Chapter Five.
The team was assembled in a room in a hidden part of the ministry. It held all seven of the Enchantresses that were on English soil and the small team of aurors that Kingsley had let Ron and Harry assemble.
"We've tracked him to a cave in a small coastal town in the Scottish Highlands by the name of Applecross." Ron said, his arms crossed, standing in front of them. "We've got a two-person detail on him currently with strict orders not to engage. He leaves the caves early morning and returns around mid-afternoon. We currently haven't been able to follow him to where he goes everyday but he returns each day like clockwork. He's displayed ability to perform wandless magic when he opens and closes the cave and also when he summons fish out of Loch Torridan." He continued. "The team thinks the best way to apprehend him would be there."
Nobody moved or said a word as the projection moved onto screen behind the red-head.
The image showed a beautiful location with a tall, balding man, dressed in shaggy clothing, standing in front of what looked to be an abrupt hill. The image showed a wall open and the man stepping through before it closed directly behind him.
"Have we managed to get inside the area after he leaves?" Constantia asked, a slightly frown on her face.
Ron shook his head, "Not yet, all our spell checks have come back inconclusive and at this point we are still unsure of his activities and traps inside the cave itself."
"What is our suggested course of action?" Seraphina asked, eyes still on the projection repeating itself.
"Apprehending him at the mouth of the cave. We spell the door shut and neutralize him there." Harry interrupted.
Hermione noticed Ron's slight frown.
"You don't agree Ron?" She asked him.
He shrugged, "He's just spent the last odd thousand years trapped in a dark prison and he moves from the Chamber of Secrets to yet another dark place? It just doesn't make sense to me."
Harry rolled his eyes at him.
"What's your theory then?" Marigold asked.
Ron paused, "I'm not sure but something isn't quite right about the whole situation. As far as he knows, nobody is aware of his existence right now so why does he go through such great lengths to hide himself? Why isn't he in a villa on the beach but in a dark cave in the Scottish Highlands were its freezing?"
"Would there be a possibility of us scouting the cave and leaving before he arrives back or notice's our presence ?" Hermione asked.
"Yes but the risk factor would be high." He said grimly.
Hermione shared a look with some of the other Enchantresses.
"We'll you're right about something not quite adding up." Constantia said. "And then there's still the mystery of where he goes. Does he apparate?"
Harry shook his head, "No, it's similar to your travel method of disappearing and appearing. We haven't found any way of tracking it."
Hermione sighed. "So where does this leave us?"
"In the deep end." Seraphina said, swearing underneath her breath.
"We can't keep on monitoring for too much longer," Ron said, "We're good but it's only a matter of time until one of us slips up. Especially on a monitoring mission like this."
"Is there anything that we can do with what we know other than Mr. Potter's plan?" Constantia asked sighing.
"Right now?" Ron asked, shrugging, "No."
Hermione's shoulders slumped. "It's just too easy. If we fail, he'll know we're onto him and our element of surprise is gone, which is possibly one of the only advantages we have up our sleeve."
Nobody said anything for a long minute.
"Should we take a day and reconvene ?" Constantia suggested.
Numerous heads nodded and Ron dismissed the lot of them.
Hermione grabbed her cloak and approached Ron, "I agree with you. Something isn't fitting quite right."
Ron shrugged, "It's not like anyone else agrees with me on this and majority vote wins."
She sighed, "We'll do abit more digging. I'll see you at home?"
He nodded as she disappeared away.
§§§§§§§
Once upon a time, going to Malfoy Manor would've had Hermione quaking in her shoes but she had it on good authority from Percy that the original building was completely torn down and rebuilt in the years following the war.
Appearing in front of the main door, she ignored her memory of the last time she was on the Malfoy grounds.
An albino peacock waltzed close to her as she rung the door bell.
It was barely a moment that passed when a glowing Astoria opened the door, "Welcome to our home Enchantress." The blonde said smiling, letting her in.
"Good morning Astoria." Hermione smiled at the younger woman, "Thank you for letting me intrude."
"Nonsense." Draco said, walking down the grand staircase to her right, "Its honor to have you here, Enchantress."
"Please, just Hermione is fine."
At this Astoria blushed bright red, "Some tea perhaps?"
Hermione nodded and the married couple lead her into a side room, decorated in a light blue.
Astoria served the tea, remembering how Hermione liked it.
"Your letter mentioned you need our audience?" Draco said, somewhat stiffly.
Briefly she wondered if he was regretting swearing fealty to her.
Taking a sip of tea, she nodded, "Yes. I need some assistance."
"Of course," he said, his brow furring. "Whatever we can be in assistance of."
"I've been told that your library is one of the oldest and most detailed in England currently." She said calmly.
"It most holds books on the Dark Arts and forbidden magic." He said, almost frowning.
"Would it be possible for me to have access to it?" Hermione said quickly, "We-I, need information and there are very few sources we have been able to verify."
"And which information is that?" he said slowly.
"Old information." She replied just as slowly.
"How old?"
Hermione paused, uncertain of just how much she was willing to reveal. "From the time of the founders, if not earlier."
Draco's eyes narrowed, "Enchantress-"
"Hermione." She corrected.
He nodded once at her, "Hermione, we have hundreds of books from that era. I'm going to need some more details if I am to be of any use to you."
She sighed and leaned back in her chair.
"Anything and everything relating to Merlin." She said eventually.
Both Malfoy's blinked at her. "And here I thought that you were too busy to indulge in hobbies." Draco said, almost smirking at her.
Hermione rolled her eyes at him, "Look, I cant divilege more information than I already have."
"You are aware that I am distantly related to Merlin, or so the family lore goes." He said not being able to meet her eyes, "On my mothers side."
She blinked at him. "I wasn't aware he was married."
"He wasn't," Draco said, "But he was a resounding rake and took advantage of one the Black girls at the time. The fact that she was married to another was never an issue for him and neither was it an issue for her husband apparently."
"How…how do you know this?" Hermione asked.
"We have her journals." He said, leaning back into his chair.
Hermione stared at him, unsure of how to proceed.
The long pause made Draco smirk, "I'm assuming by your reaction that Callidora Black's diary was correct and that Merlin was imprisoned by Morgana all those years ago."
"What?" Hermione almost shrieked unable to stop herself. "What, how – could -how- what?"
Draco and Astoria exchanged a glance, "It isn't common knowledge. Everyone always assumed that Callidora was insane. Her journals were mainly kept as entertainment and … a warning."
Hermione paused, "And you still have these journals?"
"Of course. The purebloods were all taught to keep journals. Only the 'entertaining' ones, like Callidora's were ever read."
"What does it mention about Merlin?" She asked almost breathlessly.
Draco shrugged, "They had an affair spanning a few years. She had his kid early on, her husband didn't mind too much, since he wasn't straight and found her unappealing and her giving birth while they were married released him from the pressure of having kids from his parents. She found Merlin or Myrrdin as called him, enthralling and she became obsessed with him. She gave him presents and books. Callidora mentioned the Enchantress Morgana having a rivalry with him, that stopped him from reaching his full potential but she never said what it was. She often spoke of his good looks and how youthful he always appeared until one day, he simply disappeared. His disappearance drove her insane, after a while her journal entries become utter jibberish."
Hermione pursed her lips together.
"Father gave me the journal in our third year, it was never really funny to me to be honest." He added softly. Astoria squeezed his hand gently, making him smile at her.
The obvious affection the couple had for each other, made Hermione's heart ache.
"Would it be possible for me to burrow the journal's you're referring to?" she asked hopefully.
Draco hung his head, "I'd give it to you in a heartbeat but all the family journals are cursed."
"Cursed? How?" she frowned slightly, her heart sinking.
At this Draco flushed, "It's cursed to prevent anyone that isn't pure of blood from reading it…my ancestors are-were-"
"Its okay, Draco." She said softening.
He nodded.
"Would it be okay if a pureblood enchantress tried to read it?"
He nodded, "I don't see why not."
"Can I ask Constantia to join us? She's our historian and luckily, happens to be pureblooded."
"Yes of course." Astoria answered before Draco could say anything.
Hermione set off her Otter to Constantia, letting her know its not urgent but if she could arrive at Malfoy Manor with haste.
"Are the journals the only source of information of Merlin that you have?" Hermione asked as they waited.
Draco shrugged, "There's a few books I vaguely remember mentioning him but Bobby would know better."
"Bobby?" she asked confused.
Draco sighed, "Bobby!"
A small elf popped in. He was the typical elf height, with the too large ears and the too large eyes, a similar shade of green to Dobby. He was wearing a pillowcase, unlike Dobby's, his was clean.
"You called Master." He said, in a surprisingly deep voice for a house elf.
"Yes." He said awkwardly, "Please can you pull any books that mention Merlin, dated around the time of the founders or directly afterwards."
The house elf nodded before popping away.
Hermione bit her tongue on the on-going topic of house elves.
Astoria saw Hermione's face and said, "Not to worry Hermione. If your Sentient Magical Creatures Act goes through, Bobby will be freed, no matter how much he grumbles about it."
"With the Malfoy weight behind it, it will go through." Draco said almost darkly.
Hermione paused, "We've never really discussed politics in relation to your fealty, Draco." She said tentatively, "But I don't expect your vote just because you've sworn fealty, I'm not going to take away your free will. There's obviously going to be disagreements between you and I but I will never force you to vote against your judgement."
"So I don't have to support the Sentient Magical Creatures Act?" He asked hopefully.
"You don't but I wish you would. Its worded in such a way that it will only include house elves that are being abused and the other creatures, like centuars, veela etc, it regulates the trade of their historical objects and prevents the sale of their organs or hair without their written consent." Hermione said, sipping more tea Astoria poured, "Its very specific and it will automatically be headed by the Department of Regulation Of Magical Creatures who is more than up to the task."
Draco blinked at her.
"Have you read the Act yet?" She probed.
"Well no," he said quietly.
"Then read it and we'll have discussion around it. It is only the first draft and I do think certain parts of it will be cut out by the Wizemgamot if it is to proceed." She said gently.
Before anybody else could say anything, the door bell rang.
Constantia had arrived.
Astoria greeted the woman warmly.
The elderly woman beamed at the pregnant witch.
"Thank you for joining us, Constantia." Hermione said as the woman joined her on the couch.
"Its no problem at all." She nodded at the brunette.
"Tea?"
"Oh yes please!"
There was an awkward silence as Astoria poured some tea, Draco obviously tense, his jaw clenched.
"Well?" Constantia asked right after Astoria sat down.
"It seems we have a journal that may be of interest to you." Draco said slowly.
The Slytherin filled in the older enchantress only to be met with her look of shock.
"Journals?" she said, mouth wide in surprise.
He nodded.
"And you're willing to loan them to us?"
Draco nodded again.
"I'm assuming it has an anti-duplication charm on it." She said.
"Yes. All the Malfoy books do." He said slowly.
"And do all the books have that curse on them?"
This time he shook his head, "No, only the journals do. Not mine or Astoria's but all the ones before ours." At this Hermione blinked, choosing not to say anything.
"I'll ask Bobby to put together for you and bring them to your office," He said, "The cursed ones will be wrapped in red leather."
§§§§§§§
"We've pushed back the meeting with the task force," Ron said stepping into the dining room, joining the enchantresses that were pouring through the books.
Hermione nodded, not looking up.
"What's all this ?" He asked, slightly confused.
"Books from Malfoy Manor." Seraphina said, putting a book back into its red leather binding.
"Malfoy Manor?" He asked frowning, "Why do we have books from there?"
"Because I managed to get more sources from Draco and Astoria." Hermione said, finally looking up.
"Draco and Astoria?" his eyebrow rose.
Hermione nodded, unaware of the looks the enchantresses were giving the two of them, "Yes?"
"Since when do you call the Malfoys Draco and Astoria?"
She sighed, aware of the row that was brewing.
"Since Draco swore fealty to me."
Ron's face as red as the leather bindings, "What?"
Hermione stood, " Lets talk in kitchen."
The red-head followed her to the kitchen, face growing even redder.
"I did something enchantress related to help them and in return Draco swore fealty to me, I didn't ask for it nor did I expect it. We're at a dead end on Merlin and I knew they had some old books so asked for their help." Hermione said, standing in the kitchen, arms crossed.
"So you just told them of the risk ? Nobody but a few aurors and Kingsley are allowed to know anything but you just tell them?" He said, his voice rising slightly.
"No I didn't nor do I appreciate your implication." She said, her own voice rising, "They knew that Morgana had imprisoned Merlin from a family journal, I didn't add to their knowledge."
"And you didn't think to tell me you were going there?" he almost snarled, "After everything that –"
"Percy told me that they had everything torn down and rebuilt." Hermione shrugged, "I don't tell you when I do other house calls, why would that be any different?"
"You know why Hermione!" he almost shouted.
She rolled her eyes at him, "I'm a big girl Ron. I can handle myself."
"Besides we cant trust anything they give us!" He carried on, "They have their own agenda and their own intention and they probably planting false information-"
"Im going to stop you right there, Ronald, before you embarrass yourself further." Hermione said, her voice deadly quiet. "The vow that Draco took prevents that. Their only agenda is to be happy and raise their kids peacefully."
"You don't-" he started to interrupt her.
"We've already learnt a number of facts from the journals that we didn't know previously," Hermione help up a hand to silence him, "I will not ignore a valuable source of information because of a school yard tiff."
"Its not a school yard tiff!" He shouted, "They tortured you in their home and Malfoy did nothing!"
"And he would've died!" She shouted back at him, "I was wandless and had just been tortured. He couldn't have protected me and taken on Bellatrix Lestrange, his mother, his father and not to mention the lurking snatchers. He didn't give Harry away."
"You're-" he started but stopped when Hermione continued.
"The war ended and we're on the brink on another one, Ronald." She carried on, "I will not let past prejudices cloud my vision."
She started to stride past him but he reached for hand, stopping her, "Why didn't you tell me sooner?" he asked deflated, shoulders slumped.
Hermione's face softened. "In part because I know you'd react like this and I wanted to avoid it."
Ron sighed, "And the fealty?"
She shrugged, "Honestly, I'm still not used to the idea. It was and is completely out of character for any Malfoy."
Before Ron could say anything else, Hermione strode out of the kitchen and back into the dining room, avoiding the amused faces of her fellow enchantresses.
The odd pair of roommates felt awkward during their visit to Ginny and Harry later that day.
Neither knowing how to broach the topic of their row earlier in the day.
Hermione coo-ed over the twins little tuffs of black hair.
"Thank Merlin for Kreacher." Ginny said as the newborns slept in their mobile crib in the redone living room, "I don't know how I'd manage the twins and cooking and everything else with Harry on this mysterious case. He's been an absolute life savior to be honest."
"Have they destroyed your sleeping pattern?" Hermione asked, her eyes not moving off of the little twins.
"Completely and utterly. I try not to wake Harry with each night feed so he can get rest." She said, slumping in the couch, "But I'm not always successful."
Harry brought in Ginny a cup of tea and handed Ron and Hermione a butterbeer.
"It's okay, a pepper up potion in the morning helps a lot." Harry said, sitting next to her.
When James stirred in the crib, Hermione looked at Ginny for permission who nodded, smiling at the brunette's enthusiasm.
Hermione gently lifted the elder twin into her arms, a blue ribbon tied around his wrist.
"James Remus Potter, you are adorable." Hermione said softly, rocking him in her arms.
"You'd be saying different if you saw what he left in his nappy this morning." Ginny grumbled lightly.
"And how are you feeling Gin?" Ron asked, looking concerned.
"I don't really have anything to compare it to but better than I expected." She said lightly. "I'd be even better if Harry finished this case so he can take his paternity leave."
"Do you want me to heal you alittle ? To speed things up abit." Hermione offered, from the other side of the room.
"When you're not holding the eldest terror, sure." Ginny said.
When Sirius Arthur, the younger twin with a yellow ribbon around his wrist stirred, Ron picked him up very slowly, terrified of dropping him, he sat down with the twin, swaying side to side gently.
"Since we both have you here," Harry said, ruffling his hair nervously, "Gin and I have something we'd like to ask of you."
The pair holding the two little boys looked at them expectantly.
"We'd like to know…well ask, really… if you'd like… or rather consider-"He said, struggling to get the words out.
"Oh for Pete's sake Harry," Ginny interrupted, "We want you two to be the boy's godparents."
Hermione's mouth dropped in shock and Ron's ears went bright red.
"But we don't know anything kid related." Hermione said surprised, "Don't you want Bill and Fleur, they know what they're doing."
Harry shook his head, "You two have stuck with me and Gin through everything. Just the way I know you'd stick with the twins if…if…something were to happen to us."
Hermione's eyes welled with tears, "Yes of course!"
Ron nodded, "It would be an honor." Making both new parents beamed brightly.
§§§§§§§
The mixed task force had been in the ministries hidden chamber for the entire day.
"I'm still not 100% sure of this plan." Ron said, sitting down in the chair, "It would be better for us to wait, gather more intel before attacking."
"You said yourself one of us will eventually slip up." Harry said tiredly.
Hermione rubbed her forehead, trying to dissipate a forming headache.
"Then all of us should be on heighten alert when we're monitoring him." Ron shot back.
"The Department of Mysteries already have the goblin swords and knives ready to go." Harry said impatiently, standing to pace, "And there's nothing in the books Malfoy supplied?"
Constantia sighed, "Nothing that would be applicable to us. Most of it is history we're combining through. We know the rituals he's used and how he did it but we can't reverse engineer it. Even we have a limit."
"So its settled then, on the second day of the new year we attack." Hermione said, sighing.
§§§§§§§
AN: I know its been far too long since my last update but everything has just been alittle hectic.
The updates will start to slow over the next couple of weeks, I'm entering test prep at university.
This chapter, like all the others, are not beta-ed so please excuse my mistakes.
Be kind to one another.
Stay Safe and stay sane.
All my love,
BlondeTyche xx