A/N: Hello everyone and happy Saturday, my beta, GidgetMalfoy has been wonderful and this is the newly beta'd chapter. I really should wait until it's been looked over to post, but I really have no self control. The next chapter is coming along nicely, Cheeks is really my favorite elf ever.
Peace, Love, and Slyther,
Gimi aka Jess
Hermione and Ron walked to Kingsley's office. Hermione was so confused by the day's events. She was trying to remember if she had ever been told that she was adopted by her parents. She was sure they never told her something like that, that is something she would have remembered. It did, however; explain how easy it was for the memory charm to take when she placed one of them, urging them to forget they had a daughter, because biologically they didn't. That thought made tears spring to her eyes.
Logically she knew that magic couldn't lie, not blood magic. There is no way, but in her heart she wanted it to be wrong. She wanted to be Hermione Granger, daughter to Jean and Graham Granger, dentists from Kent. Not Lyra LeStrange, daughter of two convicted Death Eaters. The tears began to fall as soon as they walked into the office.
Piles of books laid on Kingsley's desk. Hermione could see Nature's Nobility: A Wizarding Genealogy sitting on top. Hermione and Ron both sat and Hermione began looking through the volume of pureblood names. She past names she recognized; Abbott, Black, Malfoy, McMillan, MClaggen, and finally LeStrange. Finding Rodolphus and Bellatrix LeStrange, she did see a Lyra LeStrange named as their daughter; birthday the same as her's, but there was a death year of 1981.
"Kings," she gestured to the book, turning it towards the minister, "This has a death date. How can I be Lyra when the little girl is supposedly dead?"
"Hermione," Ron looked at his girl sadly, "You know it's true, blood magic can't lie."
Hermione nodded her head, taking a deep breath in and pushing it out, "I know, I just… I can't believe this right now. We are suppose to get married next week and I love you, and this is all my fault… If I didn't insist on this bonding, we would never have found out and we could have just gotten married."
Ron shook his head sadly, "No, we couldn't. We would have found out at the ceremony when the magic wouldn't have taken." Hermione looked at him confused and he sighed, "You don't understand 'Mione; you, your magic is bound to Rowle. Even without the bonding, a marriage still binds your magic to your mate, but because you are already bonded, it would have rejected our bind and possibly even killed you. It's actually a good thing we did this, if we had attempted to get married without knowing, you could have died on our wedding day."
Hermione gasped and glanced over at Kingsley for confirmation. The look of seriousness was all she needed, but he nodded his head in agreement anyways. "Ron is correct, blood bonds are not to be taken lightly, it is why it is not used in most marriages anymore. It's why arranged marriages are not as common, except in the oldest families. I am a bit confused as to why you were sent to muggles, can you call your elf back?"
Hermione reddened at the thought of owning a house elf and Ron had to chuckle a bit, though she had given up on S.P.E.W. long ago, she still did not agree with their enslavement or their treatment. She called out to Cheeks and the fat faced little elf popped next to her mistress with a big smile.
"Yes Missy Lyra? How can Cheeks serve you?" and she bowed.
Kingsley couldn't stop himself, he chuckled and tried to hide it with a deep cough while Ron didn't even bother. The events of the day were just all too bizarre. In a matter of seconds, his entire life had changed. While he loved and believed in Hermione's ability to move mountains, Ron knew the chances of her getting out of a blood bond with Rowle were slim to none.
The thought of Hermione, his Hermione, that she wasn't his and wasn't going to be his wife. That was just about to kill him. Ron had been in love with Hermione since third year. The day she punched Draco Malfoy in the face was one of his best memories of the girl. That was the day he really noticed she wasn't just a bookworm or even that she was one of the guys, but that she was a passionate girl. He had pretended not to notice her because she never showed interest in him. They seemed to always just miss each other as kids and then finally, finally they were on the same page. They were together and happy and giving it a go at a true happy ending and that was destroyed by one drop of fucking blood. Fucking life sucked… his soulmate was not his, she wasn't even Hermione Granger anymore, but Lyra LeStrange, her name meant little to him. He knew she was the same beautiful person she always was. The fact was, she wasn't his. She would never be Hermione Weasley, but was destined to be Lyra Rowle. He wondered what he had done to deserve this kind of karma.
"Um, Cheeks, how do you know I'm who you say I am?"
The little elf looked confused, "Your magic called to me. I am the LeStrange elf, I answer only to the LeStrange family. Once you were given to your muggle family, you became someone else, so your magic is not called to Cheeks anymore." The little elf bowed her head sadly, Hermione could see a tear on her nose fall, "I was so sad you were gone from me so quick, Missy Lyra. My Missy Bella says to take you to muggles, keep you safe from bad Order men who want to hurt my Missy Lyra," Cheeks began to sob, her little shoulders shaking as she told her story, "You were the most beautiful babe, Missy Lyra. Dark brown curls and the prettiest grey eyes; Missy Bella's eyes. You look just like your mum though with those curls."
Hermione shifted uncomfortably at the mention of Bellatrix, "Continue with the story please, you were told to take me away?"
Cheeks nodded, "I was told to take you to the muggle world and change your hair and eyes, your trademark Black and LeStrange qualities. The Order would hurt you Missy Lyra. They were going to take you away from Cheeks and make you hate your family."
Hermione whispered under her breath that Bella did that all herself, but Cheeks didn't hear her. "Once you were given a new name and given to your muggle parents, you ceased to be my Missy and you were gone," tears fell again, even more freely and Hermione felt sad for the little elf. It seemed Cheeks had really loved her Lyra. "The ministry came to check for the LeStrange baby after, they thought I took you to Miss Cissa, she was suppose to be your guardian, but you were already lost to me and your name came up in the book."
"Cheeks told them you were dead, cus that was what Missy Bella said to tell em if I ever felt you gone. Your stone is in the family crypt."
Hermione was confused, "But I didn't die."
Kingsley understood, "The old families have enchanted crypts," he explained to Hermione, "If your magic is no longer linked to the family, by way of death or severing, which is what happened to you, the crypt will lay a stone for your family to mourn. Body or not, they would have a place to remember you."
Ron nodded, "That is the way in the Weasley plots. There was a plate for Fred that was there before his funeral, in case we didn't recover the body. My uncles both have stones in the Prewitt crypt, their bodies were never recovered. Mum goes to visit once in awhile."
Hermione contemplated that, "So when I dropped my blood on the parchment, I unlocked my magic to the LeStranges because it tells me who I am? But if I'm adopted, wouldn't my adoption supersede the bond with Rowle?"
Kingsley shook his head. "No, your parents made a blood oath that you would marry the Rowle heir. Blood over rules normal legal proceedings like adoption. It's why divorce is not available in our world. Our blood and our magic are tied to our unions. I don't know if there is a way to supercede your bond, this is one of the oldest forms of magic still performed today."
Ron had to leave the room, he was really going to lose his cool and that was the last thing he wanted to do in front of Hermione. Her life was already turned upside down, he didn't want her feeling guilty over something she had no control over. "'Mione, I know you want me to stay, but I promised Harry I would stop by the office today after our… well afterwards and I'm already late." Hermione's lip began to quiver and he knew she was feeling rejected. His heart sunk at that thought. He ran his hand over her cheek, and she leaned into the affectionate gesture, " I will see you tonight at dinner okay?" He kissed her on the forehead as she nodded her agreement.
Ron left the room and made his way to the Auror department where his best friend was waiting for him. He needed to talk to someone. He had just lost everything he ever wanted and now didn't know what to do.
OoOoOoO
"Okay Kings," Hermione said as Ron had left, "How are we going to fix this?"
Kingsley looked confused, "Fix what?"
Hermione looked at the minister like he grew a second head. "Fix what? Fix this bond. I have no plans on marrying Rowle, he tried to kill me!"
Cheeks gasped, "Is my Missy okay?"
Hermione nodded at the little elf, "Yes, Cheeks, I'm fine." Looking at Kingsley, "I need to confirm this is the truth, I need to go see my so called parents, now. I need to do a paternity test."
Kingsley looked even more puzzled and Hermione sighed, "I need to be sure they are my parents. A paternity test will confirm it. It's a muggle test that will show the genetics to be the same."
"Hermione, the-"
"NO," Hermione yelled. She shook her head, "I need more evidence than that piece of parchment. This is my life, my future. I need to be sure that my blo… that their blood runs through my veins and I need to do it today."
Kingsley nodded, called in his assistant to arrange a portkey for the two of them. Kingsley told her that there was a simple spell to show familial bonds that he could perform that wouldn't take as long as a muggle blood test. Hermione nodded her agreement, trusting Kingsley to know what he was doing. The two magi were given a portkey and leaving word with his assistant, the two of them and Cheeks all went to the middle of the North Sea.
OoOoOoO
Landing on the shore of the island, Hermione was struck with high winds and a spray of mist from the chaotic sea. Fitting for the day she was having, her hair began to frizz instantly with the help of the moist sea air. Hermione grumbled at the sky and deity listening that to brighten her day, they could just strike her down with lightening and make something called a turkey. Kingsley didn't get the muggle reference and Hermione wasn't in a mood to explain. The two magi and the elf made their way to the front of the prison.
Hermione looked up at the foreboding building, tall with sharp corners. In the years since the war, not much had changed at Azkaban except for the lack of dementors that use to guard the prison. Instead, there were extensive wards placed over the entire island to dampen magic. Special wands were issued to the guards that only reacted to that guard's magical signature. If an inmate was somehow able to retrieve the wand from the guard and use it, they would be instantly set into a magical coma, and other guards would be alerted.
Kingsley walked in and was greeted by the entrance guard who then, went to get the warden. Hermione sat there, her hands shaking as she thought about what she was about to do. Cheeks held her hand and began to rub the back of it shushing her. Hermione closed her eyes as comfort and calm took over. She had an intense feeling of deja vu.
Opening her eyes, Cheeks smiled at her mistress, "When you were a babe, I use to rub your hand before bed every night."
Hermione couldn't help but smile. She had always wondered why hand holding had soothed her, her entire life, whenever she was feeling ill or nervous, angry or scared. She was always soothed by a calm hand. She squeezed the little elf's hand and stood as the warden of the prison entered the waiting room and shook Kingsley's hand.
The warden was a man named O'Sullivan, an Irish man in his late fifties and a bit bitter that Kingsley had been made minister at such a young age. He was not happy that Kingsley wanted to see the LeStranges, especially not happy he wanted to see them together and wouldn't tell him why.
"I am the warden of this facility," Mr. O'Sullivan stated, "I need to know what is going on with my prisoners."
Kingsley narrowed his dark eyes, "I'm the Minister. I don't need to answer to you. Needless to say I need them both in a room immediately and we are to be left alone. Miss Granger and I are perfectly capable of subduing them if it were to come to that."
O'Sullivan looked Hermione up and down, doubt in his eyes. Hermione stared at him, "I did help kill Voldemort, I think I can handle two people who can't use magic."
"The elf cannot go in," O'Sullivan retorted, "Their magic isn't regulated by the wards"
"The elf has a name," Hermione fumed, "Her name is Cheeks and she is mine, you don't have to worry about her magic, she can't take orders for anyone but myself."
Hermione wasn't actually sure about that, Cheeks was a LeStrange elf. The chances that she would be able to follow their orders might actually be high, but this asshole didn't need to know that.
"Warden O'Sullivan, are you trying to tell me that you think that I would somehow allow two inmates to take advantage of myself and Miss Granger?"
"No," O'Sullivan could see he was not going to win, "Fine, give them a few moments and I will see that they are sent to the conference room."
Kingsley nodded, "Thank you and like I've stated. We will need to see them in private. Guards can be at the door, but silencing charms must be in place. This is a personal matter that needs to be discussed."
Warden O'Sullivan nodded and turned to leave, grumbling under his breath, but Kingsley did not care. The man was a burden and an asshole, but he was a good warden for the prison. The two magi and the elf walked to the lifts and went up to the the third floor. This floor is where the conference rooms were, not the visiting rooms. Being with the Minister had its perks.
Hermione, not being one to trust other people's wards, began to feel the wards around here, looking for holes and making sure everything was secure. Being a top curse breaker, she was satisfied that the wards were extremely strong.
Kingsley sat there, knowing full well, O'Sullivan was not going to be happy that Hermione was checking up behind him on his wards, but he also knew the witch was the brightest in the country. He trusted her with his life, literally; she could do whatever it was she needed to, to feel safe.
"Cheeks, you can't take orders from Bellatrix and Rodolphus can you?" Hermione asked the elf quietly.
The elf shook her head, "I am not their elf any longer. I belong to you, my mother was master Roddy's elf and I was passed on the LeStrange line. I only take orders from you."
Hermione nodded in relief. She began to assemble more wards on the room, she had to keep busy. She had to keep her mind off the fact that she was about to placed in a room with Bellatrix, with only an elf and Kingsley. Not that she didn't trust Kingsley and even though she just met the elf, she could already feel in her bones that she could trust her, too. But, this was the same woman that tortured her, and possibly her mother, life was as funny as a root canal sometimes.
Hermione could hear chains clinking along the ground and she began to shake again. Kingsley reached over and took her hand and she smiled gratefully, wishing she had another calming draught. She had not been in the same room alone with Bella since that horrible day at Malfoy Manor. She had gone to Bella's trial but was surrounded by Harry and Ron. She had felt safe. Now, she did not feel anything but anxiety. She should have waited for Ron or Harry; she had wanted this to be done though, she needed it. She had to feel in control of her life and that meant doing this so she could get married.
The door opened and in walked Warden O'Sullivan wearing a frown on his face. "What have you done to the wards?" Kingsley smirked, he had called it.
"I made them better," Hermione answered staring past him at the two people in chains. Rodolphus and Bellatrix LeStrange looked at her curiously.
"On whose authority did you decide you could change the wards of my prison?!"
"I'm the top curse breaker of Great Britain, if you wish for me to walk into a room where there are holes in the wards to appease your ego, you are talking to the wrong witch." Hermione retorted, disliking this old man more and more. "I made them stronger, no one but the best can break my wards, you are more than welcome to try once I put the silencing spell on the door."
"How dare you, you insolent little girl!" The warden turned purple.
Kingsley stood up, his tall frame blocking Hermione from view, "I told her she could. I am the minister and I need her to feel safe. She can put up whatever wards she needs in order for that to happen." His deep voice boomed and suddenly Hermione felt safer. She was not alone, Kingsley wouldn't let anything happen to her. "Now, leave. Station a few outside the door if you'd like, but Miss Granger will be putting up her own silencing charm with an alert signal for your guards if they are needed, but they are not to enter without before that, is that understood?"
Warden O'Sullivan was outraged, he was the warden of this prison, he did not take orders from anyone. Kingsley's dark eyes grew small, "If that will be a problem then I shall begin looking for a new warden later today when I get back to the ministry." The man gulped, knowing full well that the minister was within his rights to do so, he nodded and left without another word. The man knew when to keep his mouth shut at least. The guards chained the LeStranges to two chairs on the other side of the table and left.
Hermione put up the alarm and silencing charm and sat next to Kingsley. Bellatrix and Rodolphus were both staring at her intently.
Rodolphus continued to stare as Bella began to speak, "What do we owe for such a prestigious visit? My own sister does not visit. It has been five years that I have been in this rat hole and the bitch does not set foot upon the shores, but the Minister of Magic and the beloved Mudblood have both deigned us worthy of their presence."
Kingsley smiled, his white teeth gleaming in the light of the room. Briefly, Hermione thought of how proud her parents would be of his dental hygiene. She swallowed a small snicker as she caught Rodolphus' eye. His blue eyes were not as sunken as the last time she had seen them at Ministry. Without the dementors and proper care, he looked healthy for a man behind bars.
"I am here to perform a test," Kingsley explained.
Bellatrix scoffed, "The Minister of Magic is here to perform a test? On criminals such as my husband and myself? What rubbish, and with" she looked down her regal nose at Hermione, "A Mudblood by his side? What is truly going on?"
Kingsley had opened his mouth to give an excuse when Hermione cut him off, "I'm getting married."
Bella looked at the mousy brown haired young lady. She had not seen her for five years, but she still looked the same. Her build had filled out a bit more from eating properly and her hair was probably more manageable but with the salt in the air, it was frizzed to no end, a bit like her own.
"What does that have to do with us?" Rodolphus finally spoke up, still staring at the girl.
"I wanted a bonding." Tears began to pool in her eyes as she relived just a few hours ago when her life changed, "I wanted a bonding and my paper turned blue."
"But you're a muggleborn," Bella scoffed, "You don't have enough magic for a bonding."
"Don't you yell at my Missy, Missy Bella!" Cheeks roared from beside the table. The elf was so little that she couldn't be seen from the other side where Rodolphus and Bella were seated. Rodolphus stiffened in surprise remembering that squeaky voice. It was very similar to one he hadn't heard in over twenty five years.
Cheeks jumped on the closest chair and onto the table, wagging her little hand at Bella, "Don't you scare my Missy!" Cheeks sat on the table next to Hermione and held on to her shaking hand. "It's ok Missy Lyra, Cheeks is here."
Bella's eyes grew wide at the sight of the familiar elf, hissing out a breath as Rodolphus jumped up out of his chair, Kingsley only a split second behind him, wand pointed at the chained man.
"Cheeks?"
