Hermione and Draco had decided to call a meeting with Remus to see how he had gone the past few days. Flooing Grimmauld was out of the question but Hermione knew what room the werewolf had been living in when she was technically alive so she popped right in and was surprised to see nothing in there, not even a skerrick of clothing.
Not hearing anyone in the house Hermione figured it for safe to wander around and maybe pick up some information on what the Order was up to. Finding nothing of interest in the top floor, Hermione went down the stairs forgetting to be quiet around the portrait of Walburga Black.
"GET OUT OF MY HOUSE!" The painting screamed from behind her black curtain.
Hermione was caught out for a second as her senses went haywire because of the loud sound of the witch's screeches, but soon enough the vampiress was able to deal with the portrait. She ripped back the curtain and looked in at the painting fir the first time ever.
There was a beautiful raven haired witch standing with her hands on her hips, screaming her lungs out, in a study of some sorts. Hermione would have looked more in the detail but she was stunned when the witch suddenly stopped screaming and talked normally to her.
"You're the vampiress aren't you?" Walburga asked politely.
"Yes I am, why are you speaking to me?" Hermione asked confused.
"Because you are a vampiress, one of great power, and I can feel that now that we are alone and your full potential has come out. You are like our lord only greater."
"Oh, well then, can I ask you, do you have another painting anywhere?"
Walburga thought it over before answering the vampiress, "Yes I do but it's been hidden away for years in the attic. It was supposed to go to my dear son Regulus when he moved out but he was murdered before that could happen. Why do you ask?"
"Because I think you could be of help to me and my army. See if I kill Potter and Dumbledore this place comes out of Fidelius and I could take this beautiful house as my own, not that I need any more properties, but I could give it to the Malfoy family."
"Ahh yes my dear niece Narcissa, she would look after my house properly. So what shall I need to do?" Walburga looked almost excited at the thought of another Black getting the house that she held dear.
Hermione explained to the portrait, "I need to take your extra painting and for you to keep your ears open so you can inform me about what's happening around here. Maybe take residence in some of the other paintings, in secret of course, when the Order has its meetings. I shall call for you every few days to get a check up on what's been happening."
The painting nodded and Hermione popped up into the attic to find the painting, "Over here dear."
The vampiress found it easily with the help of Walburga and then sat down on a dusty chair to talk to the witch, "So what happened to Remus, or as you so lovingly call him, the half-breed?"
Walburga laughed at the name, "He's a powerful creature, dark to the heart too. I just call him that as to not blow his cover, he's obviously a spy for the Dark Lord. He's gone, moved in with his new girlfriend, a squib of all things. Lives near where that Potter boy used to live, of course Potter now lives here, despicable to have a traitor living under my Orion's roof."
Hermione knew the person the painting was talking about but never before had she thought that Remus liked them older than him, "Ok, well I'm going to take you to Malfoy Manor but stick around here unless called for alright?"
The portrait nodded and left the frame, going downstairs to her well used one, leaving Hermione holding an empty frame and a grin on her face. She was going to take the stairs and apparate home from the back yard but the vampiress heard people arrive, Weasley's so she decided to play a little game on them.
Pulling the hood of her robes over her head, hiding her features, Hermione walked with the portrait under her arms and went straight down the stairs in front of the whole group of Molly, Ron, Ginny and Harry, not that the latter two would have noticed seeing as they were all over each other.
"Hey! Who are you and what have you got there?" Ron called out, causing everyone's attention to be torn away and focused on Hermione.
"Just never you mind mortal," Hermione used the same voice that she had the night she had delivered Snape.
"YOU!" They all drew their wands and started firing spells at the vampiress, not realising that they were doing no damage.
Hermione just walked out of the door, laughing at their pathetic attempts to stop her and the Ministry owls that were flocking the house. Apparating back to the manor, Hermione was still laughing, causing Draco to wonder why.
"Oh I just cost Potter and Weasleyette their wands, unless Dumbledore does some fancy foot work around my 10 votes on the Wizengamot. Here, it's your great aunt," Hermione passed the empty frame to the vampire who looked at it oddly.
"You stole Aunt Walburga? Why?" Draco led them to the den where the important portraits ended up.
"For intelligence, my dear Watson. This is her second portrait, and much better set out background too. Her first one is in the lobby of the Order's headquarters and she will be another insider for those times that Remus may be detained, which should be a lot more common now that he has a girlfriend."
"Watson? Girlfriend?" Draco was somewhat confused so Hermione explained to him everything that had occurred at Grimmauld Place. At the end of it all, he was crying with laughter.
"That's amazing Hermione but next time don't put yourself in danger like that," Draco chastised the witch.
"What do you mean I wasn't in any danger."
"Look at you robes then," The vampire pointed down to the tatters and burns that plagued the vampiress' clothing.
"Wow," Hermione took the ruined robes off and looked them over, "That could have killed me had I not already been dead."
"Yeah so think next time ok? You never know when one of them will throw a spell that cam injure vampires. I would hate to lose you," Draco leant over to kiss the vampiress, who was already there awaiting the kiss.
"Ahh young love," Lucius grinned from the doorway, Narcissa on his arm.
"Hello father, mother, guess who Hermione brought to stay?"
The elder couple looked around but couldn't see anyone new in the room, "Who dragon?"
"Aunt Walburga's painting, here," Draco passed his mother the painting and the witch grinned madly.
"Aunty Walburga? This is excellent, now we can gab about my childhood..." The witch went on and on as she placed the deceased witch's portrait up on the wall.
Hermione and Draco laughed at the sight of Narcissa talking to an empty frame but soon shut up when the floo turned green and the face of the Minister of Magic, Rufus Scrimgeour, showed up.
"What does that fool want, right Draco, Hermione out and don't be seen," Lucius got himself seated comfortably while Narcissa arranged for an elf to bring tea and coffee as soon as they were called for.
Hermione and Draco raced out of the room but stuck around the door, just as they had done when the ministry worker had dropped by to inform them that Draco had been murdered. Ears up against the door they could hear everything that was going on but not see.
INSIDE
Lucius accepted the Minister into his house and he was followed by two aurors by the name of Tonks and Shacklebolt, both Order members. Narcissa was surprised to see her niece standing beside the Minister of Magic but was also annoyed at the intrusion.
"Minister how nice it is to see you but may I ask what this meeting is regarding?" Lucius asked politely.
Rufus took a seat and the coffee that was served to him by the house elf before responding, "We have information that you are taking in Lady Winkybee and we would like to meet her. She has been pinpointed back to this residence by a messenger vampiress. So either you are harbouring a vampiress or you were gracious enough to extend your heart to allow this witch to live in your house."
Hermione had to think quickly so she changed Draco to look like he did the day of the press conference and they entered the room, acting as though they had no idea that the Minister was there.
"Hello, who's this?" Hermione asked Narcissa before summoning a chair for herself and Draco to sit on together.
"Lady Winkybee may I introduce you to our Minister of Magic Rufus Scrimgeour," Lucius responded for his wife, who was struggling to keep from laughing.
"Hello Minister, I'm very sorry but I have been very busy and unable to come introduce myself, if that is what this is about."
Rufus was automatically drawn to the vampiress' beauty, as was Shacklebolt, but they kept their cool and calm demeanours on, "It is a pleasure to finally meet you Lady Winkybee, and who is this beside you?"
"Oh this is my fiancé David Matthews," Hermione gripped onto Draco's hand tightly and hoped that the elder Malfoy's would play along.
They did splendidly, "We extended our home to the couple when they arrived in Britain. We were friends of friends in the beginning but I would hope they consider us more than that now."
Rufus agreed and thought he wanted to be great friends with Hermione in a special way, "Now then how did you come about finding your heritage, Lady Hermione?"
"Oh I can explain that. We were having a dinner party and we invited Chief Goblin Ebenzer and he noticed that Hermione was different. From there he sent her to see his son Ragnok and then the rest is, as they say, history. We were surprised because Hermione and David came to us homeless, other than friends, and now they have more homes than we do," Narcissa laughed, starting the others up with her.
"Well then, David and I have a friend to meet but please keep in touch Minister," Hermione rose to leave but was halted quickly by Tonks.
"Lady Winkybee? You are wanted at the Wizengamot tomorrow morning at 10am for a hearing."
Tonks handed Hermione a notice, "What sort of hearing?"
"We are deciding whether two students should be allowed to keep their wands after casting magic underage. One Harry Potter and Ginerva Weasley, but I guess you already know Harry don't you?" Kingsley asked the vampiress coyly.
"Why yes I have run into him once or twice. He was very rude and should know that that will come back to bite him on the arse. I shall be there with bells on," Hermione grinned at the thought of being the one to get Potter's wand snapped.
Hermione and Draco stood to leave, after saying their goodbyes, went out the door, and popped to Privet Drive.