It was a few days later on an early Friday afternoon once classes were done that Hermione, Theo, Harry and Draco ended up meeting up in the Astronomy Tower for their excursion to McKinnon Manor.

"Are you sure about this, Sister Mine?"

"It'll be fine, Harry."

Her brother nodded reluctantly, before allowing Hermione to apparate him through the wards of Hogwarts and back to McKinnon Manor.

He had insisted to be the first to arrive, and when Hermione and he appeared—Harry took out his wand and scanned their immediate area with a barrage of different spells. Satisfied, Hermione called for Bunny, who was ecstatic at seeing her 'mistress' and asking if she would be needing any snacks for the afternoon.

"That will be fine, Bunny. Has everything here been quiet?"

"Yes Mistress, no ones evers comes through the wards."

Eyeing Harry with a smirk, Hermione disapparated and came back with Theo, and then Draco.

When Draco arrived, his eyes widened at his first view of the elusive McKinnon Manor. As far as he knew, no one he knew had ever been invited within the walls of this home. His Mother had mentioned it briefly after Sirius will reading that as far as she knew, not even her parents nor grandparents had ever set foot within the grounds of this ancestral estate.

Hermione watched Draco closely as he took in the expanse of the foyer that she'd apparated them into. The large columns that surrounded the room as well as they skylight above were at least 30 metres high. The circular stairs to the left, went up to the second and third levels and the staircase to the right—went down towards the basement and the potions laboratory.

"It's impressive." Draco murmured and Hermione nodded, as she took his hand and led him outside towards the path to the smaller cottages on the outskirts of the property. When they got to the Ancient forested area, Draco's breath caught in his throat at the sight of the large yew trees.

"Merlin!" He whispered in awe. "They are huge!"

Hermione nodded as she walked to the largest of the yew trees, nestled in the middle of the sacred stones and placed her hands gently on its trunk. The tree moved its large branches towards the sky and shivered, almost as if it was sighing in pleasure.

Then the branches groaned as they moved back down, and all three wizard's stood there staring in wonder.

"What was that?" Draco asked his friend, and Theo shrugged.

"Dunno, but last time we were here, Hermione did the same thing and the tree seemed to respond accordingly."

Draco nodded, but his eyes continuously gazed around the property—taking in the expanse of the gardens, as well as the forested area—as their quartet walked down the path towards the edge of the grounds.

When they got to a smallish cottage house, Draco paused as he felt they were being watched.

"Do you feel that?"

Hermione glanced up at her intended's worried expression and tilted her head questioningly.

"What is it?"

"I don't know exactly, but I feel like someone is watching us."

Hermione, Harry and Theo glanced around, but no one could see anything. Harry sent out several revealing spells but there was nothing.

"What is it you're sensing?" Theo inquired curiously, and Draco just shook his head.

"I don't know how to explain it, but it feels like someone is observing us."

"Are you sure you're not being paranoid, Malfoy?"

"No Potter, I'm not." Draco was quick to reply.

"Let's just get what we came for." Theo offered and they all nodded their heads in agreement as they walked into the cottage and Hermione found the books that had been left in the room from before. Reaching for them, she put them into a small satchel she'd brought when the hairs on the back of her head stood to attention.

"Draco's right." She murmured.

"You feel it too?" He came over and pulled her into his embrace and she nodded.

"It's strange," she replied uneasily, "I didn't feel it before when I was here."

Harry and Theo shared a wary look, as Theo said urgently, "Let's go."

As they moved out of the small house, Hermione stopped suddenly—her magic reaching as she felt a power she didn't recognize.

"Something's coming."

The boys drew their wands out, and it was a moment later a green light fell over the pathway, moving in their direction until it settled in the clearing right before them.

"What is that?" Harry bit out, his wand held aloft within his hand while Draco and Theo mimicked his offensive posture.

"I don't know," Hermione gazed at the light and even though it was odd, she didn't feel threatened by it. She glanced at Draco and he too, was watching it with a curious expression on his face.

It was several moments later, that the light seemed to move and change shape...until a form emerged.

They all gasped in shock as a woman stood before them, her green eyes piercing and her long black hair flowing down to her waist. Her dress was from a time period long since passed, but her expression was open and friendly.

"Ah, I bid you welcome."

Hermione blanched. "I'm sorry?" Her voice was unsteady. "But this is my home and who are you? How did you get through the wards?"

The woman's smile was bright and her eyes glistened like emeralds in the light as she took in each one of them, before her knowing gaze landed back on Hermione.

"It has been far too long since one of my kin has had sufficient power to call me here. Praytell, might you be Hermione? Daughter of Marlene?"

Hermione's eyes widened like saucers as she nodded dumbly, before the woman gazed at Draco with another meaningful look. "And this is your mate."

Draco swallowed, but he bowed his head in the affirmative. "Draco Malfoy."

The woman beamed at him before her gaze flitted over Theo and Harry.

"Harry Potter..."

"Yes?"

"Please forgive me," the woman waved her hand blithely, "I should make myself known. I am the Lady Morgan le Fay."

The four shocked faces were comical as it caused the woman to chuckle at their expressions of disbelief and wonder.

"Merlin's beard." Harry whispered, and the woman's gaze locked onto his with a scowl.

"He was a braggart filled with vanity and envy."

The group was brought up short, as they didn't know how to respond to that at all.

"This was the home where my beloved son Yvain, was born. And through the ages my descendants were all born here, as were you, Hermione."

"I was?"

"Oh yes." Morgan moved her hand out, gesturing for the group to follow her, which they did. "My husband Urien and I came here to live out our days in peace. This was once the bridgeway to Avalon, and a source of comfort for those who sought out the divine powers of Magic's."

"How have you remained here, My Lady?" Theo asked quietly.

"My essence is bound to this place, and my magic protects its borders from those who would seek entrance in the hopes of obtaining knowledge and power for nefarious gain."

Hermione gazed over at Harry, who seemed to be thinking the same thing she was.

"Have there been witches or wizards who've tried to enter this place?"

Morgan nodded. "Some. The pathway to the heart of magic resides here."

"I don't understand." Hermione's voice was shaking. "The heart of magic?"

"Yes child. The source where elemental magic came to be."

That comment caused them all to stop in their tracks—each pausing to take that bit of information in.

"Do you know why my mother and her family would've left this place after my birth?"

Lady Morgan shook her head sadly. "Alas, it has been far too long since I've been called forth and as such, my magic has lain dormant for far too long. You Hermione, will have sufficient power when the time comes to open the portal and bring light back into the darkness."

"I don't understand?"

Morgan just smiled and replied cryptically, "You will. The veil is thinnest within the stones and under the root of the cosmos—where the boundary of rebirth is met."

And with those final words, the Lady Morgan faded into the falling light.

After she was gone, the four of them stood and gaped at each other until Theo blurted out, "Did that just happen?"

They all nodded.

"Holy shite!"

"Language Theodore."

Theo grimaced, but continued to look around as if he still couldn't believe what they'd just witnessed.

"Why do you think she showed herself now, and not before?" Harry wondered aloud, and Hermione had to admit, she was curious about that as well.

"Maybe we should keep this quiet?" Draco said to Hermione and then looked to each of the others in turn, "it might be prudent to keep this to ourselves, at least for now."

"I agree." Harry nodded firmly. "The less people who know about this, the better."

The foursome all nodded in agreement, before heading back towards the Manor. When they got there, Bunny had snacks waiting with some warm hot cocoa and chocolate biscuits. After they'd had their fill, Hermione promised Bunny she'd be back for Easter, but that she would check in weekly to make sure everything was alright and to contact her should anything odd untoward occur.

"I wills Mistress."

Taking each one of her wizards back in succession, it wasn't until she was left alone with Draco later on that evening that he asked her how she was feeling.

"I don't know," she responded carefully, "I think I'm still processing it all. It almost feels too surreal to be true."

"Do you think that it had anything to do with the fact that I was there with you?"

Considering that thought, Hermione had to admit—she'd wondered that too.

"Maybe?" She admitted with a small sigh. "I just wish I knew what she meant by her words."

Draco pulled her into his lap, as they sat together within the common room in Slytherin—which was fairly empty save for a few people lurking about. Luckily, Hermione had erected a few privacy wards so they could have some peace while they talked.

"I think you shouldn't stress over it love," Draco's voice was cajoling, because he knew how his witch would overthink this, "the answer will likely come in time. I don't think researching at all hours in the library is a good idea. If we are to keep this secret, we will have to be judicious with how we go about our investigation."

Hermione sighed unhappily, as she knew Draco was right. They were still working on their mind Magic's, and both Harry and Theo's Occlumency was fairly advanced—but that didn't mean they didn't need to be careful.

"I need to tell my Grandmother." Then her voice fell away as she said timidly, "and as much as I abhor the idea..."

"I know." Draco interrupted, not needing an explanation. His parents would have to be told at some point, and Draco wasn't looking forward to that conversation at all.

"Do you know if your Father and my Grandmother?"

Draco shook his head. "No, I haven't heard a peep from my Father lately."

"That's not worrisome." Hermione's voice held a sarcastic edge to it and Draco didn't want to admit that he was troubled by the lack of communication. He knew how stubborn his Father could be, but he also had a pretty good idea that Muriel Prewett would come out of the negotiations on top. That witch was scary.

As it turned out, Draco was more right than he knew.