save her from herself. The light from his wand showed him the way when he hurried through the angry lightning storm.

“Miss Ariston?” he exclaimed and kneeled beside the figure on the muddy ground. Quickly he checked her pulse and let out the breath he had been holding. She was alive thank Merlin. But the lightning strike had damaged her right arm that lay crisply burnt at her side.

“Can you hear me?” he shook her shoulders but she was out cold. Professor pocketed his wand, gathered her into his arms and carried thoroughly soaked Hermione back to castle.

When Snape reached to his quarters, he places her onto couch nearby the roaring fire and started treating her scorched hand. First he purified it with a spell, which also cleaned her clothes and dried them up. Carefully he extracted bits of the burned sleeve and took a closer look. There were shattered glass fragments in the wounds of her palm.

“What the hell were you doing out there?” he asked and removed the glassy pieces. They looked somehow similar but Snape let them be and wrapped her delicate fingers, palm and forearm into salved bandages. When the young lady was securely resting under comforting blanket, professor left the room to start brewing a fresh stash of healing potion and some Sleep Draft.

Gathering ingredients from shelves, he didn’t notice that someone was in his office. He was so caught up with concern for miss Ariston that even professor McGonagall doing the jig wouldn’t have interrupted him.

“You look rather worn out tonight, Severus. Have students been giving you hard time?” drawled Lucius Malfoy from the shadowed corner and stepped to the dim light coming from under the cauldron.

“You may say that,” answered Snape solemnly and turned around to his worktable.

“What happened then?” Lucius came around the table and looked the roots and herbs on the cutting board.

“Hermione…”

“What?! Is she alright?” commanded Lucius, loosing his composure. Snape inhaled sharply and added some components to the cauldron.

“She was out in the middle of the storm and got struck by lightning,” told professor in quiet tone and stirred the potion. Lucius just stared at him for a long time.

“She had a Time-Turner with her but she never got the time to use it,” added Snape and looked carefully at Lucius.

“A Time-Turner,” stuttered Lucius and found himself a chair to sit down for a moment. “Oh my… I didn’t thought it was that serious. Severus, I have to see her.” Great Lucius Malfoy sounded almost pleading and that got to the Snape.

“She’s in my quarters. I couldn’t take her to the hospital wing because it would have caused too much commotion for her,” told Snape and lifted the cauldron from the fire.

“Thank you.” Lucius got up and left Potion Masters office.

The crackling fire showed some warm light in the study. Walls covered with high bookshelves, containing dark magic and ancient spells. Lucius stepped trough the room and sought out the figure on the couch. He sat on the edge and drew back the blanket to see her face.

“What have they done to you?” whispered Lucius and stroked a cherry-black strand out of her face that once was golden from tanning but now ashen. She seemed to have lost some weight too because her features looked more angled. The damaged hand lay across her stomach and only looking at the bandages made Lucius wince.

Snape came to the room with two steaming goblets, set them onto the coffee table and took a seat across in one of the armchairs.

“I should have seen it coming,” blamed Lucius himself.

“It was inevitable. You couldn’t have been able to stop it from happening,” told professor and leaned back.

“How can you say something like that? Of course I could have been able to stop it!” Lucius got irritated.

“Stopping someone from dying?” purred Snape and Lucius got all quiet again. He looked down on Hermione who stirred in her sleep and settled herself closer to Lucius.

“I suppose so,” answered Lucius and closed his eyes. He remembered the funeral in the middle of the summer. Hermione had turned 17 that spring and a huge birthday party had been held in Ariston mansion.

Flashback…

Lucius sat at the table with Moretius and Alya Ariston and drank 70 years old whiskey. He felt joyous because Hermione unwrapped her presents in front of the crowd who cheered and whistled when something embarrassing came out of the gift-box.

When she pulled out a silk negligee that was almost see-through, she whipped it around and announced she’d be wearing it on the nightly patrolling around the castle. Blaise Zabini, who had made that present, was very anxious to see her in it.

Lucius glanced at Moretius and found a displeasing look on his hansom face. Surely he was not delighted of his daughter’s manners but he couldn’t stop her from having fun when the entire Slytherin house from 5th grade up was at present and relatives from all over the wizarding world celebrated Hermione’s 17th birthday.

Suddenly there was a fuss among the crowd that gathered tighter around Hermione for better look. Alya looked up and was shocked to see what her darling angel was holding above her head for all to see.

“Well, I never…” started Alya but her husband got hold of her and made her sit down.

“It’s alright, dear Alya,” patted Moretius her hand and looked straight into Lucius’s eyes.

“My friend, I just wanted her to be happy,” told Lucius innocently and second later was greeted by a tight hug from Hermione.

“Thank you so much,” whispered breathless Hermione into his ear and gave a smacking kiss onto his flushing cheek.

“You’re welcome, honey, and happy birthday” told Lucius and hugged her back. Hermione gave him a genuine smile and returned to awing guests who wanted to see a test flight with her new Thunderbird 5000. It was the fastest broom ever that broke even the sound barrier. And Lucius had gotten it just for her with the new Quidditch gear in Slytherin’s insignia. His son looked at the high-tech broom and was jealously angry. Draco walked to the table and sat next to his father to have something to drink.

“Why Thunderbird 5000? All I got is 4500 series!” grumbled Draco over the champagne and slammed his fork into a piece of chocolate cake in front of him.

“Because Thunderbird 5000 came to the market just this morning,” answered Lucius with amusement seeing his son acting like a spoiled brat he was.

“And that of course means she has to get it?”

“Of course,” grinned Lucius and hide his smirk behind the whisky glass.

“I think I need some air,” Draco drawled dramatically and exited the ballroom by the terrace door.

Later that night Lucius had some coffee in the library with Moretius. They had been discussing Quidditch and the dangers for Seekers. Moretius wasn’t keen on the idea that his only child was playing such a brutal game.

“Once in a while I have these nightmares about my little Mione. She is still a baby and sleeps in her crib. I hear her cry and when I go to check on her, she is gone and only a grubby note is on her pillow. It says that when I want to see her alive again, I have to pay 1,5 million Galleons,” described Moretius his dreams.

“That was so long ago,” told Lucius with compassion, “And you got her back, didn’t you.”

“Yes, but can’t you see? It was the most terrifying moment in my entire life! She’s all I have. She is my precious baby girl! I don’t want to loose her on any conditions!” Moretius rose from the armchair and started pacing the room.

“At least you know who did it,” said Lucius and sipped his strong coffee.

“Of course! The damned muggles! They came into my house and I trusted them to be worthy of my kindness to hire them as servants! And what do they do? They kidnap my daughter and ask ransom!” raged Moretius and looked for something to throw at the wall. “If that stupid Dumbledore hadn’t stopped me, I would have killed the whole Granger clan and burned the village they lived in!”

“Yes, well the Ministry would have sent you without further discussing straight to Azkaban.” Finally Lucius saw some light in Headmasters doings.

“Thanks for the reminder. Now I have to live with the knowledge that my child’s kidnappers are living wealthily in some part of England!” with that statement Moretius plopped himself back into the huge armchair and stared at the fireplace. He was no mood on talking about that subject ever again. Lucius eyed the raven-haired wizard and put an end to the silence.

“But I do believe she is rather good on that broomstick,” and grinned slyly to his best friend.

“Yes, if she had been my son, I’d be proud but now all I can do is to worry about her health. I’ve seen the traumas that Bludgers are capable to cause!”

“Oh, sweet Merlin! You sound like Alya when Hermione cut her finger with a paper sheet!” laughed Lucius. “Come on! Pull yourself together! Accidents happen and not do they all happen on Quidditch pitch! She is a grown witch and very capable of protecting herself. A new broom doesn’t mean that she’s going to end up in St. Mungo by the end of the week!”

“Did that’s why you sent your son to Quidditch training camp because my daughter is so good on the broom?” asked Moretius suddenly and Lucius looked like he had gotten a slap across the face.

“Draco needs discipline and that’s what he was going get!” told Lucius matter-of-factly.

“Ah-ah,” made Moretius and looked pleased.

Minutes raced by as two proud fathers argued about their children’s skills in Quidditch. None of them noticed at first a faint tapping on the window. Moments later when the owl got tired, he just flew in by the chimney and set his smutty figure onto the coffee table and got the fine china dusted with soot.

Moretius captured the bird and took the tied up parchment from his leg. The owl flew back into the fireplace and left two wizards dealing with the message. It was written on a blue paper and sealed with St. Mungo’s crest in the wax. Moretius broke the seal and read the lines.

“What is it?” asked Lucius cautiously when he saw his friend turn into grim.

“My father died,” told Moretius and threw the letter into the flames.

“I’m so sorry.”

“Thank you, Lucius. Now I have to go and brake my baby’s heart.” Moretius left the library with heavy heart and went to find Hermione in the garden flying with her new broom.

Lucius stood up and went to the window that opened to the garden lit up by lanterns hovering up in the air. He saw Hermione up in the sky chasing the Golden Snitch with Draco. Always competing, always showing off and never letting go – that’s what they were like. Then he noticed Moretius stepping outside into the summer night with wowing wife following his footsteps. He saw two figures descending to the ground and hurrying to Moretius. Lucius almost felt the moment when Hermione heard the news and lost her stand.

Draco grabbed her before she hit the ground and pulled her to his chest. Hermione clearly didn’t want her farther to touch her and cling to Draco. Lucius just stood by the window and let one silent tear roll down his cheek. Marcus Ariston was Hermione’s favorite grandfather and his death was true shock for her.

The day at the funeral was sunny. Moretius and Alya looked icy although there was like 40 degrees outside. The whole House of Ariston was there, mostly to find out what they got out of the Last Will. Lucius sat by the side of Moretius who hold his wife’s hand. Next to Alya was seated Hermione who’s expression was blank. Draco kept looking at her sideways hoping to find any emotions in her face.

Funeral service was beautiful. All the spokesmen told how wonderful and great person Marcus Ariston was and that only got Hermione deeper into depression. She didn’t even feel Draco’s hand take hers and caress it softly.

Weeks went by and Hermione turned down all the invitations to Malfoy’s mansion for dinner. She just stayed in her room and sulked. Lucius was just as worried about her as Moretius and Alya were.

One day Hermione just burst out of the green flames in Malfoy mansion’s fireplace. She looked so different from the last time any of the Malfoy had seen her. Hermione squealed of joy when she scared some of the house-elves and ran trough the castle. She didn’t notice much of her surrounding when she suddenly bumped into something hard and fell backwards.

“Mione!?” asked Lucius in disbelief when he pulled the witch back to her feet.

“Lucius!” shrieked Hermione and grinned ear to ear.

“Honey, what is going on?” asked Lucius suspiciously when he stared her jumping around with glee in her eyes. Had she gone totally haywire?

“I got it! I got it! I’m so happy!” bounced Hermione and hold up her Head Girl’s badge.

“Oh my! Congratulations! We have to celebrate it!” told Lucius and hugged the young lady. “You know, my son is Head Boy!”

“What?”

“But this is a good news, right? Slytherin rules the school!”

When Hermione thought about that, she soon forget that she had to prove once again she was the best. Summer vacations last weeks were great again and Hermione spent most of the time out of her house. She just couldn’t deal with her parents who accused her for being selfish at that time.

The day at Diagon Alley was something to remember. Lucius took Hermione and Draco shopping for school supplies and to have a nice dinner at the new restaurant called Giovanni’s. Hermione made her way to Madam Malkin’s Robes for All Occasions. She wanted to look the best at the feast and hoped the witch had completed the order she had given in last week.

Lucius and Draco wandered into a bookstore and stood face to face with the Golden Trio. Draco looked down on them and noticed a rather high heap of books in Ron Weasley’s hands.

“How are you gonna pay for these? You’re family is so poor that even if you sold your body on streets, you still couldn’t afford these!” taunted Draco lazily and pointed to the books.

“You foul, loathsome, evil little cockroach!” spat Carmen Granger and was about to draw her wand when Lucius stepped in front of her and sneered down at her.

“Where are your manners, miss Granger? Didn’t your mother ever taught you how to behave or was she too busy counting money she got out the fraud?” asked Lucius coldly and stared at the mudblood.

“My parents are decent people! Not like some,” announced Carmen and stared back at the tall blond wizard.

“Cam, we should go now,” hurried Harry Potter and tried to guide his friends towards the cash register.

Draco watched them leaving and looked at his father who was even in better mood. Rolling his eyes, Draco went down the aisle to find books he needed for the new school year. Lucius looked around a bit and then informed his son that he was going to check on Hermione.

“Meet us at Giovanni’s,” he told and left the store.

Madam Malkin’s Robes for All Occasions was full of giggling girls and huffing boys who all tried to fit into some presentable robes. Lucius opened the door and walked in. For one moment all the eyes were on him and Lucius greeted them with his patented grin. All the ladies sighed when Lucius flashed his devastating smile upon them. He was a hansom bachelor at the age of 36 with loads of money. Every woman wanted him.

Lucius moved trough the admiring witches and jealous wizards and reached to dressing cabins.

“Hermione?” he asked and looked at the doors in front of him. From somewhere an evil cackle was heard but Lucius ignored it.

“I’m in here,” a familiar voice sounded and one of the doors opened a little.

“Are you decent?” inquired Lucius and stepped closer. Hermione came to the door and Lucius was dumbstruck. She wore flimsy black undergarments that did nothing to hide her softly curved body. Another hit of laughter split the air but was soon muffled.

“I do believe I am,” answered Hermione and grabbed the front of his robes and pulled Lucius inside. She pushed him against the stalls wall and ran her hands over his hard chest. Lucius just stared at her in disbelief and noticed something in her darkened eyes.

“What is going on with you?” he demanded gently and grabbed her wrists into his hands for firm hold.

“Little Weasel got mad at me and hexed me to snog the first male I saw,” answered Hermione honestly and rubbed her warm body against his. This was so tempting but he tried to keep himself in check.

“Please, I need to touch you, feel you…” moaned Hermione huskily and licked her lips invitingly. Lucius breathed hard from the sight of her and he just couldn’t tear away his eyes from those round breasts lingering under his nose. They were perfect and he so wanted to rip off that offending bra and burry his mouth into them. In the middle of those thoughts he had let his hold loosen and suddenly he discovered her hands under his thin robe pulling the shirt out of his pants.

“Mione…” he started to protest but was silenced by a hungry kiss. His brain shut down and all the needy emotions took over. Her tongue moved over his lips and then slid into his mouth, making him forget everything. Lucius felt like all his body was in fire and so alive. His hands started to roam over her naked skin and slithered down to cup her round ass. He wanted her so much it hurt.

With one swift moved he had pulled her thighs to his hips and pressed her backside into the opposite wall. His shirt was ripped open and he felt her silky skin on his. The sensation was electrifying and his hard cock had found a happy place between her legs. There was nothing he wanted more than to shag her senseless. His hands groped her firm breasts and pinched sensitive nipples that earned him a wanton moan.

Lucius ripped his lips from hers and traveled down her neck to her fantastic mounds of flesh he so desired to ravish. Hermione’s hot tongue licked his neck and greedy lips sucked his earlobe. Lucius let out a purr and attacked for revenge her nipple. He felt her hands slide under his shirt and scratch his bare back, leaving marks. Pain only intensified his burning desire for the witch wiggling her wet cunt against his throbbing cock.

A knock on door made them froze in the middle of the action and Hermione pulled him closer to her and buried her face to his naked chest to muffle a frustrated growl.

“Miss Ariston? Is everything okay?” asked madam Malkin from the other side of the door. Hermione looked up into Lucius’s stormy eyes and smiled.

“I’m fine! I’ll take these robes!” she answered cheerfully. She raised her hand and caressed his flushed cheek. The hex had worn off but things didn’t go back to where they were. Lucius kissed her lovingly and put her back down.

After few fixing spells they looked respectable and Hermione exited the dressing cabin first, letting Lucius sneak out of there by Disapparating. Madam Malkin packed her robes and handed them to Hermione for 80 Galleons. Outside the shop she got together with Lucius and to avoid following misunderstandings they went straight to Giovanni’s where Draco already waited for them.

Few days before the school, an envelope arrived from Hogwarts. It was for Hermione who was lying under a tree and let one of the house-elves polish her toenails. Few feet away from the shadow laid Draco on the grass and read “Pragmatic Potions” by Evan Hardgrave. Hermione ripped the yellowish envelope open and pulled the letter out of it and read:

HOGWARTS SCHOOL of WITCHCRAFT and WIZARDRY

Headmaster: ALBUS DUBLEDORE

(Order of Merlin, First Class, Grand Sorcerer, Chief Warlock, Supreme Mugwump, International Confederation Of Wizards)


Dear Ms. Ariston,

With great regret we inform you that you are removed from the Head Girl’s obligations because of the immoral behavior in a public place on 25th July.

Please send the badge back to school before the July 31.

Yours sincerely,


Minerva McGonagall,

Deputy Headmistress


Hermione stared at the letter. She didn’t feel anything at first, but when it sank in, she totally lost it. Draco had hard time to keep her from murdering an innocent house-elf who was in a way of a raving Ariston.

“How could they do this to me? Take away everything that ever made me happy?” she cried out and fell into darkness of her own hollow soul.

Flashback ends…