Beta love to carbconnoisseur
"Well then, that was… enlightening," Perenelle mused as Pandora disappeared in a whirl of green flames.
Hermione merely hummed, turning over Pandora's words in her head. She hated prophecies with a passion, and now she apparently had one of her own. Making a mental note to ask Saul exactly how prophecies came to be in the Department of Mysteries, Hermione tried to shut down her whirling thoughts, forcibly turning her attention back to Perenelle.
"How do you plan to do this?"
"I'm going to test your defences as they stand now. In a moment I'm going to ask you to erect your strongest shield and I will see how robust it is. Once I've seen that, we will discuss your next steps. Are you ready?"
"Not in the slightest," she muttered, forcing her meagre shields up.
Perenelle gave a huff of laughter. "Well then, that's unfortunate."
Hermione immediately felt a presence in her mind as the silence fell. It wasn't painful yet, but she could feel something almost poking her shields. Then it got stronger. The push began to hurt until she gave a sharp cry as it felt like someone pierced her skull, collapsing her walls.
Perenelle let out a slow breath. "So, as a positive, you have shields. Not particularly robust ones but something nonetheless. Now, I propose we discuss strategy. Your shields are very literal walls. You need something much more dynamic, something you can hide things in and change as the need arises, something that makes it less obvious that you have secrets. You will also need to begin meditating daily and I expect you to practise with an experienced legilimens."
Hermione blinked. "I don't know any legilimens."
"Of course you do," she scoffed. "Dorea Potter may not be a natural legilimens, but she is a strong one. I believe she also taught her son. Saul is a legilimens, which I believe you already knew even if you momentarily forgot."
Hermione flushed. "Right. Wonderful. Let someone rummage in my head daily."
"Good. Now, strategies?"
Hermione was silent as she pondered the question. "I always envisaged a library," she murmured.
"That can work, but I sense some hesitancy." Perenelle arched her brow questioningly.
"It's… predictable I suppose." Hermione shrugged. "What… what about something a bit less… usual?"
A slow smile spread across Perenelle's face as Hermione all but projected an image. "Oh, I do like that idea."
"How do you think you would organise it?"
"You tell me. It's your system," Perenelle retorted pointedly.
Hermione allowed the silence to fall as she contemplated that. "Benign, but… maybe sentimental memories in the eggs?"
"Why?"
"Because the assumption will be that the dragon is protecting something precious. Anything else would be suspicious. It also… has the chance of luring someone into a false sense of security."
"Interesting. And the truly sensitive memories?"
"Hidden in both the flames and the dragon itself."
Perenelle regarded her seriously. "It's not a concept I've ever come across. It has the ability to be spectacular. But… what if someone assumes the memories are in the dragon's scales?"
Hermione hummed. "What if they weren't? What if they were in its teeth or claws or the tip of its tail. What if the scales were just scales? Would you assume it was just protection?"
"Perhaps," Perenelle murmured.
"The sticks in the nest are the obvious choice after that, no?"
"Yes," Perenelle agreed.
"So I put benign memories there. Would you check the flames?"
"Honestly, probably not. Maybe as a last resort, but we can work on manipulating those."
"In what way?
"Well, you can make your flames hotter, colder, make them seem like protection. You could ensure the memories are so buried there's no hint of them."
"So it could work?" Hermione checked.
"Yes, I think it could," Perenelle mused. "Let's try it. We can change it if necessary."
Hermione sat in complete stillness, attempting to build her vision inside her head. It was both painful and laborious. Her memories were not organised. There was no real system to speak of and pulling them out to hide them in varying places was difficult.
"Right. We have ten minutes before you have to meet your Mr. Lupin. Let's see what you've got." Perenelle's voice startled her out of her own head.
"But it's not finished!" she protested.
"I never expected it would be," Perenelle countered. "Hermione, it's going to take weeks to organise your memories properly and then probably months to strengthen your protections. This is not a quick process."
Hermione groaned, the pain inside her head pulsing in time with her heartbeat. "What if I don't have months?"
"Then you use what you have." Perenelle replied softly. "It will still be better than what you have now."
She blew out a breath but nodded. "Go on then."
With a twitch of her lips, Perenelle looked at her and she felt the presence in her mind trying to find a way through the flames, a wary dragon watching on. Consciously focusing on it, Hermione made her flames higher, the heat warming her mind and helping with the pain. Perenelle looked intrigued and she felt a slight cooling from a water spell the other witch had cast. Using it, she turned the heat down to almost freezing, feeling the countering heat as Perenelle tried again to break down her defences. The burst of pain when she made it through made her cry out.
"Well done," Perenelle crowed, withdrawing. "That was truly impressive. With time you'll be able to manipulate it fully to keep people out.
"Gods, my head hurts," Hermine muttered.
"I imagine it does," Perenelle agreed, handing over a vial of pain potion.
"Thank you," she gasped.
"Now then, I'll see you and Miss Carrow on Wednesday. Mr. Lupin will be waiting."
Hermione nodded. "See you on Wednesday," she murmured before heading in the direction of the classroom they'd commandeered.
"How nice of you to join me." Remus grinned when she sidled in.
"Sorry, my lesson ran over."
"Lesson?" he frowned. "I thought you only had Lily this morning?"
"Ugh, I'm getting occlumency lessons," Hermione groused, all but throwing herself into a seat.
"Ah," he muttered. "I'm not often grateful for being a wolf. Avoiding that is a definite bonus. James and Sirius said it's awful."
"It is," she muttered. "And I get to practise daily."
"Lucky you." He grinned. "Also, before I forget, Peter was wondering if he could join in some lessons. He's feeling left out."
"I ah… I mean, do you think he can keep up? I wouldn't want him to feel like he was struggling."
Remus looked thoughtful. "I don't know," he admitted with a grimace. "He's… less inclined to practise. It's more than that though."
"What is?"
"You don't like him," he stated.
"I ah… I don't know him," she stuttered.
"You don't acknowledge him. You didn't know any of us and you don't treat us the way you treat him."
Hermione blew out a breath. "I ah…."
"Can't even come up with an excuse," he mused, sounding thoughtful rather than angry. "Why?"
"I can't tell you," she replied eventually.
"Ever?"
"I'll tell you when we explain everything else," she countered.
"Right," he muttered. "I'm not going to like whatever you say, am I?"
She shook her head, hoping he'd leave it alone now.
"Right," he visibly gathered himself. "Just… I need to know. Is he dangerous?"
Hermione hesitated. "I don't know how to answer that," she admitted. "Just… pay attention to what he does. I… ah… Christ! I…"
Remus looked alarmed. "He is dangerous," he breathed, a look of pain twisted with equal amounts of astonishment plastered on his face.
"Not yet," she whispered.
"Not yet!"
"No. Not yet. Just… maybe I'm wrong. I hope I'm wrong."
Remus regarded her seriously, a flicker of hope visible that she was loath to crush. "Are you likely to be?"
She shrugged. "Who knows."
"You," he replied with certainty, the hope extinguishing, leaving only the pain. "I don't know how, but you know. You promise we're safe just now?"
"Yes," she agreed with a sigh.
"And you'll explain after school."
"I'll explain after school."
"Right then. Creatures?"
"I await your instruction, Professor," she teased, trying to inject some levity.
"Just for that, I'm stealing your dragon," he countered, playing along before plucking Nuri from her shoulder and cuddling her into his chest. "She's awake so I get to play with her, right?"
With an eye roll, Hermione summoned Nuri's toys from her bag and handed them over, answering questions on various creatures as he played with her dragon.
"How did you get on yesterday?" Minerva eyed a sleepy Hermione from across her desk.
"They're improving massively and actually taking it seriously, which is nice. Cassie's a bloody powerhouse and Amelia is no longer holding back, which makes a big difference. There's very little between them now. I started working with Sirius and James individually yesterday. They're… they're intriguing. They have the ability to do wonderful things. The way they work together is truly spectacular, but they still get distracted. I imagine Dad will knock it out of them.
Minerva snorted. "Yes I imagine so," she agreed. "What about your Mr. Snape?"
"He's… so incredibly powerful. I want to scream when I think about how wasted he was before. Teaching uninterested children potions when he hated it? Merlin Aunt Min, you should see the things he thinks of. I knew he was talented. The tweaks he made to the standard potions text were a massive clue, but honestly he forces me to think. We've been playing with elements…"
"What?" Minerva interrupted sharply, a jibe about Hermione dismissing teachers dying on her tongue.
"Oh, he's water. Dumbledore told him to pretend he wasn't. I mentioned it to Perenelle and she's going to see about introducing him to some people. She thinks he might be part of my sect."
"Oh." Minerva looked momentarily startled. "Who else?"
"Pandora Carrow and Gideon Prewett. We're missing Earth, but she hopes I might find someone from the Coven. Pandora mentioned Narcissa Malfoy… I sort of wondered…" she trailed off.
Minerva looked thoughtful. "I can't remember if Narcissa is an element. She may be." Her voice turned slightly awestruck. "A full sect… It hasn't happened in more years than I care to remember."
"So Perenelle said. But I… I don't quite understand the significance."
"Perfect balance, Hermione! Everything working together as it should. It's… the magics that are said to be possible with a full sect are… mind blowing."
"Like perfecting a Horcrux ritual," she mused as if to herself, Pandora's prophecy filtering through her head.
"Perhaps," Minerva allowed. "Perhaps. Now, I understand you have Miss Bones?"
"Ugh, yes I suppose I do," she agreed. "Oh, and Aunt Min?"
"Yes?" Minerva arched a brow at her.
"Perenelle would like you to come to Gran's tomorrow. She… there are some things you'll need to hear."
Minerva paled. "What things?"
"Nothing… well… it's fine. It's just… the… ugh." Hermione paused, stopping herself from speaking until she had control of her thoughts. "It's nothing to worry about. We just need some opinions."
"If you're sure." She eyed Hermione shrewdly, years of teaching leaving her with a sixth sense for explanations she would not like. She had a horrible feeling this explanation when it came would be worse than most.
"I am. But ah… perhaps don't mention it to Dumbledore?"
"Of course not," she scoffed. "I'll tell him it's family business and to mind his own!"
With a slight huff of laughter, well able to imagine the headmaster's face, Hermione all but ran so she wasn't late for Amelia.
"How are you?" Hermione probed at Pandora's subdued greeting.
"Alright," she murmured.
Hermione's eyes narrowed. "Let's get tea," she commanded, hooking her arm through Pandora's and leading her into the garish Madam Puddifoot's. "Two special blends and ah… the raspberry and white chocolate loaf please." She smiled at the waitress before pinning Pandora with a look and waiting expectantly.
In an uncharacteristic show of nervousness, Pandora's hands fluttered in front of her. "People find me odd," she murmured.
"Okay."
"It made things… difficult. I have family around my age so I was never short of companions. But… friends, those I am short of. Ironically, Luna was the one to teach me about friendship thanks to you and Harry."
Hermione blanched. "How long…"
"Has she been coming to me?" A flash of amusement travelled over her face. "More years than I can count."
"I still don't understand," Hermione muttered, slightly petulantly.
"No, I imagine you don't," Pandora agreed.
Hermione sighed, knowing she wasn't getting anything more about Luna out of the witch today. "What about yesterday unsettled you so much?"
Pandora stilled, a contemplative look stealing across her face. "I couldn't bear to be part of a sect where I was only tolerated because I knew one member," she murmured eventually. She didn't voice it but Hermione heard the silent again.
"Ok." Hermione nodded. "Then we need to introduce you to Severus. I think he'll be our biggest stumbling block, but… you said it yourself, he needs someone to love him, to challenge him, and who accepts him exactly as he is. Why can't that also be you?"
Pandora blinked. "I didn't think of that," she murmured.
"Yes, well, is this where I also point out you know Gideon? He already likes you even if you confuse him."
Pandora flushed. "I got lost inside my own head again."
With a snort, Hermione inclined her head. "I feel like I probably shouldn't judge you for that. However, I reserve the right to hex you until you see sense next time."
Pandora gave a reluctant laugh, some of the tension leaving her. "No thank you," she replied primly.
"Now, what else? You were… subdued before Madam Flamel began discussing elements."
"It's a great honour to be invited into a Coven like Circe's, especially by its high Priestess," she mused. "It was… overwhelming. The connections that can be made are… priceless. Just meeting her, having her seek my opinion, is an honour. I… you weren't brought up hearing the stories, and I don't think you quite understand the significance of Madam Flamel overseeing your induction personally. It… doesn't happen. Oh, she vets new recruits, but she assigns a mentor to support their transition to fully functioning member. She is not hands-on."
Hermione hummed. "My fire intrigues her. And… given the situation, there are slightly more, ah, safety concerns than normal, which is why she's handling it personally."
"Still an honour," Pandora murmured.
"Yes, but perhaps less surprising than if I was just a standard recruit."
Pandora paused but eventually nodded. "I see your point."
"Good… anything else?"
"Isn't that enough?" Pandora smirked.
"Probably, but I just thought I'd check."
Pandora gave a huff of laughter. "Thank you… for bothering to ask," she murmured softly. "Most people don't."
Despite steering the conversation to other things, Hermione silently vowed to pay more attention this time around. Apparently, Pandora was more like Luna than she'd realised.
"Amy said Snape's still joining you for Arithmancy," Alice greeted her.
Hermione blinked. "Ah, yes," she agreed.
"How is it?"
She shrugged. "He's intelligent. It's been fine. Did Amelia say otherwise?"
"No," Alice shook her head. "I just… it's a strange dynamic. It makes me feel… ashamed, I think. We all wrote him off. It makes me wonder how many other people we've written off."
Hermione hummed. "Which was sort of my point," she admitted.
"Yes. I see that now," Alice admitted. "How did it go with your Auror? Any word?"
"Oh! She's… gods, she's brutal. I hope to be half as competent one day."
"You do?"
"Yes! She's… intense," she settled on. "And excited about the idea of Hogsmeade weekends. I'll see her again this week and get some definites from her so we can spread the word."
Alice hummed. "I don't know whether to be excited or terrified."
"Both?" Hermione suggested, making her laugh. "Now, what is it you want to do today?"
"Lily mentioned wandless magic."
"Ah."
"It sounds like a good idea. You use it with ease. I just don't know if I can meditate anymore this week."
"What?"
Alice looked at her in surprise. "Didn't she mention? Professor McGonagall had us all start meditating in preparation for animagus transformation. The class is huge! Almost every seventh year signed up."
"Wow," she muttered. "How are you getting on?"
Alice snorted. "It's… slow going. I meditate nightly and I must admit I feel calmer. What I don't feel is like an animal."
"It'll come," Hermione soothed. "It took me three months before I had any indication of what I was. And another two before I felt the heartbeat.
"Okay." Alice blew out a breath. "That explains why she offered to continue the classes after graduation. Any tips to speed it up?"
Hermione shook her head ruefully. "I don't think you can. All you can do is keep meditating."
"Ugh, fine," Alice groused, her head tipping back dramatically, "Why am I meditating this time?"
"You want to find your core. As I said to Lily, it's different for everyone. It could be a light or a feeling or I don't know... you'll know it when you find it."
"Right," Alice muttered, transfiguring some cushions. "Can I combine animagus meditation with core finding?"
"Probably not," Hermione murmured sympathetically.
"Wonderful." she muttered sarcastically, "What are you going to do?"
"Mediate," Hermione replied. "I'm working on occlumency. It's… also slowly going."
"Ah." Alice nodded, wriggling to get comfy. "I'll set a timer then."
They both startled at the sound of Alice's wand vibrating. "I always feel like I could sleep after that," she mumbled, stretching.
"Any luck?"
"Not even a hint," she groused. "I'm going to have to do one in the morning and one at night."
"You'll be the most relaxed student in Hogwarts," Hermione teased.
"Or the most well-rested," she muttered. "I really want to sleep."
With a laugh, Hermione helped her to her feet. "Come on Sleepy. Let's go and get dinner and wake you up."
"What do you want to work on tonight?" Severus asked, eying her with some concern. Remus had hit her with a slicing hex in the first hit they'd managed since he'd sent her into a wall during class.
"Stop looking at me like that," she scolded. "I'm fine."
"It was deep," he muttered.
"And now it's healed. Dittany is a wonderful thing." He wisely kept his mouth shut even if he didn't look convinced. "Look, it was bound to happen. The whole bloody point of these sessions is for you all to get better. You're all going to manage to hit me with something at some point. I am not infallible and quite frankly there are more of you. Four to one with only one real hit is still decent odds."
He frowned. "Fine. Tonight?"
"How do you feel about duelling and seeing what happens?"
"We could," he agreed.
"Wonderful. First, though, I need to discuss something with you."
"Oh?" he looked apprehensive.
"It's nothing bad. I spoke to someone about your… gift. They want to meet you and think that they can arrange for some tuition. Not yet, they need to induct me into the Coven first, but that's a week from tomorrow so it won't be long."
"The Coven?" he spluttered.
"What do you know about them?"
"Not much." He frowned.
Hermione hummed. "Circe's Coven is headed by Perenelle Flamel. It's female only apparently, however, she appears to be willing to make an exception."
"Oh?" Severus' eyebrows jumped in surprise.
"Apparently, the magic that can be wielded when all five elements come together is immense. And it's not been done in years."
"Five?" his face scrunched in confusion.
"Ether."
Understanding bloomed on his face. "You think I could be part of this… five," he breathed.
"Yes," Hermione agreed hesitantly. "Apparently, elements are… drawn to others when they are likely to work well together. I've found Ether and potentially air. We'd all need to work together to see if we gel. Madam Flamel is hopeful I'll find earth within the coven."
"I see," he mused, unable to totally extinguish the excitement in his eyes. "And it means what?"
"Truthfully?" Hermione shrugged, shooting him a rueful smile. "I'm not entirely sure. This is still new to me too. What I do know is my rituals present differently from the norm and I'd really like to see what happens if we add in more of us."
"Real rituals?" he queried. "They are… discussed within my House but nothing is said beyond whispers."
"Real rituals," she confirmed. "Circe's coven is not the only one in Britain, there are more. My grandmother has a ritual circle at her home and I imagine many other families do too. I've done a grand total of two." His mouth quirked into a smile. "They are… honestly, Severus, the magic. It's palpable and… humbling I suppose. Because it's so much bigger than us. And we're given this wondrous tool to wield, but still, that's all we do. We wield it for a short period of time, but magic is… other. It's a living thing that allows us to play with it for a while but it's ancient and… just… so beyond comprehension."
He blinked back at her. "I have never felt magic like that," he admitted.
"Neither had I," she murmured. "And then I stood in a ritual circle that first allowed me to gift my father a layer of protection and then another that… restored some things I'd lost, that gave me answers. I… I truly cannot adequately describe what it was like. I imagine if Madam Flamel is involved you'll find out. She likes to begin with balancing."
"What does it involve?" he asked, a look of intense focus on his face.
"It's different for everyone I imagine. For me, it reminded me that I had people here who loved me. It… gave me an element of closure on my life before, I suppose. And it brought clarity that I needed to answer some questions. It… it truly was an indescribable feeling."
"I see," he murmured. "Is that why you seem… lighter?"
"Perhaps partially," she agreed before she laughed. "However, I was also dragged to a spa this weekend and it was quite possibly as magical an experience as the ritual." He sneered visibly, the disbelief obvious.. "Don't knock it!" she scolded. "It's built on a leyline and has healing pools. Did you know that knotted muscles affect the flow of your magic?"
Hermione hid her smile when he looked back at her incredulously, visibly startled by the very idea. "Ah, no."
"Well it does! I was high… high on magic apparently. My father informs me I was hilarious. I don't remember any of it."
"Sweet Salazar," he muttered. "So it helped… this spa?"
"So much!" she groaned. "Honestly. I feel like an entirely new person."
"And it's…" he prompted.
"Oh, off Diagon Alley." He hummed in response, missing the contemplative look that crossed her face. "Right, shall we duel?"
He gestured grandly. "If you're ready."
She rolled her eyes, sending out her newly discovered fireball, smirking when he glowered having only just raised his shield in time to prevent her from singeing his hair.
"What are you up to today, lass?" Alastor queried, eying her picking at her breakfast.
"Oh, I ah, hand signals I think. And then more werewolf laws."
"How are you getting on with them?"
"I'm getting there. Most are add-ons to the original law so there's fewer than we thought. I won't know anything until I speak to the Packs though."
"Are you sure that's safe, lass?" He frowned, looking up from his breakfast.
"Uncle Charlus will be there and I'm not advocating meeting them during the full moon," she retorted. "I'm sure it'll be fine. Uncle Charlus said his contact had a good relationship with the Packs he knows."
"Aye, so I've heard," Alastor agreed. "I just don't like the idea of you putting yourself at risk."
She shrugged. "My very existence is a risk," she reminded him softly. "And we need this. Not just for the war but because they deserve some protections."
"Fine." He sighed, changing the subject. "You're with Madam Flamel tonight?"
Hermione paused, looking faintly guilty. "I, ah, yes. I meant to ask if you'd come too."
"Why?" Alastor frowned.
"Because we got some ah… new information and we'd like your take on it. I'm supposed to invite Saul and Uncle Charlus, too."
Alastor froze, a sudden feeling of foreboding shooting through him. "What sort of information?"
"It's…" she sighed. There was no point in lying to him. He always knew. "Pandora had a prophecy vision."
He paled so quickly that she had her wand in hand in seconds to cushion his fall just in case. "About you?" he demanded.
"We think so, but not just me."
"Who else?" he demanded.
"Me, we think Caradoc, Pandora, Severus, Gideon, and someone we don't know yet. Oh, and Dumbledore. Which is why we'd like your opinion."
He sat in stunned silence as he contemplated what the fuck he was meant to do with this information. "Is Albus a threat?" he asked eventually, dreading the answer.
"Honestly?" Hermione blew out a breath. "Yes."
"I see," he murmured, trying not to show how horrified he was by that answer. It felt like the world was spinning out of control.
"Not a…not an immediate one. But one we need a plan for. Which we were doing anyway."
"That's not reassuring Hermione." he retorted sharply. "The influence he wields is immense."
"I know." she sighed. "Look. I have to go. I want to see if the Prophecy registered before we get to Bode and Collins' plan for the day, but we'll discuss it tonight?"
He was vaguely aware he nodded but inside he was screaming. It wasn't fair. Hadn't he suffered enough? Hadn't she? Why was she at risk again?
"Hello, darling," Saul smiled, "you're early. Bode and Collins aren't expecting you for another hour."
"I know," She admitted, "But I…I wanted to check something. Discreetly."
"Oh?" Saul straightened, looking intrigued.
"Pandora… we're relatively certain she had a prophecy vision. I need to know if it was recorded."
"Why?"
"Because it potentially involves me," Hermione sighed, futilely wishing that she wasn't having this conversation. She wondered just how often Harry had felt the same. At least her supposed prophecy was shared with others, he had to shoulder his all on his own. It was a rather sobering thought as she felt the crushing weight of his death so potently for several minutes that it stole her breath.
"I see," he murmured, his face carefully blank as he diverted her attention back to him.
"Madam Flamel wanted your attendance tonight by the way."
"For this prophecy?" Saul checked, not fooled by the nonchalant way she spoke. Whatever had gone through her head in the previous minutes had been painful enough for it to show on her face and while he was loath to ask and push her further when there was still work to do, he recognised that someone should speak to the witch. He sighed internally, making a mental note to mention it to Charlus. Dorea was probably best for something like that.
"Yes," Hremione confirmed, "She was there when Pandora had the vision."
"Well then," Saul exhaled slowly, "Let's go and see, shall we?"
With a nod, she followed him from the room, landing in the Hall of Prophecies, feeling her heart rate rise. She had no good memories of this room.
"Newer ones appear at the higher numbers," Saul advised, striding up the rows, "Ah Elliot! I was just explaining to Hermione how Prophecies work. I'm hoping to convince her to stay once she's done her newts."
The Unspeakable smiled blandly, before her eyes widened, "You're the one Sarah is so excited about!"
Hermione's eyes travelled to Saul, the question in the clear. "Collins has a first name," he replied with amusement.
"Oh! Yes. Although she just wants me for my dragon."
The watching Unspeakable snorted, "Don't we all darling," she drawled, making Hermione blush before she laughed, lifting Nuri off her neck.
"She is rather spectacular,"
"Good Godric, isn't she just," the Unspeakable breathed, reaching out a hesitant hand.
"And tame! I didn't believe Sarah when she mentioned it. We're friends," she continued at Hermione's questioning look, "And she wanted to ensure there were no prophecies containing a tame dragon."
"Ah. Were there?"
"Not a one." she sighed, "But I'll keep an eye. A tame dragon is unheard of so it's always wise to monitor things."
"I see," Hermione murmured.
"Now, do you know anything about how prophecies work?"
"Nothing at all," Hermione admitted.
"It's rather clever you know," the witch smiled conspiratorially. "The magic woven into the room ensures that each prophecy appears within minutes of its telling. It's how we prove real Seers from frauds. Of course, some only have one good prophecy in them. And sometimes various seers give prophecies that are similar. Having them all in one room means we can see patterns."
"Interesting," Hermione murmured, having not realised that they were quite as studied as they clearly were. "How do you know you're not inventing patterns?"
"We don't," the witch shrugged, "All we have is best guesses but it means that we can keep closer eyes on situations. If we're wrong, then no harm no foul. Better to watch and be wrong than to dismiss and have a disaster on our hands."
"Fair enough,'' Hermione nodded, agreeing with the logic. "What about unfulfilled prophecies?"
The witch smiled, "Well, they happen, of course, the world is ever moving, one seemingly innocuous event can change the entire course of life."
"The butterfly effect," she murmured.
"Fan of Edward Lorenz?"
Hermione's jaw dropped before she laughed, "No one gets that reference!"
"Irene Elliott," the witch held out her hand teasingly, "muggleborn with a well-developed interest in muggle sciences and advanced mathematical theory."
"Nice to meet you," Hermione shook it with a grin, "Hermione Moody, half blood but muggle-raised, well-developed interest in most muggle subjects to be honest. I think we could learn a lot from their methods."
"Merlin yes!" the witch clapped her hand in excitement. "We dismiss so much that could be useful! Like chemistry and pharmacology principles to modify potions or physics to help with charms and transfiguration….and…"
Saul coughed looking amused. "Unfortunately until NEWTs are over Hermione does not need any more projects, theoretical or otherwise. Once they are though, do feel free to continue this discussion. We've agreed to a timeshare with the DMLE. I'll give a week's holiday to anyone who can convince her we're better."
Hermione laughed, shaking her head at him fondly, "Uncle Charlus would pout."
"He'd get over it." Saul dismissed with a careless wave of his hand.
"How does muggle science marry with prophecies?'' Hermione turned back to the witch, with interest.
"It doesn't always, there are ultimately some areas of magic that are inexplicable. Currently. And perhaps that's what's fascinating. We cannot explain it but we know the magic is sound. We still don't know what makes a prophecy viable or not and that's fascinating."
"I ever thought about it like that," Hermione mused. "Surely human interference has an impact?"
"Oh, undoubtedly which is why I generally advocate for someone not knowing the contents of a prophecy. It's difficult though because they're often overheard and if something's already been set in motion then knowledge is power. It's all rather dependent on individual circumstances."
Hermione hummed, "If you didn't overhear a prophecy is there a way to check whether there's a prophecy about you?"
"Not one," Irene replied blithely. "Most are vague enough that until they are fulfilled we don't know for definite whether we've got the right subject. Of course, if part of it's been set in motion we can sometimes make an educated guess."
"Ah." Hermione mused.
"Do you think you have a prophecy?" the witch asked with interest.
Saul paused, seeming to contemplate whether to be honest or not. "She overheard one that has implications for the war," he murmured finally. "I will be tightening the security vows for this one Elliott."
"Of course," the witch agreed, holding out her hand. Hermione watched fascinated as Saul cast over her arm in complicated movements.
"Right then." he announced, once he was done, "Let's head to the last aisle. It was only yesterday."
"Who gave it?" Irene questioned as they walked.
"Pandora Carrow."
"And you were the only witness?"
"No. Perenelle Flamel was there too."
"I see." the witch nodded, so we're looking for P.C heard by H.M and P.F. Unless any of you have middle names."
"I have no idea about the other two but I have two." Hermione supplied, "So H. I.A.M"
"Jeezo right then, we typically only get one or two a week so it should be right up at the end."
Hermione followed the witch slowly, almost hoping it wasn't there. It was, of course, life wasn't kind to her wishes. She met the Unspeakable's apologetic eyes with a blank look. "It here then," she murmured needlessly.
"So it would seem." Saul agreed. "Congratulations, you are potentially the subject of a prophecy.
"One of the potential subjects," Hermione corrected.
Saul's eyes rose. "One?"
"Yes." she sighed,
"Do I get to hear it without breaking the orb?" he demanded.
"How does the orb know who it's about?" Hermione asked suddenly, remembering the break-in in her fifth year and the lengths Voldemort had gone to to ensure Harry got theirs for him.
"It doesn't until it's fulfilled." Irene supplied, "We can guess, of course."
"But only the subject can touch the prophecy."
"Who told you that?" she frowned. "Anyone can touch them…before the subject is confirmed."
"What?"
"Once the prophecy is set in motion only the subject, or subjects can touch it, before that, anyone can. How do you think we study them? Of course, we have a spell to study them after the subject is known, not that anyone out in this room knows it. We treat it with the highest secrecy or we'd have everyone in testing different theories. We're still not sure how the orb knows, or how to get it to tell us conclusively. But Merlin knows we've all seen the effects if someones got it wrong."
"I see," Hermione mused, surprised by that.
Saul cleared his throat pointedly, "You were going to explain the contents."
"Here?"
"Unspeakable Elliot has just taken an enhanced vow." he reminded her.
"And there's no one else here?"
He rolled his eyes at her, "I've had privacy wards cast since you started speaking. Now…out with it."
Hermione sighed, forcing herself to recall Pandora's exact words. "We are the key. Without us, you will lose. But the leader of the light grows darker, he fails to recognise the knowledge he lacks. If he is allowed, he will lead innocents to their death. The red dragon falls first. If this happens fire will ravage the battlefields until the snake extinguishes it. If that happens all will be lost."
Saul paled slightly, "Am I to assume you're fire?"
"We thought so." Hermione agreed.
"And the red dragon?"
"Potentially Caradoc Dearborn."
"Who?" Saul frowned.
"He's ah…one of my best matches. I told you about the soulmate potion my grandmother had me brew."
"Ah…I don't think you'd did," Saul muttered. "But right, you got this Caradoc Dearborn?"
"Yes, and Fabian Prewett. Caradoc is Welsh. He's a member of…ah…well. Dumbledore has an alarming amount of influence."
"Fuck," Saul hissed as something clicked, "One assumes he's the leader of the light."
"Yes." she agreed. "It's…not a huge surprise."
"What isn't? Dumbledore not listening or this Caradocs weaknesses."
"Both." she replied succinctly and if possible he paled further, reading the things she couldn't say directly.
"I see. Who else is at this meeting?"
"Dad, Uncle Charlus, Aunt Min and Pandora."
"Right." he nodded, turning to Irene, "Any thoughts?"
She shook her head, "It's ambiguous, of course, you're guessing who the red dragon is. The fact it begins with 'we are the key' leads me to believe the Seer knows the subjects." She looked at Hermione questioningly.
"We'd been discussing Pandora being part of our sect. We have elemental magic," she supplied with a sigh.
"Do you really?" Irene asked with an excited gleam, "A full sect?"
"We're potentially only missing Earth but we're looking."
"And you have the other four?"
"Yes, potentially," she agreed.
"Mother of Merlin." the witch breathed. "That's…It is of course speculation but it makes sense. Your element is fire?"
"Yes."
"Right then. It's not a guarantee but your reasoning is sound. Your issue, as ever, is controlling the other pieces. You cannot hope to influence Dumbelfore completely but you could weaken his influence. You should share this with your Caradoc. He needs to be on his guard. And then you must discuss it with the other members of your sect."
"Right," Hermione muttered, realising that that was all going to be rather challenging.
"Thank you, Irene. We may be back." Saul hooked his arm through hers. "I don't need to tell you what the vows will do so…."
The witch rolled her eyes. "Yes Boss" she cheeked.
Saul blew out a breath as he sank down into the seat behind his desk. "Right," he muttered. "We ah,...
"Need a plan?" Hermione supplied.
"Yes. And quickly."
"Which is why we're inviting Dad, Aunt Min and Uncle Charlus tonight.'' Hermione reminded him.
"Of course…I ah… this Caradoc, he died before?"
"It was assumed so, no one found his body,'' Hermione replied, trying to ignore how that made her feel. "It's…look we all know Dumbledore doesn't like it when his chess pieces don't behave. Aunt Dorea mentioned winding him up a bit, trying to lose him a bit of support but I can't help but wonder if that might make him more dangerous."
"Possibly," Saul admitted before he glanced at the clock. "Right. We need to take your shoulder accessory to Collins and Bode. We'll resume this discussion tonight."
"Fine." Hermione plucked a slowly waking Nuri off her shoulder, "Come on sweetheart let's go and see what the Unspeakables have for you to play with today."
Nuri yawned in response, small plumes of smoke coming from her nostrils.
"Miss Moody!" Unspeakable Collins beamed when she appeared, tentatively she reached towards Nuri as if waiting on her to snap. The dragon eyed her warily, standing as if frozen on Hermione's hand.
Sensibly Collins picked up a piece of lamb and fed it to her before she stroked her. Nuri devoured it, crooning happily as she began trying to sniff out more. Collins laughed, as she nuzzled at her palm, her tongue flicking out in case she'd missed any food. "That tickles!"
Bode pouted, "Stop hogging her!"
Hermione's eyebrows rose, "My dragon." she reminded them.
"You get her all the time," he complained, "It's good to share."
She snorted, "Do you hear yourself?"
"Unfortunately," Bode sighed dramatically, "But she's a real-life tiny dragon and you get to play with her all the time!"
"Because she's my dragon!" Hermione protested. "Anyway aren't we meant to be doing actual work today?"
Both Unspeakable sighed as if she had greatly disappointed them. "Well begin training her," Collins replied reluctantly, "But we get to play with her after. You have toys and things now, don't you?"
Hermione laughed, "I'll leave her with you while I ransack the library. Do I need an unbreakable vow to ensure I get her back?"
Both unspeakables seemed to consider it. "Not if we get to play with her every time you hide in the library," Bode wheedled.
Hermon's eyes narrowed, "You'll bring her to me if she gets upset."
"Yes, we understand the effects aren't pleasant." Collins sighed, all at once sounding serious. "It would also be interesting to see how far the bond extends. You react in the same room, but you're never without her. We need to know how well forged it is, because however cute she is, she is still a dragon and she has the ability to do damage. More than that though, she's easy to lose. We can't risk that, we need to ensure that you're able to feel her distress should she get away from you. I'm hoping if you can then you'll also be able to pinpoint where she is."
"I see,'' Hermione hummed. "Fair enough. Let's start with the training."
Bode nodded, "We're going to start with you making a noise and holding out your hand flat. With food obviously. We'll gradually increase the distance. The hope is that the command will be cemented enough that by the time she's flying, it'll be instinctive to listen to it."
"OK." Hermione murmured, "What distance are we starting with?"
"The width of a desk." Collins supplied, "We'll then move to a length, after that, we'll need to use the floor. Once the physical noise is consistently working, we'll work on strengthening the bond so you'll eventually not need it."
Hermione nodded, taking the bowl of lamb cubes Collins handed her. "Hand on the desk at the very edge," Bode commanded, "I'll take Nuri to the other side."
The dragon appeared momentarily startled by this turn of events as Bode picked her up but she settled as he stroked her head.
"Alright," he commanded, "We recommend a whistle or a click. Nothing on your hand, let's see what she does."
"A whistle or a click," Hermione muttered disbelievingly. Before whistling looking at Nuri.
The dragon looked at her briefly but resumed her crooning as Bode stroked down her spine, happy little notes escaping her.
"Food now," Collins instructed.
Doing as she was told, Hermione repeated the whistle. This time the dragon seemed to pause, sniffing the air with interest before she ambled across the desk for the lamb. Looking at Hermione expectantly when it was done. "Spoiled beastie," she murmured fondly, stroking her head.
"Alright, length now," Bode commanded, taking a visibly disgruntled Nuri away from Hermione.
By the end of the session, Nuri was walking three metres across the floor for the meat. Both Unspakables were pleased, reminding her that she could work on the distance at home before they began removing the food.
"Right library for you," they shooed her off once they were satisfied. With a slow nod and a feeling of wrongness, Hermione darted into the library. She had just cracked open a book when a feeling of genuine panic engulfed her and she ran.
Both Unspeakables looked a mix of amused and exasperated as she scooped up the dragon who immediately relaxed, letting out a series of relieved feeling notes.
"Interesting," Bode murmured, noting something down on a piece of parchment. "Five minutes, settle her and then head to…Saul's office."
Reluctantly Hermione nodded. She got no library time that day, but they did discover that there wasn't an area of the Ministry where she couldn't feel Nuri calling for her.
"Next week we'll broaden the area." Collins informed her, "Diagon Alley first I think. And then we'll have someone apparate you to various areas. At an increasing distance.
"I can apparate," Hermione protested.
"Of course you can but we need the coordinates to be precise."
"Right," she muttered, snuggling Nuri close to her. "I don't like it."
"It's for her safety." Collins reminded her gently, a look of genuine sympathy on her face.
"Ugh I know, but it feels wrong!"
"It's meant to." she retorted. "Keep working on that signal. Oh and before I forget, we got her a collar."
"What?"
"In preparation for her flying. We thought it might be best for her to get used to it now."
"Ah," Hermione murmured, eying the smallest purple collar she'd ever seen. "Thank you?"
"Try and put it on her today, although I'd let her feel secure again first," Collins eyed the tiny dragon nervously, hoping she didn't remember who had put her through such a painful afternoon once she was capable of breathing fire.
"Right," Hermione muttered, putting it in her pocket. "See you next week."
She still felt unsettled as she wove her way through the ministry heading for the canteen. Disconcertingly, she wasn't sure it was all coming from her. With Nuri finally asleep around her neck, she eyed her lunch that was claiming to be steak pie with little enthusiasm.
"Do you mind if I join you?"
She startled as she was jolted out of her own head, her eyes raising to meet the slightly amused ones of Kingsley Shacklebolt.
"Go ahead," she murmured, gesturing to the seat.
"Thank you. What are you glaring at instead of eating?"
"Steak pie apparently," Hermione prodded the unappetising lump with her fork.
"Huh, that's what mine claims to be," he mused.
"Then why do they look so different!" she whined.
He snorted, "No idea. One of the Mysteries of the canteen."
"Don't they use elves?" she frowned.
"Ah no. Apparently, they don't. They use them for other things in the Ministry, but not the cooking."
"Why?"
Honestly? No idea. Another mystery."
She sighed, poking her lunch with her fork again, "Wonderful."
With a wave of his hand that made her smirk at her first glimpse of an older Kingsley in his younger body, Hermione arched an eyebrow. "I thought we'd be less likely to be questioned by your father here."
"Ah," she nodded, "And why is that a concern?"
"We have some information," he began gently.
She straightened immediately. "About my mother's murder?"
"Yes." he agreed.
"How?"
"I went over the file, some things made sense in the context of what the elves said. Director Potter got me back in for some diagnostics. Magic leaves a trace."
"After seventeen years?" she asked disbelievingly.
"After seventeen thousand years if you know how to look," he countered. "So yes, after seventeen years."
"And?"
"There was something cast that prevented Aurors from asking the elves…it was like they forgot. The elves couldn't bring it up unless they were directly asked."
"And a magical signature?"
"Not one we recognise, but we can confirm that our results back up the elves' story. Three elves brought in three fully grown adults."
"But you're no further on narrowing them down?"
"Your Godfather shared your theory that one of them was Abraxas Malfoy, although he won't tell me how you came to that conclusion." Hermione merely hummed, making him roll his eyes, the frustration clear on his face. "Has it crossed either of your minds that this would be easier without you both keeping things from me? You're expecting me to find the answers!"
"Has it crossed yours," she began softly, choosing her words with care, "That we don't tell you for a very good reason. It's…dangerous. So bloody dangerous. For you, me, for my entire family. The secrets we keep, the secrets I keep, they can't get out. They'd turn my mind inside out to get them, and then, if I'm lucky, they'd kill me. More than likely though, they'd make an example of me. I am, after all, Alastor Moody's daughter. I got away from them once. Do you truly believe they'd allow it again?"
Kingsley blew out a breath, staring at her horrified, "Ok." he agreed finally, "Promise me if it's actually relevant you'll find some way to tell me. I'll take a damn vow if I have to but I can't actually help with this case if you're keeping pertinent information from me."
She nodded, "I'll talk to Uncle Charlus. Anything else?"
"We think the third person was Rene Lestrange."
"Why?" she frowned.
"We have Rodolphus' on record following us questioning him in relation to something else. There's a similarity there that would account for a familial connection."
"Right," she blew out a breath. "So Abraxas Malfoy, Antonin Dolohov and Rene Lestrange."
"Our working theory, even if the Director won't explain why he thinks Dolohov is likely."
"It's not actually important," she murmured, "Call it a hunch."
He rolled his eyes but let it drop. "I will keep working on this."
"I know," she agreed.
He seemed startled, "You don't know me."
"But Alex does." she countered and he relaxed.
"Ah, that he does." he nodded, resuming his lunch. He was surprised to find that now he wasn't making assumptions about the witch that she was rather amusing to talk to.