Beta love to CarbConnoisseur.

Broderick Bole actually jumped like an over-excited toddler when Hermione took Nuri off her shoulder, "Look at it!" he exclaimed, taking the dragon from her gently. "Oh! Oh! Just look at it."

Nuri regarded him curiously from his palm. "I really want one," the second unspeakable cooed, stroking her head.

Nuri let out a happy rumble, arching into her hand. "Rest assured Miss Moody will notice if she's missing a dragon, Unspeakable Collins," Saul replied with amusement.

Unspeakable Collins pouted playfully, before taking the dragon, "Bole said she eats mutton?"

"Mainly," Hermione agreed, watching as the unspeakable cast a series of flashy spells over Nuri who in turn, attempted to catch them with her teeth. "What are you doing?"

"Oh, weight, general health, age, magical properties," Collins explained, still casting.

"Ah. And?"

"All appears normal. Based on these predictions, she'll grow to the size of a small dog, think Yorkshire terrier size at most. She's capable of breathing fire, so watch for that, it usually develops around three months. She'll start needing more enrichment within the next month or so, things for her to hunt and so on. Her wings will be capable of flight at some point in the next couple of weeks, so that's something to look forward to. I'd tell you to keep her close so she bonds with you but given that she's kept checking you're close by, I don't imagine that will be a problem. Once she can fly you can work on hand signals with her, like muggles do with birds of prey, mainly to be honest because she's rather snack-sized and owls might decide she looks tasty."

Hermione grimaced, "Jesus. Right. Hand signals. I'll see if I can find a book."

Unspeakable Collins smiled apologetically, "I'm sure it'll be fine. She appears happy to stay in your vicinity currently, perhaps have some way to link her to your person if you happen to be somewhere with a large owl population."

Nuri gave a happy little croon when Hermione took her back, "That's interesting," Bole muttered, "I know you said she transferred feelings through notes but I wasn't expecting…."

"No one does," Hermione agreed, looking down at the dragon who was playfully nipping at her stroking fingers, "Manipulative little beastie, aren't you?"

Saul gave her an indulgent smile, "And yet you respond." he pointed out.

"Not just me!" Hermione protested, "Remus only gave her back because she made him feel sad once he'd fed her. Interestingly, she adores Snape and I keep catching Dad feeding her extra mutton when he thinks I'm not looking!"

Saul laughed outright, stroking the dragon's scaly back, "Spoiled indeed."

"Are any of the rest of them looking like hatching?" Hermione asked, spotting the still flaming nests.

"The one that appears to most closely resemble the fireball was making moves as if it was considering it," Broderick replied thoughtfully, "Tests indicate the other two still have at least another month."

"You can check that?" Hermione asked with surprise.

"Oh yes, one of the Romanian dragon handlers developed a charm. A fascinating piece of magic."

"Huh. Any ideas on why they're so different?"

"None at all," Collins sighed, "None at all. Now, we can't actually do much else with her so young but bring her back next week and we'll redo the checks. Once she's bigger we can put her through her paces so to speak. The only thing we were going to ask for was a blood sample."

"Why?"

"Because we want to compare it to her parents, and Magic willing, her siblings. It'd be interesting to see if there were marked differences."

"Like DNA profiling?" Hermione asked with interest.

"Like what?" Collins gaped at her.

"DNA…i never mind. Dragons have markers in their blood?"

"Oh yes! Each species has one unique property that tells us it's from them, after that the markers are dependent on parents."

"Fascinating," Hermione murmured thoughtfully. "I…I don't see that it would hurt."

"Lovely, pop her down here," she indicated to a table, before turning her focus onto the dragon, "I'll be quick lovely girl," she cooed as she made a tiny nick in the dragon's foot, syphoning off a small amount of blood. Nuri instantly panicked, emitting a terrified-sounding series of notes that had Hermione reaching for her immediately.

"Hush now, you're alright," she soothed, cuddling the dragon close to her, "it was a tiny cut, no need for this." Popping her head out from where it had been sheltered by Hermione's hand, Nuri turned to Collins and gave what could only be considered a glare.

"She…very aware isn't she?" Collins muttered, thanking all the gods that the dragon wasn't able to breathe fire just yet.

"Ridiculously so," Hermione agreed.

"Interesting," She mumbled.

"Right, so…are we done?" Hermione checked, still snuggling the dragon close.

"We're done with Nuri," Saul corrected, "I have plans for you though."

Rolling her eyes at him, Hermione turned, "Then lead the way to whatever it is you have up your sleeve next."

"How do you feel about helping me work on a summoning ritual?"

"For?"

"Death Eaters, or perhaps better yet, based on what Miss Carrow suggested, we need to work on proving imperius. We can't currently as I'm sure you know."

"Alright," Hermione agreed, slowly, "We'll need both of them though won't we?"

"Yes," Saul replied, "Imperius first?"

Hermione hummed, "Probably best. It'll be useless summoning them if we can't then determine who was willing."

"Right then, my office?"

"Sure, Nuri needs food and then she's going to sleep for the next several hours anyway."

"Wonderful." Saul grinned, leading her back through the labyrinth of corridors.

Distracted, Hermione made her way up towards the DMLE. The theoretical discussion with Saul had been intense; he'd introduced her to a team of Unspeakables from the Thought Room and began outlining the project. The magics they had been discussing had taken her breath away, several of the concepts going straight over her head in a way that made her silently vow to check the Unspeakable library when she was back the next day. It had been both humbling and thrilling. She knew she was intelligent, but this went beyond anything she had ever considered and she was more than a little excited at the idea of pulling things apart until she understood them. Hopefully, Unspeakable Haston was a patient woman because she'd been assigned to her and she knew she'd have questions. Lots of questions.

"Hermione?" Alastor's voice startled her out of her head, jerking it up until she was looking at him. "Merlin, Lass where were you? I've called your name three times!"

Flushing, Hermione headed over to him, "Sorry I was with Saul."

"Ah, interesting morning then?" he smirked.

"Yes," she agreed, "It was nice to be…challenged."

Alastor snorted, "Only you." he muttered as a tall redhead walked in with a look of aggrieved determination.

"Boss," she muttered before her eyes drifted to Hermione, "New recruit?"

"Not a chance," Alastor shot back, "Steph, my daughter Hermione, Hermione, Auror Stephanie Jarvis."

"Oh! I was supposed to ask to speak to you!" Hermione exclaimed before she could stop herself.

"Why?" Alastor demanded cutting off whatever Stephanie had intended to say.

"Because Scrimgeour suggested it," Hermione replied slowly, frowning at him. She turned to look at Stephanie, "Do you have five minutes at some point in the not-too-distant future?"

"Sure, let me complain about the high-handed arseholes of the Wizengamot then I'm all yours," she grinned.

With a laugh, Hermione nodded, "I'm going to see Uncle Charlus. Hopefully, the piles of laws will have…reduced slightly since last week."

"You're working here?" Stephanie asked in surprise.

"Sort of. I appear to have a timeshare going between here and the DOM," Hermione shrugged.

"Huh. And you're the one that no one could find in the simulation?"

With a slightly bashful smile, Hermione nodded, "Yes."

"Which reminds me," Alastor cut in, "Did you discuss that with Saul?"

"Yes, it's…I actually have no idea what he's doing with that. I'll check tomorrow."

"What were you doing today then?" Alastor asked bewildered.

"Checking Nuri and I imagine the rest is classified, you'll need to ask Saul yourself, but it was hardly the only thing we had on the list."

He glowered, "But it's important!"

"Sos what we're doing!" she shot back, not entirely sure what she'd done wrong, "For all I know he's handed the idea over to a team, so settle yourself down. I've already told you I'll ask tomorrow. Who pissed in your tea?"

Stephanie choked on air as Alastors glower deepened, "No one," he growled.

"If you say so," she muttered before turning and stalking towards Charlus' office.

"Hermione!" his smile faltered at the look on her face. "Is everything alright?"

"Someone pissed Dad off. He's grumpier than usual," she groused.

"Ah. Yes. A suspect got let off on a technicality this morning. I pity poor Jones when he gets his hands on him. He didn't log a piece of evidence properly."

"Ah. What had they done?"

"Muggle baiting," Charlus sighed, "They'd charmed keys to shrink until they disappeared, making the muggles think they were continually losing them. The man had links to a muggle building company so he then ended up with the contracts to replace the doors or provide more keys. It's been ongoing for years."

"Of course it has," Hermione murmured, remembering Arthur Weasley telling her about something similar happening many years in the future. It was a depressing thought.

"Yes," Charlus pulled a face, "At least this time we can watch him, although if he's any sense he'll change his investments and make our job ten times harder."

Hermione sighed, "Wonderful."

Charlus shoved the parchments towards her apologetically, "It is unfortunately what it is. Bloody Jones."

Hermione hummed, sitting down on the other side of Charlus' desk, and settling Nuri on a blanket next to her. "Madam Summers still not forgiven you?

"No," he whined, "Unreasonable witch, her toad really is fine!"

Hermione snorted, before turning back to her work.

"Enter!" Charlus called just as she was getting into the swing of things. "Auror Jarvis, what can I do for you?"

"I came to borrow Miss Moody, she indicated she wanted to speak to me."

"Hermione?" Charlus looked at her questioningly.

"Yes, Scrimgeour indicated I should."

"Oh?" he asked archly.

She rolled her eyes, "Ignore my godfather, I have no idea what's going on with posturing men today." Stephanie bit back a laugh at both the tiny witch in front of her and the look of indignation on the boss' face. "Did Scrimgeour owl you?"

Stephanie grimaced, "It's entirely possible he did but I've been…elsewhere on a mission for the last month, so who knows. What did he want?"

"I gather you've been asking Dumbledore to allow you to meet with the seventh year girls." Stephanie nodded slowly, waiting on her to get to the point, "Well Aunt Min thinks it's a good idea so there might be an in there, however, if not I wondered how you felt about commandeering a Hogsmeade weekend or five."

Stephanie's jaw dropped, "That's bloody genius! But…who in the name of Circe is Aunt Min?

"Oh." Hermione flushed, "Professor McGonagall."

"Professor McGonagall," Stephanie repeated faintly, "Why the bloody hell did I not consider her!"

"No idea," Hermione admitted before taking another breath, deliberately not looking at Charlus "Scrimgeor also suggested that I request some training from you."

"Why?"

"Because I'm going to need it and he believes you're exceptionally good at what you do. Deadly, I believe is how he described you. And while my father is training me, and others are helping, I think that exposure to as many styles as possible can only be a good thing."

"Why are you going to need it?" the other witch asked incredulously.

Charlus cleared his throat warningly as Hermione shook her head exasperatedly at him, "There is a war brewing," she replied bluntly. "I am Alastor Moody's daughter and someone already tried to murder me once. On top of that, there are…things I'm involved in that are not exactly safe that I cannot currently discuss without clearance."

Stephanies's eyes darted to Charlus, widening when she caught the look of fear he hadn't been able to mask quickly enough. Hermione sighed when she caught it too. "Enough of that," she chided, "We all knew what we were getting into, Uncle CHarlus."

He let out a slow breath, "Unfortunately knowing does not make the reality easier." He straightened his spine, blanking his face again before turning towards Stephanie, "Unfortunately my goddaughter is correct and I would consider it a personal favour if you'd honour her request."

Stepahnie's eyes blew wide, silently wondering what on Earth this witch was involved in. Still, a favour from the Director was not to be sniffed at even if she'd have done it without the incentive. "Very well," she agreed. "My hours are not exactly regular, so we'll need to set something up on a week-to-week basis. As a starting point, I'm currently free Saturday morning this week, I'd like to see what we're starting with."

"Of course," Hermione agreed.

"And if you'd be so kind as to speak very very nicely to your dad, I'd love to try something next Hogsmeade weekend. I'll need him to ensure I'm not working."

"I'll see what I can do." Hermione agreed with a smile. "Tomorrow….when he's less likely to be an arse just because he can be."

Stephanie snorted, "Yes well, there's more than one of us who'd like to string Jones up by the short and curlies for his mistake, so I'll forgive the boss today. After that though, I can't promise I won't hex him."

Hermione shrugged, "You'll let me watch?"

With a startled laugh, Stephanie turned to walk out of the room, "I think I'm going to like you, Miss Moody."

"Hermione please," Hermione sighed, "Miss Moody is getting old."

"Steph." the Auror offered in return. "I'll see you at eight on Saturday. Here?"

"Sure, "Hermione nodded, silently mourning yet another lost long lie.

Hermione startled when Charlus let out an audible groan, stretching out clearly sore muscles. "It's almost dinner time," he announced, "We've been at this for hours." Hermione nodded in agreement, rolling her shoulders to release the tension. "Come for dinner? Alex was complaining he hadn't seen you for what felt like ages."

Hermione pulled an apologetic face, "I've to meet Madam Flamel tonight. Tomorrow?"

Charlus nodded, "Tomorrow then. No excuses. How did things go with Perenelle?"

"Alight?" Hermione replied, realising it sounded more like a question than an answer. "It's all a bit confusing currently."

He grimaced, "Yes your aunt mentioned that she can sometimes have that effect on people."

Hermione hummed, "Uncle Charlus?" she asked hesitantly.

"Yes?"

"Do you think we're doing enough?"

He frowned at her, "In what way?"

"Ending things. I…Saul and Madam Flamel think we need to be able to capture all the Death Eaters before we make a move and I…I understand. Sort of. I remember how many got off last time at least but I don't feel like we're…I'm doing much of anything."

Charlus let out a long slow breath, not sure how best to answer her. "You are quite possibly the busiest person I know." he began softly, "NEWT's, relationship building, trying to keep everyone safe, werewolf law reforms, duelling practice, duelling teaching, Unspeakable experiments, dragon rearing, ritual magic, goblin laws, information sharing, connecting the dots of events, making new friends, getting to know your family, adapting to a life you never expected to have, did I mention trying to keep everyone safe? How on Earth can you not be doing enough?"

"But how much of that could I be doing after?"

He hummed, nodding, "Well, the relationship building is imperative before, as are the goblin customs, the ritual magic, the duelling practice and teaching, the Unspeakable experiments linked to the war, connecting the dots of events, making new friends falls under relationship building and I would hazard a guess that your attempts at keeping everyone safe, for all its an impossible goal, is rather important right now. Not later."

Hermione sighed, still looking conflicted. "We…Dumblefore wasted so much time that could have been used to stop that final year from hell ever happening and I'm scared. I'm scared of history repeating itself, I'm scared that I won't be quick enough and it'll be someone I love or someone different that lived before because I've fucked things up. I…I don't know how to be idle but it feels like I'm living with an hourglass slowly trickling down until there's no time left and I'm the only one alive, again. Where I can see the bodies of everyone, none of them are moving, all of them are still and lifeless and it's so, so fucking senseless. All of it. And sometimes I feel like I can't breathe because now when I close my eyes I see all of you as well as all of them and it hits me over and over again that I'm out of time. That I didn't do enough. That I wasted my second chance and…."

"Hermione, stop," he commanded as he pulled her into a hug so tight it had to be painful, hating that she was breaking and wondering how none of them had seen it coming as she sobbed into his shoulder, her grip on his robes so tight he could feel the fabric pulling. He wondered not for the first time whether they were expecting too much from her. "You are doing enough," he soothed, "This is not all on you. This is not just your fight and you are not responsible for keeping everyone safe."

"Fuck," a voice uttered from the doorway. Charlus' head shot up to find a wide-eyed Fabian Prewett staring at Hermione. "I…I'll just come back." he stuttered, turning abruptly.

Charlus sighed internally, wondering how much the boy had heard, and what the repercussions would be. Less than five minutes later, Alastor barged into the room.

"Prewett said Hermione was upset," he announced, his eyes frantically scanning his daughter's back as if he could determine what was going on from that alone.

"I'm fine," Hermione mumbled sounding anything but.

"You're not," Charlus disagreed, "No one expects you to be." he looked over at Alastor, "She puts too much pressure on herself."

"Aye," he nodded.

"Well we reached breaking point," he retorted bluntly. "Which is why, on Sunday, you're going to agree to your Aunt Dorea taking you to that new spa off Diagon. I won't take no for an answer," he warned when she began to protest, pulling her back so he could see her face, "If you break, we are at a significant disadvantage. You cannot take everything on yourself, you are one person and it's time you realised that. So, you are going to go and let them work their magic and you are going to approach Monday feeling relaxed, knowing that you are doing far, far more than I think you should be. You are not idle, the war does not rest solely on your shoulders. And when you forget that, you will remember that for every time you do, I am going to force you to spend an hour with Sirius without permission to hex him." It wasn't enough, it wasn't anywhere near enough but it was all he had until this war was over. Silently he vowed to make sure she was taking regular breaks from all the work she was doing. He'd rope the McGonnagalls in if he had to; no one was able to out stubborn Janet McGonagall on a mission.

Hermione gave him a reluctant, wet-sounding laugh, unsure of how to feel about the very real concern on his face, "I once broke Draco Malfoy's nose with my fist, I won't need a wand."

He rolled his eyes, despite the amused expression on his face before he pulled her in for another hug. "You have got to be kinder to yourself, or you're going to drive yourself mad," he whispered into her hair.

Hermione let out a sigh, her body seeming to deflate, "I don't think I know how," she mumbled.

"Then let us help you," he all but begged.

"I'll try," she replied softly, squeezing him tight, "Thanks Uncle Charlus."

"I'd say anytime," he muttered, dropping a kiss onto the crown of her head, "But I don't think my poor heart can take it."

She snorted slightly but sunk into the hug, needing the feeling of someone else being in control for just a minute.

Alastor gave them five minutes before he cleared his throat, "Come and have dinner with me, lass," he commanded gently, disentangling her from her godfather.

Hermione bit back a sigh knowing they were all going to be overly careful with her again before she nodded, "Fine, but can I have something that looks like the thing it's claiming to be?"

"Not in the Ministry," he snorted, "How do you feel about dinner in the Muggle world instead? There's a restaurant with a decent menu a few streets past the entrance phonebox."

"Anything has to be better than the canteen food," she shrugged.

He hummed, visibly scanning her face for clues as to how she was feeling. "Stop that," she commanded.

He pulled a face, "Can't I be concerned?"

"Yes, but you can't treat me like I'm going to shatter if someone so much as looks at me wrong." she countered.

He sighed, "Prewett looked terrified," he retorted bluntly. "And you…it's very rare to see your guard down."

"It's been an…intense few days," she murmured.

"Aye, all the more reason to do as your Uncle Charlus suggests and take a day off," Alastor replied pointedly.

"It wasn't a suggestion," Charlus muttered darkly.

"Aye well, I have better survival instincts than you and I wouldn't dare demand my daughter comply with anything, stubborn wench that she is. She'd likely hex me in my sleep." Alastor retorted, making both Charlus and Hermione laugh.

"Fine," Charlus sighed, "Please consider the spa with Dorea, it's important for you to breathe sometimes too."

Hermione nodded slowly, "Fine," she sighed.

"Thank you. Now, go and get dinner and let your father fuss in his own awkward way."

Charlus dodged the stinging hex Alastor sent him before he turned to leave.

Alastor stared at her slightly uncomfortably over the table. "You're really alright?" he checked.

"No," Hermione admitted with a sigh, eying her dinner that at least looked like she expected it to, "I don't know if I'll ever be alright."

Alastor let out a slow breath, not wanting to admit how much that hurt to hear. He could cheerfully strangle Ailsa for the things she'd forced their daughter to experience, even if she had done it with the best of intentions. "Why is this week harder?"

Hermione shrugged, not looking at him, "I don't know. Hogwarts is…harder than I thought it would be."

"In what way?"

"Lily was teasing me about the Prewett twins and it hit me how surreal it all was, she's my not-yet-born best friend's mother, and she was hinting at how pretty they were to look at. Alice Fawley is nothing like I imagined, and I can't help but wonder what Neville would have been like if he'd gotten to grow up with her. James is…James but he's also not anything like the stories Sirius and Remus told. He's…absurdly brilliant at transfiguration and charms and the way he looks at Lily is beyond adorable, especially as she looks back when she thinks no one is watching. Cassie…Dorcas Meadowes, she's Gods, she's irreverent and fierce and in some abstract way I knew she had to be, she was targeted by the dark arsehole personally but they're…ghosts or they were and now I'm forced to see them as real people and whenever I think too hard on that I can't breathe. I like them but I also can't get their fates out of my head."

"Oh my lass," he murmured when she finally paused for breath, "I wish I knew what to tell you."

She swallowed visibly, her eyes on her plate, "I don't imagine there's anything you can say." she admitted, "I just need this to be over sooner rather than later or I'm going to drive myself insane."

Alastor hummed, "Saul sent one of his fancy notes earlier, he said Miss Carrow suggested telling Izzah, the twins and your Mr Dearborn before Imbolc."

"Yes," Hermione agreed, not sure where he was going with it.

"Might I suggest we decide on a date?"

"Why?" she asked, not sure where he was heading with this.

"Because it gives you time to work out what you're going to say and it gives us something concrete to work towards."

Hermione hummed. "Alright. Although she also said to tell Severus and that I'd know when it was the right time"

"You want to tell them together?"

"I don't know!" Hermione exclaimed, exasperated with her own indecision. It all just felt too much. Too much pressure, too much that could go wrong. It made her head spin. What if they didn't believe her? What if they hated her for telling them? What if she miscalculated and their futures went the same as they had before? What if it didn't and someone else died? One of the Weaselys or Caradoc's family. She had no idea what had actually happened to them. What if she couldn't give them the answers they wanted?

"Alright," Alastor interrupted her spiralling, watching with worry as she paled, her breathing increasing. "Why not start with a provisional date for the twin's etcetera?"

"Fine," Hermione blew out a long, slow exhale, trying to get herself back under control. She could feel her heart hammering and the clammy feeling that usually preceded a panic attack. "Fourth of February," she gasped finally.

"Why the fourth?" he asked with interest, trying to keep her talking.

"Because...because," she took another breath trying to force herself to calm down.

"Hermione, lass. Breathe. Slowly." Alastor interrupted. "Look at me, match my breathing."

Finally, still feeling far closer to the edge than she'd like, Hermione all but whispered, "It's the first Saturday in February. Don't schedule the twins on."

"Very well." he agreed, praying to whatever god might be listening that it went well. He kept a close eye on her during the rest of dinner and was utterly unsurprised when she shifted into an otter the moment they were back in the house. He was surprised when she curled up on his lap, Nuri and Crookshanks both joining her. With a sigh, he ran his fingers over her head. He could give her half an hour to regain some equilibrium before they had to meet Madam Flamel. He just had to hope it was enough.

"Hermione," Janet smiled at her pale granddaughter wondering what had happened now; Alastor's Patronus informing her he was taking her out for dinner instead of joining them had concerned her, especially given how terse he had sounded. Her worry ratcheted up a few more notches when he stepped out of the floo behind her. "And Alastor."

"Mo Sholas?" Robert frowned, enveloping her in a hug.

Hermione shook her head. "Some days are better than others," she murmured.

Robert's eyebrows rose but wisely, he didn't comment.

"Hermione," Perenelle smiled gently, "And your new familiar!"

"New familiar?" Janet questioned, looking around the floor as if one would appear.

"Nuri," Hermione offered, unwinding the dragon from her neck. Nuri glared before stretching out giving a sneeze that sent smoke trailing from her nostrils.

"That's new," Alastor muttered.

"Unspeakable Collins said to expect fire soon." Hermione shrugged.

"Wonderful," he muttered sarcastically, "Let's hope you can ask her not to burn things like you do your wee flames."

"Is that a dragon, Mo Sholas?" Robert demanded, his eyes round with shock.

"Yes. It…all happened rather quickly, to be honest."

"What happened quickly?" Janet asked sharply.

"Well…I had an egg and then a dragon and really I'd only gone to learn goblin customs and well…now I have a new familiar that breathes fire and lives on my neck."

Perenelle snorted, deciding to cut in while Janet was still gaping in shock. "Wonderful. Now, I decided against bringing anyone but I'd like you to meet with the coven two weeks from now. The full moon will be the night before but I think you should wait until the new moon on the 7th of February to join us fully. The 25th will just be an introduction. So along those lines, I think we should begin to explore exactly what you can do with your gift and how your delightful new familiar fits in with that."

"Ok," Hermione agreed softly, still feeling wrung out.

"Wonderful. To the garden, I think. I should probably ward an area just in case." she hummed, "Have you been experimenting at all?"

"Yes," Hermione admitted. "I still have to ask it individually not to burn people and I'm working on making it waterproof."

"How?" Perenelle asked sharply.

"By working with someone with an affinity for water," she replied defensively.

Perenelle froze, "Who?"

Sighing, Hermione idly stroked Nuri. "His name is Severus Snape. Dumbledore told him to pretend his gift didn't exist, so he's been practising with me."

"I see," Perenell murmured thoughtfully, "That's… intriguing. You work well together?"

"Reasonably?" Hermione hedged.

"I'd like to see it." With a reluctant nod, Hermione agreed, not at all sure how Snape would take that, as if reading the thought on her face, Perenelle continued, "I can offer him someone to help guide him."

"Very well," Hermione sighed.

"Good," Perenelle nodded, "After you've met the coven, I think. I'm interested to see what you achieve on your own."

Hermione turned to look at her with narrowed eyes, "What aren't you saying?"

Perenelle smiled approvingly, "You're every bit as sharp as your godmother would have me believe you are. Those who work with others attuned to the elements often find…groups that balance them. For you to have found this Severus Snape is intriguing, should you be drawn to anyone else, do let me know."

Hermione frowned, "Is there something specific I should be looking for?"

"Oh no. Magic guides, if you find them, you'll know."

"Right," she murmured.

"Well then, into the garden?"

Janet, Alastor and Robert watched with fascination as Hermione conjured flames, sending them dancing into the air. Perenelle had her change their shape, temperature and direction on multiple occasions, wrapping them around trees and, herself and Nuri, working out if she could order them to burn her skin, seeming endlessly pleased when she couldn't no matter how hot she made them. It was both enthralling and terrifying; the feeling of magic in the air was palpable. Two hours later, seemingly satisfied, Perenelle called her to stop, much to Nuri's displeasure as the spark she'd been chasing disappeared.

"Wonderful. Next week we begin on Feindfyre."

"What?" Hermione yelped.

"I see no reason why we wouldn't," Perenelle informed her calmly. "You can withstand flames that should have cremated you. Over the next week, I want you to focus on your commands, I truly believe that with practice you will be able to command your fire to burn at will, it'll just take time. You managed with a blanket request of trees did you not? You didn't have to think of them individually?"

"Trees are a little different from people," Hermione muttered peevishly.

Perenelle hummed, "Indeed, but it's a starting point no?"

Hermione nodded slowly understanding what she meant despite still feeling sceptical. "Good. As for this little lady, she's very attuned to your magic."

"And that's a good thing?"

"For the rest of us," Perenelle laughed, "she'll take her cues from you which hopefully means we won't be dragon food anytime soon. I gather the Unspeakables have given you guidance on what to work on?"

"Yes," Hermione agreed, snuggling a now sleepy Nuri close.

"Good, strengthening the bond will only be good for both of you." Perenelle smiled at her, "Not that I think that will be an issue. Now, I gather you've had a trying day, do try and sleep tonight and I shall see you on Monday?" Hermione nodded all of a sudden feeling exhausted. "And Hermione?" Her gaze shot toward the other woman. "Your godfather is correct, you must be kinder to yourself."

With an amused eye-roll as she was once again reminded how open her mind was Hermione bid Perenelle and her grandparent's goodnight, stumbling through the floo with a subdued Alastor before collapsing into her bed feeling completely wrung out.

"Dad wanted an update on the likelihood of those portable protection wards," Hermione announced in lieu of greeting Saul the next day.

His eyebrows rose in surprise, "Hello to you too Hermione." he replied pointedly.

Waving him off Hermine sat down across from him, "He was an arsehole yesterday and I can't promise that if he does it again I won't hex him."

"Very well," Saul replied with an eye-roll, "I have a team looking into it but we're struggling with a suitable receptacle."

"Oh?"

"Certain metals and jewels hold magic better than others. We need to balance the cost with effectiveness and right now we're struggling to hold even the most basic of shield charms."

"Really?" Hermione frowned thinking of the Weasley twin's hats and cloaks.

"Why is that a surprise?" Saul demanded, reading the look on her face.

"Well…in my time, the Weasley twins managed to charm a basic shield charm into fabric."

"Fabric." Saul breathed, "That's…Sweet Merlin, we went straight to jewellery but if we were to consider something else…wait here!"

Hermione blinked as he practically ran from the room. "Never a dull moment is here?" she mused looking at Nuri who was gazing at her quizzically, worrying her sleeve between her teeth.

"We need to get you toys," Hermione muttered, before transfiguring a sheet of parchment into an origami bird, making it fly just above Nuri's head. She spent the next twenty minutes watching the tiny dragon scamper after it along Saul's desk, snapping as she went. Startled out of her concentration when the door flew open again the bird dropped low enough to be caught. Hermione laughed at the sight of a smug-looking Nuri curled around the bird, gnawing on its wings just as Saul sat down, stroking his finger over Nuri's head.

"All good?"

"Yes! They're going to consider other materials." Saul nodded with satisfaction. "Now, it occurred to me yesterday that you were missing a slight grounding in some of the things we were discussing, so today I thought we'd look at goblin customs for the first half of the morning and then I'd let you loose in the library. Unspeakable Haston will be around to answer any questions you might have. I'll give you the minutes of our meeting before you leave today, and any other ones I think are necessary. You can join us again next week, we'll meet later to give you time in the library again."

Hermione hummed, "Do the books need to stay here?"

"They should," Saul replied slightly pointedly despite the flash of amusement that travelled over his face, "But if you let me know what ones you're taking then I'll look the other way as long as the only place they go is your home. No traipsing around Hogwarts with them, and a maximum of three."

Hermione beamed back at him, "And I can change them as often as I need to?"

"I feel like I'm going to regret this but yes." Saul sighed, "Now, goblin customs?"

Hermione waved grandly, making him laugh before he began quizzing her on scenarios that got more and more unlikely as the morning went on.

"Miss Moody!" Fabian's voice startled her out of her daydream as she left the Department of Mysteries after over two hours of bliss trawling through books she'd never even dreamt existed.

"Auror Prewett." she greeted warily, not sure what to make of the way his eyes scanned her as if looking for injury.

"Are you alright?" he asked bluntly.

"Yes," she nodded slowly, "Why wouldn't I be?"

"Yesterday…" he trailed off and she flushed.

"Was a bad day," she sighed.

"Ok, and today isn't?" he hedged, still looking worried.

"Today is less…overwhelming."

"Good. Right…good…I…are you heading to lunch?"

"With Marlene" she agreed with a slightly impish smile.

"With. Gods Moody, you two can't be friends!" he replied, his concern for her morphing into concern for himself.

"Why not?" she asked innocently.

He whined slightly, "I don't think the word is ready for it." he muttered, making her laugh.

"Tough," she grinned.

"Merlin save us." he muttered in response, changing the topic before he thought too hard about how much that pairing concerned him "I hear you're duelling on Friday?

"Every Friday until my father decides otherwise, "she muttered.

"You'll save me one, won't you?" he grinned.

With an eye-roll, Hermione stepped out of the lift, "Well see."

"Miss Moody!" Marlene grinned at her as she slid into the seat across from her.

"Miss McKinnon." Hermione returned with a raised eyebrow.

Marlene snorted, "Alright so it sounds bloody ridiculous, Hermione."

With a laugh, Hermione picked up the menu. "Yup. I wish our world was a little less…."

"Old fashioned?" Marlene suggested.

"Merlin yes. Why can't they just call someone by their damn name without all the arsing about?"

"Technically using their surname is their name." Marlene pointed out with a grin.

Hermione rolled her eyes, "It all sounds ridiculous."

Marlene snorted, "Of course it does but Merlin forbid we give an inch on tradition!"

"Quite," Hermione muttered, "My godmother's been coaching me, it's bloody exhausting."

Marlene frowned, "Do I get to ask about that?"

Hermione's eyebrows arched, "You can ask."

With a snort, Marlene inclined her head. "Where were you that you're only being instructed now?"

"There was..an incident that killed my mother," Hermione began choosing her words carefully. "I was adopted without my father knowing. I only found him, and the rest of my family recently."

"Good Godric," Marlene looked at her disbelievingly, "That's…horrendous."

"It's not ideal," Hermione allowed, "But we're, I'm, adjusting. It's just rather a lot to take in, to be honest, I thought I was muggleborn and now, apparently I've behavioural expectations to adhere to and every last sodding one of them is archaic."

Marlene smiled slightly, "Yes, they are. My mother threw a fit when I admitted I was seeing Emmeline Vance, and kept telling me I needed to find a nice wizard and settle down. She even tried to convince Gideon that we could have a marriage of convenience as long as we were discreet."

"Sweet Circe," Hermione muttered, "Why is this world so goddamned backwards!"

Marlene gave her a small smile, "I have no idea, and yet it is."

"I wonder if we could combine muggle techniques if it would calm down," she mused.

"Pardon?"

Hermione froze, remembering belatedly that the first Ivf baby wouldn't be born until July of that year. "I ah…surrogates, where a woman carries a baby for someone else. Sperm donation, where a woman is inseminated with donor sperm, Ivf, a technique that's reasonably new where they combine sperm and egg in a dish and ah…reimplant it into a woman. There is more than one way to have a baby."

Marlene blinked at her. "I didn't understand a word of that." She admitted, "But are you telling me that it might be possible for me and Emmeline to have a baby out with adoption?"

"Yes," Hermione agreed. "I don't know how it works with magic though."

"In what way?" Marlene asked curiously.

"Well, no one knows how magic is passed down or whether different techniques might affect it."

"I see," Marlene murmured, "I don't think I care."

"Well, something to consider then," Hermione shrugged, trying to ignore the twisting feeling in her stomach when she remembered how many years Emmeline Vance had lived alone.

"Let's get this war over with first," Marlene muttered. "And then you and I are going to sit down and have a chat about these techniques."

"Of course." Hermione agreed, praying to whatever deity might be listening that they got to have that conversation. "Now. I gather you're the person to go to for information to embarrass Fabian Prewett. What would it take for you to share?"

With a startled laugh, Marlene began to talk, allowing the conversation to lighten.