Echoes of the Past, Echoes of the Future
Chapter 21
Breakfast at the Manor
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Harry Potter and friends not mine.
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Malfoy Manor
Everyone walked out for breakfast, including the four witches bonded to Malfoy family. They found Harry, Draco, Narcissa, Lucius, and Severus sitting and talking, waiting for them.
They all sat down, and Hermione and Narcissa both started talking.
Hermione looked at Narcissa, gesturing for her to continue. After all, she reasoned, it was Narcissa's house.
Narcissa smiled. She had come to know Hermione quite well over the last few years. "I have two questions, and then you can ask yours. First, why are you bonded to this witch? No one has explained that to me yet." She had not had much opportunity to speak with Lucius, because he had not been to bed.
"We think it happened the night I was captured and brought here. Your sister carved the word MUDBLOOD into me, along with her initials." Hermione was a lot calmer now, regarding this bond.
Narcissa looked at her, shaking her head. "I remember the ordeal, but why would you agree to that bonding?"
"I didn't, at least not on purpose. However, I was in a lot of pain." Hermione said. She would never shed tears over Bellatrix again, and she bit her lip to keep from crying. "I might have agreed to anything, if she would stop. She was talking, and I couldn't make sense of it. I remember begging her to stop."
"Mistress Narcissa, we think we may have stumbled upon one possible explanation. To prove it would require a test. But, one possibility is that Mistress Hermione is descended from the same line as Catherine Cronch. She died without replenishing her line. Three lead contenders for head of the house of Black were present that night. If Mistress Hermione is descended from the same family, it would explain why she didn't have to agree." Matilda answered.
Lucius sat up and looked at Hermione in surprise. "From a muggle family?" he asked, incredulously. When he saw the glare from his son and Hermione and Harry Potter and both Longbottoms and Ginny Potter and Severus, he held up his hand in surrender. "No, no, I do not mean to offend. I don't mean that the way it likely sounded. I am simply surprised that there could ever have been a squib in that line."
"Why?" Harry asked. He looked crossly at Lucius, not believing for a minute that the senior Malfoy wizard had not meant offense.
"That line extends from Ireland, from the families of Stonehenge. That family has been bonded for hundreds of years. The entire family was bonded to various nobility, at the threat of execution. They were too powerful, magically. There wasn't supposed to be anyone in that line that wasn't bonded." Narcissa stated.
Narcissa looked at Hermione, "Have they explained the nature of this bond?" At Hermione's nod, she continued. "The strengthening of the magic?" Again, Hermione nodded. "That line simply shouldn't have been able to produce a squib. And that is what would have been necessary for you to be muggle-born, if you descend from that line. But, we can perform the test easily enough."
"How?" Hermione asked.
"Once the bond is transferred, Draco can perform it. You have to complete that bond, first." Severus answered. "But, that would explain your strong magic, despite both your parents being muggles."
Hermione huffed in frustration. He hadn't answered her question.
Severus smirked. He understood that huff. "The test is a spell to reveal the lineage of the bonded person, and it will appear on the family tree to Draco, and on the Black family tree in Grimmauld Place, to Harry."
Hermione now had another question, but she waited when Narcissa started speaking.
"Ok, my only other question, for now, is why this child is this old? This is impossible. You are saying she is a teenager? She can only be 4."
"I examined Lucius' memories of the night the Dark Lord was rebirthed. I suspect she is growing fast for the same reason that Voldemort's body regenerated. I also looked at those memories Draco had of a particular day here with Voldemort and Bellatrix. I think they performed some extraordinary magic the night this child was conceived." Severus said.
"What kind of magic?" Narcissa pressed. Hermione counted that as a third question, but she wanted to know that, too. She restrained herself from frowning at Narcissa. Barely.
Severus sighed. He answered because he thought everyone might need this information. But, he would have preferred to tell Hermione when they were alone, or at least not in this crowd. "I believe they used the regeneration potion from the night that Tom Riddle was resurrected.
He paused and looked around the room, judging the reactions. "I also believe they poured their magical abilities into that child. I believe they used a blood sacrificial ritual, and that child likely has her own magic, plus a portion of Riddles' plus Bellatrix's abilities."
"How is that possible?" Lucius asked.
Margherite answered. "Master Lucius, there is a very old magic ritual, used to combine the magic of a witch and wizard, which does indeed strengthen the magic of their offspring. In ancient times, it was used routinely in magical families. Many families today don't even know of it. It is very old magic. It has fallen out of practice in the past two or three hundred years."
"Why?" Lucius asked. Anything that made the magic stronger seemed like a good idea for those families whose magic was failing.
"The effect is not seen immediately. It kicks in when the parents are dead. Magical parents were being murdered, to make the children stronger." She shook her head, "And, also, because to accomplish it, you must sacrifice a living magical creature, both at conception and at birth."
"Mmmm." was Lucius only comment.
"So, what do we do now?" Neville asked. He felt like he was still missing a lot of pieces of this puzzle.
"We capture Altaira, and transfer this bond. We capture Dolohov and Lestrange and whoever this other guy is." Harry answered. Harry looked at Lucius Malfoy, "I don't suppose you would offer up what you learned last night?"
When Lucius just looked at him, and one eyebrow rose up, but offered no verbal response, Harry lost his patience with Malfoy.
Harry shrugged. "I am going to the Ministry to find out, then. You are ordered to remain on this property." He stood up and pushed his chair back, scraping the legs against the floor.
"I don't mind sharing what I learned last night. I have been telling both you and Draco, right here at this table, all morning long. There is no need to stomp off in a tantrum." Lucius said.
Harry gritted his teeth. Lucius was right. Malfoy had been sharing what they had learned. Harry just hated Lucius Malfoy.
"But, Auror Potter, you don't have the authority to restrict me to this manor only. The declaration was, "Remain on your property, as warded by the Ministry." Lucius grinned. "Chateaux Lestrange is also warded by the Ministry."
Harry stared up at the ceiling. Again, Lucius was right. If they performed that magic a certain way, then Draco and Kingsley participating did indeed ward that property. "That is true. I didn't remember. It has been a very full week." Harry stated as graciously as he could.
"Please, won't you be seated again?" Lucius asked. He gestured graciously with his arm outstretched to Harry's vacated chair.
Harry sat back down, feeling like a child who had just been scolded, but allowed to remain at the table instead of being sent to his room. He gritted his teeth, sat back down, and crossed his leg over his knee to keep himself from slouching down.
When Harry was seated, Lucius continued. "Auror Potter, I believe you should remain with Miss Granger, at all times. Miss Granger is slave-bonded to this girl. And, the only person who has authority over both houses to which she was born is you."
Harry looked at Lucius. He was right. If this child was Voldemort's, then the Wizengamot declaration wasn't entirely correct. Harry nodded, "That is true. But, I am lacking some knowledge of these rituals. I need clarification."
Lucius nodded his agreement, but did not elaborate. "We" Lucius indicated Draco, Severus, the four bonded witches, and himself, "need to ward the dungeon very carefully. Miss Granger, if you and Auror Potter would kindly research the two diaries we have to find anything useful, that would be of great benefit."
Lucius stood up, and walking over to a drawer in the sideboard, extracted a set of books. He walked back, and handed them to Severus. "Add these to what you research today."
"We were supposed to practice fighting today." Neville reminded them.
"Professor Longbottom, I am afraid that would be impossible. That fight is likely compromised. They know we were going to do it. I will not risk Hermione's safety." Severus stated.
Hermione glared at him for making decisions for her, but before she could do anything, Severus tapped that damn chain on her wrist with his wand, and she was again chained to a wall.
"Damn it, release me." Hermione shouted.
"No. I don't dare." Severus didn't even look up. He was looking at the two books Lucius had given him. They appeared to be more diaries.
Luna chimed in, "Hermione, something is going to happen today."
"We were supposed to work with Tracey today. I am worried about her." Hermione said. She really was worried. Everyone was trying to protect her, and that meant they could all get hurt.
"Hermione, we will work with her. Apparently, we need to teach her the correct fighting skills. But, for right now, I will keep her out of danger." Harry assured her.
They heard a flaring in the floo, and Draco went to see. It was the Arthur and Molly Weasley asking to come through. He gave permission, and they all stepped through. His Aunt Andromeda was with them.
They joined the group, but before anyone could say anything more, Hermione held her hand up, and looking up, said, "Narcissa, you said I could ask my questions, and I have several. And, between you all, someone at this table should be able to answer every single one of them. I would like to know more about this transfer ritual, more about the bonding rules, and more about its long-term effects."
Everyone turned to her with various smirks and smiles on their faces. They were glad to see the old Hermione return, with her spirit still intact. And, she was clever. She just might be able to help them.
Lucius, however, turned very curious eyes on her. Lucius got up and walked over to the sideboard, picked up a teapot, and pulling cups down, poured tea into 9 cups, then levitated them over to the table to the various wizards. He then took the teapot over to the table, and refilled Narcissa's cup and poured a cup for Ginny, Molly, Andromeda, and Hermione, added milk to Narcissa's, Andromeda's and Hermione's, personally handing each one to its recipient. He then did the same for Margherite, Matilda, Karina, and Fiona.
Harry stared at him with blatant disbelief. He glanced over at Draco, and then at Severus, who were also looking at their father and friend curiously. Harry peered into his cup. There appeared to be only tea in it, and it really would have been impossible for Lucius to poison anyone like that, with everyone watching. He sniffed his cup, which caused Lucius to look back at him with humor shining in his gray-blue eyes,even though his facial expression did not change.. He showed just the barest of twitches as his mouth quirked up.
"Is something amiss, Auror Potter?" Lucius asked, bringing all eyes to Harry.
"I am just surprised." Harry said, not stating what had surprised him.
"Mmmm." Lucius replied, letting it go.
"Your questions, Hermione?" Lucius turned to her expectantly as he sat back down, continuing to play the host to this group.
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No one noticed the inconspicuous figures that appeared in, near Hermione, and then silently disappeared just as quickly.
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Salzburg
"Excellent, my dear. Excellent." JAuger stated. He handed her off to Antonin, with the instruction, "Take him in, and do the same exact thing. If he sets off the alarms, we will know that this experiment didn't work. And come right back."
Antonin looked at her, took her hand, and nodding, cast a disillusioning charm on them. They disappeared, and apparated into the manor, right next to Hermione, then apparated right back out. No alarms went off.
When they got back, Antonin was grinning. "So perfect. Nice job. I know that was tempting." He hugged Altaira and handed her off to Rabastian, who was looking back and forth between them.
"Relax, Rabe. She is perfection. Every single one of her traitorous relatives were there. She wanted to" he nodded at her and smiled, knowingly, "but she didn't. She did exactly what we told her to do."
He looked meaningfully at Altaira. "That dedication to duty deserves a reward. What would you like, my dear?"
Altaira looked at him, then at her Uncle, no not her Uncle. Then she looked at JAuger. They all nodded. "I want the witch that killed my mother. She was there."
"Not the wizard that killed your father?" JAuger asked. He found this request surprising, until he heard her explanation. He then applauded her reasoning.
"You all want him, so he will end up in our hands eventually, regardless. But, she is too old to interest you for the games you want to play with witches. But, she interests me." Altaira gave them a very adult look, very knowing.
JAuger nodded, admiring the logic and quickness of thought. "So be it. We will get her for you. She will be an easy target, especially if we take her daughter." JAuger stated. He looked at Rabastian. "Let her take you in, so you have seen what we saw. There are too many present to chance anything with right now."
"No, I know what you saw. Were you at Hogwarts?" Rabastian asked. "I don't want to risk a foolish trial run, and spoil the prize."
"No, we were at Malfoy Manor. They are all gathered in the dining room. The Malfoys, Snape, Granger, Potters, the Weasleys, the Longbottoms, and some witches I didn't recognize were all there, gathered around." Antonin informed him.
Rabastian was impressed. "That many temptations, and she had resisted? Wow. Nice job, Cara Mia." He winked at her.
"Yes, well, there were a lot of wizards and witches there." Antonin stated. "Far too many for us to beat, even if we surprise them."
"And, did you feel the magic?" JAuger asked. "I am not certain we could cast spells there. I felt something in the wards. I have magic blocked here. If a guest comes in, he or she cannot cast any offensive or defensive spells unless I add them to the ward."
"I do think we should go back and listen. Find out what they are planning. But, I also disagree with something." Altaira spoke up. "Granger belongs to me, and they are keeping her from me. I don't think they have that right, do they?"
"Pisoi, they have the right to keep you. Not her, but you." Antonin explained.
"Ma Petite, we can't lose you. We can lose her, but we can't lose you." Rabastian
Altaira nodded, but she was thinking. She had an idea, but perhaps now is not the time. Her impulsiveness had gotten her into trouble before. Her thoughts drifted as they talked excitedly about the fact that no wards had been set off, and other things.
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Malfoy Manor
Hermione put sugar in her tea and stirred it, taking a sip. She looked around the room, and took a large swallow of tea to moisten her throat. It was hard to ask these questions when everyone was staring at her. Especially Mr. Malfoy, who was watching her intently. It was like being a specimen in a lab.
Draco stood up, and moving his chair over next to her, sat back down, and took her hand. She smiled at him, then took another drink of tea.
Lucius watched her drink her tea. She took three more swallows, and he stood up to get her cup to refill it. He took the cup to the sideboard, and refilled it, bringing it back to her, before sitting back down.
Hermione looked at him, puzzled. It sounded like he mumbled something. Lucius Malfoy mumbling? She couldn't be sure, and he wasn't the type of man to mutter under his breath. He was arrogant enough to shout his opinions.
She could remember 3 times she had faced Lucius Malfoy in battle, and all three times, when she faced him personally, she had lost. He frightened her. She couldn't help it. And, he was soon to be her father-in-law. But, Draco, Harry, and Severus would never allow him to hurt her. And, she would personally kill him if she needed to. He was forbidden to have a wand, perform magic, or travel freely.
"I would like to know more about these rituals. What has to happen?" She looked at Severus, kept her eyes focused on him.
"Hermione, the first thing to happen is to take control of Altaira. That is a ritual in itself, and will be performed by myself, Cissa, Draco, Harry, Neville, Lucius, and the entire Weasley family. We are all heirs to the house of Black, and Harry is heir to both houses, "Andromeda answered.
"I will act as the binder in that ceremony." Severus said. "Arthur, Charlie, Andi, and myself have discussed this. And, we believe that it is in the best interest of everyone if the Weasleys all transfer their authority in this to Charlie."
Hermione looked over at Charlie, her eyes brimming with questions.
"We all agree that it would be in everyone's best interest if we have a backup, just in case." Charlie shifted his gaze to Draco, "And, Draco understands this bond. Ask him if I am wrong, in saying she will have to be controlled, or she will always be a threat to you."
Hermione looked at Draco, who nodded, turning his glance back to Hermione before looking back at Charlie. "He is correct, Hermione. She will have to be controlled until everything is resolved, and it will have to be by someone who would never hurt you, and it has to be to an heir to the house of Black. We do need a backup plan, in case something happens to me before everything is settled."
"What about me?" Harry asked. He seemed the most likely one.
"You are also a backup, but your authority and right is not in question. But, the Weasley children all have an equal share of authority. They can transfer it to one, and strengthen the claim." Andromeda explained.
"So we keep her?" Hermione asked Draco. "Forever?"
Draco grinned. "We could, but we will find a wizard to bind her to in a modified marriage bond."
"How will you get her to agree to that?" Hermione asked.
"She doesn't have to agree, if we do this before she reaches her age of majority." Lucius stated.
"You are going to force her?" Hermione was horrified at this thought. "Can't we just keep her?" Hermione looked at Draco pointedly. She did not want Lucius Malfoy making decisions for anyone.
Draco pursed his lips to keep from smirking. He looked at Hermione intently. "That is an option, but are you willing to share?" He waited for her answer. He was pretty sure what her answer to that would be.
"Why share?" Hermione asked.
"Hermione, you do realize what is going to happen in these rituals, don't you?" Dora asked her.
Hermione looked over at Dora. She thought for a moment. And, the exact second clarification occurred to her, she turned red. "Oh."
"Why?" She asked after a moment's hesitation.
"Why what?" Lucius asked. He was amused by this conversation. This lack of knowledge was humorous.
"Why does it take a wizard to do these rituals? Why can't a witch do it?" Hermione asked, indignant that it appeared as if they were all implying a witch wasn't powerful enough.
"Hermione, these rituals, as you keep calling them, are binding spells and ceremonies and rituals. The bonding ceremony has three components. " Lucius was looking intently at her, trying to read the emotions carefully. It wasn't difficult. Every emotion this witch felt flitted across her face. "All three components have life force. That is required for the magic to be binding."
Lucius smiled at her puzzled look. He could tell she was trying to figure it out before he finished his explanation. "The first life force is the witches and wizards, alive, speaking vows, and the magic behind the vows. The second life force is the blood, the life force of the witches and wizards involved." Lucius paused for a moment, watching her, to see if she would put the third piece of the puzzle together. She had a reputation for being the brightest witch of the age, and she had certainly been tops in standing at Hogwarts. He wanted to see if it was even remotely true.
He smiled when he saw that she had indeed guessed what he would say about the third component. "Yes, the third component, is the life force shared during the mating ritual."
"But, why a wizard?" Hermione asked. "Why not two witches? Bellatrix bound me to her. She wasn't a wizard, and neither am I. Why did it work then?"
"Because the original bond was indeed made with a wizard. I think we will find that you are indeed from the Catherine Cronch's line. If not, Altaira will need a wizard to complete it. A witch can bind another witch to her house, but the original bond will be completed with a wizard. Only a wizard can contribute the third life force."
Severus was struggling to keep from laughing at this exchange. He thought perhaps Hermione was toying with Lucius, as Lucius was toying with her. He could see the sparkle in her eyes. She was trying to make him break his dignified, formal, aristocratic bearing. But her next question surprised him, with her bluntness.
"You are implying sex?" She asked, staring at Lucius. This was a most improper conversation, but she could see the amusement in his eyes. "Sex doesn't require a wizard."
Lucius was now the one taken aback by her bluntness. "Yes, Hermione, you are quite correct. Sexual gratification can occur between two witches, as you are apparently very aware of." Lucius smirked at her, "But it still takes a wizard to complete the bond." He deliberately smirked at her, daring her to continue.
"Why?" Her feminist views were affronted by this. She wanted him to answer this.
George and Charlie were grinning. Draco was grinning. Life wasn't going to be dull with these two. If they didn't kill each other.
Lucius stood up to refill Hermione's cup, and his own, and left everyone else to get their own. He was a bit flummoxed. How did he explain this to this girl without being crass? This was going to be his daughter-in-law, and this conversation should be between Narcissa and Hermione, not she and himself. He had backed himself into a corner, and didn't quite know how to get out of it gracefully. He also didn't know how Severus or Draco would feel about this topic between himself and Hermione.
He turned around, and handed her cup of tea to her. He leaned over, dropped sugar into it, called for a house elf, and ordered breakfast for everyone. He then turned back to her, "Hermione, the wizard contributes the life force to the ritual. The more life force absorbed, in whatever manner available, the stronger the magic."
He stared her down, daring her to ask another question. He was going to be as blunt as she was.
Severus decided to break this up before they ended up hexing each other. But, before he could say anything, Molly and Dora and Cissa had all started to speak. Only Dora continued. Lucius silenced Narcissa with a glare, and Molly turned red-faced, not able to continue in front of all these people.
Dora continued. She simply didn't care what anyone thought. "Hermione, the life force is in the ejaculation." She looked at Lucius and was gratified to see him turn a surprised gaze on her. He didn't blush, didn't betray anything, but she could tell she had surprised him.
"You mean his sperm?" Hermione asked, and at that, the entire Weasley clan, sans Molly, all started cracking up. Harry was struggling to hold back laughter.
Draco wasn't even trying to hold back. He laughed, "Yes, sperm. My sperm, placed in you. It is what will transfer this bond with you, from her to me. A witch and wizard, vows, blood, and sperm. Sperm is the third living component, the third life force."
"So explain this to me, clearly." Hermione was frowning. "It sounds like You would be mating with Altaira, and then with me. She turned to glare at Draco, who started laughing again.
Draco reached out to sooth her, and she shrugged off his arm. And, all he did was keep on laughing.
"Not exactly." Draco paused to get his breath. "I don't have to mate with Altaira. I am her magical guardian. I will simply take custody of her. Harry is her legal and magical guardian, and he will be there to add his magic to that ritual. He will also take custody of her. As will Charlie. That is why everyone else will be there, too, to add their magical power to the spell. However, that is only till she reaches age of magical consent."
"So you don't give her your life force?"
Draco managed to keep a straight face. "I will be giving her my blood. As will Charlie. And Harry. I will take custody of her, with Harry and Charlie as backups. Then, I will give you my blood, and we will all transfer that bond to me. Then we maintain control as long as we can" Draco looked at her carefully, and put his arm back on her. When she didn't shrug it off, he relaxed, even though amusement was very clearly the biggest emotion he was feeling at the moment.
"And, the second and third components?" Hermione looked at him. She was still missing something.
"The vows. The vow of custody is from Harry and myself and Charlie, to each other. The vows of transfer are from you to me. And from me to you. The vows of binding Altaira are from me to Charlie and Harry, from Charlie to Harry and me, and from Harry to me and Charlie. The third component is the mating ritual. Between me and you." Draco was watching her face. She was fun to watch. He had watched her for years.
"And, the more life force absorbed, the better?" Hermione asked.
Draco nodded. He watched her speculatively. Her mind was running in circles, he could tell. He would be glad when they were bonded. He could then see into her thoughts if he chose to, and she let him. He reached down and pulled her chair closer to him.
"So the more blood, and the more sperm" Hermione put emphasis on the word sperm, and glared at Lucius as she said it. He gave nothing away, but his mouth twitched, clearly trying to smile. He took a swallow of tea, and the amusement in his eyes dared her to continue.
Hermione huffed, "the more blood and sperm I absorb, the stronger the magic?" She looked back at Draco, who was unable to hide his mirth. He didn't know where this was going, but she was trying her best to annoy his father, who was doing his best not to show any reaction.
Draco wondered who would win this battle of wills between them. As long as they didn't kill each other, he was going to be entertained by this. He couldn't help it. He wondered if Hermione had met her match. And, perhaps, his father had met his match too. He hoped his mother and him could remain neutral forever. Otherwise, they were in trouble.
Draco gathered his thoughts, answering Hermione. "Yes, the more blood and the more sperm you absorb," he reached up and caressed her cheek, then continued, "the faster the transfer takes place, and the quicker the bond leaves her."
He was now thinking about the mating. He ran his hand down her cheek to her jaw, and forgetting he had an audience, was preparing to kiss her, until . . .
So, will it help if you take Viagra? Hermione asked.
All eyes turned to her in shock. Lucius nearly spit out the sip of tea in his mouth.
Hermione saw that and hid her smirk in her hair, and leaned into Draco, trying to hide her face.
"Do you want to be able to walk the next day?" Draco quipped back, not missing a beat.
"Oh, well, never-mind. I was thinking about lasting, but really, you just need to keep ejaculating, and I need to keep taking it inside me and holding it there."
Before Lucius could recover his equilibrium, Hermione continued.
"Can you run out of sperm? How much do I need to take in?" Hermione glanced down, like she was shy, but Draco saw her take a peek at his father.
Draco smirked again. "You need to take in as much as you can. And hold it inside you." He thought about getting even more crass to help her, but his mother was also here. His breeding had taught him this was not the conversation to have in front of his aunt and mother and Mrs. Weasley.
He looked around the room. Neville was silently laughing outright. So was Luna. They both knew what she was doing. So were the Weasley boys. Harry just looked very uncomfortable.
Draco could have kissed Luna for what came out of her mouth next. She was amazing. Nothing fazed her, nothing intimidated her.
"Hermione, it would probably be easier to take in more and hold it if Draco took you everywhere, every way possible." Luna looked at Charlie, who was biting his lip trying to keep from laughing too hard. "Do you two need some pointers?"
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No one noticed the inconspicuous figures that appeared in, and silently stood by the wall, listening.