DISCLAIMER: J.K. Rowling owns most of the characters and settings here—I own the rest.
This chapter's title comes from "Deep Blue Sea" by Missio.
No clue if there is really an Unbreakable Vow conclusion ceremony in canon….so I wrote one.
NOTHING ELSE MATTERS
Chapter 34 – Sweet Surrender of Silence
The trials of the Resurgence members were far shorter than the Death Eater trials had been, chiefly because all of them were in violation of their paroles.
Selwyn's barrister attempted to plea-bargain on his behalf, and since he'd been out of commission for most of the failed raid, he was placed on house arrest rather than sent back to Azkaban. His wand, however, was snapped, and he was advised that he might be able to acquire a restricted wand again in 5 years, contingent on good behavior. (Secretly, he entertained hopes of one day carrying an umbrella like Hagrid's.)
Both Travers and Yaxley chose to not engage barristers; Travers was sent back to Azkaban for another five-year stint, and Yaxley, due to being the mastermind of the Resurgence, was sentenced to a further ten years.
Meanwhile, Walden returned to the Ministry to meet with Kingsley Shacklebolt and Harry Potter. The room was warded with the most potent protective spells that the nameless Department of Mysteries functionary, who silently waited in the corner of the room, had been able to formulate.
Kingsley stood up when Walden was escorted into the room by two MLE lesser functionaries, who turned on their heels and departed immediately.
"Mr. Macnair. You have performed admirably on our behalf, and while I do have a few questions about Herbert Avery's demise, given what you told us in our previous meeting, it sounds as if justice was served."
"Aye, Minister," Walden said.
"You have satisfied the terms of our Vow," Kingsley continued. "Harry, as our Bonder, do you agree?"
"I agree," Harry said.
The mysterious functionary walked over to Walden and the Minister, who then knelt down and clasped hands. Harry stood next to them, and the functionary waved his wand over the pair. A shimmering golden light enveloped the entire party, after which the functionary stated, "Quod factum est." The light slowly diminished, after which the two wizards stood up and shook hands.
"I'll have the paperwork drawn up for your full pardon," Kingsley said. "I'd prefer that we keep that under wraps for now, though, just in case some of our double-agents managed to convince anyone to actually join the cause."
"I'd prefer that as well," Walden said.
"Oh, and you'll need to get Mr. Malfoy back here to end your Vow with him, unless you prefer to do that on your own," Kingsley said.
"Mr. Potter," Walden asked. "Would you be available when Lucius returns to England?"
"He's not at the Manor?" Harry said, looking very confused.
"Nay, he's at his Connecticut estate," Walden said.
"How—er…how do you know that?"
"Me ravens," Walden said.
"They can track all the way to the States?"
"They're magical, Mr. Potter."
Hermione and Lucius sat across from each other at the lunch table. They hadn't had much conversation since the raven departed. After they finished their meal, they lingered over coffee. Lucius said, "I…er, believe I need to return to England, likely as soon as possible. I'll be heading to the Salem Portkey Office in a few minutes."
"I hope this means I might be hearing….news soon."
"Possibly," Lucius said, as he sat down his napkin, and then stood up. "It's been a pleasure, my dear, as always. I'll see myself out."
Hermione donned her winter wear after Lucius' departure, and spent several hours in the cold, exploring the property. There were no birds of any kind in sight.
Later that evening, Inanna brought Evan back, and the three spent a relaxing few hours by the fire playing cards and drinking hot chocolate….and for the next two weeks, this sort of relaxation was the order of the day, both at the estate and in Salem. Hermione found that she enjoyed the looser educational atmosphere at the Salem Witches Institute, and she even sat in on a couple of classes. She also (under a glamour, just in case) assisted Inanna at the Flying Witch, and sat in on some late-night poker games at the Cloudy Crystal.
One night, Auror Gundarsson escorted her to a small wizarding blues club in New York City, which she enjoyed tremendously. He was a perfect gentleman, and did not attempt to kiss her at the end of the night—and she wasn't sure whether she liked that or not.
The subject of Walden did not come up until an owl arrived from Lucinda, precisely two weeks to the day after she'd departed for California.
Dear Hermione,
I am enjoying California tremendously! The Information Processing community is one of the most unique groups of wizards I've ever been pleased to meet. We've been going on all sorts of hiking trips and wine-tasting adventures, and I have decided to take an extended sabbatical out here, and stay in my daughter's guest cottage.
I hope I can confide in you thusly—I've met a wizard, and he was enthused when I expressed interest in relocating here—I am hopeful that he might be 'the one,' but even if he is not, if you would please not convey this information to Lucius until it is absolutely necessary, I would be in your debt.
Please feel free to stay at the estate for as long as you wish—simply send an owl letting me know when you are departing. Give Evan a hug for me and do wish him the very best for his upcoming Hogwarts sojourn. (I have enclosed some Galleons for him to purchase his familiar!)
With great affection,
Lucinda Wilkes
After Hermione sat down the letter, she called Evan to her side.
"Ms. Wilkes will be staying in California for a while, but she sent you some money to purchase your owl, or whichever animal you'd prefer, for Hogwarts."
"Oh wow! Should I write her back? I think I want an owl, so I can write letters to Sissy and Auntie Melissa and you and Mrs. Weasley!" He accepted the pouch of Galleons from Hermione with a smile and stowed them in his robe pocket.
"An owl is a very practical choice," Hermione said. "I had a cat when I was in school, because my parents are Muggles and owl post was problematic, but I always loved Harry's owl."
"What happened to them? Do you still have them?"
"Unfortunately, my cat went missing, and Harry's owl…well, she died. During the war." Hermione looked down at the letter again.
"It wasn't my dad who killed them when he was a bad guy, was it? He said he used to…umm…dispose of dangerous animals, or something?"
"I don't think so, Evan." She paused and then said, "Do you want to go into Salem and catch a Portkey home tomorrow?"
"Yes! I miss everyone!" He paused for a moment and bit his lip, and then said, "Um, do you think we'll ever hear from my dad again? I really miss him."
"Honestly, so do I." She hadn't given any thought to where she was going to live once she got back, although she knew that she was, of course, welcome at Harry and Ginny's guest suite.
"If he comes back, are you going to marry him?"
"That's something that I can't answer right now." Hermione Summoned parchment and a quill to write a return owl, figuring that since Lucinda was a member of wizarding society, that she had better follow protocol.
"That's what my Sissy says when she means No," Evan said, and he looked a bit dejected as he ran out of the room, en route, no doubt, to pack.
Lucius, Walden and Harry stood in the Drawing Room at Malfoy Manor, where Walden and Lucius had been staying for the past two weeks. It had taken quite a while to get this particular event onto Harry's calendar, given the sheer volume of paperwork that the Resurgence trials and their aftermath had generated. Due to all the sleepless nights, he'd taken a weekend off and stayed in a bed-and-breakfast with Ginny with an eye to, hopefully, adding to their small family.
"Once the Department of Mysteries wizard gets here, we can get this over with," Harry said, smiling. He was extremely happy, but, sadly, his good mood was lost on the other two wizards, who'd been on a nearly-constant drinking binge ever since they'd given their testimony about the Resurgence. They'd finally downed several bottles of Pepper-Up Potion and spent a day in Lucius' sauna to get ready for the appointment. Walden's eyes were still bleary and his hair was slowly growing back in, owing to his failure to renew the Stasis Charm.
"Great," Walden finally growled.
Several uncomfortable minutes later, a chime rang, announcing the arrival of the nameless wizard, who entered the room and stood silently.
"Lucius, me brother," Walden said. "Ye've satisfied the terms of our Vow. Mr. Potter, do ye agree?"
"I agree," Harry said.
The mysterious functionary walked over to Walden and Lucius, who then knelt down and clasped hands. Harry stood next to them, and the functionary waved his wand over the pair.
Nothing happened.
"What the hell is goin' on?" Walden asked. "Yaxley and the rest of the damned numpties are under arrest and the lass is safe…." and after he said that, he doubled over, blanched, and began coughing.
"STOP TALKING IMMEDIATELY!" shouted the Department of Mysteries wizard. "Something is wrong." He reached in his robe and pulled out a shimmering green bottle of potion. "Drink this, Mr. Macnair. And Mr. Malfoy, keep your mouth shut about the Vow!"
"What's wrong?" Harry said. "I don't understand!" Meanwhile, Walden had grabbed the bottle in his trembling hands and downed it, after which he began sweating and panting. Lucius assisted him over to the settee and called for a house elf.
"The terms of the Vow have not been satisfied. Something has changed," said the functionary.
"What?!" Harry shouted. "Lower the wards, Malfoy, I've got to get back to the office and find out what's going on!"
Meanwhile, Corban Yaxley, under several glamours, dressed as a witch, debarked from the Salem Flyer and walked into the Cloudy Crystal.