"Ceremony?" Kingsley called from the back of the room.
"Yes. Well there isn't really much involved. On the floor there are a series of carvings. They were made when the first Marauder and the first Guard swore their oaths. Now all it takes to renew the oaths is for Hermione to stand in the very middle circle and the Guard members to take their places in the connecting circles on the outside. Once that happens the magic of the guard members and Hermione will intertwine and the ceremony will be complete."
"Okay but you said two of the guard families were dead. What happens to their places?" Professor McGonagall asked.
"Well the seer said that two new people would take those places completing the circle and the guard. These two people are supposed to know when the guard starts forming. As it is only two known guard members are present."
When Sarah finished speaking she turned to look at the two students who had not spoken to anyone. Both stepped forward. Hermione recognised them from around Hogwarts. One was Cedric Diggory, a fifth year Hufflepuff student. The other was Cho Chang, a fourth year Ravenclaw student.
"Long time no see. I hope that you've kept an eye on her during school. Though considering what she gets up to I would say that youse haven't been very successful." Sarah spoke to them with a half-serious, half-amused tone.
"You try keeping track of her in a school that size." Cedric defended.
"Her friends weren't exactly helping the matter." Cho added.
"Yes well that won't matter anymore."
"Hey Hermione sorry we haven't met before. I am Cedric Diggory and this is Cho Chang. Our families have been members of the Guard from the beginning."
Hermione shook their hands but wasn't really paying attention. She was a little overwhelmed at the present.
"Also we have a slight problem." Cho spoke for the first time looking at Severus.
"What problem?"
"Our families aren't as proud of our involvement in this as one might think. They told us not to come home if we take part in this." Both Cho and Cedric looked rather sad at the prospect of being kicked out of their families. Hermione felt badly for them but wasn't sure what she could do for them.
"Well if you want you can stay with us for the holidays." Tonks made the offer and when both nodded their ascent to this plan, Ragnorok rose from his seat.
"Alright let's get the ceremony underway. Miss Granger if you would please follow me." Ragnorok appeared much younger when bathed in more light. Hermione took the arm he offered her and lead her to the middle of the cavern.
"Please your Majesty, just Hermione will do."
"Alright as long as you call me Ragnorok."
"Deal."
He stopped in about the centre of the room and touched the ground, running his finger along the floor. As he did so a ring of light appeared from a carving in the floor. The light showed that there were many circles carved into the floor, within some of the circles there seemed to be some sort of mark. In the circle in front of her there were little ruins carved all through it.
"If you would please step inside this circle."
"Okay."
Hermione was just going with what was going on around her. It was all a little much too really wrap her head around. She watched as four of the remaining circles lit up. Cho and Cedric walked forward and stepped into two of them. When they did so more carvings on the floor lit up connecting the circles too each other.
"So what about the other guard members?" Cedric asked as he did so two people moved forward to stand in the other circles, connecting the first five.
"Fred, George what are you pair doing?" Charlie called out to them.
"We are-"
"- doing what feels right."
The twins answered in unison before turning too Hermione.
"Were sorry about the way the others have been acting." Fred went first.
"Had we have known they wouldn't have gotten away with it for long." George continued.
"That's alright, it wasn't your fault." Hermione stopped them from a long apology. It was enough that they cared.
"What are they talking about?" Bill asked concerned.
"I would also like to know what's going on." Cedric followed up with.
"We'll tell you later." Fred and George said together.
During this chat the other circles had begun to light up. This illuminated the markings inside the remaining circles, catching Tai's eye.
"No way. It can't be." Though Tai had spoken quietly the echo of his words caught everyone's attention. They watched him and Koromon move forward to examine the circle.
"What is it Tai?" Sora called out as the rest of the digidestined moved forward.
"It's the Crest of Courage."
At his words the others spread out and found their crests in the other circles. Davis, Yolei and Cody found circles containing two crests, which matched up with the digi armour eggs.
"Well I suppose that tells us who the rest of the guard are." Kingsley said quietly.
All of them stepped into the circles. Later they all said that there was some sort of pull. They felt that they needed to step into the circles. As they and their digimon stepped into the circles, strings of light shot out to connect the seventeen circles on the floor. When they were all connected, the group began to glow. They all experienced the same strange sensation of touching each other without moving. The light then died out leaving them standing there looking slightly stunned. Only Hermione and Tai were still enveloped in light. They remained that way for a few seconds more and then they too were left standing there.
"Well that was odd." T.K. voiced what they had all been thinking.
"Indeed but the ceremony is now complete. Hermione is safe now." Sarah said whilst looking at Hermione.
"Can we talk, in private Sarah?" Hermione asked.
"Of course." Sarah ushered Hermione over to the side of the room. Everyone else took this as an opportunity to talk to each other.
"Well?"
"Did you ever actually care about me or were you only doing your job?" Hermione got right to the point.
"Hermione, at first I only moved in because it was my job to protect you. As time passed I got to know you and you became my family. I have and will always care about you. Do you remember that day I saved your life? I knew you were in danger that day Hermione but I didn't have to respond to that feeling. I responded because I wanted to protect you."
"So then how come you're dead and why do you look different from other ghosts?"
"I'll answer the second question first. I look different because I am not really another ghost. I have actually passed on to the next place. Part of your powers allows those who have passed on to come back and be visible in your presence. Eventually you will be able to call us at will. However we don't belong in this world and can only spend a short time here. I have to go soon. Now your second question. I'm dead because when I saved your life I pulled an enormous amount of energy from the magic of the Guards and my own. That magic hasn't stabilised even after all this time. The imbalance has been killing me for a while. The Goblins were able to buy me time over the years but it had to happen eventually. Okay."
"Okay."
Hermione and Sarah stepped back towards the others and the meeting began to reconvene.
"Alright now the threat. Hermione I can tell you that the only people that you can fully trust are in this room. You will over time begin to recognise who you can trust and who you can't. Until then the only people you should trust are in here. Especially in the ministry. Also beware Dumbledore and the members of the Weasley clan who aren't here. I don't know their true intentions or whether they are just being used but don't know it. That's all I can tell you. The rest you will have to figure out on your own."
"Okay. One more question though. What kinds of powers do I have?" Hermione asked.
"Now you ask about the cool part. You will be able to communicate with dragons and possibly other creatures. You will have some affinity to nature though I don't know how that will work. The flowers represent something but you won't know until they flower. Also you can communicate with the dead. There may be others but you will have to figure them out as they come."
"That's pretty cool." Davis announced what everyone was thinking.
"I have to go now Hermione. I love you and I know you'll be fine. Also Tai congratulations. As head of the Guard I expect you to take good care of her. I miss you Hermione." Sarah spoke quickly as she slowly faded away.
"I will." Tai vowed from his place with the Digidestined. He would take care of Hermione like she was family.
"Miss you too." Hermione whispered quietly as Sarah disappeared. A few minutes passed in silence.
"Hermione there is still much to discuss, if you please?" Ragnorok spoke quietly gesturing to a chair in front of his desk. Hermione slowly made her way towards the desk to talk about her inheritance.