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Chapter 10

October 19 2003

The Isle of Poseidon was an entirely magical construction. Immensely complicated though it had been, the Ministry had called in every skilled wizard and witch they were able to find to transform a rock in the ocean into an island invisible to Muggles, a haven for the 800 witches and wizards it would eventually accommodate. It was a great accomplishment of international interest and as the project neared its' completion the greatest overachiever of them all, Hermione Granger, arrived to oversee the final adjustments. No Muggle technology would work here, and no Muggle would set foot here. Furthermore, as the place had only barely come into existence, Hermione was the first resident to actually move in, although she did so as part of a team from the Department of Mysteries. Once the final adjustments were made, however, she would be the only one to remain.

The move was done to test the safety of the project, and every Unspeakable spread out to their designated corner of the island. Hermione spent several days casting rather wild magic to see if it would take hold and generate any sort of disaster. She kept a journal of her mental state, and visited with a Healer who screened her for any number of magical disturbances.

After a two-week period it was determined that the island was safe, and that the project was successful. Magic similar to what had surrounded Hogwarts had been successfully replicated, keeping the magic on the island under control. After a rather fun party, which the Prophet photographed, everyone left.

Hermione then immediately set up a portal between the pre-determined entrance to the island and Diagon Alley and Hogsmeade station, a sort of Vanishing Cabinet adaption perfected by herself during her time in Australia. The Floo network was already in place in all of the islands homes, and apparition wards had been set up so that there would be no way to apparate here. The International Portkey Station would be moved from Ashford, where the main hub of the National branch would remain.

Portkey travel had become much more common since the war as the Ministry no longer tracked who was travelling (unless the travel was international) and had set up a network looking very much like a Muggle transit system (overseeing this project had been one Ronald Bilius Weasley and Hermione could not be prouder).

Hermione had called in a favour from the Minister and been afforded a separate portal that would only travel between her house on the island and the cottage she had purchased in the mainland countryside, a thoroughly muggle dwelling apart from her presence. She had become rather fond of emails and cellphones and record players during her time with her parents in Australia, and it was nice to have a place to keep them, where she could also retreat. In her island home she set up a two-way mirror to speak to her parents, and another for Harry and Ron. It made an odd sort of phone-room, though she had to admit she'd gotten really very fond of wizarding technology, as well.

She spent several days cataloguing and examining the spellwork, charms, curses, hexes, and not least the enchantments holding the island together. When she was finally satisfied she understood all of it, and had tested that it all worked, the final bit of blood magic was added so Hermione had control over the landmass itself. Now she was Hermione Granger, Ward Governor of Isle of Poseidon. Her office was already filled with meticulously organized records, permits, licenses, registries and a wall of spellbooks for troubleshooting. The library was, she lamented, woefully inadequate, but she would get to work on that soon enough.

November 8 2003

It took all of Hermione's strength not to throw up or pass out. She steadied herself on the doorpost, straining with everything she had to remain calm. I'm in control, she tried to assure herself amongst deep breaths.

Bellatrix Lestrange was standing in front of her in her usual black robes and black cloak. With her were two Aurors, both bearing grim expressions. Bellatrix was wearing a hopeful smile, but it faltered rather quickly.

'Right. Come in then.' Summoning all her strength Hermione beckoned everyone inside. With her back turned to the defeated witch she found her voice once more.
'We've got the kitchen through there, living room here, toilet in there, and upstairs are three bedrooms and a bathroom. This whole house is through a barrier wall, so it's Unplottable and nobody can get in or out without my saying so. The fireplace is connected to the Floo network, but you are blocked from it. There is a portal in the entrance hall, so mind that. You are blocked from using it without me there either way, of course. The downstairs is where we have the potions lab, work room, two studies and the library and my office is through another barrier here. You won't be confined unless it is strictly necessary, per the Healer recommendations. There's a little garden patch outside that's warded so you can get outside.'

'This is an entirely magical community, then?'

'Oh, yes that reminds me. While the island is magical, I also have engagements on the mainland where I have a cottage in a small muggle village. There will be the occasional muggle guest, and as you will come with me when I need to stay there you'll simply be confined to your room at those times. Is that a problem?' Hermione raised her eyebrows, hoping to convey that the only acceptable answer to that question was 'no', both for the Auror department and for Bellatrix.

Bellatrix looked worried, but said nothing. Eventually she shook her head slightly.

'Right. So, we'll be commencing every morning after breakfast, probably at about 9. We will start with the Pensieve, then we will move on with the theoretical work and finally the practical of the magic after your deposition. Once we've gathered all the information you possess you will hopefully be cleared to move into the cottage we have set up for you behind the barrier where you'll remain forever and we'll never speak again except when I check you're still alive and such.'

Bellatrix blushed and looked at her feet. She was so easy now, so vulnerable and broken. Hermione knew it shouldn't, but it feels brilliant to finally wound her. The world belonged to Hermione now, and Bellatrix was nothing but a problem to be passed on to anyone willing to simply deal with her.

After showing Bellatrix her room Hermione bid the Aurors a good day and prepared tea in the sitting room. They might as well get started, although the Soul Healer from St. Mungos had warned her to proceed somewhat gently with the Death Eater. 'She's still a bit fragile after all that's happened.' Healer Bowden had warned her sternly.

Bellatrix reappeared shortly in impeccable clean black robes and sat herself down on the armchair furthest from Hermione without any prompting.

'You've found everything alright, then?' Hermione inquired, striving for a civil discourse now it was just the two of them and when Bellatrix nodded she pressed on.

'Right. Our first order of business is to sort out your mess before we even have time to sort you out. Isle of Poseidon will be the site of a new wizarding primary school, so we need to track down all magical children to offer them a place. I am going to be actively involved in this process seeing as these things are still a bit... delicate. I believe you might be of assistance with this. Hogwarts is re-opening on the old school grounds again officially now, so the Headmistress will also be involved.'
'That hasn't been done yet?' Bellatrix seemed genuinely surprised. 'But you've completed school since.. well, since then, haven't you?'
'I sat the exams independently before I started my Australian education, but that is neither here nor there. They've redone the whole system. Everything has been.. in flux until now.
Now, this process will not require much from you, however any information you can provide would be... much appreciated. As I'm sure you're aware many of your, well, colleagues are deceased, so technical details are a bit light.'

Hermione surveyed the prisoner then, and Bellatrix looked frightened. Bloody hell, another thing to deal with Hermione grumbled in her own mind.

'Well, let's get upstairs and gather what we need,' she sighed, 'We've still got the other house to inspect and that's where we'll be staying for a bit. The wards on the island cannot be completed until we've figured out the situation with transporting children here every day and for that we need to know where they are and how many there are, so there's no use staying here where no one can reach us.'

November 9 2003

Hermione woke up early and got dressed for a jog around the neighbourhood. She had been finding that agility and endurance were good things to have physically as well as mentally even after the war was over. Besides, it got her out of the house and around her new neighbourhood in a perfectly inconspicuous way which was something she truly appreciated.
Muggles on their way to work in their cars was a spectacle that struck her as oddly foreign after so many years submerged in the wizarding world. It was something perfectly ordinary that she would simply never do because she wasn't ordinary.

When she reached the cottage again, she hesitated to open the door, remembering the almost feral expression Bellatrix had had when she had eyed the barrier standing between her and the muggles the previous night. But after pushing the door open, she discovered that Bellatrix must still be asleep, much to her relief. The noises coming from the Death Eaters' bedroom all bloody night had made it perfectly clear to Hermione that she was not the only one still haunted by nightmares of wars past and she was still a but unnerved by that discovery.
After quietly locking the door she made her way upstairs, where she showered, got dressed, and then changed her mind entirely.
Robes are very comfortable, and they have been a staple of her wardrobe for a long time. However, this was the day for Muggle attire if ever there was one. Soon she would be having breakfast with sodding Bellatrix Lestrange, after all. In her Muggle cottage, with her Muggle clothes on and Bellatrix doesn't even have a wand. Ah, sweet justice. It is almost as good as Rita Skeeter in a jar. Almost.

When she entered the kitchen Bellatrix was already there. She was standing in her black robes looking bewildered and rather flustered, although striking a carefully neutral pose when Hermione entered. The older woman surveyed her, carefully. Hermione was triumphant. She had never been happier to be wearing a pair of Harry's dingy old trousers and a rather worn t-shirt with a decidedly Muggle print on it: Leonardo DiCaprio was staring seductively out at anyone she faced (Harry had found it rather amusing in 1997 to gift this to her remarking how she had 'a thing for pretty blondes, right?'). This morning however, it wasn't the pretty blonde that interested her. She'd chosen it because Leonardo did not, in any way whatsoever, move. The whole effect rather worked, however much she looked a mess: Bellatrix stared at the shirt looking a bit unnerved.

'Good morning.' Hermione raised her eyebrows sceptically.
'To you, as well.' Bellatrix quickly retrieved her eyes to their previous target: the fridge.

Hermione started for the fridge and pulled it open, extracting bread and jam, as well as some milk. Bellatrix gave her a wide-eyed look.

'How does it work? It makes that sound, and well, I wasn't sure I could touch it... is it warded?'
'It is a refrigerator, it keeps food cool. The sound is electricity, which is what it runs are no wards.'

It feels automatic, having explained these things to what feels like hundreds of people over the years. Muggle artefacts and how they work: a guide by Hermione Granger, she sighed to herself, making a mental note that it should actually be Ron who writes this guide. She'll owl him about it later, she decides. As she progressed through toasting her bread, making tea and finally sitting down to eat, Bellatrix remained standing in front of the refrigerator. Finally she draws herself up and opens it. Even as her face is obscured by spectacularly messy black hair she's sporting, it is clear that Bellatrix is wearing a look of confusion.

'Would you like something particular?' Hermione inquires, amused.
Bellatrix's slightly hunched shoulders quickly straighten and she gives an overly dignified 'Perhaps I'll just have some tea.'. Hermione takes out her wand, summoning a tea pot and signalling for Bellatrix to sit down.

'I'll just get you some toast, then.'

Bellatrix's blush is a deep crimson and her mask of resentment is so childish it is almost charming. She knows she's been found out. Muggle packaging is just not that easy to understand your first time around.

...

After breakfast they both retreat to their rooms. Hermione changes her clothes to a somewhat more professional blouse and some tweed trousers, whilst Bellatrix reappears in the study without any discernible difference to her appearance.

Once settled in two squashy armchairs Hermione gets her Quick Quotes Quill out, and they begin to work.

'How did you find Muggleborns? The birth record never specified.'
'There aren't that many to find.'
'You must've had a way of tracking them.' she presses, indignant.
'Certainly. But during the first war we did not try to seize the Ministry or Hogwarts and once we did Yaxley never had any trouble finding Muggleborns, so I don't know too much about the details. I would venture that blood status is kept on record at St. Mungos, and that the Ministry keeps a record of Muggleborns as they keep track of underage magic and Hogwarts keeps a record for obvious reasons as well.'

Hermione herself would never forget the day professor McGonagall visited her home to inform herself and her family that she was a witch. Hogwarts did indeed know her blood status before she'd ever entered the place. It sends a chill down her spine.

She'd chosen this topic of conversation not so much out of any real necessity, so much as simply to test Bellatrix's level of cooperation, as well as to see how antagonistic she would get. When it all goes rather well she sends an owl to Professor McGonagall setting up a meeting. Soon the real work will begin.

A/N: So, here we are at part 2. Thank you to everyone who has reviewed so far, I appreciate it a lot. More reviews are also welcome :)