Harry Potter belongs to J. K. Rowling, I am just playing in her world
To build a better mouse trap
Doctor Emma Granger held her mug of hot cocoa in both hands. Enjoying the warmth from the wall of the mug and savoring the smell. While the eddying steam currents that swirled above the mouth of the mug getting fainter and fainter as they rose, allowed time for her cares to release. Like the steam, stealing the excess heat from the drink to escape, the agitation and numb terror was teased from its frantic frenzy that froze the mind from logical thought, and allowed it to fade more on each returning pass. Glancing at her three girls she watched and waited as the tension left their shoulders. The worry lines receded, cautious smiles returned, and eyes began to dance once more with life and in Luna's case mischief.
Leaning into her husband's embrace she quietly whispered in his ear. "I've got this, pointless both of us missing sleep. I'll fill you in later." Enjoying his arms tightening around her waist as he nuzzled her neck prior to releasing and wishing her good night, he left with his cup of cocoa.
"So Hermione, I take it this was the beamed in visions Heather gets that you had been discussing the other day?" Emma asked. Judging it was about time to start the discussion. The memory of the scare was adequately distant. Allowing careful analysis of what had happened. Without being bogged down by over emotional reactions.
However, it was still fresh enough to be valid before they had lost focus on the event, by allowing one, or all of them, to mask what happened. Letting them hide their emotions behind solid defenses. This would prevent her getting a handle on something well beyond her own experiences. Stopping her from knowing if they were hiding the worst from her, or not. She needed the emotional tells, and couldn't let them completely recover and gain the ability to lie on how bad it really was.
"No, this was worse. I've never seen something this bad." Hermione replied, and allowed Emma to sigh in relief. She'd thought her daughter had downplayed the night terrors. Of course, it also increased her worry of this new more deadly attack. "When Vold… you-know-who possessed you at the end of fifth year in the Ministry atrium, Heather, was it this bad?" Hermione asked.
"This was worse than that."
"I am glad you didn't have to face the whole screaming wraith and the overpowering vile presence before but we have to ensure it doesn't happen again." Emma stated.
"Oh that I've seen before."
"Heather! Why have you never told me that you have had the nightmares, this bad before? I mean the ones I've seen were bad enough, but did you and Ronald deliberately hide how much worse some had been?" Hermione angrily said.
"Hermione It wasn't a nightmare, and I have told you about it. I am meaning when Vol… you-know-who left Quirrell in first year. Only this time it was as if he left me. This nightmare, for a moment there seemed to be two Vo… you-know-who's. There was this huge other power that was all around us in the room too. When that power forced him back, it also forced the other out into the room. That second push was so similar to when I was touching Professor Quirrell, and an extra force pushed you-know-who out of him. Whereas, the first was similar to the possession in the ministry, and my feelings of love and family, and both Luna and you clinging to me, and letting me know I was wanted, made that one easier. However, the whole fight wasn't easy, because I was fighting on two sides, and almost against part of myself.
"Heather, your scar is completely gone, and would never completely heal before. Do you think it actually was an existing possession that was fighting to try to take possession of you, while you were distracted against fighting a second possession attempt from you-know-who? You are finding similarities to Quirrell's exorcism to part of what happened tonight, and after winning the scar completely healed." Luna asked.
"Well I would say yes, except I didn't die. Thought I was dying during the event, it was so painful. However, unlike Quirrell that died from an exorcism, I think I am still alive. Dumbledore said that Quirrell died when he accepted to be possessed. The act of exorcism always kills the host.
"But you weren't willingly possessed, Heather you didn't accept to be possessed." Luna noted.
"Why that old…
Hermione put her mug down on the table so forcefully it caused the half drunk cocoa to splash onto the table. She pushed back her chair, and charged from the kitchen. Thundering steps could be heard as she tore up the stairs.
Heather looked at Luna and at mum, finding both looking at her as clueless as she was. "Should we follow?"
"Let's finish our drinks I am sure she'll be back. She would have told us if she wanted us to follow." Mum said, while going to get a cloth, but found Dobby already cleaning the spill up.
Several minutes later a cursing Hermione returned with a portrait. It was Dumbledore's portrait that she hung from the hook on the kitchen wall. "See you stupid senile bastard! No bloody scar, and Heather isn't dead you pathetic excuse for a flipping' human!" Hermione yelled with glamour dropped, tail lashing in complete anger, and claws extended as if she wanted to tear them through the canvas.
Emma's immediate rant at her daughter's colourful diction had been derailed by the 'Heather isn't dead' comment. Hoping it didn't allude to what she was worried it did. If it did, then she might just join her daughter with a few choice words. Knowing her daughter, and seeing the cat-girl's body language, meant she would give Hermione the benefit of the doubt. Internally she smirked, seeing Luna and Heather with gaping mouths, staring at her daughter. They probably had never known she could swear. She also never knew that a painting could pale, but boy could it ever.
"Harry…
"No, you will address her as Miss Black. A plotting murderer has no rights to using a first name, and definitely no rights to use a first name that the person does not wish to use!"
"I am not a plotting murderer Miss Granger. Vold…
"Don't say his name!" Hermione shrieked.
"I thought Harry and you were able to say his name, and not caught up in the whole fear of his name. It is disappoint…
"No, what is disappointing is your stupidity! Bill Weasley said do not say the name because he is unsure if the Taboo can negate, or partially damage, lockdown wards. It is stupid to shoot guns at yourself to see if the body armor will block the bullet. We are not stopping from saying the name out of fear. We are sensibly not allowing any damage to occur, to our trump defense.
"Everything about your handling of you-know-who is stupid. You horded information, and set us up to fail. If we weren't behind lockdown wards, and we used the name we could get caught. However, then Heather could be murdered, and the piece of you-know-who that you knew was in her scar, would be dealt with. Maybe that is why you wanted us to become comfortable using the name." Hermione interrupted. Then starred at the portrait out of breath, and with nothing further she really wanted to say. If she had the breath, she might have just screamed at him, and hoped she could make him deaf.
"Miss Black I owe you an apology it would seem. As Miss Granger correctly has pointed out a few times, I have been a stupid old man. Though I think she had a few words even less kind that likely she has the right to use. I am not a plotting murderer, and I didn't want you to die. My hope, as you had your soul as well as a bit of you-know-who's, was that if you-know-who hit you with the killing curse again, then magic would accept the bit of you-know-who, and allow you to live. I could not think of any other way to remove the horcrux from you that did not involve your death.
"If I could get you to willingly allow him to cast the curse then at best, you would live without the horcrux, and he could be killed. At worst, your willing sacrifice would in your death provide a blood protection, like your Mother did for you, to all your friends. This would enable you-know-who to be killed, while protecting as many other people as possible. It was a painful decision to make. I considered Harry my own grandson, and thought I had to sacrifice you for the greater good of the wizarding world.
"When I saw Harry growing and developing into a young wizard I could be proud of, no matter what hardship he had to overcome, I wished there could be another way. For I believed then that the magic world would only be better with him in it, and I now believe that it is also true, for you Miss Black. The magic world needs more witches like you, Miss Granger and Miss Lovegood. I cannot tell you how happy I am that the horcrux is destroyed, and you are alive. Can you, Miss Black, forgive me?"
Heather stared at Dumbledore. How did you respond to that? What did one say? Was one supposed to say, 'no problem quite understand you planned my death, but hoped by luck I could survive the ordeal.' Or do you reply with, 'no apology needed, at least you ensured my death would provide something for everyone else.' Deciding to ignore for now, and get useful information instead. She realized how she would respond.
"How do we destroy his horcrux?" Heather asked.
Dumbledore had been hoping that Ha... Miss Black would accept his apology and forgive him. He sighed internally when she chose not to. "You already destroyed one. The diary was a horcrux. Other than basilisk venom I think there are some dark curses that might work but they are dangerous and could hurt you, and those around you. I would recommend you stick with what you know. It is how I destroyed the ring."
"So did you include the basilisk fang in the things we salvaged from Hogwarts?" Heather asked.
"What, no? Miss Black, I am sorry could you please tell me what I can do to get forgiveness from you?" Dumbledore's portrait, was initially confused why Heather was suddenly asking about rare potion ingredients. Like a stuck recording he returned to his earlier request from her that she had not yet answered to his stored personality's satisfaction. Unlike a recording it was phrased differently.
This was one of the reasons most witches and wizards forget they are talking to a recording of a personality, and not the real person. The other main reason was that as a key point was resolved within the flexibility of the portraits personality, the resolved issue was remembered. Thus until a further change occurred, the portrait now could think of the individual, they primarily still think of as Harry, as Miss Black too. Thanks to Hermione's emotional speech the movement to try to use 'Miss Black' and 'you-know-who' had been made within the portrait. This ability to resolve issues with the living is one of the main reasons portraits were so good for a grieving relative.
Heather threw her hands up in frustration. She was trying to talk with him on a valid important topic and he wanted her to just forgive him at the drop of a hat. "I need him gone! I don't want him here!"
Kreacher popped in and then left. The wall where Dumbledore's portrait had been was now empty once more.
"Oh, I'll have to be careful of saying that in the future." Heather stated, looking a bit guilty. "What do you think Kreacher did with him?"
"I placed him in the attic again Mistress Black. Do you want him somewhere else?"
Heather surprised now that Kreacher was back, just shook her head. "That is fine. Thank you, Kreacher."
"Well I probably need to start researching other ways of destroying horcrux. What with Hogwarts gone and no basilisk fang. I think it is time to search the library." Heather wrapped up the conversation not wanting to discuss it any more. She was also far too angry to fall back to sleep. "I'll only disturb you both if I try to go to sleep and I need some time to clear my head. I don't want to say something I don't mean and hurt anyone."
Luna and Hermione looked at each other, and then wished mum a good night. "We're coming with you to the library, Heather. We won't disturb you, but can research with you at the same time, while you're getting back to normal after what Dumbledore just revealed." Luna informed Heather.
"Yes three heads are always better than one, and that is doubly so in the black library. I don't think we should ever be in there alone." Hermione added.
"Goodnight girls. As soon as you get tired go back to sleep." Mum told them and gave each a hug and kiss on the forehead. She smiled noticing that all the cups had been cleaned, the table wiped, and chairs tucked in tidy, by the time she left the last hug. "Oh, I could definitely get used to this."
The girls had spent several hours in the Black library, and only uncovered a few additional ideas. When Kreacher arrived to inform them it was breakfast time, and mum and dad wanted to have a 'pow-wow' meeting. After tidying up their books they left downstairs for the kitchen.
"Well I am not too sure at the cost, but this is the first morning Heather that you actually look alive." Dad told her as they entered the kitchen.
"Love you to, dad." Heather said whacking him on the back as she passed. She poured herself a mug of coffee and headed for the table where the headlines of the Daily Prophet glared up at her.
"Dowager Longbottom Steals the Lockdown Ward from Nine Year Old Witch!
Madam Longbottom has tricked nine year old Heather Black into marrying her twenty-three-year-old grandson to obtain the Black Lockdown wards. She demands fidelity from young Heather. A girl so young she wouldn't even have attended Hogwarts for three more years. With you-know-who destroying Hogwarts she will not even get to learn magic. The witch who has never met a boy in her short life will be married to an older wizard that loves and plans to marry another witch. While using Miss Black as a brood mare to strengthen his weak magic. He never sat his Newt exams, and in fact it was a surprise he even got to attend Hogwarts as relatives had believed him a squib.
For the last few days the whole wizarding world has been abuzz on the new lockdown wards, and how they came about. There hasn't been a set of lockdown wards in over three-hundred years, and with you-know-who returned everyone wants to find out how they can make their wards go lockdown. But Madam Longbottom went one step further.
Not happy with trying to mimic their creation. She decided to steal them…"
Further down the paper were a few more headlines. "Sirius Black was Innocent Hero! (See page 3)" and "Nine Year Old Black, Saves Dowager's Life – Reward – Made Pregnant Slave to Squib! (See page 2)"
"We need to get Neville here before someone kills him." Heather said. Then she pushed the paper to Hermione, who was looking at her oddly.
"Dad and I thought you would complain about the ages and lies within the article." Mum said rather surprised with Heather's take of the paper.
"Nope I think the headline, "Sirius Black was Innocent Hero!" is the first truthful thing the Daily Prophet has ever written. I am sure they will have mistakes in the article on page three though. They can't report anymore facts. It would go against the company's charter. As for the ages, when I was fourteen in the Tri-wizard tournament, thanks to a death eater wanting me dead, they printed my age as twelve to make it sound better. So there is nothing odd that they have Heather aged nine. The crazy thing is how many of the witches and wizards that will now swear blind I am nine, even if I tell them different.
"Anyway I thought we were having a pow-wow." Heather said while noticing Hermione hand the paper to Luna.
"Okay so, baby, did you find another way to destroy the horcrux?" Dad asked.
"I have found the instructions on how to cast a deadly spell that will most likely destroy the horcrux in the Black library. It however is a spell that usually escapes the control of the wizard casting it. You-know-who cast it during the destruction of Hogwarts, and then retreated so it didn't kill him too."
"You found the information on how to cast fiendfyre?" Hermione asked.
"Yes I can show you the book I found it in later. It has pages dedicated to how strong your will must be, so the spell doesn't get away from you. However, it does actually then finally show wand movements and incantation. It also has a better description on learning Occlumency than Snape's 'clear you mind'. Mind you that isn't hard, but the book has three chapters on it, and apparently that is just the bare bones basics. Fiendfyre is only recommended for one with advanced skills in Occlumency, as the magic actively tries to subvert the user to direct the flames into burning themselves alive." Heather informed them.
"Well I think we will look for a better method as that is extremely dangerous and at the end of it might not even work. Baby, do you have anything else?" Dad asked. After the shaken head from Heather he looked to Hermione. "You're up princess."
"Well, we already know this incantation but the book explained the emotion you must drown yourself in while casting the spell. It will work but the spell is illegal to cast and can be found from your wand up to three years after you cast it. The emotion of hate can affect even a well occluded mind. So like Heather's spell, Occlumency is needed. The more advanced you are in the skill the better." Hermione stated. "A better idea, than Fiendfyre or the killing curse is to find out how much basilisk venom costs."
"You will not find it on the regular market and most likely will get ripped off with something that looks like, but isn't what you want unless you have good contacts in the shady places it might be able to get it. Even if you just bought enough to prime a goblin made weapon, so it would dispose of the four horcrux verses trying to buy enough to destroy the four horcrux individually, you are unlikely to get it at any price." Luna said.
"Luna what do you mean by prime a goblin made weapon?" Hermione asked.
"Well there are several key things about goblin weapons. Most know that goblins consider the sale to a person to be for them to use it for their life and expect wizards to return them when the person that bought it dies. Unfortunately most wizards consider it something they can give to an heir. It is one of the sticking points of contention between wizards, and goblins and has caused the goblins to increase the charge for buying an item made by them. Which makes wizards believe it is even more justified to be able to give it to someone else if they so desire.
"The other main difference of goblin made weapons is they can only get stronger. They will imbibe anything that makes them stronger So if you poured basilisk venom on the side of the weapon then when it cuts, bludgeons, garrotes or whatever the victim, it will also like a basilisk, secrete the venom into the wound it made. Another key thing…"
"Gryffindor's sword! Heather we can use the sword to destroy the horcrux. It is a goblin made weapon that you shoved through the open mouth of the basilisk into its brain." Hermione excitedly exclaimed and grabbed both lovers in to a tight hug.
