Mia decided to take him into Diagon Alley after their conversation and Bruce was amazed how how well magic could hide something so large. The amount of magical energy to make something so vast appear non-existent was perplexing and Bruce had to wonder yet again just how Magical energy fit within the properties of physics...if it did at all.

"You seem confused?" Mia asked quietly as she watched Bruce's face take on that foreboding look when he was trying to figure out a problem he couldn't quite solve.

"I am." Bruce admitted. "Magical energy, I've been wondering how it follows the laws of Physics and Thermodynamics. Energy can't be created from nothing...and you've mentioned before about a magical core? But I have to wonder if it's that simple or if there is something I'm missing?"

Hermione thought about the question for a few moments as they perused the shop windows and she pointed out things here and there to Bruce, who seemed genuinely intrigued by everything.

"I suppose I've never considered the possibility where the actual energy source comes from. Our wands channel our spells, focus our intent and they are sentient unto themselves."

"The wand chooses the wizard or witch?"

Hermione nodded. "Yes, wandlore is a fascinating branch of magic but studied by very few individuals. The trade secrets as you might call them, are usually kept within certain families. The Ollivander Family for instance has been selling wands for over 1000 years."

Bruce's eyes widened at Mia's words as he shook his head in wonder. "That's incredible."

"It is." Mia agreed. "Mr. Ollivander is the last of his family however, and he was held prisoner by Voldemort for nearly a year. I'm not sure how much longer he will be able to attend to making wands. I'm not sure who will take on the role once he's gone."

"War always affects the innocents in ways we don't often realize until many years later." Bruce admitted sadly. "I saw enough of that in my travels to understand that much."

Mia nodded. "It's true. I don't think anyone could have envisioned what happened after the war was over and the loss of life that occurred because of the curse."

"Is that why you glamoured?" Bruce looked purposely down at Mia's stomach and she nodded again.

"Standard operating procedure. I'd rather not draw unwanted attention to myself. Most of those within Britain's magical community view me as a War Heroine, and I don't fear for my safety persay...but I'd rather not take any chances. Kingsley knows about my condition, and he's offered his protection as much as he's able to. The Aurors know, as do the Hit Wizards stationed here within our ministry. The Head of the Department of Mysteries was also informed when I sent my Patronus to Kingsley the night I arrived. The people here owe me their very lives...and a life debt is a serious bit of magic that most witches and wizards take very seriously."

"Wouldn't that be true of all magicals everywhere?"

"Theoretically yes, but again...not all view such a debt favorably, but it does offer me a measure of protection should I need it. Most within the British Magical community view me as a War Heroine, although there are some within the Pureblood circles that look down upon me due to my Muggle heritage."

"Former Death Eater families I'd assume?"

"You'd assume correctly, although surprisingly many of their children work in the Auror offices now with Draco. Many of the worst offenders during my school years have changed since the war...but there are a few who haven't seen the errors of their prejudicial views."

"Hence the glamour?"

Hermione sighed heavily. "It's mostly a precaution but since there haven't been any magical births in seven years, I haven't quite figured out how to announce my pregnancy. I'd imagine there will be many questions, since there are some within the Wizengamot who immediately rejected my original hypothesis."

"Which was?"

"The curse itself was born of magic. In my research I was able to trace the origin to the Egyptian Triad of Latopolis."

"Ah, I do know a bit about Egyptian history. Khnum was the god of fertility and his wife was Menhet, the goddess of war and pestilence. Their son was Heka, was the god of magic."

Hermione smiled widely and nodded, Bruce never ceased to amaze her with his wealth of knowledge and intellect. "Yes, that's it exactly. I found the countercurse in the writings of Sekhmet."

"The goddess of healing...makes sense actually." Bruce nodded thoughtfully.

"Yes, this has happened once before prior to the fall of the Roman Empire."

"That's interesting." Bruce said softly. "Merlin's rise theoretically transpired almost a hundred years after the fall of Rome. That can't be a coincidence."

"That was my thought as well. The Druids practiced magic during the Roman era...but their practices were abolished sometime in the late second century...due to the Romans inherent distrust and fear of their practices."

"So they went underground?"

Hermione nodded. "They did. Much like what happened with the Statute of Secrecy, magic was forced back into the shadows due to the curse."

"So magic reset itself and due to the loss of magical blood, they were forced to procreate with Muggles?"

"Yes...and for a time during the years of Merlin and after it seemed balance was restored. It took nearly 1500 years and here we are, back to the beginning. Nearly seventy percent of the Magical population was killed during the war and the curse that followed. If something doesn't change soon, it's very likely the magical population may not recover."

Bruce didn't say anything for a while as they finally made their way to George's shop, but before they entered Bruce pulled Mia to a covered spot off the alley. "Was there any research that indicated what the impetus for the magical birth rates improving was?"

Mia gazed up at Bruce stunned as she slowly shook her head. "I did research birth records, and what I was able to discover seemed to support my hypothesis that magical births occurred when mating with Muggles...why? You think it might be something else?"

Bruce shrugged. "Your hypothesis might be correct. However, the druids were practitioners of astronomy and cosmology as were the Egyptians...both used cosmology as the cornerstone of their magical practices if folklore is to be believed. I'd imagine that the countercurse you found had some astrological component to it?"

Hermione nodded, stunned at Bruce's words. "You think that the lifting of the curse may have be linked to some cosmological phenomenon?"

"Well, didn't the druids have their own triad of spirits much in the way the Egyptians did?"

"They did, but I admit I'm not as familiar with Druidic history."

"Perhaps magical and Muggle procreation isn't the only answer...it may be, but perhaps it's more involved than that?"

Hermione just stared at Bruce in amazement, before shaking her head and giggling to herself. "You've given me a lot to think about."

"Just promise you won't disappear on me if you decide to research this further?"

"I promise."

"Good, now lets go say hello to George. I owe the man a debt and his shop looks quite interesting."

"Fine." Hermione grinned. "But don't eat, drink or volunteer for anything he might give you."

"He's that much of a prankster?"

"You have no idea."

"Well, I'm quite interested in that Peruvian Instant Darkness Powder and was hoping to take some with me for research purposes."

Hermione gave Bruce a dubious look. "I'm not sure how you would use it properly for your nocturnal activities? It blocks thermal as well as visual."

Bruce smirked in response. "But not sound."

Eyes widening in surprise, Hermione realized that Bruce was right. "Bats use sonar..."

"They do, but training with the League you learn to fight using only sound as a guide. Potentially, I could blind one opponent or several using the powder, but still be able to take them down...theatricality and deception are powerful tools."

"So I've heard." Hermione bit back playfully. "You're just full of surprises Wayne."

"So I've heard." Bruce's answering grin had Hermione shaking her head in mock disgust.

"Come on then, let's go see what other tricks George can entice you with. Something tells me I'm going to regret putting you both in the same room together."

"We probably shouldn't stay too long, as we need to get you fed and Alfred is making dinner as we speak."

"Oh, and what is on the menu for this evening?"

"Chicken Marsala"

"That's one of my favorites."

"Yes, I seemed to recall that too. Have you been having any cravings lately?"

Hermione sighed and squirmed uneasily as Bruce opened the door to George's shop and led her over the threshold. "Perhaps that's a discussion best saved for another time."

Bruce's initial look of confusion followed her as they walked inside and she could feel his stare on her as George came over and said hello and then he proceeded to show Bruce where the Peruvian Darkness Powder was.

Cravings? Hermione groaned inwardly...yeah, she'd definitely been craving something lately...and it wasn't food.

Shaking her head clear of those unhelpful thoughts, she couldn't help the blush that noticeably stained her cheeks...nor her own body's traitorous reactions to where her mind had drifted too...not realizing that Bruce had been quietly observing her and had figured out for himself just what the problem was...while devising a plan to take care of it.