Hello, my freaky darlings. Thank you all for reading this, sorry it feels like this update took forever, and if the next one takes a bit, too. My nursing home has our dates for our vaccine clinic and that means lots of paperwork. So much paperwork. Ugh, just ugh. Well, anyway on to the part you really want. Reminder I own nothing and just like to play with other people's toys.

Chapter 6

Knowing the rising concern the morning's headlines would bring, Hermione sent Cassius a message that they would work from the Haven that day, and for Katie to tell all inquires that she was working on a project for Gringott's of great importance for the wizarding world. Should any purebloods decide to contact her directly about the issue, that might reassure them she was already on it.
She stopped at a quaint cafe and bought breakfast tea for herself and Cassius. She wanted to try to feel as normal as she could. She placed his tea under a warming stasis charm and settled onto her favorite couch and began reviewing castration hexes and curses, thinking that would be the most likely cause of males not being able to perform after suffering the curse. Cassius joined her not long after. He paused to look at the paper cup on his desk, then looked at her. "Have you not seen the papers, yet? How are you not upset?"
She sighed, "Minister Shacklebolt informed me yesterday that America was closing the borders to immigration when he informed me that the ICW awarded me a lucrative grant to develop a viable fertility ritual to help increase the wizarding population."
"Wow." Cassius sat down next to her, "When do we start on that?"
"Right after we solve the Gringott's issue. I think that needs to take precedence."
"You don't think solving this marriage law issue isn't more important? Rumors are already swirling that we're next!"
She looked away briefly, then made eye contact with sorrow-filled eyes. "Kingsley said they are holding secret meetings without some members. I think it is already too late. It is only a matter of time. Solving this problem makes us the heroes when the marriage law occurs. Everyone will be safe regardless of the blood status of their spouse. If they think we've ignored fixing the bigger problem before it affects them we'll be monsters. Masters have been studying this problem for at least the last ten years on the Continent. We are not going to solve this overnight. We will neither confirm nor deny that we are looking into the issue until such time that someone has evidence of being on the right path."
"Does Katie know that?"
"As much as I hate keeping her in the dark, she's the one the public has the easiest access to, she doesn't know until we have to admit anything to the public."
"That is very Slytherin of you."
"I can be just a pragmatic as I can be brave. I remember what Harry went through when the Ministry set the public against him. I refuse to be their scapegoat. 'If Mistress Granger had found a solution faster none of this would have happened.' Nope, they made their bed, they will lie in it." He stared at her, momentarily stunned silent. "What?"
"I just guessed you would be more supportive of the ministry. You were all about following the rules when you were younger."
"Fairness, I was all about fairness. The Wizengamot is not fair. They are selfish. They are petty. They ignore what they do not understand or like. They resist change, especially when it does not benefit them."
"You aren't wrong. So, we're going to looking to reversing the curses on the vaults?"
"Correct. Not add any pressure, but it feels like we're on the clock."
"Huh?"
"On the clock is a term meaning that there is a timer running down and we have to finish as fast as possible."
"I like it."
"Great, while we wait for the photos or images from Bill we can start combing the libraries for older curse books. Tomorrow we can hit the Black library."
"Sounds like a plan."
Two days later, Cassius has begun to rethink his career choices. He had never seen Hermione's revision sessions, thinking they had ended at curfew and students had to leave the library. He perked up at the sound of voices coming from the kitchen at Grimmauld Place. He leapt to his feet and ran in their direction. Harry, Ron, and Viktor looked surprised to see him, "Thank Salazar, reinforcements."
Harry began laughing first. "Hermione thinks she's on the verge of a breakthrough, doesn't she?"
"She hexed me when I tried to get her to eat dinner. Kreacher even offered to make finger foods. She screamed at me about crumbs in books."
"Yeah, that's my fault, sorry, mate." Ron looked abashed. "Made the mistake of trying to eat and do homework at the same time once."
Viktor chuckled, "Cannot be this bad. She is tiny. Just pick her up."
"You think I didn't try that." He raised his shirt, showing the red area for a stinging hex. "She was very apologetic afterward, well for the ten seconds before she dived back in for 'ten more minutes.' That was an hour ago."
Harry nodded, "Yeah, we'll have to flank her. Ron, you take the left, I'll take the right. Viktor, you want to come at her from behind or steal the book?"
"What does behind do?"
"Keep her from attacking the book thief."
"Will take behind."
Cassius frowned, "Why do I feel like book thief is still the most dangerous position?"
"Please, no position is safe," Ron snorted. "You never know which way she'll attack, or how, remember the time George had up a shield and she punched instead of hexing? Good times," he laughed.
Harry chuckled, "I think the best part was the look of betrayal on his face like he never considered a physical reaction."
In the library, Hermione waved in greeting without looking up from the book in front of her. In a clearly practiced maneuver Ron and Harry moved in to hold her arms, somewhat slower, Viktor put his hands on her shoulders, while Cassius yanked the book away. "Oi! I was still reading that."
"Hermione it is 11:30. You have to eat. You have to sleep. You have to stop."
She looked at them all surprised, "Why didn't you say something?"
"You hexed me."
"I am so sorry, Cassius."
"To be fair, you did warn me before you hired me. I let your deceptively sweet demeanor lure me into a false sense of security."
"I promise to try not to hex you next time."
"I appreciate the attempt."
Bill Weasley delivered the photographs the next morning. "Sorry it took so long, Morton wanted to be absolutely sure of client confidentiality."
"You mean Morton wanted to be difficult and petulant that the goblins came to me instead of dragging me to them like a subordinate?"
"He does not like having to admit that we cannot figure this out ourselves."
"I may not appreciate his attitude, but I understand the feeling. I promise not to take offense."
"His attitude is part of the reason I am part of the liaison team, we know one another and you can work with me and avoid him. And Gringott's avoids insulting you."
"Works for me. We'll do the boring work of checking over the markings and known rituals from the times."
"Thanks, Hermione."
Three weeks later, Hermione was ready to pull her hair out. None of the markings matched any runic curse combinations or ritual circle layouts. Or rather, none of them matched anything that would have cursed family members. She nearly hurled a book across the room in frustration. "Okay, that's it. Time to call it a day." Harry declared. "The two of you are coming out with me. Go get dressed to impress." Hermione tried to complain but admitted defeat when Harry looked at the book in her hand and raised his eyebrows.
"Fine, we could use a break. You want to come, Cassius?"
"Hmm, do I want to go home to the bleak emptiness or go out and let loose with two-thirds of the Golden Trio? Let me think here." He rolled his eyes.
"The entire Trio will be there. Ron said he didn't mind a round with the Falcon boys."
"I'll go get ready. Do you want to change?" Hermione asked him.
"I'll run home and grab a fresh shirt. Should I meet you back here?"
"Sounds like a good plan." Harry sat down. "Don't hurry, it can take Hermione a bit."
"Someday I'm going to hex your hair to grow past your feet and tie you to the bedposts. Then I will charge five quid for people

to get their pictures taken with you in your jammiest."
"I sleep in my boxers," retorted Harry.
"Exactly." Hermione flipped her hair over her shoulder and flounced from the room.
Half an hour later Hermione skipped back down the stairs, "Curls tamed in record time." She smiled at both men. "Ready?"
"Uh, yeah." Cassius blinked twice and looked at Harry who simply smirked.
"I'll grab my bag." She headed for the entryway.
Harry side along apparated Hermione once Cassius assured him he had been to the club with a few friends on the team before. The bouncer stalled momentarily in shock at their appearance. Hermione tried to ignore the whispers running through the throng waiting to get in. She hated the things they were famous for, she hated that they seemed to be the only three venerated. Other people, who had been just as involved, were able to walk down the street unnoticed. Sometimes she wished they were just as celebrated, other times she wished she was as anonymous as they were. Inside the club, Harry put his arm across Cassius's chest stopping him. He looked at Hermione, "Would you go get the drinks, we'll find the guys?" She nodded. "A pint for me, Cassius?" He nodded in agreement and she headed towards the bar. Cassius looked at him in confusion. "This is the fun part, watching Hermione." He pointed towards the tables the team had claimed and began walking that way. "Hermione sees her intelligence as her best asset. I'm not suggesting I agree with her, but she thinks she's passingly pretty, with an okay figure."
Cassius laughed, "Are you serious?"
"Deadly. So when guys hit on her she takes all the comments at face value, not as conversation starters. She answers then returns to what she was doing before. So much fun to watch." Harry grinned and turned towards the bar.
Ron noticing their arrival moved next to him. He clapped Harry on the back, "Are we Hermione watching?"
Without looking away, Harry replied, "Yep."
In silence, they watched her order, then briefly speak to one man. She held up a full glass and shook her head. Another said something. She glanced at her watch and answered. She collected the three glasses and began scanning the crowds. Harry waved over his head. She nodded and started that way. "Oh man," laughed Ron, "I forget how she walks in heels. Those poor bastards."
Cassius turned his attention to Hermione's gait. He noticed that the heels made her hips roll, which wiggled other parts of her anatomy in a pleasing manner. He surveyed the crowd at the bar and noticed several men's eyes widening in appreciation. "And she has no clue?"
"Nope," Harry said.
"And you've never tried to tell her?"
"Constantly," Ron told him. "She refuses to see it. I blame spending seven years in a dorm with Lavender and Parvati."
"I blame spending seven years fighting a secret war."
Both stopped talking when Hermione reached them. She handed Cassius and Harry their drinks and hugged Ron in greeting. "Come meet the guys." Harry began introducing his teammates.
At some point, Hermione ended up next to Marcus Flint. "So, how's your researching coming along?" She looked at him in surprise. "What? You hired one of my best mates, I take an interest in my friends' lives."
"That's nice of you."
"Don't mistake me, I don't understand half of what Cas or Adrian are on about. And my eyes start to glaze over when Malfoy starts in on profit margins. But I like to see them excited about what they do. Thanks for that, by the way."
"Cassius earned himself the job. I just gave him the chance. But to answer your question, frustratingly. Nothing seems to be adding up. Every time I think we're onto something, we hit a brick wall or a dead end. And while the pictures are of good quality, you can't feel the energies, or look closer."
"The goblins won't let you into the vaults?"
Hermione shook her head, "Haven't asked, they haven't offered. They value the privacy of their clients. I respect that."
"But getting into one of the vaults would help?"
"Immensely. Are you offering?"
"How did you know?"
"What we're doing right now is hardly public knowledge, I know Cassius wouldn't have told you, which means you're one of the families scrambling to fix this before a marriage law leaves you penniless."
"Actually, I want my older brother to be able to claim his kid from his abusive ex and her evil parents, and not lose his ability to care for her. So, if it will help, I can take you guys in the morning."
"It would really, really, help."
"Have Cas send me a reminder owl at nine am, and I'll meet you there at ten."
"Why the reminder?"
"In case I get fall-down drunk tonight and forget."
She laughed, "Sounds like a plan then. Thanks."
"Thank you, Hermione. You could have laughed in the goblins' faces and said this sounded like a pureblood problem, make them fix it."
"That doesn't help break down our prejudices."
"Still saving the world?"
"Apparently." He laughed and saluted her with his drink. She laughed and raised her own in return. The night off not only recharged them but had given them a break.

She greeted her research assistant in the morning with a vial of hangover potion. "You are an angel."
"Sure, sure, go owl Flint so he can sober up and meet us." She handed him another vial. "I've noticed most guys do not remember to stock up on these potions. Also, I find the Norwegian recipe to be superior."
"I have to say, I agree, doesn't taste nearly as vile."

From the Haven, they flooed to the public office, checked

in with Katie, then made their way to the bank. Despite being fifteen minutes early, Marcus and a similar-looking man waited for them on the steps. Marcus stepped forward and greeted them before introducing his brother, Malcolm. "Good morning, thank you for this."
"I would do anything to get Danielle away from Lisa," Malcolm said darkly. Hermione frowned but remained silent. He sighed, "I know what you're thinking, why not just acknowledge her and be done. If Lisa wouldn't come after me for custody and child support, I would. But without enough money to just pay her off, or get lawyers good enough to bury her in court, I won't be able to get her away from her."
Hermione's frown deepened and her eyes narrowed. "One-night stand accident?"
"Yeah, but I'm not real sure about the accident part if you know what I mean. She was real unhappy when she popped up on the doorstep and I refused to marry her or admit the baby was mine. She hates Danielle, blames her for everything, and practically refuses to have anything to do with her. Lisa's parents are pissed they have to start over raising a child because their worthless daughter refuses to do it." He clenched his fists in anger, "But none of this is your fault, we should go in."
"One minute." Hermione rummaged through her beaded bag for a moment pulling out a sharply pointed fountain pen. "With your permission and cooperation, I can at least help you get even with them for her mistreatment."
"Sure, what do you need?"
"Your left wrist and a little of your magic." He held out his hand to her.
Pushing the sharp tip into the skin just enough to draw blood, Hermione raised out the runes of fatherhood and justice, then mirrored them. "Focus your magic on your wrist, please. Defenseless, hungry, in need, you sheltered me. As you reap, so may you receive." She let go of his arm. "If they treat her well, nothing will happen, but as your daughter suffers, so suffer those who should be giving her care."
All three Slytherins just looked at her. "What now?"
"You could have offered your services then charged me a lot of money for that. And I would have paid it, gladly."
Hermione shrugged. "Sure, but now you might do something of a similar nature for someone else down the road, and it snowballs from there. But that is neither here nor there, we have a vault to examine."
The cart ride took them deep into the bank chasm. The goblin politely opened the door and stepped back. Inside the floor, markings were still uncovered. With her usual focus, Hermione ignored the heaps of coins and went straight for the markings. Held her hands over them, trying to sense the layers of magic, plenty of protection, but nothing ominous. She looked up and noticed the three wizards and goblin standing in the doorway. "I want to try something. Gentlemen, enter the vault." When the three enter she felt something new flare. She moved through the layers again. The new energy came from the back of the vault. Interesting, not an item in the vault itself, but something keyed to family members. "Okay, Marcus and Malcolm, exit the vault." The energy vanished. "Marcus, come back in." The energy resumed. And not just keyed to those who might trigger the hexes, all family members. "Thank you." She turned to the goblin, "My esteemed friend, might I impose upon you to summon William Weasley for me?"
"Of course, Mistress Granger at once." She watched as the goblin drew a complex pattern in the air that became a messenger memo. He noticed her attention.
"Don't mind me, I find magic in all its forms fascinating." He returned her grin.
Bill arrived a few minutes later. "Good morning, Oldrick, how can I be of service?"
"Mistress Granger requested your presence. You will assist her."
"Certainly. Good morning," Bill greeted them. "How can I help, Hermione?"
"I think I know why you haven't been able to break the curses on the vaults. Sense the magic in here." She paused, "Nothing, right?" He nodded. "Marcus come back inside." Once he stepped inside understanding bloomed across Bill's face. "The item is only active when in the presence of a blood family member. We have them come in and then hunt down the item."
"Exactly."
"Hermione, you are a genius."
"I'll let you pass on the good news." She turned to address Oldrick, "Please pass on that along with my fee I wish for the Flints' cursed item be restored or destroyed free of charge. If they had not volunteered to allow us access none of this would be possible."
"It will be as you request, Mistress. May all your transactions be profitable."
"Yours as well." She turned to Cassius. "We're done here. The Flints will have to stay to help locate the item, but that should do it." She waved farewell to Bill and the others. They waved back. "Let's head back and start banging our heads against the next wall."
"I feel like I should laugh like you want me to laugh, but I just can't, because you're right. It will be like banging our heads."