Severus was worried.

His wife was now laying comfortably on a chaise lounge, his daughter was in his arms, and the Caretaker - Clover - was sitting on the edge of a chair, watching Amey with rapt attention.

The woman who had announced the prophesy swept back into the room, holding a small vial.

"Sonorous, what is that?" queried Severus with a glare.

"Brother, relax: these are smelling salts: it is imperative that you both hear the remainder of what needs to be said."

She leaned over the slumbering Hermione, and she came to with a start.

"Severus! Amey!" she cried, panicked until Severus brought himself and their daughter over.

"Shh, love, we're here. We're fine." He turned to his sister.

"As much as I know that my wife needs to rest after that shock, I am aware that time is short. Let me explain all that has happened since I left them, then tell her all that you told me, and what remains."

He turned to Hermione, lifted the babe into her arms, and got up to pace.

"I told you what I know of my family history... what little there was that I knew: that Fey blood runs through the veins of our family line, but affects only those born female. As I said, no girl child had been born in my family for many, many generations... or so I thought."

Here, he glanced at the other woman in the room.

"It seems that I was greatly mistaken in that statement: Hermione, I would like to introduce you to my older sister, Sonorous."

Hermione gaped, but recovered quickly. "Sonorous, it's nice to meet you."

"A pleasure to meet you as well, though under less stressful circumstances would have been better." said the willowy woman with eyes so like Amey's.

"It seems that she was sent away, at birth, to be cared for by the people of this town. However, there is a... prophesy," he winced at the word, "that states that one of our family line will one day free those in bondage and sentence those who have usurped to darkness."

"Sounds like a plan - I'm all for helping the downtrodden... but they can't use our baby!" Hermione exploded, clutching the napping infant to her chest.

"I know it is a difficulty... especially considering your past. But this child - my niece - has been awaited for centuries. And when you hear what the conflict is... well, you may change your mind."

Sonorous approached Hermione and Severus, and sat down on a vacant chair.

Hermione's mind refused to accept the words her sister-in-law was saying, and her mind wandered to the room.

They were obviously underground still, but it felt more like a Hobbit-hole than a cave. The rock walls were covered in most places by attractive murals and tapestries, the furniture was large and comfortable, and the fireplace cast the room in flickering warmth.

"My family has had Fey blood for centuries," began Severus. "It seems the gifts they promised were too much for the young women of the time to refuse... Over the generations, our bloodline became infused with talents that are rare in the wizarding world, but became common to children born to our line."

"Such as a great deal of power or great talent at Occlumency?" surmised Hermione.

"But there was a cost," continued Sonorous, nodding. "In addition to the... physical costs. Those of the bloodline were bound to assist the Court of the Tuatha Dé Danann to enforce certain rules. When one of the factions, comprised mostly of small elves, revolted due to the slave-like conditions they were placed under, the wizards of the bloodline were 'asked' to assist in their punishment."

Here, Sonorous drew their attention to Clover, who had climbed up next to Hermione to watch the sleeping infant.

"You mean, they...?" Hermione began.

"Yes, the House Elves, as you call them in Europe, Caretakers as we call them here, were once the primary servants of the Fair Folk, usually Pookas. They were aware that they were being mistreated, and when they asked to be treated more fairly, they were cast out of Faerie and denied access to their shape-shifting abilities and other powers."

"But the women of the bloodline were furious at this affront, and what their male relatives had been forced to do. They secretly restored what powers of the banished Fey they could, enhance in some ways, and made a vow:

'Fain the pale and lovely to gaze upon do sink to the low depths of malice; comes a day where the heather shall aid those to rise that you have wronged: therefrom dancing and joy in the Halls of the Mountain King for those downtrodden.'

"Over the centuries, we of the bloodline, and our families, have given shelter to those who were cast out, and we who know of the vow have kept our eyes open for the day that The One would come."

Hermione and Severus shared a groan at the last: The One, The Chosen One... they had both had more than enough of that with Harry and He-Who-Was-Finally-Gone.

Hermione's brow furrowed, and she looked at the two siblings.

"How do you know our Amey is this 'One'?"

A small, sad smile graced Sonorous' features.

"The prophesy that goes along with the vow, of course. It was made five or so centuries ago, by a great and respected Seer who was not of the bloodline, so had no intimate knowledge of the vow that was made:

'She born of two opposed in the line - from the Snake and the Lion shall she come - with eyes of jewel and hair of night - power inherent and love reassured - shall bring the Shide to their knees.'

"So, what chased us out of our new home, and was able to follow us here so quickly?" Severus asked, knowing he would not like the answer.

"The Fair Folk have their dogs... and their warriors. I'm afraid the Abhartach know just how to find you."

"Oh, no," wept Hermione, and Severus held her close.