Chapter 4:
Hermione stood on the practice mat, facing Lucy, her sparring partner for the class. The rest of her classmates were kneeling in a circle that surrounded the two students, with Sensi Joseph standing on the outside.
"Begin." Sensi Joseph said with a wave of his hand. Lucy started the charge and threw rapid-fire punches at Hermione. The teen witch dodges every punch and returns a few of her own. Hermione added in a roundhouse kick, catching Lucy off guard. She then swept Lucy's leg, causing her to fall. Hermione quickly got on top of the other girl and punched her three times in the face before rolling off.
Hermione stood up immediately waiting for Lucy to get back up. The blonde girl slowly got up to her feet and wiped her bloody nose. Both women got into defensive stances, waiting for the other to move. This time Hermione was the first to make a move. Applying kick after kick, the teen witch was able to land a few on Lucy's stomach and head. The blond girl fell to one knee as Hermione stood above her and let loose another series of punches and kicks.
"I give," Lucy said as she laid on the practice mat and protecting her face.
Hermione here put her hand and helped Lucy get up as the rest of their class applauded the show.
"Good show you two. Max and Jason, you're up next." Sensi Joseph said.
Hermione helped Lucy to the nurse's office that was down the hall. The nurse told her to sit Lucy down on one of the beds and she would be there shortly.
"You hit like a fucking horse." Lucy groaned as she situated on the bed.
Hermione chuckled, "Does it make you feel better if I said I was holding back?"
Lucy groaned again at Hermione's confession. Causing Hermione chuckled again before patting the blonde girl on the shoulder and leaving the nurse's office. When she made it back to the classroom, Max and Jason were still going at it. After bowing to the mat and the flags, Hermione quickly found a spot to kneel.
An hour and a half later, all the matches were over and Lucy returned with a small nose brace. The last hour of class was spent practicing different series of moves, together or separate. After the class closing ritual of bowing, Hermione was asked to stay by Sensi Joseph.
"Do you need anything from me?" Hermione asked after everyone left the room.
" I was wondering how you and Piper are doing?" Sensi Joseph asked.
"We are doing fine. My parents had that complete failure watch us again, but other than that no problems." Hermione said as stretched her back.
"I still don't understand why you stay with them." Sensi Joseph said as he made his way over to the door.
"Even though I love my grandparents, there is a reason why my parents rebelled against them. They are the definition of strict, traditions, and religious. My magical tendencies would give them a heart attack." Hermione and Sensi Joseph laughed.
"Yeah, I can see how that would be a bad idea. What day do you go back to school? Lea can't wait to have Piper back at the house." Joseph said
"I will be leaving around August 5th. I will drop her off the night before. Tell Lea I said hi." Hermione walked out of the room and headed to the locker room to pick up her things. As she changed her clothes, the teen witch looked down at her abs. There was a glowing purple rune, that she did not recognize.
Hermione started to panic, someone placed a rune of her without her noticing. Someone other than the Headmaster and Professor McGonagall knew where she lived. Hermione's mind started to run a million miles a second, trying to figure out what to do. The witch quickly dressed and made her way down to the first floor to pick up Piper.
"Hermione!" Piper yelled at the top of her lungs as she ran to Hermione at full speed. Hermione had time to prepare before the small body of the three-year-old crashed into her.
"There is my little fighter. How was the class?" Hermione asked. Piper immediately went through all the details of all the games they played and the things they learned as the sisters waited for the car. The three-year-old even pulled out her hardcover training book and showed Hermione what she learned.
"That is great, Piper. How about when we get home we practice some more before watching Animaniacs?" Hermione offered as their car pulled up. Piper let out an excited squeal as she jumped into the car.
—
An hour later
Piper was laying on Hermione's leg, sleeping peacefully. Her older sister was petting her hair as the witch looked through a runes book. It was the fifth one she had grabbed from her library and Hermione was still no closer to finding out what was done to her. Worst of all, this book was spouting the same things like the first four word for word. When she got to the end of 'Advance Ancient Runes' by Luca Greennook, Hermione was intrigued by the last passage.
"It is always important to look through the crystals that have runes on them. They can look different from each angle." Hermione's eyebrow raised high above his hairline. The only time the book mentioned crystals were in the beginning and she was pretty sure it was the same passage. The witch flipped to the front page and sure enough, it was the same passage. Closing the book and placing it on the coffee table, Hermione carefully moved Piper off her lap and ran upstairs to her room. She pulled out one of her trunks that was dedicated to crystals and the magic power stored inside without the help of runes.
Bringing the trunk down to the living room, Hermione reopened the book to the first page and pulled out a blue agate stone. The witch took a deep breath before slowly channeling magic through her hand and to the crystal. After a minute of concentration, the agate began to grow in size almost turning gel-like. Hermione allowed the now crystal gel to cover the book. The book glowed bright blue and the title changed right before Hermione's eyes. The book now read: 'Advance Ancient Runes Agate Crystals' by Luca Greennook. Hermione let out a cheer of excitement that almost woke up Piper.
The witch reopened the book and read the introduction.
"I have always loved to study ancient runes and how they could affect the world around us. However, my love of runes has caused people to hate me or rather my research. This book was originally made to publish all my findings around crystals and how runes affect them, but a few threats from some interesting characters pushed me into a corner. I did not want to be silenced but I also did not want to die, so using my research I created this book to react a certain way to certain crystals. Each crystal reveals different information and it is your job to piece it all together. Though I won't leave you without any guidance, so here are the general rules of my wonderful creation:
Each crystal has a life span when it interacts with the book.
Agate, Bloodstone, Garnet, and Carnelian last 5 hours
Amber, Hematite, Jade, and Obsidian lasts 3 hours
Amethyst, Diamond, Jasper, and Moonstone lasts 2 hours
Opal, Tiger's eye, Quartz, and Sapphire lasts 1 hour
The crystals are absorbed into the book and will not be returned once the time is up. (Hope you have a lot of crystals)
You can combine crystals, but the results are very interesting.
It is my hope you appreciate all my hard work. Feel free to write me a letter so we can discuss any theories you have, but only after reading all versions of this book."
Hermione's eyes widen at the level of magic presented before her and if she read the passage right, which she most definitely did Mr. Greennook was suggesting that she would be able to create a book such as this, just by reading. This time the witch's cheer of joy woke up Piper, who sat up with such speed it made her dizzy.
"Hermione, what is going on?" The three-year-old asked.
"I just cracked a magical puzzle, that is all. Sorry to wake you little fighter. Are you hungry?" Hermione asked as she picked up piper and placed the little girl on her hip. Piper's stomach answered for her, causing the teen witch to laugh. "Why don't we make you a nice lunch?"
As Hermione made her way to the kitchen, Piper asked the question. "When can I go to Hogwarts with you?"
"When you turn 11 years old you will get a letter of acceptance, but you have a long way to go before then," Hermione said as she sat Piper down at the kitchen table. She thanked whatever deities were out there that she didn't have to lie to Piper. Last summer, Hermione had asked Professor McGonagall if she could come over to meet Piper. The Professor fell in love with the little girl and commented that she would be a great Gryffindor like her sister. Hermione's smile could not have gotten any bigger at the confirmation that her sister was magical, it just meant there was one less claim their sorry excuse of parents had over the little girl. As she began to make a healthy meal for the three-year-old, Hermione was very happy with how the day was going.
Dark Lord's and Dark Lady's Room:
Sarah sat down in front of her mirror brushing out her long brown curls. The search for her daughter and heir had begun, but it was mostly kept in the shadows. Tom's right-hand man, Lord Malfoy was using his still useful connections within the Ministry to find any types of adoptions made in the past fifteen years. While Sarah had mended her own connections and they were searching all over Britain and Ireland for adoptions in the same time span.
Tom walked into the room and walked over to his beautiful wife. He kissed her on the head and wrapped an arm around her shoulders. "I want to introduce you to my followers as my Queen. Do you accept?"
Sarah let out a small laugh. "I thought they were our followers? Did that change while I was gone."
"I would never do you such a disservice. This is a new generation do not know you. The pain of losing both of you caused me to never speak your name in their lowly presence." Tom said as he brought her hand up to his lips. Sarah stood from her chair and hugged her husband tightly.
"I sorry for leaving my love, but I am here now. Everything will go the way it should now. However, speaking of new generations, which of them do you think would be a suitable mate for our little girl. I'd rather get that out of the way now, before they start to kiss our asses at a chance of their child being married to the heir." Tom lead her over to the door and they walked out as equals.
"Most from this generation are not very promising. There are two I can think of, but I will have to wait and see how they improve over the summer." The door the conference room opened and the two powerful beings walked in with unmatched grace. Tom pulled out his wand and constructed a throne just as magnificent as his own. The Dark Lord allowed his wife to sit down first before taking his own seat. He took her hand into his and raised them above their heads to show their union.
"My most faithful followers, it is my greatest honor to introduce to you my wife, Sarah Riddle. She is to be your Lady, your Queen. Treat her with respect or else."
A/N: Hey guys long time no see, how are you doing?