A/N: I'm a bit in disbelief that I'm already up to forty chapters, but there you go. I apologize for the longer delays, but I'm up to twenty-two pages of reference materials for this story and it's taking me a bit of time to plan it all out. I do so love the planning and plotting process of writing. :)
To those anxiously awaiting the MM/HG arc, it will start to gather a bit more steam soon, though I do remind you it promises to be a slow burn. My goal was to create a believable set of circumstances in which Minerva would come to view Hermione as an equal and that will take a bit more development and growth for the both of them. And to those interested in the DK/HG arc, that will undoubtedly receive some quality attention soon as well.
Thanks always for your supportive comments and questions!
Dia sighed as she ignited a few candles in the kitchen with an absent wave, settling in at the table and pouring herself a glass of wine.
Hermione had disappeared into the lab upon their return, citing a pressing need to work on her practical brewing skills as well as wanting to create a large batch of Strengthening Potion for the coming weeks. Dia had let her go without complaint, knowing that the witch needed a bit of time to herself following their busy day.
Lunch had been a lovely affair and Dia had been pleased at how her apprentice had conducted herself. Her family was often a challenge in themselves and Hermione had risen to the occasion admirably.
They had left just after five in the evening and everyone had been surprised when Kyveli had promptly burst into tears as she and Hermione had made their goodbyes. While it had been clear by the end of the lunch that Ioannis had been entranced by the new face, the jury had been out on the littlest witch... until she threw herself on the floor in the foyer and sobbed. It seemed the youngest member of the family had no qualms about betraying her approval and Dia had felt surprisingly grateful. Children often were the greatest judges of character.
Melina had been visibly mortified by her daughter's behavior, but Hermione had paid no attention. Her apprentice had promptly knelt down and whispered a few quiet words into Kyveli's ear and both Dia and Melina had shared an incredulous look when her response was met by hiccuping sniffles, a slow process of rising from the floor, and eventually, a wavering smile.
Konstantinos had chuckled immediately and quietly mimed fervent prayers above his daughter's head begging Dia to let Hermione to stay. Even Ana had lifted her eyebrows in surprise. And if she were being entirely truthful, Dia had been rather impressed. Anyone who could circumvent a Kyveli-sized meltdown clearly had a special gift and it was made all the more endearing that Hermione remained completely unaware.
Dia shook her head and smiled, sipping her wine carefully and letting the smooth liquid soothe away the tension and sore muscles that had crept into her body after the long afternoon. It had been several months at least since she had dueled with either Konstantinos or Ana, and she knew that her body would be protesting tomorrow.
However... it is a practice you should revisit... especially considering the new direction your life has taken.
Dia sighed softly. The sun outside was just beginning to set though the sky remained a clear shade of blue with just the barest dusting of clouds above the horizon. There were a number of tasks to which she should have been attending, but for the moment, Dia was content to simply sit and let her mind wander. Thoughts of dueling, the Quorum, Guatemala, and the future could wait. She was still largely preoccupied by her swirling feelings regarding the events of the day.
Hermione's introduction to the family had been one of the smoothest Dia could recall in years.
Part of it, she knew, was due to her own interference. The witch had been given the advantage of meeting Yiayia and Ana prior to everyone else and they were usually the two greatest hurdles when it came to personality and dynamics. However, Dia continued to muse quietly… wondering whether Hermione's natural charm was entirely responsible for the easy meeting or if the more recent shifting in her life had created a set of unexpected consequences she hadn't foreseen.
Prior to Hermione, Dia's apprentices had always been forced to share her with the Apothecary in Thessaloniki, and while the arrangement had worked for a number of years and had been a satisfying venture for a time, it was a remarkably different experience than the one Hermione was currently receiving. As soon as Ana had stepped forward to take over the business, Dia had known that she would begin shifting into a new stage of life devoted exclusively to teaching.
While all former apprentice's of Diamantina Kallas could stand behind their claim to an excellent education with tailored curricula, personalized attention, access to non-traditional forms of study, and a wealth of networking opportunities, Hermione's apprenticeships marked a drastic departure from the more traditional arrangements she had favored in the past.
Gone were her exceedingly long days of training students in the morning, working in Thessaloniki and attending to a number of private clients, lecturing in the evenings, and brewing until the middle of the night. At one point, when she had both of the Ingersson brothers studying beneath her (in separate classifications and separate disciplines, no less), Dia had been forced to requisition a Time-Turner from the Council in order to attend to all of her duties. The arrangement had earned her a significant amount of respect and acclaim but it had taken a toll on her mentally, physically, and emotionally.
After Bjorn had moved on and Dia had been left with only Odin for a year, she swore to never make the same mistake again. Eventually, Ana had expressed her interest in the Apothecary and Dia realized she was only too happy to begin passing her business along, which had then allowed her to accept Cordelia and later Emmett for their apprenticeships. The lessened hours in Thessaloniki made the overlap palatable and it had been a relatively pleasant time.
Sweet Circe, has it already been two years since 'Delia left?
Dia sniffed in disbelief. She would have to write the witch a letter.
Emmett, she knew, had moved on to a position in the Australian Bureau after finishing his second classifications in Potions with her in a single year. He was now content overseeing international trade agreements between private apothecaries and international producers somewhere in Melbourne, a second child on the way.
Other faces floated through her mind. Penny… Kallithea… Thrynn…
Undoubtedly, she would see a few of them at the upcoming Quorum.
Sighing softly, Dia took another sip of wine… remembering other occasions at the kitchen table with other apprentices. Studying. Conversing. Laughing.
They had each been unique and talented in their own way.
And then, Hermione…
She sniffed lightly, shaking her head as she realized that she could have asked for no better opportunity than to begin her new chapter in life than with the young witch who was currently brewing downstairs.
Rationally, Dia knew that she had vetted the young woman just as intensely as she had all of her previous students and that Hermione possessed all of the characteristics that she had come to expect of her apprentices: self-discipline, motivation, curiosity, and an openness to complementary ways of thinking and learning that fell beyond the realm of traditional curricula.
Whether they joined her for a year or longer, it was the expectation that all of her apprentices would devote their time on Naxos to their studies with single-minded intensity. If they were to leave with her name on their résumé, she expected nothing less than their best... and she had never failed them in return.
However Dia could not ignore how Hermione continued to present her with unpredictable challenges that she had never before encountered with past students.
From the very beginning, the witch had come forward demanding the double apprenticeship which had been startling enough in itself. Dia had only permitted it once before and that had been a complicated situation. Minerva's letter of support had surprised Dia with its effusive words as her former Mistress was nothing if not conservative, and while Dia had managed to remain impartial in her initial approach to the young woman, she had been forced to concede defeat when Hermione had risen to the challenge of her practical and theoretical assessments with such a well-rounded aptitude that Dia had almost considered sending her results to Athens for a second opinion.
It had been clear that Transfiguration was her favored discipline, but Hermione had argued after Potions with such veracity in the interview portion of their meeting that Dia could not fault her decision. The remainder of the witch's trial week on Naxos had proven Hermione's sincerity and insatiable curiosity and by the end of the week Dia had been cautiously optimistic that the witch could very well claim the title of youngest Senior Master in both Societies, (if she could overturn her tendencies for linear if-then thinking, her fear of failure, and her remarkably well-developed sense of insecurity, that was... but then, that was Dia's job.)
Dia chuckled softly, recalling those first few months as Hermione had absorbed her new schedule with nearly manic enthusiasm.
The witch had nearly fainted upon seeing the Library, though she hadn't been the first to express such a reaction. Dia had been surprised however when two solid weeks had passed in which she had known for certain that Hermione had slept in the Library every single night... and while Stelios had informed her that her apprentice had likely slept no more than four hours each time, the witch had still seen to her studies with such fervent discipline that Dia would never have known. (Dia had been pleased when that phase had concluded naturally without need for an intervention.)
And then of course there had been the effects War.
Her thumb rubbed the rim of her glass absently as Dia recalled the early reports she had received from Eleni and Stelios. Hermione had suffered from nightmares for months upon arriving to Naxos and at one point, Dia had briefly considered slipping the witch a specific Calming Draught with her dinner when they had interrupted the young woman's sleep for the tenth night in a row. Eventually the terrors had grown more infrequent, though even now, Dia could expect to be woken at least twice a month... though unlike Cordelia, Bjorn, or even Ana, Hermione had refused every opportunity to talk with her about them.
That alone had made Dia nervous.
Actually, the last week has told you more about Hermione's involvement in the War than the majority of the past several months...
Her cheeks flushed lightly as she recalled their conversation in her bedroom when Dia had learned that Antonin Dolohov had raised his wand against her apprentice. The silvery scar running across the witch's torso had been shocking.
Minerva's initial letter had hinted that Hermione had suffered during the War in Great Britain, and of course Dia had seen a number of articles in The Prophet over the past several years mentioning the witch's name... but somehow she had always imagined that someone so young and innocent would have remained along the sidelines.
"Though, you are speaking of Hermione Granger," Dia murmured softly, smiling as she shook her head.
The witch had never been one to absorb her lessons sitting down. Hermione wanted to immerse herself in every experience... it was one of the primary reasons why Dia had accepted the witch to both apprenticeships so readily. And why war would have been any different, Dia couldn't imagine... though her heart ached for what the young woman had already suffered.
Dia took another sip of wine, her thoughts slipping into a hazy fog of questions as she considered again that Hermione was likely her most mysterious and unpredictable apprentice to date.
A large part of her was thrilled by the challenge and Dia knew that she would have to do a better in the coming months to unravel that emotional response. Hermione was still young in several ways.
If she was to keep the witch safe, she couldn't indulge the woman's every desire.
The subtle innuendo made her flush and Dia wet her lips, abruptly pressing away the more colorful thoughts that arose as she recalled Hermione's latest request.
She has not been the first apprentice to ask for that concession to your relationship...
Dia frowned, suddenly realizing that she had yet to touch upon the most significant condition of her relationship to Hermione.
She is the first apprentice with whom you will formally bond.
The renegotiation of their contract already spoke volumes regarding Hermione's personality and agenda, and as Dia began to consider the witch with a bit more objectivity, she realized that she was growing nervous.
It didn't matter that Hermione had essentially forced her into the formal bond. Deep down, Dia knew that she would have eventually agreed if the witch had simply asked.
And that simple fact was what made her truly unique.
Of all eight of her previous apprentices, there was only one with whom Dia could have imagined herself entering into such an agreement. And even then, she knew she would have had a significant number of misgivings.
However Thrynn would have never have asked you... And Hermione merely had to open her mouth and you conceded the point in a single evening.
A deep sense of foreboding settled into Dia's stomach and she grew still. How had she not seen it earlier?
The witch was unique. And while that was indeed something to be celebrated, it was also cause for concern.
Dia's eyes slanted closed as she drained her glass of wine, letting the last notes of the deep crimson liquid slowly slide across her tongue as she thought deeper.
A great amount of Hermione's life had been shaped by her experiences and involvement in the last War against Voldemort, however unlike Dia herself, those experiences had left the witch wanting to improve the world and engage with it in a way that none of her prior apprentices had shared. Hermione possessed a deep-seated capacity for selflessness that was arresting in its authenticity.
An admirable quality to be certain… but a dangerous one as well…
There was also a matter of the witch's insatiable mind.
Dia would never disclaim the importance of curiosity. It was a gift to possess a zeal for learning such as Hermione did… however it could also become a burden. There was simply no way to unlearn sensitive information once discovered.
And already her theses are beginning to touch upon the secrets of both disciplines…
Moreover, the witch's insistence on using her knowledge to better society was again excellent… but without the proper tools, it would easily make her a target.
Dia took a slow breath, her eyes raking over the familiar surroundings carefully, assuring herself that she was indeed present and that the future had not yet gotten away from her. A thought floated through her mind and Dia watched dispassionately as she splayed one dark hand against the lighter wood of the table…
You have grown too close to her.
Briefly, she felt a flash of irritation which only seemed to underscore the sobering thought.
In the last week you have gone from pushing forward her theses in order to pass along information that will help her survive… to agreeing to a contract that will threaten her life. All because you are flattered by her interest.
Each finger tapped the table slowly.
Don't deny your own desire plays a large role as well… how long has it been since Cordelia?
Dia's jaw worked and she exhaled air slowly through her nose, the stone growing heavier the depths of her stomach even as her anger flared toward her own foolishness. Moisture gathered at the corners of her eyes.
Careless. She had been careless.
The hand curled into a fist.
Do your job as her Master. And leave your own needs and desires by the wayside.
Outside, the sun had deepened into a shade of blazing red and the waves below rippled with crimson highlights. The shadows had begun to creep into the peaceful ambiance of the kitchen and Dia remained still, trying to will the unexpected wave of emotions back into submission.
Hermione had blindsided her completely with her staggering intelligence, fervent curiosity, wounded past, earnest hopes and desires... and all of those facets together suddenly crafted the most dangerous combination Dia could fathom.
"You would do to remember your place, Diamantina Kallas," she whispered. "You do not belong to her world."
Hermione sighed loudly as the last of her materials floated back into their respective places. Summoning a stool from one side of the lab, she sat heavily, pulling forward a small blue bottle and quaffing the contents quickly.
For a moment she was content to sit with eyes closed, allowing the potion to spread along her system like a reassuring wave - soothing tired muscles and aching joints before warming her from within. Eventually the final burst of added replenishing elements hit her and Hermione sat up a bit straighter, opening her eyes and as she took a deep breath and tugged her books forward.
To say that she was simply 'tired' would have been an understatement of great proportions.
The day had begun early with the news of Sturgis Podmore from Minerva and while her heart still ached for the loss to the Order's ranks, Hermione felt slightly guilty as she realized that the subsequent events of the day had tempered her sadness and a large part of her had already accepted it. Frowning slightly, she let her fingertips slide off of the battered copy of The Brewer's Art: Ten Thousand Ingredients and Their Properties, disturbed by her sudden lack of empathy.
How can you be so blasé? You knew Sturgis!
As her exhausted mind shuttled through old memories from Grimmauld Place and Order gatherings, Hermione was forced to accept the simple fact that she didn't know Sturgis Podmore very well. The tall blonde wizard had been a jovial man. He and Kingsley Shacklebolt had usually arrived and departed together and their typical joking asides had indicated the two were quite close. But beyond seeing him in passing and sharing a few meals over the last few years of the War, Hermione couldn't recall a single instance of having spoken with the wizard one-on-one.
Inwardly, she winced as she considered who would be broken up about the man's death… likely the Weasley's and the other Aurors - Gawain, Hestia, and the one she didn't yet know - Wickleffe. Undoubtedly Minerva would be affected... and perhaps a few of the other Hogwarts professors. Master Kallas had known the wizard, though not well as she indicated her departure from Great Britain had come soon after the wizard had joined the Order. Oh, and Kingsley…
Hermione's heart sank as she considered Kingsley's role in everything. The Minister's withdrawal from Order meetings likely meant that he would be unable to look into matters with greater vehemence without betraying suspicious circumstances or the Order itself. Hermione had a sneaking suspicion that Sturgis' supposed "accident" had been related to some sort of undercover surveillance or investigation on the Orders' behalf, which also didn't bode well for general safety.
Unfortunately, from the pulse of public opinion since Kingsley had taken office, Hermione knew that any rumors regarding unsavory events happening beneath their so-recently-vetted Ministry's watch would not only incite anger, but a good deal of panic. Which meant that Kingsley would likely be unwilling or unable to help with any further investigation.
Merlin, I hope I am never in such a position where I would have to disregard my own friends…
Hermione sighed again, flipping her encyclopedia open to the creased indices, abruptly wishing she were home so that she would have the opportunity to ask questions and get a better handle on the unfolding events. The boys would likely be at The Burrow getting chance to talk things over with other Order members while she would have to wait to hear any news through Master Kallas. Hermione's eyes narrowed.
You must think of a better means of remaining informed…
Her fingers flipped a few more pages absently, but her mind wasn't in the mood to work on her Potions thesis.
Groaning slightly, Hermione scrubbed her hands over her face, grimacing as they encountered a bit of salt and oil from having spent the last hour sweating over the double batch of Strengthening Potion that now sat in perfectly arranged blue bottles to her left. There had simply been too many things happening in the last week and it was just now beginning to dawn upon her that she hadn't had time to think through everything critically nor to consider just how harrowing the coming weeks would be.
Sniffing, Hermione shook her head, thinking to the previous Sunday and how her most pressing concern had been what to do regarding her undeniable attraction to her master and the unexpected discovery that both of her previous mentors were gay.
How far you have come… going from being red-faced and stuttering at the thought of thinking about Master Kall- Diamantina and Minerva together, to propositioning the woman and roping her into a formal bonding contract.
"This entire week has been absurd," Hermione whispered quietly, chuckling softly in disbelief as she rose to standing and stretched her sore muscles.
Looking around the familiar lab with its rough stone walls and twinkling bits of quartz, she wet her lips and realized that even the intimidating prospect of turning in her theses early seemed to pale in comparison to all that had transpired.
The upcoming Quorum in Atlantis was less than two weeks away and while Hermione was distantly concerned about how that event would unfold, she found that her thoughts kept returning to the Order, to Yiayia's unexpected proposition a few days prior, and to her growing list of preparations and goals as she considered the future's stormy horizon.
Deciding that her circling thoughts were going to go nowhere if she didn't get them out on paper, Hermione summoned a stray parchment and her writing utensils.
List-making, schedules, and planning were one of her most satisfying methods of working through her thoughts. It had driven Ron and Harry crazy on more than one occasion, but Hermione knew they were therapeutic tasks that helped her re-focus and learn to see individual situations and abstract events with greater clarity.
You're going to have to find a more secure method for this eventually…
Frowning, Hermione started by considering that small conundrum. Twisting her lips she began writing, already generating a number of ideas that might prove useful.
1. Create a secure method for writing down stray thoughts and information. Take inspiration from Tom Riddle's diary? Or the Marauder's Map?
While creating a Horcrux was by no means a part of her agenda, Hermione had been fascinated after the entire Chamber of Secrets debacle for the sheer ingenuity required to create an interactive, secure journal of sorts. She didn't need it to respond in the method that Voldemort had used with Ginny, but she did need a means of keeping her secrets confidential from prying eyes while she worked through her own research and theories. The Marauder's Map worked similarly and Hermione briefly wondered if it would be possible to unravel the Charms upon it the next time she saw the boys.
Sniffing wryly, Hermione also imagined it would be prudent to document everything for posterity on the off chance something were to go wrong and a written account of events would somehow be required.
Maybe you should consider Ancient Runes… or another series of glyphs that you can use for disguise?
Another lightbulb went off and she bit her lip before scribbling furiously.
2. Find a secure method for communicating with the Order (same inspiration as above?)
While rationally, Hermione understood that there would be little action that she or Master Kallas could undertake while remaining on Naxos, it would still ease her conscience if she could at least remain apprised of events as they unfolded in Great Britain. She knew that Harry and Ron would likely be willing to help on that front, and while the significant task of apologizing to them still remained, Hermione remained hopeful that they would be open to working through problems together as they had during Hogwarts.
And in order for that to happen, you need to be able to communicate with each other...
Her brow furrowed again as she considered the other, more dominant part of her life. While her heart continued to tug her toward embracing familiar friends and faces from home, she had a duty to her current circumstances. And most importantly, to the witch who had so recently up-ended her entire life to accommodate Hermione's demands.
3. Learn more about Master Kallas' involvement during the First War and the reasons behind her departure.
Hermione sighed and tried not to feel guilty about adding that particular task to her list. A good amount of her reasoning was simple curiosity… but something inside her rankled at how hesitant her master had been about rejoining the organization from the very beginning.
The witch hadn't seemed reluctant in offering her assistance - on the contrary, she had gone above and beyond the call for potions when their Society had requisitioned aid on behalf of the ISOS violations (Hermione had seen the outline they had been sent and how the witch had added a number of additional brews and provisions that had significantly depleted their stores in order to provide the maximum impact).
And she hadn't shied away from gathering information nor creating her own theories about the perpetrators and their motives, which suggested that she already planned to work against them. And then of course, Hermione had been rather shocked when Master Kallas had stepped forward to volunteer her own wand for the reconnaissance mission in Guatemala.
"It's never been that she doesn't wish to help out…" Hermione whispered softly, her heart sinking a bit as she bit the end of her quill. "It's the Order itself she has a problem with… or perhaps the people within it."
Hermione frowned and put a star next to the third line. She was surprised that it had taken her so long to come to that conclusion.
She even said it herself… Hermione thought back to the discussion they had held in the witch's chambers after the Order meeting. She had been so emotional about the decision whether or not to rejoin and worried about forcing her master's hand that she hadn't had the opportunity to truly hear the witch's words.
The musical voice floated through her mind, the tone firm. 'It is not about wanting to withhold information from anyone. It is about sharing the pieces that are important to a given situation and keeping all of my cards in a place where I can see them and maintain a measure of control.'
Minerva had hinted at something terrible having transpired toward the end of the First War that had cost Master Kallas members of her family, but that didn't account for everything. The witch seemed almost paranoid that the Order would rope either her or Hermione into circumstances beyond their control and that seemed to be the biggest crux of it.
"Something happened that caused her to lose trust in others…" Hermione whispered, thinking hard. Master Kallas even seemed reluctant to put her faith in Minerva, which seemed a bit out of character. But she still trusts her family…
"And me…"
Hermione bit her lip, flushing slightly and wondering if she would betray that trust by investigating such matters further. Although you can honor her as an apprentice if you understand her better…
Honor. It was a word that Master Kallas used infrequently but one that Hermione had heard the witch repeat several times in their conversations over the last several days. Each time it had filled her with a warmth from within… knowing that the witch truly appreciated her fealty in asking for a formal bond and in asking for her assistance in learning about her own body and its desires. It felt powerful to be spoken to as an adult, despite the inherent innocence she had revealed in asking for both. Hermione knew that her master was not one to speak lightly and she was assured that the witch had understood her feelings and motivations.
However 'honor' was also a word that Hermione associated with Slytherins and Pure-bloods… and one that she knew held far greater connotations for Master Kallas than perhaps even she herself realized. Honor was something used to describe respect and privilege, yes… but also used to reference ways of behaving, acting, and believing. You do her an honor by asking for a formal bond as it speaks to her expertise as a master and the fact that you trust her enough with your own life… but you don't know how far that word extends in her expectations of you.
As progressive and unorthodox as Master Kallas was when it came to her studies and training, Hermione also inherently knew that the witch would place "honor" and "loyalty" into the same metaphorical cauldron. The witch had made it clear from the very beginning of their contract that she would provide Hermione with all of the necessary skills, information, methodologies, and tools to succeed in both apprenticeships, but that in return she expected nothing but Hermione's absolute best.
It was difficult to pinpoint the exact moment that Hermione had truly realized what an opportunity she had been given... but she had also inherently known that to flout those expectations and that relationship would be tantamount to destroying her career, number one. She had no doubt that Master Kallas could easily tarnish her reputation throughout all of the Societies if she so desired... but more importantly, it would destroy the witch's opinion of her and bring them both dishonor... and that was something Hermione knew that she couldn't live with.
Which brought about her current predicament.
Hermione doodled on the bottom corner of the parchment for a moment as her shoulders fell slightly, wondering if perhaps she had gotten herself in a bit over her head.
"But you can't regret asking for a measure that will protect the both of you," she whispered softly, pressing her lips together even as a wave of emotion flooded through her. A formal bond was the only power she had at the moment.
The thought of something happening to Master Kallas was almost as unfathomable as something happening to Minerva or Professor Flitwick or Yiayia. Hermione knew that the witch was more than capable. She had demonstrated that to full effect before Hermione that very morning...
But Dumbledore was killed when no one said it was a possibility… and so was Severus Snape.
Hermione blinked back tears at the thought of coming upon her master's broken body in the same manner as she had seen Dumbledore or Snape. Their relationship to the Order was already dangerous, but her master had insisted upon provisions that would leave her able to operate around that commitment. Which likely meant that the witch wasn't above putting herself in danger in other ways... and Hermione wasn't willing to let her master take those risks without a safety net.
Her vision swam and suddenly Hermione had a vision of the witch falling from the Astronomy tower, framed in unearthly green light, her royal blue robes catching the cold starlight as they blossomed around her...
NO!
"Even if you are bound to her… the alternative is unacceptable," Hermione hissed, wiping her eyes angrily with a firm hand and underlining the third line again.
The witch was too cunning for her own good and thinking of Dumbledore and Snape brought back her own conviction for having asked for the formal bond the first place. Hermione wouldn't put it past the woman to wrap herself into some sort of complicated arrangement that would put her life in danger. While she knew that she was essentially shackling herself to the witch's fate, Hermione simply felt better for it.
"She needs to know that she doesn't have to do everything alone anymore," Hermione said softly, ignoring another tear that trickled down her cheek. And maybe you can help her mend whatever bridges were burnt…
She lifted the hem of one sleeve and wiped her face carefully, feeling a new wave of determination at the thought. She knew the other members of the Order and yes, while there were likely a number of personalities that would chafe at her master's uncompromising and secretive methods, Hermione simply felt that there was a way to draw both of her worlds together in a manner that would make all of them stronger.
"And maybe everyone at home can learn something too," she muttered, picking up her quill and writing down two more lines as they came to her.
4. Become more adept at dueling… (and creative about it)
5. Learn how to compel others… and be less obvious.
The Order was already full of Gryffindor courage and pig-headedness. They didn't need any more of it. In fact, Hermione already knew that she could best help balance the organization if she were better able to mediate the myriad of perspectives that lay between her master's and the rest of the lion pride.
Yiayia and Konstantinos were two examples of people from whom Hermione knew she could learn a great deal. And as much as it would be easier to rely on her Gryffindor-ish habits, she had already learned that there were other methods of gathering information and working through problems than by simply improvising spur-of-the-moment or by blasting down the door.
Hermione shifted for a moment, twisting her wrists to relieve the tension and cramps that had begun to sneak into her tired muscles. Konstantinos had proven that her Gryffindor fire could be enhanced if she could simply learn to think outside of the box, look at her opponents through a combination of rational assessment and intuition, and strengthen her body and arsenal of offensive spells.
Her mind quickly flashed back to the demonstration he had given her that morning.
The first part had been impressive enough - Konstantinos and Master Kallas had exchanged roles during their warm-up (Hermione had thought it was a bit more involved than "just" a warm-up), going through two rounds of something the wizard had dubbed "target practice." One of them had picked a stable spot and fired off a series of offensive spells toward the other who had free reign to move through the gym and either parry, create a stable defensive position, or engage.
The point was that the person evading had the opportunity to think a little bit more clearly - planning their responses around the environment, using it to their advantage, and getting a chance to test their physical response time, while the person standing had the opportunity to work on precision and had to become adept at dodging without moving from their spot.
Hermione had been floored by how quickly both Konstantinos and Master Kallas had been able to respond to their opponent in both roles. Both of them had possessed the same sort of feline grace that was almost inhuman in its fluidity. Several times, Hermione had closed her eyes - certain that a flash of light had spelled their defeat, but had been surprised each time to see them either still standing or in a completely new location that had surprised her.
Shifting on her stool, Hermione shook her head, still in disbelief that she would be learning some of those same skills in the coming weeks and months.
She summoned another stool and put her legs up, groaning softly as she felt her legs stretch in response. It seems there's only so much you can do for a workout as intense as the one you experienced this morning...
The thought brought little comfort.
After "target practice," her master had dueled Konstantinos in earnest. Even the memory flooded her with adrenaline, and Hermione felt her heart speed up as she recalled snatches of the amazing experience.
She was standing with one hand pressed against the wall, the other clutching her wand in an unconscious response to the unfolding battle happening before her. Overhead the fluorescent lights were flickering feebly.
Her ears were ringing with the loud crackle of active magic and a moment later, Hermione was shielding her eyes as two spells collided, the shockwave blowing several mats free of their neon surfaces.
Master Kallas was running and she could see dark muscles rippling as the witch launched herself off the top of a raised staircase, somersaulting midair to avoid a blue flash before landing briefly and firing off two rapid spells in succession as she rolled away, causing the metal railing that her nephew had just grabbed to flush red with heat, a loud stream of curse words echoing through the space.
Hermione flinched as Konstantinos bolted forward and was suddenly lifted mid-air by an invisible hand, his legs working uselessly for a moment before there was another loud crack and he spun horizontally to the ground, suddenly generating a spread of vicious looking arrows, one undoubtedly meeting its mark as she heard a frustrated curse from her master.
The arrows melted suddenly, warping into a silvery substance that pursued Konstantinos as he landed in a roll and fired off several spells that dissolved what would have manifested into a metal cage had it not evaporated into smoke. A moment later he was swinging over another railing, shooting a spell that her master parried effortlessly, before conjuring several bursts of fire that sped toward the witch with deadly speed.
Her master evaded the first four, barely moving from her crouched stance before the fifth tripped her and she fell back. Hermione gasped as the witch flattened herself to the floor, narrowly avoiding one that zipped past her ear and ignited a wall behind her in red flames. As Konstantinos sent another, she held up a hand and Hermione watched open mouthed as the fireball halted a few inches from meeting its mark, the witch's face contorting with effort as it vibrated and grew brighter, growing upwards into a vertical wall of flame that abruptly flew backwards, igniting two platforms as it sped toward the younger wizard with a terrible rumbling sound that Hermione could feel in her chest.
She squeezed her eyes shut with a shriek, assured that the wizard had been vaporized, but the sound of active crackling energy forced to her open them again. The far side of the gym was blackened and a number of structures had caught fire, but Konstantinos had somehow survived and was flattened against a corner, his body visibly smoking as he sent a number of purple bolts toward his aunt that could have only been hexes.
Master Kallas shouted something in Greek as she vaulted over a square platform and ricocheted off the left wall with a foot before sliding down an angled slope on one hip, slashing her arm to parry a flash of red. Sweat was streaming down her body, causing her skin to glisten, and Hermione flinched as the witch was unexpectedly disarmed as she rolled to the floor and was forced to dodge a small explosion.
Hermione's breath caught and she found herself stepping forward even as the witch recovered and stood defiantly, a fierce expression on her face as she barely moved and dodged spell after spell that Konstantinos sent her way. Her full lips were moving and Hermione realized that the witch was still working.
"Sweet Merlin…"
Her whisper was lost in a loud rumble.
Suddenly, there a great ripple passed through the floor and Konstantinos stumbled forward as the structures around him began collapsing, forcing him to move directly into the path of the mats that undulated toward him in a furious roar, snapping free from the metal and wood beneath. Foam, splintered wood and metal began swirling together, lifting the wizard a few meters from the floor as the lights above flickered and finally went out.
Red light suddenly filled the space as the ghostly mess grew larger and began to spin around Konstantinos more quickly, filling in the space around him until he was barely visible, still struggling within the terrible whirlwind. Flames continued to flicker in the background and Hermione could hear the dark tones of her master's voice continuing to spit forth unfamiliar guttural language that made her hair stand on end.
Hermione's eyes widened as she saw several flashes from within the tornado that blew a few materials away, but it continued growing with a roar, crackling with red sparks as her own hair whipped around her face. An unearthly yell came from within as the cyclone flew back…
And a moment later it was over.
Illuminated by the flaming remnants of the gym, Hermione saw that Konstantinos was pressed against the far wall, hands around his throat as he audibly choked, his eyes rolling back slightly as his legs struggled futilely against an invisible hand. Hermione's own hand flew to her mouth before the wizard abruptly fell to the floor as Master Kallas waved a hand, her own chest heaving.
She remained frozen, both terrified by the display and concerned as the wizard remained crouched over for a long moment. A moment later she was surprised to hear laughter and a few choice curse words.
Master Kallas eventually walked moved forward, gracefully avoiding the skeletal remnants of a few smouldering structures as she extended a hand toward her nephew and helped him to his feet.
Hermione had exhaled slowly, her mind still attempting to process everything that had transpired as the witch summoned her wand and they began repairing the damage with rapid efficiency that was almost as inspired as their duel. Her jaw had worked for a moment before she stepped forward to help out, surprised to hear the murmured compliments and joking conversation between the slightly singed pair, as though nothing had happened.
As soon as the lights came back on, the duo began walking toward her, still chuckling over something as her master gestured tiredly.
"So? You impressed yet?" Konstantinos called with a large smile, smacking a loose arm around his aunt's shoulders in a heavy manner that made the witch glare up at him disapprovingly.
Hermione's mouth opened and closed to no avail and the wizard had laughed loudly, tossing his head back even as Master Kallas sent her a rather smug smile.
"And that was without the Animagi wildcard," Konstantinos chuckled, wiping his sweaty face with a corner of his black tank top. Hermione's eyes flicked away from the chiseled abdominals beneath, blinking as she considered that added aside. At this point, she couldn't even fathom what such a duel would look like if one added Animagi to the equation.
She wet her lips for a moment, trying to think of a question that could encompass all of the other ones that were running through her mind.
"Is… was all of that legal?"
Hermione scrubbed a hand over her face as she recalled the echoing laughter from both her master and her nephew. Her cheeks had flushed immediately and it had taken another twenty minutes for her to ask all of the questions that she could think of before she had been assured that they had avoided a majority of Dark magic. It remained unspoken, however, that neither Konstantinos nor Master Kallas appeared to object to adding in those elements in a later stage of her training.
Blinking to clear her mind, Hermione bit the edge of her quill and added an addendum to Number Four:
4. Become more adept at dueling… (and get creative about it)
* Research the Dark Arts… and offensive spells.
Time had taught her that violence was still most definitely a last resort, but that defensive spells could do little to disarm an opponent who possessed a larger arsenal of violent enchantments at their disposal. While her stomach and heart still turned at the thought of taking a life, Hermione knew that in times of War, drastic measures were sometimes needed… and she was no longer ridiculously naïve enough to think that her enemies would simply capture her or turn her free if she didn't seem to be a viable threat.
"Besides… you're an adult witch," Hermione said softly, frowning as she considered her own precisely written penmanship. A terrible goal reduced into seven simple words - that's what the world had taught her.
"No one is going to think twice about Avada-ing you if you're in the wrong place at the wrong time."
If Antonin Dolohov was on their list of suspects, Hermione knew better than to think she would be dealing with rational people. Any wizard who was ruthless enough to slice open a teenaged girl across the chest without thinking twice was certainly ruthless enough to kill her in cold blood. She would have to be completely daft to imagine she could duel such a man with defensive spells only.
Hermione shuddered softly at the implications, but her resolve remained firm. Knowledge was power and she wanted to be powerful enough to protect her loved ones from harm even if it meant fighting fire with fire.
Speaking of Dolohov…
6. Research the three current suspects: Antonin Dolohov, Elizabeth Waterhouse, and Petrus D'Artagnan.
7. Learn more about Yiayia and Theodotus Ambrozaitys.
* What was he working on before the Sagrada Familia?
* How did the Guild assist in the First War? Where were they this time?
8. Research Neuromancy and Necromancy.
Hermione recrossed her legs, rubbing one quad absently as she mused over the new points on her list.
She already knew what Dolohov was capable of and Hermione bore no doubts that the man would have already managed to find his way to some other nexus of evil. While she didn't relish the thought of researching him, she knew that looking into his family history and past involvement in Great Britain would perhaps offer clues into his profile and behavior patterns.
And the next time you duel him, you can be the one to leave the scar…
The dark thought brought an uncharacteristic flush of pleasure before Hermione abruptly quashed it, shaking her head even as she considered the other two names on the list.
Master Kallas was going to be departing shortly to learn more about the witch who had been written about in the French newspaper. Now that her original curiosity and leap of intuition had been substantiated and Hermione felt a brief flash of guilt as she realized that she was content to wait until her master did her own research on Elizabeth Waterhouse.
The third wizard however did hold a spark of interest. Petrus D'Artagnan was nothing but a name on a page to her at the moment, but Hermione felt a deep thrill at knowing the wizard had once been an apprentice to Minerva and that he had somehow failed her…
Her own curiosity had been piqued and somehow Hermione knew that her fascination went beyond the realm of morbid curiosity into someplace much more personal. Deep down, she knew that the only reason she was interested in Petrus D'Artagnan was because of his past connection to her former mentor. A large part of her hoped that in the process of her research, Hermione would manage to uncover more information about the mysterious Minerva McGonagall herself.
"Besides… he's tied to you now just as much as he is Master Kallas," Hermione murmured. "You should know the complete history of your own Family."
Society traditions demanded an apprentice learn and honor the "genealogy" of their own Mastery and lines of connection, much like an actual family tree. Every Master belonged to a Family and there were many traditions and rules that governed etiquette and behavior whenever one interacted or spoke with or even of a Family member. Admittedly, it would also be part of her research as she prepared for the Quorum and Hermione briefly tried to rationalize that she should learn about the dismissed sibling of her master lest she make some sort of unformed misstep.
Technically, Minerva was considered her Eminent Mistress since her guidance at Hogwarts could not be counted as an official duty to the Society. The added title was bestowed upon the witch or wizard who had trained one's own master, and a good amount of reverence was given to the role. Therefore Hermione was already bound to uphold the witch's dismissal of Petrus D'Artagnan - though she hardly imagined Minerva would have come to such a decision lightly.
Still, while she had no trouble respecting the witch, Hermione still wanted to know what had transpired. Frowning slightly, she already knew that Master Kallas would likely be unwilling to divulge the story (if she knew the details), on account of respecting her Mistress' honor.
There it is again. That word… honor.
Hermione shook her head softly and withdrew her wand to tidy the workbench. A few careful flicks packaged the bottles of Strengthening Potion and carefully packed them into a small wooden crate that would protect them in the adjacent cellar. Waving them away, she closed her books and banished them to her room, already knowing that her research was concluded for the day.
She stood slowly, feeling her dull muscles protest even as she extinguished the sconces along the walls. The smaller candles still flickered quietly, the flames blinking in a friendly manner despite the rather imposing shadow that had fallen across the entire lab. Hermione sighed and picked up her quill and parchment, rolling it carefully as she swept her eyes around the room.
There was no sound save for the quiet running of water that trickled along glistening rocks. The small spring of freshwater was one of her favorite features of the lab and Hermione floated over toward it, tucking her materials under one arm as she moved to bend down and splash some of the cold liquid over her face from the rocky pool that lined the curve of the wall next to the storage room.
The fresh bite made her shiver and she pressed her wet hands to the back of her neck, wincing slightly as her fingers uncovered more tension lingering there. She untied her dragonhide apron carefully and banished it to its customary hook near the doors before tucking her materials into the inner pocket of her robes.
"You made your brew… and now you have to drink it," Hermione whispered to herself.
She ignored the slight twinge of worry regarding the seventh point she had just written on her list as she trudged back toward the heavy gilded doors of the lab and pulled them open with a flourish.
The wave of warmer air from above was sweet with the familiar scents of the villa and Hermione turned to extinguish the remaining candles before flicking her wand to close the heavy doors.
The agreement you made with Yiayia will surely come into conflict with your duties to Master Kallas. You should draw a separate contact just in case…
Yes. That was perhaps a more prudent option she could live with.
Hermione ascended the stairs slowly, unbraiding her hair as she went, sighing in relief as it fell about her shoulders.
A quick glance around the villa indicated that her master must have retired to her chambers for the evening and Hermione was briefly grateful from the reprieve. There were too many dark thoughts passing through her mind and she didn't need a reminder of the witch's presence quite yet.
A pass through the kitchen landed her with a clementine which she unpeeled the Muggle way as she drifted back toward her own rooms.
Yiayia's proposal had come as a complete surprise, though Hermione would have been lying to say she wasn't a bit excited.
Master Kallas had informed her that she intended to depart for Guatemala in exactly one week, wanting to accomplish her mission before the Quorum, which would leave Hermione beneath the combined charge of Yiayia and Ana for approximately two days while she was away. Yiayia had been quick to jump forward with her niece's departure - proposing Hermione with an exchange of sorts. Yiayia would bring Hermione to see Harry and Ron if Hermione promised to accompany her to Paris on a reconnaissance mission of their own.
The witch had explained little regarding her friend's research prior to his work at the Sagrada Familia, however Hermione had been quick to deduce that it was most definitely a Guild secret (she felt a thrill at that), and it most definitely involved some relationship to Necromancy.
While her working knowledge of Necromancy was more than lacking, Hermione was briefly thankful that she hadn't grown up in the Magical world otherwise she intuitively knew that she would likely harbor several preconceptions about the mysterious discipline.
While the alternative names were rather suggestive - "Death Magic" or "Soul Magic" - and deterring indeed, Hermione was quickly learning that not everything was what it seemed... and if it was a practice that continued to be sanctioned by the ICW (if Yiayia's aside was to believed), then either it was simply misunderstood by the general public... or an extraordinarily powerful branch of magic that could not be diminished.
Either way, Hermione had felt a dark thrill at the mystery and was more than eager to learn more about it... and to potentially uncover additional information that could help the Order.
Neuromancy was compelling as well and Hermione couldn't help wonder why she had never come across any mention of it in her studies. Perhaps it's newer... or so challenging that no one has written about it...
Another mystery that bore careful research.
Hermione locked her room upon arriving, igniting a few candles and pulling out her parchment. The sweet taste of citrus flooded her mouth as she considered the seventh point again.
A contract is important... ensuring that your responsibility is to Master Kallas first... then to the Order... and then to Yiayia's side investigation.
Hermione frowned as she wondered how to conceal the phrasing of her demands. Undoubtedly the Kefalas matriarch would see through her request, but Hermione was more preoccupied with either Master Kallas or Minerva finding out...
You need to think of a method that will protect yourself from all three and leave you free to disseminate information as you wish.
Something about the thought seemed familiar... and then a dark shadow crossed her mind as Hermione swallowed, the sweet flavor of clementine suddenly registering as sour upon her tongue.
"You are nothing like Severus Snape," she whispered. A shiver ran down her spine.
No. She wasn't.
Snape had made the mistake of tying himself to two masters with conflicting interests. Hermione was simply negotiating three separate agendas on the same side.
"Surely that will be easier to manager," she said softly.
However, despite the quiet words, a furrow settled between her brows and Hermione worked to dispel the uneasy feeling that suddenly spread through her.
Another thought came to her and she pulled out her quill and moved to the desk near the window where all of her books were neatly piled.
9. Learn Occlumency... and Legilimency if possible.
If she was going to be successful at half of her goals, Hermione needed a surefire means of keeping her own counsel to herself. Her research, words, and communication were only as safe as she was skilled.
Dueling would keep her physical body safe, but what about her mind?
Wiping her fingers on her robe absently, Hermione couldn't help but think that her life had suddenly grown far more complicated than she could have ever anticipated.