Daughters of the Morrigu
Chapter 5
By: Amanda (adami) Rose
Yes, yes I know. I'm a very very bad fanfic author. Again I let my silly real life get in the way of my fanfic writing. I'm sorry. I will try to do better. Please don't beat me with that wet noodle you have there (MQ this goes especially for you)
Also, I like reviews. Reviews make me want to actually update. I've had over 900 hits, and not nearly enough reviews. Not even 1/100 of that. It's sad really. You must feed the poor starving Fanfic author, and her favourite food is Review Salad. (OK, now I'm just getting silly.)
Without further ado…On with the shoe…I mean show.
"It says here" Minerva said, translating the book in front of her "That the 'daughters of the Morrigu' are three powerful women of varied decent, united by a man of the Druid's Path. They are chosen by the Goddess Morrigan herself. The Daughters of the Morigu are chosen at a time of peril, when a great evil threatens the balance of nature."
I"I wonder if there is a chance that these 'Daughters' are around now. Afterall, I think that You-Know-Who qualifies as a 'Great Evil'" Hermione asked absent mindedly.
"I don't know Hermione, it says here that the last known Daughters were summoned about 1000 years ago."
Does it say who?" Hermione asked, scooting her chair a little closer to Minerva and the book.
"Yes it does, and this is likely to interest you. This isn't in Hogwarts: A History"
"What do you mean Miner… Um, I mean Professor. I'm sorry, it just sort of uh…"
Don't worry Hermione, you've been around a lot of people who call me by my given name as of late. In fact, while we're here, or when we're studying the book why don't you call me Minerva as well, seeing as I have taken to calling you by your given name." Minerva said, smiling.
Why thank you Minerva" Hermione said, smiling back at the older woman. "Um, Minerva, not to pester, but you said that the book did mention the names of the last Daughters, and that it had something to do with Hogwarts."
"Ah yes, it dwould appear…" Minerva said, pointing to the paragraph she was referring to. "That the last documented Daughters of the Mroigu were Rowena Ravenclaw, Helga Hufflepuff, and Guinevere Griffindor, wife of Godric Griffindor." Minerva said, running her fingers over the words as she translated them for Hermione.
"Wow, the founders. That's amazing. So does it say who the man involved was? I mean I assume that they'd mention the Unifier's name as well." Hermione said, craning her neck to see more of the book. In doing this she got a better look at Minerva and noticed that she didn't appear nearly as old or stern when she was outside the classroom.
"Yes, as a matter of fact the book does mention his name" Minerva sad, slightly teasingly.
When Minerva gave no indication of giving the name of the Unifier Hermione pouted and said in mock anger "Don't tease me Minerva, it's not nice you know."
Minerva's only reaction was to laugh at the pouting girl next to her. Very well. Surprisingly the Unifier was none other than Salazar Slytherin himself" she said, causing Hermione to gasp
"Slytherin? Wow, I wonder if that has anything to do with why he and Griffindor didn't get along. I once read that Godric Griffindor and Salazar Slytherin had once been friends, until some unknown incident drove them apart." Hermione explained excitedly.
"I don't know, it very likely could be, considering what 'Unifier' probably meant"
Hermione was confused "What do you mean?"
"This is old magic Hermione, Very old, and quite often old magic required one of two things. A blood sacrifice or a sexual sacrifice. Sometimes both. And seeing as we know for a fact that all parties involved lived to be over 150 years old, it's likely that it was a sexual sacrifice." Minerva explained.
"Oh." Was all Hermione could manage as she turned pink with embarrassment when Minerva mentioned sex. Well, do you think that the daughters could have been summoned now? I honestly don't think this is a coincidence you know. I mean the fact that we are at war and then there's my dreams." Hermione said, trying to steer the subject as far away from sex as she could.
"Hermione, what dreams? You haven't said anything about dreams." Minerva asked, obviously concerned.
"Oh, well, I …"Hermione stuttered. "You see professor, just before I found the book, I was having dreams about some woman telling me to find it and read it. It was really rather strange." She explained, not meeting her professor's eye.
"I see. Perhaps this does warrant further investigation. However, it's now rather close to lunch and I think we could do with a break. I tell you what. Why don't you go down and see what Molly is making for lunch and I'll continue to read on this for a few. Alright" Minerva asked, writing some notes on a piece of parchment.
"But Minerva, if this is what we think it is, well at least what I think it is then shouldn't we…" Hermione started, but minerva just held up a hand to stop her.
"Then a half hour will not make that large of a difference. And besides, I will still be here working on it. I promise. Now shoo" Minerva gestured toward the door, and the look on her face made it clear that she wanted no argument.
"Alright Professor, but you will let me know if you find anything won't you?" Hermione asked, getting up from her seat and heading towards the door.
"Of course I will. Now go. Tell Molly I'll be down in a few please." Hermione only nodded as Minerva picked up the book and started reading again.
Down in the kitchen of No. 12 Molly weasley had just finished preparing a lunch of sandwiches and soup. Hermione walked in and sat at the small dining table just as Molly was bringing a platter full of sandwiches over.
"Would you like some help Mrs. Weasley?" Hermione asked politely, knowing that she'd be refused.
"Oh no thank you dear" Mrs. Weasley said, putting the tray down and taking her wand out and flicking it at the pot of soup, which raised into the air and floated over to the table and poured itself into a large serving dish. "So Hermione dear, how is your research coming along with Minerva?"
Hermione's eyes lit up as she responded "it's going great! Did you know that Minerva is completely fluent in Scottish Gaelic and Irish gaelic?"
"Sadly, yes I did. When she gets into a temper…" Molly cut herself short, as if realizing exactly who she was talking to "and since when do you call her Minerva?
"Since about…" Hermione checked her watch. ""45 minutes ago, when she said I could." Hermione explained, ladeling herself a bowl of chicken noodle soup and taking one of the sandwiches off the plate. "oh, and Minerva told me to tell you that she'd be down for lunch in a bit. She just wanted to finish the bit she was reading."
Molly sighed. "That's a likely story, and not as Fred and George say One that's likely to be true. If I know one thing about Minerva McGonagall it's that she's a workaholic. She will not be down here any time soon." She said, picking up a plate and stacking a few sandwiches on it. "If you would be so kind as to taker her this and a bowl of soup when you finish it would be most appreciated." Molly said, dishing up a large bowl of soup and setting it on a tray with the sandwiches.
"Of course Mrs. Weasley. I suspected as much would be the case" Hermione said finishing her soup and sandwich off in record time.
"My dear, you've been hanging around the boys too much. I don't think I"ve ever seen you eat that quickly before" chuckled Mrs. Weasley.
Hermione blushed as she took the lunch tray from Mrs. Weasley "it's just that I…" but before she could finish the back door burst open and four teenage boys and one girl came through.
"Oy Mum, is lunch ready? I'm starving" Ron said, tracking mud into the house.
"You're always starving Ronald." His sister pointed out matter-of-factly, wiping her feet on the provided rug.
Hermione couldn't suppress her giggle at this, it was after all one of the truer statements about her friend.
"Hi Hermione. Long time no see" Said fred.
Yes really. How are you enjoing your holiday with Professor McGonagall?" Ginny asked, sitting down at the table and taking some lunch for herself before the boys could eat it all.
"rather well actually. Our research is going quite well. And it's not nearly as akward as I thought it would be, Sharing a room with Min, Um, Professor McGonagall."
"You're rooming with McGonagall? Wow, does she snore? Asked george.
"Does she drool in her sleep?" added Fred.
Harry, who had been quiet up to this point sniggered and asked "Hey Hermione, she wouldn't talk in hers leep and give test answers out by chance?"
"the boys all laughed, but Mrs. Weasley just frowned. "Stop that all of you. The work Hermione is doing with professor McGonagall is important." She admonished, though she didn't know much more than anyone else did about the nature of the research.
"and besides" Hermione added "I just moved into the room with her today. I haven't yet discovered whether or not she does any of those things. And I wouldn't tell you if she did! If you will all excuse me, I'm sure that Minerva could use some lunch and this tray is getting rather heavy" Hermione gestured to the lunch tray in her hands. "Good Day" she said heading out of the kitchen.
Hermione pushed open the door to the bedroom and study she shared with Mcgonagall and found Minerva furiously writing on a piece of parchment. She looked up from her writing to see Hermione setting the tray of food on a nearby table.
"I brought you lunch. Mrs. Weasley insisted that you should, at the very least eat something. Since it's not likely that you'd be coming out of here any time soon." Hermione explained.
"How considerate of her. However I think lunch can wait for a few. I found something truly amazing." Minerva said, pulling a piece of parchment off the bottom of the stack in front of her.
"you were asking earlier if there was a way to find out if the daughters had been summoned right? Well, I do believe I discovered a spell that will help enable us to discover the identities of the Daughter's if they have indeed been summoned."
"Oh! That's wonderful news! When can we do it?" Hermione asked excitedly.
"That's part of the problem my dear. First of all it's liess of a spell and more of a ritual, and second it has to be performed by two druids between the ages of 17 and 40" Minerva explained rubbing her left temple.
"I don't understand why that is such a big problem." Hermione said looking rather confused.
"Hermione, I know of only two Druids. Period. And only one of them fits the deeded description. The Old Ways have almost completely died out. Most Witches and Wizards believe more in Merlin than the deities of old." Minerva explained, as a sad look crossed her face and a haunted look in her eyes.
"there has to be something we can do." Hermione replied. "Couldn't you find someone who is interested in learning these old ways havd ask the druids you know to train them?" she asked desperately.
"Yes, I could train someone, however for even the most dedicated of students it would take at least a year, possibly two. And there's the problem of my being a professor at Hogwarts. That alone would make training a new initiate rather difficult. Not just anybody can have access to the grounds after all." Minerva explained.
"You You're a Druid?" Hermione asked, astonished that her Transfigurations professor could bossibly be a druid.
"Yes Hermione. I do not however publicize my religious choices. What with them not being the popular choice these days."
"I suppose not." Was all Hermione said, though she looked as though she werew deep in thought.
This did not go unnoticed by Minerva. "Hermione, what are you thinking about?" she asked.
"I don't know yet. I need time to figure some things out. I need to think on this a while." Hermione responded. Taking a quill out of her cup and chewing on the end.
"Alright. I won't press. I'm going to do some more reading on this, tell me when you're ready." Minerva replied, knowingly as she picked up the book and a quill and began to take notes again.
Hermione spend most of the rest of the day on her bed taking notes and making lists of pros and cons of her latest idea. The only reason she took a break was to grab a quick bite of dinner so that Mrs. Weasley wouldn't get too angry with her.
By 3:00am Hermione had compiled her lists, done her arithmantic equations and had finally made her decision.
She blew her candles out, but not before peeking out of her bed curtains to check on Minerva, who had been patient with her for the day and not bothered her. She found that she was fast asleep with her tartan blanket pulled up tight under her chin. And she was indeed snoring softly.
A/N: Yes, I know I'm evil for not updating in so long, now review and tell me so. Please. (if you don't, I'll cry and that'd be bad….wouldn't you hate to see a grown fanfic author cry?)