Hey, guys so here's my newest story! Don't worry I will be getting around to finishing the others when my muse strikes! A couple things as far as dates go I JK Rowling has admitted that she goofed them. HOWEVER, I will attempt to stick to them as closely as possible, only changing them when they appear to need it.
Disclaimer: Not mine :( unfortunately.
Hermione jerked awake as if some unknown force had demanded her to consciousness. Blinking blindly at the room around her she forced herself into awareness. The room was plain and stuffed full of home-made blankets and clothes. The room was of no consequential size, though that may have only been because Hermione found herself sharing a room with Ginny. The red-head was quickly becoming a close friend to the young woman who found herself surrounded by males. At first, the two girls had little to talk about, Ginny was a year behind Hermione and had a passion for Quidditch. But they eventually banded together when Mrs. Weasley decided they should share a room, the only two girls in a house of males. Swinging her legs over the bed, Hermione let her feet touch the cool hardwood below her feet. Today was the day.
Wandering the Burrow Hermione found herself in silence. She basked in the peace, soon everyone else would wake up and the woman would have little choice other than to deal with the teasing, jibbing, ribbing, and all other annoying things the men of the house would do. Hermione couldn't find herself to complain though, for all of her bookish strict ways she adored each and every one of the Weasleys, they were a surrogate family to her. People that helped her in a world she knew nothing about. What Hermione loved the most was the fact that they were so down-to-earth. The first time that Hermione found herself standing in front of the Burrow she was shocked. However, did it stay standing? Snorting Hermione descended the stairs, magic. Soon the warm house would thunder and shake with the pounding of feet, the clatter of objects, and the loud voices of Weasleys. Entering the kitchen Hermione was met with the sight of a very determined Molly Weasley, bustling around the kitchen her wand in hand. There were already plates and dishes set out on the magically elongated table, some food set out other still cooking.
"Good morning Mrs. Weasley." Hermione piped out. Stepping forward she offered her help which Molly quickly denied thanking the girl anyway.
"You may want to make your plate now dear. Heaven knows when those boys smell food they will wake up and eat it all up." Mrs. Weasley said gently gesturing for Hermione to sit.
Hermione obeyed sitting in the spot that was easily designated as hers. Piling food on her plate quickly, she set herself for food when the first signs of males made its presence known. The sound of someone falling, or more likely being pushed, off their bed sounded from the ceiling. Hermione quickly tucked in, noticing by the dual steps that it was most likely Fred and George who were awake. From the first moment that she stayed at the Burrow Hermione decided to pay close attention to all the members. They were each their own person and her curiosity got the best of her. It wasn't just books that she enjoyed learning about, it was people too. She found that Mr. Weasley dragged his feet slightly when he walked, his steps easy to decipher. Though if she had, to be honest, Hermione knew any and all of the members from the sound of their steps. After Fred and George snuck up on her and turned her chestnut locks into something resembling a blueberry she learned to be cautious. Bill, though he had his own flat was staying for a bit before the big quidditch match they were going to. His steps were light and watchful, something Hermione assumed he learned from curse breaking. Charlie who was on vacation from Romania had sure steps that were both gentle and firm. Percy walked as if he owned the home, his footsteps louder as if warning others to get out of his way. Ron was as Hermione already knew heavy-footed when he walked, and there was no grace nor tune to his walk. Fred and George though were easiest as they were often together, their steps were barely heard.
Twin heads popped into the room, noses in the air. "Is that-
"-food I smell?"
Rolling her eyes Hermione watched the twins seat themselves across from her both quickly eating also, sending Hermione conspiratory glances. Settling her nerves, Hermione nodded her head at them in acknowledgement.
"Now boys don't eat all the food. Leave some for your brothers." Mrs. Weasley said bringing the last plate to the table before glancing up at the stairwell as dragged footsteps sounded.
"Good morning Mr. Weasley." Hermione stated softly her back to the stairwell.
"Good morning Hermione." Mr. Weasley responded pleasantly. At first when Hermione always knew who was behind her he was shocked, now though he was used to it. Had any of the Weasley's asked, Hermione would have told them how she knew but none of them ever did. They just accepted it as another thing that came with the 'brightest witch of her age' title. "Now my dear I must ask you a question?"
Swallowing her pancakes Hermione turned to Mr. Weasley smiling lightly. She was accustomed to such things. Every morning Mr. Weasley would come with a new question on the muggle world. Wizards and Witches Hermione found couldn't wrap their minds around the most basic of things muggle. Though the same could be said for muggle-borns in the wizarding society.
"What is the purpose of a rolllo-coaster?" Mr. Weasley asked curiously. He had seen a pamphlet for an amusement park, whatever that was and was curious of the title, highest rollo-coaster in the world.
"A rollercoaster?" Hermione questioned curiously. "From an amusement park?"
"Yes!" Mr. Weasley encouraged happily.
Hermione thought for a moment before responding. "Well, I suppose they don't have a real purpose. Amusement parks are where people go to have fun. There are things for the whole family, food, and entertainment wise. A rollercoaster is a large machine that people sit in and its twists and whirls them around. People go on them for an adrenaline rush I suppose."
"Interesting." Mr. Weasley said thoughtfully. "Muggles, fascinating things they come up with." After eating a few bits he continued. "Now what about—"
"Now that's enough Arthur. We agreed with Hermione one a day." Mrs. Weasley quickly chastised, kissing Mr. Weasley on the cheek as she headed toward the stairs. "I'm going to wake the others, Harry should be arriving sometime today. . ."She trailed off as if in thought.
Fred and George quickly stood, grabbing Hermione by both of her arms. "Come along now—"
"—we wouldn't want you getting lost."
"Today is an important after all."
"Would be a shame if we weren't able to hold up are part of the bargain wouldn't it Gred."
"Oh awful Forge, why however would we be able to look at Miss Hermione again if we didn't."
Hermione rolled her eyes at the duo letting them lead her up the staircases to their room before any of the others could spot them. "You are certain this is safe?"
"Of course!"
"Would we lie to you?"
"Yes." Hermione deadpanned strolling into their room careful not to touch anything, with the Weasley twins you just never knew.
"Here we are." The twins announced together setting an open book in her lap.
Looking down Hermione read the spell careful, Soulmate. A simple title, reading through the incantation and motion Hermione found that it was relatively simple. "It doesn't even have to be cast by the person intending to find their soulmate?!"
"Nope." One of the twins started popping the p. "It was made back in the day when arranged marriages were popular."
"Purebloods would use it when their child was five and if the name of another pureblood popped up they would start a marriage contract."
"They would do the spell for males every year until he turned seventeen, if no name appeared or it was one unpleasing they would pick a pureblood girl not spoken for."
"Why wouldn't a name appear?" Hermione asked curiously. "And why don't people use it as much?"
The twins shared a look before speaking. "A name might not appear if they hadn't been born yet, and it's sometimes used by purebloods but that is about it. Even purebloods don't use it as much, rumor is the names are muggle-borns and half-bloods instead of other purebloods."
"Why don't others use it?" Hermione inquired further.
"Image this—
"—it's your wedding day and you are having doubts and you do the spell only for someone else's name to appear. Do you go through with the wedding or do you let the spell determine your future."
"Or perhaps a person does the spell and the name that appears is someone already married or with a person. Do you force them to break it off or do you suffer."
"Or maybe the name is someone dead. You will spend the rest of your life with every person thinking, I wonder if it would have been better."
Hermione frowned suddenly not wanting to do the spell. She had agreed initially because she did not enjoy when she did not know. When she found Fred and George last year in a somber mood she investigated. That was the first time her need to know everything backfired on her. It was easy to find and follow them with the time turner because no one would question where she was, as she had obviously been with them. She found them walking the halls alone, their heads bent together whispers firing between the two.
*Flashback*
"Alright, you two what is going on?" Hermione demanded from behind the two.
Twin heads instantly whipped in her direction, eyes wide. "Why Hermione—
"—whatever could you be talking about."
Hermione wasn't fooled though, she could see the tears in their eyes. At first she had been suspicious of the two, troublemakers only know one thing, trouble. Now though she wasn't so sure. Hesitating she reached a hand forward. "What's the matter?"
"Nothing 'Mione." Fred stated turning to George smiling dimly. "She doesn't trust us Forge."
"No she doesn't Gred." George replied smiling back. "How dare she question our morals? Why we are nothing but angels—
"—we have never done a thing wrong."
"Too true, what would give her the idea something was the matter?"
"Come on guys I'm not stupid." Hermione huffed crossing her arms annoyed. "I won't tell anyone."
The twins shared a long sad look before turning to Hermione curiously. "Say 'Mione."
"You are a muggleborn."
"What does that have to do with anything?" Hermione asked curiously. Had it been anyone other than a Weasley she might have been a bit wary.
"If we asked you a question—"
"—you would answer, honestly wouldn't you?"
Hermione narrowed her eyes at the twins, their faces were serious. Their brown eyes holding no twinkle from a prank. "Yes."
The two shared another quick glance nodding to each other before turning back to Hermione. "If we asked you to be in a relationship with the two of us what would you say?"
"Both of you!?" Hermione spluttered confused. "That is positively indecent!" She was surprised then when the twins suddenly went silent. An awkwardness settled over the trio and Hermione was unsure how to fix it.
"How?" Fred finally whispered sadly.
Any anger Hermione may have had evaporated immediately. Stepping forward she placed her hand on Fred and George's cheeks. They were both looking at the floor sadly. "Three people isn't something that is common in the muggle world." She paused for a moment to collect her thoughts before stuttering out. "Is it common in the magical world?"
The twins shrugged impassively. "It isn't that common—"
"—but no one judges."
"But people do it?" Hermione asked curiously. Both heads nodded their agreement. "What happens when they wish to marry?"
"They marry."
"All three of them?" Hermione continued frowning slightly.
"Yes, triads are usually only known to happen with identical twins but—" Fred trailed off shrugging his shoulders
"Not in the muggle world." Hermione finished. "Fred, George, did you ask a girl to be in a relationship with the two of you?" The twins nodded sadly. "Did she turn you down?" Again nodding. "Is she muggleborn?"
The twins nodded solemnly. "She sounded so insulted when we asked her."
"And disgusted."
"There is nothing disgusting about a triad." Fred continued outraged more for his twin then himself.
"Of course not Gred! It's perfectly natural." George agreed.
"Well if she can't handle it find someone who can. Perhaps someone who isn't a muggleborn." Hermione recommended gently. She would be the first to say that muggleborns are equal to half-bloods, or pure-bloods but sometimes wizarding society boggled her.
"We can't 'Mione—"
"-She's our soulmate."
Hermione crossed her arms sternly. "Honestly, Fred, George, you haven't really spoken to this girl how on earth would you know if she was your soulmate.
"We used a spell of course." George stated.
"Yeah identical twins use it sometimes, to see if they will form a triad or not."
"It's always hard because sometimes the twins have the same soulmate sometimes not."
"Easiest way to find out is to do the spell."
Hermione's curiosity was piqued, a spell that found a person's soulmate. "What does this spell base it off of? Personality, intelligence, most likely event of feeling development?"
The twins blinked at her confused before sharing a glance. "It's your magical compatibility."
"Yeah, magic is a vital part of a wizard or witches soul so if their magic matches then their souls do."
"That's why there are triads, identical twins shared magic in the womb and sometimes after their born their magic is so similar that they have the same soulmate."
"Other times not, of course."
Hermione thought for a moment, the Patil twins were in different houses so she mused perhaps they would have different soulmates. But Fred and George were in the same house, and attached at the hip. "Can you show me this spell?" Hermione demanded.
"It's in a book at home."
"You're coming over this summer right?" At Hermione's nod, they continued.
"Well, we can just show it to you then."
"Right then. This summer." Hermione said nodding her head. "You know, I think if you give this girl some time and try to be her friend first it might work better."
"Do you think?"
"Yeah, if she brings it up to anyone that is not a muggle-born they can try to explain it to her. Or I could if you would like?" Hermione continued smiling gently at the bright smiles the twins sent her.
"Would you 'Mione?"
"We would owe you!"
"No you wouldn't, just show me the spell." Hermione responded her mind traveling a mile a minute.
*End Flashback*
Hermione had done as she promised and tried talking to the girl who was a fourth year Ravenclaw at the time. Ravenclaws were known to appreciate knowledge above all else but that didn't mean that they were open minded. The girl was in the mind that the twins were playing a prank on her and she was very wary of them. Hermione hoped that with time and no shortage of effort on the twins' part they would get along.
"What's the matter 'Mione?"
"Scared?"
Steeling her Gryffindor courage Hermione turned toward the spell book. Lifting her chin defiantly she read and reread through the spell several times. "So I just say the spell with the thought of myself?"
"Yep, that's about it."
"A name should appear in the air in front of you."
"Best remember it."
"Right then Amici Intimi." Hermione muttered to herself several times before practicing the movements.
"You've got it 'Mione."
"Yeah, just hurry and try it."
Narrowing her eyes at the twins Hermione ignored them and murmured the spell two more times.
"Well—"
"—give it a go already."
"Amici Intimi." Hermione pronounced clearly waving her wand in the pattern shown in the book. Bright gold sparks flew from her wand hanging in the air. At first, Hermione frowned thinking she had done it incorrectly. A glance at the twins showed that she hadn't. As the golden sparks moved to form words Hermione suddenly found herself regretting her decision. She pleasured herself not a rash being and yet here she sat performing a spell that many others chose not to. Hermione closed her eyes tightly refusing to look at the words that were forming in the air before stealing herself and reopening them. The golden sparks danced in the air never forming a definitive word as if teasing her. She began to notice two separate lines forming, two names!?
Before Hermione could glance back at Fred and George the names appeared suddenly. It was if the golden sparks all at once snapped into place
Fabian Prewett
Gideon Prewett
Hermione watched stunned as the names suddenly disappeared. Whipping her head to the twins she was about to demand they admit having pulled a prank on her before she noted their faces. Both faces were pale and sad. Two sets of pitying gazes locked on hers, making her squirm uncomfortably. "Boys—"
"It wasn't a prank 'Mione." Fred started looking at her sadly having figured out her train of thought. She had very expressive features that she was not terribly good at hiding.
"It's why no one other than twins really use the spell anymore."
"For a while parents would do it, but the child knew that if they hadn't been placed in an arranged marriage that their intended was either dead or deemed unfit."
"It fell out during Grindelwald's' reign."
"A lot of magical people were killed and—" The twins shared a glance all humor lost to them.
"There were many spells that provided dead soulmates." Hermione whispered sadly.
"We're sorry 'Mione." The twins said together reaching forward to pull the young witch into a hug.
"We never thought-"
"—no never, the first war took a lot—"
"—but we didn't think yours would be from that."
"No. We didn't think that would happen."
"They were your Uncles though." Hermione said into the chest of one of the twins. "That means that if they were alive they would be much older than me."
"I suppose."
"They would be in their late 40s by now."
"But, would people not look down on a relationship like that?" Hermione beseeched.
"No."
"Regardless of blood or prestige, if a pair matched based off that spell very little people argue. It's known to produce very capable children with very strong marriages."
"I see." Hermione replied sullenly. "I understand now why people are so scared to perform the spell."
"It's not the end of the world 'Mione."
"Yeah, there will be plenty of others who are compatible with you."
"You'll find love." The two promised squeezing the small witch between them
…
It was finally over. Hermione heaved a sigh, Voldemort was dead. Looking around Hermione couldn't see that, all she found were dead bodies, eyes glazed over in peace, faces frozen in terror, determination, peace. Walking through the rubble, she noted Ginny clinging to Harry, who was staring at the place Voldemort had just stood stunned.
Everywhere she turned people were either crying or cheering, some doing both. Hogwarts would never be the same, Hermione decided. Making her way through the halls she entered the Great Hall where the bodies were laid. George was back, hunched over his twin's body, his shoulders shaking with suppressed sobs.
Tears filled her eyes as Hermione numbly walked forward. Kneeling beside the grieving man she pulled him into her arms. "Oh, George." George turned into her embrace, his body shuddering. She could hear the shuffling of feet behind her but Hermione paid it no mind. The entire Weasley clan knew that Hermione had been in a relationship with Fred and George. None of them judged the trio as they assumed Fred and George would undergo a triad. Their relationship had been a surprise to Hermione, she had spent the Yule ball with Viktor and the twins were with Katie Bell and Angelina Johnson. It had been a coincidence that she had run into the twins. Hermione had tried her best all year to talk to the Ravenclaw but the witch just couldn't understand. Fred and George had acted as if her rejection didn't hurt but it had. Before Hermione could apologize to the twins for not being able to take the witch to the Yule ball she felt herself crying.
The Twins had pulled her into a tight embrace and murmured soothing words into her ear as she cried. They felt it too, everything felt wrong. She had tried to ignore it as they did but it wouldn't work. They agreed to try a relationship between the three of them. It wasn't the same or even close but Hermione could admit the similarities and merits. Hermione like the twins' soulmate was intelligent and a muggle-born. The twins like Hermione's were well twins and has Prewett blood in them. It had worked surprisingly.
Sometimes Hermione would get exasperated with the twins and sometimes the twins would get annoyed with Hermione but the made it work. They had to.
…
"This has got to be illegal!" Hermione screeched throwing the paper across the table. She was sitting at the Weasley dinner table were Arthur Weasley had called a meeting to discuss a new law.
"The law has been used before." Mr. Weasley reasoned to the seething witch. "In times of low birth rates."
"Low birth rates?" Hermione demanded. She gazed around the table frowning. Mr. and Mrs. Weasley sat at the head. Harry and Ginny were together having just returned from their honeymoon, Bill and Fleur sat together their young daughter sitting on Bill's lap, Charlie was frowning at the table, Percy sitting demurely his young very pregnant wife by his side, Ron sat at the end his arm slung around Lavender Brown. George reached over squeezing Hermione's hand softly.
"The war my dear." Mrs. Weasley said softly gazing at the chair that Fred used to sit in, no one dared to sit there now.
"The war?" Hermione asked indignantly. "It has been five years!"
Harry leaned forward frowning. "Before I came here I spoke to Kingsley. 'Mione he said the Ministry had been thinking of it for a while but they were waiting, hoping that people were just scared at first but."
"I know Harry." Hermione sighed sitting back. "I was part of the group doing the numbers, at this rate wizarding Britain will fall."
"If the known society falls than any and all muggle-borns will be in danger of breaking the statue of secrecy." Bill muttered smiling as his daughter pulled his finger lightly.
Hermione sat for a few moments letting everything sink in before sighing in defeat. "What are the terms? How have they decided people?"
Percy spoke up his voice soft as if fearing to anger a beast. "They are performing the spell Amici Intimi to determine soulmates. Any and all pairs that are unmarried will be given the name of their future spouse to be married within a year and provide a child within the next year."
Here Percy paused letting his words sink in. Hermione frowned looking at Percy. "What of any pairs that one person is married or one is deceased?" Hermione tried not to think of her own soulmates. "Pairs that don't work will not be made public will they?"
"No!" Percy answered immediately. "Think of the backlash should a person be married, they will doubt their marriage for the rest of their life. No, a team bound by an unbreakable oath are performing all the spells. They will give them to Ministry officials in two piles, those that are paired with their soulmates name and those that cannot be with their pair. They are also under oath, to tell the truth under punishment of death so there is no worry about couples being forged. The Ministry is hoping this will also help with pure-blood bigotry."
"How is it supposed to do that?" Ron spoke up curiously.
"Because, the reason pure-bloods hardly use the spell anymore is because their children were being paired with muggle-borns" Hermione spoke softly.
Percy raised a brow curiously. "Yes, how did you know that?"
"I', familiar with the spell continue." Hermione waved him off.
"Right." Percy agreed. "On top of that the pairs that are cannot have their pair due to extenuating circumstances will undergo go to a group who will pair them based off magic, a series of runes, and anything else they can get their hands on."
"Why not have the unpaired people choose?" Harry questioned, his hand gripped in Ginny's almost painfully.
"Because, then the unpaired wizards and witches will know that their soulmate is dead or married and will have to settle." Hermione answered shortly.
"They will live the rest of their lives, wondering who they were truly meant to be with, comparing the person to their ideal." George continued nodding his head.
"Correct. The ministry is hoping that by doing this they will be able to set up the best marriages. No one save the ministry officials doing the pairing will know if they are paired based off the spell or not." Percy agreed.
"Great." Hermione spat out angrily.
Sighing Percy nodded. "But Hermione I don't think you have to worry."
"I do actually." Hermione replied seriously. She and George had never mentioned that they weren't paired and last Hermione checked, the Ravenclaw that the twins were matched to was still alive and unmarried. "I was never a pair with the twins."
"Oh!" Mrs. Weasley said stunned. "I had thought that you were when the three of you suddenly—"
"No." Hermione said sadly shaking her chestnut curls sadly. Gazing to George she begged him to explain.
Sighing George leaned forward. "F-We did the spell and got a muggle-born. When we approached her she rejected us." No one commented on George's inability to say Fred's name.
"What!" Mrs. Weasley cried indignantly.
"She is a muggle-born Mrs. Weasley. It's not how things are done in the muggle world and she was scared." Hermione soothed, trying to make sure that Mrs. Weasley did not start off hating her future daughter-in-law.
"But my dear you aren't." Mrs. Weasley reasoned.
"That's because I knew the twins beforehand and they knew when I was in third year and we didn't get together until the end of the beginning of fifth year." Hermione responded simply. She felt somewhat bitter toward the witch who would marry George. She didn't deserve the man, she wasn't there when he needed her the most.
George reached over and squeezed Hermione's hand reassuringly. "Hermione was the one to confront us first after the rejection. She had promised to try to talk to the witch and we promised to show her the spell. When Hermione performed it, well her match."
"Was dead." Hermione said bitterly.
"Oh 'Mione." Harry cried reaching for his best friend to try to comfort her. He didn't understand the thought behind the spell but knowing that your soul mate was dead would be hard regardless.
"If everything is set up as you said Percy, George will be paired with the Ravenclaw who they were originally meant to be with. Mine are dead and so I will be getting someone else who I know wasn't my soulmate." Hermione spat.
"Who was it?" Mrs. Weasley asked curiously.
"Molly, she shouldn't have to tell you that." Mr. Weasley instantly argued.
"I know but if we knew perhaps we could help the ministry find someone similar, from the same family." Mrs. Weasley argued back.
Hermione couldn't help the bitter snort that erupted from her.
"'Mione?" Ginny asked softly staring at the brunette witch curiously.
Sharing a look with George, Hermione sighed sadly. Looking at the open eyes around her Hermione found herself waring whether or not to say the names.
"You don't have to say the name." Ron stated softly. Even he could see how the thought was tearing at her.
"It's not that I don't love you all like a family already." Hermione quickly reasoned seeing a couple of hurt expressions. Locking eyes with George, the redhead shrugged as if to say, it's your decision.
Looking back at the group she turned to Mrs. Weasley particularly. "It's just I don't want to upset you."
"My dear you couldn't upset us." Mrs. Weasley said sternly.
Smiling sadly Hermione responded. "I bet this would." Gazing around the table Hermione squared her shoulders looking over at the matriarch. "When I performed the spell two names appeared." Hermione let this sink in, no one seemed to understand except for Mrs. Weasley who was beginning to pale.
"Oh, my dear please tell me no." Mrs. Weasley begged her brothers smiling faces flashing before her eyes.
"Mum? Do you know?" Charlie asked curiously looking at his mother's increasingly paling face.
"Hermione dear." Mrs. Weasley continued.
"I'm sorry Mrs. Weasley." Hermione said softly.
"Mum who was it?" Ginny questioned leaning toward her mother.
"Oh! Oh, Molly!" Mr. Weasley said gripping his wife to his body when the realization hit. Though all his children, save Ginny met his wife's brothers only Bill, Charlie, and possibly Percy would remember them.
"Dammit 'Mione who was it!" Ron yelled slamming his hand on the table jolting the whole group from their attention on the matriarch.
"Fabian and Gideon." Mrs. Weasley whispered as if their names still pained her, which they very may well have.
Ron startled surprised. "Your older brothers? But Mum they've been dead since the first war."
"I know." Hermione spoke up before Mrs. Weasley could. "It's why we can't just try to find someone similar in the family."
"Because that's what you were doing." Mrs. Weasley said sadly looking at George. Hermione was meant to be with twins and so she tried to be.
The table sat in silence for a moment before Hermione broke it. "Percy does it state how many children each couple must have?"
Percy startled as if he hadn't expected Hermione to speak. "What? Oh! Yes! Yes, each couple will be demanded to produce three children within a span of ten years. The first must be as I said within the first year of marriage. The ministry is hoping that giving a large span of time will stretch out the births so not all of the children are born at the same time. The law is intact for any witch or wizard for someone from seventeen to fifty. Any already married couple that doesn't have three children yet will be asked to have more until they are at three. However, it is well known that many pure-bloods have the problem reproducing so they will be using some muggle technique to help them get pregnant."
"I see." Hermione conceded softly. "Harry."
"Yeah 'Mione." Harry responded immediately jumping slightly at being addressed.
"I'm sorry that I haven't moved out of Grimmauld Place yet, but I should especially now that you and Ginny will need to start having children." Hermione stated. Ever since Fred's death, Hermione and George hadn't been the same. Neither were able to find a place anymore, it seemed that no matter what they did something was always missing. They both knew what it was and that it was practically hopeless to continue their relationship. Hermione though stayed because her relationship was something that they shared with Fred, and she knew that brought the twinless twin some comfort. To now be forced into a marriage with someone who had rejected you before, she felt terrible for George.
"No! 'Mione you don't have to." Harry assured quickly.
Hermione shook her head. "I should Harry, besides I will have to start looking for a place myself to grow a family and how am I supposed to do that with you being overprotective."
Harry smiled slightly at her teasing tone.
…
Hermione entered the Black Family Library doing a final run through.
"Hermione is this everything!" Harry called from her former bedroom, where he and the other Weasley boys were grabbing boxes to move into her new flat.
"Yeah! I'm just making sure I didn't leave any of my books in the library." Hermione called back looking around the library.
"I'm watching you mudblood, if I see you take anything." The portrait snarled. Hermione looked up at the portrait frowning, if she remembered correctly the portrait was a Sirius Black the First. Though, the incest made many of the family look terribly similar and was not certain of his identity.
"Oh, shut up! With this marriage law, there won't be any more purebloods you know." Hermione growled back tripping lightly. Cursing she looked down at what tripped her holding up an odd necklace. It was a simple thing, a thin golden chain that sparkled in the light and a single jewel hanging from it. It was odd for two reasons, one for something so simple to belong to the house of Black and two the gem glowed as if endowed with magic.
"Where did you get that girl." Another portrait demanded having gotten a full view of the necklace.
Hermione startled having been lost in the gem looking up to see Phineas Nigellus Black staring at her incredulously. "I just tripped on it, you saw that."
"Everyone out!" Phineas ordered, the other portraits immediately obeying. "Do you have any idea what your holding?"
"It feels like magic." Hermione responded unsure. The necklace was light in her hand but oddly warm.
"You are correct, magic gave that to us." Phineas testified simply, as if that would explain everything.
"Excuse me?" Hermione demanded gazing back at the glowing pendant.
"Listen close because I am only going to explain this once." Phineas began. "The Black family hasn't always been Dark. Long before the tapestry was created before the words pure-blood and such were created there were just wizards and witches. Magic decided that there was a danger in the nature of humans and so it created that. That necklace's purpose was to change things when times needed to be changed. It would only appear to someone worthy and the House of Black was naturally chosen to House the tales of it."
"You speak as if magic is a person." Hermione commented wryly staring at the portrait.
"Magic has a will of its own. Honestly, and they call you the smartest witch of the age" Phineas agreed glancing at the necklace before looking back at Hermione.
"Let's pretend for a moment that I'm a Muggle-Born and don't know the things Purebloods are raised knowing." Snarked Hermione. "While we're at it lets also pretend that Hogwarts did not provide a Wizarding Culture Studies class."
The portrait cleared its throat warily watching as the young witch's hair began to frizz slightly, sparking. "Yes, well." Nodding his head the portrait continued. "Magic, as you know, flows through your veins, as it does any wizard or witch. Family magic is those which belong to houses. The House of Black has family magic, it is similar magic that runs through the veins of all members that share the House of Black's blood. It is sentient in a way, stronger in those that it believes is capable and weaker in those it believes is not."
"Is that why Mrs. Weasley wanted to know my soulmate? She said something about trying to pair me with someone else in the same family." Hermione noted thoughtfully.
"Yes, that would be a good enough reason. Should your soulmate—and I assume you speak of the Amici Intimi spell—be unavailable to you the best chance of finding compatible magic would within the family. The Family magic would recognize you as a soulmate to ones of its members and that they are unavailable and accept you to another." Phineas agreed curiously, he did not believe that the witches and wizards still performed that particular spell. He remembered the day Walburga Black performed the spell for her heir, one Sirius Black and found the mate to be some half blood or another.
Nodding her head, Hermione agreed. It would make sense then why she felt so comfortable with the twins, they would have similar magic, possibly, but similar circumstances. "Is all magic sentient?"
"Quite so. Magic has no regards for human nature and rules and as such will do everything to continue and grow stronger. Muggleborns are believed by some to be blessings of magic itself to strengthen old families, though this idea itself has grown outdated." The old Hogwarts Headmaster explained. "Hogwarts is an example of a large building imbued with so much magic the building itself can feel sentient."
Hermione frowned thoughtfully, it was true that the castle left a feeling. The first she saw of it, it felt warm and welcoming and she didn't think it was just because she was getting the opportunity at a new life. Remembering it after the battle, she admitted the castle felt grief stricken. Before she believed the feeling was simply those around her but perhaps it was the great castle. Glancing back down at the pendant, she turned it slowly in her hands. "So, then what's the deal with this?"
"The tale is passed strictly from the head of house to head, each head draws out for the next what the necklace looks like then informs them orally what its purpose is. We could not risk any outside or even some inside of the family knowing. When someone is told of the necklace they take an unbreakable vow to help any person that the necklace appears to even if it goes against their morals. Since the unbreakable vow is taken by the Head of the House the family magic will in a way influence any in the house to also help. I myself took the unbreakable vow and watched my son take it. There should be a journal in the library that is blank to all but whom the necklace choses." Phineas concluded.
"How do I call the journal." Hermione demanded her mind racing. To fix things, surely the pendant appeared to stop Voldemort and keep the blood of so many from being spilled.
"Push some of your magic into the pendant." Phineas responded eagerly, his eyes glued to the necklace.
Hermione did as commanded her curiosity once again getting the better of her before she could properly think out what she was doing. There was a reason she was placed in Gryffindor after all. A journal zoomed at her from within the stacks, landing safely in her hands. Opening it she greedily read in line after line.
"What does it say?" Phineas demanded.
"Any person with blood from the house of Black will be unable to harm me." Hermione said after reading the first few pages. "It has entries from past people whom the pendant appeared to. This is fascinating, wars that were fought then undone. Absolultley amazing."
"Does it tell you how to go back?" Phineas reminded.
"Yes, there is a section on how to do that." Hermione agreed redily, going to that part of the journal. After a few moments of silence she continued. "There will be a spell I must cast while wearing the necklace. It will take me where the Magic has decided I should go and I will change events from there. Phineas, this is fascinating!"
The portrait raised an aristocratic brow in question.
"It details that while I go back in time and alter events they will be solidified in time. It is different than the time turner. If I used a time turner and changed events then I would not do it a second time thus undoing the alterations and we would be stuck in an endless cycle. But this necklace somehow prevents that paradox." Hermione babbled excitedly. Holding the pendant up. "Imagine what we could learn if we researched—"
"No!" Phineas interrupted sharply. "You must not attempt to understand it if the knowledge became known then we may create another without magic's will. Such a thing is much too dangerous."
Startling, Hermione frowned. Lowering her arm, she hestitlely agreed. Such a thing made sense of course, though she wished she could learn how it worked.
"Do not despair." The portrait soothed. "I understand you wish to learn but you must also realize the danger."
"Of course." Hermione agreed immediately her mind already wondering if someone like Voldemort had gotten a hold of this. "Wait, what if someone takes it from me?"
"It should be in the book. If only those chosen by magic are able to read the book then the spell should be safe within your mind and should not be able to share the information. If for some reason you are forced to give such information, it is my understanding that the pendant would not work for anyone else and will only work the once for you." Phineas assured.
Hermione turned back toward the book reading quickly, nodding her head in agreement to the SLytherins statement. Yes, that appeared the be true.
"Mione, is everything okay?" Harry asked popping his head through the doorway. Surprised, he watched as his friend jumped before looking toward him with big eyes, the portrait of one of the House of Black the only one inhabitied at the time.
"Harry, we've got to start planning!" Hermione exclaimed joyously.
…
"Do you have everything?" Harry inquired cautiously. When Hermione had first told him her find, he was at first hurt thinking this was some kind of joke, which turned into skeptic after her assurance, and finally elation once it all sunk in. They had gathered Ron and the others, quickly having Hermione detail in the journal all the events that could be changed, and most importantly the Horcruxes. Since they did not know whether she would be deposited in the first or second war, the put everything in. Hermione herself believed it would be the first war after all, Gideon and Fabian died at the end of it and she did not think two Hermiones would be acceptable.
"Yes, Harry." Hermione responded immediately. The only other people in the room where Ron, George, and Headmistress McGonagall. Though the remaining Order of the Phoenix members knew, they did not wish to crowd her. "My bag is filled how it was before when we were on the run, I've got the Journal with all the details I may need, and several containers of Basilisk venom."
"Remember, when you arrive whenever you do. Seek out the Head of the House of Black." The Headmistress demanded. "And be careful who you trust, the war changed everyone so you will not know a person in the past based off of their future selves."
Nodding Hermione stood in the center of the room. They had discussed several plans of attacks, finally choosing for her to find the whoever the head of the house was. The only person that they agreed should be allowed full knowledge would be the head of the House of Black and it's heir after all only they had taken unbreakable vows. If Hermione decided anyone else was worthy she would first have to administer an unbreakable vow. They could not chance anything, McGonagall agreed that she herself would need to take the vow before being told too much information. After all, at the time she trusted Dumbledore explicitly and the golden trio had learned the hard way that the wizard was much too manipulative to be trusted fully. Perhaps, given the vow.
"Good luck, Mione." Harry whisphered, reaching out a hand to squeeze Hermione's shoulder in comfort.
"Don't worry Harry, if I go far back enough, youll be raised by your parents." Hermione promised seriously.
"Miss Granger, do not forget your main goal." McGonagall warned.
"I know." Hermione acknowledged. "But this is one of my main goals, if the Magic wanted anything different it should not have chosen me."
"Be careful out there." George interrupted, the group had fought enough about what Hermione should do and where her priorities lay. In George's opinion, the magic chose her so her choice should be top.
Standing in the center of a diagram mirroring the image in a journal only she could read Hermione raised her wand. Every worldly possession she could need was clutched in her hand, in the small purple bag. This was different. Muttering the spell she felt the magic surge through the necklace resting against her chest. There would be no Ron, no Harry. Her vision went fuzzy as the circle lit up, brilliant golden sparks shooting around her, consuming her. There would be no Golden Trio, just Hermione. A tug at her navel pulled, like a portkey. She hoped, just Hermione would be enough.