THIS IS A SEQUEL.

Before this story came "A Gift And A Curse", "An Accursed Gift", "The Gifted Curse" and "Cursing The Unforgiven". Those are technically all readable separately, so if you don't feel like reading all of them you can make do with only the last one of the list to understand what this story is about.

I have tried as long as I could to keep the stories readable apart from each other, but in this story the divergence from canon is so large that it's simply not maintainable anymore. I apologize and hope you enjoy it nevertheless.

"Mom, dad, this is Crucie Black."

Hermione introduced Crucie to her parents, and then smiled nervously at her friend.

"Crucie, these are my parents."

Crucie stuck her hand out.

"Nice to meet you, Mr and Mrs Granger. I'm very grateful you allow me to stay over."

Mrs Granger happily shook her hand.

"Oh, it's nothing sweetie! Friends of Hermione are always welcome in our house! And please call me Tina, no need to be so formal!"

Crucie blushed a bit, and now Mr Granger shook her hand as well.

"Call me John."

"I put the guest room's mattress in your room, is that okay Mione? I thought you would like to have a sleepover, I remember that from when I was young. We always had so much fun!"

"Sure mom…"

They went to Hermione's house in a muggle car, and normally that would have been enough distraction for Crucie, but now something else was on her mind. She whispered worriedly to Hermione.

"What is a sleepover?"

A little later Crucie knew what it was. It included pyjamas, muggle candy, nail paint, watching moving pictures on the muggle device called television, and dancing ridiculously to muggle music. It was so completely muggle in every possible way that Crucie believed Uncle Lucius would have a heartattack if only he could see her… and she also believed she had rarely had so much fun before. Lying on her back on Hermione's extra mattress she stared at the ceiling and thought about it. She had lots of fun in Mr Burke's shop, with torturing people, and with her uncle… but it was still different. This was a different kind of fun. Girlier. The admission made her grin.

"What are you thinking about?"

"Oh, just that this is the most fun I've ever had without torturing someone."

Hermione laughed.

"Most people don't consider torturing people fun, you know…"

"I know. Doesn't mean it isn't fun though! Don't hate on it unless you tried it!"

"Me? Trying torture?"

Hermioen looked a little incredulous. Crucie got up from the mattress and shrugged.

"Why not? It's very instructive and often quite amusing. The dark arts are about far more than just torture, by the way. There are amazing things you can do with the right knowledge, great power is hidden in them."

Hermione slicked. She had always been curious after the dark arts, it was in her nature to want to know as much as possible and the fact it had been forbidden was only a greater incentive.

"But… all you can do with it is hurt people in some way or another."

"Not really, the dark arts have many uses. Strong protective spells, inter-dimensional summoning charms, mirror magic… So much has been forgotten by the masses. Dark magic is dark because it channels your magical energy in a different way than light magic, that's all there is to it. Politics don't really have a lot to do with the nature of a spell or curse, you know."

"Then why does everyone say it's evil? Why has the ministry forbidden the use of it? They must have done that for a reason."

Crucie sighed.

"I suppose it's because although not inherently evil, dark magic IS dangerous. It can't be denied; the spells and curses are stronger, their cost is greater, and they're often irreversible. Despite that, I think it's wrong to forbid it. If it would be studied properly, it wouldn't have this air of mystery."

Hermione couldn't help but agree with that, much to her own discomfort. She believed in freedom, and hiding of forbidding certain knowledge smelled dictatorial to her.

"It's scary how much sense you make."

They both laughed, and Crucie started brushing Hermione's hair.

"I like your hair."

"I don't, it's a big mess."

"So is mine… I still like it."

Crucie's hands raked slowly through Hermione's tresses. The brown hair was a bushy mess when tangled, but when properly combed, it was soft and wavy.

"Remember when you had cat ears?"

Hermione giggled.

"You scratched my ears."

"I just remembered you looked cute. Like, really cute. I wish you kept that tail, it was adorable."

It was a bit strange, sitting in their pyjamas –Crucie wore one of Rabastan's old black shirts, Hermione wore a girly pink nightgown- and being so close together… Crucie didn't mind. She finished combing Hermione's hair and stated.

"There. Perfection."

Hermione turned at her.

"Perfection? Not very likely... Pansy said a bushmonkey wouldn't even snog me."

"Pansy's opinion isn't worth a knut. And she looks like an angry pug, so that only adds up. According to Theo, Draco said that he would only do her from behind, so he wouldn't have to see her face."

Hermione snorted.

"No way!"

"Oh yes. I believe Theo. And Draco's enough of an arse to say something like that. Not that I feel sorry for Pansy, of course."

They both laughed. Finally, Hermione asked.

"You and Theo… have you kissed already?"

"Already? Is everyone waiting for that or what?" Crucie chuckled. "I haven't kissed anyone yet. What about you?"

Hermione blushed a bit.

"No one…"

"Not even Victor Krum?"

"We weren't like that…" Hermione bent towards her and whispered. "Victor is gay."

"Oh… well, that explains a lot."

They giggled, and then there hung a strange silence between them. Hermione's brown eyes met Crucie's black ones in an unspoken question. Crucie felt a smile curl her lips. She bent towards Hermione and placed her lips on hers in a soft kiss. Hermione answered the kiss, uncertain but willing, and soon they were embracing each other while their lips stayed locked together, their tongues slowly exploring each other's mouth. It was a first kiss for both of them… and what a kiss it was. When they let go, they both felt a little awkward. Uncertainly they looked at each other.

"So…"

"Yeah…"

"I liked it."

Hermione nodded.

"Me too. I can see now why people do that."

Crucie giggled.

"Better than practicing on the back of your hand?"

"You did that too?"

"Didn't we all at some point?"

They both laughed, relieved to feel that the rather unexpected kiss hadn't ruined their friendship.

"So… now what?"

"Are we in love now?"

Hermione thought about it.

"I don't think so. I just… like you a lot, I guess. I… I feel comfortable around you; I think that's it. And you're attractive. Do you… do you mind?"

Crucie felt a bit like that too. Exhilarated, and also relieved. Sometimes her emotions confused even her, and she was happy that Hermione wasn't too shocked or even abhorred by the kiss.

"If I minded I wouldn't have kissed you, silly! I think you're attractive too, and… well… you're my best friend. I trust you."

Hermione smiled shyly.

"So, my first kiss."

"And mine. How did you like it?"

"It was far better than I thought it would be. I always thought kissing was… you know, wet and slimy. It actually felt kind of nice."

"Same here…"

They lay next to each other on the floor mattress, and Crucie realized she felt really happy to be able to share something like that kiss with her best friend. They didn't really have "passion" between them like it was described in fluffy romance novels, and neither did they feel the need to go any further at the moment, it was just nice to have shared something that intimate with each other. Crucie wasn't even sure if it was a romantic thing for them.

"I'm glad you were my first kiss. They say you always remember your first kiss, and I'm glad it wasn't ruined for me by some over-eager dude in a backalley of Knockturn. I always thought it would happen like that, and I'm happy it didn't."

Hermione looked at her.

"I always thought Ron would be my first."

"Ron? Ron Weasley? The Twat?"

Hermione sighed.

"Yeah, that Ron. I know you hate him, but I've always had a bit of a crush on him."

Crucie poked her.

"Morgana am I glad I got your first kiss! He would probably have slimed all over your chin and given you mouth warts."

Hermione giggled uncontrollably.

"Iew Crucie that's just gross!"

"No seriously, Weasley?"

"There is nothing wrong with the Weasleys, they're great people!"

"Oh, I don't have anything against his family, not at all… I only have something against him. Not because of his name, but because he's a bigoted arse."

"Right…"

Hermione had to admit that Ron was, although brave and passionate, also stubborn as a pig, bad mannered, and rather prejudiced. But she had seen him on his best and she knew he could better himself, she just knew it. He had great potential.

"You know, the reason I started hating him was because he always treated you so awful. But then I got to know him better and now I just hate him because he's awful."

Hermione couldn't help but blush.

"You cared about that?"

"Duh. I can't stand my friends being treated badly."

"That's…"

"Very Gryffindor of me, I know."

"I was going to say sweet, but it is rather Gryffindor too, now you remark it."

"Oh cut it out."

They both laughed, and Hermione then asked.

"Are you really sure we should go to Theo's house? His family…"

"I'm sure. Besides, he invited you himself, if I recall he said you were a mudblood, but a damn brilliant one."

"That's… I suppose out of his mouth that's a compliment?"

"Oh yes. It sure is."

They talked the rest of the night, only falling asleep early in the morning already… When she came to wake them, the sight of her daughter and the guest curled together on the floor mattress mollified Tina Granger. She called her husband.

"John, come see this…"

John Granger smiled at the sight too. Tina sighed.

"They look so sweet and innocent… You'd almost forget they're… witches."

"True… Come dear, let them sleep a little longer. I've heard them laugh and giggle long past 4 am, they can use the rest."

And so the Granger couple left them, oblivious of so many things…

(Author's Notes)

This is for TheSillyKitten, who practically begged me to write a "lesbian sleepover scene" in this story. So there you have it. Lesbian sleepover scene, or as close to that as I am willing to come with these characters. I think they're both... bicurious. Also, I don't think it's so utterly weird for female best friends (who are single) to share a french kiss. That might just be me, hope it isn't offensive to anyone (you never know.)

So, we have the first summer that does not include Rabastan Lestrange. He's out doing deatheatery things, like planning for a massive prison breakout and stuff. Don't worry, he'll make an appearance. This is also the story in which we have Umbridge, and a reuniting of Crucie with her family... Lots to look forward to!

PLEASE REVIEW!

As I stated before, I love reviews. A lot. A whole lot. I always try to answer whatever questions you may have, and if you have some critics I'm always eager to hear them. So comment and let me know what you think!