Four chapters after this one, including the epilogue. Little bit of drama and not so much in this chapter but definitely the next there will be a Trigger Warning.
It was Monday morning before the school saw hide or hair of the two witches and even then they had been late for Breakfast. After much ribbing from the rest of the faculty Poppy finally noticed the rings on each witches fingers. She tried to keep it in but anyone who had witnessed it would have thought the woman was about to explode. The medi-witch fair howled her congratulations and suddenly the engagement was everyone's business. Students shouted their congratulations and teaches squeezed the happiness into the laughing women.
They were just all settling back down when the mail arrived, Hermione watched the owls swooping in and out of the castle and for the first time in almost 9 years she smiled brightly and really felt the wonder of it. Finding out she was a witch had been both a shock and a pleasant surprise for her. On one had she already felt like enough of a freak but on the other there were the prospects of learning a whole knew range of things and maybe even finally fitting it. Of course she didn't fit in, not really, not straight away.
The last few owls were just fluttering out when two more made their way in, they were tussling a little with one another and the brown one looked a little worse for wear and rather familiar. Hermione was too busy watching the two squabbling birds to realise they were on a collision course with her. Before anyone could warn her the birds hit the table and bounced off it heavily. They were both rather large so when they bounced off the table and into Hermione the force knocked them all to the ground.
Still the owls didn't relent, the usually exhausted-by-now Errol was still rolling and pecking at the large black owl. They were still on top of the young witch who quickly found herself clawed and bitten through her clothes. Minerva had initially thought it was amusing but as the owls refused to stop the Headmistress became irritated, the ruddy owls were hurting her witch. With a huff and a flick of her wand she sent a small shield between the two birds forcing them apart and allowing Hermione to gingerly get to her feet.
"Bloody owls." Hermione growled out practically snatching the letters that were tied around their legs. The owls hooted indignantly but swiftly took off when they received a glare from Hermione.
"Are you alright love?" Minerva inquired gently and the younger woman's nods.
"Few bites but I will be ok." Hermione stood her seat back up and sat down in it. She looked down at the letters and frowned a little.
"What's wrong?" Fleur asked seeing the frown.
"One of these is from Narcissa Malfoy." Hermione says simply handing it to the French witch who frowned and opened it.
While Fleur read through the letter from Narcissa the brunette checked the letter that was apparently from Ron if the chicken scratch was anything to go by. Hermione frowned and picked up her toast chewing and skimming though the letter. Fleur's frown was getting a little deeper the longer she read the Malfoy matriarchs letter.
Hermione.
Thought I should apologise for the other night. I was bang out of order, its no excuse but George was giving me advice and apparently it was bad. Anyway i'll be waiting for your apology letter, you could have just told me you didn't want to date me because you have a... well you know. Would have been fine. I mean a bit weird but you're our best friend you know. Or I mean you were. You shacked up with McGonagall and stopped writing Harry and Me. Anyway, suppose i'll wait for that letter.
Ron.
Hermione was fuming by the time she had finished the letter so she calmly sat it on the table beside her plate closed her eyes and took a deep breath. Minerva watched her witch trying to calm herself and frowned before picking up the letter, she read through it and laughed to herself gaining her loves attention.
"I've never wanted to immolate a past or present student before... bit funny that of all the Weasley's its not one of the twins." Minerva explained amused and Hermione couldn't help finding it funny also.
"I'm not even going to dignify it with a response but it hurts you know. Harry, Ron and I were best friends for a long time but he can just throw it away because I wont date him? Well i'm glad im not driven by my dick." Hermione huffs out after a moment.
"He will grow out of it... maybe. He isn't the smartest lad." Minerva reasons gently patting her witches leg under the table.
"I would not 'old my breath. Look. Narcissa Malfoy is asking for 'ermione's 'elp. This letter is a plea letter." Fleur explains moving to lean down between the two women to show the letter.
Intellectually Inclined.
Chronos was defeated but the swan and the satyr remain. I could use a savior of my own, though undeserving I may be.
NB
The letter was simple enough and made all three of the women frown at the letter. Hermione took the letter and looked it over again and again. Something wasn't right here, she was missing something and she was not sure what. Though she felt little sympathy for Narcissa she wasn't foolish enough to ignore the fact that if Narcissa was asking her for help then something was definitely not right with the older woman.
"Min, you said that I had been written by Narcissa before the school year? Do you still have that letter?" Hermione inquires seriously and Minerva nods. Without another word the three women leave the hall and head for the Headmistress' office.
Minerva was equally as concerned, she had taught Narcissa and though she had been an arrogant little prat she had been a rather attentive student. The fact that anyone as proud as Narcissa would ask for help, especially given her previous stance on blood purity was more than a little concerning. When they made it into the office the Scot rummaged through her desk and found the letters at the bottom of the top draw. Pulling it out she opened it as Fleur and Hermione flanked her and read over her shoulder.
Brilliant Mind,
Chronos no more but the thunder strikes hard. Kings daughter save me.
NB
"I have to go to the Manor." Hermione states seriously and Minerva nods.
"I'll send a patronus to Kingsley and cover your classes." Fleur offers and the Professor nods.
"Thank you, Fleur." Minerva stated as the group moved out of the office and into the hall.
"One thing though. How do we know she actually needs help? Her words are riddles." Minerva points out and Fleur nods.
"Yes but she is using mythology for her references. Chronos I would assume is Riddle. The Thunder, the swan and the satyr? I hope I am wrong but I would suspect dear Lucius has become quite a monster himself." Hermione says as they move towards the entrance to the castle.
"The kings daughter?" Fleur inquired.
"I would assume since the letters are for me she is referencing the daughter of King Menelaus and Helen of Troy, the daughter before the Trojan War. Hermione." The brunette explained. Fleur nodded and turned into the Hall to inform Filius while the two animagus shifted and Hermione plucked up the little cat and sprinted for the gates.
When they got to the Manor they had to apparate outside of the wards and neither witch knew how to get through them. They had been standing and deliberating on how for a few long minutes, too many minutes, when Hermione had a thought. How had Sirius been able to get in the school grounds in third year? And then Rita in 4th and all subsequent years apparently. Deciding it was worth a shot she quickly transformed and hesitantly pushed at the wards.
The caracal could feel the wards easily enough, it felt like she was pushing against a massive jello mound but it didn't push back so much like when they tried as humans. Following suit Minerva changed at the urging of the barking feline and the two managed to push through the wards easily enough. On the other side Hermione went to change back until a cat meowed at her and stopped getting the point. It would be easier to figure out what was going on if they could remain undetected as long as possible.
They made their way to the Manor and Minerva stealthily leapt onto the lowest window, Hermione remained underneath and watched over her tabby cat. Minerva couldn't see anything on the lower level, at least not in the sitting room she was looking into. Casually she jumped down and headed for the front door where they stopped and listened for anything on the other side. Not hearing anything Hermione change back and drew her wand unlocking and pushing the door open for Minerva to slip in.
Wordlessly the two witches managed to work as a perfect team, Hermione waited by the door while Minerva investigated the foyer and the rooms immediately joined too it. When Minerva came back Hermione nodded and followed the small cat in. They headed past the stairs, Hermione wasn't sure but she thought the kitchens were at the back of the house. Her thoughts were confirmed when they moved into the empty kitchen. Minerva made a soft mewing and they turned and left.
At the foot of the steps Hermione stopped and waited just out of the way while the cat dashed upstairs. It was taking longer than Hermione liked but eventually the little cat returned and became Minerva again. The older woman ushered them both back a little bit from the stairs just to be on the side of cautious.
"They are upstairs, I think they must be in a bedroom. I cant hear Narcissa but it reeks of blood and piss and Lucius is just going on and on. I don't feel good about what we are about to find. Are you ready?" Minerva spoke softly and Hermione's stomach dropped.
"I'm ready." Hermione stated her wand at the ready.
The two witches moved quickly then, straight up the stairs and silently to the indicated door. Hermione almost gagged at the stench coming from the room beyond, not so bad to the human nose but since she found her inner animal everything was sharper. Hermione wasn't fool enough to think that she was the better dueller despite the conversations the two had had in the past so she gently took the door handle ready to open it and let Minerva enter first. The Headmistress held her breath and after a moment released it as she nodded and Hermione pushed the door open.