The Forgotten Prisoner
The man struggled against his magical chains as the seven women in white surrounded him on all sides in the small chamber.
He growled as the women in white cloaks and gold claps chanted in a forgotten language that sounded like old Gaelic.
"You won't win, Morgana." he panted, the invisible chains bringing him down to the cobbled floor.
The brunette he spoke to didn't acknowledge him as she and six other continued to chant, further adding layers of invisible chains, freezing him into place.
It was seven hours later when the seven women stopped chanting, a few sinking to the floor in exhaustion.
"You're trapped Myrddin." Morgana said, leaning on her intricate wooden staff, "You shall remain here, in your vassal's chamber as the world around you grows and changes. Even if the building is to fall, you will remain imprisoned, this… this the nature of your curse and our ritual."
The man was kneeled in front of her, arms spread wide, the chains making it impossible for him to move.
"The world will forget you and the horrors you brought upon it but we shall thrive, as we always do not because we are Enchantresses but because we are witches and have power that you could never imagine." She said to his frozen body.
She motioned to others as she turned away and one by one they left the stone chamber deep beneath the castle.
It was only when all seven women stood outside, did they spell the opening close, making it look like the rest of the walls in the maze of rooms the vassal had once built.
"Will it be enough?" One asked weakly.
"It'll hold him for a millennium." Morgana replied, her nose raised, "By then, they may have found a way to kill the beast he is."
Hermione Granger hyperventilated as she took in the chaos around her.
Hogwarts was blasted to pieces with friends she considered family dying around her, she withheld a scream.
"It's an illusion, I need to dissipate it." She thought, steadying herself.
Hermione quickly found the invisible weave as she tried to untangle it in the middle of her worst nightmare, A Battle Of Hogwarts that they lost.
She ignored the spells that flew not only at her but those she knew and loved.
It was only when Ron fell to a green spell that she stumbled slightly, her hands trembling to such an extent she struggled to unweave the illusion.
As an illusioned Voldemort approached, she pulled the last string, successfully dissolving the illusion that was put forward as her last and final exam.
As the illusion fell, so did she, a full-blown panic attack in her chest and her throat.
She tried to concentrate on the green grass bellow her, the dew that had settled in as the sun rose and the sound of the birds chirping, waking for the day.
Eventually she stood, wobbling slightly. Her eyes adjusted to the brightness, she turned, at first admiring the wide-open grassy field with no trees in sight and then looking for the seven women in white cloaks who were her examiners.
Hermione walked towards them and bowed, not saying anything.
"You have passed you seventh and final examination." Enchantress Marigold said softly at the young brunette.
Her eyes flicked to the woman in front of her, her brain struggling to comprehend that she had successfully passed all her exams.
"Kneel, child." Said Natalya sternly, ignoring the smiling faces of the enchantresses.
Before, Hermione would hesitate to do anything blindly but after her apprenticeship with Seraphina, she learnt to put her ego aside and do as instructed when a woman of the white cloth gave her an order.
"You have passed all seven of our examinations with flying colours," Said Marigold, the oldest enchantresses among them, "We determine you worthy but now, magic must deem it so. Should magic reject you as one of our own, your memories of all you have learnt shall be wiped and you shall be returned home by your mentor."
Hermione's eyes flickered to Seraphina in panic, nobody had said anything about this to her before.
Seraphina the tall, blonde woman nodded reassuringly at the brunette kneeling down.
"Should magic deem you worthy, you shall be known as Enchantress Hermione and be bestowed our cloak and clasp. You will be entitled to rights and privileges wherever you may settle but you shall incur responsibilities as well. There shall always be those in need and we shall always assist those who require it." Marigold said solemnly. "It is not an easy path but a rewarding one. A path where we may hopefully call you sister."
She nodded still kneeling, her hands on her bent knee.
"Repeat after us," Natalya said as the women surrounded Hermione in a small circle.
"I do so swear to protect, promote and inspire magical and non-magical education where humanely possible" Seraphina started the vows that would enable Hermione to become an Enchantress.
"I do so swear to protect, promote and inspire magical and non-magical education where humanely possible." Hermione repeated, keeping eye contact with the woman who had spent the previous seven years teaching her everything she knew.
"I do so swear to heal where I can and let go where I can't." Natalya said, looking almost sadly at the kneeling brunette.
"I do so swear to heal where I can and let go where I can't." She repeated.
Marigold sighed at the Russian woman, impatience evident.
"I do so swear to do no evil and cause no undue harm." She said.
Hermione blinked and repeated.
"I do so swear to protect and enable those that can't protect and enable themselves." Thandi said smiling down at the woman.
She smiled back at her as she repeated the vow.
"I do so swear to offer shelter and safety to those that seek it." Sasha said making eye contact with her.
Hermione repeated it, her knees starting to ache.
"I do so swear to do what I can for those I can with no intentional harm to myself in the process," Naledi said, in her thick South African accent.
She nodded as the words flew out her mouth.
"I do so swear to protect magic, magic beings and those non-magical." Constantia said, the enchantress seemed ancient to Hermione.
"I do so swear to protect magic, magic beings and those non-magical." She repeated seriously, holding the frail woman's eye.
"We seven of the Enchantresses welcome Hermione Granger as our sister, not by blood, but by magic. So mote it be." The seven women before Hermione said in unison.
Before she could say anything else, she felt herself being slowly lifted off the ground by a gentle breeze, almost as if she was floating before them the grass underneath her feet.
She felt her skin tingle and her hands tremble.
A glowing white cloak attached itself to Hermione's shoulder, a gold leaf clasp securing it by the base of her neck.
Hermione felt as if the trees and the grass and the flowers all around her sung in celebration.
It was only when the gentle breeze gently set her down on the ground did she say, "Does this mean…"
Marigold grabbed her hands and squeezed them, smiling brightly, "Welcome Sister."
Hermione and Seraphina sat in her kitchen, with Winky pouring them a cup of tea.
"Thank you, Winky." The blonde said tiredly.
"I can't believe it." Hermione said, her eyes still slightly glazed at the shock of it all.
Seraphina smiled at her previous apprentice. "It will sink in when all of your clothes turn white and people bow at your feet wherever you go."
The brunette shrugged, "Its England, there hasn't been an Enchantress on these shores in two centuries. The population has most likely forgotten we exist."
"I forget you weren't brought up in a magical family." The older enchantress smiled, "It's a bedtime story that almost all magical children are told growing up, not as fiction but as fact. They are well aware of the customs and laws surrounding us. It's not every day that magic blesses a witch, they'd be idiots to ignore that."
Hermione scoffed, "The Ministry of Magic is not known for its intelligence. They should've requested help from the Enchantresses when Voldemort first rose to power. Then we could've helped."
"You'll get a seat on their wizengamot soon enough and then you can change the blasted laws they put into place regarding us." Seraphina sighed, "When are you going to see the Weasleys?"
"We are going this evening, Winky has kindly agreed to make desert."
Despite the numerous letters that had been exchanged between Hermione, the Potters and the Weasleys, they hadn't seen each other since she had started her apprenticeship seven years previously. The last time she had seen any of them was for Harry's and Ginny's wedding shortly before she had left with Seraphina.
"They must be excited to see you."
Hermione smiled evilly, "They don't know we're coming. Its Sunday and they always do a big family dinner. I figured that it would be a nice surprise."
The older enchantress rolled her eyes, "Just don't surprise Ginny to the point of early labor."
She smiled at the thought of a pregnant Ginny, hers and Harry's first, they were both understandably nervous. Harry in particular.
"I'm going to have a nap before we go." Hermione said standing, "You should too, we both had a trying night."
Hermione admired the cottage she had acquired on Dover Cliffs.
The kitchen was new with every muggle appliance she had grown up with, the walls in the lounge and dining room covered in shelves holding books organized alphabetically.
It had a potions room and 3 spare bedrooms but it was her en suite bathroom that had enticed her to buy the cottage the previous week, it had jacuzzi bath. Which she contemplated getting into before her nap.
The large yawn that escaped her as she walked down the hallway to her room, discarded that idea.
She fell onto her spacious bed, still fully dressed with her white cloak floating next to the bed as she slept soundly.
Hermione and Seraphina were each holding two deserts as they appeared in the garden of the Burrow, the home was still lopsided as ever with the garden less overgrown than she remembered but just as many gnomes crawling around their feet.
"How positively charming." Seraphina said smiling at the sight.
"It's one of my favorite places on earth." Hermione said smiling brightly.
Neither of the women moved for a long moment, their cloaks billowing around them in the autumn wind.
It was only when they heard little Teddys loud giggle did Hermione lead the way inside through the side door.
"Weasleys!" she boomed as she walked inside, everyone's face snapped to her.
It was a very pregnant Ginny that reacted first, screaming in excitement and aggressively jumping off the lone armchair she was lounging in.
"Oh, I missed you so much!" she said hugging the woman awkwardly.
Only then did the rest of the Weasleys and Harry react.
Swarming the pair of enchantresses, Arthur and Molly welcoming Seraphina warmly while everyone crowded around Hemione.
"Oi, she's our friend too." Ron grumbled at Ginny, who was holding onto the young enchantress, her arms holding out the two deserts awkwardly.
Eventually the pregnant red head let Hermione go only for her to be enveloped into a hug by her two oldest friends.
The golden trio awkwardly stood in a three-way hug for a long time.
"Come on you two," Molly huffed, "We've also missed her."
From there Hermione was passed around from person to person for hugs, welcome backs and congratulations.
Seraphina didn't need an introduction, Hermione's letters made everyone feel as if they already knew the woman who spent the previous seven years teaching their favorite Granger.
George unearthed a couple of bottles of Champagne which were promptly popped open for toasts to congratulate the young enchantress.
Later, Hermione sat next to Ginny, who balanced a cup of tea on her belly.
"I've heard enchantresses are fantastic healers." Ginny smiled coyly at her.
Hermione rolled her eyes at her young friend, sipping some champagne out a flute.
"Do you want me to check baby over?"
Catching Harry and Ron's attention behind the couch they sat on.
Ginny nodded, "Please, I'm a lot bigger than what I should be at this stage."
She put her hand on Ginny's round belly, her hand glowing softly, her eyes closed.
Harry and Ron watching quietly.
Hermione opened her eyes and looked around the room, searching for her mentor.
"Seraphina, come here a moment." She said quietly to her.
"What's wrong?" Harry said, putting his hand on his wife's shoulder.
"Nothing," she smiled reassuringly at them, as Seraphina put her hand on Ginny's belly, making eye contact with Hermione, she nodded slowly.
"So I'm not dreaming?"
"No, dear. You're quite right."
"What?" Ginny said, slightly exasperated.
"Did the healer mention you're having twins?" Hermione smiled.
Harry's eyes widened, "You mean…"
"Yes. Two very healthy babies."
At that, Harry promptly fainted, hitting the ground with a loud thud.
Seraphina revived Harry and checked him over for any injuries, while Ginny sat frozen, Molly blubbering about having twins in the family with Bill and Fleur comforting her.
Percy hovered over the expectant mother's shoulder, offering her tea or biscuits. George sat in the corner quietly, his eyes filled with tears.
Ron, Arthur and Hermione sat next to Ginny, all keeping an eye on her while in quiet conversation.
"A simple duplicate spell will double anything they've already bought," She said quietly, "And I'll obviously be there for the births."
"No." Seraphina said, behind Ginny, "You're too close to Ginny and Harry. I'll be there in your stead."
Hermione opened her mouth to protest, eyebrows furrowed and then thought better of saying whatever she was planning. "Very well, you are more experienced in these matters."
"You're sure they're okay?" Ginny asked again, a slight tremor visible in her hands.
Hermione nodded, "Everything is absolutely perfect. You might end up having a slightly earlier birth, around the new year but that's normal with twins."
She nodded, slowly coming out of her daze, "Can we eat yet?"
At this Molly jumped up and commanded the Weasleys to set the table and bring the food out.
"Ginny's pregnant and hungry so do hurry on up Bill!" she huffed at her eldest.
Hermione caught Ron's eye and neither could help but to smile at the matriarch.
"If only I could get Ron out of Grimmauld Place this quickly." She huffed as they sat down to dinner.
Next to Hermione, Ron groaned loudly. "I'm hardly ever there anyway."
"And I still can't walk around in my knickers because I might run into you." She said crossly.
"Harry doesn't mind- "
"But I do!"
"Why doesn't Ron move in with you at Dover Hill Cottage, Hermione?" Seraphina asked innocently.
"What?" The two of them echoed at her.
"You have all that space and I'm leaving soon. I'd sleep a lot better if I knew that you had some company while I'm gone." Seraphina continued innocently. "We may be enchantresses but we do have our weaknesses and Ron's an Auror. A good one at that."
"I do have more than enough space," she looked at Ron, trying to keep her blush at bay.
"But- "he started to say before Molly interrupted him.
"Arthur and I would sleep better knowing you aren't alone and so far away from everyone, Hermione." she said avoiding their eyes," And Ginny and Harry would like the privacy before the baby-babies come."
"Why don't you come and see if one of the rooms is suitable?" Hermione said ignoring everyone, "My room is relatively big but the others aren't."
George mumbled something underneath his breath that made Bill choke on a piece of chicken he'd just taken a bite out of.
"What was that, dear?" Molly asked, eyes narrowing.
George patted his oldest brother on the back, "Nothing mum."
"That's what I thought, young man." She harrumphed.
"Err yeah, I can come past tomorrow morning around 9?" Ron said awkwardly, aware of everyone listening into their conversation.
She paused, "I'm meeting the minster at 9, I know you have early mornings but can we do 8?"
"Why are you meeting with Kinglsey?" Harry injected, leaning back in his chair, arms crossed, still slightly pale.
"Enchantress business." She said immediately. "I need my wizengamot seat approved, budget etc."
"Harry and I will escort you in. There's always reporters hanging around the atrium and there will be a mob waiting for you by the time your meeting is over." Ron said leaving no room for objections.
She smiled gratefully at him. "Sure, why don't both of come at 8, Ron can scout out on of the bedrooms and then we can all have breakfast before meeting with Minister Shacklebolt."
The two aurors agreed excitedly.
It was only when she and Seraphina were home did the mentor say, "Ronald couldn't keep his eyes off of you tonight."
Making the brunette blush brightly as she hurried away for bed.
"And you're sure that its okay?" Ron said for what seemed to be the fifth time that morning over coffee.
Hermione struggled not to roll her eyes at him, "Yes Ronald. I'm sure. I've been surrounded by people since the age of 11, I'd like the company, especially if its yours."
They both blushed slightly at the statement.
A cough escaped Harry as he drank his tea.
"You are aware that we'll be facing a media fiasco by the end of the day?" Harry said calmly folding the Daily Prophet.
Hermione shrugged, "Its expected. Seraphina thinks it going to a fiasco for a long time with me around."
Shortly before 9am, Hermione windlessly summoned her cloak, clasping it over the base of her neck.
She sneaked a quick look at the mirror with her white fitted pants and blouse and small heal, she thought she looked presentable.
"You ready?" she looked at the duo.
They both nodding, looking dashing in their red auror robes.
Neither had a moment to react when they suddenly appeared in the far end of the atrium.
"How…" Ron trailed off.
She winked at him, "I'm an enchantress. It's easier than the floo."
Before either of them could say anything to that, she turned on her heal and walked confidently towards the Ministry Fountain.
The security check point didn't even bother stopping them, not with Hermione leading the charge, they simply stared as she almost marched passed, ignoring them completely.
It wasn't long before cameras started flashing at them by the reporters hanging around the atrium but before any questions could be thrown at the trio, they were out of hearing distance.
Hermione got on the elevator, smiling slightly to herself.
"Potter. Weasley." A balding man nodded at them whilst trying to pretend they weren't staring at Hermione.
Both aurors nodded at him.
When the doors opened on Kingsley's floor, Hermione strode out towards Percy at the far end of the hallway.
"Mr. Weasley." She greeted him, smiling coyly, "I do believe the Minister is expecting me."
"Yes I am." Kinglsey Shacklebolt opened his office door, smiling down at her.
She smiled brightly at him, "Minister Shacklebolt, its lovely to see you again."
"Please just Kinglsey. We are old friends after all, Enchantress." He said smiling.
She nodded, "Very well."
"Please do come in. Are Potter and Weasley joining us?"
"No." She said stepping away from their little triangle formation, "This is business."
She didn't see Ron and Harrys faces of shock.
Kinglsey opened the door further to let her in and she quietly stepped through it.
"Percy, please can you get us some tea?" he asked before closing the door.
Hermione looked around the large carpeted office and stepped towards one of the windows overlooking the fountain and the atrium.
"How far we've come." She said quietly.
"Indeed. Once you breaking into here to save the wizarding world and now, you're being welcomed back with open arms." He smiled, leaning back against his table.
His office was large with red carpets and mahongy wood paneling. A small couch with two arm chairs in the corner is where Hermione settled, taking her cloak off.
She didn't miss how Kinsley's eyes widen when the cloak floated up behind her chair as she sat.
"You'll get used it." She said confidently, "Or so they tell me."
He nodded, sitting across from her as a lady brought in tea from a side door.
"Thank you so much Janice." Hermione smiled at her.
The woman looked at her shocked.
"I do believe a mixture of chamomile and witch-hazel will settle your little one at night to get you more of a rest." She added, "Everything else…it will come right too. You'll see."
"Th-th-than-ank y-y-you." She stuttered out.
"That will be all, thank you Janice." Kingsley said, shaken. He had never learnt her name before or had even known she had a child at home.
"Minister," Hermione said seriously, "That woman needs a raise, you see that she gets it."
He opened his mouth to say something but promptly shut it, nodding.
She smiled at him slightly, "Let's get down to business, shall we?"
"Yes lets."
Hermione took a moment to pour her tea, looking as cool as a cucumber.
"Firstly, Congratulations on becoming an enchantress. The first in England in over 200 years." He said politely, "Am I correct in assuming you wish to settle here?"
"You are. Should my conditions be met, I will settle here for an indefinite period of time."
"Conditions?" he said frowning.
"Of course. You didn't think I'd live her unconditionally, did you?" she said surprised.
He paused, "Quite frankly, yes I did. Especially after all you did in the war, I- "
Hermione sighed at him.
"Would've thought you wanted to settle here to help us rebuild, not for profit." He continued.
She summoned a manila folder from her cloak.
"In here is a list of what is traditionally owed to an enchantress that chooses to settle in England. It also contains a list of my requests, these are non-negotiable factors which will have to be met should I decide to remain in the British Isles." She said sternly handing it over to him, "You will also find what the other enchantresses are currently receiving from their chosen homes…I think you'll find I have been quite modest in my requests."
Hermione handed it over to him and he immediately opened it and started reading through it.
"Futhermore, you shall find 24 signed declarations from other Ministers of Magic around the world, declaring a trade embargo on England, magical and muggle as well, the wizengamot decide not meet my requests."
His eyes shot up, "That's blackmail."
"Is it really?" she said somewhat sarcastically.
Kingsley blinked at her.
"This Ministry has recovered some since the war but not quite enough to thrive." She continued as he looked over the document, "There is still great prejudice, corruption and don't even get me started on the discrimination…I have traveled the world and the United Kingdom is regarded as a joke in the wizarding world."
His eyes flickered at her, "There's only so much I can do, Hermione."
She nodded, "16 of 19 bills you've tried to introduce has been declined since you've been minister. All 16 bills are good and fair and more importantly, they're needed in our community should our community wish to thrive."
He sighed.
"I can help with that. In ways you cannot quite imagine yet."
"I don't think the wizengamot will allow this."
She smiled at him, "Oh, trust me they will. The trade embargo will bankrupt more than 60% of them, they can't afford not meet my requirements, furthermore, the press release that will go out this evening will make them seem worse than Voldemort should they refuse."
"You're sure about this?" he asked, "It's going to be an uphill battle."
She shrugged, "Not as much as you think, dear Kingsley."
"Very well, I'll present it to them."
"I need an answer within 72 hours others the embargo shall begin…with immediate effect." She said seriously.
"But- "he started to protest.
"Before I go, can I have a private word with Percy please?" She asked.
Kinglsey blinked and rubbed his head in frustration, after a long moment he stood and opened the door, calling the Weasley in.
"A private word, Minister." She said to him as he hesitated.
The man frowned and closed the door with him outside.
"Have a seat Percy." She smiled at him.
As Hermione left the elevator in the ministry, the flashing lights from the reporters made her flinch internally.
She plastered a small smile on her face, while trying to hide her nerves from the press.
Making her way to the front of the fountain, she conjured a small podium to stand on and gently raised her hand to wait for the shouting and screaming to die down.
A long minute later, she put her hand down and said, "Most of you will recognize me as Hermione Granger. I left England seven years ago under an apprenticeship with Enchantress Seraphina. I am extraordinarily please to announce that this past weekend I successfully passed my examinations put forward before me."
A small cheer went up, making Hermione smile slightly.
"When the enchantresses welcomed me as their sister, Magic blessed me as one of their own…making me Enchantress Hermione- "
A louder cheer emerged, many excited faces turned talking to each other.
"I intend to settle here, the country I was raised in, the country I fought for in the war, the country that I love. All I ask of our wizengamot is that they bestow what an enchantress is entitled to by law within our boarders and what my counterparts receive in their homes…"
At this Hermione got bombarded.
Patiently she waited until the questions died down again.
"I expect to hear from them in the next day or so…before I leave, I will answer three questions. Hands up, one at a time."
She looked around and found a slightly aged Rita Skeeter, her hand higher than anyone else's.
"Rita."
Rita smirked briefly at her colleagues.
"Does your decision to settle here have anything with your rumored ex-boyfriend, Ronald Weasley?"
Hermione sighed at her, "What a waste of a question. I don't know why I expected better…Dennis?"
"Will you be assisting the public on certain matters and how much will your fee be?" he asked nervously.
"Yes, I will be looking at office space where I can meet with interested parties directly, the fee for a service performed will one galleon unless the witch or wizard is unable to pay, however I will not be treating or assisting people whom another specialist is able to assist…Luna?"
She smiled at the witch dressed in bright colours.
"Did you find any Humdinger slingers on your travels and if so, where?" she asked dreamily.
"I did, in the far north of Iceland and Sweden. They seem to prefer the cold."
With that, she calmly stepped off the podium and turned to face Ron and Harry, enacting a large sphere over them, completely drowning out the noise from the press.
"Well that was fun." She said smiling at them and their stunned expressions at the shield. "Ron, I'll see you at home bright and early tomorrow. Enjoy work you two."
Before either of them could say anything, she simply disappeared, making no noise and taking the safety of the sphere with her.
AN; I've been reading and writing fanfiction for the last decade. It is thanks to Smos who helped me find my inner Gryffindor in my Hufflepuff body that I managed to post this today. I want to thank her for her support, help and friendship.
I vow to complete this fic. There is nothing worse than getting hooked on an abandoned fic.
I hope you all enjoyed reading this as much as I enjoyed writing it.
Stay safe and stay sane in these trying times.
Love,
BlondeTyche XX