Beta love to carbconnoisseur
"Right then." Charlus looked at her pointedly from across his desk. "Shall we go?"
Hermione blew out a breath, but nodded. She wasn't looking forward to this.
"Mo Sholas!" Robert grinned, wrapping her in a hug as she stepped out of the floo. "And… Charlus Potter." He frowned. "What's going on?"
"Madam Flamel wanted to talk to us all. I did owl Gran."
"Did you now?" he muttered, gesturing Charlus forward, his arm anchored across her shoulders. "Who else are we expecting?"
"Ah… Dad, Saul, Aunt Min, and Pandora Carrow."
"The Seer you've become friends with?"
"That's her," Hermione agreed.
Robert eyed her with growing concern. "What is this about, Mo Sholas?"
"Can we wait until everyone is here?" she murmured. "I don't… once is enough."
Robert paled, noticing his wife hovering at the doorway looking uncharacteristically unsure. "You knew," he murmured, pinning her with a look.
"Aye." She sighed. "Although nothing more than who was coming. It doesn't take a genius to work out something happening. It had Perenelle concerned."
Hermione sighed, dropping her head into her hand. "Mo Sholas," Robert probed. "How worried should we be?"
"It's not ideal," Hermione admitted, not looking at him. "But we'll figure something out."
Over her head, her grandparents looked at each other, fear written across their faces, before turning to Charlus. "Do you know what's going on?" Robert demanded.
He shook his head. "No." He sighed as the floo roared and his wife appeared, sending his eyebrows skywards.
"Aunt Dorea!" Hermione exclaimed.
"Hello darling. Perenelle invited me." Dorea smiled, picking her way regally across the room. "Robert, Janet, thank you for hosting this evening."
"The lass is our granddaughter. Of course, we're hosting," Janet retorted sharply.
"Gran!" Hermione scolded.
Janet sighed, sinking into a seat. "Evening all." Saul grinned, his eyes roaming around the room. "Who are we waiting for?"
"Dad, Aunt Min…"
"Not anymore lass," Minerva interrupted. "Albus is bealin that I wouldn't tell him what the issue was, but he'll just need to accept it."
Hermione smirked, well able to imagine how infuriating the headmaster would find that.
"So just Alastor, Perenelle and..." he looked around "Miss Carrow."
"Just Madam Flamel," Pandora corrected as she walked in just in front of Alastor. "I met your dad just outside the floo, my Mya. He seems a bit out of sorts. I think he'd like a hug."
Alastor spluttered as even Janet managed a smile. The look on his face clearly indicated that he had no idea what to do with Pandora.
"Oh wonderful, you're all here." Perenelle smiled stepping into the room. She looked around, clearly seeing the tension. "Shall we get started?"
"Godric, yes!" Minerva exclaimed.
"Hermione?" The witch gestured at her.
She sighed, her eyes meeting Pandora's. "Pandora had a prophecy vision yesterday. I ah… went with Saul this morning and checked. It's in the hall of Prophecies."
Around them, her family paled. "What did the prophecy say, lass?" her grandmother asked in a shaky voice.
"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." Hermione supplied wearily, already heartily sick of hearing it. "We'd been discussing elemental magics and sects."
"I see." Dorea blew out a breath. "And you think you're fire?"
"Potentially yes," Perenelle replied. "The girls theorised that a young Mr. Dearborn was the red dragon on account of his Welsh heritage. And assuming those theories are correct, Dumbledore is the leader of the light, which is why you're here. The plan is to tell Mr. Dearborn soon, no?"
"The first Saturday in February,'' Hermione confirmed, noticing Pandora's wide eyes. "You said before Imbolc!"
"I did. I just thought I'd have to… encourage you before you made a plan," she agreed, still looking slightly stunned. "The time to be honest with Severus also approaches."
"You're sure I'll know?" she checked, ignoring the jibe about needing encouragement.
"Oh yes," Pandora replied softly, her eyes slightly vacant. "There will be no mistaking it. As Ostara approaches, the pieces will begin to move. How they fall will be directly impacted by your actions when he comes to you."
"So don't fuck it up?" Hermione finished wryly.
"I would advise you not to, yes." Pandora agreed, clearly pretending not to see the stunned looks on the faces of the people around her. Saul and Perenelle were the only two who looked amused.
"Wonderful. So it won't be long until they're told. Severus will follow," Perenelle surmised. "Now. How do we extract young Mr. Dearborn from Albus?"
"You don't." Charlus exhaled. "Not completely."
"So what do we do?" She parried back.
"We persuade him to… pull back. Perhaps he needs to assist Alex in potions. He'll have his mastery soon, no?"
"Yes." Hermione agreed. "I think his final exam is at the end of this month."
"Right. So there might be something there. Or perhaps a job that means he has to cut down time. St. Mungo's perhaps? They are always looking for competent potioneers. Alex supplies some of their potions, but the order is too big for one person."
"Something to suggest if he's still talking to me after we tell him the truth." She turned to Pandora. "Perhaps be prepared to suggest it?"
"He won't walk away," she murmured.
Hermione shrugged. "He might. Regardless, someone needs to suggest it and you're probably best placed."
"Very well." Pandora sighed, looking disappointed by her lack of faith.
"Ok. Now, Albus?" Perenelle redirected.
"We need to undermine his influence." Hermione whispered. "He's… revered. He can do no wrong and… he's human. He makes mistakes. He's… arrogant and it costs people their lives even if no one acknowledges it."
"We perhaps need to be more… proactive in calling him out." Alastor mused.
"Don't put yourself in danger," Hermione retorted sharply.
"No. But… we could say no to the missions we don't agree with unless he can give a full answer as to his reasoning. It would force some sort of honesty."
"Don't," Hermione hissed. "He'll retaliate."
"You make him sound like Voldemort," Minerva chided.
"They're not so different," Hermione whispered, shocking her into silence. "Sirius spent twelve years in Azkaban without trial. He was Chief Warlock. You cannot tell me he didn't know. He allowed Harry to put himself in danger year after year. He left him with abusive relatives. He sent children into war. He might not have been crucioing people, but he used emotional manipulation to force compliance from his followers. And he only ever gave us a fraction of the information. I… I… truly don't think I hate anyone as much as I hate that poor excuse for a man. "
"What do you suggest then?" Minerva murmured, trying to reconcile her mentor with her niece's version.
"Honestly?'' Hermione looked at her, the fear written plainly on her face. "We need to finish this quickly. There is no other option. You cannot fight him, not really. Pull back by all means, but do it carefully. He won't listen to reason though. We have to move around him."
"And what about the prophecy?" Perenelle asked softly, not willing to push too hard in the face of Hermione's very real fear of the man Albus had become in her time.
"I don't know!"
"If he is allowed indicates some action or inaction on our part," she pointed out gently.
"You know him. What do you suggest?" Hermione shot back.
"I don't know," Perenlle mused. "Perhaps it's time Nicolas joined me here."
Hermione frowned. "What?"
"Albus may not listen, but he will not outright dismiss Nicolas. He is not that stupid. I will suggest he propose a… vote of sorts, for missions. And a vow for members, including Albus, inducing truthfulness and prohibiting harm."
"Those are… broad and allow a lot of room for him to manoeuvre," Charlus pointed out.
"Not the way I intend to word it." Perenelle smirked. "I do think that perhaps some disagreement from the ranks isn't a bad thing. I don't disagree with Hermione's urging to be careful, and I would ensure it is not always the same group, but it does him good to be challenged. Baby steps. I also think that soon we need to consider his roles. He holds three full-time positions. Perhaps it's time he was… ah… ousted from two of them."
"We unfortunately need him at Hogwarts to keep Tom at bay. But once the war is over, he should be prevented from having influence over children," Hermione replied thoughtfully.
Perenelle hummed. "Then perhaps it's time for a new Supreme Mugwump," she mused. "We have several delegates, so unless one of them is promoted there won't be space for him to continue his interference there. And really, Seraphina Ahrens would make a wonderful Supreme Mugwump. She has some rather progressive ideas. I think I might start with some carefully placed whispers. He's up for election soon, March isn't it?"
"Aye," Robert muttered. "The end of it."
"Wonderful. Well, I should begin soon then."
"And perhaps I'll involve the governors. It's time the rules were updated," Minerva mused. "Discreetly of course. Augusta will help."
"Please… please be careful," Hermione begged. "Too much and he'll react."
"We know," Perenelle soothed. "We'll be careful."
With a sigh, she nodded. "I hope you all know what you're doing."
"Of course we do." Dorea smirked. "I'll talk to some of the ladies. It often has… results."
Charlus smirked. "Of course it does."
Dorea smiled serenely back. Hiding her own smile, Perenelle turned to Pandora. "Anything we should be aware of?"
"Mya is not wrong to be concerned. He will not take losing his influence well. Already he is plotting. He blames others for the board changing. He will hoard secrets and refuse to relinquish his grip. Be very careful. There are many outcomes, but none so far that ensure he sees sense. I worry that before this ends we will be forced to neutralise him."
"Neutralise?" Hermione repeated. "Are we discussing murdering Dumbledore?"
"No," Pandora contradicted. "But there is more than one type of magic, and the power of a full elemental sect is vast. He is unwise to discount it, but it works in our favour. It might be our only option."
Hermione stared back at her confused, missing Perenelle's thoughtful look. "Saul will look over options with you, Hermione," she instructed. "Miss Carrow might very well be right. It is a last resort."
"What are you talking about?"
"There are… rituals, old rituals. You can bind someone's magic."
"Bind as in…" Hermione trailed off, looking faintly nauseated.
"He'd be as good as a squib. Of course, it can be returned the same way it's taken. But should he become a danger, Miss Carrow is right we will need to neutralise him."
"Mother of Merlin. You'll make him a martyr!"
"Not if we have evidence of his misdeeds," Perenelle corrected. "And we will, won't we?"
"Of course. We've been keeping notes since Hermione arrived," Alastor scoffed.
"You have?" Hermione whirled to face her father.
"Of course! You didn't trust him, so we were watching."
"Oh," she whispered, utterly blindsided.
"Right, Miss Moody. Let us go and let off some steam. Do you want to show your godparents what you can do?" Perenelle smirked. "I'd suggest watching from a distance. We're playing with Fiendfyre tonight."
Hermione groaned, but stood to follow her out, deciding it would be best to ignore the shock on her godparents' faces.
"Right. I'm going to ward off an area," Perenelle informed her. "And then we're going to see what you can do. The incantation is Sacer Ignis. I cannot stress this enough—you cannot be frightened of it. You are the one in control. It cannot hurt you. I'm not going to be within the wards, not until you have total control, which you will."
She blew out a breath. "I ah… Christ. I don't know if I can do this."
"You can," Perenelle refuted. "You absolutely can. Now I'm going to step out and cast the wards. Remember—you are in control."
Hermione froze, attempting to get her anxiety under control as she felt the wards erect themselves around her.
"Is this wise," Dorea murmured, looking at her goddaughter with worry.
"She is capable," Perenelle replied. "She just needs to believe she is."
Tiny soothing croons could be heard coming from inside the wards, making them smile. "Who knew that I'd be grateful for a dragon," Dorea murmured watching Hermione centre herself.
"Alright then. Nuri let's do this," Hermione murmured, allowing her dragon's soothing to ground her. "Sacer Ignis," she hissed, feeling the power flowing out of her wand. Nuri's singing turned excited as she tried to snap at the sparks. She tried to control her breathing as fire swirled around her, almost laughing at the dragon that flew above her head, its fiery jaws open before it charged, engulfing her. She was sure she heard someone scream but all she felt was heat and a surge of power that left her laughing, wide-eyed, spinning in an exaggerated circle as it left her resuming its journey around her head.
"Sweet Mother of Morganna," Janet cursed, her knuckle-white grip on her husband tightening further. Pernelle was smiling smugly, but no one else appeared to be breathing.
"Did that… did that…" Alastor stared at his daughter, still spinning in slow circles, her eyes tracking the dragon above her head.
Dorea let out a hysterical-sounding laugh. "It… it ate her. A Feindfyre dragon ate her… and she's alive."
Pandora giggled. "Fitting that hers is a dragon, isn't it?"
"Is it ever anything else?" Robert queried.
"Oh yes. I've seen a phoenix before." Pandora smiled.
Understanding dawned on Alastor's face. "Dumbledore?"
"Well, yes. He doesn't have her control though. His would consume him."
"A weakness we may need to exploit," he murmured.
"Let's hope not," Minerva replied softly. "Murder would make him a martyr."
"Not if it was caused by his own spell," Alastor argued, his eyes never leaving Hermione.
"I'm going to drop the wards," Perenelle called. "You'll feel the heat."
"Is that wise?" Janet asked, sounding panicked.
"She's in complete control," Perenelle soothed in response.
They all felt the blast of heat when the wards fell. Hermione spun to look at them in horror, the dragon breaking out of its circle to swoop towards them before she yanked it back with a pale face. "Why did you do that?"
"Are you not in control?"
"Well yes," she stammered. "But what if I lost control?"
"Did you or did you not just prevent the fire from moving towards everyone else? Did it not obey?"
"Yes, but…"
"What did I say about believing?"
Hermione blew out a breath. "This is unbelievable."
Perenelle smiled gently. "And yet here we are. Now, I wonder if you can make it not burn?"
"What?"
"Aim for a tree. Command it to leave it standing."
Hermione looked at her as if she was questioning her sanity before slowly directing the dragon towards a tree as instructed. The dragon engulfed it immediately. "Now call it back."
They all held their breath as she did. The dragon seemed reluctant to give up its catch and Hermione visibly strained against the spell that was fighting her control.
None of them exhaled until it was back to circling her head, a slightly charred but otherwise intact tree left in its wake. "So that… that was difficult." She panted, sweat dripping down her forehead.
"Cancel the spell," Perenelle commanded.
"How?" Hermione demanded.
"Try cessare," Perenelle replied contemplatively. "Or Finite I suppose. Magic is about intent. Or you could just… will it."
"Will it," Hermione repeated flatly.
"Magic is about intent," Perenelle said again.
Hermione huffed out a frustrated breath before focusing on the dragon, trying to pull it back to her as she did her usual flames. The dragon seemed confused for a moment before he swooped down towards her, disappearing into her chest.
"Dramatic as always, Mo Sholas," Robert muttered, a look of awe on his face.
"Ah, Miss Moody. Director Croaker informed me I'd find you here."
"Unspeabale Haston!" Hermione's head jerked up. She had been lost inside a book on mind magics.
"Corrine," she corrected. "Now, I understand you have questions?"
"So many," Hermione responded without thinking, making the woman laugh as she flushed.
"We encourage that." She smiled. "Now where would you like to begin?"
"Do we know how the imperious works?" Hermione blurted.
The witch frowned. "Beyond removing free will?"
"So not exactly. More… how does it remove free will?"
"I ah… I don't know." The unspeakable frowned. "Magic."
Hermione hummed. "I just wondered whether if we pinpointed what happened in the brain whether we'd be able to then isolate it for the ritual or realistically prove whether someone's been under the imperious."
"What if it leaves no trace?"
"It might." She nodded. "But… magic usually leaves a trace, even a small one for a little while after use."
The witch made a noise of agreement. "Interesting," she mused. "I wonder… have you cast the imperious?" Hermione flushed, but the witch waved her off. "I'm not about to report you to anyone. We'll say it was an experiment.
Hermione gave a huff of laughter. "Right," she muttered.
"I'll take that as a yes. Wonderful. If I get… volunteers, we can look.
"Volunteers?" Hermione checked, horrified.
"Well yes. Other Unspeakables who are well aware of the risks and have the ability to refuse."
Hermione slumped in relief. "How will you look?"
"Oh, I'd have legilimens monitoring them throughout. Can you cast it?" Hermione shook her head. "Shame. Perhaps something to learn."
"It can be learned?" Hermione blurted. "It's not a natural skill?"
"Oh, no." Corrine shook her head in amusement at her inability to modulate her questions. "It can be learned. Not at the same level as a natural legilimens, but with enough practice anyone can become skilled."
"I see," Hermione murmured.
"We can add it to your time here," Unspeakable Haston announced.
"You can?" she squeaked.
"Oh yes, for experimentation purposes obviously. Can you occlude?"
"I'm currently being taught."
"Well then, let's go send a memo or ten and then we'll practise."
"Now?"
"Oh, yes. Your theory is an interesting one. We've mainly been focused on the calling ritual and linking it to the imperious curse itself, but it'd require the person to be under at the time of the calling and we're unsure how it works. Is it a permanent thing for compliance? Do they release the spell for a time? We weren't sure how to get around that." Hermione hummed. "You might have just given us the answer. Of course, you also might not. That's part of the fun."
Hermione laughed. "Or the frustration."
"Perhaps both," the Unspeakable allowed. "One of the hallmarks of this job I am afraid. We are, after all, seeking answers to the previously unanswerable." Her tone turned suddenly serious. "We do not always succeed. We are only human and despite the… vast amount of resources and quite frankly a slightly alarming amount of leeway, we are not infallible."
"I know." Hermione sighed.
"Good. Some experiments fail. If I teach you nothing else, let it be that. It is not your fault, it does not make you a failure, and it does not mean that this is not the right job for you. We are constantly questioning, constantly experimenting, and while we do not always get it right, the fact that we keep asking those questions and looking for answers is what makes you suited for this job."
Hermione nodded slowly. "I'm not sure I'll always like it, but I do understand."
"Good. Now then, let's go and see what we can do about this legilimency."
Hermione left the witch several hours later, her head swimming. Legilimency, it turned out, was just as hard as occlumency, and she felt the urge to go back and apologise to the people she'd been practising on. She knew she'd hurt them. She tempered it with the excitement that she'd managed the spell, despite the disconcerting feeling of being inside someone else's head. Unspeakable Haston had informed her it would take practice before informing her that they'd practise again next week while the other unspeakables she'd contacted continued to see if they could find lingering magic from the imperius.
After leaving her, Hermione stumbled her way to the atrium to meet Alex. "What the bloody hell have you been doing this morning?" he demanded as she blinked slightly blearily up at him.
Hermione groaned. "Wandering through other people's heads," she muttered.
His eyebrows shot up. "What?"
"Ugh, I'm being taught legilimency," she muttered.
"Of course you are." He nodded, attempting to look as if that was an acceptable statement. "Lunch?"
"Somewhere not the canteen?"
He snorted. "Somewhere not the canteen," he agreed, leading her to the entrance for Muggle London.
How are you?" he checked once they were settled at a table.
"Alright," she sighed. "It's… I feel like I don't have two seconds to breathe but that we're still… scrambling a bit and not really achieving much."
He hummed. "Jamie seems to think they are achieving something"
"Ugh, they are. They're improving drastically. James and Sirius could be a formidable team with some more practice. They'll make good Aurors."
"And the rest of them?" he probed.
"Cassie is… mindblowing. She's quick and sharp and I imagine when Auror Jarvis gets her claws into her she's going to be deadly. Severus is, Gods Alex, his potential… it's breathtaking. Amelia is learning to trust herself. Alice and Frank are… nothing like I expected. They are determined and fierce and committed to being fair and making things better. Lily is, well, she reminds me of myself. She wants to know everything. Madam Flamel wants me to discuss the coven with her."
Alex hummed. "And will you?"
"Yes. I just need to work out how to word it."
"You'll figure it out," he replied, his complete confidence in her not allowing him to believe otherwise. "How's NEWT prep going?"
"Well. I'm practising arithmancy. Severus is joining me, which amuses Amelia. I've dropped Runes and History of Magic, and I'm almost ready to drop Defense. Severus is making me brew the curriculum, so I'll be there for months. James and Sirius are still sharing a period, so I've a bit still to go with Charms and Transfiguration. They're both enjoying lording it over me a bit."
Alex snorted. "I can imagine. Do I get to ask how things are going outside of Hogwarts?"
"With?" She frowned.
"Last I heard two red-headed idiots were competing for your attention."
"They're hardly competing!" she protested. "And truthfully, I've hardly seen them. Things are just so busy. I'll see Fabian on Friday at duelling." She shrugged. "We're… there's not… we're barely friends."
Alex's eyebrows rose. "Hermione, we have eyes. They'd very much like to be more than friends."
She scoffed, waving him off. "How is Izzah?"
"She fine." He paused, deciding not to push for the moment. "I was thinking it was time to propose."
Hermione sat up sharply. "Really?"
"Yes. I… gods. I don't think I feel old enough for a wife but…."
"But?"
"I'd quite like kids someday, you know?" He flushed. "And I love her, obviously. I'm not marrying anyone else and… fuck. Am I old enough?"
"Yes," she laughed. "I hate to break it to you, but you're plenty old."
His eyes narrowed as he scowled at her. "I was going to ask you to help," he muttered mulishly.
"Help with what?"
He sighed, suddenly looking serious. "I'm shit at this, Kitten," he whined. "Really shit. What do women want in a proposal?"
Hermione blinked. "How the hell should I know?"
"Oh, come on!"
"You're the one that knows Izzah best," she reminded him. "Stop overthinking. Where's her favourite place? Is there somewhere that means something to both of you?"
He blew out a breath. "I knew there was a reason I was asking for your help. She likes Rome."
"Ok." Hermione nodded encouragingly.
"And she likes the grounds of Potter Manor."
"Ok, so pick one."
"How?"
"Well, what would she prefer? A holiday? Remaining at home? How soon will she want people to know?"
"I ah…" He blew out a breath. "I ah… immediately." He sighed in resignation. "Her mother's been waiting for a long time, impatiently."
Hermione bit back a smile. "I see. So Potter Manor then?"
"Potter manor," he agreed, with a faint smile.
"When?"
"I ah… fuck I don't know! I don't even have a ring."
"So maybe sort that first?" she suggested teasingly.
"Fancy coming ring shopping?" he wheedled.
Hermione rolled her eyes, biting back a smile. "If I must. Merlin knows you're apparently helpless."
He laughed at her. "Just as well I have you, Kitten. I was thinking spring-ish?"
"Spring-ish?" she replied flatly.
"Well, you know… when it's warm, and flowers are out and stuff…"
Hermione stared at him in amused silence for several seconds watching his careless hand movements. "I see." She nodded, unable to hide the smile.
"Don't laugh at me Kitten!" he whined. "It's… I can see it in my head… and she likes flowers and sun… and it not being cold and…"
Hermione was genuinely laughing by that point. "Right," she gasped. "so maybe summer, not spring?"
"Summer," he breathed. "That… that makes sense."
"So June? July?"
"July," he replied decisively. "It… sounds nicer."
"It sounds nicer?" Hermione checked.
"Yes." He nodded. "It does."
"Sweet Merlin, you're weirder than normal today," she muttered. "Maybe try to act like a reasonable human for the next few months?"
"I can try."
She gave a huff of laughter at the unconvinced face he pulled. "Ring shopping after Easter?"
"We can do that," he agreed. "And then you can help plan a wedding!"
"What? No! You have Aunt Dorea and Madam Shafiq for that!" Hermione all but shouted, remembering the hell that had been the preparation for Bill Weasely's wedding.
"Nah, there'll still be plenty for you to do!" He grinned, waving his hand dismissively.
"I hate you," she whined.
"Nah, Kitten, you love me."
Hermione took the mature route and stuck her tongue out at him.
He walked her back to his father's office, bickering like children until Charlus cleared his throat, looking at them both in amusement. "I feel like I should check how old you both are?"
"He started it!" Hermione exclaimed.
"I did not!" Alex protested.
"Children! Sweet mother of Merlin." Charlus groaned before looking pointedly at Alex. "Don't you have work to do?"
"Not really." He shrugged. "Everything's got a few hours to go before it needs my input."
"Find some," Charlus ordered before looking at Hermione. "I know you have work to do. Come along, Leonard will be waiting."
Hermione stuck her tongue out at Alex behind Charlus' back before following him, missing both of the amused-looking Prewett twins who had caught her and Alex's retaliating gesture.
Leonard Johnston turned out to be a spritely man in what Hermione estimated to be his late sixties, early seventies. He was broad-shouldered, absurdly tall, sporting a thick head of white hair and what seemed to be a permanent smile.
"Miss Moody!" he grinned down at her, "I can't tell you how pleased I am to meet you!"
"And you," she replied softly, not quite sure what to make of him, shaking his proffered hand.
"And Director Potter! You don't usually grace my little corner of the Ministry!"
"I did ask for this appointment," Charlus reminded him with a good-humoured roll of his eyes.
"That you did," he agreed, clapping his hands. "The Packs right?"
"Right," Charlus agreed.
"Then let's head to my office and we can see what your proposals are, if they're up to scratch we can arrange something with the Packs."
"Thank you," Hermione murmured, stepping through the door he opened for her and into one of the most cluttered spaces she'd seen. Even Ron's bedroom had nothing on this.
"Ah." Leonard flushed, "We get stuck with a rather absurd amount of paperwork. You've seen the laws I assume…. well…" he trailed off.
Charlus shook his head, "I'm almost scared to ask what you're trying to accomplish in here."
"Oh a little bit of everything," came Leonard's muffled reply, followed by a shout of triumph as he unearthed a chair from underneath piles of parchment. "There now, you can have one each," he grinned, moving a pile from his desk so he could see them when he sat down. "Why don't you tell me what you have so far," he encouraged, drawing Hermione's attention back to him, despite her urge to keep looking around the room.
"Right," she nodded, blowing out a breath and drawing her focus back. "I ah…I thought we should probably have two plans. One for those who want integration, and one for those who want to be left alone."
Leonard hummed, "Interesting. You think that leaving them alone is an option?"
"I think they have the right to live how they wish within reason." she shot back. "Just because it's not a life I'd choose, deciding not to be part of mainstream society isn't wrong as long as they're not a danger."
"They're always going to be a danger." he cautioned.
Hermione inclined her head in acknowledgement, "What if we gifted them land like the centaurs? Warded obviously, but either just for the full moon or for them to live in and manage as they saw fit."
Leonard looked at her in surprise, "Intriguing. How are you getting the ministry to agree?"
She shrugged, "I play on their fear and need to be safe."
He snorted, "Of course you do. And for those who want integration?"
"We begin dismantling laws. We'd need to provide an area for the full moon, they'd need workplace protections, and we'd need to look at education because I don't know what's standard, I imagine it varies hugely based on when they were turned. For those young enough Hogwarts should be an option. I don't think it will be easy in the slightest, but I need to know what they want."
Leonard was looking at her contemplatively. "I think I'm going to like you Miss Moody," he said finally. "I'll arrange your meeting. It won't be this week but I'll send word via owl."
"Thank you." she murmured.
He gave her a sad smile. "Most people are blinded by their fear. It's…refreshing to have someone willing to fight for the Packs for a change. I often feel like I'm hitting my head off a brick wall. Only my fear of who they'd bring in in my place stops me walking out."
"I can imagine." she agreed.
He nodded, "Well then. I look forward to seeing you again soon. Charlus, don't leave it so long next time."
Charlus smiled back at him, "I'll try. It was good seeing you, Leonard."
"Uncle Charlus?" she waited until she was back in his office before she spoke.
"Hermione?" he arched a brow.
"I spoke to Callum about muggleborns. I wondered if you had five minutes?"
"For you?" he smiled indulgently, "Always. And Merlin knows there's no point in you continuing with the werewolf laws until you've spoken to the Packs. In fact." he waved his hand, sending the parchment into a file before filinging it in the cabinet behind him. "You'll be tempted to rework something that doesn't need reworking if we leave it. You can have it back to refresh your memory once the meeting is confirmed."
She pouted, settling Nuri on the desk with her snitch. "Fine," she muttered with ill grace.
"Muggleborns?" he prompted so he wouldn't laugh at her pouting.
"We'd wondered if we could set up a private project with some bored ladies."
"Oh?"
"The year before Hogwarts, evenings, holidays or something, preparing incoming muggleborns for our world. We'd like to expand it obviously but we thought it was a start and if the ministry wasn't paying for it..."
"They'd be more likely to agree." he finished.
"Well yes. We wondered if the Wizengamot would go for it?"
"They might." he mused. "Who did you have in mind?"
"Aunt Dorea, Effie, Gran maybe? I'm open to suggestions."
"I see, and teaching them what?"
"How our currency works, wizarding etiquette, the basics of creatures not found in their world, basic potions skills because Merlin knows it was assumed we understood cutting techniques and I don't know, whatever they and maybe Aunt Min thinks would be beneficial!"
He hummed, "Interesting. I'll sound some people out. Now, as much as it pains me, why don't you head to the Unspeakable Library for a while. I'm reluctant to give you another project right now. Next week you can work out a proposal for this muggleborn integration idea of yours and your cousins, but take some time today to do something you enjoy."
"Are you sure?"
"Shoo." he waved her off with an indulgent smile. Not needing to be told again, she bolted, hearing him laugh at her eagerness.
The owl reached her two hours later, disrupting her absorption in a book on elementals she'd unearthed from behind a row of law books. It was both fascinating and terrifying and she had to wonder if that was why it had been hidden. The magics the book discussed were mind-blowing, leaving her wondering if Saul would make an exception to his no taking the books to Hogwarts rule. It had also left her with five feet of parchment listing ideas for what they could try and incorporate into a summoning ritual.
"Hello pretty boy," she cooed at the owl looking around disdainfully. It gave an impatient hoot. Holding out its leg imperiously. Stifling a snort she took the note. It was gone within seconds, flying out as soon as she'd loosened the twine.
"I guess I don't need to reply then," she muttered, unrolling the parchment.
Miss Moody.
Unfortunately, your Dad seems to believe I work for a living and has sent us off on a wild goose chase so I won't be able to come out to play tonight. He has promised that we can play tomorrow instead of you duelling.
Yours,
The prettier twin.
Hermione rolled her eyes at the parchment before realising she now had a completely free evening. With a pleased smile, she settled back down in the armchair and re-opened the book.
Hermione wandered slowly through the Ministry, still slightly early for duelling. Molly hadn't needed them this morning so she'd spent the time with Alex, helping him brew. It had been both soothing and fascinating to watch him work. His methods were every bit as precise as Professor Snapes had been but perhaps more jarring because of his usual demeanour.
In his lab, Alex was serious and controlled until it was time to experiment. Watching his visible excitement as he worked out the best ways to tweak potions to his satisfaction was both amusing and slightly awe-inspiring. She had never had a natural affinity for potions and she was very aware her skills ended with what was written in the book. And however fascinating watching him work was, she freely admitted had no idea how he came to the conclusions he did without him explaining. And while it wasn't something she had any intention of voicing, she'd be lying if she said she wasn't slightly jealous of his skill.
"Miss Moody!" a voice called, startling her out of her thoughts.
She met Gideon's amused eyes over the heads of the people in front of her. "Aurors Prewett."
"My brother is pouting," he stage whispered once she was next to them, nudging his twin.
"I am not!" Fabian protested.
Gideon let out a loud snort, "Of course, you're not, brother mine," he soothed before turning back to Hermione, lowering his voice to a whisper, "He absolutely is."
She couldn't help but laugh at the pout that appeared on Fabian's face, "So I see," she agreed. "Do I get to ask why?"
"Oh, my wonderfully oblivious Miss Moody," Gideon crowed, "surely it's obvious?"
Hermione blinked, her eyebrow arching, "Enlighten me."
Gideon sighed exaggeratedly, as Fabian turned slightly pink. "Well we both get to spend time with a Moody this afternoon….unfortunately for my brother, he gets to spend time with your dad and I get you."
"Oh." Hermione frowned before she waved him off, "Well he'll learn something if nothing else, maybe it won't be so bad."
Gideon snorted, "Utterly oblivious," he muttered, turning to Fabian, "Merlin brother you need to up your game. Come along Mis Moody we're in room six."
Hermione flushed pink when she realised the subtext she'd been oblivious to. "Caught on have you?" Gideon grinned, closing the door behind them.
"Be quiet." she hissed.
"Oh no. I think you and I need to have a chat about my dear brother at some point. The boy is hopeless. It would be amusing if it wasn't so pathetic."
"And that means I need to have a conversation with you because?"
"Because as hopeless as he is he is my twin and I rather like you. Which cannot be said for some of the others. So. Give him a chance? Please?" he batted his eyelashes at her, making her laugh against her will.
"You're ridiculous."
"Perhaps," he shrugged, "You like me anyway."
"Remind me why?" she whined
He gave a booming laugh, "I'm irresistible." he purred.
"Sure you are, " she muttered, hitting his shoulder with a stinging jinx.
He grinned in response, "I've come to understand violence is your love language," he informed her seriously, making her choke. "Now," he continued blithely. "My darling twin. You've been avoiding him."
"I have not!" she protested.
His eyebrows arched pointedly, "Spent much time with him?"
"One," she countered sharply, "I wasn't aware I was meant to be. Two. He hasn't said anything. Three, my life is rather hectic in case you haven't noticed, I haven't had two minutes to fucking breathe."
He blinked back at her, "Ok…" he breathed, wide-eyed, "so not avoiding….do I get to ask what makes things so hectic?"
"You can ask," she retorted before she could filter her words, "I'm not answering until the fourth."
"The fourth," he repeated, surprise clear on his face.
"Yes." she nodded decisively, deciding she was going to have to go with it now.
"I ah…" He looked momentarily lost, "Why the fourth?"
"Because," she sighed, running a hand over her face, "It's ah…been discussed as the best date."
"Discussed with who?" he checked sharply.
"Dad," she admitted, "Ah Pandora and Madam Flamel."
"Holy mother of magic." he muttered, "Madam Flamel? And you've discussed…ah…me?"
"You, Izzah, Fabian and Caradoc." she corrected.
"Alright," he nodded slowly, "I'll bite, why us?"
"Because I do need to explain some things."
"Things that affect us?" he checked, sounding bewildered.
"Possibly," she hedged.
He stared at her for several minutes, "Does this have anything to do with Dumbledore's instance on you joining the Order?"
Hermione frowned, "He is?" she asked in surprise.
"I'll take that as a no then," Gideon muttered. "Can't you give me something? The fourth is two weeks away!"
"I know," she nodded. "But not really, Caradoc has exams that I don't want to interfere with and Pandora inferred I had until Imbolc."
"Pandora inferred?" he asked sharply, "She's Seen something?"
"Yes," Hermione sighed, knowing she was going to have to give him something.
He paled, "I won't like what she's seen," he guessed.
Hermione shrugged uncomfortably, "Probably not."
"Right" he sighed, "Wonderful." he froze suddenly, "How do you know when Caradoc's exams are?"
"We owl," she replied surprised.
Gideon blinked at her, before he snorted, a flash of humour appearing on his face. "Of course you do. Merlin, apparently I'm as hopeless as Fab, I didn't even consider that."
Hermione rolled her eyes, "Are you planning on ending this interrogation or are we sacking magic for today?" His eyes narrowed before he sent out a gust of wind to knock her off her feet. "Oi! Aren't we meant to be seeing how we work together!"
He beamed exaggeratedly back at her, a look of manufactured innocence on his face, "Were we? My mistake."
She scowled, sending out a tendril of fire to wrap around his leg before yanking him down.
"Ow you vicious harpy! That hurt!"
"You started it!"
"Did not! He countered with a grin, manipulating the air around her until she was floating.
"Did too!" she growled back, sending heat down to the floor he was still kneeling on until it was hot enough that he yelped.
"Truce!" he called, laughing, bringing her back down. She watched him with narrowed eyes before he blurted, "I don't actually know how our elements work together."
Hermione hummed thinking about it, "I don't know either." she admitted, her mind trawling through her experiments with Severus to see if she could find somewhere to start. "What…what if you could help?"
"In what way?" Gideon frowned.
"Well…I ah can control the shape, size and speed but with air…could we do it quicker? Would we have better control with two of us? Could you manipulate the oxygen to create a dead zone where I couldn't cast? Could I work around it? Could you create an oxygenless barrier to protect an area or a group of people, trapping the air inside your lines to protect them from my fire or to contain it in one area?"
He blinked, "Fuck that's…so first thing, what is oxygen?"
She blinked back at him. "You're serious?" she asked incredulously.
"Yes." he agreed.
"Oh gods. I ah…everything is made up of... We'll go with molecules. There are things smaller than molecules but ah…possibly too complicated for today." he stared back at her blankly as she attempted to control her rambling. "I ah….there are a lot of molecules but for the purposes of this conversation, air is made from gasses, mainly nitrogen and oxygen. Oxygen is what we breathe but when we breathe out we release it back into the air as carbon dioxide. If there is not enough oxygen in the air, we struggle to breathe so lack of it can kill us."
"What has that got to do with fire?" he asked, sounding lost.
"Fire needs oxygen to fuel it, without it, it can't burn."
"So if I could…remove this oxygen, you wouldn't be able to cast fire?"
"I don't know. Magical fire might be different, but theoretically, I shouldn't be able to."
He hummed, "And if I was to remove it from a certain place, and presumably manipulate this oxygen into a certain place, I could protect people or a building or…"
"Yes." she interrupted. "Theoretically."
"How the fuck do I remove something I had no idea existed from air?" he whined finally.
"I don't know!" Hermione shot back, "I ah…maybe we need to look at the bubble head charm?"
He blinked, "Because…?" he prompted.
"Because, there is enough fresh air in the bubble head charm for someone to survive indefinitely, which wouldn't be the case if the spell wasn't drawing it from somewhere else or replenishing it somehow."
Gideon nodded slowly, "And if we understand that we might be able to utilise it."
"Yes." she paused. "Can you… separate air?"
"Separate it?" he repeated.
She waved him off, "I'll get you some basic chemistry books…maybe some biology ones too. I imagine the answer will be no until you can actually visualise what I'm talking about. Maybe we need to speak to a healer?"
"Sweet Merlin, are you always like this?" he demanded, looking like someone had hit him over the head.
"Like what?" she paused in her musings blinking at him.
"Your mind…I…I don't think I can keep up."
"Nonsense," she dismissed. "Its…I have a grounding in muggle science that you don't have. It gives a different perspective."
"I suppose it must," he mused, still eyeing her cautiously. "Fine. bring me your books and I'll experiment. Why don't we see if I can speed up your flames? And then you can explain why you think we need to see a healer."
Hermione hummed, "Fine." she allowed. "We should probably start small, I see how quickly I can fill an area with the flames and then we'll see if you helping makes it faster."
He nodded, gesturing her up. Hermione centred herself, drawing marks on the floor in the shape of a rough square with her wand before sending her flames into it to fill it.
"Five seconds," Gideon announced.
She hummed, "Well then, care to join me?"
With a look of concentration, he stood next to her sending a swirl of air out before she released her flames. "Two seconds," he murmured.
"Well then, that definitely speeds it up." she mused.
"That thing you did last week with manipulating temperatures," he hedged, "What happens if we both do it?"
With a grin, Hermione nodded, "Let's find out."
It took them minutes to realise they were stronger together, the temperatures in the room rising and falling sharply to their will. "Well, that's interesting," Gideon murmured as they tried to regain the feeling in their feet following plummeting temperatures of their own making. "It's rumoured that fire elementals are immune to fiendfyre, is it true?"
"Yes." she agreed, smirking when he looked slightly stunned. "Why?"
"Honestly, I just wondered what would happen if we combined the worst of us."
"Oh?"
"I can make…and control hurricanes," he murmured, "Little ones, I'm not stupid enough to unleash a giant one anywhere."
Hermione hummed, "And…"
"Could we make a flaming hurricane do you think?"
"A flaming hurricane?" she checked. "Why would we?"
"To see if we could? Intimidation techniques, I'm not stupid this war is getting worse. Can you control the temperature of fiendfyre?"
"I don't think so." she admitted, "Although…I can command it not to burn. Up close though? I don't know what it would do to a person, I still left the tree singed. Maybe we start with the fire I can control the temperature of?"
He nodded. "On three?"
With a breath, she watched slightly awestruck as her flames were engulfed in a tornado of air, the whirling lights making her feel slightly sick, despite how mesmerised she was. It took her several seconds to realise Gideon's intentions, as he sent the tornado at her, engulfing her in the middle. She could well imagine how brutal an interrogation tactic it could be. The wind stole her breath as it whirled around her, her hair and clothes pulling, mimicking the swirling winds. She knew without a doubt though that he was in control as her feet remained planted on the ground. He released it seconds later.
"I think I might vomit," she muttered, making him laugh.
"Had enough for today, Miss Moody?"
"Merlin, yes."
"Well then, explain why we need to see a healer."
He conjured two chairs before sitting in one, leaning forwards with his elbows on his knees in a pose so reminiscent of Fred and George that her heart seized for a second. "I ah…" she stammered, sitting down abruptly.
He frowned, "Are you alright?"
Hermione closed her eyes, forcing herself back under control. "Yes," she agreed when she was sure her voice was steady again. "You just…reminded me of someone for a moment."
"Not a good memory?" he probed.
She smiled sadly, "Bittersweet?" shaking her head she took a breath, "It doesn't matter, not currently. We need to speak to a healer because they use oxygen on patients. Magically. Maybe one of them will explain how."
"I see." he mused, still looking a little concerned, "They might. One of my friends is a healer. I'll ask?"
"Thank you."
"If we're truly done, shall we go and spy on the duelling practice? Steph's there today and that's always entertaining."
"Lead on," she commanded, allowing him to help her from her seat.
They crept into the duelling room and Gideon automatically winced, "Fuck. She's going to murder him."
On the floor Fabain and Steph were circling each other, both of them looked worse for wear but where Steph was still prowling, Fabian was clearly starting to flag.
"It's been forty minutes," Auror McNabb murmured, spotting them. "The lads got something to prove and well…our Steph isn't one to go easy on anyone, now is she?"
"That's a bloody understatement," Gideon muttered, his eyes on his twin.
It took a further twenty minutes for Fabian to be beaten, Steph catching him with a stunner when he was distracted by her attempt at knee reversal.
"Well done lad, " Moody muttered when he revenerated him, "That's the longest anyone's held the witch off in months." he turned to Steph, "And you?" he grinned suddenly, "I knew there was a reason you're my favourite."
Steph dimpled back at him, "I aim to please."
Alastor laughed, "You just keep winning and you'll do that. Vicious witch."
"I certainly intend to." she agreed, sauntering out of the ring.
Fabian collapsed into a seat next to Hermione seconds later. "Even my hair is tired," he muttered. "Merlin that witch has some serious skills."
"That can hardly be news, Fab." Gideon laughed.
"I know," he whined, "But she misses so many of these that I forget in between. Tell me you fared better against the other vicious witch we know?"
Gidon grinned smugly, "I trapped her in a tornado."
"Remind me next time to introduce you to my fiendfyre. We can see exactly what it does to a body I command it not to burn," Hermione groused.
"Ah no thank you," Gideon replied quickly, making McNabb snort.
"We have dummies for that, you know?" the older Auror offered.
"You do?"
"Yes, training ones. It shows the impact of spells."
"Interesting. And where would I find those?"
"You can truly control it?" he checked looking momentarily serious.
"Yes." Hermione nodded, "You can check with my father and Uncle Charlus if you're unsure. They were there when I stopped it consuming them."
"Right then, " he nodded paling slightly, "Room eight, you want the blue dummies."
"Thank you." She stood smartly.
"You're going now"? Gideon checked.
"No time like the present."
He exchanged a look with Fabian before they both hurried after her.