This feels like it took forever to get out. Real life has been hectic, with birthdays, holidays, and a million COVID vaccine webinars where everyone repeats the same six questions and sucks out your will to live. You get the picture. Plus, I just wasn't happy with it but reached the point where I'm going to leave it alone, and if it sucks, you can tell me. Happy Hanukkah, Merry Christmas, Joyful Diwali, Joyous Ramadan, Happy Yule, and what ever other holidays I'm forgetting.
Chapter 5
After breakfast, Hermione took Cassius to the Haven. He looked around and whistled. "Wow, and the old lady said it belongs to you, just out of nowhere?"
"Josievena? Yes, Kings looked over the will, completely legal and on the up and up. Guy really wanted to encourage his family to study rituals."
"Apparently. So, what's the plan for here?"
"Eventually, I might move in, but Harry doesn't want to live alone anymore. The Barrett family has maintained the place nicely, even the ritual spaces, so happily no endless days of cleaning looming before us."
"Thank goodness for small favors," he chuckled.
"The to-do list will only seem short. I want to look over the library and work on combining it with my own. At some point, I'll make a wish list of books I'd like to find. We also need to start making creation consultation appointments. I'd prefer not more than one a day."
"And possibly none on cooking lesson days, that way you don't have to worry about rushing."
"Brilliant."
"Just doing my job." He laughed at her. "Now, you head into the library and get started cataloging. I will on your calendar."
"And at some point, we need to find an office space for meetings. I'm not fond of the idea of strangers traipsing through my personal space."
He nodded, "I'll set up a time to look at them."
"I want you to remember that this was your idea when you're having to drag me out of there later."
"I plan on setting up a bed in there. You can just collapse on it when you exhaust yourself." Hermione chuckled. "Now, go, boss. I've got the tedium." She allowed him to push her from the study.
Nodding to himself, Cassius began rearranging the furniture. He created an area for Hermione's desk that would grant her some privacy if she wanted it but would allow for collaborations from his desk when she wanted it. He expected her to object and prepared a list of reasons about the importance of presentation and first impressions. She might intend to meet clients on neutral ground, but that didn't mean that they might never come to the castle. He stepped back to survey his work when the floo flared to life.
Despite his best attempts, he stood slack-jawed, staring in surprise as international quidditch star Viktor Krum stepped from the emerald green flames. Shaking himself to recover, Cassius stepped forward. "Good afternoon, sir, can I help you?" He smiled internally when he managed not to stutter horribly.
"I meant to surprise Hermione. She is here, yes?" He glowered at Cassius.
"Uh, yes, Mistress Granger is in the library. Would you like me to get her?"
"No need."
"It would be no problem, kind of my job." He extended his hand, "Cassius Warrington, Mistress Granger's assistant."
"Pleasure, Viktor Krum." He visibly relaxed as he shook hands.
"I, uh, I know. I've been a fan for years."
"You look familiar. You were at Hogwarts during tournament?"
"I was. Kai and I became friends."
"Da, I remember now."
"I should let Mistress Granger know you're here."
"She knows." Hermione stepped into the room. "And I told you to call me Hermione."
"In private, sure, in public, never. You deserve nothing less than the full measure of respect your title demands."
"Fine, Viktor doesn't count as public." She smiled at him, "What brings you by, Viktor?"
"Wanted to see you, and invite you to next match."
"Well, I am happy to be seen, and would be delighted to come see you play."
Viktor held up two tickets, "Thought you and Harry?"
"If he doesn't have a match himself, I'm sure he would love to. I'll ask him tonight. Unless you wanted to come to dinner and ask him yourself? Harry added you to the wards."
"Would love to have dinner with you. Harry is optional."
Hermione laughed, "I'll be sure to tell him you said that."
"He probably agree."
"Possible, very possible." Hermione turned to Cassius, "In light of my change in plans, let's knock off for the day."
"You're the boss. Your wish is my command."
"That is the glorious part of self-employment, you can make your own hours. I am declaring us closed."
"In that case, I'll see you tomorrow, boss."
"Tomorrow," she agreed. Cassius waved on his way to the floo. "Shall we?" He gestured for her to enter the floo first.
Harry easily agreed to attend the quidditch match. With a mischievous twinkle in his eyes, he returned the favor, inviting Viktor to join Hermione at his first match. The press had a field day when she and Harry attended the Puddlemere match together wearing matching Krum jerseys. But that was nothing compared to the reaction a week later when she and Viktor wore Harry's jersey to his match. Gossip columnists speculated which one she was dating. Some wondered if this was a repeat of the Triwizard Tournament. One brave soul actually asked her. After unnerving him with an icy glare, she primly informed him her love life was no one's business beyond her own.
Ultimately, Hermione purchased the small shop next to Weasley's Wizarding Wheezes. She admitted to liking the security of knowing at least one of her neighbors was friendly. After fretting over it for a week, she hired a part-time receptionist to man the public office. Cassius assured her he wasn't worried. It enabled him to help her with research. He easily worked out a system with Katie Bell to coordinate appointments. Both assured Hermione they had it handled and not to worry. It was their jobs to make her life easier. Katie weeded out attention seekers and deflected reporters. She sent along serious inquires to Cassius, who scheduled interviews and follow-ups.
When meeting prospective clients, Katie collected their information and screened their needs or desires. Cassius iterated the clients, themselves, would be expected to perform the labor and magic of the circles and rituals. Hermione conducted the research, provided the instructions, and oversaw the rituals. Together they formed an impressive team, functioning like a well oiled machine. Therefore, it startled Hermione when they both burst into the library. "What's wrong? What happened?" She leapt to her feet, her wand in hand.
"Nothing is wrong. But something has happened." Katie's brown eyes darted about, wide-eyed. She looked to be in shock. "Gringotts sent word requesting a meeting."
"That isn't unheard of. When is it?"
"That's the thing, they asked you to set the date and time. And the goblins are coming to you." Katie held out the roll of parchment.
Hermione skimmed the contents. "Okay, I'm still missing something here."
Cassius nodded, "Instead of summoning you to them or sending an emissary, the goblins, themselves, are coming to you. Your time, your place, you hold the power in this meeting."
"Oh, wow. I wonder what they need that badly?"
He shrugged, "We'll find out at the meeting, I suppose." He looked at the planner in his hands. "You're free tomorrow morning. You have lunch with the minister at one."
"Set it up then. Katie, while I don't want to insult them, let's treat them like everyone else."
"Yes, ma'am." Her receptionist and her assistant rushed off to make the arrangements.
Hermione sighed and looked back at the books scattered across her desk. Six years ago when she applied for apprentice programs she never dreamed she'd be researching fertility. She scrubbed her face with her hands. "Ugh," she sat, the previous rituals were barbaric with little concern for the outcome of a male offspring. She sometimes felt it might behoove her just to start from scratch. Then she worried she might miss something vital. And combing the past might give her a jump start. She also considered ditching the whole thing. No one had commissioned her to work on it, she was under no obligation to find a solution. Even as she thought that she snorted to herself. Harry wasn't the only former Gryffindor with a hero complex and the need to save the world. Truth be told, they had all taken turns having that problem after the war. It was the reason Harry, Ron, and Neville had initially joined the auror corps.
Having been thoroughly distracted by the news about Gringotts, she decided to call it a day. She retreated upstairs to the master bedroom of the Haven and its amazing marble soaking tub. He may have been a git to his family, but Warwick knew how to relax. The taps for the sunken tub reminded her of the prefects' bathroom at Hogwarts. Hot water, cold water, scented bubbles, she loved it. She sank into the water idly watching the steam curl up and dissipate. She allowed her mind to empty. Goblins, ministers, and fertility issues slipped away. Without meaning to, she fell asleep in the tub. An owl tapping on the window woke her.
She quickly climbed out of the tub, wrapping a towel around herself. She recognized Viktor's barn own, Loki. Opening the window she took the note from the bird. "Thank you." The owl swooped back out and took flight immediately. "I guess you don't need an answer." Viktor's scrawling handwriting inquired if Hermione wanted to have dinner the next evening. Unless she was unavailable he would meet her at Grimmauld Place at seven. She grinned foolishly to herself as she prepared to head home. Even if it wasn't a date or anything, it sounded like the perfect way to end what promised to be a long day.
Despite intending to treat the goblins and emissaries like any other client, she took extra precautions with her appearance that morning. She wore a navy blue pencil
skirt and dove gray silk blouse. She tamed her hair by pulling it into a french twist. She flooed to her Diagon Alley office. Generally, Katie offered a small assortment of breakfast pastries in the morning, then, tea cakes and finger sandwiches in the afternoon. For this meeting, she added some delicacies her friend from Gringotts suggested the goblins might like. Cassius sized several chairs to be more comfortable for the shorter delegates. "This looks great, guys, thank you so much." She noticed they had both dressed slightly nicer than their more daily business casual.
"When you look good, we look good, Hermione." Katie handed her a cup of tea. "They should be here any minute, do you want to wait in your office?"
"I'm going to go get the usual things I use to take notes during meetings. If I'm back before they arrive, so be it. As I said, we're treating them like anyone else that walks through that door." She entered the inner office and collected a muggle ballpoint pen and pad. Even after a decade in the magical world, she found some muggle things superior. She exited her office as the chimes announced the opening of the front door.
She watched as Katie professionally greeted the group. "Mistress Granger will be with you in a moment. May I offer you some refreshments for your meeting?" Hermione recognized her account manager, Ragnor, and one of the humans, Bill Weasley, but the rest were unknown. At the nod of one of the goblins, Katie placed the trays on the coffee table in the middle of the seating. The unknown goblins looked surprised when they recognized several of the selections. Both Ragnor and Bill looked a bit smug.
Hermione sagged for a moment, unsure of who to address first. Maybe she should have waited in her office. Cassius appeared at her side and whispered, "They want something from you, not the other way around. Your office, your terms, remember you have the power here. Conduct this meeting however you want to."
She straightened her posture and smiled gratefully at him. "Good morning, everyone. Ragnor, Bill, how wonderful to see you. How have you been?"
Bill smirked openly now, "About the same since the last family dinner. But thank you for asking."
Ragnor bowed, "Your accounts have been profitable."
"I hope your other accounts are doing as well." She gestured to the couches and chairs, "Please, be seated." Once everyone found a seat, she flipped open her pad and clicked the pen open. "This is my receptionist, Katie Bell, and my research assistant, Cassius Warrington." She introduced her employees.
Bill smiled and stood, "Mistress Granger, may I introduce Rikmort, Head Goblin of Gringotts, his assistant, Thaddeus Morton, Head Curse breaker, and you know Ragnar."
"Now that the introductions are over with, what can I help you, gentlemen, with?"
Rikmort nodded once, "We have had several concerned customers come to us the past few months with a difficult issue." He looked to Morton, who picked up the narrative.
"There was a period about one hundred and fifty years ago when younger purebloods began to lessen in their hatred of half bloods and muggleborns. To keep them from marrying, and more importantly having offspring with, non-purebloods, they cursed the family vaults. To be able to inherit the money, and not be barren, they could not enter into any formal arrangements with anyone, not a pureblood, or acknowledge any bastards. To do so would render the offended unable to even touch galleons that had once been in the family vault. And they would be unable to have further children, in the case of males, they were unable to have intercourse at all."
"How would they accomplish this?"
"By cursing the vaults themselves," Rikmort said quietly.
"I see." She knew that admission cost the proud being. "I am unsure as to how I can be of assistance. You employ some of the best curse breakers in the world."
"The curses were ritual in nature. I hate to admit this, but we aren't entirely sure how to break just that part. The older vaults are protected by runic circles. We only want to remove the curse, not to other protections."
"I would need to see the different runes to determine with each is unique or if the same ones were used for each family."
The goblins frowned. "We were hoping for a blanket ritual to cleanse the bank."
Hermione thought for a moment, "That could be possible. But I still need to know what we're dealing with. I don't need to see them in person, a photograph would serve my purposes. I most likely won't even need to know who the vault belongs to."
Morton nodded his head, "That should be possible. With Rikmort's permission, I will have my team get started on that and have Weasley deliver them as soon as they are complete."
Rikmort stood, "Your associate sent us your fee packet. We are prepared to pay twice the amount this project costs. And we ask for your discretion."
"Our lips are sealed. Though, may I ask a somewhat intrusive question that will seem unrelated?"
"You have earned that privilege."
"Was this curse practice common in Europe as well as England, or just England?"
"Our research suggests it came from the Continent." Bill supplied.
"Thanks. I await your photos." The Gringott's group departed the office. She turned to the others. "Did either of you know about this curse?"
Katie shook her head, "No, but my family doesn't have a history of zealotry. Sorry, Cas."
"No worries, I know my family's crimes. But even I had never heard anything about this. And honestly, it wasn't until the last fifteen years or so that purebloods stopped arranging marriages. The curse would probably be to stop elopements and people acknowledging the results of adultery."
"That is horrible." Katie gasped. Cassius merely shrugged.
"Well, nothing we can do until Bill delivers the goods, so I'm off to lunch with the Minister."
"Have fun," Cassius told her.
"Bring me a doggie bag," Katie told her as she left. Hermione waved her hand over her head.
She exited Diagon Alley through the Leaky Cauldron, nodding hello to Hannah Abbott as she went. Kingsley requested to meet at a muggle cafe a few blocks away from the Ministry. He said he wanted the privacy granted away from prying eyes that recognized their faces. She found him waiting for her dressed like a businessman outside the cafe. "Kings," she greeted.
"Hermione, you look lovely," They hugged. He held open the door, "Shall we?" She entered the cafe. They ordered and selected a table towards the back of the dining room.
"Alright, Kings, what's going on? Why the cloak and dagger bit here?"
"Always quick on the uptake, Hermione." He chuckled, taking a bite of his sandwich.
"Yep. Now, quit stalling." She nibbled her turkey sandwich.
"I want to keep this meeting under wraps because I don't want you to suffer any backlash."
Hermione's stomach flipped at these words. She just knew what he was about to ask her, the issue plaguing most of the western magical world. "Go on."
"The ICW wants me to commission you officially work on the fertility issues that have lead to the need for marriage laws."
"I took your advice and started researching. I haven't gotten that far."
Kingsley sighed, "I wish you had better news."
"Sorry."
"How soon do you think you would have results? People are getting desperate. The Americans have decided to close immigration for the first time in their history."
"Really?"
"Too many magicals have been flooding in. They can't support those numbers and keep to their strict statues of secrecy."
"I see, well I will do my best to find a solution. But this isn't going to be an overnight thing. This kind of problem is complex."
"That's all I can ask, Hermione."
"So, let me ask you a question. How close are we to having our own marriage law enforced?"
"I honestly have no idea. There have been a lot of secret meetings lately, with the intent of keeping people like me from blocking something like this."
"So, no pressure, right?" Hermione finished eating, "And you're paying for lunch."
That evening Viktor found Hermione sitting in the front parlor at Grimmauld Place staring into the fire. "Hermione, mila, What is the matter?" She sat in silence, "Please, speak with me."
"So many things are wrong, Viktor."
"Can I help?"
"No, not really."
"Talk with me. Tell me what is wrong. Maybe can't help, but can listen."
"Well, the purebloods of Europe have no one to blame for the marriage laws but themselves. Decades, maybe even centuries of inbreeding are part of the problem. The exiling, or killing of squibs decreased the genetic variance. Add to that arranged marriages where neither party could stand the other, and cursing families to discourage them from having offspring with muggleborns or half bloods; decreasing the gene pool even more. Fertility rituals focused on forcing conception and ensuring it was male. There was little to no concern for the mother, or being able to have any more offspring. That does nothing to help the current situation."
"That is much to think about." Viktor rubbed her shoulders soothingly.
"Tomorrow America will announce they are closing their borders for permanent magical immigration." She said quietly.
"You make dis sound dire."
"It could be. If they get desperate enough to enact a marriage law there will be nowhere to run."
"You want to run from marriage?"
"From a complete stranger? Yes. From the idea of marriage overall? No."
"Understand. Felt the same way. But no more running. Am twenty-seven, time to be looking to settle down."
"Sure, at twenty-three, feels a little different." She smiled at him sadly. "But nothing has been decided, yet."
"Other than the governments want you to fix everything for them."
"Yeah, like other masters haven't been studying this for years now."
"You are brightest witch of age, the one which saved Harry Potter, the Chosen Boy."
"Yeah, well, I resign." Hermione huffed, "I refuse to do it anymore."
"I do not think this is an option."
She crossed her arms across her chest, "It should be." He laughed.
"Now, I take you to dinner and you forget troubles."
"If you insist."
"We
can go to place where and eat with sticks again." He cajoled.
She tried to keep frowning, but the tips of her lips quirked up. "But I want to stay grumpy."
"No. No grumpy, more happy." He gave her teasing puppy eyes.
"Maybe I want to be grumpy." She lost her fight with her smile.
"Then why smile? When truly want to be grumpy, I let you." He stood and offered her his arm. "Dinner?"
"Can we still go have Chinese?"
"Of course. I must practice so I can master stick eating before Weasley and Wood."
Hermione laughed, "So, that's why Ron keeps suggesting Chinese all the time?"
"Da, I would tink."
