Chapter Text
Tragedy had struck thrice already in the life of Amelia Bones.
When she was just nineteen years old, she had lost the love of her life - or what she had thought to be the love of her life. As it turned out, her young suitor had nothing more on his mind than her family’s fortune and the dowry she would one day inherit. Knowing now what men were really after, she promised to never be duped again. Her dowry would allow her to live a splendid life even - or especially - without a man by her side.
Her sister, Jean, had more luck it seemed. At least, when it came to love. She was twenty-one when she married Mr Granger, the most eligible bachelor in town, whose eyes were only for Jean Bones. Amelia had been so happy for her little sister, even if she felt it was unwise to be so foolishly in love.
The Bones family had never been happier than when the Grangers had announced the birth of their daughter, Hermione Jean Granger.
Conversely, they had never been in more despair than when tragic circumstance came over their house, taking the life of the young couple. Hermione, only one-year-old at the time, sole heir of the Granger fortune, had found a new home with her aunt. Amelia promised she would raise her as though she were her own.
It was five years later that Hermione should get a sister, unplanned as she was, for tragedy had struck a third time. This time, taking the lives of Amelia’s brother and his wife, leaving Amelia with her second niece, Susan Bones, to raise alongside Hermione.
Stricken in such ways, Amelia did not only vow to raise both girls into women her siblings - their parents - would be proud of. No, she also vowed to keep them safe from the hardship of the world. From its ugliness and its deceit. Especially when it came to men, as both girls would receive their own enormous wealth once they came of age.
Not to speak of the beauty Amelia was sure they had inherited as well.
~*~
The years went by; both girls grew up in a splendid way, enjoying all the amenities young ladies of their stature should have at their leisure. They were also willing students to the fine arts and the greater studies. From a young age, Amelia knew Hermione would one day become a formidable witch, maybe even follow a great calling. Susan, on the other hand, seemed to be the wilder of the two, while still comely and debonair - she was prone to flights of fancy.
By the time their respective Hogwarts letters arrived, Amelia was sure she had prepared them well enough to be away from their safe home with her. With the arrival of their Hogwarts letters, first Hermione’s, and then Susan’s, on their eleventh birthday, their aunt had to come to terms and see that she would not always be there to take care of the two lights in her life.
It was a good fact, therefore, that she trusted the competence of the professors of the old and very noble Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. Still, she owled a letter to her old Professor, Minerva McGonagall, asking her to keep an extra eye on her two young minds. Knowing that Minerva had faced a fate with love much similar to her own, she knew she could trust on her assistance.
Over the next six years, both girls grew up to be the two beautiful young ladies Amelia had always known they would be. At the same time, however, they also grew into their own natures that much more. While Hermione only had eyes for books and studies, and gave Amelia no reason to worry after her heart, even with her close friendship to young Mr Potter and the youngest Mr Weasley. Susan, on the other hand… well, Susan used the school for more than study. Like socialising, like friends.
Like young men.
It was, therefore, not an unexpected shock that Amelia had to suffer when her younger charge came home the summer after sixth year, only to announce than young Mr Zabini had shown his interest in her. Apparently, they had spent some time together - never alone, Susan promised her aunt - over the past year. As it seemed, it had come to the worst. The young Slytherin had stolen her heart.
With her past in mind, Amelia’s reaction might be understandable - but that, well that is for the reader to decide.
For Amelia Bones set down one rule right at that very moment:
Susan would only be allowed to be courted - if Hermione had a suitor as well.
With Hermione’s mind as far from men as it could ever be, Amelia was sure many more years would pass until a man would even so much as catch her eye. This way - Amelia was sure - she would be able to open the younger girl’s eyes about the real intentions young men had. For Mr Zabini would lose interest soon enough once he realised he would not get her or her money for many more years. It might break Susan’s heart for a short time - but she was still young, she would be able to move on, stronger for this experience.
This way, Amelia Bones was sure she had found a way to keep her youngest niece as safe as Hermione already was.