A/N With AO3 currently down, I have finally figured out how to post this story here. The story is currently 39 chapters long with the 40th in the works. I suspect this will be about 60-70 chapters. It is much more complicated to post on this site than AO3. I will get this chapter up as soon as possible. I am proofreading all the chapters as I go. You will still find mistakes. English is my first language, though in my writing I question that and you will too.

If you haven't read this story before, I just want to say thank you for reading. The backstory unravels in the first 28 chapters. Then we enter the next phase of the story. This is meant to be a Dramione, but mass consumption of red wine has caused this story to take a life of its own. Please feel free to review.

-Justice

Chapter 1 - Ophelia's Last Will and Testament

25 March 2010

Dagworth-Granger Manor

Sussex, England, United Kingdom

Draco Malfoy

I'm so fucking cold. There aren't enough warm and impenetrable charms to beat this fucking March rain. Yet here I am in a family graveyard, listening to this Ministry dickhead carry on about someone he never met. My mother thought it would be best to have a Ministry official give the eulogy. I certainly didn't want to get up there and speak.

I look to my right, and the blond with a stripe of gray in her perfectly executed chignon next to me is shaking. I realize my mother is crying, it's undignified really. Narcissa Malfoy did not shed a tear at her own husband's funeral. That is why it's shocking she is crying for Ophelia Dagworth-Granger. Auntie Phea was special to our family. She was my godmother, but she had been the godmother of the last four generations of Malfoys. She was the oldest person in England.

Ophelia was once an icon in wizarding society. She knew everyone, was loved by everyone, and also knew everyone's secrets. She was Slytherin to the core. She died at age 130. My Aunt Andromeda found her on the 21st of March, dead on top of her bedding in a black evening gown and a signature tiara. She was born in the fall of 1879 as Ophelia Cornelia Avery. She married her husband, Hector Dagworth-Granger, in 1899. She assisted her husband in becoming the pinnacle of wizarding potions. Including, assisting him with creating the Most Extraordinary Society of Potioneers. Through her networking with all of wizarding society, her husband's potion business grew to be the most popular potions company in all of Wizarding Britain with exclusive 300-year contracts with St. Mungo's, the Ministry, and even Hogwarts.

The woman was formidable. No one questioned her. She would have conquered the Minstry of she were a man, but women were still viewed as little more than property for 90 years of her life. She didn't host tea parties, she held court in her parlors like she was the bloody queen herself. She did not involve herself in pureblood politics, she entertained everyone from Sacred 28 to blood traitors alike, and she demanded all her guests be treated with respect or she would hex your arse off. In the days before there were any wars, her parties were the epicenter of the wizarding world. It was the highlight of the season, to attend the Summer Dagworth-Granger ball. She single handedly set up the majority of marriages until the beginnings of the First Wizarding War. She was untouchable. Despite her continued rebellious pureblood behavior, she was untouchable. Purebloods and Blood Traitors alike only ever agreed that Ophelia Dagworth-Granger was a treasure to our world.

Her compassion, though, is why she was loved. Behind the scenes, she assisted families with squibs. She would find placement for them and make sure they were properly educated. She was a genius with memory charms and helped all the squibs and their new families adjust to muggle life. She never allowed children to be abandoned with nothing. She was responsible for the herd of centaurs living in the Forbidden Forest. She helped place homeless house elves at Hogwarts. She created an organization to help war-torn families. She funded muggle-born education at Hogwarts since the beginning of the 20th century, a fact she didn't mention to me until a year ago, this including the funding of Tom Riddle's education as well as She-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named.

Fuck…why did I think of Her? No one has seen Her in a decade.

Ophelia was the first person who forced me to take a look at myself, and question my belief system. After my trial on my fucking eighteenth birthday in 1998, I was bitter and angry, and I spent the summer of 1998 with her because I refused to go back to Malfoy Manor. She supplied me with firewhiskey and daily affirmations. I finally caved and told her how much I hated everything I had to do to keep my mother alive. I confessed to her how scared I was and I fucking hated myself for all the bullshite I had to do when I should have been too young to do any of it. Ophelia stuck by my side and helped me find a resemblance of peace that summer. I owe her for being strong enough to get through to a kid that was angry with world. She stayed by my side and helped me find purpose.

This fucking Ministry git, though…."she will be missed by all who knew her." There aren't a lot of people here to miss her. Most of her friends have died or were killed. She has no family. Hector died in 1972. They had no children and both Hector and Ophelia were only children. The Dagworths and the Grangers intermarried for centuries until the start of the 19th century when the families finally gave up, hyphenated their names, combined fortunes, and finally started marrying outside the family. The Averys and most purebloods stopped associating with her due to her non-discriminating soirees that she was so known for in the 1960's and early 70's, a consequence of growing political pressures before the war. It's surprising my fucked up grandfather and father didn't do something similar. They loved her though. They had both lost their mother's at a young age so Ophelia was really their only female influence. They both really loved her. I think when both wars escalated they protected her.

Fuck…this guy is finally done talking. I look around and I see so many faces of people I never knew Ophelia would give a shit about, but she was always an enigma. I make eye contact with Minerva McGonagall. She is the Headmistress at Hogwarts now. She's made a lot of positive changes to Hogwarts. Next to her, I see the Weasleys; Percy, Bill, Charlie, George, and their wives. Next to them, I see the Longbottoms; Neville and Hannah. The Minister of Magic, Kingsley Shacklebolt, is standing next to Harry Fucking Potter. How the fuck does the boy who never dies know my godmother? I turn to my mother and she has predictably charmed her face so no one can see she was crying. I offer her my arm so we can walk to the house for the wake.

Wakes are pointless. Why is it necessary to eat finger foods and talk about memories of a person they couldn't possibly really know? Auntie Phea was an enigma. One minute she's chastising you for atrocious posture, the next she hinting at breaking all the rules. After an hour of pointless small talk and boring food, a few people are gathered in the library for the will reading. I look around and I see Kingsley Shacklebolt. He had made a very good Minister of Magic. Many changes have been made under his leadership. Minerva McGonagall, Augusta Longbottom are sitting with Molly Weasley between them. Hannah and Neville Longbottom are sitting next to Theo Nott. Then there is Potter. We have been more than civil for the last decade. We both belong to an amateur Quidditch league. I have played chaser for his team since the league started. We play, we go to the pub after, but that is the extent of our affiliation. He married Daphne Greengrass of all people about six years ago. They have a couple of kids. He works as an Auror for the DMLE and as far as I know he's rather high in their ranks. He's filled out and grown a few inches. He still wears the same stupid round glasses. He still doesn't own a comb. Why the hell is he here?

We all take our seats around the desk. The attorney walks in and takes a seat at the desk in front of us. "I'm Malcolm Bulstrode, and I am the barrister that will now read the Last Will and Testament of Mrs. Ophelia Cornelia Dagworth-Granger. I have a parchment everyone in the room needs to sign before we begin. Signing will prevent you from discussing the contents of this will to anyone other than to those who are mentioned in the will. Failure to sign means you forfeit all rights to inheritance. I have boxes for some of your gifts stacked next to the desk. Does anyone have any questions before we begin?" Everyone signs without hesitation. He looks around, and begins….

Ophelia Cornelia Dagworth-Granger, being of sound mind and body, hereby leaves her last will and testament on this date, 21st September, 2008.

This version of my will shall be read aloud in the presence of all those who are entitled to receive any portion of my estate. It is my prerogative to have it read in such a manner so that each individual understands the reasoning behind my decisions. You may request from Mr. Bulstrode a copy of the legal documentation of this will and testament.

Our society is full of secrets. I am taking a great deal to my grave. They were needed for survival. I lived through two World Wars and three Wizarding Wars and managed to outlive all of those bastards. I have connived and worked my way to the top of this society with a great deal of sins on my hands. I navigated through the politics, the hate, the backstabbing, and the murdering of innocents. I protected many people behind the scenes, and failed so many others. I will not divulge the secrets of others here, but I do have a rather large personal secret I need to share to make any sense of this damned mess.

In 1933, when I was 54 years old, I found out after so many struggles I was blessed with an addiction to our family. My Hector and I kept it quiet because we were afraid of the baby's health due to my age. Our beautiful son was born, on 4 February 1934. His magical core was under-developed, though he was magical, it did not manifest into an ability to perform magic. He instead had a high intelligence and eidetic memory. My husband and I made the very difficult decision to raise him as a squib, and to keep him a secret from wizarding society for his protection. We enrolled our beloved, Richard, into the best muggle schools in Great Britain. Our son grew up with loving support, and when he began Eton he dropped the name Dagworth, and henceforth went only by Richard Hector Granger. He was an amazing student and became a sort of healer in the muggle world. As time went by he met his wife, Helen Fawley, who coincidently, was another squib I helped. They married and had a daughter by the name of Hermione Jean Granger. In 1980, when the First Wizarding War began to really escalate, I erased Richard and Helen's memory of the wizarding world and set them up with trusts in the muggle world. I took this secret to my grave to protect them. I spent my life helping those like my son.

WHAT THE EVER LIVING FUCK!!! I CAN'T FUCKING BREATHE…..FUUUUCK!!! WHY DIDN'T AUNTIE PHEA TELL ME ABOUT HER? WHY….FUCK….IN 1…2…3…4…5…OUT 1…2…3…4…5…6…7. NOW IS NOT A TIME FOR A PANIC ATTACK!

I hereby bequeath the following:

To Minerva McGonagall, I leave all contents of vault number 1534, which coincidentally, is very vault I received for my dowry from the Averys, so that you may continue to assist families of muggle-borns with tuition to Hogwarts as I have done for a century. The barrister has my specific instructions so you may create a foundation. If you wish to retire, my hope is you may have a person in mind to continue my work. I also leave you my gold and ruby tiara, it belongs to the queen of Gryffindor.

To Augusta Longbottom, I leave all contents of vault number 1307 to assist any squibs in our community and continue the valuable work we began so long ago. The barrister has specific instructions for you to create a foundation, should you choose to retire, my hope is you find an individual who is quite apt to continue our work. I also leave you my opal and diamond platinum tiara. It only belonged to you since you wore it on your wedding day.

A side note. I thank you both for years of assisting me with these causes. As you know, for 70 years I hosted charity balls 6 times a year. Back in those days no one questioned what the balls were for. People would just show, hand over galleons, or bid in auctions with little knowledge of what it was for. It was rather uncouth to be bothered to ask. Those balls funded these projects taking money from the very people that tried to stifle muggle-borns and squibs alike.

To Molly Weasley, I leave my grandmother's diamond otter broach. She was your great-great-great grandmother, as you know. I hope this leaves you a reminder of how you failed me. Maybe one day you could use it to make amends. I acquired the Prewett family tiara from your Aunt Muriel before she passed. I was unsure where it would go and feared it would be lost to the Prewetts forever. You are welcome.

Funnily enough, I always found the Weasels failures as well.

To Hannah Longbottom (née Abbott), I release ownership from DG potions and Holdings of The Leaky Cauldron to you. It has been long overdue for it to released for private ownership. The Abbotts have always been friends to the Dagworth-Grangers. Your great-uncle Tom Abbott was an invaluable tenant and ally for decades. He asked me to allow you to run it as you see fit and now it is yours. I understand you wish to be a Healer, now you can hire a manager and complete your dream. I leave you 100,000 Galleons to use as you see fit. The barrister has all your paperwork prepared. I leave with you my ruby and garnet tiara. Red, after all, is the Abbott Family color.

To Kingsley Shackelbolt, I leave all holdings for the Society for Magical Creatures. I leave you with the ability to run it or to find someone with the ability to take over for you. My hope is you find someone with a passion for magical creatures. When your grandmother, Hathor (meaning mystical and lovely) Shaqif (meaning compassionate and merciful) approached me in 1938, not only was she the most striking woman I have ever encountered, she was the embodiment of her name. She requested assistance with placement of a herd of centaurs. I did not hesitate and we created the Society together. We helped raise millions of galleons over the years and vault 1254 is available for it's continued funding. The barrister has all the necessary paperwork. I leave you with a gold crown. It has been with the Dagworth's for 800 years. The legend is Eustace Dagworth made a copy of the crown, and kept the original. The same year the muggle crown jewels were lost at sea due to a "freakishly large and powerful tide". I thought it would be perfect for you as, Minister of Magic.

To Harry James Potter, I leave the contents of vault number 1509. Your great-grandmother Violetta Black (née Bulstrode) as well as Cordelia Malfoy (née Carrow) were my best friends at Hogwarts. We were ironically called the Silver Triplets (or trio if you will) and we were extremely popular at Hogwarts during our time there. I was godmother to both of their children including your grandmother Dorea Potter (née Black). I had the pleasure of introducing Dorea to Charlus Potter at one of my balls. You'll find letters, photographs, and small gifts from both Violetta and Dorea in this vault. It is a thank you for the special favor I asked of you those years ago. Both Violetta and Dorea would have doted on you endlessly, and would have improved your manners exponentially. I leave you my gold and diamond tiara that your grandmother wore for her debutante ball.

What fucking favor could she have asked of fucking Potter?

To Draco Lucius Malfoy. I leave all contents of vault number 256. This is my husband's life work as well as works from all of the Dagworth-Granger's. As you know most of the potions we use today are from centuries of research from his family. All of their research and potion books are located in this vault. He would have been so proud of you, and would have been honored you have continued his life's work. (He never liked your father, Lucius, or grandfather, Abraxas. He said they were too spoilt. Your great-grandfather Brutus was born in 1899, as you know was my first Malfoy godson, was such a kind, strong man. You take after him.) I take great pride of the man you have become. I leave you the Dagworth-Granger Townhouse, located in Mayfair, London. I leave you the Black family, black diamond tiara that belonged to Violetta Black. I borrowed the tiara in 1902 for a wonderful ball I was hosting, and since you are the last scion of the Ancient and Noble House of Black, I thought it would be prudent to return it now.

To Narcissa Malfoy (née Black), I leave my Seventeenth Century tea set that you will find in vault 1523 as well as all its contents. You and Lucius were the last couple I assisted with contractual betrothal arrangements in the summer of 1972. After my husband died that spring, I just didn't have the heart for it anymore. I knew by the end of the two hours you sat down to tea with me with that very tea set, you would be the only one I would trust with Lucius' heart. He had his failings, he was a hard man, but in the end you loved him fiercely. I leave you my Seventeenth Century diamond and silver tiara.

To Hermione Jean Granger, I leave all contents of the following vaults 8, 126, 187, 237, 325, 785, 943, 1109, 1609, 1611, 1940, and 2007. These vaults are all blood warded. You will find my journals in Vault 2007 that hopefully answers all of your questions, I suggest you begin there. I have spent the last couple of years preparing the vaults for you. I'm afraid you will have a rather tedious job going through all of them, but my darling girl, your curious mind will love all the discoveries you will find. I also leave you with the following properties: Dagworth-Granger Manor, Sussex, Dagworth Castle, Cornwall, The Dagworth Villa, Maldives. Avery Vineyard (which was my dowry property) Tuscany, Italy.

Granger just became the richest person in the world.

The DG Potions and Holdings I will split as follows: Theodore Thoros Nott, I leave you ten percent of the company. You have been invaluable to the company regardless of the fact that your arsehole of a grandfather Cantankerus Nott published that scandalous book The Pureblood Directory and turned the Pureblood 48 into the Sacred 28! It would do our society good of you were to correct this heinous mistake! I hold no obligation for you to do so. Draco Lucius Malfoy, I leave you thirty-nine percent of the company and request you remain as CEO of the company as long as you desire. Hermione Jean Granger, I leave fifty-one percent of the company. This is your legacy. I hope you will consider taking an active role in the company. The barrister has specifics of what those divisions are. Should, Miss Granger decide to sell her portion of the business, she is required to return to the United Kingdom in order to sell her portion of the company and fulfill the requirements outlined in the business agreement filed with my Barrister. This will be unable to be resolved through her current Lasting Power of Attorney (LPA), Harry James Potter.

I have lost so many people in my life that should have been here to receive final gifts from me. This is what happens when you outlive everyone during two wars in our society that should have never occurred. Remember love is the most powerful form of magic.

Thank you to each of you for being a part of my life.

Ophelia C. Dagworth-Granger

FUUUUUUCK!!!!l