At the time I am posting this it is Thursday night. Crownedtiger is sadly at her parents house. I am hoping whens eh returns to us this will brighten her day. Hopefully all the chapters I post between now and then will.
Crownedtiger I love you sweetie!
A/n: In this chapter Harry, Hermione, and Stephanie learn things. It's all your perception whether you think it will be relavent later.
minerva's-kitten
Chapter 36: History Lessons for Three Siblings
Something about Lion's Gate made everyone besides Katherine and Marcus act like children again. People ran around playing tag and skipping and just being young again. It was a rejuvenation almost it was odd and yet fun.
Today Hermione was currently skipping down a hall in the east wing when an open door caught her attention. Entering she found a room covered in a tapestry with names, dates, and faces all over it.
"Gryffindor Tree," Marcus stated floating in through a nearby wall.
"Oh?" Hermione gasped as her hungry eyes went around devouring the knowledge.
"Godric Gryffindor was half-brother to Salazar Slytherin!?" Hermione blinked turning to the ghost.
"Oh yes. Goddess Hecate had two sons both from great wizards. They usually got along except where power was concerned. Hecate was given a lot of headaches over what was the more powerful set of powers. The power to control and manipulate minds or the power to control and manipulate the elements. Can you tell me who is who?" Marcus asked.
"Slytherin preferred the minds and Gryffindor preferred the elements?" Hermione guessed.
"Sorry dear but you made the same mistake others have over the years," Marcus chuckled, "Gryffindor loved to take apart minds and find out how they ticked. Sometimes he did it literally. To Godric the power to control a person was the greatest power. Slytherin preferred to control the earth. He worked tirelessly to control all four elements. Godric's obsession with minds caused every single heir of his to have some sort of mental deficiency," Marcus stated.
"But I don't…and mummy and granny don't," Hermione frowned.
"You do in fact," Marcus nodded, "It's called an Obsessive Compulsive Disorder. You can't help but be the best in everyone of your classes can you? And it bothers when most things aren't perfect doesn't it?" He asked.
She bowed her head.
"Your mother is a curious one. She appears to be psychotic much like my wife but I'm none to sure. I do know she's no danger to you children," Marcus stated.
"How do you know?" Hermione asked.
"I can't explain it. But it appears as though a child could push the same buttons an adult does and she is as fun and loving as ever. If an adult pushed the buttons she would go nuts and well…"
"Kill them," Hermione finished, "She's done it already."
"Yeah well…You are no safer than in a Gryffindor's arms," Marcus stated.
Hermione nodded as she turned back to the tapestry. Marcus pointed out family members and told Hermione more stories of her ancestors.
Just outside the backdoor of the manor up in the sky was an indoor outdoor patio. In the glass patio hung a hammock.
Minerva was lying in that hammock as it magical swung gently as if in a breeze. She was sleeping easily and cuddled by her with his head on her stomach was forty-three year old Jackson. Funnily enough the grown man was sucking his thumb as he slept with his mother.
Across the way on a wicker settee Albus laid with Margaret curled up by him. They were happily reading Sleeping Beauty with each other. Each took turns coming up with voices for all the characters.
"A hundred years past and the valiant prince leaves to his princess and prove …love conquers all!" Margaret cackled in an evil cackle.
Albus chuckled and pulled his daughter closer kissing her head. "Do you believe so?" he asked.
"Maleficent was a great witch in her day but she was wrong. Love really is a great power. You just have to know how to control it," Margaret stated.
"You always were a clever little kitten," he laughed.
"Thank you. Now shut up and read your part daddy," Margaret stated snuggling closer.
"As you wish," Albus nodded turning the page and continuing their father daughter story time.
Anyone entering the room would think it was two small children and their parents not two parents and their grown children. This home seemed to do some strange things to the people there.
Harry had wondered into the kitchen for a snack and hearing a deep voice in the basement got his curiosity aroused.
"Shiver my timbers, shiver my soul. Yo-ho heave ho…"
Harry followed the voice down to the cellar. He stopped just till he could see over the stairs railing and saw that the singer was Hercules. The man was wearing black jeans and a white pirate like shirt. The man was sanding the hull of a boat it appeared. A boat he seemed to be making himself.
"Yo-ho have ho……" Hercules continued to sing quietly to himself. He stopped after a minute and turned smiling at the boy. "Harry lad come on down then."
Harry came down the rest of the way and entered the cellar that was more of a work shop.
"You're building a boat?" Harry asked.
"Aye I'm building a boat," Hercules nodded. He tossed a handled sander to the boy. "You can help me."
Harry nodded and climbed onto a stool sanding with the grain as he knew you should.
"So how long have you been building it?" Harry asked.
"A few months on and off between all the traveling. We don't stay home a lot you know," Hercules stated.
"What does Gran do when she's not at home?" Harry asked.
"Oh we go all over the place looking for ancient magical artifacts and curses to break. We're researchers the whole family," Hercules answered.
"Okay…so how come Gran and grandpa stay together if they hate each other?" Harry asked.
"It's not necessarily hate. They really do love each other. They're just so opposite it's hard to agree on much of anything. There is one thing though they completely agree on," Hercules stated sawing some wood.
"What?" Harry asked.
"They love their kids," Hercules smirked.
Harry laughed as he assisted his uncle and learned about his great-great grandparents' relationship.
Sabrina was in a very dark corridor sobbing. She'd gotten lost and couldn't find her way back to the sun room. She was so scared and it didn't help two sets of glowing eyes were coming from the darkness toward her.
As they reached the small area of light the girl was sitting in she relaxed slightly seeing a black cat and a tabby cat.
"H-hello. Wh-who are you?" she asked sniffing.
"Your Gran and Aunt dear one," the black cat stated morphing into Katherine.
Stephanie sobbed and scrambled to her feet wrapping herself around the woman's torso.
"She is a strange little creature. Why would one sob for being in blissful peace?" Venus asked curiously.
"Venus dear not everyone is void of fear of the unknown," Katherine explained hoisting the child onto her hip.
Venus cocked her head to the side not quite understanding this concept.
"A child of Margaret's should not fear darkness for their world is shrouded in it. She needs to brave the fear," Venus stated as she waved her wand and the hall was plummeted in to total and complete darkness.
Stephanie cried out and buried her face into the old woman's shoulder.
"Come little one face the fear. Nothing is there," Venus stated.
"Venus stop this nonsense. How Margaret trains her child is not you concern. Besides that I do not wish the child to remain dependent all her life as you are... now return the light," Katherine snapped.
In an instant the hall was filled with light. Stephanie looked up into Katherine's eyes.
"I want my mama," she stated.
"She's in the indoor outdoor room. Just straight that way and the first left. The room's on the right," Katherine explained pointing toward the end of the hall. She sat Stephanie down and the child raced off wanting to get as far away from Venus as possible.
As soon as the girl was out of earshot Katherine grabbed her daughter's wrist tightly and pulled her in the opposite direction.
"I swear you act like your father more everyday. You do not tell an animorph not to fear! You of all people should know that!" Katherine snapped.
"How else will she control it?" Venus frowned not bothering to fight her mother's grip.
"Leave her alone Venus. It's Margaret's duty to train those three for their destiny. If we are to die it is by fate not because you taught them wrong. Your history is not hers so don't repeat yourself with her," Katherine stated sternly.
"Yes mother," Venus bowed her head.
"Good," Katherine sighed and stopped in front of the library, "Now be a good girl and go read for a while."
Venus nodded and entered the vast library shutting the door behind her.