Before the next chapter begins I would like some help from my readers. Any ideas on a title would be very welcome.

On with the story …


Chapter Three

What happened in the next three hours was what Harry could only describe as the most mind boggling research session. Once Harry had retrieved Hermione from the floor they began to pour over the large scroll still resting on the table where Ragnok had left it. On it lay generation after generation of Hermione's family history written neatly. From what the pair could grasp was that Ragnok had not lied. Hermione was from a long line of squibs where somewhere along the line a woman had married in, birthed a daughter and soon after died. This woman had not even been given a name, written instead was a single word; 'Dryad'. The pair was horrified, it was as if she wasn't even a person simply an object that the family had wanted to acquire but not keep.

"Maybe they thought her offspring would strengthen their family Hermione." Harry said sadly as he pointed out where the family line started get smaller and smaller. "See earlier it looks as if they were like the Weasleys, lots and lots of children but then here", he pointed at a smaller line, "it looks like after the dryad died that each member of the family could only birth a single heir to keep the family line from dying out".

"They got greedy…" she breathed "… they got greedy and thought they could use her gifts but when she died fate intervened." Hermione raised her eyes from the scroll and looked sadly at Harry. "They killed her Harry. They must have. Magic or fate or some higher power punished the family and their offspring became squibs. Years and years of squibs Harry, then there was me." She viciously pointed at her chest poking herself, "Me Harry, they got me and now I'm here and I'm magic and …"

"And you're you Hermione. You are simply you." Harry said grasping her finger and placing her palm in his hand. "It doesn't matter if you're first generation witch, or dryad, or from some kind of messed up Pureblood line. You are still Hermione Granger, a war hero AND best friend to the dashing and handsome Harry Potter." He ended his spiel raising her arm and pumping it into the air. The action resulted in a small smile, the best he could hope for at the present time.

Caught up in their conversation the pair didn't notice Ragnok entering the room with more scrolls and a small messenger style bag in his arms until he cleared his throat. "Well it seems that you've had enough time to look at your heritage Miss Granger. It's rather complex but from what I've heard you're quite the intellectual so you should have a fair grasp on your current situation."

"Yes sir. We've found where the line seems have almost dissolved. It seems like by entering the dryad blood into the family line that each heir born after her death no longer possessed magic. Is that correct?" she enquired.

"That's what we believe, yes. Magic has strange ways of dealing with events such as the death of your ancestor. It seems as if her name was not even submitted to Gringotts to be added to the family line or vaults. The family saw the value of her blood rather than the value of her as a person. These practices were quite common back then, thankfully such practices have all but ceased." He made sure that the pair were listening before he continued. "Now what I have here is a summary of your holdings at Gringotts. It seems that with your family background you have inherited little but a large piece of land near Wiltshire and what appears to be some family heirlooms. With so many squibs the family no longer had access to Gringotts and could not sell off the last of their possessions.

Hermione's hand had been creeping unconsciously towards the scrolls that Ragnok had brought in to show them. As an avid researcher she could not wait to get her hands on what Ragnok had brought them or any other material she could find about Dryads.

Seeing the look of desire on the young woman's face Ragnok decided to take pity on the pair. He cleared his throat once more, "What I propose is that you return home with the materials I have brought for you. Read the information all you like but make sure you get a good night's sleep as tomorrow if you would like I will take you to your family's ancestral grounds.

Hermione grabbed at Harry's arm, her face now splitting into a wide grin. "Can we Harry? I know I said we would only come here once but I really want to learn all I can about this whole dryad blood business."

Harry grabbed her hand once more in an attempt to stave off hysterics. "Yes, of course Hermione. Why on earth wouldn't we find out as much as we can? You've followed me into battle and dangerous situations how many times now, I can certainly brave Diagon Alley once more for you."

Ragnok quickly interrupted before he had to be exposed to anymore of their affection. Wizards were too dramatic for his liking. "It appears that unfortunately for you a large crowd has gathered outside the bank whilst you have been inside. It seems the wizarding public is keen to welcome home the both of you." Ragnok chuckled at their horrified expressions before continuing, "However, as you are such valued customers of Gringotts I will allow you the use of this return portkey. It should take you to where you are staying", he paused, "the ancestral home of the Black's?" At the pair's nod he continued, "Yes, it will take you home and then you will need to grasp carefully onto it at precisely 10am tomorrow morning where you will be returned to this room to continue our business. Is this acceptable?"

"Yes. Oh Merlin yes! I couldn't even fathom facing those people out there. We are glad to be back but being swamped by people is not ideal right now".

"Especially Weasels" Harry muttered not realising Ragnok could hear him.

"Well then. That concludes our business for today. I suggest you peruse the books in the bag as well as the document I have here. Grasp firmly onto this piece of rope and I will see you tomorrow."

"Thank y….." Hermione's final word was cut off as the pair was whisked back to the foyer of Grimmauld Place.

Once again Harry couldn't stick the landing and crashed onto the entrance rug. He was quickly rushed to by their house elf Blinky who started patting him and muttering about how Master Harry should be more careful and how much he loved his Harry Potter sir. Hermione sighed at the elf's entrance. They had accidentally bought her in Italy. Thinking she was hiring a maid service after Harry had made a godawful mess of his hotel room which she couldn't be bothered to fix, the pair were shocked when the hotel concierge brought them a smiling elf in a bright purple dress.

They tried and tried to explain to the concierge, then the hotel manager, then the hotel owner that they did not want to buy an elf. But finding it very difficult to understand what the Italians were saying and trying to speak over an elf that was wailing whilst clinging to Harry's pant leg the pair decided to just take her. Hermione was still trying to convince the elf she needed time off every week as well as payment but she was a stubborn little things. Sometimes the effort wasn't worth it and she ended up being a great asset to the pair's overseas adventures, often enjoying sightseeing as much as them.

She decided to simply leave Harry on the floor to Blinky's ministrations however forceful they may be and delve into the materials. Although this sudden twist in her life was unexpected, it certainly would make life more interesting.