As Minerva's eyes soaked in every inch of her lover's face and neck as she released her loud guffaw, she found herself caught up in the memory of being magically bonded. Feeling Hermione laugh was incandescent. An orgasm of the soul. And knowing she was the catalyst lifted her spirit in ways she had never before experienced. I don't think I've truly been in love before her. She is Magic.

When Hermione brought her head forward and her sparkling honey eyes met the blown wide pupils of her lover, her heart started racing and she was instantly wet. Still under the influence of Veritaserum, she was more willing than usual to share her thoughts. Leaning in, sliding her cheek across Minerva's, she whispered in her ear, "Your mistress needs you. Now. Inside. Hard and fast. Will you take me quickly, love?" Minerva's gravelly purr vibrated around them. Snapping her head back to the remaining portraits, "Leave us! And permit no entry until I say." The stairway snapped shut and all the portraits save the snoozing Albus vacated immediately. Throwing a hand up, Minerva conjured a charmed cloth covering his portrait.

Veritaserum prompted Minerva to answer the direct question. "Yes, gradh, I'll take ya." Hermione moaned as she felt her robes split from the waist down, the edges magically pulling back like a curtain around her legs. Minerva dropped to her knees and murmured something and Hermione felt cool air hit her wet vulva as her undergarments disappeared. Moaning again, she slipped her fingers into Minerva's hair and began lightly scratching her scalp. Minerva purred,"That feels so good, gradh, and your smell is intoxicating'." Clenching her inner walls, Hermione released more moisture, "Mmmm. It's all for you, my kitten." And with a coy smile she added, "Now lap it up and fuck me before some angry elf shows up." Barking out a laugh, Minerva shook her head, "Cheeky lass" burying her face in auburn curls, she used her nose and tongue to nuzzle through her lover's vulva, sucking the addictive juices off of each labia. Hermione groaned and pulled Minerva's hair, forcing her to look up at her, "Inside, three fingers. Goddess, I wish we had more time. I'm so open for you. I want your whole fist inside me." Minerva growled, licking her lips and pulling Hermione to the floor, catching her head and resting it gently on her ornate rug, she brought her hand to her lover's wet curls and rubbed three fingers through her folds, getting them well lubricated, "Never in my whole life have I ever wanted a cock until this very moment."

Hermione gasped, lifting her hips trying to chase the fingers into her. Meeting hungry emerald eyes, she moaned, "We're witches, I'm sure we can figure something out. But later, please love, I'm begging you." And raising her knees, she hooked her hands underneath them, spreading herself fully open. Minerva made the most animalistic noise Hermione had ever heard as she took in the sight of her lover's centre, agape and weeping for her. Plunging her fingers in, she captured Hermione's mouth, licking her way inside. She began a slow thrust, twisting her fingers as she pulled out and spreading them open when she was fully inside.

Hermione's nails dug into her thighs as she spread herself even more open, groaning at how wonderful this felt, but still aware of the things they needed to do, she broke the kiss, "Faster" she panted, "Harder, love, make me come" And Minerva began fucking her lover in earnest. Her arm muscles rippling at the effort as she grunted, pumping her fingers in and curving them on the way out, scraping just to the right of the spongy spot that drove Hermione wild. Hermione's neck and spine bent back as she yelled and moaned in cadence with each thrust, "YES nng YES nng FUCK nng YES nng MINERVA nng MINERVA! Minerva scooted down and using her other hand, uncovered her lover's beautifully engorged clitoris. Bending forward, she captured it between her teeth and bit down gently, then sucked it into her mouth.

Hermione screamed, clenching around her lover's fingers, and came violently, her whole body shaking. Feeling Minerva's tongue swipe across her still sensitive nub again, she arched up, still holding onto her knees, bearing down on the fingers still buried inside her she came again with a high keening sound before releasing her knees and collapsing limply on the floor, throwing an arm over her eyes.

Minerva conjured a warm wet cloth and laying it on her lover's mound, she slowly withdrew, gently wiping the moisture from the swollen and flushed skin, then her own fingers and face. Regretting not having enough time to lick her lover clean herself, she sighed. Once satisfied, she banished the cloth, then murmuring she conjured fresh underwear and repaired the tear in Hermione's robes.

Hermione took a deep breath and forced herself up. Still flushed, she took in her lover's face and knew she was in dire need. The knowledge gave her a jolt of energy and she sprang up, pulling Minerva with her and taking two steps to the ornate desk, pushed her lover, face down over the top, forcing Minerva to catch herself on her forearms.

Yanking up her robes, Hermione wasted no time, pulling soaked panties to the side, she entered her lover with two fingers. Minerva made a desperate mewling sound. Putting her thigh behind her hand, Hermione started thrusting hard. "You fucked me so good, Minerva. I can still feel you inside me, and I love it." Minerva let out a low moan and pushed back, impaling herself harder as wet slapping sounds filled the room. "That's it, love. I love fucking you like this." Reaching up and threading her fingers through the now messy bun, she tugged her lover's hair back. "Mmm, do you like it, Minerva? Do you like me fucking you over your desk?" Minerva clenched and keened, "Answer me." Hermione said in a soft yet demanding voice. "Answer your Mistress ." Minerva's mouth fell open as a fresh wave of moisture ran down her thigh, panting she answered, assisted by Veritaserum, in a breathless voice, "O mo Bhand-dia! Yes, Mistress !"

"Mmmm. That's my good kitten. Come for me. Now." Minerva's body obeyed, lurching forward as she trembled, inner walls fluttering around Hermione's fingers. Withdrawing them swiftly, Hermione sucked them clean, moaning at the piquant flavour. Conjuring a warm damp rag, Hermione returned the favour of cleaning up her soaking lover, as she lay prone on the desk. Banishing the ruined silk, she murmured into existence another dry pair of underwear before straightening her lover's robes. Then pulling Minerva up from the shoulders, Hermione turned her into a warm embrace, resting her head on her shoulder so she could collect herself.

"Oh my, Hermione, what you do to me, love."

"Mmm, I'd say we've learned of another facet to put on the list to explore when time allows."

Huffing out a noiseless laugh, Minerva licked her way up Hermione's neck, nibbling her lobe before whispering in her lover's ear, "Indeed, Mistress." Hermione grinned, twisting her neck she caught her lover's lips in a tender kiss which they ended in their customary three pecks.

Stepping apart, Hermione took a steadying breath and combed her fingers through her hair, pulling it into a quick braid and twisting it up off her neck, wandlessly pinning it in place. "Where should we start?" Minerva followed suit, magically fixing her tousled hair and sweeping her hands down her robes, she started for the staircase. "Let's enact the defence wards at the gate first, then head to Hagrids, fill him in on what's happening and have him activate the rest. Then we can return and boot up that computer of yours." Nodding, Hermione fell into familiar step behind Minerva, her mind already plotting the steps needed to get the Muggle Defense Web fully activated.

They met no one on the way out of the castle, to both witches' great relief. The crisp autumn air felt good on their flushed faces as they walked side by side, each lost in their thoughts of what they needed to do. Reaching the gate, Minerva drew her wand and touching it to the crest, she said with authority, "Auxilium scutum profundus". The ground beneath their feet pulsed before a strip of blinding whitish-blue light flew from the base and arched up over the castle, illuminating in its wake the complex webbing of the wards, protective charms, and enchantments. Hermione watched in awe, turning as the light made its way round and up the dome. They had activated it once before after the repairs to the warding were complete, but it was something that she would never not be impressed by. Minerva, instead, watched Hermione's face, just as enamoured with the wonder upon it than the display above them. Speaking softly, "You know, I can feel you in the wards now. Your magic sealed many of the severed complex conduit points and your signature resonates through each strand between those you restored."

Hermione turned to face her with a surprised look on her face. "I didn't know wards worked that way, Leaving traces, I mean."

Minerva tilted her head a bit, her face the picture of admiration. "They usually don't, gradh."

Hermione's brow furrowed in confusion, "Do you know why it happened this time?"

Minerva looked up, catching her favourite part of activating the protective shield, the moment when the spreading light completes its journey by joining at the dome's crown, and smiled knowingly, "Traces are only left in warding structures when the applied magic is stronger than the magic of the original construct."

Hermione's eyes had followed Minerva's gaze, but upon hearing her words, they snapped to meet emerald green eyes full of pride. Stronger than the original construct? The original construct being by the founders? Surely, she must be mistaken. Who am I compared to Godric Gryffindor or Rowena Ravenclaw?

"Yes, gradh. Your raw magic must be stronger than each of the four founders of Hogwarts. Not mine, nor even Albus' signatures, remain despite us upgrading some of the warding with more modern magic." Taking a step closer, "Hermione, I see the disbelief written all over your face. Touch the crest, love. Stretch your magic into the wards and tell me what you feel."

Still rendered speechless, Hermione could only follow directions. Reaching out and placing her right hand on the bronze founder's crest, with eyes closed, she released her magic. Hermione felt another pulse under her feet and opened her eyes to watch a deep golden shimmer follow in the wake of the previous light, but faster, illuminating the expansive dome in seconds. Her magic thrummed within her. Closing her eyes, she could see the edges of the corporeal boundary of the castle without effort. Along the forest border, she sensed several signatures advancing. Interesting. I wonder if I can zoom in. At the thought, the area expanded in her mind's eye. She only recognized Firenze, the Centaur, of the bunch. Incredible. Just as she was about to release her hand and withdraw her magic, she felt something shift in the crest. Opening her eyes, she watched in wonder as the four animals of the houses began to reposition themselves. Their usual quadrant had morphed into the curved petals of a kikyomon flower, the fifth petal unfurling at the top. Sliding her fingers down, she gasped as a Unicorn seemed to gallop from a great distance within the bronze. Growing larger, the Unicorn turned sideways, rearing up and froze, extruded in a regal pose within it's petal boundary. What does this mean? A fifth house?!

Upon seeing the crest reorienting itself, Minerva had moved to stand next to Hermione, eyes wide, she wrapped one arm around her love. Hermione withdrew her hand from the crest and leaned into Minerva's embrace.

"What's this mean?" Hermione whispered.

"We shall see, gradh," Minerva murmured, "Could you see the structure of the wards, love?"

Smiling, Hermione turned to face her, "Yes! I could see the boundary and could zoom in, it was amazing. Firenze is seeking an audience, with some others I didn't recognize, along the forest edge."

"Well, let's go see what news he brings." Hermione, still holding Minerva's arm, waited for her to apparate them. After several seconds and nothing, she glanced at her lover with her eyebrow raised. Minerva was smiling softly back at her, "I'm pretty sure you can apparate us within the grounds now, love. Want to give it a try?" The other eyebrow joining the other, Hermione thought of the forest edge and turned. Merlin, I just apparated within the grounds!

Firenze, the Centaur, stepped forward into the witches' space, "Greetings Shapeshifter and..." Firenze leaned his torso down closer to their eye level, looking into Hermione's eyes, "And you, you are now known by my kin as Trine."

Bowing her neck while maintaining eye contact, as was respectful, Hermione responded, "Good to see you again, Firenze. May I inquire how I came by that name?"

"You may, but the answer may not be well received. Mercury is in retrograde, you see."

Hermione smiled mischievously, "I'll risk it." That earned a rare smile from the Centaur, rough tan skin wrinkling up the cheeks to reveal a most perfect set of white teeth. My father would love to examine Firenze. The thought of her father pulled a sorrowful thread that she shook off as Firenze straightened up into a more comfortable position, expression still open.

"Niamh spoke of your spunk. She will regret not coming these eve. In astrology, a trine speaks of an aspect of harmony, innate talent, and an ease of the natural process. Your magic resonates on all three fire planes, cardinal, mutable, and fixed, which astrologically speaking makes a grand trine. There hasn't been a magical Human with that signature resonance in a full trigon cycle, which is roughly nine-hundred years." Winking conspiratorially, "That, dear witch, is why we call you Trine."

Minerva's heart swelled at the attribution. Glancing at her lover, she could tell Hermione needed a minute to process, so stepping forward she too conducted the customary bow, after which she extended her hand which he took in both of his and held before leaning down and wrapping her in a warm hug. Hermione's eyebrows shot up at the familial embrace.

Minerva stepped back, once again linking arms with Hermione, pulling her close to her side. "Dear friend, it's good to see you. Are you and yours well? What news brings ya and the others here now?"

"The stars indicate that this day is a turning point for all magical kind. Niamh believes it has to do with your union with Trine, Shapeshifter, and that is what brought me here once I saw your signatures mingling on the grounds. But while that may still be true, I also just felt the magic of Hogwarts fundamentally change."

Hermione's mouth fell open as she thought of the Unicorn joining the crest. And he can see our signatures mingling without us being magically coupled? What?!

"Would you mind describing the change you feel, Firenze?" Minerva asked calmly, squeezing her lover's arm in hers.

Firenze tilted his head this way, then that, looking past them towards the castle, speaking thoughtfully, "The magic feels open to me in a way it never has. Less hostile. Less human."

Minerva closed her eyes and pulled Hogwarts' wards to her. A tingling feeling of excitement crawled through her body as she saw a commotion of magical signatures gathered around a fifth table in the Great Hall and kitchens below, and around a new Hourglass full of pearls in the Entrance Hall. Noticing one other new detail glowing in the golden hue of her lover's signature, she opened her eyes and found Firenze's hazel and Hermione's gold-flecked eyes fixed on her. "Indeed. It seems as though we have gained a fifth house, whose mascot is the Unicorn." Looking from Hermione to Firenze, "And 'of Witchcraft & Wizardry' has been struck from the engraving on the front gate. It now says 'Hogwarts, School of Magic'."

Before anyone had a chance to respond, a young Unicorn filly suddenly made herself known, shimmering into visibility from behind Firenze. Looking up into the Centaur's eyes it spoke, "Does this mean I can go to school here one day, Fir?"

The softest smile graced the old Centaurs face as he reached out to stroke the filly's muzzle. "I donnae, Gracie, but I'm sure if any Headmistress would let ya, it'd be Shapeshifter."

Hermione was nearly shaking with excitement and bewilderment, mind reeling with all the new information. How could I have possibly done anything this significant?! A fifth house! A more intersectional School of Magic?! YES! She felt her hand being grasped and three soft kisses upon her knuckles. Coming back to herself and gazing into loving emerald eyes full of pride, she beamed.

Minerva addressed young Gracie, "Once we've removed the spectre of darkness from haunting these grounds, I'm sure we can find you, and all your friends, a place here, Gracie." The Unicorn whinnied happily before disappearing again in a shimmer.

Looking up to Firenze, "For now, we're under duress, Firenze. There is a chance that Voldermort and his right-hand witch, Bellatrix, may still have remnants of their souls this side of the veil. Warn the others to beware not just of Death Eaters but a turncoat witch or wizard."

"Aye, we've been careful and will continue to be so. And if you haven't already, do put on your tree-shifts. If you're in the area of our kin when you activate them, we'll know and come to your aid."

Hermione and Minerva dug them out of their pockets and slipped them up their left arms, both feeling them seal themselves tightly, but not uncomfortably, around their biceps. Minerva then stepped forward once more and extended her hand. Firenze grasped and pulled her into a hug. Once released, he extended his hand to Hermione in the same fashion. Blushing, she stepped forward and was pulled into her first Centaur hug.

"Trine. Shapeshifter." He said respectfully, bowing his head. "Firenze," they echoed back, maintaining eye contact as they dropped their heads slightly. Minerva, looped arms with Hermione, and twisted on the spot.

Having noticed Hagrid's moss green signature in the Great Hall, she took them right to the dias. Her sudden presence in the room brought the commotion to a halt, momentarily, before everyone seemed to speak at her at once. "What's happening?!" "Why is there a new table?!" "Did you make a new house?!" "What's the house name?!"

Raising her hand, the hall fell silent. Hermione shifted nervously by her side. Minerva picked up on her lover's anxiety. "I know you all have questions. And I'm sure we'll find answers soon enough as to the newest house addition. However, we have more pressing matters to attend to." Eyes scanning those present, she noted that Arthur and Percy were the only Weasleys unaccounted for aside from Molly. Kingsley, Filius, Neville, and Luna had yet to join the group. Glancing to the tallest of the contingent, "Hagrid, I've triggered the protective dome. Would you mind waking up the Knights, rousing the owls and making the rounds to all the secret passages to set the decoy traps please?" Chest puffing out proudly at the charge, "A'course Professor! Righ'away!" He marched from the room.

Sparing her lover a fond glance and speaking softly, "Gradh, would you go retrieve your computer and begin the process of getting the Muggle Defense Web online? You can stay in your room to do it if you want a moment alone."

Leaning, Hermione whispered, "No, I'd rather be here with you. I'll be right back. Be careful."

"Always. Elspeth is close by if you need her." Nodding, Hermione stepped down and walked briskly out the side door, trying to avoid being sidelined by anyone; especially Fleur, whose eyes had been pinned to her since their arrival with an unreadable expression.

Minerva called everyone's attention back to her, "May I ask that we all gather round the Gryffendor table please. Let's enjoy a light meal while we wait for the others to join us." Pulling the wards to the kitchen, she alerted the elves to send up food whenever it was convenient. She instantly received an acknowledgement vibration. Noting the time as quarter past five on the clock above the main doors, she made her way from the dias to the house table. Harry caught her eye with an intent look, making it known he wished to speak to her. She nodded slightly and motioned with her hand to come join her a bit away from the table.

Pitchers of pumpkin juice and water appeared along with glasses and people busied themselves pouring and passing. Muttering a modified muffliato spell as Harry neared, she ensured that if anyone got close enough, they'd only hear discussions about the weather and updates about repairs. "Tell me, Harry, quickly."

He palmed her three pieces of parchment, "This is the first lot, to Molly yesterday, in order." She quickly read:

Mom,

Fleur and I are finished. I want to come home.

Bill

Molly dear,

A colleague has an extra pair of tickets to see the Canons v Harpies match tonight. I've included a portkey for you. Come at 9pm. Wear something red.

Arthur

Mom,

I heard about Bill and Fleur. Go with dad to the game tonight. Ron and I will take Bill out and we'll stay at my flat in Hogsmead tonight.

George

Holding out her hand she gestured for him to hand her more. "These are the rest from yesterday. I'm assuming Bill's is the only real note of the bunch.""

Arthur dear,

Bill and Fleur are having a difficult time and I'm planning to stay to Shell's Cottage for the evening to see if I can help mediate. See you in the morning.

Love,

Molly

George,

Family dinner is cancelled tonight, your father has to work late. You and Ron enjoy Hogsmead tonight and we'll see you tomorrow.

Love you,

Mom

Charlie,

I just got a very strange owl from Mom saying how upset she is that Fleur and I are separating. Is Fleur with you? Has something happened? If you can spare a moment to visit, I'm very confused.

Bill

"Have you had a chance to cast the affinity charm on any of these?" Minerva asked, glancing around making sure no one was paying them any mind. Harry shook his head. "Are there any others?"

Pulling the last roll from his robes, he sighed and passed the single parchment to her, "Arthur received this today around the same time Neville and I got ours." Just as she was about to unfurl it several things happened; food appeared on the table; Kingsley entered through the main doors followed by Filius, Luna, Neville, Angelina Johnson, Arthur and Percy Weasley; Hermione entered from the side entrance. While the larger group settled themselves and started digging into the pies and pasties, Hermione bee-lined it straight to where Minerva and Harry stood, "Someone has tampered with my quarters. The password to enter had been reset. I had to apparate to get in!"

"And how did you manage that, Hermione?!" Harry asked in disbelief.

"Oh Harry, I don't really know to be honest." Hermione responded exasperatedly. "I am just so relieved I had transfigured my computer into a throw pillow just in case."

Minerva barked out a laugh, and before she thought twice, she leaned in, pecking Hermione on the lips, then muttered, "My clever witch." A collective gasp seemed to ripple down the table at the intimate display. Both witches blushed and Harry too by proxy. Well, I guess we'll lead with that then. Minerva could almost feel Elspeth shaking her invisible head as she reached for Hermione's free hand, twining their fingers. Breaking the muffliato-mundane spell and standing straight, she tilted her head in her customary fashion and spoke openly, meeting the eyes of those who appeared most shocked, "Welcome everyone. It seems the first order of business is to inform you all that Hermione and I are now romantically involved." After a few silent seconds, George Weasley raised his glass of pumpkin juice and with a genuine smile shouted, "Cheers, loves!" Ginny followed suit, clinking her glass on George's while winking at Hermione echoing, "Cheers!" More glasses could be heard clinking all around. Ron, with a cheek full of food, looked like he had been slapped in the face, "Blimey 'Mione, she's more than twice your age!"

Hermione lifted her chin as she felt her lover's fingers tighten around hers. They hadn't yet discussed their age difference and though she loathed having to do it publicly, she cleared her throat, pinning Ron with a defiant gaze, "I love Minerva not just despite our age difference. I find her being older, wiser, and more experienced exceptionally attractive." Looking at the broader group, she spoke with authority, "Now. You all have been informed, but that doesn't mean our relationship is up for discussion or debate." Turning to Minerva, her stern expression faltered into a soft smile at the look of pure adoration upon her lover's face.

"Ronald, it would be for ze best if you accept that 'Ermione will never want you. Zey have been dancing around zis for months now." Came the deep melodic French-accented voice of Fleur. Ron's face began to match the shade of his hair, but before he could respond, Fleur's piercing blue eyes found Minerva's emerald, "I hope you realiza what a gift you've been given." Moving her eyes to find Hermione's "I wish you both nuzzing but ze best." Minerva waited for Fleur's gaze to return and when it did, she spoke in fluent French. "Je le fais, oui. Elle est l'amour de ma vie. Mon trésor." I do, yes. She is the love of my life. My treasure. After a moment, Fleur nodded once and turned back to her plate, pushing her food around with her fork.

Speaking again to the table at large. "I know we have a lot to cover. Have a bite to eat and once Hagrid returns, we'll get started." Hermione squeezed Minerva's hand and sat down, opening her laptop. As everyone settled back in, Minerva took a quick stock of the room. Fleur, glum. Ron, still simmering, Arthur, the picture of a man adrift. Percy, nervous. Charlie, restless. Filius, captivated by the new house table and no doubt casting wandless, wordless magical queries at it. Ginny and George, even keeled. Angelina, staring at Hermione with fresh eyes. Neville and Luna, heads close whispering. Kingsley, eyes waiting to be caught by Minerva's, full of questions. Cocking her head to the side, she motioned for him to join her. As he made his way down the table, Harry leaned in. "Cochlea mundanis" Minerva murmured, reinstating the muffliato spell. "Has he taken Veritaserum?" Harry asked.

"Aye, lad. Along with Filius, Neville and Luna."

"Right. I'll head him off while you read the last note. I have a question for him anyway."

Turning aside, she unfurled the parchment in her hand and in Albus' flourishy writing she read:

Meet me where Sirius fell at 20:00 sharp

At the veil. Oh Merlin. Albus, if you really are sending these cryptic notes, stressing everyone out, I'll hex you back to death's deep. Suddenly picking up on the tail end of Harry's question, "department of mysteries lately?" Her ears perked up. "Nothing that I'm aware of," Kingsley replied, but before she could join the conversation, Hagrid burst through the doors causing everyone to jump. He was dragging Mondongus by the collar of his robes.

"Look 'oo I caught tryin'ta'git in through a decoy passage!" Hagrid growled and hurled the unkempt wizard forward.

"I come in peace, I tells ya!" Mondongus shouted, hands extended as he toppled forward. "I dinnae even bring me wand!"

Minerva stepped forward wordlessly banishing the muffliato spell and halted Hagrid from handling him further, "Thank you, Hagrid. That'll be all. If you would, please join the others for some food and let me handle Mister Fletcher. That is if the remaining security measures are in place?"

Hagrid came back to himself and stood straight, "Ah yes, Professor, ever'thin is set. And now that ya mention it, I am hungry." Smiling fondly at him, she motioned for him to go sit.

Turning back to Mondongus with her professorial pinched expression with one eyebrow raised, "Well, Mister Fletcher, what brings you sneaking into Hogwarts this eve?"

He hesitated as he watched several people from the table get up to listen. Eyes darting around, he focused on Minerva. "There's strange things afoot, Min. I's mindin me business, as I doos, and I hear someone sayin that Bellatrix, well ah, that she'll be back by the morrrow. And seein as I am loyal to your cause and all, i thought..."

Harry interrupted, "You mean, seeing as you've raided her estate, you'd like us to sort it out before she's back and hunts you down."

"Now now, 'Arry, I may have taken some liberties at her estate, perhaps, but that's not why I's here. I donnae want the Dark Lord nor Bellatrix to return and I'm happy to lend me services, at a fair price, mindya, to help if needs be."

"What's this about Bellatrix being alive?" Came Arthur's strained voice.

Minerva raised her hand, still focused on Mondongus, "What else have you heard, if anything, Mister Fletcher? I sense there's more."

Taking another frantic look at the faces around him, he shook his head. Harry sensing he didn't want to speak in front of everyone or at least someone in the room, suggested, "Minerva, how about Filius and I escort our friend Mondongus here to the gates?"

Minerva caught his drift and nodded, "Thank you, Harry." Turning again to Mondongus, "And if you should want to speak further, Mister Fletcher, it'd serve you well to present yourself to the front gate."

"A'course Min. Apologies and good day to ya." Slapping his dingy hat on, he hastily made his way to the exit with Harry and Filius hustling to keep up.

Arthur closed the distance and placed his hand on Minerva's shoulder, "Minerva, please, I'm just beside myself with worry over Molly. Does her disappearance have something to do with this nonsense about Bellatrix? I saw Molly evaporate her with my own eyes. How could she have survived that?"

The room had gone completely silent aside from the subtle flickering of torch flame. Minerva returned his gaze calmly while her heart clenched for the man's position. Be strong for him now, Minerva, so he can be strong for his family. Placing her hand upon his and squeezing, she answered, "I can only speculate at this point, Arthur. It's possible Bellatrix created a horcrux that we didn't know about." Arthur went white as a sheet, looking as if he might faint at any moment. Charlie swooped in propping him up, then guided him back to the table.

Minerva's voice rang through the hall, "Alright everyone, there are a lot of moving pieces here, let's take a seat and begin sorting out what we know so we can come up with a plan of action." As everyone shuffled back to the table, Hermione signaled to Minerva.

"What is it, love?" She asked as she drew near.

Hermione answered loud enough for anyone willing to hear, "I'm sorry to add to the complexities at the moment, but it seems as though there has been a DDoS attack on our network." Upon seeing Minerva's clueless expression, "Meaning that someone is deliberately overwhelming our systems so they can't function properly. I've just tried a few spells to navigate the excess traffic away from our servers and it seems to be working, but by my estimation, it'll take at least a few hours to fully resolve. I'm on hold in a muggle support chat for part of the problem that's a bit beyond my understanding, but given it's a Sunday evening, I doubt they'll be responding soon."

Minerva squeezed her shoulder "I know you're doing the best you can, gradh, and that's all we can do." Looking up to the rest of the table, she sighed. "I wish I had answers to all the questions that have presented themselves in the last day. Alas, we've again met a moment where we must come together and work out a plan and hope for the best outcome. I can't even begin to imagine the turmoil you Weasleys must be feeling at Molly's disappearance. Hermione and I attempted to locate her via the portkey root, but her signature had been replaced with a decoy. Now, I've read the owls that the Weasleys gave to Harry. And the one Neville and Luna received. Has anyone else here received an owl that gave them pause in the last 24 hours?"

She was met with silence and shaking heads.

"Has anyone cast an affinity charm on these parchments yet?" Minerva asked, glancing from Weasley to Weasley.

"Blimey, that's a brilliant idea," exclaimed George. "Why didn't I think'a that?"

Smiling, Minerva handed him the stack of parchments from her pocket. "Do it now, lad. And let's see what happens."

George laid out the parchments side by side along the table. Angelina, Kingsley, Luna and Neville all pushed their way in so they could read them. Pulling his wand and pointing to the first note to Molly signed from Bill, he uttered "Filum Cogniato." After a moment the parchment glowed briefly and fluttered, landing on its neighbour, the note signed from Arthur. A collective gasp as again it lept up and landed on the next parchment, the note signed from George, it hopped again to both notes signed from Molly, nestling into the last one and staying put, not touching the note to Charlie from Bill and from Albus to Arthur.

Minerva prompted George to continue. Casting the spell again on Charlie's note, nothing happened.

Charlie piped up, "That note's legit, we visited Bill and he confirmed he sent it."

Minerva nodded and prompted George again. "Filum Cogniato" and he tapped the note with Albus' handwriting. It fluttered, edges glowing for a second, then zipped down the table, making a hard left, and started flapping at Percy's robes.

Taken off guard, Percy began frantically swatting at the parchment while trying to stand up and step over the bench.

"Blimey, what's that about?" George exclaimed.

Minerva stepped around the table and approached the flailing wizard. Before she reached him she felt the Manor wards pulling and heard but did not see Elspeth, "Careful Minnie, he's a-hidin somethin." Hermione had joined at her side, wand drawn.

"Percy, stop." Minerva said calmly, but with authority. His eyes shot to hers and she knew he was in trouble. "Lad, whatever it is, we'll deal with it. Let's see the note you've got in your robes, lad. The affinity charm won't let up until it's found it's kin."

Shoulders slumping, he withdrew a rolled parchment from his pocket which the fluttering note instantly wrapped itself around. Minerva extended her hand and took both from him.

Unrolling the parchment, her heart sank as she read in Albus' hand:

You cannot play both sides and win.