Author's Note: Here I am again…what can I say? I am in an updating mood. Plus I did not want to make the previous chapter too long. I cut it in half. 'Lays out cookies and drinks for my lovely and kind reviewers'.
Disclaimer: Not mine I tell you!
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Hermione headed down to the Common Room minutes after Ron and Harry went to get Ginny in the Gryffindor Common Room. She saw her fellow Prefects chatting excitedly. Justin looked up at her and grinned.
"Cho is doing well Mione! She just came up with our next activity for the War of the Houses. This one will put us in the lead mark my words!" He said with a friendly but wicked smile.
Hermione returned to smile, "Really? Well, don't bet on it! SO spill already what are we doing next?"
"Cookie decorating."
Hermione looked puzzled, "Cookie decorating? I love cookies and I love decorating them but will this work to inspire unity?"
Cho grinned, "Not just any cookies. You have to bake and decorate them with your partner."
With that bit of yummy secret tucked in her mind, the Prefects went down to dinner to announce it to everyone.
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No matter what she had told to Hermione's friends, Mags was worried about her cousin. Their ring fingers never tingled unless it was trouble or someone was trying to steal their ring. Neither of which were cause for celebration.
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Draco pulled Mione off to the side of the Great hall to talk to her a moment before they went up to announce the next task.
"Mione, I am worried about you. Are you okay, you left class today and then we couldn't find you." He asked with his silver eyes full of concern.
"I am fine Draco. I just needed some time away. I had a headache from hell and was just needing some private me time." She kissed his cheek and grinned at him, "Now let's get up there and help make the announcement eh?"
So they joined their fellow Prefects but Draco was not going to drop this so easily. He was worried, and he never worried about anyone! This was not a good thing!
"Here we go every one! We came up with an idea for the War of the Houses that will take care of two events in one. First, there is baking. And we mean baking the muggle way with an actual oven. The second activity is the decorating of your Christmas cookies. You will be judged on taste and appearance." Cho announced over the groans of the student body.
The Prefects all grinned at each other and then announced together, "But you get to eat all the cookies at the Winter Ball…" then they counted to three mentally and the cheers went up all over the room, "Thought you all might like that."
Dumbledore stood up and motioned for silence as the Prefects made their way to their seats at the head table. Hermione searched to Gryffindor table for Ron and Harry. When she saw them, she winked and waggled her fingers. They grinned back and shook a finger at her as if she was a naughty little girl.
"Attention. Before we begin tonight, I have to share with the school as a whole. We have all heard the stories of the Valkyrie Queens. How they are so very young and yet arte so very good at what they do. We all heard how they lost an entire squad in battle and have not ever been heard from again. They are real my students and they are in fact right here in this very room. Tonight we will not be going back to your dorms after dinner. Tonight we will meet them and hear their story. Now may dinner begin!" and with that the tables were covered in food.
Mione looked over at Mags and took in her white face. Reliving those battles was going to open up old wounds. Some of which never really heal all that well. This was going to be a long night. She and Mags both took care to hide the rings under their robes as they ate. The entire Hall was buzzing over this great news. How exciting to meet them at last! This was going to be one hell of a night.
Soon the feast was over and Dumbledore cleared the tables. Mione was Mags were so nervous they were almost shaking. They shared a look of mingled fear and apprehension. This was it. Soon everyone would know. Hopefully this was the right thing to do.
"Will Miss Granger and Miss Granger-Smythe please come and stand before the table please." They did so quickly and then Dumbledore pointed his wand at them and simply stated, "Acclaro Veritas."
A soft breeze blew through the hall and the students noticed the black robes were fading into white. The rings on their left hands were sparkling more that usual. Soon the robes were a dazzling pure white with the 'VQ' on the right chest. Dumbledore provided two stools and they sat facing the school – which was silent in shock.
"The two sacred rings will forever be in the same bloodline. They will be passed on to the next at the death of the wearers. For this bloodline is sacred, as it holds the blood of the Valkyrie goddesses. Only they may decide who lives and dies in battle. The ring of Knowledge is silver with emerald and ruby, but do not be deceived! With knowledge comes great power and might! The other is gold with sapphire and onyx. It is the ring of Wrath. With this ring, as well do not be deceived! For with this temper and might comes great compassion and love, along with amazing knowledge." Hermione stated to break the ice. Then she held up her right hand and displayed the ring of Knowledge. And Mags held her ring of Wrath.
"I think that every house may have three questions for the ladies. We will start with Hufflepuff." Stated Dumbledore.
A second year Hufflepuff stood up and pointed his wand at his throat and mutter 'sonorous'. Then he asked, "How old were you two when you received the rings and how did you feel about it?"
"We were nine. We woke up one day and they were on our fingers. I was scared, happy, and very scared. Did I say that already?" Mags said with a small smile, "I just wanted to play and have fun and now I had a mythical destiny to fulfill."
"I personally was terrified. So, I did what I do as Hermione Granger. I read up on it and then I got even more terrified. I was honored but terrified." Hermione said with a chuckle at her own expense at her reading comment.
"Why did you two just vanish? You seemed to be doing so much good!" asked a fifth year Hufflepuff.
The two exchanged pain filled looks. This was the one question they really did not want to answer.
"There was a large battle and we had a large group. There were 20 of us all together. Two of us walked away. Two out of twenty. This was our third squad and we had had a belly of blood. We wanted out. So we got out." Mags stated tonelessly. Her eyes were full of pain and rage.
Justin stood to ask the last question for his house, "Does you two going public mean there will be people after you? You made enemies out there."
With that question the two shared a wry smile, "Yes, it does mean we may have some very not so nice people looking for us. But it is safer that you know." Mags explained while Mione got them water.
"Ravenclaw you are next." Called Mcgonagall.
A seventh year stood and looked very scared to ask this question, "Legend says there is the blood of the goddesses in your veins. Is this true and does that make you immortal?"
Mione grinned, I wish it made us immortal. Make the whole dying in battle a worry of the past! However, yes we do have goddess blood in our veins. This gives us our strength. Mentally, physically, magically, and in any other way."
A first year stood and had to have an older student provide the Sonorous or she would not have been heard, "What does battle feel like?"
Mags did a low whistle, "Out of the mouths of babes…. yeesh! Battle is a terrifying adrenaline rush. It is painful. Physically because of the curses and muggle weapons they can use and what not. Mentally, you see your friends and companions fall. People you care about, or even love. My fiancé fell in that last battle. I never want to feel that rage and pain again."
Mione looked at with concern as she left, "Give her a moment. It was hard for her. It was an arranged marriage but they cared so very much or each other. Battle is blood, screams, and pain, get them before they get you attitude. Time goes by so fast and yet it crawls at the same time. I hope none of you ever have to see it." She hugged her cousin as she reentered.
Cho stood to ask the last question for her house, " If you could be just regular people would you?"
"Nope. This is who I am." Mags answered with a weak grin.
"No, this is my destiny." Hermione said with a grim grin.
"Gryffindor…ask your three." Dumbledore said with his eyes looking around at the stunned faces of those in front of him.
Ginny stood and smiled, "Are you still the same people we knew before dinner?"
"Yes!" they both answered with feeling.
"Good, cause I would hate to lose a friend." She said as she took her seat.
Colin stood and took a picture before he asked, "Does you two coming forward mean the school is going to be attacked?"
Mags let Mione take that one as she was still blinking from the brightness of Colin's flash, "As far as we know Colin the school is not going to be under any kind of attack. We were just tired of hiding, and lying to everyone. Besides with both of us here, it just made sense." Hermione explained while trying to giggle at Mags' blinking.
Harry stood up and sighed, "So does this mean that evil will stop following me around and follow you for one year?" He looked hopeful, but his green eyes were twinkling at them full of mischief.
"I tell you what Mr. Potter. If evil come looking for me I will send it to you so you do not feel left out." Mags said with a grin.
"I agree, Harry! We will just keep sending it to you. You are doing a lovely job of saving the world." Mione said as Harry stuck his tongue out at her.
"Spoilsport." He muttered as he took his seat.
"Slytherin!' boomed Snape from behind them.
Pansy stood up, "What is your worst moment?" she sneered at them.
They went silent. No one made a noise. Finally, Mags spoke, "we were in a battle. Out of 20 people, we had five with any battle experience. We had orders to hold our position. SO hold it we did. We were being hit from all sides on the ground so we took to the air and got them that way. We kept losing people. It wasn't their fault. They had not been trained enough. All you could hear were scream and all you could smell was smoke and blood. Then I lost sight of the man I was sworn to wed. I landed to look and I found him. Broken and dead on the ground. Someone had already stolen his wand and his robe. I went nutty as everyone who was still alive landed by me. That landing cost me two more squad members. That was my worst moment Ms. Parkinson. Watching all kinds of death around me and not being able to stop it all."
Moine looked as detached as her voice sounded, "It was three battles before that. I was flying low to see what was going on. When they hit me. Ten Crucio curse all at the same time. I was eleven years old. I almost died, but here I am. That was one of the worst moments of my life."
Blaise stood, "I was just wondering … why not get a new squad and get back out there again."
Mags smiled sadly, "One day we will. Honestly we just need to have a year to a year and a half to train them. I refuse to use a squad a cannon fodder ever again!"
Hermione hugged her cousin, "We just needed a break. One day we will be out there again.
Draco stood and looked stunned, "Is it true that you both have the ability of wandless magic?"
They looked at each other and grinned. Then they made a beckoning motion with their hands and they had two brand new brooms sailing to them.
"Does that answer your question Draco?" Hermione asked on a giggle.
He nodded and sat back down. The stunned Hall as soon released and Mags and Mione slowly walked out, avoiding the crowds, they were not in the mood for more questions. They just needed to adjust themselves to the knowledge that people knew.
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AN: See why I broke up the chapter? Anyway, I may redo this one. I cannot decide if I like it or not… Let me know and we will see!