CHAPTER FIFTY TWO- The Dartmoor Coven
"We have carefully weighed your words and have agreed to help you the best we can. You must accept it without hesitation, argument, or questions if you desire it. Is that understood?" Atropa said rising from her wooden throne.
Hermione thought she heard Draco's teeth grind in frustration of Atropa's words but he replied, "We will take anything you have to offer."
"No one from this coven will fight in your war, but I will take you to someone who can help you when the sun rises. You will never try to find this place again nor will you mention what you have seen here. Do you agree?" Atropa said.
"We agree. And we thank you for your aid," Hermione said before Malfoy could interject. Everest returned them to the hut and rolled out two sleeping cots and blankets on the ground for them. "A fire would be appreciated since you still deny us our wands," Malfoy said.
"Atropa's coven, Atropa's rules. No wands but I will grant you a fire," Everest said starting the flames before leaving the hut. Hermione and Malfoy placed their cots around the flame and talked about what had just happened.
"Do you trust them now?" Hermione asked. "It worries me who they could be taking us to but we have no choice. This is our only option. Who knows if we would ever find another coven before it's too late?" Malfoy said.
Slowly and fitfully they attempted to sleep but as soon as Hermione had managed to fall asleep, Everest drifted into their hut. "Atropa wants to leave within the hour, come and eat." Everest said.
Outside of their hut they were able to see everything that had been so dark to them when they arrived. Their camp had at least a dozen huts, picnic benches, gardens growing and well contained fire everywhere.
The coven was just starting their day and for the first time Hermione saw children running around. There could not be more than twenty people living here but everyone seemed happy even if they were a little dirty and unkept.
The fire red hair and green of some of the coven eyes easily marked Amaranth's kin. The others were unknown to Hermione but everyone seemed to have a job to do. Some were washing clothes and others cared for children while Pomona cooked breakfast.
"Sit, please! The only company we have is from the other covens. They are all less than half of our size and we only see them on holidays," Pomona said placing bread and eggs onto plates for them.
The inner workings of the coven's life fascinated Hermione. Each of the coven's Pomona spoke of seemed to be their own family and when they joined together created extended family.
"How many of you are there?" Hermione questioned as Pomona happily chatted away. "Oh, Atropa would kill me if I told you that. But more than you think," she winked.
Pomona told them about her fiancé in the coven in Ireland and how they were debating where to live after they were married. "It'd be nice to stay here with the family. His coven is so small, I'm worried I'd get bored," Pomona explained.
"Sister, not divulging secrets I hope?" Atropa said joining them at the table. Her dreaded hair was now covered in a brown shawl that matched the color of the trees and a small bag was around her shoulder. Pomona grew red and assured her sister she said nothing.
"We will leave as soon as you are done. When we depart your wands will be returned to you as well as your bag. Eat up quickly," she said. Atropa left to give a kiss to the young girl who brought them soup the night before and to pick up a little boy with the same fire hair on her hip.
Everest came to kiss his wife as well and collect their son from her when Hermione and Malfoy finished their meals. Everyone in the coven looked at them with big eyes of interest. Hermione suspected that none of the children had ever seen new clothes or anyone who was not a part of the coven life.
"You all have my deepest gratitude for your hospitality and support. In the future when this war is done you can call upon my family if you ever need help," Malfoy said. "My home in Devon is not far from here. It would be a great honor if your family would come visit my wife and I and meet our daughter," he finished.
"We will try to remember that. Everest, if you please?" Atropa said. And for the second time Everest rendered them unconscious.