Settling In

Disclaimer: All publicly recognizable characters, settings, etc. are the property of their respective owners. The original characters and plot are the property of the author. The author is in no way associated with the owners, creators, or producers of any media franchise. No copyright infringement is intended.

I am so sorry it's taken this long to update again, especially after I said this chapter would be forthcoming. But unfortunately my health took a nosedive. However, I'm happy to report that the Oncologist says that I am now 90-95% cured. I just want to thank everyone who's still reading along. I have not abandoned this story. I truly love telling it, and I hope you will all continue reading.

Thanks again to ancientgirl for reading this over and for your helpful suggestions. And a huge thanks to my wonderful beta June!

Chapter 9 - Settling In

Hermione and Severus followed Anwar and Ariana through the streets and buildings of the mervillage. They traveled a bit further out from the city to a cozy outcropping of buildings. Here, they were led to a small, tidy dwelling.

"Welcome to our home," said Anwar, clasping Severus by the shoulder.

Severus grimaced in pain. The merman clearly did not know his strength.

"It's small, but it's home," said Ariana.

Hermione swam forward, eager to see the inside of a real merhome. She followed Ariana down a short corridor to an open room. On one side there appeared to be a kitchen or food preparation area. Fish hung in a net from a peg on the wall. Various underwater plants were growing in pots on a sill, and the roots of others hung like garlic on the walls. A table and four stone chairs sat in the middle of the kitchen.

To the right of the kitchen was a living area with more stone furniture and sea grass growing like curtains at the window.

Hermione looked around for Severus but saw he was still outside chatting with Anwar.

"Come with me. I'll show you the rooms where we sleep," Ariana started to say, but was interrupted by some happy cries of what sounded like an enormous crowd of people.

"My Fina," an older merwoman cried excitedly as she rushed toward Ariana and Sarafina.

Hermione moved quickly to the side as the eager merwoman swam by.

"Oh, Mother!" Ariana cried. "She's come back! She's safe and sound."

Ariana's mother burst into tears of relief as she kissed the top of Sarafina's head.

A rush of other family members, caring friends and neighbors poured into the house, all expressing thanks and relief.

Hermione felt herself being pushed aside as they surged forward to see the baby. She'd completely lost sight of Severus outside, and somewhere she could hear Sarafina crying. Just then, she felt a hand close around her arm, and she was pulled back to Ariana's side.

"Everyone, this is Hermione," she called out. "She is one of the brave land dwellers who helped rescue our Sarafina."

"Oooooo," a collective gasp went around the room as various merpeople, mostly women now, regarded Hermione with admiration. Loud chattering went through the room, as everyone there seemed to have something to say about it.

"Thank you, thank you so much, my friends, for all of your help," Ariana said at last. "But I think my cranky little Fina needs some rest after all this excitement."

"Yes, you are correct, my daughter," said Ariana's mother. She started leading everyone out. "We will see each other in just a few hours at the mating ceremony!"

The group of merwomen quickly began dispersing, but not before showering Hermione with praise and Ariana and Sarafina with hugs and kisses.

"I am sorry, Hermione," Ariana said as the others left. "I hope you were not overwhelmed."

"No, no, I am fine," said Hermione, smiling. She had never felt this popular or accepted with the girls at Hogwarts.

Ariana expertly maneuvered the cranky and sleepy Sarafina to a more comfortable position in her arms. The baby settled comfortably, sighed, and closed her eyes blissfully in a way only a child can do when she feels truly loved, safe and happy with her mother.

"Come," Ariana whispered to Hermione, gesturing down the corridor. "We'll put Fina to bed now."

Hermione followed her curiously. She felt honored to see Sarafina settled safely back home.

Ariana swam down the corridor to a smaller room. A large clamshell lay in the center of the floor. Ariana opened the shell and gently laid the sleeping merbaby inside. Two pieces of sea grass lay on either side of the shell. Ariana wrapped these around Sarafina to secure her in the shell, then closed its lid. She turned to Hermione and smiled, then motioned silently towards the door.

The two swam back to the main room where Ariana's mother, Amalthea, was waiting. Hermione saw that the woman was slowly yet nimbly sewing together a fishing net with her old hands.

"So, Hermione," she said, never ceasing her work, "what do you know about our mating ceremony?"

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Meanwhile, Severus and Anwar were outside the house discussing life in the mervillage. Severus had watched with some concern when the crowd had surged forward into the house. He kept a cautious eye on Hermione and Sarafina, and when he had determined they were both well, he turned his attention back to the mermen in front of him.

"Everyone," Anwar declared to the now large group of mermen surrounding him. "It is true. Our Sarafina is home, thanks to this brave wizard here, Severus, and his mate Hermione who is in our home. I have declared before our Merchieftainess that he is my brother, and from this time forward he is to be treated by all here as just that."

He ended his speech by grasping Severus in a tight hug. A cheer went up from all the mermen around him, and they quickly began thanking Severus and demanding the whole story from him.

Not normally a social person, Severus was somewhat taken aback. He was not used to being so popular or eagerly praised. Back in the wizarding world, even though he had been cleared of all wrongdoing in Albus's supposed death, he still wasn't treated well. People couldn't seem to get past his nasty disposition and Death Eater past. Here, Severus felt differently. These people only knew him as Severus the hero, and it was a good feeling. They only knew him as he was today, not when he was a student or as a teacher; there were no merpeople who had been to Hogwarts. So Severus began to relax and enjoy himself, recounting their adventure with quite some enthusiasm.

It was while he was talking that another merman, named Molossus, wandered over carrying a fishing net with an unmistakable fish in it. Severus's eyes glazed over for a moment. He stopped his narration.

"What kind of fish is that?" he asked Anwar, pointing to the net.

"Why, that is a merca," said Anwar. "Why do you ask?"

So Severus went into the story of how he had speared the fish with his trident on his first night as a merman, just before the grindylow attack, and how very delicious it had tasted.

All the merman stared at him with gaping mouths.

"You say you just speared it?" said Thebeus, a young merman with blue hair. He sounded incredulous. "And you've never caught one before?"

"No," said Severus, starting to feel a sense of bewilderment mixing in with his pride.

"Well, my brother, you truly are talented," said Anwar. "For this is a special fish. It is a rare delicacy in our lake and very difficult to find and catch."

Severus smiled, feeling his pride return.

"I cannot believe you just speared it like that with no practice," said Molossus. "It has taken me ages to learn how to catch the merca, and still all I have to show for it is this one. I paid a hefty price for it at the market."

"That is understandable, Molossus. To catch one is near impossible," said Anwar.

Then all the mermen began to question Severus in detail of where he'd found the fish and what technique he had used. Severus soon found himself immersed in a friendly conversation with them about it.

He could hear the voice of Philippe in his mind for the duration. The tiny little bug the blue fish had planted about staying in the mervillage was beginning to grow. If he stayed here, Severus reasoned, he would be respected as a hero. He could join the others in the hunt for merca, apparently a lucrative business in the mervillage, and be a respected member of the community. The Merchieftainess herself had called him a noble man. Such a thought was a huge temptation, because although Severus would never admit it to anyone, it was one of the things he had always craved at Hogwarts: acceptance.

"So Severus, are you ready for the mating ceremony tonight?" asked Anwar.

"I must admit I am not familiar with your customs and traditions," said Severus.

"Ah, the mating ceremony is a great thing," interjected Cranaus, another one of the merman floating nearby. "It's when a merman and mermaid come together for a little fun," he said with a leer.

"It is more than just 'fun' – it is the joining together of two mates for life," Anwar corrected him. "This is how Ariana and I got together and how our Sarafina came to be."

"Do all the merfolk participate in this ceremony?" asked Severus curiously.

"No," said Anwar, "only those who are in love."

Cranaus laughed out loud. "Well, what about old Alphaeus? He's tried every year since I've been born. I've yet to see him be successful or in love."

All the mermen laughed at this.

"That is true," Anwar agreed, clapping him on the back, then turned to Severus. "Alphaeus is always there, Severus. That old merman, he's always hopeful that one day he'll catch himself an unsuspecting mermaid."

Severus laughed along with them. He found friendship rather easy here.

"So, Severus, have you plans for that mermaid of yours?" asked Cranaus. "I couldn't help but notice her pretty little tail as she went into Anwar's house. If I were you, I'd grab onto that one and not let go."

Severus actually felt his cheeks flush.

Anwar laughed and clasped Severus on the shoulder. "Come now, Cranaus, Severus will make his own decision when it's time. Let's not pressure him."

"Well, he can wait if he likes," said Cranaus, "but it seems to me that a mermaid that good shouldn't be let go."

"Aye," said Thebeus, now with a gleam in his eye. "You never know when another merman might snap her up. Perhaps even tonight."

"Indeed," piped up Molossus.

Severus frowned. 'We'll see about that,' he thought.

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Hermione looked flustered. "The mating ceremony," she repeated to Ariana's mother. "I'm... erm... afraid I don't know much about that."

"Mother," said Ariana. "Hermione is not one of our kind. How could she know about the mating ceremony?"

"Know she should," said Amalthea stubbornly. "Anyone could plainly see her wizard is waiting for her. A witch her age should have mated by now."

Hermione blushed.

"Mother, the witches and wizards on land do not have our ways. Hermione may not even wish to be mated with her wizard," said Ariana.

"Of course she does," sniffed Amalthea. "She is in season, and her mate is just waiting for her. You will go to the mating ceremony tonight, Hermione. It will be good for you," she said with a knowledgeable nod of her head.

Hermione had a horrified look of embarrassment on her face, and Ariana moved quickly to help her.

"Come, Hermione. Let's go out in the back garden," she said with a knowing glance.

Hermione gratefully followed her out of the house. She was glad to be away from Ariana's mother and her suggestions about Severus.

The back garden had a small courtyard with numerous plants growing all around them, tall ones and short ones and water plants Hermione had never seen before. Ariana headed over to a large stone where the two of them could settle more comfortably.

"I'm so sorry about my mother," Ariana said quickly. "She's not used to holding her tongue. She's very old fashioned and likes to speak her mind. I hope she didn't embarrass you."

"Oh, no, it's alright," said Hermione politely.

"Yes, well, I'm afraid she prides herself upon being a matchmaker when the mating ceremony comes around. But I can see now that you have absolutely no interest in mating with your Severus, so you needn't worry about it," she said slyly.

"No, no, it's not that at all," said Hermione quickly. "I mean... It's just... I've never really thought about it at all," she said quite lamely as she blushed.

"Really?" asked Ariana. "Severus seems quite interested to me."

"He does?" asked Hermione.

"Of course. Didn't you see the way he looked at you when you swam into the house when you got here?"

"No," said Hermione crossly, wondering how she could have possibly seen him when she was swimming away from him.

"Well," Ariana said, leaning closer to her, "he was staring at your tail."

Hermione's blush deepened. "He was?"

"Yes," said Ariana with a giggle. "And when the crowd came in the house, he watched you until he knew you were safe. It's written all over him how smitten he is with you."

Hermione pondered this. She'd had no idea he'd been watching her.

"So you think he likes me?" she asked Ariana.

"Indeed, I do."

"But how can you be sure?"

"Well, that's the hard part," said Ariana. "At some point you take what you know and you just go with your feelings. See what your heart is saying inside. You'll get your answer one way or the other. But with your Severus, I'm counting on it going the way that you want." She smiled.

Hermione had just a little while longer to reflect on this when they were inundated by a giggling group of young mermaids.

"Ariana," cried out a beautiful, pink-haired mermaid swimming towards them. "We did not wish to disturb you, but I just couldn't go on to the festival without you."

"Hermione," Ariana said, laughing joyously as she hugged the newcomer tightly. "This is my best friend, Admete. Of course you must come, Admete – it is after all the day of your mating ceremony."

"I know," Admete squealed. "I'm so excited, Ariana. Do you think Peraethus is as happy as me?"

"Oh, to be sure," said Ariana. "The two of you were meant to be."

"And you, Hermione, are you to join us?" asked Admete.

"Hermione is unsure," Ariana interjected. "This is all so new to her, and she is a visitor."

"Well, you can at least prepare for the ceremony with us," Admete said happily. "That's always my favorite part, the dressing and getting ready. It's so much fun to watch all the mermaids getting ready. I've watched all my life hoping to be one of the beautiful ones in the ceremony, and to think," she squealed again, "today it's me!"

Hermione smiled. She couldn't help but get caught up in Admete's happiness.

"Hold still," demanded Ariana as she swam over and began struggling with Admete's pretty, floating hair. "Your flowers have all become dislodged. To think of you approaching Peraethus this way." She tsked.

"Hermione, these are my other friends, Celaeno, Nocothoe and Ocypete," Ariana said, nodding to them each in turn as she continued to struggle with Admete's hair.

"Hello," said Hermione.

"Hello," they all said in return.

"Come here, Hermione," Celaeno said nicely. "Let me brush your hair."

Hermoine swam closer to her and watched as Celaeno pulled a comb from her wrist bag and began running it through her hair.

"Such gorgeous hair," said Ocypete. "I've never seen anything like it."

"Oh, it is beautiful," said Nocothoe. "I daresay the witches on land don't realize how lovely it is."

Hermione giggled. She'd heard her hair referred to as many things but never as beautiful.

"Yes, it's very nice," said Nocothoe, shrewdly examining it. "But it needs something special for tonight. Let's see..." She began looking through the garden. Finally making a choice, she plucked a flower from one of the blooming plants and turned back to Hermione, placing it in her hair. "There, that suits you quite well."

"Oh," said Ocypete. "Wait; there are some more over here." She quickly swam off in the direction of some more flowers. "Look, these little white ones will look so pretty. She has so many flowing tresses we can put them in. She'll look gorgeous."

Before she knew it Hermione was being poked, prodded and made beautiful by all the mermaids in attendance. And in the end she couldn't help but feel somewhat pretty herself.

She was having quite a fun time. Although she had friends in Hogwarts, not many of them were other women like herself. Mostly she'd been with Harry and Ron, and that had allowed little time like this to enjoy just being a woman.

Hermione couldn't help picking up the contagious excitement about the ceremony that came from being around the others. She wondered what Severus would do. She swished her tail a bit experimentally. Had he really been staring at her tail? She blushed, knowing that was probably quite true since Ariana had seen it. There had been several times on their journey that Hermione had been sure he was about to kiss her. Still, he was an older man, and she wasn't sure if he would seriously be interested in her. This started taking her on a dark path of thought.

"Oh, Hermione," Admete cried out. "Wherever did you get that beautiful necklace?"

Hermione was pulled out of her thoughts to answer her. "This?" she said, fingering the chain with her black pearl on it. "Severus gave it to me. Sarafina has a matching one," she said to Ariana.

All the mermaids in attendance gave each other knowing smiles.

"You say your wizard gave this to you?" asked Admete.

"Yes," said Hermione.

"Well, I think he must like you a lot indeed," Admete said.

Hermione smiled in spite of herself.

"They're coming!" yelled Ocypete from her position near the back door of the house. "I can see the mermen – they're making their way over to the house." She giggled excitedly.

Hermione found herself rushing to the door with the others. She was eager to see if Severus was with them. She almost forgot that she was there only to observe the ceremony and was actually wishing she could participate in it.

~*~*~*~*~*~

Authors Note:

The names of most of the merpeople in this chapter were taken from ancient Greek mythology.

Amalthea was the daughter of Oceanus and was either a nymph or a goat and was insturmental in helping Rhea hide the baby Zeus from his father Cronus.

Cranaus was the King of Ceropia (Attica) and was half man-half snake.

Admete was also a daugher of Oceanus and was a sea nymph.

Peraethus was a child of Poseidon.

And Celaeno, Nocothoe and Ocypete are the names of three of the Harpies.