So, I didn't mention it last time because, appendix, but READ THE CURSED CHILD.

JK played right into my hand. Other than Granger-Weasley everything I have written works with the continuation of cannon. I'll be referencing the events on CC in about six chapters from now, so you're warned.

Hermione Granger and the Quest for the Binding Stones

Part 2

The Gathering

Chapter 3

"It's the same as Australia," Rose said, holding back a sob. The diorama in front of them described an incident known as the 'Trail of Tears'. Thousands of Cherokee had been forced marched from their homes in the forests of the southern states to a desolate reservation on the plains. Many had died on that trail, and many more died of starvation and exposure when they arrived in Oklahoma. To Rose's horror it was only one small example of the atrocities done to the Native Americans. "How did they live with themselves?"

"They viewed the natives as non-human," Lavender said flatly. "It's easy to be horrible to someone you don't believe is equal to you, at least for some people."

Rose nodded. She'd seen enough of the bigotry directed toward Lavender to understand completely.

"The great myth is that this continent was empty of people when the Europeans arrived," Luna said. "There were twenty millions already here, maybe even more, and they were nearly all victims of the genocide perpetrated upon them."

"The history books don't say much about that," Rose said.

"History is written by the victors, dear," Hermione said. "During the colonial era Europeans, British included, were quite arrogant in their views of anyone not European. The Americans carried that attitude on a lot longer than the Europeans did. As you know, human slavery didn't end here until the late eighteen hundreds."

"The native witches and wizards lived with the muggles," Lilly said as she looked at a display of shamanic artifacts. "That's a potion kit."

"Yes, it is," Hermione said. "Well spotted, Lilly."

The Smithsonian Native American Museum was the newest and most technologically advanced of the museums in Washington DC. As they wandered its halls and observed the displays it became apparent they would have to contact the Native American magical community as they had in Australia. While very informative and educational, the exhibits gave no clue as to the location of the stone or even Merlyn's travels. A few artifacts hinted that a white man had once come to the eastern coast, and there was even more evidence from the Central American exhibit. He had obviously been there, but what he had done and where he had traveled was a mystery.

"Lunch and off to the Natural History Museum," Hermione called to her entourage as they passed the last case.

(*)

"That's very similar to the mountain in the vision," Luna said.

The Natural History Museum's panoramic view of Monument Valley in Arizona and Utah showed several buttes the same shape as the shadowy outline they had seen in the vision the Sisters had been presented.

"I had thought the southwestern area was one we should visit," Hermione said. "The culture of the native Peoples hung on the longest there."

"I am attracted to them also," Luna said. "There are some Apache and Navaho rituals I'd love to partake in."

"Like we did with the Dreamers?" Rose asked with a smile.

Luna nodded. "Yes, as we did with the Dreamers."

In a different section of the natural history museum the wandered among the dinosaurs. "These are very different than dragon skeletons," Luna observed.

"How so?' Hermione asked.

"The dinosaurs where warm blooded as the dragons are, but the dinosaurs had solid bones," Luna said. "There were some avian species that led to the dragons, though they were not technically dinosaurs. The pterosaurs had hollow bones and many had the quadrupedal, front leg wing plan that the quadrupedal dragons have."

"I love Uncle Charlie's dragons," Lilly said. "They like me, they sing to me."

"They know you're not a threat," Luna said with a smile. "Your uncle and his friends in Whales are changing the way we interact with the dragons. It's time they got the respect they deserve too."

Hermione nodded. The dragon she, Ron, and Harry had escaped from Gringotts on had been gently coaxed to Whales by Charlie and his friends. In his weakened state he had put up barely any resistance to the Dragon Keepers as they cut the chains and shackles from him and healed his old wounds. "I'm happy Atlas regained his health," she said.

"As poorly as the goblins treated him, they still fed him well," Luna said. "Though all that time underground affected his coloration. Have you been to the reserve?"

Hermione shook her head. "No. Lavender and the children have."

"They like me too," Lavender said, patting Lilly on her shoulder

Luna smiled. "They recognize a fellow," she said. "They are very smart."

"Yes they are," Lilly said. "Uncle Charlie's favorite, Gwyneth? She's a green, and she's really friendly."

Lavender huffed. "Yes, but walking into her pen was foolish, Lilly." She shook her head. "Not to mention terrifying," she muttered.

"I know it scared you, Aunt Lavender," Lilly said. "But she wouldn't hurt me, she wanted to play."

Lavender suppressed a shudder. It had been the most frightening moment in her nanny career. Lilly was all of six at the time, and Lavender had only just turned around to discipline James. Rose gasped, and Lavender turned back to find Lilly calmly walking across the paddock toward the dragon. As the dragon had lowed its head toward the little red headed girl, Lavender had almost fainted. Lilly had time to stroke her hand down the dragon's cheek before she flew backwards across the paddock as Lavender Accioed her.

Lavender smirked and looked down at her two brilliant girls. "You two are going to give me heart failure, you know that?"

(*)

"Iche! Ni! San! Shi!" Lavender called, as Rose, Lilly and River alternated fist punches. "You're doing very well, River. Your Si Fu is going to be either impressed with you or angry with me." She chuckled to herself. "Probably both."

"I won't be seeing him for another three weeks," River said. "We're going to Mazatlán on Saturday to pick up Meadow from mom, and then we're off to Australia." He looked puzzled as Lilly and Rose laughed. He blushed when Rose hugged him, she'd hugged him more in the last three days than his own sister had in the last three years.

"We were just there a few months ago," she said. "Where are you going?"

"Um," he stammered for a moment. "Well, dad's been teaching us scuba, so were going to the Great Barrier Reef, then he mentioned some big rock…"

"Uluru," Lilly said almost reverently. "It's very special."

Rose took his hand. "Uluru is spectacular and impressive, but convince him to take you to Kata Juta," she said. "It's just a few miles away, and then hike up to the Valley of the Winds."

She was looking at him so earnestly that River decided that whatever he did in Australia, he, Meadow, and his father would absolutely go there, where ever it was. "Yeah, I will," he said in a bit of a daze as he nodded.

She smiled and kissed his cheek. He barely heard what followed through the buzzing in his ears. "Good, Kata Juta is important to me."

Lavender chuckled and shook her head. "Alright, back to work," she said. "Round house! Set! Iche…"

(*)

"Mrs. Weasley?" the handsome man in the elevator asked.

"Yes," she said warily, grasping her wand in her pocket. She was headed out for her morning research session in the basement offices of the New York Metropolitan Museum. "Have we met?"

"No," the man said. "I just recognized you from how much Rose resembles you. David Bradley," he said, and extended his hand. "I'm River's dad."

Hermione relaxed. "Oh, yes," she said. "I hope where not occupying too much of his time." She shook his hand.

"Quite the contrary," David said. "He's having the best time he's had in a long while." He smiled. "All thanks to you, Rose, Lilly, and Selene." He laughed. "Well, mostly Rose."

Hermione smiled. "They do seem to have hit it off. Thanks for letting him tag along to the Metropolitan Museum today and the other two tomorrow. I'll be researching, but Selene and our friend Luna can manage the kids."

"Thank you and Selene for allowing it, and yes, they have 'hit it off'," he looked at the floor of the little room. "Um, on that subject, River would like to ask Rose to accompany us to the theater."

Hermione turned slowly to him and raised her eyebrows. "On a date?"

"Well, uh, not exactly."

Hermione suppressed a snigger. MEN! "And just how, 'not exactly' is going to the theater with your son not a date?"

"I, um." He struggled for words. "Well, I'd be there, and our security." He brightened. "Plus Selene, if she wants." He looked flustered for a moment. "Or, um, or you. If you want. Uh, both of you, all of you if…"

Hermione had started to laugh. It took her a few moments to recover. "David, David, it's fine. Yes, River can ask Rose to go to the theater, and yes, Selene will want to come."

He smiled broadly, and Hermione saw the man with the child in his eyes. "Great, terrific, I'll get tickets for Friday, if that's okay?"

Hermione nodded. "Yes, that will be acceptable. Should we plan dinner for her and Selene?"

David smiled. "No, I have standing reservations at a few of the nicer spots," he said. "Any special dietary things?"

"Her last name is Weasley," Hermione said chuckling. "As long as it's not corned beef she'll be ready to tuck in."

David laughed. "He's been on an Asian binge recently, is that alright?"

Hermione shrugged. "Should be."

"Nobu then," David said with a smile. "He'll ask her after practice this afternoon."

(*)

Rose stopped dead in her tracks, and she grabbed Rivers hand. "Wait," she said and turned. "Aunt Lav… Selene, come look at this."

In a case full of small clay figurines one had caught Rose's eye. In the upper left of the case, Merlyn smiled happily back at them. The figure was about 4 inches tall and looked to be nearly identical to the statue they had found in Australia, though smaller, and done in the Pueblo people's artistic style. Still, it was obviously him.

"Well done, Rose," Lavender said quietly from over her shoulder. "Well done indeed. Here's some money, why don't you, River, Luna, and Lilly go get something to drink while I… study this."

And now I suppose I'm going to add art thief to my list of occupations Lavender thought to herself.

Oh, not thief, borrower. Luna sent back. I'm certain Hermione will return it… someday.

Anybody watching? Lavender asked as she sniggered.

Luna closed her eyes. No, there's a man that's a bit too interested in the girls, but he's harmless. There's a woman that is battling her compulsion to destroy, she comes here every day. No one is interested in you or this case. "I saw a good humor man at the refreshment stand," Luna said to the children.

"Ice cream in December?" Lavender asked.

Luna rubbed her belly. "They want ice cream," she said. "Come, young ones, let's be young." And with that she led them off toward the gift shop and refreshment area.

Lavender turned back to the case. She surreptitiously drew her wand, looked around, and with a quick Duplio combined with a transfigure she turned her program into a replica of the little statue. She took another swift survey of her surroundings, and then she magically swapped her fake with the authentic statue in the case. Smiling to herself she tucked the figure in her bag and continued to examine the other cases in the Native Art Gallery.

(*)

The bell chimed and the elevator door opened. "Is your father here to see you in?" Lavender asked.

"I have a key," River said, and he pulled the card from exercise bag.

Lavender smiled and nodded, then she winked just for River. "Rose, why don't you walk River down to his room and make certain he gets in safe."

River beamed at Lavender. "Thanks for taking me to the museum and all the extra stuff I learned in practice today. Mrs. Wolfe."

"Selene, River, Selene" Lavender said and hugged him to her side. "And you're welcome. We'll see you tomorrow for the Discovery museum and then Friday for others we're going to. Come on, Lilly, Rose has this."

"Yep," Rose said, and she took River's hand. "Show me your room."

Oh god! Lavender thought as the ten year olds walked away. Don't say that to a boy again for the next dozen years. Please!

(*)

Rose came through the suite door wide eyed and silent. "Something wrong, cousin?" Lilly asked, barely containing her grin.

Rose looked at her blankly for a moment, and the she shook her head as if to clear it. "Um…a… River asked me to go to see a play… with him… like… like a date."

"And you said?" Lilly asked, this time with a full grin on.

Rose's eyes narrowed dangerously. "You knew!"

Lilly laughed. "Of course I knew!" she said. "You'd have to be blind, or, well, you not to see it." The look Rose gave Lilly should have frozen the younger girl with fear, but Lilly knew, and instead she just laughed. "So you said yes, correct?"

"Uh huh," Rose said nodding. "I said I'd need to check with Mum, but he said he'd done that already." She looked at her mother sat at the table.

"He did," Hermione said. "Well, his father did earlier today." She smiled at her daughter. "I told him it was fine with me if River took you to a play."

Lavender hugged Rose to her. "So, tomorrow afternoon is dress shopping. We both need appropriate attire for a night at the theater."

(*)

When they returned from dinner at the Irish Pub Lavender retrieved the figurine from her bag. "This was what I was talking about."

Hermione took it and looked at it with wonder and joy. Another clue. "Same robe, same hat, staff…" she said as she turned it over in her hands.

Luna straightened, and Hermione and Lavender noticed the change to instructor mode in an instant. "Lilly, Rose, psychometry," she said

Rose shook her head. "I'll go first, Lilly is much better at this," she said, and took the little figure from her mother and closed her eyes. "It's been in the presence of magic, a lot of magic." She held it up to her ear as if to listen to it. "I think it's a healer's tool."

"Very good, Rose," Luna said. "Lilly?"

Lilly took the figure and held it to her heart, and then she looked at Luna, "It's… vibrating," she said, closed her eyes, and Luna gasped. A flood of visions poured from the figure into Lilly, and Luna saw all of them.

A group of native shamans sat around a man lying on a blanket, the figure of Merlyn laid on his chest. A prodigious field of magic built around them as they healed the gore wound from a wild pig the man had sustained.

Time had passed, and a different group, this time women, gathered around another woman in distressed child birth. The figure laid on her belly, and they cast the great healing magic. The swirl of power surrounded them, and they helped her deliver the child into the world.

An old man clutched the figure to his chest and muttered a native incantation. The congestion robbing him of breath cleared, and he smiled. Picking up his walking spear he slowly made his way into the desert. Today was a good day to die.

A young man franticly threw sacred sand over the sanctified ground, and he laid his betrothed in the center of the circle. He ran into the next room of the pueblo and took up the figure from the altar it sat on. Back in the ceremonial room he placed the figure on the sidewinder bite and spoke the incantation. He nearly fainted from relief as her breathing slowed and her color returned.

A white man lay on the sand. Gathered around him were the tribal elders, and they were in a heated discussion. A young man of perhaps twenty snatched the figure from the altar and healed the man over the objections of many of the older men.

Lilly collapsed back on the couch, and the figure fell from her hand. Luna gathered the exhausted girl in her arms and rocked her back and forth. "Excellent, Lilly," she said as she rocked. "Excellent." Luna looked at Hermione. "He never touched this, but whoever made it knew him."

"Arizona next then," Rose said.

"Texas first," Hermione said. "I found some evidence in my research today, and I want to look into the Pueblo peoples of that area."

"Rolf has an Apache friend from his early travels. He lives there," Luna said. "I'd like to contact him while we're there. Perhaps we could attend a gathering of the native magical peoples."

Hermione smiled at her friend. "That would be great, Luna," she said. "I'd like to ask him some questions if that's okay."

"I'm certain it will be," she said and stood. "Lilly and I need a nap. Wake us in an hour please. Come, Lilly. After that much exertion we need to rest." She and Lilly went to the girl's room and closed the door.

(*)

There was knock at the suite door. Rose looked over at Lavender, and her nanny smiled and nodded. Nervously Rose stood from her chair and smoothed out the satin and lace that made up her Aqua colored evening dress. They had found it the previous day at one of the posh shops that lined Fifth Avenue, and the tailor at Elie Tahari had done an outstanding job of fitting the designer dress to her petite frame. Rose looked stunning in it. Lavender and Hermione had applied a modest amount of makeup to Rose's face. Just a touch of blush, eye liner, and light lips gloss to highlight her features. Her hair had been tamed with an entire bottle of Sleakeazy, and Hermione had carefully styled it into the same updo she had worn at Bill and Fleur's wedding.

Her daughter was growing up.

Hermione had to take a long shaking breath as Rose opened the door on her first date. River, having only seen Rose in casual clothes and her workout togs, stared open mouthed at her.

"Wow," he said in a soft voice, and then he smiled. "You're prettier than Meadow."

Rose smiled and her nerves calmed. This was just her friend, River. She looked him up and down, and nodded appreciatively at the pinstriped dark brown Italian silk suit he was in. "You look great too," she said.

"Well, let's take some pictures," David Bradley said from the hallway behind River.

"Yes, yes. Come in," Hermione said, and ushered them into the suite.

"Look Dad, this is bigger than ours!" River said as they walked into the living area.

Hermione turned to Rivers father. "David, this is my great friend, Luna Scamander," she said, indicating Luna. "Luna, this is River's father, David Bradley."

"Pleased," David said, and he took Luna's hand.

The moment their palms touched Luna gently examined David's mind, and another parade of visions passed through her, all from David's perspective.

A woman was yelling at him, accusing him, and he was filled with sadness and anger. He had never once been unfaithful.

He sat at the head of a long table with other men in expensive suits. They were deciding the price of a technology that would aid in water production in arid regions. One side was pushing for a huge profit margin, the other, David's, was arguing fiercely for a much smaller profit per unit and a much larger distribution. He himself had lobbied for a program to distribute the well heads free of charge in certain areas.

He was running toward a burning car in the street. A woman was trapped behind the wheel as the flames erupted in the back seat. He and another man ripped open the driver's door, and David pulled the woman from the car.

A girl not much older than Rose yelled at him, saying she hated him, and his heart crumpled.

River looked up at him smiling. "She's amazing, Dad."

Luna looked into his eyes and smiled. "You're a very good man, David Bradley. Don't worry, your daughter will realize it soon."

Lavender sniggered at David's shocked expression. "Luna is quite sensitive, if you believe in that kind of thing." Lavender chuckled again. "And she's direct, very direct."

"Yes," David said, a bit dazed. "Yes, a genuine treat it is to meet you, all of you. I just can't thank you enough for taking River on your adventures, and especially you, Selene, for keeping up his training."

"It was our pleasure," Lavender said. She stood and smirked as David looked at her with the same awed expression his son had displayed a few moments earlier. "Yes, I do tidy up well."

David laughed loudly. "Oh, let's get some pictures, it'll make Patty crazy."

"That's not nice, Dad," River said, but his attempt to hide the smile failed.

"The former Mrs. Bradley?" Hermione asked.

David's smile fell, and nodded. "Yes, she was" he said and all three women in the room heard the love that still resided in those words.

Luna touched his hand, and he turned to her. "Never give up, David Bradley," she said quietly.

Hermione cleared her throat, and said, "Over here by these plants should do. La… Selene, where's the camera?"

"Got it!" Lilly called as she came out of the girl's room, the wizarding camera in her hands.

"That's a really old camera," David said, looking at the ancient device once owned by Colin Creevey. Dennis had given it to Harry on the fifth anniversary of the battle, and Harry had taught each of his children in turn how to operate it and care for it.

"Yes, but it takes the best pictures," Lilly said with a grin.

Hermione took David's camera and Luna took up the magical camera. The resulting pictures had exactly the effect that both Hermione and David were hoping for. Patty Arbour fumed for close to a month after River showed her the pictures of the four of them. Only love can make them that angry playing in his head in Lavender's voice. Every time she threw the dish towel at the sink or kicked a chair he smiled. The picture of just he and Rose had been framed, and it sat on his nightstand.

Ron had nearly collapsed.

"That's not Rose, can't be," he said over and over. "Can't be, not yet, not yet…"

(*)

The skyline of Manhattan was lit gloriously in the clear, cold air of December. Christmas decorations were in the shops, lobbies, and windows, and the music of the season was playing from practically every door and window. Almost forty floors above the street snatches of the melodies still could be heard in the rooftop garden of the Hilton. The heaters were lit, and they dispelled the deep cold but it was still chilly. Rose gathered her wrap a bit tighter and turned back to a smiling River. They had the entire garden to themselves.

"Thank you so much, River," she said. "I never imagined a play could be so… cool."

"I liked the flying parts," River said, and Rose stifled a laugh. "Can you imagine flying of a broom?"

This time Rose really did laugh. "Oh, I think I can," she said through her giggles, and she hugged him, kissing his cheek and laying her head on his shoulder. She felt his arms tentatively embrace her, and she pulled back and looked into his face. The two children on the cusp of adolescence smiled softly at each other. Rose nodded slowly, closed her eyes, and leaned into him.

When their lips met River found out what it was to be a witch's first kiss. Behind his closed eyes his world exploded in flashes of light, and a tingled spread through his whole body. He felt weightless and dizzy, it was as if the world was slowly turning around him. Her lips were soft, her hair in his hand, how did it get there? was silky and amazing. Her body was warm against his, and her hands hot on his back as she tightened the embrace. He became aware of the floor beneath his feet, and he opened his eyes, drew back, and gazed awestruck at this wonderful, amazing, brilliant, magical girl.

"I love you, Rose."

It just came out, like it had a will of its own.

Rose smiled and nodded. "I think we're a little young for real love, but I understand," she said. "I care for you too, River." She leaned in and kissed him again.

(*)

Charlene Milton sipped her whiskey and looked out her window. The Sheraton was nice enough hotel, but she preferred the Hilton. As she looked over at the roof top garden two people emerged from the doorway. From a block away she couldn't tell, but they seemed small for adults. The boy, she decided they were young and not short, looked at the girl as she tightened her shall against the cold. She turned and they said a few words, hugged, and then they kissed. A small swirl of multicolored sparkling motes enveloped the couple, and they floated up off the rooftop, slowly spinning in midair. A few moments passed and they gently floated back down to the roof.

Charlene staggered back away from her window and toward the rear of the room. "I need to give up drinking," said to herself as she poured the remainder of her whiskey in the bathroom sink.

(*)

"Goodbye, River," Rose said quietly, and she closed the door to the suite. She turned to the expectant faces of her family and friends. Smiling to herself she started humming 'Defying Gravity' and went to her room to wash her face and change into her pajamas.