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Chapter Text

19^th January 1980

Hector Dagworth-Granger was finally a grandfather. His son’s wife had already had one miscarriage, so this time around he had convinced the young couple to move back in with him at Coughton End. Having them back in the house was bringing life back to the manor, especially since Hector’s wife, Astraea, had died three years earlier. Having company other than his loyal house elves, Pip and Merrilyn, was surprisingly refreshing, especially with the growing turmoil in the wizarding world.

Only a week ago, Hector’s friend Augusta Longbottom had advised him to tighten his ward security as there were increasing numbers of attacks on those who had yet to publicly declare support for either side in the dawning conflict. Now that he had his son Castor, his wife Elizabeth, and their four-month-old daughter Evelyn in the house with him he had been able to draw up a blood ward around the property, severely limiting access to anyone outside the family. He’d advised his sister Ophelia to do the same, but whether or not she had heeded his warning he couldn’t say, as nearly all his owl letters had been returned unopened. Still, he hoped she was taking precautions, especially as her son Richard was a squib. Hector didn’t know if Richard still lived in the magical world or not, but his attempts to contact him had also not gone anywhere. All he could do now, was concentrate on making sure Elizabeth and her baby were as comfortable as possible. Which is how he found himself in his potions lab, refilling his stock of essence of dittany and blood replacing potions.

Gently slicing the mandrake leaves, he suddenly heard the ring of the boundary ward alarm. He looked up, and carefully placed down his knife, picking up his hawthorne wand instead and quickly making his way upstairs to the entrance hall.

Castor rushed into the hallway just as Hector arrived. “Are you expecting anyone?” he asked.

Hector shook his head, casting a spell to check if the person breaching the wards matched the magical signature of anyone he knew. “Go back to Elizabeth and the baby, ward the door, and be ready to apparate out if anything happens”.

A loud clang reverberated through the front hall as the door swung open, revealing none other than Lucius Malfoy.

“What do you want, Malfoy?” Hector demanded. He held his wand firmly, staring down the young man he had watched grow up alongside his son.

Malfoy raised his hands defensively, waving his wand casually to close the door before sheathing it inside the top of his cane.

“Hector, please. He grows impatient. The only reason you’ve been left alone so far is because Narcissa vouched for you, after your help with the fertility potion. I can’t keep him away from you any longer”

Hector frowned, but kept his wand pointed firmly at the young death eater. “Why are you here? I’ve told you before, I want nothing to do with your master, nor will I join Dumbledore’s so called Order. The Dagworth-Grangers are staying neutral”

Lucius scoffed. “My sister-in-law has been itching to come and get you for months now. The Lestrange’s are insane, they will torture you just for fun! Please, just listen to my suggestion before you curse me.”

Malfoy reached into his cloak pocket and pulled out a parchment scroll, holding it out towards Hector. Unrolling the scroll, Hector quirked his eyebrow up at Malfoy as he read it.

I, Lucius Malfoy, Lord and Heir of the Noble and Ancient house of Malfoy, do hereby willingly present my firstborn son and heir, for marriage to the Heiress Dagworth-Granger, under the conditions below:

• The house of Dagworth-Granger will be considered under the protection of the Ancient and Noble house of Malfoy, for all intents and purposes, as long as the contract stands, up to and including the day of resolution, at which point the wider family will move to the usual Malfoy spousal protection.
• In return, the house of Dagworth-Granger agrees to provide potioneering services and runic calculations for the family when required, as well as raising the heiress according to the standards maintained by the Sacred Twenty-Eight.
• The heiress Dagworth-Granger must be presented to the Lord Malfoy for marriage upon the coming of age of the Malfoy heir, with the ceremony held before the heir’s eighteenth birthday.

The following clauses will apply:

• Should either betrothed show no magical ability by the age of five, they will be classed as a squib and hence not eligible for the magical union set out herein.
• Should the bride-to-be give her virtue to anyone other than a Malfoy, as confirmed by healer inspection and memory examination, the contract will pass to the next eligible heiress of the house of Dagworth-Granger.
• The agreement may only be annulled by the two signatories agreeing upon a redaction statement, at any time up to the date of marriage.

I swear thus on my magic, so mote it be,

Lord L. A. Malfoy

Hector’s eyes narrowed as he considered the contract. Malfoy stood almost nervously, trying and failing to maintain his aura of collectedness. Hector sighed as he slowly rolled the parchment. It wasn’t the worst betrothal contract he had seen, but it wasn’t exactly ideal.

“And if I don’t sign, I assume you’ll bring your friends back and kill us all?”

Lucius grimaced at the accusation but made no move to correct the man. After all, it was only a matter of time before the Dark Lord decided to move into all-out war against the remaining pureblood houses that had yet to declare a side. Just because he was preoccupied with Dumbledore’s little freedom fighters at the moment, didn’t mean that he wasn’t already ordering raids and hits on anyone associated with the aurors, and Lucius wasn’t entirely sure that he would be able to keep attention away from the Dagworth-Grangers much longer – especially since Hector was a known associate of several Order members like the Longbottom matriarch.

“I see,” taking his silence as confirmation that the Dark Lord was indeed likely to come for the family soon, Hector gestured for Malfoy to follow him into the study, “then I suppose I must sign away young Evelyn. May Merlin forgive me.”

The paperwork disappeared in a shower of blue sparks once both men had signed it, off to the ministry’s office to be filed away, with copies simultaneously appearing at Gringotts in the respective vaults of each house.

Lucius offered to stay with Hector while he told his son what he had done, but the older man waved him off. “Get back to your wife, and tell her what you’ve done to her son,” he snapped at the man. Lucius could tell that the man needed time to cool off, and merely bowed his head and took his leave, making his way down the drive until he reached the boundary and could safely apparate home.

Hector turned towards the staircase, intending to go and beg his son for forgiveness after signing away his barely three-month-old baby, but before he had even reached the first step, he fell to the floor in a flood of tears.

5^th June 1980

Lord Dagworth-Granger,

Thanks to the success of your fertility potion, Narcissa gave birth to a healthy boy this morning. His name is Draco Lucius Malfoy. I look forward to introducing the children to each other in the coming years.

 L. A. Malfoy

5^th January 1981

Malfoy,

I thought the whole point of signing my granddaughter over to your son was that you would protect us. The Lestrange brothers were poking around on the ward boundary. If you are not willing to uphold your end, then I suggest we break the contract.

H D-G

9^th January 1981

Hector,

I am doing everything to keep my people looking away from you, but some of them are not very respectful of the old ways of families like ours, and do not see the betrothal as valid, especially since you have yet to formally introduce your granddaughter to anyone.

Narcissa says thank you for the fertility potions, we are expecting a Malfoy daughter to join us this summer. Others are asking for advice – will you brew another batch, for Narcissa to give to her sister, and her cousin? It would help us secure your position among my group, as someone to be left alone.

L. A. Malfoy

14^th January 1981

Malfoy,

Potions attached. Elizabeth is too sick to leave the house and wants to make the most of her time with her daughter in case she doesn’t recover. Will let you know about meeting later in the year – many of our friends have disappeared recently and we are anxious for their safe return.

H D-G

5^th February 1981

Post being monitored – do not reply.

Narcissa has lost the child.

I am under heavy suspicion due to our agreement – do not do anything that will cause more questions to be asked. He knows Narcissa is my weak spot, and I cannot afford for anything more to happen to her.

Lucius

14^th March 1981

Hector had finally convinced his son Castor to accompany him outside the house on an errand to Gringotts, to check whether the betrothal agreement was still active. He had not heard from Malfoy in some months and while he knew he should not worry about a man who was a death eater, who likely had played a part in several of his friends’ deaths, he couldn’t help but feel for Narcissa, and her son Draco. If either Lucius, or his young son were dead, it meant that the contract would be null unless the couple had another son, and he could avoid having to come clean to Castor about just what he had signed away to the Malfoys in order to maintain the Dagworth-Granger neutrality.

Diagon Alley was quiet. People scuttered around nervously, no one lingering in place longer than necessary, everybody going around in pairs at the least. Even Florean Fortescue’s had finally succumbed to the growing sense of doom and had closed its doors and boarded up its windows for now. The two Dagworth-Grangers quickly made their way down the street towards the towering white façade of the bank. But before they had even made it halfway down the street, they found themselves backed into the porch of a boarded up shop by two men in black cloaks and hoods. Once they were securely out of sight of any passers-by, the men lowered their hoods, leaving the two Dagworth-Granger men face to face with Lord Nott and Lord Avery.

“Well, well, well,” drawled Avery, “if it isn’t everyone’s favourite potioneer! Fancy seeing you out, Dagworth!”

“Avery. Lord Nott.” He politely bowed his head towards Nott, attempting not to anger the man who was widely assumed to be one of Voldemort’s closest allies.

Nott wasn’t impressed. “You ought to show some more respect, professor. Your little blonde friend isn’t around to protect you now, is he?”

Hector felt his heart skip a beat at the mention of Malfoy. Surely the man couldn’t truly be dead?

Avery laughed at Nott’s jeer, “Malfoy is in big trouble with the boss, I doubt that –” Nott wordlessly cast a silencing charm at the man before he gave away anything important in the middle of the street.

“I imagine what Malfoy failed to tell you, Dagworth, is that our lord has found a replacement for you. A young man who recently graduated has taken over brewing potions for Malfoy’s wife, and anyone else who needs it. I’m afraid there is no longer any need for your services.”

Castor moved to stand slightly ahead of his father, but Nott merely laughed at the gesture. “Do you really think you can best me, boy? I was a duelling champion back when you were still learning to fly! Now, tell me, Dagworth – give me one good reason why I should let your son’s behaviour slide?”

Hector paused for a moment, frantically working through possible outcomes in his head. It was barely a minute, but it was long enough for Avery to finally cast the counterspell and regain his voice.

“Don’t you have a brat that needs betrothing, Nott? I’m sure Mr. Dagworth here would be thrilled to join his measly house to one with such an illustrious tradition.” Avery cackled as he watched the outrage spread across Castor’s face at such a suggestion.

Nott spun to stare at Avery, considering his point, before turning back to Hector. “I believe Narcissa mentioned that you recently became a grandfather?” he asked, grinning viciously as he did so, “I think binding the child to mine would suffice for now, unless you’d prefer to get acquainted with my other, less… pleasant… associates?”

Hector knew he had no choice. Nearly everyone he knew was going into hiding after the most recent round of ruthless death eater attacks. He looked at his son, who seemed to be reaching the same conclusion in his own head, judging from the resigned fury blazing in his eyes.

Hector turned back to Lord Nott and merely nodded his head as he replied, “Of course, my lord”.

Nott grinned, a toothy predatory grin much like that of an animal playing with its food before killing it. Gesturing for Avery to grab Castor, he clasped his claw like hand around Hector’s elbow, dragging the poor man around the corner into Knockturn Alley.

The bell rang out as he pulled the man through the front door of Borgin and Burkes and through to the back room, where he forced the man down into a chair at a worn wooden table. Avery followed shortly behind them, castor looking confused and panicked at being manhandled and bundled into the room reeking with dark magic. Hector reached out, placing his hand on his sons arm reassuringly.

With a flourish, Nott summoned a piece of blank parchment and a self-inking quill, taking a seat directly opposite Hector while Avery leaned against the doorframe, wand pointed directly at Castor and Hector.

Nott wrote quickly, a sneering laugh escaping his lips at times as he scrawled out his terms, before sliding it across the table towards his two guests.

“All you need to do is write in your brat’s name on the line,” he sneered as Hector picked up the paper and began to read.

I, Theodore Nott Sr, Lord and Heir of the Noble and Ancient house of Nott, do hereby willingly present my son and heir, Theodore Nott Jr, for marriage to ___ Dagworth-Granger, under the conditions below:

• The house of Dagworth-Granger agrees to become a personally subordinate house to the leader of the house of Nott, Theodore Nott Sr, and not to engage with or support any person, house, or organisation which stands against Lord Nott and his associates.
• The house of Dagworth-Granger agrees to raise the heiress according to the standards maintained by the Sacred Twenty-Eight.
• The marriage must take place as per the pureblood traditions of the house of Nott and a ritual binding must be completed as well as the standard legal ceremony performed by representatives of the Ministry of Magic.

The following clauses will apply:

• Should the bride-to-be not enter into a magical union with a representative of the betrothed house within six months of coming of age, her magic will be stripped and her wand snapped in accordance with the 1478 regulations governing the intentional breaking of a magical contract.
• Should the contract be invalidated for any reason, the contract will pass over to the next eligible Dagworth-Granger relative, including any as yet unborn siblings or children of the house.

I swear thus on my magic, so mote it be,

Theodore Nott Senior

As Castor skimmed the page over his father’s shoulder, he grew increasingly upset, “You can’t do this to us!” he slammed his fist onto table as he reached towards the parchment, “It’s barbaric to include those clauses! There’s no break clause, and our family hasn’t invoked the 1478 regulations for nearly 300 years!”

Hector merely sat, a single tear running down his cheek. The contract was much less favourable than the one he had been forced to sign with the Malfoy’s, but he didn’t see any other way to keep the Death Eaters away from his family. He wasn’t sure how but he knew that once the war was over, Dumbledore and his people would surely be able to help him work out how to dissolve the rotten thing.

He gestured for Nott to pass him the quill, barely managing to write in Evelyn’s name on the dotted line before Castor attempted to snatch it away from him. “Son,” he said gently, as he signed his name at the bottom of the contract, “this is the only way to save her life. I know it is not how we have done things in our family but this is traditional, it’s what your mother and I had and we grew to love each other. That is the best we can hope for, for our Evelyn”.

Castor stared at his father, open-mouthed with shock and rage. “She’ll be little more than a slave, bound to his son no matter what she truly feels! I will never forgive you for agreeing to this father!” Hector merely handed the paper back to Nott, who made quick work of duplicating the paperwork and dispatching copies to Gringotts and the Ministry.

Avery accompanied the two men back out to the alley, and once they were out of the dark shop, and back in the main street, Hector feigned a slight trip over the cobblestones to send Castor ahead to the potions supply store. Watching his son across the empty street, he pulled his wand out and slowly held it towards him.

Forgive me, son, he thought, as he took aim and whispered “Obliviate”. Focussing on their encounter with the two cloaked men, he removed his son’s memories of being led into Borgin and Burkes, the betrothal. Instead, Castor would think they were accosted by two beggars, whom Hector promptly sent on their way. Once the spell was finished, he left his son to finish purchasing supplies and turned to Gringotts bank to complete the task he set out to do.

Inside the bank, he handed over his vault key and was promptly driven down into the depths of the bank. Entering his vault, he went straight to the family ledger, which gathered all the active magical contracts the family was bound in. There, at the back, were the copies of the betrothal contracts, the only proof of his dealings with the two death eater families. Carefully, he took the paperknife from the bureau and cut out the offending page, muttering a reparo at the book to cover up the deceit. Of course, it would never fool the goblins, and didn’t annul the contracts, but it would stop Castor or Elizabeth discovering the truth before he had worked out a solution.

He folded the lone page, and then carefully filled his money pouch with a handful of galleons and sickles in case either of them questioned his visit to the bank when he got home that evening. All he could do now, was pray for the war to end soon.

Chapter Text

27^th April 1981

Elizabeth was pregnant. Again.

She had told her husband and father-in-law the happy news that evening over dinner, having waiting some weeks to confirm it was not just another bout of sickness that so often plagued her. Castor was overjoyed at the thought of a sibling for little Evelyn, and the young girl was also seemingly excited about the idea too.

Hector was the only one in the house who worried. Elizabeth was older, and all he could think about was the fact that Evelyn had yet to exhibit any magic. If she were a squib, the contracts he had signed would simply pass to the next daughter of Elizabeth and Castor.

The binding magic of a contract had the potential to create a pregnancy that would allow the terms to be fulfilled – it was why so many pureblood couples often signed betrothal agreements for their future child as part of the marriage ceremony, to improve the chances that the firstborn child was the desperately needed son and heir. The Dagworth-Grangers had done away with the practice several generations ago after it emerged that creating a pregnancy in such a way often permanently damaged the magical core of the mother. But many families continued to use such contracts, caring more about their unbroken line of sons than the health of their wives or daughters-in-law.

Still, Hector plastered a smile on his face and pretended to be thrilled at the news of a second grandchild. He tried not to think about the parchment contracts hidden behind several notice-me-not charms in his desk.

Or the fact that he had received multiple visits from Lord Nott recently, to check that they weren’t harbouring anyone allied against him and the Dark Lord. This wouldn’t last forever. It couldn’t. Hector poured himself a large glass of firewhiskey, placing his glasses down on his desk and grimacing as he swallowed the bitter alcohol.

He would get through this. And then he would fix everything.

12^th November 1981

Hector smiled up at Elizabeth and Castor as they handed him his new granddaughter. The timing couldn’t have been better – Lord Voldemort had finally been vanquished, so he had been able to get Elizabeth into St Mungo’s for the birth. It had been a difficult birth so Hector was relieved to see that both she and her new daughter were okay.

“She’s called Innogen,” Castor informed him as he gently rocked the baby, before handing her back to Elizabeth. Innogen cried gently, and Elizabeth brought the babe up to her chest to feed her. Evelyn was sat on the bed next to her mother, desperately trying to hold her new sister’s hand. Hector couldn’t stop smiling.

19^th April 1982

Death Eaters still at large! Aurors on high alert!

By Icarus Doge-Smith

Aurors have called for the public to remain vigilant as it emerged that several known associates of He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named are still unaccounted for, six months after the defeat of their leader by our young saviour, Harry Potter. Head Auror Moody advised anyone with known affiliations to Albus Dumbledore or the Potter family to maintain high-security wards, and urged anyone with any information on the whereabouts of the missing Death Eaters to get in touch with the joint DMLE and Auror taskforce, currently headed by Alastor Moody and Bartimus Crouch.

Those still at large include brothers Rodolphus and Rabastan Lestrange, Wesley Mulciber, and Lord Thomas Avery. Anyone who encounters these men should not attempt to attack them but report their presence and appearance to the authorities as soon as possible.  

Hector tossed down the newspaper and ran his hand over his forehead. He was getting more and more concerned. Although Malfoy and Nott had been apprehended shortly after the events of last Halloween, both men had somehow convinced everyone that they had been under the imperious curse, and as such were merely under house arrest until their trials, which were due to take place later that month. He couldn’t see that Nott would walk free, but Malfoy almost certainly would, and he couldn’t see that the man would agree to break the contract now that his family desperately needed a bit of good publicity.

Albus Dumbledore was ignoring his owls, and everyone else he knew with any experience dealing with magical contracts was either helping to track down the remaining death eaters or working to gather evidence to successfully prosecute those they had caught. It was a nightmare. Elizabeth was still sick, and the healers said it was likely the strain of her second pregnancy that had weakened her core. She seemed to grow weaker by the day, and with so many people injured in the last few years, the waiting list for proper treatment was growing longer each week.

Perhaps it was time to think about leaving the country, and seeking treatment elsewhere… but before he could leave, he needed to make sure he resolved the contracts. He couldn’t face admitting what he had done to Castor, so he would make sure he fixed it, no matter what.

5^th May 1982

Lords Malfoy and Nott acquitted!

By Icarus Doge-Smith

This morning’s trial found Lord Malfoy and Lord Nott not guilty of involvement with the terrorists known as Death Eaters, after evidence emerged that the two men had been coerced into their actions through repeated exposure to the Cruiciatus and Imperious curses.

Lord Lucius Abraxas Malfoy was the first to take the stand and recounted in his testimony how he had approached a former housemate from Slytherin House for assistance shortly after his marriage to Lady Narcissa Malfoy, nee Black, who then introduced him to He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named. From the first meeting, Malfoy explained that he was placed under repeated imperious curses by You-Know-Who and leading death eaters, including Evan Rosier (who was recently killed while resisting arrest), and forced to undertake a range of crimes including breaking and entering, unlawful captivity, aggravated assault, and use of the unforgiveable curses. He also recounted the various threats made against his then-pregnant wife and infant son once he was able to throw off the curse, as well as the torture of his elderly father, Abraxas Halley Malfoy. Based on his testimony, and the lack of any witness testimony from the prosecution, Lord Malfoy was acquitted with a full pardon, awarded 1000 galleons compensation for the time served in Azkaban awaiting trial, and will resume his seat on the Wizengamot from the next sitting which is scheduled to take place this autumn.

Second taking the stand this morning was Lord Theodore Nott. Lord Nott testified that he had been threatened and weakened by repeated subjection to the Cruiciatus curse, as attested to by multiple healers, and like Malfoy, also placed under repeated Imperious curses. In his testimony, the reserved man showed little emotion as he recounted the heinous crimes he was forced to commit, including assault against his own father, Lord Cantankerous Nott Jr, who tragically died earlier this month after exposure to rare snake venoms and poisons. When questioned why he did not hand himself in immediately after the events of Halloween 1981, Nott explained how he was afraid to be caught out by rogue Death Eaters (several of whom are still on the loose) as he feared for the safety of his young wife and son. The jury found Lord Nott not guilty for all charges related to his involvement with the terrorist association known as the Death Eaters, and he was released from custody. However, Lord Nott was unable to provide compelling evidence or reason to explain his possession of nearly five hundred samples of Class A and C Non-Tradeable Materials, and as such was sentenced to eighteen months’ probation, including a curfew and overseas travel restriction.

Both men were greeted warmly by their wives upon their release from the courtroom, as well as a large crowd of supportive members of the public. At the time of going to print, neither family had yet released any statement on the outcome. We wish both men all the best in their recovery from their harrowing ordeal over the decade.

Hector sighed. Eighteen months’ probation, that gave him time to get a plan together before Lord Nott could start showing up and intimidating him again. He still hadn’t heard from Lord Malfoy – the man and his wife had both ignored several owls from him, and he got the distinct impression that the man had not actually told his wife about their agreement. In the distance, hector could hear Evelyn and Innogen giggling away at their father’s funny voices while he read the two young girls a book. Elizabeth was still weak, and rarely made it out of bed.

He clicked his fingers, calling out for his Pip as he did so. “Could you please check in on Elizabeth and see if she will take lunch with the girls today?” he asked his devoted elf. Pip merely nodded and disappeared with a crack. Hector turned back to his bureau, and carefully unlocked the hidden compartment in the drawer, taking out the two contracts. Both were still active, the parchment almost glimmering in the candlelight as he turned them over in his hands. He must fix this; carefully replacing the papers and relocking and warding the drawer, he reached for the first tome of the huge pile beside him. Wizarding contract law and nullification: a guide to family management. He opened the book and began to read. If no one would help him find the loophole, then he would find it himself, or die trying.

24^th May 1983

“Evelyn, why don’t you share that little Hippogriff toy with Innogen like a good girl?”

Evelyn clutched the toy tighter as her mother tried to take it away from her. “No mummy, it’s mine!” she argued as she attempted to wrest it away. Behind her, Innogen sat on the floor, crying loudly. Elizabeth merely stared at Evelyn. The girls had always been close, but now that Evelyn was getting older she was getting more and more irritated at having to share with her younger sister.

Suddenly, a yellow spark appeared and the toy flew out of Elizabeth’s hands and back into Evelyn’s lap. The girl smiled and held it tightly to her chest. Elizabeth looked shocked.

“Darling, you just did your first bit of magic!” Tears welled in her eyes, and she gathered Evelyn up in her arms. “Oh you clever, clever girl!” She exclaimed, spinning the two of them around to face the dark armchair where Hector was sitting. “Do you think you can show grandpa what you just did?”

Hector looked up, his face paling as he realised what he would need to do next. He gestured for Evelyn to come over, but before Elizabeth could leave the room he delicately cast a memory charm on the woman, so she could not speak of Evelyn’s accidental magic with anyone else. It was all he could do in the brief moment he had.

Evelyn was magical. This was going to be a problem, as he couldn’t annul the contract based on her being a squib. As Evelyn showed him her teddy, mentally he plotted. It looked like he would have to consider some of the darker spells he had found in his research after all.

3^rd July 1984

Hector had watched the family all week.

It had taken him seven months to get in touch with his sister, Ophelia, and in turn she had taken nearly six months to track down an address for her squib son, whom she had lost contact with nearly twenty years prior, after sending him off to a boarding school in the muggle world.

Hector hadn’t told her why he needed to get in touch with Richard, instead making some comment that the recent business with the young Longbottom couple being tortured had made him realise the value of family. Whatever he’d said, she’d believed, and finally, he had an address in London for his nephew.

Richard left the house each morning at 8am and walked to the Underground train station at the end of the street. He arrived to the white building that bore his name on its sign at 8.45am - Hector wasn’t sure what a ‘surgery’ was or what job he did inside, but he would be there all day.

At 5pm he would emerge, and head around the corner to some kind of school for further studies, where he would meet his wife, Helen, and together they would go to collect their young daughter Hermione from nursery before heading home. They seemed happy, and ordinary.

Hector wasn’t sure if Richard had ever told his wife about magic, but he had established that Richard himself could still see through muggle-repelling charms by sitting directly opposite him on the train one morning, dressed in full wizarding garb and reading that morning’s edition of the Prophet. Richard had made eye contact with him and nodded respectfully at him when he feigned surprise that he had been seen. 

Richard and Helen’s daughter looked exactly like Evelyn did, and after sending one of the elves to borrow the family’s records from the nursery, he was pleased to see that she was the same age, born in September 1979 as well. At nearly five years old, she showed no signs of magic yet, and as long as it stayed that way his plan would work. 

He had taken too long to resolve this issue.

Surprisingly, Lord Malfoy had never contacted him about the contract and he could only assume the man had forgotten, or maybe removed his own memory of the event in an attempt to shield his actions from his former master. Maybe he really had been under the imperious curse and didn’t remember making the contract.

The bigger concern was Lord Nott. The man had also been conspicuously absent recently, keeping to himself in his manor. No one had seen his wife or son for some time, but the man had only recently been released from probation so he was probably anxious to re-emerge into the world. That contract was a bigger problem, since Hector couldn’t rely on the man simply forgetting, as it would strip Evelyn of her magic if it wasn’t enacted.

His research into contract law had found that in most cases, a contract could be passed on to any blood relative that met the main criteria – so in this case, any heiress of the Dagworth-Granger bloodline. Nott had been in such a rush to write up the contract that day that he had forgotten to include the usual anti-squib clause.

So, all Hector needed to do was make sure the contract passed to his nephew’s non-magical daughter, and then it wouldn’t matter if the contract was not met, since she wouldn’t have a wand to be snapped anyway. It seemed simple enough, but making sure the contract swapped was actually quite difficult.

Which was how Hector found himself stood in the living room of his nephew’s house, holding him and his family at wandpoint.

Richard stood in front of Helen and their daughter protectively but could only watch as the man waved his ebony wand, causing Helen to fall to the floor.

“What do you want? I have no magic, please, just leave us alone!” Richard begged him, moving towards his young daughter with fear on his face, “I have nothing left in your world, please, I never even told Helen about magic!”

Hector swallowed deeply before answering. “Please, I will not harm you. Hand the girl to me and this will all be over”.

“No! You can’t take my daughter, please, she is just a child! Take me instead!”

Hector merely waved his wand once more, casting a non-verbal full-body bind curse on the man. He held his hand out towards the girl, who simply stared at him widemouthed at what he had just done.

Hector sighed. “Pip!” he called, and the elf appeared almost instantly, bringing with him young Evelyn. Hector grabbed her hand and gestured for the elf to take Richard’s young daughter. With a crack, Pip disapparated once more, taking the Granger daughter with them.

Evelyn looked up at her grandfather inquisitively. “Grandpa?” her lip started quivering as she noticed the unconscious woman on the floor, and the man frozen before her, his terrified expression plastered over his face.

Hector leaned down to place a light kiss on her forehead, and gently sat her down on the leather sofa. “I’m sorry, my child. One day you will understand that this was the only way” he blinked away the tears forming in his eyes and turned his wand towards his granddaughter.

“Obliviate”

Hector watched as the silver wisps of memory evaporated, not pausing until he had removed any trace of magic from her mind. Then he turned to Richard, and repeated the spell, removing the man’s childhood memories and any recollection of the magical world.

He gently levitated Richard and his muggle wife onto the sofa next to Hermione, before releasing Richard from the full body bind. They looked similar enough that no one would question their relation. Next, he began the most difficult part of the whole thing – the spell that would make Evelyn become Hermione Granger.

He focused all his magic on sending the necessary information through the spell. Memories of growing up in the muggle world replacing the empty spaces in Richard and Evelyn’s minds, and subtly adapting all of the woman’s memories to ensure she recognised Evelyn as her biological daughter.

His cloak snagged on the corner of a bookshelf as he walked back towards the front door. He gently pulled it away from the wooden shelves, and as he looked up he saw the family photographs on the wall shifting slightly, changing the face of the young Granger to match Evelyn’s – no, she was Hermione now – round face and unruly curly hair. Once he was stood on the front porch, Hector slowly closed the door behind him, muttered the counter curses to release the family from their bonds, and apparated away.

Outside, a stray cat yelped as he saw the man disappear into thin air. But otherwise, all was silent and normal in Hampstead Heath.

5^th July 1984

Dagworth-Granger family missing!

By Icarus Doge-Smith

Aurors were this morning contacted by neighbours of the Dagworth-Granger estate in Warwickshire, after strange magical flares were seen and felt across the area. Upon arriving at the home of esteemed potioneer Hector Dagworth-Granger, aurors were concerned to find no evidence of the man, nor his son Castor and wife Elizabeth, or the couple’s two young children. However, artefacts and tomes found in the house suggest that Dagworth-Granger had been working with a range of experimental potions, and with the presence of the dark magic specialists on site it would seem that perhaps the family were not examined closely enough at the end of the war, despite the fact they remained neutral and never publicly supported a side. One source in the Department for Magical Law Enforcement claims that the basement was showing the remnants of a ritual, possibly an old house ritual intended to bind adopted children to the adult relatives, but no formal paperwork has been filed with the ministry relating to such matters.

Consultation with Gringotts goblins responsible for the families vault reported no unusual withdrawals from the bank, and confirmed that several contracts related to the family were still showing as active in their records. When questioned further by our report, Head Goblin Ragnokk, said “they haven’t taken out anything that we would need to notify you about, and other than that we don’t break confidentiality. Now leave us alone and don’t come back unless you are here on bank business”.

Hector smiled. It was better everyone in Britain wonder where they had gone and focus on finding the family, rather than looking too closely at his granddaughters. The ritual to tie the Granger girl to the house as if she were truly Evelyn had been complicated, but as far as he could tell it had worked. In the ensuing flight from their house, he hadn’t managed to get the original contracts so he couldn’t check if they were still active.

Elizabeth was dying. That had been the price to pay to complete the spell to switch the girls identities. Hector had tried to sacrifice himself, but magic had a way of taking what it wanted. Castor was furious and had no idea what he had really been doing, believing instead that it was a potions error that had injured his wife and daughter. Evelyn was settling in well to the magical family – a few minor memory manipulation spells and Hector had her convinced she was born to the family, merely without magic.

Now he just had to keep the family far away from Britain, and the Malfoy and Nott families. It would be easy enough to emerge in French wizarding society, once he completed the final step of his plan.

Hector poured out the small concoction over the five strands of hair – his own, Castor, Elizabeth, Evelyn and Innogen’s all together in the middle of the ritual circle.

"Pater familias innovo"

With a flourish, a magic spread across the house, magically altering the appearances of the five inhabitants.

Hector’s hair grew long and lighter, his chin dropped by a few centimetres and he found himself grew at least three inches taller. Upstairs, Castor and Elizabeth’s bodies twisted in a similar way while they lay in their beds, and in the nursery Evelyn and Innogen’s dark curly hair lightened all the way to a light blonde, the curls dropping out into nothingness. Innogen’s eyes slowly changed from a soft hazel to a light green, and Evelyn’s slowly shifted to match, almost as if the magic was being challenged before taking effect.

The last part of the spell was the worst - the built in confundus charm which would take away all his memories of why he had changed their identity. Only Hector would know that they had previously been the Dagworth-Granger family, and the others would forget ever having lived in Britain.

It would cost Hector his magic, but it was a worthwhile price to pay to keep his girls safe. He smiled as the wave of blue light overtook him. He had done it. None would be able to track them down, as the Dagworth-Granger's no longer existed. 

Meanwhile, deep in the depths of Gringotts, in the Dagworth-Granger vault, the family tapestry rewove itself to show the new surnames of Hector, Castor, Elizabeth, and Innogen. The image of their first daughter stood strong, reflecting its own recent change. 

Hermione Granger (born Evelyn Dagworth-Granger - 19th September 1979) 

Chapter Text

1^st September 1991

Hermione rapped on the glass door gently, and a tall boy with shaggy brown hair opened it, revealing a full compartment. Closest to the window, an aristocratic looking boy with white blonde hair was glaring out of the window while two fat boys beside him laughed at something she couldn’t see. Opposite them, a girl with a short button nose and a jet-black bob was flicking through a copy of Witch Weekly with her friend, a taller girl whose long hair cascaded down her back in gentle waves, unlike the chaotic mess that sat upon Hermione’s head.

“Have we met?” the shaggy haired boy asked as he took in Hermione’s appearance at their door, a slight smile breaking out across his face as he realised that she was already in their uniform robes.

“I don’t think so. I’m Hermione Granger, and you are?”

“Theodore Nott, but please, just call me Theo” He reached down and brought her hand up to his lips for a kiss. Hermione laughed softly, her cheeks blushing pink at the rather charming boy in front of her.

“I’m sorry to bother you – I’m looking for a toad, a boy named Neville has lost one. Have any of you seen it?” she asked, peering into the compartment as she noticed the rest of the group looking over at her.

The girl with the button nose snorted at the question. “Little Longbottom already lost his familiar? He’ll be a Hufflepuff for sure” she scoffed, as if the idea of being a Hufflepuff was the worst possible outcome.

The other girl merely shook her head and turned to the blonde in the window. “Have you seen a toad, Draco?” she asked him.

The blonde boy – Draco, Hermione realised – turned towards the carriage and shook his head. His eyebrow quirked at the strange girl in front of them.

“Who’s your new friend, Theo?” a slight frown appeared on his face as he realised that if he did not know this girl, then she must be a halfblood, since all the purebloods had grown up together. And that meant that neither he nor Theo should be making friends with her, not really.

Theo quickly introduced Hermione to the five occupants of the carriage – Draco Malfoy, the blonde in the window, and his two fat companions, Crabbe and Goyle (although Hermione missed which one was which) and the two girls, Pansy Parkinson and Daphne Greengrass.

Seeing Draco pulling his wand out, she grinned at the prospect of seeing some real magic. “Have you been able to master many spells?” she asked excitedly, plopping herself down on the bench next to the other girls, “I’ve only been able to try a few spells this morning, of course, but – ”

Hermione stopped herself as she realised all six pairs of eyes in the carriage were looking at her, some in shock, and at least four eyes with a kind of sadness. “Sorry, did I say something wrong?” she tried to keep the disappointment off her face as she wondered how she had offended the group so.

Draco answered first. “I think you’d best run along now, Granger, and see if anyone else has seen that toad,” he said coldly, before turning back to the window, refusing to look at her, “Theo, make sure to close the door behind her.” Theo glared at his friend, but said nothing, merely nodded at Hermione and gestured to the door.

Hermione stood up slowly, blinking away the tears that were steadily forming in her eyes. She tried not to look at the disappointed frown on Daphne’s face, or the way Pansy curled her nose up at her as she left. Once she stepped through the door, Theo grabbed her wrist and pulled her out into the corridor, dragging her along the corridor to the end of the carriage where they stood in the vestibule.

Theo ran a hand through his hair before he spoke. “Hermione, do your parents have magic?” he asked quietly.

Hermione stared at the boy who had been so nice to her at first. “No,” she sniffled, trying not to cry, “but I don’t understand why that matters. I’ve read all our textbooks already, and –”

Theo reached out a hand to swipe a tear off her cheek. “I don’t think any less of you for that, Hermione,” he pulled a handkerchief out of his pocket and handed it over, “but some families don’t think that people like you – people born and raised in the muggle world that is – should be allowed to come to Hogwarts. Draco’s father is one of those people. When you asked about doing magic, you gave away that you weren’t raised in a magical household, and Draco’s father was very strict that he mustn’t get involved with anyone that isn’t a pureblood”.

Hermione considered his words, gently patting her eyes dry. “Surely most people realise how silly that is, right? I mean, I met Harry Potter earlier and he was dressed in muggle clothes, and he’s the boy who lived,” she looked up at the boy, horror dawning on her face, “…you don’t believe that, do you?”

Theo shifted awkwardly. “My father expects me to. And trust me when I say, it’s best for everyone that he believes I do. I’m sorry.”

Hermione stood there, feeling alone and confused, as Theo turned and walked back towards his friends. Stuffing the handkerchief into her robe pocket, she straightened up, raised her chin, and continued her search for Neville’s toad. She wasn’t going to let people’s beliefs get her down. She would show them all that she deserved to be here, just as much as them, and work hard to make sure she was top of the class.

Back in the compartment, Theo sank into the bench, ignoring the conversations of his friends around him. He had hoped perhaps she was a halfblood, or even the child of a squib, but to be friendly with a muggleborn? His father would be furious, and Theo knew better than to test his father’s patience. He was not a kind man. Theo sighed. He likely wouldn’t have the excuse of being housemates to be friendly towards the girl either, since every Nott for a thousand years had been in Slytherin, and no muggleborn ever had. As the train sped closer and closer to Hogwarts, Theo made a silent prayer to grow strong enough to one day stand up to his father and make his own decisions. He could only hope that his father didn’t kill him before he could.

Chapter Text

September 1991

Dear Mother,

I was sorted into Slytherin, obviously, and so were Theodore, Blaise, Pansy and Daphne. The hat barely had to consider me and the others, apart from Theo. I tried to ask him where else the hat was considering but he won’t tell me.

It turns out Harry Potter has come to Hogwarts, but he has made friends with a Weasley and they got sorted into Gryffindor together. But he isn’t very clever, in our first potions class Uncle Severus asked him some questions about the summer reading and he had no idea. Ive no doubt that I can beat him and become the top of our class, just like you and father want.

Draco

Father,

You will be pleased to hear that I was sorted into Slytherin. My dormitory is shared with Draco Malfoy, Blaise Zabini, Gregory Goyle, and Vincent Crabbe. I believe you will find them acceptable company.

Theodore 

Dear Mum & Dad,

Hogwarts is amazing! When we got off the train we had to take these little boats across the lake to get to the castle and it was beautiful. And I got to see the enchanted ceiling that we read about in Hogwarts: A History, and its somehow even more impressive than I imagined!

On the train I helped a boy named Neville look for his toad, which he had lost. He seems very nice but a bit shy. But we both got sorted into the same house, which you’ll never guess. I got Gryffindor! It was a magical hat which sorted us all, and it was really weird but also cool to have a hat talking to me! After dinner we got shown to our common room and our dormitory and I found out who my roommates are. There’s Sally-Ann, she’s a muggleborn like me which is nice to have someone who understands, then two girls who grew up in magical houses called Lavender and Parvati. Then there’s a girl called Lily who seems a bit strange, but she is very quiet so I don’t really know anything about her yet.

Our first few classes were so exciting! Especially potions, I knew all the answers to the Professor’s questions and I already finished reading all our books for the year so hopefully I won’t get anything wrong. I can’t wait to tell you all about it at Christmas!

Love from Hermione

~~~~~

December 1991

Father,

As per your instructions I have secured myself an invitation to the Malfoy’s for Christmas break. Please may I have your permission to withdraw some money from the family vault so that I might purchase an appropriate gift for his mother and father?

I believe you are coming to the Malfoy Yule Gala so I will see you there.

Theodore

My dragon,

I am so thrilled that your friend accepted our offer to come and stay. I know all too well how excited you must be, but I feel I must warn you that your father is rather distressed at the end of term results. I am sure he will discuss it with you but I advise you to make sure you are prepared.

Don’t forget to let me know what we can get Theodore for Christmas – I will be taking you both shopping for new dress robes once you’re home, but until then, please take care of your friend & yourself.

All my love,

N. Malfoy

Dear Hermione,

We are so pleased to hear about your new friends, Harry and Ron, inviting you to stay for Christmas with them at school, but I am sorry to say that you really must come home for Christmas break. Your mum has really missed you and has got lots of lovely events planned to celebrate when you’re home. And besides, we can always take a trip into that magic street where we bought your school books if you like so you can show us what magic-folks do for Christmas.

I know you’re anxious about falling behind with your studies but we just received your end of term report, and you are the top of your year! So I am sure you can take a couple weeks off without needing to worry : )

Love from Dad

~~~~~

July 1992

The year flew past in a whirl. As Hermione packed up her trunk ready for the summer, she could barely remember those first few weeks when Harry and Ron hadn’t been her friends. She quickly finished packing her trunk, placing it neatly at the end of her bed ready for it to be transported down to the Hogwarts Express that evening. All that was left now was to attend the end of year feast. Professor McGonagall had said that all being well, Harry should be cleared to leave the hospital wing to join them, and she was looking forward to seeing her friend again.

The last few days had been difficult for the girl. Since their adventure to try and save the Philosopher’s stone Professor Dumbledore had asked her and Ronald not to tell anyone what had happened. At first she had tried to obey, but on the second night of Harry being kept in the Hospital Wing, the Gryffindors had all huddled around in the common room and practically forced the story out of the two of them, and Neville. Naturally, by the end of the next day, the entire school had heard some version of the story, although she couldn’t help but notice how the story had grown in size and impressiveness each time it was retold.

The only house that didn’t seem impressed by the story was Slytherin. She had seen Draco Malfoy laughing with his friends about how crazy Harry must be, and how stupid she and Ron were for going along with his foolish tale. But Malfoy was just a bully, and since she had ignored almost everything he said to her all year, she felt content to do the same for the last few hours of the school term.

As Harry ran down the steps from the hospital wing to greet her and Ron, she was sure she caught movement out of the corner of her eye. A brief flash of brown hair, which vanished as soon as she got out of Harry’s embrace and turned around to look. The three Gryffindors made their way into the great hall, taking their seats among their classmates who were all cheerful to see Harry up and about, despite the fact that he was probably the main reason they had lost so many house points that year.

Dumbledore’s speech went on and on, and the Gryffindor table cheered immensely as each of their first years were awarded extra points for their adventures.

Nobody watched the reactions of the Slytherin’s, not least the way that Theodore Nott carefully applauded a little harder when Hermione’s name was called.

Nor did Draco Malfoy seem to notice the way his friend looked a little too closely at the dark-haired Gryffindor girl as she passed their compartment on the train home the next day.

Draco stepped off the train to the warmth of his mother’s arms, just as Hermione cheerfully waved goodbye to Harry and Ron, before stepping through the gateway to Kings Cross to greet her parents on the other side.

Theodore Nott cautiously approached his father, who merely grunted at him in greeting, before grabbing his arm and apparating them home on the spot. Theo kept his head down as they appeared in the dark hallway of Nott Manor.

“Care to explain how you got beaten out for top spot by the Malfoy brat?” his father demanded as he pushed Theo into his office, not loosening his grip one bit.

His father grinned as he saw Theo’s face pale. “Oh yes, and don’t think I don’t know about you teaming up with that half-blood brat in your year in potions. Just because she somehow tricked the hat into putting her in Slytherin doesn’t mean it is acceptable for you to talk to her!”

Theo grimaced as his father shoved him against his desk but bit his tongue. He hadn’t realised that his father would know about him helping Tracey in potions, but then again, he should have realised that nothing he did at Hogwarts would go unnoticed.

His father wasn’t impressed by his lack of response.

“You filthy traitor! Get in your room and don’t come out until I summon you – I don’t want to even be near you until the stench of mudbloods and halfies is long gone” he yelled as he finally loosened his grip on his son. Theodore let out a sigh of relief as he hastened to get out of his father’s office and up to his room.

As soon as he shut his bedroom door, he felt the wards adjust and he knew without trying that he was locked in. Sliding down beside his bed, he pulled his satchel closer, blinking away tears as he set his small pile of schoolbooks to one side.

It was going to be a long summer.

~~~~~

September 1992

Draco looked around the platform anxiously. He hadn’t seen Blaise or Theodore yet, and it seemed like nobody had seen Potter either. Crabbe and Goyle had said hello to his parents before heading onto the train to save them a compartment near the front.

His mother was fussing over him, while his father looked around just as anxiously as Draco. A few minutes before the train was due to leave, his father seemed to relax, although Draco was confused when he realised that it was the sight of a particular gaggle of red-headed children that had caught his fathers attention.

Still, he said his goodbyes to his mother, promising to write, and thanked his father once again for promising to purchase new brooms for the Slytherin team should he manage to secure a place on it, before boarding the train.

As he walked the hallways, he suddenly saw the boy he had been waiting for.

“There you are Nott! Where have you been all summer?” he pulled the brown haired boy along with him towards the next carriage.

Theo took a moment to respond. “I was pre-occupied with my father” he said quietly.

Draco scoffed, “What you couldn’t find time to reply to one of my owls?” He shook his head, sliding open the compartment door and gesturing Theo in. “Anyway, I wanted to tell you about my father. He agreed to buy new brooms for the Slytherin team if I make it on, and I was wondering if you were thinking of trying out, since…”

Theo felt himself zone out of the conversation. He really wasn’t sure if he should even attempt to be friends with Draco anymore, since it was clear he told his father everything about the goings-on of Slytherin house, and after this summer, that was a risk Theo couldn’t take again. It only took a minute for Draco to realise he wasn’t paying attention.

“Crabbe, Goyle, go walk the train and find out where Potter is sitting” Draco ordered the boys out, and slid over to sit directly opposite Theo once they were gone.

“Did something happen this summer? You look a bit… well, to be honest you look a bit ill. What happened Nott?”

Theo took a deep breath in. Should he really tell Malfoy the truth? It was clear the boy wouldn’t let it go, and he had gotten rid of Crabbe and Goyle, so perhaps a half truth would suffice.

Theo ran his hand through his hair as he looked up. “Let’s just say, my father didn’t take too well to my association with Tracey in potions last year. I’m not supposed to talk to her anymore. So I figured the easiest way to do that without making it look obvious, is to just avoid everyone,” he shrugged as he continued, “plus that way I can focus on getting my grades up, since that was the other thing he was… upset… with me about”.

Draco’s face dropped but he nodded along. “Alright Nott. I’ll leave you alone. And if potions if the issue, you might want to talk to Snape about swapping partners for the year”. With that, he swept out of the carriage to catch up with Crabbe and Goyle and look for their first victim of the year.

Theodore sat and read in pleasant silence for a while, until he heard a rapping on his compartment door. He raised the blind and was faced with none other than Hermione Granger.

Sticking his head out into the hallway and confirming it was empty, he gestured for her to come in. She took a careful step forward, leaving the door open so she could easily escape back into the hallway.

“Sorry to bother you, Nott, but have you seen Harry or Ron? I can’t find them anywhere on the train and the prefects won’t help me look”. She twisted her hands nervously in front of her, no doubt remembering their awkward conversation on the train the year before.

Theo shook his head, “Malfoy is out looking for them too.”

She smiled softly at that, “Thanks for the heads up. Well, I best be off. Enjoy your book.”

Hermione gently closed the door behind her as she walked down the carriage. After checking the next two or three carriages she found Neville sitting with Ron’s younger sister and another first year with hair almost as blonde as Malfoy’s.

“Neville!” she rushed in to give the boy a hug, before plonking herself firmly on the bench next to him. “Tell me all about your summer! Where you able to transplant that tricky Puffapod?”

She smiled as Neville started telling her about his summer. Yes, it was going to be a good year; she was sure Harry and Ron were just stuck at the back of the train – after all, Harry’s relatives didn’t like to drop him off until the last minute and Ron surely would have waited for him. She could catch up with them that evening. Mostly, she was looking forward to a relaxing year, with plenty of time to use Harry’s invisibility cloak to access some more intriguing books from the restricted section, and without any deadly creatures, chess sets, or dark lords. 

It was going to be a great year and nothing was going to get in the way of Hermione's studying this time.