Disclaimer:
No, I do not own the settings or the characters from Harry Potter. No, I do not make money out of this. Yes, I really should be writing something that will contribute toward feeding my family.
So, sue me! On reflection, please ignore that last comment.
.:/*\:.
Hermione pounded on her door and tried to turn the handle. But it refused to budge. Neither of her wands had any effect either, her spells fizzling against the powerful wards that now protected her rooms from within. The young witch turned to look at the notebook now laying on her sofa. The page was now blank once more. But Hermione knew the kind of Dark magic that allowed books to be near enough sentient. Although she had not had any direct contact with Tom Riddle's diary, she had held some of Voldemort's other Horcruxes.
"Shiny!"
Hermione stood there, looking around, but the small House Elf never appeared.
"What on earth is going on?"
Across the room, the notebook fluttered and Hermione could see ink spread across the blank parchment even from her spot by the door.
I am the Master.
Hermione took a step forward, knowing that curiosity had killed many cats before her but still intrigued.
"Master of what, or whom?"
The first line disappeared and more words came to the page.
I am the Master Ward. My role is to help the Dragon.
Hermione frowned for a moment. She had heard something like that before. Her eyes fell to the Wards Map and she recalled how Minerva had finally taken on the role of Headmistress.
"What's the Dragon?"
The Dragon is the protector of Hogwarts. The Dragon is the Wards Master, or Mistress.
By this time Hermione was standing next to the notebook, watching the words has they appeared.
"Are you talking about Perseus Draconis?"
Perseus Draconis was the original Dragon of Hogwarts. He was the one who designed this system, based on the instructions of the Founders.
"And who's the Dragon now?"
There is currently no Dragon.
"Then why were you in that box with my name on it?"
This time, it took a while longer for the answer to come and Hermione found herself sitting next to the journal when the first word started to appear.
The Castle has reported the failure of many wards due to an attack. It also reported you were tasked with trying to repair them. It was deemed necessary to give you as much help as possible given that you are still a student.
"You know I'm a student?"
Hermione Jean Granger. Born 19th September 1979. Muggle-born. Gryffindor. Top of class from September 1991 to June 1997. Eleven OWLs, ten 'Outstanding' and one 'Exceed Expectations'. NEWTs pending. Prefect. Head Girl recommendation.
"Head Girl recommendation?"
This record is currently sealed as request is made by a student.
Hermione shook her head and slowly extended Walnut over the notebook, casting detection spells over the notebook. The result was mystifying in its complexity, but Hermione was fairly certain that this was neither a Horcrux nor a Dark object of some kind.
"So you're supposed to help me with the School Wards?"
As and when it is possible, and within the limits defined by the Founders.
"Limits?"
You are not the Dragon. As such, you cannot access a number of the features and benefits that are available through me. You were however designated by the Headmistress to deal with the wards until such a time as Hogwarts is back to full power. This assignment was seconded by the Deputy Headmaster and the Heads of House. It is now my duty to help you as much as possible within the limits set out for my use by one other than the Dragon.
Hermione pinched the bridge of her nose for a moment, still not entirely sure about what was happening but also unwilling to let the opportunity pass.
"Alright, can you tell me what you could do for the Dragon?"
I am the Master Ward, came the reply after a beat. The entirety of the School Wards can be controlled through me. My purpose is to help the Dragon monitor for potential threat to the Castle and its inhabitants.
"Can I reset the Wards by using you?" Hermione asked suddenly.
This privilege is reserved to the Dragon.
Hermione sighed and let her head fall in her hands. It would have been too easy, of course.
"Then could you tell me how to reset them without using this privilege? Because otherwise, the school won't be able to open."
Once more, the reply did not come immediately.
The plan you discussed with the Deputy Headmaster would be the best option at this moment in time. I am allowed to show you the essential wards needed by the Castle. Together, we can work on splitting the arrays sufficiently to prevent any ward master working for the Castle from learning of the intricacies of the defenses. Basic protections may be put in place until Halloween.
During each of the holiday, the wards masters can come back to work on more sections until the School Wards are back to full power. The Castle is reasonably certain you can be trusted with the full knowledge of the Wards. Given this and the Heads of the school's recommendations, I will stay your helper for the duration.
Hermione read carefully the plan as outlined by the Master. It was probably a good thing that the journal was telling her now that the first plan she had thought of was impossible. But she was still annoyed that it would have been possible if only…
"Why isn't there a Dragon at Hogwarts right now?"
The last Dragon was Perseus Draconis. The tradition was not continued after his death.
"Tradition?"
The Dragon was supposed to be the third part of the Triumvirate leading Hogwarts. The Head of School to deal with parents, legalities, public relations, and general administrative issues, the Deputy to deal with everything related to the staff and the students, and the Dragon to protect them all.
"And why did this not happen?"
The tradition was not continued.
Hermione frowned at the repetition.
"What happened to Perseus Draconis?"
I do not own this piece of knowledge, came the reply after a beat.
"Alright, then what happened with the Founders after Draconis's death?"
I do not own this piece of knowledge.
Hermione sighed as this confirmed a sneaky suspicion she had. The Master Ward, just like the Castle and the Wards Map, was only semi-sentient. It hadn't been much of a guess. The only objects she had ever come across that were actually sentient were the Horcruxes, and she had already established this was not what it was. With a shake of her head, Hermione finally stood and paced in front of her fireplace.
"I need to speak with the Headmistress about all this."
Only you will have access to all the tools of the Dragon.
"Tools of the Dragon?"
The Castle, the Wards Map, and the Master Ward are the tools of the Dragon.
"But the Head of the school can always control the Castle."
Only legitimate Heads have the power to request anything from the Castle. The Castle has the option to refuse a request if it believes it would interfere with the protection of the school.
"But the Headmistress has made that request!"
And it was assessed to benefit the school, and thus the tools of the Dragon were loaned to you.
Hermione threw her hands in the air. "How come you don't know what happened to your creator, but you know enough to argue with me on this?"
I was created to be the main tool of the Dragon. I am part teacher, part advisor. All the Founders - Ravenclaw and Gryffindor, Hufflepuff and Slytherin, and Draconis - all left behind something of them to power the magic of the tools of the Dragon. I am as close to sentient as an inanimate object can get without stepping over the lines of forbidden magics.
Hermione huffed loudly and shook her head once more.
"Fine. Only I can use you. But can I at least talk about all this with the Headmistress? Because I can guarantee you, she doesn't know anything about all this."
I am not entirely surprised about this. I assume many secrets were lost altogether over the centuries. You may speak about what I have told you. You cannot demonstrate me to anyone.
Hermione acquiesced with a nod, rubbing her forehead as she went.
"I need to be able to get out though."
Even as she said this, she felt the Wards shifting. Hermione went to sit in her armchair, slowly levitating the Map and the Master Ward on the coffee table in front of her.
"Shiny?"
The House Elf popped out of thin air by her side. Hermione sighed again as she looked at the diminutive Elf.
"Could you please go to the Headmistress? Tell her I need to see her here as soon as possible. It's not life threatening, but it's still urgent."
The Elf nodded and disappeared with a snap of her fingers, and Hermione leaned back in her seat to wait.
.:/*\:.
The knock at the door was very much expected although Hermione didn't think the Headmistress would leave before the end of dinner, as she had evidently done. Hermione rose to her feet and walked to open the door. She wasn't that surprised to see Professor Snape with the Headmistress. The presence of Harry and Ron was a bit more unexpected.
"Should I have said to Shiny to precise there was no real danger involved?"
The Headmistress's small smile let her know that everything was fine, and the younger witch stepped aside to let her guests in. With a wave of her hand, Hermione summoned enough tea cups for everyone and settled them on her coffee table along with tea and biscuits.
"I see that you have improved your wandless and wordless magic, Miss Granger," the Headmistress said with a rather proud smile.
"I've had good teachers," Hermione smiled, if a bit tiredly, at the two Professors who were present. "And I think that Walnut and Quebracho are helping out somehow?"
"Walnut and Quebracho?"
"My wands," Hermione explained. "One is made of walnut, the other of quebracho. Very unoriginal names, I know, but I haven't had the time to think of better ones."
Hermione sat in her favorite armchair. Professor Snape lost no time claiming the other armchair, leaving the Headmistress, Ron, and Harry to sit together on the sofa. Hermione bit her tongue hard to stop from laughing at the uncomfortable looks on the boys' faces.
"You said there was something urgent you wished to discuss, Miss Granger."
"It has just come to my attention that, although a reset ward does exist, I will not be able to access it. As such, we need to implement plan B immediately."
"And how do you know that?" Professor Snape said with a frown.
Hermione pointed at the notebook and the Wards Map laying on the coffee table.
"As you know, Headmistress, Madam Pince found a small chest bearing the Hogwarts crest and my name this morning. It appears that, when you charged me with studying the wards to find how best to repair them, the Castle activated a long-forgotten resource. This notebook is the Master Ward. From what I understand, it was created by the Founders to help control the School Wards. I was given minimal powers over the Wards through it. There is a great deal I cannot do, such as activating the reset ward. However, I should be able to devise a plan of action to get all the necessary wards up and running as long as you provide enough wards masters for me to direct."
Professor Snape went to pick up the Master Ward and the protections around the journal swiftly kicked into place, preventing the Potion Master from touching it.
"Yes," Hermione sighed. "That is one problem. Because I was charged with supervising the wards repairs, the Master Ward can only be used by me."
The young witch reached for the journal in turn and the shield melted away at her hand's approach. She picked up the small notebook and set it on her lap.
"So you are the only one able to use this notebook?"
"Yes, Headmistress. The Master Ward let me know in no uncertain terms that it was an exception and I would not have access to many of the benefits that are the privileges of its true wielder, but I am still the only one deemed good enough."
"How, Miss Granger?" Professor Snape asked suddenly.
"Sir?"
"How did that notebook told you that?"
"If you are wondering if this might be a Horcrux, the answer is no. I have been around enough Horcruxes over the last year to be able to tell one from a Charmed object. I did cast every Dark magic detection spells I knew and they all came back negative. You're welcome to use your own expertise, Professor."
The Potion Master looked for a moment as if he would do just that, but then he settled back against his seat.
"I suppose I'll trust your knowledge on this one."
Hermione couldn't help but smile. "I shall take that as a compliment, Professor, whether you meant it as one or not."
"Well, Miss Granger," the Headmistress said after finishing her tea, "I suppose I should go and try to find us as many wards masters as I can."
"I'll start to split the wards down to manageable chunks tomorrow. It was intimated to me that I should make sure no one but me knows the complete layout of the School Wards."
"I'll be very grateful if you follow that piece of advice, Miss Granger. And please let me know if there is something that needs to be done to make sure everything goes smoothly when the Wards are re-cast."
Hermione nodded and the Headmistress stood, followed by her Deputy Head. Hermione walked the two teachers to her door and they exchanged goodbyes before the young witch close the door behind them.
"This is so cool, Hermione," Harry said. "It's like you've just been given some kind of super powers."
"It's not quite that simple, Harry."
"Oh, come on! You can communicate with the Castle through that notebook. I bet you could ask it to transform the Great Hall into the Room of Requirement and the Castle would actually do it."
"That would have been kinda useful back in our Fifth Year," Ron commented.
The three Gryffindors exchanged looks and started laughing. Hermione plunked herself in between her two best friends.
"I've been so busy the last few weeks that I'm not even sure what's happening with the two of you."
"That's all right, Hermione," Harry said as he leaned sideways and gently knocked her shoulder with his own. "We both know that you're doing something far more important with the Wards than we can even understand."
"But I haven't seen you boys apart from at meal time and soon enough you'll be off to Auror training."
"Don't worry, 'Mione," Ron said with a smile. "So we might have to spend the next year apart. But I'm pretty sure we'll be able to wrangle some exceptions to the rules from the Headmistress and the Ministry so we can still hang out from time to time."
"You want me to ask Minerva McGonagall for special treatment? You have got to be out of your mind, Ron."
"She'd do it. You always were her favorite."
Hermione laughed and the rest of the evening was spent catching up. And for the first time in what felt - and probably was - years, Hermione truly felt like the teenager she was, talking through the night about random facts with her best friends.
.:/*\:.
Author's Note: There you go. Another chapter for you guys. I wasn't quite expecting this much action from my readers. It's only a short chapter, but it needed to be.
*Holds out a very large plate of freshly-baked, chocolate chip cookies*
Come on, guys. You deserve it. You can have a cookie for each review you've left me, one if you've followed Path of Power, and another one if you've made this story one of your favorite.
The next chapter will really only come in two to three weeks this time. I'm preparing for a course launch, and I really need to finish editing my novel.