She had owled the memories to Lady Grindelwald; it wasn't much. Just a hazy memory of Berg waking up Gellert whilst all the boys were sleeping and the two leaving the room together. The important thing was they knew he had gone by choice, and that the two boys were probably together. Both Tunninger and Grindewald family magic told them that the boys were alive but other than that she had heard nothing.
Her parents had her write a letter which she addressed to Blau Berg and sent in the muggle post under their supervision. It felt rather ridiculous and was sure to confuse the German postal service, but it appeased her parents and more importantly, she had translated it for them so she could use their draft to get Lady Grindelwald to write a genuine reply.
However she hadn't seen Lady Grindelwald in days. Anneken visited as often as she could, but mostly Hermione spent her mornings in lessons and the afternoons working on family matters. It was far more complex than she had ever imagined before. The German ministry of magic were constantly asking for the high witch's opinion on matters from justice and law to spell work, there were hundreds of businesses and enterprises that the family had a finger in that needed to be attended to and piles of requests for wards, rituals and blessings.
Hermione had had no idea just how important the coven was to the political system of Germany. They approved every law before it was passed, and had a heavy hand in writing them. They were the protectors and leaders of the German public and the people petitioned them for changes, relied on them to ward their property and to settle disputes. The coven was like a ruling council and at their head stood Lady Grindelwald.
Incase that workload wasn't enough, Hermione also had to organise a ritual she'd never taken part in. The altar had been used for Ostara, so it had to be ritually cleansed with salt water and sage. The paddock had to be grazed and two bonfires built using only fir and rowan and special candles that had essential oils in the wax. The elves were very familiar with the whole event and Klein offered to organise the baffling number of food obligation - a feast for the living, a feast for the dead, a feast for the family spirits in the cave which had to be taken down by one of the family and an offering left at the barrows. She had to choose several animals to be slaughtered; a heart rending experience because every one of them looked at her with doleful eyes and she could barely bring herself to decide which one only had two weeks left of life.
She returned from the paddock feeling miserable and cruel after almost an hour of having her decisions vetoed by Klein for being too skinny, too old, a good breeding animal... she'd eventually picked two pigs, two bulls and left the poultry to the head elf. There was an intimidating pile of paperwork piled on the desk, and on top perched a large, impatient looking owl.
Puzzled because the elves usually took letters from the owls rather than letting the birds into the study, Hermione untied the scroll from it's foot.
She recognised the Durmstrang seal on the back and sliced it open quickly.
"To the Honourable Hermione Granger, Locum Matriarch of House Grindelwald.
It is with your previous cautions in mind that I write with great haste to tell you of the disappearance of another child of the Coven. Alice Tunninger left the school grounds in the early hours of the morning.
Her mount has been taken, and we discovered the landing prints going through the portal. Tests show that the last connection made was with the portal of House Tunninger. No permission for the opening of this connection was sought with the faculty.
Yours sincerely,
Headmaster Ernest Vindictus, Professor of Education in Rituals and Ancient Spellcasting."
Hermione knew immediately that something was afoot. Herr and Frau Tunninger were both out hunting for Berg and Gellert with Lady Grindelwald and Berg's grandparents had gone to visit friends so that they weren't alone. There was no reason why Alice should be going to her empty home in the middle of term, in secret.
'Klein!' Hermione called. The elf appeared with a pop. 'Deliver this to Lady Grindelwald please.'
The elf bowed, disappearing with the letter with a sharp crack. Less than a minute later the elf reappeared, shaking like a leaf but with a businesslike expression fixed stonily on it's small face.
'Lady Grindelwald is ordering you to be raising the castle wards immediately.' The elf squeaked.
'Okay, show me.' Hermione instructed after taking a deep, calming breath. The elf led her into a part of the castle she had never been to before. It was much, much older - pearly stones replaced by rough hewn grey blocks. It was just below the foundations of the main tower, she decided. The ancient tunnel with its worn stairs wound between stone statues depicting cockatrice and dragons; the two animals on the Grindelwald crest.
The stairs ended at a short corridor with solid iron doors. The elf hauled the doors open for her and she emerged into a large, circular chamber that looked like it was carved into bedrock. The only thing inside a lump of geometric, metallic ore that glinted darkly in the light of the candle that Klein carried. As she got closer, she realised that there were hundreds of complex lines and symbols etched into the multifaceted surfaces.
She was directed to slot the family ring into a matching depression at the heart of a matrix of interlocking lines and circles. She partially expected some kind of door to slide open, or some dramatic magical effect to happen, but the room remained just as dark and still as before.
'War threatens our family and fortress, protect us.' She said clearly to the stone, reciting the words that that she'd been taught on the way down.
Blue light shot out of the ring, searing along the carved lines until the entire stone was webbed and glowing. The ring lit brightly for a second, then dimmed to normal again.
'Well done Missy. Now we's be locking the floo room.' Klein said solemnly, leading her back up the staircase and to the floo room to where a similar groove was disguised among the carved decoration on a dragon's chest armour, built into the overmantle. She slotted the family ring into it, turning it like a key and the floor of the stone hearth grated upwards, physically filling in the fireplace.
'We is safe now, Missy.' Klein said reassuringly and Hermione nodded tremulously. She was safe but neither Gellert or Lady Grindelwald were.
Suddenly there was a flash of silver and a large, ghostly owl appeared in front of her. It beat it's wings twice, then then spoke in Lady Grindelwald's voice.
'Tunninger manor has fallen. The coven are investigating, light the beacon and prepare to provide refuge.' The silver bird paused for several wingbeats, then in a softer voice... 'You are doing very well, Hermione. I am proud of you, be strong.'
Once more, Hermione found herself taking several deep, fortifying breaths.
'Klein, muster the elves and prepare the catacombs. Send Flighty to saddle Katana and ready my battle robes. I want to be mounted when they arrive.'
With her heart beating a dramatic soundtrack she hurried up the many flights of spiralling staircases. The tallest tower in the castle was the only tower without a turret, although from a distance it might appear as if it did have one because there was instead a massive pyramid of wood, stacked painstakingly by the elves months ago and covered by a blue oiled canvas. A pair of elves were already up there, dragging the canvas off the wood pile and storing it safely out of the way. She waited until they were done, catching her breath after the long climb.
The view from here was spectacular. She could look out over every hill, valley and field for miles. The muggle town at the base of the valley was a spatter of light and the larger town on the horizon was visible as a couple of golden lights. On the other side was the darkness of the hills where magical creatures reigned, faint glowing creatures flitted through the trees and lit clearings, otherwise it was still. One of the elves reported that the beacon was ready and Hermione took another deep breath before turning and raising her beloved vine wand.
A ribbon of fire wound its way out of the end, twining through the beacon and licking sinuously along the driest pieces of kindling. It caught within seconds and under a second's more tender care became an inferno.
With the deed done, Hermione turned to look out over the magical hills again. It would be half an hour, perhaps sooner if the coven members had already notified their own families already. Then there would be hundreds of people swarming into the castle to seek the protection of their ancient wards.
'Is there anything else I need to attend to?' She asked Klein who had appeared behind her with a pop.
'Missy will need to run the book at the gates.' The elf told her smartly. 'Katana is saddled for you Missy. I has your robes here Missy.'
The elf dressed her with a click of his long fingers, the now familiar weight of the black duelling robe settling around her legs.
She made her way down more slowly and found Katana waiting as promised, as well as an elf with a heavy book bundled in its arms. It was a young elf, one that she had seen in the kitchens but was not very familiar with. The small being was practically skipping with pride at being given such a job and Hermione could hardly bare to dismiss it.
'Are you needed elsewhere?' She asked it kindly as she gathered Katana's reins and led him over to the mounting block.
'Oh no Miss Hermione, Misty is not very good at being underground.' The elf squeaked.
'Excellent. I will need someone to assist me at the gates.' She informed it, reaching out magically for the book as the elf fumbled it in her excitement. 'Please fetch my self-inking quill from the dresser in my rooms. I'll meet you at the gates in a moment.'
The coven children did arrive first, chaperoned by their non-coven parents and grandparents. Neele Fleiss arrived first with her father, who frowned heavily at Hermione as she directed him to one of the guest rooms in the castle and Neele to the children's wing. The Fleiss family were not an old family and Neele's mother; Arika Fleiss was a new blood like Hermione but had been powerful enough to be selected for the coven. She was a formidable witch, but Gellert had complained more than once that she just didn't understand the traditions of the old families. It appeared her husband was the same.
Fortunately Anneken arrived with her betrothed just in time to avert disaster and the older witch took a solid stance behind her, the delicate Granian she rode in contrast to the scarred visage of Katana.
Herr Kollmann was next with his son Yannik. Hermione had never gotten along well with him but they were civil enough and Hermione was more than happy to delegate Yannik to the coven-child duty of guiding people down to their spot in the warrens as Neele took charge of storing people's belongings.
Albert Friedl was the last of the children to arrive, now that all the others attended Durmstrang. His tightly coiled black hair sparked with excited accidental magic as he begged his mother to let him stay up late and settle people in the warrens, and she gave in with a resigned sigh before asking Hermione if there was anything she could do to help. It wasn't traditional for the spouses of the coven to assist, but Hermione doubted it was traditional for there to be only four pre-school age children and one overage daughter present either.
'Please.' Hermione replied as a ministry official dressed in Khaki thundered up astride a Sleipnir.
'What's the meaning of this, where's Lady Grindelwald.' The man bellowed. Katana tossed his head in distress as he reined in his mount far too close to them for comfort.
'Lady Grindelwald, along with the rest of the coven is attending an urgent matter.' Hermione replied mildly, Anneken was silent but the young witch knew she was just waiting for this official to make a blunder big enough for her to tear into him.
'Who lit the beacon? Why wasn't the ministry informed?' Demanded the official, peering into the castle as though looking for someone.
'I did.' Hermione replied cooly. 'On the orders of Lady Grindelwald, as her Locum Matriarch.'
'Her what? You stupid child, you can't just up the country on a whim, these things must be deliberated by the committee for the protection of magical citizens. Extinguish that beacon now!' The official went to spur his horse through the gates, but suddenly Anneken was there. Hermione didn't know what happened exactly, one minute they were both mounted, the next Anneken stood on the ground with the official prone beneath her heeled boot.
'Watch your tongue. Hermione is the Locum Matriarch of House Grindelwald, and House Grindelwald is responsible for the safety of the people. It is entirely up to her to light the beacon, with or without ministry approval.' The older witch hissed. The official gurgled. 'Now, apologise to her.' Anneken let the official up and he stood, brushing down his robes angrily and turning for his beast. There was a loud crack and suddenly Anneken was standing between him and the beast.
'Ah ah, apologise.' Anneken reminded him. 'Nicely, with a respectful bow. Very good...'
Anneken let him remount and the official thundered away down the road again towards the portal.
Hermione was more than relieved when the next people to arrive were the coven themselves. All twelve of them looked battleworn and resigned. Frau Kollmann was riding behind Herr Freidl, her goat shuffling behind them on a loose lead with sticky green acid glooping like bogies out of its nose.
'Hermione.' Herr Lintzen said, leaning down from his Sleipnir to give her a bear hug before moving on to do the same to his daughter.
'What's going on?' She asked, already slipping the family ring off her finger and returning it to her Matriarch. She felt light enough to float out of the saddle as soon as the warm metal left her fingers, and her relief must have been obvious to all who watched because several of the coven members laughed. Lady Grindelwald slipped the ring back on her finger.
'Someone has taken control of Tunninger Manor, but we are unable to tell who. The wards have been modified somehow and no longer recognise me as Patriarch.' Herr Tunninger's face was ghostly pale and Frau Tunninger's reins jangled with her trembling hands.
'Alice?' Hermione asked, quietly.
'We believe so.' Frau Hassel replied and every eye turned down in sorrow.