Chapter 15

Things were tense, to put it mildly. Wands were out and there was no sign of them being dropped. One thing was always certain, at number twelve Grimmauld Place, there were no surprise visitors. Introduction of new members to the home were always planned for, expected and most importantly, were never wives and children of inner circle Death Eaters. It was unclear who raised their wand first, though everyone knew the newcomers would be blamed even while locked in the stalemate. Hermione and Harry stood between the opposing groups, one significantly larger than the other, with their hands outstretched. The silence was palpable.

Dumbledore stepped forward out of the crowd of Order members, his wand held casually between his hands. 'I'd like to confirm your identities, if you please.' He announced. 'While I am certain that Professor McGonagall gave the real Narcissa Malfoy the location of this place, I'd like to be sure that the same woman is standing before me. Something only one of the company here would know will suffice.'

Narcissa sighed, lowering her wand slightly. 'I suppose that goes for all of us?'

Dumbledore didn't speak, though his eyes twinkled in that knowing way Narcissa had detested during her school years.

She lowered her wand fully and squared her shoulders. 'During my sixth year, Sirius' second, he found me in a compromising position with a halfblood Hufflepuff and only promised not to tell my mother when I offered him the location of a secret passage in the dungeons that would take him up to the seventh floor.'

'It was far worse than compromising, cousin.' Sirius grinned, his eyes gleaming with joy. 'Oh, I relished the look on your face for years after that.'

'That'll be enough, Sirius.' Narcissa clipped, staring daggers at the man.

Sirius raised his hands in mock surrender, keeping his mouth shut. Though plenty of chuckles made it through regardless.

'You next Miss Granger.' Dumbledore spoke up.

Hermione glanced around the group, wondering what of her many embarrassing secrets she should divulge. She could say something innocuous to Dumbledore, afterall he knew quite a bit about her rule breaking with Harry and Ron, but so did a lot of people thanks to the school's gossip cycle. She was beginning to fluster, struggling to think of a single thing that a multitude of people didn't know. That was until she spotted Harry on the stairs, his hands were clasped in front of it, but he was holding out two fingers as secretly as he could. Hermione frowned, taking a deep breath.

'This is going to be incredibly embarrassing.' She muttered. 'During our second year I brewed a Polyjuice Potion in the first floor girls bathroom. When Harry, Ron and I went to put our hairs in I accidentally added cat hair and spent a week in the infirmary waiting for the effects to wear off.'

Draco snorted behind her, slapping his hand over his mouth to contain the violent giggling. Narcissa rammed him in the side with her elbow. Harry seemed incredibly pleased with himself, revelling in the chuckles, smiles and outright cackles.

'Laugh it up Draco, it's your turn next.' Hermione scowled, whirling on him.

Draco immediately stopped laughing. He didn't know anyone in the group, had no embarrassing secrets to share to prove his identity. Only Hermione and his mother had ever really gotten any secrets out of him, and the rest of the group were foreign to him. The Weasleys began filtering down the stairs next to Harry, apparently interested in seeing what the commotion was about and Harry was more than eager to fill them in.

'I don't really have anything.' Draco got out, staring at the ginger group. He felt like he was going to be eaten alive.

'That's alright.' A voice piped up. Ginny stood proudly on the stairs, her chin high. She looked like she could burn him to a crisp with a single hard look. 'I can ask you something.'

Draco nodded dumbly, gulping.

'1992, August.' She began. 'What happened in Flourish and Blotts?'

'Your father and mine started a fist fight after a pretty heated exchange of insults.' Draco answered, though from the look on her face she wanted to hear more. Draco immediately knew what she was talking about. He hung his head low as he continued. 'My father placed in your possession some dark artefact he'd pulled from his vault that day. I don't know what it was but he'd assured me that the Heir of Slytherin would be returning, with his great beast, to purge the school of the unworthy.'

'I already knew it was him.' Ginny spoke, her voice hard and accusing. 'Harry had gotten somewhat of a confirmation at the end of the year but it's nice to hear someone say it. It's nice to hear someone admit that your father dropped Voldmort's cursed diary into the hands of an eleven year old.' She immediately spun on her heel and left.

Draco was hit with an overwhelming wave of guilt. He worshipped his father that year, right up until people started getting petrified. It was a turning point for him, twelve years old and he suddenly understood the meaning of death, and what it would truly mean to cleanse the school. He'd entertained the idea of muggleborn students being expelled, or chased from the school, their snapped wands in a great burning heap, but he'd finally begun reckoning with what death truly meant that year. It didn't change him completely, he still hated Hermione and her blood, but it had been the start.

A hand shook him out of his stupor and he saw the corridor clearing, the stairs vacant, and Hermione beckoning him to follow her. He nodded a little and followed her through the corridor and down into a basement. Why they were going there he couldn't understand, not until the stairs opened up into a large kitchen, a shrink of pushed together tables and a small sitting space at the opposite end. There weren't dungeons here like in the Manor, but a normal, comfortable, living space.

Several of the people in the corridor were milling by the table, or the fireplace, having small quick conversations with each other, glancing at him and his mother every now and then. Hermione took a seat, rather impatiently, at the table and began tapping her foot. She had her arms crossed tightly across her chest, clearly displeased with the display they'd been forced to put on in the hallway.

Dumbledore stood in a tight huddle with Sirius, McGonagall and someone he vaguely recognised but couldn't put a name to, not until he turned around and looked at him. Why was their crazy fourth year Professor here? Surely the Order wasn't scraping the bottom of the barrel that desperately.

Hermione huffed, flipping her hair. She was staring daggers at the group, just waiting for someone to dismiss her. Narcissa took a seat beside her, and Draco beside his mother. The three waited patiently as conversations came to an end and the Order of the Phoenix prepared to address them.

'I believe we have some important matters to discuss.' Dumbledore began, his hands clasped behind his back. 'First and foremost, we have the matter of Mr and Mrs Malfoy here. While we have confirmed your identities I would like to be sure of your intentions both with or without our Order, and the Death Eaters.'

'My intention with the Death Eaters is to avoid their inevitable wrath and thirst for vengeance.' Narcissa spoke, every bit the prim and proper pureblood her mother had taught her to be. 'My intentions with your Order of the Phoenix will depend on the safety of my son, and any decisions made by Hermione and my son.'

'And you, Mr Malfoy?' Dumbledore turned his attention to Draco.

Draco paused for a moment, looking to his mother for guidance, though she didn't offer any. 'I suppose I'd just like to do what's right, for a change.' He shrugged. He hadn't really thought about what would happen after they fled to the Order, nor what the right thing to do would be, but it seemed agreeable enough to him to simply keep his shoulders above the water and not anger his hosts.

Dumbledore nodded, thinking to himself. He stroked his chin, which to Draco seemed like he was complimenting a way to throw him back into the grasp of his father who would punish him severely for earlier events.

'I shall have to check with Mrs Weasley if there is enough space on the premises to house you, but if not I shall find you a safe place to stay, far away from the hands of Death Eaters.' He decided, much to Draco's relief. 'I am quite curious about your involvement with Hermione, and your goings on this school year, though that discussion can always wait until I've had a chance to confer with both her.'

Hermione shifted uncomfortably in her seat, feeling the gaze of several Order members on her. She knew them quite well from interactions during the summer and could only suppose that her arrival with two very outspokenly pureblood individuals could be the reason for the distrust radiating off of them.

'Now then, Hermione.' Dumbledore spoke, taking the seat directly opposite her. 'I believe we have some vitally important matters to discuss.'

'Yes we do, Professor.' Hermione started. 'First, I would like to inquire, while we're actually face to face, why you've been ignoring Harry since the events of the TriWizard tournament.'

'That isn't important right now.' Dumbledore waved a hand, trying to divert the conversation away but it only seemed to anger Hermione.

'It's incredibly important.' She spoke, anger rising in her chest.

Sirius stepped forward clearing his throat. 'I've attempted to air my displeasure with the same, Hermione.' He placed a hand on the back of the chair next to Dumbledore and turned to face him. 'We will be having the discussion again with more than dismissal as the outcome.'

'Vey well, Sirius.' Dumbledore laid his attention back on Hermione. 'The first of my many questions for you, is whether I will be changing your name in the school records from Hermione Granger to Hermione Stuart.'

Hermione froze in her chair, her anger and impatience simmering away. She turned her eyes to the Professor stood behind him. 'You told him?' She seethed. 'You couldn't even tell me what was happening but you told him!'

'Now isn't the time to be angry.' Dumbledore interrupted her.

'Now isn't the time?' She shrieked. 'I was in agony, I was begging for someone to help and you turned me away, you dismissed me like an impetulant student but the moment I finally drag the truth out of you, you turn around and tell whoever you damn well please. I have every right to be angry.'

'I do not expect you to understand my reasoning, Miss Granger.' McGonagall spoke, raising her hands. 'But it was necessary that they find out before Pettigrew is interrogated.'

'I told you Professor, it's Miss Stuart.' She seethed. 'You've become far too accustomed to micromanaging my life. I'd like a little human decency for the pleasure.' The gathered Order members all turned to face McGonagall. The shock on their faces only lit the fire in Hermione all the brighter. 'I see you were more than happy sharing my secrets but failed to share your own, despite how irrevocably intertwined they are.'

'Miss Granger.' McGonagall , taking a step forward.

'My name is Stuart.' Hermione yelled, standing from her chair and slamming her hands on the table. 'I am Hermione Stuart, heir to Magical Britain, descendant of Mary Stuart. I carry her blood in my veins, I carry her magic in my veins. I am no impetulant student, I carry her rage and her sorrow deep within me, and I am being very patient with you.'

'Hermione.' Draco called.

'If you insist on continuing to call me Granger after my repeated asking otherwise, you'd better be putting Your Majesty before it.' She spat, her eyes locked on McGonagall's equally rageful ones.

'Hermione, you're throwing out enough magic to boil us alive.' Draco panted, wiping sweat from his forehead.

Hermione closed her eyes and took a deep breath, sitting back down in her chair. 'I apologise.'

'I think we can all forgive an outburst given the circumstances.' Dumbledore spoke, turning to face McGonagall. 'I don't suppose you're willing to share what you previously left out?'

'I took a vow to protect the Stuart line.' McGonagall managed to get out through gritted teeth. 'And evidently done a bad job.'

'I'll give you a performance review at the end of the month if you'd like?' Hermione asked, still staring daggers at McGonagall.

'I believe it would be more beneficial to discuss whether we go public with the information, and if so how?' Dumbledore interrupted, cutting off Hermione's view of McGonagall.

'It would be a good idea at this point.' Hermione sighed. 'I'd hoped to keep it under wraps until I'd at least finished my OWLs but I don't think the Ministry will stop looking for me just so I can continue my education.'

'Excellent.' Dumbledore smiled.

'Not so fast.' Draco choked out. 'The Ministry will arrest her the second you go public. She'll be in a cell in Azkaban, not on the throne.'

Narcissa leaned forward. 'Draco's right, though only if she goes public with your backing.' She informed Dumbledore, piquing his attention. 'The ministry and the prophet have discredited you and have been calling into question many of your roles in our society, naming you as a senile old man for one. If you support her, she'll burn.'

'And I bet you think you'd do any better.' Sirius butted in, rolling his eyes. 'The neutral and light families will laugh you out of the country.'

'I wasn't suggesting any of us back her.' Narcissa shook her head, turning to face Hermione. 'You have to walk into the Ministry ballroom tomorrow, alone, and declare your birthright. With the right wording they'd be magically bound by our laws to uphold your claim.'

'They'll still figure something out.' Draco shook his head. 'I've heard father and Fudge talking in his office almost nightly, whether he's aware of it or not, the Minister is owned by Voldemort.'

'And how kindly will they take to you when they find out you stripped Peter of his magic?' Remus wandered over, having been content listening in. 'You can't threaten your way to power.'

'But I can use the law.' Hermione spoke up. 'According to Wizarding Law, once a Stuart has come into their Family Magic, the Ministry of Magic is no more. Only the Wizengamot remains. I don't have to appease the Minister, I have to appease the courts.'

'You'd be looking to get the support of the Chief Warlock and the Head of the Department of Magical Law Enforcement.' Moody spoke up. He hobbled closer to the table and leaned on the back of a chair to continue speaking. 'Amelia will be easy to get on side, she's sympathetic with us and doesn't like Fudge one bit. The Chief Warlock will be a problem.'

'Why?' Hermione asked.

'I was ousted from the position early this summer, and there has been no formal replacement.' Dumbledore spoke up.

'The Minister of Magic, Cornelius Fudge, has been acting in the position but only for his being Minister.' Narcissa spoke up. 'There have been several attempts to elect a new Chief Warlock, even among the families sympathetic to Voldemort, but Lucius has so far been able to pay people to change their minds.'

'So without the Ministry of Magic, the families on the Wizengamot could be convinced to hold the election, without Fudge or your husband blocking it?' Hermione asked. A plan was already formulating in her mind, she'd just need to scrawl through the old family magic tomes in the Library again.

'Theoretically.' Narcissa corrected. 'But there is a lot of money backing the old families and they're always willing to get richer.'

'With Pettigrew's arrest I think a large portion of those families will find their family heads in Azkaban.' Sirius spoke up. 'Hopefully I'll get cleared of charges soon and I can take the Black seat from your husband.'

'It's an honorary position that he can't use to cast votes.' Narcissa spoke up. 'He holds it in formality only in Draco's name, given you would have been disqualified from the position.'

'Still it's a good thing, it's one guaranteed vote in favour of a Chief Warlock who will support Hermione.' Sirius shrugged. 'And I get the feeling we need all the seats we can get.'

The fire at the far end of the kitchen roared to life and a figure stepped out, coughing and waving soot out of her face. 'We replacing the chairs?' She asked, rubbing her eyes. She blinked a few times and opened them fully, taking in the truly odd scene. 'Aunt Narcissa.' She stammered out, diverting her sight to the ground awkwardly. She shuffled her way over to Dumbledore and began muttering. Hermione didn't hear most of what she said, but she did catch the name Pettigrew.

'You can tell them, Tonks.' Hermione interrupted. 'We're the ones who left him at the burrow.'

'Oh.' Tonks said, seeming fairly surprised, but also completely like she expected Hermione to have done something like that. 'They're starting Pettigrew's interrogation now that they've confirmed his identity. Amelia's also pushing through a review of Sirius' case, since he was supposed to have killed him and all that.'

'That's a lot faster than I'd anticipated.' Hermione frowned, casting her gaze down at the table. 'What is the ministry planning with the letter?'

'They're keeping it tucked away.' Tonks offered. 'I haven't read it but the Minister came and looked at it himself. He was spooked. He's drafting an official statement for the paper tomorrow but is claiming credit for Pettigrew's capture. He was adamant none of us mention the letter outside of those on the investigation.'

Hermione let out an indignant huff, resting her chin on her hand. 'I thought there'd be a bigger uproar about it. It's not every day you tell the Ministry you're planning to overthrow them. Legally, that is.'

'Not only that, the Minister is still adamant that Sirius Black remain Undesirable number one.' Tonks frowned at her cousin. 'He's convinced himself that the Ministry makes no mistakes, and your lack of trial doesn't help reinforce that mindset.'

'Not for long.' Hermione said, darting her eyes around the room. 'I need parchment and one of you to deliver a letter.'

A quill and parchment were quickly supplied and Hermione began frantically scribbling away, muttering under her breath.

'The hell is another letter going to do, he'll just burn it.' Tonks muttered.

'It's not for Fudge.' Hermione shook her head, barely lifting her head from her work. 'I have a friend who will be more than willing to do whatever I ask her to. She'll take over the story and run our version, especially because it's a lot juicier than the Ministry's.'

'If you have a journalist in your back pocket why aren't we using her for the whole going public thing?' Draco asked.

'Because she hates me.' Hermione answered as if it were the simplest thing in the world. 'Though you know her too, you're both gossips.'

'You can't mean her.' Draco protested. 'She was great for running lies about Harry but come on, she isn't going to write a word for you. She dragged you through the mud every chance she got.'

'Thank you for the reminder Draco.' Hermione smiled at him. 'But I kept her in a jar for a week. You'll be surprised what that and a healthy amount of blackmail would do.'

'Who is she on about?' Sirius asked, glancing around the room.

Tonks turned around to answer him. 'I mean, Rita Skeeter wrote some pretty nasty stuff about her during the TriWizard tournament, but how do you keep a person in a jar?'

'I do not know.' Sirius shrugged. 'But when I find out I'm putting Snape in one.'

'You can't jar him.' Draco said apologetically. 'Skeeter's an unregistered animagus. A beetle.'

'Shame.' Sirius sighed. 'Snape would really pull the wall of House Elves in jars together.'