This chapter will be delving a bit more into the LOTR saga, and how it's going to move forward in this story...hope you enjoy it!
The evening ended with Hermione inviting Draco to visit the next day to help with her research. He nodded and kissed the back of her hand in deference and then asked if it was possible to obtain a set of the books that Tolkien had written.
He was amused by the look of surprise on his intended's face, while Potter turned away with a knowing grin.
Once their guests had departed, Draco followed his parents back into their main library, and his Father called for some firewhiskey.
Once settled, Lucius decided to speak up, "What do you think of all of this, Son?"
Draco took a measured sip of his firewhiskey, closing his eyes at the pleasing burn, before he set his tumbler down on the side table and replied, "Frankly, it's a bit much, if I'm being honest. However, I can't deny that there's likely some truth to what Hermione and her Father are speculating. Then there's the issue of the Elder Wand."
"Yes, I'll admit to being curious about that," Narcissa offered softly, "did it feel the same wielding it, as your own wand?"
Draco's brow furrowed, and he pulled out his wand and held it within his left hand, pondering what had happened out in the hedges.
He lifted his wand, closed his eyes and allowed the singular happy memory to fill him up, before he spoke out softly, "Expecto patronum."
It wasn't as effortless, but to the astonishment of both his parents, his patronus burst forth, flying around the room. His expression upon seeing the dragon was one of relief, as he'd wondered at the time, if it'd only been due to the Elder Wand, that he'd been capable of such Magic's...
Now he knew better, but it still didn't answer all his questions.
"How?" His Father asked, stunned.
"I don't know, honestly." He admitted, noticing his Mother's thoughtful expression.
"What memory did you use, my Dragon?"
He sighed, and then replied softly, "The day I got my Hogwarts letter."
Both of his parents nodded, as it had been truly a wonderful day for their family.
"I was under the impression that carrying the Dark Mark, made such Magic's nigh on impossible." Lucius wondered aloud.
"Perhaps there's more to this bond, then even we suspect," Narcissa postulated, "how do you feel about this, darling? Are you going to be able to put your past assignations with the Potter lad aside, if it means having to share Hermione?"
"That's a legitimate question, Mother—and one I can't answer right now. Hermione and myself are caught up in this betrothal, and there's no possible way to undo that, but Potter did make an excellent point, as loathe as I am to give the git his due."
His Father smirked, while his Mother huffed and nodded, "He is the odd man out."
"Perhaps," Lucius intoned drolly, "or perhaps there's something else we may need to consider?"
"Which is?" Draco asked, curiously.
"The designations of Alpha, Omega and Istar, and what they truly represent. It's clear that Miss Alphonse is the Omega in your scenario, she would have to be, as she is the life-bringer and if I had to hazard a guess, Mr. Potter is likely the Alpha. He'd also have to be, since he is Master of Death."
"Which means," Draco remarked, "I'm the Istar."
"Yes," Lucius nodded then postulated, "if Pierre is correct about these Maiar, who've come before, it's reasonable to assume that our family progenitor, may have been one of these wizard's."
Everyone sat back and pondered that thought, and after a moment Draco leant forward, his expression somewhat wary, "If that is true, then what does it all mean?"
"Uncertain," Lucius admitted, his brow furrowing with the frustration of the unknown, "but if these Istar were truly sent by the Valar, doesn't it make you wonder why they would've come here, to this world? I mean, I see two plausible scenarios, that could be potentially probable."
"Which are?" Narcissa queried.
"The first one, is that one of the blue wizard's came here either with or without the permission of these Valar. I would tend to think they must've done so, due to the former rationale."
"Why?"
"Because, it's clear they didn't come alone. They came with others, perhaps these elves, or dwarves, or hobbits. We have their likely descendants here within the magical world, so it's safe to assume that perhaps, there was a reason they were brought here?"
"Do you think the Goblins would know?" Draco wondered aloud, "They might have their own history of such things?"
"It's possible, but highly unlikely they'd share such information, even if they did have it, and we requested it from them."
"And the elves?" Narcissa asked.
Each of them looked to each other, before Draco called out, "Bibi, could you come here?"
The tiny elf popped into view, her big blue eyes staring up at her Master with adoration.
"You needed me, Master?"
"Yes, Bibi," Draco crouched down, giving Bibi his undivided attention, "Bibi? I need you to tell me something."
"Of course, Master!"
"Bibi, do you know how your kind came to be here within the magical world?"
Bibi's eyes got even bigger, if such a thing were possible, and she gripped her hands together, but nodded all the same.
"I do's."
"And?"
Her eyes drifted to his parents, and Draco could see that Bibi was trying to decide how to share what she knew.
"I promise, Bibi, whatever you tell me will stay within our family."
"It's not that," Bibi squeaked, "it's justs that we's don't talks about it."
"I don't understand." Draco offered kindly.
"Is somethings that all us elves knows, from the times we are's born. The Lady of Light gifts all elves with theirs Magic's. She's here," Bibi pointed to her heart, not noticing the looks being shared between Lucius and Narcissa, while Draco nodded, pretending to understand when he had absolutely no clue what Bibi was talking about, "she's with all her kin."
"Kin?"
"Yes, all those who gifted with her Magic's."
"I see." Draco drawled, not seeing at all.
"Was that all's, Master?"
"Yes, Bibi—thank you."
"Of's course, Master."
And then Bibi popped away, leaving the three Malfoy's stunned, and clearly perplexed as to what Bibi could've meant by her comments.
Back in France, Hermione was just finishing getting undressed out of her formal robes and into something a bit more comfortable, when there was a soft knocking at her door.
Pulling on a singlet, and a pair of joggers, she opened her bedroom door to the smirking face of her father.
"You have a moment?"
"Sure, Papa."
Pierre walked inside and made himself comfortable on his daughter's lounger, near the open French doors that led out to the back gardens. He watched his Angel sitting down across from him, her expression indulgent, as she admonished softly, "Did you really have to taunt Draco like that, Papa?"
"Of course I did, Angel. After what the young wizard has put you through over these many years, he's lucky that's all I did."
She just shook her head in amusement, teasing, "You're such a terror."
"Only when provoked," he admitted with a causal shrug, "but I tend to think the young Malfoy's temper tantrum aside—that issue, is the least of our concerns."
Hermione cocked her head at her Father, and then sighed in sudden understanding, "There's more to all of this, isn't there?"
"Isn't there always?"
"Why didn't you feel compelled to share everything tonight?"
"Because I wanted to see just how honest Lucius would be, under the given circumstances."
"And?"
"I do believe the Malfoy family were rather forthcoming, however, they seemed to have either forgetten to mention the particulars of the enjoining, or really have no clue as to what it is exactly."
"And you do?"
"I do."
"So you lied about the Ardante?"
Pierre sighed as well, then nodded, noticing his daughter's expression of exasperation, as she asked, "Does everything have to be a game with you, Papa?"
"Angel, I'm a politician, so therefore you already know the answer to that question. Why do you think our family has survived for as long as we have? You never share information you don't have to, not without making sure your quarry has shown their hand first."
"Papa, Draco and I are to be married! Are you telling me you had secrets from Mum?"
Pierre sighed again and leant forward, his elbows resting on his thighs as he eyed his only child closely. It was hard for him, nearly ten years later, to admit that he hadn't always been honest with Angelique about certain things, and if he'd had, than perhaps she might still be amongst the land of the living. The guilt and sorrow ate at him constantly, but he had his daughter to protect, and things just got considerably more complicated.
"Your Mother, understood me in a way no one ever has, Angel. She knew how difficult things were for me politically, and she never questioned my decisions, for good or bad. Even now, there are days I wish I could go back and make different choices, but alas, that is not my reality, nor yours. You will learn with time and experience, Angel, that to lead, it requires making difficult and sometimes questionable decisions. You've always excelled at being able to see all the variables and outcomes—plot, plan and strategize—and even with all that, I do believe you understand better than most, that sometimes, despite our best efforts—things don't always occur in the ways in which you'd hoped?"
She nodded. "Unfortunately, that's true, Papa. Harry made a comment about that very thing when we were out on the run."
"Oh?"
"Yes," she chuckled at the memory, "we had just jumped off the dragon we'd rode out of Gringotts and fell into a lake, and Harry had a vision of Voldemort. He knew we were after his horcruxes, and Harry realized there was one at Hogwarts. I might've made a comment about coming up with a suitable plan to break into the school, and Harry chastised me stating—Hermione, when have one of our plans ever actually worked? We plot, we plan and all hell breaks loose."
Pierre chuckled and shook his head, stating, "I do like that young wizard."
"Me too."
"And it would seem," he began, "that you're to be enjoined with not one, but two wizard's. Two very different wizard's."
She sat back and gave her father a dubious look, asking, "What is this enjoining, exactly?"
Taking a fortifying breath, Pierre gathered his own thoughts, determining just how much he wanted to share—and then replied, "Perhaps it might be wise to start at the beginning, yes?"
At his daughter's nod, he continued...
"As we discussed tonight, there are Alpha's, Omega's and Beta's...but that only holds true for werewolves. Witches and Wizards, well—a true triad bond is something that is so rare, so unique, it hasn't been practiced in nearly two thousand years."
"And the last one?"
"Are you familiar with the Demoiselle du Lac?"
"The Lady of the Lake?"
"The very one. Some legends speculate that she was once the Great sorceress Morgan le Fay, but that is not correct."
"Who was she?"
"She's called, Niniane—and she's an Eldar."
"A high elf?"
"Yes. She's the last remnant of the Eldar, that didn't travel to the undying lands of Arda, sent here by the Lady of Light."
"Galadriel?"
"Yes."
"Is Niniane still alive?"
"She is."
Hermione's eyes widened in wonder, before narrowing in contemplation, "How do you know this?"
"Your Mother was her descendent, as are you, Angel."
"I don't understand."
Pierre sat back a bit and went on to explain, "In Tolkien's books as you know, there were three main races enjoined since the beginning of Arda. The Maiar, the Eldar and the race of Men. At the time of the Great War of Arda, after Sauron was defeated the first time, Galadriel had a vision of this world, and saw what would come to pass. She called a council of the Numenor, and Maiar and together, it was decided that a fellowship would come to this world. Her daughter, Niniane was chosen, as was a son from the House of Elendil, as well as one of the blue wizard's, then a dwarf, a small-folk, and Felaróf, who was one of the Mearas, and the progenitor of the centaurs we know of today. Due to that pledge, every two thousand years or so, the enjoining must occur to renew that pledge or bond if you will, and because of this—there must be one of the original three lines represented within the enjoining, for it to be a true triad."
Hermione stood up and paced for a moment, before her eyes widened as she surmised, "But wouldn't it make more sense that the Malfoy's would be descended from the Eldar?"
"Because of their physical appearance?"
She nodded, and Pierre chuckled stating with a tinge of amusement, "You'd think so, but in this case, no. My best guess, is the Malfoy line hails from the blue wizard that was chosen—your Mother's line, the Eldar..."
"Then Harry's line?"
"The race of men. He's directly descended from the House of Elendil."
"So you do believe that the Veil..."
Pierre hummed in the affirmative and offered, "I knew your Mother was descended from the Eldar—as the last true enjoining occurred with one of Niniane's earlier descendants some fifteen centuries ago. It's also why you're such a natural when it comes to Magic. I've suspected since just after the time of your Mother's death, that she was likely killed because someone discovered her true lineage."
"That's why you allowed me to go to Hogwarts, wasn't it?" She sat down stunned, and her Father nodded, "Did Dumbledore know?"
"Of course he did," he huffed, "nothing ever got by that old wizard."
"Merlin!"
"Now that I know of the Veil, it was the last piece of the puzzle. I do believe you and Harry were correct, Angel—and furthermore, I do believe that somehow, you'll need to come to terms with the fact that your betrothal to the young Malfoy, has been predestined long before our ancestor made that infernal blood pact."
"Do you think the Malfoy's suspect any of this?"
"Lucius will likely be able to come to some sort of conclusion, based on our conversation tonight."
"And the enjoining?"
"The triad bond, will align your Magic with that of Harry and the young Malfoy. It's already begun. You all can use each other's wands, the most powerful wand ever made, sensed this—that's not a coincidence, Angel."
"Does that mean that the contract with Draco is superseded by this other bond?"
"Unfortunately not in the ways in which you're thinking. There's still enough difference within your magical cores currently, that the breaking of the contract in any form, would likely unleash a curse at best—death at worst."
"Lovely," she sighed and then said, "I understand your reluctance with Draco, Papa—and as much as he's done in the past to hurt me, I do know he wouldn't have been your choice for me, but I meant what I said earlier, tonight. I need to do better and try to leave the past where it belongs, and I can only do that with your support. Draco can be rather difficult, and he's far too adept at controlling his emotions, but I suppose I don't have that kind of vindictiveness in me to needlessly hurt him."
Pierre sat back, and considered his daughter's words carefully, before he nodded his agreement, "I will for your sake, and I'll try to do better, Angel. I just want you to be happy."
"That's all I want too, Papa. I'm just wondering how in the world we're going to make this situation work. It's going to come out eventually, and there's a part of me that wants more for Harry too. I'm afraid at some point, he's going to decide he wants more for his own future as well."
"I think you severely underestimate that wizard's feelings for you."
Hermione had to wonder if perhaps her father was right. Harry was so good at compartmentalizing his emotions as well, and there had been times in the past she'd truly worried about his unwillingness to feel, but she did understand where that sense of self-preservation had come from...
Her breath hitched in slightly, as she realized that Draco was very much the same way. He didn't allow anyone to really see how he felt either, expect perhaps his Mother, and Astoria?
That thought gave her pause, and it also made her feel uncomfortable.
Perhaps tomorrow, she needed to make a concerted effort to be a bit more open with Draco, and show him she was willing to at least try and move forward.
"Thank you for talking with me, Papa."
"You're welcome, Angel. Try and put this out of your mind for now. We will talk more soon."
She nodded, and as she watched her father leaving her room, she couldn't help but wonder just what tomorrow would bring, as well as the impact of all this new information.