Hermione apparated into existence at the site of Stonehenge, automatically getting a sense of the change in the air around her. She walked closer to the site. The feeling of power washed over her, feeding into her, beckoning her to come closer to the stones. She continued to walk blindly toward the source of power. A loud crack sounded close behind her. When all of a sudden, a strong hand gripped her wrist, pulling her to a stop.
Hermione whipped around, about to tell the person stopping her from reaching her destination to leave her alone, but her words died in her mouth when she took in the sight of Narcissa. "Mia, you have to stop! You can't do this by yourself. Let me come with you. Someone has to be there to keep you grounded in this, so that you don't lose yourself to the effects of that potion, please," Narcissa pleaded as she pulled Hermione to her in a hug. She kissed the spot just under her ear, waiting for Hermione to take a minute to think about what she was doing.
Hermione shook her head to clear her mind as the scent of panicked omega reached her. She wrapped her arms around Narcissa's waist, holding her close as she leaned further into Narcissa, rubbing her nose against her neck, breathing her in deeply. "I'm alright now, Cissa. Thank you. I'll try to be more careful. Now I see why Harry acted so funny when he took this potion. It makes you forget about all your inhibitions," Hermione said in a quiet voice.
Narcissa leaned back and held her face in her hands. She looked into Hermione's eyes and watched as her eyes swirled red, causing her own eyes to swirl gold. "Mia, can you tell me what you are feeling right now?"
Hermione looked at her, confused, but closed her eyes and concentrated on what she felt around her. "Hhmm, there is definitely some strong magic here, like a sphere surrounding Stonehenge, calling to me. I've felt something like this briefly before, when I was meditating in Scandinavia. It wasn't anywhere near this powerful of a draw, but it is definitely really similar to what I felt. Almost like the Gods themselves were calling me to them. Something had blocked me from figuring it out before, but that feeling is gone now."
Hermione opened her eyes, and looked at Narcissa, who had a look of understanding on her face.
"I don't think it's a good idea to go into the void space that Stonehenge has turned into without more information. Though, since that is not an option, and if the pull for you is as strong as you say, then we'll go together. I refuse to let you go by yourself," Narcissa said with determination, causing Hermione to smirk at her with a raised eyebrow.
"Who am I to say no to such a tempting offer from such a beautiful witch?" Hermione put her hands on top of Narcissa's, which still held her face, pulled one hand close to her lips and kissed one of her palms. "I cannot refuse you anything that is within my power, Cissa. I hope you know that." Narcissa smiled, flashing her smaller fangs at Hermione as she leaned up to kiss her, slid her hands around her neck, and pressed her body against the alpha's.
She broke the kiss and looked into Hermione's red eyes. "Shall we find out what Stonehenge has been hiding all these years?"
Hermione smiled and nodded. Turning away from Narcissa as she held tightly to her hand, they walked closer to the center of power.
When they reached the circle of stones, there was a dome surrounding it that seemed to keep people out, as well as keep something in. "The spell work here…some of it seems familiar, while some of it is foreign to me," Hermione said as she pulled out her wand and ran a diagnostic spell to tell her exactly what was used. The dome showed spells that they had learned at Hogwarts, but some of the others were spells that she had learned while in Scandinavia. Others that she didn't recognize looked rather ancient. As she ran the diagnostic, runes began to form into a riddle.
Alone I wage war, wounded by steel, wounded by swords.
Weary of war, weary of blades.
I battle often. All I see is savage fighting.
No assistance will come for my cursed self.
Ere I demise amidst men.
But the enemy strikes me with sharp edges.
Smiths made those with mighty hammers.
They battle me in cities.
I shall abide the meeting of foes.
Among healers I never met in men's towns those who with herbs could heal my wounds.
But the wounds and cuts become wider through death-blows day and night.
Hermione thought about it for a long moment, then wrote out the answer 'Shield' in runes with her wand, all the while keeping a strong grip on Narcissa's hand to keep her close. The dome shimmered and opened up just enough so that they could walk through. As they entered, Narcissa vanished in the blink of an eye, causing Hermione to panic. "Narcissa? Narcissa, can you hear me? Where are you?!" Instead of hearing Narcissa's soft, sweet voice, a strange low, melodic female voice answered her instead.
"I applaud you for answering the question correctly, young alpha. Few have gotten it before, but not many can say that they have ventured further than here."
A tall figure stood before Hermione. She was in a cloak with the hood up, shrouding her face. She quickly took a defensive stance with the protego spell on the tip of her tongue, ready for anything that may be thrown at her.
"What have you done with Narcissa? Where is she?!" She said in a deep, dangerous growl. The woman chuckled softly. "I'm sure she's around her somewhere. You'll just have to figure out which one she is if you want her back."
The figure waved her hand like she was displaying something. Out of nowhere, six different Narcissas appeared around her. All of them looked exactly like the sweet omega with her smile and soft, loving eyes.
"So, young alpha, how well do you think you know this omega? Enough to pick her out from a clone? Can you pick her out from a fake? You get one chance to make the right choice. Otherwise, you will be expelled from this place, never to return, while she is to remain here with me for the rest of her days," as she spoke, her voice began to change from the melodic tones to that of the soft, warm tones of Narcissa. She reached up to her hood and moved it down, revealing herself to look just like Narcissa. Hermione's eyes grew wide as the new addition joined the rest of the circle of Narcissa clones surrounding her. "Can you do it? Are you able to figure out which one is the real one?" The circle of Narcissas asked in unison around her.