Hey Ya'll,

Its been a hard week and i wanted to write to relieve stress. Im sorry if the grammar sucks, and the chapter wasn't the greatest, but I put a nugget in here to make our girls talk before school begins. Hermione is becoming a bit of a loner, but Harry and Draco are her boys, and her family. She is reserved, but will always live and die for them. As for her feelings, she may be older but she is still a kid. She needs more time to process. Also I might have a few ideas for Ron, and I am not sure everyone will like it. I hope you enjoy.

Snow


One will never know when their life is flipped upside down, shifted sideways, or blinked out of existence. No, you don't know these things, not even witches, and wizards, and those who claim to see the future only see one smidgen of multiple moments. One Nano picture of an entire universe of pictures and events. Hermione recognized many things last night and two of them were she had a crush on her magical guardian… well not any longer. One more thing she recognized slapped her in the face as Narcissa's lips touched the Auror's forehead and that was she was irrevocably jealous. She kept her head down, and her hands in her pockets when she walked Diagon Alley towards Gringots Bank.

When she arrived in the bank she went the nearest guard and begged her pardon and asked where she could find a person who worked there called Scrollblade. The guard looked at her and then he told her to step completely forward into the bank and ask the Floor Manager for assistance. She thanked him and all he did was nod. He glared at her wearily and it was rather frightening for the girl, offsetting, but she complied. When the Floor Manager was asked he hit a small button then went back to counting stacks of Gallons and sickles. Hermione waited no more than a few moments when a Goblin came forward and met her.

"I am Scrollblade, What do you require?" He stood shorter than her and he leered up and some of his teeth shown in the question. Hermione gulped.

"A dear friend of mine told me that if I were to do business here I am to ask for you personally," Hermione waited. Then the goblin waited.

"Who is this… Friend?" He slightly growled his patience growing thin.

"Narcissa Black Sir," Hermione spoke the name. Before the goblin could ease his client and show her more respect as a friend of the Goblin Nation a hackling screeching laugh pierced Hermione's ears. She turned around and saw a woman dressed in all black lace, and bodice with flowing black lace skirts. Her hair was massively curly, and she was pale, dear lord was she pale. Her dark circles under eyes lead to the mad look of her nearly black bottomless eyes. Hermione watched as witches and wizards scurried out of her way. Only the goblins didn't seem to fear the woman. Hermione knew why. If a client where to become physical, or try to rob the bank they shall be beheaded. Plain and simple Gringots was he safest place in Magical Britain. Hermione stood tall next to Scrollblade and the goblin observed the young woman and smirked and nodded his respect.

"Goblin, I wish to investigate my holdings and make a deposit," she spat at the person next to her and then patted a small parcel. Hermione felt the hair on her neck raise but she kept her calm and simply stood waiting.

"Now aren't you a pretty thing," the woman sneered as she came closer to Hermione but Hermione didn't move and only sighed as if bored but she moved her wand into her hand and thought of all the defensive spells she learned with Harry last year. The woman seemed to flip a switch and before Hermione knew it the woman's hand flashed out as did her wand and cut a thin line on Hermione's cheek. Hermione stepped back once, lifted her hand up to her face then glared at the woman but stood firm. Then it hit her as if she were looking at a decrepit twin. Recognition hit Hermione's eyes. If she got sleep, healed her soul, and did something about those teeth she would look just like Andromeda.

"Bellatrix Lestrange you will back away from my client and you will refrain from using your wand in this place or we will deny you service," Scrollblade's voice rumbled low and harsh were every creature in the bank could hear him.

"Bellatrix, we are to make a deposit and return. We have no further orders for…" the larger bearded man slid his eyes over Hermione and then to the goblin, "fun." Bellatrix literally pouted but leaned into Hermione.

"Lucky for you little love. I can imagine many ways I would love to play with you," Bellatrix whispered sensuously in her ear. It took everything in her not to shiver with disgust. Scrollblade watched as the pair walked to a regular teller and Scrollblade escorted Hermione into the back rooms.

"You have shown bravery Miss Granger. Something Narcissa has commented on prior," the goblin said as he got situated behind his desk.

"Narcissa talked about me?" the girl asked and felt her face heat up as she sat on the edge of her seat.

"Yes, she talks about her family quite often when she comes in here. She asked me to keep my eyes out for a muggle born witch with brown curly hair, soft brown eyes, and bravery in spades. I assume that is you." Scrollblade smiled but his smile fell as he watched the girl and she looked tired, weary, and then rubbed her face and flinched. Scrollblade took out a handkerchief and placed a small amount of a milky liquid on the cloth then told her to wipe the cut lightly. Hermione took out a mirror and watched as her cut shrank to nothing but a pink line.

"Thank you," Hermione sighed.

"How can I help you Miss Granger," Scrollblade asked.

"I was told goblin wards are nearly unbreakable and I was hoping to ward my London home. I am not rich like the Black family and I was wondering if we can do payments in instalments, with a low interest rate," Hermione asked. Scrollblade thought about this girl. She was clever, knowing how to appease the goblin ego, and then respectfully inquire about a product. She was even willing to pay full price in installments.

"I will grant you these wards for a quarter of the price if you do one thing," he said and she sat up straighter.

"You take a blood lineage test," he said and her brow crinkled, "You place one drop of blood on our blood tabulating equipment and we can see your magical lineage, if there is any," Scrollblade watched the girl think it over, weigh pros and cons.

"I believe I have bled quite a bit for one day," Hermione smiled and Scrollblade did as well no matter how terrifying it was.

"That is why I will cut the price to a quarter of the original price and installation. You were harmed on our land, and that is unforgivable. Thank you for not escalating the situation," Scrollblade nodded and waited. Hermione couldn't help but like the goblin. She stepped to the Goblin and held out her hand. He looked at her as she trusted him with no stipulations. Not many witches or wizards would have done that, and would have opted to draw their own blood. He grasped her hand and then took a sharp needle thin tool that was packaged in new plastic. He opened the tool, and then before she could blink the drop of blood had already fallen. She took her hand back and sat down sucking on her finger.

"Well oh my," the goblin muttered then looked at Hermione. "Are you sure you are a muggle born?" Hermione only nodded confused.

"Hermione you are Heir to a few houses, with substantial amounts of money but you are heir to a most ancient vault. You know of Merlin, correct?" Scrollblade asked and then Hermione buried her face in her palms.

"Are you kidding me?! Hell no! I don't want it!" Hermione yelled at the goblin, but the goblin sat firm.

"No, Hermione, you are not Merlin's Heir. I don't think. He has a different way of testing his heir and his is through Magic. We can take that test if you wish," Scrollblade asked playing with the girl.

"NO…no, I'm sorry, just not now. I really just came in to protect my father. That's all," Hermione sighed. Scrollblade nodded.

"Merlin had a lover. No he didn't give this woman children but he bestowed upon her an old grimoire. She was a secret woman, and human with no magical prowess at all until she read the book. It turned out Ishild, this woman, was a warrior woman of the Celtic tribes at war with the Roman Arthurian kingdom, gave birth to a son and his power rivaled Merlin's. The story goes that her dying wish on the battlefield, was that he would spirit away her son, and raise him as a human, to hide his magic away from Arthur. Merlin would always visit a small town along the coast of Cornwall and left him in the care of the local Apothecary. No one knows of what happened to the boy but, according to this you are the closest to Merlin's magical heir we have, and even more Merlin set up a trust for Brian, the boy. He never touched it, and no one has ever claimed it. Do you wish to claim it?" Scrollblade asked a hunched Hermione.

"Do you think the grimoire will be in the vault?"

"I don't know," Scrollblade said as he excitedly pushed for Hermione of open the vaults. The cash flow from those vaults could help out the bank.

"Fine, but only for the books," she gave in.

"How about the other vaults?" he asked and Hermione waved her hand for him to continue.

"You have an old Irish vault, not much money, but the artifacts are rare, and the books even rarer if you can read them they should be quite knowledgeable. You have another rare vault. The house of Cameron died out when an English king ordered his clan destroyed, but some still survived. The McGonagall's are your closest kin. The Cameron clan vault has tartans, shields, weapons, books, scrolls, and some gold. And lastly I believe you will adore this. You have goblin ties." Scrollblade watched the girl and then the look on her face and she swept a hand over her nose and cheeks, "No no no, I mean your ancestor was honored by the Goblins, and if the new vault holder earns the title of house head through valor and courage, loyalty and respect, you can be the head of Martindirk vault. Now this one has a lot of monetary value, more than some current heads of house in Wizarding England."

Hermione was left speechless but she recovered and then assumed her position as head of these vaults.

"Please distribute 5% of the wealth from the Martindirk Vault into the other vaults, all of them equally. Then please put a high yield gain on them. Did I say that right?" Hermione asked, and Scrollblade grinned and nodded as he wrote down her instructions. "Then please take a 4% commissions and maintenance fee for the goblin nation off of the profits quarterly. I would like to help spread the wealth. Then please have another 10% interest placed into my personal Vault quarterly as well," Hermione said as she wanted to reward her accounts manager, and then have ready cash.

"You are truly a friend of the goblin nation and have earned the right to be Martindirk's vault owner and for your gift of interest, we will install your wards for free."

"But…. No, please take the 25% you brought up out of the Martindirk vault. If I am a friend, I want to give you this and I want a heathy business friendship with the goblin nation as well," Hermione told the manager, then she fidgeted, "can I see the books?" Scrollblade laughed and took her to her vaults. Her blood was good enough to get into the vaults. There were no tricks, no hurdles. Hermione asked if she could change the entrance to the people of Draco Black, Harry Potter, Narcissa Black, and her father, just in case anything happened to her. Scrollblade was happy to oblige. When she chose her books, she asked when the goblins with be at her home. Scrollblade smiled and told her they already started and they are just waiting for her to get there to create the blood wards. Hermione smiled feeling overwhelmed but instantly better. She realized she needed to do some research on the people that came before her.

She popped by the house and once again a goblin came to her with a sharp took, took one single drop of blood and the wards were completed. HE gave her a 3 foot long parchment on up keep, and keying the wards. Every year they would come back and strengthen the wards, and that was that. Her father was at work and as she clutched her books and got ready to transport her emotions stopped her. She couldn't go there. Not after last night. Hermione took a deep sigh, and then made her choice. She felt that stretch, and jerk in her gut then looked u and saw the gates of Hogwarts. She might as well say hello to her kinsmen, and tell her closest adult confidant next to Narcissa, and Snape on the campus that she was also magically of age. She shook her head as she went to the gates and they opened. This was gonna be a crazy conversation.