True to their warning, Rita was back at her journalist job within a month of being detained and cast upon so that she couldn't be within 150 meters of Hermione or Narcissa. During her absence, someone had sent a package to her office. She opened it to find a quill intricately designed with runes in the color red. She looked the writing utensil over and put her usual charms on it to make it a quick quotes quill and it performed beautifully.
She paced her office as she spoke quickly, having the newly-fashioned quill write her thoughts for her newest article of her return and what she had been thinking about the entire time she was locked up in a holding cell. Once she put her thoughts to paper, she went in search of people that she could talk to about what was going on between the omega and alpha. In her search for sources, she found a few that had witnessed the two in question at the Gala, some of the wait staff at the restaurant in question, and Katie Bell, herself, with some very juicy details about the alpha, as well as what kind of couple they were.
She returned to her office, giddy with the dirt she found on the alpha that gave her the ability to journalistically bury Hermione into the ground.
Galleon Digging Golden Girl Taking Advantage of the Elite?
My avid readers, this journalist spotted none other than our Golden Girl having a questionable meeting with the Ice Queen, herself, in a high-end wizarding restaurant that is owned by the elite omega in question. Upon further investigation, this journalist uncovered that the two witches have been seen together for longer than previously thought. According to some restaurant staff, they have been frequenting this establishment for the better part of two months. Witnesses say that they saw the couple dancing at the Remembrance Gala effortlessly as if they had been doing it for years. Just how long has our Golden Girl had the Ice Queen — one of the richest omegas in Wizarding London — wrapped around her finger so easily? What would the Ice Queen's more prestigious suitors think on the matter?
When questioned, Harry Potter and Ronald Weasley refused to comment on the topic. But upon questioning her previous girlfriend, Beater of the Holyhead Harpies, Katie Bell has some exceptional insight on the matter.
"Hermione has changed for the worse since being with Lady Malfoy. She's no longer the sweet, caring, and affectionate alpha that I love. No, she's turned into someone that I don't recognize anymore. I know that we had our differences, but what couple doesn't? We were looking into adopting at one point since Hermione isn't able to help produce any children of her own. That woman must have Imperioused my poor, sweet alpha for her to leave me so aggressively. I tried to talk sense into Hermione at one point, only to be detained by Aurors and spelled with a restraining order. Nothing good will come of their relationship."
Katie Bell revealed to me that Miss Granger is incapable of performing her duties as an alpha due to some birth defect. I, myself, wonder how she is able to please such an eligible omega if she is not up to par in the bedroom. More to the point, what does this duo mean to achieve together when it comes to our fair community by these frequent meetings? Are they plotting some dastardly plan to take over the Ministry? Or is it just our Golden Girl sinking her claws into another unsuspecting victim? My dear readers, this journalist will not rest until she gets to the bottom of this story.
Article by Rita Skeeter.
The next morning found the couple dressed for the day and taking morning tea together when the Daily Prophet arrived, as well as some unwanted surprises in Narcissa's post. Luckily, Hermione intercepted the hate mail rather quickly, and knew all too well to just cast Incendio on the unwanted post before it had a chance to cause problems. Narcissa raised an eyebrow in confusion at the alpha's mysterious antics. "Darling, what are you doing with my post?"
"I have a feeling the Prophet will answer that question rather quickly," she said with a tired sigh.
Narcissa gasped in shock at the scathing article that was front page news. "Oh darling, I don't think you should read this. It does rather depict you in an unpleasant light. Honestly, I don't know why I keep a subscription to this rag. The Quibbler is much more pleasant to read than this tripe," Narcissa snarled as she closed the paper and put it on the table. Hermione quickly snatched up the paper and started to read the article herself.
As she read the article she became progressively more agitated with the slander that Rita wrote about her. "What the fuck is this?! That bloody bint has the bollocks to not only find my ex, but also post this shite about not being a good alpha to you! We fixed that! Although, does anyone ask if that's changed?! No. Of course not. She just writes whatever the hell she wants!" Her breathing started to become ragged and labored.
Narcissa slowly stood up. "Darling, are you alright? I know the article is upsetting, but it should not be this much of an upset." She walked over to Hermione slowly. As she got closer, she reached out to the distressed alpha. However, she suddenly stopped in her tracks at the frighteningly familiar scent of feral alpha in the air. "Mia, you need to breathe and try to get a hold of yourself. My love, I fear that if you don't calm down you'll turn feral. Please, darling."
"I-I c-can't con-control myself. I-I don't kn-know what's g-going on. I can't st-stop." Hermione rasped, running her fingers through her hair and starting to pull at it. Her head felt on fire. Her mind was starting to fog with rage. She growled deep in her chest, and when she looked at Narcissa, she snapped her teeth at her.
"My love, this isn't natural. I think something is affecting your mind." Narcissa stood very still, watching Hermione snarl at her as her eyes swirled red. She tilted her head down and to the side to expose her claim mark to the alpha to try and calm her. She began to fill the air with calming pheromones. Hermione sniffed the air and slowly took control of her breathing once more.
"Hhmm...y-you ne-need to w-wear the ne-necklace now," Hermione huffed out breathlessly as best as she could since she wasn't completely in control of herself. Narcissa nodded in understanding and quickly apparated out of the kitchen to their room, and put on the necklace of protection.
Once she had the necklace on, she suddenly felt a pull on her magick, signaling that there was someone trying to get past the wards. "Who on earth could be coming here at this hour?" She apparated back down to the kitchen only to find that Hermione was no longer there. Suddenly, she heard screaming from outside. She ran out of the open door only to find Hermione punching someone until they were bloody and bared her teeth at them.
"Mine. She's mine!" Was all that could be heard from Hermione.
Narcissa ran to her quickly to try and stop her. "Hermione, stop it this instant, you'll kill him!" When she placed a hand on Hermione's shoulder the enraged alpha stopped suddenly and twisted quickly around to look at Narcissa with black eyes, breathing heavily. Flecks of blood covered the front of her body.
"He came to claim what is mine! He can't have you, you're mine!" She growled as she looked down at the gasping alpha at her feet. Narcissa whimpered softly, only to get the alpha's attention once more.
"Yes, alpha. Only yours," she said in a soft, calm voice, tilting her head to the side once more, her eyes downcast to show submission. Hermione stepped into her personal space, opened her mouth wide, leaned down toward Narcissa's neck over her claim mark, and stopped dead in her approach. She took a deep breath and groaned as she gripped her head in pain.
"Narcissa, what's happening to me? I can't control myself. You are right, something is making me do this," She gasped out in a pained, tired voice.
Suddenly a dozen or more crazed alphas showed up in front of the wards, trying to force their way in. A slow chant could be heard above the din of the alphas banging on the wards. "Must please omega, must please omega, must please omega."
The couple looked at one another. Hermione shook her head to try and clear her mind. She cupped Narcissa's face in her hands looking at her with seriousness."I have an idea on how to keep them out more effectively, but I need you to help me with it." She asked as the sounds of spells bouncing off of the wards echoed behind them.
"Tell me what you need, love, and I'll help however I can." Narcissa said, smiling sweetly at the alpha as she went up on her toes and kissed her. They broke apart when a spell suddenly zinged past them. Hermione growled before she turned around to look at the growing horde of crazed alphas. She put Narcissa behind her so the omega had to look around her to see what was going on.
"I'm going to start casting a new rune to be added to the existing wards. I need you to help me power it since you're blood related to the original casters of the current wards. I'll also need help to power it since I've never successfully been able to cast it on my own," she said, speaking over her shoulder to the omega as she wordlessly and wandlessly cast an Accio for Merlin's staff. The staff flew from the manor into Hermione's awaiting hand. "I need you to touch as much skin on me as possible so..." she stabbed the staff into the ground so that it stood by her side as she stripped her shirt off leaving her in a tank top and jeans.
She picked the staff back up in her casting hand. "When you start to feel my power start to wane, push your magick into me through the contact. Then, when I tell you, direct the flow so that the rune will be added into the wards."
"I understand. Here's hoping that the current wards hold up long enough for us to cast this." She kissed Hermione's shoulder for luck. Hermione hummed her agreement. She took the end of the staff and began to draw out the symbol of the rune that was to be used. She closed her eyes in concentration as she started whispering the incantation while holding the staff in both hands slightly above the drawn rune.
Storm clouds started to gather around them overhead. Loud claps of thunder rang out, getting louder and closer to them as the clouds turned dark and ominous. Flashes of lightning streaked across the sky while Hermione continued her incantation. The staff's top stone began to glow with the power that was being channeled through it.
With the sacrifice of Odin's eye for knowledge
With the power of Thor's strength for protection
With the sacrifice of Tyr's hand for peace
With the sting of Loki's betrayal for conquest
With the force of Freya's rage for reconciliation
By the will of the Gods let this rune be cast
Protect us and our loved ones from all harm
Cast out those that would do us harm
Shield us from those that would see us suffer.
Narcissa started to feel Hermione's power wane. She concentrated on her magick to be funneled into the alpha, helping her continue to cast. Hermione continued to draw additional runes into the original one, combining multiple into one single complex rune. "When I stab the staff into the ground, let the sigil rune be added to the wards," Hermione said breathlessly, over her shoulder to Narcissa, who nodded in understanding.
She finished drawing the sigil rune in the ground, then raised the top of the staff into the air. A bolt of lightning crashed down into the staff which was quickly stabbed into the ground. "SO MOTE IT BE!" Hermione said in a loud determined voice. A wave of strong magicks exploded from them, washing over the grounds and lighting up through the wards securing them with the new ward. The sigil now permanently stamped into the ground, so that it wouldn't wash away or be removed, glowed blue then white. Narcissa fell back onto the ground from the force of the cast.
Hermione leaned on the staff slightly, walking over to the bleeding alpha on the ground. She growled as she leaned down, gripped him by his foot, dragged him to the edge of the wards, then flung him out into the mob of other alphas.
Narcissa stood up from the ground, brushed herself off, and walked over to Hermione. She wrapped her arms around the alpha from behind and apparated them away to the safety of the manor once more. Once inside, Hermione collapsed in a heap on the floor.
Narcissa quickly dropped down beside her. "Merlin, Mia. Are you alright?" she asked in slight panic. Hermione didn't respond since she had blacked out from exhaustion. "Hermione! Hermione, wake up!" She tried to shake the witch awake, but to no avail. She called for Dolly in panic.
The little elf popped into existence in front of her. "What can Dolly be doing for Mistress?" the elf asked
Narcissa started to cry. "I need you to bring Harry Potter, Ronald Weasley, and my sister Andromeda here. Please tell them it's an emergency and to hurry!" Narcissa ordered in a panic as she held Hermione's head in her lap. The little elf nodded vigorously and vanished with a soft pop. She cast a featherlight charm on Hermione, lifted her into her arms, and apparated them once more, this time into their room. She laid the alpha down on her bed as she waited for everyone to arrive.
A few moments later, the sound of panicked voices could be heard. Narcissa whipped her eyes around, then walked out of the room and found everyone standing in the foyer.
Harry spotted her first and ran up to her looking concerned. "What's happened, Narcissa? What's going on?"
"Hermione is unconscious and I'm not sure what to do. Also, the manor is surrounded by enraged alphas. I'd wager a guess it is because of both Rita Skeeter and whatever the curse of madness is. The article that pest wrote in the front page of today's Prophet put her in an uncharacteristic rage. I was able to calm her down enough so that she didn't go feral, but I can't say the same for those poor alphas outside," she sniffled. Luckily, Andy was there to wrap her in a hug. After the hug, the compassionate beta walked out of the room and into the couple's room before she started running diagnostic spells on the unconscious alpha.
The boys guided Narcissa to the kitchen to try and get some answers from her of what happened that day. Narcissa recanted the day's events as best she could.
"Leave it to Hermione to go completely possessive alpha over you. You sure that she didn't kill anyone? Not that it would matter much since she has the right to do so at this point considering she you know..." Ron said sheepishly, as he pointed to his neck in reference to the claim mark she now bore.
"Either way, we need to figure out what's causing this to happen in the first place. You said that she started to act strangely after reading the article? Well then, I think that we should start there and question Rita about this. Not to mention, she really needs to stop slandering Hermione after so many years," Harry said with a sigh as he ran his hand through his hair.
Narcissa nodded her agreement. "Yes, I believe we should, but I don't want to do anything until after Hermione wakes up. I can't imagine what she would do if she woke up to find that something had happened to me while she was unconscious. We wait until she is awake and then confront that pest."
The boys agreed and left shortly after.