Author's Note: Okay so this chapter was originally about thirty pages long so I separated them into two. So if they cutoff at the end is a little awkward it's because of that. Tomorrow I'll update two chapters (the next part of this one is one) at night because I'm taking a trip to North Carolina at two in the morning on Thursday and the day will be spent with my family so I won't update again until either Saturday or Sunday. Maybe earlier if I have time.
Chapter 8
Back in Britain
August 15, 1992
Her letters had returned unopened again. But this time the one sent to Daphne had a nasty hex on it that burned her hand when she grabbed it. Hermione stared forlornly at the letters she had sent to her friends and the girls she is betrothed to. She sat down heavily on her bunk in the Hastati dorm. Just as she did so she was met by Ana.
"You're going to do something about that?" Ana motioned to her still burned hand. Hermione stared at with a simply cursory glance. There was an unpleasant stinging twinge that kept striking her by the second.
"I'll see a healer later. What's up?" Hermione asked scooting over on her bed to give Ana a spot.
"You're leaving today." Ana stated plainly. "I thought I'd say goodbye." Hermione grinned at her.
"Hmm I'll miss this place too." Hermione admitted. "It's nothing like Hogwarts. I don't know if it's because of the numerous disciplines taught here or just the atmosphere but I do enjoy it here."
"Of course, Legionis Ludo is the finest school in all of Italy."
"Hogwarts, it supposedly the finest school in the Isles but it doesn't boast the number of applicants and students."
"If you Brits stopped killing each other off it just might."
"Hey, the Blood War is over."
"Is it? The rebel leaders body was never fond."
Hermione knew it was fact that he was still alive. Voldemort was her enemy, Harry's enemy and most importantly the enemy of her family. She needed him completely out of the way if she wanted the House of Black to fully be revitalized. War, and people who wanted war were definitely her enemies. Her duty is to bring the House of Black back to its former glory and she would. No matter who got in the way.
"That is true." Hermione finally responded. She glanced at the girl sitting next to her. "When does Fall semester begin for you lot?"
"September 20th. It sucks that we barely have a month to relax but in some ways, it's worth it and we're getting our money's worth."
"Granger time for you to go." A Centurion said coming into the dorm informing her of the arrival of Arcturus. Hermione sighed and shrunk her trunk before placing it into her pocket. She began to leave.
"Wait." Ana gripped her arm. She turned to the red-haired girl a bit surprised wondering what's the hold up. "Are you coming back next summer?"
Hermione thought about her answer. She doubted she'd be back at Legionis Ludo next year. She came to learn from Mihai and although she learned a lot she also felt she didn't learn enough of her wild magic. But, Gaius implied in their meeting that she most likely wouldn't be back again. Not to mention, Arcturus might have plans for her next summer after Hogwarts let out for the summer.
"I don't think I will." Hermione finally told her.
"Oh." Ana looked mildly dejected which surprised Hermione. Ana and her friends…friendly but they weren't exactly very close.
"We're friends Ana, I'll write you and maybe visit next summer. You lot do get to visit the nearby town when you're on break or whatever right." Hermione said with a shrug. Ana snorted.
"Yeah, visits you never went on." Her eyes twinkled with mirth.
"Yeah, well I didn't have the luxury of spending the weekends having fun." Hermione said as she thought about the twinge in her hand and the cause of it.
"Miss Granger." The Centurion called again making her roll her eyes in exasperation.
"Look, I got to go." Ana stepped forward when Hermione said this and planted a kiss on her cheek shocking the brunette.
"Bye, Hermione." She said before walking. The Black Heir blinked once then twice before making her way out of the room rubbing her cheek where the older girl had kissed her. What was that about?
Hermione, walked her way to the portkey point where Arcturus stood leaning slightly against his cane. She quickly made her way to him. He held out the chain and queried if she had all her things. She responded with a yes of course before the portkey activated sending them spiraling to their destination. She upon landing stumbled a bit loathing the feeling of portkeying more than anything. If done right it was like riding a roller coaster. Done wrong it felt like apparition where you are squeezed into this miniscule tube and tossed.
That is a horrible feeling. A feeling that this portkey jump was like. She stood up on her toes and looked around and was surprised to see the rest of the family. But, they were in Black Manor in Britain. Why are they all here? Hermione wondered.
"Welcome home kid." Nymphadora greeted with a grin. She walked to the cousin nearest to her age after Jarius and pulled her into a hug.
"Hey Nym." Hermione greeted back. "Jarius." She nodded to him. He smirked at her.
"To the sitting room. We have much to discuss."
As they walked to the sitting room, Hermione's eyes landed on a Black that she had not seen before. It was a woman. She looked around Lucretia's age maybe a little older. She must be Cassiopeia. The others had welcomed into the fold easily enough so it wasn't Cedrella who had married Septimus Weasley The Blood Traitor.
Once they were all sitting in the sitting room and held their preferred drinks in hand, Arcturus began to speak. "It is with my insurmountable pleasure that I today announce the deaths of Cygnus and Pollux Black."
"I'd drink to that." Andromeda muttered but it was loud enough for the rest of them to here.
"My brother Pollux and his son Cygnus were pieces of work." Cassiopeia added in. Hermione blinked when everyone nodded in agreement to what they had said. Even Nymphadora had and Hermione was sure that she hadn't met their shared Grandfather. She shot a questioning look towards Nymphadora. The elder cousin shook her head and mouthed the words 'tell you later.'
She simply sat her head back on the couch they were sitting on.
"The funeral will be held in a few days' time. Those with grief with the departed are not forced to come. It will be a small simple family affair with the knowledge going into the prophet." Arcturus looked at each and every one of them. "This probably be one of the last meetings we'll have together as a family for now. There has been whispers in the air concerning my current neutrality. Abraxas before his taking ill due to Dragon Pox has continually been urging me to support the Dark Lord's rise once more. The previous letter has come with a threat attached to it and I'm not foolish enough to think that it will not be attempted to be fulfilled. I will not leave all my eggs in one basket. I will of course be focusing on the Wizengamot unlike how I've done these past few years. As such, I wish for those of us who were not in Britain before to leave once more. Also, I wish for Cassiopeia to take my place on the Board of Governors."
"I will do it." Cassiopeia breezily replied. The appointment will lend her something to do. She had never married and never wanted to marry so she had no qualms in spending her life away drinking. She glanced at Lycoris, Arcturus's sister who was steadily staring at her brother and frowned. Lycoris had never married either. For a different reason than she but it wasn't talked about in the family.
"Good." Arcturus looked at each of them. Hermione sat up straight when his eyes landed on her for more than a second. "That said, welcome back to the family. All of you."
The adults had decided it was high time to drink to the reunion of Blacks. Hermione not able to drink walked off on her own. She decided to settle in the courtyard among the various plants and trees on the property. She settled on the ground not much caring if the dirt ruined her clothing. She had magic and elves both of which could solve the problem.
She laid down and closed her eyes. She went inside herself feeling the power of her magic. She allowed it to coil and fold its way through her. But she spotted something odd in her magic. There was a wall there around that orb. One that had not been there before. One, that was steadily cracking. She moved to reach forward but footsteps pulled her out of her mind. She opened her eyes and sat up turning to the source of the steps.
Nymphadora was there but she faltered. For reasons, Hermione knew not. Had she held a mirror to her face she would've seen purple eyes bleeding red for only just a moment before turning back to their natural silvery-blue shade. "Hey Nym." Hermione greeted with a small.
"Wotcher Mia." They both had names they had taken to calling one another after they met up a few times under the eyes of Andromeda or Arcturus. Nym took a seat next to her. "What are you brooding for?"
"I wasn't brooding." Hermione responded her tone short.
"Fine, mind telling me what happened to your hand and why you haven't got it looked at yet?"
"I deserved it." She simply responded. Nym rose her eyebrow in a manner that said you'd better do more in explaining that. The black haired girl stared at the currently bottle blonde haired girl. "Fine." She rolled her eyes and explained a lot of stuff that had happened last year. She explained in detail the life debt and betrothal contract. Nym once the life debt becoming a betrothal contract part was explained became angry at Arcturus.
"He shouldn't have forced this."
"That's the thing Nym I could've stopped him if I wanted to." Hermione admitted. It was a thought that she refused to think about.
"What?" Nym stared at her in shock.
"Right it was a bit wrong of me. I could've made them my slaves, let them resolve it themselves, gained something physical that was the equal to their lives like their wand but I chose to enslave them with marriage. Arcturus was just the tool of it."
"Why?"
"The life debt was mine to choose how to deal with. I chose this way because bloody hell Nym I have to marry a girl in the future and make heirs with her. I don't know when it will happen but I'll grow fucking penis between my legs just to make it happen and make my magic accept that I'm a male. Being a Metamorph is fine and all but that little problem will still happen. And if you thought about it you'd wonder how many girls would want to marry a girl at that. I'm a Black living in a time where we are at an all-time low in some since. I'm supposed breed, have loads of children and all that but guess what I don't want any of this. I'm a kid and I have to make all these decisions about my future decisions I have no idea if it will work or be worth it. I have to fight a Dark Lord or he'll take what's left of my family including Harry. Bloody Hell, this summer I've learned there are a lot more interesting communities out there than Magical Britain. I want to travel, spend my years abroad go to different communities and learn but I won't be able to. I'm the heir and upon Arcturus's death…and don't give me that look I know his days are numbered I'd have to in accordance with the House of Black's Family Charter take over as Lord when I'm fourteen."
"I didn't know you felt this way." Hermione turned wildly and stood to see Arcturus standing there looking forlornly. There were a few members of her family nearby and she wasn't a fool to think they hadn't heard her rant.
"Come with me." He turned swiftly his robes billowing behind him. With her head down Hermione followed him into the manor ignoring the looks she was getting from other members of the family. "Sit." He said motioning to the empty seat. They were in the library surrounded by books. Hermione took a seat on one of the reading chairs and faced her grand uncle, face carefully blank.
"Relax Hermione, I am not here to yell at you." He told her. But, Hermione did not relax. She was waiting for ball to drop.
"What did you call me for Grand Uncle Arcturus?"
"To assuage your worries heir." He simply said. "You are not the first Lord of Black to feel as you are feeling now. As if the weight of the world is on your shoulders and your decisions will make or break the family. Although your problems are more unique, I have felt that way. My father and his grandfather has felt that way as well. But, we are all reminded in these moments that we are not alone. Come." He stood reaching hand out for her. She took it standing. He led her over to the window that showed what was happening in the courtyard. A smile slowly spread across her face as she watched the family interacting. Some talking, those older dueling playfully with the others.
"This is our family. We are not alone. All our decisions are made for them and the continuation of our line. The Elders will help you and guide you when you are loss. The young ones will fight beside you wands drawn when you call for their aide. Your life does not end when you take up the mantle. It begins." He finished grandly.
And Hermione couldn't help but relax after the speech. Her shoulders drooped and the smile across her face bloomed into a larger one. "Now go, be with your family."
And she did. She re-greeted them all more relaxed than before. Hermione spoke with Jarius about what his plans were now that he was planning to stay in Britain. His father planned to take over the headship of the family in a few days to bring the Prewitt votes on the Wizengamot back. Jarius was planning to open up shop as an Enchanter. It was a fine ideal.
Nym came back up and dragged her away apologizing for making her upset. But, she hadn't. Those thoughts had been brewing for a while. It actually felt good to rant. Hermione told her this and then Nym revealed about why she was so relieved about her Grandfather's and Great-grandfather's deaths. She told them that they used to camp outside her parents' house shouting threats and casting curses at house smacking against the wards. They held luckily but one time in Diagon Alley her father was attacked and it was easy to prove who did it but Cygnus got off.
It was a testament to the fact that the ministry was horribly corrupt and the fact that the Tonks's at the time had no house protection they could call upon. It was a sobering thought which Hermione internalized. Not everyone that was or is a part of the family would do it some good. And that thought left Hermione thinking about Bellatrix her mother. Narcissa her other Aunt.
"What's with the long face kid?" Her shoulder was patted by Lycoris.
"Nothing, I just was thinking about family and my future." Hermione responded.
"Ah, those thoughts. Are you thinking about those girls of yours? Speaking of them give me your hand." Hermione gave it to her. She healed the injury easily enough.
"Why did you never marry?" Hermione had to ask. Lycoris smiled at her sadly.
"Ask me again when you fall in love kid. And you know what, being betrothed to those two girls doesn't mean your life is over. Have, fun at Hogwarts be a kid. Fall in love. It's what Arc did when he was young before he married Melania. If you think any girl…or boy has showed interest in you go for it."
Later that night, Hermione took those words to heart as she crafted her letter to Ana, hoping she hadn't read the kiss wrong.
August 17, 1992
When Hermione, had walked up to the boys (Harry and Ron) on the streets of Diagon Alley, the two of them did a doubletake upon seeing her. She knew she looked different. Her tan skinned bled into the glamour that the ring had. Her hair was not as bushy as last year and was currently in a tamed pony tail. She was wearing a simple pair of black jeans and a red tee shirt. She was also taller and had a bit of muscle on her arms from her summer activities. Ron's family was nearby it was obvious Harry had come with them.
"Late school shopping?" Hermione asked as she joined them.
"Mrs. Weasley decided to take us today. Our school letters came last week though." Harry reported. Hermione knew this already because her parents picked up her own supplies when they went shopping. They're here this week to grab a few recreational books.
"Hmm." Hermione drawled. She glanced at Ron who was glowering towards his family. "What's up with Ron?" Hermione wondered aloud.
"Don't know but since I arrived at his place he's been a bit angry and cold towards his brothers. Even, his parents somewhat. Even more so towards his dad." Harry admitted. Hermione frowned and stared at her red-haired friend.
"Speaking of living with the Weasleys why the Bloody Hell were you there anyway."
And so Harry told her about the House Elf and his relatives response to it. She was told that after his birthday they tried to lock him up in his room and even put bars on the window. Mipsy left it alone according to Harry because she didn't want to make too much of a scene. But the Dursleys tried to hurt him and was blasted back by the elf. It was wicked according to him.
"And then they came in on a flying car and ripped the bars out of the wall." Harry finished. Hermione's lips quirked at that. But then frowned, that didn't sound like something a worker in the Misuse of Muggle Artifacts Office should have. Of course, the Weasley patriarchs generally thought themselves above the law and even laws they themselves crafted. It was partially the reason they were no longer a noble house. That and the Malfoys.
"So, Ron how's your Occulumency going?" Hermione asked bringing the red head into the conversation.
"I think it's good you know. I'm a bit unsure though since I haven't had anyone test my shields. It was a bit difficult at first but I think I got the hang of it." Ron told her with a small smile. She patted his back.
"Good. Now tell me how bad your summer has been since you got that look on your face." Ron stared at her for a moment.
"My parents are buying my younger sister new robes and giving her a new wand to boot." He blurted out. Hermione blinked a bit trying to understand why that was so odd. She then remembered the poor state of the Weasley family. She remembered that Ron was still stuck using his older brother's old wand.
"That's not fair at all." Hermione responded with a frown. It was clear favoritism of the worst sort. At the very least they could've let the girl enter a year with an old wand like Ron and then bought her a new one. But they didn't. Instead they chose to push aside the youngest male in favor of the only female. It wasn't unheard of that the girls in families that had mostly male heirs got better things. But that was to mostly to attract would be suitors…huh. She looked at Arthur Weasley who was glancing surreptitiously towards Harry and ushering his daughter backwards towards Harry which made the girl flush an unholy color before darting forward again.
That's not very subtle. Hermione thought with a glower. She stepped near Harry and paused in thought. She looked at Ron for a moment before tugging him back from the herd of red heads. Ron was obviously this summer treated like a fly on the wall or worse a nuisance. She could use this. He was obviously jealous and angry at his sister, his brothers and parents. He was also jealous of her and Harry which was something she couldn't allow.
"What Hermione?" Ron asked when they were a distance away. Hermione raised her eyebrow at him.
"I'll buy you your own wand." She stated plainly.
"What?" His head snapped towards her in surprise and then he went beet red. "I don't need any of your charity." At least he has his pride. Hermione thought idly to herself.
"I never said it'd be for free. You will owe me a debt. A debt you'll be honor bound to repay." Ron blinked. He knew of honor bound debts and debts of money. He wasn't stupid. He heard his brother's talking about it before. That didn't seem too terrible.
"What do you want?"
"Nothing more than your wand." Hermione said grinning a shark like grin. "You will become a vassal of my house and your wand will back mine if any of mines are in danger. As simple as that." Ron stepped back unsure.
"I'm not the heir of the Weasley family why would you want me?"
"Simple, you're Harry's best mate and my friend. I don't know nor trust the twins. I don't know or trust your sister. I don't know anything about anyone in your family but you. But I trust you. You're smart and resourceful. But I also know you're prideful, arrogant and as prejudiced as most purebloods are."
"I won't betray Harry."
"I don't want you as a vassal to betray Harry. I want you as one to help protect Harry." She easily told him. His eyes narrowed thoughtfully.
"Who are you really? You know too much for a Muggle-born."
"Become my vassal and you just might find out."
Once that was said, Hermione took Ron to Ollivander's. She could've taken him to the other wand stores in Diagon Alley but decided against that. She knew from experience and from her family that in Diagon Alley Ollivander made the best wands. If she wanted an off the market wand of equal stature she'd go to Knockturn Alley where Arturo Cephalapos' distant cousin Cain worked. Unlike Arturo he wasn't an idiot at wandmaking and knew his stuff. Difference between Cain and Ollivander would be anyone who went to Cain's would be getting a wand freshly made not an old wand that's been sitting in the room for years. Of course, sometimes at Ollivander a freshly made wand was what you'd get if no other in the store could match which rarely happened if her lessons were correct.
"Welcome again Miss Granger." Ollivander called upon their entrance to the shop. He pulled Hermione out of her thoughts. She smiled grandly at him and gave a nod of deference. He looked at Ron and furrowed his brow. "A Weasley…hmm from the looks of things the youngest male. Your older brothers the twins mind you were in here just last year for their wands. What is your name?"
"Ronald but I prefer Ron." He told him shortly his eyes darting around the room taking in the numerous boxes of wands.
"Well then Ronald let's find you your wand." He didn't walk around instead stared at him. "May I see your current wand?" Ronald held out his current wand and flushed when Ollivander's eyes rose dramatically. He took it in hand a frown on his face.
"Dear me? How does this wand even work for you? Two different no Three different masters before you. Not to mention Unicorn tail hair as a core makes this a very trick use."
"It was my Older Brother Charlies before it belonged to an uncle." Ron informed.
"Yes, I'm sure it is a struggle to use." Ollivander frowned at this. He was aware that the Weasley family were a poor pureblooded family. Especially after that issue, around a century or so ago between them and the Malfoys but to go so far as to give such a wand for their child's use is horrible.
He was sure that they had lost a lot of money but they were still an Ancient House and as such should have had numerous good family wands to use not this…wand here in Ollivander's hands currently. This wand was not suited for an adult and definitely not a child whose core was still growing. The boy was lucky he had not reached his second core growth yet with this wand in hand. Using family wands were okay to a point but there was a reason that he said the wand chooses the wizard. Family wands will generally work okay in some hands, horrible in others, great in a few and perfectly well in less than a few.
He didn't even want to go into the fact that the Weasley family although poor are not as poor as they liked to portray. They still shopped on Diagon Alley where only the well off or doing well shopped. Garrick assumed it was because of the dowry that Arthur received from the Prewitt family for marrying Molly. It was curious that they'd allow this atrocity then. He wondered what Arthur Weasley was thinking giving his son this wand. Molly Weasley nee Prewitt was barely any better in his eyes for this travesty but Arthur was the head of the family and as welcoming he may seem, he still was the head of house and held the power in the family.
"Well enough questions let's try some wands. Since this wand is…Ash Unicorn tail hair we'll start with a few ash wood wands and other wands with unicorn tail hair." Ollivander imparted on them. He moved around the store handing out the wands for the young man.
He came across one that worked well for the boy even bonded with him somewhat. It was Willow 9 ¾ unicorn tail hair. It would work as good as a perfectly in tune wand would for an average wizard. Ollivander used his mage sight to spy his core. It was a bright white encased with what seemed to be grey and orange tendrils. Unicorn would be perfect for him and his character matched with the Willow somewhat.
He had the perfect wand. Ollivander stalked off towards the back room.
"Where is he going?" Ron asked Hermione once the weird old guy had left. Hermione's lips quirked.
"Probably to his storage room to get you a wand." Ron lifted up the one in his hand.
"This one feels great though." He told her.
"But it's not perfectly in tune with your core. It would probably burn out if you used it after your second core growth."
Hermione herself had been informed of this. Her wands were both so well in tuned with her that it wouldn't matter. But, it had become something of a known fact that after the second core growth that witches and wizards could outgrow their wands and need new ones. Her Grand Uncle informed her that her second core growth would happen either this year around her birthday or next year around the same time. Add in the family magic well it was said to be a doozy.
"Here we are." Ollivander appeared with a fairly long box almost as long as the one for her wand. "This is one of my very own first creations. You see, my father almost had a tissy about the core ingredient and I thought it was ingenious. Rarely done you see by an Ollivander is to use something different from the three base cores of Dragon Heartstring, Phoenix Feathers and Unicorn Tail Hair. Since they create powerful wands. I kept this wand core within the range of the normal creatures we use for wand making. I used a Unicorn to make this wand. He pulled it out of the box and handed it to Ron. Try it."
Ron took the wand and felt it thrum and warm beneath his hand. The warmth traveled up his arm and settled within his navel. Giving the feeling of coming home. He closed his eyes relishing the feeling before opening them and swishing his wand. The wand let out a shine of bright light and with it a smile bloomed on Ron's face. "What's it made of?" Hermione asked feeling the warmth of the light pass over her. She looked at Ron seeing him clearly now.
"Willow 10" with Unicorn Blood as the core." Ron almost dropped the wand in shock. "Do not worry this was blood freely given. It is in no way dangerous to you young Weasley. But I should warn you or maybe impart a bit of wisdom on you about wands and their personality. Here you hold in your hand a Willow wand. It's an uncommon wand wood with healing power. Sadly, the owner of the wand usually has some usually unwarranted insecurity, however well they may hide it." Ron flinched as if he struck him with a blow. Ollivander's gaze softened towards him. "However, it is in my experience that my Willow wands have consistently selected those with some of the greatest potential, rather than those who feel they have little to learn. It has always been a proverb in my family that he who has furthest to travel will go fastest with willow."
"And the rest of the wand?" Ron asked.
"Unicorn hair generally produces the most consistent magic but do not make powerful wands. Although, what you have here is Unicorn Blood. Unicorn Blood holds one of the most magical parts of a Unicorn and as such imbues strength into your wand that hair could not have. The Blood will work with the Willow in its healing attributes and it will work best with light or near light magic. Wands with Unicorn cores are generally the most difficult to turn to the Dark Arts. Take care of that wand young Weasley it will never betray you."
"How much?" Hermione asked stepping forward once his speech was over with. Ollivander gazed at her thoughtfully. She wondered idly what he was thinking in that moment.
"Sixty Galleons even including the wand holster I know you're planning on buying for the lad."
Hermione nodded as Ron, made a strangled noise in the back of his throat.
"Isn't that a bit expensive Hermione? I'll be fine with the other wand that's cheaper, right?" Hermione simply stared at him before handing Ollivander the money.
The two of them walked out of Ollivander's with Ron having a new wand and a holster hidden under his shirt. His other wand was placed in his front pocket. "Where are we going?" Ron asked.
"Gringotts to get this vassalage squared away." Ron nodded his head.
(***)
End Note: Hopefully this chapter isn't confusing, I'm trying to start a bit of back stories for side characters who'll be important later on. Hopefully it's not coming across as awkward or forced. I also hope you all enjoyed this chapter now that the filler is done with and I'm getting the story back on track.
