Shadows of Conquest
Summary: Hidden in the texts of the Millennium Tome is a Ritual which looks like it could end Voldemort once and for all.
Chapter Three
Hermione's parents were relatively easy for Seto to find. They had left a paper trail. What had taken him the longest in locating her parents was going through the official channels. He could've found them in a day or two if he hacked the different databases. If he got shot down when trying to do things legally, he would've gone the hackers route. He was trying to change. He didn't want to go the illegal route every time he wanted something done. He would only go the illegal route if it were something truly important. To him, family was the most important thing in the world. He could see that Hermione truly cared for her parents, even if he didn't approve of her method. He couldn't say that he wouldn't do the same thing she'd done if it would keep Mokuba safe.
He was glad Hermione had a mobile phone. It made it easier to communicate with her than some other wizards. She'd been excited to learn their location and had a flight booked for Harry and herself before she'd even got off the phone.
KC
Harry and Hermione were once again in front of his Aunt and Uncles home. His aunt once again had Iris and her other friends over.
"Did we come at a bad time?" Harry asked. "We can come back later."
"Don't be silly and come inside." Petunia scolded him. "Your uncle is at work; Dudley is upstairs. It's nice to see you again Hermione."
"Likewise." Hermione smiled.
"Is that a ring I see on your finger?" Iris gushed. Running over and examining the ring. "Oh isn't that a lovely ring. Stones set in the shape of a rose. You two are engaged? Oh isn't she a good catch. You've done well."
"Yes, it's what we came to tell you Aunt Petunia," Harry told her.
Petunia took Hermione's hand from Iris and smiled while looking at the ring. "It was my mother's ring. Where did you find it? I thought it was lost when your parents cottage burnt down." Petunia told Iris.
"It was in my parents vault. I've only recently gained access to it." Harry told his aunt. "I didn't realise; I thought everything in the vault was Potter family heirlooms. It's the ring that I felt suited Hermione the best."
"That ring is a precious heirloom from my mother's family," Petunia told him. "You better look after it and you better look after Harry. Better than I could ever look after him myself. Harry, she's a keeper, look after her, respect her, honour her."
"I will. She's the most precious thing to me." Harry told his aunt.
Everyone turned as they heard Dudley and his friend Piere thumping down the stairs.
"Harry," Dudley shouted. "It's good to see you. What brings you here?"
"I'll leave you be to celebrate," Iris told Petunia. The other woman congratulated Hermione and Harry on the way out.
Iris let herself out.
"What's going on?" Piere asked looking at a happy Iris leaving.
"This is Hermione, Harry's fiancé," Petunia told the two boys.
"Hermione, this is my cousin Dudley and his best friend, Piere. I've known him all my life."
"This is Hermione Granger; she went to school with me. I didn't go to St Brutus; I went to a special boarding school in Scotland for Gifted Children."
"Gifted in what?" Piere asked. "Being freaky, like turning the teacher's hair blue."
Petunia looked nervous and Harry and Dudley both shared a look.
"Something like that," Dudley replied. "I was jealous I couldn't go, which is why I made up that story."
KC
Harry and Hermione ended up having dinner with his family and Piere. Vernon hadn't been impressed at first but took a liking to Hermione despite her being a witch. Especially when he learnt her parents were dentists. Well off dentists. Dentists who used drills. Hermione knew a lot about dentist drills. Vernon was all too happy to talk about the drills he sold for a living.
"My parents have been living in Australia the past couple of years. Tomorrow Harry and I have a flight booked to see my parents." Hermione told him. "I haven't been to Australia before so I'm looking forward to the trip."
"Do you have a date planned?" Petunia asked.
"Not yet. It depends on when Hermione's parents can return to England."
Harry found he got along with Piere a lot better than when they'd been younger. He'd matured a lot in the past couple of years and was working in London. He was just visiting for the weekend. Dudley was doing well with his study.
KC
Seto had a short business trip to England, unrelated to the Horcruxes or anything else happening in the magical world. His work didn't stop for magic. He took the chance to escape from the office. He parked his car and smiled as he walked into the graveyard. Wanting to visit his father at least once during his time in England. He found that he wasn't alone for who did he find standing and chatting in front of one of the graves?
"We seem to have a habit of running into each other, I'm not going to get kidnapped this time am I?" He startled the two teenagers.
"Kaiba, it's a pleasure to see you again, and looking so well" Miss Granger greeted him.
"And hopefully under better circumstances this time." Harry laughed. No Death Eaters this time I hope. It's s a bright sunny day instead of a dark, gloomy night this time. Maybe that's all we need to keep the Death Eaters at bay."
"Ah yes, I've only just managed to get my little brother to allow me to go around unchaperoned again, the last thing I need is for them to hold me captive another four months." Kaiba chuckled.
Except for the fact, he was never fully alone anymore. He now had a permanent resident in his head who was currently admiring Hermione and telling him how she'd make a suitable girlfriend if she weren't engaged to Harry.
'Will you knock that off,' he reprimanded the spirit. 'I don't need you trying to set me up with every girl that's apparently your type. I'm sure you're two wives would be upset with you if they were here.'
'Someone has to do it for you. You've somehow managed to suppress all romantic feelings. Besides Mana would agree with me. She used to attempt to get me to increase the harem beyond herself and Isis.'
"I'm sorry if this is too personal but who is it you're visiting?" Harry asked.
"My father, he passed away in an accident when I was a child."
"Hermione and I are both visiting my parents; they were murdered by Vol..."
"Honestly Harry, how many times do I have to warn you about tracking charm on his name." Hermione scolded her friend.
He smirked at the pair before him. "I think you should say his name. In his weaken stated I'm sure we'd be able to take him out again as well as the remainder of his Death Eaters."
Harry stared at him for a moment before he broke down laughing and he managed to get a smile our of Hermione as well.
"In any case, I'd prefer to be more prepared before laying out a trap for You-Know-Who," Hermione grinned. "And I don't particularly desire to fight Death Eaters tonight. We have a flight planned for tomorrow."
'Pity she'd make a nice wife. Those two have a strong bond that would be hard to break. Not that I want to break anyone up. True love is too precious.' The spirit said sadly.
"What about your mother, is she still alive?" Harry asked.
"My mother died two years earlier than my father," he told them. "Mother is buried in Japan."
"Sorry to hear that." Hermione apologised.
"It was a long time ago," Seto replied. "Speaking of parents, I wish you well during your trip and your visit."
"Ah yes. Thank you very much for helping me find them." Hermione thanked him once again. She'd thanked him every single time they'd spoken on the phone in the past few months.
"I'll see you before the ritual." He told the pair and continued to his father's grave.
Harry and Hermione waved before disparting out of the cemetery.
KC
Hermione was nervous about seeing her parents again. She was grateful to Kaiba for finding them. How long had it been? Too long. She was nervous about how her parents would react. She'd wiped their memories without their permission. She wanted to protect them. Would they see it that way? It had been over two years, close to three since she last saw her parents. A lot could've changed in that time; she didn't know what to expect.
"Everything's going to be fine," Harry took her hand.
"First time flying?" the air hosted asked.
"Oh, no, just a lot on my mind." Hermione smiled. "We recently got engaged. It's the first time my parents will have seen Harry since we were twelve. First time in three years that I will see my parent's."
"Congratulations," the air hostess smiled. "I'm sure you have nothing to worry about."
"That's what I keep telling Hermione." Harry smiled towards his fiancé.
"Thank you." Hermione smiled at the hostess, still nervous."
She had a long flight ahead of her to think about her parents, Harry doing his best to keep her distracted.
KC
Hermione held Harry's hand tightly as they walked from the bus stop outside the house Kaiba had got her the address of. They'd spent a few days in Australia playing tourist and adjusting to the time difference before paying Hermione's parents a visit. She wanted to be well rested before the emotional visit. It has been a long time since she'd last seen them. Too long. She'd been rather surprised when she'd found toddlers play equipment out the front of the house. She gulped nervously. Would they even want her back if they'd had another child? How odd would it be to have a sibling that would be closer in age to her's and Harry's future child than herself? Would she still feel like an only child with such a big age gap?
"What if the reject me?" She asked Harry while pacing in front of the house. "Don't you dare ring the doorbell!"
Harry just smiled as his nervous wreck of a fiancé.
"What if they reject you after they get their memories back?"
"They're going to hate me. What sort of daughter erases her own parents memories."
She didn't even notice he door to the house had opened. Harry watched in amusement, wondering how long it would take Hermione to realise.
"One who doesn't think they would understand what's going on in the magical world. A girl who is only trying to protect her family from said magical world. One who's left to protect the one she loves in said the magical world." Dr Granger said from the entrance way. Hermione stood and stared. "The spell you put on your mother and I wore off in the first four months." Her father told. "We've been waiting for you to come or a confirmation that your war is over. So everything's done now? No more war?"
"You remember. I'm so sorry. Not quiet, war is very close to done." Hermione cried.
"Everything fine sweetheart." Dr Granger hugged his blubbering daughter. "Why don't you and Harry come in. I'm assuming this young man is Harry."
"Yes, sir," Harry replied.
"Hermione's told us all about you." He lead the two young adults into the house calling for Jean, who was in the kitchen.
"Hermione." She cried out. "I thought I would never see you again." She hugged her daughter. "And you must be Harry. Hermione has told us so much about you."
"It's a pleasure to meet you both," Harry replied. "Hermione's told me a lot about the both of you as well."
"So what is with all the baby gear?" Curiosity getting the better of Hermione. She didn't see or hear an actual child around."
"Your mother runs a home daycare three days a week." Her father replied.
"We've used the opportunity to try different things then dentistry." Jean continued.
Hermione was relieved and disappointed at the same time to find out she was still an only child. She listened eagerly as her parents told her and Harry what they'd been doing since they arrived in Australia.
The time arrived and it was finally time for them to fill her parents in on what they'd been doing. Hermione didn't leave anything out. Telling them about the Horcrux hunt, Ron, what was happening in the magical world. The two recent defeats of Voldemort, not mentioning his name of course. Bringing them up to the ritual and their decision to marry and become the parents of Voldemort. A lot more than they'd told the Weasleys and Harry's aunt.
"And this is the only way to remove this Horcrux from Harry and the young girl?" Jean asked.
Hermione replied. "It's not the only way, just the safest way. After spending so much time with Harry, we'd be getting married anyway."
"I can't say I'm not surprised, your father and I were more surprised when you started dating Ron." Jean pointed out.
"Rons a good friend," Hermione replied. "I'm glad to say that us dating didn't cause a rift between us. If anything, it has brought us closer."
Hermione's mother was quick to start the wedding plans and introducing her to their new Aussie friends. Harry spent a lot of time with his future father-in-law while in Australia.