The day began colder than usual. The early snow was still falling and I sighed thinking about how much colder the day would be. I moved slowly; this pregnancy was more difficult than the previous one. Morning sickness, tiredness, my magic was unstable.

"Where are you going?" Tom asked, sleepy.

"Toilet. May I go alone?"

"Sorry babe, I just don't like to see you so tired all the time," Tom said sitting on the bed. "I will get breakfast while you get ready for the day."

"Can we have some bacon?"

"Sure, love," Tom answered, leaving the room.

I shook my head, entering the bathroom, I needed to prepare for another busy day. I was not able to hear the plans to catch the madwoman, but I was able to prepare some of my own. They forgot that I was the brain of the Golden Trio.

I decided to let them believe that their plans would work, but I had the feeling that they would not. Even if Bellatrix was mad, she was brilliant and powerful. Greyback was another issue, I did not believe that the wolf would love to be a submissive for long, so I decided to use him to my plan.

Some weeks ago, I sent an owl to Greyback, hoping to have an answer. He was more than ready for an out from the mad one, as he called Bellatrix. I could not leave the house, but I found a way to met him on the garden. He would take a polyjuice potion and would be one of the workers. We met when Remus was not in the house because he would be able to recognize Greyback.

I gave him some polyjuice and a member of his pack would pretend to be him until we could organize their scape or Bellatrix would try to capture me. In the meantime, he gave me valuable information about her plans.

"What are you planning to do today?" Tom asked while I chewed my bacon,

"I want to walk around the park."

"It's your favorite place of the house," Tom said, standing up.

"I will be carefully; I have my portkey ready all the time."

"Good. Severus wants some help with a new spell, so I will be working on the library," Tom said, kissing me before leaving the room.

I had some minutes before I would go to my meeting, but I decided to check my traps once more. Everything will be perfect, and I would show some persons that I was still the brightest of the year.

Walking to the entrance, I could feel the wards adapting to my will. I saw some of the elves reading the traps while Tipsy was putting the decoys in place. I love team's work; it was always better than to do everything by myself.

"Mistress, everything is in place," Tipsy said. "I will wait for you signal to call the men to the garden."

"Hopefully, this will work."

"My lovely granddaughter, this will work," Salazar said.

"You are the only one who thought about asking our help," Godric said.

"To give the wolf a chance to redeem himself," Helga said.

"While showing the stubborn men that you are the brightest of our age," Rowena said.

"Thank you. Just hide until I send you the signal. She will be here soon."

I walked to the lake, sitting on my favorite bench, while waiting for a signal that would arrive soon. I caressed my baby; she was so small and she was already sending some of her magic to my core. She would be my baby girl, my little one.

A red bean on the sky startled me, and I knew that show time would start soon, so I put my wand on my pocket.

"Look what we have here," Bellatrix said, sneering at me. "The whore is alone."

"Bellatrix, nice to see you after all this time."

"Look, wolf, the slut dares to talk back," Bellatrix said.

"She doesn't seem scared of you," Greyback said, moving to the side.

"SHUT UP! Who told you to say anything! You are a beast!" Bellatrix yelled, and I could see one member of the pack cringing. "You are inferior to me, little girl. I will have my Lord again. He will realize that you are nothing!"

"Why would my husband want something like you?"

"I am a pureblood witch, from the Black family! Who are you?" Bellatrix asked, and I sent a signal.

"I do not know, but maybe I could have some help explaining."

"Dearest child, did you summon us?" Salazar asked, and Bellatrix gasped.

"My Lord Slytherin, why did you answer her summon?" Bellatrix asked.

"I am compelled to answer the call of my heiress," Salazar said, looking at me.

"She is nothing but a mudblood!" Bellatrix yelled.

"No need to yell, child," Godric said, gliding to my side. "How is my future lioness?"

"She is fine, healthy and growing up nicely."

"What are you talking about?" Bellatrix yelled.

While Bellatrix started to yell , demanding some explanations, I sent the second signal to the elves to activate the traps. At the same time, Greyback signaled his pack to stand back, and they kneeled on the side, waiting for the end of the meeting. The alpha looked at me, before closing his eyes and kneeling.

I could feel the magic circling the place, preparing the cage that would close the mad woman until the judgement was done. Salazar looked at me, nodding, and I walked to his side.

"Lord Slytherin, a member of our noble house brought shame to us."

"What are the charges against her?" Salazar asked.

"She forgot that the loyalty to our glorious house, she forgot to follow your heirs, she almost succeeded ruining our reputation."

"Only Old Magic can judge somebody who betrays their house," Salazar said, forming a circle with Rowena, Godric, and Helga.

"Our magic will bring judgement," Rowena said.

"Our magic will see her soul," Helga said.

"Our magic will evaluate her heart," Godric said.

"Our magic will assess her loyalty," Salazar said.

"Our magic evaluates your magic, your soul, your heart, and your loyalty. Only those who are pure in their intentions and values deserve to possess magic. Foramen in iudiciis! (opening of trials)" The founders said, closing their eyes.

The magic around us became stronger. I could feel it in my bones, I could feel my baby magic on the air. I could feel the smell of the earth, the humidity of the water, the heat of the fire and the gentle caress of the wind around me.

Bellatrix looked afraid, I guess she could feel the magic of the founder and the Old magic judging her. She looked around, waiting for some exterior help, but nobody moved to her side. Her skin looked darker than usual, her eyes were red, and she started to scream. Magic had ruled her unworthy. It was scary to see her melting like a piece of ice on the sun. Some minutes later, everything was over.

"My Lady, will you keep our deal?" Greyback asked.

"I will protect you as you were loyal to me. I will stablish a safe zone for your pack, but you will take our potion before every full moon."

"Yes, My Lady, your wish is our command," Greyback said, bowing again.

I heard somebody running, and Tom appeared with my brothers and some Aurors. They looked at the founders, at the pack kneeling at my feet, and they did not understand what happened.

"Love, where is Bellatrix?" Tom asked.

"Magic ruled her unworthy."

"How?" Severus asked.

"The founder summoned the Old magic."

"What about the wolf?" Lucius asked.

"They swore loyalty to me and my line. They will stay here."

"But greyback?" An Auror asked.

"He helped me prepared the trap with his pack. He will stay."

"Hermione?" Tom asked, and I looked at him.

"I claimed my place as the head of the Houses. The founder chose me to lead the heirs."

"She is the strongest and the brightest. She was the only one who though about summoning Old magic to judge the fiend," Salazar said.

"She will make a great leader," Godric said.

"Now, she needs to rest," Helga said.

"The war is finally over," Rowena said.