Chapter 7

Disclaimer: Harry Potter is owned by JK Rowling.

Authors note: I know have a Beta so writing errors should reduce greatly. Also, my device I write on jeeps autocorrecting Viktor to Victor. Ignore the misspells. They should all be corrected from here on out.

I think we need a good fancast for Adrian Pucey. Feel free to drop some fan cast ideas in the comments!

Enjoy chapter 7!

Hermione jerked upright. Her head throbbed as did her shoulder. She looked around realizing that she was, first and foremost, laying on the ground still inside the sarcen stone circle. Realizing that both Viktor and Adrian lay next to her she slowly climbed to her knees. Crawling towards Viktor who laid on her right, she nudged his shoulder while simultaneously feeling for a pulse on his neck. Realizing he was only unconscious she crawled towards Adrian who was on her left and checked him as well.

When she was assured both men were alive and breathing she stood up to survey the rest of her surroundings. The forest was quiet and surrounded by tall trees making the ground seem dark and ominous. A large crack sounded behind Hermione. She pulled her wand up and spun around.

A small house elf, eyes big and hands folded over its small mouth stared at Hermione. The creature, wearing a black pillowcase for clothing jumped nervously from one foot to the next.

"Oh, Missy! You is here! A Black has returned. We is going to haves a new mistress and you is bringing your bonded. Taila is so happy. She must tell the others." The house elf giggled again and just as soon as she arrived she popped away, leaving with the same loud crack.

As the second crack sounded, both men gave deep groans. Adrian managed to roll over to his side before slowly opening his eyes. Viktor sat up and looked around. As they realized Hermione no longer stood near them, both men jumped up and spun to locate her. Seeing Hermione only a few feet from them, the two men stepped forward. As they reached Hermione's side, they again took the same positions as they had been laying. Viktor was on Hermione's right while Adrian sided up to her on the left.

"What in the hell happened? Damnit Hermione. This is your fault," Adrian huffed out staring at the petite girl. He dropped his eyes surveying her again. Even in the dark he realized she was less of a girl and more a young woman.

Viktor looked gruffly at the angry man next to him, "Is not her fault. Hermininny moved us to be safe. Blame anyone, blame man who attacked her." He then turned to Hermione, catching her hand gently in his before flipping it over to trace her palm with his free hand. Raising it to his lips he kissed the inside of her wrist gently making Hermione gasp in surprise. They made eye contact before Hermione turned away blushing.

"Well, I think we should move to the house. We've triggered the wards and the house elves know we're here." Hermione told the two men.

"The house elves know we're here? How do you know that?" Adrian demanded in his cultured tone. As he asked, two elves popped in with soft cracks.

Both elves bowed lowly to Hermione before nodding at the two wizards. Unlike the earlier elf, these elves introduced themselves. Tuck and Huck both wore similar black pillowcases, the Black family crest on the top right of their chests. Hermione was interested in which family member had apparently dressed their elves decently. The house had sat vacant for so long that the relative was most likely not living any longer.

"Hello Huck and Tuck. It is lovely to meet you. Would you both be willing to take us to the house. Maybe prepare tea if you have it?" Hermione bent down to ask the two elves who belonged to her father even if he didn't visit them. The blood bonds would allow the elves to realize who she was regardless.

"Right away Missy. We is happy to serve the House of Black, always." The elf closest to her said as he gently grabbed her arm, disapparating her to the house. The other elf, Hermione noticed, had grabbed both men, bringing them soon after she had arrived.

Hermione was familiar with the Black family style. Until her mother had redecorated their house in France, it had appeared dark and decrepit. This house similarly seemed dark until the fireplace roared to life. The furniture, while in a dark colored wood appeared clean and comfortable. The walls held paintings of rituals past, their occupants unaware of their new audience as the scenes unfolded. Hermione looked closely at one near her. It depicted a woman, long black curly hair with two men. They all walked into the sarcen circle, pulled out small blades and cut their hand. The trio let the blood drip into the earth before a blinding light flashed in the portrait and the next scene was the trio laying cuddled next to each other on the ground.

Feeling a sense of déjà vu, Hermione quickly turned away from the scene. Noticing the men equally surprised by similar scenes depicted in the room, Hermione coughed gently. Viktor and Adrian turned to Hermione.

"Well, if we're going to be lost in an abandoned house with only house elves, you might as well call me Adrian," the mans haughty sneer said little of his sincerity or familiarity.

"You may call me Viktor." Victor grinned at Hermione again.

"Hermione. My name is Hermione. Though it is hard to say so you may call me Mione," Hermione smiled at the Bulgarian quidditch player before glancing briefly at the other man in the room. Adrian had taken a seat on the couch and was busy pouring tea into three cups.

As Hermione was lead by Viktor to the opposite couch, another sharp crack was heard. This elf was dressed in a small lavender dress. The elf stared at Hermione before glancing briefly at the two men. She turned back to Hermione before crossing her thin arms and tapping her foot.

"Mistress Mione not be listening to Master. You be upsetting your brother when he heard what happened with those naughty men at the broom game. You're going to be in bigger troubles from master when he realizes yous been playing with the old stones." The foot tapping continued as the small elf listed why Orion Black would be upset with his youngest child.

"Tuffy, you never call me mistress," Hermione tried to point out.

The small elf turned large blue eyes back on her mistress. "You's is being mine since you were baby. But you listened then. Now you's gone and upset master and mistress Eileen. Tuffy had to find you and make sure you're safe before giving you what for. Tuffy felt old elf wards change and knew you came here. I go tell master and bring him here now." Tuffy gave one glare at the two men who had mouths hanging open at the small elf's tirade before disappearing with a crack again.

"Hermione, he said you are muggleborn. Yet you have house elf?" Viktor looked between the two people. Adrian nodded sharply and pointed to Viktor.

"I'm with Krum on this one. You're definitely muggleborn. Half the families in Slytherin tried researching your family because you score better then them. Malfoy complains about you at least once a week in the common room. How in the bloody hell do you have a house elf who is so familiar with you and a muggle?" The confusion was apparent in both men's faces. They stared at Hermione.

Biting her bottom lip, Hermione glanced between the two then to the spot the elf had disappeared from. A small crack and the elf, along with her father arrived. Orion stood dressed in dark robes, his wand out and pointed at the boys who had jumped up when they realized the elf had returned. His hair was out of place and he had a scowl on his face. Hermione inched back slowly. The boys noticed and looked nervously between the man and Hermione.

"Hello father. It's lovely to see you," Hermione tried for an innocent smile. The elf next to her father snorted. Orion glared harder.

"Sit. Now." Orion stated imperiously. He slid into the chocolate armchair next to the couch. Crossing his leg over his knee and folding his arms across his large chest, the man looked every inch a Lord of the house of Black. The two men and Hermione shifted uncomfortably before sliding back in their seats. "Would any of you care to explain the events of this evening?"

"We found Hermionniny running from a masked man. He fired dark curses at her before ve got to her. Ve stopped man and he ran. Had cuts and it vas not safe near tents. Moved to woods but Hermionniny pulled us through wards. Ve were already bleeding from fight. Blood fell on ground. There vas bright light and then we woke up. Elf took us to the house and here ve are." Viktor's nervousness displayed in his thickened accent as he explained what had occurred.

Hermione sighed knowing her father would be grateful for their rescue but frustrated at having their secret exposed to two unknown men.

"Hermione, I understand why you pulled them here. But do you realize the magic you all invoked when you bled near the stones? Those stones have been here longer then Hogwarts has been around. Let me see your hands." The directive gave the trio pause as they looked at each other before holding out their hands. Orion inspected Hermione's first, then the two men. "Well there's no bonding rings. I think we're okay. The magical output must have made you collapse. I'll have to check the tapestry to make sure but we can do that in the morning. It's very late. I had your brother running interference with the Weasley's. He told them you got caught in the crossfire and an auror will escort you home safely. Orion pulled his daughter to him hugging her tightly now that he knew she was safe.

"Excuse me, but who are you?" Adrian asked before tactfully adding on, "sir."

"Father, allow me to introduce Adrian Pucey and Viktor Krum." Hermione pointed to each man as she spoke their name. Adrian stood and shook the older mans hand while Viktor nodded politely. "He's a slytherin, father. Though he did keep my secret about the time turner when he found out," Hermione stated at her fathers raised eyebrow pointed in her direction.

"Interesting. Pucey, you say? And you, Krum? Well boys, you've obviously figured out that Hermione is not a muggleborn. So do you keep a secret or do I obliviate you?" The statement caused the two men to glance around the room nervously. "I believe a vow is in order," Orion decided. "Swear upon your magic you will not repeat anything you've heard tonight besides the fact that you returned fire to save a woman from a death eater tonight and I will allow you to walk away with your memories intact."

Both men quickly completed the magical vow before Orion called for elves to serve them all food. Orion calmed the two nervous men who had yet to learn the true name of the wizard sitting across from them. Instead he discussed quidditch strategy, current politics and returning to school. When the meal was over the two men used an elf to disappear from the house.

Viktor had kissed Hermione's hand goodbye while Adrian had given an attempt at a polite bow. Apparently he could accept that her father was a wizard more quickly then he could accept her not being a muggleborn.

"I'm sorry for scaring you tonight father," Hermione leaned into her fathers embrace. "I believe it's time to head back to the Weasley's. I'll write at school. I love you." The pair hugged before Hermione asked Tuffy to take her away. The elf reached for Hermione and they were gone.

Arriving at the burrow, Hermione said goodbye to Tuffy before entering the house. It was extremely late Hermione realized. The house was quiet except Mrs. Weasley snoring softly from the couch. Waking her gently, Hermione recounted her story leaving out the sarcen stones and anything that occurred in the house. When they finished, Hermione told Mrs. Weasley she was going to clean up before going to bed.

Grabbing clothes to change into, Hermione made her way to the bathroom on the floor above Ginny's room. Pulling the shirt off and stripping out of her pants and undergarments, Hermione looked in the mirror. The cut on her shoulder had stopped bleeding but was covered in dark dried blood. She turned and glanced at her backside in the mirror to make sure she didn't have anymore cuts only to be drawn up to her left shoulder. Moving her hair to the side, Hermione realized that while Orion had checked their hands for bonding tattoos or magical rings, he had obviously missed the very large tattoo on her shoulder.

The tattoo, two triangles side by side interwoven with a third triangle below both was dark against her skin. Hermione realized she had seen this symbol in an old book about the Norse Gods. Odin had used the Valknut to discern the web of destiny or lay bonds upon the minds of men. The fact that she had it tattooed on her body was not a good omen.

Deciding to ignore the tattoo until she was well rested and capable of forming thought, Hermione washed and dressed quickly before rushing to her bed and falling into a deep sleep. Her last thought was how to explain to her father he missed a giant tattoo on her back.