A person can spend a lot of time searching for reasons and answers to questions that are mainly unanswerable. You can't find what's not there, even if you look for it high and low. If the answers are meant to be seen, they will be. It's the same with life's journey and destiny. If something is meant to go elsewhere, it will. But if it's meant for you, no matter how far you flee or where you're at, it will find you. No one else can take it.

Just keep walking, and eventually, you'll end up where you're supposed to be, surrounded by those you're meant to be with, doing what you should be doing in life. The thing about that is, you don't have to go looking for it. It comes to you, sometimes in unexpected ways. That's what Hermione knows to be true because magic and Marcus found her. Her life's journey has brought her to this point in time, where despite the effort of researching the deep magic, she couldn't find it. And out of the blue, she wound up at Rose House with two of the Rosemont sisters. Everything came at the perfect time, in the most unpredictable ways.

Right now, she's a girl on the cusp of change- monumental life change. It began in a large sitting room with an ornate pink marble fireplace and a massive crystal chandelier hanging overhead. A silver serving tray filled with plum cakes and glazed orange-vanilla scones sat on an intricately carved wooden coffee table. Dainty white cloth napkins with lace detailing sit beside dessert plates and a carafe filled with fresh minty rose water. The low table separated the different sections of the room: two sofas and two armchairs, all tied together with an enormous area rug. Hermione sat on one of the sofas, a plush, soft beige, listening to Amelia speak of the Rosemont heritage and deep magic.

"Sweet Girl," said the eldest sister with her hair piled in a bun, "unless your desire had been for the deep magic, you wouldn't have sought so long and so faithfully for it. Everyone finds what they truly seek."

Cecilia hummed in agreement. The younger sister declared, "You've been seeking it your whole life, Hermione. When the truth is, it's already found you."

Stupified, the young witch sat there, bubbling over with questions. "But how is that possible? How could it have found me when I don't even know what it is or how to recognize it?" she wanted to know. There are things about this that she just doesn't understand. When she doesn't understand something, it drives her bonkers.

Amelia, who sat with her ankles crossed like a fine lady, responded, "Those who are ignorant and feeble-minded only comprehend popular magic- the magic of today. But the deep magic lives and thrives with those who bear the facets of complex knowledge and truth. It takes a strong person to prune its depths because it's purer and stable."

Then Cecilia chimed in. "You see, Hermione, popular magic came from somewhere. New spells, new ways, new ideas, and creations like vitality potion number nine have a form of the deep magic but are not fully representative of it. Sometimes it's even a fake imitation. Everything in our wizarding world has a part of the deep magic but is not thoroughly, wholly immersed. And it won't be ever again, so it comes to those of us to keep the deep magic alive. What you see as good and worthy adhering to a magical moral code only begins to touch the deep magic's surface. It's only a teeny tiny, itty bitty part of the truth."

That left Hermione floored. She sunk into the sofa cushions, feeling a sort of smallness about her. If all the things like patronuses, star charts, and spells to keep the darkness at bay only skim the top of the deep magic, then there's a lot to learn. And she does. The young witch desires to learn all about this older form of magic.

Ms. Amelia spoke up again. In her right hand was a pair of pearl and tortoise-rimmed eyeglasses. She tapped them lightly on her leg. "We must table our discussion until our other two sisters arrive. They are on their way. I think you will like them as well, Hermione. Idalia is closer in age to Cecilia but is the baby of the family. She's married with kids and grandkids running around everywhere. Idalia has a tender heart and is sensitive to the gift of sight. Then there's Natalia. She's about five years younger than me. She's sharp as a tack in her mind-"

Ms. Cecila instantly cut her sister off. "Yes. She remembers everything, even things she should not, like that time when I was thirteen. It was Yule break, and I was practicing for charms class. I accidentally set her hair on fire, and oh, how the world ended. The wailing and the yelling were enough to silence the portraits completely."

The eldest lady in the room began to laugh and had a soft sparkle in her eyes. "Oh, Cee! I remember that wild incident. I was home, visiting with my husband and two girls. And if I'm correct, which I usually am, Natalia had recently gotten engaged. She got you back, though." That made Amelia laugh even more.

Sitting up straighter, thoroughly interested, Hermione inquired of the women, "What happened? What did Natalia do?"

That's when everyone heard a new voice, a different voice that sounded like delicate silver bells. Natalia entered the room and stood looking high-class and tapered in her customary grey day robes. They cut an impressive figure with severe shoulders. But for all that, she looks like her sisters with sandy blonde hair and height. "Why, naturally, I hexed her hair blue. CC all but cried out Oh, my hair! My hair is blue! My... hair... is blue! I have blue hair!"

Her comments made the sisters, and Hermione, share a laugh. Natalia began hugging each one and took a seat beside the new witch in the room. The heartfelt woman held out her hand with edged, red nails. Hermione took it, and the older witch placed her other warm hand on top. "I'm Natalia, and it's so very nice to meet you finally. I've heard so much about you from CC, which means you're special because my sister doesn't talk about younger witches. Well, that's not true- unless it's to bemoan their fakeness and eagerness for monetary gains in marriage. Plus, we've all been waiting for the day someone would take Marcus's heart away. We're all in agreement that we're glad it's you."

For all the pronounced sharpness this sister gives off with her outward appearance, she's all sweetness and kindness. Hermione voiced a quiet, "Thank you." The young woman sat listening to the three sisters' trade childhood stories, waiting for the final one to arrive. As she listened to the conversation, she thought about their camaraderie. Each one is like the roses outside, different but from the same garden. Even though they may live miles apart, it's clear they're the best of friends who lift each other up when feeling down.

Just as Amelia was about to tell the story of when Cecilia learned to fly her first broom, the final sister arrived. And she is dazzling. Everything about her radiated confidence and beauty. Why even her jewelry, which there's a lot of, sparkled in the light. Especially the diamonds around her neck and on her arms when they caught the sun. But that's not all. The bronzed-colored shirt, underneath the black tweed blazer encasing a row of large crystals down the front for snaps, also gleamed. Even Idalia's black shoes shimmered and shined. When she spoke, it was like melting honey.

As the four sisters hugged, Hermione could see the differences clearly. Amelia was the more understated sister, reserved in tone, manner, and dress. Natalia was the sharp one able to keep the others in check. Despite her strong, intense persona, like her name, she's as happy as Christmas Day. Cecilia was the colorful, vibrant one, unafraid to let her true colors shine through. And Idalia stands as the radiant one with a genuinely incandescent personality. Together they're harmonious and unified, as a family should be.

Only when their laughter died down did the women turn their attention to the reason they were gathered. Idalia, who sat on the other side of Hermione, opened the conversation by voicing, "There's a certain freedom and prosperity in popular magic. Additionally, it provides a sense of escape from government abuse, war, crime, daily life, and problems. Popular magic has evolved incredibly throughout the decades and centuries to find its place in time. However, the traditions of the wizarding world society are deeply entrenched by the pureblood gatekeepers for better or worse. Neither popular magic nor the rooted traditions of society are bad. Each has its place the same as the deep magic which underlies all of it."

Hermione can see that. She can see it playing out with Voldemort having woven his lies into their pureblooded heads. It all makes sense now. While popular magic is growing, society is stuck thanks to the gatekeeper's fear of what they don't know or understand. What a terrible predicament the wizarding world has gotten itself in by twisting worthy ideas for evilness.

Ms. Cecilia spoke up. "I think, Dear Girl, you understand the dilemma involving Voldemort better. We will revisit that monster briefly, but first, more about the deep magic versus popular magic."

The lady left the discussion forthright and looked to her sister, Natalia. All eyes turned to the sincere second-oldest Rosemont witch, who looked serious in thought. "Some people look for the complex when it's actually quite simple."

Her elegant hand made a swishing movement, and an aged book appeared in the blink of an eye. Its cover is love-worn but no less magnificent in navy blue with golden embossed emblems and scrolls. "This is the book of our family magic and history. Our secrets, including those that date far beyond imagination, are kept in it. Some would die to know what's in here. To those who seek it falsely, the family book appears blank. But to those whom its knowledge is freely given, the tome reveals itself."

Natalia opened it. As said, the book began revealing itself little by little until it unfolded like some neverending story. Hermione's curious eyes could scarcely take it in, and she had to know, "Why me? Why are you choosing to share this knowledge and information with me?"

Amelia smoothed her silk skirt and confessed vaguely, "We have our suspicions about something, and that's all we'll say. Revealing too much too soon is not a good thing."

The group of older women smiled, knowing smiles. It made the younger witch think of Dumbledore, his annoying eye twinkles, and cryptic messages. That made her say, "Does Professor Dumbledore know about the deep magic?"

Marcus's Gram declared with a look of affrontery, "He knows as much as the Founders know. There's much more to it than even he comprehends."

A glass of rose water floated to Idalia, who stated, "Which is why we're gathered here today. The same magic that thought of light, solemn, purple, yellow, calm, and fast also conceived of magic that would make heavy things light and able to fly, turn grey lead into yellow gold, and the still rock into rushing water. If it could do the one, it could do the other; it inevitably did both. No one hears of the deep magic today because it would be spoken of as a myth. But it's not a myth, nor should it be treated as one."

Natalia clarified her sister's statements by adding to them. "The importance of a myth is not easily tacked on paper by analytical logic. It's not a defense of history and geography nor poetic in nature. To do so would leave the defender at a disadvantage and make the person have to speak in fansical language. Then myth is dead on arrival. For you see, mere humans can't know the deep magic as we know it. You can only believe it. Or not."

Then Cecilia dared to look Hermione straight in the eyes. Deep spoke unto deep. "You have a choice here today. You can choose to believe what we share with you, or you can disbelieve it. It's up to you to decide. For we tell you what's been passed down to us for ages since, which is similar to the history of magic, you learn about in school. Though it veers in a different direction."

With a slight nod of understanding, Hermione's voice shook a little. She uttered, "Tell me more."

And at those words, the ancient book took the ladies on a journey through time, starting with the first Rosemont witch, Everly, to the ones sitting in the room today. Hermione learned that deep calls to deep, and one hears what one wants to hear, but only those with accurate perception can suss the truth out. This inner sight is why the deep magic called out the Rosemont family. And she knows now why the magic doesn't answer everyone. It's because it, itself, is the answer, and that's why it chooses to be veiled.

When she asked what the deep magic was grounded on, all four ladies exclaimed at once, "Love." Then Amelia added, "Honor." Natalia declared, "Truth," while Cecilia stated, "What is pure." And finally, Idalia noted, "Whatever is admirable and worthy."

Unknowingly Hermione admitted, "The direct opposite of Voldemort and the death eaters."

Amelia held a porcelain dessert plate in her lap, bearing a plum cake, and told the young woman, "Exactly. They know a form of magic, but not the true deep magic. The Dark Lord, they call him, is adept at bending the prophecies, the spells, and the people to suit his will. He's good at citing the deep magic but doesn't know it. How can he? He doesn't know love; without love, there can not be truth, honor, or admiration for anything good. It's in direct opposition to everything honorable and lovely that the deep magic represents, even the magic you study at school- what the Order of the Phoenix defends."

Hermione felt like she couldn't move. She's drawn to the sisters and the goodness they defend. And perhaps she now knows what she's precisely fighting for, not for Harry or the wizarding world, but herself, her future, and this special magic the sisters protect.

That's when Natalia told her, "Some things, Sweet Girl, cannot be seen or touched to know it's true. No. The best things are felt deeply in the soul and the heart. For a thinking girl such as yourself, I realize it's hard to comprehend the deep magic, but open yourself up to it, and you'll be amazed at what happens. That is called faith, and the stuff miracles are made of."

Hermione realizes others are asleep to the deep, and this is a path she will have to walk alone for the time being. "But if Voldemort wins, then the deep magic dies. Even the popular magic will suffer. How can he be stopped? It's scary plowing through that darkness, especially a muggle-born like me," she wondered.

Cecilia shook her finger at her grandson's girlfriend. "Now stop that this instant. You come from more honorable blood than most purebloods I know. Your skill, talent, wits, and heart are enough to shame the shoulders of even the greatest wizard on earth. Be content with who you are. Extraordinary things happen with ordinary people. You would do well to remember that."

Then Idalia asserted, "How does anyone defeat the darkness? To beat the darkness out there in the world, you must first deal with it inside yourself. And that takes more courage than you could know. No one is perfect. We all have darkness inside us, and when it rears its ugly head, it takes a strong will and a lot of self-control not to give in to it. Voldemort calls to those who are weak and who have given in to the evil inside them."

Amelia agreed. Laying her plate of crumbs on the coffee table, she claimed, "Yes. It's sad when you look at them. All the gifts they possess are wasted on acts of wickedness, destruction, and violence. Just think, if those who follow Voldemort and even Grindlewald had used those talents for good, how much better off the world would be? Fear calls to fear, and it follows. The soul that has conceived one evil does more afterward."

Nodding, Cecilia contended, "That's why we don't go looking for monsters. All the monsters anyone cared to find are inside ourselves. Evil is the outward appearance of what's in the heart. And you, Hermione, have been chosen for such a time as this."

Oh, no. Ms. Cecilia is wrong, and the young witch told her so. "I think you're wrong. Harry is the Chosen One. I'm only his friend and helper on his journey."

Idalia chuckled, and her voice spoke to Hermione's heart. "Precious Hermione, why do you think you wear that locket around your neck? My nephew gave it to you, sure, but you wouldn't be wearing it unless it had accepted you."

Hermione's hand touched the locket as Natalia stated, "I find it interesting evermore how none of us birthed the next line of guardians. Amelia, you had a squib daughter, then one more who's magical." She turned to her baby sister, "Idalia, you had four children. Two girls and two boys. I had boys. We all thought Cecilia was the one to carry on the line with her three girls because only the guardians gave birth to all girls, but we were wrong. The deep magic hasn't called to any of them. But yet..."

She trailed off, and Cecilia picked up. "But yet there's still hope. Why do you think the locket accepted you, Hermione?"

The Gryffindor can't believe what she's hearing. She's not a keeper of the deep magic, especially if she's just now learning what it is. Plus, "I'm not family. I'm only Marcus's girlfriend." That whole defense sounded shotty, and she knew it.

Patting Hermione's arm, Natalia transferred to her, "You're not family yet. Love is our true destiny. Without it, we have nothing. We do not walk life's journey alone and do not find our future by ourselves. We find it with another. When real love finds you, you hold onto it with both hands and never let go."

Knowing the woman was right, Hermione's heart quickened. It's true; love found her with Marcus. He's hers. Maybe it was fate or destiny. But really, it's just good timing because timing is everything. They both were ready for something authentic at the same time. And now she's here with these women, in this room. She thought about the motto on the locket and whispered, "Love over all."

Wisened, older Amelia commented, "Indeed. With great love comes great sacrifice."

Like an arrow to the heart, Hermione knew. In the pit of her stomach, she knew then what she didn't realize hours ago. Those words made her think of Harry's mother, Lily Potter. She sacrificed herself so he would live. That's love and the deep magic working. The only thing she could think of was the prophecy. Harry has love, which Voldemort does not. And if love has great sacrifice attached to it, then for Voldemort to die...

"You know, don't you?" she fretted in worry. Her voice began to quaver. "You know what will happen. You've seen it. You must have. Sitting in this room are four of the most powerful witches ever to live. I know because my magic feels it. So, you have the power to stop it, to stop Voldemort. You have the power to prevent Harry from dying. You could stop all of this right now, I bet." She began to be desperate.

The four sisters looked at each other. It was Natalia who spoke for them. "Just because one can do something doesn't mean they should. If a person has the gift of sight, it doesn't mean they should meddle with the future. Do you think Voldemort and Harry Potter are the keys to dispelling darkness? Think again and think more significant, and dig deeper, Child. We are the keepers of the deep magic, yes. But you have so much more to learn. For you see, death is not the end. It's the beginning. Death comes for everyone, and those who try to defy its laws are meddling in things they ought not. It's what we leave behind that matters. And that's where popular magic and the deep magic differ entirely."

Cecilia continued, "When you interfere in things that defy the natural progression of life, you've turned to darkness. Death and creation meddling is pure darkness. Fear leads to a dark path- fear of the unknown and fear of death. You cannot stop pain or sorrow. This life is full of it. What you do with it defines and shapes you."

The number of things Hermione thought to say nearly smothered her from the inside out. The weight of what she's learned and been told brought her to tears. She sobbed, "So, what's the point of it all if he's going to die?"

Pulling the weeping, shaking witch to her side and holding her close, Idalia soothed her. As she stroked Hermione's hair, the luminous lady explained, "Crying is alright for a time. But you still have to decide what to do when you stop. That is where courage takes over. Either you help your friend on his journey, or you don't. But Sweet Girl, you have your own expedition to undertake, and it's just as valid as his."

As she cried on Idalia, Amelia made known to the young woman, "You are not alone in this fight. You have something worth fighting for in yourself, your love, your family, and the deep magic. You asked how you could recognize it. Child, the deep magic has been with you the whole time. It was there when you received your Hogwarts letter and chose your wand. It was there when you sat on the stool and were sorted into your house. It was with you when you punched Draco Malfoy in the nose. It was with you when you learned new magical truths and enjoyed the simple pleasure of quills and parchment."

Cecilia twirled the bracelet on her wrist and informed her grandson's love, "The deep magic was with you when you met my grandson and showed him he wasn't stupid. It was with you when mudblood was uttered first, and words were carved into your hand with a blood quill. It was even there when dark magic cursed you in the Department of Mysteries. And it will be with you until the very end. It calls to you, and you hear it. Follow it and hold fast to it because it's holding fast to you."

Staring at the thorny diamond and rose bracelet on her wrist, Cecilia Rosemont Fawley knew what she had to do. Then she took the rose bracelet off, stood up, and walked to Hermione. In a show of acceptance and love, she handed the piece of jewelry to the young lady. "When the time is right, it will know what to do. And you will too." She placed a kiss on Hermione's forehead.

The young witch wondered as her head nestled into Ms. Idalia's side. Her hands clutched the bracelet she had been given. Even if Harry has to die, she will fight. Because when your sword breaks, you draw your dagger, and her dagger is her mind. Her mind is her greatest weapon; she will hone it and wield it to perfection, and at the right time, she'll use it to bring down the so-called Dark Lord.

Once Hermione clasped the bracelet on her wrist, calmness washed over her body. And then, she will also use love because she has something worth fighting for, and that's her future. Her future is named Marcus Flint, and it's entwined with his and his family. She knows that now.