Hello, my freaky darlings, thank you so much for reading. The snow has come and gone, gotta love Missouri. Nine inches of snow, gone in five days, leaving nothing but mud. But at least MY pipes didn't burst, nor did the well pump die. Winning! Now for the legal disclaimer: I own nothing, except a functioning well pump and intact pipes!
Chapter 11 A Day in the Office
Promptly at nine, the fire flared green and Ron spun out. "Wotcher, Harry, Hermione."
"Alright, I've lodged my protests, and they have been ignored. The only ground rules are be polite and I'm in charge, you do as I say."
"How is that different from the rest of the time?" Ron whispered to Harry. He smiled innocently when she glared at him. "Where to first?"
"Barrett's Haven. I need to grab a few things and check in with Katie."
"When are you reopening the office in the Alley?" Ron asked.
"If the public remains this calm about everything, next week. I don't intend to be the scapegoat for upset feelings or misplaced rage."
"And you think the public expects miracles from you?" Ron inquired as they exited the floo.
"Brightest witch of her age, helped defeat one of the darkest wizards at eighteen, youngest person to hold dual masteries? Yes, Ron, I worried that the unhappy masses might latch onto me as the savior that failed them and a way to release tensions. I'm very happy to be wrong for once. Let's get going."
Cassius looked momentarily surprised to see Harry and Ron. If Theo thought anything of it he said nothing. He led the way, giving the Gryffindors an impromptu tour as they walked. Cassius used this as an opening to hang back to ask, "When you said tagalongs, I never expected Potter and Weasley."
"I let slip that I was going to Malfoy Manor and their overprotective sides took over their rational brains."
"What do they have against Draco or Narcissa?"
"Not them personally, some unpleasantness happened there during the war between myself and Bellatrix Lestrange."
"I see. Can't say I blame them."
"Not entirely, no. But since they insisted on being here, they will be working."
Once in the ritual space, Hermione began barking orders. She instructed Ron to sweep the floor by hand, "No magic." She handed Harry a wet rag. "Once Ron's done, wipe out the etched lines." When Ron tried to complain, she raised one eyebrow, he closed his mouth and returned to work.
After the lines dried Hermione had Theo trace the carved grooves with chalk. Finally, Hermione drew a selection of cleansing and rebirth runes at the cardinal points. She nodded to the others to join her.
Theo, Blaise, and Cassius stepped forward to take their places. She raised her arms and began, "All those who enter here do so in perfect love and perfect trust. Hail, wardens of the east, hear us. We invoke hope and happiness for all who enter this house." The rune below her feet began to glow yellow. She nodded towards Theo.
"Hail, wardens of the south, hear us. We invoke protection and defense for all those who dwell within these walls." His runes glowed red. He looked at Cassius.
"Hail, wardens of the west, hear us. We invoke growth and sustenance upon these lands." He pointed to Blaise, his runes blue below his feet.
"Hail, wardens of the north, hear us. We invoke strength and stability for all the lines of this family." His runes glowing green.
Hermione picked back up the dialogue. "As we will it, so mote it be." She gestured to release the magical energy they raised within the circle.
Blaise grinned, "Wicked." He held up his arm, "Look the hair on my arm is standing up."
Theo rolled his eyes, "Anything else I need to do, Mistress Granger?"
"We discussed this, Theo, we're last titles and last names, call me Hermione."
"If you're going to keep insisting, fine. Is there anything else I need to do, Hermione?"
"No, leave the markings in place until you need the space, or they fade. The magic should spread throughout the house and grounds."
"Amazing, thank you."
"You did some of the work, but you're welcome all the same."
He graciously offered use of his floo when he learned their next stop was Flint Lodge. "Just let me floo call them."
Violetta Flint embraced Hermione as she exited the fireplace. "Thank you, darling girl. You saved my granddaughter." Over Violetta's shoulder, she saw Malcolm holding an adorable toddler. He held up a chubby fist and helped her wave.
"You're most welcome. No child should be treated like that."
"I thought you might appreciate lunch. Would you like to eat before or after seeing the area?"
"Um, after. We can discuss options while we eat."
"Splendid."
"I hope adding Mr. Potter and Weasley isn't in inconvenience."
"Granger, you could bring every person you've ever felt any friendship with and it wouldn't be an inconvenience." Marcus laughed.
"Marcus!" admonished his mother, "Manners."
"My apologies, mistress."
"None taken." She smiled at her hostess, "I'm rather informal, and don't mind the teasing from friendly people."
"Malcolm, please take Mistress Granger to the circle while I arrange lunch."
"Yes, ma'am. Mistress, entourage, if you would follow us?"
He hefted Danielle on his hip. The black haired girl gripped his shirt for balance. She watched Hermione's approach with huge brown eyes.
"Hello, cutie, aren't you sweet?"
The little girl blinked, "Daddy."
"Yes, that's your daddy. Do you like Daddy?" The little girl grinned, "That's good. Are you helping Daddy show us the way?" The little girl reared back to regard her father then leaned forward, reaching for Hermione.
"No, Danielle, Mistress Granger doesn't want to carry you."
"Lies," Hermione cried, "Mistress Granger most certainly does want to hold the beautiful girl." She took Danielle from her father, "Lead on."
Ron and Harry began laughing. Hermione rolled her eyes and made a rude gesture behind her back where the toddler couldn't see. Marcus poked his teammate, "Oi, what are we missing?"
"Babies and small children adore Hermione. At one point we accused her of carrying candy for bribery, but she doesn't."
"Teddy just loves me best." Hermione sang back.
"And Victorie and Dominique, "Ron retorted.
"Yep." She tickled Danielle, making the little girl squirm and giggle. "Kids just have good taste." She turned her attention back to Malcolm. "How old is Danielle?"
"Two and a half, she's a little delayed from being mostly ignored, but she's improving."
Hermione exchanged smiles with the girl. "I'm sure she'll be just fine. And if not, well, that little ritual doesn't ever end, so if she suffers, they suffer."
"Note to self, stay on Granger's good side," Marcus whispered to Cassius.
"Already on the list, mate."
The Flints escorted the others across the side lawn to an aging circle created by the cultivated growth of oak trees. Hermione handed Danielle back to her father and began wandering across the space. "Now we wait," Cassius told the group.
"For what?" Ron asked surveying the surrounding lawn.
"Until she's content she has everything she needs."
"Oh." After a few minutes, Ron began to fidget. Harry gave him a questioning look. "I wonder how long this will take." He took a few steps away from the rest of the group.
"Why's that Ron?" Harry asked, following him.
"Um, remember when I said I didn't have anything I couldn't reschedule?"
"Yeah."
"It was a lunch date."
Harry groaned, "Ron."
"With Moira, who I just remembered has the surname Flint. And she's coming this way."
"Bugger."
"Exactly."
Moira Flint reached them just as Hermione finished. "I think I have what I need. I just have some questions, but I can ask those over lunch."
"Perfect, Mother sent me to let you know lunch was ready." Moira smiled, "Mistress Granger, Mr. Potter, Cas, Ronald." On the last name, her voice fell flat and lost all warmth.
Hermione narrowed her eyes, "Wow, that was cold."
Ron smiled nervously, "It's fine. Mione, really."
That drew her attention to him, "What did you do?"
"Why do you think I did something?"
"Ronald Bilius Weasley, I dated you for five months and have known you for thirteen years. The only time I say your mane like that is because I was annoyed with you. If it's fine, you did something."
"I canceled our lunch to go with you this afternoon."
"RONALD!" She smacked his arms several times. "No, unacceptable." She whirled around to face Harry, who cringed as she stomped towards him. "And what did you cancel?"
"N-nothing."
She glared at him, "Don't lie to me, Harry James Potter."
"I'm not. I have dinner plans at eight."
"If I find out you lied, so help me." She left the threat hanging to return to Ron.
"Did you at least explain?"
"Kind of hard to without telling the whole story."
"What did you say?" she snapped.
"I have an unavoidable conflict of schedules and need to break this date."
Hermione scrubbed her face with her hands. "Size of a teaspoon," she muttered. She walked over to Moira, "Let me apologize for this. This morning I mentioned to Harry I planned on going to a place where some very rough things occurred during the war. My attempt to be relaxed about it pushed Harry into overprotective mode. He called in the cavalry. I'm sorry. If I had known Ron had important plans I would have stopped Harry."
"And not told me you planned on going there alone?" Ron stormed over.
"If it kept you from something as important as a first date."
"What happened there was a bit more dire than rough. We nearly died, you nearly went insane and died. I'm not even sure death would stop me from keeping you from going alone. And, before you even say it, Warrington does not count, not with this." Ron raged at her, his face and tips of his ears turning red.
Moira stepped over to Ron, slowly reading for his hand, "I understand. Your friend is facing something horrific, and you want, not you need to be with her. Even if I wanted to anymore, who could be mad about that? It is the sweetest thing. I wish you had just told me, but I understand you didn't want to gossip. I respect your loyalty. Since you work Saturday, how about brunch Sunday morning?"
Ron looked hopelessly at Harry and Hermione. The trio had plans to meet, but what did they think? Hermione stepped in to help. "I know you wanted to spend the day
with your family, maybe if a friend with a contact on the team arranged to pick up the rosters and last minute notes you need for the game you could do breakfast Saturday. Hmm, who could do that, I wonder."
"Hermione," Ron started.
"You're right, I could. Of course, I will. You should have breakfast at Belle Journee."
"It takes weeks to get a table there regardless of the hour," Marcus remarked. Hermione scooped up Danielle and began back towards the house, the rest following in her wake.
"Not if one of the owners owes." chuckled Harry.
Ron ran his hand through his hair. "Would you like to have breakfast at Belle Journee Saturday?"
"Absolutely." She clapped her hands in delight. "I mean if that is possible."
"I'll call in the cauldron explosion of October 95. Five of us lost eyebrows." Ron laughed. "I swear, Seamus should have gone into demolitions. He can make anything explode."
"He prefers pubs and restaurants." Hermione shrugged, "To each their own."
"Wait, don't you own part of Belle?" Harry asked Hermione.
"No, Neville does. I invested in Bistro Saffron."
Malcolm looked at them curiously, "Did all of you invest in different restaurants for your friend?"
"After the first one was a huge success? Hell, yes." Ron answered. "Had Order of Merlin money just sitting there, and it helped a friend."
"Which one do you own part of?" Moira inquired.
"Uh, Harry and I invested in the one in Godric's Hollow. A pub called Finnegan's."
"I've never been there."
"We can go some time if you like," Ron offered. She beamed at him.
"Do either of them realized this could count for the week?" Harry quietly asked Hermione.
"No, and they're adorable, so you will keep your mouth shut."
"Yes, ma'am."
"Good answer."
Moira led them to the formal dining room. Cassius escorted Hermione to the seat of honour, whispering as they walked, "Do not fuss about seating. You don't think yourself anything special, but you are. You earned your place. When a head of house offers you their seat, you take it. Remember, you hold the power in these meetings." She nodded and graciously sat when Malcolm held out the chair.
"Thank you." Once everyone was seated and plated filled, she began the questions. "Do you know who created your circle?"
Violetta's face scrunched as she contemplated the question. "I think it was the second generation to live at the Lodge, Cian Flint."
Malcolm nodded, "Cian was a talented herbologist."
"I thought it felt old."
"Is that good or bad?" asked Marcus.
"Neither," she shrugged, "really, what's important is how it was used." She shuddered. "Lack of knowledge did not keep some Death Eaters from defiling those spaces horrifically. Or, perhaps, lack of knowledge led them to do it."
"Please tell me our father wasn't in that number?" begged Moira.
"He was not, nor do I think the trees forming the circle would have let him. Its very nature might have prevented it."
"Then why does it feel so uninviting?" shiver Violetta.
"It hasn't been attuned to the family line for decades." Hermione sipped her lemonade. "There are any number of rituals you could use to change that."
"What would you recommend?" Malcolm inquired politely.
"Something to encourage prosperity, or welcome. At this junction, I suggest waiting until you have selected spouses and completed those bonds. One, that will attune the new additions and your children. And, two, it would be an auspicious beginning for new relationships."
"Even my children?" Asked Moira, fidgeting with her napkin. "They won't be Flints."
"Aren't they?" Hermione replied. "Everyone comes from two parents. I am both a Granger and a Stuart. And lots of other branches in the past. My children will be both Grangers and something else. But discuss what you would like amongst yourselves and let me know." She took another bite. "I'll be delighted to assist you regardless of your decision."
After lunch, Hermione declined the use of their floo. Outside she explained, "They know where we're going is somewhere that something bad happened to me, well, to us. They don't need to know for certain the Malfoys were involved. They were victims in those events, too." She held out her wand to summon the Knight Bus. "Also, I have no idea where the floo would spit us out, and I'm not ready to find out."
While the guys jostled about, Hermione cast her sticking charms and tried to distract herself. Both Narcissa and Draco assured her they understood if she needed to reschedule her appointment, but the stubborn Gryffindor in her refused to retreat. She returned to Hogwarts to finish her education. If she could walk those halls of horror, surely she could face Malfoy Manor.
Draco met them at the gates. "Good afternoon, Mother and I thought it might help if one of us greeted you out here. Kind of ease into this, as it were."
"Very thoughtful of you." Hermione agreed.
"Mother also wants you to know she gutted that entire wing. She thinking of sealing it off completely."
"I can't think of anyone who would fault her," Harry remarked, looking around. "Looks completely different in daylight.
"It does," agreed Ron.
"Mother and I also wanted to discuss if moving the circle out onto the grounds would help cleanse the lands better?"
"Hard to tell. Honestly, some days I think you might be better off tearing down the house and rebuilding elsewhere."
"You're not the only one. Ready to walk towards the house?"
"Let's go." He offered her his arm and escorted him towards his home at a leisurely stroll as if they were on their way to a picnic, not the former stronghold of a dark wizard.
The grounds stretched around them, a hedge maze stood at the far end of the garden. Slowly nature was healing itself, purging itself of the dark residue from the atrocities that occurred there. "The grounds are looking better. The way you described them 8th year, they sounded downright dismal," she remarked in an offhand manner.
"Mother hired a team of curse breakers and herbologists. She's determined to have at least the grounds cleared before Father's release."
"When is that?" Harry inquired politely.
"End of the month. Just in time to observe the end of courtship circus."
"That's good, I suppose," Ron replied.
"Six years in exchange for information and testimony in the face of everything he did almost seems lenient." Draco stopped and turned to face those behind him. "Thank you for that, Potter. He didn't deserve your aid."
"I never lied, Malfoy. I told them everything that happened, the good and the bad." He resumed walking.
They fell silent as they drew closer to the front door. Hermione's face turned ashen, as did Ron's and Harry's. She let go of Draco's arm and reached for them. They each took a hand, squeezing. "We don't have to do this, Hermione," Harry whispered in her ear.
"Don't we?" She looked at Harry, then turned to search Ron's face, her eyes wide. "We've been back to Hogwarts, the Ministry, Gringotts, and Godric's Hollow. Are we going to let Malfoy Manor and Bellatrix Lestrange be the place that breaks us?"
"You're right." Ron grimaced, "Whenever you're ready."
She took two deep breaths. "Let's do this." She squeezed but did not release their hands. Together the trio stepped through the front door of Malfoy Manor.
Bright sunlight streamed through the windows. The light gray marble floors gleamed, giving the floor a cheerful glow, Narcissa stood at the foot of the stairs, nervously shifting her weight. "Hello, Mistress Granger." She smiled tightly nodding to the others.
"Mrs. Malfoy," Hermione nodded.
"Shall we adjourn to the ritual area in the basements? Happily, it is on the other side of the manor. You will not have to go past that room."
Hermione nodded, her face still pale, "Lead on." She followed Narcissa staring forward, focusing on the older woman's back.
Portraits watched the procession. Even the knowledge these weren't the same halls didn't prevent flashes of memory from surfacing. Little pieces from that night bubbled up from the depths where she kept them buried. She suspected the same thing to be happening to Harry and Ron given their grips on her hands. She gave them what she hoped were reassuring squeezes.
Narcissa led them further down to the lower level of the Malfoy Manor, but not as low as the dungeons.
"Lucius told me these hadn't been used since the days of his great grandfather, at least not any Malfoys."
"If others used the space for anything nefarious we'll know. Ritual magic leaves a residual, similar to a magical signature, but longer lasting."
The lady of the manor nodded twice and opened the heavy wooden door. Hermione admired the ritual space. Much like her own at the Haven, the center circle was one piece of stone, the other four pieces that each touched the circle. Someone put serious effort into its creation. Leaving the others by the door she crouched to examine the circle, brushing her fingers along the crevice forming the circle. Instantly her soul felt lighter, her spirit settled at peace. Her lips curled into a smile. "You can let Mr. Malfoy know no one misused this part of your home. Someone sought to create a safe space, one where weary family members could recharge." She grinned wider at their confusion and disbelief. "Don't believe me, step inside."
She stepped into the circle, holding her arms open, swirling her hands in small, gentle circles." Cautiously the others joined her.
Each of them began smiling, "I haven't felt this peaceful in decades." Narcissa hugged herself. "I wish I had known of this during the war." Draco agreed.
"I wouldn't want to undo the years of work that went into this. I suggest burning sage and painting the door frames and window panes with saltwater. I'll give you a list of runes."
Narcissa looked at Draco, he nodded. "We would invite you to stay for dinner, but understand you might wish to leave
sooner, rather than later. Instead, please accept an invitation to lunch later this week."
"Maybe Tuesday, that little place just off Diagon Alley?"
"Sounds delightful." Narcissa clapped her hands, "See you Tuesday, around one?"
"That should work."
The group flooed to Barrett's Haven. Hermione flopped onto a nearby couch. Harry slowly lowered himself next to her. "How are you doing?"
"Surprisingly, good all things considered. I don't think I'm ready to hang out or attend their New Year's ball, but I'm not panicking. I feel a little drained."
Ron patted her shoulder. "That's good. Now what?"
"I'm done for the day. I intended to go home, take a long bath, then spend the evening lounging in bed with a good book."
"Genetic Manipulation for Beginners?" teased Cassius.
"I was thinking of something heavier," she sassed back, causing them all to laugh. "Seriously, I'm off. And, Harry, you have a date."
"But I don't want to go," He whined.
"No one asked, or cares, what you want," she told him primly.
"Isn't that the damn truth," he muttered. "Come on." He stood, offering her his hand. "Let's go home."
"Ron, Cas, I would say it was fun, but yeah." She took Harry's hand and let him pull her up.
