Disclaimer: All Harry Potter related characters, places and themes belong to J.K. Rowling, Bloomsbury and Scholastic.
A
Simple Course of Action
Chapter 1: No More Secrets"Do
you have any idea where to start, Malfoy." It actually pained
Ron to ask him, but Hermione would need his help.
Draco thought for a moment and then had an epiphany, "Yes. Azkaban."
"Azkaban??" they responded in unison.
"We need to talk to Lord Ryuu." Draco replied resolutely.
"Lord Ryuu? What does he have to do with anything?" said Ron.
Draco looked at Harry and Ron in disbelief. No, they really aren't that bid of idiots. Then turning to Hermione, he asked. "They don't know?"
"No" she responded. "It was on a need to know basis and they didn't need to know."
Draco looked at Hermione knowingly and nodded, "Well, now they need to know."
Hermione looked down and said softly, "I know".
Harry and Ron had been watching this conversation in increasing frustration.
Finally, Ron snapped, "Would someone bloody tell us what is going on?"
Hermione sighed. "I will. As soon as we get somewhere safe and I get out of this dress!"
The boys finally looked up at Hermione and realized that she was still dressed in her wedding dress, yards of white satin and tulle obviously would hinder her mobility. They all nodded in agreement.
She looked up at Draco, "The room of requirement?"
"It'll do." Draco answered.
They managed to find their way to the room of requirement as quickly as possible. Hermione was able to get a change of clothes out of the room, pulling on some jeans and a brown sleeveless sweater. She pulled her hair back into a ponytail and joined the boys who had been waiting impatiently for her.
"Hermione?" Harry said, acknowledging her presence.
Ron cleared his throat waiting for her confession. This better be good.
Hermione sighed again, "Hi guys. Before we start do you promise not to say a word to anyone."
"Haven't we always?" Harry retorted.
"Are you willing to make that a vow?"
"Of course we are! Hermione, what is going on?" Harry asked nervously. He was really starting to worry about Hermione.
"Just answer the question, Harry. Harry, Ron are you willing to make that a vow?"
"Yes."
"Yes."
"Do you promise not to tell anyone a word of what I am going to reveal to you know? That you will each safeguard my family's secrets."
"Harry?"
"I will"
"Ron?"
"I will"
"So be it." Hermione took a deep breath and started to pace the floor in front of the boys who were sitting on a couch. Draco leaned up against a wall and watched.
"Well, You both remember Lord Ryuu?"
Harry and Ron nodded. Then Ron piped up, "The old guy that tried to run off with you?"
"Well, there was a reason he was after me. You know that I am not really Hermione Granger and that I am a pure-blood."
"Yea."
"Well, you also know that I have to get married by my 19th birthday or I lose my magic."
"Yea, some kind of tradition or curse or something."
"Well, you don't know why. I am a descended from Vivianne Le Fey."
"Le Fey?" Ron wasn't sure he heard the name right.
"Like Morganne Le Fey?" Harry asked.
Both boys faces turned white, then they both stood up and yelled out, "Hermione!!"
"I can't believe you never told us." Harry said. He was truly shocked that she didn't trust him with this information.
"Why did you tell him?" Ron questioned, his voice laden with jealousy.
"I didn't," Hermione answered pointedly.
Ron walked toward Hermione and asked accusingly, "You didn't? Then how did he..."
"I'm observant, Weasel," Draco interrupted.
Harry looked at Draco. He had walked between Hermione and her friends. Feeling overprotective, Draco put some distance between Hermione and her friends. "I had figured out that Artemisia was Hermione when she punched Lord Ryuu. It had bothered me all night that I thought she seemed familiar to me although she didn't look familiar. When she connected that right hook with that bastard's face... I knew it was my Hermione."
Harry
and Ron looked at each other in horror, When
did she become his Hermione?
Draco
saw that she was overwhelmed and continued his explanation. "When
we returned to school, Hermione was determined to break the spell. I
followed her to the restricted area of the library."
"Stalker", Ron spat.
"Wanker," Draco replied.
"Prat," Ron retorted.
Hermione had had enough of this already tonight. But here they were again, Harry and Ron against Draco. Shite! She wasn't sure how she was ever going to get through this day.
"BOYS! If you are through? Sit down! I'll finish my explanation."
Looking like three little boys who had just been scolded by their mother, obediently they all sat down quickly on the sofa together.
"Well, anyway, On my birthday I remembered seeing a book called 'Family Curses of the Middle Ages' when I was doing some research once. On my first night back I waited until the library was closed to find the book. It had a list of famous family curses in it, including mine. Apparently the Fey are the gatekeepers of immortality. They hold the key that enables men to travel through the veil and back. That was what Lord Ryuu was after. The key of immortality."
Draco pulled out a well worn piece of parchment from his jacket pocket and handed it to Hermione. She recognized the words immediately. She couldn't believe he carried it with him. She looked at the paper and sighed. "Here, you might as well read this, she handed the parchment to Ron and Harry."
As Harry and Ron moved closer toward each other to read the paper. Draco got up and resumed his place near the wall.
Daughter
of every generation
blessed
shall you be
At
the age of thy inheritance
thy
magic withdrawn
The
remedy to thy obstacle
is
to branch thy tree
Untainted
from the natural world
two shall be as one
Till
the four winds meet, the knot remains
betwixt
rope and wand
A
pain forgiven
With
hearts unbroken
Till
then cursed be
"Bloody Hell, Hermione. You're buggered!" Ron announced.
"That was eloquently put, Weasel." Draco stated.
"What does this last part mean? The fours winds meet, the knot remains? A pain forgiven?" Harry asked. "It looks like there is a way out."
"That's why we have to go talk to Lord Ryuu," Draco said.
Hermione nodded. "You're right, Draco".
Draco covered his heart with his hand and said, "Be still my heart. Say it again. Lest my ears deceived me. Did you actually say 'You're right, Draco'??"
Hermione smirked, "Don't let your ego get all overinflated."
"It's too late," he joked back.
Harry and Ron had been watching the exchange between Hermione and Draco uncomfortably. They were acting very friendly towards one another. Too friendly.
"Hermione? There is just one thing we don't understand," Harry said.
"Just one?" Draco remarked under his breath.
Hermione gave Draco a look which made him immediately shut his mouth. "What's that?" she asked.
"Why exactly is Draco here?" Harry asked.
"Hermione..." Draco prompted Hermione. This was her chance to come clean, and he wasn't going to let her get off easily.
Hermione hesitated for a moment, looked over at Draco and sighed.
"Because. He's my secret keeper."
