Hermione looked at Lucius Malfoy's life line. The glowing luminescent white line floated in the air waiting for her to tune it, but she was examining the fork near one end. There was a color shift in the white of the emerging line. She pursed her lips and stared at it.
"His core is split." She rubbed the back of her neck. "The magical signatures don't match."
"I concur." The unspeakable stared at the line before him.
"Good for you." Hermione rolled her eyes as she twirled her wand and vivid colors flooded through Lucius' line. The second line had a few flashes of pastel color until the end where it glowed with bright color. Deep breathing wasn't helping her as she examined the colors on Lucius Malfoy's line. Every spell he'd ever come into contact with danced in a spectrum before her. She glanced at Ambert's short line and swallowed down the nausea of the moment.
"I've never seen anything like that." One of the younger healers that had taken to standing along the wall watching her work stepped closer. "What are all the colors?"
"This is every spell he's ever encountered." Hermione glanced down the line toward the beginning and twisted her wand. The line changed until only a buttery yellow glow was seen. "He was born at Malfoy Manor, so the first spell that he encountered was built into the land itself. His family wards accepted him. She pointed to the yellow at the beginning of his line. It shows up again every time he returned to his home after an absence."
"Isn't that intrusive?" The healer looked over at her. "This spell could be used in the courts."
"No, it can't." Hermione looked back to the line. "This spell only works for healers that have taken a vow and gone through a very demanding rite. We are bound to protect our patients by another set of oaths and another rite. This information is mine alone. None of you will be able to recall the line in detail once I dismiss it. I can not be compelled to share the information. My patient is safe."
"What if you were imperiused?" The unspeakable tilted his head.
"You're welcome to try." Hermione grinned at the obscured face. "I've been tested by the best. They don't allow you to undergo the rites if you are vulnerable."
"I didn't think their sworn healers left." He shifted slightly.
"Most don't. Most choose a different path from mine." Hermione shrugged. "I won't be bound to a place or a cause."
"A rogue healer? With your abilities?" The unspeakable stepped back. "Many would see you as a threat."
"Because I'm battle hardened? I'm a well honed weapon?" Hermione chuckled, low and melodic. "That's why my master did trust me. I will not falter."
The unspeakable nodded and looked away from her. She didn't need to see the man's features clearly to sense his guilt. Turning back to the lines, she sighed.
"It should be possible to graft the new line back into the original." Hermione sighed. "How many other victims of this nonsense are there?"
"I am not at liberty to say." The unspeakable moved further from her. "This may be an anomaly. The other participants are being checked."
Hermione nodded her head, but she knew the unspeakable was lying. Whatever the Ministry's goals in this, they didn't care about the well being of Lucius Malfoy and his brethren. She looked down at the table's smooth surface and considered the irony that she did.
Narcissa frowned as she looked over the legal documents that the Ministry wanted her to sign. Draco sat beside her and patted her hand. It was such a little thing, but it helped her feel a tiny bit less overwhelmed.
"It would seem Granger anticipated some difficulties arising with our government." Draco stared at some point on the wall. "There is a wizard from France here to help us navigate through this quagmire. Do you want to accept the assistance?"
Narcissa took a deep breath. Accepting help from Granger didn't come with the usual strings. The witch didn't deal with the world the Slytherin way. No, the usual strings were not involved, but there would always be a sense of something owed.
"We simply don't have a choice." Narcissa glanced towards her son. "She's already doing more for us than we can ever repay. We shall have to live with it."
Draco nodded and left her to her thoughts again. She really didn't care for them. She didn't want to imagine his other life. She didn't want to see the pain so carefully banked in Granger's eyes.
Draco brought the wizard in. He did not gawk at the architectural details or look at the various works of art. His clothing was obviously bespoke. Narcissa took a deep breath and wondered how Granger had managed to find and acquire such a wizard's services.
"I am Adrien Martel. My cousin is rather put out with your government and requested my help. He is filing charges with the ICW. I may be the head of our House, but he is the one with the power." The man shrugged and smiled lightly. "His daughter was coerced into a visit. One can not do that to a Martel."
"I know of your family, but I do not understand why you are here." Narcissa moved her hand to invite the man to sit. "I thought Hermione Granger sent you."
"She did. Hermione Granger Martel is my cousin's daughter." The man smirked. "You English have always been so concerned with blood, but we see it differently in France." He leaned back in his chair. "She proved her purity by earning a mastery. Claude filed the adoption papers as soon as she succeeded. She is a true treasure for our family to protect."
Narcissa blinked, but managed to nod her head. Hermione Granger Martel was an acknowledged member of a pure blood house. Claude Martel was one of the most terrifying wizards alive. He'd been close with Grindelwald and strong enough to escape being pulled into that wizard's insanity. He'd openly defied Dumbledore and Riddle.
"We Martels are a quiet family for the most part. We live comfortably and happily, but we have not survived this long without learning a thing or two." The wizard's smile was small and tight. "Your government will be paying badly for its offenses against us."
"What can my family do to help?" Narcissa nodded and smiled at him genuinely.
Asa Yamato sighed as he stepped into the hospital. He didn't care for travel, but Hermione had called on him. For his favorite pupil, he could tolerate the indignity of it all.
He watched as people bustled around him with an odd frantic quality. It seemed they wanted to appear busy because there weren't enough serious patients to account for the activity. He took a deep breath as a man in healers' robes headed toward him.
"Master Yamato, we heard you were on your way here." The man moved through the crowd with no regard for other people.
"Yes, a favor was asked of me." Asa bent slightly at the waist and ignored the man's awkward bluster. "Where is Hermione Granger?"
"She is upstairs. I'll be happy to take you to her." The obsequious man smiled at him. "Perhaps, we can squeeze in a brief tour of our fine establishment along the way."
Asa resisted the urge to roll his eyes. This facility was a building, perhaps it was impressive to those that had never stood on ground meant for healing. His own buildings on Mount Osore were similar enough, but the healing power flowed through them. One didn't have to force the power to their will. It wanted to help. The man before him simply did not know.
Asa sighed. He had hoped being brusk would make the man back off, but this wizard had an obvious agenda. It was familiar enough. They always wanted to lure him away from his home.
"I am here at Master Granger's behest. Leaving my place at Osorezan is not easy for me, but, to help her, I must." Asa glanced around the room. "Please, take me to her."