A/N - Short chapter. I will work to get another one up before the end of the weekend.
Don't own them. Like to make up stories about them. :)
I really love the idea of the family tree. I'm sorta a history buff and to have history laid out like that just seems magical. Yeah yeah, corny. I bought an dna kit. If only the whole family just showed up on a wall. Maybe not one I saw everyday...I'm pretty sure some of my more recent family weren't that awesome to hang around, but it would still be educational to see the history so clearly laid out.
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Hermione had spent the previous evening sharing dances with her father and Draco. She still wasn't sure what to call Draco. Boyfriend seemed much too weak; beloved sounded too corny; lover would send her father into an apoplectic event. Hermione was getting much more comfortable wearing the jewelry; which was a good thing as her parents had informed her there was a large vault at Gringotts with the Phoenix family jewels. Stephanie's family had ended with her since Rich was a squib. The inheritance from that side was almost equally impressive.
Draco had taken a full day and they explored his family tree with Hermione. The thing Hermione found the most intriguing was the "beginning" of the tree. Slightly beyond Cygnus was the outline of another tree. Cygnus was a branch on that tree. The mystery tree gently faded off the wall. Draco had never noticed the outline until Hermione pointed it out. Now that she had pointed it out he could see it, the faded branch from Cygnus seemed to point out the window. It was quite fascinating. Hermione immediately noticed the difference in Cygnus's appearance to the rest of the Malfoy family. Ailith's heritage became the predominant trait in the family. Hermione immediately agreed with Draco's belief of Ailith's origin. She was definitely nordic. When Hermione voiced her agreement to Draco, Ailith turned and appeared to assess the young witch. After deciding something, Ailith nodded once and turned to Cygnus smiling broadly. Both portraits gazed back at Draco and Hermione before becoming still more. That little event had a strong impact on Draco. Never in all his years had portraits older than a few generations every reacted to anyone.
While at the Manor, Hermione had been trying to split her time between her family, the ball, the map and preparing for her mastery. Draco sensed she would need forced breaks before she cracked under the pressure. Harry had explained about third year and warned Draco on the signs. Draco became even more aware of Hermione after hearing that story. The day with the tree was one of those forced breaks. Additionally, she decided to spend an hour everyday with her parents. They spent the time telling her stories of their childhood, of their families, of their family history and how incredibly proud of her they are and always had been.
Draco gave her three hours after dinner every night to refocus and they would study for their upcoming classes. With Severus' return, Draco knew who his potions master would be. Severus gave Draco direction into areas to study in order to best utilize his time. Severus, while not a master at transfiguration, was aware of the mastery program and had discussed areas with Minerva (through his portrait as the fact he was alive was still only known by those in the Manor) on focus areas for Hermione. With expert insight, Hermione felt her time was not wasted and three hours a day would be sufficient. She would be ready on day one.
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For the remaining hours of each day, Hermione continued her research into the map's mysterious response. She still didn't know what she was looking for and the Ministry had not changed their position on Lucius or Hogwarts. Her frustration was reaching a new level and Harry was worried. This wasn't the first time he had seen her so intent and it never ended well if she was lost.
"'Mione let's think what it could be. Maybe the most crazy this possible?" Hermione stopped beating her head into the library table at Harry's comment.
"Well ok, we have seen some pretty crazy things over the years...what would everyone think is the craziest thing and we will start there."
"Nurseries protecting individuals it thinks are pure at heart."
"Books holding the writings of megalomaniacs."
"Mountain Trolls in the loo"
"Megalomaniacs being killed after falling for a second year curse."
"Bathrooms hiding ancient demons"
"The pholosophers' stone"
"Curses in diaries"
"Horcruxes."
Hermione's head shot up and looked at Harry. "Say. That. Again."
"Horcruxes?" Hermione ran to the back of the library, skidded to a halt and started to search for the book she had read early in the day.
"Yes." She slid down the case and sat on the floor flipping through the book to find the page she had read earlier. "Here" Hermione loudly stated. "Bella created her own horcrux but didn't complete the spell. Right here is says if the process is ended at this point, the person is in a limbo. The flickering is her spirit...I refuse to say her soul that bitch lost it years ago."
Percy had followed Hermione down the aisle and now stood before her. He looked deeply into the eyes of his daughter.
"I think I can guess what she used if you can get me in that house." Hermione nodded, grabbed her father's arm and disappeared with a loud crack.
Harry reacted and grabbed Draco. "Don't! You can't to get in. Only 'Mione and I can get in. After Ron's decision we removed him from the wards. We are the only two with the ability to directly apparate into the house." Draco only nodded and began to pace while waiting.
"Potter if they are not back in one hour you are taking me there. No questions." Harry nodded and looked at the clock.
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Hermione and Percy landed in the front room. Percy had only been in the home a few times but was surprised at how little had changed. Lucius had invited them to the home when his engagement had been announced. For some reason Narcissa's parents had decided to use Grimmauld as the location of the celebration instead of their own home. Something about the ancestral home but the home where Narcissa was raise was much nicer.
"Harry hasn't had a chance to remodel yet. When Sirius, as the last scion of the House of Black, was killed his will gave his portion of the Black fortune to Harry thinking he was the only member Black family not evil. I believe Harry intends on living here after school is done. Father, what do you think she used?"
"I have a feeling it is the one item you don't want to see again. When she was killed by Molly it would have come back here instantly." Hermione shuddered realizing that it was the dagger. At that same moment Stephanie realized the same thing.
"Harry, I need to get to the house before Percy and Hermione destroy it." She pleaded with Harry and her eyes were filled with fear he nodded grabbed her and they were gone.
"Damn if only I had done that." Draco slumped to the couch and pouted.
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As Harry and Stephanie landed Percy and Hermione were upstairs searching. Harry was alerted to their location by the screeching of Mrs. Black. "What in the name of Merlin is making that noise?"
"Mrs. Black, she hates Hermione and doesn't want her in the house. I have yet to figure out how to remove the picture. But that means they are upstairs, come on." Harry and Stephanie started to yell for Percy and Hermione.
"Percy you can't destroy it yet. We need it in order to remove the scars. It's the dagger Honoria created when she was left at the altar." Stephanie was panting by the time they made it to the room.
"What? No, it is the Black dagger that is why it came here when Bella was killed."
"Percy, they named it but it was the dagger created by Honoria and after her death the Black family obtained it. I don't know how it was removed from the vault but Cissy said it had been in their family for generations." Hermione watched her parents with confused eyes.
"So it's really not a Black heirloom? How did it come back here?"
"Magic can be transferred to objects. It had been in Black family for generations and the dagger was charmed to return here whenever the owner was killed. It came here and we just have to find it and keep it safe for a short while."
"Why can't we destroy it and Bella?"
"Your scars dear, if the blade no longer exists I cannot remove the scars." Stephanie gently rubbed her daughter's arm. "However, we can't leave it here. If we know about it so does someone else and we don't want that psychopath coming back. I knew I never like that woman." Stephanie turned and began to search. Finally feeling frustrated Stephanie went to the family tapestry and started to look at the names. She finally found one that she knew would be sympathetic.
"Hello Sirius...where is the dagger?" Everyone was shocked to see Sirius's face on the tree; he had been blasted off.
"Stephanie, welcome back. Yes, it is here. The last I heard it would remain "safe" and guarded until she could be moved." Sirius smiled in a way that oddly reminded Hermione of Dumbledore. Quickly Hermione realized it was a puzzle.
Hermione started to mumble "could be moved" over and over as she paced the room.
Harry looked at Percy and Stephanie "Draco is going to be out of his mind soon I need to go get him." They both nodded as Harry popped out of the house. A moment later he was standing in the parlor of Malfoy Manor with a pissed off Lord Malfoy standing in front of him.
"Potter, where in Hades is she?"
"Come on I'll take you."
"Bloody well better."
He grabbed Harry's arm and a moment later the duo were standing in the study of Gimmauld Place. Draco was holding Hermione before Harry could tell him what was going on.
"Draco I'm fine just thinking." Mrs. Black started to scream again and Harry began to ask Sirius how he can get her portrait off the wall. Sirius just smiled at Harry as Hermione spun on her heel and ran out of the room.
"Get out of my house you filthy mudblood."
"For Merlin's sake shut up you old hag, I'm from older blood that you or your precious family. Do you recognize them?" Hermione pointed to her parents and Mrs. Black paled greatly. "They are my parents. Take that." Hermione's wand was out and she was chanting a very old spell. The picture started to move.
"Draco grab the picture and pull, only a Black family member can remove the picture." With the littlest of pressure the picture popped off the wall and fell, face first, onto the floor. Behind the picture was a hole. Harry started to reach toward the opening before Draco grabbed his wrist.
"Wait, this is Bella and we all know how she loved to curse anything and everything." Draco pulled Harry and Hermione back a few steps before pointing his wand at the niche. "One of her standard curses and she was as creative as Lucius when it came to creating them. Always the same." Draco finished removing the seven curses and did a few final checks before calling for the dagger. It lifted out of the hole and floated in the air.
"That is what she used on me." Hermione shuddered slightly and leaned into Draco's embrace.
"That is Honoria's dagger. She made when her heart was broken. It an heirloom I don't mind excluding from the family history." Percy glared at the item and wished his distant aunt a longer stay in whatever level of hell she was assigned.
"So where do we put it? I don't want it in my house or in the Manor." Everyone agreed and started to ponder.
It was then that they heard the muffled screams of Mrs. Black. Snickering Hermione gave the portrait a little kick before acknowledging everyone else.
"I think we should leave her down there so if Ron or Lucius figure out how to get past the wards they will know we already have this little plan figured out. I agree with Harry about not leaving it here but what if it was in the nursery? The amount of power in that room should keep it safe until we can destroy it?"
There was an uncomfortable agreement with everyone. Draco covered it in the same protection bubble that was used for the wand and returned to the Manor.
Stephanie quickly went for the vile and had Hermione remove her cloak and sweater to reveal the scars. Only then did Stephanie see the extent of the torture. Her stomach was turned, Cissy was sobbing, Draco was silently reliving that night and Percy was stewing. Stephanie asked if there were more and Hermione just nodded and removed her shirt. Stephanie's gasp was not unexpected but hit Draco in the stomach. His tears started to flow. He had never allowed himself to cry over this particular failure. Stephanie went to work and smeared the concoction on her daughter. Percy walked to Draco and took him by the shoulder.
"Draco, Stephanie will need you to assist in the final step. This dagger was created due to heartbreak and intended to create as much pain as possible. Only true love's tears can repair the damage."
Draco didn't understand but moved over and held the now goop covered Hermione. His tears started to trail down her arms as the scars seemed to be getting worse. All at once Hermione gasped as Stephanie grabbed a piece of skin and pulled. Suddenly her arm was clear of the scar. Stephanie ran her finger down Draco's cheek and smeared the tears across the scar on her neck and did the same thing on the other scars. Hermione was shaking at the realization that Draco truly, deeply loved her.
"You don't have to try and make me believe anymore. I know." She set her head on his chest and let out a shaky breath. Hermione was handed her shirt by a rather concerned Narcissa. Hermione looked around and noticed the look that Percy was giving Draco. Understanding that she had two overprotective fathers she giggled as she pulled it on. She and Draco were the only ones who understood that they would have to be more careful when they had "sleep overs".
After confirming all the scars were gone, Stephanie headed to the nursery. 'Now to destroy it and her!' Percy took the lead and walked into the room. With a spell, a shriek and puff of smoke the horcrux was destroyed. A second spell sent the spirit to Hades with another shriek of terror. To confirm she was gone a quick check of the map verified Bellatrix Black no longer existed in this realm.
The Ministry was still concerned about the whereabouts of Lucius and refused to open the school. Everyone remained at the Manor.
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A/N- Nothing like true love.