5th Century
"Myrddin Wyllt, you son of a goat herder, where in Samhain are you?" Nimueh called out to her tutor and lover. She lay on their bed her legs in the air as she heaved and shivered. Sweat beaded all over her body.
"I am here, my sweet flower," Myrddin replied entering the room with the village healer. The older woman pushed the Wizard out of the way and at once went to his wife.
"She is already birthing; it is bad luck for the man to see. You will need to leave the room," the healer told him. He nodded in relief leaving the hovel as three young girls entered, the healer's assistants. As he walked onto the street several horses rode up the path leading to the village. He recognised Arglwydd Le Noir, a recent traveller from across the Great Sea. The Great King Uther had bestowed upon him the title of Arglwydd. The pair had been friends for many years.
"Bruinor, do not run off like that," the Gaulish lord shouted at a five-year old boy who had slipped off his horse and ran off towards a bunch of other children.
"Do not worry, Arglwydd, he is safe here," Myrddin told the man. Just as a cry echoed across the small enclave.
"Ah, I see Derwydd Nimueh is beringe a child," Camulixus Le Noir said delicately.
"Yes, Arglwydd, what do I owe the pleasure of a visit?" Myrddin asked curiously.
"Uther Penduic has had a son, my lady Igraine had brang a boy called Arthur into this world."
"A celebration to be sure, we shall feast in the child's honour tonight," Myrddin commented.
"King Uther requires your presence, he wants to know what the future portents for our young prince," Camulixus told the druid. The Wizard looked to his hut where his wife was giving birth. But he knew if the king asked for his presence, then he must go.
"Can you give me an hour, Arglwydd?" Myrddin asked.
"Be at the castle no later than the dusk bell this evening," Camulixus told the wizard surprising him with the generosity. Myrddin nodded at the lord as he heard another cry, then the wail of the healthy lungs of a child.
"If you will excuse me, Arglwydd." The lord waved his handed and shouted for his child to return. Myrddin turned away and ran into the hut to find the healer holding a bloody child in her arms.
"Derwydd Nimueh has brought a girl into the world," the healer announced wrapping the child up and handing it to the druidess.
"She is beautiful, so fey like," Nimueh gushed. Myrddin had never hear his lover speak like that before.
"We shall name her Morgana Le Fey then," Myrddin told everyone in the room.
Fifteen hundred years later (summer Solstice)
Harry, Draco, and Neville had snuck out of the castle at midnight heading into the Dark Forest to find a clearing Harry had found weeks earlier. It was deep within the forest, so the trio kept their wands at the ready but were not worried too much. Harry led the way followed by the more reserved Neville, who had come a long way since his first trip into the Dark Forest in their first. Draco followed up by the rear. Harry and Neville were silent feeling the magic in the air until the silence was broken.
"Seriously, dirt does not go well on my beautiful skin," Draco whined causing the other boys to stop and suddenly start laughing, the tension bleeding out.
"You are such a stereotypical gay guy," Harry commented looking at his cousin.
"What do you mean?" Draco's grey eyes lit on the dark-haired boy, narrowing as he tried to work out if Harry was insulting him.
"In the muggle world, they see stereotypical gay guys as effeminate, thinking about their appearance, looking at themselves in the mirror, etc…" Harry laughed.
"I am not that bad," Draco replied haughtily. Neville tried not to catch Harry's eye, or he would burst out laughing.
"Why are we doing this now? Before the summer holidays, can we not come back during the summer?" Draco whined again.
"Because it has to be on the summer solstice," Harry explained patiently, "not in July, but June 22nd, the longest day of the year."
"Shut up, cat boy, and just accept we have to do it now," Neville told the boy whop huffed but went silent.
It took them a little over an hour to reach the site that Harry had found. It was right on the ley lines that moved through the country. A clearing opened to them, making Neville almost gasp at its beauty. An almost quarter moon hung over the clearing enough to light it up. However, as soon as Harry set foot on the sacred ground old torches lit up with flames throwing the clearing into harsh relief. Neville took note of several large rocks that had collapsed overtime. It appeared the clearing had been like Stonehenge at one point.
Harry led the way to a large horizontal stone that dipped slightly in the centre. It looked like a sacrificial table to Neville, the stone even had dark stains upon it. Draco assumed the position diagonally across from Harry on his right, while Neville moved diagonally across from Harry on his left. All three made the points of a triangle with Harry as the tip. Harry took off his canvas backpack and began pulling out items. First, he placed four candles at the four points of the compass, a colour representing each of the elements. Neville realised the bag must have an extension charm on it as Harry pulled out Excalibur or Godric Gryffindor's sword.
"How did you get that?" Neville gasped.
"I just asked Flitwick, told him I am using it in a ceremony," Harry shrugged as he placed down the sword. The great red jewel in the hilt of the sword glinted in the candlelight drawing their attention as Harry now placed the elder wand next to the sword. The seemingly innocuous piece of wood being one of the most powerful wands in history with a very bloody past. Finally harry removed his shimmering cloak from the back folding it up next to the other items.
"Ready?" Harry asked the other two before he started.
"As I will ever be," Neville responded.
"Yes," Draco replied tersely not liking the crackle of magic he could feel in the air. Harry took a ceremonial dagger he had taken from the vaults beneath Hárasteorra Hall and cut across his palm dripping blood into the well of the stone. The air seemed to come alive with energy. Harry began to speak.
"Lady Magic, we come to you on the night of the summer solstice where the sun renews us. I offer you a sacrifice of my blood, the Blood of the Peverell's and Le Noir's, which has existed since time began and protected Myrddin's greatest creation," Harry chanted looking upon the sparks of blue lightning that seemed fire along the items. "To reunite that which is broken to make whole again, to finish the circle that Myrddin began with the breaking of Draoidheachd."
"I, Draco Lucius Black, Son of Le Noir, do bear witness to the reuniting and beseech Lady Magic to strengthen Draoidheachd once again," Draco spoke out.
"I, Neville Frank Longbottom, Lord of House Longbottom, do call on Lady Magic to once again reunite these broken items," Neville intoned. The Power seemed to intensify and Neville notice Harry's bare eyes glowed bright green. It seemed Lady Magic had answered their call. A blinding light enveloped the three magical objects causing all three teens to shield their eyes for several moments as the trio felt what appeared to be electricity jolt through their body erupting from the wands centred on the three objects.
Harry thought he was going to be burnt alive with the amount of magic in the air when abruptly it all stopped. The light faded away and all three boys blinked spots out of their eyes to see an extraordinary sight. None of the objects remained. Now, stood in their place was a staff, measuring about six foot tall. The wood was a yellowy-white colour made of two entwined branches. About halfway up was a handle wrapped in deep blue cloth, looking similar to the cloak of invisibility. On the very top was the red ruby that had once lived in Excalibur. However, Harry noticed of the three objects, only the goblin-made sword remained. Except now the sword looked as though it had been completely reforged. Where once the ruby was, a sapphire now sat, and the handle was a dark leather. Runes were now etched into the sword, which could have been a completely different weapon from the original Excalibur.
A small voice in the back of Harry's head urged him to speak.
"Excalibur is no longer, Caliburn stands in its place and will become the weapon of a great leader," Harry intoned, then shook himself, the voice disappearing.
"You mean to say you will not bear, erm, Caliburn?" Neville asked.
"Apparently, no. Lady Magic has deemed for the sword to be used by another," Harry replied dryly. Then he let out a chuckle, "And so it seems I will not bear Draoidheachd either."
"You are not the next coming of Merlin then?" Draco asked sarcastically.
"I wish, but I am not that powerful," the dark-haired teen responded.
"Right, well this place is really creepy, so, can we go?" Draco asked. Harry rolled his eyes and picked up the sword and renewed staff, putting them carefully away in the canvas bag.
One month later…
"Everything I have been told is a lie," Draco slumped down into one of the seats having been told the first Malfoy was either a Muggle or first-generation wizard.
"You, however, are the heir to the House of Gaunt after the death of its last heir. You are the last in the bloodline," Kraakliak spoke gravely, like everything he said was life or death.
"Who was the last Gaunt heir?" Hermione asked, but Harry already knew the answer.
"Thomas Riddle Jnr, son of Thomas Riddle Snr and Merope Gaunt," Kraakliak answered then looked at Harry, "He died 31st October 1981."
"Lord Voldemort," Harry added getting a shudder from several present.
"But Voldemort is alive, how is he not the Gaunt heir?" Hermione looked confused.
"As I said he died," Kraakliak grumbled.
"When Voldemort was resurrected in the graveyard, he was no longer a Gaunt. His body, his very blood had been warped by the ritual," Remus explained.
"So, what does that mean for Draco?" Sirius asked, getting back to business.
"The Gaunts have been around since the time of Myrddin, they have a long and varied history," Maglugg told those present.
"Firstly, the boy will assume the heirship of Gaunt, when he is old enough the child shall take his seat at Wizengamot and become the First Earl of Middlesborough," Kraakliak explained. "Until then, as he is not old enough a guardian and Regent must be appointed."
"Well, Remus is the Regent for the House of Potter so you could choose Andromeda or your mother," Harry told him.
"I think Mother would be the better choice," Draco replied still stunned.
"Currently, the Gaunt fortune is very little as it has been whittled away by the main line," Kraakliak explained.
"I think maybe we need to have the Regent here, if we are going to have discussion on finances," Maglugg interjected. Remus immediately sent a Patronus message to Narcissa as Maglugg sent a message to the Tellers to have a Goblin escort Narcissa when she arrived.
Some ten minutes later Narcissa Black, formerly Malfoy, entered Maglugg's office looking dignified with blond highlights in her neatly kept black hair. A golden necklace glinted from the well-lit office.
"Can someone tell me why I was unceremoniously pulled away from looking after Miss Taylor?" Narcissa demanded, then kissed the father of her child, "hello, darling."
"It seems Draco is the last living heir to the House of Gaunt," Sirius drawled causing the loving mother to look stunned at first Sirius, then to the family tree on the wall.
"Lucius never mentioned this, I am sure he would have been shouting it aloud if he knew," Narcissa replied.
"The Malfoy-Gaunt line was a cadet line, so never the main line until the last heir of Gaunt died. It seems that we have not taken any blood from the Malfoy line in a very long time and the relation has been forgotten," Maglugg explained.
"Now Draco is in need of a Guardian and Regent to represent his interests until he comes of age," Remus added.
"I will, of course, accept," Narcissa did not hesitate knowing why they had called her in.
"Excellent, then we shall sign some paperwork and discuss the Gaunt Estate and the current state of its finances," Kraakliak replied dourly.
"I shall come with you," Remus suggested.
"Maglugg, can you make one thousand galleons available to the House of Gaunt, to allow them to invest it for possible returns," Sirius said before the three humans and Goblin left.
"Thank you, Sirius, I will see it returned," Draco told the man and the four left.
"Now that all the excitement is over with, we can get to our meeting," Maglugg told the remaining three humans sarcastically. Hermione, Harry and Sirius settled into the chairs opposite the Goblin manager.
"Go on."
"Lord Rendlesham requested that we search Lady Rendlesham's family tree and our archivist surprised even us," Maglugg explained, though his face looked anything but surprised. Hermione took a look at her husband who was smirking. "However, like Lord Gaunt, we shall require some blood to confirm it."
"Ok," Hermione nodded as Maglugg once again bought out the ornate bowl with runes, though it looked like it had never been used. The Goblin prepared the potions as Hermione was handed the ritual dagger. She looked at Sirius, who nodded in confirmation. The book-worm gingerly cut her palm hissing in pain as she bled into the shallow bowl. Maglugg took the bowl from her, and Sirius healed the cut up making the skin look brand new. The Goblin poured the potions into the bowl and mixed it all together. This time, however, the potion become a red colour and then shimmered with an orange light. Once again, the parchment sucked up the mixture as Maglugg poured the liquid on it. The same spell allowed the group to see the parchment projected onto the wall, then they looked on with bated breath.
Hermione, the most eager of them all, saw her name appear in cursive writing highlighted in orange before seeing her parents' names appearing. Both were a dull grey, most likely indicating non-magical blood. But several generations back a squib appeared under the name Harold Granger. Then the first big shock for the humans, as Hector Dagworth-Granger appeared. The bachelor had been an amazing Potioneer in the seventeenth century and established the Most Extraordinary Society of Potioneers, his brother was the father of Harold Granger. Hermione's mouth dropped in shock as Harry laughed at her face.
"I cannot believe I am related to Hector Dagworth-Granger," Hermione breathed slapping her husband's arm. But the line continued extending up further, several women seemed to be highlighted in orange just like Hermione's own name until with a huge gasp, the family tree came to Morgana Le Fay, the daughter of Myrddin Wyllt, better known as Merlin.
"There is no way I am related to Morgana Le Fay and Merlin," Hermione shook her head in disbelief.
"You just said that about Dagworth-Granger, but the proof is on the tree, so to speak," Harry answered with a grin.
"Did you know?" Hermione turned on him eyes blazing.
"I had an inkling, the Elder wand never fully responded when I used it. Its real owner, the bloodline of Morgana and Merlin was remarkably close, and the wand has always been loyal to the original bloodline," Harry explained.
"Why are these women in orange?" Hermione turned back to the display.
"Because they have the gifts of Le Fay," A gruff but undeniably feminine voice spoke from the door. Everyone turned to look at the entrance and Hermione was shocked. This was the first female Goblin she had seen. The female Goblin was narrow faced and had longer pointier ears than her male counterparts. Her forehead was bold with long grey hair to the rear of her head. The female looked as grumpy as all the rest of the Goblins they had met, but Hermione took in the books the Goblin was carrying and the different style robes to the rest of the bankers.
"Ah, Your Grace, Lord, and Lady Rendlesham, I would like to introduce you to Griszea. She is the Chief Archivist for the Goblin Nation," Maglugg introduced the female Goblin, "Archivist Griszea, this is the Duke of Anglia, his heir, the Marquess of Rendlesham and his Consort, the Marchioness of Rendlesham."
"The Marchioness of Rendlesham, you must be the heiress Apparent of Morgana Le Fay," Griszea studied Hermione intensely. The book-worm studied the female Goblin back. Sirius and Harry looked on in amusement. "The Lady Le Fay has always been a friend to the Goblin Nation, she helped us build our first caves underground back when London was called Llyn Dain, before the Romans invaded."
"The Pool of Thames," Hermione translated the Welsh for the clueless Harry and Sirius. Harry noticed his father stiffen up briefly, then turn to look into a dark corner of the room. The teen followed the gaze but could not see anything so shrugged and turned back to Griszea and Maglugg.
"Yes, as I was saying, all the females down the Le Fay line have had the gifts of Morgana; an affinity for nature, generally very smart and many were said to be Aerona."
"I have never heard of that," Hermione admitted hesitantly as not knowing something was a personal affront.
"Aerona are those that see and feel illness or injury in themselves and others," Griszea answered.
"I do not know about that," Hermione returned, her eyes flickering to Harry. Sirius looked between the pair then at the old archivist.
"How come you did not know about Hermione being the descendent of Hector Dagworth Granger and Morgana Le Fay?" Sirius asked.
"We have detailed diaries of Morgana Le fay and her descendants up until the beginning of the seventeenth century when the first Goblin rebellion occurred," Griszea glared at Maglugg like the rebellion was all his fault. The female Goblin indicated the wall, "As you can now see one of the family married into the Dagworth family, who then took on the name Dagworth-Granger and gave birth to the Great Hector Dagworth-Granger, may I take a copy of your tree for the archives?"
"Erm, yeah, sure," Hermione sounded nothing like the normally well-spoken young woman she usually was.
"We would like to do further research on your family tree as they are an important part of history," Griszea told them.
"This also opens up some avenues for you, Lady Rendlesham," Maglugg jumped in, "though Master Dagworth-Granger was not a lord, he did have a fortune and many of his patents have been putting money into his account, but it has stagnated since the direct family death. No one has been able to access it, but it seems Magic is allowing you access."
"It means that you are able to invest or move money, which Gringotts will be extremely happy to get the Dagworth-Granger gold back in circulation again," Sirius told them. He then took a pocket watch from his robes, "I did not think this meeting would take as long, I have another meeting to attend."
"Of course, of course," Maglugg looked at them eagerly.
"I will sit down with Hermione and her Guardian, and we will discuss how to go about using or moving the galleons," Sirius told the Goblin. "Please, do an audit on the Dagworth-Granger Estate and send it to my Steward, we will be in touch with recommendations and about who to appoint as manager."
"Of course, Your Grace, until next we meet," Maglugg bowed slightly astonishing Harry who had to be pushed out of the door. Hermione laced her hand in Harry's and the pair soon made their way back to Hárasteorra Hall followed by Sirius. The others' greeted them as they emerged from the Parlour. Harry and Hermione were quick to ask about Robyn, but Sirius barely had time to say goodbye to the pair before turning back to the Floo and called out Hogwarts. He appeared in the Headmasters' office where Filius Flitwick himself stood waiting.
"Ah, our last attendee," Filius greeting the Animagus with open arms.
"I apologise, Headmaster, I was attending another meeting that ran on longer than expected," the Black Lord expressed regret.
"Temporary Headmaster, until the end of last year," Flitwick reminded the man with a laugh, "the Department of Education and Governors may decide not to keep me on as Headmaster."
The pair walked down to the Governors room talking about possible changes to Hogwarts. When they entered, the man found the room already full. Madam Marchbanks was there as Head of the Department of Education and Family Services. Also in attendance were the other eleven governors including Longbottom and Greengrass. There were also some ministry officials and Minerva McGonagall was here as well sitting next to two spare chairs.
"Ah, Your Grace, now that you have arrived, we can get on with it," Marchbanks greeted the man. "We are here to discuss the next year of Hogwarts and what has to change including if Filius remains as Headmaster."
"We have been doing an independent survey of Hogwarts since January, discovering what lessons are included and what lessons have been left by the wayside," Harold Tofty, one of the Wizarding Authority Examiners explained. He was an older man, though not as old as Marchbanks or Dumbledore had been, with a bold head and pince-nez glasses. His voice was calming as Sirius listened to him. "Though what Madam Umbridge did was despicable her records, however biased, were very good on each teacher and subject."
"Surely you are not going on the vile woman's recommendations," Augusta looked at the old man with disdain.
"No, no, Regent Longbottom," Tofty chuckled, "we did our own very thorough review of each lesson and teacher."
"Let's first talk about Headmaster or mistress, then work our way down," Marchbanks suggested as Tofty's assistant handed out a folder of parchment to each member present. "Filius did an exemplary job filling in for Dumbledore at the end of year, however, we feel new blood should be introduced into the school."
"I disagree, I think Filius would continue to make the school stronger," Minerva McGonagall voiced her opinion. Marchbanks looked a little uncomfortable and Sirius wondered if someone was leaning on her to have Filius removed.
"With Voldemort's return, now more than ever we need a strong person at the helm of Hogwarts. While I think Filius," Sirius nodded to the man, "would be a great asset to Hogwarts and keep her steady, Voldemort will come after Hogwarts in strength."
"As much as I would love to remain the headmaster, I do believe someone else needs to take the reins. I miss the small chats with my Ravenclaws," the half-Goblin admitted.
"Though we wanted to discuss this with the Governors first, my team and I have approached someone to take over as Hogwarts," Marchbanks revealed.
"Who?" Augusta Longbottom looked surprised.
"Lord Greengrass, my team and I feel would make a great headmaster," the Education Authority replied. Augusta looked at the man beside her surprised, but with fire in her eyes.
"What qualification does he have to become headmaster?" she asked. Sirius sat back grinning at the grilling Cyrus was about to get. He was friendly with the man and liked it when his friend was on the receiving end of Augusta's famous temper.
"I have run my business successfully for well over two decades, while running a school is different to running a business they are very similar in many ways," Cyrus answered with a grin.
"He also has the NEWTS and OWLS to be able to teach, including a Mastery in Potions and Herbology," Marchbanks offered, smiling at the look of surprise on Augusta's face.
"Evelyn is going to take over the reigns of running the business with Daphne's assistance so I do not have any other commitments like Dumbledore had," Cyrus told the Governors at large. Minerva frowned, but even she agreed Dumbledore had stretched himself thin.
"So, are we on agreement about Lord Greengrass?" Marchbanks looked at the governors. Several minutes passed as some discussed it with neighbours then slowly the nods come in and Cyrus' appointment was agreed.
"Next, we need to look at subjects. Firstly, it has been proposed that we include a mandatory lessons for Muggle-borns and Pure-bloods," Tofty began. "In their first year, all students will learn about the Muggle world and the Magical world including, but not limited to Houses, the Wizengamot, Etiquette and similar subjects."
"Hold on a moment, why should we teach Mud-Muggle-borns and half-bloods about our world, they should seek it out themselves," an older man stirred from near Greengrass. Sirius looked at the ancient-looking Caractacus Burke and snorted. Burke had been a thorn in the side of the more progressive Governors for a long time. "If my grandson had been a first year, I would not like him learning about the Muggle world."
"Yes, well, these lessons should be mandatory for all. We are thinking first year they would be mandatory, then the following years would be electives from third year onwards," Tofty tried to get back on track. Despite Burke's outburst, the subject was voted into the curriculum, then spent several more hours going over different parts to the curriculum and what subjects to add or remove.
Divination would only be offered to fifth years and those that might show 'talent' for the subject. Basic healing and biology would become part of the basic core subjects with Madam Tonks getting an assistant in the Hospital Ward.
"Now, we turn to Potions. After Professor Snapes departure," Marchbanks grimaced, "Madam Black stepped in and has been a wonderful teacher. Unfortunately, she has taken on a leave of absence due to the birth of her second child."
"A wee bonnie lad, he is," McGonagall smiled at Sirius as the rest of Governors all lightened up at these words.
"So, we must fill in her, rather large, boots," Marchbanks proclaimed.
"Narcissa has given me some suggestions, Remus will be pursuing them but you will have a Potions master or mistress to agree upon before term time," Sirius told the group at large.
"Thank you, Sirius," Marchbanks smiled at the man, "Now, how is your project coming along?"
"I will just explain the project for all those that do not know," Sirius started, "Hogwarts has been a bastion of education in the United Kingdom for a long time, but while those who live in magical families have the advantage of learning from their parents or a tutor, the Muggle-borns and some Half-bloods do not have that luxury.
So, the Black Foundation and I have been researching and putting to together a sister school for Hogwarts. This will teach children ages five to eleven basic wand handling, arithmetic's, quill handling and so on."
"Will it purely be for non-purebloods?" Caractacus asked.
"No, those born into purely magical households will be invited along as well. There will be subjects for them to learn and also some sports including beginner Quidditch, maybe some Muggle games like football," Sirius replied.
"How are you going to find the Muggle-borns and half-bloods?" Magenta Wilkes, the Lady of the House of Wilkes, asked. Minerva looked at Griselda Marchbanks then Filius Flitwick.
"At this time, we do not want to reveal that information, suffice to say we can contact them before their fifth birthday," Griselda answered. "How is the progress on the school?"
"We will be open for the 1997-1998 academic year," Sirius replied, "we have found the land for the school, it is being built and then we shall start hiring teachers for the school."
"Thank you, Sirius, now let's continue on with our discussion on the core subjects," the Education Minister turned back to the Governors.