AN: So so so sorry for the delay! Hopefully the next update will be much quicker! Please let me know if you like the new chapter. Happy Memorial Day!
FWOOSH
The distinctive sound of floo transport filled Dumbledore's office. He looked up from the scrolls of parchment littering his desk, allowing a smile to cross his lips as Helios led the way through the fireplace. Following him were Aurora and Sirius holding Julie between them. Lastly Tonks and Hermione sandwiched the Grangers between them. Hermione let out a deep breath, happy to finally be back at Hogwarts, even with her muggle family in tow. She had not realized just how much she missed the safety and familiarity of Hogwarts until the past few days.
"Good afternoon one and all," Dumbledore greeted. He stood from his desk and walked to the assembled group. Noting the Granger's look of uncertainty, he smiled gently and reached out to shake their hand. "I am Albus Dumbledore, the Headmaster of Hogwarts. I am so pleased to finally meet Hermione's family. She is the brightest student Hogwarts has had in quite a while, and I am sure if you knew the extent of her accomplishments during her time at Hogwarts you would be beyond proud." Julie thought Hermione's headmaster held an uncanny resemblance to an emaciated Santa Claus in an unsettling manner.
Dan and Jean craned their necks around the room while shaking Dumbledore's hand, looking at the portraits and recoiling slightly as the portraits looked back at them and blinked. Julie was already walking about the office, marveling at everything from Dumbledore himself to the quill that was still writing.
"And of course Sirius, it is nice to see you breathing and corporeal once more! Harry will be thrilled, to be sure. Unfortunately, we will be setting you to work, but nothing too strenuous, naturally," Dumbledore winked. Sirius grinned, already plotting how to greet Harry to get the best reaction. All eyes turned to Aurora as the headmaster stopped in front of her.
"Aurora," he said softly. Her green eyes met his own blue, and her chin raised an imperceptible amount. He sighed. "I am aware you feel less than happy with me. And I understand why. But please, for the time being, your sister needs you more than you and I need to discuss the past. Go to her, she is in the infirmary. Helios will take you." He nodded towards the quiet man. Hermione bit her lip and nearly invited herself, but did not want to interrupt. As the younger McGonagall twins left the room Aurora grabbed Hermione's arm within her own and, before any protest could be made or questions asked, brought her along.
If Dumbledore was surprised his weathered face did not show it. "Tonks and Sirius, please take the Grangers to Gryffindor Tower and get them situated. Given the current state of things, we are having all guests to Hogwarts stay in the dormitories. Dinner is in two hours in the Great Hall; try to be timely, as I suspect there will be many interested in catching up. A handful of days can feel like an eternity in these times." With that Dumbledore returned to his desk to complete his work. Dan and Jean followed Sirius as Tonks took Julie to visit the Hufflepuff common room. The two had grown quite close in spite of their age difference, and Julie eagerly followed her new friend around the enchanted castle.
Dan and Jean for their part were curious to see where their daughter had spent the majority of the last seven years, both from a parental point of view and from that of muggles presented with a school where portraits spoke and stairwells moved at will. Sirius had applied a glamor to himself so he would appear as a nondescript wizard and be able to move freely throughout Hogwarts...until later, that is.
Elsewhere in Hogwarts
Aurora was well acquainted with Hogwarts' infirmary. She had played quidditch after all. So it was with confidence she strode through the halls towards the room where her sister lay. Helios walked at a steady pace to keep time with his sister, and Hermione found herself nearly jogging to keep up. Ginny and Harry were just coming out of the infirmary, visiting its now two inhabitants, and ran into the trio unexpectedly. While they smiled happily upon seeing Hermione again after an uncertain few days, they looked at the two taller people she followed with confusion. Hermione simply shrugged, barely acknowledging her friend's presence: she was going to see Minerva. Nothing else mattered.
Aurora did not stop for the doors; rather, they opened with a loud bang, causing Harry and Ginny to jump. Her long legs quickly brought her to the bed hidden by privacy sheets, and quietly approached. Hermione was close behind.
The chestnut-haired witch took a sharp breath at the sight of her lover. While she was no longer as pale or emaciated, it was obvious the healing was taking its time. Ginny put a hand on her friend's shoulder, giving silent support. Harry was trying his best to look at the two adults standing by Hermione surreptitiously, but obviously failed as Aurora's eyes met his. He felt beyond scrutinized as her gaze traveled over his face. It was the same sensation he had whenever he was caught unawares in Transfiguration by -
"Minerva McGonagall is our sister, Harry Potter, boy-who-lived. Our other brother, her twin is the one responsible for her current state, as well as that of the Black sisters. Be a dear and give us some privacy, yes?" Aurora said to him. There was no room for objections. Harry nodded in understanding (and a healthy dose of confusion) and nodded to Hermione before leaving with Ginny, who gave her a quick hug before following the dark-haired young man.
"Helios, you've already given the Mark to Minerva, yes?" Aurora asked over her shoulder as she moved to Minerva's side. Hermione seemed unsure whether she should stay or leave, looking slightly lost. Aurora glanced up, and grasped the girl's chin gently between two elegant fingers, urging her to look up. "You belong here. You are part of this family, even if not in name. Stay. Hold her hand." Hermione nodded and blinked away tears. She felt the adrenaline leaving her in a sudden outpouring of exhaustion. Aurora conjured a chair for Hermione across from her, sitting at Minerva's left side and taking the frail hand into her own.
Helios stood at the door, listening to Aurora's calming words on the young witch. He was intrigued by her, curious what Minerva's mate would be like outside of the tense few hours he had spent with her. From their time at Hogwarts, Helios knew Minerva to have a girlfriend or two, but none of them ever stayed for too long. Minerva had always been a private person, and he had only learned of her paramours through carefully following his older sister to the lake on more than one late evening. For this girl to be so invested in his stoic sister's well-being, there must truly be a connection. He smiled slightly at the thought of his sister so happy, and being able to witness that happiness.
In a similar fashion to when Helios had performed his Mark, Aurora pulled Minerva's shift down to expose her chest, near her heart. She pulled out her wand and transfigured it into a long quill. In spite of her tiredness, Hermione perked up and looked at what Aurora was doing, unfamiliar with this type of magic. Taking a deep breath, the older witch began with a steady hand.
Hermione wanted to ask what she was doing, very much wanted to; but she feared disturbing the intricate work that was taking place. She heard soft footsteps as Helios glided over, having locked the infirmary doors behind him.
"This is part of the ancient Magick unique to Breakers," he spoke in a low voice, nearly a whisper. Hermione did not move, but her eyes widened noticeably. "The memory charms and alterations made to her by Dumbledore, as well as the block on her Breaker powers left in place for so long have taken root deep into her magical core. One of the reasons Aurora is so angry with Dumbledore is that this binding of magic was once used as a form of punishment, many many years ago for the darkest of witches and wizards. She objects strongly to it used, even with our parent's permission, upon our sister." Hermione's lips pressed into a thin line, rivaling that of her lover when perturbed. How could they do that to her?! the young witch asked herself, already knowing the unfortunate answer - For the greater good. It was the mantra that Albus Dumbledore and, apparently, Minerva's parents adhered to.
Helios continued his explanation. "Naturally, such magic was seen as dangerous - if within the wrong hands it could reach catastrophic levels. What would stop witches and wizards from binding those they did not like, those whose properties and galleons they wished to gain hold of? If their magic was bound, it would be easy enough to take over their identity. They could not fight back. Therefore, the only ones who had access to the ancient spells and, of course, counter spells were-"
"Breakers," Hermione finished. Helios nodded. "You and Aurora are releasing her power and memory. Why both of you? Wouldn't Dumbledore have to unbind her and restore her memories given that he was the one to do it?" Helios looked at the blood appearing on Aurora's chest, visibly darkening her shirt. He was trying to think of the most delicate way to phrase the unique situation surrounding Minerva.
"Given her power when Dumbledore was taught the binding spell, and how much she has grown, there is absolutely no room for error while unraveling it. As Aurora and I were raised within a household of Breakers, and went on to study the Magick specific to our ancestry, we can do this correctly. Safely. If Dumbledore attempted it, he could not be successful. Minerva would perish in the force of raw magic that would be coursing out from within her.
Aurora and I are well trained with this, and our combined abilities and strength is enough to successfully quell the waves of magic that would otherwise destroy her. Because we do not want that," Helios finished with a slight smile. Hermione paled slightly and squeezed Minerva's hand tighter. She looked at Minerva's chest, noting the intricate rune-like designs that appeared, bringing life (new and old) into the beautiful, strong woman prone before her.
Another thirty minutes passed with not a word spoken. Only the increasingly ragged breathing of Aurora broke the stillness of the infirmary. Finally she stood upright with a pained expression across her face, exhaustion overtaking her body. Helios quickly reached her side and circled a strong arm around her waist, supporting her. Aurora's head leaned heavily upon his shoulder, deep shaking breaths racked her body.
"It's all up to her now. We have undone the memory alterations, the binding of her core. She will awaken as she should be – the only Full-Breaker in existence, with the power and knowledge of our ancestors flowing through her." Then Aurora fainted, overwhelmed by everything and the sheer mental exertion this act took. Hermione watched as Helios carried his twin to a free bed and laid her down, whispering words to her. Hermione's eyes moved across the room and for the first time she noticed Narcissa Malfoy and Bellatrix Black asleep in a bed further down the way. She was at first wary of the sisters, but had to accept that if they were unguarded within Hogwarts' infirmary, it was safe enough.
She turned her attention back to the tall woman in the small bed. She let her eyes roam undetected from the jet black hair flowing over the starched pillow, so silken and nearly blue in its darkness. Her eyes trailed down, passing the strong, prominent cheekbones and aristocratic nose to the soft lips that were a pale pink, slightly parted as Minerva breathed. Further down was Minerva's long, elegant neck, leading to her shift and far too visible collar bones. Hermione brought the limp hand up to her lips and kissed each knuckle reverently.
What she did not know was Minerva's body, even as it lay unmoving in that hospital bed, was already busily undoing the years of aging her Breaker Magick was unable to affect, slowly removing any gray hairs, strengthening muscles, erasing lines along her brow from years of frowning at students, and preparing her to fight and live and love once again, as she was meant to: as a Breaker.