They were so close to the Ministry now. They could see Harry and Ron standing by the doors waiting for the couple to come through. That was until one of the alphas got lucky and grabbed hold of Narcissa.
Narcissa squeaked in surprise at being grabbed around the wrist and so she looked at Hermione in terror, silently begging for help.
Hermione quickly grabbed the alpha by the thumb and wrenched it back roughly getting him to release her, then punched him square in the face. An audible crack could be heard from the broken nose that Hermione had just given the guy. As he reared back with a groan in pain, she quickly picked up Narcissa bridal style, cast a feather light charm on both of them, and sprinted the rest of the way to the Ministry. They ran through the open doors that were quickly closed behind them by the boys.
"Merlin, that was close. You both alright?" Harry asked.
"Yeah, that was brilliant, Hermione. Much more satisfying to see than when you socked Draco in the face during school," Ron said with a huge grin.
"Yes, well now is not the time to discuss that. We need to figure out what to do with the item from here and figure out how to deactivate it so that maybe it will calm those alphas down. Although, considering the omegas haven't woken up from their commas, I'm guessing that our odds are pretty slim on that subject. But we still need to deal with the current problem," Hermione rambled as she held Narcissa in her arms protectively.
"How exactly are we supposed to do that? It's not as if you were able to find anything before. What makes it different this time as to how to deal with whatever it is that Rita used? By the way, good job with the polyjuice potion to make her look like Narcissa, but how did you get the alphas to react so quickly to her if that's all there was? With how feral they are, I can't imagine that they would only go after her just from her looks alone. They're too far gone for that," Ron wondered curiously.
"She smells like me as well. The polyjuice potion that I slipped her was of my own creation. Plus, it'll last a while. So, hold that barrier up for a few hours until the potion dissipates, if you would please, gentlemen." Narcissa smiled sweetly at the boys then looked pointedly at Hermione. "Now, Hermione, we need to get back to the Manor and disable the cause of this madness sooner rather than later, so hop to it," She said with a curt nod.
Hermione smirked down at the woman in her arms and chuckled, nodding in agreement. "As the lady commands. Who am I to deny her?" The brunette walked them to the nearest floo system, then in a clear voice said the manor's name, and off they went in a roar of green flames.
The couple arrived at the manor without issue. Hermione canceled the featherweight charm on them but still held Narcissa in her arms, much to the omega's displeasure. "Are you going to put me down anytime soon, Mia?" She asked as she looked up at the alpha.
"I don't know. Are you going to continue to boss me around today, little omega?" She looked down at the blonde with a raised eyebrow.
Narcissa opened her mouth for a moment with a sharp retort, but then thought better of it. She blushed and looked down shaking her head no. "No alpha, I'm sorry for acting that way. You didn't deserve that."
"I understand that you were scared, but we are in this together, which means that you don't have to do everything yourself. I'm by your side in all of this and won't let anything happen to you," Hermione said as she kissed her forehead.
"It's going to take me some time to get used to the fact that I'm no longer with someone who won't abandon me when things get too hard or put me into situations that are dangerous or belittle me. I will try harder to not put you in the same light as that man. I do love you, and logically, I know that you wouldn't do anything to hurt me or make me feel less than an equal," Narcissa whispered as she nuzzled into Hermione's neck.
"I appreciate you acknowledging that and I don't expect you to be able to get over your trauma responses and triggers overnight, either. I am here if you want to work on those, as well as support you if you want to try and see a professional to work on all of that. Just know that I am here for you and will talk about this kind of thing when we're alone together," Hermione offered with a soft rumble.
Narcissa nodded. "I understand and appreciate that. Now, let's get to work on dealing with this cursed quill. Although, to do that, it would be easier if you put me down." Narcissa said as she kissed under the alpha's chin.
"Nope. You're staying in my arms till I say otherwise. Maybe this way it'll help you know that you're no longer dealing with that shit-stain," Hermione smirked down at Narcissa who giggled and nodded that she would not complain about this decision. Hermione walked them to the library, cast the spell to call for specific book locations, and then they went about collecting as much information as they could on how to deal with this cursed object.
Hours passed with them sharing a chair, Narcissa curled up in Hermione's lap while both of them scoured the few books they found on how to deactivate or subdue cursed objects. Hermione placed her book down as she leaned her head back with an annoyed groan. "This is pointless. We've read most of these and still nothing that is even remotely helpful in what we need to do to get this thing to deactivate." She rubbed the bridge of her nose as she looked at Narcissa who was completely engrossed in a book. "Find something of interest?"
"Possibly. This book talks about a method that would put the cursed item under your control, but depending on what kind of curse the item is endowed with will determine how effective this process will be. Meaning that if the item is stronger than your will power, it will consume you," Narcissa sighed as she leaned fully against Hermione's chest, humming softly at how comfortable it was to be surrounded in the alpha's calming scent.
"Hhmm…how would you test for something like that?" Hermione asked as she rubbed Narcissa's arm lovingly.
"Process of elimination would be my guess. Honestly, with how that quill works it would have to be you that would have to go through the process. You're supposedly the only one that wouldn't be beset by its power. Anyone else would be overwhelmed by its madness too quickly for it to be worth even trying."
"That makes sense, I don't like the fact you used the word supposedly, but I can't fault you on the logic. What would I have to do to control the quill?" Hermione questioned as she buried her nose into Narcissa's hair breathing in her scent.
"To be fair, you're going to hate the process even less.. You have to coat the quill completely in your blood while casting the spell that binds it to your magick. Then, it's just a matter of whether your willpower is strong enough to keep it in check until we end this madness all together," Narcissa said as she rolled her eyes, sighing.
"Seriously, what is it about your ancestors and blood magicks?" Hermione asked.
"Blood supremacists, they were obsessed with it so it's no surprise to me that most of their magick spells revolved around it, even if it wasn't necessary. Quite frankly, I'm glad that we don't have a need to create those kinds of spells anymore." Narcissa sniffed haughtily.
"I agree. There should be better ways to create spells without the use of blood magicks that are just as powerful and do the same thing. Anyway, we should probably get started on this so that hopefully the other alphas affected by this will calm down enough so that we can get ready to deal with the chaos bard before the world explodes," Hermione sighed in exasperation.
Narcissa nodded in agreement.
In a remote part of Wizarding England, a magical portal opened up in the middle of a field where a sweet song could be heard.
Come little children
I'll take thee away
Into a land of enchantment
Come little children
The time's come to play
Here in my garden of shadows
A figure stepped out of the portal, continuing to sing as a wave of magick swept across the surrounding area. The figure's siren call reached out to all that could hear it.
Follow sweet children
I'll show thee the way
Through all the pain
And the sorrows
Weep not poor children
For life is this way
Murdering beauty and passions
Betas began to fall into a euphoric state of blissful ignorance, dropping everything that they were doing to wander into the direction of the intoxicating voice. Try as their friends and family might, they could not deter them from their course.
Hush now dear children
It must be this way
Too weary of life
And deceptions
Rest now my children
For soon we'll away
Into the calm and the quiet
They wandered closer to the singing figure, one by one they walked into the portal without any hesitation. A few of the surrounding people tried desperately to stop them. They cast spells that did not longer work. They even tried to physically stop them only to be shoved off by the undeterred betas.
Come little children
I'll take thee away
Into a land of enchantment
Come little children
The time's come to play
Here in my garden of shadows
The wave of enchanting song started to return to the figure, pulling the last of the nearby betas into the portal, then followed behind them without a sound, leaving the terrified bystanders looking on in shock as the portal closed behind the mysterious form.