Chapter 6, Time Passages
The next three years passed as uneventfully as years did when one was in school. As one was intended to do in school, one learned interesting things. For example, some classes that one expected to enjoy were dull and disinteresting while others that one did not expect to enjoy were fascinating. Others that one had no expectations of could go either way. Loughness's dislike and uncertainty of Herbology turned into a green thumb and vast fascination for magical plants and their uses.
Hydra expected to enjoy Astronomy more, but the subject bored her. Guillermo thrived in Divination, strengthening the psychic gift that he'd found unpredictable before beginning at Hogwarts. James and Hydra excelled in Charms as both expected to do while Sortia owned Potions. In general all their marks were high due to their steady study group that they always kept up over the years as a way to hold one another accountable and make sure assignments got done.
By the time they got a bit of excitement, they were all ready for it. It wasn't precisely about them or directly involving them, but one had to take their excitement where they could get it when they spent most of their time in school. Hydra and Loughness learned of it first. It was the summer between their third and forth year. The news that changed everything came in the form of an announcement from The Daddies. "We have some very important and secret news to share with the two of you. You shouldn't speak of this to anyone other than your current group of friends," Regulus said gravely one evening while they sat as a family reading in the library after dinner.
Loughness sighed. "Is this going to be boring," he groan asked.
Hydra scowled at her twin. "Don't be rude!"" Loughness merely scowled at her, but he didn't speak again, which was most likely how he'd decided not to be rude.
"Some day, it could be in two years or ten, the world as we know it is going to change for the better," Regulus said. "The concept began with a conversation between Griphook and your Daddy Kreacher and evolved into a plan between Griphook and Kereston to improve the wizarding world. It involves time and a great deal of careful planning, but eventually goblins, elves and even Acromantulas shall be productive members of society and even of the Ministry." Kereston was Daddy Kreacher's best friend. Though she worked in the Department of Magical Accidents and Catastrophes at the Ministry, she'd had her sites set on becoming Minister for Magic from the time she was a vexed and frightened young girl in Voldemort's second wizard war. She'd vowed even then to become Minister some day and as such to be far tougher on crime and criminals than any Minister before her. Because of how powerful the Ministry had allowed Voldemort to become through its own sheer negligence, she aimed for a far harsher justice system than was currently in place.
"Aren't goblins already in society what with the banking," Loughness asked.
"Well yes, but they aren't given the opportunity to do much else, and they aren't allowed to have wands, which is hardly fair," Regulus said.
"That is so true," Hydra said. "The reason they weren't allowed wands in the first place happened long before any current goblins were born. Punishing them for the sins of their fathers or grandfathers is insane." How long did goblins live anyway, she suddenly found herself wondering.
"Just so," Regulus agreed. "Which is precisely why things need to change. We don't want one race fighting or overthrowing the other, though. We want equality and improvement as a result. With all the strongest and most talented magical folk working together, we can have as much."
"That sounds exciting," Hydra said. The concept flooded her with a thrilling surge of optimism! It literally made her feel that anything could be possible. "But how are we going to do it," she asked.
"Yeah," Loughness nodded. "Because a lot of wizards and witches aren't going to be good with any of that at all. You know for various reasons from bigotry to false morality to the worst one of all, fear."
Regulus smiled proudly at Loughness. "You are such a smart and perceptive boy. I am proud of you, Loughness. Because sometimes I wondered if you were going to bother using that brain of yours or just put it to work on thoughtless activities."
"You mean looking at hot girls," Loughness asked with a grin.
"Rather," Regulus said dryly.
"While looking at hot girls is indeed inspiring, I am quite brilliant, I'll have you know," Loughness proclaimed.
Regulus chuckled. "I am well aware of that. I'm just glad to see that you are as well."
"As is Kreacher," Kreacher finally spoke up at last. "As for how Griphook's plan is to be accomplished, it will involve the removal of magic."
"Whose magic," Loughness asked.
"From where," Hydra asked nearly at the same time.
"From wizards and witches," Kreacher replied. A slight amused smile curved his lips, an indication to Hydra that he was in high spirits. If Daddy Kreacher felt at ease about this plan, he believed it would work out. As he could be quite cautious, this had to be a good sign. This caused her excitement to rise even more, because it probably meant that this thing was actually going to happen.
"How does it work," Loughness asked. "We aren't going to lose our magic, are we?"
"It works by means of a potion that when ingested strips magic away from a witch or wizard," Kreacher replied. "Hydra and Loughness shall be given the antidote before the potion is released into the water, so their magic shall remain intact."
"Sweet," Loughness said happily.
"That is a relief to know," Hydra said. She'd rather expected as much, else the Daddies wouldn't be so complacent about the whole thing, but it was nice to hear all the same. "When is this happening," she asked.
"When the potion is actually ready," Kreacher said. "It is still a work in progress at this point. Griphook's young nephew Grimlock is an extremely talented Potions Master, and he has been working on this Stripper Potion for years. He believes he is close to having completed the formula for it as well as its antidote, but close could still be years away as it is a tricky and complex thing he is crafting."
Hydra nodded because that sounded logical. "So when the potion is ready, how do they decide who gets it?"
"It's more a matter of who doesn't get it at first," Regulus said. "The antidote potion shall be given to everyone who we know is on our side. Those people will know what to expect. They shall be a part of the new order as it were. This involves the parents of all your friends including James. Guillermo's brother, in fact, is to be the new head Auror when all of this unfolds."
"Is he aware of this," Loughness asked.
Regulus laughed as if Loughness had just made a grand joke. "I should think so, yes."
"And James? We can tell him, then," Hydra asked.
Regulus nodded. "His parents probably already have, but yes, you can speak of it with him. Just make sure no one ever overhears you who isn't Sortia, James or Guillermo."
James had known that Hydra and Loughness were half elves nearly from the first day they'd become friends. Hydra didn't enjoy keeping secrets from someone she considered a friend, so she and Loughness had shared the knowledge of their parentage soon into the friendship. Hydra really liked James, so wanted to just get it over with and be done if he was going to be weird after knowing their secret.
Instead he was excited and thought it was simply brilliant. In true Ravenclaw fashion, he was eager to understand how having both sorts of magic worked for them. He wanted to know how it changed their spells and what they thought of the pros and cons of both wizard and elf abilities. Like Sortia, he treated their abilities with a sort of awed fascination where as Guillermo just treated them like anyone else's neat talents, in a super casual way.
Hydra rather liked both perspectives for different reasons, so was sure she had the most perfect group of friends anyone could have. It was just the right size too, not too small and not too large with each person bringing their own unique skills and outlooks to any situation. The fact that James's parents were involved in this was no true surprise, Hydra decided. They worked in importing and exporting gemstones for Gringotts bank. As this revolution was largely goblin driven, anyone who cast their lot with the goblins would be included in the benefits.
"Griphook has asked your Daddy Kreacher to work with the elves in all this as a sort of guide, or leader if you will," Regulus said. "This could mean that the two of you shall be serving in a similar capacity some day. As half elves, you shall serve as a grand example for human elf relations."
What, for shagging," Loughness asked incredulously and Daddy Regulus choked.
"No, Loughness! Just for how beautiful the unity can be between magical races. You and Hydra shall serve as an example for elf freedom and personal power that elves who are far too accustom to being slaves shall need."
"So I don't need to shag anyone then," Loughness clarified, expression vaguely disappointed.
"No, Loughness," Regulus sighed. "I assure you, that shall not be required."
"Gods, he and Guillermo are such dogs," Hydra groaned.
"Am not," Loughness defended himself.
"That is good to hear," Regulus told him sternly. "Because you are a literal prince of magical society as the heir to House Black, and you'd better behave like it at all times. Kreacher and I will not have this house shamed by any sort of miscreant behavior. We had Sirius. We don't need another like him."
Loughness cringed and lowered his head slightly. "Sorry. I didn't mean it. I was just joking around," he muttered. Daddy Regulus was usually the softer parent while Daddy Kreacher could be more temperamental, so seeing him stern and angry did encourage one's best behavior.
He gave Loughness a smile, and reached out to put a hand on his shoulder. "Thank you, Loughness."
Brightening, Loughness smiled, straightening proudly under the praise. "No problem. I do deserve the best, and I shall always behave like it. I'm nothing like Sirius. I'm far better than that."
Regulus smiled again as Kreacher made a sound of wordless approval. "We know that, and we are glad to hear that you know that," Regulus told Loughness before pulling him into a quick hug.
From early childhood, Loughness had proclaimed many times over that he was going to be a great Dark Lord. Therefore when he descended into crassness with Guillermo, it sometimes had Hydra concerned for his future. What if he forgot all of his goals and just became a party boy? Seeing him getting serious about things with the parents soothed her concerns on that to a degree at least.
"So we'll know in advance before anything happens," Hydra asked and the Daddies nodded nearly as one.
"How is this everyone losing their magic thing going to work," Loughness asked. "I mean without riots in the streets and everyone literally losing their minds when they realize they can't do a single spell? It could get dangerous."
"That has been accounted for. Fear not," Kreacher said calmly. "The potion shall also cause people to have flu like symptoms. The narrative shall be that a plague has struck the wizarding world. One of the worst side effects of this plague is unfortunately the loss of magic. When this Stripper Potion is ready, the goblins shall be putting it into the water system.
It works faster when ingested, but it eventually works even when exposed to the skin. Even those who don't drink water do wash, so eventually it will spread to everyone. Kreacher thinks the eventually part is good because it will make it seem more logical. A plague that strikes magical society should not strike everyone down at once. Such a thing would appear more like a spell than a plague, so a gradual if rapid spread is best."
"And there is no cure," Hydra asked. "Won't that mean that we'll hardly have any witches and wizards left in Britain?"" She wasn't sure how she felt about that. It could be nice for making a new start, but eventually it would cost the wizarding race.
"Only until things are settled," Regulus said. "Gradually worthy wizards and witches shall find their magic returning, and then those we deem to be harmless. Only those who would pose an active threat to magical equality for all will never recover their magic."
"Ah," Hydra said, brightening. "I like that. It's fair."
Regulus nodded. "Griphook came up with the strategy. I really like the fact that he isn't trying to keep magic from humans permanently. It makes me trust him even more."
"Well I'm excited about all this," Hydra said, bouncing eagerly in her chair.
"It shall certainly be interesting living to see such a historical movement in our lifetime," Loughness said. His voice was filled with awe at the prospect. "And with Kereston as Minister, it's certain to succeed." He'd had a huge crush on Kereston from the time he'd begun to notice girls. That would've been extra weird what with Kereston being a few decades older than Loughness if she didn't look permanently eighteen.
She'd done some sort of magical link with Daddy Kreacher when he'd become a vampire that stopped her from aging. It worked on the premise that as a vampire, Daddy Kreacher did not age either. He'd wanted Kereston to remain with him as the trusted person who could handle things in the daylight hours when he no longer could. As such, he didn't want her aging and some day passing away. At least that was what he said, but Daddy Kreacher was just extremely attached to the few people he cared for and Hydra thought that was really sweet.
Kereston had moved into #12 Grimmauld Place long before Hydra and Loughness were born, to see to things that Regulus and Kreacher could not do during the daylight hours once they became vampires. That was the first major change to #12 Grimmauld Place. The next involved looking after the manor. Daddy Regulus had long since freed Daddy Kreacher, but the elf refused to give up caring for his home. Regulus wished to hire another elf and Kreacher refused. It took years for Regulus to wear Kreacher down. Finally Kreacher allowed other elves to take over. *Elves* because one elf apparently wasn't enough to do the work of one Kreacher.
When Daddy Regulus insisted that Daddy Kreacher stop caring for the house like a servant, Daddy Kreacher had decided that it would take four elves to fill his own shoes. So now days, Stormy, Ripper, Jazz and Piper attended to #12 Grimmauld Place and all its inhabitants. The elves had come from the Lestrange and Rosier households, and had been hand-picked by Cousin Bellatrix for Kreacher to choose from. She'd come with five, so the story went, and Kreacher had decided to keep four. Hydra thought that four elves was a bit excessive, but she wasn't about to mention that to Daddy Kreacher.