A Forbidden Birthright

Chapter Six

Her eyes adjusted to the bright lights shining on the podium, and she blinked out at the dim library, eyes glittering up at her expectantly. She could feel Draco's boring into her like a cold flame, and the awareness of his gaze made her pause, wracking her thoughts for the right words.

Nikolai stood to the side, just on the edge of the spotlight cast on her, and he gave her an encouraging grin. She didn't bother to hide her slicing gaze at him before turning her attention back to the crowd as she said, "You're right, Nikolai, I'm going to develop a new hex just for you."

The room stirred with soft laughter and then fell silent again, waiting. Draco's face remained emotionless, unmoving and unamused.

"It is an honor to be here tonight, and I thank Ms. Sabrine sincerely for the invite," she began. "Like my dear friend here said, I founded S.P.E.W. after witnessing the horrid mistreatment of house-elves. Although there were already guidelines put in place, such as the Guidelines on House-Elves Welfare, the Ministry failed to enforce it, and as a result, many pure-blood and long standing families were cruel to their house-elves. I lost a very dear friend who was a house-elf, but I had the great opportunity of seeing him as a free elf."

Draco didn't flinch or shift at her words, and she refused to let her eyes flicker to him as she spoke about Dobby. She forced away the flinch as she remembered his broken, bleeding body on the beach, his blood mixing with the sand and saltwater.

"Many elves never experienced freedom, and I fought to give them real rights, laws that allow them the decision to sign a magical contract with the family they are with that may be renewed upon their decision when their previous- master," she hesitated to say that word, still disliking it, "had passed, and another family member was next in line. House-elves can now think for themselves, have their own opinions, and are allowed holidays if they so choose."

Clapping erupted throughout the room, and Hermione paused with a smile before continuing. "Now, I am aware that there are many good families who truly love their house-elves, and whose house-elves truly love them, and consider being bound to that family an absolute honor. That is something they may absolutely maintain; I did not want to interfere with those of good intentions, but only to offer rights to those unjustly mistreated. I am proud to say that I have passed on this hard work to Nikolai Rosya, who I would like to invite to take my place. Let's all give him a round of applause."

She and Nikolai exchanged a kiss on each cheek again as the guests applauded before she stepped off the dais and made her way back to her seat, grateful for a renewed glass of wine. Goddamn Nikolai for that. She was so looking forward to not speaking, and he had damn well known it, too. That bastard.

Hermione leaned back in her seat and listened to her friend update the crowd on the coalition and their successes, and a house-elf he had personally worked with raised her glass to him from her table. But her eyes drifted over to Draco, back still to her, and she wondered what he had thought of her words. What had crossed his mind when she mentioned Dobby. She knew he knew who she meant. He had been there when Dobby came to rescue them, when Bellatrix had thrown that knife as he apparated, when Bellatrix-

She shook the thought from her head, but the painful burning in her arm refused to let her forget it. Her hand covered the bare spot on her arm instinctively.

The event concluded with the final speaker discussing the importance of remaining vigilant, despite the last ten years of peace, and several people had looked over at her as he spoke. She knew what they were thinking. She was one of the three, one of the closest friends to the Boy-Who-Lived; she knew better than anyone what it was like to live in a reality the media and ministry refused to acknowledge, and how important it was to be aware of the times.