A Veela Tale
Just as they were sitting down the wards alerted Lucius to a visitor. Pippa opened the door and in walked Ginny Weasley with Millistrode.
Hermione didn't even sit down only smiled in Welcome, "Ginny, What are you doing here? It's so nice to see you. Hi Mills." She said.
"We came when we heard…You know Harry, can't keep a juicy secret to save his life." Ginny replied laughing. Her smile faded when she looked around the table, "Mr. Malfoy, Mrs. Malfoy…" she said curtly, she only sneered at Draco.
"Miss Weasley. Miss Bullstrode. Won't you sit; lunch will be served in a moment." Lucius politely invited though his eyes were cold as ice and his voice held none of the warmth that Hermione had come to know in the short time spent at his home.
"No, I came to speak to Hermione." She responded just as coldly and under her breath said "…and rescue her if necessary."
Hermione heard as did the rest of the people present, but no one acknowledged the sentiment.
Hermione didn't want to deal with the hot headed Weasley, but decided if she didn't do it now, it would only get worse.
"We could go sit on the patio in the garden." She suggested looking to Lucius for permission.
His slight nod indicated that that would be a good idea.
"Please, come this way, then." Hermione said turning towards the sunroom.
No one missed the last comment coming out of Ginny's mouth on the way out though, "Wow Hermes you're so pretty now. What an improvement!"
Millicent just closed her eyes and shook her head at Ginny's rude behavior. She loved Ginny, but she could be such a cad sometimes. Mills thought.
"Mr. Malfoy, Mrs. Malfoy please excuse me." Millicent pleaded and followed the two girls out the door.
"Well at least one of them has manners." Narcissa stated annoyed at the young Weasley, "How dare she insult Hermione that way. She should be put in her place."
Lucius and Draco raised their eyebrows at her rancor, "Overprotective are we?" Lucius teased, but only half-heartedly, he agreed with his wife.
Draco could see them from his seat while he ate; Hermione looked at ease, laughed when she was supposed to, conversed appropriately, but her stiff back and tight smiles betrayed her performance.
After 20 minutes the girls came back in with Hermione trailing.
"Well as long as they aren't holding you prisoner my job here is done."
"No I'm fine thank you, Ginny."
"I also need to look over my renewal contract for the Harpies; it's due to signed next week." The red head said snapping her fingers and handing her 'friend' and six foot rolled parchment.
POP!
"Missy Granger, I's need a picture of a muggle thanksgiving turkey. Push me's one, won't you?" Lolly asked.
Hermione laughed at the little creature, she was pretty sure she created a monster. The little creature was constantly asking for pictures to be pushed to her.
Ginny interrupted, "pushed pictures?"
Hermione stiffened and everyone noticed except Ginny.
"Yes missy Granger pushes pictures into my head." Lolly answered proudly.
"What? You're a muggle-born witch…or born from squibs, which is no better. Elf magic then?" Ginny surmised.
Hermione paused, "Yes elf magic. I should do more research on them, yeah?" she said and laughed, but to everyone in the room it sounded fake.
Even Ginny looked at her strangely.
"Well then have a nice day, I'll look through this in a few days." Hermione said guiding them out.
Ginny walked out the door, but Millicent waited behind a few moments, "I'm sorry Hermione."
"It's ok Mills."
Mills began sobbing, "Oh geez Mills what's wrong?" Hermione asked.
"I'm not happy. I love her, but she is awful, just awful. She is so mean to me. Says I'm lucky I have her, because I should be second string… etc." she through herself into Hermione's arms.
Hermione hugged the girl back and patted her shoulder, "shhhh. It's ok, but you must speak to her about this. She won't know unless you tell her." She offered.
"Can I tell you something, Hermione? I'm afraid if I tell her she won't care."
Hermione sighed and gave the other girl a piercing stares, "Look Mills, here it is – You either accept people for who they are or you walk away. Be true to your self and don't run over others." Hermione paused letting it sink in, "You be the best Millicent Bullstrode you can be and that is all anyone can ask. If after you talk to her she still acts the same, Walk. Away."
Mills nodded and smiled, "Thanks Hermione." She said sniffling and walked out the door.
Hermione closed it and stood there looking at it for a moment before she turned around to go back to the table. She stopped mid way to push a picture of a Thanksgiving Turkey picture to Lolly and was almost back to the table when Pippa opened the door to Pansy Parkinson.
Pansy walked right in, "Hello Malfoy family!" she said brightly.
"Hey Pans. Hi Pansy How's your mother?" Mrs. Malfoy asked pleasantly.
"She's doing well, thank you for asking. I apologize for the imposition, but Hermione, we have a small issue."
Hermione remained standing, "What's that?"
"One of the giants stepped on a Centaur foal and injured him. When his mother tried to obtain assistance from St. Mungo's they refused her. Firenze won't talk to anyone but you. He is livid and the entire Centaur herd is offended and ready to protest in Muggle London." Pansy finished with a nervous smile.
"I see." Hermione said and pulled out her phone.
Dialing.
Ringing.
"Mr. Watkins please." She asked and put it on speaker so she could dictate her call as she spoke. Hermione documented everything.
"He's busy right now, May I take a message?" his secretary said.
"Tell him it's Hermione Granger and that it's important." She said more forcefully than intended, but it did the trick.
"Miss Granger, how nice of you to ring. How may I help you?"
"Mr. Watkins I'm calling about St. Mungo's refusal to treat a Centaur foal."
"We just can't do it, Miss Granger. You understand, he's not human."
"He is an intelligent being, Mr. Watkins, and didn't you submit an application for research funding to expand your facilities to include all intelligent beings?" she asked sweetly.
"Miss Granger, we can't. I'm sorry for the foal, but the answer is no."
Hermione sighed, "I see well, then since I have you on the phone let me extend my condolences, I hear you are going through a rather taxing dissolution of marriage. How are you holding up?"
Pansy was smiling at this point and everyone else was baffled at Hermione could get turned down and still ask about the man's emotional well being.
He sighed audibly, "That gold digging bint is trying to financially ruin me!"
"Oh no! That's terrible to hear, Mr. Watkins. Well thank goodness she isn't aware of your family's estate holdings in Tuscany… or your investments with William Darnell. I would feel terrible if she caught wind of that as I was the one who introduced you two. Can you imagine the damage she could do with information? Your Gringotts Vault would be empty! It would be tragic." She said with sugary sweet entirely fake concern.
Silence.
"Well Mr. Watkins, I will follow up with Percy Weasley myself on Friday around noon, to have him reevaluate your application for funding. I'll call in a personal favor – just for you, Mr. Watkins."
Silence.
Then, "Yes, Miss Granger. Good day." He said defeated.
"Good day Mr. Watkins."
Click.
"Wow." Draco said.
"Blackmail Miss Granger. Tsk tsk. Very Slytherin of you." Lucius remarked with a smile.
"Yes, well…" Hermione said embarrassed.
Pansy spoke up, her grin even wider, "Many say that when wizards control and influence it's barbaric, but when witches do it it's art. Well folks, Hermione Granger is an artist." They all laughed, Hermione smiled a genuine smile and spoke to Pansy, "Pansy, I need to contact Firenze and take a look at the foal."
Pansy nodded a little sheepishly, "What?" Hermione asked.
"Their outside." She said.
"Oh dear. Well ok then." Hermione said and walked to the door.
They all followed, curious as to what she was going to do.
"Firenze, please forgive me. I wanted to call St. Mungo's. Where is the boy?" Hermione asked.
"It's fine dear, he's here."
A young boy of about six years in age with a tear streaked face limped closer to her.
She moved closer and noticed a large gash crossing his chest, "I'm just going to clean this ok?" she said softly to the sniffling boy.
He nodded.
She waved her hand over the wound and closed her eyes. In a few moments only a pink scar appeared and the oozing cut was healed.
She slid her hand along his back to his haunches and felt around murmuring spell after spell the entire time. This took longer than expected, his leg was broken n two places and his pelvis cracked.
By the time she was done he was smiling.
She snapped her fingers conjuring a lollypop and handed it to him, "There you go for being such a good patient. Now go get cleaned up and don't play near the giants again until you're big and strong, ok?"
"Yes Miss Hermione!" the boy said enthusiastically and bounded off without Firenze.
The older Centaur flew into action galloping after him and yelling his thanks and good byes from a distance.
Hermione felt a little woozy, but she shrugged it off.
Lucius, Narcissa and Draco all noticed how pale she was and that she was shaking.
She saw their concern and addressed, "I'm ok, just need to sit for a spell then I'll be right as rain."
Pansy shook her head and conjured a glass of water and helped to a seat.
When she walked back to the kitchen, Lucius asked the question, "What's wrong with her?"
"Healing takes a lot out of her. She never turns anyone away and people pull her in twenty different directions every day. Her 'friends' just keep at her, but never give her anything in return. Idiots, the lot of them… maybe not Harry so much, but he does it too sometimes.
It's frustrating to see, Molly, Ginny and Ronald Weasley are the worst. She never does anything for herself, always giving, doing, solving problems." Pansy was annoyed, but realized her audience, "Oh geez, I'm sorry about that rant. I'll just step off my soap box now. Don't tell her I said anything, please." Pansy gathered her items and walked back to her boss, "I'm leaving. Have fun."
Hermione turned and smiled at Pansy, "Ok. I have to go, if you need me send your patronus."
Pansy nodded and walked to the apparition point.
Hermione cast a cleaning spell over her self, then the spell that Lucius used to press her clothes, "Ok shall we go?" she asked with a smile
Narcissa couldn't help herself and embraced the young witch, "You'll come back, yes?"
"Of course, Mrs. Malfoy." And hugged her back.
Hermione ran upstairs, still feeling light headed, and grabbed her ever expandable bag that looked like a clutch purse.
They took hold of the portkey and in an instant they were gone.
***
They arrived at the ancient building and walked into the ornate hallway.
"I feel strange… a little scared I guess." She told the two wizards.
"It'll be ok, we won't let anything happen that you don't want to happen. Just remember they can sense you, so you may feel pressure by some of them." Lucius said.
"They probably won't even notice me, I'm over reacting." She said laughing at herself.
Just then they the unmistakable sound of several chairs scraping the floor as their inhabitants stood.
She expected a mass exodus from the double doors in front of her, when none came, the three walked through to find the entire room filled with light and dark Veelas standing staring at her…