Hello, darlings! I hope you are all having a lovely Saturday. I am iced in for the third day because it sleeted for 16 hours. My yard looked like a bright snow covered space, but it is a LIE! That is 4 inches of ICE. My tires are trapped in it. (Yes, I am a bit bitter. It was suppose to become snow and be 4 inches of that. I can escape snow.) But, we have electricity and internet, so I should probably be grateful and stop complaining. Anyway, ignore my ranting and enjoy.
Chapter 14
Maisie woke Hermione early the next morning. "Potion Headmaster Snape is asking for mistress to join him downstairs, please."
"Certainly. Tell him I'll be down as soon as I finish getting dressed."
"I shall have Potion Headmaster wait in the morning room."
"Thank you, Maisie." Deciding Snape had seen her at nearly her worst, she felt no need to dress up for company, especially company she hadn't invited over at 6 am. She pulled her hair into a ponytail and made her way to the first floor. "Good morning, headmaster. To what do I owe the pleasure of your presence this morning?"
Snape stood when she entered the room and remained standing. "The Dark Lord notified me you wished to speak with Albus's portrait. I wish to discuss your parameters and desires from this," he sighed, "and spare you the headache, if possible. You have suffered enough because of that man."
"I appreciate that, but I want him to have to tell me to my face that Harry's, Ron's, even Draco's lives all mattered more than mine. What it was about me that made me disposable?"
"He will never be truthful to the last. And you will not like the truth." Snape told her quietly.
"That I was a muggleborn, no one important would miss me? Like everyone else, dispensable as a tool, to be used and discarded once used up? I know about his prejudices, anyone paying enough attention should. I want justice or at least vengeance. To get that I need to know who sinned for him." She expressed a stray thought, "Is there a way to force portraits to tell the truth?"
"They cannot ingest truth serum."
"But a field that compels the truth? Or a potion added to the paint?"
"That is a possibility. Allow me to conduct a few experiments."
"Would you like to stay for breakfast?"
"No, thank you. I have eaten, and you are expected at the Manor. Can't have you upsetting Lola by not devouring her pasties."
"Perish the thought, sir."
Unable to return to sleep, Hermione showered and dressed for breakfast with Voldemort and the Malfoys. Refusing to admit the nearing end of summer, she chose a lilac colored skater dress. She selected the gold Hufflepuff earrings that started her woes a decade ago. She read through the one of her suggested books until she judged it late enough to depart.
Downstairs she found the rest of the household waiting for her. "NEWT Day, the Dark Lord wishes to revel in the real time reveal." Rabastan teased her.
"You'd think they were his results the way he's carrying on," Bellatrix glared at Hermione.
"Now, Mummy Dearest, your lover is simply expressing an interest in your daughter." Bellatrix rolled her eyes and her husband silently herded them into the floo.
The Lestranges were not the only ones invited that morning, Theo and his father sat next to the Malfoys, as well as the Goyles and Crabbes. Hermione forced on a mask of polite indifference and ate slowly, hiding her nerves. Even if she descended from powerful wizards, she didn't learn magic was real until she had been alive for a decade. Being the top of her class would be a coup, especially with all of the disruptions being Harry's friend created. The elves admitted five barn owls. Further up the table, Crabbe and Goyle paled and stopped eating. Theo took his envelope with trembling fingers. Draco made a production of opening his envelope.
Ignoring his theatrics, Hermione accepted hers and quietly opened her results. She allowed herself a small smile. All Os. A small notation congratulated Hermione Neveah Lestrange on scoring the highest Charms results ever and tying for the highest Transfiguration score.
She looked up to see Rodolphus and Rabastan's attention fixed on her. She handed the letter to Rabastan seated next to her. "Circe's tits, little witch! There's smart and then there's astonishing, fuck!" His outburst interrupted Draco lamenting McGonagall's bias against Slytherins. All eyes looked to Rabastan, causing him to flush slightly, though he did not apologize. He passed the letter to his brother before addressing the rest to the table. "Full marks and the highest scores for Charms and Transfiguration, ever."
"Tied for Transfiguration," Hermione corrected.
"Not with anyone else testing at this time," he shot back. "This calls for a reward. Do girls your age still want ponies?"
Draco looked confused, "How do you even have NEWT results?"
"I took them, obviously," she looked at him like he was gum stuck to her shoe.
"When? How? All the homeschooled students had to test at Hogwarts."
"Yeah," Hermione agreed, "you're smarter than this, Malfoy."
"You wore a disguise."
"And used a fake name, Hermia Spartis. Professor Snape added me to the graduation rolls and updated it when I changed my name." She flashed him a mean grin, "And, oh look, the mudblood beat you again."
"Aunt Bella and Uncle Rod adopted you, you're a pureblood now," he retorted hotly.
She looked straight at Voldemort, "And doesn't that just suggest a solution to your problems?"
"They still haven't been raised in our ways," Goyle Sr protested.
"Then educate them!" snapped Hermione. "Both myself and your Dark Lord were not raised in our ways, yet we have no issues navigating them. Eleven is old enough to begin learning." She looked back to Voldemort, "And if you don't rein in Umbridge and her misuse of that registration of hers I will deal with her myself. You might not be rounding them up anymore, but she's still stealing wands and not returning them."
Crabbe Sr frowned, "Madame Umbridge is a distinguished, vital member of the ministry."
"Look me in the eye, with a straight face, and tell me that everyone at this table agrees she is respected and needed and I will drop the matter."
When he made eye contact, she slipped into his mind, and not liking what she found, pushed her power to mentally stab him. "Argh. She just invaded my mind!" He glared at her.
"And you were imaging me in various states of undress to keep a straight face." She glared back. "Learn to defend yourself better." She resumed eating. "And if you keep doing that my boyfriend might want a word."
"Boyfriend?" Rodolphus questioned quietly.
"Marcus," she gave him a look that suggested he should have known that.
"Made things official, did you?"
"Same as you really, you both acted the parts, you just needed the official title, too." Hermione flashed a toothy grin as Rabastan laughed at Rodolphus's hrmph of annoyance.
"Congratulations to all of you on your results. Britain has a bright future before it." Voldemort toasted them with his pumpkin juice. The adults followed suit.
After breakfast, Hermione and her parents, Yaxley, and a disguised Voldemort prepared for Gringotts. They planned to add Hermione as an heir, combine her identities and bank vaults, and claim any inheritances.
The large marble columns never failed to impress Hermione. It was as if they shrank in her memory, only to impose their true size upon her when she entered the bank. Meekly she followed the others as Rodolphus announced their needs to a teller. The teller then summoned an account manager. Rathgar greeted them politely. "Does sir have a preference for the order of business?"
"My associates asked to join us for the inheritance magic. It has long been an interest of his. Our adopted daughter may have some inheritances to claim from lineages that fell into squib lines. He has no interest in the rest. Would it be an inconvenience to start there?"
"Not at all. If you would follow me to the conferences rooms." The short banker directed them away from the tellers and vaults. "Please be seated. I will collect the necessary tools. They are not kept here." The group filed in and waited for Voldemort to select a seat at the round table, before joining him. He gestured for Hermione to sit next to him. Bellatrix rushed to take the other.
Rathgar returned with a thick stack of parchment and a quill that resembled Umbridge's blood quill.
"This won't scar will it?" she asked uncertainly.
Rathgar looked horrified, "No, miss, It pulls a small drop of blood to verify your identity. Just a prick. Should it create any damage I will heal you instantly. You just have to sign."
"Does it have to be my name?" she asked curiously.
The goblin looked at her with surprise, "I suppose not, why?"
She shrugged, "Just wondering." She gripped the quill properly and signed her new name.
As the information began to appear, the goblin paled, "Please excuse me, this is beyond me." He scurried away. Returning moments later with two older-looking goblins, he introduced them, "May I present Ogbert, Head Goblin, and Snaglerk, Head of Ancient Accounts. Esteemed sirs, Miss Hermione Lestrange formerly Granger." Hermione mirrored their nods with her own regal head dip. "Miss Lestrange is here to claim her legacies from the estates of Aeaeais, Emrys, and the Hogwarts Four."
"Gringotts bids welcome to the heir of the Four. Your ancestors set aside a special legacy for a time when their lines would combine in such a manner," Ogbert announced.
"May I ask why, if you know?"
"Slytherin said it was to ensure their successors did not hoard knowledge from one another in a petty manner."
"Interesting, as he was the one who left the others over differences of opinion," Rodolphus said.
"Indeed," added Voldemort.
Snaglerk placed a thin tome on the table. "This volume links to the journals of the Founders. All of them. You will notice the differing colored pages, each begins a new section. On the first page, you write a topic and it will pull the related information into each Founder's section."
"Astonishing," Hermione breathed in awe.
"If you will write your name on the inner cover with our quill," requested Ogbert. As she obeyed, he explained, "This ties the tome to you and you alone. It can only be bequeathed to your offspring, as your blood will flow through them."
"Incredible," Yaxley said. When he picked up the tome, the words disappeared. "Even the ability to read it is tied to you."
Snaglerk stepped forward, "We will combine the monetary contents of the three vaults with that of Hermione Granger under her new name. These items are for your immediate review, per the instructions on the vaults." He placed a hood and crystal wand on the table. "The Hood of Merlin may only be claimed by a descendant of impure blood adopted into a pureblood family, a more common occurrence during his lifetime. The wand of Circe may only be inherited by a female. I apologize that we cannot tell you more about these items."
"I understand," Hermione assured them.
"The last item we have for you is the signet ring of the House of Aeaeais, which like the wand can only be worn by a daughter of the house. We will be notifying our Greek branch that the house walks amongst us again. May we express your willingness to be approached?"
"They may make contact. I do not promise to respond depending on their tone."
Ogbert bowed, "I will express your concerns. We leave you in the capable hands of Rathgar to complete the remainder of your business."
The older goblins departed.
Hermione looked over the items while Rodolphus and Bellatrix filled out paperwork. The black silk cowl looked dull in the light. The lightweight material felt cool to her touch. With a grin at Voldemort, she slipped the hood over her head. The world faded to gray. The others' forms were outlined in gold light, as were the two guards posted outside the door. She pulled back the hood, uncovering her face, "Why are there guards outside?"
Rathgar blinked in surprise, "Standard procedure. Those items are priceless. There are those who would demand you hand them over for study. Gringotts hopes to have a positive relationship with you, Miss Lestrange. You will always be protected in Gringotts holdings."
"That is a novel idea for me. Thank you." The goblin returned his attention to the paperwork.
Hermione eyed the crystal wand. Voldemort spoke up, "The ancient Greeks used crystal and metals for wands. They are very conductive materials for magic. This one appears to be amethyst and electrum." The ten inch plum gemstone wand reminded Hermione of a unicorn horn, the electrum set down in a groove spiraling up the length of the wand. "Well, pick it up. Give us a flick. See if it accepts you. They can be fickle."
Warmth, joy, and a feeling like a strong hug enveloped her as she raised the wand. Silently she cast a lumos spell. Blinding light glowed from the wand tip. "I think it likes me."
"I'll say," laughed Yaxley.
"I think I'll stick to my wood wand for my day-to-day needs."
"Excellent plan," Voldemort advised. The goblins presented her with a velvet lined mahogany box for her new wand.
-oOoOo-
Luna embraced Hermione the second she stepped from the fireplace. "Chose a road?"
Hermione hugged her back, "Maybe not in the sense you mean. But I did find a way to protect myself."
"Your aura changed, blood adoption? Because marriage wouldn't change it that much, and you would never get married without inviting me." Luna carried on in her usual airy manner.
"Is that a good thing or a bad thing?"
"You seem relaxed and content. If blood adoption did that, I think it is a good thing."
"Rodolphus and Rabastan have been simply wonderful. Bellatrix not so much. But now that Roddy has an heir she's free to come and go as she pleases."
"So what now, then?"
"Before the plan was to finish learning and retreat to Black Island. Now, maybe not. I still don't support the idea of genocide, especially since it seems muggleborns are descended from squibs."
"But?" Luna said leading Hermione to nearby seating.
"But I discovered some things I can't dismiss. Dumbledore put obedience charms on me first year. One that made me consider Harry's safety and well-being above my own. And another to study anything and everything. Studiousness was already in my nature, but he made it everything. He removed any interest in fashion, cosmetics, or even my appearance. He made an eleven-year-old believe her only value was her knowledge, and that she never knew enough. He made me think of myself as plain, not even interesting enough to be ugly."
"That's horrible."
"Worse he added Molly Weasley to the charm."
"Why?"
"I don't know, though he had to know he was dying that last year. And one of them added Ron."
"Molly," Luna replied flatly.
"Why though?"
"So you'd stay with him no matter how horribly he treated you, or how often he cheated."
"He and Harry are fucking each other's brains out on the regular."
"Molly hated Lavender, but according to Lav, she and Ron kept hooking up until you all left."
"She can have him." Hermione scrubbed her face with her hands. "I want to confront Dumbledore's portrait for answers. Snape is looking into a truth potion to add to the paint. But we need a way to keep him in the frame, like Walburga Black, no one in and no one out."
"Yes," Luna agreed with a gleefully grim grin, "Daddy told me how she did it, or rather how Orion did it."
"Luna, I am going to have to find you the perfect birthday gift." They both laughed.
Rabastan poked his head in, "Do I hear the laughter of beautiful women?"
"You hear our laughter," Hermione answered.
"You could have just said yes."
Hermione rolled her eyes, "Were you just popping in or did you want something?"
"Just popping in to investigate the sounds of joy. Hello, dear, I'm Hermione's new Uncle Bas, and you are?"
"Uncle Bas, this is Luna Lovegood. Luna, my uncle."
"Pleased to meet you," Luna dimpled.
"Likewise." Later Rabastan would remark how much he "liked the blonde."
Luna sent Hermione the information her father had on the locking spells. As much as the Ravenclaw had suffered from bullying under Dumbledore's watch, she thought Hermione had suffered more. She wanted her friend to her answers, even if could be in danger once Dumbledore was free from his portrait. He might inform the Order about her involvement. And she still had a year of school left with vengeful types like Ginny Weasley. It would be best for her if no one knew of her new allegiance. Hermione was determined to keep Luna's involvement from him.
Phinneas Nigellus Black agreed to help Snape test his potion so long as his questions remained respectable and Hermione returned his portrait to Grimmauld Place. Bee assured her Kreacher would allow her to deliver the portrait. Phinneas swore to remain out of sight to keep from alerting anyone of his freedom from Hermione's bag. After some trial and error, Snape created a formula that had the potency of three drops of veritaserum and lasted for six hours, far longer than Hermione hoped to need. "I will leave my personal floo open at 9 am Saturday. Please remain in my private chambers until I come to collect you. Once I am assured the nosy gits are occupied we can begin.
Next time: Confronting Dumbledore.