Hello Everyone!
I apologise for the delay but with the upheaval in the world, I wanted to make sure this chapter was extra special to get you all through these bad times!
Just so you know, Chapter 1 has been Beta'd now and is slightly different so if you find you have extra time on your hands head on back for a reread.
Hermione sat at her desk the following morning. Her head ached. Her chest felt heavy. She stared at her notes in front of her, the script she had prepared for the Wizengamot. She couldn't even look at it. Pushing them away she thought of the night before. The discussion that they didn't love each other, that Ron had only mildly resisted her when she told him her feelings, how he couldn't look at her. He hoped they would bounce back to the way things were before but she didn't want to think how long that would take. She had told him it wouldn't happen. She hadn't even asked where he would stay. He just didn't want to stay in the flat with her. Hermione didn't blame him, she had let this farce go on for so long. She had been angry at him for so long she didn't even think of how he must have felt in their situation. She thought of Lyra and the discussions she had had with Narcissa, an uneasy shift in her stomach made her question what she had thought about the dynamics of the Malfoy family.
A gentle knock from the door made her look up to see Harry sending her a soft smile,
"Hey, Harry" Hermione found herself greeting softly,
"Are you ready?" Harry asked,
"I suppose" Hermione stated standing. She gathered her notes and followed him to the courts. It went better than expected. There were a lot of arguments against equal working for werewolves but Hermione fought the corner the best she could. Halfway through her argument blonde hair caught her eyes. She looked up to see Narcissa Malfoy sat in the wings. A small notebook sat next to her a quill charmed to take notes. Hermione contained her smirk as she stepped back into her argument on how there was an open prejudice on werewolves and half-human species within the working environment of the wizarding world. As she closed her argument she looked up at Harry who gave her a small thumbs up from his seat. After the debate and whispers of the members,
"All those in favour of the equality act of employment on werewolves and other creatures of near-human intelligence?" Kingsley asked, his own hand raised. Hermione held her breath as more hands raised at the sight of Kingsleys. Hermione wasn't quick enough to count before he asked the opposition.
"Approved" Kingsley shouted Hermione grinned. After shaking hands and thanking as many of the Wizengamot as she could. Hermione turned to find Narcissa smirking down at her.
"Well done, Miss Granger," She said with a small smile.
"Thank you, Mrs Malfoy. I didn't expect to see you here" Hermione commented.
"Well when the bill affects my great-nephew, I thought I should know something about it"
"Teddy?" Hermione asked, "Teddy doesn't-"
"Hello, Narcissa," Harry greeted.
"Hello, Mr Potter" Narcissa's politeness filled the room. "I'm glad you are here Mr Potter, I was wondering if I might trouble you in telling me of my sister's address?" Narcissa asked. Hermione watched Narcissa fret with her hands. She tried to contain her smirk, she was nervous and understandably so. She was asking Harry a favour, something the Malfoys did not do.
"Ugh sure," Harry said. Narcissa handed him her notepad, Hermione noted that all the notes had vanished from it. "Shall I tell her you asked?" Harry asked, handing the notepad back.
"No, I think it best that I mend the broken bridges on my own. Thank you both" Narcissa swiftly walked away without much further conversation. Leaving Harry and Hermione stood slightly shocked at the encounter.
"That was odd" Harry started running his hand through his hair. Hermione laughed at his perplexity,
"How are you 'Mione?" Harry asked as they began to walk back to the elevators. She knew what he was getting at. She didn't want to talk about it.
"I'm fine, Harry," Hermione stated as she shuffled papers around in her arms.
"Ron told me what happened," Harry stated as they stepped into the elevator.
"He's staying with you?" Hermione asked,
"Just last night, Ginny said only one night. She said it had taken you long enough to kick him out" Harry said looking uncomfortable.
"It was mutual Harry, neither of us was happy," Hermione said as neutrally as she could.
"Ginny was pretty angry at him" Harry stated,
"She's just upset for us, that's all I'm sure," Hermione said as she walked out of the elevator. Harry followed,
"But Hermione, you guys seemed fine, sure Ron's been drinking a bit more than normal but-"
"Harry" Hermione stopped walking, fed up with the conversation now, "It's over, I'm done with him, he's done with me. I don't want to talk about it. Now, I have work to do" Hermione snapped walking away from Harry. The pain in her chest returned. That evening she had been reorganising her flat when a chime from the floo alerted her. Walking over, Ginny's face greeted her.
"We're going out," Ginny announced.
"What?" Hermione asked, "Gin, I've had a long day, please, I just want to sleep"
"I don't care, Luna and I will be over in half an hour, be ready" Like that Ginny was gone. Hermione internally groaned and began to get ready.
Walking into the Dragon's Hoard, at the insistence of Ginny Weasley, Hermione was shocked to see it so busy on a Monday night. Hermione watched in horror as Ginny tried to use her engagement to get them free drinks.
"Do you know who that is?" She heard Ginny shout at the barman who merely stared bored at Ginny.
"That's Hermione Granger, War Hero, the reason you aren't all dead. She got through the werewolf bill everyone's going on about today. Today! Three weeks ahead of schedule" Ginny practically screamed at the man. She watched him glance up. Hermione followed his gaze to see Lyra leaning over one of the railings staring at them. A small nod from the Older Malfoy and Hermione was shocked to see three Butterbeers on top of the bar. Hermione didn't hold back the glare. All the words from the night before filling her head. Hermione took the beer and walked to a slightly quieter corner. After the third Butterbeer, firewhisky mix, there was very little Hermione remembered.
Hermione couldn't remember anything, from the moment of entering the Dragon's Hoard with Ginny to the fifteen cocktails between them leaving and getting home. Sitting up, Hermione felt the room spin, rubbing her forehead she slid from her bed. She needed water and she knew that much. Walking into the living room she found a redhead passed out on her couch, naked, soft snores coming from the body. Hermione walked into the kitchen to find Luna making bacon.
"Morning 'Mione" Luna greeted with a dreamy smile,
"Morning Luna, how come you're here?" Hermione asked, graciously accepting the tea being handed to her.
"Oh I had to carry you and Ginny home," She said with a soft smile.
"Is that Bacon?" was called through the flat and Hermione had to laugh at Ginny. She truly was a Weasley like the rest of them. Ginny stumbled through,
"God Luna if I wasn't marrying Harry I'd marry you" Ginny ranted as she stuffed bacon in her mouth. Hermione walked through the flat suddenly in search of her wand to make a hangover draught. Except it wasn't in the flat. After half an hour of her tearing her home apart. She marched Ginny and Luna down to the Dragon Hoar. It was well concealed in the day time, only the small dragon insignia and a dingy doorway in Knockturn Alley alluded to the pub. Hermione walked in, finding it empty. She hated to admit that it didn't look terrible in the daytime.
"Is anyone here?" Ginny shouted impatiently. Hermione smacked her,
"What? I'm hungry and I want my own bed" Ginny huffed. Hermione's stomach dropped when blonde hair appeared. Lyra was carrying heavy boxes of butterbeer from the back through. She paused at the sight of Hermione,
"Can I help you?" She stammered out. Hermione tried not to kick Luna as she giggled.
"Um... Well," Hermione tried to get out as grey eyes stared at her.
"Hermione's lost her wand" Ginny stated bluntly.
"You what?" Lyra asked shocked.
"Not you too," Hermione said with a roll of her eyes. Ginny and Luna had lectured her most of the way there regarding the loss of her wand and how terrible and irresponsible it was. She had stopped listening by the time she had gotten to the main street.
"Let me check," Lyra stated, placing the box down. As soon as Lyra disappeared, Ginny turned with an almost feral grin,
"Luna and I will meet you at Floreans whenever you happen to turn up," Ginny said with a smirk before dragging Luna from the pub. Hermione rolled her eyes and shook her head. Lyra appeared not long after her hand in her pocket, her other twirling Hermione's wand between her fingers.
"They are right, you know? It is very irresponsible" Lyra teased.
"Give me my wand" Hermione stated in her best-pissed off voice.
"What do I get in return Granger?" Lyra asked, leaning against the bar next to her.
"A smack if you don't give it to me" Hermione tested. Lyra chuckled, placing the wand on the bar.
"Clearly you can't hold your alcohol" Lyra smirked,
"I can hold it just fine, thank you" Hermione stated with a glare as she pocketed her wand. Lyra leant against the bar, she had a simple pair of black jeans with a grey knitted jumper that looked far too similar to Lyra's eye colour.
"What are you doing here?" Hermione asked,
"The landlord is sick so I said I'd help him out with morning stock" Lyra explained lifting the boxes over the bar.
"How're you feeling?" Hermione asked. Lyra looked down clearly not wanting to discuss the topic,
"I've been better" Lyra muttered
"How was your trip to Berlin?" Hermione asked quickly shifting the topic,
"Simple, I got what I wanted so it wasn't a waste" Lyra explained with a small smile, clearly grateful for the change.
"I've never been to Berlin" Hermione admitted,
"You should come next time" Lyra's offer struck Hermione,
"Really?" She asked shocked, Lyra shrugged.
"It was just if you wanted to see the magical side of the world," Lyra said with a smirk,
"You sound like you're quoting Aladdin" Hermione smirked making Lyra frown,
"I don't know what that is" Lyra's response made her frown, she often forgot pure-bloods didn't have the same experiences she and Harry had had.
"Never mind, I should go find Ginny and Luna. Thank you for this" Hermione said as she pocketed her wand. Walking out she watched Lyra go back to stocking the bar curious over why she was there.
Hermione was sitting in the flat reading when the letter came. It shocked her, the perfect scrawl of the invitation. The fine card it had been handwritten on,
Dear Ms Granger,
You are formally invited to the concordial ball of Lyra Malfoy on the 13th of August.
Please RSVP at your earliest convenience. Further details shall be sent closer to the date
Hermione sat staring at the invitation, Lyra was going to get married. She hadn't even mentioned it, let alone seemed interested in marriage. Hermione suspected this wasn't Lyra sending the invites, however. Depositing the invitation in a drawer she went back to her book and tried to forget about Lyra's family wedding to a stranger.
Hermione wasn't expecting Harry to barge into her office on a Wednesday afternoon, much less with fourteen rolls of parchment bundled in his arms.
"'Mione, I need your help" He stated dropping the rolls on her desk. Hermione tried not to glare at him, flashbacks to the Triwizard tournament filling her mind.
"What do you need my help with, Harry?" Hermione asked carefully.
"We've been looking into some disappearances and this mark keeps cropping up. I don't know what it means but I'm worried it's another dark mark" Harry explained the best he could. He produced a scrap of paper with a symbol on it. Hermione stared at it for a second, it was a simple white hexagon with a blue background. Within the hexagon, there was intricate symbology of geometry that Hermione recognised from some of her ancient ruin books.
"I don't think it's another dark mark Harry" Hermione theorised.
"Why do you think that?" Harry immediately quizzed
"Because Harry, how many dark wizards are there?" Hermione asked,
"A full army of them!" Harry stressed,
"All were threatened or manipulated in some way Harry I doubt any of them would have the brains to start something on their own" Hermione explained,
"I suppose, but 'Mione what if this is something, what if-"
"All theoretical Harry" Hermione stated standing, "If it will make you feel better, go to Azkaban and ask one of the Death Eaters you put away Harry" Hermione suggested. She began to pull her paperwork away from Harry's endless scrolls of parchment.
"Great idea, 'Mione. Can we go now? Then get we can get lunch on the way back" Harry stated grabbing her hand
"What? Harry" Hermione found herself being dragged to the floo. "What about Ron? Take him with you" Hermione suggested,
"What? No. Ron's too hot-headed for this please 'Mione just one trip' ' Harry practically begged. Rolling her eyes she stepped onto the floo with him.
"Just one trip" Hermione stated.
They arrived in Azkaban and it was as horrible a place as Hermione had imagined. The black stone merged into the grey sky above them. Harry led the way, she met an Auror who scanned her, took her wand and scanned her a second time before nodding them through. Hermione walked through, looking at Harry whose face had turned solemn.
"Who are we here to see Harry?" Hermione asked curiously.
"I thought we could see some of the smaller members before trying to break someone in the inner circle, they might know" Harry theorised. Harry led them to a small room. Walking in Hermione gasped. She didn't know the person who was chained to the wall but he looked bored,
"I wondered when I might be graced with your presence Potter" The man grinned.
"Hello, Fawley" Harry greeted,
"What can I do for you Potter?" the man grunted.
"I want to know about this symbol" he placed the piece of parchment on the floor in front of the filthy man. The man looked at it before shaking his head,
"Is it meant to mean something?" He asked. Harry sighed,
"You didn't see it during the war?" Hermione asked. The man shook his head,
"'Fraid not," He shrugged. Hermione shook her head,
"Come on Harry, let's do some research and come back" Hermione suggested making Harry nod in agreement. It reminded her of when he was convinced Draco Malfoy was a Death Eater. They flooed back to the Ministry, Harry sighed sitting across from her,
"I thought we might have gotten something 'Mione," Harry thought aloud. "I'm sorry for dragging you there"
"As long as you explain to my boss why I haven't done anything this week" Hermione stated tidying her desk.
After that visit Harry continued to update her on the appearance of the symbol, it appeared in multiple small places such as in Whitby in North Yorkshire where a distant cousin of Marcus Flint's had gone missing. Another had cropped in Pembrokeshire beside the coast of St Davids. Hermione had been helping Harry in her spare time to try and find the connection, any connection between the places but it seemed impossible, Harry had questioned the Flint's on the cousin but they weren't overly forthcoming on the family details other than he was a devout follower of the Dark Lord.
Hermione sat on her couch one evening flipping through her book on ancient runes when her door went. Opening it she was shocked to find Lyra stood on the other side,
"Lyra?" Hermione's mouth spoke before she could think, "What are you doing here?" she asked as the tall Malfoy stepped into her flat.
"You said you wanted to go to Berlin, so let's go" She stated, she had an old leather satchel Hermione recognised as her school bag strung over her shoulder as she looked around the small living room.
"Now?" Hermione asked, "But I can't just leave"
Lyra looked at her confused, "Why not? Where's Weasley? Is this your entire house by the way? I thought with all that war effort gold you could afford something better. Also, why don't you have one of those moving boxes Muggles have?" Lyra's questions rattled off quicker than Hermione could keep up. She flushed red in annoyance at Lyra's judgement of her house,
"We don't all have ancient family ties to billions of galleons" Hermione snapped. "And it's called a television"
Lyra shrugged and looked around her flat again, "So are we going, the portkey leaves from the stair in fifteen"
Hermione thought for a moment, she had no ties, it was a Friday evening and Lyra was offering to take her somewhere that she had never thought of seeing. Somewhere new and exciting.
"How long are you going for?" Hermione asked Lyra grinned
"Only a day or so," She responded. Hermione walked into her bedroom and quickly put an undetectable extension charm on her small bag before quickly packing clothes. She thought of everything especially since she didn't imagine Lyra skimping on something the equivalent as the Leaky Cauldron. Hermione thought this could be her chance to ask Lyra about some of the strange happenings that were causing Harry sleepless nights. She could ask about the Flints, the symbol, she dared herself to ask about her ball that her father was forcing on her. Though she had no proof it was Lucius. A small knock startled her from her thoughts,
"Are you ready? The portkey will leave soon" Lyra's voice pulled her from her thoughts. Hermione nodded, closing her bags and walking out of the flat. Locking the door and casting her charms she turned to find Lyra watching her quizzically,
"Never too safe" Hermione deflected. Lyra nodded and waved her black wand over the window sill of the stairwell. An old pocket watch sat there.
"Ready?" Lyra asked. Nodding Hermione took the hand that was offered to her and Lyra grabbed the portkey.
Hermione let go of the old pocket watch, squeezing her eyes tightly trying to disperse of spinning in her head. Opening her eyes she was shocked to be surrounded by people. It was loud, louder than she expected. When Lyra had asked her if she wanted to go to a wizards market this was not what she expected.
"Am I on the black market?" Hermione asked the taller girl. Lyra chuckled and shook her head,
"No, but there will be things here that you can't take back into the country" Lyra explained with a shrug, "Different regulations. Dragon eggs for example" Lyra stated pointing to a vendor who had a large array of eggs on a stall.
Hermione followed Lyra as she walked off towards an apothecary stand. Hermione watched Lyra haggle with the vendor for a good fifteen minutes over ingredients before the seller gave up and conceded. Lyra produced a small coin purse and handed him six sickles.
"You got all of that for six sickles?" Hermione asked in disbelief.
She knew most of what Lyra had bought would have come too far more than six sickles in Diagon Alley. Hermione followed closely to Lyra as she strode through the crowd as if it was nothing. They looked at various stalls, the magic clearly flowing through the market. It reminded Hermione of her first visit to Diagon Alley. There was music in the distance. A vendor tried to get her to buy scarlet blue robes. Another, a pair of dragon skin gloves. Then Hermione saw it, tucked away in the corner a small stand piled high with books. Hermione walked over forgetting to even acknowledge Lyra and tell her where she was going. Hermione searched the stall, finding herself suddenly with her arm full of first edition books and titles she had never heard off. Placing them down she looked to tell Lyra of her find. She had vanished, frowning Hermione turned trying to find the blonde. A flash of blonde hair caught her eye and she followed the blonde. Hermione was shocked to see Lyra stood on the edge of the market. Two hooded figures stood before her. Their wands pointing at her subtly. Gripping her own wand Hermione watched as they pointed in the direction of a dimly lit backstreet. Hermione followed at a distance, her heart hammering in her chest, she hadn't been in a situation like this since they infiltrated the Ministry. Following the dark figures up the stairs of an old leaning building, she managed to find a small hiding spot next to the room they had dragged Lyra into.
Hermione listened intently as Lyra shoved them off of her. Dusting her black trousers off she glared at the hooded people.
"Now that you've all finished manhandling me, where are we with the Rowle family?" Lyra asked. She placed her hands within her black jacket and walked to the large window staring out over Berlin.
"Slowly making progress my lady, Selwyn is with them tomorrow evening to convince them of the plans but it will take time" a woman's voice came from one of the hooded figures.
Hermione heard Lyra hiss, a sharp flick of her wrist and a gust flew through the room. Their hoods falling revealing their faces. Hiding her face from the dust as she opened her eyes she was shocked to see the faces of children she recognised from Hogwarts, Durmstrang and Beauxbatons were revealed to her. She recognised the children of Death Eaters that she had testified against. She could see Kira Lee, the daughter of the Lee family that Hermione had read about when she was looking for Lyra's name. Towards the back of the room, she could see Saiph Mulciber, her father was imprisoned in Azkaban. Hermione knew she had watched him being sentenced after Harry had testified against him. There were a number of faces she recognised. Many, if not all, were from pure-blood families. Hermione watched Lyra shake her head,
"Time" Hermione could see Lyra rubbing the side of her chin as if she was pondering something, "That's the worst excuse I've heard from you Snyde"
Hermione's brain clicked, this was the daughter of the Snydes who where in Azkaban. Hermione watched them, her grip on her wand tightening.
"Alek, where are we with the Durmstrang students?" Lyra asked cutting off a skinny man who had been stuttering his way through telling her about their interactions in Moscow.
"The facility is on board to change the curriculum. They agree with our message" A tall broad man that reminded her of Viktor.
"Good" Lyra muttered, she turned on her heel and Hermione watched her necklace swing free around her neck. Her eyes widening at the sight. There were two pendants on the thin leather band. A skull of something and a hexagon that Harry had been chasing. Hermione listened intently,
"Burke, what do you think of all this?" Lyra asked quietly, inspecting her hand. A thin man stepped forward that Hermione recognised was in the year below her and in Slytherin.
"I think our world has to evolve and that this is the best way we can do that" He stammered, Lyra nodded watching him carefully,
"And what of you Selwyn? You were, after all, a great follower of the Dark Lord" Lyra asked, Hermione was shocked to see Selwyn, a man who had been on the run since the Battle.
"As were you, my Lady" Hermione didn't miss Lyra's sneer, "I fear that we are losing our way from the Dark Lord's teachings" He offered, his head dipped in a bow,
"Do you? And do you believe that to only have magical blood, pure magical blood, is sustainable in our current way of living?" Lyra asked, walking closely into the group. Many of them shuffled uncomfortably away.
"It is not for me to make those judgements-" He stammered,
"No, it is not" Lyra snapped. Hermione could see the tall girl's patience slipping. "If you were mentored by the Dark Lord then I may take a view on your opinions Selwyn but the fact is that you were not. Nor are you one of the original followers" Lyra sneered.
"Your family was not exactly the most committed either" Lee voiced. Lyra spun and as quick as Bellatrix Lestrange she was in the girls face, her wand to her throat.
"You dare question my loyalty to the Dark Lord?" Lyra hissed.
"Of course not my lady" The girl breathed in panic.
"I didn't think so," Lyra muttered, shoving her backwards. "Nonetheless the Dark Lords plan was not sustainable for our community. We are going to make it sustainable" Hermione watched Lyra walk to the window.
"We will ensure that wizarding blood thrives under our regime and we certainly aren't going to allow our parent's failings to dissuade that"
I hope you enjoyed it and as always let me know your thoughts and opinions in the comments and until next time stay safe!