The Missing Jewel of House Shacklebolt

AN: This story has been edited from its original publication in September 2016. Photo Credit to Granger Enchanted Survivors' FB group. X

Warnings: Language, explicit scenes, plot-related peril (other tags will be added as we go - to do so now, would be a spoiler and that's no fun).

AU, Pureblood!Hermione, Veela!Hermione, Grey!Hermione, somewhat follows canon until things diverge 5th year on, Broken Golden Trio, Spy!Hermione, Spy!Draco, Forced Mating, Mating Bites

Disclaimer: I am not JK Rowling – she owns Harry Potter and the Wizarding World. I make no money from this; this is pure entertainment.

Prologue

Summer 1980

"It seems I have underestimated the height of your ambition, Lucius," Auror Kingsley Shacklebolt said on smile as he sat across from his former Housemate. In truth, he knew there wasn't anything Lucius Malfoy would do to secure his family's wealth and prosperity. But surely, this took the lemon cake, said wizard was sampling. Kingsley started aghast at the man across the small table from him. "You are asking me for the jewel of House Shacklebolt."

It wasn't as if the Slytherins had much in common these days. A few years ago, no one would have batted an eye at the two opposing men sitting down for tea within Diagon Alley. But following their graduation from Hogwarts, the two former friends had moved from Housemates and friends to associates as Britain's wizarding populace delved into its first Wizarding War. Traversing separate paths, Kingsley had followed a path through the Ministry and the newly-updated Auror training program. Lucius had his dealings, both political and otherwise, and if the rumors were to be believed, they were somewhat nefarious in nature.

"You know me, old friend, Slytherin through and through," The Malfoy Lord sought to remind the Auror of their past friendship with a roguish smirk. "So, do we have an accord?"

Kingsley knew when he was caught. Lucius had waited until the opportune moment and under the guise of celebrating the approaching first birthday of Kingsley's daughter, suggested the two meet to celebrate the occasion. "Are you positive there is no way else to settle our life debt?" Kingsley sighed his question, as he crumbled a napkin under the table. "The ramifications of such a … and what would our associates think when they learn of this?"

"They would say two houses of the Sacred Twenty Eight have joined together. Hardly a reason to cause a scene, wouldn't you think?" Lucius took a sip of his tea, his eyebrows innocently drawn upward. But Kingsley was no fool.

He fixed Lucius with a glare over the rim of his raised cup. "You and I both know what they would think." Kingsley looked around before lowering his voice, lest their conversation carry further than it needed to. "There is a war brewing, Lucius. Our houses have never been further apart than they are now."

"And my family has not joined this charade of a revolution," Lucius put on airs, pretending to be affronted at the ever-rising Dark Lord's uprising that dominated the news of the day.

Kingsley scoffed, again checking to make sure no one was eavesdropping. "Do not make a mockery of my intelligence, Lucius. I've read the DMLE reports. It's only a matter of time before the Ministry finds the evidence they need to put you away for aiding and abetting this 'Dark Lord'. You have been careless, my friend," Kingsley chided.

Lucius' grin was magnetic. "And all the more reason, we need to strengthen our alliances. Keep your friends close, as they say," he suggested, as if there was room for Kingsley to refuse.

The proud Auror was the scion of the Ancient and Most Noble House of Shacklebolt. He knew there were certain expectations to carry, even if he didn't believe in the foolish blood purity cause, traditions were expected to be maintained. And nothing could erase a life debt when the debtor came calling.

Kingsley regarded his old friend across from him, hating that he felt trapped into his decision. True, the Department of Magical Law Enforcement had no substantial evidence on the Malfoy Lord and his true allegiances, but there was enough smoke around the wizard to know he wasn't being completely forthcoming. Kingsley wouldn't pry forcefully … yet. He chalked it up to Slytherin loyalty or some rot.

But back to more pressing matters. "I'll have to speak to Marie. She will not be happy."

Lucius inclined his head in understanding, raising his cup to seal the agreement that would be put in magical binding later. "But she will understand," he finished. 'As any dutiful pureblood wife would,' was the implied addition.

Kingsley raised his cup, resigned and agreed, "Yes, I suppose she would understand."

But Marie Delacour Shacklebolt would not understand. And the evening her husband came home announcing her baby girl was promised another, Merlin knows she tried to understand. Truly, she did.

She was not naïve regarding the old ways. It was, in fact, how her union with Kingsley had come to be. And although she came to love and cherish her husband, she would not let her baby girl, her sweet angel follow the same path as she. She wanted her to marry for love. How could she be sure this Malfoy heir, only an infant himself, would treat her daughter with kindness and respect? How could she be sure that he would not harm her? They whispered among her circles the kind of company his father supposedly kept.

But Marie would not interfere because she knew what her husband and the rest of the Ministry were facing – what darkness waited just beyond the sunset. She heard the whispers of what happened to those deemed 'blood-traitor' by this mad-man hell-bent on world domination. Her husband would never speak on it, but she saw the worry in his eyes, knew the horrors he had faced in his daily search of this Dark Lord. She worried day and night that she and their family would be next.

And soon the argument shifted from an alliance with the Malfoy family to their daughter's safety. Night after night, she argued with the war- weary Auror on how wards had not protected this family or that family, the latest casualty in the war. She argued that drastic action needed to be taken. One night, they'd reached a truce when he agreed to let her take their daughter, barely a year-old, with her to Delacour ancestral home in France.

Kingsley would stay in Britain and fight; she would return when the war was over and their safety was assured. He assisted Marie as they bundled their daughter and prepared to leave the Shacklebolt home for an Apparition point. Before his wife left with their only child, he kissed his daughter's charm bracelet, outfitted with the insignia of their House, a golden lightning bolt.

But Marie would never make it to France. The Prophet listed Kingsley's wife and young daughter as missing and causalities of Voldemort's war the next day.

Kingsley wouldn't leave the house for weeks.

But unbeknownst to him a few days later, a Muggle adoption center drew up papers for an infant found at the local hospital. It was shortly after that Helen and Gregory Granger received a phone call informing them that a young orphaned girl was eligible for adoption.

And so her story begins...