A/N: J. K. Rowling said that how magic works in the Harry Potter books is Alchemy based, so I'm taking that and running with it in how magic works in this story. Maria is from Fritz Lang's film, Metropolis.
Also, there are some femmeslashy elements, but when one considers Metamorphmagi, who can change their gender like the rest of us change clothes, most definitions of sexuality and even sexual identity go out the window with them.
Chapter Eight
Thelema
"I insist that in private life men should not admit their passions to be an end, indulging them and so degrading themselves to the level of the other animals, or suppressing them and creating neuroses. I insist that every thought, word and deed should be consciously devoted to the service of the Great Work. 'Whatsoever ye do, whether ye eat or drink, do all to the glory of God'"
-Aleister Crowley
It had been a strange week.
The muggle newspapers had reported a freak, very centralized, storm around a bridge in London. With all the mist, visibility was so bad that authorities had to close off the bridge until the storm had passed. Meteorologists had no explanation for the isolated, and completely unpredicted, storm, which dissipated as suddenly as it had begun.
That same day, the Daily Prophet reported a Death Eater attack on a London bridge being successfully repulsed, but the details were classified by the Ministry, except that there were no civilian casualties. Rumors of an assassination attempt on DMLE Head Amelia Bones and failed Death Eater attacks in Diagon Alley were neither confirmed nor denied by the Ministry. What would be surprising news by the end of the week was Fudge's replacement as Minister for Magic. Bones had been the expected choice, but she turned the job down. Instead, the new Minister was the Head of the Auror Department, Rufus Scrimgeour.
What struck Hermione was the magically moving photo of the new Minister at the press conference. His expression, his body language, the way he worded his answers, were not those of a man who'd had such a triumphant week. No, he seemed like a man for whom the situation had gotten much worse, and was maintaining a stiff upper lip.
The Prophet reported that Albus Dumbledore had no comment.
Hermione had breakfast with her parents. She'd been invited to spend the Summer with the Weasleys at the Burrow. And, she likely would have accepted the invitation if it hadn't been for the events of the last two weeks, leading to her appointment that day to meet the notorious Andromeda Black-Tonks. If the meeting went well, it would alter her Summer plans, completely. Her parents were pleased she'd be staying with them for a little while, at least.
"We miss our daughter," her mother had said. "We hardly see her, any more."
Hermione felt guilty over that. She thought back on how she had become so distant, almost a stranger to her parents. It had started back in First Year, when she began omitting details in her letters home. Things had gotten dangerous, and she didn't want to worry them. Her Third Year saw Dumbledore inform her she could tell them even less. The Summer after that, she'd been invited to the Quidditch World Cup. While she had no love for the game, it was a major event of the Wizarding world, so she wanted to attend. The next Summer, Dumbledore had insisted she needed to spend at the Headquarters of the Order of the Phoenix for safety reasons, with Voldemort back. He insisted that it was best she tell her parents nothing more than she was spending the Summer with her wizard friends. The less they knew, the better. In fact, he told her, she needed to consider that it might be best for them to not know they ever had a daughter. They were just helpless muggles, after all...
She'd become conditioned to never being home, never spending any time in the world where she'd spent her childhood. She understood the reasons given to her, but her estrangement from her family, from her own culture, was something she had to think about. But, she had so many things to think about...
One thing Hermione had thought a great deal about was what Harry had told her after his conversation with Luna in the hallway... after they'd gotten over the awkwardness of the naked incident... the secret he shared with her. He said he had planned to keep it to himself, to keep his friends out of danger, but he decided to tell her. Hermione would have to thank Luna, later, as she was sure the Ravenclaw had suggested that Harry tell her everything.
Nymphadora Tonks arrived, right on schedule, to take Hermione to the meeting with her mother, Andromeda.
"Wotcher, Hermione!"
"Hi. These are my parents, Dr. Apollo Granger and Dr. Helen Granger. Mum, Dad, this is Dora."
"Pleased to meet you."
Dora's hair was black, today, and she had dressed more conservatively than usual. Hermione realized it was because Dora was meeting her parents for the first time.
Dora had been one of the things that made last Summer's stay in the grim old place that was the Order of the Phoenix's headquarters bearable. While Nymphadora hated her name, its meaning, 'Gift of the Nymphs,' fit her, Hermione thought. She was like a Nymph... or what Hermione imagined Nymphs to be like, at any rate... Full of life, fun, a little mysterious. She kept Hermione and her friends entertained with her shape-shifting abilities, and was always joking. She had a sparkle in her eyes that always made Hermione feel a bit better during those bleak days.
Hermione made a silent prayer to whatever deity that was listening that Dora never lost that sparkle.
After introductions and some small talk, where Dora utterly charmed Hermione's parents, they readied for their trip.
"First" said Dora, "I'll have to key you into the wards, since you might decide to visit, regularly. If you're gonna be there, a lot, it'll be better if we don't have to go to all the trouble of welcoming you, every time."
"Key me in? I've never had to do that anywhere else I've been."
"Mum's cautious to the point of full-scale paranoia. We're talking Mad-Eye Moody level, here. But, you know why. You've read her book. The Blacks have always specialized in securing homes. You remember Sirius's house... I'd say I grew up in the most secure building in magical Britain. And coming from an Auror, let me tell ya... I know my secure buildings."
"So, why didn't Sirius secure the Potter home?"
"Dunno... He may not have known how. He... really hated the family, according to Mum. He saw everything about it as bad... Threw out the baby with the bath water, y'know."
"But... Surely, knowing the best magical security measures is worth keeping."
"Some of 'em aren't on the Light Magic Approved List, either the Ministry's or Dumbledore's. That's why the Weasleys turned down my offer to upgrade the Burrow. One nice little trick Mum picked up in New Orleans has the issue of being what the Ministry classifies as Dark and being North American."
"What's wrong with being North American?"
"Different system, there. It's not just European based... There's African influences, Asian influences, and what was already there before the Europeans came. It's... very North American. Hell, even what's practiced depends on where in North America you happen to be. And, of course, the Technomagic... Speaking of which..."
Dora pulled a cylindrical object from her bag that looked somewhat familiar to Hermione, but she couldn't place it.
"Your family has embraced Technomagic?"
Dora laughed, and answered, "Who do you think developed a lot of it? Besides the North Americans and Japanese, that is?"
"Your parents?"
"Dad, especially. And hey, lots of his fellow Ravenclaws working with us... Xeno comes up with some of the most creative ideas..."
"Technomagic is driving the Ministry of Magic insane. They're talking about taking more steps, since keeping it off the open market isn't getting rid of it."
"Yeah, we figured they would. Let 'em try..."
Dora pushed a button on the device, and it emitted a specific sound. Now, Hermione remembered what was familiar about it.
"A sonic screwdriver?" she asked.
"Not really... But Dad and Xeno are big Dr. Who fans, so when they made this, that's what they based it on. I mean, since the Tardis works like our tents and bags with being bigger on the inside than they are on the outside, they'd have to love it, right?"
"What's it do?" Hermione asked as Dora began scanning up and down her body.
"Lots of things... But now, it's analyzing your magical core. We'll add the results to the wards, and presto! The house will allow you in without one of us telling it to."
"If the Ministry were to make development or possession of Technomagic devices illegal... What would you do? As an Auror?"
"I'd resign and they'd just have to classify me as a dark witch. We'd move a lot of our operations overseas, but we'd make the house Unplottable. No way Mum and Dad are giving up that house with all the work they've put into it... And, it's not like the Ministry could ever identify me on the street if I don't want to be identified. What good's a picture on a Wanted poster when you're hunting a Metamorphmagus? OK, you ready?"
"Yes."
"Take my hand."
It was Hermione's first time Apparating. She understood she'd eventually get used to it.
"Wow, I'm impressed," said Dora. "I figured I was gonna have to clean up some barf."
"Maybe... it's just... delayed barfing..."
"Breathe."
"OK..."
Hermione took a few deep breaths, and got her bearings. Then, she got a good look at where they were.
They stood beside a wall made of large textile blocks, with patterns carved into them. The wall was connected to a large metal gate with the same patterns. This was the entrance to the grounds. Hermione could see there were woods outside the gate. There were also quite a few trees on the grounds leading to the house.
"My parents named the estate Thelema," said Dora. "It means, roughly, will, wish, purpose, choice, desire... You get the idea."
It was clearly a large house, but Hermione couldn't tell how large because it seemed to be emerging from the hill it sat on, looking like it had grown naturally from it, like the surrounding trees. She couldn't tell where the hill ended and the house began.
"Mum and Dad loved the work of Frank Lloyd Wright, so they had the design based on a couple of his. They liked his holistic approach to architecture and how it should be applied to living."
Yes, Hermione could see the style in the house's design.
If the house looked imposing and intimidating from a distance, it looked even more so the closer they came to it. Hermione was reminded of a large temple. She figured it had to reflect the personality of it's Mistress, as her impression of Ted Tonks based on both Dora's descriptions and Andromeda's book was that of an easygoing sort. It looked... perfect for a master Alchemist.
There was a number of large clay statues in what Hermione recognized as a style popular before World War II populating both the grounds and the columnade at the top of the steps leading to the front door.
"The statues are lovely," she said.
"They're golems Mum made with the help of some artist friends. They're part of the security, and art. Sure, there have been plenty of golems over the centuries, but how many Art Deco ones? Mum loves Art Deco. The furnishings are Art Deco. It does go well with the design of the house."
Dora paused before opening the front door to give Hermione a warning.
"Oh, and you're gonna see a lot of things you're not used to seeing, so don't freak out over the boa constrictor. He's very sweet."
"The what?"
Sure enough, after they entered what Dora said her dad called the front room and her mum called the front parlor, a large boa constrictor slithered in to greet them.
"Wotcher, Seth!"
The snake hissed, nodded, and slithered out of the room.
"Seth's gone to tell Mum we're here."
"Why does she have a pet boa constrictor?"
"Well, you know how, when you're a kid, you want a pet that you don't get?"
"When she was a little girl, she wanted a boa constrictor?"
"Yeah, but it wasn't on the approved list for pets at Hogwarts... Again, Seth's a sweetie... Though Mum did make me promise that if I caught Wormtail, to bring him here."
"What would that have to do with the snake... Oh!"
There was a pop, and Hermione found herself faced with... the best dressed house elf she'd ever seen, wearing a very well cut suit and tie.
"Wotcher, Jeeves!" Dora greeted.
"Greetings, Mistress Nymphadora and Miss Granger. Mistress Andromeda is awaiting you in the study. Tea and refreshments will be served."
Hermione turned to Dora, and asked, "You have a house elf?" And a well dressed one with a good vocabulary, at that?
"Madame," said Jeeves, "I am not a house elf. I am a brownie."
"Oh! So... You're a free elf?"
"I have never been enslaved, Miss Granger. I came to this family directly from the Seelie Court. I haven't been subjected to the enchantments my unfortunate brethren were."
With that, the brownie popped back out. Dora and Hermione made their way to the study.
The study was a large room that served as a combination library and office. The walls were lined with bookshelves, and Hermione hoped she'd get the opportunity to explore them. In the corner was Andromeda's desk, with state of the art computer equipment that looked out of place with the 1930s design of the rest of the room, and even the desk it sat on.
Sitting on a large chair beside a coffee table, with Seth curled on the floor beside her, was the woman Hermione had come to meet.
She resembled Bellatrix Lestrange, which made sense. Her hair was a dark brown, her eyes an intense blue-grey, not as heavily lidded as her sister Bella's, with thin, arched, brows. She was dressed casually, but barefoot. Her ring finger on her left hand had a simple gold wedding band. The one on the ring finger of her right hand was more elaborate, with interlocking triangles forming a hexagram. She rose.
"Hello, Hermione. My daughter's told me so much about you. It's a pleasure to meet you, at last."
"Thanks, Mrs. Tonks... Or do you prefer Mrs. Black-Tonks? Or..."
"Call me Andy. Everyone else does. Except Ted, he calls me Dromeda. Oh, and the people who call me all sorts of rude names... But they don't matter. Have a seat," said her hostess, motioning to the couch near the coffee table.
Jeeves arrived with the promised tea and refreshments. After Andy thanked him, he withdrew so they could begin their talk.
"Dora told me about your stand on house elves. I approve."
"Thank you... No one else seems to..."
"Some do. With others... This was the culture they were raised in. They don't know any better. I didn't know any better until I stepped outside of that culture. In my family, we were taught to treat them well, be kind to them, but we never thought about the fact that we were enslaving an intelligent species."
"The Blacks? Um, I don't mean any offense about your family..."
"None taken. Obviously, I disagreed with them on some key issues. And my Aunt Walbuga was psychotic. Whatever you have to say about her, I'm certain I've said worse."
"OK... But, about being kind to them... I've been to Sirius's house, and they had house elf heads mounted on the walls going back generations."
"Oh, that. Yes, I can see how that must have looked... That's our Celtic roots. While in modern times putting someone's head on display is disrespectful, to the ancient Celts it was seen as honoring someone. The head was an object of veneration. So, to the family, they were honoring the house elves who'd served that home. But, it would look pretty gruesome to anyone who doesn't know the reason. As much as I loathe my dearly departed Aunt Walburga, she wouldn't have tolerated the way I'm told Lucius Malfoy treats house elves. I'm very disappointed in Cissy for allowing it."
Hermione considered that, and thought of the harsh treatment of Kreacher by Sirius. Part of what Dora talked about when she said Sirius threw the baby out with the bath water where his family was concerned.
"But," Hermione said, "you don't have a house elf. You have a brownie."
"I suspect Jeeves thinks of it as he has us, but yes. You see the difference."
"Yes, but... how did this difference come about?"
"What do you know of house elves?"
"Frustratingly little. There's not much in the books... I was able to figure out they were once known as brownies, but their behavior didn't quite fit what I read of the brownies when they were part of the Seelie Court... Well, I guess brownies are still part of the Seelie Court..."
"What were you told when you asked about their enslavement?"
"That they like to work... And from the free house elf I know, that's definitely the case... The argument I was given was that if we freed them, they'd lose what they love to do. I'm told they like being slaves. But... Harry told me about how they act when they consider doing something that puts them... at odds with their master. The free elf I mentioned used to belong to Lucius Malfoy. Malfoy was doing something that would harm a lot of students at Hogwarts, and Dobby... That's the house elf... felt the need to act. But, helping us was hard on him. Harry said he kept hurting himself, ironed his hands even... I think I can safely assume he didn't love to do that. Harry tricked Malfoy into freeing him. Malfoy tried to attack Harry as a result, but Dobby knocked him on his arse."
"Ha! I wish I'd been there to see it. But, that's what we have Pensieves for..."
Hermione was amused at the thought of asking Harry for that particular memory, and said, "I can picture asking him... 'Harry, I need you to place a memory in the Pensieve' 'Well, Hermione, I know it must be important, or you wouldn't ask. Which one?' 'The one where you freed Dobby and he knocked Lucius on his arse.' 'But Hermione, why? Is there something that happened there that will help us defeat Voldemort?' 'No, I just want to see Dobby knock Lucius on his arse.'"
Dora and Andy laughed, with Dora adding, "Spot on Harry impersonation."
Andy said, "I'd imagine Harry has a very loyal friend in this house elf."
"Very," said Hermione. "He works at Hogwarts, now... Gets paid... And he has been incredibly helpful to us. He helped Harry during the Tri-Wizard Tournament, told us about the Room of Requirement..."
"It would seem having his free will has made him better at his job and far more loyal, wouldn't you say?"
"Well, yes, but his job performance isn't the issue..."
"It is when you consider the reason wizards enslaved an intelligent species. Brownies would choose a household, and do what they do. All they wanted in return was a small offering... They're especially fond of dairy products and honey... and to be treated with respect. Well, that was apparently asking too much of wizards... The reasoning was brownies didn't distinguish between magi and muggles. They'd help whatever family they chose. Now, one would think they would have simply informed the brownies of the importance of keeping magic secret when the Statutes were introduced... But that wasn't the only issue. You see, when you disrespect brownies, they naturally get offended. They'd either leave the household or, if they were really offended, prank the offender. The excuse the wizards used was enslaving them and cursing them with compulsions to harm themselves for considering disobedience was the only way to keep them under control. They used the Statutes of Secrecy as their justification."
"Even though the brownies were intelligent?"
"Have you seen the way our people treat other intelligent species?"
"Yes. Very recently, in fact... Umbridge," Hermione said the name through gritted teeth, "was being confronted by the centaurs, and just started insulting them... Really stupid of her, considering these were centaurs... She was going on about how the Ministry graciously allowed them to live in the Forbidden Forest... like that was their choice... and their, in her words, 'near human' intelligence... That one really set them off..."
"I imagine so. She's lucky to still be alive. In the old days, she wouldn't have been. There's a fountain at the Ministry that says everything you need to know about how our people view themselves, the world, and everything in it. It depicts a witch and wizard, looking heavenward with their wands raised, and a house elf, goblin, and centaur looking worshipfully, not at the heavens, but at the witch and wizard. Our culture firmly believes that to be the natural order of things, everything in it's proper place."
"How can they... possibly see it that way? I mean, I can see a few bigots like Umbridge, but most?"
"It's what they were taught, what their parents were taught before them, what their parents were taught before them, going back centuries, now. It's the way things have always been, they think. You are able to look at it from a different perspective, because you weren't raised in this culture. You see, and ask the challenging and inconvenient questions. That's the main reason for these Pureblood Supremacists, I think. They fear you. But, even people with the best of intentions, who just want the best for you, will try to get you to stop questioning, to just accept that the way things have been done for centuries is the natural order, the way it's always been, and always will be. They don't want to have to think about those questions."
"I... just find it so hard to believe how... willfully... ignorant people can be."
"Most in our culture are more ignorant than you think. For example... I'm going to ask you the first question my first great teacher asked me... Well, it was technically the second question he asked, but you get the idea... What can you tell me about Egyptian hieroglyphs?"
"Hieroglyph is a Greek word meaning 'sacred carving.' The symbols were used to create spells. The ancient Hebrews expanded on that, building a whole magical system using letters and numbers. Our modern system of creating and performing spells evolved from it."
"Very good. Now, how many of your fellow Hogwarts students know that? To give you an idea, think of how many other students are in your Arithmency and Ancient Runes classes, and how many study what they're not specifically required to for their classes on their own."
"Not very many."
"That's how it's been for generations. Do you understand Latin?"
"My parents are dentists, so I grew up with a lot of Medical terminology, which includes a lot of Latin. I thought it was a good language to learn. When Professor McGonagall told me about Hogwarts and demonstrated a spell, I noticed it was in Latin, so I brushed up before I started there."
"Then, you're already ahead of most of your Pureblood peers. Most of them don't understand Latin."
"How do they learn the spells?"
"Think about that. How are they taught?"
"We're told the incantation and... They're just memorizing them! We're taught by rote!"
Well, that explained why Ron had so much trouble picking them up.
"Exactly. We live in a culture where we're using these spells daily, and most of us have no real idea what it is we're doing. You only understand the very language of the spells you use if you were taught at home. Most don't understand spell construction or how the craft developed. Oh, do you like the scones?"
"They're delicious."
"I'll pass that on to Jeeves. Now, as you said, our entire system is based on that of the Hebrews. The name of their God is Yahweh. It was spelled with four letters. In Kabbalah, these four letters each represent one of the Four Elements of Earth, Air, Fire, and Water, the elements the Ancients believed everything to be made of in some combination. So, God is both Creator and Creation, and all of Creation, including ourselves, is a part of God. God conceived the Universe, spoke the Word, and his Will was made manifest. Understand, so far?"
"I'm following it."
"Anything we create is conceiving something, and making our will manifest, whether it's a building, a song... These scones are a manifestation of Jeeves's will. He took the elements of the ingredients, and created them. With magic, we conceive something, speak words, and make our wills manifest. That's tremendous power. The fact that we can do this means, I believe, that we have a special responsibility for how we behave, how we act, towards our fellow beings. Now, from your observations of our culture, how responsibly is it acting towards it's fellow beings?"
"Not very responsibly, at all."
"The freedom to manifest our will is the most basic right we have from birth. Now, with house elves, what has been done to their wills?"
"Their wills have been taken from them."
"The greatest crime, I think... all true crime is an extension of it... and by that I mean what victimizes others, not just things you do that many in the current society simply disapprove of... is interfering with the true will of someone else. What is your will? What do you want to do?"
"I... want to make the world a better place. I want the Wizarding world... Is there a less sexist term I could use? I mean, I'm not a wizard, I'm a witch."
"Magical world works... We are Magi... Though I prefer Magical society. It's not as though we're actually in a different world than the rest of Humanity."
"Thanks... I want the Magical society to be more just, fairer. I want the intelligent beings within it to have their inalienable rights to... manifest their wills, as you put it."
"Excellent. Very few even think about what their true will, the essence of their being, is. Many that do lose sight of it over the years, and fall off their Path. There are many methods to finding one's Path and navigating it. Alchemy is one of the best, I think, since it incorporates and unites so many others. Through Alchemy, we can understand our true wills, and bring them closer to the Divine Will. It is my will to teach it to you, if it is your will to learn it."
"Yes... I would like that... That is my will."
"Good. Let's work out a schedule, then. What are your other obligations, this Summer?"
"Well... The Weasleys invited me to spend the Summer with them, but that's not really an obligation. Though I do want to be there for Harry's birthday."
"Hmm... How often do you see your own family?"
"Not as often as I'd like... Professor Dumbledore's told me I need to break my ties from them completely, eventually."
"Really? Why?"
"They're muggles."
"And?"
"Professor Dumbledore said their world is no longer mine, that they're just muggles, and unimportant to my future, and that it's best for them that I not be part of their lives. He said that some muggles have to know about us, but that if too many did, they'd expect us to solve all their problems for them."
"Hmmph... As I said, we're not in a different world than the rest of Humanity. And this whole Master Race mentality... Honestly, we can't even solve our own problems... Yes, we can do things they can't, but have we travelled to the moon? No, we haven't. And culturally? What would most British muggles think of the enslavement of house elves?"
"Muggle Britain abolished slavery in the 1800s."
"Exactly. So which is the more enlightened culture? With the contempt we treat our fellow humans with, it's no wonder we treat non-human intelligent species the way we do... Are your parents good people?"
"Yes."
"Do you love them?"
"Yes. Very much."
"Do you want to keep them in your life?"
"Yes."
"Do they want you in their lives?"
"Yes... My mother just told me how much they miss me, how they hardly see me, any more..."
"Then, that settles it. Whatever else you do, make time for them... if that is your true will."
"It is."
"So... Dora, what is Hermione's will for this Summer?"
"Alchemy lessons with you, spending time with her parents, and Harry's birthday with the Weasleys. Did I get it all, Hermione?"
"I think so..."
"Good," said Andy. "I'll gather the tools she'll need, and you can give her a tour of the house since she'll be spending a lot of time here. Show her all the ways we have for her to indulge herself."
So, began the tour. Dora showed Hermione the dining room, where the ground floor bathrooms were, an exercise room, a game room, and two entertainment rooms. One had a grand piano. It seemed Andy was an excellent piano player, though Dora, herself, preferred playing the guitar. The other was a full scale state of the art muggle entertainment center with, Hermione was told, an excellent sound system.
"Your parents must be as rich as the Malfoys," said Hermione.
"Richer. Not much money to be made in the Magical community. There's only a few thousand Magi in Britain. Nah, the real money is to be made in the muggle community. Back in the mid-70s, a North American Fairy Queen we know strongly suggested Mum and Dad invest in a few little companies starting up, there. Apple, Microsoft, a few others... What can I say? She knew where the future was... Of course, she had a little to do with bringing it about."
After they stepped back in the hall, Dora led Hermione to a doorway. Beside it was a sign saying 'Watch your step.'
"We have lifts, but since I'm giving you the tour, we'll take the stairs."
The stairs led downward beneath the Earth's surface, and were dimly lit.
"Welcome to the Cave. Over here is the dungeon. It's fully functional, but hasn't seen much use. But, y'know, just in case..."
They continued down the hall, until they came to another door, which they entered.
"And this is were Mum works, besides the study. This is where you'll be doing most of your practical work. You'll see why I was so good at Potions during my Hogwarts years. I had a huge head start on just about everybody else."
It looked like a combination of a Potions classroom, a modern chemistry lab, a shrine, and a mad scientist's laboratory. Which, Hermione supposed, it was.
"And across from Mum's lab, we have Dad's lab. And currently in Dad's lab is Dad. Wotcher Dad. This is Hermione."
"Hello," the man said, shaking Hermione's hand. "I'm Ted."
Ted was a large man, sandy haired, with a trim beard. He looked so very... normal. Hermione thought it must have been a massive blow to the preening Lucius Malfoy's pride to lose Andy to him.
However normal Ted Tonks looked, however, he clearly was far from it judging from his lab, in some ways like his wife's, but much more mad scientist. The technology in the room was a mix of state of the art and archaic, though, given the sonic screwdriver based device she'd seen earlier, Hermione suspected the tesla coils and large switches were mainly for effect. The large beakers full of mysterious bubbly liquids were probably authentic, though.
What really caught her eye was something sitting in a chair against the wall. It looked like a gold, and female, robot. Not only that, but her elegant design fit those of the Art Deco golems, outside.
Ted said, "This is Maria."
The mechanical woman stood, and slowly approached. She watched Hermione for a moment before extending her hand. Hermione took it, feeling strange greeting a robot.
After leaving the lab, Dora led Hermione to another doorway at the end of the hall. Hermione heard the faint sound of a waterfall. She followed Dora through the doorway and found herself on a clockwise spiral staircase leading up, the sound of the waterfall getting closer. At the top of the staircase, they stepped into an oasis.
"This is the indoor garden," said Dora.
Walking down the path, looking at the beautiful tropical plants, the large glass ceiling, pixies fluttering here and there, Hermione didn't think of it so much as an indoor garden, but more as a small rain forest.
"Who takes care of all these plants?" Hermione asked.
"The pixies, mainly. One of Morgan's contributions."
"Luna's mother..."
"And my Godmother. Yeah, I had an authentic Fairy Godmother."
"So that's how you and Luna know each other so well."
"Yeah, we're pretty much sisters. Oh, do you know the role of a Godparent in our culture?"
"Is it different than in the muggle one?"
"Depends on what you define as 'the muggle one.' Hispanic Catholic muggles keep the old practice... The Godparents are like a second set of parents, which means they're going to be really close, since they are now your family. That's why Sirius was the way he was with Harry. With his natural parents dead, Sirius was Harry's father, the way the old families look at it."
Then, they got to where the waterfall was.
"And here's the swimming pool."
"That's... some swimming pool."
"Mum based it on the pond they had where she grew up, right down to, as you can see, the waterfall. But, since it's indoors, we can use it year round. Oh, they didn't have the tropical plants, of course... Mum and Dad just like 'em."
It was shaped like a natural pond, with rocks here and there serving the same purpose of steps in a normal swimming pool. Over what Hermione assumed was the deep end was a cliff jutting a few feet out, presumably for diving. A small stream flowed from the pool to a smaller and shallower collection of water, but still large enough to hold several people. The water, there, circulated like a muggle hot tub, so Hermione could guess what it's function was.
Hermione noticed a lot of mist at the waterfall, and a cave behind it.
"Where's the cave lead to?" she asked.
"Ahh... That's a secret. Morgan's other contribution."
Close to the pool and hot tub was a sitting area with tables, chairs, and plenty of towels. Beyond that was a sliding glass door, leading them back into the main ground floor hallway.
"This house..." Hermione said, "I could live here! How did you even manage to convince yourself to move out?"
"Well, y'know, wanting to be grown up and make it on my own... But you'll notice how often I'm here. Having my own flat is great and all, but it doesn't have the swimming pool..."
"Or the game room..."
"Or the media room..."
"Or Jeeves..."
"Especially Jeeves..."
Back in the study, they found Andy, Ted, Jeeves, and, of course, Seth, waiting for them. Ted had a large box.
"This is for you," he said to Hermione. "It's a Pensieve. Just read the instruction booklet, set it up, and you're ready to do some memory sorting."
"I... can't accept this... These are so rare... They must be expensive..."
"Dromeda and I made this one, ourselves. They're not really that expensive to make, and trust me, you'll need it."
Dora added, "Mum's gonna throw a lot of info at you. You'll want to be able to review it."
Hermione replied, "Well... Thank you... Thank you very much."
"Now," said Ted, "about transportation... Dora won't be able to come by and pick you up all the time, and you can't legally Apparate yet, even if you know how, so we made this."
He handed her a pendant with a specific design. Hermione recognized it. It was the Granger Coat of Arms.
"We had to do a little research to make sure we had the right Granger Coat of Arms... The Grangers have a few of them, depending on which branch... But, when you hold that, focus your will on this place, and say 'Thelema,' it will transport you here. And one more thing I need to do..."
Ted was holding the sonic screwdriver looking... thing.
"Hermione, if I could see your wand for a moment... And, Dora, if you could step out of the room, please?"
"Oh, yeah... Almost forgot..." Dora somewhat quietly left the room. Somewhat, because she stumbled a bit as she went through the door.
"Why does she have to leave the room?" Hermione asked, as she handed her wand to Ted.
"So the Auror won't see her dad doing something illegal," he answered, as the device scanned her wand. "To use your new Pensieve, you need your wand. But, you're underage for a few more months, and aren't allowed to use it out of school. So, I'm removing the tracer the Ministry had installed on your wand so they won't know you're using it. Dromeda, meanwhile, will place her own custom designed wards in whatever room you want to use this in that'll keep the Ministry from detecting any magic used there. Here ya go..."
So, until the end of July, Hermione would spend her days studying with Andy and her evenings with her parents.
It turned out that Andy had more to teach her than she had dreamed. Alchemy was an utterly amazing subject. The more you learned about transforming elements, the more you were transformed. Then, Hermione began learning more about the Dark Arts, discovering that there was a lot more to them than she'd thought. The Dark Arts were more than Unforgivables. The true Dark Arts were ancient and primal, beyond good and evil, something far from the mundane things Hermione had learned at Hogwarts. No, this was far more. This was the power to work your will, the power to create.
The first lesson was on something they didn't teach at Hogwarts: Magical Ethics.
The lighting was dimmed in the study when Hermione returned, with candles and incense burning. Pillows were on the floor where Andy was sitting, cross legged, with Seth again curled up beside her. Hermione, realizing she wasn't going to be sitting at a desk or a table for this lesson, sat on a pillow across from Andy.
There was a pop, signalling the arrival of Jeeves, with two glasses each filled with a thick green liquid, which he handed to them.
Jeeves said, "It's a favorite of mine, an avocado shake with honey. Healthy and tasty."
"He insists we maintain a balanced diet," said Andy.
"Though Mr. Tonks insists on retaining his bad habits," Jeeves replied. "I do hope there's hope for you, Miss Granger."
Hermione took a sip.
"Mmm! That's good! May I have the recipe? My parents always talk about too much sugar... They'll like this."
"Of course. I'll write it down for you before you leave for the day."
"Thank you."
"It will be my pleasure."
With that, he bowed and withdrew, and Andy began.
"If you have any questions or comments, feel free to express them when I pause long enough for you to do so."
"All right..." Hermione realized this wasn't going to be like one of McGonagall's classes. But then, she had no idea how the Transfiguration Mistress would teach one on one. The atmosphere probably wouldn't be this casual, she thought.
"Today we're going to be covering Magical Ethics, which is very important in Alchemy. Now, as I'm sure you know, I'm considered by most to be a dark witch, expert on and advocate for the Dark Arts, renegade protege of Lord Voldemort, and general all around naughty person. Now, how would the Dark Arts be defined?"
"There's not a real clear definition, as near as I can tell. There's the obvious curses intended to do serious harm, but beyond that it gets vague. We studied werewolves in Defence Against Dark Arts, but I certainly don't consider Remus Lupin dark. From what Harry told me, Professor Snape discusses Legilimency as though it were a Dark Art, referring to 'the victim' and such. But I know Professor Dumbledore is a Legilimens, and no one considers him a dark wizard because of it."
"And Wandless magic. Don't forget he does that. You're right. The modern definitions are vague. The term originally was used to describe older magics, ancient magics, often very powerful, but difficult to control if one lacks discipline. Magic can be rather wild. Wands were developed to help us with control and focus. They're excellent tools. However, if your average Magi loses their wand... either by having it taken from them or it becoming damaged... Where does that leave the Magi?"
"Helpless."
"Yes. As a people, we've become completely dependent on these little pieces of wood. You see the advantage of being able to function without one. Some of the most powerful magics, which happen to be classified by the Ministry as Dark Arts, are what we now call Earth magics. What can you tell me of the Gaia Hypothesis?"
Well, Hermione wasn't expecting that question. What did a muggle scientific concept have to do with the Dark Arts?
Hermione answered, "I've read a little about it... The idea is that the Earth's physical and biological processes are connected to form a self-regulating living system."
"Now, apply that idea, that everything on this Earth is connected in a single living system, to magic."
"Well, if it's all connected... We're a part of it."
Andy nodded, and prompted, "Continue."
"So... Instead of just our own individual magical cores... We can... draw from the Earth."
"And? Remember, it's all connected."
"Everything that's a part of Nature... which would be... everything. But... That sounds so overwhelming..."
"If you're not in harmony with Nature and her cycles, it is. Earth magic, magic based on that connection, is something even muggles can do, though not to the same level we can. But, prayers, rituals, petitioning Saints or Angels or Gods and Goddesses, they've been doing for thousands of years. But, having that harmony with Nature is the key. Most of our major religions are built around being in harmony with Nature's cycles. For example, how well do you know the Christian calendar?"
"Not very well... My family isn't religious."
"Ah... Well, my primary instructor on this particular subject was Morgan, who was a Celtic Christian Priestess."
"Morgan was Christian?"
"Yes, but, as I said, Celtic. You'll understand what a difference that makes as you learn more of the Fae. And, as Alchemy is a Christian system, the Christian calendar is what works best, for me. But, most religions and other spiritual Paths have their own systems and traditions based on Nature's cycles that work best for those that follow those Paths. What works best for me, personally, isn't necessarily what would work best for someone else."
"So, these... different Paths... lead to the same destination?"
"More or less... The Christian calendar is built around Nature's cycles. We have the Harvest festivals that lead directly into Advent. Advent is about preparing for the twelve day festival of Christmas. Advent is Winter, the days grow colder, the nights grow longer. During this, we have various Feast Days, such as St. Nicholas and St. Lucy. St. Lucy's Day is the promise that Light will return from within the Darkness.
"Christmastide is about the birth of the Christ Child, celebrating the Sun's return following the Winter Solstice. The days begin to grow longer, though we've still got a lot of Winter to go. Christmas ends with Twelfth Night, which takes us directly into Carnival.
"Carnival is preparing for the next turn of the Seasons. On Twelfth Night, the apple trees are Wassailed... That is, songs are sung to them, offerings of toast soaked in wassail are placed on the trees, blessings are done, dances around the trees, to awaken them and ensure a bountiful harvest. Twelfth Night was when St. Joan of Arc was born. That's also when the first King Cakes are eaten, as the next day is Three Kings Day, dedicated to the Magi that visited the Christ Child. King Cakes are ring shaped, representing both a crown and Nature's cycles. The colored sugar or the icing, depending on what culture is making it, are purple, green, and gold, representing justice, faith, and power. A small object, usually a tiny doll representing the Christ Child, is inside the cake. Whoever finds it is responsible for the next major celebration, when the Carnival festivities really take off, at the beginning of February.
"The beginning of February is Candlemas. For the Celts, this marked the beginning of Spring. In places with a strong Celtic heritage, it's Imbolc, St. Brigid's Day. This is one of the most important days for me, given my own personal relationship with Brigid."
"Yes," Hermione said, "that was in your book... You actually met... Brigid."
"Wonderful woman... She is the Light-Bringer, her flame promising the warmth of the Spring to come. This is when lambs are born, and we look for the first signs of the coming Spring. There's an old tradition involving predicting the weather using a hedgehog, though in North America they use a groundhog. This all ultimately leads to the last day of Carnival, Shrove Tuesday or Fat Tuesday, depending on what tradition you're following. Both traditions involve finishing off whatever rich food is around, because the next day is Ash Wednesday, beginning Lent."
"I've never quite understood Lent. I know it's before Easter, but I don't understand the giving something up or the fasting."
"Lent is Spring. The days are growing longer and warmer, the ice is thawing, the brooks are flowing, new buds, new leaves, Nature is renewing itself. As we are a part of Nature, so we renew ourselves in Mind, Body, and Spirit to prepare for Easter. This is done with fasting, meditation, prayer, doing good works, working to be more Christ-like. During this, though, is St. Patrick's Day, right before the Vernal Equinox, so if you celebrate that, you have a special dispensation for it. The old saying is Winter trembles on St. Brigid's Day and runs for it's life on St. Patrick's. Then, on the first full moon following the Vernal Equinox is Passover, and the first Sunday after that is Easter."
Hermione said, understanding, "Celebrating the Resurrection. Just as Nature is reborn."
"That's it. All sorts of traditions have developed in relation to it. For example, the tradition of painting eggs originated over three thousand years ago with the Persian Vernal Equinox festival of Nowruz, the eggs symbolizing the renewal of life. The tradition spread to the Romans and, in turn, to the Christians. German Protestants in the 16th Century developed the tradition of the Easter Hare, which would be the hare seen in the Easter Moon. Now, this is something I've always found interesting... Hares and rabbits are associated with the moon in cultures all around the world... Europe, Asia, Africa, the Americas... Some that had no contact, whatsoever in ancient times, and in almost all of these, the bunny has the same Trickster character."
"Luna's... Luna Lovegood, not the Moon Goddess... Her Patronus is a hare."
"Of course, it is," Andy said with an enigmatic smile. "What else would it be? After Easter, we come to the May Devotionals, dedicated to St. Mary, the Queen of the May. They start with May Day, which involves parades involving lots of flowers and greenery, when Nature is in full bloom. To the Celts, it's Beltane, when the Tuatha De Danann, who eventually became the Fae, first arrived in Ireland, and marks the beginning of Summer. That's one of the times the barriers between our world and the Fairylands are at their thinnest, so... There's a lot of the Fairy Queen in the May Queen, that day. The English traditions have their roots in the ancient Roman festival dedicated to Flora. The tradition is to select a girl as Queen of the May, who leads the parade. Lewis Carroll took a photo of Alice as the May Queen. In Elizabethian times in England, the Guilds got a bit competitive over who could put the most greenery on a costume, eventually getting to the point where they covered an entire man in it. Thus was born Jack in the Green, the May Queen's mischievous companion. The May Queen and Jack have become such prominent archetypes that many Neo-Pagans have built their own Myth and rituals for them for Beltane, based on an old Sumerian one we'll cover in your next lesson. I had the pleasure of attending an especially beautiful celebration of that type in Edinburgh. Sure, it's not what the ancient Druids did for Beltane, but so what?"
"So... Is the May Queen St. Mary or the Fairy Queen?"
"Ask her, some day. Beltane might be a good time. Her answer will probably be cryptic, though..."
"Like some of yours. Are you sure you're not a Ravenclaw?"
"Well, I did marry one... I suppose he brought out my inner Ravenclaw... And now, we're bringing out yours."
"Good thing you're not bringing out my inner Slytherin."
"Your inner Slytherin comes out often enough without my prompting. Didn't you kidnap and blackmail Rita Skeeter in your Fourth Year?"
"Um... Maybe? And how do you know about that?"
"She was giving you problems, then disappeared, then turned up again with you and Luna doing an interview with Harry for Xeno. Any Slytherin worth the name would have figured out what happened. I'm surprised my nephew didn't steer clear of you, after that. But, I understand he's rather stupid... I expected better from Cissy... I mean, there Cissy and Lucius are trying to convince the world that they're not supporters of the Dark Lord and don't support this whole Pureblood Supremacy thing at all, and what does their boy do? He runs up and down the halls of Hogwarts loudly praising Voldemort and insulting Muggleborns. Slytherins are supposed to be cunning! But I digress.."
"It's a good point, though."
"Nevertheless... After the May Devotionals are the June Devotionals dedicated to Christ, and Midsummer. After that is August 1, called Lammas in England and Lughnasadh in Ireland. It's the first Harvest festival, and, exactly six months after Imbolc, we're back to St. Brigid, with pilgrimages made to her sacred healing wells. Now, what do you think I thought of when I was told when Harry's birthday was?"
Harry's bithday was July 31... "The day before Lammas."
"And, it's back to Harvest season, and the circle continues, unending. The purpose of these rituals and those of other Paths is to keep us connected, and in constant awareness of that connection. As Magi, I believe we, especially, need that connection with Nature. With our people taught to use only their personal magical core, they're disconnected. Rather than seeing themselves as a part of a Whole, a part of Nature along with everything else, they see themselves as apart from it, and above it. They're born with magic, yet fail to see the greatest magic in the world around them. And, by lacking that understanding, that connection, we see how they treat other intelligent beings, even other humans, even other Magi."
"And yet it's considered Dark Arts..."
"There's all sorts of magic besides Earth and Wandless magic the Ministry classify as Dark Arts... Aside from the usual curses, there's Technomagic. They prefer people not working directly for them to not study ancient magical systems too closely, or spell construction, or to develop Technomagic, at all."
"Why? What makes these things Dark Arts? What's dark about Technomagic?"
"The answer lies in why the Ministry doesn't want these taught. So, let's look at how they teach what they do at Hogwarts. For example, did you know that Arithmency and Divination are supposed to be taught as related subjects? Sybill Trelawney is one of the world's leading experts on Arithmency."
"Trelawney? She seems too... scatterbrained to have the discipline."
"You should see her when she's working instead of trying to teach. She'll have Arithmency charts spread all over the place, Tarot cards, I Ching... Doesn't seem to have any organization, whatsoever, but it's all organized to her. She'll do some Arithmancy calculations, look into her crystal ball for a bit, do some things with the cards, check the Arithmancy charts again, then give Astrology charts a go over... She can be at it for hours. But, when she comes to a conclusion, it's spot on. She's still subconsciously doing calculations as she goes through the day, so sometimes the conclusion will hit, suddenly. She can be right in the middle of something else, just having a casual conversation with you, and BAM, prophecy. Rather dramatic when it happens. She's very dysfunctional socially, though."
"Harry told me that Trelawney was who made the prophecy the Death Eaters were after in the Department of Mysteries. But, Dumbledore has always been... dismissive of Divination as a subject. I thought he thought it was all a load of garbage, like I did. But, all his actions are based on a prophecy."
"Yes, interesting, that. Obviously he doesn't think it's what he leads everyone to believe."
"But, if they're supposed to be taught as connected subjects, why aren't they? Don't they want us to actually learn anything?"
"Let's examine the Dualism issue, what's good, what's bad, another way besides Light and Dark magic. There's the Right-Hand and Left-Hand Paths. The origin of the terms is in Tantra. Do you know of the three types of Tantric Yoga?"
"Yes, it was in your book... White, Red, and Black."
"Black Tantra would be an example of the Left-Hand Path. The Black Tantra practitioners would do things that violated Hindu customs, specifically for that reason, such as holding rituals in graveyards."
"Voldemort did that when he restored himself."
"Yes... He's very fond of that Path... He studied extensively in India. He's what Aleister Crowley would call 'A Brother of the Left-Hand Path.' You've met my sister, Bella."
"I'm afraid so."
"Lord Voldemort practiced Black Tantra on her, quite regularly. You see the result."
"So... The Left-Hand Path is used by some dark witches and wizards? Is that why the Dark Arts have their reputation?"
"It's not really about the Dark Arts... For example, what do you know about love potions?"
"Not a great deal... Though I expect it'll be in this year's textbook. We should be getting into the more advanced potions..." She remembered something Molly Weasley told her and Ginny. "I know one person who made a love potion to... give her future husband a nudge, as she put it... They've been happily married for years."
"The most powerful love potion is Amortentia, but they all work from the same principle. They make the person dosed infatuated with the person dosing them."
"That... doesn't sound like love."
"Ted has told me the muggles have something like it. They're called date rape drugs, though Amortentia is far more powerful and longer lasting."
Hermione was appalled. She couldn't believe, when she was younger, that she thought love potions were romantic.
She asked, "Then, why aren't they illegal?"
"In our culture, love potions are considered normal Courtship."
"It's... a violation! It's removing someone's free will!"
"Like what they've done to the brownies all these years."
Yes, exactly that.
Andy continued, "Now, this person you know who used the love potion... Was she someone you'd consider a dark witch?"
"No... Farthest thing from it."
"What's her opinion of the Dark Arts?"
"Very opposed."
"Is it Molly Weasley, by any chance?"
Damn, she's good...
"Um... Whatever gave you that idea?"
"I was thinking of old married couples you'd know, and who among them would do that. Molly was a few years ahead of me... She was a fifth year Gryffindor Prefect when I started Hogwarts. She was very much about controlling everything and everyone around her. She hated me." Andy smiled at the memory. "And could that girl yell. But I digress, again... So, this is someone who doesn't practice the Dark Arts, yet, at least in this instance, followed the Left-Hand Path. Many dark magi follow the Left-Hand Path, but so do many that consider themselves light magi."
"How do we tell the difference?"
"The Right-Hand Path is about control of self. The Left-Hand Path is about control of others. Now... Why does the Ministry discourage the study of ancient magics, Earth magic, Wandless magic, Technomagic, and even information about scientific and technical advances in the muggle world?"
Hermione considered, and answered, "It's about control."
"And?"
"Power over others. They try to keep us ignorant, so we're not doing anything outside their control."
No wonder, Hermione thought, that Andy seemed to have as many issues with the Ministry of Magic as she did Voldemort. Which left her wondering something.
"Um, may I ask you a personal question?"
"You can ask me anything, though I can't promise I'll answer if it's too personal."
"You're opposed to Voldemort... You're not supportive of the Ministry... So, why aren't you part of the Order of the Phoenix?"
Andy considered the question, then said, "Before I answer that, I have a question for you. Dora told me something about Harry, but I'd like to ask you about it, as you've known him longer."
"OK... What did she tell you?"
"Are his guardians abusing him?"
Damn...
"Yes... I don't know about physically, any more..."
"You think he was, though..."
"Yes, I'm certain of it. And emotionally, as well... That still happens, I'm sure..."
"Something else Dora thinks... And Luna shares the opinion... Do you think they're feeding him properly?"
"No... definitely not. He only gets proper nourishment when he's with the Weasleys or at school."
Andy's eyes turned a shade darker.
"I see..." She stood and, despite trying to stay calm, Hermione could feel the rage from the woman. Andy closed her eyes, and took five very deep breaths before continuing. "Ted and I offered to adopt him when he was orphaned... Dora would have had a baby brother... So did Xeno and Morgan. So did a lot of families. Of course, it might not have been necessary to adopt him permanently if his Godfather, my cousin Sirius, had been granted a trial instead of being just thrown into Azkaban without one..."
"What happened? Why couldn't anyone adopt Harry?"
"Dumbledore... in his infinite wisdom... decided it would be better... for Harry to be raised there... with those people."
"He... couldn't have known..."
"Well, he knows now, doesn't he?"
"He might not..."
"Dora and Luna just had to know him a little while to figure it out! Dora and some others in the Order of the Phoenix confronted his... loving family..."
"Yes, I was there."
"So... How could Dumbeldore not know about it?"
"He'd... have to..."
"And why hasn't he done something about it?"
"Maybe there's nothing legally he can do..."
"Our laws against child abuse are as strong as they are in the Muggle culture. And we have easier ways of proving it. Dumbledore could go straight to the Chief Warlock of the Wizengamot... Oh wait, he is the Chief Warlock... He has the power to remove him from there, whatever his reasons were for putting him there in the first place. I'm sure the Weasleys, for example, would be willing to take him as a ward."
"They consider him part of the family, already..."
"There you go. Now, from what Dora tells me, there are some very potent blood wards for his guardians' house, but if Molly's still anything like I remember, I pity anyone who tries to harm someone she cares about. And this home... Even Voldemort himself couldn't get within a hundred yards of this place. I know. He's tried."
"He... must have his reasons..."
"He always has his reasons. Doesn't make them good reasons... And I can't think of any good reason to continue putting a child in an abusive home." She paused, looking thoughtful, then resolved. "He thinks it's better for Harry to live there. It's clearly not been better for Harry, so who is it better for?"
Hermione couldn't believe this. She'd looked up to Dumbledore. He was the entire reason she wanted to be a Griffindor. But... She couldn't find a flaw in Andy's argument. She mentally went over the events of those fateful days... Harry's parents being killed, Harry surviving, Wormtail, Sirius being blamed for Wormtail's crimes and sent to Azkaban without a trial... Wait a minute...
"Sirius..." she began, hesitated, then continued, "He didn't get a trial. He should have been guaranteed one. It's the law... Whatever Crouch may have thought he could do, the Chief Warlock could have forced the law to be observed... It was his job to make sure the law was observed!"
Andy nodded.
Hermione continued her line of reasoning, however painful it was. "Sirius... If he'd been free... would have gotten custody of Harry."
"Exactly."
"An awfully convenient time for Dumbledore to forget to do his job as Chief Warlock..."
"Yes..."
"He... wanted Sirius out of the way. So he could put Harry... there. But why?"
"As you said, I'm sure he has his reasons. If you asked him, he'd assure you it was for the greater good. Well, he'd probably just make you forget you asked."
"I wonder if Sirius or Molly asked, and then... forgot?"
"Quite probably."
"But, why does everybody believe in him?"
"You had absolute faith in him until just moments ago. He's very charismatic, and quite brilliant and powerful. He's the sort of person people gravitate to. And, I'm sure he believes very firmly that his manipulation and using of people against their wills is for the greater good of all. But then, so does Voldemort. His followers never question him, either. They never stop to wonder why someone championing Pureblood Supremacy recruits werewolves, giants, and all sorts of other beings Purebloods look down on promising them their rights.
"So, to answer your question, I'd spent several years with Lord Voldemort as my mentor. I left the Order of Walpurgis when he perverted everything it had been about and turned it into his own Cult of Personality. They're not even called the Knights of Walpurgis, any more. It took a lot for me to break from him. When I did... I wasn't going to simply trade one Cult of Personality for another."
"I understand... But what about Harry?"
"What do you want to do? What is your will?"
"Protect him. Help him. No one will hurt him if I have any say in the matter."
A familiar voice entering the room said, "Right there with ya! Wotcher Hermione, Mum..."
"Your mother just explained to me why she's not in the Order. Why are you?"
"To help Harry, mainly. The Ministry was Fudging things up... Looks like we gotta protect him from more people than I thought. Lessons going OK?"
"Better than OK," her mother answered. "She's a very quick study. But, I think we're done for today."
"Cool! I was gonna go for a swim..." She asked Hermione, "Wanna come?"
"I'd love to, but I didn't bring a swimsuit."
"S'okay. Neither did I."
Andy said, "It's a private pool, so it's safe. I'll tell Ted to just stay away from it while you're there."
Well, Hermione thought, she did want to try that pool out...
Watching Dora undress, Hermione couldn't help but notice her friend was beautiful out of her clothes. Must be nice to be a Metamorphmagus, able to look perfect... Dora had really put a lot of attention to detail into this form, making herself a work of art. She wondered if even, well, that was perfect. She wasn't going to look too closely to see if it was. Nymphadora might get the wrong impression.
"Nymphadora..." she said, before she caught herself. "Oh! Sorry!"
Dora turned and smiled. "I guess Mum's pretty much appointed herself your Godmother, so you can call me Nymphadora."
As they were enjoying their swim, Hermione wondered something.
"I didn't plan on swimming, today, so I didn't bring a suit, but why didn't you?"
"Don't own one. Never have. Mum doesn't get the concept of swimsuits or nudity hangups because she wasn't raised with them. Dad said it took him a little while to get used to it. But, this household is normally clothing optional. If Mum isn't leaving the house that day, she might not get dressed at all, unless we're having company that isn't used to us running around naked."
"Like me."
"Yeah... Though Dad thinks that since Mum and I are Metamorphmagi, we're naturally exhibitionists and use any excuse to get our kit off... He's probably right..."
"So, you've seen your dad naked."
"Yeah, him and a lot of other blokes." She shrugged, and added, "It's just the human body... Don't see why it's such a taboo..."
"Because you weren't raised with it as a taboo. I mean... I understand, logically. But... I'm OK when I'm naked with other girls, but with boys... I'd have some trouble adjusting..."
Dora smirked, and said, "Well, I can help you with that! You're comfortable with me, right?"
"Of course." Very comfortable, in fact.
"And I'm a Metamorphmagus..."
Hermione saw where she was going. "Yes..."
"So, would it freak you out too much if I showed you one of my favorite tricks?"
"I... Yeah..." Gather your composure, girl... Hermione took a deep breath and said, "Show me."
"Well... If it'll bother you, I won't..."
"No no... You threw it out there, and it'll probably freak me out a little bit, but now I'm really curious, and I'm not going to be able to not want to see it until I see it, so my curiosity is overriding any... freaking out potential. Now, I have to see it! SHOW ME!"
"OK! OK!" And she did.
"Wow!" summed up Hermione's reaction.
"You like?" the now deep masculine voice asked, flirtatiously.
This beautiful woman transformed into an equally beautiful man. Same features, only masculine. Quite a nice body on him, too... As nice as that of the woman he'd transformed from. Hermione tried not to linger on that part of the anatomy, as fascinated as she was. And his eyes...
"Male body, but I'm still Dora," he added.
Yes, yes... Whatever else was different, the eyes were very much Dora. The eyes were mischievous, and were, along with the rest of his expression, flirtatious. Hermione then realized this was the same expression Dora often had while looking at her. It just didn't seem like flirting, before. Maybe being a guy right then made it flirting?
Or, had Dora always been flirting with her?
The transformation reminded her of something she'd been curious about.
"Dora... Since you're a Metamorphmagus... I assume you have... I don't know what to call it... a base form?"
"That's what we call it, and yes."
"I'd like to see it... I want to see you. The real you."
"You sure?"
"Yes, as much as I'm enjoying what I'm seeing, right now."
"OK..."
And, again, she transformed... into exactly the form she had, before.
"That's... your base form?"
"Yep... Notice the dark hair, the eyes... You've met my cousin, my aunts, my mum... Of course, I'm gonna look a lot like them. Granted, Mum has bigger boobs than her sisters, and I inherited 'em..."
Well, yes, that made sense, but...
"That's not fair! You can look any way you want to look, and your natural form is gorgeous!"
"Thanks..."
"While I'm... just..."
"Hermione..." Dora looked concerned, then determined as she leaned over and held Hermione by the shoulders, looking her deeply in the eyes. "You are beautiful. Don't ever think you're not."
"Thanks... Even if you don't really mean it..."
"I really mean it... Any boy who isn't attracted to you either feels threatened by you or they're gay. And I should probably let go of your shoulders, right now."
"Yeah..."
So, she did.
Hermione needed to break the tension, so she said, "People always tell Harry, 'You have your mother's eyes.' Do they ever tell you, 'You have your mother's boobs?'"
Dora laughed. "No, nobody has the stones. Except Luna. She said it."
Hermione realized why she'd need her Pensieve. She had so much information to review. She had set it up, read the instructions, tried it out. Strange experience, especially the lack of time loss no matter how long she was in a memory.
There was one past memory she wanted to review, in particular... One from when she was seven. Now that she knew Oz was real, she considered why she stopped reading the books she so loved, then, and couldn't find an answer.
She found the memory where she learned the books had disappeared, and her lack of caring, or desire to find them. How could she have lost interest, so suddenly? So, she found the memory of the night before...
...only to discover it wasn't complete. There was the storm, then what seemed something like when a film breaks.
There was only one logical conclusion. Someone had not only violated her mind and removed a memory, but had altered her mind, tampered with her will.
And for that, someone was going to pay.