This chapter sort of ran away with me. Or from me. Or some sort of running that involved a nearly 5k word count. I love you all. Hope you enjoy!

Hermione was furious. She'd just caught Harry, Ron, and about fifteen other students hiding in the Room of Requirement, nursing wounds on the back of their hands. The wounds were words, carved into their flesh, something she knew to be the result of using a Blood Quill. Harry's hand read I must not tell lies. Ron's was I will respect my betters. Three second year students - Emma Dobbs, Dennis Creevey, and Ethan Giles, all bore the same message; Children are to be seen, not heard. Other students had other messages, apparently all related to whatever infraction they'd been punished for. Punished, of course, was not an accurate description. This was flat out torture, and Ron had offered the name of the one responsible.

Dolores Umbridge.

While she usually asked for entry out of courtesy, today Hermione hissed the password and stormed into the Head's office, to the surprise of the seventh year Ravenclaw who Albus was apparently speaking with. "Miss Reuel," she addressed the girl. "Unless this is a matter of life or death, I'm going to have to ask you to leave. I require the Headmaster's immediate attention."

"Of course, Professor Slytherin," the young woman replied, nodding to Albus before making her way to the exit.

"See me after dinner, Elizabeth," the Headmaster called. "We'll continue this conversation then."

Once the young Ravenclaw had left the office, Hermione launched her ire Professor Dumbledore's way. "Do you have any idea what Dolores has been doing to the students?" she exclaimed. "Blood Quills, Albus! On Harry, Ron, and at least a dozen other students that I know of! If that bitch has it out for me, she should come and get me, not take it out on innocent children!"

"Well, as it happens," the elderly man began, "I do not in fact think that it is you that she is after. She's merely stated that as a means to misdirect us, possibly leaving the true target vulnerable in the process. And no, Hermione, I did not know she was using Blood Quills."

For the moment, Hermione set aside the treatment of the students, trying to follow the Headmaster's reasoning. "Who do you believe is the true target?"

"Are you familiar with Wardlings?"

For once, Hermione had no idea what he was talking about. "No, but I'd be very excited to learn if you'd care to share," she replied calmly.

"A Wardling is a child who was born at Hogwarts. When a child is born here, the magic used to build the school mingles with their own the moment they take their first breath. For most, this is just something that makes their magical signature a bit different, and thus makes buying a Wand a more time consuming task than others might. However, if a Wardling becomes Head of Hogwarts, the magic that was already linking them to this school is amplified, both increasing their magical talents, and allowing them a unique ability to - for want of better term - bring Hogwarts to life should the need arise. In the case of an attack on this school, a Wardling Head would be able to animate and direct the stone knights, gargoyles, and so forth. The perfect army, ready to do battle at a moment's notice. Alas, a Wardling Head is a very rare thing indeed."

"Fascinating as this is, Albus, what's the point?" Hermione inquired, knowing that there surely was one.

"Voldemort would stand very little chance of taking Hogwarts should a Wardling become Head. As it happens, Minerva is a Wardling - something she is unaware of and I have only recently learned. Should the Order receive word of an impending attack on this school, I would need only tender my resignation, and Hogwarts would be under her control. It is Minerva whom I believe is the true target of Madam Umbridge," he explained.

Hermione just stared at him for a moment, silent. "Bloody hell," she whispered. "Even her treatment of the students aside, we need to get Dolores out of Hogwarts. By the pure strategic advantage alone, we cannot even consider another option."

"I agree," he replied. "I had been planning on speaking to you this weekend about perhaps using some of your contacts and influence through the Lex Excetra to accomplish this. I could not prevent her from coming, so I do not believe I would have much luck getting her removed. You, on the other hand, have resources beyond my own."

"I am not waiting till this weekend. If you will excuse me from lunch, I'll take care of it straight away," Hermione replied, running through her options in her mind. Loathe as she was to admit it, Lucius Malfoy was probably her best bet. He could not afford a sterile son, so he'd have no choice but to do as she asked, and of all her contacts, he was the most established with the most power.

"Of course," Albus replied with a nod. "Send word if you need more time, and I'll let Remus know you'll need him to cover your next class on his own."

"I doubt it will take that long to convince Lord Malfoy that his interests are also served by cooperating," Hermione commented with a sly grin. "However to be on the safe side, please do alert Remus I may be late to the after lunch class today."

Fifteen minutes later, she was sitting in the parlor of Malfoy Manor, and a House Elf had informed her that the Master of the House was on his way. Sure enough, only a few minutes later, Lucius strode into the room with a grace that could only mean years of etiquette training that came standard with a Pureblood upbringing. "Madam Slytherin," he greeted. "What can I do for you today? I trust my son is well?"

"Draco, as far as I am aware, is in perfect health," she assured him. Given the Malfoys' reputation for being affiliated with Voldemort, Hermione very much doubted that the young man in question had been subject to Dolores' Blood Quill. She seemed to be targeting only those students who came from families who'd fought against Voldemort. "I am here to make a request of you regarding Dolores Umbridge."

"What of her?" he asked.

"I want her removed from Hogwarts," she replied frankly. "I want her gone, today. And I know you have the power to make that happen."

"And why would I do such a thing?" he asked. "As I was one of the Governors to advocate for her placement?"

Hermione's features remained schooled. "Because you cannot afford a sterile son, and I will invoke the Lex Excetra if I must. She has been using Blood Quills on the students, Lucius. That is absolutely unacceptable."

"Blood Quills!" Lucius exclaimed with a chuckle. "I'll have to ask her where she got her hands on some. They're rather hard to find, given the association that have with dark magic."

The arrogant smile on his face faded as she glared at him. "Will you have her removed, or will I be forcing the end of the Malfoy line?"

He cleared his throat. "Well, the use of Blood Quills is of course highly illegal, so I'm sure the Board would agree that she must be removed at once. I'll go to the Ministry and have it taken care of by supper time."

"I'll hold you to that," she said firmly. "And I won't keep you from going there straight away. Thank you for your assistance, Lord Malfoy."

"Anything for you, Madam Slytherin," he said curtly. "Do stop in on Narcissa before you head back to Hogwarts - she's in the Library - as I do believe she'd been meaning to Owl you about something. Your timely visit would save her the hassle."

Hermione nodded, and farewells were said. Her last visit here, to share a meal with the Malfoys, left her familiar with the layout of the main floor, including the location of the Library on the west side of the Manor. She made a brisk pace in that direction, slowing as she heard the sound of classical music coming from inside her favorite room in this House. No matter where, no matter when, Hermione Granger-Slytherin would always feel happiest surrounded by books.

"Lady Malfoy?" she called, carefully peeking her head in the door. "Narcissa?"

"Hermione?" Narcissa replied, smile on her face. "I'd been meaning to Owl you!"

"So your husband said," the brunette admitted. "I thought to save you the parchment. What did you need?"

The pureblood woman ushered her guest in the door. "Last we spoke, you had mentioned a curiosity regarding the fate of one Lucy Gaunt. I was able to trace some information."

Hermione took a deep breath. She had in fact, upon hearing the Narcissa had been a researcher at the Ministry prior to Draco's birth, requested that the Lady Malfoy try and discover her daughter's fate. She hadn't told Narcissa anything about Lucy aside from her married name, and absolutely had not spoken of their kinship. "And?" she pressed, stealing herself for whatever knowledge was to come. She knew, inevitably, she was about to learn of her daughter's death, and although she'd been aware of the fact since the moment she returned to her present, it still hurt deeply to face the details. Still, she'd needed to know.

"Well," Narcissa began. "For starters, she was the daughter of Salazar Slytherin, and an unknown mother. She was born and raised at Hogwarts, and married a man called Julius Gaunt in her late teens."

Hermione nodded, already aware of that much. She'd been there.

"Lucy and Julius had two sons, one of which died as a child, and another who grew up, eventually married a girl from the Selwyn family, and the Gaunt line continued through him until they finally died out upon the death of Morfin Gaunt, less than fifty years ago. As to Lucy's fate, my research indicates that her husband Julius was an alchemist, and creator of a Sorcerer's Stone. He died in his sixties, cause unknown, and Lucy later remarried. After she remarried, and just dropped off the grid. I could find no record of who her second husband might have been, though I couldn't find any Lucy in the records after that point that could have been her. I suspect that she changed her name entirely, not just her surname, upon her second marriage."

Hermione took all this information in, some of which she'd had hints of via Helena, some of which was news. "That's everything?" she asked.

"There is some rumor that Morfin Gaunt had a Squib sister who produced a child with a muggle man, but I could not find any concrete evidence," Narcissa confided. "Even if it is true, it's likely that child was entirely non-magical, and thereby is not probable that they would have any information I've not already found. Of course, if you wish I can continue searching."

"No," the other witch said, shaking her head. "It was never Lucy's descendents that interested me, but rather her fate. If you could keep searching for the identity of her second husband, I'd much appreciate it. I'm certainly an able researcher myself, but I haven't your Ministry clearance, personal library, or free time to do so."

"I admit, getting into a research project again is rather refreshing," the blonde confided. "Of course, I will see what else I can unearth."

"Thank you, Narcissa," Hermione said. "Now, I'm afraid duty calls and I must return to Hogwarts."

"Of course."

Narcissa walked Hermione to the fireplace in the nearby study, and the two said their farewells. Hermione had nearly thrown the Floo powder into the flame when she noticed the other woman's face contorting in a way her own often did when she was deliberating on if or not to ask a question, or state an opinion. "Is there something else?" she queried.

"I don't mean to speak out of turn…" Narcissa muttered. "But Lucy…"

"Yes?" Hermione asked, eyebrow raised.

"The unknown mother… it was you, wasn't it?"

Hermione saw no point in denying it. "Yes."

"If that is the case," the the other woman said, voice low. "There must have been a reason that you were not recorded to be her mother. The only reason a Pureblood would not list a child's maternity is if the child was the product of an affair, or if there was some other reason which the mother could not be listed - legal reasons. You and Salazar were in fact married, so the latter must be the case. The question remains, what about you was worth hiding?"

"I expect you have a theory, or you would not have spoken up," Hermione mused, hand twitching toward her wand holster, unsure what Narcissa thought she knew, and if or not she'd be keeping her mouth shut in the case she was on the mark.

"I don't believe you had a Sorcerer's Stone when you left the Founders' Era… I believe you had a time turner, and that you were not born to that time, but rather, to this one."

"You have no evidence to support that," Hermione forced herself to say assumptively. "So I question how you would come up with such an… outlandish theory."

"Evidence? No," Narcissa admitted. "Merely an interest in the fact that Hermione Slytherin should arrive at Hogwarts the very day that Hermione Granger was supposedly withdrawn from the same school."

"Have you shared your theory with anyone else?"

Her heart was pounding, presently very unsure of what to make of the woman who had put all the pieces together, and desperately trying to decide if lying or admitting the truth was the best course of action.

"Merlin, no, not a soul," Narcissa countered. "If I'm wrong then I'm wrong and that's fine. But if I'm right then that is information far too valuable to share with just anyone. And, I find that I'd rather work with you than against you if that eases your mind any."

"It does," Hermione admitted. "I will, however, be insisting on the Unbreakable Vow if you wish your memory of this theory to remain intact."

"You just all but admitted that I'm right," came an amused comment.

Hermione didn't justify with a response. "Will you make the Vow, or not?"

"I'd not cross you on the basis of the Lex Excetra alone, however I can understand why you'd be wary. I could share my theory with someone who didn't mind becoming sterile as a result of crossing you, or with someone who was not bound to the Serpent Accord at all. Yes, I will take the Unbreakable Vow, though I will require something in exchange."

"Name your price."

"Your oath to look after my son, and steer him away from his father's influence," came the demand. "I am no fool. I know that the Dark Lord is on the rise again, and I know that my husband will be at his side when the time comes. I do not want my son to follow in his father's footsteps."

"A reasonable exchange, considering I could do nearly the damage you could in sharing my secret, via sharing with Lucius your lack of loyalty to the cause," Hermione considered. "We will require a Bonder."

"Well we can't ask Lucius," Narcissa mused.

"I should think not!" Hermione laughed. "What about Minerva?"

"I take it that she is aware of your secrets?" the blonde surmised. "And you'd trust her to keep mine?"

"I trust her more than I've ever trusted another," Hermione answered, realizing how very true that statement was.

Narcissa stared at her for a moment, as if trying to work out a puzzle. "You're shagging!" she accused a moment later, eyes wide and a laugh tumbling out of lips. "You and Minerva are shagging!"

Hermione momentarily wondered what it was about the truth of her origins coming out which seemed to inevitably lead to the confession of her and Minerva's romantic involvement. It had been much the same when she'd been confronted by Evelyn Chancellor. "We're involved, yes. I fail to see what is so funny about it."

"It's funny because I was in the generation that bore witness to Minerva chewing out one of the Defense Professors who'd been caught in bed with a sixteen year old student. In the Great Hall, during lunch, for the whole of the school to see. That she would end up involved with a student is highly amusing," Narcissa explained.

"I am not her student, nor have I been for many years," Hermione countered.

"Many years in your mind, perhaps. But to her, she grew attracted to a woman who, a short time prior, had been a fifteen year old student," she replied. "It's a point of view issue. In any case, I am fine with using Minerva as a Bonder. Do you wish to do so now?"

"Forgive me for not being more trusting, but yes. I cannot risk fetching Minerva and returning here with her, for you could call someone in my absence. Do you need to get a coat or something before we go to Hogwarts?"

A House Elf popped into view seconds later, without a single word from the Lady of the Manor. "Yours cloak, Mistress," the middle aged male stated, handing off the garment. A moment after that, he vanished.

"Enwyn has been with me since I was born," Narcissa explained, seeing the question in Hermione's eye. "His magic is linked to my own. I need only think of something I wish for and he is aware. In a society where a witch is mostly isolated from those who do not hold to Pureblood ideology, I find myself having always remained short on true friends, and even shorter on individuals I could truly trust. That Elf has been my truest friend since as long as I can remember. Draco has an Elf, Fyrmir, whom he holds in much the same regard."

Hermione found it of interest the bond that Narcissa had with her Elf, and Draco supposedly had with his own. Lucius certainly did not treat his own Elf - a creature called Dobby if memory served - with anything resembling respect, or even kindness. Still, now was not the time to discuss House Elves. "Shall we?" she asked as soon as her companion had finished fastening her cloak.

A quarter of an hour later found Hermione Slytherin and Narcissa Malfoy - an odd pair if there ever was one - in front of the Transfiguration classroom. Remus, by now, would have begun teaching the post lunch Defense class, and respectively Minerva was already ten minutes into her own class.

"Wait here," Hermione ordered Narcissa. "It wouldn't do for the students to see you. If they reported to their parents that you were here, you'd be hard pressed to come up with a passable excuse for seeking out the Gryffindor Head of House."

"Quite," the other woman agreed.

Hermione rapped twice on the door before letting herself in. "Professor McGonagall, may I interrupt?"

Minerva looked at her in surprise. "I do believe you already have, Professor Slytherin."

"I need a few minutes of your time, now, if possible," Hermione stated, trying to express the urgency with her eyes without alerting the students anything was out of order.

"Of course," the Scottish witch agreed, nodding. "Class, please read chapter three, section four while I'm gone. If you finish that before I return, you can begin work on today's homework…" A flick of her wand and the assignment appeared on the chalkboard. "... three foot essay on the five Principal Exceptions to Gamp's Law of Elemental Transfiguration. Be sure to give examples of each of the five if you would like to get a passing mark."

The sound of books being pulled out of bags, placed on wooden desks, and pages being flipped filled the room, drowning out the clack of Minerva's heels as she quickly moved to the back of the room toward the door Hermione was standing in. "This should only take a few minutes," Hermione promised.

Minerva nodded, and followed her paramour out the door, stopping short when she spotted Narcissa, pacing just outside. "Well," she said. "What on earth can I do for you, Mrs. Malfoy?"

"We need a Bonder," Hermione explained.

There was only one use for a Bonder, and Minerva knew it. She was also well aware of the implications of the Unbreakable Vow should the participants fail to hold up their end of the bargain. "You cannot be serious."

"I asked Narcissa to do some research for me," Hermione explained, not going into the topic of said research in an effort to avoid an argument breaking out here in the hall. "In the process of that research, she was able to find enough clues to piece together who I really am. She knows everything, love. I require some measure of assurance she will not sell that information to the highest bidder."

Minerva spared a glare at the blond. "I very much doubt she'd be agreeing to an Unbreakable Vow without some benefit to herself."

"I am only requiring that Hermione look after Draco to the best of her ability," Narcissa spoke for herself. Given her Gryffindor nature, she'd probably be doing so on her own, but given it is my son we're talking about here, this offers her greater incentive to make certain he remains innocent of following his father's footsteps."

Minerva sighed, and Hermione knew that she understood perfectly that there was no argument she could offer to change her lover's mind. It had to be done. "Very well, I assume you both know how this works…"

The two women each offered their left hands, gripping each other just below the elbow, allowing the magic to channel through them both when the Vow sealed.

"Will you, Narcissa Malfoy, swear that you will keep Hermione's secrets safe? That you will not share them with any other, unless Hermione has given you permission to do so? Do you swear that you will take no action that would lead to harm of her person, via direct harm to her, or harm to her family?" Minerva asked.

"I will," Narcissa agreed, and at once the first tendril of magic shot out of Minerva's wand and wrapped around their wrists like a cord.

"And will you, Hermione Slytherin, swear to protect Draco Malfoy from harm, and guide him in such a manner which discourages him from following in his father's footsteps? Do you swear remain vigilant in this task, to the best of your ability?"

"I will," Hermione echoed the blonde. The second tendril of magic shot out of Minerva's wand, joining the first in a weave around the two wrists, spinning for a moment before a bright flash of light and the vanishment of the cords indicated that Unbreakable Vow had been successfully cast.

"I do believe I can see myself back to the Manor," Narcissa commented a moment later. "Minerva, I thank you for your help. Hermione, as always it's been a pleasure, and I will keep you updated if I learn anything new regarding my research."

Minerva opened her mouth, ready to ask what the research was about, but Hermione stopped her in her tracks. "And you, my dear," she said firmly to her lover. "Scuttle on back to class, as I must get to my own. Remus is of course handling things, but I don't wish to abuse the privilege that comes with his presence."

The Scottish witch's mouth snapped shut, and she huffed. "We'll discuss the research later," she stated, and Hermione knew that she was not likely to get out of it. In any case, what was Minerva going to do? Give her detention? Take away points?

Two more classes and the evening meal later, Hermione walked into the fruits of her earlier labor when, while starting with her evening rounds with Minerva, the two women stumbled upon Albus, Dolores, and the Carrows in the main courtyard, the Headmaster having just handed Dolores the order from the Ministry demanding she and her companions' immediate departures from Hogwarts.

"Headmaster, there must be some mistake!" the pink-clad woman exclaimed. "The Minister himself…"

"Was overruled by the Board of Governors this afternoon, I'm afraid," Albus replied. "It seems that they were not too keen on the notion of their children being subjected to the use of Blood Quills."

"I told you that was a stupid idea, Umbridge! We were to keep under the radar!" the female of the Carrows - Hermione had never bothered learning their given names - claimed.

"Shut your mouth!" Dolores demanded, flicking a silencing charm at the other woman. "It doesn't matter, really. I can still complete my task. It only takes a moment, after all."

Hermione and Minerva both took her words for what they were - a threat. Hermione knew Albus believed Minerva to be the target, and Minerva still believed Hermione to be the target. Albus quickly moved to stand in front of them, obviously covering all his bases in one move. All six of the adults seemed to be tensing for a duel, and a moment later, it began.

Albus made the first move, shooting off a messenger Patronus - probably to Severus or Filius, to warn them to keep students away from this area. Dolores, of course, knew that would alert others of what was happening, and she only had a few minutes before it was no longer three to three odds.

Minerva took the male Carrow, Hermione took the female, and Albus and Dolores faced off. The Ministry woman, Hermione noted, was actually a very good duelist, using her short stature to her advantage, not unlike Filius was known to do. Sparks flew, wands clashed, and Hermione didn't have much time to think as she, Minerva, and Albus stood back to back to create the best defense in such an open area.

At first, the spells used were neutral at best, though as the minutes wore on the Carrows and Dolores reached into darker spells, eventually climaxing with the use of all three Unforgivable Curses.

The Cruciatus Curse brought Hermione to her knees, gritting her teeth in an effort not to cry out as pain coursed through her body continuously, second after second and every one of them counting.

The Imperius Curse forced Minerva to stop firing at her target, and begin to move away from the protective defense formation. She moved slowly, obviously fighting every step and completely aware that either she was being removed for the sake of not being able to protect one of the others, or she was being removed to make her a clear target. Neither option was good.

Then, as Hermione lay struggling to breathe on the ground alone, Albus moved to follow Minerva's position. The pain in her body began fading away just in time for her to watch Dolores fire the Killing Curse, Avada Kadavra, at Minerva.

"NO!" she screamed, finding her breath.

Albus saw the curse firing, green, fast, and reeking of impending death, just the same as Hermione saw it. Both knew that Minerva could not move. The Defense Professor felt tears beginning to fall down her cheeks as she realized what was about to happen. Albus leapt in front of the curse meant for Minerva, and Hermione stared, wide eyed, knowing that one or the other was about to die.

The surprise move of Albus startled the Carrow man, who'd been holding Minerva under the Imperius, into releasing the curse, at which point Minerva hurried forward, even if she had to know that there was next to no chance it wouldn't hit one of them. They were too close together, with no time to get out of the way.

So, when the Killing Curse struck Albus, he fell into Minerva's shaking arms, eyes wide and fighting for another breath that would not come. "Live, Minerva," he gasped out.

A moment later, to the shock of those already present and the newly arrived Severus, Filius, and Remus, Albus Dumbledore, Headmaster of Hogwarts, was dead.

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