Disclosure Hp belongs to Jkr. The storyline, new character development, new events, and new characters are my intellectual property. Glorioux
a/n Coming to an end. New chapters of MM. Hope everyone is safe. Hopefully this nightmare will soon be over.
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After Hermione talked to her Healer, she returned to the living room, wearing leather trousers, hiking boots, and a long jumper. "My healer says I am well; let's figure out what to do. Please listen. I will not allow any of you to treat me like I am made out of spoon-sugar. I am going to protect my life. Whoever wants to help is welcome." She stood defiantly. She tied the wand holder around her thigh while they looked.
"Count me in," Draco raised his hand, ignoring Lucius, who was fuming. Looking at Hermione ready to battle made Draco want to be deep inside of her. He remembered when she held him close enough to feel her damp, warm sex and could almost feel her hand on his cock. Cool it, Romeo. He told himself; he was nearly panting.
Emile chuckled, "It was too good to last. Alice was exactly like you. Don't count me in; I don't want you to take any risks."
Basil's reaction was unexpected, "I am in. You are a powerful, bright witch. If your healer deems you well; let's think about it." He realized what his father said was true, nothing sexier than a warrior witch.
Three dogs and a child, dressed in funny garments, jumped out the portrait.
The child dressed in period clothes, from 500 years before, was Teddy, wearing a heavy medallion and short sword. "I met JD's something. He was a little scary but nice; he was a big doggy with three heads, then something else, a man, kind of, very big. His name was hmm, Cerebu, or not sure. He says I can meet my deader mommy and daddy next time. Look here," he showed them a velvet bag. He gave it to Hermione. "He said to call him Cerby; someone dearest calls him that."
Gundruf grimaced; she wanted to leave the room.
"Cerby said they are for when I marry Gundruf, or maybe her babe; he says she is a speaker for. Mommy, look inside." Teddy asked Hermione. Everyone noticed he dropped the God, from God-mommy; they were whispering, and Gundruf nodded. It was true. She had seen many mythical figures the times she went. She could see the 'others' since, always.
Hermione spilled the contents of the bag, "Teddy, you are set for life." From inside the bag, gems kept coming out, rubies, emeralds, diamonds, sapphires, and a ring.
Teddy grabbed the ring, "Cerby said it was a gift for you. He said to think about his offer last time; he said it's always open." He gave a ring to Gundruf.
Gundruf turned scarlet. Basil asked, "What offer? No wonder you still go there; so are you the one who calls him Cerby?" He teased her; but she wouldn't say. Hermione shook her head, but Basil ignored her. He was naughty; it was his dark side.
Teddy added after thinking, "Cerby says that Gundi is the most beautiful, and he called her his cheese."
They guffawed, "Did he say chosen? Did the dog tell you that?" Basil waggled his eyebrows. Draco liked this version of Mr. Proper.
"Ah, yes, his chosen. Cerby is a dog, but also like a very big man and kind of pretty; the big man said Gundi is a godsess and tasted like something like an, am, it was like ambroshu something." Teddy was a gossip; Hermione knew that. He was listening and repeating all he heard, since he could talk, mangling what he heard, just like now. Lucius was just learning to hold his thoughts around Teddy.
"Oh, beautiful goddess who tastes like ambrosia. The one spoken for, the chosen one; oh great one Queen of the Underworld, do remember us mere mortals when you are with Cerby." Emile said, making everyone grin. Draco liked Emile as well; he wanted to be in this family.
"Grrr, Teddy, be quiet. I won't marry you if you say one more word." Gundruf was the color of fire.
"But why he was nice, he said more." Teddy was still going. Draco winked at Hermione, who grinned. He also knew Teddy's terrible gossiping; everyone was quiet around him. "Mommy, he said you would be my mommy, and also said your mommy is not deader." Teddy tapped his lip. His hair was glowing red. Hermione recoiled at the message about her mother. She would ask later.
"Basil, may I keep the puppy? She loves me," Mila jumped to kiss Teddy. It was true. She loved Teddy.
Basil bit his lip, "Mila has been promised, but I will check," he sighed.
Before Teddy could cry, Lucius said, "Teddy, I will take you to see the baby unicorn I saw yesterday. The baby might hide if Mila came."
Teddy ran to Lucius, "Yes, I think so. Mila is a dog, sorry Mila, bye; I what to see the baby unicorn." Teddy said. When he was told he needed a nap, he obeyed but refused to change his clothes, embroidered with gold thread and small gems; and also refused to give up the short sword. Lucius pointed his wand and dulled the sword's blade. Teddy finally left to nap, allowing them to talk.
Lucius said, "Let me have Gundruf's blood-stained jumper."
Gundruf'd changed her jumper. Lucius cut the jumper into pieces. Lucius pulled his wand and a small pouch with several vials. He sprinkled a bloody jumper piece with the content of two vials. He moved the wand over it, murmuring a Malfoy's spell. A silhouette appeared, followed by another. First, it showed an old couple.
Basil exclaimed, "Lady Dagworth's groundskeeper and his wife, how can that be?"
The faces faded, morphing into people Basil had seen before, in pictures in the Dagworth's mansion. "They are Lord Dagworth's nephew and his wife; they died after they killed Jerome's brother and sister. Lady Dagworth found them in the nursery; her husband joined her; they had a scrimmage. Something fell crushing them; but we need to see the reports."
"But what if someone was polyjuiced to look like them? It seems as if they have been doing this for a while," Hermione noted.
Lucius wasn't done, pointing the wand at another piece of the stained jumper, he converted into a pendant, "My dear," he passed the pendant to Hermione, "I know Gryffindors are against blood magic, but wear this, and you will be able to see your murderous relative, behind any morphing disguises."
"Thanks, this is useful; my views have changed. Most magic is neither good nor bad; it depends on its uses. But there are two wizards and one more witch, besides Astoria; who is the other wizard?" Hermione asked.
"I guess we will find out; for now, we should go to your home; Draco can come. I suggest that Teddy moves into this suite. If they figure out Teddy matters to Hermione, they will come after him."Basil recommended, and Lucius agreed. "Go on."
Hermione, Gundruf, and the three Wizards followed the dogs into the frame; Draco held Hermione's hand. He knew whatever he felt for Hermione wouldn't go away. It was a forever type of feeling. Astoria's betrayal still hurt, but less all the time.
"Don't talk to anyone; you could be stuck in here otherwise. I was a child when I first came in, and children are usually safe. They can go further into the passages." Gundruf warned, "Just follow the girls. Their grandfather protects them."
It was odd, like going into a dark room. JD, Hermione's dog, barked, ordering to follow. Her mother and sister did the same. In less than a minute, they jumped out of the frame into an unknown room.
Hermione was pale; she held her wand in her hand. "I saw people inside; they called my name."
Draco said, "I did as well, but we were here the next second." He didn't- add one was his mother, a younger version. She had warned him about Astoria.
Gundruf said, "Don't talk to them, ignore them. After this passage, you might be able to see ghosts, but only for a few days. I was a Necromancer at birth; thus, when I followed Nelly, my parents' girl, Diane's daughter, my gift became stronger. I previously thought to go in the portrait of Lord Dagworth and see what I could find out. But it won't work; he is blocked from saying more; the ones that are responsible for the murders must know about me."
Hermione looked around; they were in an office room. Basil showed her a vault, "Touch it. It should open."
Hermione walked to open it when they heard several steps coming their way. They listened to a voice, but not the spell, and the door exploded open. Five hooded figures came in; the dogs changed into two-headed dogs with glowing eyes. It happened in seconds.
The hooded intruders cast several unforgivables before Hermione, and the others could react. What they saw next, they would never forget. Three green lights stopped midway. One was millimeters away from Gundruf and another from Hermione. The dogs growled, ready to attack; JD and her mother were frozen mid-air, their jaws open; the puppy was right behind.
A giant jumped out of a portrait. "One more step," the giant roared, scaring everyone in the room, "and you will be skinned, then I will take you to a river of salt, keeping you alive."
He was by the attackers, grabbed them as if they were dolls, lowering their hoods. He threw them on the ground, bounded with glowing ropes. The three dogs jumped on the newcomers; he picked them up and let them lick him. Then, they stood on his shoulder, looking like tiny birds.
Less than two minutes had passed by. The stranger turned around and walked to Gundruf. Hermione knew this must be the one who had talked to Teddy. His skin was the color of fire, and his hair glowed red like Teddy's did earlier. Hermione thought he was a beautiful, terrifying being.
"My dears, are you all right?" He touched Gundruf's face with his finger, with tenderness, and then looked at Hermione.
Both nodded, still scared of the fear of the near-death experience.
At once, they all thanked whoever that was. "I don't suppose to be here, but couldn't allow any harm to come to my heart's chosen. I am waiting for your answer, but I will wait till we are alone. You know what it requires." When he touched Gundruf's cheek once again, she closed her eyes.
With those words, he lowered the dogs down and went back into the frame.
They said nothing else. There was work to be done. They walked to see the face of the ones on the floor.
Basil didn't recognize any of them. "Who sent you?" Basil asked, but the attackers vanished, gone.
Draco knew it, "Father is right. A powerful dark magical being is behind the attacks."
Hermione finally had her voice back, "I recognized two of the attackers. I have seen them around, but not sure where. The wards need to be changed. If the groundskeeper is my murderous relative, then he is one of the killers. Let me open the vault." JD stayed stuck to her.
Hermione stood in front of the vault, placing her hand on it. Slowly, the heavy door opened up. Basil looked for the documents. He found a leather roll with a band around it. "Open it, " he passed it to Hermione.
She did. Inside the roll, there were several scrolls. They went outside to look and to read the reports. Lord Dagworth had investigators after he observed many irregularities at the Manor. They all led to the groundskeeper and to a young wizard who helped Basil's father. The last report had arrived a day before Lord Dagworth died. The young wizard was his nephew's son; a son Lord Dagworth didn't know existed. He was six years older than Hermione. The couples who died during the Manor's scrimmage were the original groundskeeper and his wife, polyjuiced as his nephew and wife. They had been paid a fortune. Hermione had been right.
Draco was reading one scroll, "He suspected a witch who helped his wife with the garden. If she is still here; we need to stop her."
Basil said, "She lives in a cottage on the estate grounds. We should all go. No sense in separating."
Draco shook his head, "Hermione should go back to the hotel; or best, stay here, or go to Malfoy Manor. It is safe there."
"Not so fast. She can go with me to my parents. Draco should go with Basil or go back and get help. We need Aurors. Let them do their work. I want my daughter to go with me. I need to go back to our cottage, Jerome, Alice's, and mine. I just remembered what I did; if so, there is hope. But first, I need you to tell me what day you lost baby Alice." Emile blinked. "You are here?" He could see his dead siblings and others.
Hermione and the others looked. They could see Theo, Alice, and the Dagworth grandparents as if they were in the room. Emile reached to touch the little witch.
"I see them," Hermione also reached.
"I am still here, but you can see me well." Little Alice answered. "I love you, Mommy, but I don't like Teddy."
Theo told Hermione and Draco, "I betrayed the two I loved the most, Draco, my brother, and you, my love. Forgive me, and be careful. Astoria is already with someone else, and it only took her one day. He is Mimi's cousin, a rotten apple. Astoria wants everyone dead so that she can have it all again. She thinks he will marry her. Be happy; Draco, take care of her."
Hermione and Draco cried together, forgiving Theo for the wrong doings, wishing he was still around.
Basil went back with Draco. They found out how to defeat the nephew; he was a powerful dark arts practitioner, but now that they knew who he was, Basil could destroy them. He sent an owl to his father to send guards to arrest the witch that killed Lady Dagworth. JD and her mother could sniff the blood, or even look at a picture, find the nephew, and bring him and his cohorts down. Draco could get Astoria's picture. "It will be amazingly gratifying; they probably murdered Lord Dagworth the same day he got the reports."
Basil smiled, "Yes, my lady, I already asked your granddaughter; I am still waiting for an answer... I know, they also killed you." Basil told Lady Dagworth. Now, he could see her.
Draco looked at Hermione, "Yes, we asked, and both are waiting for an answer."
"I know." Was all she said.
They decided who would go where. JD went with Hermione and Emile, and JD's mother and the puppy went back with Draco, Basil, and Gundruf. Emile and Hermione Apparated at the ruins of the old cottage. JD sniffed, stopped at an old door, and started digging.
Emile grinned, disappearing while dragging Hermione. They went into a drawing-room where they saw a couple in their low thirties or so, drinking tea.