Ultimatums

Chapter 2

Hermione cried herself to sleep that night, not even relaxing at her roommates comforts. What she didn't realise was that even though Slytherins were portrayed as heartless, they looked after their own. The rest of the house didn't really feel the same in regards to Hermione, seeing as she was a blood traitor, but luckily for her, her roommates had different ideas on the definition of the term. However that didn't mean that they were friends with her publicly.

So on her way to class the next day, when she was pulled into a dark room, she was alone. Hermione let out a scream, and a cold hand wrapped itself around her mouth while someone else turned on the light.
"Merlin Mione. Why are you screaming? It's just us" James rolled his eyes and Peter released her.

"What're you doing Jamey? I have class soon. Couldn't you have approached me normally?" the girl crossed her arms, her heart still beating rapidly, and frowned at the four boys in front of her.

Sirius grinned "We're Marauders. We don't do things normally"

"What a ridiculous name"

"Oi"

James shook his head at the quarrelling pair. "We just wanted to tell you that we'll tell Dumbledore to reSort you. You won't have to be with the Snakes much longer, little sister. I promise"

"I don't want you to get me reSorted. Besides you can't do that anyway, it's impossible" Hermione shook her head at the boys shocked faces, almost in a patronising way if you didn't know her. And only James did.

Peter looked aghast "What do you mean? The Slytherins are evil. You'll be corrupted there!"

Hermione rolled her eyes at the blatant stereotype. After she had gotten over the main sadness about being Sorted away from her Jamey, Hermione remembered everything she'd read about Slytherin, both the wizard and house, and found it quite an admirable house to be Sorted into. "Mum was a Slytherin," she said.

"Well Cousin Euphie is a Black. Every Black was a Slytherin until yours truly. You're a Potter by blood. You shouldn't be a Slytherin." Sirius said. "And she had your dad to keep her from going sideways."

Hermione glared at them, who were all nodding along "Well" she started but she was interrupted by Remus Lupin.

"Well she's not a proper Potter is she? You said Hermione was adopted. So she could be evil for all you know."

Hermione's eyes darkened and she looked at her dear brother for defending, but she saw him nodding along, not even irked by the way Lupin had disregarded her place in his family. So she raised her chin, bit her lip to stop it from trembling, and said coldly "If you'll excuse me, I'd like to get to lessons on time. How else am I going to learn to brew evil potions and cast evil spells?" before gliding out of the room.

Classes that day consisted of Hermione thrusting her hand in the air at the extensive questions, and earning multitudes of house points and teachers affections. Except Professor McGonagall, who thought she was nothing like her brother. Which was true in almost every way. Her classmates grew rather tired of this, except Regulus, who cackled every time a teacher would pick on Hermione to extract the most information they could from her. He found it hilarious.

So when Regulus found the girl in the Slytherin Common Room looking glum, he did the only thing he saw fit to do. Playfully mock her.

"Alright nerd?" he said, flopping down next to her on the emerald sofa by the fire.

"Yes, I'm perfectly fine. Though I resent the phrase 'nerd'" Hermione propped her cheek on her hand and watched the flames dance.

"Embrace it. So what's your actual issue? You'll need to be at your best if you want to let us slack off tomorrow again"

This caused Hermione to sit up straighter, "Slack off? Well. I must restrain myself if no one else is learning"

"Morgana's saggy tits, I shouldn't have said that. Now we actually have to do work... But anyways. What's wrong with you? You can't be this depressed on the first day."

Hermione sighed. She wasn't sure whether to tell Regulus, but then she realised that they could relate. "My brother said I wasn't a real Potter. Apparently I'm going to grow into an evil witch. Like they are in the Muggle books."

"Your brother's a prat then" the boy replied simply.

Glaring at him, Hermione turned her back to Regulus and said "No he is not"

But Regulus reached out and started to touch her hair instead of responding. After a few minutes, he waved his wand at it, and Hermione asked sleepily "What did you do?"

"Braided it. That way it won't be as frizzy as it was today tomorrow."

"Was that an insult or a help?" Hermione wondered out loud.

"Both. I'm always full of both. Sweet dreams, Ninita, I'll walk with you tomorrow" Regulus stood and walked over to the boys stairs, until Hermione questioned the name he called her.
"Work it out"

A few days later at breakfast, Hermione marched over to where Regulus was seated. The pair had been inseparable, walking to class together, doing homework in the Common Room and talking until it was late. All the time Regulus had called her Ninita, and while it drew attention from others, Hermione didn't mind because finding out what it meant distracted her from the fact that James had been ignoring her.

But now she knew. "Ninita: little girl in Spanish. The appeal also works because Hermione also ends in a ni sound so if you were to shorten it to Nini, Nines or Nita, it would make sense" she said as she sat down and started piling eggs onto her plate, grinning.

Regulus looked dazed, before he put his head in his hands and shook. "It's too early for this Nita. Way too early"

"Then maybe you should've gone to bed instead of reading that book, Reg. I don't see how Quidditch is anything to lose sleep over"

"Ah but that's where you're wrong. If I'm going to be Seeker, then"

But Regulus Black was cut off when something fell on Hermione's head. It was round, like a balloon, and when it made contact, Hermione became a sickly green. From her hair to her skin to her clothes, she was the same shade of sage, and on her forehead the word SNAKE formed in pus filled spots.

Regulus was helpless as the hall resounded in laughter, except the Slytherins who were fuming at the disrespect. When his friend caught her reflection in a goblet, tears formed in her eyes, and she searched the crowd of students for a culprit. A smug face to blame for what was happening.
Her blood ran cold as she saw James and Sirius high fiving, Peter chuckling and Remus looking uncomfortable.

Hermione ran out of the Great Hall, her hands covering her face, and Regulus chasing after her shouting "Nita, wait!"

When he finally caught up with her, Hermione was sitting in an abandoned classroom, sobbing. Regulus crept in and sat next to her on the desk, wrapping a skinny arm around her shoulder and letting her settle herself with her head on his chest.

"Who did this to you Nita?" he whispered, stroking her green hair.

"I-it was J-j-james-s"

Hermione cried convulsively, and she couldn't form any more words.

"It's okay Nita don't cry. We'll get them back, it's okay" Regulus soothed, but was surprised when she said "N-no you c-can't."
"Why ever not?"

"He's my brother"

"He's a prat"

The girl sat up, her cheeks blotchy and her brown curls sticking to her face. "I know Reg, I know he's a prat. But he's my brother."

Regulus looked at her for a moment, sighed and waved his wand over her, freshening her up, but not losing the green hue. "C'mon let's go find Slughorn, we have potions first. He'll sort you."

So the pair linked arms and walked toward the dungeons, glad everyone was still at breakfast.

"Hey Hermione?"

"Yes, Regulus?"

"You'll let me help you when you finally decide it's okay to get revenge, right?"

"Sure thing Reg."