A/N: Hello! It has taken me a bit longer to update this time because I got reviews that you wanted more:) So, I had to think about how to do this. I was just going to end like planned and then do a sequel, but I'm actually not too big of a fan of those because the sequels often do not have the same tensions as the originals. Then, I was going to bring a new story line in, but I just couldn't make it feel right as I was writing. So, I am still ending with this chapter unless people plead with me to continue. I have a small idea of what I could still do to continue, but I am not sure if I would continue in this story or have to do a squeal. More information at the end. Also, I tried to do research on what portraits are and what they can and can not do, but I only found a few things on it.

A/N: I do not own Harry Potter or the characters. I still haven't gotten my HBP book, but I did break down and found out several facts. I can't wait to read the story:)

MIDNIGHT-PIXIE – I know! I can't wait to read the book! I was bad about finding out facts, but I'm sure I'm going to love the story!

Steelo – Sorry I took longer than planned to update! I hope you enjoy it!

Tiarwen – Thanks for the love:) I hope you like this chapter!

Starinthenight – Thanks for the suggestion! I was going to sort-of go along those lines but in a slightly different way, but then decided that it wasn't working this chapter. I'm still not sure, but see the end. ;) Thanks for the love and support!

mrsbnm-of09 – A bit longer and more Blaise? ;) I'm glad you like my Blaise.

Jessica Halliwell Potter – Glad you are enjoying it!

lightning8star – I'm glad you find the story intriguing! I'm very new at this sort of this so that is very encouraging to hear!

Thank you to everyone who is reading the story. Please, please, please review – even if it's just a few words!

"I can explain."

"Explain what!" Draco stepped forward, finally recovering his voice. "Hermione, what is going on? Why can't I get into my home? Why are you changing things? Without my permission." Draco's voice began to rise. "Hermione, what is going on!"

Hermione took a deep breath as she walked over to Draco, Blaise and Ginny. Blaise and Ginny stared at her with wide eyes, while Draco struggled to understand what was going on. "Draco, you remember that charm you gave me when I was staying here? The one with the ruby in it?"

"Yes."

"That charm was Rauma Carney's charm. I recognized it from a painting," Hermione quickly continued. "The Portrait of Rauma that was outside her room. Right away I rushed over here to confirm that the charm was the same. Rauma then began to talk to me and invited me into her painting-"

"That's impossible," Draco scoffed.

"Not always," Blaise interrupted them. "Sometimes a will can be activated through the portrait of the person left behind. Often an item," Blaise nodded to the charm around Hermione's neck, "can be used to activate the will." Draco looked at Blaise in disbelief and then turned back to Hermione.

"Why hasn't anyone in my family activated the will?"

"Rauma explained that she used the ruby because of it's abilities to determine the heart of the wearer, in a sense." Hermione added. "The ruby affords the wearer wealth and property; it also strengthens their sprit and will power so that they become fearless. A good wearer becomes respected in society. A bad ruby, with any dark spots shows that the stone does not care for the wearer and bad fortune may befell them. Sometime, a ruby will warn it's wearer of something bad coming to pass in which it goes black until the event occurs. That's how Rauma knew that her husband was going to die.

"Rauma choose to inscribe her ruby with the Latin phrase audaces fortuna iuvat-fortune favours the bold- to remind future descendents that they must take chances. She has been very pleased to see that Malfoy and her descents have taken that advice to heart."

"So, why not give us the will?" Draco impatiently asked. "What is in the will?"

"Patience is a virtue, Draco," Hermione snapped back to him.

"Not to me, it's not. I want to know what is going on – not a lesson in gems." Draco replied. Hermione frowned and chose to ignore him.

"Rauma chose not to show the will to any of your ancestors because they have not been true to the Carney name and chose to follow paths of evil instead of good. Rauma had used her powers through the ruby to gather power and position in society which ultimately let to the marriage between herself and Malfoy. With Malfoy, she began to move geo-magical lines through the Carney estate to protect her family and those people in Reimashire. With the death of Malfoy, she realized that there were evil persons in every family." Hermione turned to Draco. "You see, Rauma didn't want revenge on her husband's killers, but felt that they opened her eyes to the evils that can come into any family. It made her so sad that she withdrew into her estate, with all her power and fortune. She continued to help the people of Reimashire live their lives, but thought about how she could protect the power and wealth she had collected."

"Our family does still have wealth and power." Draco pointed out.

"Yes, but you only today have about one third of the wealth that is still inside the estate." Draco's eyes went wide. "Plus, the power that can now be controlled through here is almost unlimited. A test that Rauma wanted done was to unleash the full power of the geo-magical lines through the estate. To do that, she required a person to channel their power through the ruby to bring the estate back to its original design."

"What!" Draco exclaimed. "What does this mean? That Rauma feels I am worthy enough to control this power?"

Hermione looked a bit uneasy. "Rauma feels that you have begun to restore the good name to the Carney line of descendants and that you are the first honourable descendant of hers in a very long time."

"But…?" Draco couldn't take the suspension.

"But, she is still not sure that anyone who carries the Malfoy surname can handle the power, wealth and responsibility that the Carney estate brings."

"What do you mean? A portrait just can't name someone else benefactor!" He whirled around to Blaise. "Can they?"

Blaise looked uncomfortable to be in this position. "According to laws within the Ministry, a portrait can chose any benefactor if they are given the power to do so. Hermione should have something from Rauma confirming this. In this case, I would expect that parchment, the charm and a verbal confirmation from Rauma's portrait is the confirmation. When together, they should display the will with Rauma's modifications."

"Modifications?"

Blaise swallowed hard, "Hermione's name in the spaces of benefactor."

Draco looked panicked. "Well, let's go to her then!" Draco took the lead and ran to the estate. The doors opened wide for him this time and he ran up the stairs. Blaise, Ginny and Hermione followed, trying to ignore the calls from Draco's relatives in the gallery.

"You whore! How could a mudblood take our estate from us?" One woman shrieked.

"She's a mudblood? And to think, I thought she would be good for Draco," Another man complained.

"Don't listen to them Hermione," Ginny mumbled, holding Hermione's arm. Hermione smiled at her friend.

When the trio reached Draco and Rauma, they found him arguing with the portrait.

"Why won't you answer me!" Draco shouted to the portrait. Rauma just smiled at him. As she saw Hermione, she stood. Draco stopped shouting.

"Hermione. I am very glad to hear that I did not fail in my task." Rauma said. Hermione nodded to her. "I feel that everything is back to how it should be. Aren't you happy for that, Draco?"

"Why would I be happy?" Draco bitterly stated back. "I no longer have the family's best and most powerful estate."

"Yes, that is true." Draco sent the portrait a look of death. "I am very sorry to see that you are taking this so badly. I thought that you and Hermione were together." Draco looked guilty for a minute.

"Yes." He gruffly said.

"So, the estate is not all lost to you." Draco looked sceptically at the portrait. "Rauma never intended for a male to have her power and fortune. Men do not wear charms and she never forgot how people didn't think she could ever have power without Malfoy."

"So, why did you stay with the Malfoy family for all these years?" Draco said in disbelief.

"Draco, Rauma loved her husband very much. That didn't mean that she was dim-witted. She knew that males in the Malfoy family often value power and wealth over true values. If a female came into the line with the power of Rauma and the goodness found within the ruby, she would have given the power to her. But, there seemed to be only males in the Malfoy family and none of them were worthy to Rauma." Draco looked very offended.

Rauma continued. "So, I found Hermione. I only found Hermione since she cared deeply for you. Don't you care for her?" Blaise, Ginny, Hermione and Rauma looked to Draco expectantly.

"Yes." Draco still looked cross.

"So, why don't you marry her?" Rauma asked innocently.

"What!" Draco and Hermione exclaimed together.

Rauma looked surprised and then impatient. "Do you love each other?

Hermione and Draco looked at each other with wide eyes. Draco was the first to speak. "Yes…"

"So get married. Then neither of you lose anything and you both gain much."

"You mean, if they don't marry Hermione doesn't get the money and power and Draco doesn't get the estate?" Ginny jumped in.

"Of course." Rauma sat down again.

"Well, get married you guys!" Ginny exclaimed. "We know that you belong together so just make it official!"

"It's not that simple Ginny!" Hermione replied. "I mean, I don't know if we should rush into this. What if it's really not right?"

"Right – I don't want to marry Hermione and have her think that it is for the money and power." Draco said. Hermione turned to him.

"I wouldn't think you would marry me for that reason."

"You wouldn't?" Draco moved to Hermione. "You trust me more than that?"

Hermione looked nervous. "Yes…"

"So Hermione," Draco took her hands, "would you like to marry me?" Hermione starred at him with wide eyes.

"What?"

"Hermione! I know you heard him!" Ginny exclaimed. Hermione looked blankly at Ginny before turning back to Draco.

"I… um… how…" Hermione tried to put her thoughts together. Draco started to look impatient again – as did Ginny and Blaise. Hermione sat down on the floor to think. Draco, Blaise and Ginny stared blankly at her, expectantly. Hermione looked back up at then again. Then to Draco. She stood up.

"Yes."

"Yes, what?" Draco said. Hermione punched him in the arm.

"Yes, I'll marry you – you idiot!" Ginny and Blaise screamed with delight. Draco took Hermione in his arms and gave her a great kiss. Rauma smiled.

"I am very glad that you agreed." Rauma said. The four wizards turned again to her. "This estate now has power and riches that even Draco could have only dreamed of before. I trust you to use it wisely and to not abuse the power."

"Thank you Rauma." Draco said. Rauma looked at him briefly.

"Can I please speak to Hermione alone for a moment?" Draco nodded and Hermione stepped forward. She closed her eyes and a moment later was in the portrait with Rauma. Rauma whispered into her ear and Hermione nodded. Rauma then gave Hermione a small key. Hermione appeared outside with her friends and fiancé.

Later that evening, Hermione and Draco were still figuring out all the changes that occurred.

"Hermione?" Draco asked as Hermione looked up to him. "What did Rauma tell you and give you in the portrait?" Hermione paused for a moment.

"She gave me the key to the underground trove of treasures."

"What did she whisper to you?"

"She said that I must change the estate back to limit its powers when I reach the age of 40. I will return the charm to the Malfoy vault and return to Rauma's portrait the other items she has given me."

"Why?"

"Draco, I'm not the first person since Rauma to receive her will. You have had several women marry into the Malfoy family who received this honour. I am just the latest one." Hermione paused. "But the portrait is correct. Rauma does not believe a male Malfoy can handle the power and wealth so it has always gone to women. I'm sorry Draco, but that is her wishes."

Draco smiled and drew Hermione close. "That's ok. She knew that my wish was always you. And now that wish has come true." He whispered as he kissed her deeply on the mouth.

Fin

A/N: Ok! What do you think? I just couldn't get it to finish a way to could carry it out longer. I'm so sorry! I was thinking to continue where Hermione did get all the power and Draco had to move out, but then Draco was getting rather out of character from how he has been and it just seemed too off. And I was thinking of brining Josephine back in after their engagement, but that would have to be in a sequel or something. sigh

Well, I do think I'm going to come up with another plot and hopefully you will come back and read it:) Thank you so much for everything! I enjoyed writing and looking at what you write back to me!