Hello, darlings. I hope you enjoy this next chapter, it sets up things for the future. Also, please bear with me over the next few weeks, real life is simply overwhelming. Not all bad, just enormous changes occurring rapidly. So, chapters may be shorter than usual. But thanks for reading and sticking with me.

Chapter 21 Faces From the Past

Luna informed Hermione when the Weasleys returned to the Burrow, "They haven't been over to check on us, which is somewhat rude as we kept an eye on the property after they fled. Even straightened up after the wedding."

"I'm sure one of them will be by when they want something,"

Hermione assured her before changing the subject. "Neville is super excited about the treatment."

"This could be so good," Luna agreed.

"I know, he's trying not to get his hopes up too much."

"I don't blame him," Luna smiled sadly.

"If it goes well enough this will go far to show how we can improve muggle things for our own benefit."

"Which we already do," Luna pointed out.

"But not in ways that help muggleborns become more accepted, and we're decades behind the times. Voldemort instructed them to work on movies or television next."

Luna frowned, "Why is he agreeing to all this?"

"I'm giving him what he wants- unending power. In exchange, I get peace and social change."

"And if he backslides?"

"What makes you think I don't already have a contingency plan?" smirked Hermione. She examined her fingernails idly, "Someday he may discover I know where his prized possessions are."

"Blackmail?"

"Oh no, worse. I don't have them. But I know what I am looking for and I have some ideas of where to look."

"Can I help?" Luna asked.

"If you want. I'll let you know when I go hunting."

"On to happier news, Graham asked me to go with him to the International Quidditch Event."

"As Luna or Selene?"

"Either. He says it is my choice." She sighed, "I know going as Selene is safer, but the whole point of taking my NEWTs early was so I didn't have to hide."

"I support whatever you want to do. I will be accompanying Marcus, so we will be there to support you, and Ades."

"Luna Lovegood it is. Do you want to go dress shopping?"

"Want to invite Alex and Van?"

Luna looked uncertain, "I kind of just wanted to go by ourselves."

"I like that option, too." Hermione grinned, "Tomorrow?"

"Sure. I'm helping Daddy with the Quibbler in the morning. That is the official reason I tested early, to help my family business."

"I have a meeting at the Ministry in the morning."

Corbin Yaxley fell in step with Hermione as she crossed the atrium. "I'll double whatever Dobbs offers."

"Good morning, Yaxley."

"I mean it. Come work for me."

"I'm doing well this morning. How are you?"

"Your talents will be wasted by that fop."

"You are aware I am here to review his department's attempts at cinema production, right?"

Yaxley faltered, "Uh, no, I did not."

"Yes."

Department Ernest Dobbs listened to Hermione's explanations and watched her pensieve memories of the experience. He immediately began interviewing his staff for those with muggle expertise. With the return of their wands and official findings that magic cannot be stolen from or by children, muggleborns were slowly returning to work. "Does Ted Tonks still work at the ministry? He's muggleborn."

"How do you know him?" asked Dobbs.

"He's my uncle, well estranged uncle, but I'm trying to get Mum to let bygones be bygones."

"I'll reach out to him. Even if he doesn't work for us currently."

With an eye on the time, Hermione made her way to the lifts. She hummed to herself as the ancient machinery groaned and creaked. On the fifth floor, it stopped to admit a red-headed man. She sucked in a breath, recognizing Percy Weasley. Silently she slipped her wand from the wrist holster, ready to defend herself. They rode in silence for two floors. "Hello, Hermione. I like the darker hair, it suits."

"Hello, Percy," she replied hesitantly.

"Don't worry I'm not going to out you."

"To who?"

He looked surprised, "To anyone, as you're now a Lestrange, I assumed Hermione Granger being listed as Undesirable number 2 is for show. And I'm not speaking with my family at the moment. They were right about my promotion but wrong about the new regime."

"Partially wrong, the less intelligent members would leap at the chance to resume the reign of terror. Happily, they are not calling the shots."

"Something I thank any god listening for."

"You can thank me for the coming changes."

"Really?"

She smirked, "The old way was faster, but my way lasts longer.

Someone still wants immortality and power. Who wants to fight a war every three or four generations?"

"Who indeed?" he shook his head, smiling. "But my point is, your secret is safe with me. And you have my support if you need it. Even if I am at the bottom of the ladder in Magical Regulations."

"Thank you, Percy."

"If you can end this war, thank you."

"I'm trying," she laughed.

"More than anyone else is doing."

They said their farewells on the ground floor. Hermione headed to the floo bank, and Percy was on his way to the cafeteria. Hermione flooed to the Leaky Cauldron to meet Luna. She ordered a butterbeer and perched on a stool at the end of the bar in a shadowed corner. Habits of constant vigilance ingrained in her caused her to sit facing into the room with her back to the wall. She sipped her drink watching the crowds move through the pub to the Alley's entrance. A young girl caught her attention. She followed her mother sucking her thumb. The lapse of attention to her left allowed her to be startled when a male voice spoke her name. "Hermione!" She jumped and whirled on the stool. For the second time that day, a freckled ginger greeted her. This time with tears and hugs. "You're alive, thank Godric."

Unable to resist she hugged him back, "Hello, George."

"Where have you been? What happened?" He rocked her back and forth, holding her tightly. "Wait until I tell Fred. We've been so worried."

"Um, this is a long story and not one for a public place."

"We've moved back into the flat above the store." George offered.

"I'm waiting for someone," she fidgeted once.

Luna stepped up, "I'm here. Hello, George." She smiled at Hermione. "Should we go see Fred?"

"What about shopping, Luna?"

"I've seen your closet, we can just go through it. Talking to the twins is more important and Marcus would adore you in a mold sack."

"I don't care about impressing him, I want to devastate groupies everywhere." She noticed George watching them with an intrigued expression. "But, you're right, the twins are more important. Let's go."

George collected his order while Hermione and Luna placed their own. Together they waded through the crowds to Weasleys Wizarding Wheezes. The bright signs and moving ads brought a smile to Hermione's face. The twins' brilliance shone from every inch of the store. Hermione told George so. He slung his arm over her shoulder,

"Such praise, thank you, Mione." He led them up the back stairs.

"Give me a minute to collect Fred."

Hermione nodded, "We'll set the table while we wait."

"Fantastic," George grinned and raced downstairs.

Luna moved to the kitchen drawers and removed forks and knives,

"How much are you going to tell them?"

"As angry as I am at them, I'm not going to out Ron and Harry. So, I suppose just about Dumbledore. Isn't that enough?"

"Mrs. Weasley seems to worship him, so I imagine she raised them to as well."

"Ron always did seem utterly convinced of his infallibility."

"What if they react badly?" whispered Luna.

"I can handle it. Neville had every reason not to accept my new life, the twins not so much."

Fred apparated into the flat, "Hermione!" He hugged her as tightly as George had. His hug danced them around in a circle. "Luna!" he treated the blonde to the same manner of hug.

"It's wonderful to see you, too, Fred."

"So what happened, Mione?"

"Let's sit and start eating while I explain." She took her seat and began eating. The others followed suit. Once they tucked in, she explained the charms she broke and her game with Voldemort.

Fred whistled, "You lot never did do anything by halves do you?"

She chuckled, "It is a skill."

"Now what?" asked George.

"I have the attention of a regime willing to listen to me, I am going to affect as much change as I can for as long as I can. This war cannot keep dragging on."

Fred nodded, "We agree, so do Lupin and Tonks."

"I know someone is supposed to be reaching out," Hermione informed them.

"And Mum would be shooting them down," George said. He looked thoughtful, "We could ask around, see who else is fed up and what it would take to get them to agree to a ceasefire and pax."

"Would you?" Hermione asked excitedly.

Fred nodded, "The whole of the Order won't agree, too much bad blood. But we could feel out who wants compromise, and who won't."

She looked down at her plate, "You realize we won't be able to save everyone."

"Yes," George whispered, "we know."

"And there will be some I won't try to," her voice wavered, but they deserved full disclosure from her. "Dumbledore added your mum to my charms," her voice faltered for a second, "and she added Ron." As the following silence lengthened she began to fidget. Finally, she looked up. Both twins stared at her in horror.

"She agreed?"

"She added Ron?"

Hermione nodded miserably, "Dumbledore's portrait confirmed it. Your dad knew, but never approved."

"And did nothing, hardly better," snapped Fred.

"But we understand your feelings, and accept your limitations," George flashed his twin a look.

"Should probably count our blessings she didn't decide to do it to us," mumbled Fred.

"I'm sorry to dump all this on you, but I promised myself no secrets and half-truths like Dumbledore. I didn't want to have this conversation later after you did all the work and now I refuse to help you."

"That makes sense," George said slowly.

Fred smiled at her, "Thank you for that, Mione."

"Thank you for not hating me."

"We could never. Granger or Lestrange, you're the same person you were before, our friend."

George's smile fell briefly, "Not that we advocate the death of our mother, if she could not die, we would be grateful."

"I can't make any promises. I can only make suggestions, and only to select, but powerful, few."

"We know."

In an attempt to lighten the mood, Fred mentioned the back-to-school crowds. "We're selling out faster than we can replenish our stock."

"Not a bad problem to have," remarked Hermione.

"No, it is not." George laughed.

Fred resumed eating, "Excited for your last year at Hogwarts, Luna?"

She gave him her unique smile, "I took my exams early. Daddy needs my help with the Quibbler. And in these times of chaos, I want to stay close."

"We can understand that," assured George.

"Thank you."

They finished eating, the twins waved off offers to assist with cleanup. They exchanged hugs all around with promises to meet soon. The girls flooed back to the Rookery as the twins returned downstairs.

Luna led Hermione upstairs, "I doubt anything I have would be appropriate in my closet."

"Sure, but we couldn't floo from the flat back to the Hall."

"I also wanted to get my mother's necklace. I would like to wear it."

"Certainly, go grab it." She looked out the window towards the Burrow. She noticed the thin white plume of smoke rising from its location. She continued to watch it climb as Luna rejoined her. "The Weasleys back in the Burrow," Hermione sighed.

"Will anyone mind?"

"Why would they? Other than Harry, Voldemort is indifferent."

"Will you tell him?" Luna asked.

"Eventually, when it becomes relevant. Right now it isn't."

"Then let's go play dress up in your closet."

"Was this all a ruse to borrow a dress, Luna?"

Luna gave an airy laugh, "You caught me."

Around bedtime, Hermione's floo flared, "Luna, is something wrong?"

"No, but someone wants to see you."

"Okay," she said slowly. Luna came through the floo connection carrying a fluffy orange cat, that meowed loudly when he saw Hermione. "Crookshanks!" He leapt to her waiting arms. "Oh, Luna, where?"

"He appeared at the door. I think he sensed you earlier and came looking."

Hermione hugged the creature to her, "Thank you, Luna. Sweet Crooksie, I missed you so much."

"I'll see myself home," Luna said.

Hermione spun on her heel and carried Crookshanks over to Sir Hiss's cushion. "Sir Hiss, Crookshanks returned."

The snake uncoiled to regard the cat. Hermione crouched down,

"Hello again, cat," hissed the snake. "Welcome back." The animals touched noses. "You can share my bed." Crookshanks dropped onto the pillow and settled in with Sir Hiss. Hermione watched them settle together before heading to bed herself. She used her coin to tell Marcus of his return. She introduced her familiar to the rest of the family over breakfast. She also penned a note informing Voldemort that the twins were off-limits and willing to be emissaries for her, and by extension, him.

-oOoOo-

When the Weasleys returned to the Burrow, Ron and Harry kept their promise and joined them. Delighted to be in her own space, Molly cleaned the house from top to bottom and bottom to top. To aid Ginny's seduction mission she cleared out Percy's room for Harry. Ron grumbled until Harry reminded him they were still researching at Grimmauld Place several times a week, something Molly refused to allow Ginny to help with.

A clandestine trip to a shop just inside Knockturn Alley landed Ginny some naughty underwear and a container of powder called Lust Dust. Sprinkled on food it was supposed to increase the natural desires. Ginny briefly debated the need for such an item on top of the love potion but decided she needed every advantage she could get.

She had two weeks to ensure Harry's addiction to her.

After breakfast Molly enlisted Ron's help with the ghoul in the attic, sending Ginny and Harry out to check Arthur's shed for pests like doxies and such. She always imagined Harry as a gentle, hesitant lover. Reality proved much different. He left her sore for hours after pounding into her against hard surfaces. It never crossed her mind that the love potions and Lust Dust overrode his natural tendencies. Or that the combination might have been too much.

At supper she gingerly sat next to Harry, trying to steal his attention from Ron, when the floo roared to life in the living room. The twins called out greetings, followed by Bill. "We found this one wandering the Alley in search of food and thought we would crash dinner here," George announced.

Molly beamed, "You all know you are always welcome back home for anything." She swiftly set three more places. "Sit, sit."

"Looking a little pale there, mate. You need more sun." Bill told Harry.

He nodded, his head felt fuzzy again, he wondered if it was linked to Voldemort somehow, "You're probably right."

The conversation turned to the looming start of the school year. "I know you all insist it is safe, but I worry about when to shop for supplies. Would a bigger group be safer?"

"We could meet you, Mum," Fred offered, "but it's just Gin now."

"Maybe we should invite the Lovegoods?" Molly mused. Ginny rolled her eyes. Her mum only remembered their neighbors when she wanted something. Otherwise, she ignored Xenophilius and his eccentric offspring.

George shook her head, "We saw Luna last week, she took her NEWTs early. She's going to help Xeno with the Quibbler."

"What?" Ginny shouted, "I thought we had to go to Hogwarts now."

"You can't be homeschooled anymore, but anyone can take the tests," Fred explained.

"We've considered it ourselves."

"Does this mean she'll be considered a dropout?" asked Ron.

Bill shook his head, "No, she finished her formal education by taking the exams."

"Could I do that?" Ginny asked.

"You have to be ready when you schedule the test," Bill started uncertainly. "No taking a few months to prepare."

Fred nodded, "Luna said the cutoff is this week. She barely made it in."

Ginny looked pleadingly at her mother. Her eyes flicked to Harry then back. "We'll discuss it later."

Later came the next morning after Arthur left for work and the two boys headed over to Grimmauld Place. Ginny scrambled downstairs to find Molly. "I can't go back to Hogwarts. It isn't safe, that's what you keep saying."

"And if you fail your exams the what?"

"Pff, please. I don't need NEWTs to be Mrs. Harry Potter with all the lovely Potter money. I'd quite any job I had as soon as I got pregnant anyway."

"That is true," Molly remarked slowly. "But it would like we're running away."

"Who cares? I cannot afford for Harry to start paying attention to some other girl while I'm trapped in that school."

"What would people say though? After the war."

"About the savior's devout wife? Not a damn thing. And by then, who cares. The ring is on MY finger and I'm entitled to the vault key and full access. A baby every few years should keep it that way." She grinned, "Everyone gets what they want. Harry gets a family, I get to marry the Chosen One and a rich wizard. It's win/win. But I have to get him to the alter first. I can't do that from Hogwarts."

"I'll have your father bring the forms home."

-oOoOo-

Hermione's birthday began with breakfast in bed served by extremely eager elves. Rabastan took her and Luna to lunch and museums in Milan. They returned just in time to dress for the formal dinner her parents were holding in her honor. Luna went home, Xenophilius accepted the invitation and she wanted to arrive with him. Having talked to Peregrine and Cassius, Yaxley was excited to discuss nargles and wrakenspurts with the Lovegoods.

The evenings succeed beyond anyone's hopes. Yaxley and a few others would be investing in the Quibbler's expeditions. The Montagues adored Luna. No one hexed anyone. And Marcus gave her a beautiful gift: a platinum cast glass slipper charm. Jacques and Gus Gus sat inside, six round sapphires made the heart shaped decoration on the slipper. "A memento of the night you shared yourself with me." He gave her an uncertain smile.

"I love it. Thank you." She clasped the necklace around her neck.